Ooof, here's one of my biggest projects over and done! A nice little painting of Skab Vitnir alongside another fellow Nygardian.
Also, I made a story to go along this drawing.
Enjoy the story!

A Rose with the Smell of War

This story begins on Nygard, a distant planet, unknown to the creatures of our blue planet called Earth. In the Sagittarius constellation, there's a small star that houses an alien solar system. This star is named Kaus Saggitari, and in its solar system, there's Nygard, place where our story starts.
Nygard is a planet twice the size of Earth, uninhabitable to any being from Earth, but, two intelligent species live together in Nygard: the Nygardians and the Draugrs, two entirely different beings, but they share the same home in this huge universe. Draugrs aren't very rational compared to their fellow Nygardians, so, they live like animals in the jungles. Nygardians, on the other hand, these massive winged beings rule Nygard as its more intelligent creature, far smarter than the animals or Draugrs.
Our protagonist is Skab Vitnir, a general from an army of Nygardian soldiers in his city state, called Vandermooth. An impressive soldier, a professional with weapons and guerrilla tactics, he's known for his great strategist mind and for being feared among his enemies, mainly due to Vitnir's obscure backstory. Some say he's the last of the Skab clan, a family of impressive soldiers. Why he's the last? Some say its because of an event his soldiers remember clearly, where Skab Vitnir killed his own father in a duel, and took his place as general.
People knew Skab Vitnir as ruthless, strategic, bloodthirsty and powerful, but, these small town rumors were just stories created to hype his reputation as the mighty Vitnir, the last of the Skab clan.
In this day, Vitnir and his soldiers are planning something. The king of a neighbor kingdom is requesting help from the Vandermooth soldiers to aid him in a battle against a group of nomad robbers, who were bringing chaos to his kingdom. Skab and his colleagues are discussing ideas for strategies to help the king in this situation.
During the discussion, an army Elder busts in. In the Nygardian society, Elders are old Nygardians that carry massive knowledge, and every Nygardian obeys to these sage Nygardians, who see these fellow Nygardians as wise and trustful.
“Elder Gan'ta!” - says Vitnir - “Any news from the King Onkled?”
The Elder Gan'ta looks at Skab Vitnir, noticing the green and blue eyes staring at this wise man.
“General Skab, I came here to tell your army that tomorrow, you'll have to go to the village of Rensiya, located in King Onkled's kingdom, where we plan to ally with his armies to fight this plague that infect his reign.” - says Elder Gan'ta, in an elderly and smooth voice.
Vitnir looks at Elder Gan'ta, surprised, trying to process what the Elder has just said. - “Well--- Well be gone by tomorrow, heading to King Onkled's city state of Kanwooth, why we should stop at the Rensiya village?” - asks Vitnir, in a deep and threatening voice.
“King Onkled's armies live in the Rensiya village. There, we'll be able to familiarize with the kingdom and become allies. Do you have anything against my approach, General Skab?” - responds Elder Gan'ta, showing a slight voice of concern after hearing Skab Vitnir's question.
Vitnir knew that he couldn't disagree with the Elder's request, after all, the Elders were known as wise and all their requests should be valid, even to Vitnir's fellow military, who followed orders from their Military Elder. Vitnir thought the Elder's requests were just stupid requests from old men who were getting demented from old age, but Vitnir knew that disobeying an Elder's orders was a punishable crime.
Vitnir sighs and says: - “Very well, then, Elder Gan'ta. We'll follow your orders. We already have a plan on how to attack the mob of robbers who threaten King Onkled's reign.”
“My fellow men!” - screams Vitnir. - "Tomorrow, we shall go to the Rensiya village in the Kenwooth kingdom! May Valhalla guide our blades!”
Vitnir's men raise their swords, screaming “Valhalla” in approval to their general's plan. The Elder Gan'ta leaves the planning room, leaving Skab Vitnir alone with his men. Vitnir is still disliking the approach of Elder Gan'ta, but now it was too late to go back.
The next day, Vitnir and his fellow men start walking towards the Kenwooth kingdom, in a rhythmic pattern. Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot. A pattern of 100 steps that echo through the fields of Nygard, while Vitnir and Elder Gan'ta lead the army of 100 men to the peaceful village of Rensiya, where King Onkled's armies reside and wait calmly for the Vandermooth soldiers.
After several hours of walking in the grassy fields of Kenwooth, they approach the Rensiya village. This small village is home to many farms, where soldiers live peacefully with their wives to rest until they have to go to the battlefield, where there was no guarantee of the soldiers returning alive to see the faces of their wife and kids.
“Left, right, left, right, left, right, and... halt!” - screams Vitnir.
After that, Vitnir's men stop walking, paying close attention to Vitnir's next words.
“Well stop here to get some rest and to gain the trust from the fellow villagers. Put your swords down!” - screams Vitnir.
The soldiers shove their swords to the grassy ground, following Vitnir's orders. The villagers look at the soldiers with curiosity, after all, those didn't look like Kenwoothian soldiers, and it was unusual for a mob of outsider soldiers to visit a peaceful village. Some kids run towards the soldiers, amazed to see these cool-looking soldiers walking around their village. Like moths to flame, their childish curiosity takes the best of them, even though their parents warn them to not get too close to these outsiders.
Near these soldiers, a small farm and flower store can be seen in the distance, where two Nygardian females are kneeling down, collecting flowers. They're clearly two friends, working together in this beautiful day where the flowers bloom in the sunlight.
Suddenly, one of the Nygardian females looks at the soldiers in the distance, confused. Why an army of outsider soldiers would be in their peaceful village of all places? They sure weren't there to solve a fight in the nearby pub.
This Nygardian female is Frigg Freyrsulf, a beautiful young lady with long hair and violet eyes. She's the daughter of one of the farmers from the village, where she works as a florist, selling flowers, fruit and farm tools in her father's store. She's trying to follow the family business, where her father is a hard-working farmer and her mother is a florist, and they want Freyrsulf and her fellow sisters and brothers to continue the family's business.
Freyrsulf is known in the village for her beauty and incredible kindness, selling flowers to all the villagers with a bright smile in her face, shining along with her violet eyes.
Noticing the curiosity in Freyrsulf's eyes, Freyrsulf's sister, Freyara, proceeds to grab her sister's attention with a question:
“Freyrsulf? Why have you stopped? We have to get all these flowers on the store before midday!” - says Freyara, trying to grab Freyrsulf's attention.
Freyrsulf stops looking at the soldiers and looks back at her sister, looking at her sister's amber eyes.
“Oh, sorry Freyara. Have you noticed those soldiers near father's farm? Why are they here?” - asks Freyrsulf, with an air of curiosity.
“Oh, you must have overslept and didn't hear the village Elders warning about this.” - responds Freyara - “The king has been having some problems with some nomad robbers and he requested help from Vandermooth. But that's not our business. Get the rest of the flowers and go back inside.”
Freyara grabs her basket full of flowers and goes back home, leaving Freyrsulf all by herself, still focused on the soldiers. Freyrsulf looks now towards their general, Skab Vitnir. She's mesmerized by that Nygardian's look, the scars on his cheek and his turquoise blue and emerald green eyes, seeing that Nygardian guide his fellow men.
Freyrsulf then turns her attention back to her flowers and finishes grabbing them. She immediately gets up and starts running back home, worried that her father might scold her for taking way too long with the flowers. During her way, Freyrsulf trips over and falls on the grassy ground, letting all her flowers fall off the basket and scatter through the ground, while she screams in pain.
Skab Vitnir immediately notices a woman's scream echoing through the wind, and immediately turns back, focusing on where that scream might have come from. He notices Freyrsulf laying on the ground, slowly dragging herself out of the dirt. Vitnir runs towards her, seeking to help. Freyrsulf notices the giant muscular general getting closer to her, making her confused as to why an outsider was seeking to help her, also why no one from her house saw her falling.
“Are you hurt?” - asks Vitnir.
“Oh! Er... No. I am not hurt...” - responds Freyrsulf, embarrassed.
Vitnir extends his arm towards Freyrsulf, helping her get up.
“Could you please help me get these flowers back on my basket?” - asks Freyrsulf, looking at Vitnir's heterochromic eyes.
Not saying another word, Vitnir slowly kneels down and starts grabbing Freyrsulf's flowers. Freyrsulf doesn't waste any time and starts grabbing flowers as fast as she can, so she can return home as soon as possible. While they're grabbing flowers, Freyrsulf grabs Vitnir's hand, making them look at each other's eyes. Freyrsulf let go off Vitnir's hands, blushing.
Freyrsulf tries to talk with the Nygardian soldier, to try and break the ice.
“So... What brings you to this village?” - asks Freyrsulf.
Vitnir does not respond to Freyrsulf's question, as he keeps grabbing flowers.
“My name is Frigg Freyrsulf. What's yours?” - asks Freyrsulf, still trying to grab Vitnir's attention.
“Skab Vitnir.” - responds Vitnir, in a deep and monotone voice.
“Skab... I've heard of this name. You're the last of the Skab clan, right?” - asks Freyrsulf, curious to know more about this Nygardian soldier.
“Yes. That's what these small town rumors say about me.” - responds Vitnir. - “There's your flowers. Try to be careful this time, young maiden.” - says Vitnir, after getting up and handing the basket to Freyrsulf, proceeding to return to his army.
“Did he just call me a "young maiden"? Hahahaha, who knew soldiers could be funny.” - thinks Freyrsulf, grabbing her basket and returning home.
Freyrsulf arrives at her home, safe and sound. Her siblings don't seem to notice the fact her dress is covered in dirt and she took quite some time grabbing flowers. Freyrsulf goes into her flower shop and starts putting the flowers of her basket on display. These flowers were known to the Nygardians as Valhalla Roses, because of an ancient myth, where these flowers grew on the battlefield of the gods against demons, to signify hope and war. A rose with the smell of war.
Freyrsulf opens her store's doors, waiting happily for costumers, but, to her surprise, the first costumer of the day turns out to be one of the outsider soldiers. Why would a soldier be on a flower store? That question starts haunting Freyrsulf, as her burning curiosity seems to make that day way too confusing for her.
“Er... How can I help you, sir?” - asks Freyrsulf, still curious, wanting to know what that soldier wanted inside her flower store.
“Oh, hi, young maiden. I want to buy some Valhalla Roses for my wife. Her birthday's coming soon and she loves these flowers.” - responds the soldier. - “How many flowers can I buy with 500 Lei?”
“Oh! You can buy a bouquet with 30 flowers.” - responds Freyrsulf, going to grab the flowers for the soldier.
“What are you doing here?!” - screams Vitnir, bursting through the door and going towards the soldier. - “I kept calling you to return to your fellow soldiers but you disobeyed my orders!”
The soldier tries to explain why he was there, but Vitnir kept going on about how disobeying the general's commands was extremely disrespectful and the soldier could be punished for it. Freyrsulf looks at these two men yelling and discussing with one another, scared, Freyrsulf punches the wooden table near her, grabbing the two soldiers attention.
“Hey! This isn't a pub! Don't fight here!” - screams Freyrsulf. Then, Freyrsulf gets embarrassed for yelling. - “Sorry. Er... Skab, please don't punish this poor man.”
“You, young maiden, please don't get involved in our business---” - says Vitnir, being interrupted by Freyrsulf.
Freyrsulf hands the flowers to the soldier and takes the money from his hands. - “There's your flowers. I hope your wife likes these flowers. Please, be well.”
The soldier grabs the bouquet and slowly leaves the store. Vitnir looks at Freyrsulf, feeling guilty for throwing a ruckus in her store.
“I'm sorry, young maiden. I didn't mean to make you scared.” - says Vitnir.
“No, it's fine. After all, that soldier disobeyed you. I can understand your anger. I do the same thing to my sisters.” - says Freyrsulf, giggling. “Also, my name is not "young maiden”, it's Freyrsulf.”
Freyrsulf grabs one of the Valhalla Roses and hands it to Vitnir, like a gift.
“Why are you giving me this flower?” - asks Vitnir.
“To give you memories from my peaceful village. Take it, please.” - says Freyrsulf, smiling.
Vitnir takes the rose and whispers a deep "thank you" to Freyrsulf. Vitnir looks at the orange colored flower and sniffs it, making Freyrsulf giggle. Vitnir says goodbye and exits Freyrsulf's store, leaving her all alone. Freyrsulf didn't knew at the time, but that giant Nygardian soldier with a cross-shaped scar in the cheek would become in the future her future husband, a true rose with the smell of war.