[ IP ] The Four Protectors of Iceland

**The Giant In the South. ** 
 
 **The Bull In the West. ** 
 
 **The Dragon In the East. ** 
 
 **The Griffon In the North. ** 
 
 *Giant. Bull. Dragon. Griffon. * 
 Creatures of an age lost to time. 
 Guardians of an age we live in. 
 Creators of Power, of Strength, of War, of Wisdom. 
 The Protectors of Our World. 
 ______ 
 *The South* 
 
 `` When did they get so territorial?'' Orvar murmured as the black ships floated on the horizon. He leaned on his oak bow, his most valued possession and one in which he created during his time in the North. He had a quiver of arrows against his leg, which rattled from the wind on the beach. 
 
 `` Osnoth's have always been greedy,'' Asger took a deep breath, inhaling the cold air, `` they think this world is theirs.'' 
 
 `` Some never learn.'' 
 
 Asger threw his hands in the air, his axe still embedded into the wet sand, `` The Osnoth will learn soon enough. Once Jotunn comes to us.'' 
 
 `` Will he answer the call Chieftain?'' Orvar turned from the beachhead and faced the man he had been training under for a few years now, staring into the eyes that spoke of power, `` Will he really come?'' 
 
 Asger sat on a large stone, just a few feet from the ocean's edge. His bear was as long as his body and a thick black, a sign of his time in battle, and he had claimed many times that Jotunn came to him. `` Tell me the prayer.'' 
 
 Orvar nodded, `` Giant. Bull. Dragon. Griffin.'' He recited from memory, `` Creatures of an age lost to time, Guardians of an age we live in. The Creators of Power, of Strength, of War, of Wison, we call upon the four, to give us power when there is none, to give us strength when we need, to give us war when we grow soft, and to give us wisdom to learn.'' Orvar looked to the sky, `` Protectors of Our World, we ask for your blessing against the enemies we face.'' 
 
 He grunted, `` Good. You have come a long way since your time with the Griffons.'' 
 
 Orvar nodded, `` I learned much. But under you, I learned more.'' 
 
 `` Jotunn will teach you Power. He will show you what it is like to command a world.'' 
 
 `` *Sailors approach Chieftain! *'' A voice called out from behind the two, the sentry was running up the beach with a torch, `` They row to face us in battle!'' 
 
 Asger grabbed his axe from the ground, the heavy metal pulling sand from the Earth. He walked forward, right into the edge of the ocean and the tide stopped just before his feet. Orvar followed, drawing an arrow into lock position. `` The fools think they can take this land.'' 
 
 `` We stand with you, Chieftain.'' 
 
 Asger grunted loudly for his army to hear him. Behind him, a thousand souls of Power stood, swords, shields, axes, and bows in hand. Ready to face the boats that sailed towards them. Before Asger could seak, the Earth shook once. Then again. Then a third time. And a fourth until a few men and women shouted over it. 
 
 `` Jotunn!'' Orvar could hear the name scream behind them. And he slowly turned his head to see the great Giant approach them. He was older than Orvar would have thought, and had a great beard that stretched half of his body, which measured over fifteen men high. He could n't help but smile as the great Jotunn walked through the army, careful even with his immense size, and stepped right to the side of the ocean's edge, standing with Chieftain Asger. 
 
 `` **Asger**,'' his voice boomed across the land, `` **I should have known. **'' 
 
 Asger bellowed into the sky, `` It is good to see you old friend!'' 
 
 The ships sailed to the edge of the beach and Asger stood proudly with Jotunn, the two of them holding their weapons against their chests. A sign of prestige. Of Power. 
 
 Orvar drew his bow, readying himself to fire on the first Osnoth that jumped his boat. He prepared himself for a battle, a great and tremendous fight that the bards would sing of for ages. 
 
 `` **The Land of Ice belongs to the Guardians. **'' 
 
 There was silence on the edge of the ocean, even the waves themselves seemed to stop crashing against the might of Jotunn. OVer noticed he stood solemnly on the edge, and Asger did the same; neither of them moved, neither of them wavered. 
 
 Then the waves began again, seemingly pushing the boats backwards and away from the edge of the beach. Then the men and women on them began to row away, yelling into the void that they could not fight such a great creature of the lost age. In a moment, the enemy was gone and Orvar lowered his bow. 
 
 `` I told you Orvar,'' Asger grinned, `` Jotunn can command the world.'' 
 
 `` **Power through Prestige. **'' Jotunn turned slightly before looking down at Orvar, who stared at him. He glanced at Asger, `` **Come to my domain tonight. We need to talk. **'' 
 
 Then, just as quickly as Jotunn appeared, he disappeared into the world that he protected. Orvar watched him leave, his formidable stance disappearing into the horizon, `` How?'' 
 
 Asger patted him on the shoulder and the two watched the giant leave. `` You will come with me tonight. To Jotunn.'' 
 
 `` Chieftain?'' 
 
 Asger turned to face him, his eyes now filled with a deep sense of wisdom rather than power, `` You have much to learn about our world.'' 
 ______ 
 *The North coming soon. * 
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