Thread: Darkness Has Its Teachings (Athene & Alvis Alendran)

It was an avalanche of blood. The Viking warriors strode forward, dealing death wherever they cast their gze. Their enemies had infact managed to draw themselves into a semblance of order, preparing themselve for the oncoming attack. Goormr only grinned, adn raised his axe skyward, a wordless signal that called his peope to him. They assembled in a practiced rush, assembling behind him. Their foes had presented a shield wall, more of a square to be honest, making them a hard target to breach no matter what direction they might move in. But the vikings had long ago learned of the shieldwall, perected it's use. And their own God, Thor the thundered, had taught them the proper way to break such a thing. The vikings came on in a steady, measured rush, Goormr at the point of hte wedge they had formed. Their foes seemed ot shuffle nervously at the oncoming mass of warriors. With a roar of exultation, Goormr came on, his frost-blond mane flowig behind him as he charged, his axe landing on a shield, biting in, lewtting him pull the shield away from the holder, adn he crashed the rimof his own shield into the man. Bone broke, sending the unfortunate to the ground where a swift booted stomp landed on hsi neck. Prying his axe out of hte shield, he lashed out wildily, driving people away from him as he plunged into the breach he was creating. The two men behind him followed in, the thrtee behind them doing likewise, adn so on, spearing intot he heart of the formation. The square shattered. The slaughter was in full force, the vikings butchering all that they could reach. It wasn't going all their own way, men falling impaled on spear adn sword, grevious wounds from harsh blows that managed to pierce armour laying folk low. Each warriors of hte North that fell did so with a smile on their face, eyes turning skyward to trya dn catch a glimpse of the Choosers of the Slain that must surely be coming to collect them. Goormr wiped the blood from hsi axe, adn looked around himself. Yrsa trot up to him, he spear caked in gore, her arm weighed down byt he shield she bore, larger than most, and seeming to be covered in some kind of stone. A relic of her family, it had been called the Giant's buckler, but none had been able to verify such. Goormr knew that it had been proof against any blow yet thrown to Yrsa. They fled to the hills. I watched them leave. But...my Jarl, there was asomeone aomngst them that seemed to work some manner of Seidr. I do not know how we may defeat such. Yrsa admit. No matter. Lead us there, adn we shall find what has been denied us. Goormr answered. Yrsa bobbed her head in agreement. The vikings swept into the village proper, and began to tear it apart in search of loot. Once each bulding was pillaged, a torch was set to it. Fire began to rise quickly, marking that they had come to not only pillage, but to cleanse this village from the land. Yrsa was true to her word, leading Goormr and a dozen of his housecarls tot he area that as to be protected. Goormr looked around. There was little to indicate that there was anything, or anyone, of value. Still, the hairs on the back of his arms were standing on end, usually a good indication that somethign was not proper, something that might be from the Half-world that spoke of thigns beyond the ken of mortals. He hadn't thought that his foes might have a practictioner. Spread out. I want to see some slaves from this raid. He said simply. The dozenj warriors spread out, thought Yrsa stayed close to him. She shot a glance back to him, as though verifying that he was still present, looking to ensure that he was not somehow laid low in this phase of the raid. Goormr didn't object. He heard a shout fromo one of his men, and went to see what he had found. What was there was far more of a wonder. He saw his man leaning against a barrier that had no visiable element, straining against empty air in a way that was impossible by nature, far too much weight was pressed forward to be explained away. He looked at the barrier, and strained his ears. There was a faint sound of fear, of whimpering from within the area that they were barred from. He looked about. Careful examination revealed the remians of a ritual circle, somethign that indicated that there was indeed a powerful practitioner among their foes. Your orders Jarl? Yrsa asked. Goormr raised a hand, getting an idea of what way the wind was blowing. He smiled. Towards the grotto. Buld a fire at the barrier, as much green wood as you can. Smoke them out. He orderfed. Yrsa nodded, steppign away and callign orders. It didn't take long, a torch provided to get the flames moving. The pile of green wood and leaves smoldered, took light, and the wind blew the smoke inot the grotto. Soon it would be all the harder for anyone within to remain. The people within would be forced to either emerge from the grotto, or die within it.