Rise of humanity: The Saga Of Steel

"It is a pleasure," Vesryn said, inclining her head politely to both the visitors. She really had to crane her neck to look up to this Soren. Damn, she didn't think there were many people taller than Arden, yet here was one now. Her eyes flicked to each weapon they may carry, concealed or otherwise, and sized them up as potential future enemies, noting any injury they may have, any visible weakness. He's tall; he'd be clumsy. Speed will work against him. As for the other one, she was unsure yet. She'd have to keep an eye on him. On them both.

Soren takes the hand, clasping it firmly but making no effort to crush it, he has no desire to show his strength. At the thanks he snorts, "A mutual effort. Without your friend my own hide would likely grace some elf's hearth floor." His eyes flick to Vesryn and he winces slightly, "apologies, that was ill spoken"

Vesryn's lips formed a thin line; not at what he said directly, but at the reminder that her kind are more monstrous than the barbarians they found at the pass. "Worry not." She couldn't help but wonder how he felt about her, being that she could easily be as bad as the rest of them - which she once was. Evidently he held a fraction of respect for her, which was shown through his apology.

Soren inclines his head thankfully to her, "the apology stands mistress..." He pauses, hoping to catch her name. Arden he knows from Lamb's stories, but both have heard little of Arden's queen. News travels slow in the mountains after all

Lamb looks Arden up and down again, "they make you a kind and you insist on dressing like you're still some second rate lording" he smiles to take the bite from his words

"Vesryn," The elf introduced herself, when he hinted for her to do so. She purposely omitted her family name; she didn't feel she belonged in it any more. No, she no longer wished to be connected to such barbaric roots.

"Well, glad to hear that." Arden said with a nod at Soren "Funny thing though I was about to come to you, seeking an alliance. It won't be too long before the elves sail around the mountains, and we'll all need to stand together" He then looks at lamb with a smirk "It's practical my friend." The style was one he had gotten from King Bjorn of the east, the man who turned out to be his father, and treated him like a son when Arden had been squire to him; Still He was so glad to see his friend again he let the remark slide, and asked "Are you looking for work?" he asked lamb

Soren nods, "mistress Vesryn." He looks around at what of their castle he can see, "a fine hold you have here" turning back to Arden he nods, "then you seek an alliance as well. I will be honest my people are not the most numerous of the clans, and we will bow to no king, but perhaps an alliance will be In our interest"In

Lamb chuckles, "I'm always looking for work. As long as you can promise me a good brawl and food to fill my belly that is. The mountain clans are a bit stingy on the second one" he winks at Arden

"Horse shit, this hold is nothing special, it is the hold of a lesser king, but it's sturdy. Indeed, we will need everyone if we want to defeat the elves. I have no wish to rule your people, but to stop the Elves all the north must unite under one  banner" Arden said to the warlord, and turned to lamb "Well normally i'd suggest a positions to the affect of court jester, but it seems my new lands lack any knights."

Lamb shrugs and grins, "who says I can't do both?" He grows more serious "as long as I don't have to kiss your Ass or now and scrape to much. Though you'll have to knight me first. Your da never got around to the job, what with my heroic feats in battle and all"

Soren chuckles, "you've obviously never seen the holds of the mountain clans. If you wish an alliance with my people know this, you will need their respect and even then many will demand gifts."

"I hear they respect skill in single combat" Arden said to the Barbarian "I figured i'd just travel there and kick the  shit out of their champions, until they all say yes said, and chuckled at lamb "Alright kneel" he said drawing his sword to knight Lamb.

Vesryn raised a brow. What, he was going to just knight this man like that? He may have been Arden's friend at one point, but that doesn't mean he's the same man he once was. He could easily have interior motives, and now he will have access to their castle. Vesryn put a hand on Arden's arm, but remained silent; she didn't want to make a scene here, but she'd be having a chat with him once they were alone.

Lamb chuckles and kneels, "if I'm knighted does that mean you have to call me sir?" Despite the joke he seems slightly nervous. He's a commoner after all, from a long line of farmers and fishermen. The thought of becoming a knight terrifies him somewhat

Soren falls silent. Their conversation can wait until after this ceremony of theirs

Arden chuckled at this, and jokingly declared "You shall be known as sir lamb the shorter"before becoming serious as knighthood was very important to him. The ritual was preformed formerly, and properly before Arden returned to normal.

Knowing a lost cause when she saw one, Vesryn just inclined her head to the two of them once again and returned to yelling at the man about his lack of brain cos,  albeit now a bit quieter and more dignified since they had guests.

Lamb stands, dusting off his knees, "well that was nice. Makes me feel taller just being a knight"

Soren coughs lightly into his hand, "single combat will work with some tribes. Others have different traditions through. I can think of one way to win over most tribes though."

Arden nods to his friend, and sheathes his blade before Asking the Barbarian "And what would that be?"

Soren gives him a tight lipped smile, "arm them, give them steel weapons and armor, quality ones if you can. Believe it or not steel isn't very common in the high passes, there's not enough smiths who know how to work it and not enough iron"
He shrugs off his cloak, revealing the armor he's wearing is bronze, then reaches for the massive axe on his back

Arden nodded after a moment of thought, his kingdom had barely enough people to justify calling itself such since the necromancy attack that led to him inheriting it, and only one fully trained blacksmith "I'll be honest  with you, my kingdom is in nowhere near the condition to supply that, you see a month ago i was granted this land, because Ves, myself, and a pair of wizards saved it from necromancy, but, I have only a few dozen people, so what we're going to do is take this proposition to the high king of the north, because my entire kingdom has fifty people at most right now.

Soren pauses for a moment, stunned, "fifty people? That's barely enough to be called a village, much less a kingdom."

"Oh I know, but it may be closer to seventy. Undead hordes will do that I suppose" Arden chuckled as he knew this place was in sorry shape "I wasn't exactly given a kingdom in the best of shape, it's not even a kingdom really since it's just this valley, but regardless i can provide a handful of the best trained wizards in the north, myself,and my wife believe it or not we're surprisingly effective."

Soren nods, slightly numb, "if you wish to defeat the elves we will need every clan, every low lander who can lift a spear, everyone"

"That much is evident" Arden said nodding in agreement "We will set out the first thing tomorrow morning to deliver your proposal to the high king." He looked over to his wife adding "You are welcome to come too of course"

Lamb claps his hands together and rubs them, "well now that that's all out of the way, please tell me you have food!"

(ki?)

Morina pulled away, and grinned sheepishly. "I feel like this is a bad idea." However, she didn't move away from him; her eyes just flicked from his eyes to his lips, and back again.

~

Down south, everyone in the party was escorted into the drawing room, and seated down, whilst Ysabel went to visit her father. She had kept in touch with him as best she could over the years, however had been unable to as of late, for obvious reasons. Her mother had died a few years back, and she was aware that her father was now bed ridden and not long for this world. She'd miss him when he was gone, but she would inherit the manor once he is.

(I dunno what to do with Ves.)