Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-3293219-20150722092936/@comment-5543592-20150723000155

Ragnar glanced around at his surroundings. Camlorn. This was the farthesy west he'd ever been. Before that it had been Markarth, just after a visit to a village in his barony...

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6 months ago…

“Are you sure a rebellion is the best idea? Certainly we could come up with something else.”

“No.”   Ragnar answered honestly. “But it will get the King’s attention. If he realizes how many of his subjects are displeased, he’ll do something about it.”

Nadina pursed her lips and wrinkled her brow in concern. “This isn’t a good idea, Ragnar. I don’t think you should do this.”

Since when did she decide for him? “So?”   He replied, glancing out of the cart. They were on their way to Hjaamarch. Ragnar was going to stir up the peasants in that section of his Barony. With them charged, it would spread to the already displeased citizens of the Reach, who were already praising Ragnar for fighting the Forsworn, and angry with the Empire for not. Then to the merchants of Solitude, tired of Imperial taxes, and from them to the proud Nords of Windhelm, and so on and so forth. It would create a large cycle of which, in the end, would stir up angry from the most frustrated groups. After that, all Ragnar had to do was bring them together. He’d already started elsewhere. This was just icing on the cake.

“So?”   Nadina repeated. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten Winterhold already.”

Ragnar immediately looked uncomfortable and tried to appear unconcerned. “Don’t make it more than it was.”   He said, rather briskly.

“But it was something.”   Nadina replied, smirking at him. She’d been the one to have to advance. He’d been resistant at first, but his will had been whittled down easily. Despite being a Nordic warrior, Ragnar had always been more of a thinker, never taking much action unless it was prompted of him. Of course, when he did take action, he got results. As they both now knew.

Nadina, from years of traveling and advising Ragnar since he had hired her in Falkreath so long ago when he first became Thane of that very Hold, knew that beneath the rough exterior and past the cold-heart, Ragnar had good, redeeming qualities. He was fiercely loyal and always dealt out proper justice. He was not greedy and did not backstab. Perhaps the only thing that troubled her about him was how ruthless he could be. Ragnar, although he always gave his enemies a fair chance, never let anyone stand in his way.

She reached out and touched his face, trying to warm him to the idea with a smile. Ragnar just looked away, trying to feign disinterest.

Her attempts did not get her vary far, as they finally arrived at the local town. A small thing, consisting of village huts, a chapel, and an inn.

“This is dangerous.”   Nadina said, almost pleading. “Don’t go through with this.”

“I do not have a choice.”   Said Ragnar, hopping down from the cart. “Our traditions have stood the test of time since creation. I will not let some Imperial fop eradicate them in a few years’ time.”

Nadina just watched him go, her concerned expression growing as the Thane made his way for the inn.

Ragnar pushed his way through the pub’s door, his heavy steps and Nordic armor cladded figure easily drawing attention even in the loud room. He stood at attention, some patrons falling silent and watching him, and all eyes landed on him and the room fell silent as Nadina and then some of his other warriors stepped in.

“I’m going to take this short, kinsmen, since I know your time is precious. My name is Ragnar Heljarchen. I am your Thane, your Baron. I am strict, but fair- you know this. I do not levy my takes from peasants because I know you above all are valuable to my Thanage as its core. You alone sustain this Barony. You have asked much of me. I have educated your young, supplied you in hard times, and protected you from threats. No crimes have gone unpunished and you have all seen fair justice.

But now I ask something of you, as my people, my brothers and sisters. The Nordic kind is facing persecution unseen since the elves lorded over us. I have taken it upon myself to preserve our heritage and defend us from those that would seek to destroy it. But the task has proven too great, and I must ask for your assistance. I do not expect you to arm your families and charge the capital, nor do I except you to starve yourselves until we receive proper treatment. All I ask is that you tell your families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues what I have told you today. And you tell them to tell their brothers, sisters, and kin- all Nords. Tell them that, if they do not, not only will the Nords be devastated as the united people we once were. Tell them that they, and all Nords, will also be forgotten. That If the Empire is allowed to continue is reign of subjugation and terror not a scrap of them will remain to be remembered.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Ragnar may have been embellishing, but he had no doubt his brief speech did its trick. People’s worst fear was being reminded of their own mortality and that they possibly did not matter in the grand scheme of things. It made them feel powerless- no one wants to be powerless.

<p class="MsoNormal">The patrons sat there in quiet shock for a few moments, as Ragnar’s crew filed out, before discussing amongst themselves in hushed whispers, the conversation involving things like “Nordic pride” and “Imperial dogs.”

<p class="MsoNormal">As Ragnar had no doubt, his plan was coming into effect.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nadina’s brow only knit tighter.