Contents
52 North
Overview
Wulf, sole survivor of the fleet’s destruction by black wyrms kin to the Dreadmount, reaches Hróth broken but alive. Einlek Óthling becomes king and commands Wulf to sail to Ascalun to bolster Queen Glorian’s claim. Wulf swears fealty, reunites with his diminished lith, and faces dissent as Karlsten quits.
Summary
In Eldyng, Wulf appears before Einlek Óthling, the newly seated king of Hróth, grievously frostbitten and shaken. Einlek presses for the truth of the disaster at sea. Wulf recounts that black wyrms, kin to the Dreadmount but not the Nameless One, descended with lesser creatures and incinerated the Inish fleet, leaving no ship intact.
Struggling with trauma and guilt, Wulf admits he survived only by clinging to wreckage with Regny’s body and a wineskin of fresh water, choosing the sea over fire. Einlek recognizes the threat as allied to the ancient enemy and speaks of a spreading plague. Determined to project strength, Einlek offers Wulf honour if he will swear anew and sail to Ascalun to affirm Queen Sabran’s death and reinforce Glorian’s legitimacy.
Wulf kneels and pledges to Einlek and to Glorian. Ordered to sail despite his terror of the Ashen Sea, he limps to the birling Wave Steed, where he meets the remnants of his lith: Thrit, Sauma, and Karlsten. Grief and suspicion flare; Karlsten blames Wulf for the string of deaths and storms off, renouncing their bond.
Thrit defends Wulf, Sauma urges unity, and Wulf, unable yet to recount the full horror, promises to tell them when he can. With Karlsten gone, the reduced lith prepares to depart, carrying Einlek’s mandate to stand by Glorian in Ascalun.
Who Appears
- Wulfert Glenn (Wulf)Sole survivor of the fleet’s destruction; traumatized, frostbitten; swears to Einlek and to aid Queen Glorian.
- Einlek ÓthlingNew king of Hróth, called Ironside; tasks Wulf to sail to Ascalun to bolster Glorian’s legitimacy.
- ThritMember of Wulf’s lith; supports and reassures Wulf, urging him to share when ready.
- SaumaMember of Wulf’s lith; mediates conflict, insists the sworn group stay united.
- KarlstenMember of Wulf’s lith; furious and accusatory; abandons the mission and breaks with the group.