Tales of Aeternum - Origins of the Varangian Knights
A day’s journey from Everfall, the Oxboro road was safer than those deeper in the wilds. A few of us traveling on roads from Brightwood to Everfall had gathered over the course of the past hour as the setting sun’s purple hues faded to the deep blue of night. I was the second to arrive, finding the encampment of a fur trader I’d met on the road before. She’d already started a fire, providing respite from the crisp evening air. I had joined, offering some ingredients from my pack, and we’d begun preparing a stew of vegetables and venison. Not long after, a man nervously approached, claiming to be a blacksmith apprentice headed to Everfall to hone his craft, at first wary, but seemingly quite relieved to find the safety offered by other travelers.
When the last streaks of sun were barely visible, a fourth traveler strode into the camp silent but confidently, nodding politely and moving to warm his hands over the fire. He was bearded, and while clearly a man of few words, his eyes had a knowledge, or wisdom, in them. We’d sat, chatting on and off for the last hour or so, as we enjoyed the stew under the rising moon.
It was dark now, the sky a deep, rich blue, moon gleaming and highlighting the wisps of clouds in the air.
The fire crackled, and my eyes tracked a trail of sparks ascending into the night. Noticing the bright glow of the fire illuminating the nearby trees, I felt a knot begin to grow in my stomach. Normally, a larger fire would be a good, keeping unwanted wolves and specters away from the camp. Now, the brighter glow and plume of smoke made you more visible to ruthless inhabitants new to these parts of Aeternum— the Varangian Knights, ruthless and cruel in their recent conquest.
“Anyone know exactly how far south
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