The Long Way

[Franconicus]

THE LONG WAY

Chapter 1 - The Origin

It happened two weeks after Litha – the Midsummer festival. It was the day of the thunder god and Thor appeared himself. He was riding through the heavens on his chariot pulled by the goats Tanngrisni ("gap-tooth") and Tanngnost ("tooth grinder"). He was right above our hamlet - accompanied by thunder and lightning. It was the worst thunderstorm I had seen in my life. Evil spirits chased howling around the nave while big drops pound on the roof scaring the inhabitants of the hamlet. From time to time a flurry hit the walls and made the columns sigh. Then the clan members, who had taken shelter in the nave of Baldegg, our chief, moved together even tighter.

Baldegg sat on his chair, his famous sword lying across his knees. As legend had it the sword was a wedding present from Odin himself to his great-great-grandfather when he married a valkyrie. This union founded the fame of our clan. Since then we were known for being a family of heroes and magi, of sorceresses and seeresses. His head was hidden beneath his hands; I could not tell whether he fell asleep. Baldegg had already seen a lot of years and many thought that it was time that one of his sons became patriarch. Some said that even in his younger days peoples followed him because he had that magic sword, not because he had leadership skills.

At his side there were his two oldest sons, Glen and Glum. Although twins they had different appearance and different characters. Glen was a hand smaller than his father, but he had broad shoulders with strong arms and hands like shovels. He liked to work hard on the fields and was a gifted farmer. His brother Glum was tall, even taller than his father. Though he was strong, too, he was also very lissome. He never bothered with a plough; he was an excellent hunter and had the spirit of a warrior. Glum was always faster than his brother, in thinking and acting. However, he missed the staying power of his brother.

The three men were surrounded by the other members of the house, Baldegg’s wife Beyla, his nine daughters, and me, Gunnar, his youngest son. Both side aisles were filled with the occupants of the other naves. In the back room there were Baldegg’s animals.

Outside evil spirits were crying, inside women were whining and praying. The men sat and stared into space. Finally Glum stood up and said: “Bragi, our poet. Tell us the chronicle of our nation!”

At once everyone was quiet. Even the howling from outside seemed to soften. Bragi stood up and started his narrative:

”Listen to the story of our nation, as it has been given from generation to generation:
After Odin and his two brothers Ve and Vili had created the universe and the nine worlds, they walked on the beach where they came upon two logs of wood which were washed ashore. They picked the logs up and give them a humanoid shape. Odin breathed into them the spirit of live, Vili gave them sharp wits and feeling hearts; and Ve bestowed upon them the senses, expressive features and speech. Furthermore, the brothers provided them with names and clothes. The male they named Ask ("ash") and the female the named Embla ("elm"). Ask and Embla became the progenitors of the human race and Midgard was given to them as their residence.

When Loki heard the news he tried to imitate the three gods. All his attempts to create human beings were in vain. He finally tried to build men out of animals. He created the wild sow men, the cow men and the wolf men. Although they looked like human beings they lacked the godsend wits, the feeling heart and the fine senses.

In the beginning the human nation lived in the eastern part of Midgard. One day Odin decided to give them a new homeland. So the One-eyed called his people and guided them to the new place. On the way the humans said: ‘Look, this is a good place to live. Let’s stay here and build our houses!’ But Alfadir kept on marching, using his spear as a walking stick and the human nation followed. When they finally reached the Land between the Oceans Alfadir climbed on the hill Cimbaro and rammed Gungnir, his spear into ground. The spear stroke roots and became an enormous oak. This was the sign for the human race to settle down. The oak is the center of our homeland Cimbriheim.”

Bragi stopped and looked around. Everybody was attentive. Baldegg called: “Go on, Bragi! Tell us about the golden age!”

Bragi nodded: “After the human nation had settled they started to build acres. They found the ground fertile. Freyr, ‘God of the World’, ordered sun and rain to cultivate the plants and gave the human nation bountiful harvests.The sea gave them plenty of fish. Each clan built a hamlet.

Odin taught his people how to use metal; bronze, silver and gold. Now the humans could make tools, weapons and artworks. The population grew and we became rich. We had trade across the ocean with the lands of the north and even with the Western Island, where they swapped horses and honey for tin.

There was still much ground and Odin decided to bring another tribe of the human beings to the Land between the Oceans. The Teutons arrived and settled at the northern shore. After a while another tribe came from the south, the Ambrones. Although they were no human beings – their great mother was a wild sow – the humans had pity with them. They gave them a place to build their naves, taught them how to plant corn and how to appease gods. The Ambrones settled south of the humans.”

Glum shouted: “What about the cow men? Tell us about the cow men!”

“Yes, of cause there were other people, too. They are called cow men because their great mother was a cow. They were not a tribe ours. They had no villages, not even solid houses. They moved from place to place with their droves. They had no friends, no shelter and no god took care about them. They sneaked around our hamlets trying to scrounge or steal something. But when they saw a human being they ran away.
Those were the happy days. The human nation ruled Cimbriheim from shore to shore. We were rich, we lived in harmony with our gods; there was no hunger or pain.”

“Were there any other men on earth?”

“Yes, we know that there were another people. Once there was a trader, who came from far away. After his ship had stranded he came to us and stayed the whole winter. Obviously he was no human being, because he was terrible deformed. He was small, at least one instep smaller than a human being. He also had small hands and small feet, hands and feet of a child. He had dark hair and dark eyes. And he had the face of a child too, without a beard. Many believed that he was not grown up but he declared that he was 34 years old and that in his homeland all men looked like he did. Although he was abhorrent and ugly the humans treated him kind. When he talked about his country his story was unbelievable. He said that his nation was in the south, between two oceans just like Cimbriheim. At the northern side the country is limited by big mountains. The people there were small and they descend from wolves. Although they are tiny he told us that they were very powerful. They occupied 50 hamlets and ruled over the complete southern world. They were rich; they ruled the sea, too. They sent their traders all across the world.

The humans did not believe him. But a magus said that he knew this nation. Usually they were called dwarfs, their king was Alberich. They lived in the mountains - under ground. Although they were small and ugly they were magical creatures. They were fiendishly clever, very strong and they could anvil better than any other race. He strongly recommended to treat the dwarf right. Dwarfs are under Thor’s protection!

The magus probably was right; when the dwarf showed his sword everybody could see that it was made from an unknown material. Although it was not as shiny as bronze it was much stronger. When summer returned the dwarf repaired his ship and sailed away. He was never seen again.”

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Hi!
This is my first shot. I will be thankful for any feedback; even telling me that I should end it immediately-:2thumbsup:

[Ludens]

Welcome to the Mead Hall, Franconicus. I like your story. I think it could do with a bit more suspense, but most histories tend not to be very exciting.

Please continue ~:thumb: .

[Franconicus]

Thank you, Ludens! A bit more suspense :idea2: I could add misery and some alcohol.

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Chapter 2 - The Dark Age

The poet looked around.

“And then the Dark Age began!”

Another blast hit the house. This time it tore a hole in the roof, over the left aisle. A small waterfall was running down to the people sitting there.

“Our guardian spirits did not care any longer and Hod, the blind god of darkness and winter, began to rule over Cimbriheim. The weather began to change. Winters became longer and colder; the summers were filled with rain. Our fields turned into swamps. The seeresses had seen it coming but there was nothing the humans could do. The magi and sorceresses tried to find out what was going on. They made sacrifices to appease the gods and to regain their protection. They sacrificed things as well as animals; finally we even sacrificed men; all in vane. The weather did not change, the corn did not grow and a dearth afflicted Cimbriheim. Many humans died in those years. Our neighbors, the Teutons and the Ambrones suffered the same. Finally, when all our splendid fields had turned into swamps and meadows we had to leave them and build new ones on the stony hills, where the rainwater could run off. Here we harvested enough to survive. But the times were still hard.”

An old broad whispered: “Ragnarok, the Doom of the Gods!”

“Shut up, old witch!” Magni, the strongest man of our clan flew into her face. “Bragi, go on. Do not care about those hags!”

“I tell you, this is the end! This is Fimbulvetr, the winter of winters. As been told: Three such winters will follow each other with no summers in between. Conflicts and feuds will break out, even between families, and all morality will disappear. This is the beginning of the end.

The wolf Skoll will finally devour the sun, and his brother Hati will eat the moon, plunging the earth into darkness. The stars will vanish from the sky. The cock Fjalar will crow to the giants and the golden cock Gullinkambi will crow to the gods. A third cock will raise the dead.

The earth will shudder with earthquakes, and every bond and fetter will burst, freeing the terrible wolf Fenrir. The sea will rear up because Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent, is twisting and writhing in fury as he makes his way toward the land. With every breath, Jormungand will stain the soil and the sky with his poison. The waves caused by the serpent's emerging will set free the ship Naglfar, and with the giant Hymir as their commander, the giants will sail towards the battlefield. From the realm of the dead, a second ship will set sail, and this ship carries the inhabitants of hell, with Loki as their helmsman. The fire giants, led by the giant Surt, will leave Muspell in the south to join against the gods. Surt, carrying a sword that blazes like the sun itself, will scorch the earth. “

“Keep the old wife’s tale to yourself, virago. No one wants to listen! Go on Bragi!”

Another woman said: “Magni, you cannot talk to Gullveig like this! You know she is a seeress; she is the pet of the goddess Nott.”

Magni: “Pet of the goddess? Is this the reason why her words always stink? If she is a seeress, why didn’t she see this storm coming?”

Gullveig: “I can only see what the goddess shows.”

Magni: “You can only see what dementia shows! Bragi, go on!”

“As I said, hard times. However, the Norns decided to make them even harder. I told you about the cowmen. When the times began to turn harder, they drove their cattle on the marsh areas. During winter, they went south and returned only during summer. While the humans suffered from hunger the cowmen became stronger and numerous.

During their migrations, they mingled with southern tribes. They traded with acquired salt, new customs and new tools. One summer when they returned from their winter camps, the cowmen were even more numerous. They behaved like kings, not like tramps. When they started to cheek, the humans wanted to chase them away, as they had done many times before. However, the cowmen did not retread. They stayed on their horses and unsheathed the swords. They were from a different material. Not shining like the bronze swords of the humans. They shimmered a bit like silver. While the humans still marveled at the swords, the cowmen attacked. The swords were longer than any sword before, so they could use them from the backs of their horses. Although the humans fought bravely, they could not resist the new metal swords. The cowmen were able to beat the bronze swords and helmets into pieces. Therefore, the new metal swords beat the humans. The cowmen seized power in the Land between the Oceans. The humans had to give them a part of the harvest. They claimed the best acres for their cattle and they built a castle at the top of the hill right on the other side of Cimbaro. And there they live today and worship their Barbarian gods.”

“Why were they able to defeat us?”

Gullveig: “It was an ordeal. We have to pray and repent.”

Magni: “No, it was because of iron swords. We have to arm and fight.”

Gullveig: “No one can fight against the anger of the gods.”

Magni: “No one can fight against the gutlessness of crones. We have iron swords too!”

Baldegg raised his head: “Magni, you know very well that we cannot mess with them. We were able to buy iron artifacts; we know how to form simple objects like spearheads or arrowheads. However, we do not know how to make a good iron sword. We can buy them, but they are more expensive than gold. Look around you. We have maybe a dozen iron swords. Do you think that is enough to fight the cowmen? Each of them has a sword of his own; best quality. They even brought some armourers – magical dwarfs - from the south. They are now working on the castle. They all have horses and can use them as weapon too. No, Magni, we cannot fight the cowmen!”

After this disputation the clan was silent again. So everyone could hear the rain turning into hail: the gods had decided to ruin the corn on the fields. The humans would have to face another long winter.

Gullveig mumbled: “This is the beginning of the end!”

Baldegg: “Maids, bring beer!”

[Franconicus]

Not enough? Maybe I could add some crime:2thumbsup:

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Chapter 3 – Baldegg’s End

It was three weeks before Haustblot, the day when Mani and Sol have an equal share of the day. This is also the day for the human beings to thank their gods for the harvest. This year, however, the joy at the harbor was not gushy; the hailstorm had ruined the corn almost completely. Although the harvest was nearly over the magazines at Baldegg’s hamlet were still only half-full.

Something had to happen or many human beings would die of hunger this winter. Therefore, Glen and Glum were looking for food. Glen took some men and women and went into the forest to collect acorns, roots, berries and fungi. Glum gathered the young men and went for fish. Due to the rough sea, this was not innocuous. Glum swore not to return before he caught as many fishes as they could carry.

While they were gone, the cowmen came. Before someone saw them, they were already between the houses. The cowmen occupied the hamlet and their chief Eligor turned straight to Baldegg’s nave. Sitting on his horse, he demanded to get his toll. Baldegg tried to explain that the harvest was much smaller than usually and that therefore the human beings were not able to pay anything. Eligor gave a shrug and ordered his men to search the village. They cornered the human beings in front of their chief’s house and started then to depredate the settlement. When Baldegg saw this, he cried aloud and pulled out his sword. Later his following said that they never had seen him braver before. When he rushed, forward Eligor made his horse jump. It knocked over Baldegg. When he was laying on the ground Eligor took his lance and pinned the shoulder of his enemy to the ground. Then the cowmen drove all the cattle together and cleared the magazines. They even snaped up the children between 5 and ten year.

When they began to enter the naves, too, Gullveig stepped outside, supported by her 17 year old daughter Velleda. The seeress shot a bane in the face of the intruders: “Cowmen, in the name of Nott, goddess of the night, I execrate you!”

The cowman who was next to her lifted his sword. However, he hesitated to beat her. He looked around and saw that his comrades had stopped too. Eligor gave a signal and the cowmen turned away and disappeared. Before they moved away with their haul, they threw torches to the magazines.

When the Glen and Glum returned to the hamlet, the fire was out. Due to Gullveig’s intervention, the naves were almost undamaged, but the magazines were burned off. Baldegg lay in his house. Pain and fever agitated him.
When Glum heard the news he wanted to chase the cow men. However, his mother stopped him: “Glum, there is nothing you can do. They are far too strong. Your place is here, at the side of your father.” Glum replied: “I cannot help him now. However, we have to do something! Summer is almost gone and we have no food left for the winter. Who is willing to follow me and call the cow men to account?” Some of the younger men came forward, but the rest kept pulled back.

Glen: “We can do nothing about it. You know very well that the cow men are stronger than we are.”
Glum: “We only know if we try.”
Glen: “Don’t you see that the god’s are not on our side? Besides that, we have to think how we can survive this winter – without supply. I do not see any good in wasting time and spending more lives. Let us send messengers to the other naves. Maybe they will help us.”
Glum: “The god’s are always on the sides of the strong ones! What about the abducted children?”
Some women started crying. The men looked sheepish. Then Glen murmeled: “Maybe they are better off than we are. They will have something to eat this winter.” Glum turned round and went into his father’s house.

This night Baldegg died. Before he did, he opened his eyes and looked at his wife and his oldest sons who were sittting at the side of his bed. Then he looked at Odin’s sword, which was lying at his side. Beyla took the sword and laid it on the blanket. Baldegg slowly raised his head, and then he said with a low voice: “Glum, my son!” Glum bent forward to hear the words of his father. “Glum, I am leaving. I died in war; tomorrow Odin will greet me. Glum, I want you to take the Odin’s sword.” Glum took the weapon, with a proud expression on his face. Then his father spoke again: “Glen, my son, come closer.” Glen did as hs father had told him. Baldegg laid his hand on the hand of his son. “Glen, I want you to care about the clan. Hard times will come. They need a strong leader.”

After these words, he laid back and closed his eyes. Glum sallied out. Two hours later Baldegg was dead.

[Ludens]

Nice. I like the element of Norman mythology. But the switch from history to present tale came a bit abruptly.

[Franconicus]

Nice. I like the element of Norman mythology. But the switch from history to present tale came a bit abruptly.
I wanted to have the story teller as an introduction for the story. I chosed the situation with the thunderstorm to have an appropriate frame. I hoped this would induce the story, obviously it was too abrupt.

I plan to keep the act associated with the German myth.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 4 – The Ting


Misery had taken possession of Baldegg’s hamlet. Without its chief and without food for the winter the clan expected heavy seas ahead.

The messengers came back. They reported that the other clans did give a share of the harvest to the cowmen; then those left without doing more damage. Now the cowmen were on their annual journey to the winter camps. Among their stoves, there were the cattle and children of Baldegg’s clan. Only their families guarded by several hundreds of warriors stayed in their castle.

When a clan leader dies there had to be a Ting. It began two days after Baldegg’s end. All free men were present; the nobles from the other clans joined the meeting, too.

According to old custom, the first day of the Ting was intented for drinking and talking. We arranged benches under the lime trees. They were reserved for the nobles of our clan and the guests. My mother, the widow of the chief, was permitted to sit there too. At her side were my two brothers and me. The rest of the clan sat in front of the benches on the ground.

Every free man could make his statements; everybody could to talk openly; even women, as long they did not meddle with any legal affair, of cause. Women’s evidences were not reliable. Fortunately, the guests from the other hamlets had brought enough beer and mead for a well-founded discussion. Everybody was talking about the events of the past days and their effects on the future. There were contradictory concepts of what had to be done. While some said that the clans should stand together and fight against the cowmen most humans beings held the view that the most urgent problem was to get enough food before winter comes. Some even were the opinion that the nation should leave their homeland. Obviously, they said, the ground was accurst. Others countered that they did not have enough food to start a migration. Furthermore, Odin had given them this land and so it would not be good to leave it. In addition, of cause there was the issue of electing a new chief. There was a lot of talk about the fact that Baldegg gave Odin’s sword to Glum while he wanted to have Glen as his successor:

“Glen cannot be chief. Our chief is the one who has Odin’s sword, Glum.”
“But Baldegg wanted to make Glen chief.”
“We have to elect a chief. Glen is the right person to help us overcome the bad times. He knows everything about farming. He used to work hard and he is a religious person. In his brother’s mind, there is only room for dreaming. He wants to play war while the clan is suffering.”
“Glen may be able to get the food we need; but only Glum will be able to defend it against the cowmen.”
“We could make Glen our chief and give him the sword of Odin.”
“No, Baldegg gave it to Glum. It belongs to him!”
“No! It belongs to our leader, the one we elect!”

Obviously, most of the younger men preferred Glum; they wished he would lead them into war. Most of the older men and of the women preferred Glen.

Suddenly Gullveig stood in front of the bench. Her young daughter Velleda supported her. She looked to the crowd with misty eyes. Apparently she did not notize anything around. Her mind was to be absent. When she spoke her words came from somewhere else: “Listen, God’s people, sons of Odin, to the goddess of the night! This is her warning! Here sits Glum. Follow him and he will lead you to death. And here is his brother Glen. Follow him and he will lead you to slavery. Make your choice!”
Her words caused a big affray. So far the discussion had been peaceful but now the supporters of the two candidates were having a go at each others. Glun looked very angry. He jumped up and tried to lunge out Gullveign.
Then a horn sounded. Everybody turned to the the bench where Glen stood with a horn in his hand. “Men and women of the human nation! What are you doing? Baldegg, our father, lies dead in his nave and all you can do is to brawl. Did you forget that there is cease during the Ting? And you, brother, why do you overwhelm Gullveign. Even the cowmen did not dare to threaten her! She may be deranged, but at least she did stop the cowmen. We all owe her thank and respect.”

The men looked embarrassed. Quietly they left the place. The first day of the Ting was over.
However, the discussion went on. Most of the men were impressed of the manner Glen had shown. Most of the women, however, thought about the words of Gullveign.

The second day of the Ting was much quieter. It was time for acclamation and no women were permitted to participate. The majority of the free men elected Glen. He promised to protect the clan and to lead it to better times.

At the third day, Baldegg was buried. Then the Ting was over and the guests left the hamlet again.

Glen began to rule during the next days. First, he collected all articles of values. Then he asked his brother Glum to take a couple of warriors and make a trip to the southern neighbors – tribes of wild sow men. He sould exchange for food. Glum refused to do it. He had decided to leave the clan for a while. He wanted to live in the woods and be an anchorite of Thor. Glen had to respect his decision. Many men said that it was a good that Glum left for a while.

Therefore, Glen sent me, his youngest brother. He gave me a guard of 20 men. We traveled at the southern border of Cimbriheim and canvassed about 20 naves of the wild sows. We had to find out that they did not have much food they could give us. We explained them our distress, but that only made the price increase. Nevertheless, after two weeks we returned to our nave and could at least add some food to our magazines.

In the meantime, Glen had devided the rest of the men into two groups, one of them had to rebuild the magazines, and the other one was fishing in the sea. When the fishers came back, they reported that they had had no luck at all. Although the sacrificed the seagod, Aegir called five of them to his wet kingdom.

Winter closed in on us. Although Glen’s and the rest of the clan’s efforts had increased the stock, it was not enough to overcome the dark season. Many members of the clan would not see the sun return at spring.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 5 – Velleda

The beginning of Glen’s government was star-crossed. Winter came early and strong this year. Snow covered the land and it became very cold. Hunger drove the wolf packs out of the woods and closer to our settlement. Soon food was getting rare and hunger was guest in our naves.

Betimes I visited Glum in the woods. While his brother Glen lived as chief in the big nave, he lived in a small cabin made of earth and wood, spending his days in meditation and ascetics. Each time I met him I noticed that many people came to see him. Most of them were young men. They talked about fighting the cowmen. They found it hard to accept their dominance any longer. If I remember right, my brother never took part in these conversations. He just sat there in meditation. He was quasi a catalyst. People who were dissatisfied could go to him and talk about their wishes. I do not if Glen knew about these go-togethers; if he did, he preferred to ignore them.

Sometimes women joined the meetings in the wood, too. One day I saw Velleda. I was surprised, because I remembered what her mother had said about Glum. She sat at the fire and listened silently to the conversation of the others. I just sat and watched her. In the shine of the fire I realized for the first time how beautiful she was.

When it was late in the afternoon, she stood up and declared that she would go home now. When she turned to leave, I stood up, took my lance and offered her my company. She turned her faces and looked in my eyes with a slightly surprised expression. Something in her look muddled me. I replied: “Because of the wolves, you know?” She smiled and turned away. I did not know what to make of it. I decided to take her smile as assent and hurried to catch her.

We walked for a while silently side by side. I should have said something but I did not have a clue what to say. From time to time, I stole a peep at her. Snowflakes were twinkling on her long red hair.

After we had entered a glade, three wolves were standing right in front of us. One of them, a huge black one, bared his teeth. I pushed Velleda back: “Do not worry! I attend to it!” I raised my lance and made the tip oscillate in front of the wolves. All of a sudden, Velleda started to sing with a low but calm voice. A strange ditty unlike anything I had ever heard before. Although I thought, it was mistimed and I wanted to tell her that I had to concentrate on the wolves I did not want her to stop. When I directed my attention back to the wolves the situation had changed. The wolves had receded and their attitude was no longer hostile. Suddenly I heard breaking wood all around us. Five, six other wolves were coming out of the brushwood. They run to the other three and then the whole pack disappeared.

Velleda stopped singing: “Thank you for your protection, brother of our chief!”
“How did you do that?”
“The wolves? They went with us for a while. Certainly you have seen them?”
“Sure!” I was an experienced hunter. I better did not try to explain her that I had not had the faintest idea that there were more wolves around. Actually, I could not even explain it to myself. “I just wondered how you managed …”
“To banish the wolves? I am the daughter of a seeress, did you forget?
“I see.” I had the strange feeling that she made me look rather dumb.
“Your mother, why did she say these things about my brothers?”
“She only tells what the goddess shows her.”
“So you believe that Glen will lead the clan to slavery, do you?”
“Well, my mother only tells what the goddess shows her. This is always the truth. However, the messages of the gods add up. Their meanings are abstruse sometimes. Only in the end you know the real meaning.”
“Do you have inherited her gift?”
“Call it gift or burden! Yes, I inherited it. And my mother helped me to understand and to come along with it.”
Then she started to tell about things that happened in her youth, about their education and about her contact with the spirits and gods. We walked side by side, her talking and me listening.
“Do you know what, Gunnar? You are the only young man I have ever seen who listens. All the others are always busy talking about their heroic deeds.”

For a moment, I wondered whether I could tell her that I was more than happy just to listen to her. I was so glad that I did not have to make conversation with this beautiful and yet scaring creature. In fact, I was so happy just walking beside her and enjoying her presence that I only listened very ineffectual. I decided that our relationship was not ready for the whole truth. So I said: “Maybe the reason is that I haven’t done any.”

“None of them has. Many are talking about what they will do to the cowmen these days. But none of them has really done something special.”

Although she said that to console, it was probably not, what I wanted to hear.

“Anyway! Regardless what my mother said, I am sure that your brother Glum will be a great leader one day!”
That was definitely not, what I wanted to hear. Again, I had that dumb feeling, although I did not know why.

Finally, we reached our hamlet. “Gunnar, next time you will go to your brother you could go along with me – if you like to.” She had to have seen the surprised look in my eyes.
“Because of the wolves, you know?” she smiled and disappeared in her nave.

We met each other quite frequently this winter. We became familiar with each other. Moreover, she kept on making me feel dumb.

[Kagemusha]

Very good Franc i enjoyed it very much,please continue.~:cheers: One stupid question as a history buff i have somewhat located these people to be the core Germans,but are the cowmen Celts?I remember vaguely that the Celts had iron before the basic Germans.Altough they could be also Scythians that had also trade connections to mediterrain.:bow:

[Franconicus]

Not stupid at all.

The story happens in a time we know very little about, especially about these northern areas. This gives room for speculations and poetic liscence ~;) That is one reason why I decided not to make an interactive.

The human being are Germanians; although we can assume that there is no real Germanian identity at this time. The Teutons are another Germanian tribe. The Ambrones are a celtic tribe, which is highly assimilated with the Germanian.

In my story the Germanians are at the edge of iron time. And they are at the edge between farmers and nomades. The human beings and the Teutons are farmers. The cowmen, though Germanians too, are still nomades.

When the climate changes and the weather becomes more wet the cowmen get upperhand. The cowmen also have the advantage that they move south in summer and get in contact with other Celtic tribes and even Romans. So they have access to iron long before the human nation.

So although both are Germanians their culture is different and they are grimly enemies.

Can you give me some advices? How is the balance between history and story, myth and reality. Is there enough suspense now. Enough sex and crime?:embarassed:

How did you like the romantic chapter?
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Chapter 6 – Jul

Until Jul, I spent as much time in the wood as I could. Although my mother had shown me magical places and had told me stories of magical creatures, I had never realized that magic filled the whole world. Velleda was the queen of magic and I willingly followed her into her spiritually realm. While we lived beneath trolls, spirits, elves and sprites, we forget our hunger and finally I fell in love. I immersed in her world; I hardly recognized what was going on around us. I realized it when Velleda spent more and more time with the sick persons.

Many people suffered from hunger. The family of the chief had still enough food. However, other families had to dilute their meals with roots and barks. Several humans were sick; children in particular were vulnerable. Velleda and her mother spent a lot of time to help the sufferers. When I asked her if she could banish the evil spirits, she looked at me with a sad and tired expression: “It is not simple, Gunnar. Goddess Eir has taught us many means to fight diseases. In addition, many guarding spirits can help. However, there are also many evil spirits. You have to find out which one you have to deal with. Then you have to find the right therapy, call the right guarding spirits and support them in their fight. However, the most important force is the spirit that lies within the person. Its will and ability to fight the bad spirits is decisive. That is the reason why the children suffer most. Sometimes I think it would help more to give the food to the sufferers than to sacrifice.”

The days before Jul were always days of misfortune and accidents. People always feared that Sol would disappear forever, leaving the world in darkness. However, finally, it was the day of Jul. In the late afternoon, the clans pilgrimaged to Cimbaro.

I was together with my family at the top of our column. I had tried to catch a glimpse of Velleda, but she and her mother were at the rear. We passed the big wood. Everything seemed to be quiet and lonesome; after my lessons from Velleda, I knew that there were woodland sprites everywhere.

Finally, we reached Cimbaro. There was a big glade on his top, encased from three sides by the wood. The third side was open. If it there had been daylight, one could have seen the castle of the cowmen on a hill on the other side of the valley. In the middle of the place was Odin’s oak.

When all clans were present, the worship began. Several thousands of God’s people had gathered to praise their Lords. Glum was there too. It was the first time he joined the clan after the Ting. Everybody was praying silently to Odin, Baldur and Sol. These three were the gods of Jul. After a while, people began to pray loud. An old magus led the prayers now. He began with conjuration of Sol. He said the incantation: “Sol, shining god, we depend on you. You make the plants grow. You feed the animals and the humans. Your servants ask you to return and to enlighten Cimbrihall. Please give us a sign and send us your light.” Then individuals could add their personal wishes. Some asked Odin for food, others asked Baldur for convalescence. Glen asked Odin for more food.

Then Glum stepped under Odin’s oak, raised his hands and started to pray: “Odin, Alfadir, please look at your children. You once led us to this place and promised to feed us and to shelter us. Look at us now. Your children are starving. The cowmen suppress us and steal our food. Alvis, please feed your children and give them shelter us. Avenge Baldegg, my father. Odin, god of war and death, please give us a sign.”
Then everybody looked quietly at the magus. This one looked strained into the sky. All over sudden he said: “Jubilate! Sol sends us a sign. He returns. The world will not remain in darkness. The world is saved.”

Everybody was screaming. A big fire was set on fire and the whole glade was enlightened. People started to bring meat of butchered oxen. They were a gift for Odin, who lordly gives the meat to his children. Many poor people would have meat for the first time since long ago.
Suddenly someone cried: “Look out there!” Everybody looked and saw another light on the other side of the valley. “The sign! This is Odin’s sign!”

The light was there, without any doubt. People moved closer and then the first decided to go there and look what it meant. As they advanced, they could see that the fire was on the hill of the cowmen. When they were close, they could see that the wooden wall were on fire. Soon the whole nations stood staring at the burning walls. The fire was sparkling and crackling. Than with a loud bang, the wall next to the main gate collapsed.

“The sign! This is Odin’s sign.” The word worked a circuit. Then a cowman stood in front of the crowed. It was Eligor’s son: “Cimbri, what are you doing here? Go to hell!” He raised his sword. However, before he could do any harm my brother Glum pressed forward, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, uplifted him and threw him against the gate. When the cowman dashed at the gate, it shattered and the burning wreckage buried his corpus.

For a moment, there was silence. Then the crowed began screaming and assaulting the castle. The people acted like in a flush. One moment we were celebrating the return of the sun, the next we were in the middle of a war against the hated cowmen. The bulk trapped me and tore ma away. Every cowman who thwarted them was slayed. The cowmen, busy with erasure and recovery, did not have a chance. They were subdued and thrown into the fire.

Soon the humans were sacking the castle. The crowed plundered the magazines and the mews. Fortunately, the fire had not reached them. Then the crowed moved back to Cimbaro, packed with food and accompanied by several hundreds of captured cowmen. Actually, most of the prisoners were women and children.

The feast was continued and I think even the gods could not celebrate a finer feast. In the end, everybody was filled ad nauseam. The clans returned to their homes. Many said that this was the best Jul within living memory. Others said that it was good to know that Odin was on our side again and that he reacts on our lamentations the way he did. Of course, we did not forget to show Odin our thankfulness. The corpi of the cowmen and their wives and children were hanging in the limbs of his oak, together with the captured weapons.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 7 – The Magic Sword

The looting of the cowmen’s castle fed the stomachs of the human beings and raised their moral. Everyone was sanguine and full. Moreover, the days became longer, too.

Only two people in our hamlet did not share good mood: Gullveign and Glen.

Compared to the happiness of the rest of the clan Gullveign sentiment was getting worse day by day. Her auguries became even more direful and ominous. However, the people were much too satisfied to care about her. Bragi, the poet, made some mocking lines about her pessimism:

“I see the bad moon arising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin.
I see bad times today.

Don't go around tonight, Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricanes ablowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Don't go around tonight, Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.

Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we're in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.

Don't go around tonight, Well, it's bound to take your life,
There's a bad moon on the rise.”

This song became very popular. Everybody sung it, at least when the seeress was not around. The song was well known all over Cimbriheim.

The other worried person was my brother Glen. Everybody thought that the defeat of the cowmen was Odin’s answer to Glum’s prayer. More people than ever surged in the woods. Odin had destroyed the walls of the cowmen’s castle and had given the enemies into the hand of his people. Now everything seemed to be possible. The younger men formed a gang who exercised with their weapons. They called themselves “the wolves”. All these people would have been happy to follow Glum. However, my brother was quiet and kept on praying to Thor.

Glen did not want to rely on that. He realized that he had to do something to conserve his position. Only two men survived the burning and the pillage of the castle, the smith and his assistant. Glen had decided to take them to our nave. Since then they stuck together. One day Glum called a meeting. He presented his vision of the future: “My brothers and sisters! Odin donated the victory over the cowmen. He also gave us the supply to help us through winter. However, Odin’s gift is much bigger than that. Look at these two men. They were picked up at the castle. They are no cowmen. They were born in the south and were hired by the cowmen because they know how to manufacture iron. Yes, brothers and sisters, they know the miracle how to make weapons and tools. They agreed to work for us. We will set up a smithy and they can start right away.”

The people nodded in agreement.

“They will provide us with tools, unlike those of wood we were used to. I talked to them and they agreed to make spades. Then we will be able to make drains and regain our old, rank acres. They will also make ploughs, so we can get deeper into the earth. This will cause a lot of work but in the end it will yield a large crop.”

Again, the audience showed its agreement.

“Of course the smiths will also make weapons, better than the ones we know. First and foremost they will make a magic sword for me, the leader of the clan.”

The people cheered. Glen had stricken the right note.

Some weeks later the smiths had started to work. The sound of the hammering and the smoke of the hearth filled the hamlet. Many peole came to watch them work. Glen himself spent most of his time at the smithy. Their first piece was the ‘magic sword’. They hammered many times on an annealing piece of iron until it looked like a sword. I was standing close to them and I could see that the smith looked concerned. He said something to my brother, but Glen only shook his head. Then Geln ordered to butcher an ox and to collect the blood in a tub. A boy was told to stir it to keep it liquid. Then the smith began to glow the sword once again. Glen called the clan to watch the magical ceremony that should follow. When the iron was redhot, the smith took it out of the hearth, murmured a magic spell and then dipped it into the blood. The blood began to boil and to steam.

Glen explained: “This is the magic moment. The blood gives its soul to the sword. It makes it tough and hard. Of course, human blood would be much better. It is a pity that we did not preserve a cowman.”

When the smith took the sword out of the tub, Glen grabbed it and raised it high over his head to show it to the crowed. Then he stroke against the anvil. At the moment, the sword burst and broke into pieces and the tip fell on the ground. Everyone was staring bewildered at the sword. Then Glen threw the rest of the sword to the ground, turned round and hurried to our nave. The rest of the day, he spent there discussing with the smiths.

[Ludens]

Can you give me some advices? How is the balance between history and story, myth and reality. Is there enough suspense now. Enough sex and crime?:embarassed:

How did you like the romantic chapter?
I still like it. I initially thought you had not decided on the kind of story you wanted it to be, as it started as a history, then switched to an ordinary story, and then a sort of eye-witness account, but now you seem to have settled it. Pace is good so far, and there is indeed a suspense about what may happen. Not much, as the main character seems somewhat distant to the tale, but enough. As for the balance, I think it is fine, though the sex and crime part could be extended a little bit.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 7 – The Vision

The sword affair was a complete disaster for Glen. For weeks, he did not leave the nave, hoping that people would forget. Of course, they did not. Everybody was talking about the occurrence. Everybody was sure that this was another sign of Odin. Glum did have his holy sword; Odin did not want Glen to have a sword, too.

All this time Glum was in the woods. After Jul, he had returned and had not come to the hamlet. He was not even at his cabin. However, the more he was missing the more people were looking for him. Although his cabin was uninhabited, more and more people came there. Although he did actually nothing and although he was not present at all, the clan’s members accepted him as their leader.

Velleda and I spend a lot of time in the wood, together. However, we were rarely at Glum’s cabin.

One day, one and a half moon after Jul, Glum was back. Soon it was rumored that he was not the same as he used to be. He had seen Thor himself, received orders from him. Soon the talk was all over the hamlet.

That evening Glen took me aside: “Gunnar, I know that there is something going on in the wood. People think I do not, but I do. Nobody wants to tell me. Would you do me a favor? Go to our brother and talk to him. Find out what is really going on. If it is true, what they say, if he has seen Thor and if Thor talked to him, I do not want to be chief any longer. But I have to be sure.” He looked so pathetic I could not help. I promised to go. “Then hurry. Go right now!” He pushed me through the door.

Therefore, I had to walk through the wood at night. A couple of months ago that would have been something I had not liked very much. Now I knew there were guarding spirits everywhere and I believed that a very special person recommended me warmly to them. Nevertheless, I would have been glad if Velleda was at my side.

When I reached Glum’s cabin it was almost midnight. Despite the heavy snowfall, he was sitting at the fireplace in front of his cabin. When I lay down beside him, he looked at me and said: “Gunnar, it is good to see you. Many thinks are crossing my mind. I asked the gods to send me someone I can talk to and they sent me you.” For a couple of minutes he stared into the flames.
“Glum, although you live as hermit there are always many people around you can talk to.”
“No! They all come to talk about their fears, their dreams - their claims.”
“They want you to lead them, aren’t they?”
“I never encouraged them, god knows. I do not know what they think I should do. I do not know if I can fulfill their claims.”
“People are saying that you met Thor.”
“Well, in a spiritual way, yes. You know that I left the clan to find some answers. After our father Baldegg had died I wanted to find myself, wanted to ask Thor to give me a vision for my life. You know, brother, I always had had the feeling that Thor was close to me, watching, you know. More than Odin and the rest.”
He stared into the flames again. I waited. When he did not go on, I asked: “And did the thunder god tell you?”
“Even here in my cabin there were too many people to meet Thor. You know, Gunnar, gods do not talk to you when there are others around. Therefore, I decided to disappear. I went into the deepest forest, were I was all alone. I did not drink or eat for days, for weeks. And then Thor sent me a vision.”
Glum fell silent again. Although I was waiting impatiently how he would continue, I did not push him this time.
“I saw a big crowd of human beings on migration. I saw them go south, to a land where the sun always shines, where the harvests were always good; to a place where no one had to suffer; a place where the human beings could live safe. I saw them go to Alberich’s realm.”
After a long break, he said with a deep-drawn sigh: “And I saw me in the fore.”
“Wow! What do you intend to do?”
“I do not know, honestly I do not know. I do not know if I can trust this vision. You know, I never experienced anything like that. I do not know why I was chosen. I do not know if I can carry the burden. I do not know if I want to.”
“I do not think that it is up to you. If Thor called you, you have to follow!”
“How could I dare to lead the human nation away from Cimbriheim? On the other hand, how could I dare to resist Thor? Maybe the whole vision was more a dream, or a will-o'-the-wisp to make me do foolish things.”
He remained in silence again. We sat there side by side for about an hour, doing nothing but staring into the flames. Then Glum said: “Gunnar, thank you for your visit. You helped me more than you may know. However, please leave me alone now. I have to think. There is too much in my mind.”
Without another word, he stood up and went into his cabin.

I returned to the hamlet. Although it was far beyong midnight, Glen was waiting. I told him what I heard in the wood. Glen looked unsecure and confused, but he did not say a word.

In the next days, more people went to Glum. When they returned they all talked about his vision. The news was soon spred all over Cumbrihall and even the Teutons and Ambrones came to visit my brother Glum.


Ludens: Thank you for your friendly words. I will try to add more sex and crime asap.. What are the guidlines of the org for sex and crime?

[Kagemusha]

I think its just getting better and better. I like how you are creating this plot.:2thumbsup:

[Avicenna]

They're not just German though are they? I thought they were the myths of the whole of Central Europe which was not Roman-occupied territory (ie Germany, Denmark, Finland and all)

[Franconicus]

Chapter 8 – The Decision

Freya sent the first heralds to tell us that winter was finished. The air was getting warmer and I could suddenly smell spring in the air. When Velleda and I were walking through the forests, we could see new life breaking through everywhere. It was as if Mother Nature just waited for the first sign of spring to surprise us with her brimful richness. Moreover, for the first time in my life I realized why Freya was the goddess of fertility and love. Velleda and I did our best to show the goddess our faithfulness.

Glum was gathering his following or better said they were gathering themselves. He finally had decided to accept Thor’s order and to lead the humans to the new Promised Land. The people heard his call and flocked to his cabin, people not only from our hamlet but also from everywhere, human beings, Teutons and Ambrones. Even some clans showed up from the edges of Cimbriheim I had never seen before. They promised to follow him.

Glum returned to our hamlet to prepare the migration. He built a small house at the edge. It was like a fair, people coming and going, tents with visitors and so on.

Glen immured himself. Seldom he left the nave. He could not accept his loss of authority. Gullveig in contrast did everything to warn the people from their decision.

I spent as much time as possible with Velleda. I had not made up my mind and I tried to retard my decision as long as possible. I did not want to think about warfare or god’s orders. I wanted to enjoy the first signs of spring and I wanted to enjoy being together with this divine creature, Velleda. Everything about her was different, extraordinary, and superior. I had always thought that I was an impressing person, strong, canny, son of the chief, an excellent hunter. At the side of Velleda, I always felt small, although she was only a woman, one heads smaller than me, and maybe only half my weight.

So while I spent my time with her I knew I had to think about something else; more important and urgent, and yet so far away. One day we were running through the fields. I took her aside and pulled her under a beech near a font.
“Velleda, I have to tell you something!”
“Yes?” She sneered to me. She confounded me.
“Yes! Something important!”
“Oh, something important!”
“Yes, you know that my brother Glum had this vision of Thor, the god of thunder.”
“Oh yes, I know, everybody knows.”
“Err, that Thor told him to go south?”
She nodded, still having this irritating smile on her face.
“Most of the clan will follow him. Most of the human nation will and I guess even a lot of Teutons and Ambrones.”
“I guess you are guessing right, Gunnar.”
In the meantime, I felt that she was driving me mad. I wanted to tell her something important, something very important, and she was sniff.
“Err, I had been thinking about this for a while. I do not think you will like my decision, but I guess I am right. Moreover, I do not think I have a choice. Velleda, you know I love you! However, sometimes a man has to do what he has to do. I hope you do not mind. I hope you understand.” I looked at her almost fearfully, because I expected her to get angry.
Instead, she just laughed and said: “What exactly did you decide to do, Gunnar?”
“That is what I am telling you all the time. I am going with Glum. I will join the trail. I am going south to Alberich’s realm. Moreover I probably will never return.”
“Oh!” I waited for moment. However, she did not look like she would add anything.
“Oh? What do you mean by that?”
“Well, you have to do what you have to do!”
“Come on, that is what I said. What do you say?”
“Well, if you have to go south …”
“Yes?”
“… I will go along with you!”
“You will what?”
“I will go along with you, Gunnar”
“Don’t be kidding! This is a dangerous adventure. Hardly the right thing for a – woman.”
“So you think I will be the only one. Don’t you know that there are many families who are determined to leave? Women of all kinds, young ones and old ones?
“What about your mother? She would not like it!”
“No she won’t. She thinks that it will end in disaster. However, I am old enough to make my own decisions.”
“Come on, Velleda, don’t you see that this is not the right thing for a girl like you? You would be alone, without your family.”
”No, Gunnar, you will be my family.”
“Me?” So here, we were again. I tried to tell her something important and then she twisted everything and in the end, I was the fool, again.
“Err; do you know what you are saying? I mean, can you darn and cook?”
Today I know that this was a very stupid reply but then I did not know what to say.
“Do not worry, Gunnar! I can cook and darn, at least as well as you can protect me from wolves.”
“I cannot guarantee that I will always be there to protect you!”
”I know, Gunnar. Do not worry. I can take care of myself. And I will always be there to protect you.”
Our discussion went on for a while. Finally, I had to realize that it does not benefit to argue with her when she had made up her mind. I had to give in. Well, I got used to the thought of being married with Velleda and after a while, it did not look that bad at all.

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I think its just getting better and better. I like how you are creating this plot.:2thumbsup:
Kagemusha San, once more you are more polite than honest :bow:


They're not just German though are they? I thought they were the myths of the whole of Central Europe which was not Roman-occupied territory (ie Germany, Denmark, Finland and all)
Hello Tiberius, you are already the third reader!:2thumbsup:
The stories plays in a very early state. The Romans did advance far north. Southern Germany is still occupied by Celtics. Only at the Northern and Eastern Sea there are some tribes which will become what we know as Germanians. They have no unique identy so far.

[Kagemusha]

And the love has entered the scene.Altough knowing history it can turn out be tragig love.But im big old bag of pessimism anyway.~;) Franconicus sama believe it or not.I have really taken intrest on this story.:bow:

[Ludens]

Ludens: Thank you for your friendly words. I will try to add more sex and crime asap.. What are the guidlines of the org for sex and crime?
Sexually-oriented or otherwise objectional posts are not allowed by the forum rules (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/Rules.shtml), and these rules also apply here. In practice, however, we are a little more lenient in the Mead Hall. I guess that as long as you do not post an explicit sex scene or go overboard using obscenities there won't be a problem.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 9 – Breakup

Winter returned with loads of snow and trapped the clan inside the hamlet without contact to the outside. Then spring reverted, with strong, warm sunbeams and winter was defeated; at least for this year.

Glum gave the sign and people from all over Cimbriheim responded his call. Then on a warm spring morning, the columns bestirred. Not the complete human nation, of course. My brother Glen stayed in, Gullveig and several hundred human beings. Before we left, Glen and Glum hugged themselves, advising each other to be careful. Velleda went to her mother to say goodbye, but Gullveig did not care. She stood at the gate and prophesied bad things to those who were passing by. Just when the first began to doubt and regret, Magni began to sing Bragi’s song: “I see a bad moon rising …”
The people began to laugh – Magni’s way to sing was funny – and joined the song.

The caravan was in high spirits when they passed me. I was standing at the gate and saw the people passing by. Glum had ordered me to the rear to make sure that no one fell behind. Velleda was at my side. The first were the Cimbri, a mixture of all kind of people, warriors, formers old men and young men. And women and children. The men were all armed. The poor ones, and those were the majority, had the equipment of hunters, a bow and a knife. Then those who had a little more, they were equipped with the ‘Ger’, a lance with an iron head, and a shield, made of wood with a layer of leather. Most of these men had a kind of helmet made of leather. Only few men had batons. There were some iron swords, some bronze swords and some axes with heads of bronze or stone. The richer ones were mounted. Some had helmets made of bronze, some had even shirts with bronze plates.

The Cimbri were divided in families and clans. Therefore, there were no separate groups of archers, equestrians or lance men. They were all combined under the lead of the clan leader.

The Teutons were following the Cimbri. Then the Ambrones came. Although the Ambrones had been living for many years side by side with the human beings they still looked wild and strange to me.

Many years later people used to ask me how big the caravan was, how many men and how many people in total started the migration. To our shame, I have to admit that nobody remembered to count the people. All I can say is that the caravan took several hours to pass the gate. The Cimbri were the biggest faction. The Teutons and the Ambrones were together as strong as the Cimbri, and the Teutons were twice as many as the Ambrones. Now that I am used to the Latin numbers I estimate that the caravan had LXXX times CCCCC people. The warriors were XXVI times M.

The first day we only marched to our holy hill, Cimbaro. There, under Odin’s oak, Glum ordered us to camp. The tents were arranged and then the men gathered around their new leader while the women prepared food.

“Comrades! Brothers of the noble human nation, brothers of the Teutons and the Ambrones. We received Thor’s call and will leave our homeland now. No longer will we wait and suffer. From now on, we will take our fate into our own hands. With the help of Odin, our father, and Thor, our mentor, we will go south to the land of Alberich to gain a new home and a better future.”
Glum made a break and all the men jubilated loud.
“This migration will be full of suffering and pain. However, if we stand together we will force our fortune. Now that we stand together, share together pain and victory, now that we are the sovereigns of our fate, I rule that every man, who is willing to follow us and who will swear the oath shall be free. There will be no more slaves, no more menials, only free man who follow their dream!”
Then he called on the men to swear the oath. The first were Teutobuches, the leader of the Teutons, and Boiorix, the chief of the Ambrones. They kneeled and swore: “We will follow our leader Glum to Alberich’s realm. We will hold together with the rest of the following. We will rather die than to give up and become slaves!”
All the others followed.
The Glum made his oath: “I swear to lead the following, to do my best to hold off misery. I swear to treat everyone equal and to never hurt anyone’s rights.”
Now the pact between the following and their leader was made. Later they were often called the ‘following’ or the ‘volk’.
“Now that we swore to stand together, we should celebrate this with beer and roast. However, before we start, I have another thing to announce. You all know my youngest brother Gunnar. I am happy to tell you that he will marry this beautiful vestal at his side, Velleda.”
Everyone was looking at us and then everyone was cheering. Everyone was tapping on our shoulders. Then the party began and Velleda and I were sitting right beside Glum and the other chiefs. We received so many presents that I wondered how we could carry them. Glum gave me a big iron axe; Teutobuches gave us a cart and Boiorix gave Velleda a beautiful necklace.
We feted all night long and drunk and ate until we almost toppled down. Then Velleda and I went into our tent. When we were alone, she turned to me and said: “Gunnar, you brutish man. How could you do that without telling me a word? If you this to me once more I will leave you.” However, the happy glow in her eyes told me she was lieing. I kissed her and kept her quiet for the rest of the night.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 10 – On the road

The morning after my wedding, we finally broke up. We bid farewell to Odin’s oak, where the corps of the cowmen still shuttled in the wind. At least what Odin’s birds had left.

We passed the meadows and woods of Cimbriheim. There were many familiar places and it made me sad to know that I would never see them again. There were many blessed places, where helpful spirits had always been to help us. What would await us away from home?

When I communicated this to my wife, Velleda smiled and said: “Do not worry, Gunnar! There will be guarding spirits everywhere we go.”

The column was many hours long. Glum had asked me to take care that it would not break apart. A nephew of me was steering our cart. The column toiled through the country. I had not foreseen that our traffic speed would be so low.

After three days, we crossed the edge of Cimbriheim and entered the country of the wild saw men. I knew this area from my last trip.

Most of the hamlets that were on our way were abandoned. We helped ourselves on their fields. Glum ordered small mounted units to screen our flanks and to spot foods. Food was always an issue. We tried to live from what the country could give, but from time to time, we got food from the hamlets we crossed. Unfortunately, most of the inhabitants rather left their homes than to give us food. It was then when our peaceful migration started to turn into a raid. It had never been our intention to steal from anyone, but hunger forced us to.

After several weeks, our equestrians spotted a village. It was larger than any we had crossed before. According to the numbers of hamlets, we assumed there had to be about 500 warriors.

Glum ordered Magni and me to assault it and to provide food. He gave us 2,000 warriors. Well, at least we thought we were worriers. Today I know that we had been farmers, hunters and fishermen. No warriors. We had no trained troops, only poor equipment and no clue about tactics and strategy.

Before we left Velleda asked me to be careful. She gave me an amulet: “Gunnar, this will guard you! Please, be careful! I need you! I will wait for you and I will pray for you. Freya shall protect you. My love will accompany you; it will surround you and keep all evils away from you.”

We approached the village during night. Magni and I conferred. The village was palisaded. We were sure to take it by surprise. Our plan was simple. I would lead a small team to open the gate. Then Magni would lead the rest of our army to penetrate and overcome the enemy.

This would be the first combat for all of us. Although we held all aces, we were nervous. Especially Magni. He was proud for being nominated to lead this operation and well aware of the accountability.

We waited until one hour before the break of dawn. Then I selected 10 men, all equipped with bows and weaseled to the gate. We were all experienced hunters, we could move invisible and inaudible. Near the gate, there were some big boulders. The men gathered there and waited for my signal. I looked at the gate. The moon was breaking through the clouds and I could see the contours of the guard. It was a strange feeling to sit in the dark and watch the enemy I intended to attack in a few minutes. My pulse was getting higher I waited for a moment and took a deep breath. Then I raised my arm. Three arrows whooshed through the air. Then events came thick and fast. The guard was not dead. Probably he had a strong guarding spirit. Or some spells protected the gate. Anyway, the guard started to holler. His cry was a mixture of pain and warnings. I did not know what to do. We had expected to take the gate without calling any attention. Obviously, we had failed and now we did not know what to do. We kept on firing as fast as possible but the crying did not stop.

Magni heard the cries and thought that the combat had started. He ordered his men to attack and soon 2,000 riders were standing in front of the closed gate. Then a volley of arrows came from inside the palisades and battered into the group of riders. Confusion spread among our men. Magni ordered them to dismount. Another volley hit them and we had the first wounded. Magni and some men tried to break through the gate. However, it was solid and resisted. I left my hiding place and hurried to Magni: “Magni, we have to do something. They shoot us like hares.”

Some men started to return the fire. However, as they could not see the enemy the fire had to be very inaccurate. The enemy sent another volley. Then we heard the noise of hooves n our back and soon raiders attacked us. Our assault threatened to become a complete mess.

I turned to Magni and I could see that he was pale and somewhat moony. He cried: “We have to do something!” turned to the place we I had been hiding before. He picked a huge boulder, raised it above his head, ran to the gate and dashed it against the gate. The door sprang open and our warriors attacked. They dragged me along. On the other side, there were several hundred enemies. They had just shot another volley. Most of them did not have a chance to reload or to grab their swords. We massacred them. Then they turned and our army regrouped. The swordsmen and germen stood in the first row. Behind them the bulk with bows. Soon the cavalry charge was repelled and our men started to clear the village. Here and there, there still was isolated resistance. We had to burn some houses to break it. Finally, we killed the last man and captured the women and children.

Therefore, my first battle was over. I felt as if I was drunk. The fear, the tension, the ease combined to a feeling I had never felt before. Euphoric! Moreover, the fact that I had killed, another man; for the first time in my life.

We cleaned up the city and lugged the crops of the enemies to the central place. There were far more than we had expected more than could have lived in this village. We asked a woman and she told us that the warriors knew we were coming. They had watched us for a week and called help from other settlements.

A crowd gathered at the broken gate. I went there to see what was going on. The men were standing around the boulder Magni had crashed against the gate. As I mentioned before it was huge. In the setting sun, it looked even bigger than at night. Three men tried to lift it, but they failed.

[Ludens]

Sex and crime levels are definitely improving.
~:thumb:

[Kagemusha]

Me likes this story!:book:

[Franconicus]

Thank you:bow:

[Franconicus]

Chapter 10 – The long way

This was our first battle. In retrospect, I say that our change began then.

We moved further south to reach Alberich’s realm. We were bent on going to the end of the world, if necessary. Then, we did not now how far the end was.

Magni was the hero of our volk. Magni knew about his new reputation and he took it very seriously. From now on Magni used every opportunity to exercise and to improve his strength and his fighting skills. Many young men gathered around Magni and tried to become as he was. They painted their faces black and red and called themselves ‘werewolves’.

Summer came, summer went, and still we did not reach our target. We pitched a camp at a river, close to several hamlets. We sacked them and had enough supply for winter. One moon after Jul, Velleta gave birth to our first daughter. We called her Idun.

Early next spring we decamped again and advanced south. One day we received the message that an army was waiting for us. Glum gave his orders and soon we were ready for combat. Glum had given our army a new organization. He divided the cavalry into two goups; one placed at our left, another one at our right side. The swordsmen and germen formed several units and gave our army stability. In the center there was Glum himself with our Cimbri. Behind the lines, there were our archers.

As soon as we reached the battleground, the enemy started to howl and scream. They had painted their faces in lurid colors. The battle began. Our centre was very strong. Magni and his werewolves attacked the enemy without thoughts. Glum brandished Odin’s sword and the enemy shay at him. No armor could stand this divine weapon. However, on our flanks the Ambrones and Teutons had to draw back from the furious attacks of the enemies. I was close to Glum and I called his attention to the thread on our left flank. Immediately he turned left and fought his way to our threatened flank. I tried hard to keep contact and to cover his back. A giant with a shining bronze helmet led the enemies on this side. Glum saw our comrades falling and headed for the bronze helmeted giant. After a short fight Glum’s sword split helmet and head. Glum had no time to rest. The giant was the son of the enemy’s chief. As soon as he had seen his son falling, he called his other three sons and together they impinged Glum. I placed myself at the side of my brother and called Magni to join us. Soon we three pit our strength against the four enemies. They were no smaller than the dead one and the thirst for revenge increased their strength. We needed all our sleight of hand and our experience to keep them at bay. Repeatedly they pressed us, each time with increased anger. We started getting tired and our line began to lose ground. Glum pressed on the chief. His sword blocked a flourish aimed at his head. Sparks stroke out of the steel. The enemy’s sword came apart and the next flourish cut off the chief’s head. His sons were shocked and wanted to take revenge. They bristled with anger. They were blind with rage and soon their blood-soaked bodies lay beside their father and their brother. The enemies were horrified by the fall of their chief and his sons. They turned and fled from our warriors.

After this battle, we set off again. We still crossed the country of the wild saw men. However, they were not one strong nation. They were split in many tribes. Moreover, many smaller tribes did not belong to the wild saw men. While we marched through the countries, many men and women joined our volk. Men and women from repressed tribes, men and women that lived in hunger or fear. Or adventurers. In fact our number became bigger and bigger and our volk became more and more inhomogeneous. The vision of a new land, were everyone would live as free man stuck us together. However, I have to admit that there was a growing contingent of men who were only looking for easy pray.

We further we came the more difficulties we had to face. We came into the countries of the Boii. They were very martial and our march became an ordeal. Their army was strong and Glum decided to avoid them. Nevertheless, we had to fight to get through their countries. Finally, we came to the Scordii, a tribe of Celtic, Illyrian and Thracian origin. They were allies of a Celtic tribe called Eraviscii. Both tribes combined their armies and made a stand against us. The Teutons attacked them without waiting for the rest of our volk. However, the enemy was stronger than expected. They put the Teutons to flight.

Glum conferred with the other chiefs. He said that they were not able to go on this way. Everywhere they had turned had been enemies. Nowhere was good and empty land to settle. No sight of the dwarf people. Therefore, he assumed that they had lost their path. He had decided to turn around and move west. There should be big mountains and therefore this would be the realm of Alberich.

The others agreed and we changed our direction. We left the country of the Scordii and looked for another camp for winter.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 10 – The maidens

Winter was long and hard. Our volk was already very big and we had problems to get enough supply. Moreover there was a lot of snow, more snow than I had ever seen before. Many fell ill, especially the children and many died. Therefore, we were very glad to see the sun return. When the snow was gone, we were ready to continue our march.

During winter, we had picked up a trader who called himself Vindelicus. He told us that the big mountains were near. He did not know about dwarfs living in the earth, but we would find out.

After a couple of days, we had to cross a big river. Glum sent me to find a passage. Therefore, I rode along the river. However, there was no sign of a bridge or ford. As I went on searching, I saw three swans coming down. I hid in the woods. The swans landed and saw that they were three swan maidens. They took off their feather clothes and swam in the river. Silently I crawled closer and took possession of their magic clothes. When they ended to swim and returned to the bank, they found me there instead of their clothes. They were shy and wanted to run away, but of course, they could not without their feather clothes. Finally, the tallest one turned to me and said: “Gunnar, son of Baldegg, why do you steal our clothes? Give them back!”
I smiled and said: “I will, noble maiden, if you do me a favor. I know that you are wise and that you can see the future. So please tell me the fate of my people!”
She turned around and discussed my request with her friends. Then she turned to me again: “Gunnar, it is a case of Hobson’s choice. All right! I can tell you your future. You and your people are looking for new land. You hope to find it in Alberich’s realm. Do not worry, son of Baldegg. You will find what you are looking for, soon. Alberich will welcome you and he will lead you to a place were the son will always shine, where the harvests are rich and where your people will live in peace.”
“Thank you, swan maiden! Thank you very much! However, there is another request I would ask you. Tell me how we can cross the river.”
“That is easy. You have to ride 15 minutes upstream. There you will find a ferryboat. The ferryman is Honir. He has the order guard the frontier to Noricum. If you want to get across the river, you have to call him. Tell him that you are a Scordi and that you bring news about the hordes to his king. Then he will bring you to the other side.”
I thanked once again and gave the maidens their feather clothes. They dressed it hasty. While the other two took off the third one turned around and said: “Listen, son of Baldegg! All I told you about your future was a lie. I told you because I wanted you to give us back our feather clothes. Here is the truth: You will never find a place were you can live in peace. Your way is pain and struggle and at the end, there is dead. Not one of you will survive.” Having said these words, she turned around and followed her friends.

[Ludens]

I think the latest part a bit weak. You spend very little time on the troubles and a lot on the propecy, which I suspected to be false even before it was revealed so. However, I still enjoy the story and like the direction it is going.

[Franconicus]

Ludens,

You are right, although I think the Chapter before was even weaker.

When I started the story I wanted to work out why they started their migration. That is done and it is o.k.. I also have a clear concept about the end. However, now I stuck in the middle. I do not want to describe every battle in detail and I guess I have lost the characters somewhere. Last chapter was my attempt to get back to the roots. I wanted to get Gunnar acting again and I wanted to connect to the Germanian myths. Of course most of it is stolen from the Nibelungen. The last chapter is small. In fact it should be the introduction of a bigger one, the invasion of Noricum. Maybe things get better once I cross the Danuba.:embarassed:

[Ludens]

You are right, although I think the Chapter before was even weaker.
Perhaps, but at least something important is happening there. I tend to flounder as well when my stories reach their midpoint. I know where I am, and I know where I want to end, but what do I do in between? This area seems to be a problem for most writers. I guess you could fill it up with a few subplots. I was thinking of Gunnar's daughter, but no doubt you have your own ideas. Also, I would like to see a bit more details of Gunnar's life. The story was very much a personal account when it began, but that seems to be less so (though maybe it is just the second latest chapter that gives that impression).

[Franconicus]

Chapter 11 – The ferryman

I followed the advice of the swan maiden and went upstream. I found the ferryman at the other side of the river together with four menials.
I called him “Ferryman, come and take me cross the river!”
He replied: “Get along with you!”
“Is everyone in Noricum as friendly as you are?”
“I have order from the King of Noreia not to let any vagabonds pass our border!”
“Vagabonds? I am really looking forward to see if all Noricii are as cordial as you are.”
“You will not find out! You will never come into our realm!”
“That is a pitty! Then your king will never receive a warning about the hodes coming from the north.”
“The hordes? What do you know?”
“A lot! Even more than I’d like to! After all, they tried to invade my homecountry. However, we Scordii are watchfull; and we are not so bigheaded that we do not listen to a warning.”
I turned around.
“Stop! Wait a moment! You’re a Scordi? Why didn’t you say that at first? You have news about the Northmen?”
“I do, more than you may guess! And I will take them home again!”
“No, wait! I come and come for you.”
He jumped on the ferry and grabbed the helm. He was a giant; when he pushed the helm, the ferry made a leap. I placed my self near a bush so that the boughs covered most of me. When he almost reached the bank, I stepped out.
“Honir, thank you for your kindness!”
He looked at me. Something in my clothes made him realize that I was not the one I pretended to be.
“You damned liar. You’re not a Scordi. You are a cursed Barbarian yourself!”
“A liar? Didn’t I promise to give you news from the Barbarians? Here it is!”
I took my axe and jumped on the ferry. Honir was faster than giants usually are. Before I had a solid stand, he lifted the helm and punched my left side. I felt like hit by Thor’s hammer. I was sure that all bones on my left side were broken. I became unbalanced. I went on my knees and my axe fell into the water. I waited for his next strike, unable to do anything against it. Fortunatelly my guarding spirits helped me. In the few minites Honir got distracted the ferry had been drifted and was now in a small chute. It turned and rocked. Honir had to control it again; this gave me the opportunity to get on my feet again. As soon as the giant noticed me, he tried to beat me again. I bowed and he missed me. The momentum drove him forward, at my side. I gave him a kick and he fell into the water. When he went up again I had already taken the other helm and pushed him under the water again. For some neverending seconds we wrestled. Finally, his strength exhausted; he was dead.

I was at the end of my tether, too. I was sitting on the ferry with my aching side and my shivering muscels. His men at the other bank were shouting and waving, but I did not care. The stream carried me away from them.

After a while, I began to be active again. I paddled the ferry to the bank were I expected my people to come. After mooring, I sifted through the ferry. I found the belongings of the ferryman in one corner. Besides some worthless clothes, there was a sword. This sword attracted my attention. It was an armourer’s masterpiece. It had rich ornamentation and the blade was better than anyone I had ever seen before. I buckled it up and wondered how a ferryman could have such a noble weapon.

[Kommodus]

Hey Franc! Any plans to continue your intriguing story?

[Ludens]

Hey Franc! Any plans to continue your intriguing story?
Request seconded!

[matteus the inbred]

request thirded...

[Franconicus]

Don't know. I am just thinking about a new interactive. And I did not think that anybody would miss this story. Maybe I think again.

[Franconicus]

:oops:

[Franconicus]

Chapter 12 – The Battle of Noreia

Glum and the volk arrived in the afternoon. I hailed him and showed him the ferry.
“Well done! How did you get it, Gunnar?”
“Err, I found it upstream.”
“Where is the owner?”
“I do not know! It was forlornly.”
“Did you meet any natives?”
“No. The area I passed was deserted.”
Glum looked at the sword hanging at my side, but he did not say a word.

The volk rested for the night and at the next morning, we started to cross the river. Of course, Velleda wanted to know every detail of my trip. Unlike Glum, she was not so easy to please. I had to tell her every detail. When I told her about the meeting with the swan maidens, she shook her head and said: “Gunnar, you did not act very smart. It is not advisable to swan maidens on. It invites trouble.”
I felt that she was right, but I said: “Common, you are too pessimistic, aren’t you? What can a swan maiden do to us? We are strong, we can determine our fate.”
Then I told her how I had gotten the ferry.
“Gunnar, what have you done? You killed a subject of the Noreian king. Don’t you think he will bring us to book? Why didn’t you tell Glum about it?”
“I did what I had to do. We needed the ferry. I did not want to kill him; he forced me to do it. He is the one to blame. Anyway, he was nothing but a ferryman. He is not important at all. We can pay for atonement. And if their king does not accept.”
“Gunnar, show me the sword!”
“This is not the sword of a poor ferryman. Gunnar, I tell you, your act will cause misery.”

Despite of her words we crossed the river without any problems. The weather was fine and everyone felt happy that we passed another hurdle on our way to Alberich’s realm.

It took four days to cross the river, but finally all our people and all chariots were on the southern bank and we advanced into the land of Noreia.

Three days later, our reconnaissance spotted a big army. They were at the other end of a big plane. The plane gently inclined. On both sides, there were woods. Glum ordered the warriors to deploy for the battle. We had learned a lot in the passed months and the warriors knew there positions in the formation. The Ambrones formed our right wing, the Cimbrii the center and the left. Ger-men formed the first three rows. Behind them, there were the archers. The Teutons were our reserve. Behind them the old warriors and women built our camp. On the very right side, there was a small distance between the Ambrones and the wood. Glum sent our cavalry there, most of them former wild saw men, who had joined our volk during the last months. On the left, the Cimbrii leaned against the other wood. Inside the wood Magni and his werewolves took position.

Glum called me. “Gunnar, if possible, I want to avoid this fight. There is nothing to gain if we have to fight our way through Noreia. I send you to the other commander. Tell him that we do not want to make trouble; we just want to pass his country on our way to Alberich. Offer him a toll, if necessary. However, if he does not agree, tell him we will fight.”

Therefore, I climbed on my horse, called two comrades to follow me. We crossed the plain. I heard the sound of the upcoming battle. The Ambrones had started their war chants. From the left I heard inhumane cries; Magni’s following worshipping to Modi, the god of battle wrath.

From the other side a group of riders crossed the plane, too, and we finally met in their middle. The enemy delegation consisted of twelve men. They stopped at a distance of several hundred yards. Three riders separated from the rest. The man in the middle was quite old, maybe 45 years old. He was wearing a rich armor and was riding a noble horse. Obviously, this was the leader of our enemies. On his right, there was a young man of about 17 years. His equipment and his attitude showed that he was a nobleman, too. His face was somewhat familiar to me, although I did not remember why. The third rider was different. He looked meager and the way he sat on the horse showed that he was no warrior.

After the two groups had met, I said to the leader: “Why do you stop us here? Take your men and step aside or you will regret it.”

My opponent looked at me with anger: “I do not know who you are, young man, or where you come from. However, I tell you that it is accepted custom here at Noreia that the young men listen to the old and noble ones before they speak. I am Kvasir and I am King of Noreia. I am here to demand atonement. Someone killed my ferryman and I call for retribution. If you turn the murderer over and pay enough gold to balance the dead body you may leave this country and return to your home alive.”

“I do not know what you are talking about, old man. I do not know anything about a dead ferryman, but I know that there will be many dead men at Noreia if you will not get out of our way. If you want to keep your realm, step aside, old man.”

The king wanted to reply, but the man on his left interrupted him at his left: “It’s you! You are the murderer! You killed Honir! I stood on the other bank. I recognize you!”

“Keep your trap shut! You do not know what you’re talking! Who is Honir? I do not know any Honir at all!”

The king said: “Honir is my son. He was the strongest man in the realm. I do not know how you managed to killed him. It must have been deceitfulness.”

“I do not know what you are talking about.”

The young man on the left turned to the king and said: “Father, look at the sword at his side. Doesn’t it look like Honir’s sword Tyrfing? Stranger, give me the sword; I want look at it!”

“You want to make acquaintance with my sword. Don’t hesitate, my boy, it’s waiting here for you!”

The boy spurred his horse and attacked me. I did not know whether he recognized the sword when it penetrated his throat right below his chin. He fell from his horse and was dead without another word or even a sigh. When I turned around again, the king and the other enemy were on the run. One of my companions threw his ger at the king. It penetrated his back. He hurried to his own lines and his entourage covered his retreat.

We returned to our lines, too. When I reached Glum, the Noreians were already approaching. While they were running down the plane, they shouted their war cries. Our archers sent them the first greetings, however without any visible effect. The second volley did cause some confusion and the third one tore holes in the formation. Then the enemy reached our lines.

On the right, our cavalry tried to attack the flank of the Noreians. However, the Noreian cavalry intercepted. Our cavalry dispelled and the riders escaped into the wood. The Noreians did not follow. They attacked the Ambrones, which started to loose ground.

Our center stopped all attacks. At the right, the enemy sent cavalry, too. I stood side by side with Glum. He said: “Common, Magni. Now it is time to start your attack. Hit their flank and hit them hard.”
At that moment Magni and his men appeared, screaming and roaring. They were now in the mood for their Berseker’s raid. They were filled with wrath; they hardly noticed what was going on all around them. Glum sighed with relief until he saw that they were not attacking the Noreians but chopping the bushes.

Glum was shocked. He just could not believe his eyes. His elite formation was busy chopping trees! A messenger called him back into reality: “Glum, our left wing! The Ambrones are retreating!”

A look to the left showed that he was right. However, our right wing was not doing much better. The men there, shocked by the behavior of the werewolves, lost ground.

Seeing the danger for both flanks made Glum master of the situation again. He turned to me and said: “Gunnar, take five clans of the Teutons and turn to our right flank. You have to stop the enemy. I will go to the left and repel the enemy there.” I turned to go but he called me once more: “Gunnar, all depends on you, now. Make the Ambrones make a stand. The left wing has to stand.” Then he turned away and disappeared in the battle turmoil.

I went to the Teutons and told them my intention. We hurried to the left. Fortunately, the Ambrones had already picked up courage again and when they saw us coming, they started to attack the enemy. Together with my Teutons, I headed for the cavalry of the Noreians just as they tried to get into the back of the Ambrones. Suddenly they found themselves between the shafts of the Ambrones and Teutons and were slaughtered. Next, the fight between our infantry and the Noreians was fought with maximum rage. Success was going up and down. Suddenly, completely unexpected, our cavalry appeared at the edge of the wood and attacked the rear of the enemy. They had gathered themselves, again, and had waited for the right moment to interfere again. The enemy, attacked from both sides, gave up and run away. While our cavalry was chasing them, I gathered the Ambrones and Teutons and aimed for the center of the enemy.

Our attack made the enemy shiver. From the other side, I could hear the screaming of Glum and his men. They had cleared the situation at their side and were heading for the center, too. That was too much for the enemies. They turned around and run as fast as possible.

It had been a hard fight for all of us. Nevertheless, our casualties were relatively low. We had proven that we were no longer a robber band but a disciplined army.

[matteus the inbred]

Coooool. The plot thickens. Bit of a thieving rascal, is Gunnar! I like the bit about chopping trees...:2thumbsup:
the chaos of battle is well-described...this reminds of some of the slightly gothic short stories Games Workshop used to publish, that kind of semi-realistic semi-magical feel.

[Franconicus]

All wars are nothing but raids. (Voltaire) ~;)

[Franconicus]

Chapter 13 – Consul Gnaeus Papirius Carbo

We camped for three days to lick our wounds. Many people were upset about the performance of Magni and his berserkers. They say they marooned the volk; they were useless and even a danger. Next time they would attack their own brothers in arms instead of innocent trees. Many said that Magni and his followers should leave the community.

Magni did not say a word, but it was obvious he took those reproaches very seriously. He was willing to accept any sentence. However, Glum commemorated the merits of Magni’s strength and courage and the benefits given to the volk before and he came up to an exemption from punishment.

Then we advanced to the Noreia, the capital of the homonymous realm. On our march, several small tribes that had knuckled down to the Noreian king joined our volk and compensated our casualties. Noreia was a rich country and we made good booties along the way. We gathered a lot of metal, iron as well as bronze, silver and gold and we became richer than we ever thought we could get.

When we approached Noreia, we made a strange encounter. There was a group of queer soldiers coming up. They marched in a close formation, each soldier close to the other, with synchronized motion. It was a parody of a real army. It looked so funny we had to laugh. We guessed that these were the jesters of the Noreian court.

We went closer and at close range, these men looked even weirder. They were small, indeed. At least one head smaller than an average human being. Their hair was black as coal. It was so ugly that they wore it very short. Each of them had the same equipment, a huge shield, a spears and a short sword. They all had helmets, and armours made of leather and metal covered most of their bodies.

Glum watched them for a while and said: “Look at them. They are so small. I guess they are afraid of us. That must be the reason why they cover their bodies with armor and why they crowd like sheep. We must be gentle not to scare them off.”

Vindelicus, the merchant, said: “Do not let yourself be fooled, Glum. These are Roman soldiers. People say that they are deadly warriors.”

Glum looked at him doubtfully, but did not say a word.

Vindelicus continued: “Additionally, these men may be the dwarfs you are looking for. Their home is far south; they live in the mountains. I heard they dig in the earth.”

The Roman soldiers began to deploy. Still they did not look very warlike. They carried coloured rags and there were even drums. When they finally stood in three rows, the lines opened and several cavaliers came in front. Glum, Vindelicus and me rode to them. The man in the middle was obviously the most important one. Although he was very small and had that ugly black hair, too, he looked quite impressive with his shining armor and his colorful clothes.

He began to talk. His words sounded strange, but Vindelicus said that it was Roman and that he could understand it fairly. The name of the Roman leader was Consul Gnaeus Papirius Carbo. He said that he stood for the mighty Rome. Glum said that Rome might be the castle of Alberich. He said to Vindelicus, that he was happy to greet Consul Gnaeus Papirius Carbo as the ambassador of the dwarf king Alberich. The Cimbrii and their allies wanted to become friends with the Romans.

Vindelicus translated this and Carbo first looked irritated. Then he asked why we had attacked Noricum, although the king of Noreia had been a Roman ally.

When Glum heard these words, he was frightened. He told Vindelicus: “Tell him: I did not know, that Noreia is an ally of Rome. This makes me very sad. We would never have fought them if we had only known. After all we had only asked to cross the country and the Noreian had started the fight. Tell him this. We do not want to have trouble with the dwarfs. If we did something wrong, we are willing to pay for compensation.”

While Vindelicus translated these words to the Roman, Glum watched anxiously the face of the Roman leader. Carbo reflected on what he had heard. Then he said something to Vindelicus, which was translated into the human language: “I see. Propably it was just misfortune; a capricious game some god’s like to play with us mortals. Kvasir is dead and most of his sons died in this battle. Only Voccio, his 8-month-old son is left. We already declared him king. We will protect him and help him to secure his regency. He is already on the way to Rome where he will be secure and where he will get the education that the king of Noricum needs. Until he is grown up, a Roman proconsul and a Roman garrison will help his mother to administrate the country.”

Glum said that this was fine to him and that he was happy that the incident did not stand between the Romans and the Cimbrii. Carbo said, translated by Vindelicus, that he wanted to learn more about our volk and about our cause. He said that he was very interested in foreign peoples and that he would enjoy hearing what we had learned during our march.

The Roman soldiers build a big colorful tent, where Carbo and we had our meeting. We saw novel clothes there as well as unknown pelts. There were many objects made of gold and silver. Carbo offered us wine, a drink we had already tried before, but never so sweet and so excellent. When Carbo saw that we liked the drink, he ordered more and his soldiers brought several barrels. His hospitality made us very glad and we were in a very good mood. We laughed about the fact that Carbo had to delute his wine with water. Obiously the dwarfs could not stand it.

Carbo was interested in everything that had happened on our journey. He also wanted to know every detail about our plans. We told him about Thor and the promised land that we will find in Alberich’s realm. The meeting took very long and in the end, I was so tired that I could not remember every detail. However, I still remember tha words that Carbo said when we finally left his tent: “Do not worry. We Romans will be glad to welcome you. Enough land is only waiting for you. We will live as partners. That will be guarantee wealth and security for both nations. Of course, you have to cross the mountains, but I will give you a guide to accompagne you.” Vindelicus stayed at Carbo’s tent to tell him stories of his own tribe.

With a warm feeling, we went to rest. We had found Alberich’s ambassador, we had made friendship and he was willing to give us land. Everything that Thor had promised would become true. That night I dreamed of Velleda, Idun and me living on our farm at the coast.

[Ludens]

Oh dear. Don't trust the Romans, even though they carry gifts. I fear Gunnar is going to pay the full price for his bloodlust.

BTW, why is he suddenly so warlike? Does he want to prove himself or has the journey made him so embittered he trusts no one anymore?

[matteus the inbred]

Yes indeed, I suspect some very naive Cimbri are going to regret laughing at the Romans quite soon! That's a very good bit though, how odd the Romans must have appeared to tribal warriors.
I expect plenty of treachery in the next installment...:eyebrows:

[Franconicus]

BTW, why is he suddenly so warlike? Does he want to prove himself or has the journey made him so embittered he trusts no one anymore?
Of course he changed. The constant war and maroding did change him. Additionally he is no longer a boy, but a man and warrior. However, he is still the naive barbarian he used to be and he still craves for love and peace.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 13 – the Mountains

Next morning I had to tell Velleda about our meeting. I told her about the generosity and the amicability of the Romans. She shook her head and told me: “Gunnar, I do not know. I do not trust them. They are different than we are and I suspect that they are not honest.”
I said: “I cannot believe what you are saying. Everything what they tell us is according to Thors promise. Didn’t we all believe in this presage? Now that it is going to become reality you are pessimistic?”
“I do not know, maybe you are right. I just have a strange feeling about them and I can rely on my feelings.”
“You are so negative. You are just like your mother!”
She was offended and turned away. Maybe the comment about her mother was not wise, but she always found fault with everything. If men would always follow the concern of their wifes, no big deeds would ever happen.

Glum organized a Thing, where we discussed the offer of Carbo. Several chiefs, especially those who had joined our volk during the last year, were against the proposal. Especially Ganglerix, a young Celtic leader, was opposed to the plan:
“Listen volk! You all heard what Glum told us. Glum is our leader, but that does not mean that he can make any arrangement without our permission. We all are free men and we all have the right to decide our own affairs. He says that the Romans offer us land and that they offer us friendship. Let me ask you why they are so generous. I can tell you the answer; it is because they are scared. Look at them; they are small and they are weak! They have only a couple of soldiers. Now look at us! We are strong, we are experienced warriors and we are numerous. We can defeat them; beating them is not a big thing. It is no surprise to me that they say that they want to be our friends. Additionally Glum tell us that their tents are full of precious cloths, sumptuous wine and valuable works of art made of gold, silver and gems. If they have all these treasures here, far away from their home, can you imagine what they have at Rome? Wealth beyond your grasp. Therefore, volk of the Cimbrii, Ambrones, Teutons and all other tribes and clans of the great alliance, listen to my proposal. Take everything Carbo has; chase his soldiers away. Then let us march to Rome. We can beat the dwarfs everywhere. We can take Rome and all its treasures and divide their realm. Glum tells you that they offer us rank ground. Why should we take some acres from their mercy, when we can get all with our swords? Are we suppliants, or are we warriors?”

Many men showed that they agreed with Ganglerix words. Glum was forced to reply:

“Ganglerix, you do not know us well enough, you joined our volk lately. Let me tell you the reason for our march. We left home because of hunger and disease. Thor, the strong God of Thunder, gave us the order and he gave us the goal. He promised us a new, better home in the land of the dwarfs. We, the courage ones, started the march despite of all danger and risk. We had to cross the countries of many tribes and nations and most of them where hostile. We had to fight many battles and now finally we reached our goal. We met the Romans and they agreed to become our friends. Now listen to me: we will follow the order of Thor. We will go into the country of the dwarfs and live together with them in peace. No one of our warriors will do them harm as long as I am the leader. We are no robbers. We are tired of fighting and we yearn for a peaceful life.”

“You are dreamers! All this Thor stuff and the tales about dwarfs are nothing but cock-and-bull stories. I know these Romans very well. Yes, there is rank ground at Italy; I know that better than you do. My people, my family, owned it. They tried to live in peace with the Romans, but the Romans banished them, killed them. They burned their towns, raped their wives and killed their children. Do not tell me anything about Roman friendship. There will no friendship until they are all dead!

You all hear that Glum is tired of fighting. He shall be the leader of a bunch of hags, not of brave warriors.”

“Ganglerix, although I yearn for peace I can show you that I am not tired of fighting!” He unsheathed. When Ganglerix saw Odin’s sword he stepped back and disappeared in the crowd.

On the second day of the Thing, the volk voted and accepted Glum's proposal. We decamped and started to march again. At the parting Carbo gave us the guide. We slowly moved westwards until finally big mountains came into sight. We had passed some mountains on our way; however, there had not been anything like this. When we first saw them, they were still many days away. When we got closer, they grew and grew and we saw more details. They looked like a big barrier and yet they seemed to be the door to another world. We all realized that those mountains were different to anything we had seen before, very different to the low land we came from, the land between the oceans, the land of swamps and forests. This mountain world was a magic place and no one had a doubt that we approached the magic realm of the dwarf king Alberich.

We crossed the foreland, a land of huge mountains, but tiny compared to the ones appearing behind them. Before we entered the mountains, our guide ordered us to camp. He said that we had to get more provisions, because in the mountains food was hard to get. We separated into several groups, went hunting, and tried to gather food in many different ways. After two weeks, we met again and collected our provisions. The guide was not satisfied and told us to look for more food. We tried, although we had already killed most of the animals in the wood and the tribes in this area were not able to give us anything more. In the meantime, the guide received a messenger. He said that he came from Carbo, whishing us a good trip across the Alps. We thought that this was a good sign, and indeed, the next day the guide told us we could decamp. We sacrificed to our gods, especially to Odin and Thor, and asked for their help and support while we were crossing the mountains.

Marching in the mountains was very hard. The ground was full of stones and we had to pass cliffy inclinations. Often we marched through deep and narrow valleys and the convoy, already several hundred thousand people, stretched over many miles. Magni and his berserkers kept aloof from the rest.

I went side by side with Velleda. I had to carry Idun. She could walk without help, but in the mountains, she refused to. She also refused to stay in the cart, so I had to carry her all the time. In return for this service, she talked without a break. Finally, she fell asleep and I could lay her into the cart. Now I had some time to look at the outstanding surrounding. I walked side by side with Glum and Velleda. Looking at the majestic mountains Glum said: “Gunnar, to see these mountains is worth all the trouble we passed. Look at that one on the left. Its top is made of solid rock and although it is late, spring snow covers it. I have never seen anything like that. Can you feel the magic, can you feel the presence of Thor. I know that he is somewhere there, watching us. I assume he is pleased with us.”

Velleda said: “You may be right, Glum. However, there is something else out there watching us. I can feel it. There is another force and it is not a good one.”

We marched through the mountains for several days. We climbed up and down; we were getting higher and higher. Although we were closer to the sun, the temperature was falling. We were not used to all this climbing and became short-winded.

We did not meet many voyagers. The inhabitants had left the area before we arrived; we saw some travelers, but most of them made a big bow to bypass us. However, some of them came to talk with us. They did not know how to speak our language, so they talked to our guide and to Vindelicus. After the last concourse, our guide decided to increase our speed. He told us to turn into the next side valley. We were very happy because the valley was declining and we all were tired of climbing uphill. That night we spend in a canyon. We camped in several groups; I had a tent for Velleda and the papoose. In the middle of the night, Velleda roused me. She was wet of sweating and told me: “Gunnar, I had an awful dream! Nott sent me terrible signs. Something bad is going to happen.”
I tried to hush her. However, she said: “I am not foolish, Gunnar. This was not an ordinary dream. It was so real. I cannot describe it, but I know that something bad is going to happen. I know it for sure, as sure as I know that I love you and Idun.”
Hell, what was I expected to reply? I said: “I will look out. I will take care of you and our child.”
She shook her head: “I know, you will. However, there is nothing you can do. Maybe we should return, but even then …”
She lie down and fell asleep again, a very anxious sleep. Needless to say that I could not fall asleep for the rest of the night.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That's it for a while. I need a break!

[matteus the inbred]

If men would always follow the concern of their wifes, no big deeds would ever happen

:laugh4:
what's that saying? 'behind every great man there is a good woman'

Well done Franconicus, your keyboard must be smoking hot by now!
Left it on a nicely portentous moment too, a cliffhanger...

[Kommodus]

Thanks for continuing this, Franc! Looks like the great tragedy we've all been waiting for is about to occur.

You've earned a break. Just don't let it take too long. ~;)

[Franconicus]

I have to dampen your expectations. The way is much longer as you may expect. I will be on the road for the next two weeks. If you cannot wait, take a look at your j´history books. There you find the rest of the history. :book:

[Ludens]

I have to dampen your expectations. The way is much longer as you may expect. I will be on the road for the next two weeks. If you cannot wait, take a look at your j´history books. There you find the rest of the history. :book:
Pity. Well, good luck on your own long way and have a good journey.

[Kommodus]

I have to dampen your expectations. The way is much longer as you may expect. I will be on the road for the next two weeks. If you cannot wait, take a look at your j´history books. There you find the rest of the history. :book:

I actually did that fairly recently, curious as to who the Cimbrii really were. It seems they were quite important to the history of the Roman empire. However, it looked as if you were deviating from history somewhat (for literary reasons, I assumed). Thus, while I expected the story to turn out roughly the same as history, I suspected it would differ substantially in the process. Perhaps you were planning to bring an end to the Cimbrii before their time?

Anyway, have fun on the road!

[Franconicus]

Hi Kommodus,

some time ago I was looking for a good story for an interactive and I thought that the Cimbrii could be a good one. So I started to gather information. However, I had to realize that there was not much and that an interactive would soon become pure speculation. So I started to write this story.

Many things are mysterious about the Cimbrii. It seems to be known where they came from. However, it is not so obvious who they were. They seemed to be somehow Germanians, although the Germanians did not have their identity then. And there were also some Celtic elements (for example the Ambrones). As they crossed Europe the Celtic element seemed to become stronger.

They seemed to be poor peasants at first. Not clear what made them wandering, propably hunger. Then they changed. The poor peasants became warriors that managed to beat the Romans several times. And they became maroders.

In my story I wanted to give an explanation why they started to wander. And I wanted to describe how the wandering changed their character, from peasants to warriors to marroders.

Another mystery is, that they did not try to invade Italy, although they had beaten the Romans several times and although they must have known about the wealth of this country. I wanted to find a (fictive) explanation for that too. When they finally decided to march south they were defeated and killed (men, women and children).

I agree that they were very important. First of all they made the Romans reform their army. Second, and maybe most important, they disturbed the Celtic societies north of the Alpes and destroyed the equilibrium there. I think that promoted the raise of the Romans as well as the raise of the Germanians. And third, they were the first wandering Germanian tribes.

You say that I am deviating from history. Where exactly?

[Franconicus]

Chapter 13 – Roman Friendship

I stood up early next morning. Velleda and Idun were sleeping. I left the tent. Over the top of the mountains the new day began to dawn. I crossed the camp and climbed up the hill. I wanted to be alone to rearrange my mind. Velleda’s dream was still obsessing me. I tried to prove myself that it was nothing but a meaningless dream. I did not believe it.

In this early morning hour, another person was awake; Magni. His nightmares might have driven him outside, too. I walked to him. He looked at me and I saw that he was painting his face with black and red stripes.

“Hey Magni, what are you doing? Can’t sleep, can you?”

“You know what, Gunnar? Soon we will enter the promised land, where we will live a peaceful and easy life. There will be no use for Magni and his Berserkers. Our deeds will be history. The worst thing is that we were a miserable failure at the last fight. Who will remember our victories? Everybody will remember our failure.”

“Do not be kidding, Magni! Everybody knows that you are awful warriors. Everybody knows what the volk owes to you!”

“I only wished that there would be another chance; only one more battle where we can prove what we are worth. I pray to Modi that he sends us this last chance.”

“Do not say that! We have fought all the way and now it is enough. Abandon your dark thoughts. Think of the bright future ahead. Life is more than blood and tears. We almost forgot, but there is also love and peace. So chase away your sad thoughts!”

Magni looked at me with sad eyes and shook his head. Then he turned away and continued to paint his body with shocking colors.

The meeting had not eased my mind. I turned around and went back to the camp. The volk was awaking. Soon we left the place. Magni and his Berserkers walked separately again. Most of the time I could not see them.

After an hour walk, the valley ended and there was no way to pass the mountains. The guide apologized for having chosen the wrong valley. No complaining helped, we had to return and climb up the valley we had just passed. Of course moral was low. Climbing up was much harder. Although it was rather cold, everybody was sweating. Dark clouds had gathered around the top of the mountains and it was getting darker and darker. Around noon it was almost as dark as night.

We came to a place were the sides of the valley were higher and where the valley was narrow. I was walking close to the head of our caravan, together with Velleda and Idun. Idun refused to walk and Velleda had to carry her while I helped to push the wagons over the rubble ground.

Suddenly someone called and pointed at the acclivities in front of us. At both sides of the valley, there were Roman soldiers; much more than we had seen before. They stood in several lines, one behind the other. When we saw them, we were glad. Our friends had come to help us out of the mountain labyrinth. The guide and Vindelicus rode to them to welcome them.

Then lights flashed all along the Roman line. It was a marvelous view as we stood in that valley and looked at the line of fire against the background of the dark sky. It became even more marvelous when fireballs flung into the sky like firebirds. We had never seen anything like that and the people were cheering when the fireballs began to shorten over their heads. When the first balls smashed into the crowd, the cheering was replace by cries of pain and surprise. The crowed pushed like sheep during storm. I saw Velleda stumble; she did not stand up again. I went to her; I cannot describe my horror when I saw flames coming out of her breast. At the first moment I thought her souls was leaving her body. I had panic to loose her and tried to push her soul back with my bare hands. First, I did not notice it but then I felt that my hands were burned. I also felt the arrow in her breast. I pulled it out and the fire was gone. Velleda still laid motionless. I looked for Idun, but could not find her. Around me, people were pushing. There was no order. Most of the warriors did not carry their weapons. They could not even move because they were trapped in the freaked out crowd. From the acclivities, the Romans sent one volley after the other. The crowd was so dense that they did not have to aim. They did not take the time to set the arrows on fire any more. They shot as fast as possible. It was a constant arrow rain.

I pushed through the crowd and reached the edge. I saw how single warriors climbed up the slopes to attack the Romans. However, when the finally reached the first Roman lines, the heavy-armed Roman soldiers slaughtered them. There was no plan behind our efforts, no coordination.

I ran to Glum. He stood there and looked at the Romans as if he could not believe his eyes. I cried to him and said that he had to give orders or the whole volk would die here in this damned valley. I did not know whether he heard my words. He did not react at all, he just started at the Romans while they where sending volley after volley.

I looked up the slopes, too, and I saw Carbo among his officers. He raised one arm. The first rows of the Roman infantry began to advance. There were three rows of heavy-armed spearmen. Behind them, there were three other lines with soldiers. Later I found out that these soldiers should have taken prisoners and carried them away. Even further behind there were several lines of archer, which continued to shoot.

Desperately I was looking for help. Would this be the end? After all this fighting, after all this pain? Where were our gods? Odin, come and help us or we all will be lost!

Then several things happened at the same time. The Roman infantry reached our lines and began their massacre. Some chiefs managed to gather their warriors and here and there, there was isolated resistance against the Romans. I gathered some warriors, too, and we jumped into the fray. We had little hope to survive but it was better than to die in the arrow rain.

Before I had reached the Romans, I looked up the slopes and I saw something that made me stumble. At the top of the hills, right behind the last line of the Roman archers, there was a new crowd of warriors. They were running down the hill, not in the orderly way the Romans do; they looked more like a wolf pack.

They broke through the Roman line. The archers were running away while their comrades at the lower lines had not even recognized that there was something going on behind them. The wolf pack attacked the next line. They seemed to be unstoppable. In front of them there was a huge man running – Magni. He had his sword in one hand and a cudgel in the other. No, not a cudgel, it was a tree, a small tree. He was beating at both sides and howling like a wolf. He did not look human at all; he looked like Holler, the God of Death and Destruction.

I cried aloud and pointed to the Berserkers: “Help is coming! Stand, fight, brave Cimbrii!” More and more warriors came out of the crowd and tried to stop the Roman infantry. The Roman spearmen still had not realized what was going on behind their backs. Our Berserkers had defeated the Roman archers completely. Now they lunged at the spearmen. Those were taken by surprise. They had not expected any attack from behind, they had been sure that the battle was already won. I saw Magni jump right in a pack of twenty heavy-armed Romans. At the same time, we attacked them from below. That was too much. They gave up their formation and run away. Our warriors were so angry that they chased them like rabbits. The Romans had their horses behind the gorge portion. They had to pass this bottleneck and here we could kill many of them. What can I say? We killed until our arms ached and we continued. Maybe we could have killed them all.

Suddenly there was lightning and thunder right above us and rain began to fall. A loud voice behind us cried: “Stop! Don’t you hear Thor? Stop the fighting or His ire will crush you!”

We looked around and saw Glum. In the background lightnings flashed out of the black clouds and the thunder was rolling through the valley. Although we were furious and wanted to kill the Romans, we accepted the will of the Thunder God.

Therefore, Carbo escaped.

[matteus the inbred]

bloody Romans!
Epic. The bit with Magni reminds me of an episode of the 2000AD character Slaine when he jumps into the middle of Roman testudo and then warps into the monster-Slaine.
This is a very abrupt move from peace to action, very shocking.

[Kommodus]

You say that I am deviating from history. Where exactly?

Well...

My only source is the Wikipedia article concerning the Cimbrian War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimbrian_War). This article indicates that the Battle of Noreia was the first fight between the Romans and the Cimbrii, in which the Cimbrii discovered Carbo's treachery and attacked and destroyed his army. Your version of events has the Cimbrii fighting the native inhabitants of Noricum at Noreia, and doing battle with the Romans for the first time at a different time and place (as they try to cross the Alps).

It's a minor difference. This is not (and never was) a criticism; when people write historical fiction I don't expect precise historical accuracy - that would make it nonfiction, wouldn't it?

[Franconicus]

Well...

My only source is the Wikipedia article concerning the Cimbrian War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimbrian_War). This article indicates that the Battle of Noreia was the first fight between the Romans and the Cimbrii, in which the Cimbrii discovered Carbo's treachery and attacked and destroyed his army. Your version of events has the Cimbrii fighting the native inhabitants of Noricum at Noreia, and doing battle with the Romans for the first time at a different time and place (as they try to cross the Alps).
There is another Wiki_link, however only in German, about the battle of Noreia: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_bei_Noreia
There are some details:
The Cimbrii had to fight there way through the land of the Celtic tribes before they got in contact with the Romans. When they entered the realm of Noreia, the Romans did send an army with Consul Carbo. Carbo started negotioations. He gave them guides to find the passage through the alps (which begin near Noreia) However, Carbo ambushed them in the alps. Nevertheless the Barbarians defeated the Romans because they attacked them furiously regardless the desperate situation. The Romans began to talk about the Furor Teutonicus. Only a thunderstorm prevented the Roman army from the complete destruction.


This is not (and never was) a criticism;
That is a pity. If you find something wrong or have suggestions you're welcome!:book:

[Kommodus]

Interesting - so the English and German versions of the story would seem to be a bit different. I'd have no way of knowing which was correct.

The English version also indicates that the Cimbrii defeated the Boii (many of whom joined them) and the Scordii en route to Noricum. So there is agreement that they had to fight their way through the lands of several Celtic tribes on their way south, but some ambiguity as to which tribes were actually defeated.

Anyway, great chapter! I am no literary critic; if I were to criticize anything it would be the grammar, but I'm not inclined to do so as English is your second language (correct?).

[Franconicus]

Yes it is, obviously. Well, the story is told by a Germanian Barbarian, so grammar is maybe historically correct.~;)
One reason for me to write these stories is to train my English. I know that there is room for improvements and I am thankful if you criticize!

[Franconicus]

Chapter 14 – Crossroads

In the pouring rain, we were looking for the dead and wounded ones. I found Velleda. She was still unconscious, but she was alive. I urged a wise man to care for her, and then I started looking for Idun. It stopped raining. I saw a group of warriors carrying a dead body down the hill. I stepped closer. It was Magni. Wounds covered his body. His comrades told me that he had still fought even with three spears in his side. He had not surrendered; he had just disappeared among the enemies. Well, Magni’s wish had come true.

I went on looking for Idun. There were dead and wounded people everywhere, men, women and children. Then I saw her. She lay below two other bodies. I picked her up. So many times, I had complained that she was too heavy to carry; this time I did feel any weight at all. Her face was so pale and her dead eyes looked at me. It was more than I could stand. The crush had smothered her small body.

I had promised to tell the story as I saw it. From now on I can only tell what other people told me, because for a couple of weeks I was in trance and did hardly notice anything that was going on around me.

After we had bandaged the injured and buried the dead, the chiefs called a Thing. The volk had to decide what to do now.

First Ganglerix rose to speak.

“People of the allied tribes! We all suffered a bad surprise! Our so-called Roman friends betrayed us and tried to kill or enslave us! Many human beings died, many were injured. Glum had promised to lead us into a land where we could live in peace side by side with the Romans. He had told us the Romans were our friends. I had warned you before, but you had not listened. Now look around what Roman friendship gave us; blood and dead. You ask again: ‘What shall we do, now that our friends betrayed us, now that we stuck here in the middle of these cursed mountains?’ I tell you the same I had told you last time, the same words you should have followed last time: I will lead you to Rome! We will defeat the Romans as we did here, let us repay their friendship with the same coin they gave us, blood and dead. Do not listen to Glum’s silly dreams anymore. Let us get real. Let us burn down Rome!”
There was common consent with his ideas. Especially the younger warriors agreed to his plan. And those who had lost friends and relatives in the battle.
After Ganglerix an old magus stood up:
“Ganglerix, I hear your words and I hear dolor and frustration. We all share these feelings and because of that, we all would like to follow your words and punish the Romans. However, I am an old man and I had to learn that dolor and frustration are not the right advisors. We should rather rely on our keen mind than on our passions. So let us first analyze the facts. We relied on the Romans because we thought they were part of Thor’s promise. However, something went wrong and the Romans attacked us. Why? I do not know! Maybe our interpretation of Thor’s vision was wrong. Alternatively, we did something wrong and the God punished us. Please remember the moment when we defeated the Romans. We could have killed them all; however, right in that moment Thor sent his thunder and lightning to stop us. Obviously, He did not want us to kill them. I do not have an explanation for what happened, but I know that we must carefully analyze the will of Thor and the other gods before we make a decision. If we march to Rome against the will of Thor none of us will survive.”
Everybody had to agree that there was a lot of wisdom in these words. Obviously, Thor had changed his mind and it was essential to find out what he wanted now. Therefore, the magni sat together and discussed this issue. All the rest of the volk sat beside and waited for their advice. Finally, they stood up and the magus that had spoken before turned to the volk:
“We discussed our problem and we asked Thor for his advice. Finally, we all agreed that Thor did not want us to conquer Rome. His thunder and lightning was a sign that we had to leave these mountains and look for a land to live somewhere else.”

The volk discussed this proposal and at the end, it agreed. It had no other option, because we did not know how to cross the mountains or how long the way was and the supply was getting smaller. Therefore, we had to turn around and leave the mountains the way we had entered them.

Glum’s share to the discussion was very small. He just sat there and murmeled: “Something went wrong! Something must have gone wrong!”

[matteus the inbred]

Ah, tragedy. I like the interpretation of omens and signs, perhaps you are thinking of adding a scene where a ceremony to consult the Gods is held?

I am a bit confused though: Magni is a character (the leader of the berserks, although now dead); a magni or magnus is a wise man?

[Franconicus]

Ah, tragedy. I like the interpretation of omens and signs, perhaps you are thinking of adding a scene where a ceremony to consult the Gods is held?
That is a good idea! I had to go the mystic way because there had to be a reason why the Cimbrii did not invade Rome, now that they defeated the Roman army.


I am a bit confused though: Magni is a character (the leader of the berserks, although now dead); a magni or magnus is a wise man?
My fault! Magni is the name of the stromgest man, named after Thor's son, the only one who was even stronger than Thor. A magus was a wise man, kind of priest.

[matteus the inbred]

I had to go the mystic way because there had to be a reason why the Cimbrii did not invade Rome, now that they defeated the Roman army.

yes, it very much differentiates tribal people from people like Rome, the way they had trust in their gods and would choose an apparently illogical course because of omens. Just a thought. I like that sort of thing though, it makes good sense in your story.


My fault! Magni is the name of the strongest man, named after Thor's son, the only one who was even stronger than Thor. A magus was a wise man, kind of priest.

I thought that was what you meant, but thanks for confirming it. I wonder, did the Cimbrii (and similar peoples) have any legends concerning Ragnarok? (Bit of a deviation or even a Monastery question, I admit.) Anyway, I look forward to the next bit, it's all good. :2thumbsup:

[Franconicus]

Chapter 14 – Westwards

We marched north until we left the mountains. Then we turned to the left and marched at the foothills of the Alps. There was no tribe big enough to challenge us. Therefore, our march was undisturbed.

Velleda was slowly recovering. However, the relationship between the two of us had changed. We never talked about Idun, but I saw the look in her eyes and I knew that she blamed me for what had happened. After all, she was probably right.

Sometimes at night when the wind was blowing outside the tent I often heard a voice, the tender voice of a child I knew so well. I could not understand the words, but I could hear them and I knew she was calling me. Then I stood up and strayed through the night. Usually I returned at the break of dawn. Then Velleda looked at me; she never said a word.

I always had had my share in the fate of the volk. Now, I only followed. Nevertheless, I could feel that many things were different, visible thinks as well as invisible. Many of the old comrades were dead now. I missed Magni. Glum had changed. Although he was still our leader, he had lost a big part of his authority. He had lost his spirit, his vision, and sometimes I had the impression that he asked himself constantly what went wrong with the Romans.

We had lost our mission, the reason why we were wandering. We kept on wandering, because we used to, because we had no other option, not because we had a target.

We finally reached a river called Rhine, which came from the Alps. We crossed it and found ourselves in the land of the Allobroges. Our chiefs tried to negotiate and get some land to settle down. However, they were allied with the cursed Romans. Their Roman friends told them to retard the negotiations. One day, while we still thought that we could find an agreement, we found the Allobroges in battle formation. Besides them, there was a huge Roman army under the command of Consul Marcus Junius Silanus.

We hurried to alert and then we assaulted. In the past, we had fought to win a passage, to get food or simply to defend ourselves. This time, with the hate against the Romans, pure lust to kill pushed us into the battle. Neither the Allobroges nor their Roman friends could stand our ferocity. We broke their lines and we slaughtered as many as possible. When we counted the dead enemies, we found alone 30,000 Roman soldiers.

Then we devastated the land of the Allobroges. I mean, we did not only maraud as we had done before. Yes, we marauded, but then we burned their houses, we killed the men, we raped the wives and then we sold them and their children into slavery. Those who were too old or too young to sell, we killed them too. We took all the domestic animals we could take and killed the rest. We burned the grain on the field; we destroyed the bridges and empoisoned wells. When we left, we left a desert.

After we had left the former land of the Allobroges, we camped for winter. Glum sent delegates to the close-by tribes. He sent me to a tribe in the high mountains. The mission was not very important and I assume he chose me to get me out of my lethargy. Ten warriors accompanied me. After a four days journey through the superb scenery of the Alps we finally reached the territory of the Helvetici. The chief of this tribe was very friendly. The Allobroges and their Roman allies had always oppressed them and they were very glad that this threat was gone. Therefore, they treated us more as friends than as guests.

During my visit, I made several walking-tours to explore this extraordinary nature. I loved the loneliness and peacefulness of these tours. I tried to retard our descent as long as I could. When we finally left, Gomix, the young leader of the Helvetici, invited me to come and stay in their village whenever I wanted. We returned to our camp and I reported to Glum. The camp had grown. Several hundred thousand people camped there and the area was full of noise, dirt and quarrels. There was not a lot I could do there and I decided to return to that village in the mountains. Gomix welcomed me. He offered me a place in his own house, but I preferred a small cabin at the edge of the village. I started touring again. From time to time Gomix accompanied me. We climbed the mountains and enjoyed the view. Gomix was the right partner for me; often we climbed side by side without speaking a word for hours.

Snow came early this year and cut off the village of the Helvetici. I spent my life with my new friends and shared their life. It was hard and simple. In many ways, it reminded me to the life home at the sea. It was full of hard work, but also full of silence and peace.

Spring came and I knew that the volk was decamping again. I decided to stay with my friends. Nothing called me back!

I spent four years in the Alps. From time to time traveling traders brought news from the volk. The Cimbri, still not showing any desire to invade Rome, went about their own business, looking for land in Gaul. Again, another Roman army under the command of Longinus met up with them near Tolosa. He had under his command the veterans of Metellus army from Africa. Longinus was initially successful, but was eventually caught in an ambush. Killed in action, his subordinate, Laenas was forced to surrender his position and return to Rome with fewer than 4,000 survivors.

The next year the Romans sent another army under Quintus Servilius Caepio. Although he won a minor engagement, he let the Germanians move off and returned to Rome.

The volk was still wandering, still looking for a place to settle down. However, the Roman Senate was not willing to accept the presence of the wandering tribes along the northern border of Rome. It authorized another army to be raised. This time, a force of over 6 legions was hastily prepared under Mallius Maximus, and he was given imperium over both armies. He marched to join Caepio, but Caepio, feeling that Mallius was inferior in social position, refused to obey or join his command. Bitter in-fighting between the two men, and armies, would prove to be disastrous. In the Cimbri returned and came across the Romans arranged in two separate camps, with two full armies functioning completely independent of one another. At the battle of Aurasio, the Cimbri crushed both Roman armies, killing nearly 80,000 men while sustaining minimal losses of their own.

We received the news of the battle of Aurosia with two months delay. I had almost forgotten the volk. Now all the memories jumped at me. The departure from our homeland, the long march, the battle of Noreia, the Romans, the fighting in the mountains, all my friends and acquaintance, the dead ones and the living ones. I thought of Glum. And Velleda, my wife! Was she still alive? Did she think of me? I became more restless from day to day and one morning Gomix took me aside and said: “Gunnar, my friend. I see the struggling in your mind. I know that you had hard times and that you long for peace of mind. However, you cannot escape your fate. You cannot hide forever.”
I knew he was right, I had known it for a long time, although I had managed to ignore it for a long time. Gomix was right. I could not escape my fate.
The next morning hit the road. My restlessness even grew and I forced my horse to run as fast as possible. It was not hard to find the way. The volk had left a trace of destruction. I followed this trace, came through Gaul, and finally reached the Pyrenees. There I found a part of the volk. Glum was not there, neither was Velleda. I talked to a Celtic chief. Despite the monumental victory of Aurosia, and the opening of the doorway to invade Italy, the Cimbri were still only interested in finding new land. They divided their force, with the old and weak remaining in southern Gaul, but with the bulk moving on towards the Pyrenees and Hispania, trying to find a place were they could live in peace. I hurried and crossed the Pyrenees. There in Spain I finally met the volk again. There was Glum. I was home again.

[matteus the inbred]

More good stuff, although it's starting to feel a bit like a history from an outside point of view now, losing the human element somewhat. Mind you, your knowledge of the history is impressive, and it's building nicely to a finale.

I have to point this out though, cos it made me laugh a bit -

Then we devastated the land of the Allobroges...When we left, we left a dessert.

A dessert is a pudding. A desert with one 's' is a wasted land.
I had this vision of the Cimbri marching away from the Allobroges land with only a gigantic Black Forest Gateau smouldering sadly on the devastated land behind them.

[Franconicus]

A dessert is a pudding.
I see! :laugh4: :laugh4:

[Ludens]

~:thumb:

[Franconicus]

Chapter 15 – Reunion and secession


Glum was so glad to see me. I noticed that he looked older, tired. We went into his tent and he told me what had happened along the way.

“Glum, it is good to have you here again. Many things happened while you were gone. The march was a permanent fight. The cursed Romans were everywhere. Each other people can be defeated on the battlefield. I do not know how many battles we have fought, how many times we have defeated the Romans, but still they are not finished. I decided to cross the Pyrenees, hoping that we could live in peace here without the interception of the Romans. I hoped we would find an agreement with the natives; that we could finally find a place where we could live in peace. I erred. These Celtibereans are crazy. They do not want to do anything but fight. I tried to negotiate, I tried to give them presents, I threatened them; we had to fight every mile of the way. So much killing, so many dead. What for? Gunnar, I am tired of all this fighting! All I want is to live in peace. Oh Thor, what did I start? God, I really missed you. I need your advice.”
He embraced me and I think there were tears in his eyes. He tried to regain his countenance.
“Do you remember our dreams, when this whole thing started? We tried to find the Promised Land. Somehow, we lost our way. I do not know what went wrong. I decided to leave Iberia. There is nothing to gain for us. Maybe we have to fight the Romans again. You cannot escape your fate!”

We had a long conversation. Finally, I left him. After I had stepped outside, I suddenly saw Velleda. She was older and graver, but she was even more beautiful than in my memories. She turned around and looked at me and suddenly we were laying in each other arms. Odin, I had not realized how much I had missed her. We stood there in the middle of the camp, holding on to each other as if we feared that Thor itself would try to tear us apart. I forgot everything around us, the volk, Glum, our misery. Then Velleda freed herself from my embrace and pulled me out of the camp. When we were alone, we sat on a stone and started talking. We talked, and hugged, and kissed, and talked. The words flew right out of my mouth. I had never been a gabber, but this time the words came straight from my soul.

Velleda told me how much she had missed me. She did not complain but I felt that being with the volk had been very hard for her. She had not had the break I had had. Then we talked about Idun, about the hurt, how much we missed her. We talked for hours. Afterwards I missed Idun just as much as before, and I felt the same pain as before. However, I felt relieved and I felt that I had found Velleda again.

During the next days, she told me the things Glum had not. The volk was in a very bad condition. Many people complained about Glum. He had lost his vision and he was not inspiring anymore. Some said that Glum lied to seduce them, because he wanted to become leader. Many new groups joined the volk, many people with Celtic origin. They did not care about the vision; they did not even search for new land. All they are looking for is adventure and easy prey. Lately tensions between the old participants of the migration and the newcomers grew. Here and there, there were affrays. Glums authority was not strong enough to keep the volk together anymore. Velleda feared that eventually there would be a rebellion against Glum.

Next morning Glum announced his plan to go back to the land of the Gaul. The situation in Spain had been so bad that nobody disagreed. The volk crossed the Pyrenees again. After some weeks of wearisome marching, we reached the camp in Gaul.

Here I could see what Velleda had told me. There were several hundred thousand men and women in the camp. There was never enough food or water and the whole camp was stinking. Most of the time the people had nothing to do and brawls happened every day. We stayed there for another winter. It was horrible. Many thousands died from hunger and pestilence. Every morning we collected the dead bodies and burned them. There was nothing we could do.

The whole situation was so depressing, so hopeless; we were stuck in nowhereland, far away from home, without a goal. Sometimes I thought that our fate was wandering, suffering and dying.

I talked to Glum. Although he did his best to decrease the suffering, he was loosing control of the situation and of the volk. Therefore, he did what he had done a long time before. He left the camp and moved on a hill three daily marches from the camp. There he sat, not eating, not drinking, jut waiting for the call of Thor. The other leaders made jokes on him. They said that he never had been a better leader when he had been in the camp.

The sun came, the sun went, and after seven weeks, Glum returned to the camp. He looked like a Troll, almost vamished. However, the fire in his eyes was back.

He went straight into his tent and stayed there for 24 hours. This made everybody very curious and intensified the effect of his subsequent appearance. While he was still hiding, some of the Celtic chiefs tried to root against him.

Finally, there was some activity at Glum’s tent. Glum called all magi. They conferred for several hours. Then bellmen came, went, and called the volk for another Thing. It started the next morning

Of course, everybody was curious about Glum’s appearance. Ganglerix walked through the camp and declared that all Glum would lead to nothing and that he had better stayed in the wilderness.

When the day of the Thing began, Glum left the tent, leading a procession of magi. He wore his finest cloths and was draped with golden chains. He looked majestic. This was emphasized by the fact that all magi followed him. The expectations regarding the Thing were flying high.

Glum led the procession to a hill outside of the camp where the Thing should take place. Hundreds of thousands had congressed there. He stepped on top of the hill with the magi at his sides.

He raised his hands and the audience was quiet. Then he said:

“My volk! Many years ago the God of Thunder and Lightning, the great Thor himself sent me a vision. The God promised to lead the volk out of misery into a new and better world. Additionally He ordered me to guide you into this Promised Land. Since then we have seen 14 winters. Since then our life was filled with struggle and suffering. All those years I was only driven by the concern about my volk and the obedience for Thor. You all know that we could not get into the Promised Land. Since then we stray without a goal and without rest. I have seen your pain and it broke my heart. Therefore I decided to talk to Thor, to ask him why He let us down, why He did not keep His promise.
I blamed Him, I begged Him, I prayed to Him. Finally, He sent me a sign. I talked with all our wise magi and we came to a common interpretation. We will do a sacrifice and then read the will of Thor.”

I thought it was a good idea to find out the will of Thor. I was curious about his answer. I had no idea how he would lead us out of this trouble. I glanced at the group of Celtic chiefs. They looked as if they did not know what to think about this message. I asked Velleda about her opinion. She said: “I do not know what the God will answer. However, look at Glum, he has a plan.”

While I was wondering about the meaning of her words, the magi started to prepare the sacrifice. The area we lived in now was wooded poorly and the magi had to search for a tree that was adequate. Then all chiefs and magi gathered themselves around the tree. The magi consecrated it Thor. Then they selected an aurochs and butchered it according to the ritual. The oldest and wisest magus then interpreted the sacrificial animal. He called his colleges and consulted with them. The chiefs stood around and had to wait for the result. After a while, the old magus stood up and shook his head. Thor had not accepted the sacrifice.

The magi repeated the ritual at the next day. Again, the God did not answer to our prayers. This went on for seven days. Then, after seven failed attempts, Glum said: “Listen to me, wise men and chiefs. Isn’t it obvious that our sacrifice does not please Thor. The God of thunder expects something more precious.”
He sent a messenger to the camp. After a while, we could see a caravan coming to our place. When it came closer, I could see what Glum would offer to the God. He wanted to offer Thor a human sacrifice. The caravan brought seven vestal vergins. I felt sympathy for them; I remembered Idun. She would have been almost in their age then.

It was the day of the thunder god and all of a sudden, Thor appeared himself. He was riding through the heavens on his chariot pulled by the goats Tanngrisni ("gap-tooth") and Tanngnost ("tooth grinder"). In those southern regions rain and thunder is very rare; however at this day it abounded.

We stood in the pouring rain while the magi inspected the bowels of the butchered creatured. Then the old magus gave us the sign. Thor had accepted the gift. We went to our horses and rode home to the main camp. There the volk was anxious. They were still gathered around the meeting hill. Glum and the magi climbed the hill, the chiefs followed. While we went up the hill, the rain und thunder increased.

After we had reached the top, the old magus raised his hands. At once, the thunder stopped and the wind calmed down. The rain, however, were even thicker than before. While we felt the presence of Thor and became wet to the bones, the magus made his prophecy:

“Listen to the word’s of Thor! The God of Thunder Himself speaks to you! He tells you that He was angered, that we tried to cross the Alps without demonstrating respect for Him. He also was changrined that the volk took in men and women, who did only want to foray, who did not follow the vision. Therefore, He punished his volk. For ten years He made them stray like homeless dogs, living in fear and desperation, without a shelter, without a place to rest their heads.”

He paused. I glanced at the Celtic chiefs. They stood stony-faced.

“Now, after the ten years sentence, His will is to renew the promise He once gave. His will is to lead us to Rome. He will give our enemies into our hands. He will give us their land, where we can live in freedom and peace. Glum, His servant, will lead us.”

A lightning stroke down and marked the end of the speech. Most people were satisfied with the result of the augury. Finally, there was a hope to leave this hopeless life.

However, some were not.

Ganglerix pushed himself ahead: “Listen, volk, I heard the words of Thor! I am glad that He promises the defeat of the Romans. However, I am not willing to accept Glum as our leader any longer. Nor will one of my warriors.”

[Ludens]

Is there any chance you are going to continue this excellent story? It would be a pity if you gave up when the finish is within sight.

[Franconicus]

I am a bit busy! I will be back as soon as possible.

[Ludens]

I am a bit busy! I will be back as soon as possible.
Good to know. Take you time, Franc.

[Franconicus]

I know that it has been a long time. I still intend to finish this story, now that kagemusha-san nominated me.

[Specialist290]

Good to hear ~:)

Read it a while ago and thought it was pretty impressive. One minor tip: You may want to try to avoid using slang and informal language, at least for non-dialogue scenes. You do a pretty good job most of the time, but there's a couple that have slipped "through the net," so to speak. Of course, in order to find an example I'll have to read through it again, but that shouldn't be too much of a burden ~D

It's just a little thing, of course, but, like the saying goes, "Every little thing helps." Overall I'd say you're doing an exceptional job, particularly for a non-native English speaker.

[Ludens]

I know that it has been a long time. I still intend to finish this story, now that kagemusha-san nominated me.
~:thumb:

[Franconicus]

Good to hear ~:)

Read it a while ago and thought it was pretty impressive. One minor tip: You may want to try to avoid using slang and informal language, at least for non-dialogue scenes. You do a pretty good job most of the time, but there's a couple that have slipped "through the net," so to speak. Of course, in order to find an example I'll have to read through it again, but that shouldn't be too much of a burden ~D

It's just a little thing, of course, but, like the saying goes, "Every little thing helps." Overall I'd say you're doing an exceptional job, particularly for a non-native English speaker.
Thank you very much!
Maybe if you read the next chapters you can tell me what is wrong!

[Franconicus]

Chapter 16 – Separate ways

The following days showed that Ganglerix meant what he had said. He left the volk and started to gather his fellowmen. Glum did nothing to hold them back. Before Ganglerix left the camp, Glum and he agreed marching on separate ways and meet at Rome. Ganglerix would go the straight way through the western passage while Glum’s volk would go through the northeastern passage. This would force the Romans to split their forces, too.

When Glum left, he had almost half of the volk with him, including the Teutons, the Ambrones and most of the other Celtic tribes. It was a strange feeling to watch them leave, men and women that had been on our company for so many years. Many friends left, many families were devided. Before he left, Ganglerix turned around and said:

“I promise to reach Rome first. When you come, you can search the debris for prey!”

Those, who expected that Glum would hurry to reach Italy first, were wrong. He turned north and made a big loop through Gaul. He did not seem to hurry at all. Now that the volk was smaller, the march was a lot easier.

On the way, we crossed the territories of many Celtic and even Germanian tribes. The news, that our new target was Rome, spread faster than we could march. Avidity was big and multitudinous tribes joined our march.

Finally, Glum surveyed the Gods. The Gods told us that the time of Holler arrived, the god of death and destruction, the one who brings diseases and disasters. They told us that we would defeat the Romans. That evening I saw Glum walking alone in the wood. I followed him and found him sitting under a big oak. I joined him and after a while, he said:
“Gunnar, what do you think about the prophecy?”
“Isn’t it what we were waiting for all the time? Now Rome will be ours!”
“You are right Gunnar.”
“Then why do you look so sad, Glum?”
“Well, I did not tell everything the Gods showed me. You know, Gunnar, it is not always good to see the future. In fact, most of the time it is hurtful.”
“Then what else did you see?”
“I saw misery, misery coming to us.”
For a moment, I could not reply anything. Then I said: “ But in the end, we will conquer Rome, right?”
“Yes, if I interpret the signs right. I saw a big town. It was pillaged by Germanians, no doubt. However, there is something else. The signs showed me something about my own fate. Odin will call me before we enter Italy.”

That really astounded me: “Come on, Glum! You know that the signs have always been very vage. You will not give up, after all this time!”
“No, Gunnar, this time the signs are clear. I will not see Rome. No reason for moaning. This is the decision of Odin. Gunnar, you have to do me a favour. You must lead the volk to Rome! You must finish the work of my life. You must finish my dream!”
“No, Gunnar, chase away those dark thoughts. You will lead the volk to Rome. You will be the winner. You will be called Glum, the conquereor.”
Glum smiled “Alright! We will see. Just in case that – something happens to me – I want you to lead the volk to Rome!”

We returned to the camp. There two messages were waiting for us. Odin, the God that gives lives and that takes lives, had donated Velleda and me a son. We named him Magni, and hoped that he would become as strong and as brave as our dead friend had been.

The other message was delivered by a messenger of Ganglerix’s came into the camp – or should I say a survivor.

[Specialist290]

A most intriguing update there ~:)

<nitpicky grammarian mode> One thing (well, two things, but both related) I did notice in the update:


Those, who expected that Glum would hurry to reach Italy first, were wrong.


The news, that our new target was Rome, spread faster than we could march.

In both cases, the commas separating the italicized elements are unnecessary, as both elements are essential to their respective sentences (except possibly the second one; see below).

To help clarify what I'm saying, consider this example:


The king, the man who controls the kingdom, is sitting on the throne.

In that case, the element "the man who controls the kingdom" is nonessential, as you could still understand the sentence if you only said "The king is sitting on the throne."

Basically, the rule is: If it's a nonessential element, enclose it in commas; if it's an essential element, no commas are needed. If you need help identifying whether an element is essential or not, then you can always try leaving it out of the sentence. Using your two sentences as examples:

"Those were wrong." You can obviously tell that this sentence is missing something ~;)

"The news spread quickly." With a sentence like this it can be hard to tell, since "The news spread quickly" can be a stand-alone sentence by itself depending on the context. With sentences like these, you'll have to make a judgement call. If you feel that there's room for confusion (i.e. more than one "news item" referred to earlier recently), then it's best to treat the item as nonessential and omit the commas. If you feel that the reader will already understand what sort of news it is already, then it's OK to just leave out that element entirely.

It's a little tricky getting the hang of these things at first, but I'm sure that plenty of practice will allow you to distinguish between essential and nonessential elements almost effortlessly ~:)

</nitpicky grammarian mode>

I'm not claiming to be an English grammar expert, of course, as most of the stuff I know comes from my high school English textbook. If I seem to get "out of line" with my criticism, feel free to call me on it.

[Franconicus]

If it's a nonessential element, enclose it in commas; if it's an essential element, no commas are needed.

Tricky! We have other rules in German. I will give my best:sweatdrop:

Thank you very much!

[Franconicus]

Dedicated to Kagemusha-san, best nominator of the .org

Chapter 17 – Destruction - Aquä Sextiä

I knew the man, although I had not realized him at the first moment. He was one of the Celtic warriors that joined us after the battle of Noricum. I knew him as a gladsome person; maybe that was the reason, why he was all out of recognition. He was not gladsome at all; he came across as a hunted animal. Well, the story he told us was suitable to kill all gladness.

“After splitting up, Ganglerix decided to take the straight path to Rome. He hurried; he wanted to be the one to defeat the Romans. Many times, he told us that we were undefeatable, now that we were under his leadership.

We met the Romans at a river called Rhon. They had built solid fortifications on a big plain. Ganglerix ordered us to camp. Then we deployed for the battle.

However, the Romans did not come. Ganglerix sent messengers to tell them that we were ready for combat, but they did not come. They were so scared; they preferred to hide behind their wooden walls.

Ganglerix was at a loss. He waited the whole day for the Romans, which did not come. Early next morning we deployed again; but there were still no Romans. We lost the respect for those little soldiers and started to maraud. The Roman soldiers stayed in their camp, watching us as we were burning down farms and villages. Some groups of our warriors became rollicking and tried to assault the palisades. Volleys of javelins stopped them.

After devastating the whole area, Ganglerix decided to bypass the Roman camp and to start crossing the Alps. We packed our bags and bypassed the Romans. We were so many that it took six days until the last one passed the Romans. We were so close; some shouted and asked the Romans about their women, which would soon be ours. The Romans stayed quiet and did not dare to leave their camp.

When we advanced eastwards, the Romans left their camp and followed us, always staying out of harms way. In the evening, when we camped, the Romans started to build a camp too. Again, they secured it with palisades.

This went on for a couple of day. The Romans behaved like moles, not like soldiers. We reached a river and crossed it. Ganglerix thought that this would be the ideal place for a rest. The Romans stayed on the other side of the river, staying out of harms way, again.

Ganglerix ordered to stay there for several days, to recover from the stress of the march. Maybe he also hoped that the Romans would try to attack us across the river.

They did not dare to leave their fortified camp. This time, however, they had made a mistake. The Romans could not come to the river without a fight, and so they run out of water. In the second night, we heard the cries of their pack animals. Yet, they still did not dare to leave the camp.

Early next morning, some Romans left the camp with their animals. These Romans were not soldiers, but servants and traders that followed the Roman army. Yet, they were equipped with axes and hatches. Most of our warriors were still having breakfirst; some were swimming in the river. The Romans attacked those swimmers and killed the unarmed warriors.

Alarmed by their cries the Ambrones, camping close to that place, sprang to arms and attacked the Romans. Their battle cry filled the plain. However, they had to cross the river before they could attack the Romans.

Seeing that their servants were in trouble, the Roman commander finally decided to enter combat. Soldiers from Liguria were the first he sent. They were Celtics origin, too. Their battle cry was similar to the one of the Ambrones. Celtics started spilling Celtic blood.

When the assault of the Ligurians hit them, the river was still between the detachments of the Ambrones. Those on the western side of the river were slagged off, while their comrades tried to come to their help. The rest of the Roman soldiers joined the fight and the Ambrones turned and tried to escape. Once again, many of them died in the river and the water washed away their blood.

The Romans crossed the river, dogged them and slaged them off. Finally, they reached the camp of the Ambrones. There the women of the Ambrones entered the slaughter. They had axes or swords or simply snatched away the arms of their enemies. They started attacking the attackers as well as the fugitives.

The ferocious and desultory attack confused and stopped the Romans. They retreated across the river, again, and barricaded in their camp.

Night fell and no side tried another assault before the break of day. The casualties of the Ambrones were terrible. Cries admixed with dirges and filled the night as the surviving Ambrones mingled with the other tribes, causing sympathy and anger.

At the first light of day, we could see the Roman army leaving the camp and deploying for the battle. On the other side of the river, there was an undulating field. In the west, a chain of hills bordered it. There the Romans deployed. A forest bordered the right side of the battlefield. On the left, there was a flat, where the Romans had placed their cavalry.

Ganglerix gave the signal to cross the river. The warriors of all tribes gathered on the other side and girded for the battle. I was with my clan on the left side of the formation. Then Ganglerix made us attack the Roman infantry in the centre.

We had to fight uphill. The Romans waited for us and welcomed us with volleys. Although we could reach them, they kept their rows closed. We gave up our formation, turned and swarmed back. Ganglerix managed to stop us at the plain. When we tried to return into our formation, we heard cries at our right flank. I looked to the right and saw Roman soldiers streaming out of the forest. Our flank messed up. Ganglerix sent troops to stabilize this side, but then Roman cavalry attacked us on the other side and Roman infantry assaulted our center.

Last thing I realized was that our army lost the order. Then I had to defend myself against Roman riders. Something hit my head and I passed out.

When I returned, the battle had shifted. Obviously, the Romans were driving our warriers into the river. Bodies of Germanians and Celtics filled the plain.

Blood run into my eyes. I staggered to the forest and found a hiding place. I could see and hear the Romans chasing my comrades. There was little resistance. They were slaughtered like animals.

In the evening, the Romans drove the surviving Germanians back to the plain in front of me. Most of them were children and women, all of them wounded. Then the Romans tied them and put laid them onto hill, too. Then they put the bodies on top of them, mixed with wooden layers. Hundred thousands were mounted up. I could hear the wailing and begging of the still living. The Romans basted them with oil. Then the Roman army placed around. The leader came in front and ignited the hill of living and dead bodies.

That Hel was worse than that. Gods had never been that cruel. The cries of the dying and the smell of burning flesh – a merciful God made me slip back into unconsciousness again.

When I woke up again, the Romans were gone. I run. I wanted to leave that damned place as fast as possible. A found some other survivors. Among them was a chief. He sent me to you to tell you what had happened to Ganglerix and his volk. He and the other men decided to turn north and to leave the land forever.”

[Kagemusha]

Truly a great chapter and great writing about the battle of Aquae Sextiae if i would guess correctly. This story is an intresting mixture of History and fantasy and thanks for dedicating the chapter for poor old Kage. Its easy to nominate when people give out exellent storyes like this one. I cant wait what happends next.:bow:

[Specialist290]

Interesting account of the battle. That last bit was a bit saddening ~:( , but it's nice to hear an update about Glangerix's group. It's interesting to see that he's still alive--I wonder if that will affect things in the future...

[Franconicus]

Chapter 18 – The one-eyed

The news about the fate of Ganglerix and his followers was like a slap in the face. We had been on the way to fulfill the prophecy and now the Romans had defeated us. Was this the end? A murmer circulated in the crowd, a murmer of surprise and shock, getting louder and louder. A spontaneous intuition made me step in front of the crowd and raise my hands.
“Listen volk! Have you forgotten the prophecy from Thor? We have his word that we will defeat the Romans!”
A man from the the second row shouted: “Yeah, we remember. Then why did Thor allow the Romans to slaughter our brothers and sisters? Aren’t the Roman gods stronger than he is?”

“Watch what you are saying, fool! Thor does always keep his word and no Roman god could every match with him. I ask you once more: Have you forgotten the prophecy? Don’t you remember that Thor promised victory and reward to those that would follow Glum? Ganglerix and his followers did not listen to Thor and so he did not care about them. They were defeated by the Romans. But we do! We are following Glum according to the will of the Thunder God. Therefore, he will lead us to victory!”

For a moment, the crowd was silent, as if the people had to reflect my words. Then they started to cheer, to applaud. Glum looked at me and smiled. The tension was gone.

Still gathering new members, the volk approached the Alps once again. One day another tribe joined our volk. To my surprise, I saw that it was the Helvetici with my good friend Gomix. He told me that they left their home as soon as they had heard that we were marching against Rome, again. He and his people wanted to participate in our victory.

Although I was not sure if it was the right decision to leave their well protected home in the mountains, I was glad to have this friend at my side. When we entered the mountains, difficulties started. Although the Romans did not dare to fight us here again, their spies filled the Alps. They tried to convince the local chiefs to fight us. They did it with lies and money.

Although these assaults were not dangerous, they began to become more than annoying. Glum sent small advanced groups to negotiate with the local war chiefs. One day there were two teams, one let by Glum himself, the other one by me. We rode several miles in front of the column, and then we separated. Glum turned east to negotiate with the tribes there, and I turned westwards. Each group had about twenty riders.

Soon we came to a small village. We met the chief and his warriors. As usual, these mountaineers were looking wild and dirty. I told the chief why we came and that we wanted to pass the mountains in peace. I offered him gold, but obviously, gold did not mean a lot to him. For a moment, our negotiation stagnated. Then I offered him a sword and he accepted. He even invited us to share their poor meal.

Our trip into the western mountains had taken several hours. We returned, looking for Glum and his group. When we turned around another hill, we saw them on the opposite dip. They were engaged by about forty warriors. Several of Glum’s comrades were already overpowered. He stood in the middle of the fight. Although he had lost his horse, he stood like an oak, made his famous sword circulate, and kept his enemy on distance. Among the enemies, there was one man towering in the combat. He was huge, a giant. He had no arm, no armor. His only weapon was a large club, or better said an oaklet. His only armor was a huge leather hat that covered his head and hid his face.
Although we were close enough to hear the cries of the fighting men, a gulched stopped us from interfering. The battle on the other side went back and forth. Whereever Glum was our men were successful. However, where the giant was, our men gave way. Finally, Glum raised his head and saw the giant killing another man. He raised the sword that Odin had donated to our family so long ago, the sword that had let us to victory so many times. He jumped at the giant and tried to make the deadly strike. However, the giant man was agile and blocked the blow. Glum’s sword broke into pieces. For a second, everything stood still; as if the battle was frozen. Everybody, friend and enemy, looked at the two leaders and the broken sword. Then the huge man with the leatherhat raised slowly the club. Glum did not move. He was looking at the broken sword. Then at the huge warrior as if he could not believe what had happened. The club smashed on Glum’s head. I could hear my brother’s sigh, as his helmet broke and he fell on the ground. Horror filled our men and they took to their heels. As if they had enough, too, the enemies turned and disappeared behind some rocks.

I put spurs on my horse and hurried to my brother. His had taken a terrible hit, but he was still alive. He was even conscious, although a part of his conscious was already gone. I was not sure, if he recognized me, or if he noticed me at all. His eyes were open and these words were leaving his lips: “The one-eyed! It was the one-eyed himself!”
Then he slipped into unconciousnes. An hour later, he was dead. There was nothing left to do but to bring his body to the volk, him and the parts of the sword.

The news about the death of our leader caused mourning. Glum had not always been without controversy, but always he had been a visible symbol of our unity and dream. Now that symbol was gone.

Surprisingly, everybody was thinking that I would be the new leader. There was not even a big discussion about that. Not even an opportunity for me to refuse. There was no discussion about our goal. Everybody was tired of wandering and only waiting to arrive finally.

We started to march on. I made the people hurry. I wanted to leave the Alps, the mountains that had taken away a beloved person each time I entered them. I wanted to leave the Alps, because I was sure to meet the Romans then. I wanted to leave the Alps – because I was aching to bathe in their blood.

[Franconicus]

Chapter 19 – Eve of destruction

The death of my brother had gotten me into a fever of excitement. Again and again I saw him fighting that terrible man. I had to stand aside, unable to do anything to help him. Then the giant turned around and I had to look into this one eye. That awful eye! He was chasing me; I ran and ran, but I could not get away from him. I saw Idun, too. She was cute as ever. I saw her sleeping and I saw her in need of protection. Then I saw the giant. He came and snapped her. She woke up and cried for help. The giant did not care. He turned around and lugged her away. I was running to help her. However, when I came closer, the man grew bigger and bigger. He was at last two times my size. I beat him with all my might, but he just did not care.
I awoke, wetted by my own sweet. Even when I was awake, pictures of Glum, Idun and the one-eyed man were spinning in my head. I knew that I was going to mad, if I could not end it.

I led the volk across the mountains. Velleda helped a lot. While it was my will that pushed the men forward, it was she who managed all the little details and took care for every single one. Gomix supported me too. He was my right hand man in all military affairs.

We climbed the last mountains. During the last rise, an idea had formed in my mind. I was still haunted by the nightmares, but know I knew what to do to end this. I could not saw why or how I finally realized it, but I knew it from the bottom of my heart. If I only could defeat the Romans, burn down Rome and kill all Romans, I could redeem my sould. By defeating the Romans, I could free Glum and Idun. In some mystical I would be reunited with them. Although I did not know how, there was no doubt about that. Regarding that monster, I would send him to Hel.

I told Velleda about my idea. She looked at me with sad eyes. For a long time she did not say a word, as if she had to reflect the words I had been telling her. Then she looked into my eyes, with a sad look and said: “Gunnar, you know who HE is, the one-eyed, don’t you?”

I knew pretty well who this bloody giant was. Hel, how many one-eyed giants existed? How many did fight with trees. How many could brake Odin’s sword. Yes, even a featherbrained warrior like me knew who that was. However, I had decided to ignore it. What else could I have done? I had decided to follow my fate, and I was ready to fight even gods if I had to.
“You cannot resist HIM! You do not have a chance!”

Of course she was right. But what could I have done? He had challenged me, not the other way around. If I gave way, those ghosts in my mind would chase me forever. No, I was still a warrior, even a leader of warriors, I would not give way.

Bullheaded I shook my head: “I am going to Rome and burn it to the ground. No Roman army will stop me, neither a one-eyed!”

She looked at me without a word. She did not have to form words; heir eyes were speaking loud and clear: “You are going straight to disaster. And I won’t be able to stop you!”

When we reached the top of the last mountain, we saw the plains of Italy, green and fruitful. It was like a view to the Promised Land, even though we could see Roman soldiers at the bottom of the hills. The volk brimmed over with enthusiasm. The hardful march across the Alps was over. It was end of spring, but the slopes were still full of snow. Some warriors sat of their shields and slided down the hill. They were cheering while they reached a remarkable speed. Others followed and soon the whole volk was running down the hill.

This horrified the Romans and they run away as fast as they could. It was great fun and raised our courage; even though about a dozen broke fell head over heels into an abyss.

We rested for two days at the bottom of the Alps, and then we marched on. We met the Roman army again at a river called Etsch. Although the river was not very big, he was furious and there was only one location where it could be crossed without danger. There the Romans had built a wooden bridge. To secure this crossing, they had built two wooden forts, one on each side. The main detachment of the Romans was on the other side, waiting for us to cross the river.

I ordered the volk to camp. I called Gomix and we started to reconnoitre the Roman positions. Then I ordered to assault.

One group, ordered by Gomix, moved upstream to a forest. They began to eradicate trees. The Romans watched this, obviously not realizing our plan. When the preparations were done, Gomix and his men started to throw the trees into the waves of the river. I ordered my men to get ready. We heared the big trunks as they crashed against the fundament of the bridge. The Romans on our side of the river realized that they would soon be cut off from the rest of the army and from any chance to retreat. They paniked and left their fort. In front of them was a man in a shining armor, the first that ran across the river. I ordered my men to attack. The beams were still crashing against the fundament of the bridge, while the Romans were desperately trying to cross it. Then with a loud crack, the bridge set aside and fell into the water. The Romans that had been on the bridge sunk in the foamy waters. Their cries raised our courage and we massacred those Romans that where still trapped on our side.

The Romans on the other side, unable to do anything but watch their comrades dying, were terrified. The Roman officers were the first to leave the fort, the legionnaires followed. Before we were able to cross the river, the Romans were gone without a trace.

We celebrated our victory and went after them. Unfortunatelly, we were to slow to regain the lost time. Impatiently, I had to watch that we were getting slower and slower. I urged the volk to move faster, but after a short time it was slower than before.

Velleda rode beside me. “Gunnar, your effort is in vane. Look, it is the land itself that is fighting us.”

I looked at the volk and I had to see that she was right. Most men and women were at the end of their rope. They had overcome the huge mountains, but here at the plains they were exhausted. The sun was burning down like I had never seen it before. We were built to stand iciness, but not to stand the temperature of this atrium of Hel.

Additionally, the people were ill. A strange fever had spread.

I urged the volk to march on. I knew that our time was short. We had to reach Rome and fight the final battle. We had to end this before the Romans could recover. We had to end this – before the one eyed appeared again.
After a two weeks march we saw a sign of the Romans. At a ford we had to cross, we saw bodies skewered in a row, around 20. When we came closer, we saw the bodies of the Celtic chiefs that had decided to leave Glum. Of course we could not recognize them, but we knew their armors.

I knew the Romans would be willing to fight now. Indeed, the very next afternoon we saw them waiting at the end of a plain. They had been reinforced. I had never seen so many Romans before. They were about 60,000. They had a lot of cavalry.

I ordered everyone into battle order and we filled our side of the plain; maybe 300,000 warriors, women, old and children. We prepared ourself for the battle. The magi asked the gods for their support and the chiefs gathered around me to receive orders for the battle.

I devided the warriors into divisions. The infantry formed the main body; lances in the middle, swordsmen on both sides. In the center there were the Berserkers. They shackled themselves together; no Romans would be able to break through their line. Of course I placed the archer behing the rows of shields. The combined cavalry was waiting in the back.

I was determined not to make the same mistake Ganglerix had made. I would not attack the Romans and get into disorder. I would wait until they attack. And then I would overrun them. So we were waiting for the Romans to open hostilities. They did not. When night fell, they retreated into their well protected camp.

I did not trust the Romans and I told my men to be alert during night.

Now I am sitting in my tent, trying to gather my mind. I know that tomorrow will be the final battle, the final destination of the march we started many years ago. I am sure that the Romans will not be able to field such a big army once more. Tomorrow will bring victory or destruction. Will we end as the new masters of Rome? Or will we be snuffed out and forgotten? Only the Gods know. Of course I believe in the prophecy of Glum, the vision of Germanian soldiers marauding Rome; but prophecies are always fuzzy and ambiguous.
I decide not to care any longer. I leave the tent to look after Velleda. She stands among a group of women. I ask her to care about the women and children. She tells me not to worry. She says that when the next day will over, she will be standing at my side. She has always been a good wife, better than I have ever deserved. I like to tell her, but I cannot find the words.

If we win the battle, I will be able to end this story, too. We will write history, then. If not, the Romans will write the end of the story.

END

:sweatdrop:

[Ludens]

No comments yet? I guess I'll take the lead, then.

Personally, I loved this story. It's well written, decent plot and characters, perhaps the attempts at symbolism where not that succesful (in my opinion at least, but I am no judge when it comes to symbolism), but otherwise this is one of the best stories the Mead Hall has seen in a long time.

Unfortunatly, the end left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied. It is rather flat. No emotional resolution, just indifference. That said, I admit I don't know a better way to end the story.

[Franconicus]

Thank you very much!

I have to say that this story was much longer than planned. In the beginning I just wanted to create an explanation why the Cimbri left their country and how they turned into a big warmachine. I never had the intention to go to the bitter end.

I tried to give it a mystical touch. There had to be a kind of religious motivation for this long march. I know that this has not always been very consequent. After the start i also tried to integrate more personal characteristics and feeling (esp. love), but from chapter to chapter this was more or less successful.

The end, of course I did not want to write the defeat - everybody knows what happened. Therefore i decided to stop here. I know there had to be more precious feelings, :thumbsdown:

I hoped that some enjoyed the story. :2thumbsup: