The thunder shudders through the night, the lightning flickers round the hall, but no rain falls on the isle. The mist that cloaks the island is thicker than ever. Slowly through the shroud appears the front of a longship, calls go up as the ship docks, and a trail of weary figures trudges down the gangplank, moving like the old they wind their way up to the Great Hall on the cliffs.

Inside, the doors pound and then open, the warmth rushes out into the night and the candles and torches flicker. standing in the hall doorway is the group of Storm Wolves who have returned from Fayre, they are dirty and bedraggled, and not a few of them appear older, their faces lined with age, hair grey and eyes dulled.

Gunn steps forward into the light of the hall, his hair is longer, his face deeply lined, and his beard grey with age. Seeing the look on the faces of those in the hall, he laughs..

'Never trust a Gryphon lads, never. Bloody fairy portals, I'll have to start dying my hair'.

With a chuckle he moves to the throne at the head of the Hall and settles himself.

'Mead, where's my mead? We have toasts to drink to the fallen.'

"Here Gunn. Here is your mead." Magnus steps forward, a drinking horn in his hands and offers it to his war leader.

In a quiet voice he whispers "We must talk later..." The louder for his fellows to hear "Welcome Brothers and sisters, tell me all that has passed in the land of the pitiful Lions. I am truly sorry that I
could not be with you - but my God is demanding more and more of my  time at the moment. I sometimes wonder if they want me to reach Valhalla before Ragnarok. Ha!"

"Tell me, how went the Honour Battle? Have our Brothers been avenged?"

Magnus returns to a cask of mead by the door and ladles cups of mead for the returning warriors....

Gunn gratefully takes the mead and relaxes back into his chair motioning the others into the hall he leans closer to Magnus and speaks:

'Alas no honour battle was fought. The Greenskin menace takes precedence over matters of internal politics. We planned the battle for the Sunday morning, but matters changed. The Fir Cruthen  homeland of Erin was nearly over-run by the greenskins, but their ritualists managed to open a portal to the heart of their army supported by Wolves Ritualists.

We pledged our support, as did all the factions bar the Vipers and the Jhereg.

The Fir Cruthen are our oldest allies and many times have we fought beside each other, we had to pledge our support, besides events of earlier that night may well have swung my view on the Greenskins.

At camp I was the target of an assassination, 2 greenskin scum leapt upon me and Lief from the darkness their poisoned blades slicing straight through our armour. I fell and the scum leapt upon me to finish me off. As Lief fell he fell across me, sending the assassins final blows into my arm rather than into my chest. His actions led to my survival and his journey to Valhalla, he will be well rewarded there by father Odin. As far as I am concerned the greenskins must be stopped, we cannot afford to be this weak in the face of the enemy.

I think we should hold off the honour battle until we are better organised and better prepared, Summit will be another small gathering, and we will be weak again. I feel the battle must be fought at Renewal when we will be strong and disciplined, besides at Renewal we will all be present so that all may dip blades in Lion blood.'

'As for the battle at Erin, the Storm Wolf shield wall was a thing to be admired, we were the rock around which the tide broke and flowed, the Lions and Gryphons there to 'support' us were swept away, the Lions lost several of their number to their poor discipline and skill more than the strength of the enemy. I feel we can take them easily, besides Invar nearly bested their King in single combat, only the Kings many many body potions kept him strong.'

However that took place while we were in Erin, only Alanya was witness to the event. Magnus I must speak with you later as regards Balba among other things. But I am very pleased with those for whom this was their first outing from the Isle.

Kasimir and Sayer have joined our diplomatic core that is being rebuilt under the leadership of Curzar after the death of lady Bob.

Kestrel and Saebiorn were admirable archers and rangers, (both managing to shoot the nuts off me when monstering) Hengist is a solid fighter and performed well in the shield wall, holding strong and unflinching like his brother Olaf.

Also Westag has another healer at his services, Helena a friend of Olaf the Berzerker, she came with us to Erin under Tara's tutelage and picked me up several times, it was also her who rescued me form the greenskins attack. I am pleased with their progress and the gods smile upon them, but tell me what have you been up to in the meantime?'

Magnus, having served mead to the returning heroes, sits and listens avidly to Jarl Gunns tale, his face showing by turns anger, disbelief sorrow and joy.

"Gunn, my friend, I must say that I for one am glad that you are not yet required as a drinking companion for teh All Father. You will be there soon enough

Whilst you were gone, I have been on religious retreat - my spirit is restless, it seems. I came back to join my storm wolf brothers last year after a long absence, because I am growing old and feel my time approaching. i did not expect to survive as long as I have.

I had said my goodbyes to wife and family, I had turned from my farmstead, expecting to see it no more - and yet I return time and again. I wonder if I will ever reach valhallha.

And now I find that my dreams are tormented by the gods - the Aesir - I know it is they - they mock me and ask me questions that I cannot answer.

I...I know that it sounds a foolish boast...but...I think they have a message for me that I cannot see - an answer I must find before I can die. But still, I am no closer." Magnus smiles sadly "Sorry old friend, to be so melancholy upon your return."

"I too wish to speak to you of Balba. I fear that this issue is turning the heads of some of the Younger ones. They are rash - and unlike you or I quicker to forget Oaths in the heat of the moment. But perhaps this is best saved for a quieter time...?"

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A young Stormwolf runner nips through the crowd milling (in a Stormwolf manner) around Gunn and Magnus.

"Two longboats have just grounded, Jarl. Looks like Westag's come back again."

Drifting gently in the distance the screamed phrases of "faster", "useless" and "when I was young" prove that the runner is probably quite right.

... At this, suddenly a call goes up.
A flaming arrow has been seen out to sea, shortly followed by another, to land clattering on the rocks of Myst.
Then, out of the Mist - as if riding on clouds - comes a Drakkar... smaller than Gunn's Knorr, weatherbeaten with its sails torn.

A voice sounds out across the waves...
" I have returned! It is I, Olaf Tryggvason 'Hirth to Jarl Gunn' Vargr of the sea'Huskarl... my word Gunn, you look like *Zerfall*. Are you sure you have not already joined the Einherjar?

As Olaf bounds up the steps and into the hall he is handed a flagon of mead and a haunch of lamb, behind him following through the doors with only slightly less athleticism but far more wheezing comes the tattered and gently ruffled form of Westag, who sidles before Gunn holding a barely lit smoking stick.

Gunn descends from his throne, clasping hands with Olaf and slapping him heartily on the back:

'I haven't joined the Einherjar yet, although the greenskins brought me damn close. We missed you in the shield wall olaf, but I'm sure you will stand with us again soon.

Good raiding then? What have you brought back from Albion for us?

Gold and Jewels and even slave girls perhaps? Fine Albion beer? Or more of theose silly little bald men? If its the bald men, blood eagle them and throw them off the west cliffs, anything to stop their damn whimpering and chanting.

If its slave girls line them up over there, the boys from Erin can have first pick after yourself of course. I don't suppose you took any of their sailors? Tara and Bronwen can take them off your hands (Odin bless the souls of those poor men)

Come sit by the fire and hear the story of the battle'

Gunn strides to Westag and sweeps him into a manly embrace 'Westag my old friend how are you? How was your mission? A success?

We missed you in the lands of Albion, the only Lion blood shed by the Wolves was by Wall, some poor fool of a lion tried to ambush him.

Wall vaporised him with a magic missile, how we laughed. Still, come sit by the fire and hear the rest of what happened.'

Gunn pushes the mildly protesting Westag into a chair and resumes his seat, he beckons for the others still hovering in the doorway to grab mead and food and sit by the fire.

Tara hurries over to Westag, pausing to grab 2 flagons of mead. She hands one to Westag and takes a long drink from the other one.

Holding a firestick to the end of Westags smoldering smoking stick, she pats him on the arm..."It's good to see you old man"

Gunn leans over to Westag and says in a faux whisper:

'Westag I'd watch your back if I were you, Tara performed excellently as leader of the healers, she might be Gunn-ing for your position if you excuse the pun.'

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'As for the voyage, well, that is a tale of adventure and personal  heroism. But I shall need more mead to tell that tale...' at this a gurgling wet wheezing interupts Olaf. He turns to Westag 'I swear Westag, those elf-sticks are going to be the death of you...'

She takes off her cloak and puts the book of Odin down on a near by table flexing her fingers to get life back into them as she nods hello to her friends. Still slightly uncomfortable in her new clothes she quickly nips off to a side room to change into something less inhibiting.

On the way she hears Olaf complain about the lion slave girls continual chanting and with a small wave of her hand they suddenly fall silent, she winks at Olaf and pats him on the back before entering the small room.

'Whut? Oh, thanks Tara - hey I can't *breathe* .... your looking - old Gunn, just let me catch my breath *deep inhale* 'ass the puppy, how was Fayre then? NO YOU BLOODY CAN'T YOU SCROUNGING BASTARD! Oh ok then...'

With depressing ease the Master Healer flicks smokes to Tara and Magnus.

'Honestly I come back from abroad and everyone wants free smokes...right, Gunn, are you just taking the piss or what? You look like my second wife (only less hairy). Are you pregnant or something? Eating lots of oats?'

The Master Healer grabs Gunn's ears and gives them a tug, peers into one, spits in the other, and then examines the Stormwolf leader's teeth.

'Did you go through a faerie portal? What do I say, WHAT DO I ALWAYS SAY??? NEVER, NEVER ,NEVER go through a faerie portal forwards. If you'd have gone through backwards you'd be about 30 and and ready to ravage a village or two. Honestly...'

Westag then turns his beady eye on Tara: 'Did well did you? Hmm - good, that's what I like to see. By the by, how did Ristain do? Kept him running I hope *evil grin*'

Westag then seems to remember something and yells to a wench:

'OI! Take a bulloch or two out to my crews, they're starved and did a good raiding session this season! Bugger all in the way of treasure, but shitloads of throwing axes we've got now.'

But first...', 'WENCH,... ALE!!!' ( several minutes pass )'Ahh, proclaims Olaf. Much better. Now, where was I? Oh yes... my feats of heroism.' (groans from around the hall)'It was a dark night, when we left Albion. The sea was choppy, and a wind blew from the north, the salty spray turning to ice on my chest. Despite this, me and my hardy band grinned into the face of danger, and laughed a the womens wailing.

We watched the storm aproach many days before it struck. But when it did, it was as something from the Eddas. Great waves struck upon us, sea serpents coiled beneath the surface of the waters, and lightning lit the sky. Still we battled against the elements, binding ( and gagging )the slave girls to the benches.

It was only my  masterful seamanship, that saved us all from this elemental onslaught...' Olaf glares at one of his crew, who apears to be choking on his mead. '...anyway, after -I- saved us all, it seemed as if the end of the storm was aproaching. Just then, no doubt thrown up by some great beast of the deep, a wave, the size of many houses came upon us.

As it crashed over us, I, with my titanic strength, for which I am known throughout the lands...,( someone stifles what could have been a laugh, and quickly turns it into a cough )...held firmly to the rudder. And it was due to no weakness, but merely attesting to the gargantuan power of the storm, that I came to find myself in the frozen waters of the northern sea.' Olaf takes another swig, and looks around the hall before continuing.

'Praise be to Othin, that I was still bearing my chainmail and my sword... ( some protests are mouthed, which quickly die down under Olafs baleful eye )'It is true, if you doubt me, so ask my men. They shall validate the truth of my words!( shuffling noises from the crew, some clearing of throaghts )

Olaf takes a long draught from his cup, and carries on.

' The storm, by this point, had carried my ship far from me. I was thankful for the providence of my -chainmail-, and my -SWORD-...' More glaring, more shuffling. Olaf looks away again. 'For I sorely needed them to fend off the many seabeasts I slew, during the weeklong swim to catch my boat...' [ The Hall erupts into chaos ]

Hagar has only one agenda on his mind...poncing a fag from the master healer, a skill that everyone seems to be quite good at, on his way across the hall he picks up a jug of mead so's not to make his intentions look to obvious.

"More mead?" asks Hagar as he sits by his father.

'Well done Olaf, a Heroes journey indeed, I shall be speaking with your crew later to ascertain the exact details, but with a tale like that you may well rival Kasimir in next years bardic competition. it seems you had a more exciting time than your brothers at Fayre. Our mission to Erin pales into mere folklore next to that saga, Perhaps Tara would care to relate the story, she probably had a better view than me, apart from being shot full of arrows.'

Gunn leaves the blushing Olaf and indicates Tara to speak, as he does so he moves round the hall to where Hagar stands, 'Hagar my friend how are you, we missed you greatly in the shield wall during the Erin fight, the men performed heroically, but there is always room for improvement. Will you be joining us at Renewal to beast the Lions? they will break on our wall like a mighty wave over Olaf's boat, and then we will cut out their heart.' nn

"I have been Well Gunn, I am sorry that I was Unable to join you at Fayre, but with my father in constant prayer to the gods, and our homestead needing attention i thought it best to make repairs where needed...But fear not I shall be in the front of the queue at Renewal when it comes to the gutting of those pussy cats who call themselves Lions."

"I hear you had some troubles of your own...I only wish i had been there to help"

With that Hagar nudges westag, hands him the jug of mead and says "Give us smoke Westag, i'm all out!"

Staring into the middle distance, the pre-occupied Master Healer flicks his fingers and the smokes all start to burn merrily.

Rubbing a raw scar on his knee, the old man mumbles distractedly - "...ning, smoking can seriously damage your moneypouch - Stormwolf  Master Healer..."

He then absently murmurs something under his breath and leans over to speak confidentially with Gunn.  As he does so, his hand just brushes Magnus.

*Spell - MUTE.  On Magnus*

Tara starts to talk:

Ah…the Battle of Erin…... If somebody will mead me up, I'll begin.

It is a glorious tale. One of great bravery and courage. Our numbers were few, but we were strong and well disciplined. We held our Gods in our hearts and our weapons in our hands and this is surely all we ever need. Whilst those around us panicked and crumbled, we held fast and were victorious.

The journey to Erin was gentle to those of us used to trusting in the Gods on the open seas. A ritual performed by Brother Gabriel and all who could aid him, including our own Agna, open a portal to Erin. As the sun filtered through the driving rain, the factions passed through to the land of the Celts. The factions were separated by some magic I do not understand and we found ourselves with a few frightened Gryphons and a handful of cowardly Lions……….

**Tara pauses to finish the smoke stick she is making and absent mindedly hands it to Hengist before starting another**………The battle itself was quick and bloody. The cursed Greenskins didn't stand a chance against the might of the Storm Wolf shield wall. It was a thing of beauty, steadily pushing back the on-coming rabble.

Those around us, the Gryphons and Lions, fell quickly and lay in the mud crying for their mothers like babes in arms. But our wall held fast.……

**Tara paused to light her own smoke stick and take a long drink of  mead**……

We formed up just as we have been trained to do. Shields to the fore, Gunn and his mighty axe behind them and Healers and their babysitter (Tara winks at Olaf) at the back. It was a thing of great beauty.

Like the great wall surrounding Asguard, it was a solid as if had  been made my the Gods themselves. Those snivling greenskin skum ate shield again and again. If it wasn't for their acursed archers, we would hardly have noticed they were there (OOC good shooting guys!).

Through the haze of the battle-joy, I saw Thorfyn wading in and taking on a Joining and Olaf another one. Gunn was temporarily felled by an arrow, but nothing keeps him down for long. Asta laughing as she cut down her enemy and Helena calmly tending to our scratches and bruises. Through all this, the shield wall held strong. Ebbing and flowing with the calls of the command. Wave after wave of stinking greenskins came at us and were cut down in their stride. Joinings and Blood Hags sent against us, and each one fell or turned and ran. And then it was all over. The battlefield was quiet save for this pitiful mewling of the fallen – greenskins, Lions, Gryphons……and not one of our brothers!

Then the cry went up…….

"PRAISE BE TO ODIN……" "

** Tara raises her flagon to her listening brothers and the sounds of "ODIN BE PRAISED" echo round the long hall.**

"Brothers….there you have to story of the Battle of Erin. Fill your horns and flagons; beg, borrow or steal your smoke sticks, and get comfy. If you're very lucky somebody will tell you of the journey back to Albion. The penalty we paid for trusting that the Gryphons knew where they were going and the long long journey home."

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Invar's voice seemed drier than usual as he limped in.  Ever since his defeat against the Lion's general, he had been quieter, more subdued, less prone to cocky and sarcastic remarks. 

Invar had become more, religious, religious rather than fanatical.  He had remained solidly silent about the duel ever since bording the ship back, and had spent most of that in the cabin.  Exceeding angry and upset about loosing his rapier to a harsh twist of the blade, he
had as of yet failed to provide a replacement.  A merchant's stock had been reduced to molten slag as Invar had snarled that the rapiers felt like clubs in his grip.

"yet again the Stormwolves sweep all, before them.  You must be proud Gunn, to continue to lead such a brave band of men, and the gods must sure favour you to have spared your life against the greensskin scum."

Suddently, Invar noticed Westag. For a second it looked as if he was about to issue a usual caustic remark, but checked himself and instead simply uttered

"Sorry boss, I let you down"

With that he grabbed a bottle of Albion wine, willed it open, and drained a quarter of the bottle.      

"You'd think in my bloody armour people would notice me on the battle field..."

**Tara grins rather sheepishly**

…….so does spending far to much time eating mud!

She leans forward to westag and speaks quietly... "I need to speak to you and Gunn about something, i could do with some extra opinions..its about the "Cold God"...infact....."

"RURISK" Selenes voice bellows across the hall and she sees Westag wince in pain due to her close proximity to his head "Could you come here for a minute, i think you were there, i know i spoke to Valarkin about it and tha.."

Selene goes off on one of her rambles whilst waiting for the Rurisk to come over

With that a shout for Rurisk passes accross the hall and he stands "duty calls" and he wanders over to Selene..

andering over she grins at him and says 'You let no-one down, your duel was a sight to behold and it was only through luck on the Lion king's side and the lack of a decent sword on yours that you didn't best him with ease'

She wanders off again, cup of mead in hand.

She smiles and drinks some more of her mead then pauses as she puts it down..

"It was quite by luck that our new friend should mention his incarna that night, perhaps we could now share what we learnt off him with Westag and Gunn.."

Cold god, in Niflheim just like the one supposedly controlling Garm.. Who is in turn controlling the crimson wolves.

It seems to me that Hod is trying to bring about Ragnarok early as he will return to life along with Balder when it occurs. The use of the Crimson wolves for it is no doubt a subtle form of revenge against Loki..."

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"If Hod is involved, is he trying to change the outcome of Ragnarok, or does he just want it to happen earlier? It seems like we have a bit of a trio going on here. Garm is using the Loki's worshippers to some end, and he's already said his agenda isn't necessarily the same as Loki's.

If Hod is also controlling Garm, doesn't that imply that Loki is at the bottom of that foodchain? Something tells me Loki isn't the type to let himself get exploited. Of course, I may have missed something here coz I'm getting confused......."

"Actually i think your probably right, it does seem that Loki is not at the head of this one. If it is Hod who is at the top of all of this then its quite ironic that we almost overlooked him as the Gods once did..its just a matter of what he is trying to do....maybe I should look in the book of Odin again just in case something has appeared in there...(that happens a lot!)"

Selene places the book on her lap, opens it to the first page then breathes deeply and begins to chant under her breath.

As she begins to chant the pages turn themselves over, slowly at first then with increasing speed until they suddenly stop on a page.

Selene looks up and with a glint in her eye says.."well...its easier than reading through the whole bloody thing.."

 As is the tradition she reads this aloud to the assembled crowd:

"...as the Dart struck home and Baldur fell, the Aesir cried out in dismay. Thor laughed – thinking it was a joke. Too soon this was not proven to be true.

As one they rounded on the Blind One. Grief in their hearts and  murder in their eyes.

Hod stood still, alone now, dreading the words he was about to hear. "what is wrong?" asked he. "Baldur, my brother?"

"Dead." Odin spake, the words flat and grief-choked.

Hod knew them as did all the Aesir what Loki had done. But vengeance burned hot in the blood of the Aesir and Hod stood before them – his had the cause of their grief.

Hod ran. He turned on his heel and fled the hall – cries of anger rising behind him. As he ran tears welled in his blind eyes. This gentle god, cruelly tricked into committing a heinous crime. Hod ran, and his blind eyes streamed with tears...

In the Hall Hermod was despatched to Nifleheim, on Odins steed to beg for Baldurs grace...

In an instant Hod crossed Asgard to a stream that he knew, with banks of thick clay. Red – if his eyes had been able to see it. Like Blood.

There Hod fell to his knees, and a mighty cry escaped his throat. In his two great hands he tore up clay, more an more, into a heap on the river bank.

"What have I done!" he cried as he started to mould the clay. Hod, who had no eyes knew the faces of all the gods better than they knew their own. And now he shaped the clay, to recreate the image of his perfect, now lost brother...

Back in the Hall, as Baldurs body called, Vali stepped forth, come at the time that was his...

In the clay the face took form, under Hods hand, a perfect reproduction of perfection. More clay Hod tore from the banks, and started to shape a torso...

Vali took his bow from his shoulder, and the Gods fell silent. As Vali stalked from the hall non would meet his eye, but all followed him to the fields of asgard...

The Body took form, and Hod began on the arms, the clay smoothed by his tears and shaped by his hands...

From His quiver Vali drew on arrow, straight and true, fletched in gold and placed it upon the string of his bow...

The Statue, finished now, stood on the banks of the river. As tall and proud as Baldur himself ever had. Baldurs tears had dried – he could weep no more. Now he pleaded. "Brother, dearest one, return to us. Please..."

Vali's muscles strained, and sweat lept to his brow as he drew back his mighty bow. Not a sound was heard in Asgard  except a whisper from the south "…Please…" Not the merest breeze stirred the grass.

Vali released his arrow...

Hod, stood and turned, his back now to the statue his grief had  wrought. His head he raised, and if any had been their to see, they would say that in his blind eyes was the look of one who saw all that there was too see...

The arrow struck true and Hod fell. Two Gods dead in one day.

And Loki laughed.

The Statue of Baldur stands still in his mothers Hall. All are moved by its beauty..."

The book of Odin snaps shut with a crack that is audible in a Hall now silent as all have been drawn in by these words. Selene who has risen to her feet during this reading staggers and slumps, the book slipping from numb fingers is almost dropped.

Turning to the nearest Stormwolf…

"Bring some mead for Selene….I think she needs it. As always, the Book of Odin has given us much to think about……"

Bringing the powers of the balance that they use so effectively in the ritual circle, he endeavours to ease the burden of the one that the wolves were so dependent on for their ritual power. He doesn't speak - speech is not necessary.

Then he strolls over to where Selene is sitting ( lumping one of his men, who is muttering something about "drunken norscans falling in the drink" on the way ).

'I remember that!' 'It was one of the tales my uncle used to tell us, on stormy winter nights.''Only misletoe could hurt Balder. And so it was a dart of mistletoe, that Loki tricked Hod into using, during a game.

''Vali was born that same day, expressly for the purpose of avenging Balder, as the Aesir could not kill one of their own.' 'And later, when all things were asked to shed a tear for Balder - as this was the only way he would have life restored to him - , Loki  disguised himself as a giantess, and refused.' 'When the gods found out, they were furious. Thonar, now known as Thor, tracked Loki in a rage. When he caught up with him by a river, Loki tried to escape as a salmon.

But Thonar grabbed him, and squeezed. That is why all salmon taper at the end.'

'Anyway, these are all things we have already established. And I am not in the habit of telling tales'( ahem ).

'But did you know, that in the old tongue "Hod" meant "War"?'

'A blind god called war, attempts to bring about Ragnarok, to revive his fallen brother. Hmmm.'

Having added his bit, Olaf leaves a shocked Selene and Gunn, to swagger off and enjoy his mead.

She smiles a brief smile of thanks to all who stopped her falling on her arse (again) and to Agna she sends a thought... "Sorrow and Happiness" and knows he understands. Her fingers drum upon the cover of the Book of Odin as her mind wanders once more...

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