1629, Earth Season, Illusion Week, Windsday
Context
In Prax, after leaving New Pavis. On the hunt for the Straw Weaver Clan. Follows after session 6-9, Mud, Glorious Mud. Varanis is locked in grief over the loss of Kallyr. Berra, Xenofos, Maalira, and Kolyey each try to look after her and each other in their own ways.
Events
1629, Earth Season, Illusion Week, Windsday
When dawn comes on the day after the group set out, Berra creeps away from where she lies by Maalira, leaving behind her hide and most of her kit. She wanders slowly towards where Varanis is.
Kolyey wakes up and starts to get ready for yet another day of guard duty.
Before leaving Pavis Xenofos visited the temple again, but only briefly.1He asked the Ulerians to pass possible messages to Straw Weavers. He was not sure they would reach him, but that was his next goal and possibly shelter for winter.
The little Humakti seems sombre, verging on grim. She gives Xenofos a look as she passes him, though, and then pauses where she stands, to think. Maybe something in his form or appearance caused it? There is a small death rune on the scholar’s brow, drawn with ash. He is wearing a sword belt as usual, but there are silk ties over the handle. Berra considers a moment longer, and then her look goes back to Varanis.
Kolyey looks over at Varanis and gets into her clothes and armour faster.
Varanis had greeted Yelm that morning without her usual finesse. It was methodical and stiff, nothing more. She is, therefore, already in her armour. Her cheeks are still crusted with dried blood. Her roughly shorn hair stands up at odd angles.
Berra takes the Storm Bull by the horns, by walking up towards the VIngan. “It’s Windsday,” she says. “Take an hour for your god.”
Kolyey sees this, purses her lips and decides that she is almost ready enough.
“Windsday? That means…” Varanis doesn’t finish whatever she was going to say. Instead, she gives Berra a brief nod and then scans for higher ground.
Berra looks away. “Yeah.” There is a pause for breathing, and then she adds, “We can come guard the area, and you’ve got a group of Lightbringers if you want to lead them.”
Xenofos is talking soothingly to Zephyr and his own zebra.
“If they wish. Please advise them of the possibility. I will draw the spiral there.” It’s more words than she’s spoken in one go since learning the news. Varanis has indicated a small hillock – not much, but there’s room for her spiral and for others to join her. The options around here are limited.
Kolyey goes towards the small hillock, obviously intent on scouting it out.
Berra turns back towards the others, gives Maalira a look, and makes for Xenofos, with whom there is more possibility of eye contact. “Y’wanna take an hour as a Lightbringer?”
Xenofos nods. “If she is leading the ceremony, I think I should.”
Varanis watches Kolyey with little interest.
With a nod, Berra stands aside. “Yeah, she’s the Wind Lord here.” There is no attempt to go towards the hillock, but then again perhaps Maalira has her attention and needs guarding.
Xenofos walks slowly up the small knoll and nods to Varanis. “Windlord.”
Once Kolyey’s decided that the hillock is safe, she will double back to Varanis and take up guard duties at a polite distance.
Berra does mount up, but not to move, just to look at the surrounds.
Varanis looks at her cousin. Her eyes are dark bruises above her wounds. “You wish to worship, Xenofos?”
“Where you lead, I will follow Orlanth, if you ask my guidance for the road, I will attempt to give it.” Xenofos looks stern but apart from lack of eyeliner and the small death rune in his forehead there are no visible marks of mourning in him. His answer echoes the ritual even if the words are not exact.
Varanis nods. “I will sanctify the space.” It takes some time for her to prepare her chosen ritual space. She has a pouch of ground chalk mixed with a blue pigment that she uses to mark out a spiral around and up the little rise of land. She sings, but her song is a dirge, despite its words.
Kolyey hears that and frowns.
Berra is at enough of a distance not to, and she averts her eyes from the sacred space as it is formed. Her own look is one of faint, distant anger, not focused at anyone here.
When the space is set, Varanis invites the Lightbringers in. She begins the ceremony. The Companions are called together to dance the spiral and offer their spirit Orlanth and the other Lightbringers. Orlanth Rex does not require the sacrifice of blood or life.
Lankor Mhy dances on the spiral with light steps. It may be the obscuring rain but his beard looks quite gray, not black like Xenofos’.
Kolyey keeps her attention on the surroundings.
Berra mostly keeps her attention on her sword, letting Kolyey do the work of guarding. From time to time, she talks quietly to the iron weapon.
Rain falls gently on Varanis and the ceremony.
Kolyey is quietly thankful that she’s not getting rained on.
The ritual is a solemn affair. Towards the end, Varanis reaches both hands up towards the sky and her power crackles around her, causing the small hairs of the worshippers to rise. There is no lightning strike.2MP sacrifice from V: 10 points. Other worshippers can decide how much they wish to sacrifice. Insight and/or First Aid: Varanis toughed that out. She has been in pain, both emotionally and physically. But she has no desire to discuss it. She also has a strong disinterest in the world right now. Others could talk around her and she wouldn’t take notice. Putting her on watch is likely not a good idea.
- 1He asked the Ulerians to pass possible messages to Straw Weavers. He was not sure they would reach him, but that was his next goal and possibly shelter for winter.
- 2MP sacrifice from V: 10 points. Other worshippers can decide how much they wish to sacrifice. Insight and/or First Aid: Varanis toughed that out. She has been in pain, both emotionally and physically. But she has no desire to discuss it. She also has a strong disinterest in the world right now. Others could talk around her and she wouldn’t take notice. Putting her on watch is likely not a good idea.
