Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-17114085-20181201131100/@comment-17114085-20181202194737

Harald observed as Grípir cast his spells on the bedridden old man. "How is he?" The young man had just recently arrived at the Palace in Vindhelm.

The court wizard didn't break his concentration despite being nearly startled by the sudden appearance of the thane. "Lord Harald, I didn't expect to see you so soon."

They were in a large bed chamber, with the wizard standing next to the double bed where the old man was laying down. Harald had just come through the door.

"I came as quickly as I could after I heard the news." Harald explained.

Grípir then answered his first question. "Your father is very ill, I can't do much more than ease his pain with magic and my concoctions."

"Has Olaf arrived yet?" Harald asked as he approached his father's bedside.

The wizard shook his head. "Sadly he has not, but I am sure word had already reached the temple. He should be back in Vindhelm."

Harald looked down at his father, Jarl Sigurd. He is quite pale, his skin is white as snow. He felt a deep pain in his chest seeing his parent like this. His mother had died of illness in his youth as well and this was bringing back bad memories. "Do all you can for him, Grípir."

The wizard nodded and continued to cast his spell. "You should speak to Steward Holma, with your father in this condition she has been taking care of all his duties for the past week."

Sigurd muttered something.

Harald couldn't quite catch it but it sounded a bit like a name. "I'll make sure to see her soon." He said and went to leave the room.

In the halls close to the Jarl's quarters, Skorm was waiting for his lord. When he saw Harald approaching he didn't bother to ask how the Jarl was doing, he could see it in Harald's face. When Harald passed by him without saying anything, Skorm just began to walk behind him.

"I am heading to the Great Hall, have Holma meet me there." Harald ordered.

"Very well, I will fetch her at once." Skorm stated and parted from Harald.

The tall man walked past some servants and asked where the steward was currently.

"Lady Holma went to the docks to oversee the latest shipments to the Confederation." The servant replied.

Skorm thanked the man and made his way there.

He walked through the cold stone city of Vindhelm. He was glad to be back here in his hometown. Morvunskar, where he had been living for the past few years, was little compared to this place. As he walked through the city quite a few people recognized him and he waved at them. He was rather famous afterall, as he spent his youth competing in the Vindhelm Pit.

Before long he arrived at the docks and saw the Knarr ships being loaded up with supplies for the upcoming trip to Roscrea, where the Atmoran Confederation would pick up the tributed supplies. Like the servant had mentioned he spotted Holma there and called out to her.

"Ah, Skorm. If you're here then that means Harald has arrived as well." Holma said after he approached.

"Aye, he is waiting for you in the Great Hall." Skorm notified her.

She nodded. "I will head there as soon as the ships are loaded up with the supplies. Our tribute was due this week, but the Jarl's worstning condition made it difficult here in the past few days."

Harald was sitting on the benches in the great hall of the palace drinking mead when Skorm returned. "Come, sit, drink." He told his housecarl.

The large man sat next to him and the bench creaked. He grabbed a horn of ale and drank a mouthful.

"Have you gone to see your family yet?" Harald asked after another swig.

"I stopped by there on the way back from the docks." Skorm replied. "Mother was angry as usual, but Böðvildr was glad to see me. I think I'll have Runa bring the kids here for the rest of the winter. They might brighten mother's mood."

Harald smirked. "It will certainly make life easier for the folk back in Morvunskar, your kids are a handful."

Skorm laughed loudly.

By the time they were done with their drinks, Holma returned from the docks. "Lord Harald." She greeted upon seeing them.

Harald was well into his mead by then, but he did his best to brush off work past the alcohol. "Bring me up to speed on all my father's pending duties."

Holma listed off a bunch of mundane tasks that the Jarl had yet to oversee and the problems of the citizens and the local area.

Harald paid attention to every word as best as he could. He only interrupted when Holma mentioned one particular thing. "What's this about a dragon?"

"The farms south of Yorgrim have been reported sightings and there are rumors of missing travelers in the area." Holma explained. "From what your father had gathered, a dragon that had made his home in the Velothi Mountains is making his way closer to our settlements. Probably from a lack of food around his lair."

"That's not good. If the dragon attacks the food stocks near Yorgrim we could run low on food for the winter." Skorm pointed out. "Especially since we're sending a good chunk of our reservers to Roscrea."

Harald cursed under his breath. "Yorgrim...why hasn't the Companions dealt with the dragon yet? Ylgermet is closeby."

"You know that they don't lift a finger unless someone pays them. The town's chieftain hasn't seen it necessary to put up a bounty yet. Dragon hunts are expensive and require partial payment upfront. He probably didn't want to waste gold on a handful of sightings and rumors of missing travellers."

"If he won't put up a bounty, then we shall. Write one up and post it up on the bounty board." Harald ordered. He wasn't going to let a dragon destroy their food stocks and endanger the lives of his people. My father worked hard to set up those farms in Yorgrim, I won't let his legacy he destroyed by a winged beast.