A storybook for my daughter

Who's fifteen going on sixteen and thus this isn't for children.

A first draft so no art direction, lots of retconning, and so on. But i completed it even as parts made me cry due to their being based on our lives and an ending that will never be.

001 The two ships trade fire.

"Anation v bnation"

002. A young dark skinned noble woman in purple festooned with xtian symbology is hustled to a life boat.

"Princess of bnation is moved to safety"

003. Two noblemen and two young guards are in the boat with her, the two guards the rowers.

004. The four men are killed as the boat crashes on rocks

005. She swims ashore

006. On the shore is a broken boat, a young man in furs and festooned with viking symbology is there

007. He slams his axe down on the boat

"Speaks in welsh"

008. She cringes away in fright as he approaches, still speaking

"More welsh“ then in english "no hurt. you speak the english tongue?"

009. She nods and puts her hand to her chest

"I am lady Kimberly of house Rose of Cristalia, my family are traders and will pay for my return."

010. He points to the boat then to the ocean, showing other shipwrecks.

"Broken. Ocean dangerous here. Impossible to leave. I am Karl, jarl of dragon reach, of the Northern Reaches, beyond the Frost Wall, in the land of plentiful coal."

011. She's sitting on the beach as he crafts a spear and atlatl. Then he hunts.

"Though Lady Kimberly and the barbarian warlord are trapped on the island, she does not trust the heathen but must accept his help."

012. He's teaching her how to cast a lure to surf fish

"As time passes, she learns to trust him."

13. His beard is thick and luxurious. They're kissing.

"And one day, the trust becomes something more."

14. We see a ship on the horizon and a boat heading towards them.

"It looked as if they were saved."

15. Those who rescued them are allies of Cristalia but neutral with the Northern Reaches.

16. Waiting officials of Cristalia order their guards to attack Karl. He fights them off handily but Kimberly is hustled away as he fights.

"Stripped of each other, Karl returned to his home, unknowing his firstborn was carried southward along with his love."

17. Karl returned home defeats the jarl who took over.

"Returned to his home, Karl is restless, even now as he controls three times as much land and a hundred raider ships."

18. We see Karl watching the women work as they weave.

"As he watches the womenfolk, he is reminded of long talks with Kimberly and her own fascination and skill with weaving."

19. Lady Kimberly is quickly married off to poor minor noble

"Her shame must be alleviated."

20. Kimberly is holding a pale child as she lies in bed.

"A child that could have united two warring kingdoms."

21. Karl is learning to weave.

"Mocked for his new proclivity, Karl faces more challenges for his authority. He cares not."

22. As the young princess grows up, she is trained in weaponry.

"Against her stepfather's wish, young Katrina is trained in the arts of war, much as her father's people all are, Kimberly remembers."

23. Princess Katrina grows strong and tall, like her father, still training in the arts.

"Her skills with a bow and a spear outstrip those of knights, gaining her renown with the courts for even as her stepfather has widowed her mother, leaving her with two more young children, knights and others seek her favor."

24. One day, kimberly sees a rug in her favorite colors with all of her favorite flowers bordering it in a curious pattern.

"The rug's beauty was only matched by its curious design. She purchased it and it soon graced the floor of Katrina's quarters."

25. Finally, kimberly decides to tell her daughter the truth.

"Your name, in your father's form would be katrina karlsdottir. He's a strong warlord, his people raid the northern settlements. They changed some though. They stopped taking slaves except for those of the cloth. And they destroy all religious signs. Your father knows—knew how much I hated following the Crista."

26. Katrina sitting in her room studying a book on the northerners.

"Katrina learns her father is hated by her mother's people. His vindictiveness towards the Crista and its gods is only matched by his fervency to his god Halja, queen of Hel. The bodies of priests are found with her sign carved or burnt onto their bodies with the sign of the blood eagle."

27. She stares at the wall as her mother looks in.

"It may be true. But remember, our people are at war. The criers say what the king tells them to about the war. Your father may do that or it may be others."

28. She's sitting with her mother now.

"Do you think he would like me?" "His people revere family. Even cuckold children are cherished it's said. I wish he had learned of you."

29. Karl is watching children as they train with sword and shield in a large Arena as another warrior approaches.

"Jarl, time for the Thing."

30. Karl, the warrior, six women, and four more men sit on 12 of the 36 elevated stone chairs in circle with a small opening for people between two of the seats.

"The Thing: the court of law. Here they sit in judgement."

31. A warrior is brought forward, his accuser is also in the circle.

"Accused of stealing a horse, the only witness is the owner of the horse."

32. Karl and the others are now standing together.

"The owner of the horse is a poor farmer."

"Aye, he's 'lost' horses before."

"Then the hólmganga?"

33. A young girl is running through the village, yelling.

"Holmganga! Holmganga! Efrim to face his accuser Lars in Holmganga!"

34. The two men stood on a large leather, approximately fifteen by twenty feet where three roads meet.

"The Jarl spoke the words and the battle is begun

35. Efrim strikes Lars with the shield, crushing him between it and the stone marker of Dragon Reach.

"In his defeat and unslain, Lars is outlawed. His farm is stripped from him, his enemies are free to hunt him, none may aid him."

36. Karl congratulates the warrior.

"In defeat, Lars accusations are found to be untrue. Efrim is free to go. Having been the recipient of rumors believed to have been started by Lars, Efrim will be one of many to hunt the new outlaw."

37. Katrina is sitting in a mostly empty stadium, watching the foreign slaves practicing. A servant stands behind her.

"Tell the pitmaster i wish to see the northerners fight in their own style, not the arena style."

38. The servant is speaking to the pitmaster. 

"The pitmaster does not understand."

39. The pitmaster stands before lady katrina.

"I do not want to see the style for the arena. Give them weapons of northerners and let them train like northerners. I need to see how they fight."

40. Lady Katrina, armed as her father's people, is in the training grounds with them, absorbing their style.

"A rapidly arising scandal is quashed when the prince of the realm, on hearing of lady katrina's interests in northerners' fighting styles, has his knights also observe."

41. Lady Katrina is celebrating her fifteenth birthday with a few friends.

"Fifteen, she is now well past the age to be engaged but Lady Kimberly refuses to force her daughter into an arranged marriage."

42. Karl and other kings of the north sit at Thing, this one in a building, their circle of 36 chairs all filled and surrounded by thousands of vikings.

"The kings are of a singular mind. The fire nation's predation on raiders can no longer be tolerated. Raiding of the south will be halted and the fire nation is the new target. For war."

43. Karl is shown in the training ring, training with his raiders.

"The king is eager to return to raiding. His enthusiasm had been waning as he fought against the Cristalians. With a new enemy, his blade sings."

44. Katrina and her mother are sitting together, holding a piece of paper for kat to see.

"As they sit, katrina has asked for more information about her father. Kimberly tells him of his looks and style then removes a carefully hidden etching of him from a bible."

45. Katrina is speaking with young knights.

"With the northerners no longer raiding, the youngest knights are planning a grand tour of Cristalia's northern shores and in preparation for a raid on the north. Katrina is the lone dissenting voice, pointing out that the fire nation, who attacks them both is a better target than revenge."

46. The prince of Cristalia is sitting on his throne, listening to two older men.

"The prince and his advisors agree. Attacking the barbarians would not be in their country's best interest. With reduced attacks from both, money can be spent on defenses and war preparations for when they spend each other. Then a war of subjugation."

47. Katrina is boarding a lightly armed ship with the rest of the knights.

"Lady katrina accepted the invitation to join the tour. The chance to see areas her father had been was too exciting, even if they were attacks on her nation."

48. Katrina stands in a beautiful gown, a leather and mail skirted jerkin over it, round shield on her back, and a seax at her waist. She stands on the exact spot where her father allegedly executed a priest. Behind her is a burnt out chapel, the rock eye of wodan(rocks arranged in a shape so the burning church was the pupil) untouched.

“She did not idolize his actions. She did not try to understand them. At that moment she knew only that she stood where he had likely stood. She felt a connection."

49. Kat and the knights are on horses, heading towards another town.

"They follow the path of the raiders inland to a rich village where they will spend the evening."

50. Karl sits on his horse, seax and shield in hand as he batters them above his head.

"The 'eye of wodan,' the name of Karl's main raiding ship lent its name to his raiders for their utter brutality. Those they struck were soon as nonexistent as Wodan's missing eye."

51. Karl and his raiders are at war, the berzerkr fury upon them.

"As seaxes crash down on fire nation shields, the ber-serkir break down the defenses. King Karl and his raiders cannot be stopped."

52. Katrina and the knights are listening to a village leader.

"They are informed that raiders often stop in their village to resupply water. The village is spared raiding as long as they supply them with their needs but then send a boy to the nearest lord with the composition of the forces. The knights all agree with Lady Katrina and Sir Gimlet that doing so and reporting it is for the village's best."

53. Katrina and the knights return to their ship.

"Rumors of a city in the raiders' territory open to all for trading has drawn their interest. They have decided to restock the ship for trade and sail northward." 

54. They are dressed as sailors and selling their wares

"Bereft of armor and disguised as sailors, the knights try to gain information."

55. Katrina is standing amongst women who are selling makeup and other hair ornaments. In her hand is a garland in her father,'s colors.

"The women gossip as much as the men but are freer with their information. She learns her father's raiders were captured when a sandstorm overtook them."

56. Katrina stands alone near their ship.

"Her mind races as she attempts to figure out how to convince the knights to rescue an enemy. She elects to tell the truth to the one she trusts most."

57. She and the Gimlet are in her small cabin.

"Katrina bares her soul, telling him who her father is, how she learned of his capture. Gimlet goes to his knee. 'A worthy quest at last!'"

58. The knights argue, with Katrina ill concealing her worry.

"The knights are informed they must rescue a potential ally at an outpost. Arguments abound but all are pledged to Gimlet's orders, even with no explanation."

59. Supplies being delivered to their ship.

"The knights purchase new war-stock of strong and steady horses, weapons, and supplies."

60. They are confronted by a war party of six before they can reboard the ship.

"Confronted by six vikings, katrina moves to speak to them."

61. She speaks to them in their tongue. (Runic translation under)

"'We… are allies of jarl karl of dragon reach.' Doubt is expressed, a viking calls her a liar, for Karl is a king now."

62. The vikings nod approvingly as she draws a dagger with a heavy pommel and uses its heft to increase her punch's damage. (Runic translation under)

"I am Lady Katrina of House Rose of Cristalia. And I do. Not. Lie!"

63. The vikings bend the knee.

The vikings offer their swords for a share of the plunder in the rescue.

"Katrina accepts their offer without even consulting the others."

64. They take to the seas, the vikings under a watchful eye.

"Though there is no trust, the vikings are able seaman and shorten the trip by nearly a week."

65. They are battling a fire nation patrol. Katrina fights like a berserker.

"The vikings shout encouragement to Lady Katrina, impressed by her skills. Offers of marriage to their sons are as prevalent as the screams of the dying."

66. The vikings are talking to Katrina while the knights watch their squires dig a hole to bury the dead.

"The vikings inquire more seriously how she gained such skill with a seax."

67. She does not hesitate.

"I am lady Katrina, daughter of karl of dragon reach."

"She has his look. And fights like him too. A ber-serkr like him!"

68. They bend the knee again.

"The vikings pledge themselves again. Not to the mission. To her service."

69. She speaks with them away from the knights.

"She explains she learned to fight from vikings captured and forced to fight in the gladiatorial rings. All the vikings there know her parentage."

70. The vikings rummage the supplies.

"The vikings check the supplies and the plunder."

71. They begin painting the symbol of the dragon reach on her shield and festoon her with ribbons in the colors of dragon reach.

"The daughter of a king must wear his colors, they assure her, even if she's unknown."

 72. The knights and vikings see the fort where her father and his men are held from the knoll they are atop.

"The warrior study their enemies' fortress. A plan of battle is chosen."

73. Night is falling. Rain is heavy. The Cristalia war party and its northern allies are advancing on the fort on foot.

"Under the cover of darkness and heavy rain, they advance."

74. Katrina slits the throat of a patrol while another viking does the same.

"Silent. Deadly. They descend."

75. The enemy forces are alerted. They descend on our heroes. A hundred vs twenty.

"The stench of Blood and offal fill the air alongside the screams of the dead."

76. More fighting.

77. The fighting has stopped. A knight lays dead. The fire nation soldiers are dead to a man. The squires prepare a litter to carry the deceased soldier.

"Silence reigns as the last gurgle of the dying is silenced by a knife. They clean their weapons and prepare for the next step, raiding the lower levels where more soldiers may lay."

78. The vikings and Katrina have sheathed their seax and are wielding axes now.

"For Close quarters combat, they eschew the swords and reach for their axes. Shields are too unwieldy as well."

79. Battle against fns. Kat slices a man from groin to throat with her axe.

80. The disemboweled man lies before her as she throws her axe over the head of one of the vikings. The axe is embedded in the skull of an fns.

81. The prisoners have been found. All members of Wodan's Eye. But Karl is not among them.

"The news is not good. Karl and two others were taken to a nearby castle for interrogation by the fire lord's personal torturer."

82. The prisoners are rearmed and armored.

"Having heard who Lady Katrina is, the warriors immediately pledge themselves to the campaign. The knights believe this is some sort of reverence towards a female warrior having heard of the valkyries and dismiss it during the conversations later as they raid the food stores to restock their own and feast."

83.

"Now sixty strong, the war party rides to a staging ground to spy on the nearby castle."

84. Gimlet, two knights, and two vikings are the scout force. We seethe, studying the castle with their telescopes.

"Gimlet and the others all agree. The manor house is not defended all that well. Attacking under the cover of darkness will be the most effective."

85. The knights and vikings fall on the manor house.

"The surprise attack is successful."

86. The forces at the manor crumble. 

"The fire nation soldiers, serfs, and lord are no match for the allied forces of cristalia knights and vikings."

87. The lord is held as hostage as they move down into the dungeons.

"The lord having survived, the knights use him as a hostage."

88. There are only two prisoners within.

"The lord laughs, telling them the king was sent to be executed at the nearby ritual grounds."

89. Katrina stabs her knife into the man's throat as she grabs him by the head and kicks him in the knees.

"Her anger overwhelms her and she kills the man."

90. 

"Her hasty action forces a fight on the way out but the Vikings applaud her actions while the Knights are confused."

91. Katrina, grabs a local, her knife at his throat.

"Suitably 'bribed,' Lady Katrina learns where the ritual grounds are."

92. Katrina and the vikings rush off.

"The knights, save for Gimlet, are surprised greatly by her actions. Gimlet decides to finish looting the manor."

93. Katrina and the vikings see the flames of the pyres.

"Only minutes away, Katrina finds herself praying to Wodan and Thor to preserve his life as she prods her horse to go as fast as possible in the dark."

94. Karl is tied to a stake, about to be sacrificed to the god Vulcan.

"Karl, even through an eye battered closed and the other burnt out by a poker, sees the riders. He sees their weapons in a flash of firelight as they pass a pyre. Seaxes."

95. They are off the horses and killing everyone.

"Off the horses, katrina and the vikings go to war, slaughtering their way through the peasant class unheeding of their unarmed status, their goals the priests."

96. Katrina removes the head of a priest with her seax.

97. Her sword trapped in a body, she uses her axe to tear a man's face off.

98. A torch rolls towards her father as she fights.

99. Katrina's axe is thrown.

100. Her father is cut free as the pitch covered wood goes up.

101. As injured as he is, he grabs the axe and wades into the fight.

"The two fight the same, ber-serkrs in style."

102. Vikings are giving the priest a blood eagle.

"Finally, all are dead save for the high priest. The blood eagle is his punishment, defiling the ritual grounds."

103. A viking, stout and hairy, slaps Karl on the back, gesturing at katrina. Katrina stands before her father, nervous.

104. He's holding her tightly, swinging her as he lifts her off the ground.

"Family. Is. Sacred."

105. She's sobbing into his shoulder as one of the vikings uses a sheet of cloth to cover his ruined eye.

"'You look so much like your mother,' he whispers to her. 'Is she—is she well?''

106. The knights have arrived.

"With the king freed, the alliance is ended. What will the two enemies do?"

107.  Katrina is still hugging him.

"Sir Gimlet offers amnesty to the vikings for the return trip to their nearest port. The offer is accepted."

108. Katrina stands on the dock with her father.

"A horrible choice is the only one Katrina believes to have. She can return home and potentially never see her father again or stay with him and potentially never see her mother or siblings again."

109. Karl holds her tightly.

"He tells her to return to the southlands. "'I have a plan. I always have a plan.'"

110. She stands on the rear of the ship, watching him fade into the distance.

"Karl's plan will begin soon."

111. Karl is in the thing. The high king of the vikings is welcoming him back.

"Karl does what he would slay any other king for. He challenges the high king. His reasons—lack of plunder, losses, and no confidence in the high king are a ruse. His true machinations will reunite him with his daughter should they work."

112. The assembled kings raise their thumbs. A horn blows.

"The kings agree. King Karl has the right to challenge. The duel will be to the death."

113. Fight

"Evenly faced“

114. Fight

"High king has upper hand due to injury"

115. Fight

"Karl slices his seax upwards."

116. The high king's face slides away.

117. Karl is crowned high king. 

"The old high king's children will join his household though all save one are in their own homes. His riches will be divided evenly between the children after half goes to Karl. 'I propose an alliance with the southlands, bound by a marriage.'"

118. 

"Ladies Katrina and Kimberly are called to the Prince's Court."

119. Kneeling before the prince, his advisor holds a scroll.

"'The high king of the danelands, karl of dragon reach proposes an alliance between our nations, to be sealed with a marriage between himself and lady kimberly of the house of rose,' spoke the advisor. 'Did you know of this?' The prince accuses. 'You met this high king during your travels, lady katrina.' 'The high king is her father,' kimberly told the prince. 'Family is sacred to my father. The alliance will give us what we both need. An ally against the fire nation and and me my father.'"

120. The prince dismisses them.

"The prince will spend long days on this, speaking with many of his people, from the lowly priest he once played with as a child to the head of the Crista to his own advisors to the criers who will overhear the words of the people. 'A simple alliance but can the Danelanders be trusted?' He wonders."

121. Katrina sat on her beloved rug, braiding flowers with her young sister who looks longingly at her sister's weapons.

"Lesliana dreams of being a swordswoman like her sister. Katrina hopes the prince will accept the alliance, for then lesliana will get her dream while Katrina will get hers. For her family to be whole again."

122. Katrina is surprised by the prince as she is sharpening her sword.

"The prince has come to a decision. He comes to speak to Lady Katrina himself."

123. Katrina sits on the settee, holding the etching of her father, smiling happily.

"The alliance is settled. But another alliance has been tendered. The prince has asked her to think about a second alliance: her marriage to him after a suitable time amongst her father's people."

124. Lesliana, her brother, and katrina stand at the bow of the ship. The harbor they're entering is framed by two massive statues of viking warriors. The harbor is a massive shipwright. A dozen ships are being built.

"The High Ki—her father, was preparing for war, Katrina could see. The Fire Nation was going to burn, the Prince had told her."

125. 

"Servants and advisors are set to moving items and working out details of how to carve up the fire kingdom post war. Katrina and her family are led to a massive tent made of bear skins."

126. They are led to a private room on a second story. The tent on the inside is rough wood made into a wallless frame. The high king is waiting for them.

127. The high king stands before Kimberly, tilting her head up. She's crying as she smiles.

"'You have been—and always will be—the one,' he tells her."

128. The high king is in his daughter's new quarters as she walks in. He's holding her beloved rug from where it was in center of the room,

"'Where did you get this?' 'Why? Do you hate it? Mom gave it to me. She said it reminded her of you.' 'My little Valkyrie, I made this with her in mind.'"

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