Uncertain Destiny
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

midnight burial (8/10)

4 posters

Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:03 am

Josiah Whitney, the young hunter and herdsman, had slept thirteen hours after the toils of the day before. He had had hardly enough time before midnight to do his chores, check on his flocks and herds, and head over to Drekisalr. He left his truck at the edge of Beovyn's land and carried a farmer's tools to the mead-hall: two shovels, a trowel, and two cultivators.

He stood in the doorway and hollered. "Beovyn. It's near about that time!"
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Beovyn Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:42 pm

Beovyn had been hammering away at his forge, but he looked up at Josiah's arrival.
"Yes. Give me a moment, and I'll be ready."
He gathered a dagger, and a few other items, and then whispered something to the air.
"Let's be off." he said as he walked past him.

He helped carry half of the load as they made their way to the spot. He set everything down, and gave the place a once over.

"She'll be here soon, and then we can start."
Beovyn
Beovyn

Posts : 259
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Katrinkah Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:13 pm

Kat arrived quietly, at least in comparison to the crow that heralded her. The bird cawed a few times as it circled above the men, choosing not to settle until the woman joined them. It landed on her shoulder, making a few noises as it pulled at a piece of her hair. She barely seemed to react to it, instead raising her hand in greeting to the two men.

There were fresh scars on her hands and forearms, an angry pink in color as they attempted to heal. Older scars marked her as well, ragged white lines scoring the woman's exposed skin. Still, none of those wounds seemed to impede her movement or sour her disposition. Kat gave them a small smile, and looked from their tools and back to them again.

"What are we doing?"
Katrinkah
Katrinkah

Posts : 66
Join date : 2013-06-30

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:55 pm

Josiah surveyed the ashes of the grove. There they had dispelled the entropic glamour, and fought Jasper's cocooned construct. He looked at the scattered bones of the ensorcelled animals. He saw marks and deformities on their skeletons, where the barabbas's cancer and his own lead shot had taken their toll.

He looked upward at the crow's call. Seeing Kat approach, he returned her smile, and gestured to the ashen land around them. "We've got to heal the land. The sooner Jasper's ruins are grown over, the better. I brought a mix of seeds and spores from the fringes of the grove, the places the decay didn't touch. They are nearest to this place, and they have the potential to grow the best. I reckon we will plant them and scatter them, then use our crafts to make them flourish. I brought tools for the working. So did Beovyn."

Josiah nodded at Beovyn's dagger.
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Beovyn Mon Aug 12, 2013 5:03 pm

Beovyn gave Kat a nod as she approached. He got right to work turning soil. It started to become apparent that he was cutting five canals from the center.
"I'll need help staying alive as i give to the earth. Kat, I will need you trying to reenforce what I'm doing in the other world. Can you do that?"

He looked back to Josiah.
"What, besides keeping me from death, will you be doing? What do you have in mind to add into what we do here tonight?"
Beovyn
Beovyn

Posts : 259
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Katrinkah Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:32 pm

The woman nodded slightly as she listened to Josiah. "I have no great talent at making that which is green thrive and flourish; yours is the province of Life." She gestured to the two men. "But I will do all that I am able to see it restored." She looked out towards the blight, a sneer making the corner of her upper lip tremble.

At his words, her focus shifted to Beovyn, and a brow raised appreciatively. "Now this... this I can do. This place is a spiritual void. I can make the call to fill it, as long as you can help give them reason to stay."

The woman hesitated a moment, then spoke again. Her words came somewhat haltingly, as if it were either a difficulty with the language - or simply difficult for her to ask. "Are you looking for particular things to call this place home... or is it whatever I would beckon and call?"
Katrinkah
Katrinkah

Posts : 66
Join date : 2013-06-30

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Mon Aug 12, 2013 11:51 pm

Josiah took his time widening the canals away from the grove's heart. With a shovel in hand, he deepened the channels wherever Beovyn had broken the ground.

The young Verbena marked Kat's disgust, and thought he understood it. This desolation and blight was a shame to its maker - but Kat, like Emma, could see through to the ruins in the world beyond.

Josiah answered Beovyn's question between thrusts of the shovel. "When you work, the seeds will surely thrive in the land, but will not know how much more they could grow in their first season here. I will tell them, and they will change. Without that, the seeds and spores would be too slow in their tenderness, because they fear the coming winter. I will make them take courage in your blood. What might take years - for lichen, moss, and mushroom, before brush and tree - will take just a little while, perhaps three months. They'll spite this death with their abundance."
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Magister Munther Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:10 pm

The Magus was surprised to find the hall empty. Nostrils flared to certain scents, absorbing the surroundings for a brief moment. That was, before he produced a wand from the inside of his jacket. With sure purpose he waved it through the air, drawing some unknown sigil as he intoned alien words in a deep voice for several seconds. Then the wand vanished back to his jacket and the Hermetic began walking.

It did not take too long before he was standing at some distance from the 'grove'. Dorian's lips were pursed to a thin line as he grimly observed the three from a distance. He did not make a real effort to conceal himself, but neither did he step out and announce himself.
Magister Munther
Magister Munther

Posts : 34
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Beovyn Fri Aug 16, 2013 5:26 pm

Beovyn nodded while he worked. "Good, good." he said.

He looked up and saw his Cabal-mate.

"Munther. I am glad to see you chose to be out and about tonight. I thought of sending my masked friend to summon you for this working, but i feared your home would eat him. Please, join us, in company if not in craft."
Beovyn
Beovyn

Posts : 259
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Katrinkah Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:25 am

"No answer."

Katrinkah smiled at the thought, but didn't allow for the way it lingered to be an obvious thing. She busied herself pulling her knife from her belt, and wrapped the fingers of one hand lightly around the edges of the blade. The strega muttered quietly in the language of her homeland as she started to move in a circular pattern around the area. The crow on her shoulder cawed a few times, and she seemed to nod in response.

She halted when she heard Beovyn greet Munther, turning her head towards where the man stood and giving a nod of greeting. Not one to be distracted for long, she returned to her work.
Katrinkah
Katrinkah

Posts : 66
Join date : 2013-06-30

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Mon Aug 19, 2013 1:43 pm

Josiah continued to work on a channel away from the center, breaking chunks of parched earth into small clumps with a cultivator. The work was hard, and even with his long experience of gardening, the young Verbena's brow was soon breaking into sweat.

He didn't try to hide his interest in Kat's circumambulation of the 'pond'. Josiah knew he would have to learn the ways of the spirits soon enough, and the craft of the Dreamspeakers was unmatched. From time to time, he looked up from his work to see if there was some hidden order to the bloodletting and the calling of the crow.

Once he noticed him, Josiah quickly waved to the Hermetic. "You here to make sure we don't blow ourselves up doing this?"
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Magister Munther Mon Aug 19, 2013 5:19 pm

As soon as Beovyn's friendly greeting reached his ears, a smile spread across the Hermetic's lips. Raising his hand in greeting Dorian began to step forward to so to stand amongst them, returning the nod and wave in kind.

"Indeed.... Not really. I came looking for Beovyn and Katrinkah; that you were engaged in this was unknown to me. But if you want me to keep my eye on the fabric of reality to make sure that you don't, in fact, cause an explosion I will be happy to help."
Magister Munther
Magister Munther

Posts : 34
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Beovyn Mon Aug 19, 2013 11:32 pm

Beovyn smiled as his friend joined them. He shot a glance to Kat and grinned. "Nothing to unusual, my creative companion. We seek it to be in balance."

He turned to Munther. "Have you figured out what to do with the portal?"
Beovyn
Beovyn

Posts : 259
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Katrinkah Tue Aug 20, 2013 12:37 am

Kat slid her feet out of her shoes, and set them aside. She stepped in place for a moment, the tested the softness of the earth with a pointed toe. The passing of the mighty Typhon through the area had left the ground damp, and somewhat plaible - at least enough for her needs. Satisfied, she smiled, reaching over to grab the crows beak and give it a small affectionate shake. It made low, muttering noises in response, and fluttered, puffing out its chest.

When Munther mentioned he'd been looking for them, she paused to look over at him, then continued about her task once she'd determined he didn't have any need for them elsewhere. Listening to the men around her speak, her hand left her companion and rose to her mouth, where she kissed the tip of each finger. Kat's eyes slid over to Beovyn as he addressed her, and nodded in response to his request. Her lips did purse briefly, before finally pressing against her thumb.

Grasping the blade once more, Josiah would notice that hand squeeze at certain intervals in her circle, indicating the cardinal directions. The pressure applied had thick droplets spill from her palm, and Kat would send them all to the ground with commanding words in her native tongue before continuing. Her feet didn't just step, but slid; her toes made small, shallow furrows as they went.

A circuit complete, the crow's wings would extend, and it would call out to herald the beginning of the next. The circle would gradually widen, and ordinal directions would receive the same treatment. The bite of the blade started making words come through gritted teeth, though they continued to be repeated with the same authority as in the beginning.

Katrinkah
Katrinkah

Posts : 66
Join date : 2013-06-30

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Tue Aug 20, 2013 11:43 pm

Shovelling and tilling were hard work, and Josiah felt no need to rush. After all, there'd always be more dirt to move; how often, thought he, do you see a willworker marking the directions with her blood and getting her avian familiar?

Still, it seemed that he was making progress by piling up small hillocks of soil in a dappled pattern between the channels leading from the pond. It seemed he intended to scatter the seeds over these mounds -- once he had had a word with them.
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Magister Munther Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:23 am

"Do you refer to the shallowing? It is fine as is. Actually..." He made sure not to get too close to where they were working the craft, stepping outside the bounds of the area marked by earth and blood.

"It is convenient that you are here Josiah, when this subject is broached. See..." Dorian looked to Beovyn, then Kat, to make sure that it was understood his words were meant for all three of them. "The shallowing that has formed here, is tied to some natural cycle of the land. Something about the flow of the power of the earth makes the hole between worlds open and close at intervals. I haven't yet determined the nature of the cycle, but I really haven't investigated it too deeply. Though that is mostly besides the point." The Magister's steps began taking him in orbit of the ritual area as he spoke.

"It will remain in this flux until an outside force changes the state of it. Sometimes open, sometimes closed. I have it within my power to lock the hole open, to seal the frayed edges of the barrier never to seal over. Otherwise if you wished to utilize it you would be at the mercy of chance whether you showed at the right time. Or if you had a talented Dreamspeaker to open the door."

A glance was shot Kat's way briefly before he continued. "On the other end I could lock the hole shut, stop the cycle at the point where barrier was merely thin instead of nonexistent. There are advantages and disadvantages to locking it one way or the other, as well as to leave things as they are. Because this spot lies between Drekisalr and Barrowspring I thought the Springbond should have a little say in which course is pursued. I remember some time ago that you, Josiah, were said to have authority in speaking as Springbond's voice. So what are your thoughts?"

Magister Munther
Magister Munther

Posts : 34
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Wed Aug 21, 2013 10:06 am

((TPO Kat and TPO Beovyn, mind if I cut in the post order?))
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Katrinkah Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:05 am

((I don't mind!))
Katrinkah
Katrinkah

Posts : 66
Join date : 2013-06-30

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Beovyn Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:06 am

((go ahead))
Beovyn
Beovyn

Posts : 259
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:59 am

Josiah listened to the Hermetic's explanation of the states of relative openness and closure in which the Shallowing here could be locked. His thought -- still young, as he was, in the Craft -- was of the reality of the relationships here. He considered what it would mean to speak for the Springbond, and to stand at this point between their own land and Beovyn's, and say whatever wish he might have for the care of this way between worlds.

The young Verbena replied, "I do have authority to speak for the Springbond, though I am not the only one. Our preference is that this place's lines be drawn deep, so that in time the Tass might condense here -- if that is possible. A permanent Shallowing isn't what we're looking for, if that might delay Tass condensing here. We also recognize that this place belongs as much to Beovyn and Kat as to us. Shared effort between the Springbond and the other two willworkers here dispelled that barabbas's lies. The Springbond has neither the right of strength nor the right of first use. We would like that this place be a common resource to Kat and Beovyn, and to the Barrowspring, at least."
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Magister Munther Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:58 pm

The Magus continued to walk his path until about halfway through Josiah's small speech. By the end he was looking at the young man with a wry sort of smile, blinking repeatedly in an exaggerated way. After a long moment he sighed, and continued his gate albeit at a slowed pace. "That was not much of an answer, and very little of it had to do with what I posed to you. But if I may infer... you wish the course of action be taken that allows this place to most quickly be a proper node?" He looked around as though to confirm his assumption, though not really taking in any reactions of others into consideration before speaking further. "I can start to look into that. Though I suspect that it won't have much impact one way or the other."

From there Dorian found a log to sit on and simply watched the three of them work their craft.

Magister Munther
Magister Munther

Posts : 34
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Josiah Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:21 pm

Josiah nodded. However poorly he understood the stabilization of Shallowings, he understood that finders, keepers wasn't something you broke without a good reason. "Yeah. Yeah, that's what I wish, so long as Beovyn and Kat are agreeable. If it turns out the thing being locked open or shut won't make a difference in the speed of it becoming a proper node...I'm not sure we'd get more advantage than risk out of locking it open. Kat? Beovyn? Is a locked-open Shallowing any use to you?"
Josiah
Josiah

Posts : 28
Join date : 2013-06-10

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Beovyn Fri Aug 23, 2013 3:13 pm

Beyoven look up from his work. "Yes. I'll be able to use it for many of my personal works, and it will allow me to better commune with Fire Drake."
Beovyn
Beovyn

Posts : 259
Join date : 2013-06-15

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Katrinkah Fri Aug 23, 2013 4:15 pm

Kat, while clearly focused on what she was doing, had still mostly listened to what they had been discussing. She didn't believe anything they were doing would impede her, so she raised a bloodied hand up, waving for them to proceed as she came back to point marking the north. The crow on her shoulder spread his wings, lending its voice where she would not.

Crouching down, she grabbed her knife in her teeth and squeezed her hands together until she was satisfied with the amount of blood spilled upon the earth. The index finger of her right hand extended, and she started to draw. Once it was complete, she plucked the knife from her teeth, and plunged it into the ground. Her eyes and palms both turned skyward, and Kat began to softly mutter.
Katrinkah
Katrinkah

Posts : 66
Join date : 2013-06-30

Back to top Go down

midnight burial (8/10) Empty Re: midnight burial (8/10)

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum