The Creators: From Night City

"Oh my God!" The old captain immediately let out an extremely suppressed exclamation, and then he couldn't contain his excitement and turned around on the deck.

"I knew that apart from them, apart from the mythical beings, who else could have caused this kind of natural disaster?"

Fortunately, as an experienced old captain, he naturally understood the importance of maintaining stable military morale. He resisted the urge to brag and kept this matter deep in his heart.

After avoiding the storm, the rest of the voyage was smooth. The 'Skellig Storm' made a big circle from the southernmost island of Undvik before reaching the port of Keldra. However, with the help of the east wind borrowed by Jiang Bing along the way, everyone arrived half a day earlier than originally planned.

The Skellige Islands are called an archipelago because, as the name suggests, they consist of six large islands and a dozen scattered small islands.

The entire archipelago is mainly composed of seven families, which are distributed on six large islands, and the entire archipelago is ruled by a king.

However, unlike the countries on the mainland, the throne here is not hereditary. The king is elected by the lords of the seven largest families at a traditional election meeting.

Therefore, kings usually came from the most powerful family or were related to that family.

As a result, each family leader has a great deal of autonomy in their respective territories.

This has some implications of the United States betraying the United States.

All the land is surrounded by the sea, and the islanders living on the land have therefore developed the idea that freedom is supreme, and the political ecology evolved from this is relatively more "free".

Here, a Skellige fisherman and a family lord have almost the same rights, and class conflicts between the upper and lower classes are relatively mild, which is very different from the Nilfgaardians and Redanians.

Of course, the formation of such a political ecology is also related to the harsh and barren natural environment of the Skellige Islands.

The ecology of the archipelago is complex and the climate is changeable. Many areas and islands have rugged, bare terrain and are full of rocks. Compared with the flat continent, it is more difficult to cultivate crops here. The harsh living environment has created the tenacious, tough and upright character of the people of the archipelago, and it has also created the image of pirates that makes the entire continent tremble in fear.

The poor can't survive, so they have to go out and rob, and rely on their own hard work to get rich. There is nothing wrong with this from the root.

Of course, the pirate label is only their most famous image. In addition, the islanders also engage in fishing, hunting, trade, farming, and animal husbandry. After all, it is impossible to support such a large business by relying solely on robbery.

All of the above constitute the Skellige Islands, and constitute this troublemaker that causes endless headaches for the Nilfgaard Empire.

This place is poor and remote, but everyone, regardless of gender, is a good fighter. If left alone, the coastal areas will always be harassed. If we take action, it will be too far away to do anything. If we really make up our minds to organize a large fleet, it will be a losing business.

The people of Skellige have demonstrated through their actions what it means to be poor but right and to be poor but shameless.

Chapter 372 Tavern Conflict

Of course, Skellige’s poverty is not only reflected in its consistently poor and domineering diplomatic strategy, but can also be seen from the Keldra Fortress on the most prosperous island of Great Skellige.

When the 'Skellig Storm' slowly sailed into the harbor, all Jiang Bing saw was simplicity, crudeness, and backwardness.

A large number of longships - a type of small, high-speed vessel unique to Skellige - were parked on one side of the harbor, and several longships were upside down in the open space while being repaired.

The guards of the Clet family, holding battle axes and shields, patrolled back and forth, but there were not many people at the most prosperous dock, not to mention the declining business environment. Compared with the prosperity of Novigrad, this place was like a rural-urban fringe.

In the entire port or city, apart from the Keldra Fortress built on the mountain, there is no building higher than two stories. In fact, there are only a few stone houses. The other buildings are crude buildings made of wood, or simple houses made of seaweed with wooden frames.

Of course, the judgment of the craftsmanship here comes from Jiang Bing, the "craftsman". In fact, although these buildings do not look good, they fully meet all the current people's requirements for houses - solid, airtight, able to shelter from wind and rain, and provide a place to sleep.

The 'Longship Hearth' Inn was the destination for Jiang Bing and Geralt after they got off the ship, and it was also where Yennefer, who had arrived here early, stayed.

But when the two arrived here, they found nothing.

Yennefer had indeed booked the most luxurious room here for a month, but she was not in the hotel.

Fortunately, before she left, she asked her boss to give the key to Geralt, so the two of them successfully learned Yennefer's current whereabouts from the note left by the other on the dressing table in the room.

As a powerful sorceress, she was invited by the Archdruid Mossak, the royal advisor of Skellige and mentor of the Druid Circle of the Isles, to go to the island of Indalsfell to investigate a sudden disaster.

The two just passed each other, and not long after they left, the room was still filled with the strong smell of cloves and currants.

Of course, Jiang Bing also saw the unicorn doll that Geralt mentioned next to the large wooden bathtub. It was almost a lifelike one-to-one specimen. In addition to its vivid expression, the details such as the unicorn's hair and eyes were extremely delicate.

But as he got closer, a familiar stale fishy smell drifted into his nostrils, making him involuntarily look at the witcher beside him.

Okay, okay, you two are really good at having fun.

Not finding anyone, the two could only return to the inn and sit down by the stone fire pit. There were traces of knife and axe cuts on the unpolished thick wooden table. Tin wine cups, ox horn drinking vessels and bone-carved plates were piled together in a mess, looking rough and wild.

"Two cups of fermented mead and a plate of golden sturgeon stewed over charcoal."

Geralt ordered food and drinks as if he was familiar with the place, and sat down to rest with Jiang Bing, the elegantly dressed 'master'.

They had been traveling all the way, and Geralt had long wanted to treat himself to a hot meal.

"King Bran just died, a tsunami occurred on the island of Indarsfell, and the fleet of the Men in Black is eyeing us covetously. It's really a turbulent time." A Skellige man put down the cup in his hand and complained to his companion.

"Who said it wasn't? And that huge explosion, I heard it razed the entire forest to the ground." His companion also complained.

"King Bran is such a good man, how could he just leave like that?" The drunkard at another table also joined in the conversation.

The good thing about a small country with few people is that everyone sees each other almost every day and they are very familiar with each other.

"Our 'Conqueror' is already 80 years old. He just celebrated his 80th birthday a while ago."

"Then he can keep a little mistress, which is really enviable." The conversation between men after drinking always turns to the lower body.

"More than that, I heard that Lord King Bran chose to go bear hunting in the Great Skellige Forest and was killed. He was wearing only sackcloth and carrying a dagger."

"My God, he's just going to die."

"How can you talk like that!" My companion at the next table elbowed his friend who was so careless with his words.

"King Bran roamed the seas his entire life. As a great warrior, I bet he wouldn't want to die on his sickbed. He's actively seeking a glorious end."

"That's right. Why don't we have a drink to toast the great King Bran, to honor and courage."

"May his soul return to his ancestors!"

Everyone in the tavern raised their glasses, which made Geralt, who was eating at the table, and Jiang Bing, who was leaning on his cane and examining the axes, round shields and spears hanging on the wall, stand out.

"What's wrong with you two outsiders? Why don't you raise your glasses? Do you look down on our King Bran?" An obviously drunkard stood up drunk and shouted at the duo who were obviously not getting along well.

"Listen, we don't want any trouble." Geralt raised his head from his golden sturgeon and responded to the other party.

"We don't welcome outsiders here. Who knows what you are doing here, hiccup~" The drunkard could hardly stand and was still pointing.

"Especially this pretty boy, with his delicate skin and tender flesh, he might be a spy sent by the men in black."

"Hi~" Jiang Bing almost laughed.

The harsh living conditions in the Skellige Islands have also created a lot of hooligans who drink, sleep, and fight in groups when they have nothing to do. It is no exaggeration to say that these people may even draw their swords against each other because of a "What are you looking at?"

When he stood up from the wooden table, the other party realized that this "tender and delicate" outsider was actually frighteningly tall.

It is not good for children to act cool. Most of the time, they deserve it and a beating will do the trick.

So Jiang Bing slowly waved to the other party.

……

The Great Skellige Islands were divided between two families, and the northern fortress of Keldra belonged to the Clete family. When the guards, dressed in blue robes with a red and black round shield on their chests and the Clete family crest of three black longships engraved on it, received the news and rushed to the inn, they saw a scene of post-war chaos.

The long table covered in grease was no longer usable. An unlucky man was embedded in the center of the broken table, and the drunkard who had first provoked him had already fallen onto the beam.

Another provocateur was holding his stomach in pain, curled up beside a wine barrel in the corner, lying on his side. From the sliding marks on the ground, it was easy to tell that he was first knocked to the ground, and then kicked six or seven meters away until he touched the wine barrel and stopped.

Geralt finally didn't finish his portion of charcoal-braised golden sturgeon. He squatted in front of an unfortunate person embedded in a closet storage cabinet, carefully checking his vital signs as he groaned.

Chapter 373: Keldra Fortress

"Don't worry, I'm careful with my actions. Apart from the pain, they won't have any sequelae." Jiang Bing threw down a bag of crowns and turned around to say as the hotel owner nodded and bowed in thanks.

These people could have offended anyone else, but they chose to offend the highly skilled doctor Jiang Bing. Under the operation of the kind-hearted doctor Jiang, the four Skellige people who participated in the fight were in excruciating pain, but their lives were not in any danger at all.

After Geralt checked, he had to believe Jiang Bing's words. Although these people looked miserable, they were actually not seriously injured and not even had a broken bone.

Of course, they will still feel pain for a long time.

"Fris, are you just standing there watching? I'm about to burst my intestines. Hurry and arrest them!"

The provocateur huddled beside the wine barrel was obviously acquainted with the guards and groaned in pain.

"Four of you were beaten like this against one, and you still have the nerve to open your mouth." The people of Skellige value force and honor, so naturally they don't look favorably upon such shameless people who beat the weak with the strong and then lose the fight.

He also listened to Jiang Bing's words.

"Master Geralt, when did you arrive?"

"Just got off the boat."

"Is this your companion?" Freese looked at Jiang Bing and asked.

"That's right"

The other party carefully scanned Jiang Bing's eyes, and after confirming that they were not tawny cat eyes, his doubts grew even more intense: "Anyone who can be friends with the Demon Hunter Master is indeed not an ordinary person."

"Lord Kratz is in the fortress now. You can visit him anytime."

“Can we do that now?” Geralt demanded immediately.

The guard didn't expect the other party to be so straightforward. He was stunned for a moment, but still quickly replied: "Of course."

So he began to lead the way.

The Fortress of Kel'drone is built on the mountain. In the myth of Skellige, when Grimgar, the ancestor of the Clet family, came of age, he followed the trial requirements of his father, the mythical hero Hem'dor, and traveled all over the island of Skellige, but could not find a place worthy of placing his throne. So he asked Hem'dor to help him forge the thickest iron chain. After getting the iron chain, Grimgar dived into the deep sea and used the heavy iron chain to pull an extremely huge mountain out of the sea. He then placed it in the northeast corner of the island, and then carved the Fortress of Kel'drone on the boulder with his bare hands.

This fortress built on the top of the mountain has stood to this day and has become the pride and glory of the Clet family.

This story is most likely nonsense, but the Keldra Fortress was indeed built by hollowing out an entire mountain.

The entire fortress is built of huge rocks. The terrain is steep and easy to defend but difficult to attack.

Especially in the era of cold weapons, this fortress could be called a natural barrier.

Kratz an Klett is the patriarch of the Klett family and an old acquaintance of Geralt. When he was young, he met Geralt at a blind date held by Ciri's biological mother Pavetta. His uncle, Esther Tursek, is Ciri's step-grandfather, so he can be considered a family member of the royal family of Cintra.

As the nominal common king of Cintra and Skellige, Ester Tursek became a bond of friendship between the two countries. After he was killed by the Nilfgaardians in the Battle of Manada, the Skellige people formed a mortal feud with the Nilfgaardians.

Bran Tursek, who just passed away, was the elder brother of Ester Tursek. During his reign, he personally led his fleet to plunder the coast of Nilfgaard many times. It is hard to say that there was no factor of revenge involved.

Kratz an Klett is a burly man. He wears the traditional Skellige metal hairband and armor all year round. He looks extremely tall and strong. His bucket waist and thick arms show that he is an extremely outstanding warrior.

"Geralt, it seems like we haven't seen each other for so many years. You are still the same, oh, except for a few scars on your face." Kratz spread his hands and warmly welcomed his friend.

"You're getting stronger, Kratz. Although you have a big beard, you're still as charming as ever." It was the first time that Jiang Bing discovered that Geralt's little mouth could actually utter caring words between friends.

"Haha, who is this?"

"Sabul Lyric, a craftsman." As the boss, he had already taken the initiative to greet him. Although it was for Geralt's sake, Jiang Bing had to appreciate his kindness.

Jiang Bing's job description made the bear-like man momentarily stunned, but he soon smiled eagerly. "No wonder you're so strong. I heard the guards talk about your achievements. I heard that you beat a coward into the rafters. Haha."

Jiang Bing could only shrug innocently.

"Come on, let's go inside and talk."

As a military fortress, the roads of Kelzhuo Fortress were built in a very winding way, so as to curb the numerical advantage of the attackers to the maximum extent. Jiang Bing walked on the stone bricks and followed the two people who were already reminiscing about the past on the road, passing through one pass after another.

On both sides were guards wearing horn helmets, and each of them saluted the three people.

Of course, it was mainly for Jiang Bing. His burgundy leather armor was too bright among the black, white, blue and gray colors on the island. The luxurious style and his temperament created a strong artistic gap between him and the islanders who had to endure hardships.

As the saying goes, Skellige has three treasures: blacksmiths, mead, and old pirates.

As soon as they arrived at the banquet hall, the large wooden table was already filled with food, and a large barrel of mead was placed beside the table. Although from Jiang Bing's perspective, these were just stewed fish and seasonal vegetables and fruits, which were not precious or luxurious, but considering the resources of Skellige, this banquet was undoubtedly a very sumptuous one.

"I know your purpose, Geralt. Now that Ciri is back, we must find her."

"It's just that I may not be able to help you recently." The patriarch of the Clayt family sighed.

"You must be aware that King Bran recently passed away, and I need to oversee his funeral and the selection of a new king. Furthermore, Indalsfell Island was recently struck by an unprecedented storm, with a tsunami that submerged half the island. Meanwhile, the Men in Black's fleet is lingering offshore, eyeing us covetously."

"It's really a turbulent time." The middle-aged man picked up the wooden cup and took a few sips of honey wine, and a sense of sadness spread out.

"As far as I know, Indarsfair Island is the territory of the Searose family. Since when have you, the patriarch of the Clet family, started to worry about them?" Geralt was not full at all, and he had no intention of being polite. He grabbed a chicken leg and stuffed it into his mouth, while not forgetting to express his doubts.

"King Bran just died, and it's stuck at this critical juncture." Kratz personally filled Geralt's glass of mead, loosened his belt, and picked up the glass again: "Come, drink some wine to moisten your throat."

Chapter 374 Freya Temple

The mead of the Skellige Islands is mainly made by fermenting diluted honey water with special wine yeast. The taste is light but very sweet, and it is full of exotic flavor.

Jiang Bing took a few sips and prepared to purchase a batch of supplies as a reserve for [Anti-Entropy].

"Of course, even the king does not have the full obligation and right to interfere in the affairs of the Searose family. The main reason is that this storm came too unexpectedly and has seriously affected the safety of Freya's temple in the sacred forest of Sindar." The patriarch, whose stomach was full enough to hold a boat, drank a whole glass of mead in one breath, casually wiped the wine from his thick beard, and spoke frankly to the two of them.

Freya is the goddess of fertility, love, beauty and harvest, and the patron saint of prophets, diviners and psychics. Her status in the hearts of the Skellige Islands is similar to that of the goddess Meliteli worshipped by the mainland residents.

In fact, many people believe that the two are the same god - but such a statement must never be made to the islanders, as they will regard it as blasphemy and insult to the goddess Freya, and in most cases will directly challenge you to a warrior duel.