Post by Toz76 on Dec 12, 2017 0:33:00 GMT -5
My ship has been at sea for two weeks now, and my son and the children are getting a bit restless. I cautioned against bringing them, but Helgya was insistent. "If we come ashore without children, they won't believe we want to establish a trade settlement." I pray she is right.
I have never personally encountered any of the Franks. From what the elders say, they are very different from us. They don't believe in our gods, and they don't allow their women to lead or fight. Helgya often says she hopes that when they die, Sif herself will be the one to turn them from Valhalla. I cannot help but agree.
The only reason we are trying to trade with the Franks is because of the Latins. They come from the south, with a new god, only one god, which they arrogantly call "God". And it is not enough that they live this way, they also force us to join their backwards faith. We have encountered similar faiths before, but none so militant or agressive about their gods. We have never craved war, but we have been forced to pillage their settlements to survive, which I suspect only worsens their opinion of us. I only pray that this "Sudria" or "Magykka" we are approaching hasn't already been reached by the Latins. I don't wish to have to fight while children are aboard. Tyr would frown upon putting innocents in harm's way.
We see the island now. A large town is near. A perfect harbor to dock. There are several men in extravagantly colored robes on the quay. I believe I even see purple fabric. That is very rare, and will command a high price up in Iceland if I can strike a deal.
Thor preserve us! They have just lobbed a flaming projectile at us! Helgya is rallying the archers to return fire. I can't believe this. I look up and see that damned Latin cross on a banner. The Franks have left this island, it would seem.
"Retreat! They're Latins!" I yell, but it is too late. Flames rip through the hull. I see my son go under the waves. We're too far out to swim to shore. I turn my eyes to the heavens as the black waters claim me.
"Odin, punish these heathens. Bring upon them a plague to destroy them from within. They have attacked innocents. They must pay. If not in this life, than in the next."
*************
On July 27, 1109, Colorfolk records tell of a battle with Viking raiders. According to the records, a band of seven colorfolk successfully sunk a large longship before it could reach shore. The colorfolk were praised as heroes and a feast was held in their honor.
And yet, in the ensuing weeks, the colorfolk felt noticeably weaker than before. They were still powerful, but it felt as though their most potent combat spells were being withheld from them. The Colorfolk had no idea what was going on. After all, it wasn't as if they'd done anything evil, right?
And a few years later, the first mention of the Anchor Curse was found in the Colorfolk Archives. According to the manuscript, the Prism Spirit called it "a curse from the gods, but not the gods you know". This pronouncement has confounded Colorfolk scholars for centuries.
I have never personally encountered any of the Franks. From what the elders say, they are very different from us. They don't believe in our gods, and they don't allow their women to lead or fight. Helgya often says she hopes that when they die, Sif herself will be the one to turn them from Valhalla. I cannot help but agree.
The only reason we are trying to trade with the Franks is because of the Latins. They come from the south, with a new god, only one god, which they arrogantly call "God". And it is not enough that they live this way, they also force us to join their backwards faith. We have encountered similar faiths before, but none so militant or agressive about their gods. We have never craved war, but we have been forced to pillage their settlements to survive, which I suspect only worsens their opinion of us. I only pray that this "Sudria" or "Magykka" we are approaching hasn't already been reached by the Latins. I don't wish to have to fight while children are aboard. Tyr would frown upon putting innocents in harm's way.
We see the island now. A large town is near. A perfect harbor to dock. There are several men in extravagantly colored robes on the quay. I believe I even see purple fabric. That is very rare, and will command a high price up in Iceland if I can strike a deal.
Thor preserve us! They have just lobbed a flaming projectile at us! Helgya is rallying the archers to return fire. I can't believe this. I look up and see that damned Latin cross on a banner. The Franks have left this island, it would seem.
"Retreat! They're Latins!" I yell, but it is too late. Flames rip through the hull. I see my son go under the waves. We're too far out to swim to shore. I turn my eyes to the heavens as the black waters claim me.
"Odin, punish these heathens. Bring upon them a plague to destroy them from within. They have attacked innocents. They must pay. If not in this life, than in the next."
*************
On July 27, 1109, Colorfolk records tell of a battle with Viking raiders. According to the records, a band of seven colorfolk successfully sunk a large longship before it could reach shore. The colorfolk were praised as heroes and a feast was held in their honor.
And yet, in the ensuing weeks, the colorfolk felt noticeably weaker than before. They were still powerful, but it felt as though their most potent combat spells were being withheld from them. The Colorfolk had no idea what was going on. After all, it wasn't as if they'd done anything evil, right?
And a few years later, the first mention of the Anchor Curse was found in the Colorfolk Archives. According to the manuscript, the Prism Spirit called it "a curse from the gods, but not the gods you know". This pronouncement has confounded Colorfolk scholars for centuries.