Follow the Stars (IC/See OOC for Signups)

[Der Kaiser Mikey III]

The Island Matriarchy of Berk
Connaissance Palace, Aisably,
The Grand Hall

Tables adorned with food spread as far and wide as the eye could see, taking up each and every inch of the grand hall. Under a dome of glass, the starlit sky cast the room into a sense of magic and wonder, creating the ideal setting for a great dinner. The Whispin family took their seats at the top table, elevated slightly on a plinth above the room with four or five chairs left for their guests to take their seats. Below them, lords, ladies, knights and other small nobility of the capital took their seats; each and every member of the Aisablian nobility was out to impress the new visitors, with glamorous frocks and groomed beards aplenty. Adrianna herself had chosen a muted dress, flowing with pastel purple drapes and wispy purple sleeves. She was a vision of violet, looking beautiful yet understated.

The doors to the grand hall burst open, and every eye in the hall turned towards the doors to see their esteemed guest enter the hall. Adrianna and her family stood up to welcome their guests to the grand table, whilst many of those gathered raised glasses and attempted to make eye contact. As the king took his seat by Adrianna, she turned to him matter of factly. "So what exactly brings you to Berk, my lord?" A dry smile spread upon her face as she helped herself to some of the turkey that was sitting directly in front of her, before taking a large sip of her wine.

The Island Matriarchy of Berk
Connaissance Palace, Aisably,
The Grand Hall

His Majesty Hippolyte was impressed with the innovation of the Berkian architecture. He recalled in his studies the island was historically known for their affinity with astronomical study, and it was clearly evidenced in both the glass roofed palace as well as the countless fineries with astronomical inspiration. All in all, he admired the Berkian peoples-though naturally such style and equal finery in Capua would have to be kept under lock and key in the expansive, dark, lightless fortress he called home. Perhaps, despite the security risk, he'd have a special glass roofed tower erected to act as observatorium. Taking note to inquire about commissioning such a masterpiece whilst still in Berk, he turned his attention to the seats at the table. Naturally, only two would be occupied, as he'd only brought himself and his uncle Poitevantus with him. Feasting his 21 year old gaze upon the Lady Adrianna Whispin, he noted that though she exceeded him in years she was quite fetching. If the look upon his own face was by any means obscured by the assumption of his age blinding him to her beauty, the otherwise emotionless face of Poitevantus had eyes for only the Lady of Berk, and as he followed the King to his place, he bowed deeply, before taking his seat and pouring a large glass of wine for himself. It was Lord De Hauteville, and not his nephew, who answered the question first at the clear annoyance of the King as displayed by his Majesty's unsmiling features.

"A Storm hit us a few hours after we left port, separating us from our intended course toward Lechya, your Ladyship," The man answered before downing a gulp of wine and helping himself to the turkey. With his uncle no longer leaning over him, the King pursed his lips, taking a breath to quell the rage building inside of him.

"We were intended toward the Lechyan capitol to petition King Jarosz III of House Zaslawski for an alliance against our former oppressors the Norvangr. Having liberated the people of Derius, the Crown of Capua now intends to reclaim the Elderglass throne. It is our blood right, as our line is to date the purest of Vanirian lineage." He explained, shooting his uncle a nasty glare before turning back to Lady Whispin. He refused to have any doubt as to his authority displayed, let alone by his own family. "Regardless, it seems as if misfortune has turned quite the opposite in regard to our presence here, no doubt due to your fine hospitality, Lady Whispin."

[The National Dominion of Hungary]

The Kingdom of Lechya
Visegrad, Castle Rhamanda
HM King Jarosz III Zaslawski

"Ah yes, the peasant turned King, I have heard of this man and his so-called noble House." While the man had come as long as a man could, well... when at the top there is but one way to go, and that was down. Then again, he had to rally the people and aristocracy around a cause for war against the Norvangr if it was to come to that as to not destabilize the nation overly. The servants entered, carrying silver plates laden with crabs cooked in fiery spices imported from the Sagely Lands which were served alongside dry white wine that was poured into the silver goblets. The King picked up one of the crabs and laid it on his plate before breaking off one of it's claws. "How much presence do your spies have in Norvangrheim? Are you certain of your words? A long-term occupation effort and anti-partisan war would be costly, especially when on another continent. Can you gain any support for your claim on the throne among the Norvangr people and their Jarls? as it would be best if we manage to have Valkyr vassals welcome our forces in their harbors, if they see us as liberators, the war would be much less expensive and costly." Jarosz said, taking a sip of wine.

The king smirked and gave a barely audiable laugh as Mordred spoke on the Derusian fleet. "Now I must admit that Lechya's fleet is a bloody joke as well, we might have a good number of warships but my naval officers are... not as competent as I might have wished. The crews... well, the are not in much better shape and let's leave it at that. On the other hand few can stand against the Lechyan Army with much hope of carrying the day, but, we need someone with a real navy if we wish to have the best chance of winning a war without fragmenting Norvangrheim first, I could expand my fleet, but I also expect an ally with a proper navy, I can provide the naval numbers, they must provide the naval tradition and expertise." The King said as he finished his crab and took a second one from the plate. "I hope the food is to your liking Lord Mordred."

Jarosz raised his eyebrow at Mordred's words. "Our line descends from Queen Rhamanda herself, we are Lechya, Lechya is us, I may perhaps present my sister Klaudora or perhaps one of my cousins to King Hippolyte, speaking of which I will be having a Grand Masquerade Ball in Palace Gospodarin in two weeks, you and your royal cousin can consider yourselves invited." The King said with a polite smile. "To our alliance, Lord Mordred, and let our realms rise further, our nations standing as brothers in this dark and uncertain world of ours." The King raised his goblet with a small smirk.

Kingdom of Lechya
Village of Parczew
Jacek Zalas

Jacek looked through the trees and shrubs back towards the village as the screaming started dying down, it seemed that the Northmen were finishing up, looting, murdering and capturing slaves. He threw his kettle helm into a small stream where he, Zdislaw and a few people had managed to hide from the raiders. Jacek Zalas had never felt this helpless, or this useless... The small girl sobbed as her mother tried to comfort her. "Don't worry now Olishka, papa will be waiting for us at the Baron's castle." The words were hollow, and did not serve their purpose as the girl kept on sobbing. The survivors looked on as a few pylons of black smoke started rising from the village of Parczew, and the cacophony of terror ceased. "We must go, Jacek." Zdislaw said, taking his firend by the shoulder, attempting to pull him away from the tree he stood behind. "We must go to the Baron's castle, the Knights will protect these people, and we can help to defend the walls. There nothing for us here, not as long as those Northmen are here."

Jacek nodded, and turned to his firend. "I know, we have to hurry, it seems like they are finishing up over there, we have to reach the castle." He took a few steps deeper into the forest. "Let's go." The order made the survivors rise and follow the militiamen, after all, what else were they supposed to do? "It will be a few hours of walking before we reach the castle, we have to hurry, his Lordship might not have seen the signal from the watchtower, I noticed that the raiders doused the flames after they came ashore, it might be up to us to warn him." Zdislaw said as he walked next to his firend. "I know, let's hurry up everyone." He said an increased his pace as the small group walked through the forest.

[Imperialisium]

Kingdom of Lechya
Village of Parczew
Ragnarr "Hairy-Breaches" Valkyr

Ragnarr sat down on the tree stump as his raiders secured the village and began to fan out into the surrounding woodlands. Every now and then a scream would resound and either it would end abruptly or another Lechyan would be brought limply ,or kicking and screaming, to the growing crowd of sitting peasants surrounded by armed Northern warriors. Some had died, mainly those who tried to resist, and the rest had been corralled into this one place. The men would be sold into thralldom, the women as well, and the children old enough to work would follow suit. However younger children will not be separated from their mothers and even fathers if it could be helped. No one would buy a babe anyways. That is of course if they are put on market, any Northman or woman that goes on a raid may claim a thrall should they actually capture one, and since the vast majority were done that way it was expected for the leaders of the various parties to divvy it up among each other.

A few paces closer a growing hoard of valuables was being collected and divvied up to be sent back to the ships for storage. Trinkets of semi-precious or precious metal. Coins. Anything really that could be sold or divvied up was taken.

Pointing at a surviving militiaman Ragnarr spoke in broken Lechyan. For ever since becoming High King he had tried to learn as much as he could about foreign tongues and customs. "Is there a hold near here?"

His voice was not threatening, it was almost kind and welcoming. This caught the militiaman off guard and he pointed with a reply in hesitant tones, "Yes...not...not terribly far by horse or foot. We..we all were trying to flee there."

"Castle Walls?" inquired Ragnarr further.

"Ye...yes."

Ragnarr grimaced, they didn't have the equipment nor the time to besiege anything. Let alone wish to take the potential losses. They would move North then, try to hit another village.

Zalas

As Zalas and party ran the sound of chase could be heard behind them. Along with shapes that showed a Norvangr war party had caught wind of their flight and was trying to chase them down. Roughly 20 Norvangr were running through the woods hooting and yelling like a pack of wolves attempting to run down a group of deers. If they fought back they'd probably die swiftly but ignobly. If they ran they might get away. For if they surrendered they'd be hauled back and forced in with the rest of the imprisoned villagers.

Vyraheim
Altyra Valkyr (Acting Regents)

Altyra, having returned from the Artificers district, was sitting in the gardens when a dossier of dispatches arrived. The first bore the seal of Ragnarr's Spider, his spymaster, and spoke of a mass revolt in Derius against the nominal overlordship of Ragnarr. Derius was a quandary, being relatively far away and thus not able to be directly ruled, and only considered nominal in actual fealty. She would wait for fathers return on that matter, but would make note to have the Spider ordered to begin hunting down possible leaks within Vyraheim. The next were just trivial reports about other lords and ladies, and a peculiar note of Simonus being seen boarding ship to Vyraheim.

"Interesting." said Altyra to herself as she folded up the dossier and beckoned a servant over to pour her some wine. A pair of White Cloaks stood on guard near some oak doors leading to the top tier of the hanging gardens that descended several storeys to the Westerns side of the Citadel.

[Military Democracy of Birtonia]

Gravin
House Dmesius
City of Porograad

---

Roughly a week had passed in House Dmesius since they had first sent eyes to pry upon the city of Helsangr. For the most part it's walls, although a little outdated and not reinforced with as much stone as Porograad, thanks to the generosity of Dmesius, it would still prove rather costly to besiege it for an extended period of time. Rather a few men would have to be placed within the city walls before the attack and cause havoc from within. Several of the fishing vessels under Gravin's employ would be utilized in cutting off trade around the city. Thankfully all of the other great houses in Porograad had died off a long time ago or had been absorbed into Dmesius so really the whole city was Gravin's to use, for a price. In the days to come he would hold a meeting in the center of town, preaching about some sort of horrid atrocity that the elders of Helsangr had committed, as a means for his attack to hold political ground. It would all be fabricated of course, but the commoners would know no different.

Earlier on in the day Gravin dispatched both of his sons, Bron and Octavian with a cart of goods and a satchel of coin, to pose as traders. Once Dmesiusian armed men began the siege the two boys were tasked with opening the gates and causing as much mayhem as they could possibly muster, any boys dream come true. Gravin was finally able to relax in his own house for a change, much had been happening internally to prepare for this expansion and he was nearly at the brink of madness. The untold hours he spent conspiring behind closed doors with his family members and close allies had taken hold of his life for the longest time, his plans would finally reach fruition shortly.

---

Bron & Octavian

The two brothers had grown close over the years, adventuring with their father out into the wilds, late nights of braving the seas to bring coin in for the family. It was natural they were going to do some subterfuge for their great house, which in turn would make them even more powerful. As they rode the cart along the path they joked about times past and wondered aloud of the glory they would receive from the coming battle.

"You know, father will probably give me charge of Helsangr once we conquer it" boasted Bron, holding the reigns of the horse.

"That's no fair! I want my own city!" retorted Octavian.

"Give it a few years younger brother! House Dmesius will grow with unprecedented levels! You'll see" said Bron.

The two quickly fell silent as they saw the walls of the city approaching. Exchanging a glance they drew their hoods up from the tunics and hung their heads down low. Everything about them screamed poverty, the rickety cart and tattered clothing would help them gain entrance to the market, where they would stay for about a day and a half before beginning their true mission. With them they had various produce from the farms around Porograad and enough coin to see them through, but not enough to be suspicious of.

[The National Dominion of Hungary]

Kingdom of Lechya
Village of Parczew
Jacek Zalas

The refugees marched at a brisk pace through the forest, making their way through the woods toward the baron's castle. Of course, brisk pace was rather relative. The small group consisted mostly of women, children and elderly who had managed to get away and hide in the treeline by the village as the Norvangr raiders had stormed into Parczew, annihilating their homes and lives in one fell swoop. Jacek marched on, sweat beaded on his face and damped his chestnut hair, the padded cloth gambeson armor was warm in the summer day. He and Zdislaw were deserters, they were cowards, the had dishonored themselves and their families... But then again... they were only 30 men with kettle hats, cloth armor and swords against Lady only knew how many bloodthirsty raiders armed to the teeth. And, suddenly a horried noise reached them, a hunt had begun, with them as the prey. Jacek breathed hard. "Hurry up! Run!"

They ran through the woods, now there was no time for thought, the elderly and the small children and their mothers were already falling behind, Zdislaw was trying the keep the rear of the tiny column together while Jacek raced forward, running up a small slope and trying the help his neighbours up one by one, it was a slow process, they did not have time, but Jacek did not think about being caught, there was no time for that. Zdislaw kept a sharp lookout behind them as the sound of the hunt came ever closer, and so, out of nowhere, and arrow flew through the air and struck the tree next to Zdislaw who jumped in surprise. Panic ensued but the people did not bolt, they clumped together, eyes wide with fear. Jacek cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted in the direction of the raiders, he did not know a word in Norvangr but there was nothing to lose to he shouted in Lechyan.

"Nie strzelaj!" He shouted, don't shoot. "Poddajemy sie! My! Kapitulujemy!" We give up, we surrender.There was no answer, but also no arrows. "Zdislaw, throw the sword damn it!" He and his friend unbuckled the swords from their belts and threw them away. "Kapitulujemy!" Jacek shouted once more.

[Rygondria]

Machynlleth,The Capital City of Invergordon,Lowland region

Henry woke up when the early morning sun hit his face, He squinted his eyes trying in a futile attempt to fall back asleep. As he got up he looked out the window and stared at the beauty that was the city as the sun rose over the roof tops and the knolls that where outside the city. He then got dressed wearing clothing typically worn by nobles who follow the new ways, A felt shirt and pants made of linen, He almost always wore lowlander clothing since the traditional clothing of the followers of the old ways was deemed by both him and his mother unking like even though Henry still wore some warpaint every once in a while when ever was training with his uncle. He then opened a chest with a key and pulled out the royal crown of Invergordon, It was a rather striking crown made of gold which was polished on a daily basis, Gemstones where engraved in it and on the front of the was a design of a hawk, A new design always appeared when a new clan took over,Since the Ironclaw clans symbol was a hawk a new crown was created to fit there new title. He then walked down the stairs and towards his throne room knowing that there where matters that needed his attention.

Henry arrived in the throne room still trying to wake himself up, To his surprise he not only saw his uncle and his mother, But also his Spy master Igor was also standing there.," May i ask what is going on ere"? Henry asked while looking at his spymaster nervously. Cadryin,His uncle laughed and said in his booming voice," Henry me lad! We have much to gab about now sit yer arse down and let us talk"! His mother, Margret scowled at his Brother in laws crudeness but did not speak since cadryn was speaking the truth. Henry sat down on his throne and said," Alright igor,you will speak first then my uncle,and finally my mother". The spymaster stepped up and said to Henry," Me lord,you may be interested to know that i have compiled a list of potential threats to your reign". He then handed a scroll to Henry,It had to obvious threats at first bu then the final person gave henry a surprise," The Grand mayor Gwenth ? Are you sure igor he was instrumental in my winning of the crown". The spy master nodded and said," Aye me lord but remember, the grand mayors have been known for there trickery and back stabbing. So it is best to be safe me Lord". Henry's uncle then walked up and said," Henry me lad,The annual week of training is approaching and soon clansmen from all over the kingdom while swarm the city like flies on horse dung and that could cause problems for the city what do ya suggest me lad''? Henry scratched his head and said,'' I order the city guard to expanded temporarily to keep the clansmen in line until training is over''.Finally his mother finally walked up to him and said" My son, i wish to talk to you about a possible diplomatic marriage". Henry dropped a goblet he was holding and said," Marriage,With whom may i ask"? His mother smiled and said," Well,with a variety of people whom i picked out as possibilities ". Henry looked at her and said," Beg my pardon but should i chose who i wed since this is the future of not only the clan but the kingdom as a whole". His mother laughed and said," Henry dear boy, I believe i have more experience in matters like this than you do". She then handed him a scroll with a list of names. After reading it he said," Frankly mother, I have my own idea". His mother gave him a half scowl and said," And what would that be little pup". Henry then said," I think i could wed on of the daughters of the king of Norvangrheim. Think of it mother, It is not only a sure fire way of preventing possible raids but it could secure a possible alliance". Both Henrys uncle and mother gave him a look of surprise. They had never heard or henry make up his own mind, His mother then said," As you wish my son". His uncle just laughed and said," You did good boy". A messenger was then sent to the Realm of Norvangrheim to deliver news of this proposal.