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Erik gave the servant a narrow-eyed look, but introduced himself pleasantly enough. "I am Erik Løvendal of Roskilde, Lord Charles," he said, adding, "I have heard terrible things about the troubles that plague you, and would only be happy to aid you. Perhaps you could tell us more about your woes?" And what happened to the others who came to help, he thought.
"One would think you would be more grateful for so many to be trying to aid your village, and keep a more civil tongue in your head," Erik growled. He rode past the guard into the courtyard, where he surrendered his horse to a stableboy. "You may announce the arrival of... guests to Lord Charles," he told a servant as he approached the front doors. "I am Erik Løvendal of Roskilde, from Denmark, and I come to pay my respect on behalf of my house." He glanced at the others to see how they would introduce themselves.
Erik's mood soured considerably as they made their way through the disaster area of the village. When he passed the crying man, he paused to throw him a few coins, then hurried on. The flooding had him pondering what could have angered God so much as to destroy this place. The answer, he suspected, he would find not among the commoners, but with the lord of this place. When Guy spoke to the guard, Erik added, "And to pay respect to the lord. I am not from here - what might his name be?"
I'm waiting for the DM to respond to my post, or anyone else to if they like.
Erik ate his breakfast companionably with anyone who stayed to do the same, then went out to get his horse and join those headed to see the local lord. Squelching through the mud, he took stock of the surroundings, judging the relative wealth of the area as well as the damage from the storm.
Erik accepted the sake with a nod and took a swig. "This has more of a bite! But I fear it is wasted on my tongue - I am more accustomed to beer and wine." He handed the waterskin back and turned to examine Damion's mess. "How can a man control the weather? I have never heard of such a thing," he said, frowning at the alembics and vials.
Erik grinned good-naturedly - until he got a taste of the tea. Screwing up his face in dislike, he set it aside quickly. "I think I will stick to ale, my friend," he said. "I hope your father had more than that to trade!" He winked at Akio, offering the man his own cup. Having finished his meal, he looked over at what Damion was doing curiously. "What's all this apparatus? Are you a doctor yourself? You seem a learned man."
Openly astonished that yet another stranger - and such a strange one! - spoke his language, Erik roared with laughter. "You are a conundrum, my friend! If you were to understand God, I'm sure you would be the first. Let me try this drink of yours, and you will share my ale." In Danish he added, "Though I fear it is only weak pigswill!" Returning to french, he grinned mischeivously as he said, "Your Dame-yo sent you, eh? This is your wife - din dame? Truly she must be fearsome to send you so far from your home! Where is your home, Achio?"
Pleasantly surprised to find another speaker of Danish here, if a bit annoyed that his invitation had been ignored, Erik was about to respond when another stranger and the very foreign foreigner entered. He listened to the conversation with interest as he finished his meal. "Achio Riú?" The Dane mused, mangling the name a bit to sound a little Italian and French. He looked at the bladed staff curiously. "You must be far from home, not to know of our God. I am Erik Løvendal from Denmark - a country north of these. What brings you here? Are you sick?" he asked, indicating the "herbal remedy" (tea) that Akio was drinking. "Perhaps you travel to Paris, to see their doctors?"
I'm going to be pretty busy this weekend, so if I don't post in time when things move on, feel free to DMPC Erik.
"Only God may control the elements," the Northman remarked piously, but with an undertone that suggested he might be amused with Damion's suggestion. Eyeing Kraven, he said more soberly, "It is truth that men of God are needed in such times. Come, sit here, Father, and let us speak. Perhaps you might allow me to join you in visiting the local Lord? When the storm has calmed, of course." He grinned at Damion and Guy. "Let us all eat together and be as merry as poor mortals may be in such times. I am but a traveler, and have not heard much of the woes of this land, as you can see. Have any of you heard more?" A crack of thunder roared in the heavens, and for all his talk of being merry, the man frowned at the shuttered window. "The Devil's own weather," he muttered in Danish.
"No news of these parts, I'm afraid, save for the happy news of a wedding some leagues off." The Northman paused in his meal at the innkeep's words. "What manner of trouble do you speak of? Is it simply the failing crops, or are there bandits about? Or perhaps some third trouble?"
Woohoo! Thanks, DM! (And sorry, Kraven)
That doesn't really make sense for the background I'm planning for him. I would prefer to make him a Lutheran, if 1518 isn't too late for your story to work. The Reformation wouldn't have technically begun beyond some nobles reading about Luther's edicts, so the jump isn't far. Whew, scooted in under the bar to change his name to something less Viking-y!
That way Martin Luther would already have begun the Reformation, and I could make Thorfinn a Lutheran. Besides liking that idea on a conceptual level, it would mean I wouldn't have to start looking for new traits.
All right, give me some time to come up with another background and I'll try to work with it. Edit: Would it be possible to make the year after 1517?
Sitting in a corner, already wolfing down a hot meal, a man still damp from the weather sat with his fine weapons near at hand. His clothes placed him as a Northman. He snorted at Damion's assertion. "The mats are comfortable enough for a man," he advised Guy in French. To both of them he added with a grin, "Come, join me in a bit of ale that we may speak to pass the time. What news do you bring?" He didn't seem terribly put off by Damion's attitude or Guy's quarrels, but his eyes were watchful behind his cheerful expression.
Makes mine less believable, though. I'm pretty sure there were no more Vikings after around 1066.
Sorry I've been quiet, super busy weekend for me. I'll invest in a horse and post a little later.
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