| Widow's Web | ||
| Date Started: June 30, 2024 Date Finished: Ongoing Next Role-Play: Timeline: January 10, 1619 Setting: Elbaf Characters Involved:
| ||
| Participants | ||
| User:EmperorKamui • User:Blackdagger01 | ||
The King and the Horse[]
Bullshit. That was all that echoed through the head of the giantess, the great Angrboda of the Bestla clan of Elbaf. She was a noble, proud and strong, but she was not the one upon the throne. That throne, occupied by the powerful, yet cowardly Heidrun Thrymr gave her directives that filled her with nothing but hatred. She was not of his crew, but still treated as one of his foolish subordinates.
The noblewoman heard rumors of a Poneglyph being out in the seas, one that could generate endless wealth and fame for the nation of Elbaf. However, Thrymr possessed no desire for this, the infamous Laugh Tale. Truly, not even Angrboda truly sought the island for her own needs, but for the esteem of the nation and her clan. However, her journey led to her meeting with the frozen bitch of the Legion Pirates, Baal. It didn't matter if the fight was won or lost, but as soon as it was reported to Thyrmr by some fool in her own ranks - she was ordered to fall back. Such a retreat looked weak, undignified, and went against her very nature.
And after a journey home, she found herself in the court of the cowardly king. "Angrboda, I have told you I don't mind if you operate your own crew. However, you are still a citizen of this nation, my nation, and you have ignored my one demand. Do not engage with the Legion Pirates!"
"Why do you cower from those ants, Thrymr!? Are you not the king of Elbaf, the mightiest of the nations!? It should be the Blacklight ordering his troops away from us, not the other way around!" shouted the woman, tired of Thrymr's passiveness.
Thyrmr raised his spear and walked towards her. "I do not fear Caesar, woman. I am one of the few alive who could combat him. I simply do not want an unneeded war brought to my shores! We have suffered enough due to that traitorous mutt, a mutt that struck them too! I do not want to engage in a battle with that madman or the Fleet Admiral unless it was fully necessary."
Looking her up and down, Thrymr's face remained grim. "Return to your home, Angrboda. Until the moon has fully cycled across the sky, I forbid you from leaving this island. I say this not as a captain, but as your king." The man gave no time for her to respond, withdrawing into the throne room of the grand castle.
Angrboda was left alone with her anger, her growing distaste for the man palpable. She looked over to see the lone person in the room with them, the eldest serving of the so called Jotunn: Norn. "I grow tired of him, Norn. The way he primps and preens himself as if he was born for that throne. No, he was merely lucky to have won it."
Norn stood, cross armed in her metal and furs. "You speak in anger, Angrboda. I know that you know that he means well, loss eats at his heart. He would not see more of it if it can be avoided. The humans know their place, Caesar would not dare come here without reason. Giving him one will prove nothing." She tried to calm the fellow giantess down before she said or did something that could not be taken back. She never trusted Angrboda or her clan but she supported and fought alongside them as it was Thrymr's wish that it be so.
"Perhaps a pint to calm the nerves is in order? It is one of the few times a good bit of ale can lead to wiser decisions don't you agree?" Norn offered the woman a chance to head to a bar to calm down.
Angrboda nodded, agreeing to the pint. As the two got to drinking, her anger did not subside. "I don't understand how you so blindly follow him. A hybrid under a king that mistrusts them, at least the human ones. A king that toils in his castle while the world gladly advances beyond him," the giantess slammed her pint down.
"Worst of all, a king who disrespects you. Have you not been his underling for years? Even prior to him marrying Embla? Yet he seems to give you nothing, but the moment his brat returns home - she must get special training from all of us. Have you not proven your worth to him? Or is it he can toss you aside for being a hybrid or anything he cannot fully trust?"
Standing up, Angrboda looked at Norn. "Now a brat not even half your age is your rank, hell, above you with her other titles, all because she was given special training by him. I wouldn't stand for it if I were you, and I grow tired of being expected to sit for him on any account. Why not join me, Norn? The king and the horse are both powerful in their own right, the old man being the king and you the horse. Why does he sit above? The answer is instinct, don't let yours be blinded by devotion to him. Together, we could remake Elbaf back into its warrior image."
"Skadi is his child and his favorite one at that. It makes sense she would be treated differently, she is to be the next Queen of Elbaf. You can't expect a mere commander to be treated the same, Angrboda. Regardless of my feelings on the matter you speak of dangerous things, treasonous things. You forget yourself and your place. I will forgive only this once as I know you speak in anger and frustration, you need to trust that Thrymr is doing what is best for us until proven otherwise. It is because I've spent so long at his side that I have such faith in him, You couldn't possibly understand." Norn responded, she did not look Angrboda in the eyes, not wanting to believe that the woman could be suggestion what it seemed she was.
"What did she call you back then? Stray dog? I guess that's true," Angrboda said as she stood. She slammed the cup down, shattering it and the table it was on. She looked at Norn as if she was a blind idiot, too foolish to understand her decisions.
Angrboda looked at the scattered debris for merely a moment as she gathered her words. Finally, the giantess opened her mouth once more. "Show a stray the smallest bit of affection and it won't mind all the other abuses," Angrboda began to walk away. As she reached the exit, she looked back.
"If you change your mind, Spidey, just let me know. The webs of your fate are in your hands."
Norn's face flushed red at Angrboda's cruel words, wanting to say something back but she could not find the words and as the woman left with her parting words Norn slammed her fist upon the table.
Angrboda's words were treasonous, cruel, but they held a pang of truth to them as much as she regretted acknowledging that. There was little that Thrymr could do that would shake her faith in him but did that truly make her a dog? Was loyalty such a sin? It was true that long ago the Ragnarok Pirates were feared far beyond the borders of Elbaf. Was their reputation waning? And if it was wouldn't that put the giants outside of their borders at risk?
Letting out a sigh she decided to take a piece of advice from the young Skadi, advice she'd scoffed at when first it had been given, and drank her troubles away for the night. She would seek council with Thyrmr come morning.
Web of Fate[]
With the morning came sobriety and with it, clarity. Though Angrboda's words still gnawed viciously at the back of her mind she approached the castle with resolve in her faith and loyalty to Thyrmr and what was best for Elbaf. She would avoid bringing up the things she'd heard from Angrboda the night before, not wanting to see her head taken for words spoken in anger and frustration. Norn knew all too well feelings such as those, mostly toward herself.
Thrymr sat at a great desk, looking over documentation for his great island, his kingdom. He was in full view of Norn, the commander that he trusted fully, but seemed so far away. If the woman wanted to speak with him though, she faced a road block: Heidrun Skadi.
"Come on, dad!" I just want to know about your journey as a pirate! How can I rule like you if you won't tell me these things!?" wined the princess. Her hair was far longer now, tied in a long braid and wearing an outfit of black and silver. She looked the part of a warrior princess and a commander, but still complained like a child in many way.
"I told you, Skadi, I am busy. Wait another time!" commanded the king in frustration. He could never remain angry at her for long, but was clearly annoyed in the present. Skadi sighed and rolled her eyes, looking at their new guest.
"Norn! Can you tell me anything? He is so stingy," Skadi said as she ran up to the armored giantess. She clung to her like she did when she was little, acting like a cute little sister. Perhaps she was just trying to get her way, but their was a bit of truth to Skadi's affection - even if she sometimes was cruel.
Norn's eyes averted from Skadi's, the words Angrboda had reminded her of nipped at her. A stray dog... Skadi was the same rank as her, though she lacked the years and experience, she clung to her like a child and begged for a story. But she still cared for the girl, she had witnessed her birth and had helped to raise her. Skadi was like an, albeit annoying, little sister to her.
Yet the girl knew where to hit her where it hurt and hadn't held back in doing so in the past. There were, at times, a feeling that the love and care was not shared equally both ways.
Trying to play off her unwillingness to look Skadi in the eye as her thinking she let out an audible "hmmm..." as though trying to recall a story to share with the girl.
She was about to tell Skadi that she would tell her a story at a later time when suddenly a memory from long ago found its way to the forefront of her mind. Taking Skadi by the shoulders she gently removed the woman from her and nodded her head. "I just remembered one."
"When I was about your age, no... maybe a few years young, your father had caught wind if an island inhabited by giants that was soon to be attacked by the Marines for the resources it harbored. Upon arriving there we found two tribes of giants, they had been one only weeks ago but the news of the World Government's plans to take their island had found their ears as well." Norn started, remembering arriving on the island with the intention of helping the giants there.
"One group wanted to deal with the marines peacefully, attempt to offer the resources of the island in exchange for trade and beri. The other did not want to associate with the World Government in any way and were prepared to fight. Of course, we took the side of the giants who wished to fight for their island." Norn continued, looking to Thrymr and she could see just from the expression on his face that he too remembered the story she was telling and how it ended.
Norn's eyes became sorrowful but she continued all the same, "The giants wishing to fight the marines gladly accepted our help and we were glad to help them. The marines would be there in only a few days time. But when they arrived on the island there wasn't a living giant left there, not to barter for peace or to fight for sovereignty. You see, the leaders of the two groups were brothers and with each having their own idea of how to handle the situation they couldn't see eye to eye on anything. While we slept soundly on our ship, the leader of the rebel group, Snoori, seemingly having come to the conclusion that there could be not peace not only between the marines and themselves but also between the them and the giants who desired peace, led his rebel giants to war against the others."
"It was the sound of crackling fire and screams of pain that woke us. Your father was on the deck before myself but we both saw the towering column of smoke rising from the camp the peaceful giants had made. Your father quickly formed a party of the giants who'd been awoken and made their way to the deck to go see what the commotion was. I followed closely behind, I was sure the marines had somehow gotten to the island early and attacked."
She shook her head, face scrunching in frustration as she finished the story, "When we arrived there wasn't a marine in sight, the two groups had slaughtered each other. Only Snoori remained sitting propped up against the side of the longhouse, some fatal wound already dealt to him by who he never said. He held his guts in with his hands, the sword that had done it tossed aside. When your father demanded an answer as to what was going on Snoori said his brother was a coward and would lead the island to ruin, that he'd had to be stopped. Those were his final words, I saw the light leave his eyes. Your father cursed and we spent the night burying the bodies. We left before dawn, the island nothing more than a painful memory now."
Norn wasn't sure why that memory of all of them had come to the surface, why it seemed to resonate with her more now than even back then. Where once she simply felt sorrow and grief for the loss of the island and its people she now felt as though it meant more now than ever before. A premonition.
Thrymr briefly looked up at both of them as Norn spoke, but merely nodded. He trusted the woman, and the woman would give the harsh truth of the reality of the Ragnarok Pirates before they conquered Elbaf. Skadi would learn that to rule was not an endless cocktail party, but that lives hung in the balance - that treachery was always a companion.
Skadi looked down. "I... I didn't know. I guess I always imagined you and dad were the heroes... the winners. I didn't think..." Skadi tried to speak, but closed her eyes. To lead was an honor, but also a burden as this story showed. She was a warrior, she liked to fight, she was confident in herself, but to hear this was shaking. "How were you strong enough to handle that?" she asked, looking only at Norn. She wasn't concerned about her father, she knew how he was for better or worse, but Skadi - despite her trust in Norn - felt like she really only knew the bare essentials.
"Because I'd seen worse before, even at that young age." Norn responded without hesitation, her time as a slave had been hell, but before she had been freed that hell was all she'd known. "Were it not for the guidence of your father I may very well have hardened my heart to it, but its thanks to him and the others that sailed with us that I let that grief teach me a lesson. I'd expected such behavior from humans but from fellow giants... It had shocked me. However misguided one or the other may have been they both loved their island, loved it to death in fact. Regardless of their differences and their different methods, there should be no hate between those who want whats best for the people they love.
Norn patted the smaller giant on her shoulder and smiled softly, "You should take that to heart and thank the Gods that you can learn it second-handly. Is that enough of story time for now? If you're really interested, I can tell you some more light-hearted ones another time. I do have some good ones that might make you see dear ole daddy in a different light," She playfully winked at Skadi.
"Was kinda hoping for a more fun one from the start, but got what I asked for," Skadi said with nod, her emotions slowly returning the normal. She looked up to Norn, literally and metaphorically. Sometimes it was hard to believe all Norn had been through, and Skadi didn't know nearly the full of it. Shaking her head, Skadi's grin finally returned.
"Thanks Norn, and yeah - next one let's go happier," grinned Skadi as she began to walk from the room.
"Beggers can't be choosers, Skadi." Norn responded as the Princess began leaving the room.
Thrymr looked up from his desk as he heard her walking. "If you are done pestering Norn and I, go work on your infusing! Your mastery is not quite achieved yet!" demanded the Dread King. He watched as Skadi waved him off, a simple agreement. It was likely the girl was on her way to do so regardless. With that, the king turned to Norn.
"Don't indulge her too much. I wish to see her as a great queen one day, but I don't want her to emulate me," firmly stated Thrymr, but he seemed to focus on Norn before turning away. "You seem troubled, what is it?"
Norn stood up straight before the Dread King, her captain, and the man he respected most in the world. "Fear not, I know you'd sooner her take after herself and learn on her own. Though I do think she could benefit from hearing of your leadership and wisdom, and your mistakes however few." Norn responded, feeling comfortable enough to speak her mind to the man even if it contradicted his own thoughts on the matter.
However, though she'd had no issue speaking her mind before, she seemed to hesitate now. She bit her lip, unsure of exactly how to say what she wanted to say next. "Sir, I have absolute faith in your decisions and I would follow your every word through the gates of hell and into Ragnarok itself. But... Do you perhaps think that you were a bit harsh to Angraboda?"
Norn cleared her throat, "I mean, she seemed quite upset after you returned to your bed chambers. As giants, it is in our nature to fight and seek out strong opponents. I don't think she meant to spite you by fighting the Legion's Senior officer. You know how I feel about the woman, I don't trust her. But I do believe that she wants what is best for Elbaf the same as you, I think we all do. She simply has different ideas on how to go about it."
Thrymr looked at the wall for a moment. "Perhaps I should. I know, too, she respects you, even if she doesn't always show it. Maybe more parables will guide her to where she needs to be." However, when she spoke of Angrboda, he fully focused on her. Standing from his chair, he kept eye contact with her as he walked closer.
"Maybe I was, but all I want its the safety of my kingdom and my people," spoke the king solemnly. "However, her actions invite the attention of those who would disrupt that peace. I can survive a clash with Caesar, as I have in the past, or with Kyojin. But how many of all of our troops would perish over a stalemate?" Thrymr shook his head, as if he could see the event play out.
"I believe Angrboda does want the best for Elbaf, but her vision clashes with mine. So long as the crown belongs to me, I will bear its weight. I do not need her attempting to lessen its load."
Reaching out to Norn, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "And when I do need to share its burden... I have few I truly trust, but I have Skadi and I have you amongst them."
"..." Norn remained quiet, hesitant to speak now with Thyrmr's answer given. She did not know what to say and she already feared having spoken out of turn. Lowering her head, the heavy armor she wore like a shell she could retreat into.
"I apologize, if I spoke out of turn. I meant no disrespect, I simply... Don't like to see giants fighting amongst one another. We've enough of those craving our blood without craving each others after all. I'll try to speak with her again, to see if she is well and if she can come to understand your vision of things." Norn responded, conviction in her tone but a deep sense of unease in her heart.
"Forgive me for bothering you over such a trivial matter. I know you're busy. May I be dismissed?"
Thrymr shook his head. "You have not spoken out of turn, I trust your voice more than that of the nobles who all seek their own glory. I agree with you, I want the great guardianship of this island, my island, to extend to all its people. If you so wish, you have my permission. If it is favorable, let me know and I may revisit her punishment," spoke the Dread King as he began to turn away.
As he opened a door to retire to a separate room, he looked back for a moment. "I will not pry, but you still seemed troubled. Know you are not a burden for me, you are dismissed." With that simple statement, the king closed the door and left Norn to her devices.
As the door closed behind Thyrmr Norn let out a sigh, more conflicted than ever. Should she have simply told him about the things Angraboda had said? Would the weight of the situation have changed in mind in any way? Or would it have simply gotten Angrboda killed her talks of treason? "What should I do...?" She spoke under her breath before taking her leave.
Once out of the palace and in the cool air of Elbaf once more she took in a deep breath to try and clear her mind. She wanted to believe the things Angraboda had said last night were done in anger and frustration. The only way to know for sure would be to see her again and whether or not she'd cooled down after a night of rest.
And so that's what she did, beginning her trek toward Angrboda's abode.
House of Bestla[]
The House of Angrboda, the Bestla clan, was alive and well. They were a clan that focused on the might of the sword and produced the finest swordsman in Elbaf. She stood as its head, the highest authority of the clan outside of the throne of the nation. Her ire had not tied down, confined to her mighty estate by Thrymr like a child to their room by their parent. However, the estate included its land and that gave means for her voice to be heard.
Members of their clans and close allies met under her. She gathered them for a purpose: to dispose of the king. "Thrymr spent his time at seas for a noble cause, but he ran from our great island for years. He only returned when he had the chance to claim the throne for himself. He is strong, but he is a coward!" shouted Angrboda. Some of the gather giants cheered.
"I offer a chance to rid the throne of such a coward and to not let it be inherited by his foolish daughter. With me, I offer us a return to the great warrior nation we were always meant to be!" Angrboda raised her blade. In her mind, this was the best course of action to redeem herself and her home. No longer would they stay hidden from the World Government and the Blacklight, but shine greater than them.
Norn stared in shock at the crowed of gathered Bestla clan members listening and cheering to the treasonous words of Angrboda and all that she stood for. She instantly regretted suggesting even if only to herself that Angrboda had simply been frustrated. One does not speak so passionately without premeditation. It was clear that these feelings had been brewing in the woman's head for some time.
The armored giant spat upon the ground though she knew better than to speak up amongst the crowd. Tensions were high, and though she had little doubt in her mind she could battle more than the number here she did not want to shed the blood of giants if she did not have to. Things were devolving faster than she'd believed they were and worst of all she felt a bit relieved that her distrust toward Angrboda had not been unfounded. That sense of relief turned in her gut to create a disgusting feeling as she knew that she should feel the opposite. This is indeed the worst outcome after all.
Swallowing that feeling down, she waited for the speech to be finished and for Angrboda to step from her 'soapbox' before moving to approach her.
"You organize quickly, Angrboda. Or was this perhaps in planning for longer than your chat last night would have me believe?" She walked toward her, a casual caution in her body language. If Angrboda could stoop this low Norn didn't know how little honor the woman posessed.
"I see the stray dog has come to visit," jabbed Angrboda at Norn. Angrboda's words were sharp, each syllable dripping with mockery as she addressed the Jotunn as she grinned at the spider giantess. "There are those in my clan who always prepared for an unworthy king. We haven't had to act on it, not even with the dead fool Narfi, but the time has come."
Angrboda raised her mighty sword to her shoulder and looked Norn up and down. "So I ask, Norn, why did you come? Have you finally decided that enough is enough - that we are worthy of so much more?"
With a simple step, Angrboda challenged Norn. "Or do you with the cling to that fool and be my foe as well. I challenged you before, are you the king or the horse? I suppose for you there is the third option our dearest princess laid out for you. Will you be a king, one deserving respect and loyalty? Or perhaps you are the horse - a mere servant, subservient and lacking in authority? Or worst of all, are you destined to remain a stray - an outcast, unwanted and ignored."
Norn remained stoic before the woman, looking down at her with her golden eyes. "And what will you do once you have the throne? Who will sit upon it? You? Another? What of the Ragnarok pirates? You cannot expect me to turn by back on them if all you have to offer are promises of respect. What would become of the royal family?" Norn asked, wanting to hear for certain that the woman had a plan and wasn't just spouting all manner of sweet nothings.
The giantess grinned. "You know how most of Elbaf is run, might makes right. I know not all giants will accept me, but the majority would be victory alone. All who disagree, well, we have prisons and executions," said Angrboda as she began to approach Norn.
"Thrymr will be given what he truly desires - to be reunited with his wife. As for his children, I'm not heartless. Surtr toils away in his room endlessly and Nott mostly sleeps. If they pledge loyalty, they can just be returned to the Heidrun estate under Helblindi's custody. I'm sure that blind fool won't mind freedom from his endless missions and his daughter being freed from Thrymr's paranoia," explained the noble giantess.
Stabbing the tip of her sword in the earth just before Norn, Angrboda glared at her. "As for Skadi, well, as much as I've grown to like her, she will put up a fight. She's daddy's favorite after all, the one destined to become queen. Sadly, much like Thrymr, it would be best to put her down. Perhaps you can be the one to do it. Show her you are more than just a stray, hm?"
Norn stared back at Agnrboda, remaining calm in the face of the treasonous dog that stood before her. Taking in a deep breath through her nose, Norn exhaled slowly from her mouth. "Know that what I do I do for the good of all of Elbaf, may the gods find forgiveness for me in their hearts." She spoke not to Angrboda but to herself. Reaching up she unhooked her cloak from her breastplate before she threw it in front of her blocking Angrboda's sightline and with that, any hope she might see what was about to occur.
Norn vanished, like a ghost in the night. The tall giant woman would seem to have teleported away. This was not true however, as just as she had disappeared she did appear again. She'd grown smaller and then quickly grew again with explosive force did she aim a punch directly under Angrboda's chin. She knew the woman would not go down so easily and so she was prepared to kill her if she was given no other choice. Threatening Thrymr and Skadi made her too dangerous to be left to her own devices for even a moment longer.
Angrboda slashed through the cape with honed reflexes, aiming to cut the half-breed as well. However, with the sudden disappearance of Norn, Angrboda seemed shocked The gears in her head churned until the recalled the power of the woman. She used her Kenbunshoku Haki to feel the presences around her and pinpointed the pen point woman. However, her speed allowed Angrboda to do little but coat her chin and neck with Busoshoku Haki as the spider suddenly reappeared with an uppercut.
Launched back, Angrboda stabbed her blade into the ground and came to halt. "Nice moves, spidey. Almost forgot you could shrink. I don't recall you pulling such a move on the princess, you must have been going easy on her," spat the swordswoman as she removed her blade from the earth. Clinching it with both hands, a fiery aura overtook it. She swung it with great intensity, sending a powerful shockwave towards Norn. Rather it struck the Fate Weaver or not, the power of the attack would be displayed with a mighty explosion to distract her - if not injure her. "Great Stjarna!"
Norn drew her own blade, swinging in the same motion in which she unsheathed it to cut through the shockwave with an airslash of her own. The ground shook and snow fell from the nearby trees from the force of Angrboda's attack but the Fate Weaver remained unshaken. In fact, with a wiggling of her fingers did it appear she had something in mind.
With a simple whistle, she commanded the insurgents to disperse away from their duel. Their mission was clear - the castle itself. Once Angrboda squashed the bug, she would join them in their takeover to bring down Thrymr. "Alright Norn, I see you'd rather follow the Dread King and his brat into hell." Kicking off the ground with literal explosive force, Angrboda readied the heated blade with a lunge towards Norn's chest. The force of her explosive strength could pierce her armor, she just needed to end the fight quickly.
Seemingly all of the giants present heeded Angrboda's command, but with a twitch of Norn's fingers did two charge. The first stepped in front of Norn taking the blow head on. Ran through entirely by Angrboda's blade. It was clear from the look in the giant's eye that this had not been their intention but they had no control over their actions.
Nor did the next as Norn pushed the quickly fading giant forward to try and push down Angrboda while the other giant wrapped in her webs swung their warhammer down toward Angrboda's head.
Though Norn was no pushover in a one on one fight, she thrived on the battlefield surrounded by friends and foes alike. She'd turned brother against brother, father against son, the weaver of not only her own fate but that of all that dared to stand against her. Though she hated that it had to be giants this time around she would not allow treason to go unpunished.
"Die by the hands of those who trusted you, Angrboda!"
Angrboda used the strength of her arm and shoulder to sling the dying giant past her - expertly unsheathing her sword with a back grip as the body dropped to the earth. As the dying giant's body crashed to the ground, she pivoted on her heel, her sword already poised for the next threat. The warhammer swung dangerously close, and Angrboda’s instincts flared as she dodged the blow, feeling the rush of air as it missed her by a hair's breadth.
The giant, still partially ensnared in Norn’s web, was disoriented and vulnerable. The giant's confused eyes reflected the horror of the battle he was trapped in. Angrboda’s heart twisted at the sight, knowing these giants were not acting of their own volition, but she had no choice but to fight on. She filled in blade with explosive power, designed to blow away the living captive from Norn's control.
Angrboda’s resolve hardened. She aimed her blade at Norn, beginning a series of sword lunges. Her strikes were relentless, each blow carefully aimed to wound vital. Angrboda spoke against Norn, her gaze strong and unyielding. "You can manipulate the giants, but you cannot control the will of those who fight. My will shall not falter, even if you turn my brothers against me."
"You speak sweet nothings, Angrboda! Meaningless words, I don't need their will. I need only their bodies be they living or dead, a punishment fitting of treason!" Norn responded, side stepping her first thrust and pulling back her arm as she moved back with each subsequent attack. The first dead giant with a hole in their chest rose again and moved to attack the red-haired traitor. The blown apart corpse of the other, still useful even in this state, its arms reached out toward Angrboda's feet to try and trip her up.
And while the two controlled corpses made their move, Norn did as well, puckering her lips she spat out a quick splot of her venom aimmed directly for Angrboda's face. The paralitic venom needed only to find an entrance into her body. Eyes, nose, mouth, Angrboda would learn that loyalty alone was not the only reason that Norn was the right hand of Thrymr.
Angrboda raised her blade, using it as a shield from the venom. Only a fool wouldn't mind the fangs of a serpent or a spider. The venom splattered against the blade, sizzling from the residual heat. Droplets landed on her skin; however, without an open wound, it lacked its true potency. Angrboda instead filled her blade with her explosive energy once more.
The bomb woman stabbed the blade into the ground. With this, we released a powerful explosion that was meant to harm Norn and incinerate the corpses of her fallen comrades. A viking funeral was common in her clan, just the land would have to do here. As the dust cleared, Angrboada would have appeared behind Norn, taking the position she just fled from.
"I'm not sure if I admire your loyalty or think of you all the worse for it, Norn. A king who will only ever see you as a tool, a princess who will only ever see you as a dog. They don't love you Norn, you aren't his child or a bottle of booze for the girl," Norn said as she readied her blade. She swung the sword as though she were using Ikoku Sovereignty, but infused her power into it. "Nuking Sovereignty!"
Norn opened her mouth, tongue quickly weaving webs to create a shield in front of her as the explosion was set off. The heat and power of that explosion burned away her shield but not before protecting her from the shockwave of the blast. In all the fire and flames she had not lost track of Angrboda, the woman's intent was as easy to read as words on a page if not easier thanks to the malice she held.
As Angrboda appeared behind her, readying her attack Norn was already readying her own counter, drawing her sword and as Angrboda let off her attack Norn turned and with a powerful downward swing did she rend the tornadic attack in two. The explosive force of the attack sending Norn sliding backwards. Spider legs shot from her sides and dug into the ground, slowing her down to a stop as over a hundred feet had been created between the two.
"You'll never understand, Angrboda. Your loyalty lies only with yourself, with power and with an insatiable hunger for battle. You talk of the lack of love in others but I see no love in you either." Norn spat onto the ground, "You wish to sieze power for yourself, to wear the crown you have no right to challenge, and you'd sacrifice any number of your own people to have it." Norn spoke as her body transformed, growing larger as she took on her hybrid form.
With eight legs her speed was greatly increased and with her exoskeleton Angraboda would need to put more effort into her explosions to make a dent. Raising her arms up high into the air they grew and grew like an inflating balloon until they seemed to eclipse the sun in the sky, "For the record, I've never liked you one bit." She commented before bringing her interlocked hands down toward Angrboda.
Angrboda began to infused her sword with both Haki and explosive energy, with the weapon gaining an eerie dark glow to it as she did. Norn focused herself as she launched herself into the air with explosive power from her fear. "Mistletoe Spearing!" shouted Angrboda as she launched herself as a rocket. The trajectory she chose allowed her to speed past the increased size of Norn's hands.
Flying through the gap in her arms, Angrboda began to radiate her Haoshoku Haki. She may lack the power to infuse it, but she could still make the power work in active combat. The powerful blade threatened to pierce through Norn's armored forehead. "I don't care if you don't like me! I gave you a chance and you blew it!" declared the woman as her explosive power peaked.
Norn's arms slammed into the ground with quaking force, shattering the dirt and sending it high into the air, all for naught as Angrboda moved in for her attack. As she felt the wave of haoshoku wash over her she reared back a bit and released her own to clash with it. As the two power color of the conqueror waves clashed together Angrboada was momentarily held in place in the air as their haki clashed.
Not one to lose out on an opening Norn raised her front legs, coating them in busoshoku haki and thrusting them forward seeking to impale the other giant upon them. It was risk reward, if she failed then Angrboda's attack would be undefendable and she would take a devastating blow. But if she won out, the traitor would die.
Angrboda explosive attack would remain, lunging her weapon towards Norn's legs. The blackened blade was full of all of her power - if only she was valued enough to infuse her Haoshoku like the bratty daughter of the king, assuming she had it. Instead, Angrboda continued to radiate the power as she clashed her blade with Norn. "Get blown away!" shouted Angrboda as a powerful explosion went off.
As the explosion radiated, Angrboda felt sharp pains - the spider legs of Norn piercing into her. No longer did she need to worry about falling, she was stuck in place. She knew it was fatal wounds, but all she could do was look at Norn in disdain. "All the way from hell, I will curse you," spoked the explosive woman, her body glowing as her power grew. If she was to die, she would make the end of her life a grand finale.
Norn held up her sword, little time to do anything else before she felt the sting of heat and even in the shadow of her blade was the lighting of the explosion blinding. The ground shook, cracking, tearing, dirt and stone thrown in every direction one wouldn't be corrected for comparing the explosion to that of a bustercall.
And as quickly as it started it was over, darkness fell over the small village that the Bestla clan had once called their home. Angrboda was gone, and in the dark Norn could feel the trickling of blood running down what little remained of the arms that had pierced through the woman. Stubborn as she was, she had certainly gone out with a bang.
Norn let out a breath, looking toward the distance as the lights of battle could be seen far away. Their fight had been short but it seemed that she had not been quick enough to warn the others that Angrboda's forces her coming. Though missing her front two spider-legs she was little worse for wear, the explosion leaving small burns across her unarmored parts with the metal of her plate burning bright hot in some places from the explosion. Using that little light she searched for something amongst the rubble, a few minutes at most and she pulled her burnt and slashed cape from the scorched earth, tying it around her waist before she headed toward the castle to finish what Angrboda had started.
Jotunheim's Walls[]
The walls of the castle had been damaged in the surge of attackers - loyalists to Angrboda's cause. However, their queen candidate was by far their strongest member. Without her, they had little chance against the likes of Mani Farbauti and Skadi, let alone the king himself. Many experienced death by the hands of the guards and the Ragnarok forces. Those who attack the wolf and the princess with cut down, but those foolishness enough to attack Thyrmr would have their very souls stripped away by the dread king. The man looked stronger and full of life, having consumed the energy for himself. Their attempts to end his life only made it longer.
Fortunately, not all of the attacking giants were foolish enough to carry on their plight. Those who stood down kneeled, being chained as they awaited their sentencing within the great prison of Utgard. Thrymr seemed patient though, awaiting the arrival of his longest living ally and her report of having dealt with Angrboda - presuming her to be the reason the castle wasn't destroyed by a great explosion.
And she would not keep him waiting, flanking the late Angrboda's troops in an unexpected pincer attack. Growing large, larger than any giant even among the ancients did she dwarf the soldiers in her hybrid form, opening her mouth did she begin to shoot out gobs of thick, heavy webbing to restrain the giants. It was clear she was trying to avoid bloodshed even now.
With waves of her hands did entire sections of soldiers stop moving, held in place by her webs of fate before being restrained by her follow up attacks. "Angrboda has fallen! Your coup was over before it started! Back down now and your lives will be spared!" Norn's voice boomed loudly over the attacking army, easily being heard by those within the castle.
As she finally arrived, Thyrmr seemed pleased. The imprisoned giants looked downtrodden as Norn declared the death of Angrboda. Thrymr looked upon them with Gungnir in his hand, seeming ready to strike each and everyone of them down. However, Norn's words of him being too hard on Angrboda reverberated with him and he loosened his grip. "Farbauti, take them to the prison. You possess more than enough power to keep them in line, no?"
The wolf man nodded and led the cavalcade away. It left Norn, Thrymr, and Skadi alone in the hall as they were ushered away. Thrymr walked to his throne, sitting upon it as Skadi followed - standing at his side dutifully and uncharacteristically silent. The king looked upon Norn, smiling at her displaying her power and ruthlessness. "Angrboda is disposed of? I am not shocked that she is tied to this rebellion, sadly," Thrymr said as he looked to Norn.
His trust was broken. He had faith in Angrboda, in her loyalties to Elbaf, but her displeasure in his rule won in the end. Skadi herself looked down, having been trained by Angrboda to achieve her current rank. Part of it now felt dirtied. Thrymr looked to his daughter, knowing how she felt - feeling the same to an extent. "Share the details Norn, what happened? What was her motivation?"
Norn stood now in her normal form, bloodied but no worse for wear beyond that. Her final explosion had done the majority of the damage, a final desperate act. "Angrboda gathered giants with the intention of dethroning you and killing the royal family. She believed that your attempts to avoid conflict with the other powers was weakening Elbaf. She intended to have might make right, and gain rule over Elbaf through besting you in combat. She would not have stood a chance but the sentiment resonated with others. She even sought to turn me against you with empty promises."
Norn let out a visible breath before she smiled, a bloody toothed grin. "But you've nothing to fear now, my Lord. Even should your very shadow betray you I will never."
Thrymr nodded. "This much I suspected. Perhaps may rule has made the giants of Elbaf feel coddled. However, my rule persists until death claims me as its own," Thrymr said as he looked Norn over. Approaching her, he placed a hand upon her shoulder and revealed a small smile, one he seldom wore since the death of Draugr.
"As for you, Norn, my faith in you has never wavered. You have been loyal to me long before I had this throne... longer than my marriage with Embla," Thrymr said, his expression dropping just as quickly as it had formed. The constant pain of her passing haunted him, far greater than any would one could hope to place on him. "You are the sole person outside of my family I firmly trust." The king dropped his hand and nodded at the hybrid.
Thrymr began to step away from the group, ready to make an announcement of the events, but stopped in his tracks. "Perhaps she was right on some things though. I believe I have allowed Elbaf to weaken and this is a wrong I must correct. Much like I trained my daughter, I will find those who possess such potential and hone them into a fine blade. Norn, you are already fit to kill a thousand times over, but you can be sharpened yet," said the man with a seldom voice. It carried no disrespect, no malice. All those present would know that Thrymr had placed special interest on her.
As he walked away, Skadi approached. The redhead looked down sheepishly at the ground as she did, clearly with some level of shame. "He really does trust you... sometimes I think more than me," Skadi said, a small puff of air escaping her nose, a small laugh. She tried to look up, respecting the prowess of the woman. "I... should have never called you a stray," Skadi said, her voice hard as she tried not to cry.
Looking up, Skadi forced a grin to her face. "I still have more to learn from you anyway!"
Norn let out a sigh of relief as Thyrmr walked away, letting herself lean towards a nearby wall. At Skadi's apology, Norn shook her head. She was about to tell Skadi she didn't need to apologize, but remembering Angrboda and the way she'd tried to manipulate her she stopped herself. "Thanks." She responded at first, curt and to the point, partly brought on by pain and the rest by the fact she didn't feel that Skadi was wrong in many ways, even if the woman had meant them to be cruel at the time.
"I still have a lot to learn too, a lot to understand, I have to be stronger. For all of you." Norn continued, a solemn tone to her words, seeming regretful that even someone as strong as Angrboda could injure her if only a little.
Skadi grinned at Norn. “Then can we get stronger together? I learned that infusion stuff thanks to you partially... and her,” Skadi said, thinking of Angrboda’s betrayal. She seemed to come back to reality shortly. “Maybe I can help you with it!” happily spoke the princess.
“Until then... your cape. Mind if I borrow it?” Skadi said, swiping it before Norn could really respond. Looking at it, Skadi smiled. She knew what she wanted to do, to show her regret to Norn. “Ill bring it back later!" Skadi shouted as she ran off.
Norn wasn't sure how to respond, she couldn't see herself learning Hao infusion, she wasn't like Skadi or Thyrmr. She was surprised to have even learned hao and even then she chalked it up to her loyalty barely meeting the qualifications. All the same, with all that had happened she knew now wasn't the time to moan and groan over things. She gave a half smile to Skadi. "Sure, sure, we can get stronger together. Just, be careful with that by the way..." Norn motioned toward the bloodied and burned fur that used to be her cape.
Night fell and the valiant warriors of Elbaf slept. Sleep varied person to person, but the kingdom was secure beneath the mighty branches of the Yggdrasil. The morning sun soon rose though, ending the great night. As its light spread over the kingdom, a knock was delivered to the door of Norn. The half-giantess would stir, opening the door to see an Einherjar of the crew.
The younger giant kneels. “Jotunn Norn, the king summons you to Castle Jotunheim. He says it is a matter of great importance!”
Norn had wanted little more than to roll over in her bed and sleep. Her body ached, and she'd been forced to molt her spider exoskeleton to replace the limb that had been destoryed in the battle against Angrboda. It felt her feeling undefended, her durability weakened while the exoskeleton took time to harden up again. But she could not ignore orders, not from the King anyhow.
"Aye, I'll be ready soon." Norn responded, sending the giant on his way before getting ready. She had not the time or energy to polish her armor the night before, the scars of battle, blood, and burn marks still littered it's metal shell. Even so she put it on and strapped Gram to her waist, reaching for her cape her heart skipped a beat when it was not where she'd put it, only to remember she'd given it over to Skadi the night before. She felt a tinge of frustration, she hadn't thought it through, unsure what the woman had done with it now.
Norn let out a sigh, knowing she had no time to look for it, resigning herself to this feeling of semi-nudity with all these factors combined.
The trip to the castle was littered with remnants of the battle the night before, she'd seen giants fight before but it had been some time since she'd seen one kill another, even longer since she'd had to do so herself. It made her heart ache, but there was nothing to be done. She did her duty and that was all there was to it.
Entering the throne room she approached Thyrmr's throne before kneeling before him. "I apologize for the delay, your highness. What need to you have on me? Am I to tend to the dead? Aid in the rebolstering of our defenses?" She asked, expecting to be assigned a task.
Thrymr rose from his throne. “The dead are being tended to. Our valiant warriors will be buried with honors, while Angrboda and her like will be buried in the Underworld. I would dispose of her at sea, but I will maintain her clan if I don’t act on my anger,” Thrymr said as he approached Norn.
“No, instead, I have come to admit I have errored. Angrboda frustrated me in many regards, but perhaps she was right. I have overlooked you for too long. Your loyalty has been unquestioned for years. Sometimes the greatest treasures we hold have been before us all along,” Thrymr said, placing his hand upon Norn’s shoulder.
“Starting tomorrow, I am taking you back under my wing, just as I have for my daughter. You have been a powerful friend and ally, but even a great blade needs to be resharpened from time to time.” Thrymr said, keeping his eyes trained on Norn. He felt great pride in her, silently wishing she was his - just as his wife had for Nanna.
Norn kept her head low, it had been some time since he'd placed his hand upon her like this. Not since her youth, when he would pat her upon the head to tell her she'd done well. "You honor me, your grace. I accept your tutelage with great faith that I still have much to learn from you, my lord. I will not disappoint you." She responded, feeling a deep warmth in her chest to be acknowledged by the father figure she looked up to.
"You have never disappointed, Norn. I have told you, you are one of the few I fully trust outside of my family. You have been with me before I possessed this throne and I trust you will tend to it after I am gone," said the man plainly and earnestly. Thrymr looked upon the seat, a lifetime of memories playing in his mind - freeing the young girl, her fighting valiantly by his side, her friendship with Embla, and her sometimes watching his children.
Thrymr pulled his hand away from Norn, breaking his small display of affection. "Speaking of the throne when I am gone, come. You should see something." The Dread King led Norn to a separate part of the castle, to the rooms of its occupants. Quietly and calmly pushing a door open, Thrymr revealed a small scene to both himself and Norn. Skadi sat on her bed, wearing casual sleepwear and humming to herself. In her hands was the cape she had taken from Norn, slowly and carefully mending the tears in it to restore it back to its original glory.
Thrymr's usually blank face formed a small smile as he shut the door. "I know she is rough around the edges and often runs her mouth, but I believe Skadi loves you as if you were her sister," Thrymr said warmly, his affection for his daughter figure and daughter evident. "She excitedly told me she was going to fix it, seeing her like this makes me know Embla still lives through her. Let's just hope more of Skadi will grow into more of her sensibilities."
Norn watched the scene before them, she'd always known Skadi was capable of kindness and good will, she'd seen it. She'd just figured that the girl had run out of those sorts of things for her. Skadi's words had stung deep, they'd always had, but she beared it all as that was her duty. "I know she will, your Grace. Though she shys away from it more often than not, I know there is a kind heart within her. She is yours and Embla's child after all."
"May she be more like Embla yet. As for shying away..." Thrymr trailed off, seeming to think for a moment as he walked with Norn. Putting a hand on her shoulder, Thrymr seemingly came to a conclusion. "I think I know why that is, but I do not believe it is my place to say. Stay true to her, don't treat her as something else now that she back. Treat her as you always have and I am sure you will discover why she acts the way she does," said the man, sounding proud of the two. He knew Norn hurt and he knew Skadi was being defensive, but this cape fixing act was a good development. He hoped for order in his family - a family that was more than blood.