The sunrise peaked over the foggy horizon line of the salted ocean. The vessel made it's way, cutting through the waves beneath the amber rays. The sails shook and the battle hardened men walked about the deck. Besides the usual duties of the ships manual labor, the voyage was uneventful. A makeshift table was set up atop the main deck. A wooden shipping crate, no more than a meter in cubic size was turned upside facing down. Marks were carved crudely with an on hand knife no doubt as shoddily constructed dice were thrown across from tin cups. A small crowd of four or so laughed, chanted, swore, all in all it was a jovial game of chance with good company. A tall figure, a man of imposing stature despite not being the tallest of the company loomed over the game. The men paid some notice, offering nods and stern expressions representing some form of respect. But they did not leave their game. The figure simply looked down to the game as he continued on his present course. Up the weathered wooden stairs he stepped. The sound emanating beneath his boots seemed to overpower even that of the crashing waves. The atmosphere was tense with his existence, but it was what was to come, not what was already present as the ship continued with little obstacle across the ocean blue.
Nightfall. The blackened skyline offered little visibility from the lighted docks of the Regalian harbor. There was little activity with the occasional dock patrol passing by. Several pairs of men stood about smoking, drinking, mingling. In short, this was a typical evening despite the current events of the State. The Undercrown dead, another war looming, yet it made no difference to these men.
A shadowed figure made itself present across the sea. A ship of medium size, nothing spectacular and certainly nothing to arouse any caution from the dock. It would simply coast out at sea and await for daybreak before a dock may be readied. It made no difference to the men of the harbor as nothing did, but this cargo would certainly cause the difference of some individuals in particular.
Ingvar Norrvakt stumbled about the Norrvakt castle. He wasn't drunken to the extreme per say as he was still able to logically conversate as well as he is able to while sober. That being little. That being said the current title holder of House Norrvakt made his way over to a simple table. Such was the décor of the castle. Bare stone walls, simple furniture, the occasional fur draped across a chair or lying on the floor. The budget had never afforded much more in terms of luxury. It didn't need to. However, now the budget seemingly dwindled even more. The wealth which had afforded the House it's impressive levy army secured by it's previous patriarch, Einarr, now dwindled as it could no longer support itself. The changes imposed by His Imperial Holiness Cedromar I had left the Norrvakt levy to only a portion of it's size. Not by direct interaction but by the subsequent reduction in titles that the House shared with countless other noble Houses. Despite this Ingvar did not feel entirely off put by it. The man had been enrolling countless hours in currency management and financial courses to grasp what he was to do to afford this army. However, this has fallen with the present changes. He would not have known what to do with the grand Norrvakt levy. His father was the conqueror while he was a skirmisher and a rebel. He had no knowledge on what to do with the present levy. But that would be no matter. A new host would find use for the Norrvakt levy in due time.
Daybreak, the sun reddened as it peaks over the horizon. The ship which had arrived at nightfall now makes break with the rolling tides as they collapse against the stoned walls of the capital docks. Regalia proper, home of the ever feuding nobility and it's at odds central government. A place where one may lift themselves up or destroy the futures of their neighbor. The vessel aligns itself with it's determined dock. The location not too spectacular or cause for notice. The neighboring ship unloaded shipments of fruits and vegetables. No doubts a Daen vessel. The tanned men heaved as the crates were loaded onto awaiting wagons. The amount of crates totaling in the hundreds. The profits would only be capitalized to further next seasons harvest. A lone apple falls from one of the crates only to be kicked into the dockside sea with a plop. The losses from this singular fruit would not cause any notice to the employer. The arrived vessel is now secured to the dock. A taller man, not as tall as his partners but still an impressive display of muscle and power steps off. He hands over papers to an awaiting dock attendant who inspects the parchment carefully. He looks over the paper to the man. Gunjar Norrvakt looks back to the man who now returns the papers to the host with a nod. The eldest Norrvakt male raises a hand. The unloading signal. Rather than handle this menial task he instead leaves it to his crew on what they deem the proper procedure. The dock attendants would surely inform them of their several breaks of dock protocol and be warned frequently that any more infractions would result in their ship being forced under Regalian dock control and it's crew imprisoned. A single gull flies overhead, to sea the young fowl soars. A sign for the changes to occur. Freedom with purpose, but all in the name of survival.
Nightfall. The blackened skyline offered little visibility from the lighted docks of the Regalian harbor. There was little activity with the occasional dock patrol passing by. Several pairs of men stood about smoking, drinking, mingling. In short, this was a typical evening despite the current events of the State. The Undercrown dead, another war looming, yet it made no difference to these men.
A shadowed figure made itself present across the sea. A ship of medium size, nothing spectacular and certainly nothing to arouse any caution from the dock. It would simply coast out at sea and await for daybreak before a dock may be readied. It made no difference to the men of the harbor as nothing did, but this cargo would certainly cause the difference of some individuals in particular.
Ingvar Norrvakt stumbled about the Norrvakt castle. He wasn't drunken to the extreme per say as he was still able to logically conversate as well as he is able to while sober. That being little. That being said the current title holder of House Norrvakt made his way over to a simple table. Such was the décor of the castle. Bare stone walls, simple furniture, the occasional fur draped across a chair or lying on the floor. The budget had never afforded much more in terms of luxury. It didn't need to. However, now the budget seemingly dwindled even more. The wealth which had afforded the House it's impressive levy army secured by it's previous patriarch, Einarr, now dwindled as it could no longer support itself. The changes imposed by His Imperial Holiness Cedromar I had left the Norrvakt levy to only a portion of it's size. Not by direct interaction but by the subsequent reduction in titles that the House shared with countless other noble Houses. Despite this Ingvar did not feel entirely off put by it. The man had been enrolling countless hours in currency management and financial courses to grasp what he was to do to afford this army. However, this has fallen with the present changes. He would not have known what to do with the grand Norrvakt levy. His father was the conqueror while he was a skirmisher and a rebel. He had no knowledge on what to do with the present levy. But that would be no matter. A new host would find use for the Norrvakt levy in due time.
Daybreak, the sun reddened as it peaks over the horizon. The ship which had arrived at nightfall now makes break with the rolling tides as they collapse against the stoned walls of the capital docks. Regalia proper, home of the ever feuding nobility and it's at odds central government. A place where one may lift themselves up or destroy the futures of their neighbor. The vessel aligns itself with it's determined dock. The location not too spectacular or cause for notice. The neighboring ship unloaded shipments of fruits and vegetables. No doubts a Daen vessel. The tanned men heaved as the crates were loaded onto awaiting wagons. The amount of crates totaling in the hundreds. The profits would only be capitalized to further next seasons harvest. A lone apple falls from one of the crates only to be kicked into the dockside sea with a plop. The losses from this singular fruit would not cause any notice to the employer. The arrived vessel is now secured to the dock. A taller man, not as tall as his partners but still an impressive display of muscle and power steps off. He hands over papers to an awaiting dock attendant who inspects the parchment carefully. He looks over the paper to the man. Gunjar Norrvakt looks back to the man who now returns the papers to the host with a nod. The eldest Norrvakt male raises a hand. The unloading signal. Rather than handle this menial task he instead leaves it to his crew on what they deem the proper procedure. The dock attendants would surely inform them of their several breaks of dock protocol and be warned frequently that any more infractions would result in their ship being forced under Regalian dock control and it's crew imprisoned. A single gull flies overhead, to sea the young fowl soars. A sign for the changes to occur. Freedom with purpose, but all in the name of survival.
