Empires of Ashes Reboot

"What makes you say that"

Hakon: "When are the isles ever at peace?"

"...Long ago. Before dragonfire scorched the land."

Hakon: "When stracia still ruled, by conquest. Thats the only way, the isles are peaceful."

"Maybe. I have seen more die than you have laid eyes upon. I know how unending it all is."

Hakon: "Then you know this peace is temporary."

"And I know I can hope for that to change."

Hakon: "Pretty empty hope."

"...and what do you hope for?"

Hakon: "What more do i have to hope for? I've a bed, a roof, food and friends. Purpose."

"...you enjoy it?"

Hakon: "Fighting? No, not particularly. But i'm good at it."

"And you are happy to do so till the end of your days?"

Hakon: "...I'll get too old for it. Then... Maybe a little house somewhere, grow crops. Our Prince will be a king by then, i reckon he can arrange that."

"You have that luxury. Getting old."

Hakon: "Ah, not if i die first."

"Not my point..."

"You clavae not allowed to age hm?"

"Permission has nought to do with it. I simply do not. I was old, when your great great grandfather was born. When your people finally united again under a high king to invade this slave kingdom, I had already seen three centuries pass. I was old, when the empire began to crumble, and when it was renewed once more under Alexios Magnus, the great purgator. I have seen more wars than you have winters."

"ríða burt..." he says this with disbelief, After a few seconds pause, he adds. "That means fuck off, by the way."

“.....how old are you?”

"I do not lie." *she looks at mordred* "I was there when your people were brought under the empire's boot. And I was there when they threw us back once more"

“.....And how did we throw you out?”

"You mimicked our legions"

“I knew we took alot from you, so the legions do make sense...How did we defeat the clavae?”

"Numbers, or balista. Its the only way you do it."

"You didn't. You defeated our armies, and we were forced to withdraw or be overwhelmed without them"

“Ahh, I know you and the clavae are the reason we employ so many Cheiroballistra. But I guess routing your legions does make sense. Though I did hope that we had found a way”

"Indeed..."

"Clavae an elephants. Balista are good for those too."

"Point being... I do not have the option of getting old and settling down. I got old long ago. And I'm still here."

"Ask that consul of yours. He's fond of you."

"I will not leave him to face battle alone. He is the reason I still breathe. And while I have strength in my bones, I will ensure his safety with all that I am"

“And afterwards?”

"I...will see"

"Consul... that lasts a year? And after that he cannot be consul again for...? Maybe he'll retire, and you with him hmn?"

"He will remain legate, unless he chooses to lay down his arms. If he does...then I will decide what comes next."

“You’ve fought for 300 years..I think you atleast deserve a holiday”

"Five hundred"

“A year off at the least”

"I know not what I would do"

“Explore, visit cymrai, see what life is like outside your legions”

"... maybe one day"

“I’ll see if I can talk my uncle into coming to my wedding, as a consul he’ll have a bodyguard. That will probably he you”

"hm"

“The offer is there, now if you will excuse me. I’m going to put a shirt on and find my uncle”

she nods and turns to the other cymrai
"Who wished to try and best me?"

Warriors: “All of us”

Mord: “Until next time Hakon” With that Mordred leaves, and finds a simple shirt to put on before making him way to Trajans tent

the tent is guarded as usual, but they let mordred inside. Within, the consul appears to be...whittling away at something. Wooden, long and curved, like a recurve bow.... a frankly enormous one

Mord: “Uncle...What are you doing?”

*he looks up*
"Ah, mordred, how are you?" *he keeps going*