Abyssal Road Trip

Julia started towards Eyrarháls and noticed the weight of eyes upon her. The survivors whose sight was still trying to adjust to the light went wide-eyed at the sight of her. Once it became apparent Julia wasn’t leaving to retrieve more prisoners, the closest women began forcing themselves to their feet. Blankets, food and clothes being offered by townsfolk became set aside in favour of moving towards her.

“Relax, please. Stay seated,” Julia said, holding up her hands to draw the attention of the women, and projecting patience and reassurance through Dominion’s aura as she did so. Telepathy conveying the words to those she could see struggling to hear her. Julia waited till they had settled before she spoke again.

“You’ve been through horrors that few can comprehend, except the women who survived with you. Your sisters around you know what you’ve been through; you might feel weak or broken, but together you are stronger by far. Even a thin reed is hard to break when you bind scores of them together. They tried to break you, to use you up till they saw fit to discard you. They failed! Those that wish, I’ll teach you how to break them.”

Fuck your system achievements. I’d slaughter a hundred times that number of monsters to free even a fraction of these women.

Teleporting along the road, she collected Gellamel and Aggie, taking the time to repeat the message along the line of the survivors. The disbelief and despair among the survivors faced with an uncertain freedom burned with something new: Hope.

Finding the merchant still parked by the side of the road, Julia nodded politely to him, and he hurried to meet her. Julia hadn’t paid him a lot of attention in her hurry to return and now looked him over properly as he approached.

Broad-shouldered, he was an aging human in his early forties, streaks of grey dusted through his blond hair cut off below his ears. As his sharp pale-blue gaze fixed on her, Julia considered the mix of the round chin, solid cheekbones, and the sharp nose that made up his features. He had a broad, friendly smile that showed a complete set of teeth and appeared genuinely concerned for her wellbeing. It made Julia wonder how successful he’d be selling cars or buying Souls.

Analysis

[Name: Krivibog

Race: Human (Slavic Ancestry)

Class: Fighter / Merchant

Level: 15 / 52

Health: 663

Defence: 43

Melee Attack Power: 47

Combat Skills: Club [M) (1), Staff [M] (1)

Details: Originally from Sclaveni, the capital of the Slavic Kingdom, Krivibog has been travelling the roads of the ten Kingdoms since he was an apprentice. Now considered a master merchant, his children help run the family trading house he established.. ]

Yeah, I don’t want to know how high this guy’s haggling is. The way he isn’t bug-eyed at me, I wonder if Merchant gives Willpower.

{{ Oh, not irresistible? see, maybe you can snuggle this guy. Make Torm all jelly. }}

Torm has someone he cares about.

{{ Oh, brother! }}

As B started giggling away, Julia kept her focus on Krivibog. Gellamel and Aggie waited with her but drew back slightly when he went to speak.

“I thought it best to stay and ensure the women you rescued received proper treatment,” stated Krivibog, his tone and demeanour projecting helpfulness.

No concern that perhaps I might hunt you down for a ruby.

“Thank you. I hope you and your caravan will still be able to find dwellings tonight its getting late in the day.”

“If nothing else, we’ll camp by the road. Now about the goods and provisions,” Krivibog enquired

“How much will you require?”

“Unfortunately, I will need three golden knots to cover things, good lady. Some things were from orders I’ll now have to dishonour unless I can find replacements,” Krivibog said, his smile was so disarming, that Julia cheated, touching his mind with Telepathy. His calculation of profit margin making her smile a broad showing of teeth as well.

“Krivibog, really, how could you break your word so? I’m regretting dealing with you so trustingly if you’re the type to dishonour orders,” Julia said. As the response started flowing from his lips, Julia just raised a hand and cut him off.

“I was going to suggest you keep the ruby till you showed yourself to be such a blackheart. Now, since I know you’ll break your word to others, how do I know you’re offering me prices in good faith?”

“But you already gave me the ruby,” said Krivibog, even as he protested Julia could see him catching his mental balance.

“As collateral against the eventual costs. Surely you’re not trying to claim I paid you with that and also expecting three golden knots?” Julia asked, trying for a disappointed look.

[Acting [J](18->20)

Haggling [J](9->10)]

Checking my log turned notifications back on. Blah!

The Merchant started waxing on about the urgency of her need, only for a guardsman to clear his throat beside them, cutting him off after only a few words.

“Lady, if you are Eakcï, the Jarl would like to speak with you.”

Julia glanced at the guard with her smile still in place and sighed when he looked ready to grovel at her feet.

Fuck!

“As much as I’d like to enjoy a long haggling session with you, unfortunately, the Jarl calls,” Julia said, adding a thoughtful pause before she continued. “How about you pick a gem from among these as payment? I collected them myself from Elementals.”

Julia held out a hand, and assorted sized gems appeared on her palm. They ranged from tiny diamonds of various hues, garnets, and rubies up to gems half the size she’d given him earlier.

Krivibog quickly picked out a gem; Julia catching from his mind it was worth well over ten times what he’d asked. Still, he moderated his first greedy impulse after she’d looked at him flatly. Though still excessive, Julia felt the knowledge she lifted from him was worth the exchange. She had funds to help her cult now, as the gems had ranged from ten to thousands of golden knots. From what Julia gathered, Planar aligned gems would fetch far more from Wizards, Mages, and assorted Temples. As she put the gems and the returned ruby away, Julia smiled at the guard struggling with his composure before gesturing for him to lead on.

“Please show me to the Jarl, if you’d be so kind,” said Julia.

“Lady Eakcï.”

The familiar voice pulled at Julia’s attention, and she turned to see Sagga, leading the way with two ladies Eivor had introduced to Julia following with blankets.

“Sagga,” greeted Julia. But she only managed a single name before Livia blurred from among the crowd and climbed her like a tree.

“You’re back,” Livia chirped, settling on Julia’s shoulders. Her shins tucking under Julia’s armpits as she leant over Julia from behind. Julia tilted her head back to regard the crystal gaze and returned the beaming smile that Livia gave her.

“If you’ve so much energy, have you learnt the Ki Healing technique as yet?”

“No,” Livia replied, downcast as she glanced at the nearest survivor. “Master Farhad hasn’t taught it to me yet. I wish he had. I’ve been helping by moving blankets and spare clothes.”

“Can you do me a favour and show Gellamel and Aggie to Master Yngvarr’s house?” asked Julia, gesturing to each lady. “Please ask him if he’d shelter them for the time being.”

“Of course, I know he’s holding a room for your visits, so worse case they can share it since you have little need.”

The little monkey slid from her as quick as she’d climbed, only stopping for a quick hug before she led the women away.

“I’ll meet you there unless Master Yngvarr shoos me off,” Livia called over her shoulder, and Julia smiled before looking back to the guard.

“I’m sorry, just a moment longer.”

Turning to Sagga and the Priestesses, she gave them each a hug in return, aware of how surprised the ladies were by the gesture.

“Thank you for helping with this effort and everything else you’ve been doing,” Julia said, the intensity of the adoration from them disturbing.

I wish I could blend as Rana does.

“If you’d follow me please, Lady Eakcï,” the guard requested and waited for her nod before he headed towards the gate.

Julia followed along, aware of those watching on, not wanting to know what rumours they’d hear now. Yet with Telepathy withdrawn, she was unaware that all most saw was her calm, iridescent beauty, moving with liquid grace and poise. With the Jarl’s guard escorting her, the gate guards didn’t request a name or a chit.

Julia refreshed her clothing and let it settle separately from her form since Torm might not be alone in having True Sight. While she couldn’t hide her nature from that Power, she’d settle for not being buck arse naked.

Decorative wood panelling covered the walls from the entryway of the Jarl’s Hall and grew more elaborate the further inside Julia went. It reminded her of the forest scene in the Silver Chalice, but the scenes here looked far older. The dark wood panels showed details of age in True Sight, generations of fingers having touched and left their mark on the intricate details. Between each group of decorative panels, weapons sat in brackets like a medieval castle, and clearly weren’t decroative. The builders had precisely set the sturdy stone floor, with an unpolished surface that provided sure footing.

Seeing inside the Jarl’s Hall for the first time, Julia wondered if Skyrim's dragon born theme would start up. When B started its pulsing beat within her mind, an amused smile twitched on her lips before she schooled her features into calmness. The entryway led straight into what looked to be a banquet hall, long tables stretched its length towards the raised area. On either side of the hall archways lead further into the Jarl’s dwelling, and at the far end of the hall, there were a number of single doors.

At that end on a slightly raised dais sat two simple high-backed chairs, their only ornamentation a crest engraved on the chair’s back peak. A cracked deer antler catching a savage hand axe in its prongs, a few droplets from the axe’s jagged blade, symbolised blood, Julia guessed. Seated on the chairs, an older couple held court with ten others. As the guard led her towards the gathering, a young woman standing nearby looked up, causing others to turn towards Julia. The chatter between those addressing the seated couple didn’t subside, however.

Julia could recognise the Jarl from descriptions, but the woman beside him was equally imposing. He had the solid tan of someone used to working outdoors, and scars spotted his face, though none extended further than a few centimetres. The longest scar ran from the right corner of his mouth to the centre of his solid chin, its tension twisting the corner of his mouth downwards. Though his face bore only minor scars, his nose had bumps speaking of frequent breaks. He shared the sky-blue eyes of his wife, though while hers sparkled with life, his gaze gave him a coldly assessing air currently focused on a man speaking nearby.

The Jarl was greying with only hints of blond left, though he easily withstood the weight of the silverish chain hauberk he wore. The lady was also likewise armoured, she’d added bracers that bore some sort of metallic chasing from wrist to elbow. Though if the hauberks were made of light Mithril that, or the enchantments, might explain the ease they showed wearing them.

Neither lounged but rather sat as if ready to respond instantly if needed. Where he was bulky and solid muscle, she was whip-lean. Her dark red hair showed less grey and contrasted favourably with the little blond left to his credit. The man’s solid hands were bare, except for two plain rings on his left middle finger, both showing enchantments to True Sight. While on her more delicate fingers were many rings, ornate or simple, all bore enchantments.

His wife had leaner features that still showed the beauty of her youth, now aged to show the steel rose underneath. A heart-shaped face with an upturned nose and a round chin. While her features lacked in his sheer frequency of scars, she made up for that with the extent of the burn she carried; running as it did from her partly melted left ear down along her neck disappearing into her hauberk. Rather than cover it, she’d styled her hair into a braid that rested on her right shoulder. The dramatic scar didn’t detract from her beauty but accented it speaking of the steel that the fire couldn’t touch. Laugh lines etched around her eyes looked ill-used at present by the intensity of her focus.

When the escort drew their attention neither the Jarl nor Lady seemed besotted by Julia’s presence, though that wasn’t the case for several others.

Analysis

[Name: Þiúðmundr Axebane

Race: Human (Norse Ancestry)

Class: Farstrider / Fighter / Scout / Noble

Level: 62 / 48 / 49 / 34

Details: The third surviving child of the previous Jarl; A gathering of Chieftains, and Karls, elected Þiúðmundr as Jarl after his father fell in battle without confirming his choice of heir. He combined the Ranger and Scout classes at level fifty into the Prestige class of Farstrider. As a Ranger, his patron is Óðinn, and he is respectful to all the Norse pantheon as well as Ra, Bast and Sekhmet. ]

Analysis

[Name: Ǫlhildr Axebane

Race: Human (Norse / Roman Ancestry)

Class: Midnight Storm / Assassin / Scout / Wizard

Level: 63 / 58 / 42 / 42

Details: The fifth daughter of a merchant family Ǫlhildr left home when she was fifteen, joining the Companions Hall to avoid marriage. She combined the Fighter and Wizard with Air, Celestial, Dark, and Lightning Affinities classes at level sixty into the Prestige class of Midnight Storm. Ǫlhildr pays respect to all the Norse pantheon, along with Bast. ]

[Analysis [Ad] (26->27)]

Julia could see a family resemblance with a few nearby as the guard hurried her forward.

“Jarl Þiúðmundr and Lady Ǫlhildr, I present to you Lady Eakcï. Lady Eakcï, Jarl Þiúðmundr and Lady Ǫlhildr,” the guard said formally and then quickly stepped back. The attention of the Jarl, and Lady as well as those close at hand focused on her alone. Julia has glad neither the Jarl nor Lady seemed inclined towards distraction by her presence.

“Lady Eakcï, you have our thanks and the thanks of many others for the rescue of those women. While we have much to deal with, I would like to acknowledge your deeds and grant you citizenship in our domain. It entitles you to own lands and command the service of thralls.”

{{He didn’t name you Thane. Boo!!! }}

They don’t have Thanes B, so shoo! Command the service of thralls aka buy people; no thanks. I could buy up all their debts and free them but that doesn’t help the people in trouble tomorrow. Need to get the law changed.

A younger woman beside the Lady stepped forward the moment he finished speaking and drew a silver chain with a pendant from a pouch. Her flame-red hair was lighter than Lady Ǫlhildr’s but her eyes spoke of the relationship between them. Unlike her mother, she had the more powerful build of the Jarl and Analysis provided Julia with her name: Angrboda.

[Name: Angrboda Axebane

Race: Human (Norse / Roman Ancestry)

Class: Ranger / Priest / Scout

Level: 34 / 32 / 32

Health: 1,968

Mana: 5,712

Defence: 134

Magic: 71

Melee Attack Power: 98

Ranged Attack Power: 116

Combat Skills: Heavy Blades [M) (2), Long Blades [M] (2), Daggers [M] (4), Longbow [M] (15) - Various Blessing

Details: She is the fourth of five surviving children to the Lady Ǫlhildr Axebane and her husband, Jarl Þiúðmundr of Eyrarháls. A Priestess and Ranger in the service of Frigga.

]

Weird, I thought the Norse had different family name customs.

“Lady Eakcï, please accept this pendant from our family. It represents your citizenship and a mark of our family’s favour given the help you’ve provided to our domain and the Kingdom. My thanks as well; I’m hoping people I know are among those you’ve rescued, and that they will recover from their ordeal.”

“Thank you, Priestess Angrboda, for your kind words and the token from your family. I would like to assist further beyond just their rescue.”

Julia noticed Angrboda twitch in surprise, but said nothing about her reaction.

“You’ve done much in rescuing so many though we’ll have our work cut out for us. There will be challenges ahead for the domain in handling the short-term issues such a sudden influx will cause,” said Þiúðmundr, his voice a commanding baritone.

“More than short-term issues, as I was trying to tell you, Jarl. The first planting is all completed, and we’ve not the seed stock nor fields available to extend it. Land will have to be cleared, and prepared, or field rotation disrupted which will affect future harvests.”

While the points raised made sense to Julia, the whining tone in the speaker’s voice was like nails along a chalkboard. Julia kept a calm expression on her face as the speaker looked at her contemptuously and Analysis gave her a name, and his classes. The Merchant and Steward attached to ‘Eysteinn’ didn’t surprise her given the issues he raised. He was taller by at least twenty centimetres, allowing him to loom over her, yet his sneering expression made for a ferret of a man. Julia amused herself by thinking about photo filters suitable for him instead of the features that seemed so at odds with his behaviour. His solid Norse jawline, cheeks, straight nose, and dark blue eyes with thick white hair should have given him an elder statesman vibe, instead Julia wanted to scrape him off her boot.

“I can help by bringing in supplies,” Julia offered, but was interrupted before she could explain.

“You clearly don’t know the expense involved with feeding that many people. Even at normal food prices. And the food prices won’t be normal with so many extra mouths to feed. The planting is complete; they’ll be able to contribute nothing to the first harvest,“ sneered Eysteinn.

Well, he’s not doing all the bug-eyed looking at me others are, so Merchant must provide Willpower - pity it doesn’t also provide moral character.

“I wasn’t asking the town to pay anything. I’ll cover the cost of bringing in food supplies, as well as organising clothing for the women.”

“That’s very generous of you to offer such help, but given many of the survivors are from ours or neighbouring domains we should tend them ourselves,” refused Jarl Þiúðmundr, his tone firm as he looked at Eysteinn.

“Yes, but now we have thousands of pregnant women to deal with. They’ll be useless for anything, and who’d want them?” complained Eysteinn. Julia glanced from the Jarl to Eysteinn and wished Dominion hadn’t absorbed Intimidate for the first time.

“You’re wrong in all regards,” Julia stated calmly, even as B provided visualisations of smashing his face into the stone floor repeatedly.

“What did you say?” demanded Eysteinn, glaring at Julia.

“So wrong and deaf? Of the two thousand, six hundred, and fifteen women, exactly one of them is pregnant, and her baby is human,” Julia stated firmly. “I’ll be seeing they can get established in one fashion or another.”

“I’ll need that verified by one of Eir’s Priests. Even if you aren’t lying, that still doesn’t deal with the matter of how we’re supposed to feed them. We’ll have to explore what options we have available,” Eysteinn stated.

“So, you speak for the Jarl?” Julia asked. Feeling her hands close, she stopped and focused on opening them again slowly before she gave in and punched him.

{{Go on, just a little one. You might let him see daylight inside his thick head. }}

“He doesn’t. He only seems to care for the domain’s financial limits and apparently hasn’t heard of your followers’ works,” murmured Lady Ǫlhildr, her dry tone announcing her own annoyance.

This could get interesting, but at least she doesn’t seem to care for his attitude either.

Julia nodded politely to Lady Ǫlhildr before she spoke again.

“I already said, I’d be happy to provide wealth enough to get them established,” Julia stated, and as Eysteinn began interjecting, gesturing for a moment gained her enough time to finish. “Even if the Jarl doesn’t wish to accept that aid. I’m aware, we’ll need to seek supplies from further afield, but as I brought the women here I can assist with that. There are things I’d like to discuss, but the survivors are my priority. I can move over eight tons of supply per trip if you’ve suggestions for suitable sources to purchase food.”

“You expect me to believe someone like you is going to afford that much food?” asked Eysteinn, his eyes roaming over the plain leathers she currently wore. “You’ve just brought a bunch of useless burdens to our doorstep, others now have to sort out the problems you’ve caused child.”

Bloody pain in the arse, your Jarl has already turned me down on that offer. Not that it will stop me buying more on my own.

“You should have someone pull out the rat that lives in your skin and grow a heart,” Julia retorted, as B started considering which bone needed to break first.

{{ One little punch? }}

“How dare you! I am the Jarl’s Steward,” Eysteinn exclaimed, his fair complexion reddening as his eyes bulged.

“But you’re not the Jarl, so close your mouth. I didn’t rescue those women for a whining maggot like you to go bad-mouthing them or me,” Julia said. Her calm flat tone causing the words to hit him like slaps, his face growing redder still.

{{Can we give him a heart attack? Or a quick punch in the crotch? A little fisting won’t hurt us. }}

With a mental sigh at the amusement in B’s words, Julia was glad when the Jarl cut off the heated response Eysteinn gathered himself to provide.

“Eysteinn, I think it best if you go arrange for a new tally of the granary and storehouses. Make sure we have an accurate account of usable grains and foodstuffs in store. Some supplies might have perished since the last tally.”

Is that him getting sent to the naughty corner or safety?

Eysteinn glared at her before picking up a ledger from a nearby table and stalking away, able to move well despite his apparent age. The nine others nearby made sounds of amusement that continued for long moments; as Julia glanced at them a lady among them gave her a pleased smile. Like many of the occupants of the town she’d seen, most displayed clear Norse heritage with a mixture of red, brown, and blond hair. Their eye colours ranged from blue to deep brown, though lighter tones were the most common.

Seems they’re enjoying his chastisement.

The Jarl didn’t speak again till the door closed behind Eysteinn’s departure, though Angrboda looked highly amused.

“He cares little beyond the weight of someone’s coin or the balance on the ledger. He takes pride in how long his family has helped manage the lands for the Jarls of Eyrarháls,” said Angrboda.

“If he doesn’t value people, I’ve no time for him. You can train people to understand numbers; you can’t train people to care for others,” replied Julia, letting go of the annoyance before she continued speaking. “Well, regardless, I’m sure there will be expenses for Eyrarháls. It will require coin for additional guards among many other things. Please accept this for your family as a gesture of commitment from me to helping their recovery.”

Julia held out a valuable gem to Angrboda as she finished speaking.

“You should have shown this to Eysteinn; he’d have treated you better than his firstborn,” Angrboda said, her voice desert dry with amusement as she received the gem from Julia.

“Jarl, might I ask, how would you feel about having a cadre of Wizards in Eyrarháls?” Julia asked.

“How is this relevant to the survivors?” Þiúðmundr questioned, clearly puzzled despite his calm tone.

“Eysteinn said they’d be useless. I plan to teach those that want to become Wizards.”

Lady Ǫlhildr coughed in surprise, the sound an attempt to swallow a bark of laughter.

“For what purpose?” Þiúðmundr asked, after a glance at his wife.

“Eradicating Gnarls to make your domain and the Kingdom safer. Who knows how many can return to their old lives. I want to show them there’s hope for something more than the nightmare they’ve survived,” stated Julia, conviction setting her tone with steel.

“Even if an individual has an Affinity, becoming a Wizard can take years. Do you believe more than a handful will be capable of learning?” Ǫlhildr asked, curiosity clear in her voice.

“I’ve plans for that. Might I suggest a trial period of a few months to prove what I can achieve for Eyrarháls? I’ll see to covering their costs and bringing in extra materials, so prices aren’t driven up. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll still cover the costs of resettling them in new homes and professions. Wherever they wish to settle,” Julia stated, hoping she could implement her plan without official interference.

Well, at worst, I’ll be saturating local crafters with work to do.

“Housing is going to get very crowded in Eyrarháls,” remarked Ǫlhildr.

“There are wild grasslands, a score of kilometres south of here. I camped on a knoll on the edge of a wood near them and didn’t see a single light anywhere to the west of it.”

“Who’d be in charge of whatever we build? You?” asked one of the group suspiciously as he finally got over his bug-eyed state.

“Don’t even think about giving me such a position. I’ll fund construction regardless of where you want to build them homes. The location isn’t in my hands, it was just a suggestion.”

“There are reasons those lands are empty. Their long-term housing will need consideration and doesn’t need an immediate decision. Lady Eakcï, if you would join my wife and I for further discussion. Everyone else, get started with your tasks; It’s late afternoon already and there is still much to accomplish.”

As the Jarl rose to his feet, the others nodded and headed off about whatever tasks they’d been set. Some immediately heading towards the front doors of the keep, while others adjourning towards various inner doors.