Chief Lokoll tugged at the reins of his unicorn as he and his retinue approached the fortified walls of smoky shore. He craned his neck to properly observe the massive wooden structure which surrounded the Fire men's settlement in all its glory.
The walls of the fort rose like a blaze from the rugged soil, their wooden planks somehow dyed to a deep red. The walls themselves were sturdy, reinforced with black iron bands and studded with sharpened stakes, their tops adorned with a fringe of sharpened spikes. Watchtowers stood at regular intervals, their windows were nothing but narrow arrow slits that seemed to gaze out like the eyes of a formidable beast.
"By the Gods..." He whispered under his breath. This stronghold was just as impregnable as kingshouse- if not more with the fire men's magic.
Lokoll and his men slowed their steeds to a low trot as they approached the edges of a ditch which surrounded the walls, its bottom studded with fire-hardened wooden spikes, making any forceful approach or escape a perilous endeavor. Thankfully it seemed the fire men recognized his banners and lowered a sturdy wooden platform for him to safely cross.
His kin's banner was simple. Just a single first men rune which meant strength. As a chieftain of a rather sizable tribe, he was granted the rights to have one. It was nothing compared to the black flame which was emblazoned on the gates before him.
Their slow amble halted before it as the scale-armoured fire men looked them over. No words were exchanged as the walls opened up; allowing them to enter without issue. After moons of peaceful interaction between his people and the foreigners, he was permitted entry into the famed smoky shore!
Originally, the stronghold of the fire men was said to be filled with red tents and rocky pathways. What Lokoll saw instead was a wide, paved road, lined with unique buildings and tiled roofs.
His senses were overwhelmed immediately as Red cloaked figures bustled about to and fro. The faint smell of meat and smoke danced on the wind while resounding clangs of metal were accompanied by distant booms.
The commotion almost caused the unicorns to rile up. Fortunately, they had an easier time wrangling the beasts without being thrown off due to the special riding craft the fire men supplied.
As he dismounted, a small contingent of brown and red figures approached his retinue- it was a mix of Stoneborn and Fire men.
"Welcome ta Smoky Shore Chief lokoll! Been waitin' fer ye ta show." The foremost man spoke.
A bit flustered by the sudden appearance of these people, Lokoll nodded and offered words in greeting.
"Ye been havin' trouble wit yer unicorns." The man who seemed to be an original native of crab claw point looked at their unsettled steeds.
"Aye... they ain't use' ta all this fuss." He nodded to the clamouring ahead.
The man nodded in acknowledgement before signaling to one of his Stoneborn fellows who came forward with strange, leather devices. The man explained that these were to be strapped upon the heads of the unicorns to calm them down.
He was puzzled and skeptical but allowed it. Who knows what enchantments the fire men have placed upon it?
Just as he said, the unicorns quieted down and followed them without acting up. This was even after the natives led them through the active crowd.
They stuck close to their escorts until they were taken to a stable where the beasts were taken and tended to. From how full the facilities were, Lokoll could infer that he was one of the- if not the last to arrive.
Soon, they were guided from the stables and onto the streets again. Lokoll tried his best to take everything in. He noted how his fur-lined, leather boots would clack upon the ground despite the lightly falling snow. He guessed that could be attributed to the servants who would routinely shovel up the snow and salted the main road and branching streets.
The main road was expansive and could fit about ten men on unicornback comfortably. There was an orderliness to the settlement despite the commotion. It was nothing like kingshouse castle or brokewight town. Even the fire men's trade centre couldn't compare.
He also started to notice something. For some reason, the deeper he went into the settlement, the warmer it seemed to get.
'The chill's got less power in the lands o' the fire men.' He was told of this wonderous and magical effect but now he experienced it personally. These were men of fire. It would make sense they would hate the cold to the point where they didn't mind using magical means to chase it away.
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"This's where ye and yer men'll stay 'til the feasts Chief Lokoll." The man led them into a large building and ushered them in.
"A-aye." He acknowledged as heat assaulted them from all sides.
"Ye can take off yer outerwear and footwear."
He followed the man's advice as the heat seemed to swim around his head and neck, making sweat form atop his forehead and trickle down his temple. As his bare feet touched the floor, he felt warmth underneath them like never before, it almost caused him to jump.
Heat? From the ground itself!?
If the smoky shore native noticed his flustered state, he didn't say. Instead, the man led them through the building and instructed them on how to use the facilities.
As soon as the natives left, Lokoll fell to one knee, peeled back the floor mats and felt the wooden floorboards underneath. His men followed suit and began chittering in wonder of the fire men's display of magic
Everyone knew the coolest part of a room was the ground or floor. But somehow, heat seemed to seep up from the soft floorings of the building. The fire men were truly gifted in the ways of magic. The way the displayed their power in such small ways made him wish to never face them on the battlefield.
(-)
Later that evening, Lokoll gazed at the assembled chieftains sitting within the well-lit and heated great halls of the fire men with awe. What a sight it was. Prior to the coming of the Fire men; such an assembly of chiefs would've been impossible in winter. Even if lord magnar had ordered them down to kingshouse under threat of death.
No man who wished to live another day would make such a journey.
And for good reason. These lands were subjected to frequent and heavy snowstorms which tended to block pathways. The ones which weren't were plagued with roving bands of wild men. The force required to clear the paths and stave off wild men would need to be massive. There were a few tribes with sufficient forces to do so- including his own, however, such an act would leave the tribe undermanned and vulnerable. It was likely that when they returned there would be nothing but pools of blood and scattered tents- if even that.
But with the coming of the fire men, things changed. They traded work for food or land rights. They offered protection by rooting out the wild men tribes while clearing and expanding the roadways between lands.
"Ah Lokoll!" He heard a familiar voice call out to him before a heavy arm was thrown over his shoulder.
"Heh! Thought ye wouldn't make it!" Norrad, chief of the Black lake tribe grinned at him; food already tangled in his beard.
Many other tribal chiefs at the tables laughed, some holding up mugs to him in greeting.
"Wouldn't miss a feast like this fer the world!" He chuckled as he looked around at the men stuffing their faces. They stuffed their faces with cheese, fish, clams, crab, squid, and octopus, downing it all with thick milk or black beer. The sods were vigorous too. The servants could barely keep up.
He swallowed a glob of spittle as the smells enticed his nose; causing saliva to build up in his mouth.
"Come take a seat! Grab a leg!"Kormak- chief of the Pale stones welcomed him as he approached the long tables.
Lokoll wasted no time ripping a leg from a giant crab splayed out on the table and a cup of thick milk before feasting with the others.
Even as his indulged in the feast, in the back of his mind he couldn't help but wonder at how shockingly the massive amount of food vanished before his eyes. He was certain the other chiefs were just as thankful as he that the festivities weren't at their expense. Never had any of them been fed so well by their good ole 'lord' magnar.
Though he didn't forget the reason they were all present. The purpose of this gathering was to straighten their trade deals. Lokoll couldn't understand why though. Trade with the fire men was fruitful.
Especially from his people.
The trade fort of the fire men was built upon his lands. With just the charter payments in trade goods he was able to ensure his entire tribe's survival should the winter last another year!
The whole tribe! Even the young ones!
This was uncommon even for a great tribe like his. But now, everything was different. He was dressed not in ratty hide, but treated leather and furs which were lined with an inner layer of wool. His wife wore jewelry of metal and his brood were well fed.
All of this because of the trade with the fire men. What was there to change?
He looked to the head of the table where some chiefs were trying desperately to get close to. There sat one of the fire men; garbed in thick furs, dyed red. His hair silky hair was styled in a strange manner and his facial features were so soft he almost looked like a woman. He had a small smile upon his face as he conversed with the natives of smoky shore who sat closest to him.
The man held up a white plate filled with clear liquid. It seemed to be some signal as the smoky shore natives began clamouring for silence.
"Hear me, great chiefs! Gather 'round, mighty warriors! Hall master Zu Lun bids ye welcome ta this grand feast! Eat, drink an' make merry!" One of the Stoneborn spoke in place of the fire men.
"We discuss trade bonds wit the fire men on the morrow! Fer now, feast!"
And feast they did. Lokoll didn't ever remember eating so much.
(-)
The next day when he woke up, Lokoll rushed to the privy and released a load he never knew he could. Everything in the fire men's camp was so... wonderous and comfortable. They weren't just surviving, they were living in luxuries he reckoned even the lords of house Magnar, Stane and Crowl didn't.
In no time a hearty course of eggs, warmed milk, cheese and blood sausage was delivered to his quarters. He scarfed down the food with gusto. After breaking their fast, he and his men were all led to a gated, ornate building; fashioned in the curved manner of the foreigners.
Inside its wide courtyard, he saw many of his fellow chiefs from before and greeted them by nodding. While they did show themselves, it took some time for all the chieftains to be marshaled- likely delayed by early morning purging.
Soon, a Stoneborn attendant emerged from the building it was the same man from before with the pompous speech.
"Good morn Great Chiefs! Today, we parlay on trade wit the fire men!" The man beckoned them in.
Each chief chose their most trusted and skilled warrior to follow them inside where they would discuss issues regarding the exchange of goods and labour. Or so he thought.
"These." The fire man paused to look each chief in the eye while shaking a jingling line of oddly-shaped pieces of copper.
"Are fire kingdom pieces. In future, will give them to workers you send as due." Lokoll struggled to understand the fire man through his broken and thick twang.
There was uncertain murmuring among his fellow chiefs as servants passed through and gave each of them one of these 'pieces'. Lokoll marveled at the sight a feel of the cool material with the sigil of the fire men somehow imprinted upon it as if it were cut out.
Though, as awed as he was, he couldn't help thinking: 'What are we to do wit pieces o' copper metal?'
"Don' fret chiefs, these pieces will be meted out ta labourers fer their work an' then are ta be traded fer different goods of similar worth..." The stoneborn of smoke shore explained to them at length and answered all their questions.
It took some time to grasp the concept but even after he finally did somewhat, lokoll was still confused about the need of a switch. Sure there were growing issues but was there a need?
"This is how the fire men an' even the Greenlanders do things. The fire men are gettin' ready ta treat with 'em soon."
He bristled at that the man's explanation. The fire men were about to parley with the soft Greenlanders?
'Bah! Those soft fackers don' deserve it.' He despised conquers across the sea like any red blooded stoneborn should. And for good reason too, many Skagosi tribes were wiped out and butchered by the wolves over the years.
Even in current times, the wolves demanded heavy tribute every year, forcing house magnar to squeeze the tribes dry. Many rebellions had been fought to free themselves of this burden the wolves placed upon them to no avail. No matter how strong and hardy the Stoneborn are, they stood no chance against castle forged steel swords and arrows. Their weapons would shatter against the armour of the Greenlanders.
The Skagosi had no way of defeating them... unless.
He looked at the armaments of the Fire warriors who guarded the room with envy.