Troubled Times (5): The Grove Of Kyne!
The assault of the Bloodsails and the Blackrocks was a very rude and reckless aggression, the damage that they caused in Eastmarch by making the mammoths go berserk will surely have a harsh consequence if they can't defeat the Firemanes once and for all and make the victor claim as the one who was provoked and all that.
It is hard to make such a claim but no one was a pushover to join such a reckless fight even though a Holy Ground that is called the 'Grove of Kyne' or 'Kynesgrove' may face some damage. The final say, however, is for the Firemanes as long as they are the victors.
In Kynesgrove, a small and peaceful holy order dedicated to honoring the Goddess of the Storms, Kyne, existed for a long time and called themselves the 'Keepers of the Grove'. They were also the same cult that Jon encountered one of their priestesses early in his first travel when he entered the Eldergleam Sanctuary.
This priestess was standing with Patriarch Tormund and was discussing how to defend the holy place from harm by the coming aggressors.
Meanwhile, Jon and his party arrived at Kynesgrove after they joined up with the Firemane reinforcement led by a woman.
She is one of the most elegant ladies known among the clans. Her black hair and red dress that were always in the clothing style of her mother clan, the Moonblade, as well as her iconic moon sabers were all there. Her appearance and Alina's resembled each other a lot.
Once she reached her husband while being followed by Jon's party, that got new additions such as Wulfur and Nefertiti, she greeted the priestess.
"Sister Danica, fancy seeing you."
"Matriarch Jenna! It is my pleasure."
"So… what did I interrupt?"
"We were discussing a plan to face the Bloodsails before they reach Kynesgrove. It would be a disaster if the Shrine of Kyne got harmed." Tormund said.
"It indeed is! We, the Firemanes, always take pride at being a part of the Keepers ever since we arrived here. We will surely protect the grove." Jenna assured Danica.
There was someone outside the discussion that completely lagged when he saw Danica. It was Wulfur.
"Jon, isn't that the priestess from that day in the Sanctuary?"
Jon looked closely and the name Danica hit a strong bell in his mind. He suddenly grabbed one of the Firemanes that was close to him and confirmed something.
That was Danica Pure-Spring, one of the game's characters and the priestess of the Temple of Kynareth in Whiterun. And as it seemed, she is part of the order the of the Keepers. He knew it from the start that the order of the Keepers is surely connected to both the temple of Kynareth and the Eldergleam Sanctuary. Not that it matters to him anyway but it was a good encounter and extra knowledge that may serve him in the future.
After a long discussion between the elders and the representative of the Keepers. It was finally decided that the main force of the Firemanes will move outside Kynesgrove to face the Bloodsails and secondary force will have to protect the village from any rear attack. There will be a third force that will go into the grove itself and protect it alongside the priests and the acolytes from the Keepers of the Grove.
The third force will have two leaders and they are Vladimir and Jon who have enough experience in leading troops than anyone else between the younger generation. Jon, of course, was introduced as Jon Dare, the Thane of Winterhold.