Prose Log: Helmut and Sigurd
Helmut and Sigurd have a chat in the library following Colton's exchange with Arshtat.
Helmut had taken Sigurd's advice to use the castle's library in order to learn about the 200 years that had passed. Sitting in the evening light coming in through the windows of the library, he leaned over a book intently. The glow from the small lamp next to him caused shadows to dance on the table. Ordinarily such a thing would cause a pleasant distraction, but he was so intrigued by the history of The Liberation War--particularly the battle of Shazarade--he did not even notice.
Sigurd had asked about, earlier, where the young officer could be found that time of day. A few passerby directed him to the library...which he should have checked first, in hind sight. Ah well. He quietly entered the room, and just as silently took a seat across from Helmut. The book... "I would have figured that particular battle would intrigue you. Naval tactics have come a long way since the days of our rune cannons."
Rising Helmut smiled and offered his hand to his old comrade. "Good to see you are well, Sigurd. And yes...this one is interesting. Using dragon's breath to make boats was quite clever."
A shake, a smile, and a lean back as he looked about. Just them today, it seemed...that librarian seemed to take to disappearing on a regular basis. "The Toran Liberation Army was noted for several strokes of genius during that campaign. It's no wonder people still study the stratrgy works of Mathiu Silverberg to this day...it was an honor serving him in the ingirmarly, I'll tell you what."
Helmut reclaimed his seat and closed the book. "I'll say. The entire war is facinating. I thought we were underdogs, but these guys barely had an army at the start of their war." He paused, and then changed his statement. "I mean, you." True, Helmut had fought with them, but he never really felt like one of them. He was always the enemy on board, despite his assertation that he would fight with them until the end.
"We," Sigurd corrected, as he often did. "You're not about to play a game of semantics with a pirate, are you? That talk didn't fly back then and it won't fly now, alright?" Sigurd said, a soft chuckle on his voice.
"Ah," Helmut sighed, resigning to defeat in that matter. "Not going to argue with you, no. But you know my feelings on that. And then I left you all...just as you were celebrating...but I'm sure you understood why."
"Hmmm," Sigurd remarked in response. "I didn't question it, no...but that's no matter here. In spite of you being of Kooluk and myself of the Federation, in this castle we are all united under its banner. Given we have sanctuary, at least. It was established for that very purpose, it seems.'
"Interesting," Helmut said, pushing a silver strand of his impecibly kept hair back into place. "I wonder what our purpose is then? I mean, here we are, 200 years or so in the future, wandering around with contemporaries of the place."
"That's...that's the million potch question," Sigurd sighed, thinking back on it. "I haven't had to give it much thought over the year I've spent here, distracted as I have been."
"Distracted?" Helmut asked, tilting his head. He wondered how one could become so distracted he'd not consider his own existence or reason for being.
"Well...after all the stress that came with questioning everything, I started to...form a life here for myself. It's only been a year, but already I have so many close friends, as well as a career. I'm a mercenary now, you know," Sigurd said, almost laughing at the gravity of what he was saying. It was odd to think back on it all.
"I guess we all have to adjust somehow," he said, a bit of anxiety in his voice. "I'm curious about something, Sigurd. Why is it that my father doesn't remember being on The Dauntless, or leaving with me, or visiting Kooluk one last time, and yet, I do?"
"A simple sifference in timeline....he also has it on for rune cannons, and as you and I both know legislation was moving towards their removal from Federation controlled seas," Sigurd said, taking a more serious tone. "As difficult as it is to imagine...he is from before you and I even met."
Helmut's brow furrowed. "I don't recall that, but I do know that King Lino mentioned he wanted to do away with them. The last memory I have is..." He stops and looks to the ground. "Well, it's not far after the war."
"Then you and I are even from different points it seems," Sigurd said, a sigh coming to join the words.
"When are you from?" Helmut paused, chuckling slightly at the question. "That's so odd to say."
"Well, I had just recieved my own small ship within Lady Kika's fleet...it was shortly after the...erm," He didn't want to say it...he didn't want to tell Helmut that Kooluk fell. It was hardly something the young officer would take well...
Helmut noticed his friend's hesitation. "After what?"
"You know, it's not really that important," Sigurd added, a last minute dodge of the inevitable. If he was in here, no doubt he'd find out soon enough...he only hoped it wouldn't do too much damage. "Either way, we were experimenting with rune canon shells based on Blinking Runes. We figured they would be less destructive but just as effective."
"And the Blinking Rune brought you here," Helmut said, recalling seeing how effective it was during the war. "I wish I had an explanation as to what brought me, but one moment I'm in my boat, sailing north with my father, and the next thing I know I am here." He shrugged. "I guess there's no point in trying to understand it. There are more important issues at the moment."
"Well, don't get too involved in your little catch up on history. There's plenty of relaxation to be had here as well," Sigurd smiled softly, motioning to the window. "Personally, I've taken to being a seamster. It's a rather relaxing practice."
A grin crossed the young officer's lips; imagining this former pirate sewing for living was somehow amusing. "I suppose I should find a trade as well, though I don't know much beyond sailing and it seems this climate is too cold to do that year round."
"Well...it's not a trade, simply a hobby. The trade I've taken up is mercenary work. I'm part of a unit stationed here under Captain Geddoe," he explained. "That way at least my combat skills will never truly rust.
Helmut nodded. "I can see that work suiting you." He considered a moment. "So this castle has it's own army?"
"Not really. It has a castle guard and various warriors who have volunteered as militia in the past, as well as the mercenary group I am a part of," Sigurd responded. "The commander of the guards is a young woman by the name of Cecile. She's a spirited youth, but her dedication to her duty knows no bouds."
"Yes, I think I met her. She asked me if I liked dogs. I'm not sure of the relevance of the question." Helmut sighed, and considered before asking a question that had been burning his tongue. "Has anyone managed to go back? To where--or when--they came from?"
He thought on that question a long moment. Graham Cray...where was he now? Was he really back in their time or not? It was a difficult question to answer, really. "No one knows for certain, but those who are out of time do have a possiblity of simply...disappearing one day."
A flash of disappointment skated across Helmut's face. "I see." He chose not to elaborate on why he desired to know the answer. Not at the moment, at least.
"So...returning home isn't really an option. It's just a possiblity," Sigurd finalized, his voice softening. "One I actually fear..."
"You fear it?" Helmut asked, running a hand through his silver hair. "Whyso?"
"It's been a year here, Helmut. I've made strong connections...ones that I would never want to give up," the words were dead serious. "As much as I loved Lady Kika and Hervey, I have found my own place in this world independent from that...it is something I've had awhile to accept as part of myself."
He gave a nod of understanding. "I guess that's only natural. I mean, you had to do something--had to find a way to make things work for yourself." He frowned. "I was hoping to go back--go back and get Layna. Even if we had to stay here." He shook his head. "I've been told Kooluk fell a few years after the war..."
...And there it was. "So you knew...I'm sorry you had to hear it this way."
Helmut just nodded. "There were problems between the factions before the war. I think it just exacerbated them, actually. Though, I intend to read these books and find out what the historians say of Kooluk's demise. Morbid curiosity, I guess."
"If it's...if it's any consolation, I'm fairly certain she managed to make it out of the country. I did my checks, after all...I keep tabs on my old allies," Sigurd assured with a soft smile.
Helmut rubbed his forehead in thought. "Thank you, Sigurd. It is some consolation." He stood up, taking the book he had been reading. "I should get back to my father." Shifting the book, he offered his hand, "But it truly is good to see you, friend."
Sigurd shook the hand heartily, strength and friendship within his grasp. "As it has you, Helmut. I wish you well in...erm...dealing with the old man. I don't envy you a bit."
Helmut gave a kind smile. "Some day you'll have to fill me in on what the old sea dog was up to in my absence. Be well, Sigurd."
"Be well, Helmut," Sigurd responded in kind, a soft smile of his own. He turned his attention to the light coming in through the window then...somehow he had managed to forget to tell Helmut about the full nature of his relationship with Geddoe. Or...had he really forgotten it? Maybe he just wasn't ready for the soldier to know...
Helmut had taken Sigurd's advice to use the castle's library in order to learn about the 200 years that had passed. Sitting in the evening light coming in through the windows of the library, he leaned over a book intently. The glow from the small lamp next to him caused shadows to dance on the table. Ordinarily such a thing would cause a pleasant distraction, but he was so intrigued by the history of The Liberation War--particularly the battle of Shazarade--he did not even notice.
Sigurd had asked about, earlier, where the young officer could be found that time of day. A few passerby directed him to the library...which he should have checked first, in hind sight. Ah well. He quietly entered the room, and just as silently took a seat across from Helmut. The book... "I would have figured that particular battle would intrigue you. Naval tactics have come a long way since the days of our rune cannons."
Rising Helmut smiled and offered his hand to his old comrade. "Good to see you are well, Sigurd. And yes...this one is interesting. Using dragon's breath to make boats was quite clever."
A shake, a smile, and a lean back as he looked about. Just them today, it seemed...that librarian seemed to take to disappearing on a regular basis. "The Toran Liberation Army was noted for several strokes of genius during that campaign. It's no wonder people still study the stratrgy works of Mathiu Silverberg to this day...it was an honor serving him in the ingirmarly, I'll tell you what."
Helmut reclaimed his seat and closed the book. "I'll say. The entire war is facinating. I thought we were underdogs, but these guys barely had an army at the start of their war." He paused, and then changed his statement. "I mean, you." True, Helmut had fought with them, but he never really felt like one of them. He was always the enemy on board, despite his assertation that he would fight with them until the end.
"We," Sigurd corrected, as he often did. "You're not about to play a game of semantics with a pirate, are you? That talk didn't fly back then and it won't fly now, alright?" Sigurd said, a soft chuckle on his voice.
"Ah," Helmut sighed, resigning to defeat in that matter. "Not going to argue with you, no. But you know my feelings on that. And then I left you all...just as you were celebrating...but I'm sure you understood why."
"Hmmm," Sigurd remarked in response. "I didn't question it, no...but that's no matter here. In spite of you being of Kooluk and myself of the Federation, in this castle we are all united under its banner. Given we have sanctuary, at least. It was established for that very purpose, it seems.'
"Interesting," Helmut said, pushing a silver strand of his impecibly kept hair back into place. "I wonder what our purpose is then? I mean, here we are, 200 years or so in the future, wandering around with contemporaries of the place."
"That's...that's the million potch question," Sigurd sighed, thinking back on it. "I haven't had to give it much thought over the year I've spent here, distracted as I have been."
"Distracted?" Helmut asked, tilting his head. He wondered how one could become so distracted he'd not consider his own existence or reason for being.
"Well...after all the stress that came with questioning everything, I started to...form a life here for myself. It's only been a year, but already I have so many close friends, as well as a career. I'm a mercenary now, you know," Sigurd said, almost laughing at the gravity of what he was saying. It was odd to think back on it all.
"I guess we all have to adjust somehow," he said, a bit of anxiety in his voice. "I'm curious about something, Sigurd. Why is it that my father doesn't remember being on The Dauntless, or leaving with me, or visiting Kooluk one last time, and yet, I do?"
"A simple sifference in timeline....he also has it on for rune cannons, and as you and I both know legislation was moving towards their removal from Federation controlled seas," Sigurd said, taking a more serious tone. "As difficult as it is to imagine...he is from before you and I even met."
Helmut's brow furrowed. "I don't recall that, but I do know that King Lino mentioned he wanted to do away with them. The last memory I have is..." He stops and looks to the ground. "Well, it's not far after the war."
"Then you and I are even from different points it seems," Sigurd said, a sigh coming to join the words.
"When are you from?" Helmut paused, chuckling slightly at the question. "That's so odd to say."
"Well, I had just recieved my own small ship within Lady Kika's fleet...it was shortly after the...erm," He didn't want to say it...he didn't want to tell Helmut that Kooluk fell. It was hardly something the young officer would take well...
Helmut noticed his friend's hesitation. "After what?"
"You know, it's not really that important," Sigurd added, a last minute dodge of the inevitable. If he was in here, no doubt he'd find out soon enough...he only hoped it wouldn't do too much damage. "Either way, we were experimenting with rune canon shells based on Blinking Runes. We figured they would be less destructive but just as effective."
"And the Blinking Rune brought you here," Helmut said, recalling seeing how effective it was during the war. "I wish I had an explanation as to what brought me, but one moment I'm in my boat, sailing north with my father, and the next thing I know I am here." He shrugged. "I guess there's no point in trying to understand it. There are more important issues at the moment."
"Well, don't get too involved in your little catch up on history. There's plenty of relaxation to be had here as well," Sigurd smiled softly, motioning to the window. "Personally, I've taken to being a seamster. It's a rather relaxing practice."
A grin crossed the young officer's lips; imagining this former pirate sewing for living was somehow amusing. "I suppose I should find a trade as well, though I don't know much beyond sailing and it seems this climate is too cold to do that year round."
"Well...it's not a trade, simply a hobby. The trade I've taken up is mercenary work. I'm part of a unit stationed here under Captain Geddoe," he explained. "That way at least my combat skills will never truly rust.
Helmut nodded. "I can see that work suiting you." He considered a moment. "So this castle has it's own army?"
"Not really. It has a castle guard and various warriors who have volunteered as militia in the past, as well as the mercenary group I am a part of," Sigurd responded. "The commander of the guards is a young woman by the name of Cecile. She's a spirited youth, but her dedication to her duty knows no bouds."
"Yes, I think I met her. She asked me if I liked dogs. I'm not sure of the relevance of the question." Helmut sighed, and considered before asking a question that had been burning his tongue. "Has anyone managed to go back? To where--or when--they came from?"
He thought on that question a long moment. Graham Cray...where was he now? Was he really back in their time or not? It was a difficult question to answer, really. "No one knows for certain, but those who are out of time do have a possiblity of simply...disappearing one day."
A flash of disappointment skated across Helmut's face. "I see." He chose not to elaborate on why he desired to know the answer. Not at the moment, at least.
"So...returning home isn't really an option. It's just a possiblity," Sigurd finalized, his voice softening. "One I actually fear..."
"You fear it?" Helmut asked, running a hand through his silver hair. "Whyso?"
"It's been a year here, Helmut. I've made strong connections...ones that I would never want to give up," the words were dead serious. "As much as I loved Lady Kika and Hervey, I have found my own place in this world independent from that...it is something I've had awhile to accept as part of myself."
He gave a nod of understanding. "I guess that's only natural. I mean, you had to do something--had to find a way to make things work for yourself." He frowned. "I was hoping to go back--go back and get Layna. Even if we had to stay here." He shook his head. "I've been told Kooluk fell a few years after the war..."
...And there it was. "So you knew...I'm sorry you had to hear it this way."
Helmut just nodded. "There were problems between the factions before the war. I think it just exacerbated them, actually. Though, I intend to read these books and find out what the historians say of Kooluk's demise. Morbid curiosity, I guess."
"If it's...if it's any consolation, I'm fairly certain she managed to make it out of the country. I did my checks, after all...I keep tabs on my old allies," Sigurd assured with a soft smile.
Helmut rubbed his forehead in thought. "Thank you, Sigurd. It is some consolation." He stood up, taking the book he had been reading. "I should get back to my father." Shifting the book, he offered his hand, "But it truly is good to see you, friend."
Sigurd shook the hand heartily, strength and friendship within his grasp. "As it has you, Helmut. I wish you well in...erm...dealing with the old man. I don't envy you a bit."
Helmut gave a kind smile. "Some day you'll have to fill me in on what the old sea dog was up to in my absence. Be well, Sigurd."
"Be well, Helmut," Sigurd responded in kind, a soft smile of his own. He turned his attention to the light coming in through the window then...somehow he had managed to forget to tell Helmut about the full nature of his relationship with Geddoe. Or...had he really forgotten it? Maybe he just wasn't ready for the soldier to know...