Trouble in the Wolf Clan

[MKJoshA]

See the previous tales:

Wyndor's Saga:

Chapter 1

-What Has Past-

Chapter 2

Part 10: A New Home

Part 10.1:Blunted Edges

Part 10.2: Cramped Spaces

Part 10.3: Enthusiastic Worker

Part 11.0

Part 11: Mysterious Death

Part 12: Dark Meetings

Part 13: Warm Yourself

Part 14.1: Sisterly Visit

Part 14.2: Proud Farmer

Part 14.3: Mitgardian Household

Part 15: Another Mysterious Death

Part 16.1: The Council Meeting

Part 16.2: Meeting with Wyndor (made by Glorfindel)

Part 16.3: Feud in Teridyan

Part 16.4: Great Elk Longhouse (made by Glorfindel)

Part 16.5: Traveling Partners

Part 16.6: Mitgardian Throne Room (made by Glorfindel)

Part 17: The Cemetery

Part 18: Home

Part 19: Crowded Market Mayhem

Part 20: Shooting Straight

Part 21: Returning

Part 22: Keeping Out or Keeping In

Part 23: Talk in the Tavern

Part 24: Mitgardian Long Sheep

Part 25: Captive in the Barn

Part 26a: At Ease

Part 26: Long Awaited Reunion

Also Previously

Wyndor had done so much traveling that day he couldn’t remember a time when he was more saddle sore. Before leaving Mattimeo’s headquarters he had sent the two guards back to Dalig Ulv to warn Pjeter and the rest of the council about what was going on. Then he and Mattimeo had ridden north to the main village of the Wolf Clan. Mattimeo warned him before they left that he had not left Bëo’s care on the best of terms.

They rode into the village surprised to not meet anyone until they got to the main hall. There they left the horses at the stables and Mattimeo greeted one of the clansmen.

“Barnabas! It’s been too long!”

“Welcome back Mattimeo, how goes everything with your Blue Wolves?” answered Barnabas.

“It’s a bear to keep them disciplined,” replied Mattimeo, “But I couldn’t ask for a better group. I still wish you had joined me.”

“Well, you know,” started Barnabas, “the village has need of good warriors too. Bëo has kept me busy. But now is not the time for pleasantries. Come, let me show you what’s happening.”

The group walked over to the river where a solitary figure could be seen on the other side.

“He’s been there for hours, chanting in some language we can’t understand” began Baranbas. “It started 24 hours ago when a small band of them showed up at the water’s edge and started shouting at our guards. They didn’t seem too friendly so our men fired a warning shot over their heads. That’s when the rest of the band left, leaving this one behind. When he started chanting we fired at him, not knowing what kind of sorcery he was conjuring up.”

“I’m telling you!” said one of the archers. “It was witchcraft! Our bolts froze in mid-air and dropped into the water in front of him!”

“This is worse than I feared,” said Mattimeo. “I must talk to Bëo at once.”

The party headed up the path to the main lodge.

Inside was Bëo, his wife, his two sons, his chief advisor, and some more men of the clan.

Barnabas announced the pair of brothers, “My lord, Mattimeo has come as requested with his brother.”

“So,” began Bëo, “the boy I rescued from the Frozen Beyond who couldn’t wait for his first chance to run away with Kaliphlin traders. And then he has the gall to come back and take some of my best men with him!”

“Sir,” responded Mattimeo, “you know why I left. And I’ve tried not to let you down.”

Bëo’s countenance softened, “yes, we both know the good your group of men have done for Mitgardia. But I needed you here!”

“I’m here now,” replied Mattimeo.

“Yes, and let’s hope it’s not too late,” this came from Bëo’s advisor. “Tell us, Mattimeo, in all your learning, what can you tell us about the stranger across the river from us?”

“You have no hope, that’s what I can tell you” was Mattimeo’s answer. “I know very little about those from the Frozen Beyond, but what I do know is that we have no chance of winning against them if they decide to attack us. We must flee south as quickly as possible!”

“You whelp!” shouted the advisor. “What do you know of our fighting strength!? We can handle ourselves against any natural foe!”

“But that’s just the point,” answered Mattimeo. “This foe is not natural.”

Bëo stepped down from his throne and approached Mattimeo, "We will not run like cowardly dogs! We will face our foes as clansmen! Will you help us with your knowledge or not?"

Mattimeo didn't have a chance to answer because one of the clansmen burst in at that point, “Sir! The Frozen Beyonder is… doing something!”

He ran back out and the men followed him. They came to the river’s edge and saw ice forming in the water.

It was Summer and most of the ice had long since melted and floated down to the ocean. It was unnatural to see the process being reversed.

Quickly the river was frozen enough to allow the Frozen Beyonders to cross and their force charged across at the clansmen. Just as Mattimeo had warned, the battle was a slaughter.

Man after man fell. Bëo himself almost took a mortal blow, but Wyndor blocked it at the last moment.

Mattimeo pulled at Bëo’s arm and got him half way up the path towards the hall before Bëo finally stopped struggling and went with Mattimeo and Wyndor willingly. Bëo told the two guards, “My wife and children should be safe by now, hold the door for a few more minutes, then run from here as fast as you can!”

Wyndor wondered how Bëo’s family could have escaped when he didn’t see them leave the hall, but as soon as they entered again he saw how.

The throne had been pushed over revealing a hidden passage. No questions were asked. The three men knew they were probably leaving the rest of the men outside to their deaths. But they also knew there was nothing else they could do. Mattimeo had tried to warn Bëo, but he waited too long.

Now they fled through a tunnel like rats. Their only hope was to make it away alive so that they could warn others of the terror that was coming.

[Blufiji]

I really like where this is going. The story has picked up and this your best chapter yet.

[Graham Gidman]

Ooh, nice work!

[Tomsche]

Nice work, love the 'special effects' of the water freezing over

[kabel]

Josh, this is definetely the best you have put together till this day. I really like everything about it! The hall, the story and best of course the river freezing up, what an amazing way to tell a story!

[Lord Vladivus]

Your best build yet! Fantastic! Love the story! Mitgardia is certainly heating up (well cooling down!) eh?

[LittleJohn]

Fantastic build, Josh! I really like the snow on the banks and the bley rockwork looks great!

Excellent story too

[Basiliscus]

Nice story! Love the floating ice in the river and hall design.

[mccoyed]

Whoa, so could this be why it's getting so cold? Those guys are menacing. Loving the ice effect and the nice moment of eerie mystery when the Frozen Beyonder is just sitting there chanting. Good work, Josh!

[Spader]

Very interesting!

[Mike S]

Fantastic stuff!

[Garmadon]

Fantastic build MKJ, this is my favorite of your builds yet! Great job on the terrain and river, and the stables and hall are excellent

Awesome interior as well, I really like the emergency exit under the throne! I'm looking forward to where all this is going!

[Balbo]

Great work!

I love the story and the MOC.

[Brick Man Studios]

Love the MOC and the story !

[mrcp6d]

I really like how you depicted the freezing of the river!

[Jakorin Swiftsword]

Nice job!

[Gunman]

Great moc MK! The way you froze the river is awesome :) Great idea.

[soccerkid6]

Impressive build, MKJ. The half arches on the front of the stable and the pillars in front of the main building look great Sweet ice effects in the river as well, and the escape tunnel is great

[LordDan]

Great scene!! The stables and great hall looks very nice. The icy water and frozen beyond figs look awesome, and the tunnel was a great idea! :)

[Gideon]

Great build and illustration of the story by the changes between the frames

As I've said before, I really like where this story is going!