Tales From The Skalds

My friends, fensfolk and countrymen.

A tale we tell this night, of glory, of honour, and riches. A tale of paths, of ways, and of mystery.

We step out into the world t walk a path, many places may it lead. Many would wish to guide us, some into darkness, for darkness their is and in the wild lands it does stir. Others seek light, the question is are the paths they seem to walk what they seem and what they claim. To tell wisdom do we need.

We start with a man. A hall he claims for his own, and around him he gathers many men. Others may be jealous of his hall so he sees that the men are schooled in the arts of war. Alliances he seeks, not with those who he thinks eye his hall with greed but with those who are not neighbours. Trade brings riches, and dealings gather gold. His warriors are strong and his people relax for their neighbours do not raid against those warriors.

Meanwhile another holds a different course. He gathers not warriors but all his people around him. He asks of all to tend the job in hand, to share the burden, be it war, be it tending the fields, seeing to their guardianship for all must eat. The path is hard but honour guides his hand, all are treated fairly, no one is rich but riches do not always lead to happiness, but all have what they need which always helps and an eye all have for trouble.

Trouble, yes trouble comes. She stalks the night, feeding on men’s fears. She offers them riches and when they find her distant she sends forth her vassal, a bitch in pretty clothes. Aware of the dangers the people of our land pass her by, but others are not so careful. Greed takes hold and where there is gold and greed trouble brews.

Soon enough trouble stirs. In a hall, well lit and littered with strong warriors opportunity stalks the land. Offers are made, those who seek war want men for their cause and will offer gold and the means to make more, new weapons, weapons for the few who would gain from their plans at the expense of the people. Deals are done, but gold and weapons are not all that move. In caravans another export of foreign lands walks unseen and in the darkness a witch crafts her schemes.

In a more humble home temptation does not cloud the mind and distracted not by gold friendship is remembered. Bad news come, a friend in trouble in lands afar, for as we said darkness walks the land. The call goes out, for friendship, for honour, those brave and bold against the enemy we do tread. Those that answer are friends of common cause, no elite taking from the rest.

While the schemes run, gold tinkles in one hall and friends gather I another, trouble sits and laughs.

In a land grown too soft a witch weaves her spell and greedy men try to grab all for themselves. Doomed they are, for none come to their aid. Blinded by their greed and appearance of power those they sought to bribe have turned their backs on honour, wisdom, a true warriors friendship, their land and a little bit of jest to remind them their humility. For now they laugh and roll in gold but errors like that will come back to haunt you.

War ravages the foreign land and weakens the people, a witch cackles and then the first true enemy appears from without. Blind to the rot within terrible damage is done leaving the people at the mercy of the invaders.

In the first hall riches are counted and spent on more. Relaxing on the profits of deals unkept one watches those they were made with suffer for their foolishness and too becomes weak. Unaware he is that those who felled those he betrayed have sown far more insidious seed far closer to his home that threatens the bonds that provide his power. For honour he has forgotten. Wisdom he ignores, a battle he has won but at what cost, the vultures have grown strong and his people soft on easy victory. A warriors friendship is gone, common mercenaries abound, fine while your gold is good and the battle easy but what when trouble comes home to roost? The land, oh yes the land, forgotten it is, the most critical thing of all, armies today, starving tomorrow and carrion the next, oh dear. Mirth, that smile, that humbleness we all need, where is a friend that can make your enemies laugh when they should be paying attention.

Thankfully elsewhere friends are at work. A mixed group they are, more varied with a few allies on route would be hard to dream of but between the shafts of darkness they walk. It is a dangerous road but they walk for friendship and honour. The battle is hard for the foes have the powers of the evil one herself. When those grown fat on gold and illusionary wealth would have long since fled though the friends stand true. Though shields lay shattered and mail rent, between foe and their wounded they stand. With the true powers of our people they stand against the darkness and holding true to all prevail.

Now which path would you walk my friends and countrymen. The path of greed… gold they may offer and promises too, and not without power they are, but greed and men are a poor combination. A few are true but the rot is there for all to see and when at last the darkness reveals itself they will all fall like chaff. Then the would be benefactors will show their true colours, then they would sacrifice our people to save their own skins. Follow the path of greed and riches now and peace you may have for a time, but behind the scenes you will be betrayed. When the masks are drawn back it will be too late no king of a fine hall you will be but a manipulated puppet of foreign powers who will throw your life away for nothing but a little time.

No my friends stand together, turn you backs on greed, envy and so called easy riches. Stay true to the real ways of the fenslands. The evil has walked before and it was these true ways that cast her down and kept her from our lands for many years and will do so again. Show your honour, Knux, he will make you Kings. Stay true to you friends, warriors all, for Kunn will ring steel to your soul to smite down your foes. Remember the land and Issa will see it green and your families fed. Don’t forget a little mirth, for Flegg walks among you and has a way of sneaking into your enemies midst, and their oh can he have fun. Wisdom, that you need, Wise Borris will look after you and guide your way, but listen you must, understand the riddles you will and then only then will you really know.

So you are not helpless, for you are friends together, we have stood against the darkness before, an together we shall stand again. Fear not their armies, for we are a warrior people born, what of armies, we are warriors all, we are the army of the fenslands. Do not fear that which you are, together we go forth. Together we keep ourselves true, and together we are free.

For honour and the fenslands…..