Tales From The Skalds

We of the Fenslands walk the path of rage. It has not always been so, but now, the fire runs in our blood and a tendency to violence we have. There is however a time for war, and a time for peace, and a wise soul chooses his or her war with care.

I therefore present for you a tale of a land that did not choose its wars with care for your guidance.

In this land the rulers of the people got too greedy for their own good. They just wanted more. Not content with a bit of friendly raiding their neighbours fat they decided they wanted all. Never mind its tricky to milk the cow when you have cut her up for one quick but indulgent feast they went for a feast of war.

They started as equals, so each went to hire mercenaries from other lands. Their plan of course being simple, change a little gold they could take back from the looser for enough men to win. Simple enough except that both sides had the same plan so neither could gain. To crown it all they paid someone as greedy as them and got no men for their gold anyway. Given they were already at war with each other they were in no position to take retribution on the one that betrayed them, well not then.

By now they were committed to battle. With equal forces there was only one likely outcome, a nasty war of attrition. Each side had its victories, but each side also had its losses.

Maybe one side should have had the better generals and won but that was not to be. All of them were deceived for one camp had been infiltrated by the enemy. A witch, servant of the great evil that is once more stirring in the east, our ancient foe had infiltrated one command tent. Bent on their war the leaders of each side were blind to her fiddling, balancing things so they wore each other down and played ever deeper into her greedy evil hands.

The result was that in their greed both sides simply succeeded in exhausting themselves. They spent their money on empty promises. They spent their men on futile battles. They ignored the evil in their midst and they ignored their homes.

Then while they were distracted another land sent an army to take their unprotected fields. Now weary they were in no position to fight and with no food in a perfect position to starve.

Oh does evil chuckle, a country split in two, its defences squandered. Even once they saw some sense, even what bit of power they have left must be spent to send the first invaders home and those are not even the forces of the evil itself, those are yet to come. Further they made a pact with yet another faction to get rid of their unwelcome guests and all the time they ignore the real enemy. For despite all the witch carries on unseen, preparing for when they are weak enough. Then the real enemy will strike and they will fall to the evil as the wild lands have.

This is the danger to which the greedy expose themselves. Our way may be a path threaded with rage but ever do we stand watchful for the true enemy. Raid thy neighbours fat we do, but always home we look. Never commit all to greed for those that look upon your home like that will swoop. Beware those that promise all and deliver none. Our people have honour, our ways are harsh but we live in a harsh land and know an enemy wild and merciless. That danger rises and east we must look for trouble. Divided we risk all and yet the greedy still seek all for power. In their greed they have tried to cast down ancient friends for last the enemy came three stood together to lead us against evil. Now one divides us by seeking all the glory.

To our peoples hearts and homes we must look. Our fellow fensmen are not our enemies. Those that would lead them against us are a few fools, but fools who must be stopped all the same. So people of the fenslands, do not stand for those who would lead you astray but do not risk all fighting wars amongst yourselves. Difficult you may say, but there are those that will lead you down a better path. Think, guidance there has always been, in war, merriment, living, wisdom and leadership. Think, talk to your fellow fensmen. There is a time to stand together, united as one against our ancient foes. There is a time for war against our real foes when passion will run in our blood. But dealing with troubles and divisions in our midst is time to think of life and wisdom. So we stand together not divided like foreign fools. We resolved to stand together before, following a group of wise leaders, not a single power hungry fool. Rise above this, send the promise laden foreign fools home before they lead us as far astray as they did their own flock. We are the people of the fenslands. Hold true to what we are and we will be strong. The rage will run true when the real enemy comes and again we shall smite her and the fools that follow her down.

Now think before you draw arms on your brothers, in better times we may raid, yes, but conquer, no. Go now, spread wisdom, and bring our brothers back from their foolishness with foreigners who are soft and squabble stupidly and ignorantly with each other.

Oh yes, loot there will be. The foreign fools and greedy may promise all sorts today and deliver nothing tomorrow. The fools however have let traders sell all sorts of things to the forces of the evil. That loot is real, its there and when we smite down the forces of the enemy then it will be ours. It won’t come cheaply, it won’t come easily but you’ve seen them heading east with wares to sell so know this is no phantom promise. If you likes a bit of raiding meantime, well there are goodies to be had from foreign fools. Weapons of war our enemy does not need, you know where to look, and know what a fensmans solution is to such things, warm that good fens blood of yours gently and enjoy yourselves.

A riddles yes, but from comprehending riddles comes wisdom…