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R.I.P. neildarkstar. Haven will miss you dearly.
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Kurdan Gro-Olar
Topic Started: Jul 4 2016, 08:55 AM (567 Views)
Areial
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Et'Ada
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Reunion and parting pg 15


Shyla felt my excitement and arched her neck and pranced sideways to the spot right in front of my Brother and Heart-Mother who had joined him. The rest of those them in a half circle behind them with three of the warriors sideways, watching behind us as much as all of us. I looked by did not see my Birth-Mother and felt a lump in the pit of my stomach.

I got off Shyla and walked slowly up to my Heart-Mother, placing my hand on her cheek. She did the same then pulled my head down to her's, resting my forehead on hers.

" I missed your Wisdom, Mother of my Heart." She made a grunting laugh sound.

"We all missed your hunting, until we got three day's fast walk from the Stronghold. Game was much more abundant. Those warriors who were on the fence, they have sense changed their minds about staying, with you." I nodded and then asked where my Birth-Mother was.

"She is in the Tent, her ankle is broke in such a way as to hurt much when standing on it." I headed for the tent and said we could buy either a wagon or some horses for transport. When I got to my Birth-Mother I knelt at her side, placing my hand on her cheek, like my Heart-Mother she put her hand on mine, but then pulled me so that our other check's rested against each other, an overt show of great affection.

Some of the Warriors, pulled up the sides of the tent, making it into a very large canopy, that way all would be out of the misting drizzle. I sat upon a chest so that all might see me as I spoke to them. The warriors at the back, did not sit, but stood in such a way as to be able to see in all directions.

"Son we wish to hear of your Stronghold, how far you have come in seeing it come to pass and what you have to say about the differences you talked about." I nodded and stood to one side, a place that had been left open for me. Navistas, Shaimar and Marcurio came to stand beside me, with much surprise from my "family".

"First I wish to thank all of you for bringing my Mothers and sibling this far. As for the Stronghold, I have the gold for the land purchase, though have not yet asked to buy." I held up my hand as I heard grumbles. " Yes, traditionally we Orc's just take the land and dare the Jarl's to take it away. It is only because we have always taken land no one else want's..poor land for everything but mining, that they had not asked the Imperial Army to take the land back. I do not want that kind of land, for us." I paused to let that sink in, but as I did so Navitas spoke up.

"I have been with the Imperial Army, as many Orc's do. Kurdan is correct, they could take back all the Stronghold's if they wanted, just by putting troops at our door and waiting to starve us out, it would not take long." I saw the Hunters nodding, they more than anyone but the Hearth-Wife knew how fast the gathered food went. She had made the point that they might not have believed from me.

" What I do want is a different kind of Stronghold, yes a Stronghold, no one will call us "city Orc's". We will be even more self-sufficient , because we will have the support. We will keep to the tenants of Malacath, for he does keep us strong. With some changes, first is that we all will have the right to take a mate and have children. This has not made the Nords weak and I think our way is making us so." I held up my hand when I heard grumbling, an Orc will complain about being hit with a new ax.

"Navitas said it, Traditionally only the Strongest male breeds, but what is he breeding to?" I could see I had their attention. "Many of the strongest and most intelligent females, leave the strongholds to go into the Imperial Army or to some other place. Not all, but enough, enough that we are starting to get weaker as a people, though many do not see this. I want each of us to have the right to choose our own mate, to not have to fight for that right. I want our females to want to stay, to not have to be traded off to another stronghold, because they are "to close in family", that is the real reason, for the trading. The only females IN a stronghold are generally related to the Chief. "

I knew I had them and I went on to explain about finding farmers and craft's people to help round out our Stronghold. Plot's for wheat and other staple plants, pen's for animals, near a river for fish. If they were not Orc's, well, they would teach us and we would protect them. Then I had to get to the most complicated part, Leadership, our people were used to an iron fist ruling them, with no say, the dissafected leaving.

"At first we will have a Tribunal, Myself, Navitas and Marcurio, with My Heart-Mother as first Adviser and my Mother as Chatelaine, which will be the same thing she does as Hearth-wife. Eventually we will find a Steward, who has contact's in the area he or she will be able to get those thing's we can't make or grow. Eventually the Tribunal will be voted on and will be supported by advisers who are people from different area's of the stronghold, chosen by those who work with them. So Hunter's will choose a Hunter as their adviser," that was enough of an explanation for now. Each of them would decide if my vision of a Stronghold was for them, or they would move on elsewhere.. they could not go back.

I would plan on leaving in the next day or so, but I needed to give them time to think. I talked to my Mother's and Brother and told them that I had asked Shaimar to take them to the house of Navitas's friends. My Mother's were disappointed but when I explained why, they understood.

Two day's later as we left Markarth, With my Birth-Mother Riding and newly purchased horses packed heavy with supplies. I watched them head south, very few of the Orc's had decided to go their own way, most said they at least wanted to see what I could do and if it would work.

Marcurio, Navitas and I headed towards Mor Khazgur, we still had a book to track down for the Librarian, but we were now not in a hurry. We were also careful, the hills and peak's were full of Forsworn and they would attack us are readily as anyone else.

As we sat around the camp fire, Navitas asked me why I had not asked her to take my Mother's to her friends home. She sounded somewhat angry about it, so I choose my words with care and tried to explain what I had in mind.

"Navitas, did you notice how many young Orc males where with My Mothers? Including my brother." Marcurio got it before she did and started chuckling. Her brow furrowed, then I could see when she really figured it out. "Yes, she's a sweet young thing, but I much prefer a woman who's old enough to know her own mind. With all those young Buck's, she aught to find one that she likes, if not, then at least she will have some leadership ability by the time she get's to the house and until we get their, My Mother's will see to that."

I saw her cheek's grow a darker green and a quirk to her lip's that let me know, she understood what I was saying, but now was not the time.

"So you hope that she will find herself with your Mother's to show her?"

" I told my Mother's who she is and what they wanted her to be and that it wasn't her choice. The agreed to help her grow into the kind of Strong female Orc that our Stronghold needs, the kind that you are."

"Kurdan, I am trying to figure out why me as part of your Tribunal?" Marcurio spoke up for the first time, a frown on his face.

"Marc, I chose you, well because you are human, Navitas because she is a strong female Orc. I want the males and other females to get used to the idea and might has well start as I mean the Stronghold to go on. You may step-down when you train your own replacement. Your replacement must not be Orc, but human or another Mer is fine. Navitas, your replacement need's to be female, Orc, Mer or human. I will have to decide how to pick my replacement, as I do want an Orc male. I have some idea's, but I need to think on them more." With that I stood up and stretched.

"Marc, you take first watch, I'll take Mid watch, Navitas, you can have morning watch. Because you cook the best and I like my morning meal not to turn my stomach!" Marc threw a small piece of wood at me, which I batted away.

"It was only once! and how was I to know the egg's where bad, they didn't smell!"

I chuckled and held the tent flap for Navitas. Marcurio was placing rune's and a circle ward around our camp, as I fell asleep.

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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Oh that was excellent Areial!! Kurdan's no brainless brute! I knew that, but not all those in the story did. :D I love his plans, even the devious one, his Mothers probably loved it, and their part in it. Glad you posted, and now I can't wait for more!
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neildarkstar
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Yep, nice... and I decided to try immersive patrols, though I already see a few patrols that don't show up in vanilla. Just yesterday, I was getting ready to steal some stuff from halted Stream Camp, when the four outside bandits took off running to fight some goblins who were attacking Stormcloaks then goblins, bandits, and Stormcloaks were attacked by Thalmor... and a couple of THEIR pet goblins. I only watched part of the fight because I thought that was a good time to go get what I'd come for...
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Areial
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Neil I thought about Immersive Patrol's, but I actually wanted the extra's to be enemies... I thought that Invasion of Skyrim would work, but either my PC isn't up for it... cause of all the CTD's during fights OR the mod is still a bit glitchy ... and from the review's I know their were issues.

Most of my characters have I.C. and D.D. ( with Asis and Enemy Enhancer) Kurdan included, but I wanted something a bit more <sigh> I am now starting him completely over again. Including look's cause I had tweaked after C.C. and saving preset's and forgot to save them again...(ooppps)

I'm not in a big hurry to "catch up" on my writing to were I was...cause I still have to catch up somewhat in game... Immersive cheat menu is not working for me... so I can't get him back to where he was easy. I just hate doing all the quest's again...and they are needed so that I can get the stronghold build...
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neildarkstar
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Yeppers, all of that is why I tend to just start a new character.... It'd be a shame in this case, though... :)
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Areial
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I'll get it the hard way... thankfully with AFT you have the "senergy" and that help's to lvl quicker, though I generally turn that off... I don't want to lvl quick...usually. I would except his story is know where near done..Tsuri's story is a good break, the mod I am waiting on won't be updated for a little bit, so I know I will have a bit of a wait.. plus the DiD competition
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Serethil
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That was great Areial! Moving along very well I think.

You could try figuring out where he'd have been money and materials- wise by now, and just console some gold and mats in....
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Areial
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Material and gold wise I have no problems consoling it in... cause I know where he was. Marc and Navitas couldn't carry much more when they got the house and it was unloaded their, plus two more trip's with all of them loaded down.. why they kept the horses... The "chiss" had load's of good stuff to sell...hard as Hades in a battle. It's getting the quest's done to be able to get the Stronghold.. that He did not have all of yet and I'll have to do some of the backwards... as they are lvl'd.

It'll be fun, when I get back to it, I'm just not jumping on it. Though I will work on getting everyone back and armored the way they were...weapons etc and then maybe do some other stuff 1st... just because.

I'm still working on Aillyn's update, it will just be rather big...but I don't want to split is right now.. and I still don't have it reading the way I want to...part of it.
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ghastley
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Let me know if you need any console help with the Orc Heartfires progress. You'd probably want to repeat the Cursed Tribe just to get Volendrung, but the favor quests can be bypassed, if needed.
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Areial
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Thank's Ghastley ... Other than the Cursed Tribe, they are all pretty easy.. and the fight's and the trips from point A to point B will help lvl him up for That...
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Serethil
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Hmm. Can you keep Volendrung?
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Areial
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yes....
Posted Image
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Serethil
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I didn't know that! I must have never moused over it again.... And of course all the other stuff there is marked "Steal" so I just figured it was too....
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Areial
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Day's Ending #16


The shadows were long as I mounted the watch-tower, looking out over the tundra to the herd of horses below. Shyla's latest colt was frisking about, chasing butterflies, he was exactly what we had been breeding for all this time. His coloring matched his damns, his lines as clean, his leg's long and tough, meant to plow through the deepest of snow.


I smiled grimly as I caught glimpse of my mate as the mare turned to keep her rambunctious son in her sights, the black of his armor blending in to her body. I could almost see the twist to his smile as he laughed at their antics. The simultaneous movement of all the horses at once, lifting their heads and turning towards the East, had me looking hard at the darkening ground.

A short minute later, the horses all heading to the walled in overhang and Shyla and my mate heading towards the stronghold.. the Herd Stallion nipping at the rumps of any slow-moving mares, I heard it. The roar of a dragon off to the East, echoing off the hills.

As I looked around for the dragon, I heard our warning horn sound, taken up by the watch tower, letting all know that they needed to head into the mine or the other tunnels we had dug for safety from the flying menaces. As the roar got closer I looked down and saw that both man and mare where making a heavy time of it. The winter and stress of carrying her foal had made the tendon injury to her right foreleg even worse. This would be her last foal, next breeding season, we would put her in the barn, none of us could bare the thought of loosing her, though we knew time would take it's toll.

I next looked to the man, I could tell that his leg was paining him as well and I shivered as I remembered first seeing the injury which caused his limp. The year's had taken their toll on him as well, but he was as tough and independent as when we first met.

I narrowed my eye's and recalled the day he returned to us, we had not heard from them in months, not since the day that Kurdan had sent me with his Mother's and Clan to the house of Navitas's friend. The sound of Shyla's hooves striking stone, the birds sounding in warning, many things where the same. The horns had been sounding, letting us know that someone was coming up the path, the blasts for friend.

The next blast and let us know a healer would be needed and Kurdan's Heart mother went back inside and got her bag of herbs and potions, her apprentice had a a similar bag. Then we heard the sounds of boots and hooves, but could tell that neither was a normal stride.

As the scouts came into view, so to did Shyla, she limped hard, bandages wrapped her right-fore and right-rear legs. I remember feeling the tension, we could all see that only four people approached, one of our scouts leading Shyla and the other two with a cloak shrouded figure between them. As the figure stumbled over a rough patch of road, the scouts on either side steadied him, but let go quicker than one would have supposed.

As they got closer I could tell that the figure was male, for Navitas had been a full head and shoulders shorter than Kurdan and a head shorter than Marcurio. I wasn't til they were almost upon us that I realized that the male was to thin to be Kurdan, who had been rather wide at the shoulders.

As the Scout stopped with Shyla, Marcurio walked up her left side and pulled two wrapped packages from her saddle bags. He unwrapped them as he walked and stopped right in front of Kurdan's Mother's and handed his Birth-Mother one of the swords, then he turned and handed me the other.

His voice when he spoke, was not the smooth cocky tones that I had gotten used to on our travels, but was rough and barely above a whisper and was filled with pain, both physical and other.

"We had left the Jarl, having just gotten the deed to the property and permission to build a Stronghold/ village, when we heard cries for help from a small mining community. When we got there, a large group of Chiss were harassing a woman to make her tell where she had hidden their gold. Kurdan ran ahead and that soldiers head parted from his shoulders, but it had been a trap. Their were ten times our number, with battle-mages and some of their elite troupe's. " He paused and the wind blew the hood from his head, what could be seen of his face around the bandages, was burnt and still oozing blood. No few of the warriors turned their faces aside, I did not turn, though I fought to keep my stomach from loosing it's last meal and fought harder to keep my face still.

" At the height of the battle, Kurdan yelled at me to get the woman away and I did, then returned to the fray. I was blasted off my feet and into a snowbank and I knew no more until Shyla licked at my wounds. Lady, Kurdan fought well, your son was a warrior til the end, last I saw he was standing over a mortally wounded Navitas. When I found him, from the blood on the ground, he took out quiet a few of them." He looked to the ground.. " I am sorry I could not do more, I..." with his last word his eye's rolled in his head and he would have fallen to the ground had not the scouts caught him.

We almost lost him that night and it was touch and go for the next month.. Infection then pneumonia set in. The loose of blood and skin and the mental stress, at times I did not think he wished to live. In one of his lucid moments in that first week, he nagged and fretted until we would get the pouch in the saddle bags.

He pulled out one paper and told me to read it, which I did, I did not understand fully what it said and I told him so.

"It says that, Kurdan, Navitas and I are the owners of the deed and that only our children or spouses may inherit the land. Find a Priestess of Mara and have her marry us Shaimar, it's the only way for Kurdan's family to keep and work the land." In the end it was not a Priest of Mara, but Kurdan's Heart-Mother that married us.

What had been meant to secure the land for Kurdan's Clan, turned out to be a marriage of respect and love. Marcurio and I adopted Kurdan's youngest brother as a child of bodies and heir, in a tradition that Orc's follow when no male child is born to the Chief, the Jarl had not been up on his Orc custom's. It took the better part of a year for Marcurio to heal enough to travel to our land. By then the Stronghold palisade was up and the large main hall, the over-hang had been walled in for our horses and cattle.

As Marcurio came even with the Stronghold gate, he looked up, the scarred right half of his face in the shadows of the night, the perfect left side, smiling, with all the warmth and love that I ever wanted from a mate... I did not have to travel far outside tradition, but Kurdan was right, I needed to become my own woman, before I became some males mate.

Dragons, Jarls and Chiss, we had taken them all on and won... In memory of those we lost on the journey here, we planted a tree, each year as it yielded it crop, we thanked the person for their sacrifice.



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Author's Note:
This is not the ending that I had envisioned when Kurdan started telling me his story, but when he no longer spoke to me, I had to listen for another voice..and this is what she told me.
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Andra Hawksdaughter
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Oh Are, such a bittersweet end...it makes me so sad! Well done though, well done...*hug*
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Areial
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Thank you!
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Brambleberry
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Why is it warm fuzzy tears are the worst? So very well done Areial!
:'( :hugs:
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Areial
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Thank you Bram! I don't know, but they are!
Edited by Areial, May 13 2017, 09:27 AM.
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neildarkstar
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Well done, Areial! :clap:
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Serethil
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Aw damn.... *sobs* But a great ending nevertheless - and I know exactly how it is....
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