18 Bannerlord
( POV Jon Snow )
"Tell me Dwalin what is this rebellion I've been hearing about?" I asked my friend as we walked towards the War Room.
"You remember the tale of the Zelots of the Black Goat?" He asked me and I nodded my confirmation
"When the Zelots threw us out of Kazad-dûm nearly six thousand years ago they numbered thousands strong and they fought like beasts, now though the Zelots numbered barely one thousand." Dwalin said explaining to me the history of these Zelots
"I thought we destroyed the Zelots when we took the Cathedral?" I asked my friend, confused about what this has to do with the rebellion.
"We killed many yes but the Zelot leaders hid in a cavern under the Cathedral with half the Zelots and when you where sleeping they lead five hundred of these Zelots out of the Cathedral." He continued but I was still confused
"Five hundred men would hardly be a challenge, yet I hear they burned half the ships in the Market District." I said
"These Zelots are no normal warriors, they are crazed beasts in human skin, they cut them selves to feel the pain, they sharpen their teeth to bite at their enemies when their arms no longer work, they fight with jagged blades shredding their enemies and they wear no armour as to show the blood red symbolsthey carve into their skin." Dwalin explained and while he was right I still couldn't understand why they caused such a problem if they only numbered five hundred
"But you are correct Jonos while fearsome they could be easily outnumbered and killed but these men. No these beasts represent the will and fury of the Black Goat and many in the Slums still worship that cursed God." Dwalin told me and I began to understand
"Thousands rose in protest. They wore no armour and wielded no true weapons but they were many and they know the city better than we do." Dwalin began but I finished his sentance
"And while you fought thousands of poorly armed peasants the Zelots tore through your back lines stole some boats burned half of what was left and sailed down the Ar Noy." I said and he nodded telling me I was correct in my assumptions.
"Who are these leaders you mentioned?" I asked my friend and I noticed we were close to the War Room.
"Two siblings, the Brother Freyr and the Sister Freya." He said and from his voice he considered Freya the greater threat.
"Before we enter the War Room can I speak with you Jonos?" Dwalin asked me and I agreed to my friends request
"What do you wish to speak about my friend?" I asked him
"Yesterday I asked a favour of King Dane, I asked him to release me from his service." He said shocking me.
"Why you're close as brothers why would you ask for that?" I asked him
"I did not ask it for me but for my child." He said but that only confused be more
"What does that mean?" I questioned him
"Merida and I, we tried for many years to have a child but it was never to be, so we decided to adopt a child, the child was a slave from Ibben, not of my blood and so according to Qohori law he will never inherit all I own, my Clans title and wealth will pass to my nephew." He explained to me but I still couldn't get why he had to be released from his service to Dane
"Jonos you have many Wars ahead of you I know, I wish to enter your service and carve out a place for my child in your great Kingdom." He said as he bowed his head to me.
"Look at me Dwalin." I ordered and he complied
"You are no mere servant, you are the Steel-Shaper, my friend, my battle brother and if you'd have it my Bloodrider." I said to him and he took a knee
"Yes my Khal, I accept." He said, his head bowed to me.
"Now come Dwalin we shouldn't keep King Dane waiting for us." I said and we finally entered the War Room.
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( POV Ragnar the Red )
I stood beside my father who proudly wore the Mithril Crown of our people. I stared at the crown as it glinted in the fire light, one day I would wear it and bare all the responsibility of a King. Father called at a glorious burden, one I would earn the right to bare in the coming wars. Father believes in me and I will endeavour not to let him down. I tore my eyes away from the crown to look around the room. Hurin stood vigilant as ever, one hand on the hilt of his sword the other on his horn. The fearsome Dothraki Arggo also stood looking at the map in contemplation. It was then that Jonos entered followed by Dwalin.
"Greetings Jonos, Dwalin." I said greeting the both of them as others around the room did the same and they both returned the gesture. After exchanging pleasantries we found ourselves around the map planning our next moves.
"How many casualties did you suffer taking the city Dane?" Jonos asked father
"We suffered heavily, the battle outside the walls as well as taking the city cost us twelve thousand men." He said in a grave tone
"You can only field thirteen thousand and that's provided we leave Qohor entirely undefended" Arggo said in broken common
"That's not entirely true." I spoke up
"What do you mean Ragnar?" Dwalin asked
"The Clans in the Hills of Norvos could field a few thousand and many Clans settled in The Axe, you might be able to call upon another seven thousand from the axe itself." I explained but my father grunted in disagreement.
"Those Clans haven't sworn to me, they may not answer the call." He said but I looked again at his crown and knew he was wrong
"With the promise of riches and a good fight they will answer if called upon by the King Under the Mountain." I said and Dwalin spoke his agreement
"He's right Dane, you're the first King of Kazad-dûm in thousands of years they will answer the call."
"So that brings your numbers to around twenty three thousand." The Pale Khal said deep in thought.
"How many boats remain?" He asked after a moment of thought
"Only enough to transport a few thousand of your troops." Dwalin answered and Jonos turned to Arggo before speaking again
"Blood of my Blood, we'll ride the Khalasar fast and hard and we'll sail slowly down the river transporting everything we looted to Volantis." He said explaining the beginning of his plan
"King Dane, you will call upon the Clans in the Hills of Norvos and in the Axe, you will take Norvos then Pentos and you will rule them all as my Warden of Andalos." He said to my father but he shook his head in disagreement.
"Jonos I am getting old, too old to lead another war. My son Ragnar will fight in my stead and he will lead my armies."
"So be it." The young Khal said before turning to me
"Ragnar the Red, I name you my Bannerlord lead your Warband and conquest in my name." I ordered while bestowing on me a new title.
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( POV Brutus Hrotan )
The bells rang through Norvos and I hurried through the halls of the great temple. My robe of horse hide split at the chest to show my Axe brand, symbolising my devotion to the one true God. All around the city people rose to the sound of the bells as they did every morning. Soon the bells will ring again and the entire city will move to work before again the bells ring out and the people will scar their backs with whips made from horse hair, to show their own devotion to the one true God.
These bells represented the will of God, and the will of myself and the other Bearded Priests. For we speak Gods words on earth and the Warrior Priests enforce Gods teachings and exact punishment on heretics. I passed many other Warrior Priests, wielding giant two handed axes, on my way to the council. Each wore a robe of horse hide split to show their Axe Brand, wielded a two handed axe and bared the iconic wild beard.
I entered the torch lit room filled with the Council of Priests. Officially the City was run by a Magistrate but they held no true power in the city. The Council decide on all military, religious and political matters. This specific meeting is being held for military matters. And clutched in my hand was the scroll that bared the news.
"Qohor has fallen!" I announced to the assembled Priests.
"Good! The heretics deserved it!" One Priest shouted out
"We traded peaceful heretics for conquering savages and angry heathens!" I shouted back not thinking the Priest truly understood the threat
"What do Qohori matters concern us?" Another questioned
"Because the Qohori army marches West from Kazad-dûm! They march for Norvos!" I shouted and finally it caused panic
"The Pale Khal marches his host for Norvos's gate?" One gasped out
"The White Wolf stalks us as his new prey!" Another exclaimed
"Brutus is it true? Does the Pale Khal march is Khalasar West?" My friend and mentor questions
"No our spies say the Dothraki follow boats full of treasure down the Ar Noy." I answer
"Then the Pale Khal seeks Volantis and he's sent these Qohori to take this city!" My mentor exclaims relief filling his voice
"The Pale Khal is young but he was bred for war! A handful of Qohori however!" He said addressing the crowd
"Thousands of the Hill tribe goat-fuckers will die throwing themselves against our walls!" He said and his confidence washed all my concerns away.
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( POV Wendel Manderly )
I strapped my longsword to my belt and heaved my shield onto my back after wrapping a thick wool cloak around my shoulders. The shield proudly displayed the sigil of my house, the White Merman wielding a Black Trident on a Green Field. I made my trip through the City of White Harbour towards the port and when I got there I sat many ships baring the same sigil on my shield proudly being flown on the sails. I approached my Father who stood talking to my liege Lord.
"My Lord Starks, My Lady." I said bowing my head to the Lord Eddard, Lord Robb and Lady Sansa respectively.
"Ser Wendel, I hear you're the one captaining these ships?" Lord Stark said to me, offering his hand as he did so.
"It's true My Lord, five of house Manderly's best sail to ensure your safety, and that of your children." I said while shaking his offered hand and then doing the same with Lord Robb.
"Are you ready to set off My Lord?" I asked him
"Nearly Ser. Robb go to the Godswood and fetch Greywind, Winter and Lady." The Lord asked his son who nodded and left in the direction of the Godswood.
"Is it true My Lord? We're going to find your son?" I asked not being able to hold my curiosity.
"Aye Ser Wendal, after all these years I hear he's heading for Volantis and I intend to be there." He said and I will be happy to see the young boy again.
"How is it you know of this information?" I asked him and in response he held up a letter stamped with the sigil of a howling wolf.
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