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Rolf, Elsbeth and the wolf make their circuit of the clearing without spotting anything more unusual than the occasional rabbit burrow, before returning to the junction in front of the building and the awaiting mule train. Rolf then heads off toward the bush collecting wood for the cremation fire. It does not take him long to realise that there is little fallen wood, and that is generally brush and small branches from the gorse and heather. It is possible to take a tree down but that will require and axe, or perhaps a heavy sword, to achieve. Smilo has scouted all around the walls of the round house, and even investigated the planks and rock at the back of the house. Then he returns to peek around the door frame into the round house, before returning to the planks, Callum watching all of this with a faint air of amusement. Reaching the planks Smilo promptly lies down and starts examining the planks for signs of traps or tampering, but can't find any. At the same time he suggests that Callum might like to remove the rock from the planks. Mandrake stays perched atop his mule, holding on the doghead's rope and anxiously checking the area for signs of ambush or attack, but there is no disturbance. Recognising that he is not expected to walk for a while, the doghead sinks to the floor - obviously exhausted. Kerim settles the mules and then checks on the doghead, seeing its exhaustion, he walks across to Madelyn and Peter - who have just unloaded the body of Aenis. Peter heads off to the side to start marking out a cremation pit with his trowel, while Madelyn and Kerim check the contents of the mules' packs for a shovel or spade. They do not find one. Elsbeth finally rejoins the party by the mules and listens to Madelyn's description of the ceremony, with clearly mounting concern. |
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Madelyn steps over to Elsbeth and in calming voice explains "Aenis was a Norse, Elsbeth. Norse burials are performed differently to you Celtic burials. Although I completely understand your distress at what we are performing here, please also understand that for us to perform a Celtic burial would be an insult to our fallen comrade. Although of Norse religion myself, I have a knowledge of your Celtic burials and guarantee you that should anything happen to yourself, I will take it on my own shoulders to see that your Celtic burial rites are adhered to". Making sure that Elsbeth is at ease with this explanation Madelyn moves off in search of a large flat stone, that will enable her to assist Peter in the digging. |
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Elsbeth still looks concerned, but is reassured by Madelyn's remarks, particularly her last comment. "I'd be making sure that you got your right services too, Madelyn." She sighs. "I'm thinking I'm a wee lass at times," she admits, "but I will learn. You do what the lad needs, and I thank you." So saying, Elsbeth retreats to look about a bit more. She's still searching for a place for Callum's victory ceremony. |
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There are no rocks visible in the immediate vicinity. |
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After finding no rocks in the vacinity, Madelyn gets down on her hands and knees and starts to dig with her hands. |
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Peter looks across at Madelyn, who is trying to pull up clumps of grass and earth with her bare hands. "Wouldn't you find that easier with a sword or dagger or even your shield?" he asks. |
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but I can lift 'eavy fings! Rolled a 5 on the strength roll. Callum moves over and takes a grip of the rock. The massive muscles of his arms and shoulders bulge as he lifts the rock and steps away. "Where would ye like me to put it, Smilo?" he asks, grinning. |
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Thankyou for your concerns Peter, but I would rather my hands dirty than to damage one of my weapons. |
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This is basically an unprotected round house rather than a broch or tower house. While bits of the walls have come down they doesn't seem to be much rubble. (Hint: It wasn't any higher than it is now). There is the occasional rock by the side of the wall, but they are not flat nor are they good for digging. |
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Hatch |
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"Where would ye like me to put it, Smilo?" he asks, grinning. The hobbit smiles nervously, not quite sure what the object of the barbarian's grin was. "Ow bout you hold it overhead, I open the hatch, and if any thing rushes out, you squash it?" Using the tip of his dirk, the hobbit crouches down and lifts the hatch. If nothing comes flying out, he'll look down the hole. |
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Callum moves to a position on the opposite side of the trapdoor from Smilo so as he can easily drop the boulder on anything which tries to leap out of the hole. |
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Initially, Kerim is content to relax, looking after the mules and watching Smilo's investigation. He listens with intent interest to Elsbeth & Madelyn's discussion on burial rites, which seem very odd to him - burial at sea seems so much simpler. He is surprised at Madelyn's determination to dig the pit, but can offer little to help except a large spiky club (an offer he thinks will backfire if made). He becomes more alert as Callum and Smilo start moving the rock and investigating what lies beneath it. He holds the lead mule and slackens his sword, holds his hand ready to use the sling and watches out for an attack. He keeps a weather eye on the Doghead to ensure there is no trouble from that direction. |
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Callum ansd Smilo get into position, and Callum easily lifts the rock. Smilo edges forward and gingerly lifts the edge of the planks. Underneath, he can see a circular rock lined hole, about 2'6" in diameter. It is still dark inside the hole but the rock lining goes down as far as Smilo can see. There is a cool, damp air about the top of the hole. Madelyn and Peter are still working on the pit. Peter had just about dug out a small strip 6 ins wide, 6 ins deep and 7 ft long to mark out one side of the pit. Madelyn is finding it very difficult work, the grasses and sedges are old and tough, and while she can pull clump up, it is clear that the earth underneath is solid and compacted. It has never been worked and it will be impossible to scoop it out with her bare hands, without loosening it with a tool of some type first. |
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Sitting in the dirt she doesn't seem to be getting anywhere, this ground it much too hard to work with her bare hands. With reluctance Madelyn removes her dagger from it's sheath and starts working away at the tough ground. "This is going to take all day", she thinks to herself |
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Well! |
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"Oi! It's a well." The hobbit tosses a pebble down. "Looks like it's all clear." OCC: Famous last words. |
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There is a second or two's silence and then Smilo and Callum both hear a gentle "plop", everything is quiet for a moment or two ... and then ...Callum and Smilo both roll D20s for me :) .... it stays quiet. Oh, and forget the dice rolls, I don't need them really. It is a well! |
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As Smilo and Callum appear to relax a little, so does Mandrake. He finally climbs down from the mule and sits opposite the doghead, speaking in the deep guttural language again. "Claz fa fe iki? Fe bosna?" "Ifna claz fa fe iki, mi boogok ik durock shaz ek panna kikbuk!" Ifna goodza fe, vitlz goodza, na kikbuk. Ifna duz kes mi spek, mi neenzamat fe. Cazza mi Mandrake, cazza fe?" |
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Rolf spends his time first finding fallen branches and hauls them back to a place near wear Madelyn and Peter are working. He spends a moment watching their efforts. "Madelyn, Elsbeth, have the gods granted you any powers that might help in digging a pit?" He goes out for another scant load of wood. Returning, seeing little improvement made on the digging, tosses in, "I thik we ought to build a pyre and bury the ashes, Madelyn." Moving over to the mules, he pulls out some of the weapons which they recovered from the dogheads and intended to bury with Aenis. Carrying them over to Madelyn, he sets them down within reach. "You might want to use these instead." He pulls out his hand axe and returns to the bush to see if the axe will allow him to gather enough wood. Once he gathers the wood, he takes up one of the doghead weapons and helps Peter and Madelyn with the digging. |
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Kerim wanders how much use a large spiky club is for digging a pit (they were the only weapons we recovered from the Dogheads apart from a bow and some arrows). He remains alert however, for almost all the party are investigating a well, digging a pit or having conversations with a Doghead. Fate, he has found, always seems to ensure there is excitement when no one is looking for out for trouble! He offers up a silent prayer that all remains quiet. |
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The spiked clubs of the doghead do fairly well when used as pick-axes and loosen the soil quite well. Once the soil is broken into clumps it can be removed by hand quite easily. The dagger and the trowel work as well but not as well as the club. |
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