Leon's Roar/Issue v2i2/Blackmane Interview

Feature Interview: The Last Viking

By Lazlo Lemont II

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I first found Edgar Blackmane in a dark Shanandoah bar, a large and imposing figure raucously enjoying his drink in the corner of the room. His muscles bulged as he swilled the flagon back, swigging the remaining contents back in a single gulp. Throwing the cup down, he hurled a commanding "More!" to the nearby bar wench, but there was nothing abrasive about it. His demeanor was very clearly one of strength of voracious appetite- the sort of man who would just as soon spend his time swinging an axe as he would drinking or loving. In short, he was just the sort of man I imagined the inhabit the role of the last Viking in Atamara. Vikings have had a long and ancient impact on the continent of Atamara, be it in their conquest or religion. The Way of the Hammer still holds strong in the North of Minas Leon (as detailed in the last issue of the Leon's Roar!). No less than four realms, including the Barony of Makar, explicitly claimed viking heritage - Norland and its successor state Hammarsett, the Barony of Makar (which was formed after the breakup of the Barony of Icegate) and its own seceded portion in Heorot. When the Norland and Barony forces united to fight, their might was a force to be reckoned with- a lesson which the realms of Eston and Minas Ithil often learned. Yet this was not to last. The inaugural issue of The Leon's Roar detailed the capitulation of the Barony of Makar after a long and bloody struggle alongside Darka, caught up in the vicious hooves of fate that have trampled over many realms in The Great Atamaran War. As the final Viking Realm in Atamara, it was truly a momentous and, to a degree, sad occasion. Edgar Blackmane bellowing voice almost chokes as he details the time. "The Cagilan army reached our lands," he said, his eyes taking a darker color, "...it was an enormous army. So we fight a impossible battle against them. But even then, we had Icegate!" His eyes jumped at the mention of the stronghold, his fist slamming the table for emphasis. "We know the Cagilans will take our capital, but we have a strong fortress, and the enemy army, after a long march and the battles, will not be able to take both." He smiles sweetly, as sweetly as a Viking could muster. "...our capital and stronghold..." But the Cagilans, with their Rieleston allies, were able to take the capital.

The views expressed in this feature are not intended as a reflection upon the Leadership of Minas Leon nor their views. All views expressed within belong solely to their authors.