On The Seventh Day ..

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Norvegr-fen

Base operations worked out of Fafnersvik, Théo had recruited a group of people to work on the establishment of Norvegr-fen. They had been busy acquiring equipment and tools, organising supplies of food and mead and hunting weapons which was all loaded onto carts before they would all head north. Théo had not ventured into these parts before, and spent a lot of his time gathering information on the area north of the great forests, and he learned that much of the position was fens, wetlands that most considered unusable, unmanageable and inhospitable. A few people lived in that area but the population was next to naught, and when he told them he was looking to establish a northern capital there, the locals would either laugh or look at him as a mad man.

The day of departure came quickly, the carts all laden pulled out of Fafnersvik and traveled the road north through the thick tall trees reaching for the sky. It was a good days ride from Fafnersvik when not accompanied with the train that followed him and so it would take them all two days to get to the edge of the fens. At least that was what the locals said. Well it took longer, an extra day in fact due to several of the carts breaking their axiles but once the repairs had been made and there was plenty of lumber to use, they would set out once more.

Théo pushed forward on the last day, going ahead to scout the area to find a suitable place for the begins of the capital. The information he had gained before was most truthful, the place was so water logged it took him many hours to get around the twisting small streams that feed the fens, but eventually he found a perfect location at the base of a large rocky outcrop, there was good solid ground there for some part, but he could tell that a lot of work was required to reclaim some of the land.

And so on the four day, they all finally arrived and got to work.

 

[Lief]

The cart which was pulled behing Raé rocked and groaned as the ground beneath them gave way to waterlogged marshland.

Mysa, who had previously been carving and fletching new arrows to replace those she had spent while hunting game for the trip North, was forced to set her creations aside in favour of properly grasping the reins and steering her beloved mare to stronger ground. On the cart seat beside her lay the Arm of Éar, a bow she had crafted before she forsake Midvinter in search of true Jedi out there in the Galaxy, with one arrow already knocked it was easily within reach should man or creature try to do her and hers harm.

Four days they had been on the road. Aside from the odd Frir, much larger than Felix who was resting on the back of her cart amidst the supplies it carried, and one or two Alk the path had been rather quiet... Aside from the sound of various horses, carts, and singing Valkyri who marched alongside them toward the place which had been decided upon by [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] who had scouted ahead.

Her brother was a little in over his head, she knew. Not that she would voice as much infront of his men. The newly proclaimed Warden of the Northmark, he was responsible for forging a foothold in the North which would eventually lead to prosperity and growth as men and women made their way into his borders. It wasn't something either of them had done before, so she couldn't claim she'd be of much use, but when all of the locals to this region told you that you were crazy for even attempting to make this region livable, well... You had to wonder how right they were.

As she came upon the construction site, which had just begun to fill with workers and supplies, Mysa slowed Raé to a halt and dismounted the cart. With a short whistle Felix was roused from his sleep and the Frir cub came to her side as she walked around to the mare's front to place the feed bag over her mouth.

"Attagirl," she whispered, as she rubbed along her nose, "You did good, Raé."

The journey had been tough insofar as the ground conditions went, yet she had barely even stumbled. Mysa had watched diligently, ensuring that she didn't twist her ankles or get her hooves caught. As far as she could tell no harm had come to the creature, but she'd get her checked over once the cart was unloaded all the same.

In the distance she spotted her brother. As much as she wanted to rush to his side, after all they had barely seen one another in the past four days being that Mysa had veered off in search of food so frequently, she knew that her duty right now was to get the supplies where they needed to go. As such she hitched Raé to a nearby scraggly tree and began to heft sacks and crates toward the stockpile with Felix close at her heel.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He had not been alone on his scouting ahead of the rest of the main group making their way toward his location. He knew a man that knew a man, and it was to him they had traveled, a local in these parts that knew the fens like the back of his hand. He was a gruff looking fellow, as wild as the fens themselves in all appearance but resting in his chest a gentle heart. He had doubted the mind of both his friend and the new comer to these parts, the appointed Norbæn Véurr, for undertaking such a thing as establishing a city here, but he knew there were places within the fens that could be suitable. Not all of it was marshland after all and in the center was more solid ground at the base of a large rocky outcrop, and so he had shown them the place and it was perfect.

The three of them stood pouring over a hand drawn map of the fens, "The outcrop goes back a ways, and would provide plenty of work for your stone masons Milord, the rock is hard and would do for the foundations", the man called Kerr informed them, then turned toward the waters. "This river feeds the fens, comes from parts further north and continues to the south of here", his wide sweeping arm gave them the direction of the flow. "Over the other bank the ground is set on stone but the rest of the fens are naught but marshes and peat bogs". He looked at them both knowing they had their work cut out for them, but it could be done.

"Soren", Théo turned to his friend from Fafnersvik, "Have the mason set up around the outcrop, they know their part in this, and they can start work after they have rested up from the journey. As soon as we set up the temporary dams we can get the rest to work". Théo stood and rolled up the map, all the leaders of the group knew what was to be done and everyone was eager to get started. The people of the Northmark were all happy that they would soon have a capital they could call their own. This was a large undertaking, Théo knew that and against much difficulty in the terrain but he had had experience in helping to construct something in more inhospitable conditions and a much larger project. The Pantheon of Ilum, home of the Iron Empire's Legion of which he was their Praetor. However, this was different, on Ilum they had modern tech to help, here it would Valkyri style and it was time for everyone to roll up their sleeves.

But before this, he wanted to see Mysa and he found her over with the supply carts. "Hey Wiggles", he gave his sister a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He would need her on this one, and he was so pleased she was here with him now. "You doubt my sanity too?", he grinned at her, but he was eager to show her the plans he had drawn up for the city itself. Already he would see she had began to organise the supplies and set up the main camp in which they would all sleep and eat and get to know everyone. And for the next few months Norvegr-fen would be a tent city.

​

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

Mysa breathed out a long breath of hot air.

She hadn't realized just how much the cart had been carrying. Countless trips had been made between the cart and the stockpile, and even though the distance between the two was insignificant her back was sore barely half way through.

This is what happens when you exist away from manual labour for a while, Mysa... You become weak!

And it was true, the amenities afforded to those in the greater Galaxy made it so that so little had to actually be done by hand. Even those who had to cart around goods did so by use of repulsor vehicles. Leaning back with her hands on her hips she heard a few bones creak and crack, little pops which felt simultaneously wonderful and agonizing.

The voice of her Brother pulled her from her thoughts, and hardly a moment passed before his arms embraced her and a kiss was settled to her cheek.

"Leadership suits you, Fishbrain," she retorted with a grin, "Are you doing okay? I can help wherever needed, you know that?" From jesting to concern, Mysa's questions were actually spoken with a softer voice than she even usually used, which was saying something as this particular girl had always been quiet, not wishing for others to hear. It wasn't in her nature to intentionally embarrass him, after all.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He gave her a bit of a smile at her comment about leadership, whether it suited him or not he did not really know, it just seemed to come with life in the family and he supposed he had been born to it, but he had never really given it any thought. And it always commanded a price on anyone that was in any kind of leadership position, sometimes it is a lack of sleep from long hours of pouring over documents or maps or whatever the project is at the time, but these are the least of concerns. The more pressing demand is when you as a leader have the lives of people in your hands, those that would follow you into war and knowing that they might not return to their beloveds. Every time someone under your command dies, a part of you dies with them. It is not a burden wished upon anyone, so he does it.

"I could use all the help you can offer Mysa. There is so much to do here and I can't be everywhere .. so thank you", he offered her a smile while leaning forward to kiss her temple. "We should see about getting the tents up for the workers before night comes, got a feeling it is going to be chilly", or damp or both. Either way the fires needed to be lit and they had plenty of dry wood on the carts all ready for them to use until they can provide for themselves with the local timber.

"But look .. ", he said pulling out a piece of paper which he spread out on the back of one of the carts. "This is my drawing of the city's plans. This area here .. ", he pointed to a spot on the map which he knew to have the most solid ground, "Is where I would need your help", on the map was the marking of the Keeps in which the food and grains traded from the southmark would be stored.

"The mason and the carpenters will be working on temporary dams so we can hold back the waters until the stone foundations are in place, which is going to take a couple of weeks, but in the mean time .. take a group of them and have them start immediately on the Keeps". His eyes where on the piece of paper, still pouring over it see if there was something he had missed.

So he decided to have Mysa give her opinion and maybe there was something lacking in his plans she would catch, "You think this is enough? .. have I forgotten something?".

​

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​

 

[Lief]

Truth be told, Mysa was grateful to have dipped under the radar where leadership duties were concerned. It had afforded her a little more freedom, the ability to hone her hunting abilities, to wander and roam, and to ultimately choose her own path with the help of [member="Théodred Heavenshield"] upon returning to Midvinter. She did not lust for glory, or power, she was happy to be a cog in the greater mechanics of their world.

"Tents I can do, but so can most everyone else here. You're right, though, we should get them set up, as well as a couple for storing wood and supplies. We can't afford to have our firewood dampen. Speaking of, we should have the fires started too before it gets much darker."

When he pulled out a piece of parchment she glanced over it and found the plans for the City housed upon it. She knew her job now, to coordinate the Keep-building efforts, but when he asked for her input on the City itself she glanced over every square inch of the parchment and pondered for a few moments.

"I think it's important we get a lot of the basic infrastructure out of the way before we get too far in. For instance, there are natural springs in the mountains nearby. Would it be too large a task to plan for some aqueducts? Even if we don't construct them right away, we could make sure there's space left to add them in?"

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Naturally, the fens are one big body of water but Mysa was right. In the short term they would do with what they had, and filter the water of the fens for drinking but that would have to change as the city grew and her idea was brilliant and doable. The master craftsmen and women of this planet are nothing short of ingenious when it comes to this, to making things with their bare hands and clever minds it would be a large undertaking that would be possible. And the likes of nothing Midvinter had ever seen before.

"Aquaducts? .. Mysa you are brilliant", he said with a smile before turn his smile to her. He looked at the overall map of Midvinter or rather the Northmark, there was not as many mountain rangers in this part of the continent so building the aquaducts would be much easier than in the Westmark and they had natural feeds of fresh water through the large rivers that crossed this land. "Once we establish the city here we can get to work on them. But first night approaches quickly and lets get to organising the tents and fires. It has already been a long day for everyone".

There was not much they all could do with the rest of daylight afforded to them, and it was best all the weary travelers got a good nights rest before work proper started on the rise of the Sun God. Théo looked at the waning light as his gaze turned to the sky, "Grandpapa will smile on us tomorrow". It would be a clear day and the though of him 'watching' over them both was wonderful indeed.

He placed his arm around her shoulders as they walked toward the main camp area, already fires where lit and tents raised, other in the process of doing so, even some of the women had started the fires under their large cooking cauldrons and the smell of stew already hit the air. He loved his people, looking around the place at everyone here so excited by this project, their ingenuity in getting on with it, they all knew exactly what needed to be done and in a way unique to the rest of the galaxy. Regardless of whether they knew someone well or not, everyone was welcome to partake in the fare that was offered. He supposed it all came back to the conditions of Midvinter, everyone was so depended on each other for survival, no one was left out in the cold.

"You got rid of your snoring habit yet?", he teased his sister, however he would not share a tent with anyone but her ever. Well apart from Ylva and Boo.

​

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]​