Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-29461586-20141228211708/@comment-5583506-20141229230708

(Warning for novella long text!)

The Vulpine Hall in Windhelm was not as impressive as it sounded like. It was more or less a huge mansion with some glorified bar brawlers at the door which had been given the title of "guards". Even though Clan Snow Fox was among the wealthier clans, it clearly showed that the only reason why they were so rich was because they refused to spend any larger sums of painting themselves as a primary clan of might.

"Hold it right there!" said the guards at the doors. "Who are you?"

"Valkyrie, Matriarch of Clan Ghost-Wolf", she replied. "I seek an audience with your Patriarch, Jagvar."

The guards looked at each other confused. "Ghost-Wolf?"

She sighed. They are not going to believe me either are they?

"Yes. Clan Ghost-Wolf", she repeated. "And no, I am not an impostor if that's what you are implying."

The guards shook their heads. "No, no, it's not that we don't take you for your word, honourable Matriarch. It's just that we already have a Ghost-Wolf visiting our Patriarch."

Valkyrie's face turned pale. "W-What? Who?"

The guard raised his shoulder. "I beg your pardon, Matriarch, but I don't quite remember his name. He is still in there however, should you want to talk to him."

Valkyrie went right on into the mansion. The servantfolk looked at her amusingly when they saw her shocked expression.

''Another Ghost-Wolf? My kin may be large, but as far as I know no one else made it out of that ambush alive.''

-

"What do you mean that they have gone into hiding?!" boomed a familiar voice from within the audience chamber. "I want those cowards heads on spikes and I want them now!"

"Calm yourself, old man", replied Jagvar Icebreaker. "We are a small clan with no claims to superior power or large armies."

As Valkyrie entered the hall, Jagvar Icebreaker rose from his seat with a surprised expression. "And who might you be, mylady?"

Jagvar Icebreaker was half-Breton and half-Nord. He was old with balding light grey hair and a pointed chin. His eyes were sunken back deep into his skull and always made it look as if he was staring out from the shadows. The audience room was full with people, all looking at her. But it was impossible to judge from where the familiar voice had come from.

"I am... Valkyrie, Matriarch of Clan Ghost-Wolf", she replied a little unsure. She wasn't used to so much attention.

All around her people started mumbling. "I thought that clan was extinguished eleven years ago", said one. "I heard they turned into wolves and ran north", said another. "That's nonsense", said a third. "The proud fools challenged Sturkas Cave-Bear and lost fair and square. Now I have heard they have an impostor on the high seat. Is that her?"

An elderly looking man rose from his seat in the hall and looked at her. "Valkyrie?!" he exclaimed.

It was without further doubt this man the voice she had heard had come from. The years had not been kind to him, though he looked just as old and haggard as when she was a little girl.

"Uncle Torsdolk!" she chirped happily and ran to him.

The old man seemed shocked at first, but embraced her with his muscular arms when she came close. "My... dear girl!" he said. "I thought you were dead."

"I thought you were dead!" countered Valkyrie. "I have been holding the Vargine Hall in Whiterun all this time to make sure our family doesn't die. Where have you been? Why didn't you come."

"Long story", explained the old man. "But that will have to wait, my dear niece. We are in the middle of a session here."

The whispers and the mumbling in the hall had turned louder. And now the subjects had changed. "So she wasn't dead after all?" said one. "I knew all along that those impostor rumours were false", said another. "Clan Ghost-Wolf lives?" asked a third.

Jagvar sat in his chair and seemed intrigue by the turn of events. "I am sure we are all very happy over the fact that surviving core members Clan Ghost-Wolf has been reunited", he smiled. "But now is not the time for family reunions. Especially not in the audience hall. I am sure Matriarch Valkyrie will understand."

She nodded. "I beg your pardon, mylord."

"Apologise accepted", he said. "Now, I believe there was something particular you wanted to discuss as you came barging into my hall in the middle of an important meeting?"

"Yes", she said and stepped forward. "Sorry again for the interruption. I know your clan as masters of trading and shipment. You trade with everyone whether they be friends or foes. What I would like to know is whether you still receive shipments from mines on Solstheim owned by Clan Cave-Bear?"

He nodded. "That is correct."

"Does that mean that anyone is still in charge of their clan? Where is Patriarch Sturkas?"

Jagvar chuckled. "Now this is indeed a series of intriguing events. We were actually just discussing the fact that Clan Cave-Bear have started mobilising in the west. Sturkas Cave-Bear and his sons were last spotted riding into Hjaalmarch territory about a half year ago. Since then no one has seen anyone of them."

Valkyrie lowered her eyebrows. "But that is the territory of Clan Gorehound. What are they planning to do there?"

The Patriarch shook his head. "We do not know. But if Clan Cave-Bear seeks to ally themselves with our ancient enemies the Gorehounds, then we will do no further business with them and cast their shipment into the seas." He smacked with his lips. "Unfortunately, we have no proof of this as of yet, and therefore we continue to trade with their mining colonies on Solstheim, to avoid angering their clan."

"Actually, I am travelling to Solstheim", said Valkyrie. "If I ever visit their mining colonies I might be able to check their records for you and see just where all of their ore is transported after arriving at your docks."

The old man seemed pleased and nodded. "Aye, that does seem like a good plan, Matriarch. However..." He leaned closer. "What is your interest in all of this, Ghost-Wolf? What are you planning in that head of yours?"

She figured it would be wise to speak her mind and not lie to Jagvar Icebreaker, even though she reckoned their probably was one or two informants for Clan Cave-Bear within the audience hall.

"I want to exact vengeance on them for massacring my family without just cause", she said.

"That is a very serious accusation, Matriarch. Even though I know during all my years that the Ghost-Wolves have always spoken true, I need more evidence than just a statement."

"It's no statement", said Valkyrie. "I was there! I saw them! Sturkas and his four sons, commanding an army of bandits to charge at my family. My uncle Torsdolk here fought them."

The old Nord nodded in agreement. "That is correct, Patriarch. My brothers and my sister were slain that day! And my older brother Bitvarg the Elder, Gods watch over him, his two oldest sons were slaugthered like sheep, as was his wife! To call this an accusation would be to dishonour their memories! It is the truth!"

Jagvar raised a hand to call for silence. "So we have two surviving family members of Clan Ghost-Wolf stating that there was a breaking of the ancient clan laws that day eleven years ago? I am sorry, but that isn't enough evidence. How can we be so sure that you aren't just backing each other's story up? Being family and all?"

Just as Torsdolk was about to open his bearded mouth to say something again he was silenced when Jagvar raised his hand once more.

"However", said the Patriarch. "I do believe you are telling the truth. But that's just me, dear Ghost-Wolves. I am in comparison to your noble legacy nothing but a simple trader with a large family. Though you may have convinced me, convincing the greater clans won't be as easy. I am sorry, but you do need more proof. Perhaps some bystander who saw what happened? Someone not of your blood?"

Valkyrie and Torsdolk looked at each other in dismay, until Valkyrie came up with an idea.

"Patriarch. Would it do well with another family member?"

He seemed amused. "Pardon me, Matriarch Valkyrie, but didn't you just hear my statement?"

"I did, but the fact remains that my little brother Hemming and my little sister Lilja's whereabouts are unknown as to this day."

"Go on."

"If they are alive somewhere, they must have been taken as hostage. Would a testimony from one of them be enough to bring the clans together and exact vengeance?"

He still looked confused. "I am not sure what you are getting at."

"If my siblings are alive, they must have been raised as wards within Clan Cave-Bear. If they are alive and can testify what happened that day and that they were taken as hostage, surely that would be enough?"

He looked as if he studied her for awhile. "I... do believe that could work. Yes. In fact, it does reasonable. Even though it still counts as family members, no court would deny the fact that they had been taken hostage, and that is enough evidence that foul play was used the day Clan Ghost-Wolf were attacked."

"Excellent", said Valkyrie and smiled. ''That's great. Now I just need to find them as well...''

"Was there anything else, Matriarch?" asked Jagvar politely.

"No, Patriarch. My questions have been satisfied with answers. Thank you for your time."

He nodded in respect and then continued his session as Valkyrie and Torsdolk left the audience chamber.

-

"Blast it, girl!" said the old man and embraced her again and kissed her on her forehead. "You managed to do what Icouldn't manage to do for a decade!"

"Thanks", she cooed.

Torsdolk looked just like he did back then. His once brown hair and beard had turned grey and grizzled. He had sharp facial features and a couple of scratch marks along the right cheek and his sockets were darkened with warpaint. He was muscular and tall, standing over one head higher than herself. The perfect body structure for a Berserker of Clan Ghost-Wolf.

"I am... sorry", he lamented. "For not coming to see you. In fact I didn't even know you were alive, girl. Just the moments after I had pulled that last arrow out of my leg and buried my axe deep into the bandits heads I just couldn't bring myself to return to Vargine Hall to find it emptied of all those faces I had come to love. Did no one else make it?"

She shook her head. "Possibly Hemming and Lilja, if they are still alive today."

"But that's where you come in, my dear niece. You will find them."

"I hope so. The Cave-Bears will pay dearly."

"Aye", spat Torsdolk. "Those lycanthrope-hating bigots will find their new cave to be a couple of feet under the ground when I am through with them."

"But why didn't you help the clan?"

"Huh?"

"Our clan", she said. "Even though you believed us all to be dead, there was nothing stopping you from keeping our family name alive, was it? Or did you expect that some distant cousin or cousin's cousin would get our clan back on it's feet again? They would have run it to the ground!"

She breathed deeply. "I am old, girl. I was old back then already. Too old to take a wife and raise children. And considering the fact that I took you all for dead I saw no reason in returning to rally a dead clan. I figured that if some distant relative wanted to be head of the family, let them. Better than have it been ruled by no one and be forgotten just like any other ancient clan."

"I see", she said and embraced him again. "I am glad you are alive, uncle. I thought I was the only one left from the core of the family."

"Bloody hell. so did I, girl. Or should I say, Matriarch?" he chuckled. "Look at you! You are wearing your father's sword as if you were always meant to carry it."

"I wasn't though", she said sadly. "That was Varg's honour. The Heir. The fucking bandits cut his throat and left his body to rot on the battlefield just like the rest of them."

Her uncle put a rough hand on her shoulder. "Don't think about it. We will avenge them, you hear? Clan Cave-Bear is about to taste the ancient wrath of the Ghost-Wolves. Once again will our howl echo across Skyrim again and all the clans will remember why we are a clan to fear and respect!"

"Eyes on the Prey, not the Weak", said Valkyrie.

He nodded. "Those are our words, girl. Now, let's go."

As they exited the Vulpine Hall, Valkyrie stopped at the gate. "I am going to Solstheim, uncle. I will do as I promised Jagvar Icebreaker and see where Clan Cave-Bears ore is transported afterwards. In the meantime", she began and dragged Frostbite out of its scabbard. "I want you to rule in my stead as Patriarch of our clan and make sure to search for Hemming and Lilja across Skyrim."

Torsdolk immediately understood the gesture and knelt before her as he felt the tip of the blade on his shoulder. "Your words are my command, Matriarch. I shall rule until your return."

She then sheathed the blade and gestured for him to stand. She then smiled and embraced him hastily. "No, need to be so formal now, uncle. Take care."

He hugged her back. "You too, girl. Come back in one piece and I am sure to have some news for you. I will not stop searching for them until my bones grow sore."

"Thank you. Now, if you will excuse me. I have a boat waiting for me..."