Magda listens and watches, occasionally sniffs. She's used to being an outsider to people, even if she never felt out of place.
Aru smiles and bows. "I bear no resentment towards your boneslayers, wise ones, for our home is perilous and caution is a must. I wish that was not the case, but wishes and dreams are notoriously fickle."
"We come in peace."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
A leonine creature, who's body looks like a brassy, scaled dragon, leaps onto one of the mounds about a hundred feet away, settling themselves down and resting. The creature has no wings, but there are scars where wings seemingly were, at some point.
The gaunt man looks suprised at Yazi, and continues in Shoanti "you know Thousand Bones? I am One-Life." He gestures at himself and glances at the elderly woman, who inclines her head, "I am Ash Dancer. We know Thousand Bones. He is here."
One-Life continues, speaking to a gangly teenager that is hanging out "please, Pezi, fetch Thousand Bones." and the kid runs off towards one of the gers. The head of the sun would make the party uncomfortable, but the magic prevents thsi, and so the party only feels emotional discomfort as they stand awkwardly, waiting for something to happen.
A few moments later, Thousand Bones himself emerges from the tent. He raises his hand to his forhead to keep the sun out of his eyes, and looks to the group. His eyes brighten up and the man approaches, saying in Taldan, "do my eyes decieve me? Is this Yaziyah, Marcus, and Magda?" He squints and peers at everyone, "and some others."
He opens his hands expressively, in Shoanti, "One-Life, these are the Korvosans who aided in returning Gaekhan's body. This is the Yaziyah who made the community center." One-Life nods, "I expected as much, from your tale, but I do not know Korvosans, nor their ways."
Thousand Bones sighs, and says in Taldan, "it does not matter. Welcome, all. You should be honored guests." He extends a hand to shake the hands of those who he knows, and in a friendly way, to those he does not know, including Trinia. The ebullient bard returns the handshake cheerily, and seems to be 'taking in the culture', somewhat gobsmacked by the vast differences between her own life and the way of life of the cinderlanders.
The boneslayers and One-Life seem to all relax, and the typical hubbub of the camp slowly returns. Thousand Bones looks around, especially at Marcus, "were you not heavily armed before?" and spies the sack, and frowns at the boneslayers, "give them back their weapons, they mean us no harm" and the various armaments are returned to everyone.
"Oh, well thanks you," Jolista tells the Shoanti man who returns her weapons.
"So, I take it we aren't in trouble?" she asks her companions as they rearm.
The leonine creature startles Yaziyah, and she reaches for a weapon that is not there; but after the creature shows no sign of aggression she relaxes a little. What was it, anyway? A trophy? A pet?
She breathes out in relief at the sight of the old shaman, shaking his offered hand warmly. "It is good to see you safe and sound, Thousand Bones. We had to leave Korvosa in a hurry, after what we learned," she says in Taldane. Yaziyah looks at her companions, then at One-Life, switching to Shoanti. "Which is what brings us here. Honoured elders, might we speak privately?" She repeats her words in Taldane for the benefit of her companions who did not understand Shoanti.
Thousand Bones shakes his head, and replies in Taldane ”we have no need for privacy here, but such matters are best left to the Bone Council Fire this evening. Come, rest. The cinderlands can be trying.” One-life nods in response, and says in Shoanti ”you may stay in one of the spare yurts, near the edge of the camp.”
"Camping amongst the bones," Jolistina observes. "No wonder these quah-members are so dour and formal."
"Bones holds the memories of their owners life, from before a Who becomes a What." Magda is happy to get her leaning spear back, and grins a welcome to the other shaman. "Gaekhan was nice, he was, his bones spoke of him so." she nods and asks to see him if it is okay with the Shoanti.
Yaziyah translates the invitation to the rest of the group, pointing out which yurt has been offered for their use, then joins Magda in paying her respects to Gaekhen's burial place.
The rest of the day she spends wandering around the Shoanti settlement, trying to find if any of the older people knew her parents and generally getting herself acquainted with the living and breathing way of life of her people. Many of her expectations are confirmed, while others are entirely shattered, and by the time evening arrives she is looking a little dazed and lost in thought.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Marcus nods in acknowledgement to Thousand-Bones, happy to see a familiar face. It seems negotiations had gone well.
When he comments on Marcus's lack of metal, he gives a short exhale of amusement, but covers it and makes a slight head jerk towards the ones who disarmed them. "Cautious about strangers, protecting their people. No offense taken." He does gladly take his weapons back, carefully affixing each in their spot, and his normal light clanging upon moving returns. An oddly comforting sound that his companions may come to find a new appreciation for after having missed it, or perhaps realized their full annoyance at with how much quieter he could be, depending on perspective.
Marcus nods to Jolistina with a grunt of affirmation. The talk of bones does get him thinking. His philosophy had always been We return to mud. Preserved, bones could last a long, long time. Did that matter more than memories and impact, or was it just a tangible reminder of them? Perhaps it was more about the way people remember others rather than how they are remembered.
Marcus does not join Yazi in exploring the rest of the village. He knew what he looked like and his lack of decorum and cultural sensitivity, so he kept where he had been invited to, and spends his time doing maintenance on his equipment. He was more than a little sick of the bits of sand that had been grinding against his flesh. He sets out his tools in an organized layout and begins warming some oil, performing his own ritual, getting into a smooth and calm rhythm. In moments of quiet he can even be heard humming some sort of song, although it is so low and slightly off-tune so it's a bit hard to follow.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The day moves on a little as some in the party move to pay their respect to the murdered youth, and others busy themselves with tasks around camp.
The cairn where Gaekhan is at rest is small, and a few minute walk away from the center of the camp, and the stacked stones have the skull of what looks like an imp and pseudodragon resting on top, something like an honor to Gaekhan's home. His remains aren't visible, but it's clear that the cairn was set up with care and love.
Thousand Bones kneels briefly before them, and utters a prayer in Shoanti, before standing. He turns to Yazi and Magda, "spirits close to him linger here. I feel them. Do you?" He closes his eyes and raises his hands, inhaling and exhaling. "In his life, they watched over him, but could not stop that... monster" and he says this last word with vitriol, "from taking the young man."
He lowers his arms and turns to the two others. "The plateau is our home, but... so was Korvosa. It does not seem we will ever be allowed to return in great number," he shakes his head, "a shame." He moves to return to his yurt, "if you need anything else before the Bone Council Fire, please see me."
He returns to his Yurt while Magda and Yazi pay their respects.
*********************************
Just about when Magda and Yazi get back, a troupe of heavily armed Shoanti approach the camp. Their leader appears to be larger than Marcus by a fair margin, almost 7' tall, and incredibly strong. He appears to have a linen-wrapped corpse over his shoulder. He seems confused for a moment as he approaches, and then signals subtly and the remainder of his troupe starts to spread out. He appears to have a Klar on one arm, and an earth breaker resting on his shoulder in his other hand. He is heavily tattood and his heavy armor seems to be made from the remains of various tough creatures hunted within the Storval Plateau.
His companions seem to all be wielding "totem spears" and as they spread out to surround the camp, none of the other Shoanti seem to pay them any mind, though some of the conversation seems to quiet down. The leader, his heavy footfalls thundering across the packed sand, approaches the center of the camp where one-life is busying himself. Gently, he lowers the body he carries to the ground and furrows his eyebrows. His eyes light upon the outsiders gathered in the center, and the two that are returning from Gaekhan's cairn.
Nostrils flare, and he raises his voice. The gaunt Shoanti holds out his hands in supplication, and soon the party seems to get the impression that not all of the Shoanti in the camp are friendly, with his troops having taken a little time to spread themselves around.
Thousand Bones now emerges from his own Yurt, and quickly rushes over to Yazi and Magda, joining them as they approach. He whispers, "this is Krojun Eats-What-He-Kills. Be mindful of your words, please. Not all goes well on the Storval."
He quickly ushers the pair towards the rest of the party.
Krojun asks Chief One-Life, “Why do the Skoan-Quah harbor tshamek trespassers?”
As Chief One-Life struggles to find an explanation that won’t further enrage the towering visitor, Thousand Bones inclines his head as though considering Krojun’s words carefully, but then responds sharply. “Tell me, Krojun, when did the Sklar-Quah become judges of who trespasses upon the Kallow Mounds where the ashes of our fathers lie?”
“Your words change the question, Thousand Bones,” answers the Shoanti hero with a snort. “These ones bring trouble to the Cinderlands, and you know it. The coming days shall reveal to us all who is right about them.”
“Perhaps,” says Thousand Bones. “But not today, and not here. Would you have word that Berak’s burial was tainted by bloodshed get back to your Sun Shaman?”
Krojun pauses, the cords in his neck straining, but then he exhales and grins. “You misunderstand me, Thousand Bones. My grief has wounded my words. But see to it that no tshamek defiles our memories here.” His smile broadens as he pulls athin leather loop from one of his packs. “Certainly, though,
guests of the Skoan-Quah must be brave to come this far. You wouldn’t mind if I tested the courage and strength of your guests, would you?”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Jolistina avoids the events at the young man's grave.
There is no way that would not be awkward. The only think worse than meeting your former lover's friends is meeting their murder victims.
In the face of the conflict between the Shoanti leaders, Jolistina leans over and whispers to Marcus, "I thought things would be quiet out here, but this place is busier than High Street on market day. That Krojun would fit right in with the brute squad."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Marcus heard the lowering of voices and the increased footsteps long before anybody started talking. He grumbles about his armor still drying, but nothing to be done for it now. He quickly dons his under chain shirt level and grabs the more important weaponry, then comes out to see what the tension is about.
Marcus looks up...
Wait, that can't be right.
F~@*ing hells, and they say I'm a big bastard.
Yes he looks up at the newcomer and his frown is leveled. This man's blood was hot. Marcus's stance was quiet, coiled, like a viper ready to act. But the situation was appropriately checked by the elder and the slightest increased sway to his stance showed his relaxation. He also smothers a snort at Jolistina's quip, the twinkle in his eyes betraying his amusement.
As the leather pack is opened up Marcus restrains himself from rolling his eyes, knowing exactly where this is going and precisely who's going to be the one involved in it. He turns his frown to Yazi and Aru, raising an inquiring eyebrow.
Yaziyah sits cross-legged in front of the small pile of stones, closing her eyes and tilting her head to one side as she reaches for the spirits that the old shaman mentioned. Would these spirits still gather around the youth's body if he had been buried in the Grey - or worse, left in pieces in the necromancer's foul laboratory?
She communes for a few quiet moments before standing up, gazing at the cairn for another few moments.
At the sight of the big warrior, she tenses. She was all too familiar with the type - the ones who put much stock in physical prowess and maintaining their image of peerless fighters. Often it was more dangerous to defeat them than to be defeated by them, for they had a keen sense of personal honour and they did not take kindly to any loss of face. She locks eyes with Marcus over the heads of the crowd, tightening her grip on her hammer. She would fight this Krojun if she had to, of course, but great care was needed in handling him, seeing how most of the Skoan-Quah deferred to him.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
While Yazi listens, Magda talks. She kneels down a the cairn "Oh? Poking and pressing... can help." she adjusts a lower rock, making the entire pile settle just a sliver. "good? good. The sun does feel nice, yes." she rubbed a small smudge off the imp skull "Gaekhan was nice, I know cause Bones guy is nice and nice is nice when nice is mirrored." she whispers to the dragon skull.
Magda chews her lips for a moment with her oversized lower teeth, seemingly unconcerned. "We've been far, far away from our home, seen much, done more, and still have heaps and hordes to do." she shrugs, looks to the raised brow of the wall than back at the angry giant "Meaning, yes, if it'll make the path easier for the spears to stay clean for those that gave us shelter, test that which isn't in question." the ease of her tone, the relaxing stance of her leaning on her spear, and the glean of wisdom in her eyes make words ring true and good.
Aru simply sighs, frustrated, knowing that he could never reason someone out of a position they had not reasoned themselves in, and that was the case with the xenophobic Sklar-Quah.
"A test is a way to find an answer to a question, but many times the important question lies unspoken. I'll voice them." Aru says, looking between their rightful hosts and the bully. "Shall the Sklar-Quah deem Skoan-Quah guests weak and cowards, what happens?"
Despite this not being his fight, Aru could not willingly abandon his own Quah's secular goals.
Krojun seems to ignore Aru, literally and figuratively looking down on the smaller man. Aru does recognizes that the leather loop he wears is a prop for a game called Srenda, which Aru suspects is the ‘test’ Krojun is referring to.
The large man cheers considerably when Magda seems to accept the ‘challenge’, though he is a little confused that someone so small would do so. He adds, ”a dromaar? From Korvosa? these Tshmek are strange - we would fight you were you not with the other Tshmek.”
Thousand Bones exhales noticeably when Krojun move away from the center of camp with his thundercallers and approaches Magda, ”brave of you to volunteer, Magda. Well, are you going to play Srenda? Or were you volunteering someone else? It is a test of strength.”
"Strength here?" Magda taps her head "Here?" she taps her chest where her heart is "Or here?" she taps her bicep. Though men as large as those are, she already knows which strength they are talking about. "Our wall would be best suited for..." she squeezed her arm, flexing just a tiny bit. She can see he is already expecting and ready "Is aid, before, allowed in a Srenda?"
"Neither of those, Magda. Here." Aru says, frowning and gesturing to the back of his neck. "Krojun is challenging us to a game called Srenda."
Turning to the others as well, he explains. "Two contestants knee in front of each other, with their heads a foot apart. Then they put a single leather loop around their heads and each contestant needs crawl back and pull the loop until one is forced to bow their head and losing."
"There are a couple more rules and procedures, but that is the gist of it."
As soon as Marcus is aware of the overview of the game, he breaks his silence and steps forward. He hands his oiling tools to Magda and takes off his leather apron that he uses to keep the stains off his skin. He faces Krojun with his heavy frown, then arcs an eyebrow. "Well? We gonna get started, or do you just talk?"
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Aru steps closer, figuring someone should be responsible to translate the words between the two contestants. Goro's hand trembling with anxiety and excitement.
To Krojun, he adds in Shoanti. "This is Marcus, our champion, eager to show you the mistakes of questioning his valor. He also wonders if you intend to face him yourself, or if you'll look for someone stronger." He discreetly gives Marcus a thumbs up.
Krojun snorts, and speaks in accented Taldan, ”I understand their language, udanila asgaya,” and he looms over Aru, and the occultist knows Krojun has insulted him in a grave way, essentially calling him ‘weakling’ in Shoanti.
But before Aru can respond, Krojun grins briefly and says, in Taldan ”biggest one you have, fine. We will start now.” and he laughs deeply, attaching the loop to his own head, and beckoning for Marcus to approach to the center of the camp where the competition may be held, which has been completely cleared. Curious onlookers, Krojun’s crew, and the elders ring the competition space to give room to the competitors.
The enormous man stoops down slightly to Marcus’ level, grinning the entire time. Up close, his face is scarred and he smells of sweat and adrenaline.