JANUARY 1014 AD: GAINSBOROUGH OUTSKIRTS, NORTHEAST ENGLAND
This must be some plot of Thorkell's!
I can think of no other explanation.
B-But, Lord Floki,
the reports from Derby—
The left flank is thin! Do not underestimate them just because they're five hundred men.
This is Thorkell we're dealing with!
Floki.
If the report is correct,
this treatment is entirely unjustified.
It cannot be correct.
You mean to tell me that Prince Canute could possibly return alive with Thorkell as his faithful servant?
Not a chance in hell!
Hey, Floki! Up for a duel?
I'm game if you are.
Stand down, Thorkell.
I sent a herald several days ago with word of my return, Floki.
Do you always greet princes by pointing spears at them?
No, of course not...
Askeladd?! {}{}{is this meant to be internal?}{no. i originally had italicsin this line for emphasis, but the interrobang seems to do just fine.}
What is the meaning of this?! {}{}{is this meant to be internal?}
Are you hard of hearing?
You dare to draw arrows against a royal prince of Denmark?
No...
The Jomsvikings are ever loyal.
That is... we've received an inaccurate report about an enemy ambush...
I apologize.
Send a report that I will visit His Majesty's hold by evening.
An accurate report.
What in the world happened?
He's like a different man altogether.
{OP}
Beyond the night skies I'm trudging towards, a lone crow lies in wait
Cawing as if to hasten my gait
From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
Laughing in my face with glee
So I just bleed and feel the blood I have inside me
Holding to the creed and blade to slay thee
Carry on the oath until my last scene
Higher than the sky and deeper than the sea
Keep your precious justice to yourself, bud
Use it till they're torn, become a pile of mud
I don't need their choice or voice to judge me
The one and only way I had and always seek
Anyone, everyone, I will crush 'em all
Enemies, let 'em see, now I see you fall
Kings and gods, change the odds
I'm the one who makes my final call
My scars, my past and even my solitude
I'll quell them all with just my feud
Keep your crown, I'll take you down
I'm the one who makes my final call
DANISH OCCUPATION BASE, GAINSBOROUGH
{Part A}
Listen closely while we walk.
We must not act yet.
Crown
I have few allies among these soldiers.{broke for ts}
If we strike now, we'll be branded as rebels.
We need time to make arrangements.
Thorkell, you betrayed them once,
but you're still a charismatic figure among the warriors.
Meet with the minority chieftains, get along with them, and see that you're in their favor.
Meaning what, exactly?
I'm supposed to drink and make merry on your tab?
With the other chieftains.
Now go.
Best orders I've ever had!
I knew following you was the right idea!
Let's go!
Hey!
Come to meet the king with me, Askeladd.
I need your skill in judging character.
Understood.
And about the future.
How will we achieve it?
Well...
In the short term, I'd go with assassination.
Your brother, Prince Harald, is far away in Denmark right now.
This is a good opportunity.
By virtue of lineage, should His Majesty fall here,
that would make you the commanding officer of the forces in England.
This would require someone else to be framed for the deed, however.
Thorfinn.
I may have tasks for you that do not involve my personal protection soon.
Be prepared.
Don't tell me what to do.
I don't recall swearing fealty to you.
Forgive him for his insolence.
I will see to it that the fool receives his orders.
I suppose
God is watching us from above even now.
We lose our friends,
and father and son kill one another.
And he chooses to sit on his throne and watch it all happen.
It is unforgivable.
I will create a worldly paradise in this land.
A place of peace and prosperity.
A utopia for those who live in suffering.
Perhaps the work will not be finished in my generation,
but I will be the one to take that first bold step.
God will surely call me to his side with love.
And when that time comes, I will say to him:
"We no longer need heaven or your trials.
We have our paradise on Earth."
We must take back what we have lost.
Even if it means becoming demons.
You have my assistance,
Your Highness.
So you have returned.
I am pleased, Canute.
Thank you for your kind words.
I am afraid I am unworthy of them as I have lost the entire contingent of men you granted me.
Approach.
Just a moment.
What do you think, Thorfinn?
Yeah, they're there.
Twenty, I'd say.
Above us too.
Archers.
Your Highness.
It's an ambush.
It would seem His Majesty senses our plot.
What is the matter?
Come closer.
No matter what,
you must not draw your swords.
In this sort of fight,
he who draws first, loses.
My eyes have adjusted to the dark.
Just a little farther and I'll see the king's face.
And when I do...
Halt.
That will do.
Kneel.
His eyes are tired.
This is the king of the Danes?
Askeladd.
What happened to Ragnar?
I do not see him with you.
He died. In Mercia.
I see.
A lamentable loss.
He was a loyal, true vassal.
Normally, your return would be cause for celebration with a proper feast.
But I have long desired
the opportunity to speak with you unfettered by social custom.
Stand, Canute.
Take ten paces forward.
In a very short period of time,
your face has changed.
You look as I did when I was young.
Then you must understand what lies within my heart.
You are a troublesome child.
You resemble me even in that.
A son grows by watching his father.
Surely you will not blame me for this.
When I was young,
I drove my father, the king, into exile
and seized this crown for myself.
I did it because I believed it was the best thing for the realm.
The old king was cruel in nature, but he was also a coward.
When such a man wears the crown, the world suffers.
If he's a coward, what does that make the man setting an ambush?
Shut up.
He'll hear you.
So you won't bother to hide your ambitions, Your Highness?
Don't forget that you stand in a den of foxes.
I had done much good.
And I would do more, I thought.
Until I wore this, that is.
This crown
possesses a will of its own.
With its power, you control a thousand ships and ten thousand men.
It can bring you the treasures of far-off lands.
The crown's power is akin to that of the gods.
However...
However, Canute,
it is not the king who wields the power,
but the crown's own will.
So the crown ordered you
to kill me?
The crown commands the king to do but two things.
To use power, and to gain power.
It is futile to resist.
The crown does not desire you.
Canute.
I will give you part of Cornwall.
You may live out your days in peace reading the Bible if you wish.
And if you refuse,
you will die here.
Are those the words of the crown, Your Majesty?
Your Majesty!
Please forgive his insolence!
Who are you?
I am Prince Canute's loyal vassal,
Askeladd, son of Olaf.
Excuse my impertinence in asking, but does this turn of events truly represent the will of the crown?
Continue.
His Highness succeeded in swaying the powerful Thorkell away from London.
If you are crowned king of England,
the city will have no choice but to surrender.
London's riches will all be yours at minimal cost.
And the man who made the great sacrifices necessary to bring you this victory
is none other than Prince Canute.
How can a man be punished for his great deeds?
It will unsettle your chieftains before they are to be ceded new lands.
Your Majesty, please reconsider.
This man likes to talk.
Askeladd.
"Ashen one."
That must be an epithet.
What name did your father give you?
I am known only as Askeladd.
My father gave me no name.
A bastard son, then.
No...
The son of a slave?
What's this?
I've never seen Askeladd so furious before.
Canute.
You have an excellent vassal in this man.
He is correct.
Your deeds ought to be rewarded.
I leave for York on the morrow.
There will be a feast there.
I will see that you are properly honored.
That set my blood to freezing, Your Highness.
No need to panic.
As you suspected, the king does not have the justification to kill me now.
He wishes to be known as a wise king.
If we do not act foolishly, it is safest to remain within his grasp.
That is all the more reason to refrain from provoking him as you just did.
Nothing to worry about.
King Sweyn is a slave to the crown.
But I will wield the crown's power with skill.
Askeladd...
A man to be wary of.
Cheers!
All right! Don't be shy!
This is all on His Highness Canute!
Long live the prince!
That's his 57th horn!
He's a monster!
Who's that gulping down the drinks over there?
Did anyone invite a priest?
It's me, Willibald.
Have you forgotten me?
What?
The bearded one?!
You look so young! How old are you?!
Three and twenty.
Bullshit!
You're in your early twenties?!
All right, I'm up next!
Here comes the captain!
With a 58-horn handicap!
He is an odd man.
Utterly selfish, but those around him love him for it.
Yes.
So? What do you think?
Can we kill the king?
I must say that it will be difficult.
I saw that he was a very shrewd man.
He possesses the insight to read others and the initiative to strike first.
The fact that he changed strategy upon seeing that we would not falter at his threat
spoke to his tactical wisdom.
He's fit to rule. That's for certain.
A dangerous foe.
So whenever I do kill him, it won't be now.
For now, I suggest we maintain our present allegiance,
waiting for our chance to strike.
Your Highness! Your Highness!
Please allow me to express my joy at your safe return!
Oh, how your faithful servant Gunnar did fear for your well-being!
Forgive me for being absent upon your glorious return at the castle.
You see, I myself have just come home from abroad.
Of course, I trusted in your good health at every waking moment!
Oh, and who is this?
A new vassal, mayhaps?
Might I have the pleasure?
This is Ragnar's brother, Gunnar.
Get along now.
Askeladd, son of Olaf.
Oh, you look like a dependable character.
I'm Gunnar.
By the way, Your Highness...
Preparations are in order for our ongoing plan.
The Duchy of Normandy it is.
Perhaps we might discuss the matter in private later when Ragnar is present.
Your brother Ragnar is dead.
He died serving me admirably.
And I will not flee into hiding.
Your Highness? What did you say?
Your tireless service in seeking out a safe haven for me has been appreciated.
I just picked a fight with King Sweyn.
I will need your help.
Ragnar is...
Gunnar.
Your job is to observe the king's actions and report them to me.
Choose your soldiers wisely. Pick the most loyal.
Your Highness! Is it wise to discuss such matters in the open?
It's fine.
It's harder to be overheard here.
My prince...
You've changed.
As will happen.
Everything must change, and I will see to that.
That Gunnar fellow won't do at all.
He won't be nearly as loyal to the prince as he says.
Now here's a fellow who keeps himself sharp.
Doesn't his arm hurt?
Askeladd.
I see.
You're going back home.
I know you said it was all in the past, but that don't change the fact that we were traitors.
I just can't see how I'm to face you anymo—Ow!
Got you!
And besides, my brother's, well... like that.
I hope that Bjorn heals up.
Atli! And you call yourself a Norseman?
How did such a good-hearted man find himself in my band?
Bjorn's not going to last long.
He got hit in the guts.
Soon,
Thorfinn will be the only old hand remaining.
This is a good opportunity before you leave.
An armband?
Gold. Take it.
What?! I don't want it!
I've got no reason to accept it!
Just take it.
Nothing wrong with some extra money for the road.
Well, if you insist... I'm grateful.
What?
Make up your mind!
Are you giving it to me or not?
On one condition.
Never swing a sword again.
You're not suited for it, Atli.
Raise some sheep,
take a wife,
have some kids, and die in your bed.
The next time I see you on the battlefield, I'm going to gut you,
friend or foe.
Aye.
I hear you.
What's that?
This?
It's something important.
It's pretty.
You're charging too damn much! Gimme a discount! {}{}{I NEED THE EAR. i can't reall tell when these lines start/stop}{the ear died kek but i got u}
Show me some younger women! {}{}{I NEED THE EAR. i can't reall tell when these lines start/stop}
FEBRUARY 1014 AD: DANISH OCCUPIED YORK NORTHUMBRA
Bring the younger women! {}{}{I NEED THE EAR. i can't reall tell when these lines start/stop}
Any takers?
{ED}
I feel like I'm almost there, but I'm not
Hounded by bones drifting along on silent winds
Unceasing echoes of voices won't ever fade{the credits mess with the placing EVERYWHERE. maybe L/R placement would be a lesser evil. i do like the an8 placing overall tho ;-;}
We can't well turn back without knowing what lies ahead
We may see in the same colors{had to nuke the u b/c burgersubs. gomenasorry cat and wrd lol}
But the breaths we draw are shaded differently{y is cat so gud}
You're gonna make me go
You're gonna make me drown
I've nothing left to even lose
You're gonna make me go
You're gonna make me drown
No I don't want it, I don't want it,
I don't want it
Don't let me go{ (Don't let me go)}{i usually time background lines like this one and the next on the opposite side with the main style being placed L/R, but it's much cleaner without them imo. can be heard in english very clearly so it's not needed tbh}
You're gonna make me drown{ (Don't let me drown)}
I'll head towards an answer that affords no footing
You're gonna make me go
You're gonna make me drown
No I don't want it, I don't want it,
I don't want it
But I know no one's there
I will stay right here{wasn't in the lyrics at all. i threw it in. dunno i'm hearing stay or stand}
I'll walk the precipice