Some more about the surrounding area, geography, people.. basically a ramblin' fleshin' out the world yarn.
The Village
As if time never existed.. the long houses stand against the winds. Small icicles cling to the ledges, the last of winter's might their motivation. A crisp clear morning, the sight of a pair of breeding hawks riding thermals as if searching for Valhalla through the use of their wings.. silly birds.. not privy to the lives of men. Bjorn, the mule driver, is toiling with his two ancient oxen, attempting to gather timber for the planned construction of a communal barn, at least that is the plan for the spring. The sounds of axes can be heard in the surrounding wood. To the south others are fishing from the small brook, this small brook will soon become a full torrent beating it's banks with the runoff from The Hawks' Ridge Heights to the east. The Heights themselves are stunning in their magnitude. You and your people know this twisting maze of box canyons and sheer cliffs, more than one mountain goat have been gifted to the village from the great mountain, the richest hunting grounds for a weeks travel in any direction. To the west lie a few more barrier hills, thickly forrested, crisscrossed with known and unknown game trails. beyond that lie the open plains.. no one has ever traveled that far and returned. Songs are still told in the Longhouses about the souls that tried. To the north lies the great eternal White. A land of never ending cold, snow and the most bitter of winds.. few people live in the Great White.. those that do tend to come to your village once spring has broken to trade for their necessities. You can see Mila and Karl.. the two resident newlyweds having their traditional morning rue.. and can barely make out broken words from the distance.. The anger clearly visible on Mila's face as she bashes Karl with a oaken bucket.. a smile plays at the corner of your mouth.. Mila once lived in the Great White.. but rarely speaks of the past.
The elders are stirring, as a small column of smoke begins to rise from the Longhouse. Soon the great horn will be sounded.. and those to be chosen for the day's hunt will be determined. Your stomach begins it's daily yearning reminding you of the harsh winter past.. the light crusting of ice crackles under your weight as the frigid air catches your breath in great plumes.
Tribal Elders, history and recent events
Fredrich and Hanna - Fredrich was once the most mighty of the village.. standing easily 6' plus.. he is a giant among men (most Nords were rather short and barrel chested) A nasty scar still occasionally weeps in mid winter, running from the bridge of his nose to the top of his right ear... having removed the eye. He never speaks of it.. but he is the Headsman of the village. A cold, calculating man who is only tempered in his rage by his love of the village.. and no doubt would sacrifice all of himself in it's defense. Hanna, Fredrich's wife, a portly, kind woman is always working.. easily the hardest worker in the village. She has been known to fell a tree as fast as any of the men. A fact she reminds them of often, especially if they comment as to the quality of her cooking.
Old Matilda - The oldest living thing you have ever seen. It is almost not.. um natural. She is the 'bonecaster' of the village. Often sending the youth of the village in search of some sprig of blah or pinch of bleh. If you have a malady she is the one whose council is sought. She tells of the 'birth of trees' and the 'wolves bane' both popular nighttime stories in the Longhouses.
Jon - Fredrich's right hand. When the village is threatened Jon is there to 'supervise'. Standing 5'6 of so.. he is decent in a ruckus.. even if it caused by his own drink. Most in the village whisper behind his back. Something your fathers have spoken about in hushed tones in private circles. He does not know that he is disliked, he feels that his position in the tribe has given him 'special immunity' to the harder aspects of village life.
Rame - The son of Fredrich. This guy is the village clown. He is fun, gregarious and is constantly playing practical jokes on Jon. He does this for the amusement of his clan as he know Jon doesn't dare lay a finger on him due to the true fear of Fredrich. He is one of your 'pals' (( he is a npc toon that is good friends with all of your toons, even if you are the stanoff-ish type.. he is the one guy that doesn't get on your nerves))
Karl and Mila - The newly weds. Mila traveled to the village seeking trade with her clan two seasons ago. Having met Karl, a long time Sundin Clansmen, Karl was stricken immediately. It was a fortnights worth of laughter that followed as the good people of Sundin spied the courtship. Karl not being the quickest of wit or feet eventually won her heart after a hour long fistfight. Karl's face was beaten black, bloody and blue. Crimson on snow, but he had his bride, and was smiling. The 'rues' as they have been called among the villagers, are now accepted as routine. The older females can be heard chiding their young with "See what happens when you marry a woman from the Great White, they are red haired hellions!'
Bjorn 'the mule driver' - An older man.. some say in his 50's the toil of a life's work is evident upon his brow. Hands like iron, he is renown for his grip and work ethic. He can fell a tree hitch the livestock and move said tree in a single hour. He is the handyman in the village. Strong and wise.. some say he is truly the muscle behind Fredrich. He was the one rumored to have saved Fredrich's life the day he lost his eye.
Seth and Torrin - both sons of a long dead father killed three or four seasons ago in an ambush by the cowardly Heliks.. a tribe to the south. Seth is a stout youngster, aged 12, reddish hair and a strong build. He rarely speaks.. and when he does.. it is well rehearsed. He chops wood by the cord. Torrin, like his older brother is sound of body.. but, he could talk the bark off a spruce tree. He spends much of his time fishing down by the brook, often returning with full stringers. Both boys are taken care of and raised by the entire village, but answer to Fredrich and Hanna, their 'gaurdians' or so Hanna would put it..
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Topic: "Do you have a couple hours to waste?" Chapter 2, Page 1 (Read 17942 times)