((Please visit the OOC thread (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=109491.0) with interest, ideas, comments or bios. Please do not post until approved. Readers Welcome!))<br/><br/>The fire crackled and sent up a plume of swirling, orange sparks as the logs collapsed inward, joining the mound of shapeless glowing embers. The long bearded Warrior-King Kev'Lach Wul'Garren, stared blankly at the glowing mass. The man known to his enemies as "The Wolf" scraped the long edge of his heavy, iron axe with a flat stone, no longer effectively sharpening the blade, instead he was obsessively honing it toward an edge that it could never truly reach, in truth he only sought to keep his hands busy as he sharpened his mind for the battle that was to come.<br/><br/>The man known as Wolf glanced up to the sky, seeing the pale blue palour which signaled that the new dawn was breaking. Brushing his hands of the grey dust which he had gathered during the course of his sharpening, Wolf rose to seek out his mount: Shadowmere. The deep black stallion was already armored and frothing, all too eager to ride out in the service of her master.<br/><br/>Wolf glared into the horse's red eyes with conviction and malice, urging his steed to maintain a degree of composure. Composure that would keep the two united as countless others tumbled from their skiddish mounts.<br/><br/>After fastidiously tightening the leather bindings on his ornate, iron curiass, Kev'Lach slid the heavy iron helmet over his red mane. The helm was forged in the shape of a wolf's head, an intimidating reminder to all enemies of the nomadic Norven people of the king's murderous reputation.<br/><br/>Hooves clattered through the thick mud, once lush with grass, now pounded into a thick muck from the gathered waste of the invading army. Kev rode past his archers swiftly, offering only a sidelong glance to his lieutenant.<br/><br/>"Dip the arrows deep in oil and make sure they burn hot. These fools have built an entire village of grass and straw. We'll watch them all twist and burn in the wind." Wolf remarked through a smirk as he rode to the front.<br/><br/>"Aye Sir," Lieutenant Mac'Grieves answered dutifully before turning back to the lines of archers fanning out across the hillside. "You heard His Braveness! Dip arrows and light torches. We're gonna turn this village into Hell on Gia, we are!"<br/><br/>Shadowmere thudded her hooves to a halt as Wolf joined his negotiator at the front, overlooking a bright orange plain, barely kissed by the first light of dawn. Wolf always sneered in disdain when he was charged to carry the white banner for a parley, but such had been the custom for many generations in Norven lore.<br/><br/><em>"One cannot conquer that which would hide or surrender. Only the dog with teeth is a deserving kill,"</em><br/><br/>"This culture is very humble, they may well surrender to our might your Braveness." Gel'Mach the negotiator told his Master. "Have you thought of what terms you may present?"<br/><br/>"We'll ask for a bounty of grain and gold, not to mention a selection of fresh slaves from their women and new soldiers of their men." Kev mumbled from deep in his chest. "I pray that we might demand it harshly, perhaps they might be fool enough to say no."<br/><br/>With that, both men spurred their mounts, riding at a full gallop across the low valley, through the fields of grain which had only begun to be harvested and bundled at intervals through the field. Some of the townspeople had already been at work in the fields before first light, but all stopped whatever it was they were doing as the fearsome looking duo rode past. Despite the white banner flying above them, the two battle scarred Norven elders were a frightening sight to any who beheld their approach.<br/><br/>The village had a wall around it, though it wasn't much of one. Mostly made of dry branches, sharpened at the top into points, lashed together with lengths of straw that kept them bound together. If he'd wanted to, the Wolf could have ridden over the gate and into the city with little trouble, but now was not the time to demonstrate his might. Kev'Lach wanted these country farming, dirt worshipers to believe they had a chance against the mighty Norven hoard.<br/><br/>"In the name of Sk'rivva, Gia and all the old Gods who birthed us all. I Kev'Lach Wul'Garren demand entry to this village for negotiations. If you refuse, there shall be no mercy for any of you. I will call forth Hell from the sky and burn your civilization to the ground!" The Wolf bellowed as his horse stomped at the ground. "What man rules here? I'll speak to him now!"