A Certain Set of Circumstances (Tyr)

[King Redgar Karligar]

-Pre-Hacklung Conditions.

Redgar had some business to attend to after the battle in Morith in Mardok Duchy. He had left behind a representative to facilitate the beginnings of the rebuilding process, while sending his sister off to Karligar Duchy to secure it against kingdom invasion while he was on his trip. This was more or less to fulfill some promises he made to Duke Mardok. The first of which, was to acquire the payment promised for his support in reconquoring lands from bandits in Mardok's region of Western Havenaild. The second, was to facilitate a variety of other... transactions as it were. He would arrive in Mardok five days, with Mina in tow, on Baalrung and Cardag, after the battle ended. He knew his way there, and the Duke Mardok had accompanied them on the return trip anyway. Redgar liked him.

His company was pleasant. And he was an equal. He did not like to concern himself with his lessers, though he was starting to learn, from the battle in Morith, that they could be very useful no matter what class they were.

"When will this wretched dry season end?"

Rhetorical. But it gave the chance for everyone to gripe. Mina chose to remain silent.

[Tyr]

The ride back to Mardok was long and boring, but at least the company was mostly pleasant. Redgar had come away from the battle with a slightly better attitude than normal, if a bit diminished from seeing his city heavily damaged. Kilinger kept mostly to himself now, not wanting to speak up during a conversation between lords. Tyr for the other was simply tired. He was a craftsman more than a warrior, extended battle wore him out pretty heavily.

"A month and a half or so and we'll be free of it." Not that it was any real consolation, with the seasons lasting two months that meant it was only just beginning. "And then in several months time when the rivers flood we'll wish it was this dry again." The rainy season lived up to its name quite accurately. There was yearly trouble with the lakes and rivers expanding, and plenty of damage caused because of it. The ride was fairly easy along the roads, and they were almost back. Tyr was comforted by the memory of the river by town, and the fact that there would be plenty of water to refresh themselves with upon their return.

[King Redgar Karligar]

"Ah yes, the floods. Good for the economy, but it can be a bit concerning when the floods are bigger than expected. Is your castle not next to a flood plain? How do you handle such a thing? I've never had the need, being situated atop a mountain."

It was a legitimate question. Redgar could picture the Mardok home in his mind, sort of. It was a fuzzy image that made him think it was surrounded by high walls within the town that served it. It was atypical of most cruinthian cities where the fortress and administration was in the center. For some reason he thought the other lord's castle was on the north end, but his memory might not have been serving him well. Perhaps he was thinking of Kel'Alee, but that was also situated on a mountain slope, and they would also have issues with flooding. Redgar was unconcerned with the people whose homes were around the base of the mountain his castle was atop. Whether or not a sudden stream formed and cut away a swath of the village was not truly his concern, in his mind.

[Tyr]

"It is a challenge to be sure. Every year preparations are carefully made to avert possible disaster." It was a very coded way of saying there was no way of adequately preparing for such a thing. Magic might work, but human effort was almost never enough to fully combat a determined flood. "Digging out channels away from the town, piling the earth along the riverbank to create levees. Everything erodes however, and it must constantly be redone before the next flood season."

Tyr thought about what little he knew of Karligar's home territory. Living on a mountain in the rainy season could be just as dangerous sometimes. Well, maybe not the 'on top' portion. But anywhere nearby was just as hazardous. "Be thankful you are indeed on top of that mountain. Pity those that have the mountain fall onto them in such heavy rains." Rock and mud slides could wipe out entire villages without similar precautions.

The ride passed by relatively quickly amidst their banter, and the town appeared before they knew it. Tyr led them towards the castle to be waited upon first. After freshening up a while they could attend to business in the Artificery.

[King Redgar Karligar]

"With the way my duchy is positioned, most of the water that comes from the rains eventually run into the river on the northwest end of the mountain. The mountain gains a moat of sorts out of the Jenkirt. Harnswaith is twelve miles from my front door. They seem to take care of themselves every year."

"They do ask for soldiers to help them."

"They do?"

"Yes, your father, the old duke, would grant them twenty men to assist with whatever they needed."

"No need to change that tradition. In regards to the rains right?"

"Right."

Some time passed and they would find themselves in the Mardok's castle, only to be waited upon after their journey first. Once they had reunited Redgar started to become animated again, not sure what he should do with himself. He walked in circles and gestured as he talked with great verve.

"I guess we both help in our own way then. Do you actually go out there and help them with your own hands? Don't you have more important things to do?"

A personal question aimed directly at Tyr. Mina rolled her eyes at her cousin's behavior.

[Tyr]

"When I was younger I would assist a great deal. Now I tend to coordinate the efforts of the people more, and personally help when I have the time." His soldiers also contributed a great deal to the preparations, which were seen more as a communal effort to protect everyone's home than anything else. It was a tradition of unity, something not many seemed to have in the country anymore. "My important duties are to my people, in whatever form is most critical. But that is a discussion for another time. Perhaps with some alcohol involved." That sort of talk would be the best way to shape Redgar towards being more...citizen-oriented, but it would also be fairly demanding to match his way of thinking with measured responses.

"Right now I believe we have more pressing concerns ourselves. Payment of sorts in fact. Shall we head to the Artificery?" Given that it was agreeable Tyr would lead the way, taking the short walk down the road. Their mounts would have been waiting for them, Tyr learned quickly in Kel'Alee that Redgar seemed to hate walking, but it was such a short trip that it would almost be wasting time. Plus they would just have to be led back for stabling anyway. No reason to multiply his stablehands' workload. Upon entering the workshop Tyr would immediately head to the forge and get it lit, building a solid fire.

"Tell me Duke Redgar, when you envision riding to glorious battle, what kind of armor do you see yourself in?"

[King Redgar Karligar]

"That is agreeable."

Redgar watched Tyr build the fire with his own hands, wondering where the servant that normally did so was. He imagined a horrible punishment for the servant, then realized it wasn't his job to punish Tyr's servants. But if it came up he knew exactly what he would suggest Tyr do to the person. Rake them across the very coals Tyr was forced to made due to their negligence. That would be both fitting and ironic.

Or maybe just the one?

Redgar wasn't good with words. Nor was he with images, he thought about what Tyr had asked him for a moment, but came up with nothing but a blank. It was hard for him to actually imagine something he'd never seen before. Not the part about him riding into battle, he'd done that plenty. But riding in with armor on. Armor he didn't have. That was the gap.

"Something fitting of my stations, yet effective and reliable. But it must strike fear into the hearts of my enemies like Baalrung does himself. Baalrung has a fearsome and savage face in battle."

[Tyr]

Redgar's mention of the great wolf gave Tyr a few ideas for some armor, but the full design would have to wait until he got an idea of what he could work with. The Duke pointed off towards a wide display rack of what appeared to be hammers, each getting progressively larger. In front of each one was a number etched in the wood, growing from 4 to 30 to match the size of the weights.

"Find the heaviest one of those you can comfortably lift. I would say...somewhere around the 18. Maybe the 20." His eyed judgment of people's physical abilities was normally fairly accurate, but this took the guesswork out of it. As Redgar worked that out, or had some sort of dignity based conniption fit as he sometimes did, Tyr would get materials together. Hydrillium generally needed someone to be above the 20 mark, but with some craftiness he could make it work. However in this case Tyr would set that aside for a more practical set of materials. Leather, iron, and steel specifically. Pieces were set up in groups, planning for a helm, boots, gloves, belt, and then the standard body armor.

"While we're at it however, what would be your preferred weapon? The traditional sword?"

[King Redgar Karligar]

"There are a lot of these things. The twenty? I'll try the twenty one."

Redgar attempted to lift the twenty one. But that did not work. So he grabbed the twenty. He could barely lift that. Suddenly he felt inspired to be able to lift them all. If he could not lift the twenty one, and the twenty was something he was able to lift, then the thirty was nearly impossible for him at the moment. There was much physical training he needed to accomplish before he would be satisfied and could complete this challenge of Tyr's.

"I accept this challenge of hammers, my friend. I will strive to lift the thirty from now on."

Tyr threw a question at him and he was beside himself with the thought. A sword? His father wielded a sword. It did not avail him well. And so far swords had done nothing to help Redgar as an individual either. In fact, they had been downright disappointing in their performance. His mighty halberd though... it had served him well in battle.

"Though a sword would be more fitting with traditional leadership roles, I feel the need to break the mold there. The symbol of my martial prowess will be a weapon like the halberd. Utility, deadly from wolfback and from the ground."

[Tyr]

For the most part Tyr ignored the expected display of bravado, except to make sure of the outcome. Still, it was almost endearing how Redgar took the test as a challenge and wished to improve himself. The desire for personal growth was always a thing that could be built off of, even if right now Redgar only wanted strength. In a good person, such a desire wasn't that bad a thing. Redgar wasn't terribly evil, he just...wasn't the greatest. His sister was also an active corrupting influence, guiding him down quite the wrong path.

Metal shaped into plates, joining leather and cloth to make the basis of armor. Stylized elements were inlayed with gold and soon a set was created in place. The pieces invoked the image of the wolf, with sockets built into various places for wolf heads to be biting down on the gems. The halberd was born of iron, steel, and wood, with a design carved on each side of the blade to look like a snarling wolf, also lined with gold. Hopefully the designs and gold would satisfy his desire for something impressive looking, for it would definitely serve him well should he wear it.

---

Crafting helm, armor, belt, boots, gloves, and halberd.
All armor made from 3 steel, 1 iron, 1 leather, 2 cloth, 1 gold. 51 DR, 2 cold resist, all areas covered. Belt has 20 small slots. 1 socket, 2 magical properties.
Halberd made from 1 steel, 1 iron, 2 ebony, 3 year, 1 gold. 78 damage, 2H, chopping, slashing, piercing, ripping. 1 socket, 2 magical properties.
Every piece is an automatic success. Masterwork checks.
Armor: Base 24 + IronM/SteelM/TanM/TailM/ArmorM/JewelM (120) = 144. 8 degrees possible.
Weapon: Base 24 + IronM/SteelM/CarpM /WepM/JewelM (100) = 124. 7 degrees possible.
Helm pnGS3Y|a 6 earned; Exceptional. 90 DR, 2 cold resist; 20 Str/9 A/9 K/2 Cha; All zones covered.
Armor 4 earned; Superior. 75 DR, 2 cold resist; 20 Str/9 A/9 K/2 Cha; All zones covered.
Belt 8 earned; Supreme. 109 DR, 2 cold resist; 20 Str/9 A/9 K/2 Cha; All zones covered. 20 small slots.
Boots 4 earned; Superior. 75 DR, 2 cold resist; 20 Str/9 A/9 K/2 Cha; All zones covered.
Gloves 4 earned; Superior. 75 DR, 2 cold resist; 20 Str/9 A/9 K/2 Cha; All zones covered.
Halberd 6 earned; Exceptional. 138 dam, all properties; 20 Str/ 14 A/12 K.

---

Tyr displayed the finished pieces on an empty work table for Redgar to inspect. Their weight would be such that the set would border what he could properly carry right now, but the fine craftsmanship would serve him far longer than anything else he would find at similar scales.

"Test the fit, heft the weapon. See how it moves, and if it hinders your fighting form at all." The last thing he needed was a badly fitting pauldron limiting Redgar's range of motion and getting him killed.·····

[King Redgar Karligar]

Redgar was impressed with Tyr. He was staring at a man that fulfilled two roles so easily. Lord, and Artisan. So many failed to accomplish mastery over just one role. The way Tyr forged weapons and armor impressed upon Redgar to take his pursuits just as seriously. Warfare was an art, as was statecraft. He was dedicated to both, as a warrior and leader. When Tyr was done and displayed the objects for Redgar, he was nearly overcome with glee. It was as he envisioned. Fierce, yet noble. Effective, yet adorned in ornaments befitting his station.

He hefted the weapon, taking it in both hands and spinning it, cutting wide arcs through the air like he does normally from wolf back, thrusts. Then he donned the armor, keeping quiet all the while. The fit was good, almost like it conformed to his body. If he became more muscular in his quest to lift the thirty he would need to have it tailored again.

"This is more than satisfactory, my friend. I feel I could win a hundred battles with this equipment. Had I this in the battle of Morith, I'd have frightened off many more of those charlatans, and may not have been so wounded after battle."

The duke wasn't sure what to do next. He had received the gifts that were promised him, as far as he remembered. Was there another reason they had been invited along?

"You look fantastic in that armor, Redgar. Truly a testament to your prowess and to Tyr's skills as an artisan."

"Ah, thank you. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say here. No one has ever given me a gift of this caliber. I've taken everything I've wanted. This is strange."