Thirteen 2 session 13
Summary
The spirit moves into Owahesdagaga's weapon, and the remaining hunting party are recovered and healed. Welumque is able to speak to the Swarf, Yaroslav Utkin, and decides to take on his cause and try to get the Karagwasischijro to spare him. Gillis also talks to Welumque about her plans and vision.
Session
- Session date: 2022-04-10
- In Game date: following immediately after the previous session
The end of the fight
<Narrator> Skalla, you just got hit by a mammoth-possessed orc. What're you doing now?
<Skalla> (did disabling the shoulder seem to actaully have any effect?)
<Narrator> (He's not using that arm so much now, yes)
* Skalla isn't sure if the possessed person is still alive or not, so maybe will try and get them into a hold of some kind if she can do that
<Skalla> Hey! Let go! Taking anyone else wth you won't make it better! We can honour your death but you have to let go!
<Narrator> (Okay, roll Fight)
* Skalla has no idea if this sprit can understand her but she'll try, as she's grappling ;p
<Skalla> (I woudl like to use my ;i look out for my peole' aspect a well, as I'm trying todo this so it will stop hurting the other ppl here)
<Skalla> !roll 4d3-6
* Lan-werk rolls for Skalla: [ 4d3-6 ] getting [ 2 3 2 2 ] for a total of [ 9 ] which, after the modifier [ -6 ] totals [ 3 ].
<Skalla> (that's not including the spect, but +2 if that counts (I think))
<Skalla> (so yeah, 5)
<Narrator> Okay, you can manage to get him into a hold, but it's definitely a struggle
<Narrator> Hildie, I believe one is still attacking you. What do you want to do?
* Hildie tucks draws her sword to slash at it.
<Hildie> !roll 4d3-6
* Lan-werk rolls for Hildie: [ 4d3-6 ] getting [ 1 2 1 1 ] for a total of [ 5 ] which, after the modifier [ -6 ] totals [ -1 ].
<Hildie> !roll 4d3-6
* Lan-werk rolls for Hildie: [ 4d3-6 ] getting [ 2 1 3 2 ] for a total of [ 8 ] which, after the modifier [ -6 ] totals [ 2 ].
* NPC20 (webchat@216.45.76.50) Quit (Quit: webchat.esper.net)
<Narrator> You slash at the dwarf, drawing a thin line of blood along his chest, but it doesn't seem to register it much.
<Narrator> What're other folks doing?
<Svald> (can I destabilize the dirt under the guy to make like, quicksand?)
* Pierre rushes over to try to help Skalla calm down the one she's immobilized
<Lucas> (I'm still trying to help with calming/exorcising the spirit I guess)
<Welumque> (not really sure what I can do atm - mostly making sure Lucas doesn't go all weird on us I guess)
<Narrator> Okie doke. Svalld, roll Will. Pierre and Lucas, roll Empathy.
<Svald> !roll 4d3-4
* Lan-werk rolls for Svald: [ 4d3-4 ] getting [ 3 2 3 2 ] for a total of [ 10 ] which, after the modifier [ -4 ] totals [ 6 ].
<Pierre> !roll 4d3-5
* Lan-werk rolls for Pierre: [ 4d3-5 ] getting [ 1 1 2 3 ] for a total of [ 7 ] which, after the modifier [ -5 ] totals [ 2 ].
<Lucas> !roll 4d3-3
* Lan-werk rolls for Lucas: [ 4d3-3 ] getting [ 3 1 3 1 ] for a total of [ 8 ] which, after the modifier [ -3 ] totals [ 5 ].
<Narrator> Hildie, go ahead and roll me Athletics, please.
<Hildie> For defense?
<Narrator> To not get caught by quicksand
<Narrator> Quicksand is not a precision weapon
<Narrator> :P
<Hildie> (Cool)
<Hildie> !roll 4d3-8
* Lan-werk rolls for Hildie: [ 4d3-8 ] getting [ 3 1 2 1 ] for a total of [ 7 ] which, after the modifier [ -8 ] totals [ -1 ].
<Narrator> The ground beneath Hildie and the dwarf she is fighting shifts and they both begin sinking into it.
<Hildie> Of for...
* Svald 's mouth makes a horrified 'o'
<Hildie> Oh for...
<Hildie> SVALD!
<Svald> :O
<Narrator> Pierre, you aid Skalla in her attempt to calm the orc/spirit. Lucas, you concentrate on it, and you feel like it may finally be responding as the orc seems to be struggling a bit less vociferously.
<Svald> Keep still!
* Owahesdagaga (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen
* Owahesdagaga rushes forward to assist Skalla.
* Hildie looks at the dwarf attempting to tackle her.
<Hildie> Great advice!
<Narrator> The dwarf struggles, sinking deeper and deepers into what was stone only a moment ago.
* Svald looks around for a rope in camp that they could toss to Hildie
<Lucas> [It was bad, what happened to you, and you have every right to be angry, but you can't stay like this. We can help you move on with the respect you were owed.]
* Lucas tries to communicate to the spirit as best as he can
<Narrator> The orc struggles against his captors, but it becomes less forceful and, after a moment, he sags in Skalla's grip, almost dragging her to the ground.
<Skalla> oof!
<Narrator> The dwarf and human both begin yelling in Rodenan. (Which I'm not sure any of you speak. ;) )
Aftermath - figuring utb what happened and ttaking canre of the injured (and sinking
<Skalla> Is it gone? Did it work?
<Narrator> Lucas, you still sense the spirit's presence, but it's...smaller now, somehow. Constrained in some manner.
* Skalla is not letting go just yet
* Owahesdagaga steps back, levelling his weapon at the orc still. It resembles a sword, but appears to be made of solid ivory with delicate carving along the length.
<Lucas> (did Owahesdagaga put it in the sword/thing? do I think it's stuck or in trouble somehow?)
<Narrator> (You do sense its presence in the blade, but whether he did it on purpose, you don't know)
<Welumque> Lucas - is it dealt with?
<Lucas> I'm not sure... it's contained for now.
<Hildie> Great.
<Hildie> Good.
<Hildie> Can someone fucking help me then?
* Hildie says, trying not to move
* Lucas glances over at Owhesdagaga to try and see if he seems to know what's going on (if he seems surprised, clueless, or otherwise?)
<Svald> (did I find a rope?)
<Narrator> (We'll say yes)
* Skalla will put the orc down and (if somsone else is helping Hildie), check and see if he(?) is alive
<Owahesdagaga> What do you mean "contained"?
* Svald gives the rope to Pierre. "I won't be able to pull her out..."
* Howodes (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen
<Lucas> I think it went in the... ivory sword thing.
* Welumque nods.
* Lucas says, pointing
<Skalla> hmm
<Skalla> have you got her?
* Pierre wraps the rope around something for leverage and braces himself
* Skalla calls over to PIerre
* Hildie will grab the rope and try to pull herself out.
* Owahesdagaga looks down at his weapon as though he's holding a live, dangerous animal.
* Svald slowly backs away from the centre of the action
<Howodes> Your gagánya’she:s. Mammoth ivory. It called to it.
<Skalla> huh
<Narrator> Hildie, the dwarf is grabbing for you and the rope, not angrily, just in desperation.
<Owahesdagaga> What do I do with it?
* Howodes frowns.
* Hildie will reach back and grab hold of the dwarf's hand.
<Howodes> I'm not sure. Hold onto it, for now.
* Hildie will attempt to pull both of us to the edge of the pit.
* Howodes (webchat@216.45.76.50) Quit (Quit: webchat.esper.net)
<Skalla> maybe it's a clue about how to honour it and put it to rest?
* Hildie grunts with effort.
<Skalla> We have its tusks now
<Hildie> Thank the gods my arms still work fine...
<Skalla> ...
<Narrator> Hildie and Pierre, roll Physique
<Pierre> (Not Crafts? :D )
<Skalla> hold that thought
<Hildie> !roll 4d3-5
* Lan-werk rolls for Hildie: [ 4d3-5 ] getting [ 1 3 1 2 ] for a total of [ 7 ] which, after the modifier [ -5 ] totals [ 2 ].
<Narrator> (Not unless you're rigging up something to do it for you :P )
* Skalla will step away to see if the quicksand retrieval team need help
<Pierre> (A pulley! Oh, fine...)
<Pierre> !roll 4d3-7
* Lan-werk rolls for Pierre: [ 4d3-7 ] getting [ 2 1 1 3 ] for a total of [ 7 ] which, after the modifier [ -7 ] totals [ 0 ].
<Skalla> (he did at least use a brace for leverage.... that
<Skalla> (almost a pulley ;)
<Pierre> (I'll throw in a +2 from... Always Willing to Help)
<Narrator> It sounds like other people are coming to help, so I think you can all manage to drag them out with a bit of effort.
* Hildie glares at Svald.
* Svald flinches away and takes another couple steps backward
* Howodes (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen
* Howodes will go tend to the orc, who is pretty dang injured without the mammoth spirit keeping him going.
* Skalla looks to Owahesdagaga
<Skalla> What do you want to do with them?
* Lucas will also see if he can tend to the injured, if the spirit seems 'okay' for now
* Owahesdagaga frowns.
* Skalla says, gesturing to the no-longer possessed dwarves in particular
<Skalla> (dwarf and human I guess)
<Owahesdagaga> Take them back to the village for now. We don't know who was in charge and who's culpable.
<Skalla> okay.
<Owahesdagaga> I don't suppose you speak Rodenan, do you?
* Skalla shakes her head
<Skalla> None of the words I know will be useful for this, anyway
<Owahesdagaga> Any of your people?
<Skalla> I'm not sure.
<Narrator> (Lucas, you can roll...is it Lore we use for your healing? I forget.)
<Skalla> some of them might speak something else as well
<Lucas> (yeah, I think that's right)
<Narrator> (Offhand, I feel like Svald or Hildie might know a little Rodenan, unless someone wants to come up with some reason they might know fake fantasy Russian)
<Narrator> (Go ahead and roll Lore, then, Julie)
<Lucas> (I'll also apply my Herbalism stunt I get +2)
<Svald> (I have 3 languages on my sheet and I don't know how they were picked or what they even are)
<Svald> (Mitran, Nuriki, Birkalan)
<Svald> (plu stormdammer & Zemejas)
<Lucas> !roll 4d3-2
* Lan-werk rolls for Lucas: [ 4d3-2 ] getting [ 2 3 2 2 ] for a total of [ 9 ] which, after the modifier [ -2 ] totals [ 7 ].
<Narrator> The orc is very badly wounded, but you and Howodes manage to stabilize him and you think, with continued care, he may survive.
<Narrator> We can say Welumque speaks enough Rodenan to at least understand they don't seem to know what's going on and are freaking out.
* Howodes (webchat@216.45.76.50) Quit (Quit: webchat.esper.net)
Welumque tries to speak to the remaining hunting party
* Welumque will just try to keep everyone calm and muddle through with her limited vocabulary.
* Owahesdagaga is now known as Dwarf
<Dwarf> What is going on? What happened?
* Owahesdagaga (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen
<Welumque> I honestly don't know.
* Owahesdagaga (webchat@216.45.76.50) Quit (Client Quit)
* Owahesdagaga (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen
* Dwarf (webchat@216.45.76.50) Quit (Quit: webchat.esper.net)
* Dwarf (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen
* Owahesdagaga (webchat@216.45.76.50) Quit (Client Quit)
<Dwarf> Who are you?
<Skalla> (is she translating any of this?)
<Welumque> My name is Welumque. I am of the Lexkweyok, from the south.
* Welumque turns to the group.
<Welumque> They're just trying to make sense of what happened. They don't understand any more than I do.
<Dwarf> My name is Yaroslav Utkin.
<Dwarf> Are you...hunters?
<Dwarf> Traders?
* Welumque nods.
<Welumque> Traders.
* Dwarf is now known as Yaroslav
<Welumque> Yaroslav, I think that whatever happened to you, it's over now. I hope.
* Yaroslav seems to finally take in the camp.
<Yaroslav> Oh, god, what happened?
<Yaroslav> Did they do this?
<Welumque> Right now, what you need to do is be safe, and rest.
* Yaroslav looks at the Karagwasischijro fearfully.
* Welumque turns to her friends.
* Owahesdagaga (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen
<Hildie> harmony
* Owahesdagaga carefully wraps his weapon in a cloth and puts it through his belt.
<Hildie> (ww)
<Welumque> I'm trying to find the language to make this make sense to them.
* Skalla will make sure Hildie is okay
* Hildie will wave Skalla off while trying to shake sand out of her clothes.
<Skalla> tell them that the animal they killed used them to take its revenge
<Welumque> I'll try. My Rodenan is not great.
<Skalla> well, there's props
<Welumque> The animal that you killed, its ... spirit? its ... thing in itself ... was angry.
* Skalla says darkly, glancing over at where the tusks are currently, brusking some sand out of her cousin's shirt
<Welumque> And that was what came into you.
* Yaroslav makes a religious warding gesture.
<Yaroslav> And it did...all of this?
<Skalla> (yes I am ignoring Hildie's attempts to brush *me
* off ;)
* Welumque nods.
<Hildie> heh
<Hildie> (Damnit, ww again :P)
* Svald continues to hang back.
<Skalla> tell them they shouldn't have been hunting here
* Skalla glances over at Owahesdagaga, making sure she's not overstepping here
<Welumque> The beast, it was not killed ... right. To do that bad thing to it - you should not do that.
* Owahesdagaga comes over to tower menacingly.
<Owahesdagaga> Grandmother, can you ask him if he is their leader?
* Owahesdagaga asks Welumque respectfully.
<Welumque> Who is your leader, Yaroslav?
<Yaroslav> My brother Nazar.
* Yaroslav looks stricken, and tears fall from his eyes.
<Yaroslav> Me now, I suppose.
* Welumque turns to Owahesdagaga
<Welumque> This one's brother Nazar, one of the dead, was leader.
* Owahesdagaga scowls and nods.
<Owahesdagaga> We'll take them to the village to decide what happens to them.
<Welumque> All right, listen to me, Yaroslav. Much has happened here today, very bad things. But the most important thing is: you live.
<Owahesdagaga> We can bury their dead, but we have no one to give them their own rites.
<Owahesdagaga> Skalla, your people can say the two-god prayers over them, yes?
<Skalla> (I think we'd started a pyre before the spirit came >.>)
<Owahesdagaga> (Oh, well, amend that)
<Owahesdagaga> (Burn, rather than bury)
<Skalla> (I don't know how far we'd gotten)
* Yaroslav just stares, blankly.
* Skalla considers whether there is anyone in her party who is qualified for that - or in Gillis's that we know of)
<Narrator> (I don't think super far yet.)
<Narrator> (Well, you didn't bring a priest with you, that's for sure. :P )
<Skalla> We don't have a priest here. We can pray for them, at least.
<Narrator> (I mean, Lucas for sure knows his people's rites. :/ Hildie might have had to say something over some battlefield deaths before?)
* Owahesdagaga nods.
<Welumque> Yaroslav, we will speak the words we have, for your dead.
<Hildie> I can say some prayers but I'm no priest.
<Welumque> For us, and for them.
<Owahesdagaga> We'll finish here and head back.
* Welumque says to the dwarf.
<Skalla> It will do, Hildie
* Hildie nods.
* Owahesdagaga looks to Howodes for confirmation. She nods, but she's still busy with the orc.
* Yaroslav nods absently, but will move to help with the bodies.
<Narrator> (Svald, I'm assuming you released the human from his entanglement?)
* Hildie will help with the pyre and prayers.
<Welumque> (I don't know if it was long enough for me to use my empathy stunt on him, Josh, or if he even has a consequence on him. Seemed like he might though)
<Svald> (yes(
<Narrator> (Remind me what it does again?)
<Welumque> https://fate-srd.com/fate-core/empathy
<Welumque> (it's 'Psychologist')
<Narrator> Okay, yeah, I think that'll be fine. He's pretty traumatized, but you think him getting up to help is a good sign.
<Welumque> (ok should I roll for that then?)
<Narrator> Yeah, go ahead and roll.
<Welumque> !roll 4d3-6
* Lan-werk rolls for Welumque: [ 4d3-6 ] getting [ 2 3 3 2 ] for a total of [ 10 ] which, after the modifier [ -6 ] totals [ 4 ].
<Welumque> (ok, then, that should work regardless of what level of fucked up he is)
<Narrator> (Yeah)
dealing with the dead and heading back to camp
<Narrator> It's grim work dealing with the bodies and breaking down their camp, but you all manage it about the time the sun is coming up. Pierre can rig up a travois or stretcher for the orc, and you all can start tiredly making your way back to the mammoth site.
* Pierre does so
* Hildie will clean and reload her guns as well.
<Narrator> There's still a camp waiting there for you when you arrive, mammoth meat and hide still being smoked over multiple small fires. Folks will offer you stew and something to drink, and/or just plain sleep.
* Skalla is grateful for food and rest - a very long day/night
<Hildie> (Is there a stream or river nearby?)
<Skalla> (oh and drink of course)
<Pierre> Is that... alright, Madame? Won't eating the meat make it... angry, again?
* Pierre asks Welumque
<Narrator> (Let's say yes, Tuck)
<Welumque> I don't believe so, Pierre. Eating the meat was never the problem.
* Hildie will go down to the stream to wash up and rinse her clothes out before collapsing in her tent while her clothes dry.
<Welumque> Eating is what you do with good meat. It is the waste that is disrespectful.
<Pierre> I see. And the other parts... we should use them as well? Can use them as well?
* Skalla will do a walk around and check on her folks before going to rest
* Skalla will pause with Svald
<Skalla> You okay?
<Svald> I'm fine
* Svald lies
<Skalla> really?
<Skalla> !roll 1d3-8
* Lan-werk rolls for Skalla: [ 1d3-8 ] getting [ 3 ] which, after the modifier [ -8 ] totals [ -5 ].
<Skalla> (YUP SHE"S FINE)
<Narrator> (You only rolled 1d3)
<Skalla> (oh wait)
* Svald smiles faintly
<Skalla> !roll 4d3-8
* Lan-werk rolls for Skalla: [ 4d3-8 ] getting [ 1 1 3 3 ] for a total of [ 8 ] which, after the modifier [ -8 ] totals [ 0 ].
<Skalla> (settle on uncertain)
<Skalla> we're all fine
<Skalla> The spirit is.... well, calmed
* Svald nods
<Skalla> We'll honour it as best we can.
<Skalla> hopefully that orc will pull through
* Svald nods.
<Svald> Yes...
<Skalla> it'll be okay
<Svald> I know.
* Skalla says, clapping her on he shoulder
<Skalla> good.
* Skalla smiles and will move on to checking on someone else
* Lucas is just very tired and probably will just want to go to sleep
Skall, Owahesdagaga, adn Welumque talk about that to wo with Yaroslav
* Skalla will check in with Owahesdagaga as well before she goes to crash
* Owahesdagaga is presumably having some stew.
* Hildie will probably give Svald a glare whenever she sees them for the next few days.
* Welumque comes up with her own bowl of stew, approaching Owahesdagaga respectfully.
* Skalla will come sit with him
* Owahesdagaga nods respectfully to Welumque and Skalla.
* Owahesdagaga definitely still looks troubled.
<Owahesdagaga> (to Skalla) Did you eat?
<Skalla> what a day
<Skalla> and a little.
* Owahesdagaga nods.
<Owahesdagaga> These colonials...
<Welumque> What will become of them?
<Owahesdagaga> I don't know for sure.
<Welumque> This thing that has happened here, it can go one of two ways.
<Owahesdagaga> The orc and the human...I don't know how much choice they had in what happened. The dwarf...
* Owahesdagaga shrugs.
<Welumque> It can scar over, turn his heart to stone, and he can forever be turned against all of us.
<Welumque> Or it can heal.
<Skalla> Oh there's other options.
<Welumque> You know, the war, many things happened, and those touched everyone. Not just us, not just the colonials.
<Welumque> I think we should give this dwarf the chance to heal, to show that he can change.
* Owahesdagaga frowns at that.
<Skalla> (which?)
<Owahesdagaga> You'd show great mercy, little grandmother.
<Welumque> It is mercy, but it is also self-interest.
<Owahesdagaga> (to specify, that's meant as respect, not, like, being facetious)
<Welumque> To turn every colonial heart against us, that is the work of many lifetimes, but it starts on days like this.
* Owahesdagaga considers that.
<Welumque> But in the same way, to make the harder choice, to know that this Yaroslav is no monster, and to let healing begin, that is a great power.
<Welumque> And it is a power - it is our power to have.
<Owahesdagaga> I can understand the wisdom in what you're saying.
<Owahesdagaga> But what they did...
<Owahesdagaga> A debt is owed.
<Welumque> Let him pay his debt with his deeds. With his future.
<Welumque> And yes, I know, young Owahesdagaga, that there is the chance that he does not learn. That he does not repay the debt.
<Welumque> But such is the peril of mercy.
<Owahesdagaga> (to Skalla) What would happen to him among your people? If he trespassed, poached, a desecrated something sacred?
* Pierre (~Mibbit@bras-base-mtrlpq4396w-grc-01-65-92-225-229.dsl.bell.ca) Quit (Quit: https://mibbit.com Online IRC Client)
<Skalla> He'd be tried, certainly, and he could be fined, or imprisoned or worse, depending
<Skalla> I don't know that I think our way is always just
<Owahesdagaga> No way is always just.
* Skalla nods to that
<Welumque> I saw his eyes today. When I spoke to him, and the reality of what had happened to his friends, both alive and dead, came over him.
<Skalla> I don't tknow what lesson hes going to learn form it, though.
<Welumque> No, none of us does, least of all him.
<Welumque> But to end him now, we know that no lesson is learned at all.
* Pierre (Mibbit@bras-base-mtrlpq4396w-grc-01-65-92-225-229.dsl.bell.ca) has joined #thirteen
<Owahesdagaga> I'm not sure a lesson must always be learned.
<Owahesdagaga> But it is not for me to say.
* Skalla nods
<Owahesdagaga> The clan mothers will speak to him, and you, if you like.
<Owahesdagaga> They'll decide what happens to him.
<Welumque> I would like you to speak on his behalf.
<Welumque> Perhaps that is your healing.
<Owahesdagaga> Me?
<Owahesdagaga> You ask too much.
<Welumque> Perhaps it was too much of Owahesdagaga of yesterday. But what of tomorrow?
* Owahesdagaga reaches for the cloth-wrapped ivory sword that lies on the ground next to him, placing it in from of him and uncovering it.
<Owahesdagaga> I do not expect you to know all of our ways, but this...it came from my first ritual hunt.
<Owahesdagaga> What they did to that mammoth, it is as though they did it to my blood, to me and my kin, because it *is
* my kin.
<Owahesdagaga> And I should speak for mercy?
<Welumque> This man's brother died today too.
<Welumque> Their leader.
* Owahesdagaga looks as though he is about to respond in anger, but visibly calms himself.
<Skalla> I think.... he can ask for mercy on his own.
<Owahesdagaga> (to Skalla, with forced levity) Who is this mad woman you have brought with you?
* Welumque laughs.
<Welumque> I have been called mad by wiser than you. I do not hide from it, when madness comes of grief.
<Skalla> She like to asopt the lost and wayward I don't think she can help herslef
<Skalla> (adopt)
* Owahesdagaga sighs, chuckles, and shakes his head.
<Owahesdagaga> You Lèxkweyok always could talk circles around everyone.
<Owahesdagaga> I will consider what you have said, grandmother.
<Owahesdagaga> But I make no promises.
* Owahesdagaga adds quickly.
* Skalla nods
<Welumque> That is all I ask.
* Welumque finishes her stew and heads off to bed, then.
<Narrator> (Anything else before the new day?)
* Skalla will sit up with her friend a bit longer (but am good to move on)
* Skalla will definitely sleep later than she ususally does while out on the land though
Hildie and Svald argue, Skalla tries to follow up with both of them with mixes success
* Hildie will be up early before, dressed and getting the camp in order.
* Svald is up early and has gone to draw what's left of the mammoth carcass in the morning light.
<Narrator> You guys can get your camp packed up and ready to move out in the morning. There's probably still more work to be done with the mammoth carcass, but you don't need to be around for that. Höwö:dë:s, Owähé'sda'ga'gá', and his nephews will accompany you on to the village.
<Skalla> (I assume we're bring the remais of that hunting party as well)
<Narrator> (You burnt the bodies, unless you just mean their supplies and stuff?)
<Skalla> (I meant the living ones!)
<Skalla> (Yaroslav and the orc and human)
<Skalla> (Bad phrasing ;p)
<Narrator> (Oh, heh, yes)
<Skalla> (Have we been able to determine if the other two were slaves?)
<Skalla> (or at least if they have names?)
* Hildie will try to approach Svald somewhere away from the others once we get to the village.
<Narrator> (Yes, they are. Yaroslav will tell you the orc's name is Lev and the human's name is Igor, though the human can inform you his name is actually Ige.)
<Narrator> It's another two days or so before you reach the village of Gagë:dö’sga:ne:ga’, which prooves to be a sturdy walled redoubt overlooking the surrounding valley. It sits on the high ground of one pass into the valley, with a fast-flowing river adjacent.
<Hildie> (Oh, sorry, I thought we were almost at the village. Hildie will approach Svald on the way, then.)
<Hildie> Hey.
<Svald> (mumbles into their scarf) sorry about the sand
<Hildie> Do me a favor, next time you feel like casting one of your spells, make sure I'm not in the blast radius. I'm perfectly capable of getting myslef killed without you helping.
* Svald sort of shrinks into the collar of their coat.
* Hildie sighs.
<Hildie> Just try to stay out of the way.
* Hildie will turn and leave if Svald doesn't say anything.
* Svald looks at the ground and anywhere but at you
* Svald makes themself very small in the saddle
<Narrator> (Anyone want to have overheard that? Maybe talk to either of them?)
<Skalla> !roll 4d3-7
* Lan-werk rolls for Skalla: [ 4d3-7 ] getting [ 2 2 3 3 ] for a total of [ 10 ] which, after the modifier [ -7 ] totals [ 3 ].
<Skalla> (yeah, sure, let me go talk to my cousin)
* Skalla will go ride up next to Hildie
<Skalla> What was that about?
* Hildie will sigh, but keep her eyes forward.
<Hildie> She's a liability.
<Svald> (can *I
* overhear this? >.>)
<Skalla> Fuck that, you big salty baby. Svald saved your ass there adn she's made this who disaster trip go *so
* much more smoothly
<Hildie> (I would think we're probably far enough away not to)
<Narrator> (Up to you?)
<Narrator> (Ah, okay)
<Svald> (kk)
<Skalla> (Make a notice :V)
<Svald> (I can just notice you guys are talking, that's fine)
* Hildie will turn to look Skalla in the eyes.
<Hildie> Saved MY ass? By sticking me in a pit of quicksand?
<Hildie> I could have been killed.
<Skalla> Stopped the fight against the guy whose body ws being overridden by a sirit? Yes. You were fine.
<Hildie> She shouldn't even be here. She's a deserter. You can't trust her.
<Skalla> Can and do.
<Hildie> Well don't ask me to.
<Skalla> This isn't the army, it's a free life she chose.
<Hildie> And when she decides to up and desert you too? What if it's in the middle of a fight?
<Skalla> For fuck sakes. They kicked you out Hildie, why do you care what happened in the army? They think *you're
* a liability. *I
* don't care about that, either.
* Hildie stares daggers at Skalla
<Skalla> Lay off her.
<Hildie> They may have kicked me out, but I left with my honor.
<Skalla> yeah - Because it was never theirs to take or give, for you or her.
<Hildie> When things go bad and she lets you down, don't you dare say I didn't warn you.
<Skalla> And every dy she doesn't - what are you gonna tell yourself, Hildie?
<Hildie> I guess we'll see.
<Skalla> I have more imporant things to worry about.
<Skalla> Svald's loyalty is so far down that list it doesn't even rate
<Skalla> if she wants to leave - she'll tell me, because she knows she can
<Hildie> Then let me worry about it. That's my job.
<Skalla> it's actually not
<Skalla> It's *my* job to look after me
<Skalla> We watch each other's back, Hildie
<Skalla> that's what this is
<Skalla> that's it
<Hildie> That is, in it's entirety, my point.
<Hildie> I'm watching your back.
* Skalla looks a little softer
<Skalla> Girl. Live your own life.
<Skalla> its respect, and trust - its not a *duty*
<Skalla> that's not why *I* have you here.
<Hildie> If our family hadn't foisted me off on you, you wouldn't have me here at all. Duty isn't just for soldiers. I have a job to do. I plan to do it.
* Skalla shakes her head
* Yaroslav is now known as Gillis
<Skalla> Find somethign better to cling to. You'll be happier.
<Hildie> If you want me to play nice with your pet magician, I will. I'll even smile while doing it. But don't tell me how to feel about my own duty and don't tell me to stop watching out for you. I can't do that. I won't.
<Skalla> She's not a pet, and all I ask is for you to not be an ass. As for your sense of duty - you can carry that however you want, that's on you... but don't get in my way.
<Hildie> Yes, ma'am.
<Skalla> ugh.
* Skalla rolls her eyes, but will disengage for now
* Skalla will fall back to where Svald is, and just look over at her
<Skalla> Hey - you didn't do anything wrong, okay?
* Svald half-shrugs.
<Skalla> :|
<Svald> (q) it's fine. I know what she thinks of me.
<Skalla> as long as you know she's wrong.
* Svald nods.
<Svald> (q) she's just... scary
<Skalla> Well - so are you, clearly ;)
* Svald half smiles.
<Skalla> there, I'll take it
<Svald> partly I just... I still don't feel good about the mammoth.
* Svald stares off into the distance.
* Skalla nods
<Svald> I hope I can honor it too. When we return.
<Skalla> Yes. And I hope you get to see a live one, too
* Svald smiles again.
<Svald> I hope so too...
<Skalla> maybe next summer, we can take a trip out looking
<Svald> Oh! I would like that.
<Skalla> great :)
Gillis and Welumque talk about their visions for the future, and Welumque talks more about her son
* Gillis will ride near to where Welumque is.
<Gillis> I take it you're more used to extended trips like these?
* Welumque is trying not to overexert herself again, staying near the rear.
<Welumque> I used to be. Now, I'm not so sure.
<Gillis> Well, this journey seems like it's been more taxing that we anticipated.
<Welumque> I'm soon to be an old lady, Gillis. Revered but hardly fit for this kind of long travel. Especially not with everything that has been going on.
* Svald (~Svald@lns5-pool7-088.adsl.user.start.ca) has joined #thirteen02
* Gillis nods.
<Gillis> Were you previous forays so...eventful?
* Welumque laughs.
<Welumque> Some of them, yes. During the war, most of them.
<Gillis> Like that business with the serpent people?
* Welumque nods.
<Welumque> Like that.
* Gillis shakes her head.
<Gillis> I knew they existed, and I've seen a few, but never so...close.
* Welumque nods.
<Gillis> The war left so many scars, on so many.
<Welumque> That young man will never be quite the same.
<Welumque> Yaroslav.
* Gillis nods.
<Gillis> And he's one of the lucky ones.
<Welumque> For now.
<Gillis> What do you think they'll do to him?
<Welumque> I don't know. The mammoth is ... well, 'sacred' isn't strong enough a word.
<Welumque> But I hope they will find a way to reintegrate him, if not forgive him.
<Gillis> What do you think of our hosts?
<Welumque> What do I think of them? What do you mean?
<Welumque> I think they are, as with many of their kind, difficult to get to know warmly, and firm in their convictions.
<Gillis> This isn't exactly the mood in which I would have preferred to come to them.
* Gillis nods.
<Welumque> They are not unfair, but they are ... hard.
<Gillis> Given their homeland, I can certainly understand that.
<Gillis> This is a hard land, and with the Atenrosera to their north, the Monitokeh to the west...
* Gillis has a strange look on her face for a moment.
<Welumque> And to the east, unknown hordes upon hordes of colonials.
* Gillis nods concession to that point.
<Gillis> And south, as well.
<Gillis> My hope...my hope is that we can manage to keep occurrences like this with the mammoth from happening if we can come together.
* Gillis sighs.
<Gillis> That sounds hopelessly naive when I say it out loud.
<Welumque> We Lexkweyok learned long ago to bend. Will they bend too, in time? I cannot say.
<Gillis> Can I ask you something...difficult?
<Welumque> More difficult than what you already have?
<Welumque> I suppose you may.
<Gillis> This is more personal.
<Welumque> All right.
<Gillis> In this endeavor, I've seen you cleave to a strong sense of mercy, one I've found encouraging and enlightening.
<Gillis> You seem to believe very strongly in the chance for redemption and reconcilliation.
<Gillis> My question, then, is this: How do you feel towards the Monitokeh?
* Welumque exhales.
<Welumque> My son, Pallinaque, was killed in the war. He was shown no mercy.
* Gillis (webchat@216.45.76.50) Quit (Quit: webchat.esper.net)
* Gillis (webchat@216.45.76.50) has joined #thirteen02
* Gillis nods.
<Welumque> My husband, Nulumbeso, he was overcome by grief and guilt and rage. He left, I have not seen him in many years.
<Welumque> If I give in as well, then who will sing the songs of my son's childhood? Who will remember the sunrises and dappled rivers?
<Welumque> So, yes, it is hard, but I do not give in.
<Gillis> So what would you have done with them?
<Gillis> It's something I've been thinking about.
<Gillis> If I want us to find a lasting peace, an equilibrium, what will we do about them?
<Welumque> I do not know.
<Gillis> I'm sorry, I don't mean to put it on you.
<Welumque> No, it's fine.
<Gillis> I just value your opinion.
<Welumque> I am a memhallamund, a traveller of my people. It is my place to know of other kinds and ways.
* Gillis nods.
<Gillis> And I want to thank you for accompanying us. This has already been an eye-opening journey.
<Welumque> I hope you can get what you want out of it as well.
<Gillis> I'm hoping to broach my ideas with the Karagwasischijro while we're here.
* Welumque nods.
<Welumque> You should. You may not immediately get a result, but they will remember.
<Gillis> That's what I have to remind myself of.
<Gillis> Something like this won't be accomplished in a day.
<Welumque> Or perhaps in a lifetime.
