Northmen Camp

[GM Craig]

Over the course of the winter, the two longships you used to escape the Saxons are stripped and moved to Falt, where they are overturned atop a stone base, and become longhouses. More than half the Northmen now sleep under that shelter, which improves your lot significantly. It is a little jarring to visitors and residents alike seeing Northmen longhouses out in the wilds of Falt.

[GM Craig]

By early spring, there are a few mothers with swollen bellies, but none more than Valka. Arne is drilling with the new warriors, and checking that their equipment is sound, when a young boy runs up. Breathless, he says, "Arne! Valka's time is upon her! Holmg?r?r says you must come, and quickly!"

[Arne]

Arne ruffled the hair on the boy's head, and grinned broadly.  "Lead the way, Wulf, and quickly!"  To one of the senior veterans, he said, "Bjarni, take over for me!  Don't go easy on them, eh?"  Arne set off in a dead run, easily outstripping the boy.

[GM Craig]

He hears the scream long before he reaches the hut the northmen had made for them. It does not sound good.

Arne busts into the room, and sees Valka screaming on the bed. Holmg?r?r looks up, and hands Valka off to one of the matrons that had been assisting.

She takes Arne's arm. Her face is grave.

"Arne, it does not go well. I fear we may lose both mother and child."

Valka screams again. Arne can see how pale she is.

[Arne]

Arne stopped dead in his tracks, and his face went corpse-gray.  He shot a wild look at Valka, and then another at Holmg?r?r.  How had things gone so horribly wrong for Valka?  Did not Holmg?r?r say that Freya smiled upon her?  Suddenly he felt his world start caving in around him, and his legs started to buckle.  Slamming a hand against the side of the lodge wall stopped him from keeling over, and he clenched his teeth in grief and rage.  No.

Lifting his head to stare at the priestess, he rasped, "No!  With all that she has done for our people, this cannot come to pass!  Is there nothing that can be done for her?  Is there nothing I can do for her?  Please, you are Freya's priestess!  Help me plead for her help!  If there is a price to be paid, I will pay it!"

[GM Craig]

She shakes her head. "She has been in labour since shortly after you left this morning. There is nothing else I can do, but there is a hope. Merlin is in Sarum. I do not know if he will help, but I know that he can. It is a slim hope - he rarely involves himself in such matters. But I can think of no other possibilities."

You could make it in three hours under normal conditions, but you could kill a horse and make it in 1.

[Valka]

"No, Arne!" Valka cried, gathering strength to turn to him. "I will pay it for this baby. Lead our people, raise a warrior in my honor."

"Holmg?r?r, help me pray, that Freya take me, not our child.. please.."

[Arne]

Arne went to her side and pressed a kiss on her forehead.  "No, you have paid enough! I will have both you and our child alive and healthy, Valka!  Our people need you more than ever.  I need you.  I will find Merlin, and I will convince him to help.  Now rest, min elskede.  When I return, we will celebrate the life of our child together."

Although he was loath to leave her side, he gave her a last kiss and headed for the door.  "Holmg?r?r, I go now to Sarum to find Merlin.  If I do not return, make sure that we honor our pledge to Earl Roderick.  Bjarni will lead our free-company if I am killed."  Without any further preamble, Arne heaved the door open and strode outside.  "Wulf!" he bellowed.  'My horses, and be quick about it!"


OOC:  Just out of curiosity, what if I took my second rouncy with me?  I could ride the first one for a half-hour, and transfer to the other one for the second half-hour.  Would that spare both horses?  I know that Mongols sometimes rode with spare animals so that they'd always have a relatively fresh horse available.

[GM Craig]

[Using two horses would increase the survival odds of both. It's not guaranteed. It depends on how hard you push them.]

[Arne]

OOC:  I'll take both, then.

[Valka]

OOC: Craig says he needs two horsemanship rolls for Arne. (too many tabs open oh and get on G+ already)

[GM Craig]

[I can roll if you want.]

[Arne]

Arne's Horsemanship roll # 1:  11 (vs. skill of 5):  Fail
Arne's Horsemanship roll # 2:  14 (vs. skill of 5):  Fail

Bleah.

[Valka]

Tears streaked down Valka's face as she watched Arne leave. It only served to make her more upset knowing that he himself may not come back.

Sbe lifted her fingers towards the priestess, her jaw quivering. "I wanted to die in battle, as a warrior... Will she still take me to Valhalla? Will I still be allowed into the great halls?"

[GM Craig]

The priestess strokes Valka's cheek. "Dear one, there is no greater battle in all of creation than that of a mother giving birth to new life. You think any man could bear up under what women do? And how many of us die doing it? Make no mistake, this is a battle every bit as glorious and bloody as any fight with axe and shield. I cannot see what will come, Valka, but trust this - Freya will welcome you with open arms, and prepare a seat for you at the banquet herself!"