The Allting had finally finished! It had taken the full allotted week, but all business had still not been covered. And yet last year had been a good year for Skalavik. A very good year. But perhaps that was why they needed to talk so much. People were heading out of the Great Hall, a large portion of the adult population had been there. Even some visitors attended this open town hall meeting.

One of them was a storyteller who had been in town all week. One of several entertainers either trading their services in an inn or a tavern or by busking at a street corner.

One of the locals was a cleric who was a little younger and a little taller than the storyteller, but substantially stronger and heavier.

They exited the building at about the same time. The ground was comparatively bare as the snow was removed from the streets before it became too thick and unmanageable. This was a town after all and people had to be able to get around. It also smelled like a town as one couldn't place all the odiferous crafts far away or downwind. But at least both rivers were still frozen.

Anders paused for a moment to give a big stretch. The Allting were sometimes

Almost to himself he muttered, "I know they are necessary, but sometimes...they are a bit boring and long." He shook his head.

But then he seemed to realize he wasn't alone and someone was standing next to him. He turned his head to look at them intensely. "Not always, though." He let out a chuckle.

"You are somewhat new here, yes? I am Anders Magnison. The Stormlord bless you if you be worthy." He held out a hand to the other man.

Varin’s sharp gray eyes flicked about, trying to take in all the goings on outside the hall. It had been something of a gamble to show up a whole week before the festival but he’d had nowhere else he needed to be.

Long days of business made for men eager to think about other things come the end of the day. A good year for Skalavik. Hopefully a better one yet to come for him.

Anders’ greeting drew him sharply from his reverie and Varin took the offered hand with a grin.

“Well met, Anders. I’m Varin Karsson; a teller of tales. Only arrived just before the beginning of the Allting. You’re a Skalavik native, then?”

"Well met to you as well." Anders gave the other man a warrior's grip at the wrist rather than a handshake.

He nodded at the question, "Yes, born and raised. Those of my family still living are in town as well."

One eyebrow rose up as he leaned in towards Varin. "You be a skald, then?" He grinned. "One day, tales of my deeds will be told, maybe by you."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:12, Thu 01 Feb.

Varin’s face broke out into a very real grin in turn.

“Maybe I’ll be telling them sooner rather than later, eh? I’d like that. Truth is I can tell you the great sagas of the heroes or even a few of their less heroic moments if you fancy a laugh. But no skald is really worth the name till they tell a saga of their own make. That’s what I’m really aiming for, here in Skalavik. A tale for the ages.”

A sudden squawk erupted from a leather satchel the storyteller wore strapped across his chest and he absently reached up to open it. A large bird - no doubt a raven, stuck it’s head out, glancing back and forth balefully before tucking it’s head back under the flap.

“So tell me friend, have you already done deeds worthy of story? I hope the question doesn’t offend. You look young but every great oak starts from the acorn, doesn’t it?”

"If you're looking for something to do worthy of a story," a voice behind Varin said. "I have a suggestion."

Anders listened and nodded to Varin's telling of what a skald really was. "As you say. I am no skald but I hear you."

His eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up as a large bird made itself known from the man's...satchel? That was strange. "You hide a bird in your satchel? It is...a pet? A friend? A familiar?"

He shook his head. "No, not yet. The things I have done so far have been...helpful to the community, but nothing to be called...outstanding, yet."

But then another voice broke in to their conversation and Anders turned to see who had spoken. Someone eavesdropping wasn't great, but maybe what they had to say would offset that. He tried to stay neutral-sounding for a moment. "Oh? Please. Enlighten us."

The man looked at Anders for a little bit without saying anything. Then he pointed as he spoke. "Let's go over here were we can speak in private."

As if aware it was being discussed, the raven peeked it’s beak back out from beneath the flap and let out another low squawk.

“Friend and familiar. I call him Starkad.”

Varin looked like he might have more to say about it but when the stranger’s words finally registered, he turned sharply.

“Something worthy of a story, eh?” He glanced at Anders curiously but the warrior didn’t seem any more familiar with the stranger than he was.

“I’m game. Lead on, then.”

Hrolf led them to a more private spot in town where they wouldn't be overheard and he introduced himself. "My client is a relative of Krysuvik, the man who once established this town, and he wants the three keys Krysuvik made to lock away his treasure. He also wants the necklace Krysuvik was buried with. And he doesn't want any locals to know he is looking, which was why I talked to an outsider about this. But apparently, I wasn't careful enough." Hrolf looked at Anders. "Is that something that two intrepid fellows such as yourself can do?"

Anders had turned and seen who it was, giving a nod of respect as he would to anyone else in the town. Well, almost anyone else. "Hrolf."

He then gestured one to the other and back. "Varin Karsson, this be Hrolf Assurson. Hrolf, Varin."

Then he had allowed himself to be lead away to speak privately. He folded his arms across his chest once they stopped as he listened to what the other man had to say. He bristled ever so slightly as Hrolf seemed to indicate he had been eavesdropping or butting unwanted in to a conversation - when it was the other way around. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"You don't want locals to know about it. Why? Is this dishonorable? Is it illegal?" He asked both as they weren't always the same thing.

"Not at all," Hrolf said. "And it's not so much about what I want as it is about what my client wants. Because if others knew that someone was looking for the keys, they might attempt to get to them first or otherwise try to make it impossible for anyone to gather them all."

Varin glanced around for listeners before he spoke, with the experience a man who might’ve conspired once or twice before. When he was satisfied, he turned his attention back Hrolf, eyes gleaming.

“Now hold on a moment. Everyone’s heard of Krysuvik’s treasure but what’s this about keys? You say you know where he was buried? And who’s the client?”

Anders’ questions caught Varin’s attention. They were good questions. What he would’ve called the ‘right’ questions - the kind he often forgot to ask.

He grinned broadly at Hrolf. “And then there’s always the question of what reward is being offered. I presume your client isn’t actually offering us his ancestor’s treasure in exchange for just the keys that lock it up and a necklace.”

"Funny that you should mention that," Hrolf said. "That is exactly what he is offering. Unfortunately, no one knows where it is. But you'll need the keys to get to it. And afterward, as long as my client gets what he wants, you can keep the rest of his treasure. And my client doesn't want anyone to know who he is. That's why I'm making all the arrangements."

Anders eyed Hrolf a little, but not too hard. He was suspicious of this whole thing. It sounded like someone was trying to grab power or...something...and leave others out of it. Did this 'client' have any right to what they wanted? Did it belong to someone else technically? He wasn't sure.

He shrugged. "I say you because you are representing this secret hidden unnamed person." Which he also wasn't a fan of.

But....it might be something worthy of a ta- He suddenly stopped in thought and blinked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Wait. I have a question. If everything has to stay quiet, then does that mean no tale or song of the deeds afterward, even if we leave out your client and the necklace?" That would have been at least half of the point of doing, song and deed and glory.

Varin frowned a bit at that idea. He wasn’t entirely sure he’d be capable of keeping a story that good to himself. Not that he’d lead with the argument. He rubbed at his beard thoughtfully.

“Tch. That’s a good point. Unless your patron only need keep his identity hidden until he has the necklace? Is it an issue of inheritance?”

Varin’s mind raced with the possibilities. Treasure, yes. A hell of a story, perhaps. Intrigue and a shadowy patron. And if that patron was waiting to betray them? Well. What saga didn’t have a good twist?

And how many locals could there be claiming descent from Krysuvik himself?

"That you have found Krysuvik's treasure doesn't have to remain a secret," Hrolf said. "And yes, it is a matter of inheritance."

Anders pondered for a long moment. He still wasn't completely sure on this endeavor. Too many secrets and variables. But...it had...potential. That couldn't be denied. If he agreed, he hoped it wouldn't come back to bite him on the backside. And he would have to be on guard for a 'bad ending' once they were done, in case they wanted to make sure things stayed secret.

He frowned for a moment longer before finally shrugging his broad shoulders slowly. "Very well." He gave a small nod. "What information do you have to offer, and how long do we have to get it done?"

"Unfortunately there isn't much," Hrolf said. "But you could check out the library or the barrows about a mile north of town to see what you can find. We understand that this can take some time, no one has found Krysuvik's treasure yet after all. But obviously, we would much rather have this task completed as quickly as possible."


[OOC: If you look at the map in group 1, you will find the Standing Stone north of town. It is the southwestern corner of the area in which they bury their dead.]

Anders frowned slightly, especially at the mention of the library. That wasn't really his area of expertise. But the barrow? That...sounded promising.

"So hurry but know that it might take time?" He let out a small chuckle. "Very well."

He stroked his beard lightly for just a moment. Then he glanced at Varin. "I think the barrows sounds like a place to start. What say you?"

“Oh, well. You’d probably think a skald would be more comfortable at a library, I suppose. But you’d be wrong, if so.”

Varin grinned at Anders and then Hrolf, a little challengingly. “Alright, then. Treasure and a good story. Let’s see what we can discover.”