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96 What gives? johnb (Admin)
Peter leads the obviously angry Rolf to the door of the worship hall and then steps back to take his place by Mandrake. Meanwhile Elsbeth, Edgar, Zhiri and Madelyn are left in the main hall of the building Kerim and Callum chat at the foot of the old quay and Yuri finally wanders across to meet them. Nothing disturbs the quiet of the day, except for a few sea gulls wheeling overhead. Key to Map A= Ravn R= Rolf P= Peter m= Mandrake M= Madelyn E= Elsbeth e= Edgar Z=Zhiri
What's the scoop? Rolf
Rolf spends a moment considering the door, at least outwardly. He's actually considering the situation and his own anger. He gives no attention to the chanting voice and other noises from the room. Finally, taking a long, deep breath and letting it out, he opens the door wide and steps into the room. His eyes adjust to the dimness as he scans the interior.
The scoop johnb (Admin)
Rolf opening the door startles Uddhugg, and the bird lifts a few feet from the floor cawing once, before it settles down again. Rav’n chants in the middle of the room, an ochre blanket covered in stones and other items in front of him. Rolf recognises a fairly typical, but small, Worship Hall, with the symbols of the Norse gods painted around the walls and an altar on the far side of the room. The symbols of Odin, Frigga and Thor are finely painted and while the quality of the others painings is lower, it is still quite impressive.
Desecration Edgar
"The constable does not fear to defile the place of Ravn's gods ?" Edgar asks of the ladies. "He must be a brave man indeed ..."
Are you hard of hearing? Ravn Ashengrey
When Rolf opens the door to the worship hall, startling Uddhugg and thus Ravn with it, the rune caster immediately stops chanting, his eyes closed, his hand freezing for a second over the ochre blanket and holding the rune stone in place. He breathes deeply, then releases the stone from his grip with a hoarse sigh, his eyes following its course as it thuds mutedly onto the cloth and rolls about a little before finding rest among the other stones already there. Ravn's gaze does not waver from the cloth when he addresses the unwanted intruder, his voice as icy cold as his feelings for the defiler. "I have tolerated much digression from our god-given ways and from the way you Southerners have refused your proud heritage in favor of honeying the feelings of the native savages. I have seen a royal court that makes Udgard-Loki's meadhall seem like a collection of the world's fairest beings - a midget named lord, a lord that whimpers like a woman, yes even a woman clad in armor." He sighs and draws a quick breath with a shrug. "And I accept, respect and embrace it all with tolerance and interest, however unnatural, for I cannot change it and I am eager to learn of what good such oddities may bring." He has risen to his feet as he spoke, and now he faces the Constable. "However, I will NOT and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES tolerate, accept nor respect defilation of a Gudahov, a COURT OF GODS! I said to NOT DISTURB and to AWAIT MY SUMMONING - is respecting a gothi's word another ancient law you Southerners have seen fit to ignore?" There is determined anger blazing in Ravn's eyes as he raises his spear in both hands above his head to boom righteous priestly wrath down on the intruding Rolf. "BE GONE AT ONCE OR FEEL THE WRATH OF ODIN!!"
Defile? Elsbeth
Elsbeth shrugs. "Rolf be afraid of defiling a place of Gods? Though there be sacred groves among my kind, I find that the gods do not defile easily, and usually not by simply being there. I've found that usually its the men who serve those gods who are defiled and take action." Just as she finishes, she hears the booming voice of Ravn. Her eyes open wide and she moves quickly forward to see what is about to happen. She stops shy of the room, behind the others.
Hear what? Rolf
Rolf gives Ravn a chance to vent his feelings. Once done, Rolf lets the silence hang in the air for a long moment, keeping a stern gaze upon the self-proclaimed gothi. With a stern, yet even-keeled voice, Rolf replies. "At your prodding, I agreed to allow you to bring two who are not well trained with weapons, into an unknown and maybe dangerous area, trusting you to protect them at need. You saw fit to abandon them, to send them away unprotected. Ignoring your responsibilities, to abusing the trust shown you. They will not soon be offered again." Turning slowly, showing no concern at all at leaving his unprotected back to the raging Ravn, Rolf makes to leave the room. If uninterrupted, he will leave, shutting the door behind him, and motion for everyone to join him in the courtyard.
Ouch ... Peter Gasgano
From his vantage point Peter hears both Rav'n and Rolf's comments clearly, and manages to keep a straight face through out the exchange. As Rolf passes him, Peter falls in behind and follows him out to the courtyard.
And the sign said... Ravn Ashengrey
Ravn stares with both anger and remorse - anger at Rolf's disrespectful attitude, remorse over his own negligence of duty - at the Constable's back as he leaves the room. Odin! Is this the sign you send me..? He sighs, then thoughtfully gathers his belongings before beginning a more thorough search of the Court of Gods - maybe it contains indications as to why the idols where simply abandoned to rot here instead of being taken to a new, hallowed location?
Fixed ... johnb (Admin)
As Rav'n glances around the room he realises that the images are painted directly on to the walls. They cannot be removed without destroying the fabric of the room.
Ooooh! Grumpy! Callum mac Aonghas
Callum watches Rolf storm angrily over to the building and a moment later hears the raised voice of the priest. "Aye aye!" he says to Kerim, "It would seem that our constable and the priest are havin' a wee fallin' out. Should I be going for a bucket of water, do you think?" he says, grinning.
outside again ... johnb (Admin)
Rolf collects the others and leads them back outside to the courtyard where Callum, Kerim and Yuri are waiting by the end of the pier. Everyone but Ravn'n is back together again.
Hmmm Elsbeth
Elsbeth hesitates as Rolf motions for her to follow, her eyes on the now closed door to the room. Following, she suddenly realizes that she has a station beyond what her people have given her, for she has been granted status with Rolf's people as well- a status the might force her to act. With a sigh, she follows the others out. She looks at Rolf. "That lad is a mite odd, wouldn't you be saying?" she ventures softly.
Next stop on the tour Rolf
As Rolf moves along towards the base of the pier, he nods a bit at Elsbeth's question, "Aye, you're the truth of that." Once he has the rest gathered together, he gestures to the trianular building with the towers at the corners. "There's one last building to check. Let's see what secrets it hides and then we'll figure out our next move."
Done with this Ravn Ashengrey
Slightly dissatisfied at not finding more clues to the fate of this temple's worshippers, Ravn proceeds to cleaning up the place as best possible without the proper remedia. When he is done he stands in the centre of the room, directly before the glaring eye, chanting a prayer. "Odin! Your hall stands derelict, deserted and devoid. Where are now the Kings that ruled this land?" "Thor! Your wards are perished, putrefied and powerless. Where are now the warriors that guarded this land?" "Frey! Your fields lie barren, broken and bereft. Where are now the peasants that plowed and reaped?" "I look around in these lands and I see the Old Ways abandoned. I look around in these lands and I see weak arms and corrupted hearts. I see trolls and dwarves in kings' courts and other Lokish ways and I wonder: Did Ragnarok come while I was sleeping?" "Or is it you, mighty Aesir and token Vanir, who are asleep? Has Loke enspelled you, blinded you? Is that my quest in these lands? To return the Old Ways to these trolled peoples? Or am I but wreckage cast ashore, a lost splinter of Yggdrasil?" "I look about me in these lands and I see no answers, only more signs of Loke's trollcraft. I listen to the wind and I hear only silence. Is that my test? To follow an invisible cord not knowing whether it is Bifrost or the Fenris wolf that will appear once I reach the other end?" "Odin! I see less with mine twain eyes than you with one for my speeding tongue blurs my vision! I shall go now back unto my illusive task and seek whatever wisdom it may hold, and my tongue shall be silent until I have found the answers I seek." Ravn's speech to the murals is over. Quietly, with a tormented soul, he wanders out into the courtyard to the others, keeping his distance.
Nopt quite ... Peter Gasgano
"There are still a couple of areas in this building" indicating the building they have just left, "That we haven't checked yet." Peter reminds Rolf. "There is a locked room on the ground floor, and I believe you said there were more rooms on the first floor that you hadn't checked. Not to mention what ever might lay above the worship hall and the priests quarters."
Back to the first house Rolf
As Peter lets Rolf know that there are still areas left unexplored in the first building, Rolf sighs. "Of course, I should have guessed." He glances back into the depths of the building in time to see Ravn exit the building. Looking back to Peter, he says, "Well, let's finish before we move on then. Callum, Kerim, if you'll lead the way. Then Elsbeth and Peter. Mandrake and Edgar next. Then Yuri and Zhiri with Madelyn and I on rear guard. Peter, please direct Callum and Kerim to the rooms as yet explored."
That's better Callum mac Aonghas
Callum brightens up visibly and practically trots over towards the building.
Unhappy Kerim Alakani
Whilst Callum's relief from the boredom of his watchdog duties brings him into the light of potential conflict Kerim visibly shies away from it. There is altogether too much conflict of late with those whom he has travelled thus far, and as he approaches the building his mind is elsewhere. He waves Callum infront of him, letting the Highlander exercise his enthusiastic energies. Kerim keeps his head down and his eyes dart around silently from person to person, whether or not they are part of the conflict, attempting to read emotions. GM: Kerim follows Callum like a puppy, and rather unprofessionally.
More exploring Elsbeth
Elsbeth nods at Rolf's decision. She glances over and sees Ravn exit, obviously disturbed. She wonders. For not the first time, she wonders if he feels as lost as she often has of late- alone in culture, in belief- and outsider. "Maybe I should be givin' the lad a we bit more support," she whispers to herself. "Headstrong he may be, but is he any more headstrong than you, Marva?" She looks over at Ravn and gives him an encouraging smile, then moves to follow the others.
Whoops ... Peter Gasgano
Caught out by Callum and Kerim's enthusiasm Peter has to hurry to catch up before they get back to the building. "That door there .. says Peter, breathing harder than normal and indicating a sturdy looking wooden door, immediately on the right as they enter the building. "We tried it earlier but the door was locked...." He adds.
What's in a smile? Ravn Ashengrey
ELsbeth's smile does not pass unnoticed but Ravn's anger, still embering deep inside him, at first causes him to misinterpret it, thinking the Celtess to be triumphing at him - the memory of the doorway debate and her then stern opposition to his views is still fresh in his mind. But just as he is about to bury his fury and let it simmer for later, his eyes catches hers. The grey irises do not shed any warmth by themselves, rather a cool rejection instead, but behind them he thinks to see something genuinely heartful - could it be? - recognition or consideration or..? His flame of fury snuffs out in an instant to be replaced by a mere warm feeling blushing to his cheeks. Only the return smile that fights its way across his reluctant face reveals that Ravn's present complexion is of an other than rageful nature... CAW! Uddhugg returns to the runecaster's shoulder with the last crumbs picked from the temple floor. Its impatient cawing for mead breaks the moment between them, and Ravn hurries to turn his gaze away, on the group that now resumes the search of the main building, watching them enter. His feathery companion caws again. "No, Uddhugg, we shan't - they will ask for our assistance when they want it." Together, they take a seat on a fallen block of stone in the courtyard and share a sip of mead in the sunlight.
The locked door Rolf
As they move along, Rolf recognizes Kerim's lack of enthusiasm. Something else to weigh upon his mind. Following along, Rolf nods his thanks in response as Peter guides them to the door. "Would any care to try the lock? He glances about to see if anyone takes him up on the invitation.
The door master Kerim Alakani
Kerim saunters up to the door, watching the faces of those in the party under the guise 'Keeping watchful and alert'. However his efforts and his inability to read the true emotions of just about anyone in the party lead him to all the wrong conclusions. Normally this is no real problem when trade is involved. Trade is in his families veins and whilst he has done his best to escape it, the destiny which surely he must follow is catching his stride. The key ingredient missing in trading is emotion, and if one has any it is well enough hidden to deny the opposition access to it's powers of leverage. He is still looking too and fro in the game of ball between Ravn and Elsbeth when he catches Rolf's darkening looks. True to his recent inner revelations he totally misreads this too, taking it for anger at his dithering. Kerim nods at Rolf, not wishing to be admonishd as had so recently Ravn, immediatelly hastening his pace to make it to the door before Callum, smiling at the large outlander. "Best I say a trap be not found before one will breach this entry." Kerim then fiddles with the door with his usual processes, pushing at the corners, looking in the keyhole, in the gaps at each edge etc, lastly pressing his ear against it and tapping lightly with a single knuckle on various locations. GM: Check for traps, hear noises, and then try and open this nemesis of a door.
The Door ... johnb (Admin)
Kerim inspects the door carefully finding no traps and hearing nothing behind it. However, when he comes to try and ope the lock, it is more complex than he thought. He tries 3 different lock picks before he gives up, and the door remains locked.
Got to see a man about a god Edgar
From his perch on Zhiri's shoulder, Edgar listens to Elsbeth's comments. Before the inquisitive raven can pose further questions, he is stunned into silence by the exchange between Rolf and Ravn. "Perhaps the followers merely reflect the harshness of their gods," he offers quietly in the aftermath. As the group gathers in the courtyard, Edgar can't help but hear Ravn's anguished prayer to his gods, even as the Constable marshalls his forces outside. His gaze wanders between Elsbeth and Callum, remembering the religious ceremony that the pair peformed, thence to Madelyn as he recalls the woman's willing acceptance of her penance, and finally rest upon Ravn as the priest exits the building. "What do these gods offer that brings such devotion ?" he ponders to himself. Rousing from his reverie, at Rolf's mention of his name, he chirps an apology as he abandons Zhiri's shoulder and lands back on the familiar perch of Mandrake to take up his allotted position. Peering between Peter and Elsbeth before him, he watches Kerim's efforts with the lock.