Year 486 Summer Campaign

[Geoffrey]

Rodric failed to see the dishonesty, they did meet someone they thought at the time was a goat herder, it just happened to be Merlin in disguise.  As for the Faerie realm, it as just a matter of not mentioning they'd been there or what they'd done or seen while there.

But if that to Valka was uncomfortable, then he would not press the issue.

"I would not want you to do anything that makes you feel dishonest.  If sharing our tale in its entirety is your choice, I will of course not try to force my will upon you regarding the matter."  The knight gave the young girl a slight bow indicating that he would not pursue the matter further.  He then turned and headed back into the forest.

[OOC: Awareness roll result 10 vs skill 10, critical success.  Hunting roll result 12 vs skill 8, failure.]

[Valka]

Valka blinked at the knight, surprised that he had not only spoken so well and polite to her but that he was so willing to allow her to maintain her honesty and perhaps honor as well.

She eventually turned to Arne and gestured to the woods.

"<Are you sure that you wish not to celebrate with a fitting tribute to Freya?>"

OOC: I would imagine that at this point he would know she is a very devout follower, likely moreso than him.

[Cedwyn]

[dice hate me: 19 on both...failed]

[Arne]

Arne looked back in the general direction of their people, then to the knights and their squires, and back again to Valka with a smile of amusement.  "<Of course I would like to!  But what would we tell the knights and their squires?  'There is a ritual that we Nords perform after killing a giant.  Could you wait way, way over there and wait for an hour'?>"

He thought for a moment, then added, "<Or . . . can we wait until we lead our people to that camp tonight?  We should think of our obligation to them first.  The giant won't be there, but we do have its head.  And . . . we could celebrate for much longer than an hour there.>"

[Valka]

"<An hour? In these woods?>" She looked at him as if he was insane. "<It is not about pleasure, it is about Freya. Honoring the goddess is an obligation to our people. But fine. It need not be done with you...>"

Valka threw her nose in the air and spun around to look for Suger. "<The squire's eyes have yet to leave me. I am sure Rodric would not mind me borrowing him for a few minutes...>"

She started walking off in Rodric's direction. They needed the gods' blessing for their people in the new land. Perhaps Arne's tribe did not worship the gods as hers had, or maybe it was her commoner upbringing that made it so central to her life.

...They were going to need to perform a lot of sacrifices.

[Arne]

Arne's eyes hardened, and there was equal hurt and anger when he retorted,  "<Very well.  If that is your only interest in me, then go seek out your squire and roll around on top of the giant if you cannot wait until you and I - our peoples' leaders -  at least see our people safely to Broad first.  Trying to manipulate me through jealousy like that is foul and unworthy, Valka.  I'd never have done so to you.>"

As an afterthought, he quoted a verse of the prayer that Holmg?r?r had given to them.  "'<Freya, the mother of us all, watch and protect us as we watch and protect our own.'  Do you remember who spoke those words to us, Valka?>"

[Valka]

Valka swung back around, her bright red curls swaying and cascading all around her.

"Arne, you do have feelings for me?"

Her jaw dropped and the biggest smile widened over her petite features just before she bolted and leaped at him for a giant hug, shield and all (though dropping the spears first!).

[Arne]

"Whouuuf!"  The air in Arne's lungs was rammed out of his body as he was all but body-tackled by Valka.  Again I am knocked off balance with the air taken from me!  I'd like to pit her against my brothers in a wrestling bout . . .

It was difficult to return her embrace with the Norse shield on her back, but he still managed, although somewhat clumsily.  With a chuckle, he muttered, <Of course, you fool!  I had thought that was clear.  After all that we've gone through, and with your spirit and devotion?  You'd put many Nord chieftains and thanes to shame!>"

[Cedwyn]

Cceswyn watched the exchange between the northerners with bemusement and interest.

Turning to Rodric, he noted with a smile, "There is definitely something between those two, but it seems like some sort of argument and now she's grappling him, but it looks happy."

He sighed, "I should write Ysbail more. I have neglected her a bit in doing my duty."

[Geoffrey]

Rodric gave a bit of a shrug.  "Perhaps." he replied.

"There will be times where long absences will be required, and some of those will not allow for correspondence.  She is aware of that.

But I am sure she would appreciate hearing from you."

[Valka]

Valka just looked up at Arne and smiled.

"<A fool I am, then. And you as well, for passing up a tribute to go treasure hunting.>"

She pressed herself up against him for a moment before playfully spitting her tongue out at him.

[Arne]

Arne chuckled, then looked back at the bemused knights and squires thoughtfully.  Then back to Valka.  "<You are very convincing.  Well, Freya smiles on those that pursue riches, too, so let's honor her twice, then.>"

Looking at the knights and their squires, he said, "<Sir Cedwyn, Sir Rodric, Suger, Haydn . . ."  Arne was suddenly struck with the fact that their Cymric comrades were likely Christian, and would never have heard of Freya's rites.  He bit back a laugh as he thought of how they would react, and continued.  "In Thule,  giants are the ancient enemies of our people, and as followers of Freya, we would often . . . celebrate such a victory with a . . . rite."  Arne coughed, then added tactfully with a half-smile, "Unless I am wrong, I am thinking that the four of you are Christians, and probably would not want to witness this rite.  Among many things, Freya is mostly a goddess of, well, fertility."

[Geoffrey]

Rodric glanced and Cedwyn with an almost 'are they serious' look.  Paganism was nothing new, there were many pagans in the land and at times their rituals were lustful.  But to perform such a rite because a foe had been defeated?

"Cedwyn and I can return with any treasure we find and wait here while the two of you perform what ever it is your goddess.  Unless of course you intend to perform your ritual here, then we will find another place to wait."

[GM Craig]

The four of you, accompanied by Suger (Haydn volunteers to guard the horses again), head back into the forest. You can locate the site of the battle with the giant fairly easily. Going over the body is unpleasant - the corpse is crawling with vermin - but you tough it out. However, you find nothing. The creature only carried the uprooted tree, and the only other items it was was a loincloth made of untanned animal fur, and a cloak of the untanned hide of a bear. Netiehr are even worth the effort of salvaging.

You scout around for a few minutes, looking for some sort of lair, but you find nothing in the immediate vicinity. Straying too far from known paths could lead you to get lost, and the forest goes on for a long way. Getting lost in there could cost you months or years, so prudence eventually leads you to return. Arne and Valka hand back for about a quarter of an hour for whatever pagan ritual they need to perform. They return, both looking like they had spent time rolling in the leaf mould.

Reunited, it is time to move on.

[Actions?]

Possible things to do:
1. Report to the Earl's steward and arrange for safe passage / camping and hunting rights.
2. Scout out the standing stones at Broad for suitability for a campsite.
3. Return to the refugees and guide them to the stones at Broad.
4. ?

[GM Craig]

Arne and Valka both get Lustful advancement checks next Winter Phase.

All four of you get Valor checks next Winter Phase.