Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Winter Lords (Bard)

Geoffrey Blackwood

As is common knowledge, the Winter Dark lasted for 11 centuries. Locked in the grip of that long winter the world and all that dwelt therein struggled to survive. Though many crops withered and died, never to thrive beneath the Shroud of Darkness that forever hung over the world, others did, and these gave men, and their sons, food to survive. Beasts ate the food and in turn fed other beasts and the world eventually settled into new patterns of life and death. That is the nature of things.

In the lands of Aachen, that long hold out against Unklar and his Winter Dark, men never forgot the sun, the warmth and prosperity it brought and the age that had come before. Though oppressed by the Lords of Aufstrag and forced to serve them, the men of Aachen passed down their memories in song and verse. The bards of those realms of Aachen, the Detmold, Heristadt, and Harz came to be specially apprised by the inhabitants. Fires were stoked, drink warmed and food brought out whenever a bard arrived. Fed and offered safety from the road, they in turn told tales of wonder and delight. They sang stories of fearless heroes who stood ever against the dark tide of rule and they cursed the dark lord’s motto, carved in stone upon the heights of the Aragon Den “The yoke shall set you free”.

Even while the fire’s flame warmed the bards from the winter’s road, their tales warmed the hearts of the men.

Geoffrey Blackwood left home as a young man. His father was a kindly man and his mother too, and they wished no trouble on anyone, nor asked for any. They were content with Aufstrag’s rule. They lived simple lives as yeoman, without ambition but too much fear. Geoffrey chided at their acceptance of law and he himself cast it off and took to the road. He made his way slowly in the world, but once he found his voice he learned that with it he could talk to men and convince them to aid him or take on tasks they would not otherwise have assumed. Too, he learned that his tales, told around many a vagabonds camp fire, fired men’s souls with a passionate heat.

It proved well for him that his uncle loved the tales of the days gone by and had passed many on to him. These became his bread and his butter, his warmth and comfort.

Within a few short years his fame grew throughout all the lands of Aachen. Lords sought his presence at their tables, guilds called for him at their feasts; commoners welcomed him into hearth and home, and travelers through more wood upon the fire whenever he came to camp.

His words carried more than song; to hear them fired the hearts of men. The tales he told cast them into the years when the sun shone and men were free. To hear him was to don armor and helm, to take up axe and shield, and tread into the wilderness that was the dark. Heroes born of song became a longing in the breasts of men. So that in time whoever Blackwater met, he left a different man, one longing to be the song, to drive back the dark winter and win back their freedom.

In time, his song led to open war and he himself took up the gray sword and waged war. The sons of petty lords at first; footloose travelers with weapons and armor but no cause found in Blackwater a reason. And they called on him to lead them and they slew their masters. Others followed, guildsmen, adventurers, men with little to lose and these cleared the forest haunts of the Detmold of all the folk of Aufstrag. Others joined then, greater lords and guild masters and these brought bands of men until Blackwaters ranks swelled into the thousands and they left the forests and cleared all the Harz and most of the Heristadt to the sea.

But Aufstrag took notice and sent forth a vast army to quell the rebellion. Thus began the Blackwater War. For many long years they fought. Blackwater’s men gained aid from around Aachen, but the people of Aufstrag were accounted numberless and their wealth knew no end. For seven years, the war waged on until at last Blackwater’s army fell at the Battle of Baden Hill. There he was captured and taken to Aufstrag to suffer the torments of that hell on earth.

Brought before the throne he faced the Horned God in all his might and power. The beastly god stared upon him and goaded Blackwater with taunts. Without flinching the bard began a tale of the All Father’s coming tothe world and the order of things as he set them. Unklar listened and in time was lulled by the rhythmic voice of the bard so that he swooned, if only for a moment.

But the moment passed and Unklar rose in his rage, and crossing the floor on cloven hooves, he lifted Blackwater by his head and neck and cursed him. His breath foul and filled with the stink of hate unmade the bard and sought to recast him in the guise of a vulture; but Blackwater cast his own voice into the spell and turned its purpose so that he took the shape of a raven and falling from the dark god’s grasp he flew the hall and out into the cold air.

Though hunted by all the minions of Aufstrag, Blackwater escaped into the wilds. He returned, or so it is said, to the lands of Aachen and dwelt there ever after, a raven of great wisdom who fills the minds of men with the glory of yesterday.

220 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 220 of 220
Anonymous said...

I like the helpful information you provide in your articles.
I'll bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!

Feel free to surf to my website - vefblog.net

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?

My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing
months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any solutions
to prevent hackers?

my website browse around this website

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where
I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having difficulty finding
one? Thanks a lot!

My site ... her comment is here

Anonymous said...

Hello there, just became alert to your weblog
thru Google, and found that it’s truly informative.
I’m gonna be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate should you
continue this in future. Lots of people will likely be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!

my web page :: http://gay.5webe.com/read_blog/40037/xbox-reside-gold-membership-codes-for-free-of-charge-Linked-posts

Anonymous said...

It can also be an oρtion, coffee diеt make their entry into our lіves.


Feеl free to surf to my web sіte - pure green coffee extract

Anonymous said...

Мedlіnе Pluѕ adԁs that green Pure Gгeen Coffee Bean Extrаct
800 Μg wеight loss aid ωe can't refuse of using. For me I always go for the pure green coffee bean extract 800 mg that you would get over 500mg of caffeine just from the supplement. But if you happen to take a number of potential health hazards or permanently damage your skin if the product does not work. Getting pounds can also be one of the best Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract 800 Mg out there?

Also visit my web site; http://onlineinsurancespackage.com/user.php?login=easygo85&

Anonymous said...

Don't forget that the weight will come off and stay off in a three week diet period. Appetite suppressants are considered the best natural pure green coffee bean extract reviews, because they are paid to promote celebrity pills, not to help you lose weight. Just make sure pure green coffee bean extract reviews you never take more in one day.

Visit my site; http://www.kooncar.com/

Anonymous said...

You will finԁ pure gгееn coffee bеan eхtгаct 800 mg are ԁіѵiԁed into twο majοr groupѕ - prescribed οr over-the-соunter diеt pіlls аre substantiallу bеtter
fοr уour health? Moreoѵer, bеcausе
of its ѕtimulating effеct. Aside frοm triggеringеating
disordeгs such as hеaгt disease, and κidney stonеs.


Alsο visit my webρage ... L-L-Livefastdiepretty.Blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Τhе bеnefits of green Wеight Losѕ Pіlls
For Men. Τhеy also help to reduce weight ѕubѕtаntially within weeκѕ or mοnths.
Don't overcook meals - this removes all of the available options to find out if the supplement manufacturer has a website and visit it.

Here is my webpage :: blogspot.fr

Anonymous said...

Тhe bottοm linе is that еxercіse hеlps the bοdу
to buгn fat, deсreaѕе appetіte, οtheгѕ іnсreаse weight loss pills
for mеn сalorіe burning.

Visit my webρage :: Pure green coffee extract

Anonymous said...

A thirtу ԁaу ѕupρly of Аcаi Plus will set уou baсk
Ј39. The main rеason οf its fast result
is that most of the weight lοss ρills thаt work thаt you would like to aνoid the conѕequenсe of gaining weight, unreаl еxeгсising, etc.
Вut heге you haνе to work to eliminate it.


my ωеbsite; comunidad.molinux.info

Anonymous said...

Wonderful blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?

I'm hoping to start my own website soon but I'm a little lost on everything.
Would you propose starting with a free platform like Wordpress or go for a paid option?
There are so many options out there that I'm totally confused .. Any tips? Cheers!

Also visit my web page :: pirater Un compte facebook

Anonymous said...

Hello! I know this is somewhat off-topic but I had to ask.
Does building a well-established website such as yours require a massive amount work?
I'm completely new to blogging however I do write in my diary everyday. I'd like to start a blog
so I will be able to share my own experience and
views online. Please let me know if you have any
kind of suggestions or tips for brand new aspiring
blog owners. Thankyou!

Also visit my webpage: Trading Binary Options

Anonymous said...

It's going to be ending of mine day, but before end I am reading this enormous post to improve my knowledge.

Also visit my web-site: binary options strategy

Anonymous said...

Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google,
and found that it's really informative. I'm going to watch out for brussels.
I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!

Look at my homepage: cedarfinance

Anonymous said...

I'm really loving the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog readers have complained about my blog not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any recommendations to help fix this issue?

Here is my homepage: trading binary options

Anonymous said...

Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied
on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your
weblog when you could be giving us something informative to read?


Feel free to visit my blog post devis porte fenetre pvc

Anonymous said...

Howdy would you mind stating which blog platform you're using? I'm
looking to start my own blog in the near future but I'm having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for something
completely unique. P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!


Also visit my page comment devenir riche

Anonymous said...

My developer is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses. But he's tryiong none the less. I've been using
WordPress on various websites for about a year and am nervous about switching to another platform.
I have heard good things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Also visit my web blog: pirater un compte facebook

Anonymous said...

Ahaa, its good conversation regarding this piece of writing here at this website, I have read all that,
so now me also commenting here.

Here is my blog post :: cedar finince -
-

«Oldest ‹Older   201 – 220 of 220   Newer› Newest»

Plywood Memories from Gencon to Vegas

  Out trip to Gencon took us up through the Arkansas Delta country, and into the boot of Missouri, across the Big Muddy and on into the spra...