|
93 waiting |
|
|
Kerim and Callum stand near the bottom of the ladder leading to the mezzanine floor, while the others congregate outside the building. Rolf, Madelyn and Ravn stand a short distance away from the others but all can clearly see into the area. Both Ravn and Kerim await a direct response from Rolf, while the other congregate, just generally waiting. OOC - The maps are still on the website. |
|
|
A man of answers |
|
|
In response to Ravn's question, Rolf sighs. How much simpler was life when all he did was hunt for game, enjoy the forests and watch the stars twinkling. Now, it was having to watch out for the others, balance their wants with what is needful and try to be friend and father to each. An honor Sir Richard has bestowed upon him, but an honor not unmixed with a harsh duty. "Aye," he replies to Ravn, "But leave Elsbeth and Zhiri outside so as to summon help if there be need. Madelyn and I shall do the same for Kerim and Callum yonder." He stops, wondering if he should mention the real reason to leave Elsbeth outside, that of the slain fledglings in the nest. No, there is no need to speak further. Noticing Kerim's movements, Rolf nods, feeling he can trust Kerim's judgement in searching the place. Besides, these companions of his are not wayward children. "Well, some are." He thinks with a slight smile. But even so, they are full grown and have survived as much as he. |
|
|
Well... |
|
|
"Uh," Zhiri says and pauses, blinking. "They're delighted, just delighted of course." She looks around and hurriedly changes the subject. "So these warrior folk, they left how long ago ?" |
|
|
Yeah right |
|
|
Peter looks slightly pained at Zhiri's hesitation, perhaps not quite believing her - but responds to he question fairly normally "Oh about 80 to 100 years ago, when Galinia fell." |
|
|
Would you, please? |
|
|
[Rolf] "Aye," he replies to Ravn, "But leave Elsbeth and Zhiri outside so as to summon help if there be need. Madelyn and I shall do the same for Kerim and Callum yonder." Ravn nods his understanding of the instructions and smiles contently, "As you wish, Constable!". What was that about?, Ravn wonders, contemplating Rolf's hesitation. ...hmmm... He sets the thought aside for now, noting to himself that there must be some reason the Constable is not divulging to leave BOTH Zhiri and Elsbeth outside, maybe some secret unearthed upstairs unfit for their heathen eyes. Best not making a fuzz about it. Then makes a round to summon the others and beginning with Mandrake, Peter, and Zhiri. "Pardon my interruption, but the Constable would have us continue the search of the first building. Mandrake, I noticed that you are something of a genie with locks, so we shall definitely need your skill. Peter, your knowledge will be useful, too, and Rolf suggested that I ask you, Zhiri, to watch over us and call for help if need be." Ravn turns toward Elsbeth, still a few paces away and scratching Laddie's ear while observing the distraught couple. "Elsbeth, would you come help us, too, by watching over us? I think your quick mind and your dog's nose could be of great assistance." The content look on his face brightening with every motion to consent, the rune caster leads the group back to the house. By the smashed door through which they entered he sets them to work. "Elsbeth, you and Zhiri could mayhaps take a peek at what is to be found in the east wing of the building?" He turns to the gnome. "Mandrake, could you help them with the door if need be? Meanwhile, Peter and I shall begin upstairs in the west wing to see if the others missed something. Come, Peter, let us see what we can make of it." |
|
|
Ok ... |
|
|
Peter raises his eyebrows slightly so that Zhiri can see, at Ravn's, but responds passively. "Yeah, sure.." before heading off after the Cleric and his ever present crow. When they reach the first building again, Peter can't help but ask, "Is that wise? Splitting us up so soon?" the surprise clear in his voice. |
|
|
Wisdom..? |
|
|
Ravn keeps his reply to Peter's frowned worries in a low voice in order to reserve them for the scribe and no-one else. "I think our good Constable and the shield maiden have matters to clear between them, preferably before encountering more dangers, and our presence only impedes their liberty of speech." He looks up at the exterior of the ruin, watching Uddhugg settling for a charred perch aloft. "To us, their inconsistencies mean their divided attentions, and that means distraction from the tasks before us. Have you noticed how carefully the Constable wards on? Almost fearful, I would say, fearful of what decisions his distracted mind will make. And fearful is not a good state of mind for he who must make decisions. Cautious is good, mindful is better, but fearful only clouds one's judgement and petrifies one's actions, like a storm cloud sometimes sets fear in the heart of a seamanand drowns him before the gale strikes when he hurriedly seeks the shelter of land to find only reef." The rune caster enters the collapsed hallway again, raising his voice as he points at the door to the east wing. "So while they talk it out, we continue where we left off. Mandrake, Elsbeth and Zhiri, that's the door I was talking about. Come, Peter, let's upstairs." The rune caster passes into what used to be the kitchen and up the stairs. |
|
|
After you... |
|
|
Callum indicates to Kerim that he should precede him up the ladder. "If it breaks, I'm thinking that you would rather be falling on me than have me landing on you." |
|
|
Almost ... |
|
|
"I meant this small group of us here" says Peter, indicating Elsbeth, Zhiri and Mandrake, as well as Ravn and himself. |
|
|
Mixed directions |
|
|
Elsbeth motions to Laddie, warning him not to remove Ravn's hand when he pets him. "I'd be most careful, were I you," she warns Ravn, "for though he seems most docile, Laddie is a wild wolf, not a dog. Through myself does he follow. Ye might be losing a hand if you're not careful." She smiles at Peter, then back to Ravn. "So. Are we to be accompanying you, or are we to be doing your bidding here?" |
|
|
Well, exsqueeze me! |
|
|
When Elsbeth makes her objection, Ravn abandons his course through the kitchen and returns to the hall, frowning with irritation, mostly at himself for forgetting the odd ways of these lands and not leastly for forgetting the sharp tongues on these willful women. "I meant not to command but simply to suggest so dull your tongue's edge or swing it at another foe. If the issue be of orders then mayhaps you would rather follow to the letter the Constable's bidding and stand watch at the door whilst we investigate? Then do so." He looks down at the pet wolf, wondering what in the name of Odin could make Elsbeth think he would have any intention whatsoever of patting such a ferocious animal. "As for your animal companion there, I can only say that its untamed nature reminds me of the Fenris. When we find a time of leisure I shall tell you the tale, if you will, for it is one of much wisdom about harnessing untamed forces." He turns his attention back to matter at hand, responding to Peter's considerations on splitting up the group and surpressing his curiosity as to what Rolf has found upstairs that warrants such discretion as to leave the women ignorant. "You speak wisely, Peter. Let us begin with the east wing, then. Mandrake, would you lend your skills to the door, please?" |
|
|
Wha ... |
|
|
Peter nods amiably and turns to follow Ravn, but raises his eyebrows and shrugs in question to the others once Ravn has passed. Eslbeth had asked almost the same question as he had, and had her head was bitten off - where he had been patted on the back for being wise. What is up with the guy .... |
|
|
Disturbed |
|
|
At Ravn's response to Elsbeth, the wolf growls softly, his yellow eyes watching the man... |
|
|
What did I say? |
|
|
Elsbeth literally takes a step back, surprise on her face. She'd only wondered which she was being asked to do and hadn't thought she'd been nasty at all. She bites her lip, face to face with another unusual Norseman beyond her understanding. "I... I be not worrying about orders, Sir," she replies carefully. "I was just wondering which you'd be havin' me do." Hoping she hadn't said something else to incite Ravn's temper, she falls in behind Peter, motioning again to Laddie to behave. |
|
|
A house divided |
|
|
Edgar watches the exchange betwixt Ravn and Elsbeth, his eyes glittering. As the norseman heads off with Peter and Mandrake moves to follow him, the raven excuses himself to the gnome with a caaark, as he alights from his customary perch. Eyeing the prospective landing spots available amongst those that remain outside, the raven lets out a low cluck of chargrin and chooses to settle on the ground - Zhiri's companion is disturbing enough, but with Laddie around, he's not game to approach Elsbeth either, least not without an invitation. "I shall remain and keep watch too," he adds, stiffly. |
|
|
Left behind again |
|
|
Zhiri looks after the departing party members and sighs, turning to Elsbeth with a shrug. "Apparantly it is men only work." She gives Edgar a brilliant smile. "Pretty, clever bird, would you like to sit on my shoulder, since your normal perch has departed." |
|
|
No doubt |
|
|
Elsbeth smiles and shrugs. "Among the Norse, 'tis oft the case, I'm thinking," she whispers back to Zhiri. "We're too fragile, they think. I'm thinkin' the truth would be too frightnin' for them!" |
|
|
Decisions, decisions ... |
|
|
Edgar looks up at Zhiri, appreciative of both the compliment and the invitation, but still unsure ... "Your companion," he caarks, "will he not take offence ? I have no wish to have my feathers singed." "Though you have no young to protect," he comments, joining the conversation, and turning his head to include Elsbeth. "Mayhap they wish to show off for you in the hope that you will choose one of them for a mate ?" he adds, though a note of uncertainty is evident in his voice for he did not think that the two-legs courted in the manner of birdkind. |
|
|
Of he and she |
|
|
Ravn listens with a smile to the women's conversation at the door, then chooses to add a bit of clarification and maybe simultaneously soothe any bitterness that may have resulted from the recent misunderstanding. "Well actually, you have been misinformed as to the ways of the Norse. I shall not entirely reject the possibility that my Southern cousins, like Rolf - whose ways repeatedly surprise me and make me wonder as to the origin and cause of their bewilderment - have come to perceive women as being weak and fragile, but in our ancestral homelands to whence I heir women are much revered for their endurance and men considered their minors in terms of physical fragility. Which man of woman born could bear the burden of child-birth? None of which I know, I assure you!" He looks at Laddie, gaining inspiration to relating his closing argument to Elsbeth's sphere of recognition. "However, a wolf should not take to grazing any more than an ox should hunt sheep. Man rules foreign and woman rules domestic, that is the way of the North. There is a natural Order of things, a balance if you will, and all things must be in balancing proportions or Ragnarok ensues. Good and evil, fair and foul, life and death, man and woman." The rune caster, visibly satisfied at his line of reasoning, gives the raven his broadest smile. "And fear not, bird Edgar, I value your company and your companionship greatly, not least since you seem much less the harbinger of ill tidings than a certain other feathered acquaintance of mine..." He rolls his eyes and nods indicatively toward Uddhugg's perch. |
|
|
Ohh |
|
|
Zhiri nods as she listens to Ravn's explanation and then shrugs. "I am used to the women being inside all the time to be honest. It feels strange but good to be out in the open air so much. Nice and free. I don't like the way that men seem to think they can own us, and trade us from one to the other without thought for our spirits or happiness." She sighs, and then remembering her earlier offer, crouches down, extending her arm to the bird. "Ishar will not mind, so long as you do not peck at him," she winks. |
|
|
Thou shalt not peck |
|
|
Edgar hops gratefully up onto Zhiri's arm and perches on her shoulder. "I shall most certainly keep my beak to myself," he promises. |
|
|
Her own view |
|
|
"So you be now thinkin' that women are strong?" Elsbeth replies with a laugh. "Then remember ye this- the gods of the earth be strongest, and the lady herself that governs the battlefield is herself a woman. Don't be thinkin' that to rule over the domestic is grand, for I have no children and long not for them. Leave that to your norse women! With Gods and Goddesses alike, I'll do their bidding, as they give me strength, whether it be to tend house or make war, for I've done both!" She then turns her head and winks broadly at Zhiri. |
|
|
Strange lands.. |
|
|
Trading women? A female wargod? A woman not wnating to raise children? These southern lands are strange, indeed..! "Interesting", Ravn manages to comment, stunned as he is by Elsbeth's and Zhiri's views and experience, "you must tell me more of these customs. For now, however, we have a task at hand. Mandrake, how fare you with that door?" |
|