With gladsome raucous did the gilded hall ring,
Indeed did the ox-horns of dark ale foam,
And the sweet amber mead was sticky where spilt,
The juice of bees.
A good king was he that splendored his kin,
Giving freely of his gold-hoard to his oathmen,
Warriors, thegns, earls, priests and aldermen,
Such was the good heart of Leofric, king of the Hrythingas
Sat with pride upon his richly-carved throne,
Golden-tressed Hilda, his Queen to his left
Flanked by spear-armed warriors of the Hearth-Guard,
With crested helmets, flowing with horse-mane,
And green cloaks over their chainmail.
Dripping with much fat, skin cracking,
A mighty bison was turned over the fire,
Bloody flesh carved off the bones.
A great stew of venison, pork sausage,
Mutton, turnips and parsnips bubbled away
Its fragrant aroma, well seasoned, filled the gilded hall.
It was a sight to behold, the benches rammed,
The Kingdom was merry.
Frecasele, The Royal Mead Hall of King Wynnmar II, Ingwineburgh, Earldom of Westhrything
Kingdom of the Hrythingas
It was a small city that lay across the banks of the river Cyrna; Ingwineburgh -the city of the Saxon god of Sacral Kingship, Virility and sacred horses: Ingwine. The Burgh was the Royal Seat of the Kingdom, the site of the Heáhealh Ƿóden Eallfæder; the highest temple in the land, of Woden the Allfather, its great towers and sweeping roof dominating the skyline of the main city, in its forecourt a thick-trunked and ancient Ash-tree, its branches hung with prayers written in runes on cloth and other talismans. Great carved standing stones surrounded the tree with patterns worked into the stones, runic prayers and scenes from the sagas and myths of old. Other landmarks included great stone statues of Woden, riding spear in hand on his eight-legged horse Sliepna, Ingwine sat atop the mythical boar: Gyllbyrste and of Seaxneat, the ancestor god of the Saxons, with his eponymous 'seax' the Saxon knife. There were the Royal Stables; where the king kept his sacred white horses and the horses of the royal guard: the more personal Gedriht and the larger Gesithas. But rising above all of this, on a rocky outcrop protruding from the city; the Earnniste, was the Royal Mead Hall of the Kingdom. It loomed over the burgh and indeed over the heather-topped plains of the Heathwolds -rugged cattle pastures, with herds of shaggy and high horned cows, dotted by thatched cottages, lone fir trees, watched over by well-antlered stags, elk and fanged wolves and bears. The Royal Mead Hall, named Frecasele: Heroes' Hall, was an enormous wooden hall, though on good stone foundations, with ornate gables carved in the shape of beasts; elks, stags, wolves, bears, bison, horses, bulls, boars and rams. Frecasele was not just a place of feasting, drinking and story-telling but was the meeting point for the bicameral Þéodræd (National Council), both its houses met in adjoining halls and the main hall itself was often used for the royal cabinet: the Ƿiténaġemót. In essence it was the epicentre of Hrystic governance. Green banners with the white bull hung from the sides of the hall, as did the banner of the ruling house: red with a white ash-tree embroidered on. The Earls of the Ashwolds.
That Earl, Ƿynmær II (Wynnmar) son of Cenwalh was the elected King of the Hrythingas -the Hrýðƿealda (Hrythwealda). There had been other Earls of the Ashwolds sat upon the royal throne in days of yore, including the great Cynreow Dreórcráfa (Gore-Craver), and Ælfgar who devised the modern Hrystic Navy, but most Hrythwealdas were from the earldoms of the Gyrweald, Saxland, Hrything and Gewisse. Hrythingia had nineteen earls, and upon the death of the Hrythwealda they, with the rest of the Witenagemot elect a new king for life amongst one of the Earls. King Wynnmar was in his late thirties and presided over a decent brood of offspring, with three sons and four daughters, the eldest daughter being Princess Mildþryð (Mildred). She was the flower of the Ashwolds, flowing blonde hair with a delicate body and ripe lips, fair skin and deep green eyes. It was the desire of the Hrythwealda to see her wedded away, to a suitable suitor, thereby increasing the renown of his house after his kingship. King Wynnmar ruled over a large and rich realm, proud, strong and free. He wielded a well armoured army and a modern navy, a legacy of the great mounted warriors of the land. Hrythingia was a land of immense natural beauty, with ancient forests of pines, oaks and mossy carpets, great expanses of pasture and heathland, craggy highlands and snow-topped mountains. A sacred land, and indeed its consideration as a holy land had spearheaded Hrythingia's efforts to pursue a green economy. Its great aluminium smelters and power plants were fed by geothermal and hydro electricity and many of its homesteads harnessed solar and biofuel energies. The folk of the shires remained reserved as ever, suspicious of the 'Orcs' that lay beyond the frontiers of the Hrýðingríċe, but there was also a growing warmth from the cities that the Kingdom ought to look beyond its shores for destiny. That said, in the eyes of the Folk and of its well-born lords, Hrythingia remained a unique nation in both blood and soil. It would not and never be surrendered to the interests of foreign capitalists and liberal naysayers, nor especially to the Marxists who neglect the natural impulse for hierarchy and spirituality. Hrythingia was ready to advance, unabashed as a force to behold on its own terms.
Resplendent in a gold trimmed tunic, sword hanging from his waist and the light but well gemmed crown upon his brown locks, the Hrythwealda watched intently as the finishing touches to the feasting hall were prepared. The wooden pillars, well carved with patterns of dragons and creatures were wreathed with spruce and oak leaves, from the gables hung not just the Hrystic banner of the White Bull but the banners of all the Hrystic Earldoms, and tapestries were wound around the room, embroidered tales of great battles and hunts: the charge of the Huscarls at Essa, Woden's Wild Hunt up in the heavens and of course the eternal feast of the fallen in Ƿælhall (Walhalla). The mead benches and their tables had been laid with spaces, notably with a metal ale tankard and bull horn, mounted to keep it upright for mead. Jugs of both were on the tables along with crusty ryebread fresh from the royal bakeries. The great open hearth of the hall was white-hot, embers glowing and flames rising, well fed with logs as though itself was a ravenous beast demanding food. Two brawny servants came forth from the kitchens with a skinned, headless stag, smothered in herbs, crushed berries and coated in plum wine to make a fragrant and rich crust. Smaller fires hosted the carcasses of two boars, a goat and a bison calf, whilst in the kitchens, many geese, piglets and smaller dishes had been prepared. Also on the main hearth was a great stew, bubbling away and tended to by a Hearthmaiden, stirring the juicy mass of meat: beef, pork, sausage, hare, kale, root vegetables and peas, well seasoned and scenting strongly of onions, garlic and thyme. Posted about the room were other Hearthmaidens, in modest dresses though picked for their beauty, waiting for the arrival of guests, many of them the daughters of Thegns and wealthy Churls -for it was an immense honour to serve in the Frecasele, even if some of the honoured guests forget this several mugs of ale in. At all the doors and beside the Hrythwealda's throne were the troopers of the Gedriht: the personal oathsworn and elite bodyguard of the Hrythwealda. One had to be both high-born and an exemplary soldier to serve in this elite regiment: the Hrythwealda's Royal Gedriht. These days their uniforms comprised a green tunic, white riding breeches and black jackboots, with a silver plated metal cuirass breastplate and a steel helmet with a black horsehair comb. They carried lances with pennants attached, heavy cavalry swords hanging from the belt and they were indeed a sight to behold. The Gedriht did however also remain in the combat role, the regiment having an extra ceremonial company which all the companies rotated in and out of whilst the rest of the battalion served in the armoured role in Wesend III Byrncræt main battle tanks, when not serving in the ceremonial company.
"Sire, all the guests have been through our security points and we are ready to let them in when you are." Announced an officer of the Gedriht: Láttéow (Major) Ælfnoð Cenhelmson, who's white horsehair plume denoted him as a commissioned officer. Wynnmar turned slowly towards the commander of his bodyguard.
"Thank you, Major Ælfnoð. Kindly fetch my daughter and wife, then the feasting and Woden only knows what else.. shall begin."
OOC
Folks, this an RP, largely character though with much diplomatic flavour designed to encourage the world to take note of Hrythingia. There is to be no warring or any other such ridiculous behaviour -though obviously strong drink will be flowing freely so I am open to drunken shenanigans. The daughter of King Wynnmar is up for marriage and suitable partners will be earmarked during the meal. Please telegram me if you are interested, detailing:
Character(s)
Intentions
An example of previous roleplaying experience
The Meadhall awaits, enjoy yourselves.
