Return from the wilderness

[Anvil]

(Open RP)

Anvil looked over the valley and the finished keep that the Defenders called home. he absently scratched the ears of the large mastiff sitting next to him as he mused on the long journey he had just finished.

After the fall of the Jovians Anvil had relenquished his crown and had taken several of his elite fighting corps and left Dunland. those left behind were instructed to finish the keep and keep viligant against any nearby troubles.

They had left as soon as the melting snows allowed and now were returning home only a few weeks before the snows once again returned to the mountains. He had led his fighters south to Fangorn and then struck out west from there taking a wide and large semi circle to the north to the land of Aethunea. They had met many peoples, fought many battles, made friends and lost friends. Somewhere in his travels Anvil found his place and center in the world again after his madness against the emperor of Jove.

The large mastiff he found wondering loose in the wilderness, most likely another victim of the ever shifting mist of the lands. The troop started out feeding it scraps and the longer it followd the more they all started to feed it. they soon realized that at one time it must of been trained to war as it had proved itself several times in battle and as a scout to alert them of ambushes. For an animal of it's great size it could move as quietly and stealthy as any of the Defenders in the forest. It soon became a friend and brother in arms in their eyes.

But now they were back and it was time for them to see what was going on in Dunland and Mittlemarch, for Anvil knew peace never lasted in the lands and that he and his warriors would be needed again.

[Anvil]

It has been a week since his return. The keep had been finished in his abscensce and Lupus had proven himself very capable of running the day to day business of the Defenders in Dunland. It had made Anvil's decision easier in a way.

Since his actions against the Jovians in the war he was not as welcomed in his former country anymore. Several folks couldn't forget that Anvil had involved Dunland in the war while he was their king and held it against him. He had hoped his long trip from his home would allow the wounds to heal but it hadn't happened that way.

Finally he decided to move himself and his family with a few select Defenders to Mittelmarch, where he hoped to broaden the reach of his group and help strengthen the lands from there.
It was the second day of their journey when they detected someone on the road ahead. Anvil went ahead on foot to investigate and soon beheld the ogre knight Nichtmar on the road.

In the shadow of the tree Anvil shook his head and mused at how 5 years ago he would of waylaid the beast and not thought anything about it. but now he knew the ogre personally and had learned that in this land you could not judge one by their outward appearances.

When Nichtmar drew up beside the tree Anvil was at he called out with a smile "Kinda big for a knight aren't you sonny?"

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar recognized Anvil immediately. He grinned at the comment.

“Aye, and you’re a bit stocky for a ranger aren’t ya.” He shook Anvil’s hand and patted him on the shoulder.

“Sides, I differ than those pretty knights you see with their sparkly clothes. I like to blend in.”

“Ah, I’ve heard news, Telemachus is dead. Ah, we can talk about that later, where’s your Defenders? You should come to the city, I’ll buy ya a brew.”

[Anvil]

"It's good to see you again and better than that you have glad tidings about Telemachus"

Anvil turned and whistled and shortly a small party on small mountain ponies came forward with a large loping dog at it's head.

"And as far as coming to the city that is our destination so I'll take you up on the offer of a drink my friend" Anvil smiled and said "in fact I'll buy the second round to boot. One of the nice things about overthrowing bandit lords and tryants is they always seem to have a ready supply of full treasure chest lying around"

[Anvil]

As the party rode towards the city Avil and Thistle relate to the knight Nichtmar their travels this summer and the various discoverys they have made.

"There are more peoples and creatures in the lands we know about, we saw several small settlements of various humans and strange creatures as we travelled outside the normal areas of travel for our cities." Anvil was telling Nichtmar.

"Most of them are not threats to any of us and some want no contact with the outside world, but a few could be problems in the future or offer us valuable resources for trade" he continued as they came within sight of the city walls.

[Sir Nichtmar]

Nichtmar was excited about Anvil's tales of Adventure. He grabbed every word.

"More people and creatures in the land" he thought to himself. They could be new friends or enemies, either way it peeked his interest.

"You've been busy friend." he said as he opened the door to the Silver Moon. He had shown them the stall in the front of the castle to keep their horses and the guard were making room in the berrics for Anvil's Defenders. The Defenders have long been allies to Mittelmarch and aided them in several campaigns.

They settled up to a table and Nichtmar signaled "Two Ales" to the keep.

"Your adventures sound like fun, I might have to join you sometime. Aside from our little fight with the Fallen, it's been pretty dull around here. Spent most of the time helping Baethor move rock to repair the castle from the Jovian battle. Peace is good though I suppose...just gets boring."

"Course we ventured a few times through the Mist to help here and there, but of course eventually the crazy land always drags you back."

"So, how long do you mean to stay?"

[Anvil]

"Tomorrow we will look for suitable land or buildings to purchase or claim here in the city and begin building a permanent base for our people" Anvil reaches for the ale set on the table "I mean to make Mittelmarch my new home"

[Sir Nichtmar]

"This is great news! Your blades and arrows will be a great addition." I'm sure there's something Mittelmarch can offer, if not it can probably be built. Sounds like you have the means to make it so."

"We have strong dwarven made walls, but you rangers may have ideas for strengthening our defense."

[Anvil]

"Aye, we can look over your defenses, but I doubt we will find much to suggest. I know my archers will be happy to suggest some additions to ensure that they can make it impossible for any attacker to hide at the base of a wall and cause truobles."
Anvil motions for another round and continues "My main thought is to be here in the city where we can be more centrally located to gather information and send out our forces to help the goodly peoples of the land. We are starting to recruit from the various communities and set up a system of early warnings and information gathering on any marching threats."

"Of course we still have our keep in Dunland and it will be a good position to train and fall back to in the worst case scenerio."

After a second of thinking Anvil loses his smile and looks at Nichtmar and says "You know this peace your talking about could be a bad thing, with out a strong outside threat there is less of a reason for the realms to work together as allies, we have been lucky so far that no one has taken control of one with thoughts of expansion into a neighbors territory so far"

[Sir Nichtmar]

"Let's hope that day doesn't come." He takes a sip of brew.

"Scary to think a friend becoming an enemy."

[Anvil]

"On a brighter note any advice for a newcomer looking to settle down here?"

[Sir Nichtmar]

"Well, ya got Regal Crt just around the corner here, that's where some of our richer human folk live. Catty Corner is Cedric's Inn and down that road is Settler's Way, little more common folk and a little mix of race there, Main Street there's all kinds of trade and markets. There's plenty of farmin and smaller villages outside the walls of course. There's the Anchor Inn, kind of isolated, since you gotta walk out the gate and clear around the city to get to it. It's right on the river there.

I'm sure you'll find whatever you need, if you don't, let me know.

[Anvil]

"Well to tell you the truth I've got my eye on the inside SW corner of the walls. Who would I see about purchasing the land and whom is the best builders to talk to in the city?" Anvil pulls some coins from his pouch and lays on the table for the drinks.

[Sir Nichtmar]

"Well you'd have to see the Land Keeper about leasing or buying property. She's got an office in the Forum. Sure she can negotiate with a builder for you."

"I just bought a little meadow North of here. Not much, but plenty of space."

[Batu]

The door of the Silver Moon slammed open.

A silent and weak traveler shrouded in worn garments enters, dragging his personal belongings. He looks for a place to rest and that open seat is near, from what he can gauge, an ogre and woodsman having a friendly chat.

The stranger throws down a foreign currency from the fallen Stormhaven Empire hoping that would be suitable for something to quench his wretched thirst and purchase provisions.

He sits waiting and carefully listens to those around him.

[Anvil]

Anvil watched the newcomer come and sit down. Another refugee from some conflict in the lands. He turns his attention back to the knight sitting with him.

"What's the status of the city Nichtmar? Is it stable after the all that has happened or is there any major problems that need attention? Now that I have decided to live here what do I need to know to keep my family and followers safe?"

Anvil knew that he could help the city council if they needed it, his men were slowly filtering in to the city in groups of 2-3 and some were entering seceretly. Anvil didn't want any potential enimies to know how strong his forces were going to be inside the city walls until he knew where the city stood. The fact that his followers were of all ages, sexes, and races would make that easier for a time.

"How would a small army be seen if I bring my followers in force to be stationed here Nichtmar?"

[Sir Nichtmar]

He takes a big slurp from his tankard.

Gulp, "Well, our numbers aren't bad at the moment, we've been growing since the whole Jovian thing. Walls are repaired."

"Hmm, what we are lacking is security out in the Greatwood and the villages scattered out there. We have patrols, but not too many to spare from within the walls. Maybe your rangers could help with that?"

"We could hold an introduction so people are aware of you guys policing the area?"

Nichtmar raised a brow at the door being slammed open. He shakes his head.."Youth..." he's says so only Anvil and himself can hear.

He maintains an unseen awareness of the one who arrived.



"We should talk to the council."

[Batu]

He imbibes the provisions given to him with socially unorthodox quickness.

Much time passes and Batu regains his composure. From the corner of his eye he notices both who the ranger and ogre were. In his starvation-induced stupor he saw what might be a fairy tale scene, but now things were clear.

He rises and advances towards them. Standing at attention,

"You. You are Sir Nichtmar. And you, you are Anvil of The Defenders of the Land. I have heard of your prestige. And I am honored to see you men before my eyes."

He nods in respect.

"I beg your pardon for my intrusion. I have come here from the fallen Stormhaven empire. There, in that place, are the poor, the weak, and the sick. I tell you, there lies tyranny and oppression along with them. Marauders, slavers, and murderers. I have come for arms and armor and I now have before me two men of valor, who may be best to grant this request. It is I, Batu of Stormhaven: Ally of Mittelmarch and enemy to the wicked."

He nods again and waits for their reply, their permission for him to sit amongst their company, their generosity.

[Anvil]

Anvil listens to Nichtmar while watching the young man who just entered.

"I had already planned on having my folks patrol around the city. In fact some are out there already getting the lay of the land."

When Batu walks over and introduces himself Anvil makes some stange hand motions and absently nods toward an empty chair.
Nichtmar notices a hooded man sitting in a corner make some hand motions similar to Anvil's. Nichtmar realizes he was aware of the man the entire time but didn't notice him at the same time, or even remember the man entering.

Anvil continues "Set up the meeting with the council and I will be there my friend"

[Sir Nichtmar]

"I'll speak to them..."

The stranger comes up. Apparently named Batu he finds out as he tells his tale.

"So people finally have dug up that old village of Stormhaven."

Looks to Anvil, "It was a ghost town last time I was there."

Looking back to Batu, "My friend, you will have the help of Mittelmarch, well at the very least me and my local Dragoons is as much as I can trully speak for, but how big is this menace? You ask for arms and armor, but do you not require warriors to wear them?"

[Batu]

"You have my sincere gratitude Sir Nichtmar."

Again Batu nods respectfully.

"Bloodshed is as common as the rising and setting of the sun. There is no monarch nor established army. Vagrants, refugees, and the rare veteran from across The Land find their home there."

Batu's voice dims to a tone of dismal anticipation. Order must be restored, he thought to himself, at any price.

"Aye, the people there are dressed in the garb of peasants, yet they have the hearts of the most valorous of knights."

Batu still had business outside of Mittelmarch's aid. He had traveled the spine of the Iron Mountains to find The Commander of the Defenders in order to study their ways and learn their stratagem of warfare. He anxiously stands there hoping to have conversation with Anvil as well. The man was quick to be seen and quick to disappear, Batu had anticipated, so his request must be brief.

"My request is not a burden to your people? Do you still not wage war on Kanthea?"

[Anvil]

Anvil sits and listens patiently. I need to send Spoons more support it sounds, he muses to himself.

[Sir Nichtmar]

"We waged war with the undead Fallen. Last I heard Kanthea is rebuilding."

[Anvil]

Anvil stands and lays some coins on the table, nods to the two and starts to head out.

[Batu]

"Wait!" he exclaims

Batu regains his composure and gestures apologetically to the rest of the tavern-goers. He didn't want to have traveled all this way to have Anvil disappear on him. Batu still needed to pledge allegiance to the rangers known as the Defenders of the Land. He hoped to carry that back to Stormhaven and guard its people from the threats that lurk in that wretched place.

"I had still some business with you, if you did not mind an extended audience Anvil."