Pendragon
Personal Boards => Arne => Topic started by: Arne on November 18, 2015, 07:08:44 PM
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After Sir Bar had departed the Nordheimer camp, the lion's share of Arne's time was taken up between seeing to the welfare of the people and the training of their free-company. Valka, although late in her pregnancy, was still quite active in the day-to-day affairs of the camp. Arne couldn't help but beam with admiration at her spirit, and the numerous back-thumps and congratulations he got from the other Nords on a daily basis made him feel blessed to be alive.
As he watched her entertaining a sizable group of children - and more than a few adults - he cocked his head slightly and thought back to the time when they had freed them all from the last Saxon camp. Arne and Valka had spoken to their people of their future plans, and during their speeches some good-natured banter had broken out between them. It had the desired effect of buoying the peoples' spirits, but the banter also had a very sincere undercurrent to it. And the other Nords were able to see it as well. And Arne was also seeing it ever since they had completed the lodges. People glancing at Arne, then at Valka - or at Valka, then at Arne. His mind flashed back again to that beach by the Saxon slave camp . . .
"A very generous offer from Valka! But, countrymen, I must ask you this first. Would you be willing to follow two leaders instead of one?"
"Tradition has allowed two leaders. They are usually known as husband and wife." Valka had given him a wry smirk and finished off her cup of wine.
Arne had frozen when the other Nords had gone deathly quiet, but he'd managed to recover fairly quickly. He smirked, and took up the challenge. "Why, Valka Ingersdotter! Was that a lesson on our people's traditions, or a proposal?"
Not one to be outdone, she had moved closer to him with an upturned palm and had replied, "Arne Torvaldson, do you believe my hand should be so easily obtained?"
It was then that Arne had nearly frozen again. She was serious! Placing his hand on top of hers, he had said, "No, Valka, I do not believe so. You are no swooning maiden to be so easily won. You are a proven scop and a shield-maiden, and worthy of great respect. You were not born to the ethlings, but that means nothing to me, or to these good people here. Through bravery, deeds, spirit and wisdom, you have shown yourself as worthy of a chieftain's title as any of the ethlings. Even more so than many of them. But . . . perhaps our duty should first be to our people here. We need to see them to safety first, and find them shelter, food and water. If we can't return back home at this time, then perhaps we can find a home with the enemies of our enemies." Arne raised his voice. "My countrymen . . ." Here, he grinned and hastily added, " . . . and women . . . know that Valka and I will be as of one mind for decisions, so you will have two leaders. Then - once we have found a home for you all, my good people - then Valka and I will speak more on this, if she is willing and thinks me worthy."
Valka had beamed at him then, and replied, "Acceptable terms. But I grant you no mercy in the meantime." She then all but yanked Arne off of his feet and had given him a fierce, bruising kiss.
"Well, we have found a home, have we not?" he said to himself under his breath. Straightening his shoulders, he started to walk with determination towards where Valka was sitting, when the thunderbolt smashed into him.
I'm going to ask Valka to marry me.
I'm going to ask Valka to marry me.
I'm going to ask Valka to marry me!
Arne stopped, and felt his face start to burn, and then go cold. He gave an odd sort of croaking hiccup, and found that he had no moisture in his throat.
One part of his mind howled, Move, damn your eyes! You've faced down Saxon warriors that wanted your blood, and laughed in their faces!, but was drowned out by the other part of his mind that was starting to overwhelm him with a faint, terrified guhk! sound.
He stood there, rooted in place for nearly a minute; the only saving grace that he was currently out of Valka's line of sight and no one else seemed to notice him behaving like a landed fish. His right arm rose woodenly, and he punched himself hard in his right leg to bring himself back into the land of the living. Whirling around, he stalked off to seek . . . advice. He needed to speak with Holmg?r?r, Gods and goddesses, he needed to speak with Holmg?r?r . . .
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The priestess is tying up herbs for dying when Arne finds her. She smiles warmly. "Arne, we haven't had time to speak in a while." She puts down the bundle she was working on, and wipes her hands on her apron. "Our warriors are looking good. Your leadership shows. How have you been?"
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Arne smiled upon seeing Holmg?r?r, and took pleasure in her compliment to him. But the smile remained frozen on his face, and his right foot started twitching. "No . . . no, we haven't spoken for some time, Holmg?r?r, and I'm sorry for that. I've . . . yes, I've been fine. The lodges are up, and the warriors look good! They are eager for springtime. Yes, our people have a home now, and if we stay here, I was thinking of even having a sweat lodge built! Valka has . . ."
Arne let out a nervous laugh, and unceremoniously dropped into a seat. Covering his face with his hands, he shook his head while he continued to laugh. "Freya take me for a dolt, Holmg?r?r! I've faced warriors in combat before and laughed with joy as I fought them. I fought a three-eyed giant, and a four-armed weirdling man-horse made out of swamp water., and neither time did I shrink from the fight! I've met Merlin himself, by the gods! And yet as I went to approach Valka to ask her to marry me a few moments ago - such a simple thing it should have been to do! - I turn into a fear-stricken nithing! Heh . . . if our people could only see me now!"
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She smiles. "And why have you come to me?"
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Arne's eyes peeked through his fingers. "I froze because I didn't know what to say, or when to speak to her of it. I . . . yes, I think I didn't want to ask her to marry me in front of others! I would embarrass her in front of the others if she didn't want to marry now . . . or get married to me at all." Smacking his right fist in the palm of his left hand, he growled, "Damnation! What is it that I say without sounding like a buffoon? 'Valka, I wish to marry you! Will you take me as your husband?' I am no scop with the gift for words!"
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She seems to sense you are not actually asking her anything, so stands there and watches, an amused smile on her face.
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Arne eyed the priestess, and saw the hilarity of it all from her own expression. Snorting with laughter, he shook his head. "I think you needed the humor in this as much as I needed it, yes?" Hr stared at the floor for a few moments, then nodded as if coming to a decision. "Yes, damn it all, I shall speak from the heart instead of trying to compose an . . . ode or a speech." Rising from his seat, he placed a hand on Holmg?r?r's shoulder and said, "My thanks, Holmg?r?r. You've helped me see how I should come at this."
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She picks up her herbs. "Stop buy any time, Arne! Good day!" and carries on with her herbs as if you had only popped in to say hello.
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Arne left the lodge and again went to seek out Valka. As he came across the place where he'd seen her before, he was pleased to see the crowd around her starting to break up; it looked like she'd finished her story. Giving her a wave and a grin, he walked up to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "They never tire of you, Valka! I hope that they are not tiring you too much?"
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" Never. It is a little hard to train like this," she smiled and placed a hand on her giant belly, "and I like to be useful. I wouldn't take many Saxon heads in the spring if I stayed in bed all winter!"
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Arne shook his head with a laugh. "I cannot see you staying house-bound for very long. That would be a sight to terrify the Saxons, though . . . a pregnant woman riding at them, screaming a war-cry and waving a spear over her head! That would be enough for me to leave this country!"
Arne looked around their settlement, and said almost innocently, "Do you think our people have settled in well enough?
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"Oh yes, it would take another three eyed giant to stick around for a raging northwoman with child."
To his question the young mother began to carefully stand up to take in the sight of the camp. In addition to her girth Valka had also stretched out tall since they'd met. Now she looked like a proper northwoman, reaching the height of many Cymric men, as if Yggdrasil had imparted a sacred branch for her spear arm.
"I believe so," she replied, turning to the wooden structures. "The longhouses. They have given us much needed pride and a sense of home. How fitting is it that they be made of the stolen slave ships that carried us here? The wood of which many of us bled and died for?"
"Yes, we have settled in well." She nodded slowly to herself, a wicked smirk forming on her lips. "The Saxons will loathe the day they brought us here."
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"So they will. Yes, it's fitting you mentioned the slave ships. I will remember well when we freed our people from that last slave camp. I also remember us speaking to our people after we freed them . . . and I remember what we said to each other." Arne looked at her, and his own smile matched Valka's own. "Do you remember what we said to each other back then, Valka? Where everyone held their breath, and the night grew quiet?"
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Valka turned back to Arne, cocking her head to the side as if trying to remember. "Hmm.. Yes, I recall the wine talking quite a bit that night," she chuckled.
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Arne's smile faltered a brief shade. Did she take that night's talk as a jest? Or was she playing with him again? "Hmmmm . . . did the Romans not have a saying? 'En vino veritas'? In wine, truth?"
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Valka let out a hearty laugh and stepped closer to him, as close as her belly would allow, and gently laid a hand on his young face. "En vino veritas, I love that!" Her eyes twinkled, giving away that she was, in fact, playing with him. "How could I forget such a night? We became a tribe of our own. We began a legacy here in these new lands."
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A warm flush swept through Arne's body, and he shook his head in self-reproach. "Serves me right for trying to match wits and words with a scop," he muttered, although he was grinning from ear to ear. Reaching up to take her hand in his own, he replied, "Yes, we did start a legacy, Valka. Would you be willing to take the next large step in that legacy with me?"
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She raised her chin and coyly asked, "And what would that step be?"
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Arne chuckled. "Would you take me for your husband, Valka Ingersdotter? Knowing that we are both as head-strong and as stubborn as mules, and that our children will probably be even more so?"
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Valka gripped his hand tighter and she smiled from ear to ear with pink rosy cheeks in between. She spoke much louder than he did.
"Yes, I would take you for my husband, Arne Torvaldson."
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Arne threw back his head and let out a roar of joy, then drew Valka carefully in for a kiss, mindful of her pregnancy. "Then you have filled my life with even more joy, Valka! I suppose that we should speak with Holmg?r?r so she can perform the ceremony, yes? When would you like us to get married? And do you think we should also send word to Sir Cedwyn and Sir Rodric?"
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She seemed a bit overwhelmed by the questions but was happy to see him so excited. "Winter is an unfortunate season for a feast, but I wish to celebrate before I'm too big to! I swear we have a giant growing in here. We should speak with the priestess, she'll know what is best. But yes, we would undoubtedly send word once we complete the details. Our people will demand nothing less than a traditional wedding, or at least as close to one as we can have."
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Arne put an arm around Valka's waist and nodded enthusiastically. "Speak with Holmg?r?r, yes, that would be good! Shall we, then? I, ahhh, think she's at home right now."
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She laid her head on his shoulder for a minute before letting him lead the way.
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Arne stifled a laugh as they went to Holmg?r?r's lodge. How long had it been? All of ten minutes since he visited her last? Knocking at the door, he called out, "Holmg?r?r? It's Arne and Valka. We, ahh, need to ask you something important. Can we come in?"
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Holmg?r?r appears to have been expecting you. She has a bundle of herbs in her hand she is trying to dry, and she keeps working as you enter.
"Oh do come in, though I wonder what you could possibly have to ask of me." There is a smirk on her face.
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Arne stopped for a moment. puzzled, then laughed. "No, I do not think that would take a seer." Placing an arm around Valka's waist, he said, "Valka and I are to be married! Would you do us the honor of performing the ceremony? We were also wondering if we should invite Sir Cedwyn and Sir Rodric. And their wives, if course." Arne hesitated. "I . . . would guests be expected to bring gifts, though? We don't have much to offer any guests in return except for our hospitality, and they have already done so much for us. And I'm not certain how their wives would take to a ceremony that was not Christian."
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Holmg?r?r raises an eyebrow. "No indeed. IF we are to do rites to Freya, the knights and their wives may be... uncomfortable."
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"I doubt we would capture a Saxon in time, so I imagine we would sacrifice a sow if anything. If we even have one available. I know winter is not a good time for a feast, but when do you think would be best? Perhaps we could encourage them to attend that instead."
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"They have winter feasts in this land. Pentecost, I am told, is a significant one. We could have a feast then, but perform the rites according to our ways prior. The feast would be a celebration, but separate from the rites. A compromise."
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Arne brightened at Holmg?r?r and Valka's counsel, and exclaimed, "Yes . . . yes, a very good idea! All are shown honor, and no one is offended. Good!"
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Valka nodded enthusiastically. "Ohh let us do that, then!"
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[OOC: So, you guys get married on your own, and have a feast for Pentacost? Who are you planning on inviting?]
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OOC: For the feast? I'd imagine everyone within our camp, plus Sirs Rodric, Cedwyn and wives. With a forewarning about the rowdiness of pagan celebrations, of course, so they're given an honorable way out if they wish to decline. Hell, maybe even send an invite to Merlin, although I have a feeling he would decline.
Would it be considered a faux pas to invite Earl Roderick? After all, he was the one that allowed us to stay in his territory.
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You can invite whomever you wish. Holmg?r?r recommended the marriage be just among your people, so the rites are not a problem. Then invite people to a celebratory feast afterwards.
It would make sense to invite Sir Rodric and the Lady Habren to both, as they are close. if you invite others and they attend, their Christian sensibilities may be affronted by the celebrations that would be part of the marriage. Holmg?r?r's advice was keep the list of the wedding small, and have a more expansive list for the feast, but the details are really up to you. Invite whom you please.
Were you knights, any marriage would require the blessing of the Earl. You are not knights, so it makes sense to invite him. He may not come, or send a representative. There would be no insult either way.
You could invite Merlin. He is well-known as a pagan, though not a follower of the Northmen cults.
It's all up to you. Holmg?r?r just made a recommendation.
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To the wedding Rodric and co plus Merlin as they apparently don't need to travel. To the feast both Knights for sure. The Earl and Merlin should be invited to the feast.
The only problem with inviting the Earl is that he'd likely stay at Rodric's Manor and would probably put a burden on him. So we'd probably need to speak with him and wifie about all of this.
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Regarding the marriage . . . I just wanted to clarify here. So it would make sense to invite the earl?
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Not to the marriage. He's likely unaccustomed to a Freyan marriage ceremony.
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Last question. Would both ceremony and feast be same day? Or was she suggesting separate days? If it's same day then we'd invite Cedwyn too since he'd have to travel just once.
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She wasn't thinking the same time. The marriage rite will have rituals that last into the night. Having the feast some time later (or even within a day or two actually) would be better.
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Okay. So, for the marriage, I was thinking that Sir Rodric and his wife would be invited, as well as Sir Cedwyn and his wife . . . although both would be forewarned ahead of time as to what the marriage rite entails. Merlin would also be invited. And . . . if it wouldn't be considered offensive to all sides, we wouldn't expect gifts to be brought to the wedding (if indeed that sort of thing is usually done). The people being invited have done a lot for the Nords as it is, and I wouldn't want it looking like we were trolling for presents. ;)
The feast? Same as above, but also Earl Roderick (or a representative if he couldn't go), as well as our people, of course. And again, with a forewarning to the non-pagans of what to expect. I'm guessing we could have the feast a day after the wedding.
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Ok, I opened the thread. This will be for you guys to run. I'll play NPC's as required.
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Oh crap, I don't have the faintest idea where to start . . . :P
I found this site which might be useful to give a good guideline for when we're ready to IC post (even though it's about 400-500 yearspast the current timeline): http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/wedding.shtml
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It doesn't have to be a big deal. Think simply pagan hand-fasting - you declare your intentions before the crowd and Freya. The priestess confirms things, and you're done. Then come the fertility rites. The wedding does not have to be complicated.
What I need from you is the invitations, how they are delivered, and that sort of thing.
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The rules actually encourage players running certain aspects of the game. For example, to attain a certain noble rank, it is required for a player to GM some activity like a hunt or a feast. The higher you get, the more that sort of thing is required by the rulebook. The author wants players to participate in the game directly, not merely as consumers.
The wedding between two players is a perfect opportunity for you two to run the wedding how you like. Take turns, or one of you can run it. It's not a big deal, and don't be intimidated. Keep it simply, or chose to introduce a plot twist or something - totally up to you. You can even do it like a "make you own adventure" concept where someone builds on what the previous person posted, like some story RPG games work.
So, deliver invitations to whom you wish. The Earl will not come, but depending on the delivery, he may send a representative.
We'll cut to black for the fertility rites, or at least take it off the public boards.
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Ummm, I noticed that knights usually shell out a fair wad of money to host a feast and/or wedding. We pretty well have squat for cash. And I have no idea what kind of lodgings we're expected to have arranged for potential guests of high station. We could be looking at two knights and their wives, Merlin, and possibly the earl's representative.
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The feast held by a noble can be sumptuous. I think Sir Cedwyn spent several ? (Libra) on his feast, but that is high-end food. A common feast can be had for much less money.
http://pendragon.altarka.org/smf/index.php?topic=127.msg1753#msg1753
You have something like 100 or 150 northmen, right? So you could feed them all a fairly rich common meal (equivalent to a whole day's food) for 6 denarii. Go up from there if you wish.
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Not bad! Still, Arne might have to borrow from his bride since he doesn't have any cash on his character sheet. ;D
I'll delve a little more once I get home. And wait for Valka's input, of course. ;)
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Sorry, I've been getting extremely sidetracked here.
Now, is it customary at a wedding to give invited guests with some sort of gift? I don't want to inadvertently slight anyone . . . especially anyone we invite from outside the Nord community. Should there be some sort of entertainment and/or music for the feast? Although I imagine that Valka's more than up to that task. ;D
Also, when Arne/Valka sends invitations out for the wedding/feast, what would be the proper titles to use for:
Sir Rodric and Lady Habren
Sir Cedwyn and Lady Ysbail
Earl Roderick
Merlin
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It's customary for the guests to bring gifts. Gifts are only provided to the guests if the host is of higher social status, and are used as a means of gaining glory (conspicuous consumption).
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Ummm, my apologies for this. I've been getting sidetracked, and I let myself forget how we wanted to set this up. Now, hopefully, I'm back on track.
Wedding and feast: For both the wedding and the feast, we'll invite Sir Rodric and Lady Habren, as well as Merlin - as originally planned.
Wedding: I would like to send an invitation to Sir Cedwyn and Lady Ysbail as well - just in case there's the possibility of them feeling slighted by not inviting them - but as I mentioned before, the invitation would come with a separate letter to inform them of the pagan rites surrounding the wedding, and a reassurance that we would not be offended if they chose to decline.
Feast: Invitations to Sir Cedwyn and Lady Ysbail, as well as Earl Roderick.
Timing of marriage and feast: As Holmg?r?r suggested, we should have the marriage and rites separate from the actual feast. We can have the feast a day or two after the marriage and rites.
Expenses: Beyond the food and drink, what else should be be looking at? Singers? Jongleurs? Lutists? What about places to stay for the non-Nord guests that we invite? I was thinking that one of the two lodges could be spruced up some more . . .
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Rodric and Habren would be open to having the guests stay with them if it made things easier.
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That would be expected anyway - nobles enjoy the right of hospitality.
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From the guest list, wouldn't that only apply to the Earl, or whoever he sends in his place?
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And Sir Cedwyn. Any knight is entitled to hospitality.
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Just nailing down some last bits and bobbles here . . .
So when exactly is this feast supposed to be? The priestess mentioned having it around Pentecost time, but I thought that Pentecost was in May?
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Pentacost is 50 days after Easter. There is a big feast at Pentacost, so somewhere between Christmas and Pentacost would be good.
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Okay, that works. Let's see . . . at least with the Vikings, they preferred to hold marriages on Fridays to honor the goddess of marriage (Frigga), so perhaps Friday, March 20 for the wedding, and the next day for the feast. Hopefully the weather by then should be okay, and the date won't interfere with Easter (which would be March 29).
Another thing I should ask . . . would Valka have had her girl before or after this time?
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No, she'd be 7 months along.
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And Sir Cedwyn. Any knight is entitled to hospitality.
Meh, there's a perfectly good stable out back. :)
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*snort*