Year 487 Summer Campaign

[Arne]

Arne snorted with laughter.  "I'm as much a foreigner in this land as you are, my friend.  Perhaps more so, for you are a Christian."

He took a deep breath of the night air, and looked over at Artaigne.  "You told me earlier that if Valka or I ever needed help with Christian cultural . . . morays? . . . that we could ask you about them."  Arne grinned.  "We Northmen and the Cymric people are alike in some ways, but very different in others.  We might see some Christian things as silly, while Christians may feel the same about some of our ways."

Stealing a glance back at Sir Cedwyn in the tent, he added in a lower tone, "We are an old and proud people, and there are things that we would rather die for than give up.  But still, we believe in honoring our friends, and manners are everything.  We would not wish to offend our hosts if possible.  Is there any other advice that you could give us when dealing with Christians?  And, as the Romans would say, 'quid pro quo'.  If there is something you would like to know about our people, I would gladly tell you."

[Artaigne]

"We have a strong feeling that we have the only truth and serve the only God, so if you make your religious practices known then you are likely to be faced with rampant zealotry, at worst, that would convert you with the sword, to a grudging tolerance, at best, that will condescend to you and treat you as little children not smart enough yet to see the truth. 

You will likely find the more pious among the ranks of the clergy and among the rural and isolated parts of our land, so I would take extra care in such places to at least present the facade of adherence to our ways.  In the towns and bigger cities you will find those more likely to have traveled and been exposed to other ideas and ways of thinking.  These second type are more likely to be pragmatic and accepting.

However the biggest piece of advice that I could give you is in regards to Valka.  I know that you have seen how our people treat women and that she likely doesn't approve.  But if you truly want to cause the least amount of upheaval, it would be wise for her to be more demure in public and take more of a secondary role to yourself.  Our leaders are not used to being publicly addressed by a woman, and it can lead many of them to feel threatened.  This is when they are most likely to turn hostile amd lash out.

[Arne]

Arne took some time to digest everything that Artaigne had said, and kept his ire under control.  Let anyone try to forcibly convert him, Valka or any of their people and he'd drown them in their own gore.  He had to grudgingly admit that some of his own countrymen dealt with Christians in a similar manner.  Although Christian priests were tolerated and even welcomed in some parts of Thule, there were other places where such a man would be skinned alive for daring to blaspheme against Odinism.

Arne was of the mind that people should be left alone to worship whatever gods and goddesses they wished, but to have some people claim that this Christian God was the only God and His word was the only truth?  What rot!  No, if any Christian priest came into his lands, he'd have them watched very carefully.  And . . . he'd best speak with Valka in private about having a plan created to evacuate his people if things got out of hand. 

As for her taking a secondary role to him . . . not damned likely.  They'd both show more restraint in their passions in front of other Christians if needs be, but to have her act like she was inferior to him?  He'd never insult her so, regardless of what these Christians expected.

Still, recognized the value of the information that Artaigne had given to him, and was grateful to the Irishman.  "Your wisdom on these matters will be of great help to us, Artaigne.  I thank you."  Glancing around for a moment, he whispered conspiratorially, "In our country, the men are usually in power, but not always so.  We have shield-maidens that are as ferocious and skilled in battle as any male warrior, and we also have chieftainesses and priestesses that have earned great respect.."  Arne chuckled, and shook his head.  "Demure is not one way that I would describe our women.  Spirited and passionate, yes."

He cocked his head slightly to the side.  "Why do the Christians treat their women so?  Do they truly fear a woman having power?  Is it also the same way in Ireland?"

[Artaigne]

"I have seen Valka fight, and I am not surprised that there are other women in your lands that rise to the battle as she does." 

Pondering for a moment the best way to explain this next point, he returned Arne's whisper, "Don't tell them I've figured this out, but our women have more power than you might think.  They just exercise it in a different way than your women do.  I would venture to say that most decisions that our male leaders make have been influenced in some way by their womenfolk.  Our God never intended our women to be weak, helpless creatures, but rather helpers and advisers.  We have a hierarchy that believes that men have been equipped to be the spiritual and temporal leaders, but it is a poor leader that doesn't take advice from as many sources as he can.  In fact I have read that in ancient times the course of wars was dictated by women who refused to have sex with the men until they brokered peace!"

[Arne]

Arne broke out into laughter at that last bit.  "That does not surprise me, friend Artaigne!  A very powerful hold, indeed!"

He thought for a moment.  "My tutor told me tales of women such as Julia Augusta, and of Queen Boadicea of the Iceni.  Woe to any man that is foolish enough to think that a woman has no power.  Yes, I think you have the right of it about Christian women.  I have met the wives of Sirs Cedwyn and Rodric.  Both are very strong in spirit, and are greatly respected by many people."  Arne lowered his voice so only Artaigne could hear.  "Especially Lady Habren, Sir Rodric's wife.  She . . . helped Valka and I last winter, and risked her own health and that of her unborn child to do so.  She is well-liked by my people.  We would do anything for her."

[Artaigne]

"I would not presume to dictate your business, friend Arne, but this may be a way that you could present it to Valka to be more acceptable to her...not that she would be your inferior but an equal simply exercising her power in a different way.  It is really nothing more than a concession or compromise that is the foundation of negotiations. You would both know that it held no meaning for you other than as a tool to get what you want from our culture."

[Arne]

Arne rubbed at his jaw, smiling.  "An interesting way to look at it, and wise.  But they will also have to make some allowances for Valka.  Ha!  She would no sooner give up being a shield-maiden than I would willingly stop breathing in and out, and I would never ask that of her."  He chuckled.  "If I did, my lineage would likely end with the flick of her knife. Or a well-aimed kick."

He let out his breath, and peered off into the darkness.  "Speaking of Valka, I wonder how she and Sir Rodric are doing?"  Under his breath, he muttered, "I don't like the idea of them wandering around this camp.  Last winter was warmer than the hospitality shown to us here."

[Artaigne]

"Aye, the Praetor certainly didn't seem too happy to hear good news or have guests.  The spirit of Christian charity is not overflowing here.  I pray that his troops have the good sense not to do anything rash, but they have been gone a goodly time."

[Arne]

Arne nodded in assent, but remained silent.  He started to drum his fingers against the pommel of his sword, and he clenched his jaw in frustration.  Finally, muttering a vile curse in his own tongue, he started to move forward . . . and just as abruptly stopped.

"No," he growled, "Valka gave her word to me, as did Sir Rodric.  Besides, we have heard no uproar in the camp.  If treachery was planned, we would have been attacked by now."  Returning to his original spot, he let out an exasperated sigh.  "I will wait for them here."

[GM Craig]

Meanwhile, Valka and Rodric leave the young squire and continue on towards the Praetor's tent.

Several guards on duty spot you long before you get close, and four of them quickly approach with naked steel in their hands.

One of them calls out when you are twenty paces from them, "Hold and give your names!"

Several archers near the tent have arrows to string. The Praetor apparently takes his security seriously. The faces of the guards are firm - this may be a difficult situation to talk your way through.

[Geoffrey]

The knight came to a stop as ordered.

"Sir Rodric and Lady Valka." he replied to the guard.

[GM Craig]

The guards relax slightly, but keep their blades out. "The Preator has not summoned you. I strongly encourage you to return to your quarters."

[Geoffrey]

Rodric bowed slightly.

"My apologies for arriving unexpectedly.  I have come to request a brief audience with the Praetor."

[GM Craig]

"The Praetor is not receiving guests."

[Valka]

Valka was not exactly sure how Rodric was intending to pull this off, but she was certainly interested in seeing it. She remained quiet for the moment and merely watched.