The City of Ken

Just what can you say about it that hasn't been said already? The home of The Goddes reborn and her Holy shields? The pride of Estioa? The city of golden white? Call it what you want and you probably be right! It is said that only a few lucky individuals managed to even visit such a modern paradise. But what do you do when you get there? What do you see? Where to eat? Keep on reading and find out!

Those words were the first thing that popped out as soon as Barlog opened this book. Resting on a fallen log in the midday sun. He soaked up every word about the fabled city with bated breath.

But if you are feeling rather adventurous, make your way down to the eastern district and explore an exotic world while you sample some of its wonderful sushi paired with some of Ken's finest fish.

"Su-shi?" Barlog asked no one in particular. Just what was it? It said 'finest fish' so it had to be a fancy food of some sort. Did Juno know? Maybe Andy since he has been almost everywhere.

Barlog was knocked out of his thoughts when he heard a soft growling in his left ear. Turning his head he was met with the amber eyes of one of his home's predators, the cougar. "Hi, Jotun". Barlog said with a small smile. The cougar jumped up the fallen log and laid down just above his head. He reaches up and patted the cougar's head as one would do with a family's pet.

Jotun was founded two years ago during a raid on one of the orcs that try to camp in the valley. He was locked up in a cage and was about to be branded until The öxl people came. The poor thing was nearly starving and hissing when Barlog found him. Tossed a piece of deer meat inside with him and busted open the cage to set Jotun free. Over time Barlog had looked over his shoulder to see that lion in the distance whenever he was out in the woods hunting or whatever the reason. Eventually, Barlog and Jotun became good friends.

"Do you have any idea what sushi is?" Barlog asks Jotun. Jotun just yawned and closed his eyes to take his daily nap. "That's what I thought." Barlog joked to himself and turned his attention back to his book. The air and wood around them were still and quiet. The birds and frogs sang, chirped, and crocked to one another in unison. Jotun purred softly as Barlog flipped his book while the sun shines on. A warm wind lazily moved past the two, carrying the scent of summer. Barlog's small smile grew a bit bigger as he inhaled. It was days like these that showed nature and her valley can be rather kind and gentle if she wants to be.

It took his people a year after they had first stepped foot on Eostia's shores. It was a place where it was free of bloodshed of his tribesmen and enough fertile land that it was no longer necessary to pillage his neighbors for what little they had and vice versa. It was a shame that even they had shown no hostility or reason to fear, that the Dark elf queen wanted to destroy what little that he and the rest had built up. The worst was that they asked for aid and reserved none but ignorance and distrust. At that moment, if the öxl truly wanted peace, they must prepare for war.

The great öxl raids.

That what everyone called it. Three years of raiding and burning everything they came across within the wastelands and butchering anyone that Olga had dared sent to quell them. It was not a matter of showing her to not underestimate The öxl, but to let the world know what to expect when it challenged them. And so Olga commanded her dark elves to construct a wall to prevent any more chaos in her realm. Years later, Most of the öxl had spread out among the mountains and made new homes and new lives for themselves.

He turned one more book page before closing the book.

He looked up to the mountain ridge of his home and felt his smile disappear. Just beyond that ridge was a world. A world that was, to him at least, foreign and alien. Yet filled with life and magic that no one here can explain or even aware of its existence. And it is also where this so-called sushi is too. His only contacts to the world were his father, Ragnor, And he passed away five years prior. And then there was Andy the merchant.

Speaking of Andy…

The sounds of horses clopping in sync were heard by Barlog and Jotun. "Andy is back." Barlog whispered and got up. He petted Jotun one more time and ran off. Jorun just closed his eyes again and resumed his nap.

Barlog walked along the dirt path that leads to the main road. His mind wonders about what Andy had brought this time around. Maybe a suit of armor from the knights of Iris or one of those eastern picture scrolls he had last time? A new book? Perhaps he can answer Barlog's burning question about what sushi is. Either way, It was always nice to trade whenever Andy came by.

Horses whined and a large crashing sound came from the road that made Barlog paused. "Oh, good grace!" a man's voice yelled out ahead. Barlog knew ran as fast as he could towards the disturbance. In the distance was a large carriage that looked to be painted red and blue. As Barlog drew closer he can see that the carriage was covered with innate and decorative carvings of horses and birds of prey circling what looked like a family crest. The crest was that of two horses on their rear legs facing each other with an ornate fruit tree separating the two. "Owww…" a voice in pain cried out from the other side of the carriage. Barlog climbed up and pecked over to the other side to see who was calling out. On the other side, he saw someone who looked a bit overweight on the dirt road facing down and was struggling to get up. "Andy!?" Barlog yelled out and jumped over to aid the fallen individual. He rushed over and knelt next to the fallen person offer his assistance.

The fallen individual was a man that looked a bit overweight as evident from his chubby cheeks now smeared with dirt. His blond hair was disheveled from falling out of his carriage. Barlog grabbed the man's arm and with little effort on his part, lifted him up and on his feet. "Oh!" The chubby man exclaimed and coughed. He quickly dusted off those fancy-looking clothing of his and looked up to meet his concern savor. "Ah, Barlog! Aren't you a sight for these sore eyes!" His voice sounded sophisticated like that of a merchant hailing from the nobility hailing from Feoh. "It's nice to see you again, Andy." Barlog let out a sigh of relief seeing that he is fine.

Andrew Charles, or 'Andy' to his friends, was the only merchant, perhaps in all the world, who was not afraid to come up to the mountains to trade with the öxl people. He came to the village when Barlog was but a teenager with his traveling emporium. He traded one of his fur pelts for a book Andy had with him. Every month from then on Barlog hunted and crafted a great deal so he can trade and questioned Andy about the world outside the valley. Andy also was a good friend to his father while he was alive, despite the two came from two different worlds. In all, Barlog thanked Andy for introducing him to Eostia, even if it was just through the pages of a dusty old book.

"What happened?" Barlog looked around for the source of Andy's troubles. "Ah, that." Andy coughed and brushed himself off one more time to ensure he was presentable "It seemed that a certain breed of the Sciuridae, commonly called the squirrel, decided to give old Eugen and Edgar here a good fright." he explained and petted one of the horses "Tossed me a good distance considering my hefty physique. Ha!" Andy slapped his belly and laughed. Barlog shocked his head.

Never change, Andy.

"Do you mind keeping me company until we reach the village?" Andy pulled himself upon the carriage perch and grabbed on the reins. Wordlessly, Barlog pulled and hopped up next to Andy on the perch. With a flick of his wrists, Andy cracked the reins and both Eugen and Edgar moved forward and pulled his carriage along with them. "So how was your day so far, my boy?" Andy asked, trying to start up a conversation. "Nothing happened," Barlog responded without looking at him as he was just starting to the side and listened to the clopping of hooves. "We're just dealing with some orcs two nights ago." "Oh," Andy breathed and the skin went a shade lighter "Then that explained the smoke and smell when I got here." "Sorry." Barlog apologized, feeling embarrassed. "Oh no, it's fine!" Andy quickly tries to reassure Barlog "It's just I'm not accustomed to the fine arts of war and combat like you and your fellow tribesmen are all!" He put a hand on Barlog's broad shoulder "What you boys did was right to rid yourselves of those atrocious monstrosities. Hell, I'll bet my family fortune that you just save some poor young maiden from a life of slavery and gratuitous sex and violence."Barlog felt lifted by Andy's prase. Even if it was as unsavory as killing, it was nice to what he did was a good thing. "Thank you, Andy" Barlog simply said to the merchant. Andy responded with a small chuckle. "Speaking of fine arts, have you made any new trinkets as of late?" Barlog furred his brow "You ran out of our carvings already?" Andy laughed out loud at his question "Can you blame me? I practically the only man in all of Eostia that have anything remotely related to the öxl people. Why just the other day before I left home to make my monthly journey to your's side of 'Jörm's jaw', Lady Prima Fiorire, the princess knight herself, wandered into my humble shop!" Andy explained proudly. From what Andy told him years prior, She and six others allied to help each other fight against the northern wasteland forces. Though both sides must strong or too scared if they managed to drag out war for gods knows how long. But then Barlog remembered the stories his father told him as a child about the Gaelic-land wars and why they left in the first.

"That little knight was looking for a gift for her older cousin's birthday coming up and eyed one of your hammer necklaces. I then combined my skills of persuasion and storytelling that I have honed over the years and spun her a tale about Thor, your god of thunder, blessed that necklace with one of his mighty thunderbolts to grant the wearer the power to vanquish even their mightiest of foes." Andy laughed "The look in her eyes was quite comical and adorable. I made the first offer and she bought it without a second thought."

Barlog softly chuckled a the thought of one as important as a princess knight drooling over a common piece of jewelry.

"I'm telling you now Barlog, this sale is the beginning. Not only will this help bridge the gap between you and the rest of Eostia, but my business will boom once word spread about one of the princess knights bought one of my wares. Killing two birds with one stone, as they say." Andy boasted. As much as Barlog wanted Eostia to like them, he gets the sneaking feeling that Andy was happier about the latter of his statement.

Better than nothing, still.

Barlog's eyes lit up suddenly. He just remembered what he wanted to ask Andy about.

"Hey Andy, do you know-"

"Ah! Here we are." Andy cut off Barlog and pointed forward. Looking ahead, Barlog saw the stone gate opened and waiting for them. Up above the gate were two guards armed with a spear and shield. On their backs hung a quiver of arrows and a longbow to shoot down any traveler with ill intent.

"Good morrow gentelmen!" Andy yelled up to the guardsmen "Andrew's Exotic Emporium has graced you with his presents once again!" "It is Andrew," one of the guards notices "Send word to Hogarth that Andrew is back. Along with Barlog." he ordered one of the men and turned his attention to the two. "Welcome back Andy. What you got this time around?" "Come to the square and find out yourself!" Andy chuckled as they passed under the guard station. Just passed the gate, down a small hill was Barlog's home.

Hrafnvatn,

Raven lake

One of the first settlements the öxl had built since arriving. Situated next to the lake was a large village that was built up from the ground up using the wooden longships that had carried them across the sea so many years ago and the stone from the mountains themselves. In the center of the lake was a small island with a single oak tree and nothing more. Some say that when the öxl first founded this place, the island with the oak tree was filled with ravens. It was like-

No

It was a sign from the All-Father himself.

To the left of Barlog and Andy were children running down the hill to intercept them. The adults just waved and went back to tending the fields. "Andy's back!" they heard one of the children yelled excitedly. "What's he got this time?" another one yelled out. Andy smiled and waved at them "Ah, that may never get old." Barlog smiled as well. Seeing everyone's faces light up when Andy comes along with what's he got was wonderful and mysterious at the same time. Even Barlog wanted to know.

A small bump on the road signaled that the carriage was off the dirt road and was now on the cobblestone of Raven Lake village. More onlookers spotted Andy and Barlog as they rode straight for the square. Most of them welcomed and wave while everyone else was too busy to acknowledge. The öxl guards went on their usual patrols and tried to calm down the ruckus that was caused by Andy and his carriage of wonders. The square and its shops had everything everyone needed to go on their daily lives from bread and meats to clothing and protection offered by the local smiths. Some even offered jewelry and runes to spiritually aid the inhabitants. And located in the center of the town square was the longhouse. Home to Raven Lake's chieftain, Hogarth Ironhead, who was named after he killed an orc by smashing his helmet into its skull until it died.

"Here's a good spot." Andy said and pulled back on the reins to halt the horses and parked his carriage across from the longhouse. He and Barlog hopped off from the perch. Andy quickly headed inside his carriage and the sounds of keys turning and locks unlocking can be heard inside. A small crowd was beginning to form and watched curiously. A second later, the whole side of Andy's carriage unraveled and open itself up, revealing Andy and his exotic wares. "Welcome, and I mean Welcome back every single one of you to Andrew's Exotic Emporium!" He greeted everyone in a loud voice to draw more attention to himself and his emporium. "Gather 'round now and don't be shy, I have only but the most interesting collection of oddities and trinkets that I guarantee that no one here in the lovely valley has ever seen before!" He stomped his foot down and a puff of colored smoke blown out from behind the carriage that made the kids in attendance gasp. Barlog smiled in amusement at the theatrics.

"And there goes that windbag." Barlog turned around and seen Hogarth in his blacksmithing apron. His beard now combed and braided unlike a few nights ago. He scratched his bald head before noticing Barlog. "How can you stand there and not go deaf is beyond me." Barlog just shrugs. "Just used to it, I guess." Hogarth scoffed at his answer "Hilda would gag him and toss him to the lake with hammers tied to his feet before that happens." Barlog nodded about that statement about Hogarth's wife.

And that if she was in a good mood.

"I dare say your chieftain is in attendants as well!" Andy pointed out "Nice to see you too, Andrew." Hogarth sighed before speaking up "And what did you bring us this time around?" He sounded somewhat annoyed. While Andy is on good terms with everyone in Raven Lake, Andy's personality can be a bit… tiring.

"Well…" Andy trailed off as he had to duck down and looked for something behind his counter. "Ha!" Andy exclaimed and was beginning to pull out something "Here's something for the miss. In your life. Armor of the holy knight the great Cty of Ken herself. That part from the City of Ken caught Barlog's attention almost immediately. And what Andy pulled out was… something to say the least.

"What in Asguard is this!?" Hogarth roared in disbelieve and amusement. The 'Armor' Andy pulled out some sort of metal undergarments for a woman to wear. "Why it the official armor of the brave female knights, my rugged fellow." Andy tries to reassure Hogarth and the others "Yeah, you need to be brave if you are gonna wear that into battle." Someone from the crowd heckled "It'll make my night if I can convince Hilda to try this on!" Hogarth and the others laughed "Or get your hammers busted!" More laughter erupted. "Okay, okay, that's enough!" Andy chuckled nervously and was thinking of a way to salvage the situation. "If protection isn't what your after," Andy said while tossing the 'armor' aside "How 'bout something that can cut orc's flesh like a hot knife through butter instead?" Andy then pulled out a rather rectangle-shaped box. "Straight from the mysterious east, a blade so treasured that it is said that it contains the soul of a warrior." Andy opened the box and gently pulled out something strange indeed. It looked like a sword as evident when he saw a handle of a blade. It looked slim and curved and was sheathed inside a black and shiny scabbard. "Now feast your eyes on this beauty". Andy announced and pulled the sword free from its scabbard to reveal its edge. The whole crowd went from laughter to awe as they all stared at the eastern blade. "Now that's more like it". Hogarth said after he whistled. Not long after, people, including Hogarth, were giving Andy offers for the sword. Barlog was about to join in too. That was until he saw something across the square, at one of the stalls that sold medicinal plants.

Something that made him forget that silly sword and even breathed.

Dark blue robes covered a tall and well-endowed feminine figure with dark skin. The robes covered all except their chest area. Their midnight black hair reached down to their elbows that looked so smooth that it looked like water flowing down their back. The lower half of their face was covered by a silk mask of the same color as their robes, yet it did not help cover their elf ears.

Juno Starlace

Barlog nearly panicked at the sight of her but regained his composure. What should he do? Try to talk to her? Maybe just act like she wasn't there and let her engage in conversation first. By the All-Father this was harder than he thought-

Juno reached for a plant. She stood on the tip of her toes yet was still out of her reach.

A sign from Odin.

Barlog moved away from the bickering crowd and made a B-line for the damsel in distress. He paced himself to not appear nervous or too eager. Just act natural and be yourself. He repeated those words over and over in his head. Just as he closed in on his objective he can smell the scent of lavender and blueberries.

"Here". Barlog said and picked up the plant that she was struggling to get. The calm composure in her dark blue eyes widen and a quick gasp escaped her veiled lips. "Ah! Barlog…" Juno said in a quiet tone when she realized who it was. The words she spoke were soft and gentle to the ear. "Oh, s-sorry!" he apologized to the dark elf "I didn't mean scare you like that." "O-oh no! It's fine". Juno reassures him. Juno took the herb Barlog had helped retrieved for her "Thank you". Barlog's cheeks turned a slight shade of red by her prase. And unbeknown to him, so was Juno's by his assistance.

Juno Starlace was the only elf in Raven lake. She was founded outside the village, scarred, beaten, and nearly starved to death when she managed to escape an orc war party. They tracked her down to the gates and were greeted by the öxl instead. Barlog's shaman, Yaga Bob, patched her up and adopted Juno when she learned that her parents try to abandon Olga's war effort and start a new life in the south. While some argued that taking in a dark elf was a bad omen, the majority of the öxl accepted her as one of their own. While she is accepted by her new home, the scars left on her face and body can make some people uncomfortable when looking at her. And thus, Juno covers her face and body up as much as she can to avoid unwanted attention.

Both stood silent and awkward, both flustered by one another's company. Barlog slightly sweated as he tried to think of a way to break the silence. "S-so what do you need Chamomile for?" Barlog questioned, finally breaking up the awkwardness. "Ah, this?" Juno held up the plant bundle "Yaga is having trouble sleeping. She said that it's an omen of war. But I think the sweet rolls might have a part in her insomnia." "Y-yeah, that can happen." Both Barlog and Juno laughed until Juno raised a hand behind her veil and touched her face. "Is everything okay? Are you hurting?" Barlog asked, worried that Juno was in discomfort. "Oh no, everything is fine." she reassured him "It is just an itch that is all." "If you say so." Barlog nodded, still concern about her well-being. "I see Andy hasn't changed." Juno pointed out. Barlog turned around and see that he and Hogarth were negotiating for some sort of egg-shaped object. "Yeah, he would have been here sooner if something he calls a, uhh, Sciu…" Barlog struggling to remember what Andy called the squirrels, causing Juno to giggle at his confusion. "Oh, what will he do without you?" She joked. Barlog couldn't help but smile, finding it to be impossible to be mad at Juno.

"You two!" Both Barlog and Juno turned around and see a guard on a horse rode up. Hanging over his shoulder was a satchel. "Have you seen Hogarth anywhere? This is urgent." Barlog pointed to Andy and Hogarth "Thank you." He turned his attention to Juno next and asked "Could you fetch Yaga for him? I believe she should want to hear this as well." Without question, Juno nodded and said her goodbyes to Barlog. "It's been nice talking to you." She said and walked off. "What is the matter? More orcs?" Barlog asked the guard the moment he hopped off his horse and briskly walked over the bickering duo. "And that's my final-" "Hogarth, sir!" the guard cut him off. "I'm a little busy at the moment." he tried to wave him off. "No sir," the guard reached into his satchel and pulled out a white envelope "A bird just came by. It had this tied to its back. I believe it is for you, sir." Barlog walked to the side to get a better look at what he had. He spotted a seal made of red wax was stamped an insignia he doesn't recognize. Andy's eyes widen when he spotted the envelope. "By the divine!" He yelled. All three of them looked at Andy with confusion. "That's the royal crest of Lady Celestine Lucilluc herself! The goddess reborn! The queen of Ken!"

The elven goddess finds herself laying on freshly fallen snow. The moon, high and full. The High Elven goddess arose from her frozen bed and see a wood blanketed with snow and more falling ever so gently landed on her light and soft skin. The trees, bare of leaves and awaiting to awaken from their slumber when the time is nigh. Not a sound was heard or was made except for the crunching of snow beneath her bare feet as she followed the path before her.

It wasn't long until she found a small fire blazing away and battling the cold by its lonesome.

And yet, the flame was not alone.

Resting by the fire atop a blanket were two small cats. One with fur white as the snow. The other, Black as the night. Both turned their heads and looked at the elven goddess. As if they are waiting for her to arrive. To witness something.

Behind the trees was a low growl. It emerged from the sleeping trees. A black demon with blood-red eyes that crawled on all four limbs barked and snarled like a mad dog at the cats. The black one hissed in return.

"Fate can be oh so cruel, Is it not?" A man's voice boomed next to the elven goddess. To her right was a hooded figure. He was the largest man she had ever witness. In his right hand held a magnificent spear that glittered with silver and gold. His face was shrouded yet his white beard poured out from his hood. On each shoulder perched a raven, each bird had its attention on the scene before them. His voice was low, but behind his words boomed with power and authority so great that she felt she must kneel before him.

Like a god descended from the heavens.

He did not look away from the demon as it inched closer to the two cats. "What does fate gained from such cruelty? Why did fate want this? Is this our God's will? No one can truly know the answer to these questions." The cats backed away slowly from the demon as it licked its lips at them. "There are some that challenged fate itself to change it in their favor." The ground shocked suddenly and stopped. Then again, and again. The elven goddess realized that these small earthquakes were in fact footsteps. "And very few managed to defeat fate."

To her left emerged a wolf. A great beast that was the size that dwarfed the fearsome orcs her people faced. It turned its head and she had seen the most beautiful set of eyes. A blue eye on its left. And on his right was a green eye. Both held a hidden fire behind them. It turned away and walked forward to the snarling demon. "People try to challenge fate like it is the same as asking a friend to stop and reconsider." The black demon roared and growled at the great wolf. The wolf on the other hand did nothing. Not a growl or a bark. It just stood and staring the monster down. "But you and I know that is a lost cause. You must face fate like you would an enemy on the battlefield." Just when the demon moves one of its legs, the wolf pounced with unnatural speed and its fangs clamped down on its throat. It lifted the demon and tossed it around before throwing it down and began tearing the demon apart. "You mustn't fight fate with sword or shield. You must face it like an animal fighting for its survival. With tooth and claw. With such savagery that years of war can only nurture. With a rage that is hotter than any forge the greatest smiths can produce." The wolf tossed the demon's limbs away from its broken body. In its maw held what was left of the demon's head before crushing it with a sickening crunch. Its brains and blood dripped from the giant wolf's mouth.

The white cat quickly rubbed up against the wolf's legs and purred as a form of thanks for coming to their defense. The black one swatted at the wolf before returning to its spot at the fire. "There is an old rumor among my people." The tall man said. He removed his hood and exposed his face for the first time to the elven goddess. His face was old but chiseled and scarred from countless years of battle. His right eye was covered with a golden eye patch. His left eye was a steel gray and held such an inhuman intensity that nearly made her shiver. "What is stronger than steel? The answer..." The wolf sat down next to the fire beside the cats. The old man then turned his attention to the elven goddess with that same intense stare

"Blood. Blood and fury…"

The great wolf let out a howl. A howl so loud and so powerful that the trees shook from the force. A great howl that can be heard from all over this world.

Even to the full moon.

I like to take a second to say thank everyone that took the time to read my first attempt. Let me know what y'all think so far

In this chapter, I wanted to show off how different the öxl are compared to the rest of Eostia. And I also wanted to show off Barlog's softer side as well.

Again, thank you all for reading this!