Ameera's greataxe fell from her grasp to the ground, sending a plume of powdery snow into air.
Ignoring the tribal leaders, she stumbled to were the slain queen lay. Tears streamed from her eyes, as she cradled the her mother lifeless body.
This wasn't Bjornhild's fault. It was the Frostmaiden's.
The tribesman averted their gaze to the ground, keeping a respectful distance as Ameera wept over her mother's body. After a while the barbarian stood, scooping up her axe from the ground, as she addressed the tribesmen.
"My mother was corrupted by the Frostmaiden. I have put an end to that corruption. Our people are more than what she has made us. We should be hunting the great herds of elk and reindeer, not scavenging their frozen carcasses. We should be doing battle with Verbeeg and Frost Giants, not raiding wretched Ten-Towners clutching their last scraps of food."
"Auril's grip tightens on our land, freezing everything in it. Soon there will be nothing left. The Ten-Towners are now cowering in the homes around what warmth the can muster, sacrificing their own to appease the Frostmaiden."
"And they have failed, by virtue of their cowardice. It is up to us, the true rulers of Icewind Dale, to push back Auril."
"We shall rise as one, hunt and destroy the Frostmaiden's followers and restore our land."
A cheer goes up from the crowd. Weapons, staffs, and fists are raised into the air. They cry Ameera's name. They cry their promise of revenge and death to followers of the Frostmaiden. Those who opposed the change of allegiance to Auril and desperately wanted to return to centuries old tradition cry their loyalty to Ameera. Those that were perhaps going along with Bjornhild and see now the way the power has shifted also lend their voices to the cry. And those who mourn the loss of Bjornhild and were hoping to gain from her allegience to Auril now decide it is better to be seen to be supporting the new queen, also add to the cries of fealty and promises of revenge.
Ameera's greataxe fell from her grasp to the ground, sending a plume of powdery snow into air.
Ignoring the tribal leaders, she stumbled to were the slain queen lay. Tears streamed from her eyes, as she cradled the her mother lifeless body.
This wasn't Bjornhild's fault. It was the Frostmaiden's.
The tribesman averted their gaze to the ground, keeping a respectful distance as Ameera wept over her mother's body. After a while the barbarian stood, scooping up her axe from the ground, as she addressed the tribesmen.
"My mother was corrupted by the Frostmaiden. I have put an end to that corruption. Our people are more than what she has made us. We should be hunting the great herds of elk and reindeer, not scavenging their frozen carcasses. We should be doing battle with Verbeeg and Frost Giants, not raiding wretched Ten-Towners clutching their last scraps of food."
"Auril's grip tightens on our land, freezing everything in it. Soon there will be nothing left. The Ten-Towners are now cowering in the homes around what warmth the can muster, sacrificing their own to appease the Frostmaiden."
"And they have failed, by virtue of their cowardice. It is up to us, the true rulers of Icewind Dale, to push back Auril."
"We shall rise as one, hunt and destroy the Frostmaiden's followers and restore our land."
"This is my first decree as your new Queen"
A cheer goes up from the crowd. Weapons, staffs, and fists are raised into the air. They cry Ameera's name. They cry their promise of revenge and death to followers of the Frostmaiden. Those who opposed the change of allegiance to Auril and desperately wanted to return to centuries old tradition cry their loyalty to Ameera. Those that were perhaps going along with Bjornhild and see now the way the power has shifted also lend their voices to the cry. And those who mourn the loss of Bjornhild and were hoping to gain from her allegience to Auril now decide it is better to be seen to be supporting the new queen, also add to the cries of fealty and promises of revenge.