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As the sun struggled the pierce the thick smoke filing the grove, the freckles of light gazed upon the newly claimed king, surrounded by the burnt-down grove and bodies of his recently killed.
His men gathered around him congratulating him on his victory as they stared up at him, they gazed upon his multitude of scars that adored his face in wide-eyed wonder, still praising him for his success and rise in power. With a chiselled and rugged face and broad shoulders, he struck a powerful presence as he thanked his men who had been with him for many years.
Adored in soot-covered bronze amour and still carrying his bloodied blade he congratulated his men on their rise to power with him laughing and joking with his men. Finally, one of his men brought forth a crown made from woven branches that had been backed into charcoal from the fire around him. His mesmerizing shade of light grey eyes beheld his crown before he picked it up and placed it upon his head.
As the newly crowned King smiles upon his success and announcement he finally catches on to Brandon and his party.
"Who are you?" He smiled. "If you are here to join, then I will gladly welcome you with open arms." He said sweetly in a burning forest.
"What have you done! No, I am not here to join you, you just massacring a group of people." Brandon shakes his head.
"A shame you look like capable and good people." His eyes settled on the group. "So rude of me, I am The Blackwood King, Artos Blackwood, the new King of these woods. Welcome, could I ask for your names, you seem like interesting people? I would love to get to know you." He said smiling at them.
Brandon shakes his head as the rest of the party looks warily at the new King. "May their Old Gods have mercy on them."
His smile flickers for a moment. "A shame if you believe in that new religion. You look like interesting people I did want to get to know you. I apologise but men, off with their heads."
Without more words, swords were drawn, and shields raised as the King's men formed a protective barrier around their leader before they charged at one another. The first blows were exchanged, the clash of bronze against bronze echoing through the night, yet the fires that raged around them grew ever closer.
Just as the fighting was about to pick up a massive tree combusted in fire before falling towards them exploding in flaming wood. The parties scattered and returned to their sides of the grove. As the fires raged on, consuming the forest around them, both parties retreated into the forest before the fires engulfed them both, with cough breaths they disappeared into the smoke leaving the burning grove.
With heavy hearts and sodden boots, they trudged homeward through the relentless downpour that had engulfed the landscape the days after the event, each step a struggle against the clinging mud and biting cold.
The rain poured down in sheets, obscuring their vision and soaking them to the bone as they pressed on, as the cold seeped into the drenched clothing. The lush and vibrant forest was now layered in shrouded mist, as they trudged and slipped their way home as miserably as a person could be.
And as they finally emerged from the sodden depths of the forest, their faces streaked with mud and rain, they were greeted by the welcoming glow of hearth and home. With grateful hearts, their weary bodies collapsed into the embrace of sleep and quiet fires as they rested.
/
As days passed the peace that had settled on the north was quickly rocked and crashed, the news of the events that had transpired in the forest spread like wildfire across the northern lands along with the new words of the Blackwood king. He proclaimed himself king of the wolf's woods telling the north that he burned and butchered the entire eastern grove for the crimes of their old gods along with helping create the monsters that now feaster in the north. Telling that these monsters are creatures and minions of the old gods.
His words quickly spread to every person and village in the north for he marched in secret to every village and place he could gather and chat with dissatisfied and religious people. His charismatic words and good looks swayed many people.
The new king's audacious claim to the entire forest as his rightful conquest sent shockwaves through the realm, earning him the ire of many who revered the Children of the Forest for their legendary deeds during the Long Night. But despite the growing discontent among the northern lords, the Blackwood King found himself bolstered by a fervent following of supporters who flocked to his banner, drawn by his words and deeds against the old gods. Some, are angry over their losses from the monsters to others dislike the new gods and religions. Others came for his promise of titles and lands for them to own as those of power-hungry mindset flocked towards him.
With the rise of many families gaining titles, the idea of riches and power spread to many families and households as they too wished for a chance of that glory and so with their beliefs and thoughts so rightly executed by another many flocked towards it hoping to emulate his rise in power.
As his influence spread, so too did the chaos and upheaval that accompanied the influx of his followers, their fervent zeal often leading to clashes and conflicts with those who opposed them. As the fervent followers of the Blackwood King streamed forth into his lands, their zealotry caused chaos and destruction. Villages burned and innocent lives were lost as they carved a path of mayhem through the northern lands, proclaiming the old gods dead in the wake of their burning grove.
Amidst the turmoil, Brandon wasted no time in taking action to protect his lands and people. He marshalled his forces and marched swiftly to the grove of Elder Oak and Hawthorn, declaring them under protection under his banner and laying claim to that part of the forest for his kingdom. Whilst he marched to the grove, Theon and Edric marched around the lands rounding up and catching any followers of the Blackwood King.
But as Brandon's forces moved to secure the grove and protect its inhabitants, the other northern kings were forced to confront the growing threat of marauding bands of bandits and zealots unleashed upon their lands.
It was at these moments through that for the first time in years snow fell from the sky. Overnight the north was blanketed in a pristine layer of white.