View source for A Meeting With the Outside: Part 1

<big>'''A Meeting With the Outside: Part 1'''</big>

'''In-universe date:''' Era Nova, May--June, Year 2

'''Real-world date:''' 16 August 2026

'''Author:''' [[Valdemar Hvide]]

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Valdemar kept his smile as the ghast flew off toward the south, the small figure perched on top becoming smaller and smaller, as Percival started to disappear beyond the horizon.

Valdemar remained still for several moments, his hands gripping tightly around the map. It was the only sign of what Valdemar truly felt right now, betraying his polite demeanor.

But inside, Valdemar burned with fury.

He had been here before.

The words repeated themselves in his mind. Percival had said it so casually, not understanding the depth of those words. He had set foot on '''Istramark''', holy '''Istramark''' before, walked on its shore, and yet not a single Huscarl had seen him.

What an embarrassment, that a foreigner, an unbeliever, had just walked in without anyone's knowledge.

''“Oh, heads will roll for this,”'' Valdemar thought with a contained fury.

He was not mad at Percival, even if he did not trust his words. The Huscarls, on the other hand, had sworn to defend the kingdom, which they had built their reputation on and never hesitated to boast about.

Yet a man from a nation across the southern sea had come and gone as he pleased.

His fury needs no word; it needs action, and actions will happen soon. Someone will pay for it.

Valdemar unfolded the map in his hands and looked again at this treasure trove of information, a map unlike anything he had seen before. It goes much farther than any charts that the Sogn have, and with such strange names.

Oh, the Sogn would be more than glad to get their hands on it, but for a price, as Valdemar would not let such a wonderful tool go to waste.

Then there was Percival and this Koperdammer.

What to do with them?

A nation that had mastered technology that Istrania had only started to work with, like those railways Percival talked about.

Valdemar's fury gave way to something else: '''Innovation'''.

Percival showed Valdemar that there was more than one road to a goal. Why waste time developing in isolation? Why let the faithful toil in the dark, when the unbelievers could possibly possess such gifts, gifts wasted on those who had denied the light of the Godking?

The idea brought a faint smile to his face as a thought hit him.

''“The Godking works in strange ways.”''

Koperdammer, and for that matter the rest of the world, has knowledge that Istrania needs, knowledge that would be best used in the service of the Godking.

And when there was nothing else to learn or to give from them?

There would be no reason to continue depending upon them, to mingle with those who have turned their backs to the light of the Godking.

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[[Category:Character News]]
[[Category:Valdemar Hvide]]
[[Category:Era Nova, Year 2]]