[Brygun] The Story of Calle (long story style)

[Brygun]

The trip gave Calle desire to think about what to do. He could now be an armored warrior to drive back the spirit harming Nerjpez. As part of a meditation he led Marikka to the trap fences to reset them. Checking nearby hill tops and vantage points foreign traders were seen. Looks like they had landed several parties. Though without the trade furs he felt to meet them.

Exchanging greetings their headman was Brunaald. Calle asked for news.

“We’ve come for the thicker furs collected this winter,” Brunaald explained, “We landed on the north coast. There are now several Nerjpez war camps along the great river. We are traders looking for goods for our own lands. Our war parties have our own affairs to see to. We’d rather deal with folks like you. Your people have been good to us. We even saw a new rock statue that looked like this. We were told told it us to avoid landing in dangerous waters.”

Brunalld shaped his arms and legs roughly like the inukshuk raised at the Bouldercliff fjort.

 “It was an Owl tribesman named Valle and myself Calle that put that up. Glad it did good.”

“You have our thanks. We landed outside the ford. We sent a scout to check and he did come back saying it was risking water. May your forest spirits bless you with a way to keep your people safe from the invaders.”

“Maybe they have,” answered Calle,

“Perhaps these weapons can help you. Some are battle weapons. Taken from foes those war parties slew. Rather than burn then we’d rather trade them with furs to dress the victorious.”

First to be shown was a battleaxe. Long handled for two hands with a thin edge shaped to cut flesh through iron rather than the spreading wedge of a wood working axe.

Calle waved it off patting the battlesword, “Pig Sticker has that covered.”

Each trader came up in turn showing their wares. It was their custom to show the goods that even if not traded today word of them would spread to draw in other fur collectors. Halmot presented another iron rimmed masterwork rimmed shield. Gilbrand had one too. Calle was interested in having a spare as his current one would keep getting damaged. For this then he would have to return to the cabin to gather the furs.

Fetching the furs evening grew darker into the silver of a full moon. Calle struggled to catch sight of the merchants. Noon the next day he found a group of traders, a different one. Halbrand had such an iron rimmed masterwork shield. This trade was soon done.

Calle added, “If you hadn’t heard there is an inukshuk like this warning of a dangerous ford.”

He made the pose.

Then Halbrand unstrapped a large sword from his back, “Then you are worthy of a greater trade. Our ship is one of those that heeded that warning. I was going to save this for later in the season. This was taken in battle from one of the warlords bodyguards.”

What he laid down was a battlesword. Drawing it he showed the marbling rivers of mixed steel like in Calle’s River Sword. Pommel had been etched on one side with head of a boar with the showing tusk, eyes and ears about the outline of the head. There were runes marked along the blade which were explained to read out “Bravery”.

For the “Brave Boar” sword the barter took all three of the winter elk furs, two of arctic fox fur and a hare as well. It left Calle with only a few small ermine furs.

<CALLE 154 Brave Boar fine battlesword>>>

[Brygun]

There is a fine collection of armor and weapons for Calle now. With the warming weather it was also time to reduce his layers. Rains were shrinking the snow. There might be time to ski a fast raid on the war camp threatening Maiden’s Stream.

A trial dressing for battle is done. Linen against his skin, furs for padding from blunt, leathers to reinforce and metals for weapons. His own weapons center on the Brave Boar fine battlesword and Boulder Bow masterwork northern bow. The River Sword as a side sword spare. Axes and knives for woodcraft are themselves backup weapons. The medicinal bundle packed for “Fighters need helpful medicinal herbs and bandages”… flax, nettle, hemp, meadsweet, heather and bandages. Food for him and Marikka. With the skis it came to just under one hundred and seventy pounds. A great weight were he not so large and strong bodied. A concern he has is the vulnerability of his neck.

If he skied it would take two if not three days to find them. A day to ambush. The same back would mean a week. A week might see the rivers lose their ice.  The target area he heard of is across at least one river. If that or other rivers melt he needs a plan.

He might cross at ford now risking freezing isn’t a likely but he needs to be quick to make a fire. Carrying tinder of at least 3 branches at all times helps with that. He also has been carrying a second rope, one being used for leashing Marikka, which he could make a raft. A sesta might not cross a river so should he bring a paddle? Yes. A new paddle is made.

There were the clinkered punts he made. The heavy wooden ones are hard to move on land though the sled wagon can help with that. A tarp punt can be broken down to just the tarp with a new frame assembled if needed. Carrying a paddle and tarp is a moderate burden that is doable. With no tarp on hand that would delay the departure to prepare. The rope and paddle option is the only one ready.

If he delayed they would not be attacked, at least by him, for the season. To appear as a raid and leave would seem like a ghost.

Calle keeps pondering especially on his protection. Some foreign traders had worn a neck protection called a gorget. He doesn’t have enough metal a steel one but one of them had worn one of leather with shoulder guards. That is doable. It would take a ring of two pieces with a bending hinge and a tie hinge for the horizontal ring. From that hang flaps on the front, back and over the shoulders. Its not that complicated of an idea. Each of those is just one hinge or tie point. Making it fit well is where the test of skill is.

This would delay him a day.

He blows heather into the wind.

“Spirits,” Calle said, “Guide me. My hand in crafting, my heart in action.”

His mind drifts to recently acquired boar leather. It would mean accepting it had been sent. Sent that he could make its hide into armor for this fight. That is what he’ll use. Tonight he thinly cuts a ring for cords and rectangles for hinges. He plays around measuring with his hands for the sizing around neck and shoulder. He’ll sleep on it.

His night dreams of a boar thrashing out of the woods. It rises up on its hind legs. Its shape becomes that of a man. A man with armor, furs, axes, sword and bundles. The man marches past him toward a war camp.

Waking in the night Calle winces his eyes. He clasps his arms about himself making sure he is still a man. Over his head the swan feathers twirl from the rafters of Swan Cabin. Chanting quietly he stills his heart to fall back asleep.

In dim early hours he awakens. With a fresh mind he takes from the oven place a bit of charcoal. Measuring his neck and shoulders he transfers those to the boar hid. Repeating this makes sure he gets an average that should work. He flexes his shoulder noting changes onto the hide. A new set of marks is added outside of that for a tirmming allowance.
Taking out his fine small knife he spends the hours to make a leather gorget with front, back and shoulder flaps. When main pieces are pulled off he puts them on his body knowing they need to be trimmed. This fit, trim, fit, trim is repeated over and over until the neck ring sits well when he shifts his head. The hinge and tie are put in. Fit, move and trim is repeated for the flaps until they get mounted. It comes off decently well.

“The thoughtful crafter is an efficient crafter,” Calle recites.

Fitting on the final piece he is much more confident on the neck protection. Having even more on his shoulders is an extra blessing.

<CALLE 155 made leather gorget with pauldrons>>>

[Brygun]

Day 6 of the 3rd week to summer, end of Soil month

Late morning Calle fully armored, armed and kitted collects Mirakka. They begin the journey with the goal to raid the Nerjpez.

Skiing on the snow with a mediocre crust is tiring with good progress being made. Unexptectedly he sped to outside that area that night. As a precaution in the dark night he builds a hidden shelter near a lake. If wounded he can fall back to here. A tight C of spruce blocks almost all approaches to his shelter. The narrow he guards with a trap. He won’t use a fire here as it might alert the target. A safe night is spent.

Now comes the attack.

<CALLE 156 Attack camp made>>>

[Brygun]

With the friendly village to the west Calle approaches from the north. He moves east then to the south seeking. Turning west a shadow comes out between trees. A brown mass of the furs of a familiar looking elk. Beyond that is a thin wisp of smoke of a camp. The elk helped him find them!

There camp in “Quarrel Wood” seems sighted to watch the west over a mire. The direction of the village. Spruce to the east shelter them from winds. This gives a decent path for closing. Perhaps any of them looking out will only think he is an elk like this one. Confidence blooms that the spirits are with him.

<CALLE 157 found warcamp>>>

[Brygun]

Aborted section

In the spruce woods of the late afternoon Calle feds Marikka and himself. The dog barked an extra time. Calle wondered if it was the enemy she smelled. They were closing on the war camp. Skiing around the trees the approach needed to be careful. He hoped to ambush one or two not fight the whole camp.

A soft breeze kisses his cheek.

Looking to the sky he sees the clouds. Their billows taking shapes being puzzled into things he knows. White swan feathers falling become snow. A fresh blanket to ski on. A shroud of soft white to hide his movements.

Gliding under Swan Maiden’s blessing he passes to a point where he can see the open ground of the camp. He nibbles on his medicinal herbs, that their benefits may already be flowing in his body. Stowing the ski stick he notches his first arrow.

<CALLE 158 at camp edge>>>

[Brygun]

OOC:

Im actually pretty nervous. I haven't raided a Nerjpez village since like... uh.... Beodrin? Or there was a try made with Cronan. Suffice to say Im far more into the survival skills hence the BAC modding.

[Brygun]

Aborted section

Seeing the east wall of a building. He steps to position to be able to see the door.

A curse blurts out!

He’s been seen.

It would seem a chief with a lamellar cuirass over his clothes. A large spear in his hand but no bow. The first arrow’s bone tip darts a graze on his hip. Other voices shout. At least two more coming.

Marikka snarls shifting beside Calle’s legs. Her leash restrains her. A style to keep her as a defense form melee attacks.

Nock and fire a broadhead catches a tree as the war chief charges. Plowing up the snow his double grip on the leveled spear with a gleaming metal point.

Nock and fire broadhead. Sweeping it passes between lamellar plates severing a wide sweep of blood and nerves. Twisting the chief falls eyes open upon the snow. Gaping mouth breathing no more.

<CALLE 159 shot chief dead>>>

[Brygun]

First go from here...

he died...

There was at least three that got up to him.

If you don't want to read reloaded games well the story probably ended much earlier.

Im doing this as a writing exercise and inspiration so giving another shot... with a focus on escaping.

[Brygun]

four plus tries...

still dead. 

[Brygun]

A short talk.

Now... by the rule of dying yes Calle would have died.

Writing stories based on Unreal World are very therapeutic for me. I've played this game for years, as the story list will show. Also when playing there is the motivation for modding and updating the mod. Now with years of play the starting from the beginning is something done so many times. I've decided to backup Calle's story a bit so that I can enjoy playing something different: that of an established homestead. Also the BAC mod will get a bit more updating.

Part of what was hoped for Calle, to shoot one and run away, doesn't seem to be viable in the snow.

There is some discussion of this in this suggestion thread:
https://www.unrealworld.fi/forums/index.php?topic=6177.0

That said those who enjoy the writing can continue with me.

[Brygun]

(Aborting attack as it is currently impossible to even single one out. Among the issues is the current game mechanics mean they have no penalty to move in heavy snow. It would be impossible to escape. Eventually the four plus Nerjpez will wear Calle down and there might be even more in the camp)






The elk’s eyes and his meet.

A swirl takes his mind.

Time and time again he tries alone to attack the camp. Each time he can manage to kill one, perhaps their war leader himself. Then the others swarm him. He watches Marikka suffer and die. No matter how he tries to battle they find him.

The elk’s side passes between trees as it turns away.

Overhead a billowing cloud with two spreading fans and a long streak fill in his mind the image of a swan.

Swan Maiden has warned him.

Calle accepts the warning.

<CALLE 160 didn’t attack>>>

[Brygun]

Withdrawing westward meant moving away from the attack shelter now north of him. On this side of the river he assembled another shelter. When he had a war party this could of use in launching an attack then. That would be some time, if ever. The markers would also serve to mark to those who knew them where to land a punt to make their approach.

He selected a U of spruce near the frozen river. A mixed choice to be sure. In the summer this would be well hidden from the land side. In the winter like now it was viewable from the ice side. Rocks and a large stone are assembled for a fire ring though he will make no fire. Were it lit the rocks absorb heat, block sparks while the larger stone’s heat draws the smoke to itself. A fallen tree is brought to the shelter, chopped into blocks and some further processed into firewood. A guard trap is set on one side. More spruce is laid in the floor to insulate.

Snow falls from the clouds like feathers from a swan. This further hides his tracks and the shelter. With the protection of Swan Maiden around him Calle feeds Marikka and himself before snuggling up together on and under the spruce.

Day 1 of the 2nd week before summer season

In the morning improvements of more secret markers and another guard trap were set. The traps were disarmed for now. Being left inactive meant able to set them up quickly on a return.

He arrived back at the “Button stream” community. First seen was the boy Teppo.

Calle studied Teppo. Thoughts of the dangers of the nearby raiders troubled him. What might happen to Teppo? A greater force and better equipment would give a better future to the boy.
Perhaps this is what was meant by being the “smith of the north”. To equip the people well enough so that several, not just Calle, would be well equipped warriors. For now the vision of his many deaths chilled his heart as deeply as plunging into a river while North Wind danced.

Hunter Kalerva came over greeting Calle. Calle spoke of spotting the war camp, their numbers he guessed at and the locations of the attack shelters.

With Apro Calle traded for a linen dress. It wasn’t the smoothest of stitching. A part of Calle hoped to have a lady companion stay with him. This would be a gift for her or payment for working. For it he traded his eight bone tipped arrows, 2 of his broadheads and foods.

Salme waved to Calle, “Thank you. I worked on that dress this winter. Glad it will find a home. We all hope you’ll find someone for it soon our friend!”

Calle blushed.

Moving on Calle skied on slightly different paths to expand his knowing of the lands. As evening came he swung into the homested of Maiden’s Stream. These too he warned of the war camp. Feeding Marikka one of his swirl hardtacks, having traded off the meat, they settled down to discussing with the stead folk. In time warriors might gather. It was the way to focus on living with the spirits not making war on people.

Skiing on home they spooked a weasel letting it dash under the spruce.

Striking closer to home they were startled by the appearance of a hunter slinking out of the spruce.

<CALLE 161 vagabond hunter>>>

[Brygun]

Nervous from visiting the war camp and the visions of his deaths Calle made the gesture of greeting with an open hand.

The hunter wiped a hand over his face. Tired eyes looked back.

Then the hunter made the gesture of greeting back.

“My name is Sampsa,” he said, “Thank you for the greeting. I have been hunting for winter furs while we can still ski. Armored warrior you worried me that you would bring battle.”

“I am Calle of Swan Cabin and this is Marikka. We have been to scout a war camp to the south east within two days journey.”

Sampsa’s eyes blinked and his head jolted.

Calle explained the location of the war camp though not yet sharing the location of the attack shelters. As a sign of friendship Calle passed to the hunter one of the broadhead arrows he made.

“As a Smith of the North let this gift bring you the harvest you seek. Remember to honor the cycle of life and thank the spirits,” spoke Calle.

“Thank you again,” Sampsa’s eyes woke to a sparkle eyeing the keen edges of the broadhead. Such an arrow could well fell a large animal. One with a thick fur hide and much meat on the body. He held it in both hands over his head before sliding it into his quiver.

Calle pointed out the directions to Maiden Stream, should the hunter end up with meat to trade or in need of safety. They parted ways then.

Soon at Swan Cabin Calle let Marikka to roam in the pen. He took off the metal war gear though chose to keep on the helmet. With care the linen dress was bundled into the rafters over the bed. Foods were restocked to his travel pack and a fire started to warm the cabin. Routinely the traps were checked with one pit being collapsed but nothing in it. Had he missed setting it before he left? The smoke house still lingered with wisps of trapped smoke. A new fire was set to keep the boar meat curing.

He was alive only because he hadn’t tried to fight a battle he couldn’t win. This weighed on his mind.

<CALLE 162 back at Swan Cabin>>>

[Brygun]

It was still morning as Calle decided what to do now. In his trade pile was four shields and a bow. Even if he didn’t lead them to battle just yet he could get these to the Button Stream. Trade or gift. Gear for use against troubles the raiders might cause.

It was late afternoon when he came near the village. To the east across the river he could see a stag elk. A sign of the migration or a warning? For now Calle wouldn’t get nearer. It was a sign that the Nerjpez weren’t prowling as they would have startled it or killed it themselves.

Apro was the first to be given one of the fine wooden shields as Apro already had a bow. The village supplied Calle with a collection of their extra arrows and a spool of thread.

Now to aide Kalvera whose weapons were only a staff and knife, not even a bow! Calle wanted to collect more clothes should a lady, even the Swan Maiden come. He picked out a linen dress, leather leggings, a wool cloak and decent leather shoes. He figured he could make the lady fur or leather footwear to size from his craft stocks and the nettle dress a second outer layer like an apron. For these he passed to Kalvera the longbow, a wooden shield and six of the village’s arrows. Arrows flow like water in the river of trade. It meant now that Kalvera would be a much better fighter should the day come.

The next day on the way to Maiden’s Steam homestead a cow elk and herd of reindeer were found only a few bow lengths away. He could hunt them though his heart new he already had great stocks of food. These were a good sign of the life of the forest. For now he wouldn’t hunt these ones.

Maiden Stream had in trade piles quite a bit of metal armor and various large furs, even one of a bear. He found Sampsa, one of the village men. By the time they finished Sampsa had Button Stream arrows to go with a local Maiden Stream hunting bow and one of the wooden shields Calle had made. In trade Calle gained two bags of rye grains and a birchbark basket of hemp seeds. These are stable foods he could keep long into when his own crops would rise again three seasons from now.

His heart grew full with pride. These people would at least put up a fight now. That in turn might guide the Nerjpez to delay or divert any attack for a while. Returning to Swan Cabin he stored the foods in the yard cellar and the lady’s clothing by the bed.

<CALLE 163 lady clothes at Swan Cabin>>>