"The shrine where we leave offerings to Winter's Favored is here," Tikasak says, providing you with a crude map. "When one might be nearby, who can say? But if you seek their wisdom, they will find you. I only hope it will be in time."
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Seshu turns to Lilybeth and nods, switching back to Erutaki while Tikasak translates. "Winter's Favored are legendary creatures who defend the four worlds from harm. They are giants who wander the lands. When we follow the caribou, we leave them offerings at stone shrines. There is a shrine northeast of here." "Malu Aninuk - the Whitefang Peninsula - is about three weeks away by dogsled if you go straight across the ice. If you stay on land, the journey is less dangerous but slower - five days more." Tikasak doesn't translate the question about the whale skeleton, but answers herself. "It has been here many generations. We say that it is the first whale who gave itself to the Erutaki when they first came to camp here."
@Lilybeth: Tikasak glances at you as you cast your spell, and frowns almost imperceptibly. Once you are finished speaking, she whispers to you. "Avoid magic in the Lodge of Smoke until you are welcomed as friends by the elders. The furs will be of no account to them unless you force the issue."
comprehend languages:
"Greetings, Old Ones who protect us with their wisdom. The not-Ulfen-or-Tien-outsiders have come. They were selected by the black-fin-whales, but did not know the honor. That one -" she points at Lilybeth - "has power to bring her own black-fin-whale, from away. That one - " she now points at LifeLover - "calls the storm and it does her bidding. Only that one - " she finally points at Bertha - "accepted the honor and joined the black-fin-whale in the sea. But she came to land and not to the sea, and so did not return the honor. They are unknown to me." Those of you unable to understand the Erutaki language hear Tikasak speaks softly to the elders, and she pauses and points first at Lilybeth, then at LifeLover, and finally at Bertha. After what seems like a long monologue, she turns back to you. "I have told them you are strangers in our land, and that you come with uncertain purpose, yet I believe you are good people." Sense Motive DC 15:
That was a lot of words for what amounts to two lines in the common tongue. However, Tikasak doesn't seem to be lying, perhaps just simplifying. The oldest of the three, an ancient woman with a beautifully-beaded coat, slowly stands using a carved staff as support. She faces you and looks each of you in the eye, as if taking your measure. "This is Seshu, the wisest," Tikasak whispers. "She will want to know why you are here."
@Lilybeth: Tikasak considers your question. "Your question is... complicated. What is taboo for one clan may not be for another. But, anything that involves killing is always done only for food, and even then only for thanking the spirits of the animal world for their gifts. " She gestures to the various places where either furs or fish are drying on racks outside of various lodges. "Each family has its own mix of animals it uses, so that there is enough for all, and no creature is hunted to extinction. Fish are plentiful for those of us who live near the sea, but the inland groups instead hunt the auroch and the caribou."
"When you are ready, I will take you to the Lodge of Smoke and you may speak with them," Tikasak assures Lilybeth. "We can go now if you wish."
"Ropes won't speed things up, they'd just interfere with Kalu'uq's paddling," Tikasak replies to Lilybeth. "Besides, your... friend? seems to be distracting the oolongaktuk."
”We have not performed the proper rituals to take an oolongaktuk,” Tikasak replies to Lilybeth. ”To harm one without first giving thanks for its death is taboo.”
"Welcome, southerners! I am Tikasak, emissary of the Five Animals, and I bid you welcome to Aaminuit!" She speaks softly to the two warriors in her canoe in a lyrical language, without hard consonants or rhythmic emphasis. They respond in kind, and the canoe moves closer to Rimedrake. "The ice is too early, and so you must come ashore in our canoe. There is room for two in each, plus one with me." The other canoes approach Rimedrake and sidle up to the ship's hull. Captain Redaxe seems nonchalant about the process, giving you some confidence this isn't a trap. "We'll leave tomorrow morning," she mentions, "so if you need anything from us, let us know."
One of the warriors, a stocky woman wearing oilskin over furs, waves to you with a smile. "Rakeet! Ja ru Skjalden?" Skald: followed quickly by "Or do you prefer Taldane?" "Greetings! Do you speak Skald?" |