Durrandon March [OPEN]

[Orys Durrandon]

It took them a long while to make their little armada. Dismissing the pirates had been a bad thing in hindsight, mostly due to the fact that they knew about boats. More than some peasants did, anyways. They could have been of use when building the ships for this journey. Or Orys could have just killed them all... He could have gotten their ship from the endeavor, anyways. But in the end, he held a certain respect for the captain. Captain Morgan... Perhaps he too would hear of this land, and perhaps he too would come and scour it for it's opportunities. Perhaps he could even contract him into service again. Not all of the gold they had stolen from the mine was wasted on the boats, after all. About 20% was still left on other things, such as buying food and supplies. Perhaps he could waste about 10% of that on contracting mercenaries, although. He was slightly bad with logistics. He had never been raised to count, he was raised to fight and to lead.

That's why he had Lucious. Lucious could do all of the hard work such as going trough logistics and setting up supply lines and other such things. He had grown to trust the man, but only barely. He knew Lucious felt a bit unsure of their goals after a while of getting to know the men. He questioned if violence was the right way to go about carving out a kingdom. It had been a heated discussion he and Lucious had when the scout rushed into their tent, panting and slowly reporting about a new island. Their argument had but heated after the reveal. Orys wished to go and invade the new settlement that had formed, while Lucious wished they'd integrate to the populace and try and form their own community in peace. It wouldn't be like living a king, he said. But it'd still be living a very free and independent life.

Orys would hear none of it, but for their fragile friendship he promised he would not invade the settlement. Instead, he took enough men to pilot a small ship, Balerion, and a few other things such as maps and wood, and set to sail for the island. He had a plan. He'd arrive to the island, preferably away from the settlement. He had at first considered sailing around to the other end of the island, but trade between the settlement and his base camp would prove to be a rather awkward and truly dangerous thing. So, he decided to instead build at the coastline, far away enough that the settlement's people could not instantly tumble into his basecamp, but close enough that they could probably trade with each other. This would give him an edge with survival, and he could use the gold they had gathered on this as well.

Orys flew above the ship. Balerion had just awoken, the lazy wyvern releasing roars that could also double as a yawn of sorts. Below them was the ship, Durrandon's Lance. A small ship, but it did the job well. He had left some trustworthy men behind at home in case something bad happened here. While some of his men had egged him to stay back at home, in case the island would be destructive or full of sicknesses or other such things, Orys had kept his head and set sail with his men. A sickness could not kill a future king, nor could some harebrained natives. Perhaps he should... Bah. He should not think of these things before even establishing his outpost.

As Durrandon's lance anchored at the shoreline and as the men jumped out onto their lifeboats and rowed over to dry land, Orys landed down onto the sand with Balerion and hopped off of the wyvern's back. He held a flag with him. A basic black one for now, he had not yet designed his own country's flag. He quickly stabbed it down, grinning. "I claim this land for the house of Durrandon, until our blood runs dry and no words are spoken of our name. All hail, all follow, all remember."

[Orcleous]

So this man was Orys Durrandon. Orcleous had heard a bit about him from the grape vine, but all his information stopped a bit short for his liking. The man had ambition, that was enough to get Orcleous attention. The Hero was looking to take a break from the mainland for a bit. Things where getting spicy and the reputation he had picked up in Lycia made getting work a lot harder. Still Orcleous did not let that bother him. He knew the strength of his blade and he knew how to handle any situation that was brought up before him. He was confident in his own skill.

"So this is the New World everyone was talking about", spoke Orcleous as he got out one of the row boats. Xigshaw was safely strapped to his back and his silver sword strategically located on his left side. He was ready for any kind of ambush. He had no idea about what kind of people lived on this island or what exactly was on the island. All he knew was that this ambitious rider wanted to explore it and Orcleous was up for that. Solving the mysteries of the world was something new and different from what he was use to. It was about time that Orcleous forged his own path instead of simply mimicking others. This was a good chance to start something new.

"So what do you think we will encounter", spoke Orcleous as he walked up to there illustrious leader. Orcleous figured since the people on this island, if there was any people, where separated from everyone else then they would probably have primitive armor and primitive weapons. This meant they would be easy pickings, which was boring. Orcleous like a challenge. Fighting the weak only makes you weak in turn. Orcleous needed to fight opponents who could challenge his blade.

The hero touched the hilt of his silver sword. The image of battles rushed back to him as he remembered the sword fights he endured since he left home. The blade had remained true to him since the day he bought it so long ago. Now he had Xigshaw, the hero touched the hilt of his weapon and felt its strength flow through him. Xigshaw made things far to easy. Orcleous hated to use it. Even after his conversation with the General he could not see the axe as his strength. Instead he saw it as a cheap way to win a fight. Still that did not stop him from using it when he gets into a bad situation. However it made him feel as if he was cheapening his wearrior spirit.

[Orys Durrandon]

The man he had recruited asked about what they would encounter on this land. He considered for a moment, his hand still on the banner that he had planted upon the ground. The soil was soft, or so he had felt when he struck the banner trough, letting it rest there. This soil that had not been yet tampered with... Hah. It would make for great farmland for his people. These forests could be chopped down for houses. There would be metals on this island. Food was no problem thanks to the sea. This land was the perfect land for his new kingdom. He considered his words for a moment. He had not heard much about this man before he had joined his ranks, yet...

"Basic resistance, if even that. Aurion has not had problems with the natives, and we're not too far away from that city. If we are lucky, we can expand without any problems. And once we have expanded enough and once we have our capital built, we can bring in the others. Almost a thousand men wait for us to send the signal back at Nabata, and we are on a strict leash. My people cannot survive off of the desert for the rest of their lives. They need this island. They need their king to secure this land for them." He gripped his fist tightly. He was doing this not for himself, but for the future of those who had abandoned the shackles of the old kingdoms and systems.

"... Help the others unload the tools from the boats. I must secure Balerion before he flies off and alerts Aurion of our presence before we wish to reveal ourselves."

[Orcleous]

So the rumors where true then. Orcleous had head whispers about this man. They say he was ambitious and they where not lying. He desired a kingdom. A land to call his own. Normally one would consider people like him to be crazy, or just outright greedy. However he had a aura around him that told Ocleous that he believed he could do it. Orcleous himself was sure. However he was now apart of this group. That meant he needed to believe in what they believed or simply act like he did. The odd man out gets abandoned when it is time to retreat. Orcleous had no intention of dying on this forgotten Island.

"Right Commander", spoke Orcleous as he walked back to the boats. Orcleous had made a list, about a month back. It was a list of all the things he hates to do on missions. At the top of the list was unloading cargo. Orcleous was a warrior not a porter. His job was killing, not lifting crates and moving supplies. However this mission required that everybody helped move the goods and provide support for the main cause. Orcleous did his job, but he did not like it. It was such a great waste of his muscle power.

As Orcleous helped the others unload he kept turning a eye to the forest. Orcleous did not like this. The hero was once a trained assassin. He understood how willing worked and how ambushes played out. The trees gave the image of stillness, but they could also be hiding bodies behind them. This was intact a new land. It was unexplored by the main landers and from what he gained from the commander there is a stable city not too far. A stable city meant civilization and civilization meant war. In orcleous mind the two where interchangeable. He was going to need to keep his eye on the horizon in the case of a ambush. Primitive equipment is just as effective as a silver blade if applied to the right spot and the right time.

"Alright that is the last of it", spoke Orcleous as he picked the last of the boxes out of the ship and set it into the sand. The hero took the moment to take a seat and write down a few little notes inside of his journal. He was use Xeldine would want to hear about everything once he got back. That maiden was suppose to be his apprentice, but she was more like a little sister now. Though Orcleous was sure that sister complained less and made far less noise. Still he was actually starting to miss her. Sad considering she got on his nerves the entire trip form Lycia to Bern. Well that was life for you.

[Deleted]

Lucius dropped off the small boats, his legs engulfed by the salty waters. After that, thing, flew off with his cargo it was good to hear from Durrandon again. The two were back in business. He dragged the boat to the shore and cracked his neck with a rotation of his head. Looking about he smiled and breathed in the air.

"Well, the land grab race is about to begin and I think we will be the most successful of the lot." He shouldered his axe and walked up beside the man that mattered. "Now, are we to carve out our own places first or turn the towns into our base of operations? Either will work well for us as we can build quickly. I can establish trade with the locals if you like. I have sent a team to travel deeper into the forests to see what can be found and mapped. If there are things of worth near here we will know it."

Turning to the cargo in the sand he came upon a dark skinned youth writing in a notebook. "You're literate? That should be useful." He pried open the very same box Orcleous had offloaded a moment prior. "What is your name?" From the box he produced tools, not for war or for construction, but for farming. "If we are to set up here we will need to be capable of sustaining ourselves from the outset." Lucius eyed the boy's gear for a moment. A silver sword was always good, but that hammer of his was most curious.

[Orys Durrandon]

He turned his head to Lucius and for a moment he sighed. He had tried to insist the other would stay back at the sandy shores of Nabata, to keep the rest of his men at line. Who knows, they might stay if their idol was with them. Durrandon, while the face and the leader of this whole ideal, the ideal of a new kingdom headed by him, was not the countryman to his underlings. That was where Lucius shone. The man was rising up to become a favorite among the men, or so he had noticed. He felt a bit... Angry, at this. But, the man was useful. He had no reason to dispose of him. And he supposed, that in the end. They were friends.

"Do not worry, Lucius. Everything is under my control. First, we shall establish a forward base. Nothing fancy. Nothing too confusing for our men, hah. Once that is done, please send a pidgeon over to the main land and order the rest of our people to start moving in. Once that is done... We shall build the capital of my kingdom. We can then begins considering matters such as the crown jewels, trade routes, expansion, parliament, among other things." He placed a hand onto his friend's shoulder, grinning. "It will take us a long time, but. By the end of the year, I shall be coronated, and you shall..." He leaned in to whisper a few quick words. "My successor until I can spawn an actual heir. Consider this a gift of much trust." With that he reeled back, gave Lucius a pat on the back and headed off to try and calm Balerion.

[Orcleous]

Orcleous looked at the man for a moment. He did not think that writing would be such a noteworthy skill. There was plenty of people back home who could write. Then again his village made it a thing to make sure that everyone knew there letters. They would always say a ignorant child was a stain upon the village not just his family. Still with so many sea dogs around it only made sense that some of them did not know how to write. Paper was hard to keep dry out at sea and reading was probably not as popular as drinking.

"Yeah I can read and write", spoke Orcleous as he closed his book. He had finished jotting down some stuff to send back to Xeldine and at this point he was going to need to put his stuff away. It seemed like the next work detail was going to be laid out. You would think with a job focus on exploring and claiming a new land that there would be lots of fighting. However the way things looked it would be more building than battle. Thought that could all easily change. Orcleous needed to keep his head focus on things around here. It was like being back in Bern. You always kept your sword close when you walking in the mountains.

"The name is Orcleous", spoke the old farm boy as he walked up and began to look at the tools. They where all too familiar. He preyed he was not ordered to use them. Farming was back breaking work and to make it worse it took all of your attention. Before Orcleous would engage in such activities he needed a sturdy wall up and a well designed patrol. The boss man began to talk to the other man about stuff and Orcleous was not willing to intrude on the conversation. Instead he let them have there words and moved over to a few of the other men hanging around.

"So do any of you have any idea about this place. I heard the words new and land and joined up. However from the rumors floating around there is suppose to be a outpost somewhere on the island. So I figured somebody has been here before."

At the time Orcleous was trying to gain general information, but for him there was two major worries on his mind. The first was natives, as he was sure they would not like them snooping around. The second was water. They where going to need a steady supply of water. Sure sea water worked if your boiled it and filtered out the salt. However that was time consuming and required a lot of resources to pull off. Orcleous was more worried about trying to find a natural spring or see if this place worked off rains. If the plants where nurtured by the rain itself then Orcleous would have to switch his gear. His green breastplate was painted to prevent rust, but enough time and raindrops the coating could wash away. Not to mention it could effect his weapons.

"Well I know one weapon that I won't have to worry about", spoke Orcleous to himself as he touched the handle of Xigshaw. The massive hammer sent power though his body as its magical enchantment radiated through him.

[Orys Durrandon]

He turned his head back at the question the dark skinned man had presented. His eyebrows ruffled for a moment, as if trying to map out the man a bit more before then answering. "This island... Some call it Vinland. Others Skraeling, some La Isla, some call it just an island. The name has not been officially decided, and never will. Over time people will choose one name after another and then stick to it. So my scouts have told me, anyways." He spat on the ground, watching the liquid sink into the sand with amazing speed. How impressive.

"The island is also ours. This is a fact. Elimine's gift, some of my more religious men tell me. The gift of freedom from the lands back home, from the countries that war and realpolitik their way about, trying to reach supremacy. As if we will not fall to such vices as well." He sighed, his hair gently flapping in the wind. He almost felt tempted to release his hair from it's strict confines, but chose against it in the end. "We are all men, and men were created to rule, and men were created to wage war. This is a fact I'd be a fool to deny. Yet... This land could be a gift of fate. A place to start anew."

A few steps follow as he plants his spear into the sand, leaning on it. "I want to build a kingdom. If there are natives? They may come out as friends or enemies, as subjects or trash. And once the island is ours, once the throne is mine. I will build this kingdom to be a safe haven from the politics of the mainland. We will build our OWN issues to worry about, our own identity. Our own country."

[Orcleous]

"So the stories about you where true", spoke Orcleous as he gave off a light chuckle. "They say you are ambitious to the point of madness. With this Island I can't say it is madness anymore, but your ambition is great. I have been around the block for a while and I understadn the nature of war. War happens when somebody else has something that another person wants. It is that simple. So If I had to bet we will probalby have to fight the natives. Still the idea of helping you for a nation sounds like fun. If things go well I might even get a statue or a fragment in a history book", spoke Orlceous as he looked out at the woodland.

"Well I better go check on the scout team", spoke Orcleous as he began to walk off from the ships. Orcloeus understood that the island was dangerious, but at the same time he wanted to explore it. It was new, something different. Orcleous liked the idea of new. At the same time the mainland seemed to be spiraling toward chaos. Lycia is infested with monsters. Eutria is invading everyone. Bern is wrapped in a civil war, and the plains are said to be running red with blood. Then in the middle of all this chaos a new island appears. It is strange, but there may be some truth to it being a gift from the gods, thought Orcleous had to wonder about that. The Hero was never one for super religion. Chalking things up to the gods is not always the wisest things to do. What may seem like a blessing can actually be a curse. Orcleous knew that well enough from his experience.

"Alright lets see what this place has to offer", spoke Orcleous. The Hero had made a list of things he needed to find. 1. Water, 2. Food, 3. Possible Enemies.