The Gates of Barak Var
Scot rode with the head of the column this morning, with him a group of five members of the King's Guard who had taken it upon themselves to personally escort him where ever he rode. The column was within an hour's ride of the gates of Barak Var and he would need to be present at the head of the host when the time came to beg permission to enter the city from the dwarfs. He rode his white stallion, a purebred Bretonnian warhorse named Snow. He had his plate armor on, and his horse was fully dressed for both war and ceremony.
An hour earlier Scot had sent off a small group of riders ahead of the column to send word to the city that his army approached and intended to parry for safe passage through the city. He sent the message with the diplomat, poet and warrior, Sir Mark Turner. The veteran of the King's Guard had command over words that Scot lacked, and given the brittle situation between the dwarfs and the Bretonnians he was the best weapon to use in this case.
The land surrounding Barak Var was strange, a mixture between rolling hills and cliffs where the Black Gulf met the Blood River. The land here was rich in both grass and in minerals under the land. The dwarfs had build the fortress at Barak Var centuries ago to command the sea access of the Blood River, allowing the dwarfs who lived upstream in the mountain cities of the World's End Mountains access to trade with the western Kingdoms. Without Barak Var this land would surely have been overrun by Orc and Goblin tribes that disrupted the free trade of goods between the east and west. Instead the dwarfs of Barak Var patrolled these steppes. These dwarfs were a strange breed that build longships and knew how to defend walls as well as tunnels.
The party came around a curve in the road, flanked on both sides by steep cliffs. As they traversed the curve the walls of Barak Var became visible. From the curve to the city gates was less than a mile, but between where Scot and his riders were now and the gates was visible well over a dozen watchtowers that defended the narrow passes. The dwarfs in the watchtowers tracked the movements of the army, but made no motion to defend the walls.
Clearly the message of Sir Turner were well received.
As the party reached the open gates of the great city Sir Turner and his riders waited. Mark rode forward and hailed Scot, "My Lord. We are welcomed to pass through the city without impediment."
Thank the Lady, thought Scot. The last thing the army needed was to detour the city. "What did the dwarfs demand?"
"Nothing my lord, simply peace. They indicated to me that they have heard of your lordship and trusted you to uphold you end of the bargain of peace. We are to move through the city hastily and continue south. The head of the keep did ask to meet with you shortly."
A meeting with the master of arms of Barak Var? Perhaps they wanted to make a profit from this war, thought Scot. "Take me to him."
Mark turned his mount and rode into the streets of the city. Scot followed him and could see ahead a small party of half-men, dressed in the gowns of nobles. When the two of them reached the small party of dwarfs Scot and Mark dismounted. The two knelt onto their knees and Mark spoke to the stout men, "My lordships. This is Sir Scot Schneider of Julian County. He has been tasked with the marshal ship of our army."
The dwarf motioned for the two men to rise. "I am Thorak Grudgebreaker of Karak Hirn. Welcome to the city of Barak Var. We welcome you and wish you peace."
The two knights rose at the request of the dwarf. "Thank you Thorak. We wish to quickly cross through the city and across the river today," said Scot, "but we are willing to negotiate purchase of goods and feed for our army before we continue south."
"Of course," said another dwarf, "we can provide as much bread and mead as your quartermasters demand!"
The group chuckled. "Thank you comrade," said Scot, "I'll have requests written up as soon as possible and provided to you."
Thorak smiled, "We won't refuse your King's gold. Tell me Scot, do you know that you are not the only humans this far south?"
"We have heard. To be honest, my lord, we had word that a dwarf noble named Thorak was leading an allied contingent of Karak Hirn for a baron from Wissenland. I assume this noble is you."
"You spies must be good," replied the dwarf.
"They have been able to give us much about north of the river, but little of south. What should be expect?"
The dwarf laughed heartily, "Beyond the occasional Goblin or Orc? Well we have word of a large beastman encampment to the west of the city, near Stormhendge. We also know of two large lizardmen armies and some marauders from the north. Beyond that, you'll find the camp of Baron Von Seitz from Wissenland south of this city. To his east further up the river are his allies from Averland and somewhere further south the hordes of pilgrims following that Arch Lector."
"And have there been any sightings of the fortress?" Ask Mark.
"Not yet. The last report is weeks old. As the storms of Autumn approach from the gulf the fortress will move with the strength of the thunderheads. I'm sorry that I cannot provide more information there." Said Thorak.
"Well we thank you for your hospitality. We are anxious to try the legendary Mead of Barak Var tonight. I'll send you word when we have broken camp. We have a location in the foothills of the Dragonback Mountains that he hope to construct a temporary fortress, given that no beastman already occupy that land."
And with that the two parties went their separate ways. The Bretonnian army continued south and broke camp in the foothills of the Dragonback Mountains.
An hour earlier Scot had sent off a small group of riders ahead of the column to send word to the city that his army approached and intended to parry for safe passage through the city. He sent the message with the diplomat, poet and warrior, Sir Mark Turner. The veteran of the King's Guard had command over words that Scot lacked, and given the brittle situation between the dwarfs and the Bretonnians he was the best weapon to use in this case.
The land surrounding Barak Var was strange, a mixture between rolling hills and cliffs where the Black Gulf met the Blood River. The land here was rich in both grass and in minerals under the land. The dwarfs had build the fortress at Barak Var centuries ago to command the sea access of the Blood River, allowing the dwarfs who lived upstream in the mountain cities of the World's End Mountains access to trade with the western Kingdoms. Without Barak Var this land would surely have been overrun by Orc and Goblin tribes that disrupted the free trade of goods between the east and west. Instead the dwarfs of Barak Var patrolled these steppes. These dwarfs were a strange breed that build longships and knew how to defend walls as well as tunnels.
The party came around a curve in the road, flanked on both sides by steep cliffs. As they traversed the curve the walls of Barak Var became visible. From the curve to the city gates was less than a mile, but between where Scot and his riders were now and the gates was visible well over a dozen watchtowers that defended the narrow passes. The dwarfs in the watchtowers tracked the movements of the army, but made no motion to defend the walls.
Clearly the message of Sir Turner were well received.
As the party reached the open gates of the great city Sir Turner and his riders waited. Mark rode forward and hailed Scot, "My Lord. We are welcomed to pass through the city without impediment."
Thank the Lady, thought Scot. The last thing the army needed was to detour the city. "What did the dwarfs demand?"
"Nothing my lord, simply peace. They indicated to me that they have heard of your lordship and trusted you to uphold you end of the bargain of peace. We are to move through the city hastily and continue south. The head of the keep did ask to meet with you shortly."
A meeting with the master of arms of Barak Var? Perhaps they wanted to make a profit from this war, thought Scot. "Take me to him."
Mark turned his mount and rode into the streets of the city. Scot followed him and could see ahead a small party of half-men, dressed in the gowns of nobles. When the two of them reached the small party of dwarfs Scot and Mark dismounted. The two knelt onto their knees and Mark spoke to the stout men, "My lordships. This is Sir Scot Schneider of Julian County. He has been tasked with the marshal ship of our army."
The dwarf motioned for the two men to rise. "I am Thorak Grudgebreaker of Karak Hirn. Welcome to the city of Barak Var. We welcome you and wish you peace."
The two knights rose at the request of the dwarf. "Thank you Thorak. We wish to quickly cross through the city and across the river today," said Scot, "but we are willing to negotiate purchase of goods and feed for our army before we continue south."
"Of course," said another dwarf, "we can provide as much bread and mead as your quartermasters demand!"
The group chuckled. "Thank you comrade," said Scot, "I'll have requests written up as soon as possible and provided to you."
Thorak smiled, "We won't refuse your King's gold. Tell me Scot, do you know that you are not the only humans this far south?"
"We have heard. To be honest, my lord, we had word that a dwarf noble named Thorak was leading an allied contingent of Karak Hirn for a baron from Wissenland. I assume this noble is you."
"You spies must be good," replied the dwarf.
"They have been able to give us much about north of the river, but little of south. What should be expect?"
The dwarf laughed heartily, "Beyond the occasional Goblin or Orc? Well we have word of a large beastman encampment to the west of the city, near Stormhendge. We also know of two large lizardmen armies and some marauders from the north. Beyond that, you'll find the camp of Baron Von Seitz from Wissenland south of this city. To his east further up the river are his allies from Averland and somewhere further south the hordes of pilgrims following that Arch Lector."
"And have there been any sightings of the fortress?" Ask Mark.
"Not yet. The last report is weeks old. As the storms of Autumn approach from the gulf the fortress will move with the strength of the thunderheads. I'm sorry that I cannot provide more information there." Said Thorak.
"Well we thank you for your hospitality. We are anxious to try the legendary Mead of Barak Var tonight. I'll send you word when we have broken camp. We have a location in the foothills of the Dragonback Mountains that he hope to construct a temporary fortress, given that no beastman already occupy that land."
And with that the two parties went their separate ways. The Bretonnian army continued south and broke camp in the foothills of the Dragonback Mountains.
Comments
Post a Comment