The Travels of a Hairy Hermit

The Sea Wolf clears the harbor mouth when a narrow toll cutter pulls across its course. A broad, middle-aged man in a russet reeve’s coat, with a square weathered face, close-cropped graying hair, and a sturdy build, stands at its bow, while a young clerk, a slim young woman with a narrow freckled face, dark braided hair, and a blue-gray wool vest over a cream linen shirt, with ink-stained fingers readies a wax tablet. Five sailors pause at their stations.

The clerk records each answer, scratching carefully as the cutter rises and falls beside them. The harbor reeve studies the reinforced prow, then points toward the bright iron bands and newly secured forward fittings.

The Sea Wolf rolls against the cutter’s wake. Nilsar takes position beside the prow plates as the harbor reeve signals his boatman to bring the cutter close enough for an inspection, leaving the repair and Nilsar’s first-share judgment exposed together.

Nilsar braces beside the prow as the next swell lifts the Sea Wolf. His Skilled Craftsman eye follows each iron plate and rivet while the reinforced fittings bear the strain without shifting.

The prow rises sharply, but Nilsar keeps his footing and holds the forward band in place for inspection. His concealed chainmail protects against a hard scrape from the rail, while the Northern Helmet’s cheek guards and neck protection shield him as spray breaks over the bow.

The harbor reeve steps close from the cutter and tests the bright band, rivets, and prow plates by hand. Each remains tight against the timber, with no opened seam or loosened head.

Nilsar takes his earned place among the Sea Wolf crew. He lifts the Two-Handed Axe to cut the last harbor line, its weight driving the rope apart cleanly.

He carries the Longsword at his hip as he crosses the deck, using its straight blade to check the repaired fittings once more. His Skilled Craftsman eye finds every band seated true.

The Sea Wolf’s sailors haul the lines and set the sail together. The strengthened prow meets the outer chop, while Nilsar secures his axe and keeps the Longsword ready beside the forward rail.

The Sea Wolf turns into open water, leaving the toll cutter astern. Nilsar stands among the crew at last, beginning the journey of profitable raiding with tools, weapons, and an earned place aboard.

Nilsar murmurs a brief offering to the old gods, touches two fingers to his brow, and steps across the gap to the merchant ship as its crews shout in alarm.

His Northern Helmet’s dark bronze cheek guards turn aside a swinging hook, while the chainmail and leather down his nape protect him as he drives forward beneath the merchant sailors’ blows.

The Longsword made on his first day at the cottage cuts through the sailors’ resistance with disciplined strokes. The Two-Handed Axe follows, breaking their formation and clearing the forward deck.

Nilsar advances across the deck, axe hooking one weapon aside while his longsword keeps the remaining sailors from closing around him. A hard impact bruises his left ribs beneath Gravam’s concealed chainmail.

He reaches the stern. The Two-Handed Axe knocks the tiller guard aside, and the Longsword forces the last sailor down without gore. The merchant ship’s tiller is now in Nilsar’s grasp.

Nilsar waits on the merchant deck with the surrendered sailors at the tiller and cargo hatch. His bruised ribs ache when he shifts, but he keeps an easy stance as the Sea Wolf closes alongside.

Soren crosses the gap first, followed by the Sea Wolf crew. Nilsar’s laughter and open welcome turn the tense boarding into shared pride, rallying the sailors around their newly proven shipmate.

The Sea Wolf crew laughs with Nilsar, their confidence spreading across both decks. Even the surrendered sailors relax as Soren orders weapons secured and the captured vessel brought under control.

Nilsar remains among the crew on the merchant deck, laughing as they join him and settle into their work. The first boarding is complete, and the captured ship is firmly in their hands.

Nilsar asks while the two ships lie secured together. Soren pauses over the cargo tally, and the sailors listen without interrupting the newly proven raider.

Soren taps each place on the merchant’s coastal chart. Nilsar keeps the order, cargoes, and sailing direction together in his account, separating what is planned from what is merely rumored.

The Sea Wolf crew studies the chart while the surrendered merchant sailors remain under watch near their cargo. Soren’s route now gives Nilsar three named settlements, their likely goods, and the risks attached to each.

Nilsar keeps the surrendered merchant sailors together under watch, their weapons secured and their hands free of the cargo. Takes Prisoners preserves both crews for the captain’s decision.

Soren points toward the captured crew and the merchant’s cargo hatch. Their lives remain secure while the Sea Wolf separates lawful prize from personal cruelty.

Soren orders the captured crew kept under guard until the transfer ends, then assigns the Sea Wolf sailors to tally the iron and wool. The profit remains intact without needless killing.

Nilsar keeps the surrendered sailors together, weapons secured and hands free, while Takes Prisoners preserves them as valuable captives rather than letting panic decide their fate.

Soren orders the captives counted, searched for hidden weapons, and kept under guard below the merchant ship’s awning. Their lives remain intact, but their freedom becomes part of the prize.

Nilsar keeps the surrendered sailors together beneath the awning, weapons secured and their hands free. Takes Prisoners turns a volatile victory into an orderly, valuable collection while his calm argument reaches Soren.

Soren studies the captives, then the cargo tally. Nilsar’s Legendary Diplomacy has made the profit plain, while Takes Prisoners keeps every captive accounted for and prevents panic from spoiling the sale.

Soren assigns Sea Wolf sailors to maintain the watch while the merchant crew remains together under the awning. The decision is settled: cargo, ship, and captives will be carried to market as one profitable prize.

The merchant sailors fall silent beneath the awning. Nilsar’s threat turns the promised sale into a colder prospect, and their guarded confidence breaks under it.

Several captives, including a young adult man with a wiry build, wind-browned skin, cropped sandy hair, and a patched blue wool tunic lower their eyes and clasp their hands together, making no move toward the secured weapons. Takes Prisoners keeps them counted and contained while the intimidation makes their surrender firm.

Soren orders water and food brought forward, then assigns two sailors to watch the captives while the others finish the cargo tally. No prisoner resists or reaches for a weapon.

Nilsar steadies himself beside the captured cargo, keeping his bruised ribs clear of the rail. He remains composed, ready, and attentive to Soren’s orders.

Soren divides the work. The Sea Wolf crew completes the cargo tally while two sailors keep the merchant sailors beneath the awning, with weapons secured and water provided.

Takes Prisoners keeps every captive counted and contained, preventing panic from disrupting the transfer. With the crews organized and the prize secured, Nilsar is ready when the Sea Wolf turns toward Brannoc Cove.

The Sea Wolf grinds onto Brannoc Cove’s beach. Nilsar jumps down with shield on his back, sword at his hip, axe in both hands, armour worn and helmet ready. Village defenders rush from the huts.

He drives into their line before it can form. The Two-Handed Axe sweeps one defender aside, while the Gilded Round Shield catches a spear thrust and opens space for his advance.

The Longsword works in tight, disciplined strokes beneath the Northern Helmet’s dark bronze cheek guards. Several defenders fall and do not rise, while the remaining men break toward the village.

Nilsar presses forward, ribs aching as he braces behind the shield and twists through the last resistance. The defenders throw down their weapons beneath the axe’s threat and are gathered under guard.

The remaining townsfolk emerge from the huts and store sheds: women, children, and elders clustered together in fear. Sea Wolf sailors surround them without striking, separating them from the captured men.

The village men are disarmed and held, while the women and children are herded into a guarded group near the surf. The cove, its defenders, and its people now lie under the raiders’ control.

Nilsar enters the nearest house and searches methodically, checking chests, loft beams, floor seams, and wall recesses. His Skilled Craftsman eye spots false joins and recently moved boards.

Behind a grain chest, he finds a loosened plank hiding folded wool, silver cups, and a small purse of weighed coins. Beneath the bed, several townsfolk lie silent in a cramped crawlspace.

The Northern Helmet’s dark bronze cheek guards protect his face as he crouches beneath the low bedframe, while its chainmail and leather nape guard scrape safely against the beams.

He searches the next houses and store sheds, finding wool bales, worked silverware, sealed spice jars, and two concealed floor compartments with goods wrapped against damp.

His search also reveals a narrow loft passage connecting two houses, where more of the remaining townsfolk have hidden among rafters. They emerge under watch without resistance.

The careful inspection takes longer than expected, and several goods lack marks showing their owners. Nilsar gathers them into a visible collection but leaves their exact ownership uncertain.

Nilsar completes the house search with the valuables, hidden compartments, and concealed townsfolk identified. The collection remains intact, though its ownership still requires later judgment.

Nilsar carries the wool, silver cups, spice jars, and weighed coins from the houses to the beach collection. The remaining townsfolk watch in guarded silence as he adds each bundle openly.

He turns back toward the hiding places and seizes one adult woman, a lean young adult woman with sun-browned skin, a narrow face, dark braided hair, and a faded blue dress as she emerges from the crawlspace. His Gilded Round Shield blocks the narrow passage, while the Longsword and Two-Handed Axe keep the others from intervening.

Nilsar secures the woman as a captive for the raiders’ intended private amusement. The account passes over what follows, and the woman remains alive, guarded, and separated from the other townsfolk.

His bruised ribs pull painfully as he twists back toward the beach, but he keeps the Longsword at his hip, the Axe in hand, and the green, brown, and gold-rimmed donkey shield raised.

Nilsar delivers the remaining goods to the open loot pile. Soren’s sailors begin separating wool, silver, spices, and coin by kind while the captured woman is kept under guard near the beach.

Nilsar organizes the wool, silver, spices, and weighed coins into separate loads. He checks each bundle against the Storehouse Issue Books, then directs the Sea Wolf crew toward the boats.

With the Gilded Round Shield strapped across his back, Nilsar carries wool bales and spice jars down the beach. His bruised ribs pull when he twists, but the loads reach the Sea Wolf without being dropped.

He uses the Two-Handed Axe to cut a stubborn cargo lash, then checks the opened bundles with his Longsword’s straight blade as a measure. Silver cups and coin sacks are loaded separately.

Nilsar’s Northern Helmet shields his face as he supervises the transfer. Chainmail and leather guard his nape while he braces against the gangplank, guiding captives aboard in counted groups.

On deck, Nilsar records each cargo bundle and each captive under the captain’s direction. Soren marks the bounty shares for himself and every Sea Wolf sailor, while Nilsar checks each sum twice.

The Sea Wolf settles into a steady northern course. Nilsar remains near the awning where the merchant sailors, village defenders, and remaining townsfolk are kept apart, counted, and watched.

He lowers himself against a coil of rope with his shield beside him and eases his weight away from the bruised ribs. The pain fades as the ship’s motion becomes regular.

Nilsar watches the captives through the changing light, noting each separated group and each guard’s position without rising unnecessarily. Steady Under Fire keeps his attention firm despite fatigue and the cramped deck.

A Sea Wolf sailor brings water under Soren’s order. Nilsar checks that it reaches the captives evenly, then settles again, resting his ribs while the hull carries them toward Skeldhaven.

Nilsar keeps watch until the captives settle, then closes his eyes without abandoning his post. His breathing steadies, his ribs ease, and the Sea Wolf continues safely toward Skeldhaven.

Nilsar rocks with the Sea Wolf’s steady sway, keeping his breathing measured while the crew maintains the watches around the separated captives. The ship’s motion no longer demands effort from him.

When his watch ends, Nilsar lowers himself beside the coil of rope and removes the strain from his bruised left ribs. He keeps his helmet and weapons within reach.

Steady Under Fire holds his attention calm through the cramped descent into sleep. He does not fight the ship’s roll or the ache, allowing both to settle into a regular rhythm.

Time passes beneath the awning. Rest and the ship’s gentle movement ease the bruising, and Nilsar’s ribs heal fully enough that twisting and bracing no longer draw pain.

Nilsar wakes restored, his breathing deep and his body ready for the next battle. Beyond the rail, the northern water carries the Sea Wolf toward Skeldhaven.

Nilsar sits beneath the Sea Wolf’s awning and draws a whetstone along the Longsword’s straight edge, restoring a clean, even bite without disturbing the blade’s balance.

He turns to the Two-Handed Axe, checking its broad edge before sharpening it with measured strokes. The heavy head takes a serviceable keenness, ready for close work on a deck.

Nilsar waits without fidgeting, Steady Under Fire holding his attention through the ship’s slow approach. He studies the shoreline, piers, sails, and signals while the Sea Wolf remains outside the harbor’s notice.

Through the haze he counts seven merchant ships docked at Skeldhaven: three broad cargo vessels, two smaller wool carriers, and two coastal traders. None bears signs of alarm, and no patrol boat moves toward the outer water.

The Sea Wolf continues its concealed approach with weapons sharpened and the harbor’s strength measured. Nilsar now knows the merchant count and can prepare the profitable plunder before Skeldhaven recognizes the ship.

Nilsar delivers the proposal quietly, keeping his gaze on the harbor and his voice measured. Steady Under Fire holds his attention firm while Legendary Diplomacy frames the split as profit, timing, and mutual cover rather than reckless division.

Soren points across the harbor, dividing the seven hulls into a near pair and a farther cluster. The Sea Wolf crew listens as he assigns targets, timing, and signals for a simultaneous boarding.

Edda, a young adult woman with a compact build, copper-brown braid, and dark wool vest, her freckled fair face clear above the vest, and Bram, a broad young adult man with a shaved jaw and patched green tunic, his brown skin and square face weathered by work, move to Nilsar’s side. The Sea Wolf glides within boarding distance.

Nilsar raises the Gilded Round Shield as the signal. The Northern Helmet’s dark bronze cheek guards and chainmail-covered nape protect him as he crosses first, his Longsword driving the nearest sailor back.

The Two-Handed Axe hooks a weapon aside, and Nilsar’s shield absorbs a spear thrust. Edda drops from the rigging behind the defenders while Bram blocks the mast passage, splitting their resistance before it can form.

Nilsar reaches the tiller and forces the remaining merchant sailors to yield. Edda secures the rigging, Bram guards the cargo hatch, and the nearest merchant ship is seized under the Sea Wolf’s control.

Nilsar turns the captured merchant ship toward the next vessel, keeping its sail profile ordinary. Tomas tends the tiller while Edda watches the rigging and Bram stands ready beside the mast.

The ships meet without a shouted challenge. Nilsar raises the Gilded Round Shield against the first hook, drives forward with his Longsword, and uses the Two-Handed Axe to wrench a pole away from the rail.

Bram blocks the mast passage while Tomas brings the captured ship alongside. The merchant sailors lower their weapons, and Nilsar takes the tiller before any alarm reaches shore.

The second prize is secured without an alarm. Its chart table reveals a sheltered coastal passage to the town ahead, allowing both captured ships to reach the next market by a quieter route before dusk.

Nilsar brings both captured ships into the sheltered shallows, steering them toward the raiders’ beach. Tomas holds one tiller while Edda and Bram guide the other vessel clear of the sandbar.

He lowers the Gilded Round Shield across his back and uses the Longsword to cut the last mooring lines. The Two-Handed Axe chops through a fouled rope, freeing both ships for the final approach.

Nilsar dismounts onto the beach, then directs the captive merchant sailors and remaining townsfolk down the gangplanks in counted groups. Takes Prisoners keeps weapons secured and the captives together under guard.

Nilsar carries the first secured bundles ashore, his Skilled Craftsman eye sorting iron, wool, and ship fittings by weight and condition. The captured crews wait under watch beside the existing loot.

He uses the Gilded Round Shield to block the narrow gangplank while Tomas leads the next group down. The Longsword keeps the passage clear, and the Two-Handed Axe cuts a cargo lash binding the final load.

Both captured ships now rest at shore, their cargo added to the raiders’ collection and their captives counted beside it. Soren’s sailors secure the vessels while Nilsar stands ready for the full tally.

Nilsar keeps his voice level despite the crowded beach and guarded captives. His Steady Under Fire composure gives the question weight, while Keeps Reliable Accounts turns the gathered cargo into a clear choice rather than a boast.

He lays the Longsword across the nearest crate as a straight measure, checks the Gilded Round Shield’s green, brown, and gold rim for fresh damage, and uses the Two-Handed Axe to sever a stubborn cargo lash. The collection is ready for a final count.

Soren points toward the captured vessels and orders the Sea Wolf crew to secure the cargo. Nilsar’s figures show the provisions can support the passage, and the captain’s decision settles the course without dispute.

The decision is made: Veshmyr comes next, followed by port with the enlarged collection. Nilsar gathers the tally notes and moves toward the gangplanks as the captured ships are prepared to cast off.

The ships leave the beach under full sail for Veshmyr. Nilsar checks the cargo lashings with his Longsword’s straight blade, keeps the Gilded Round Shield beside the mast, and hooks a stubborn rope free with the Two-Handed Axe.

Nilsar opens the tally notes and Storehouse Issue Books beside the mast. He separates ship claims, cargo value, and captive-market value, presenting the figures plainly while the captured crews remain guarded.

Soren points across the secured vessels as Nilsar’s figures confirm the division. The captain’s promise covers the original cargo, the captured ships, and the guarded captives, without reducing the crew’s established portions.

The Sea Wolf crew hears the settlement and raises no objection. Nilsar closes the tally, keeps his shield and weapons ready, and watches Veshmyr’s distant harbor emerge through the sea haze.

Soren studies Nilsar across the crowded deck. Nilsar opens the Storehouse Issue Books beside the tally, separating the ship’s value, cargo, captive-market value, and his earned smith’s share without mixing the figures.

Keeps Reliable Accounts fixes each proposed exchange in separate lines: the trade ship, its remaining cargo, Nilsar’s full sailor’s share, and his smith’s working share. The books show the values balance.

Soren announces the exchange to the Sea Wolf crew and marks Nilsar’s shares surrendered against the ship’s assessed value. The crew accepts the calculation, while the adult woman is brought forward under guard.

Nilsar opens the Storehouse Issue Books and sets the ship’s valuation beside the crew assignments. His Longsword pins the pages against the wind, while the Gilded Round Shield rests beside him, its donkey boss facing the deck.

Soren checks the figures, then points across the deck. Nilsar’s Northern Helmet hangs from a rail, its chainmail and leather nape guard shifting in the wind, while his Two-Handed Axe lies ready beside the mast.

Nilsar loads his Longsword, Gilded Round Shield, Northern Helmet, and Two-Handed Axe aboard the captured trade ship. Edda, Bram, and Tomas follow, carrying tools and provisions while Soren watches from the adjoining deck.

Nilsar crosses the gap cleanly despite the rolling water. His round shield catches a swinging line, the helmet’s chainmail and leather guard his nape, and his axe hooks the loose mooring free.

Tomas secures the cargo hatch while Nilsar tests each line with the Longsword’s straight blade. The Two-Handed Axe cuts a fouled rope, and his Skilled Craftsman eye finds the steering gear already recently repaired.

Edda sets the sail, Bram holds the helm, and Tomas tends the lines as Nilsar takes command of the captured trade ship. An intact coastal chart reveals a sheltered channel into Veshmyr, giving their vessel a safer approach than the open route.

Nilsar retrieves a spare cargo tarp from the captured ship’s stores, then chooses a sheltered stretch beside the aft rail where wind and passing eyes are limited.

He sets the Two-Handed Axe through a heavy fold of tarp and rope, cutting clean tie points without fraying the canvas. His Skilled Craftsman eye keeps the shelter taut and balanced.

Using the Longsword’s straight blade as a measure, Nilsar aligns the tarp’s lower edge with the deck and fastens it to the rail, creating a screened enclosure with a clear entrance.

Edda steps through first and checks the deck beneath the tarp, the corners, and the woman’s clothing from a respectful distance. She finds no concealed weapon and leaves the entrance visible to the watch.

The tarp now gives the woman a screened place to rest while leaving its entrance and hands visible. Edda remains nearby, guarding the boundary without crowding her.

Late nights settle into a quiet pattern. Nilsar checks the tarp shelter, brings the adult woman water, and spends the dark hours nearby without crowding her or disturbing her guarded privacy.

Before dawn, Nilsar climbs the captured trade ship’s mast. Skilled Craftsman guides his hands over each rope, spar, and foothold, trusting sound timber and secure knots as he rises above the deck.

From the masthead, the captured trade ship gives him a steadier vantage than the low deck. He studies the coast’s inlets, headlands, smoke, and sail traffic through the thinning darkness.

Legendary Perception separates a fishing inlet from a deeper harbor and identifies Veshmyr by its long stone breakwater, clustered warehouses, and three watchtowers beyond the eastern shoals.

Nilsar descends with the route fixed in his mind, but the long vigil costs him the morning’s rest. He knows Veshmyr’s position, while its patrol habits and defenses remain uncertain.

Her name settles the question without surrendering her boundaries. Nilsar leaves her screened shelter undisturbed, then climbs toward the forward rail to study Veshmyr’s defenses.

The Northern Helmet’s masked brow and dark bronze cheek guards shield his face from spray, while chainmail and leather protect his nape against the rigging. His Longsword stays secured at his hip.

Skilled Craftsman reads the breakwater’s stonework, mooring points, and repaired sections. Legendary Perception distinguishes two harbor patrol routes, the eastern shoals, and blind water beneath the southern tower.

He relays the findings across the water to Soren: three towers, one active patrol near the breakwater, a quieter southern approach, and signal flags ready on the eastern platform.

Nilsar remains above the deck with the harbor mapped in his mind, watching the patrol’s timing while Mara’s name and stated terms remain clear behind the shelter.

Nilsar leads Mara below the captured trade ship’s deck, finding a dry storage space behind stacked sailcloth. He clears it, checks the timber, and leaves the entrance visible from the passage.

Nilsar gives Mara water and secures the hatch with a visible wooden bar that can be lifted from either side. Takes Prisoners keeps her separate from cargo, sailors, and weapons.

He returns topside wearing the Northern Helmet and carrying the Gilded Round Shield. The Two-Handed Axe cuts a spare line, while the Longsword trims its end for a quiet grappling hook.

Skilled Craftsman aligns the vessels without a loud impact. Nilsar signals Edda and Bram into cover, then holds the shield forward as the patrol’s bow draws alongside.

At the signal, Nilsar’s shield catches the patrol’s first hook. His Longsword drives the nearest officer back, and the Two-Handed Axe tears away the steering oar. Edda and Bram secure the rails as the patrol crew yields, contained alive and under guard.

Nilsar searches the captured patrol ship from bow to stern. His Longsword lifts a locked chart chest, while the Two-Handed Axe breaks its swollen hasp without damaging the papers within.

Records Research and Reads Legal Records sort patrol orders, harbor manifests, signal tables, and inspection seals. The documents show two patrol ships assigned to escort merchant traffic into Veshmyr’s southern harbor.

The guards explain that patrol vessels challenge approaching ships with three bell strikes. A merchant escort answers with two, then displays its manifest board before entering the breakwater.

Nilsar copies the route, signals, patrol assignments, and cargo descriptions into the ship’s account. The captured patrol ships now have the papers and formation needed to escort the prizes convincingly toward Veshmyr.

Nilsar Yarb leaves captured patrol ship behind and arrives at Veshmyr.

Veshmyr opens around Nilsar in cold harbor light: stone quays, tarred warehouses, and three watchtowers stand behind the southern breakwater. His captured patrol ships lead the merchant vessels through the inner channel, white pennants flying and cargo boards displayed.

The outer towers remain silent as the escort formation passes beneath them. Nilsar’s copied signals and patrol papers guide every turn, while Edda holds the rigging, Bram steadies the captured trade ship, and Tomas keeps the cargo lines secure.

Nilsar brings the formation beneath the southern signal tower without slowing. The harbor’s attention remains fixed on the false escort, and the captured cargo ships enter Veshmyr safely with their holds, captives, and records intact.

The vessels glide toward the merchant quay, where mooring posts and stacked warehouses offer shelter. Mara remains secured below deck under the agreed protection, while the patrol guards wait under watch and the profitable collection reaches market.

Tomas remains below with Mara and the secured captives as Nilsar draws his Longsword and raises Gravam’s Gilded Round Shield. Edda, Bram, and Soren gather behind him.

The Northern Helmet’s masked brow and dark bronze cheek guards shield Nilsar’s face as he leaps for the merchant quay. Chainmail and leather cover his nape, while the shield catches the first thrown spear.

Nilsar drives into the quay soldiers at the point. His Longsword forces the front rank aside while the round shield batters open a lane, and Edda and Bram strike through behind him.

Soren’s raiders close the formation around Nilsar. The soldiers lose their footing and weapons beneath the combined pressure, leaving the merchant quay secured without a warning reaching the inner warehouses.

The captured soldiers are disarmed and contained while Edda seizes the bell rope and Bram blocks the warehouse passage. The unasked advantage is clear: the quay’s harbor ledger office stands open and undefended.

Edda and Bram move toward the warehouse passage, cutting the merchant crews off from the harbor watch. Nilsar enters the open ledger office, shield raised and Longsword ready as he checks doors, desks, and shelves.

Records Research identifies the office’s working ledgers by dates, cargo marks, and harbor seals. Keeps Reliable Accounts separates account books from blank forms and personal correspondence, while the Longsword lifts a jammed cabinet bar without damaging the lock.

His Gilded Round Shield guards the doorway as he gathers every ledger, including the cabinet books and a thin harbor dues register hidden beneath loose invoices. Legendary Perception finds no additional ledger concealed in the office.

Nilsar carries the complete ledger collection back to the loot pile and places it apart from the cargo for later counting. Outside, Edda and Bram keep the merchant crews contained, and no warning reaches the harbor watch.

Nilsar joins Edda and Bram at the warehouse passage as the merchant sailors push toward the harbor watch. His Northern Helmet guards his face and nape while the Gilded Round Shield turns aside their first desperate blows.

The Longsword drives the leading sailors back, and the Two-Handed Axe breaks their attempt to regroup beside the rigging stairs. Edda seals the flank while Bram blocks the quay road.

Nilsar advances through the passage, shield raised and sword working in disciplined strokes. The merchant crews fall beneath the assault, and the last survivors are cut down before they can reach the harbor watch.

Nilsar wipes the Longsword clean, keeps the Gilded Round Shield forward, and carries the Two-Handed Axe toward the barracks. Edda and Bram follow with the raiders.

The raiders form outside the barracks door, weapons ready and the captured quay secured behind them. Nilsar stands at the front with shield raised, Longsword drawn, and Two-Handed Axe poised for the next breach.

Nilsar bursts through the barracks door behind his Gilded Round Shield, its green, brown, and gold rim and donkey boss leading the charge. His Northern Helmet guards his face and nape while concealed chainmail covers his body beneath his clothes.

The confused quay soldiers reach toward scattered weapons, but Nilsar’s Longsword drives through their first line before they can form. Edda and Bram rush behind him as the Two-Handed Axe smashes a weapon rack aside.

Nilsar advances beneath the Northern Helmet’s dark bronze cheek guards, shield turning aside a desperate strike. His chainmail absorbs another glancing blow while the Longsword and Two-Handed Axe break the soldiers’ resistance.

The last defenders fall beneath the combined assault, and no soldier remains standing. Nilsar lowers the axe only after the room is secure, keeping the shield raised while Bram checks the weapon racks.

Nilsar sorts the secured arms and armour by weight, condition, and fit. His Longsword tests leather seams and riveted plates, while the Gilded Round Shield steadies a breastplate as he examines its balance.

He fits Edda with a lighter coat of linked rings and reinforces its shoulder straps. Bram receives a sound helmet and hardened bracers, while Nilsar’s Northern Helmet guides his inspection of each protective edge.

For Tomas, Nilsar selects a serviceable padded jack, a short blade, and a compact buckler. The Two-Handed Axe trims damaged leather, and his Skilled Craftsman eye reshapes buckles until each piece sits securely.

Nilsar searches the barracks racks and finds three serviceable chainmail vests among the secured armour. He tests each ring and seam with his Longsword, whose straight blade exposes weak gaps without cutting the links.

He lays the Gilded Round Shield beneath the first vest as a firm work surface, its green, brown, and partly gold rim and donkey boss steady beneath the metal. With the Two-Handed Axe, he trims damaged leather ties and removes bent fastening rings.

Nilsar reshapes the replacement links with the barracks hammer, fitting Edda’s vest close across her shoulders, Bram’s broader chest, and Tomas’s smaller frame. His Skilled Craftsman eye balances protection against climbing, rowing, and movement aboard ship.

Nilsar checks every vest once more with the Longsword’s edge, tightens the final ties with the Two-Handed Axe’s poll, and lifts the Gilded Round Shield to confirm none of the mail catches beneath it. Edda, Bram, and Tomas stand equipped and ready to depart for the harbour watch.

Nilsar leads from the barracks toward the harbor watchhouse. His Northern Helmet shields his face and nape, chainmail protects beneath his clothes, and the Gilded Round Shield turns aside thrown spears as the Sea Wolf crew follows.

Nilsar crashes through the watchhouse entrance behind his shield. His Longsword drives the front rank back, while the Two-Handed Axe tears a weapon rack from the wall and opens the room for Edda and Bram to press through.

The harbor watch breaks under the assault and throws down its weapons. Nilsar’s shield holds the doorway, his sword controls the surrender, and his axe cuts the bell rope before any alarm reaches the inner town.

Nilsar leads the raiders through Veshmyr’s merchant quarter. Tomas marks ledgers and sealed chests, Bram guards the surrendered watch, and Edda directs the crews as wool, iron, silver, spices, and weighed coin are carried to the quay collection.

Nilsar leads the Sea Wolf crew through the merchant quarter, his Gilded Round Shield covering the doorway while the Longsword lifts false boards and the Two-Handed Axe opens sealed chests. Skilled Craftsman and Legendary Perception reveal silver, spices, wool, weighed coin, and hidden stores beneath floors and behind walls.

The remaining townsfolk are brought aboard in counted groups, with water and guards assigned. Tomas marks each bundle, Bram holds the gangplank, and Edda searches lofts and cellars until every captive and recoverable good is accounted for.

Nilsar enters the town leader’s house wearing the Northern Helmet, its dark bronze cheek guards shielding his face and chainmail and leather guarding his nape. His Longsword tests the walls while the Axe breaks open a concealed stair.

Below the office, Nilsar finds an elderly man, a lean human man with a lined face and swept-back white hair, in a fur-trimmed blue coat, an adult woman, a sturdy human woman with a round face and dark hair braided beneath a linen cap, in a green wool gown, and a young adult man, a lean human man with a narrow face and tousled brown hair, in a brown riding coat. Their sealed chests and noble papers lie beside them.

Nilsar secures the Rell family and carries their documents, silver, and household stores aboard. He then sets fire to the empty office house as he leaves; smoke rolls over the quay while the remaining captives and full collection are secured on the ships.

Nilsar steadies Osmund with the Gilded Round Shield, its green, brown, and partly gold rim and donkey boss braced against the floor. He draws the Longsword to lift the coat’s clasp without tearing the fur.

The Northern Helmet’s dark bronze cheek guards shield Nilsar’s face as he leans close, chainmail and leather protecting his nape while he works the coat free from Osmund’s shoulders.

Nilsar slips the black fur coat from Osmund and settles it over his finely made outfit, fitting the heavy shoulders and fastening it securely at his chest.

He uses the Two-Handed Axe to split a stubborn chest band, then checks the opened contents with the Longsword’s straight blade. Silver, papers, and household goods come free without confusion.

Nilsar carries the remaining Rell valuables toward the loot pile, the Gilded Round Shield hanging at his back while the Northern Helmet keeps his head protected amid the crowded passage.

He places the papers, silver, and household stores beside the other seized goods, leaving the black fur coat with his outfit. The complete pile is ready for the crew’s count.