Press down into the low lands after putting the horse down and hiding the bodies, giving the rider's weapons to Tess and Lock(his two companions). Head to Stormstead. Use the wooden pikes if there's a fight and send the others on forward if the riders' attention is focused on himself.
The lowlands were left mostly unaffected by the war. Untouched by raiders from either side, the peasants managed to remain somewhat prosperous. [4] The road to Stormstead is also relatively peaceful; although dozens of messengers were intercepted by Richard's intelligence system, banditry remained quite scarce along the roads, due to increased patrols and decrease of trade. You even meet a few bands of soldiers on your way to the Capital, tasked with dealing with any deserters or troublemakers exploiting these dark times. [4+1] That and the relatively good weather allow you to quickly travel to Stormstead without any interruption.
[6] The Capital is another matter. Although the levies have been disbanded a few days past now, the royal army remains in the capital, waiting from further orders from the Prince, who is apparently still dealing with a few matters with Edgard. When you try to approach the town, you are chased off - the soldiers are trying to limit the number of travelers coming and going in the city, in order to slow down the spread of the Grey Death, and much mistrust has started growing since evidence of Albert's poisoning started appearing. Since you are not a merchant nor someone living near who could be looking for something to buy, they figure you're up to no good; a few benevolent soldiers recommend the huge Altaregia or the extremely active Arborvent if you're looking for a job, and the others just tell you to bugger off.
You could try to infiltrate the town, announce your true identity, disguise yourself as a merchant or simply give up and live out your days as a farmer. The choice is yours.
[1] Of course, there is still the problem of the men chasing you. You escaped the foothills of the Red Spear, but as soon as the guards turn you away you sight horsemen on the horizon. The cavalier you killed must have sent word to his comrades about your discovery.
You don't know if they've spotted you, but the North Stormstead plains are an invitation for disaster. You need to get into the city somehow, or it's only a matter of time before the cavaliers catch up with you.
Unheraldried cavaliers have been spotted in the plains north of Stormstead, apparently hunting something or someone. They have made no effort to reveal their identities.
In the North...You, Sigurd and your men enter the Jarl's longhouse, an extended barrow at the top of the hill-fort around which this city was built. News of your arrival preceded you, and two rows of housecarls stand ready with their weapons before Jarl Erik's high seat. The Jarl himself, a man some ten winters older than Sigurd, sits on the high wooden chair and looks coldly upon your approach. Grey streaks his golden beard and his hair has paled to the colour of straw. He wears a crown, a simple bronze circlet, and long fur robes.
"The exile comes to challenge for his right to live?" demands Erik in a thick Haegar tongue.
"The jarl comes to challenge for his right to rule!" responds Sigurd in kind.
"I see no right to rule, exile! You have brought outsiders to our hall, against the Kraken's Compact!"
"These men are Haegar by blood and birth, though they were raised beyond our lands. They know only as much as they needed to. Their jarl took me into his home as one jarl to another. He gave me these men, and I gave him honour as payment. I would have you join me again, Erik, as my second. I would have you come to the Adran lands."
"To live as one of the low scum?" Erik spits.
"To war, Erik! This Jarl would invite us in, assist us in pillage! How many winters have we struggled, without slaves, without geld from slave peoples? We shall not break the Compact in war, but war we must! The low men are weak, crippled! They war among themselves and their lands lie ripe for the raping!"
"Enoguh!" declared Erik. "I have heard too much. You would go against the Compact, I fear. I love you, cousin, but love can extend only so far. I challenge you, Kraken's arm to Kraken's arm, for your life, and I challenge this low-raised filth as well! Let the gods decide the true course as only they can!"
The Jarl shrugs away his cloak to reveal good mail beneath, stolen from some Adran lord. His housecarls hand him a rune-struck axe and shield, clearing a space in the centre of the longhouse for him to fight. Both you and Sigurd and shoved into the centre by dozens of carls.
Both of you have been challenged to combat. If you go first to fight, your blood means you might well take leadership of the city instead of Sigurd. You might also die. If Sigurd fights first and weakens the Jarl, you will at least have a stronger chance of beating him - but Sigurd will reclaim his throne if he wins. The choice is yours.
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Topic: You are King III: Spring 938 AAL (Read 133280 times)