Iorweth the Boneless
(Deceased)
"I've been bred for war, and war is the only thing I know."
About
Learn about Iorweth's background, life, and how the man went from a soldier in the Pact Army, over Commander of the North Guard, to a life on Kyne's Aegis.
Relationships
Iorweth has met many people over his years. Of some he is fond, of others not so much.
other
Explore and understand Iorweth more through details in the stories, and enjoy the art.
Basics
Iorweth is an older Nord of a rather average height, with now graying haird and beard. Often, he does rather strange things, like biting off fish heads, but on the battlefield he is a ferocious warrior, since, after all, since his childhood he was hammered into a warrior.
His braided gray hair and beard are accompanied with bright blue eyes. Iorweth often wears his armor that is adjusted for colder climates with furs, along with a shield of Reach origin and either an axe of Nord style or a sword called "Blood Oath."
Many claim that what makes Iorweth dangerous is not just the ability to fight (which is not his main strength now however due to his age), but the fact that his strategic mind can put various cogs to work.
Over the years, Iorweth has also earned many a title, such as "the Boneless," "Crimson Jackdaw," or "Commander."
Face Claim: Iorweth's face resembles the most something between Geralt of Rivia and Ragnar Lothbrok, but neither are exact representations.
Voice Claim: The closest voice to Iorweth's would be Doug Cockle's Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher 3.
Disclaimer: The face and voice claims are NOT how exactly Iorweth looks and sounds like. In other words, Iorweth is neither Geralt, nor Ragnar. These claims only serve for better imagination.
History
Only a few know the true birthplace of Iorweth, but many think it is Winterhold, since Iorweth grew up there. Iorweth grew up in a small house on the outskirts of Winterhold, where an old man brought him up. Since a young age, Iorweth was trained to fight, and his training was full of hard lessons. According to some, and to Iorweth himself, he was "bred for war."
When Iorweth reached adulthood, it didn't take long before he went into battle. He took part in many smaller and larger battles within Skyrim, whether it was against Reach invaders or just bandits. In those battles, his skill for battle certainly showed, but then the wars came, which revealed his full potential.
Iorweth was in a number of wars, some of them being the Akaviri War, or later the Three Banners War. During the Three Banners War, it was revealed how prone Iorweth was to injuries, mainly after a siege at Fort Dragonclaw, where he took a hard hit from a catapult boulder and had a very hard time healing from it. After many years, he finally resigned, and travelled through Tamriel.
In the time after his resignation, there are mostly only rumors about his life. Some people say he joined the Dragonguard, some say he died and was raised from the dead, some say that he became so skilled, he could kill dragons with ease. But what is for certain is that Iorweth travelled through Tamriel, helped the people in all the ways he could, whether it was on the fields collecting crops or taking on a contract for someone's head. He went to Elsweyr, where he helped the dragon hunters during the Rage of Dragons, and met a Breton noble, Artemis Cohen.
Some time after, the Pact called out to Iorweth once again, and he was forced to come back to the battlefield, being in need of a veteran soldier. During that time, there was a large battle between the Three Alliances in a town now forgotten. Many soldiers, including Iorweth, were buried under the debris of the town buildings, most of them being assumed dead, once again, including Iorweth. But, Iorweth survived. There are only rumors what happened. Some sources say that he was enslaved, but managed to somehow escape, which is one explanation why he decided to follow again the ways of his Nordic heritage.
About how Iorweth got the name "Boneless," Iorweth never talks. Though it is said that because of all his injuries in all the battles he has been in, his bones became rather brittle, not being able to fully heal.
When it comes to the most recent events, he helped a group of mercenaries at the Jehanna Docks repel Orsimer invaders, which led to the foundation of the North Guard. Iorweth, however, didn't want the position of being its leader, and so he went on the path of monster hunting, finding contracts around the Northern part of Tamriel, going on raids with the Ysgarskin, or helping the Hammers of Atmora during the retaking of Falkreath and their Okaaz Kein campaign in the Sea of Ghosts. During those times, his wife, Artemis Cohen vanished without a trace, and no matter how much he tried, there wasn't a single clue. Then, when the commander of the North Guard, Janus Winterthorn, fell ill, Iorweth was asked to lead the attack on Claw-Breaker Fort, which was successful, but Janus died because of the sickness. No other man worthy, Iorweth was chosen as the next Commander of the North Guard. There was no hesitation to help the folk of Skyrim during the dark times within the Western Kingdom, as he and the North Guard helped defeat a rogue Pentarch of the Gray Host alongside many of their allies. He also found a new love in Iona Vlorn, a companion from the Hammer of Atmora and a barbarian woman from the Jeralls. They married, but when she was with child, she left the West for the Jeralls, and Iorweth with his responsibilities had no other choice than to stay in the Western Kingdom. Yet another painful blow.
Soon, there were whispers on the winds that called him to the Reach, and so, he left the North Guard in the hands of a woman called Brunka Raven-Shield, a shield-maiden from Kyne's Aegis. No one knows what business did Iorweth have in the Reach, but he stayed there for a long time, living among a clan of Reachmen who traded with some Nords of the Western Skyrim Kingdom. Something then led him to Kyne's Aegis though, and he was frequenting for a while between the Reach and Kyne's Aegis, until now, he stayed on the isle of Kyne's Aegis and its surrounding isles, picking up a new life.
With the help of a couple friends, namely Brunka Raven-Shield and Lodi Haraldsen, in the isles surrounding Kyne's Aegis a ship was built, which Iorweth named Hvalrika, or Whale-Queen. With those companions, he got together a crew and soon new journeys seem to be on a horizon.
Iorweth eventually found his end on an island near Kyne's Aegis during a siege of an old fort occupied with Sea Giants. The battle was victorious, but at a great cost.
Relationships
Artemis Cohen
The woman that once saved his life from a mortal wound caused by a dragon back in the times when he went on the path of dragon hunting. They instantly fell in life and not too long after, they married, raising four daughters. How it is between them now however, is unknown to the public.
Iona Vlorn
The perfect couple in the eyes of many, they married, and Iona was with child. Yet due to the dangers in Western Skyrim, Iona decided to leave for the Jeralls, a place safer to raise their child, but Iorweth had to stay in the West, as he had responsibilities to Skyrim and her people. Only the Gods know if they shall be reunited one day once more.
Aryah, Ailyssa, Lynessa, Celina Cohen
The daughters of Iorweth. Nowadays, each of them is in a different corner of Tamriel, living their own life.
Brunka Raven-Shield
Iorweth met the Kyne's Aegis native, who however spent numerous years in Whiterun, some time before his venture into the Reach. Because he saw something in her, he made her the Commander of the North Guard in his absence. But when Hammerjaw Haven, the seat of power of the North Guard was attacked by raider of unknown origin and what was left of the North Guard was destroyed, she fled back to Kyne's Aegis, where Iorweth and her met once again. There, she became part of the crew of Hvalrika. Brunka close to Iorweth's final days became his lover.
Lodi Haraldsen
Iorweth and Lodi met when Iorweth was captured by a rogue Pentarch of the Gray Host and kept in caves under Karthwatch, where Lodi helped the warriors of the North Guard free Iorweth. There was nothing left for Lodi anymore, however, with his home destroyed, and so he ventured and drank. But when he heard rumors about Iorweth travelling back and forth between the Reach and Solitude, Lodi became intrigued, and not too long after, he travelled to Kyne's Aegis after hearing rumors of Iorweth's location there. Once there, along with Brunka, he became another member of the crew of Hvalrika.
Arwen the Loreseeker
Arwen and Iorweth met in the wilds of Western Skyrim not too long before the assault at the keep in Karthald known as Darkfang. They became quite close, and some may have suspicions that the two are more than just friends.
Hrafna Bright-Heart
Hrafna and Iorweth met in Solitude, where he helped her find bowstrings among the market. Since then, they met a number of times, each learning about the other more and more. Nevertheless, Hrafna would call Iorweth probably mad, and Iorweth being Iorweth would continue act like it in front of her. However, there is no doubt Iorweth would help her with whatever she would need without hesitation.
Arbjorn Ysgarsson
Iorweth met the Bear one night in Ivarstead and agreed on going on the raid to the town of Tro Trang. In public eyes, it would seem Iorweth bears respect to Arbjorn, however, what he thinks in private is unknown and possibly quite different than from what the public sees. Either way, he tries to have good reputation with Arbjorn, since it is good to have a powerful ally.
Art
By me
By AshtonQ
By AshtonQ
Stories
“It’s going to be a glorious day, I tell you.” Said Wulfharth. “There is no glory in battle. Only pain, suffering, and death. The costs of victory feel like defeat.” Responded Iorweth. They stood in their usual formation, in the first row. Iorweth’s gaze was fixed on the battlefield, where, on the other end, would stand an army of the Daggerfall Covenant. “Today we will win.” Iorweth murmured to himself, watching the young and most likely inexperienced Covenant soldiers. It didn’t take too long and the two armies clashed under a rain of steel. Blood squirting out of wounds, shouts of pain, fear, and anger flowing with the wind, the ring of swords clashing around. It took a moment for Iorweth to focus what was going on around him, but just in time he managed to do so and dodged a mortal blow of an Orcish war hammer. The Orc groaned lifting the hammer, but Iorweth was too quick and stabbed the Orc through his throat. He then headed out, stumbling over bodies on the ground, to find his comrades, dodging and slashing every now and then. Once he got closer to the center of battle, fury and the urge to survive filled him, moving in a deathly dance, blood covering his armor and skin every time his blade sank into flesh. Suddenly, a Covenant soldier challenged him, but he wouldn’t hold on long, since Iorweth was a skilled soldier, after all, it was all he knew. War. After cutting him down, he crouched and removed the soldier’s helmet, revealing a young face. Iorweth sighed, closing the soldier’s fear-filled eyes. He knew that at this time of the war, more and more young men, if not boys, enlisted in the armies, going into a certain death. Iorweth stood up and continued his dance of death. It felt like an eternity for him, before the battle came to an end. Both, Pact and Covenant bodies were laying all over the ground, some Pact soldier’s finishing suffering Covenant ones. Iorweth watched the massacre for a while. He then briefly bandaged some of his wounds, wiped with the back of his hand the blood off his face and inhaled, the scent of death around. He then slid his sword into its cover and headed to the general, who with pride and fanaticism in his face grinned at what his army created…
“Papa?” a soft voice said. Iorweth sat at his desk, his scarred hand pausing at the end of a sentence. He lifted the quill and wiped the ink in the sleeve of his shirt, then set the quill away. Finally, Iorweth turned around with his chair and his first-born daughter, Aryah, jumped into his lap. He smiled and asked quietly “What’s the matter Ary?” Aryah wiggled a little in his lap before finally sitting still and comfortably. She looked up at him. “You never told us how you met mommy.” Aryah murmured. Iorweth chuckled and ran his hand across her hair. “I suppose I should tell you then?” Aryah giggled and smiled brightly, laying her small head against his chest, and Iorweth started…
An Unexpected Fortune
It wasn’t his first battle with a dragon, but this time, he underestimated the giant flying beast. It was a pain that he never felt before. As if a hundred great swords slashed him at once. The force of the dragon claw threw him back into a cliff and it took him a second to realize where he was. The dragon, with his arrogance, went slowly and with pride to Iorweth. But Iorweth found a small path between the rocks of the cliff that was big enough for him, but too small for the dragon. Iorweth crawled as fast as he could, groaning with pain, leaving a trace of blood behind him, when suddenly he felt something warm behind him. Fire. Dragon fire. It flowed like water through the small canyon, lessening the distance from Iorweth. With all his power left, Iorweth managed to get out just in time, so-so avoiding the fire.
Iorweth found himself on a rock near the abandoned city of Orcrest. His armor ripped and blood-soaked. He laid there, almost unconsciously, in the shadow of an ancient cedar. “This is the day.” He thought to himself. “This is the day I will end.” He murmured to himself, spitting some blood out and coughing. Iorweth was dying and he knew it. There was no hope for him. Abandoned in the middle of the desert, nothing close except the plagued Orcrest. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe. He saw darkness and nothingness, getting to terms that he’s dying.
Suddenly, someone shook with him. The touch was rather soft and not too strong, concluding it had to be a woman. Iorweth forced himself to open his eyes and there he saw her. A Breton woman. Her fire-red hair flowing down her shoulders. It was a sight for him that he loved but hated at the same time, because why would he trust a Breton? He had no choice, however, so he just laid there and watched her. A few seconds after, when it was obvious that he woke up, the woman said rather rapidly “What happened to you? Why are you here? You know what? Don’t say anything, let me take care of you.” Iorweth, being in the state he was didn’t even respond for a while, just trying to watch her, his hand partially on his dagger. Then, he spoke quietly “A…dragon…” The woman glanced at him and nodded in understanding, then proceeded to remove the burned armor from the Nord’s flesh, revealing horrid bleeding wounds and burned flesh. Iorweth laid his head back against the tree and groaned with pain while she did that, then he just breathed deeply while she tended to his wounds. It took hours till she was done, using restoration magic and medical skills. After she was done, she wiped her forehead with a tissue and smiled to him faintly. “I’m Artemis.” She said. “Iorweth…Battle-Born.” Iorweth forced himself to respond to her and with her help he stood up. Helping him up on her horse, Artemis said “There is a small town nearby, the Stitches. We should get there something to drink and then we’ll see in what state you’ll be.” She smiled and Iorweth just nodded.
When they entered the Khajiiti tavern in the Stitches, they picked the most convenient spot in the corner and sat down on the pillows. Each of them first had something to hydrate, then they proceeded to get something alcoholic. Iorweth sat exhaustedly on the pillows, leaning against the walls, while Artemis sat on the other side of the tea table. She smiled to him and took a drink from her cup. Iorweth smiled awkwardly back and took a drink as well. “So…tell me, what are you doing here?” Artemis asked. Iorweth took another drink and the responded quietly “I…hunt dragons…or attempt to.” They then proceeded to have a friendly talk, exchanging events from their lives, their businesses that led them to this place. They talked for hours and hours. After a couple drinks, Artemis scooted to him and leaned against him, her head on his shoulder. Iorweth blinked, not exactly sure what he should think about it nor what he should do. Then, she whispered “You know, I…my ex-partners always used me, because I had money, because I was a noble. So, I decided to be lonely for now. But…” she looked in his eyes “…now I think it could change.” Iorweth watched her and mumbled “A-Artemis…I-I don’t think that would…” then her lips pressed against his. The kiss first felt like a sting through every part of his body, his wounds burning, but then it became soft and warm and enjoyable. And so, they rented a room, and slept together. A former Nord soldier alongside a Breton noble.
…” After she helped me up on her horse, we stopped in the Stitches to get supplies, and then we went to the closest city, which was Rimmen. And that is how I met your mother.” Iorweth finished the story and Aryah straightened herself and looked up at him. “Sooooo…she saved your life? That was nice of her.” Aryah smiled and laid her small head back on his chest and yawned. Iorweth laughed quietly. “It is late. Bedtime.” Aryah nodded and in a few seconds fell asleep on him. Iorweth shook his head. Suddenly a voice sounded. “You omitted what exactly happened in the Stitches.” The female voice said with humor. Iorweth looked in the direction of the voice and smiled. “Well, she doesn’t have to know every detail. She is still small.” The voice said again “That is very true. But I have to say, I never thought you’d remember so many details of our first meeting.” Iorweth shrugged lightly, not to disturb sleeping Aryah. “How could I forget how I met the love of my life, my dear Artemis.”
“You don’t look well, Janus.” The deep, monotonous voice said, the hand closing the door behind. “And you look quite good for your age.” The other voice said, coughing sounding through the room afterwards. “What leads you here, Iorweth?” Iorweth straightened, his eyes gazing around the room, catching the fires of the candles around. “I have seen a pillaged village. Full of Reachmen. They seemed like the same clan you described me.” Janus listened, and after Iorweth finished speaking, he sat up on the bed, raising a brow “Is that so? That’s good news. What is the name of the village? I will send my men right away there.” Iorweth frowned slightly. He wasn’t happy to see Janus in this state. “Hammerjaw Haven. Close to Solitude. But…” his eyes stared at Janus in that usual cold gaze, which Janus already knew. It meant he wasn’t going to give up on what he was about to ask for. “…I will go with them. There is something about the village. I don’t know what, but it seems to have a certain…calling to me.” Janus frowned, then coughed, stains of blood on his sleeve. “Very well…you have experience. They will meet you at the harbor tomorrow morning.” Hearing that, Iorweth nodded and turned around, walking out the room without another word.
It was early in the morning, but Iorweth was already standing at the harbor, in front of the prepared longship of the North Guard. His sword was on his back, his hardened leather armor with some plate adjusted on him, his silver hair tied back into the usual ponytail. Then, multiple figures came out of the snowstorm and he recognized two of them. Laila Jurgensen, a Lord Ranger of the North Guard, and Asbjorn Brathann. He smiled and stepped to Asbjorn. “It has been a while old friend. I’m glad to see you again.” “So do I, Iorweth, so do I.” Asbjorn replied. Then, Iorweth raised his voice, much stronger and louder than the bickering of the North Guard. “We are going to take back Hammerjaw Haven. It has been sieged by the Dread-Claw Clan, or as you know it, the Were-bitch’s Clan. We can expect catapults that will bombard us, and possibly a werewolf or two. But be prepared for anything. Where Reachmen are, Hagravens are as well, usually.” There was some grumbling and scoffing among the North Guard, but overall, they were quiet and seemed ready. Then, they boarded the longship and sailed towards the East, to Hammerjaw Haven.
The North Guard arrived with their longship after a rather smooth journey. At first, it was quiet. The village was destroyed, debris laying around on the ground, dead bodies of fishermen everywhere, as well as those cursed Bloodroots of the Reachmen. But there was no alarm just yet. It seemed the Reachmen thought they were just another longship of theirs. But then, the Reachmen closest to them widened their eyes and shouted for alarm. It didn’t take long after and a salve of stone boulders flew towards the group. Iorweth ran forward, taking the sword from his back. But then, a boulder fell down next to him, a shard of the stone hitting his leg, leaving behind a long and quite deep bleeding wound. He groaned but still ran forward, till he impaled the first Reachman that was operating the first catapult on his. With the North Guard at this back, the group slowly eliminated Reachmen on both the first and second level of the village, the thunderous sound of the boulders soon stopping. It was quiet, for now. But then, a werewolf climbed up the wall and was about to attack the Daedra Hunter of the North Guard, Traville Sanguis. But with the use of Traville’s silver powder, and multiple poisonous cuts, the werewolf soon dropped dead to the ground. It was, after all, daily bread for both Traville and Iorweth. Then, it got quiet again, and the North Guard got to inspecting the village for any clues about their enemy, Aife Dread-Claw, also known as the Were-bitch to many of the Guard.
Iorweth stepped through the waterfall and what was behind that not many would believe. A cave, with countless treasures, many of which were made of pure gold. But also, a pale person with red eyes that stared at Iorweth for a while before transforming into a cloud of bats and vanishing into the dark that was outside the cave. There was something about that person. Something familiar. But then, the rest of the group stepped through the waterfall as well. When the North Guard, entered, they only stared at the pile of gold with their eyes and mouths wide open. And then, they began collecting but a small amount, which they decided to give to Janus to cover the finances of the North Guard, leaving the rest of the horde of gold in the cave, since they knew it could be used for better things than a bonus to their pay, especially seeing the village so destroyed. But Iorweth had his eyes on something else. The two large urns with unusual symbols, as well as a pile of letters on a chest at the very end of the cave. He picked them up and his eyes scanned the letters, taking in the information, the contents, of the letters. He frowned and moved over to the wall, leaning back against it, and sliding down, his backside hitting the ground. He then began: “The Dread-Claw Clan has been working with the Icereach Coven and a Nordic mercenary band called the Draugrkin. It seems they wanted to siege this village to use it as a port to transport the loot, specifically some urns, from a grave between High Rock and Hammerfell to Skyrim.” He then looks up. “Seems we made it now harder for them.” After that, banter between the group proceeded, some laughs, some tears as they told their storied. Then, Iorweth scribbled quickly a short letter to Janus and gave it to Laila. “Take this with you. And give it to Janus. Don’t read it. It’s for his eyes only. I will stay here and help to rebuild this village. I want to give it back to the people.” Laila nodded and upon Iorweth saying his goodbyes to Asbjorn, the North Guard boarded the longship and sailed back to the Snowfall Watch.
Shortly after the North Guard left, Iorweth went to a rocky part of the coast, collecting some small branches on the way, and started a fire. He sat down, poking the fire with a stick, his sword laying on the stone next to him. He was humming into the sound of waves hitting the rocks. It was a calm night and the moon shun bright. Through his mind went many things, but one stood out. The red-haired Nord woman named Iona. For some reason, he couldn’t get her out of his head. His mind was now completely obsessed with her. He thought about her fiery red hair, about her laugh, and how she was able to stoke the fire within him. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a flock of bats landing in front of him, on the other side of the fire, changing into the same pale person he saw in the cave. “I had a feeling you would come back, vampire.” Iorweth murmured, and the vampire grinned. “You’re a smart man, I see. And you haven’t killed me yet, nor do I sense a threat in you.” The vampire stated. Iorweth’s expression didn’t change, though he did look up to get a better look at the vampire. “That depends. You have something to tell me. What are those urns?” The vampire frowned slightly, muttering “If I tell you, I must kill you.” “I’m not afraid of death. Now tell me.” Iorweth responded, almost cutting off the vampire’s words, his tone the same deep monotonous voice many heard before. “Very…well…” the Vampire hissed “It’s the Gray Host. Or…it’s remains.” Just after the vampire said that, with inhuman speed he launched onto Iorweth, biting into his neck. Iorweth groaned and his fist in a glove covered with silver buttons on the knuckles launched at the vampire’s head, the vampire rolling after onto the ground, hissing with pain. Iorweth reached for his silver coated sword and just as he was about to strike, the vampire once again changed into a dark cloud which flew away, but a whisper could be heard. “We shall meet again, silver-haired…” Following that, Iorweth fell onto the stone, closing his eyes slowly, but not before taking a healing potion. If he was to wake up in the morning or not, he did not know. In that moment, he just imagined once again the red-haired Nord woman with that bright fire in her. Iona Vlorn.
“They have repelled us again. I doubt Kyne or any of the gods are with us anymore, Iorweth.” The man, known as Lodi, spoke with an exhausted voice. In front of him stood the man he knew as Iorweth, whose back was turned towards Lodi and arms crossed behind it. Iorweth stood there in silence, watching the walls of an ancient fort that was now occupied by Sea Giants, which he and his warriors were trying to get into for a few weeks now. His eyes scanned the space under a breach in the walls, which was covered in dead bodies and ravens were landing on the corpses to revel in the feast. “They are testing us, Lodi. I know it.” He then turned around, facing his good friend Lodi. “We will make one final assault. With all force. The men of Kyne’s Aegis will not give up.” “I do hope you know what you are doing. This…kindness of yours to Kyne’s Aegis and your path of revenge for the Sea Giant invasion.” Lodi scoffed. Iorweth smiled and murmured “I hope so as well. Go now and tell the men to prepare. We attack come nightfall.” Lodi stared at Iorweth for a moment, then nodded and headed to the camp where the crew of the Hvalrika and volunteers from Kyne’s Aegis sat.
It was the evening before the final assault, which was to take place during that same night, when Iorweth sat at the coast, staring into the frigid Sea of Ghosts. In these parts, he was never able to truly see a sunset because of the cold fog, which always only got darker once the light of the sun was gone. He inhaled the cold air and looked up to the sky, staring at the stars. “You gods, if you exist, grant us victory. Or if not, at least grant my men survival. I have had my doubts about you and your existence, and I know I don’t deserve victory from you, but these men only fight for their families, for their safety, while I…” Iorweth closed his eyes, chuckling bitterly “Have I ever fought for anything but glory? No. Only for my selfish reasons.” He could hear steps behind him that were closing in. He glanced over his shoulder, sighing quietly. It was Brunka. A woman that stood alongside him ever since he found his roots in the families of Kyne's Aegis. "Lamenting as always, hm?" She said quietly as she crouched down next to him, her hand moving to his shoulder. "Aye...I feel...that we will win this night." Iorweth whispered to Brunka, who however frowned. "Is that so? Why do I hear something else in your voice then?" Iorweth glanced to her, murmuring: "I fear this may be my last battle." Brunka paused, then leaned to kiss him. Her lips were a welcome comfort on his own, especially in these times of war. "Nonsense. No one managed to kill you, even if they were close. No one can kill you, Iorweth." Iorweth laughed and placed a hand on her cheek. "I am just a man, Brunka. Now, go to the others. Make sure they have all their weapons and armor." Brunka sighed and nodded, standing up and giving Iorweth one more look before striding away. Iorweth's gaze then moved once again to the sea, staring at it for a moment. The sea seemed quiet, yet he could feel in his bones that a storm was coming. He then finally grasped his axe and shield and stood up, walking over towards the already gathered force of his men.
“Tonight, each one of you fight for yourselves! Not me, not the gods, but you! This battle is the first step in repelling the raids of those blue bastards from the fog and ice. They think themselves the true beasts of these islands, but they have not yet seen everything our fangs and claws can do, which will bring them their demise.” Iorweth paused as he looked over the volunteers from Kyne’s Aegis and the crew of Hvalrika. He then raised his arm that held his axe and pointed towards the breach that the force of Nords managed to create during the past few days. “So once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. For there is no coming back. We are the sons and daughters of the North, of Skyrim. When the blast of battle blows in your ears, then imitate the action of a hungry wolf. Bring out your thirst for blood, and fight, fight until you sate it. Let war fill your minds and become one with your axes and swords. Fill your hearts with rage. Paint the waters of the Sea of Ghosts red with Sea Giant blood, honor your ancestors, fight for yourselves. We will bring a brighter future. So follow your spirit, you Kyne's gundrar, and charge! We bring war! We bring death! Skjoldar will be splintered! Sovngarde awaits you all!” With those words, Iorweth beat his axe against his shield and ran towards the breach in the wall, where legions of Sea Giants and Half-Giants were already waiting. Iorweth, alongside a smaller group that was ahead of the rest of the war-party, managed with fury to breach the shield wall of the Sea Giants, allowing the rest of the Nords to start to pour into the fort. Soon, blood started flowing, painting both the ground and sea red. The Nords fought with such anger and fury, that the battle resembled more an attack of hungry animals and it was hard to believe that the bloodthirsty creatures were Nords, including Iorweth.
It seemed that the tide of the battle was in favor of the Nords and Iorweth, but it was in that moment when flames rose from the ground as oil was set on fire by the Sea Giants, encircling the Nord warriors. “Do not be afraid! Raise your shields!” Iorweth barked. Then, arrows and harpoons from the Sea Giants started flying towards the group. The warriors with their shields did not allow the missiles to breach their formation for a while, courageously resisting, but eventually the harpoons overwhelmed them and impaled many good warriors. Panic started spreading and the Nords started running out of the circle, through the fire. Flaming figures were now running around the fort, setting everything on fire. The Sea Giants laughed, but when they saw a Nord in flames jump into a storage of oil, which exploded with a loud, almost thunderous sound, they stopped. The fire started devouring their own men and the night sky was now orange and red from the flames. Iorweth cursed and grabbed Lodi and Brunka, who were with him ever since he came to Kyne’s Aegis. "Take as many men as you can and get away from here! None here will survive. Go!” "But…we can’t leave you here Iorweth. I…can’t.” Brunka whispered. Iorweth watched her for a while, flames roaring and men screaming around them. He smiled “Everything…will be alright. I will soon sup in Shor’s Hall.” Tears started running down Brunka’s cheeks and she threw herself at him, pressing her lips against his “I love you.” Iorweth gently pushed her back after returning the kiss, which felt like an eternity long, and nodded “I know. Now…go!” Lodi grabbed Brunka and shouted at some men on the way. The group ran towards their longships and tried to get away from the burning island as quickly as they could. Iorweth watched them until he was sure they would leave, then turned back around to the battle. He frowned and ran into the fray of battle, cutting down a Sea Giant after another. He used his shield as a weapon, smashing many heads with it until the shield was nothing but splinters. From the ground, he picked up another axe into his now free shield-hand and continued the fight. He eventually reached and faced the chieftain of this Sea Giant raiding party. He tried to fight him, charging at him with a loud battle cry, but the hammer the giant wielded smashed into Iorweth, throwing him back into a wall. The giant then grasped Iorweth into his hands, lifting him up to his head “I will destroy you, worm.” The giant grinned, but Iorweth bit into his hand, which caused the Sea Giant to let out a scream and let go of Iorweth. Iorweth then grasped both of his axes, inhaling deeply. He threw first one axe, then the other. The axes spun in the air for a few seconds and then, the ripping of flesh and the breaking of bone could be heard, as both of the axes landed in the giant’s head. The large body fell down with a thud and was soon devoured by the surrounding flames. Iorweth had nowhere to go. The flames around him were too large for him to run through. And so, he climbed up a destroyed wall to get a better look at the destruction. The fort was covered in flames and blood. On the sea, he saw the longship, Hvalrika, leave. His friends were alive to live another day. Iorweth smiled to himself and when a rumbling from the sky sounded, he looked up. He could see the dark clouds in the night and hear the thunder, which resembled the sound of a hammer beating an anvil. Lightning illuminated the sky and soon a heavy rain started. Iorweth sighed and ran his hand down, hissing. It was only now that he noticed burns on his body, and a large bleeding wound from the giant’s hammer. He now felt the pain from broken bones within his body. He groaned and laid down on the rocks of the wall, murmuring: “So this is how it will end, old man. On the battlefield. War was everything you knew, you mad bastard.” He laughed to himself, shaking his head. “Now I understand why I never was long with a woman. Settling down was…never for me. It was never my purpose. No. War was always for me, my purpose. Battle, rage, blood.” Iorweth closed his eyes: “If you truly are there Kyne, Goddess of Storms, you Blessed Warrior-Wife, Shor’s Widow…you are our goddess, the goddess of gundrar. I see your sign, this majestic storm. So, Kiss at the End, lead me, this old gundir, to your husband’s hall. For I am tired and I want to finally rest.”