Chapter 129: And A Warm Embrace

### Story Date

Saturday, 28 May, AD 1043/6551 ε.Κ/15 Shawwal 434 AH/16 Pu-Yue Huangyou Era Year 1/16 Skerpla ÅrO -1

## Appearances

### Locations

Berk
Rouen

*During the periods of the Kingdoms of Francia, Brittany (Breton: Breizh), in its position occupying the westernmost peninsula of the region, was regarded as a stubborn outsider—culturally Brythonic Celtic instead of Gallo-Roman, with a different and distinct language, identity, and historical background. Beginning as independent petty kingdoms formed by displaced Celts from the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain, Brittany spent the next few centuries fully independent, occasionally joining forces with the Roman Empire against the likes of Attila the Hun, but otherwise being mostly occupied with domestic political matters and associating with their fellow Celtic nations in the Isles, occasionally sending reinforcements to the Cymru, Picts, Kernowyon, and Gaels as they fought against the Anglo-Saxon invaders.*

*Later, in the 9th century AD, Brittany became a tributary suzerain state to the Carolingian Empire under Emperor Charlemagne, who managed to impose vassalhood on the region, reducing the Breton lords to semi-autonomous status. This did not last long, however, as in the aftermath of Charlemagne’s death, they rebelled against the Carolingians, securing their independence as a unified kingdom of Brittany in 851 AD after defeating Charles the Bald at the Battle of Jengland. From there, they proceeded to expand their kingdom at Francian expense, taking large swaths of territory around the eastern extents of their peninsula, and reaching their greatest territorial extent in 867 AD.*

*Internal political disputes ensued, stopping the kingdom’s expansion, and rendering it ripe for conquest by Viking raiders in the early 900s; by 919 AD, the entire kingdom was fully occupied by Norsemen, who looted and pillaged many cities and monasteries without facing organized resistance. The region was eventually liberated from the Norse occupiers by Alan “Twistedbeard” II, grandson of King Alan the Great, the prior king of Brittany, between 935 and 939, culminating in an attack on the last Norse stronghold at Trans-la-Fôret by joint Breizh and Frankish forces. Meanwhile, to the neighboring east on what had once been part of the kingdom of Brittany, Rollo the Viking had settled in with his own men, offering allegiance to King Charles the Simple in exchange for claim to what would become known as the Duchy of Normandy.*

*With his lands in ruin from decades of war and looting, Alan could not hope to restore his prior kingship and likewise made the same decision as Rollo had, offering tribute to King Louis IV of Francia in 942 AD as the Duke of Brittany. This action ended Brittany’s time of independence and politically brought it into the Kingdom of Francia as the Duchy of Brittany. However, the newly-born duchy still had a long independent history and a cultural identity as separate from the rest of the kingdom…*

*—A History of Old Francia, 1432, Oxford Press*

## Major Events

* Fishlegs and Toireasa discuss where to put the training rooms for Heather's spies.
* Henry the Sinister and Count Guy launch a siege against Duke William.
* The Greek actors discuss with Ruffnut and Chestnut on organising their first play.
* Hiccup's retinue arrives back in Berk and introduces the freed African thralls to the best people to get them settled in.
* Berk's latest batch of dragon riding students graduates and they have another sixty riders in their ranks.
* Folarin appoints himself as one of Hiccup's guards and convinces him of the necessity of it due to Hiccup's status.

## Characters

### Humans

* Toiréasa
* Fishlegs clan Ingerman
* Mhairi
* Igor Yaroslavich
* Vyacheslav Yaroslavich
* Ragnhild Magnusdóttir
* Finn Steinsson
* Gytha Steinsson
* Wart Lopsidesdóttir
* Griselda
* Orvi clan Hofferson
* William of Normandy
* Duckquack Hensteethsson
* William FitzOsbern
* Hiccup clan Haddock
* Picknose Rolfsson
* Mairwen Roswynnsdóttir
* Signy Roswynnsdóttir
* Chestnut clan Thorston
* Mormaer Macintosh
* Unnamed Alban con man
* Ruffnut Thicknutsdóttir
* Phillipos of Thessaloniki
* Silas
* Káyọ̀dé
* Mwenda
* Nanna clan Hofferson
* Isioma
* Wulfhild of Norway
* Rivkah
* Cwen clan Tyrasdóttir
* Gwen
* Astrid Hákonsdóttir clan Haddock
* Folarin
* Dagur mac Oswald

### Dragons

* Rand
* Mjolnir
* Toothless