Words With the Warmother

"My duty is to protect the citizens of Piltover, and I will see that through." ~ Caitlin, The Sheriff of Piltover.

Oh my god! Is that a quote from Caitlin from the hit tv show Arcane???

Anyway, introduced new characters to the story. Some are actually in the lore. For more story check out the 4! issue Warmother comic on the universe.leagueoflegends.com. Free to read and gives you a look into the future set ups for the story.

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"Lad." Greta called to him.

Gregori turned to face her.

"Go get some sleep. You have travelled for hours and its well into the night. Sleep." Her words seemed to leave no space for remarks. 

As he thought about it, tiredness hit him like a wave. The relief of having his daughter awake offset it a little bit but it was still heavy. It was bad enough that he fought to keep his eyes open.

He pulled out one of their waterskins and gave it to Daisy.

"Drink some water flower and lets go get some rest okay?"

The head stuck to his chest pulled back a little and gave him a nod. He softly placed it on her lips and tilted it slowly, letting small amounts through for her to drink. After letting her drink to full, he asked, "Do you want to walk to where we will sleep or do you want daddy to carry you?"

She looked at him, raised both her arms in the air, "Carry!"

Gregori snorted and lifted her up onto his shoulders. "Now you can see everything from high up." She gave a couple of cute giggles.

He carried her across and showed her Rakelstake. A location she seemed to appreciate. What was nice was that she hadn't asked about her mother or sister yet.....

Daisy was more occupied with the goings on in the Freljord.

Jorde accompanied them a while and then went his own way. As he did he said, "Gregori I'll let Gjura know to call you tomorrow. Get some rest for today. The both of you deserve it."

What Gregori noticed was that he hadn't mentioned his words of offering them as space to stay. But he didn't take it personally... he couldn't. The man had to choose between the safety of his family over two strangers he had barely known for a day.

There was nothing wrong with that. He would do the same in a heartbeat.

Hence, he needed to find a place for his daughter and him to sleep for the night. The tents for the competitors seemed to be the only choice.

As he walked there, pointing to the large statue showing Daisy the glowing block of True Ice, he spoke, "That is the Statue of Avarosa. She is one of Freljord's gods. She is not a god exactly but she close to it with how many people worship her. She was an Iceborn."

He made eye contact with his daughter, "Just. Like. You. Your mother was probably a descendant of a Freljordian. She gave you a big gift."

Daisy looked at him as he spoke.

"You know how Annie is good with fire and magic no?"

She nodded.

"You are like that but with ice. Your body is very strong. You will never get sick again and you can play for a whole day without getting tired."

The smile that popped up on her face was dazzling and it filled him up with happiness.

After checking a few tents, he managed to find an unoccupied one. He walked into it. Laid his spear on the ground next to the sleeping mat made out of fur. Set his bag down and placed his shield alongside it.

Daisy poked her head outside the tent, turned her head left and right then rushed back into her father's embrace.

Gregori lay prone on the fur and Daisy fell asleep on his chest.

The rest of the night went in peace. No one would do something in the settlement, not with the Avarosans watching over them. They would be killing themselves if they tried. Even then, Gregori slept light. There was no need to take chances considering he was in a tent. The only thing that kept him from the outside was a singular cloth that acted as a barrier.

He did miss his house a lot. Gregori would build another. Once everything was done, he would.

Getting up as the sun rose was something he had done for nearly twenty years. He wouldn't change that ever. If he felt tired later, then a quick nap would have to do.

He performed his early morning ablutions and waited for his daughter to wake up. Sometime into the night, she slid off his chest and snuggled into his side. Annie used to do that as well. End up in different places as the night went on.

Picking up the shield he placed it on his lap. Sitting cross legged, he ran his fingers across the runes on it. These runes weren't placed by him, they were on the shield long before he had discovered it. He knew what they did. The spikes on the shield were also there for the same reason. Before he had just used it as a shield.... but now.... with the growth he had exhibited magically, it could be more.

He took a cloth and started cleaning the shield. Running the cloth across the nooks and crannies formed due to the runes and the spikes on the sides.

Suddenly he stopped.

He could hear movement outside. It was constant and was getting closer. He stood up and moved the curtains at the entrance of the tent to the side, getting a peek at whatever was moving.

Peeking out he saw a tribesman looking for someone. He stepped out and made eye contact with the man.

"Are you Gregori by any chance?" He asked.

But before he replied he changed languages to Velarian and asked once more. Gregori smiled at the man.

"I understood it the first time friend. Yes. I am Gregori. Why do you ask?" He answered.

The man let out a sigh, "Just trying to be nice. And you have been summoned to meet the Warmother. Gjura asked me to bring you to the main house."

Gregori nodded. 

"Let me wake my daughter and then we can set off."

The man just nodded and waited for Gregori to come out with his daughter.

A couple minutes later, the three walked to the main house.

"Daddy?"

Gregori looked to his daughter, who walked alongside him holding his hand. "What is it flower?"

With her hands shaking, she asked, "Where are mommy and Annie?"

Gregori had a stutter in his step and continued, "Can you wait a little flower? I'll tell you once we finish talking to the Warmother okay?"

The dreaded question had arrived. He let out a sigh. Daisy deserved to know about her mother and her sister. But he didn't know how to explain it in a way where she could take it better.

"Okay..." Came a subdued voice.

They walked in silence. The man leading them had heard their conversation but hadn't spoken up. He didn't try to start conversations and just did as he was told.

The parent-child duo were led to the largest building in Rakelstake. The Warmother's home as well as her War Council. The most important members of the tribe lived in the rooms there. It would usually just be the Warmother and her Bloodsworn. Many matriarchal tribes have leaders with multiple husbands. They fought together and raised any children from the mother as their own.

The man leading them stood in front of the large doors leading inside. "The Warmother and the council are awaiting you inside. Walk straight down the hall into the council room."

He stood outside watching as Gregori pushed open the doors and led his daughter in. 

Daisy was definitely intimidated the moment they walked in. On both sides of the large corridor leading to the council room were large items adorned on the wall. Trophies of hunts, battles and conquests. Skulls, horns, large bones and weapons hung from the walls. The animal heads especially were disturbing for her. Some were perfectly preserved, and as they walked down the corridor it felt as if they were being watched by creatures.

Gregori didn't care for this measly show of power. He had seen worse. Reaching the doors he knocked once and pushed the large doors open after a couple of seconds.

There were a group of people discussing over something as the door opened.

He walked in, Daisy in tow holding the side of his clothes.

Gregori's eyes instantly found the Warmother's. She was easy to spot among her tribespeople. Shiny white hair and bright blue eyes were in stark contrast with the dull interior of the house and the clothing they wore. Animal hide and fur were usually dark brown or different shades of grey. And she stood out. Her eyes were hard, the kind you get through countless struggles. He himself sported those exact same eyes for a long time but family life beat it out of him.

The one thing that he didn't like was that she looked too much like his daughter now. Or rather how much Daisy looked like her.

He announced.

"My name is Gregori. I have been summoned for an audience with the Warmother."

Chuckles and raised eyebrows were all he could see and hear after he spoke. It was audacious. Usually one spoke only after the Warmother spoke first. But he was having none of that. He knew what the conversations would lead to and he did not want to be on the backfoot here.

The Warmother looked at him and then her eyes landed on Daisy. Her eyes softened. "Well met Gregori. I am Ashe. Warmother of Avarosa. You have been granted an audience with me... do you know why?" Her eyes bore into him.

He almost broke into a laugh. She looked like a child trying to intimidate an adult. This Ashe was young. Extremely so. She had experienced a lot, yes but it made no sense for her to be able to intimidate him. He had seen things the likes of which she couldn't comprehend.

But the threat was real. He had come here empty handed. And she was Iceborn. Not to mention the fact that he was outnumbered. A fight would not be good here. It wouldn't be a massacre but they would lose a few of their members. Considering that the people in the room were the higher ups they would lose more than they would like.

Above everything, they wouldn't attack him. It was frowned upon to attack someone seeking audience, even if this instance was forced upon him.

"I believe it is because of my daughter's status as an Iceborn that you wish to talk about." Gregori spoke calmly, maintaining eye contact with Ashe the entire time.

"Yes." She walked forward coming face to face with him. "We can't let an Iceborn slip through our hands. And you need your daughter here for her to acclimate to her new state. You also need to pay renumeration for Greta's efforts to wake her up."

Gregori sighed. It was to be expected. They wouldn't let her slip through like this unless he was able to offer them something greater than what Daisy would be able to provide.

Looking down at her face, he offered.

"What can I do for you?"

That was the only option left. The entire tribe barely had a couple Iceborn, they would be fools to just let them leave after finding out about Daisy.

Ashe and the people behind her smiled.

"You can leave if you do something for us. The north. You have to kill one of the Draklorn. Not just any Draklorn, you need to kill an inquisitor. Go north, find an inquisitor and end them. Bring their head piece as proof."

This was probably a difficult task. Gregori did not know about the Draklorn but these lot would not give him an easy task.

It is easier to brainwash his daughter without his presence. They would gain a soldier and a tribeswoman. Sending him on an impossible task. If he completed it, then he could walk free. The Freljordians don't renege on their promises. It would also show them that he was someone who could achieve the impossible. They wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of someone like that.

"What are they? What can they do? How many of them are there? Who do they serve? Answer these questions and I will bring the head of one inquisitor."

Ashe had a look of surprise on her face. Gjura laughed and the rest did the same.

"Well then. The Draklorn are the priests of the Frost Guard. They directly serve Lissandra herself. They are fully covered in armor and their helmets are large and quite unmistakable. They carry with them a weapon known as the Ikakalaka. Its a large axe like weapon the length of a sword but is sharp and double ended. There aren't many of them since they are the highest ranked in the order of priests. But they are surrounded by lower ranked Black-Clad priests. They are strong physically and can cast strange magics."

Gregori slowly nodded, he broke eye contact and just let his eyes drift as he absorbed the information.

"Okay... okay. I will do it. But I need your word as Warmother. That my daughter, Daisy will be cared for until I return. And in case I do not return, she is to wait till she is fifteen years old to enter combat. Do you accept?"

She turned around and walked back to her group and discussed it.

"I do. And I give my word."

"Then I will leave at sunrise. Thank you for the audience."

He turned around and lifted his daughter up and started walking out.

"You do know this task is impossible right?" Ashe called from behind him.

Without turning or stopping he replied, "For you? Maybe."