Aon VII - Everything has its price
May. 27th, 2010 07:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
janestarzSuddenly the rolling of the waves increased madly, and before we could get above decks, there were shouts to stay below. A heavy storm had rolled in from the sea, and the captain was doing his best to keep the ship intact.
Dramatis Personae
The Collective of Dissolutions:
Henriëtte Deresa - played by me
Odelia Voshart – played by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
margrietje
Tijl de Grauw – played by Ahroun
James Fluisterwoud – played by Diego
Olav Asathor – played by Jos
David Bishop – played by Theo
Caleb-Johann Vandorn – played by Vince
Villagers:
Ambrogino Schnoodaert, village tailor - played bysna
Laurence van Binsbergen, judge – played by Niels
Brother Demian, prophet of Aon – played by Pluis
Brother Eamon, prophet of Aon – played byomdathetkan
Elana, played by Petra.
Ares, a fighter - played bycabaray
Friday
Suddenly the rolling of the waves increased madly, and before we could get above decks, there were shouts to stay below. A heavy storm had rolled in from the sea, and the captain was doing his best to keep the ship intact.
I coughed, fingers gripping sand. Salt water dripped from my mouth. At least I was ashore, and my fingers found my spear. Despite its heavy metal tip the wood had stayed somewhat afloat.
I heard someone moan and got up on my knees. Along the shore several others had washed up and I counted all of the Collective. We all still had our weapons, a miracle - even Olav still had his huge mace clutched in one hand, but then his strong legs probably made him a better swimmer than I was.
We picked ourselves and our stuff up from the beach, and looked for other survivors. A young woman who had piqued our interest earlier during the trip had washed up with us, along with a tar-smeared man who claimed to have been below decks for most of the journey.
From the forest surrounding the beach, a young woman approached us. Her dark hair streamed in the wind and she said she would guide us to Speranza. "You're lucky to have survived that storm." she breathed.
It wasn't long before we met the first indigenous people. Soft whistled signals surrounded us, and though our lady guide tried to communicate with the tribesmen, they soon attacked us.
"They're Talfar, but they normally don't attack groups such as these." she said when several of the tribesmen had fallen to Caleb's mace. "We must make haste. If they attack such a large group, their friends must be nearby."
The gates of Speranza were open, and a tall northman stood blocking the entrance with a shield. "Ah, new arrivals!" he announced.
I think it was Odelia who asked after Tijl, and the northman turned around. "Tijl! Friends of yours!"
A man stepped out of the shadows. "Friends?" his voice was gruff, a rasping sound torturing the ears.
We all shook hands, glad to be united once more. "I'll show you around." Tijl said, coming down to business.
Near the ever-burning ruins of a house that once housed a Demonologist, James found a puzzle. He told me about it, Olav standing by. The puzzle seemed horribly complicated, involving a riddle and maths. I left them to it, and later I heard some girl had solved the puzzle and we would be allowed access to the goldmine through the hatch underneath the puzzle.
I met the village tailor that evening as well. "Ambrogino Schnoodaert." he smiled, and shook my hand. "You are a friend of Tijl?"
I explained to him that the seven orders had each sent a representative to the New World to aid Tijl.
"And your expertise?"
"I am trained to recognise signs of witchcraft and nigromantia in the fields, the woods and the waters. You could say I'm a special kind of agricultural expert." I told him about six-legged silver salamanders and talking toads.
"Well, miss. I have an opening, as it so happens. Speranza is in dire need of some expertise. We have a problem with our food acquisitioning." Ambrogino said.
"I've run into the Talfar tonight." I said.
"Indeed. We need someone to coordinate the hunter's efforts, someone who can oversee the farmer's work. You know, so they don't plant potatoes where only onions can grow."
"I'm not a farmer." I replied drily. "If you need to get rid of talking cows, I'm there."
"Nonono." he interrupted me. "We need someone to coordinate the efforts. Someone who can steer people in the right direction. You are, of course, free to delegate."
"Ah." I said. "I see."
Ambrogino dug into his pockets and extracted five silver coins. "These will cover your expenses for now."
I took the silvers and pocketed them. "I suppose you will want receipts? Well, Odelia can help with the bookkeeping."
"Or just let whoever you buy something from write you a receipt. I'm glad we have an agreement."
After our tour of the town, someone was gathering volunteers because the Talfar were attacking more beached survivors. Olav, James, David, and Caleb-Johann joined me to go along, as well as a young huntress and several others. By the time we reached the beach, the Talfar were again trying to attack us, without much luck, until one of them used a sleep poison. I fell to the sand, and when I woke several minutes or maybe hours later, I was flanked by two unknown shapes. In the distance, I heard voices discussing what to do next.
"James!" I cried out. Before I could call his name a second time, the back of a dagger descended on my head, and all was black again.
When I came to, the world was upside down. Olav's voice sounded from behind and James was trying to wake me up.
"Ohhhh...." I moaned. "I have a headache."
"She's awake?" Olav asked. "Then she can walk." He bent his knees and put me back on my feet. "Now let's get out of here before the Talfar decide a few slaves is worth the risk of being killed."
I stumbled into the bar, untied my cravat, and asked the barman to wet it for me. I didn't feel up to pulling the well's handle, and he obliged me. The sodden cravat was cold against the bump on my head, and it was a bit of a relief, but the headache remained.
It throbbed all through the meeting with Demian, who claimed to be a prophet of Aon, a third God. In the Old World, the man would have been arrested by the likes of us for being a heretic, but Tijl insisted we'd hear him out.
"When Celes and Nandoah touched, so much power was released that from that point, a shell started to form. A crust of some kind. It grew larger and thicker and this became Aon. Celes, god of light and air, Nandoah, goddess of fire and darkness. Aon is the God of water and earth that separates the two."
My head reeled, the headache unfocused my thoughts so I could no longer think straight. A heretic telling us he was prophet of Aon, who was sent to the New World to spread its word, and none of us acted. The people around me asked questions, Odelia, Olav, David and Caleb, even James. But I was silent, clutching the neckerchief to the bump on my head and trying to make sense of it all.
The Collective of Dissolutions - Photo by Ork de Rooij.
Saturday
The day started warm and humid, as is usual in the New World. My mood plummeted soon after breakfast. The seven of us gathered in the tent, sitting on benches.
"We've been brought here to uphold the laws of the Domus;" Tijl spoke; "but now we have a choice to make. The classical Domus, who only supports Celes and Nandoah, has a chapter house here. But you've all heard what Brother Demian had to say last night, you've had a night to think about his words. He preaches peace and servitude, and he wants us to uphold Celes, Nandoah and Aon, all in one Domus Nova."
I shifted in my seat.
"We can discuss this for a long time;" it was Olav who spoke; "but it boils down to deciding if we support the Domus, and uphold its laws, or whether we support Domus Nova."
"We do realise that if the vote is not unanimous, the minority will be stuck serving a Domus, upholding the laws they might not support themselves." I pointed out.
"Very true." Tijl said. He waited for me to say more.
"I just wanted to keep the individual in mind." I said. "We are a Collective, but this choice will decide so much of our future."
They all nodded. Tijl put the question to the vote. "Who votes to support Domus Nova?"
Six hands rose. Six. I counted them again. Everyone looked at me.
"My world is upside down. So much happened before I came here, and so much has happened since I came here. I just don't know yet." I said.
They accepted that explanation. I decided to talk to the Aon prophets some more.
The garden next to the Domus Nova temple looked luscious and I stepped inside to inspect it for signs of witchcraft. A salamander eyed me from the small water's side. Soon enough I was joined by Elana, who wore the same colours as Demian and Eamon, the prophets of Aon. We'd spoken the previous evening about the various tribes of indigenous people after my first brush with the Talfar.
I asked her about the garden and gifted her the seeds of an apple I had previously eaten. Together, we planted the seeds in piles of fresh earth.
Elana told me about the roses, and when I asked her about the tribes, she told me more about the M'Beki, the Raikua, the Talfar, the Ipolak and the Red Death. By the time she finished telling me about the various habits of greeting and showing respect for each of them, it was time for the service of the Domus Nova.
I sat in one of the benches while a smaller woman, with lovely dark brown hair, spoke the words of opening. It was much similar to a normal service back home, but then she started to preach. After only a perfunctory mention of Nandoah and Celes, the rest of the service was centred on Aon, and balance, and helping each other. Does Celes not teach us to hold the light in our hearts? Does Nandoah not teach us that even in death there is compassion? These things were ignored completely, and I felt sorely cheated in the service, as I had supposed it would tell me things about Celes, Nandoah and Aon, and how their lessons could teach us.
I refused to ask the blessing of Eamon and Demian, since I was not yet convinced their story of the third god was true, and left the temple after a donation. At least I had by that gift paid for the apple cake they had served us in reminder for their sermon.
Shortly after the service I gathered Serek, Elana, Ares and some others and set out to meet the Raikua. Elana had told me several stories of how friendly they were, and how to show respect. Ares and the Merodes, our neighbours, also spoke highly of the Raikua, and I was interested in them. The previous night the mayor of Speranza had asked me to become the diplomat of Speranza to the Raikua, and I had accepted the task gladly. I figured I'd bring them a gift of food as an introduction and a first step towards friendship. I am not completely without diplomacy, though the finer (and rougher) edges of diplomacy are more Olav's expertise.
At the edge of the Raikua territory we paused, and shouted their tribe's name to announce our presence in the proper way. It took them five minutes or so to arrive, and I mimicked the gesture Elana had shown me, pressing two fingers against my forehead as a greeting.
"My name is Henriëtte Deresa. I've newly arrived in Esperanza." I said.
The Raikua introduced themselves, difficult names I would have to double-check with Elana to make sure I wouldn't make a mistake in the future.
"As I'm sure you know, the people of Esperanza have had many different leaders. There is new leadership in the village today. Gideon has been appointed mayor, and he has asked me to become official diplomat to the Raikua. I have brought a gift of friendship." I said, extending a parcel of various foods to the woman Nissa. She took it in both hands.
We spoke for a short time, and then I spoke about food some more. "I also ask for your wisdom." I said. "We're trying to decide where we can grow crops, so that the people of Esperanza will not starve. Perhaps you can tell me where we may grow these."
"Anywhere between your gates and Holm is free to use, except the territory of the Raikua." one of the men said. "You know how to see the sign?"
I said I did. The Raikua continued. "We've long ago offered our wisdom to the tribe of Many Faces, but they never listened to us."
I apologised. "That is why I am here. I will help bring about this change, so that we will not perish and so that we can prove to you that your advice will be listened to."
The Raikua nodded.
"What about wildlife?" I asked.
"The animals draw further and further away from the humans of Speranza." one of the Raikua said.
Someone suggested we would breed animals inside the walls, like cattle. All in all it was a fruitful meeting, one that I would like to repeat at a future time. When we said our goodbyes, I felt I had accomplished something.
After returning to the village, I instructed several people to prepare for the new plans. Capturing rabbits and other wildlife would not be too much of a problem, with several skilled hunters in the settlement ready to do so. The problem would be making a corral or cage to keep them safely in. I talked to several people to set this in motion and soon the first two live rabbits were penned next to the Aon temple, thanks to Max. I also spoke with Ambrogino to bring him up to speed.
I called upon the rope maker, a pirate, to create nets and lassos to capture larger live animals with and perhaps to use for fishing, though I doubted any fishermen would be able to ply their trade after my encounters with the Talfar in that direction. Instead, I focused more on the hunt and domestication of wild animals.
After noon, a woman came to us to call for our aid. "My daughter's possessed." she wailed, pulling a girl in her teens behind her on a chain. "Please, good sirs, help me."
Tijl called for a stretcher and we pulled the girl down and tied her so she couldn't get away while we tried to exorcise the demon. Salt, holy water, red brick powder and other necessities were acquired and Tijl and Olav set to it with the expert help of Elana, who in a pinch helped us drill a hole in the girl's forehead so the demon could get out of her head.
I turned to the mother before Elana set to work, saying "You don't want to witness this, ma'am."
"But it's my daughter!" the woman wailed. Next to her, one of the village council members shifted nervously. I happened to know his name.
"Alessandro, please take this woman and give her something to drink. She need not witness her daughter having a hole drilled in her head."
Alessandro obliged me and took the frightened woman away and we set to work. I washed the daughter's hands and feet with holy water and then Elana drilled a hole where Tijl excavated the demon. After a moment or two, the girl came to her senses. "What's going on?" she asked. "Where's mommy?"
We untied the poor girl, and sent her off with her mother, telling the woman exactly how to ward her house from evil spirits to prevent this from happening again.
It wasn't the only thing that needed our attention. James, David and Olav had involved themselves in a plot with some chalice, a deck of cards or two and had run afoul of Fifi, the watch plant of the Schnoodaert family. David had been brought to the hospital, a mess of blood, writhing plant parts and salt was already on his leg when I got there. Tijl and Elana were present once more, washing the blood and trying to dig the plant's evil presence from David. James sat at David's head, murmuring prayers and placing coins on David's forehead and eyes and chin.
When finally the plant demon decided to leave David's body, it flew upward in a roaring ball of flames, igniting the roof of the hospital . Tijl, still holding the bowl of holy water, reacted quickly and soon it rained droplets of holy water from the roof. We moved David outside so he wouldn't be troubled by the smoke, but he'd have to recover from the experience.
Not two seconds later the smithy exploded. Everyone was flung back and once we picked ourselves up from the ground we found several badly injured people. Olav was amongst them. Later, we puzzled together the story what had happened: he had had some of the demonic plant on his mace, and Tijl had told him to burn it. When he'd placed the mace into the smithy fire, the plant had exploded and the blast was so strong that it ripped the building apart.
I sat with Olav for a while, talking to him and Demian who joined us later once the healers were done. His wounds were very severe, but he would pull through.
Max approached me later in the afternoon. He was a craftsman who seemed to have associated himself with the Domus Nova, where he'd built the rabbit pens. He had set up a list of seeds they wanted to order from the Old World and he wanted my judgement.
When he thrust the list at me, I told him to read it to me and we discussed the various plants. I was surprised to find that except for grain, all the other seedlings could be planted since we'd already found soil that was suitable. Even the rice could be cultivated near the village. Hopefully we could offer the farmers enough protection from the Talfar.
"How about this?" I proposed to Max. "Instead of ordering the seeds from the Old World, we should try and procure them locally. The Umbeki..." I pronounced the tribe's awkward name wrongly; "...might have seeds that we can buy from them. I've heard they need protection from the other tribes, and perhaps we can strike a deal that way. That would mean that we would have a harvest come autumn. The ships from the Old World take two to three months to get here, if the ships bearing our letters requesting aid even arrive and don't founder."
Max nodded thoughtfully. "That way, we can begin planting this week. Farmer Hendrik will be happy to hear that."
"Have you any contacts with the Umbeki?" I asked. "Perhaps you and Farmer Hendrik can talk with them and open negotiations. I'm sure we can offer them money or services, whichever they need."
Max set out to do so, and I reported this small success to Ambrogino as well. "You've been getting much done." he smiled.
"You think so?" I replied. "It's nothing, really."
By the time evening fell, Odelia tore herself away from her bookkeeping duties. She had worked her way into the accounts of no less than five households or businesses, and had been kept extremely busy acquainting herself with the books. I missed her cheerful presence, but she promised me to do girly things later that day.
"I heard the Wigs are having a masked ball later tonight." she twinkled. "Shall I try and procure an invitation?"
If anyone could do it, it would be her. She went off to charm the Wigs with her smiles and soon returned with a riddle that would need solving before she would get the invitation. As she went on to solve it, James and I were asked to join an expedition to find a missing archaeologist.
When we set out, guided by two natives in brown clothes, we discovered that the mission was a request from the Old World, meaning that the man in question had been missing for at least half a year.
"I thought you needed people who can track. Do you think we can still find his tracks after six months? I'm not that good a tracker."
We continued on anyway, through the jungle, and went to the edge of the New World where sheer cliffs dropped off into a roiling sea. We carefully hugged the cliff side, crawling under creepers where necessary, and soon enough the path wound down to a beach. There we saw a chest near the water, bones strewn about. Before James or I could act, the others (a group of a dozen villagers) pounced on the chest, not quite shouting "LOOOT!".
"Do you think it might be wise to stick your hands into a chest with bones? For all you know it's been cursed." I pointed out, upon which one or two carefully retracted their hands. I looked into the chest, but nothing stood out as demonic or witchy, and I let them have their fun.
I did insist the bones we found would be properly put to rest, a prayer to Nandoah spoken over the remains. That way, we could at least try and prevent some necromancy. (as if!)
We returned with theloot chest but James, the two brown-clad guides and I were now in the back of the column. When the guide pointed out our road went up the cliff side, the rest save one woman all went on ahead by the beach. James and I shrugged. If they wanted to go for a detour and find themselves some Talfar, that would be fine. We wound our way through the jungle back to Speranza (which I still think is called Esperanza).
When we returned, Odelia had procured two invitations for us and we set about the promised girly stuff. We had nothing to wear and mere hours before the ball Ambrogino could not procure different outfits any more. I opted to just wear my hair differently, and Odelia tied it in a high knot, locks falling around my head like a warrior's hairdo. Ambrogino had given us both a mask to wear, a simple domino for me, and a feathered peacock mask for Odelia.
Odelia stuck a silver clasp in her red locks, so they fell playfully on either side, and asked me if she could just wear her petticoats and corset as a ball gown.
"Tijl would have you flogged if you did that." I grinned. "They're red, Odelia! You can't possibly!"
Finally, she agreed with me it would be too much, andwe just doffed our hats and coats for a more leisurely look.
When we approached the Domus Nova an hour later it was transformed into a ballroom. Brother Demian would guide the both of us inside, but someone asked him something and he left us for a moment. Zebedeus (who pretended to be Allessandro) snatched up Odelia's arm, and started to guide her inside, leaving me quite alone outside.
I leaned into a tree, the raging beast of jealousy rampaging through my soul. But before Odelia went inside she saw me, notified Demian and charmed him sufficiently to take my arm and guide me inside as a partner.
Inside we were welcomed by the viscomte and doctor, who also had switched personalities, since that was supposedly the point of a masked ball. Someone offered me champagne and I took a swig right away.
Odelia told me to mingle, and the judge Van Binsbergen approached me. I greeted him politely, feeling very out of place. "And where did you study?" Van Binsbergen demanded in a sour voice. I never knew the man could be so arrogant! What a mask can do to liberate a man...
"I...er...didn't." I replied, feeling ashamed to have to admit it. The Order had given me an education, but it wasn't scientific or noble.
"Oh." Van Binsbergen replied. "Do you have any hobbies?"
"Yes!" I replied, relieved. "I collect, er, strange creatures in jars." My voice dwindled. Perhaps it was not the best topic for the occasion.
I looked around, gulping champagne. The nobles, Schnoodaerts and other guests mingled. Limericks were recited, making fun of guests from Holm and Speranza alike, and I enjoyed myself less and less. Odelia seemed to be having fun, hanging onto the arm of Zebedeus Schnoodaert, and laughing in his ear. After I'd finished my champagne I fled the temple.
I nearly ran to our own lodgings, and pulled my hat down over my ears, but my elaborate hairstyle prevented it from staying put. After a moment I ripped the elastic from my head, braiding my hair severely and pushing down my hat firmly.
At least I looked ready for service, even if I didn't feel it.
I lingered on the settlement's main square with its well, watching revellers and party goers enter and exit the temple, often swaying a little from the champagne. Suddenly, the door of the tailor's shop opened, and Ambrogino stepped out, wearing a huge red ball gown fit for any lady, his hair in curls swaying as he walked. People stopped to stare, and as he entered the ball people applauded.
I returned to the edge of the village, sinking down under a tree to return to myself. The moon lit the space between the trees, and I thought of Nandoah. But before I sank down I saw someone. Two Raikua and one other tribesman, though I didn't recognise him as such, stood under a tree.
I approached them and greeted them properly, pressing fingers to forehead. A few paces behind me I heard James, his leather coat rasping on the bark of a tree.
The Raikua told me the third man was of the Obsidians, another indigenous tribe, who had a special mission. The Raikua were teaching him to hide in the shadows (and not doing such a great job at it, if I could find them so easily!)
The Raikua told me they wanted to get to know me better, and they suggested I would meet the other Raikua. I was pleasantly surprised by their offer, and nodded my thanks. "I would enjoy that, but can I bring James along?"
James stepped forward, extending a hand to the Raikua man who stood opposite me. "James Fluisterwoud." he introduced himself.
I took James' arm and pushed it down. "Er, James. That's not the proper greeting, for the Raikua. I should have told you, but for them it means something completely different."
The Raikua, meanwhile, spoke too. "However, I am flattered by your offer."
I decided not to tell James what offer he had just made, and instead instructed him in the proper greeting, which he executed with flair. Then the Obsidian shook our arms, their cultural greeting. Even if I can't tell them apart yet, I know how to greet them now.
We set out on dark forest paths, feet whispering on the sand as the light of the moon guided our steps. We walked to the Raikua territory, a road I knew. I pointed out the ring to James and told him what it meant. We took a left turn and walked down another path, and came to another fork in the road, where more Raikua waited. Suddenly there was a call from the left fork as well. "Ipolak! Who is there!?"
"Raikua. We wish to approach with three." the reply went.
"You can approach." called the Ipolak, and three of the Raikua swiftly disappeared down the path.
The darkness swallowed them, and most of the Raikua further off, but I estimated there were some ten Raikua around, and an unknown number of Ipolak. I had no idea what to do, but we held our positions. Around us, there were sounds like rain, which were caterpillars falling from the branches onto the dead leaves. The whispers of conversation drifted from our left, but I couldn't make out the words. The Raikua were very quiet, except for a sneeze or two, and James and I didn't speak.
Then one of the Raikua returned from his conversation with the Ipolak, and approached us. "I want you to meet the Ipolak." he said, shifting his fur hat. "I'll instruct you in the proper greeting before we get there."
In hushed tones I asked James to come along, and the Raikua told us to lie flat on the ground, and to wait until the Ipolak would touch our shoulder before standing up. "It's important that you show them the respect they deserve." he emphasized, but there was no more time before we reached the Ipolak.
I sank down on my knees and placed my spear to my left, bending over my hands and placing my head nearly in the sand. I think James did the same to my left, and we waited. Long seconds stretched out. A voice said "Stand up."
Thinking this was a test, for we should be touched on the shoulder before we could get up, I stayed where I was, and the command was repeated. Only when the Raikua repeated it, did we stand.
The Raikua turned around and walked back to their group. To my surprise, one of the three people on the path was Gideon, the mayor of Speranza.
"I will return you to Speranza." Gideon said while the Ipolak sped ahead, their dark shapes still very anonymous to us. "I have some business to take care of with the Ipolak, but after that I'll explain everything. There's not enough time now. Do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
"Yes. You have an obligation to the Ipolak." I said.
"I hope that is done with after tonight. But we'll see. After I'm done with the Ipolak, I'll explain everything, but the short version for now is that the Raikua have presented you as a gift to the Ipolak. In the past the Domus has sent paladins, who have massacred much of the Ipolak tribe, and perhaps the Raikua thought that the Ipolak wanted revenge. But that is not their way. They told the Raikua they had no use for slaves, and would not accept their gift, but just to be sure I'm taking you along. Speranza is there. I bid you goodnight."
Gideon followed the Ipolak and the dark jungle swallowed them, while I turned to James.
"So, the Raikua gave us away?" he said. "The Ipolak could do what they wanted with us?"
James raised his crossbow, and turned on his heel. I called his name, but he started walking back into the forest, back to the Raikua. Before he could walk three paces, I raised my spear, and wrapped the wooden staff in front of him, holding him back. "James, please don't."
"Why not!?" he said, acid in his voice. "If they would make sacrifices of us, I will make sacrifices of them!"
"We don't know that for sure. I'll come with you if you go, but please wait for Gideon's explanation." I let my staff go, and he turned to me.
"Do you know what you ask of me?" he said, restraint echoing in his voice. "If you ask this of me, I would know who asks it of me."
I rubbed my eyes. Would I risk our friendship over this? Could I dare not to?
"I ask it of you as Henriëtte." I said, gambling everything. I knew it was the only right answer, but it felt like throwing away our friendship for something... something... oh, I don't know!
We entered the encampment, where the rest of the Collective had been waiting for us, noting our absence and not knowing where we had gone. I ducked into our tent but as soon as Odelia started to ask what was going on, I went outside again, escaping to the edges of the village. They said there'd once been a wall there, but now one could just walk out of the village into the wild. James sat beneath one of the sparse trees, at the end of civilization, talking to David in hushed tones. I chose a spot nearby, sitting with my back against the wood. The brim of my hat crushed against the wood so I took it off and rested my head, staring up at the dark sky and moonlit leaves.
I heard James and David whisper for a while, but their conversation ended when James said "Take care of Henriëtte first."
David sat opposite me. "James told me what happened." he said.
"How could I have been so wrong about them?" I asked, not expecting an answer. David put both his hands at my shoulders. "Look at me." he said. "This is not your fault. You could not have foreseen this. You could not have known. Find the truth in that, and hold it in your heart."
It had been a while since my last confession, and a priest sitting opposite me, going straight to the truth of the matter, reminded me of what I had left behind in the Old World. To remember confession, to remember forgiveness. I tore my eyes away from David's, and rubbed both hands over my face.
From our tent I heard Odelia cry. "They've been gone so long, and now they return and they won't talk to me. And they're not fine!"
"I'd better talk to Odelia." I said to David. "I owe her an apology."
"Don't forget what's in your heart." David replied. "And if you want to talk about it, you can always confide in me."
Truer words were never spoken.
I apologised to Odelia, but it was a half-hearted apology, my heart still in turmoil over what happened with the Raikua, and what happened between James and me. Would he hold it against me?
I owed Odelia a better apology than I gave her that night, but she accepted it, wiping the tears from her eyes. I hugged her, and then went outside to think.
The judge came by our tent later and asked after Odelia. She walked with him for a while and then dashed back into the tent. "Do we have salt?" she cried out. "I need holy water. Someone's possessed!"
We all jumped to our feet and ran after Odelia to the Domus Nova, where Samantha was held by Demian and Eamon. James sank to his knees behind her and Tijl shouted for red bricks. I ran back to the tent, where he had placed two, and dashed around a couple of people in the square. When I returned, I took the bricks in both hands and rubbed them together, walking a slow circle around the stretcher with Samantha on it, and then another circle just to make sure.
I stepped inside the circle after I'd put the bricks away. James was talking softly into Samantha's ear, while Tijl held a mirror to her face.
On the stretcher Samantha writhed and thrashed and the girl was strong. How Demian and Eamon had held her is a mystery. At some point she broke away, avoiding strong Olav's arms and running outside. I was a step behind her, but I had seen her strength and decided to not try and stop her when she jumped on top of Michelangeo and beat him up.
It took Olav and Ares to restrain her, and we accompanied her back to the temple. "No! NO! LET ME GOOOO!" Samantha shrieked. We walked briskly, our long black coats swirling in the dust of the square, and I closed the temple door behind us. Boy, what good publicity...
When she was back on the stretcher, we tried a different approach. Tijl held a party mask up to Samantha's face and James carefully cradled her head, while Olav and Ares stood by to hold her still.
"Samantha, I need you to remember how you feel when you're in the garden. Can you focus on that feeling for me?" James asked.
"Okay." Samantha's voice sounded very scared.
"Demon, can you hear me?" James said then. "Can't you see this pretty mask we found for you? Isn't it much prettier than Samantha herself?"
Tijl pointed towards a mirror, and I held it up to the masked girl's face. James continued cooing to the demon. "Look at that pretty mask. How beautiful it is. And as pretty as Samantha is, she will grow old and die. The mask will never grow older, never grow frail. Wouldn't you like to be inside that mask instead?"
When I pulled the mirror away from Samantha's face, my hand started to shake. Something was trying to hold onto the mirror, and not even Elana's hand on mine could make it stop. I carefully brought the mirror closer, and then moved it away again, and again, but it still shook wildly.
Finally, the demon released Samantha's body, and Samantha herself asked in a tiny voice what had happened. I threw the mirror into the wax of a slow burning candle, and the mask was held gingerly by Odelia.
After we'd helped Samantha up and she was taken care of by Brother Eamon, James insisted we needed to check whether the demon had really taken possession of the mask, but there was nothing there. Then he sat himself down on a bench and took the mirror in his hand. He tilted it so he couldn't look into his own eyes, and peered down at the reflective surface through his eyelashes. He looked, but the seconds stretched, and the mirror moved.
I folded my hand around it and pulled the mirror around so James could no longer look into it. "James!" I said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you dare."
"What?" he said, confused. Then he shook his head and rubbed his eyes with one hand.
"It's in the mirror." I said, handing the mirror to Odelia and giving her my cravat to wrap it in. "Keep it." I said. "I'm not tying a cravat around my neck that has been around a possessed mirror."
While Olav bent a piece of lead around the mirror with his bare hands, I turned to Samantha. "Samantha, how are you?"
"Scared." she said.
"You'll be fine. You were very brave." I replied. "But I need you to do something for me, okay?"
"Okay." Samantha replied.
"If you go to sleep tonight and you dream, try to remember. I want you to tell me if you have dreamed something, and what you have dreamed. Even if it's just about playing in the fields or sitting in the garden. Can you do that for me?"
Samantha nodded. She clutched her swords closely, and I put an arm around her. "You did really well tonight. How about we go and have some tea later this week?"
Sunday
I was up early and broke my fast on the square in front of the inn, watching the villagers go about their business. Some people were still in their beds, groggy from the night previous despite the fact that the party had broken up early. I could understand the sentiment, myself. Having helped perform three exorcisms of various kinds in one day really takes it out of you.
After breakfast there was an announcement that broke off the play for a while. Many other larpers have blogged about it, but I should mention it as well. Eef had died. He was a man who always did a lot for Enneade (organisers of Aon and BoneBreakersBar before that), which made his passing away especially painful. I knew Eef by name and I'd like to think he knew mine as well. He was always around to help people fix things, arrange things, or just facilitate things so that the game could continue. Though the announcement was painful for many people and really affected the mood, I figured I'd best remember Eef as someone who would want the game to go on – and go on playing. There were many people who knew Eef a lot better than me, and for them there was the chance to drop out and sit with friends to tell stories of a great man, but others could, if they wanted, continue playing.
I will remember Eef fondly, as someone who always lend people a helping hand.
There would be no new plot that day, but that was understandable. The game started up again slowly. Our group (minus Vince, who'd gone home for Pentecost the night previous) sat in front of our tent, and talked for a while before letting ourselves drop naturally back into the game.
The official assignation of the Collective as keepers of the Law had been finalised the day previous, and council members appointed Tijl a rank in the Custodita to make sure the right people would be persuaded to listen to him. We made our rounds through the settlement, and I picked up gossip that said the woman who had been on the boat with us had not only laid cards for someone, but that her predictions based on the cards had come true. We decided to invite her for some questions, but she was nowhere to be found.
When I saw Raikua appear from the forest, I first checked James' position. I couldn't guarantee he wouldn't fly off the handle then and there, but he nodded to me, as if to say I could do my thing. The Merodes, friends of the Raikua and our neighbours, sat down with the Raikua for a talk, but before they could even say two words I used my spear to work Uljas against the ground and demand an explanation.
Which boiled down to "you misunderstood us" and "it wasn't that way at all". I wasn't sure whether I should believe them, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Henriëtte talks to Uljas while the Merodes and Tijl listen closely. - Photo by Ork de Rooij.
When we sat in our tent to discuss the matter, it was Olav and Odelia who spoke the most. Somehow, the two of them held strong opinions on the Raikua subject. It irked me that James and I couldn't get a word in edgewise, and I told James, as we exited the tent after the discussion, that we, and we alone, would talk to the village council on the Raikua matter.
There was also some confusion about the post of coordinator, which had not only been given to me. I checked with Ambrogino, as I'd heard Zebedeus now held the post and Eamon had done so before him. When Ambrogino confirmed this, I dug into my pocket and extracted the five silvers he'd given me. I'd intended to exchange them to coppers so I could pay the hunters, but since my services were no longer needed it would only be fair he would get them back.
When I remarked we only had two rabbits to feed seven people that evening, he also promised to help, but the help never came.
Later that day Tijl had listened in on some other conversation, and we brought a couple of scouts in for questioning. The man, wearing a magenta satin shirt, had introduced himself as a scout the previous day. The other was none other than Serek, the elf who could talk to animals. I had had my eye on her for a while, but still had not had enough proof to arrest her for witchcraft (after all, usually it's the other way around and the animals talk to people, like Toby the talking toad!)
Tijl had overheard they wanted to set up an assassin's guild, and they had also said their first assignation was in. We questioned them, six imposing figures standing around in their long coats, weapons at the ready.
"No, no, you misunderstood." Serek said. "We were just joking!"
"We've actually settled on an entertainment guild. You know, with jokes and stuff. Haha." the other one said. I pointed out to him nobody was laughing now, and he tried a staring competition with me.
In the end we released them again, but they have to report in every day so we can keep an eye on them. However, the Doctor and the Viscomte (the "wigs" in slang) had gotten wind of the plot on their lives, and decided to file an official complaint with the judge. I wonder where they'll get the evidence to back their case. I haven't seen Van Binsbergen mete out punishment yet – even the ex-chief of the Talfar who had murdered children from another tribe was just banished from the settlement. But we'll see.
A good event, with lots of roleplay. For a new group, we were instantly involved in way too many things. I missed a lot of the main plot, but I guess that's only to be expected.
The Raikua backstabbing was interesting. I don't know their motivation behind it (or not all of it), but then I don't need to know. However, what was so interesting is that I felt OC offended and betrayed by their IC actions. On Saturday night I really couldn't make myself sit with the Merodes, their friends, and drink and joke because of what the Raikua had done.
Luckily, I ran into the Raikua in the bar, who were OC and drinking. I got this nagging feeling out of my system by joking around with them, and all was well. Interesting, unexpected twist of things!
As for the new food system: it does create interesting play and if one or two people actually set their minds to it you can get a lot done and not everyone will be hungry. But I do expect better physreps next time. Two pieces of paper of 1x1 centimeter is just not enough! Life-size would be nice, but cumbersome. Not everyone can drag around three meat pies in their coat pockets, but then we don't expect them to and it creates opportunities for other play (like theft or misappropriation of unguarded food).
The bare minimum would be to have cards (A6 or even A7 size) with full-colour images on them. These shreds of paper are really quite disappointing.
I'm looking forward to the next Aon, as there is the promise of much more play. I honestly can't tell you whether I am or am no longer the minister for agricultural affairs. I just don't know!
*
If you want to see the awesome photo's Ork made at the event, check out his Website and:
Aon 7 gallery ~ Portraits from Aon.
All images of his are reposted here with his explicit permission.
Dramatis Personae
The Collective of Dissolutions:
Henriëtte Deresa - played by me
Odelia Voshart – played by
margrietjeTijl de Grauw – played by Ahroun
James Fluisterwoud – played by Diego
Olav Asathor – played by Jos
David Bishop – played by Theo
Caleb-Johann Vandorn – played by Vince
Villagers:
Ambrogino Schnoodaert, village tailor - played by
snaLaurence van Binsbergen, judge – played by Niels
Brother Demian, prophet of Aon – played by Pluis
Brother Eamon, prophet of Aon – played by
omdathetkanElana, played by Petra.
Ares, a fighter - played by
cabarayFriday
Suddenly the rolling of the waves increased madly, and before we could get above decks, there were shouts to stay below. A heavy storm had rolled in from the sea, and the captain was doing his best to keep the ship intact.
I coughed, fingers gripping sand. Salt water dripped from my mouth. At least I was ashore, and my fingers found my spear. Despite its heavy metal tip the wood had stayed somewhat afloat.
I heard someone moan and got up on my knees. Along the shore several others had washed up and I counted all of the Collective. We all still had our weapons, a miracle - even Olav still had his huge mace clutched in one hand, but then his strong legs probably made him a better swimmer than I was.
We picked ourselves and our stuff up from the beach, and looked for other survivors. A young woman who had piqued our interest earlier during the trip had washed up with us, along with a tar-smeared man who claimed to have been below decks for most of the journey.
From the forest surrounding the beach, a young woman approached us. Her dark hair streamed in the wind and she said she would guide us to Speranza. "You're lucky to have survived that storm." she breathed.
It wasn't long before we met the first indigenous people. Soft whistled signals surrounded us, and though our lady guide tried to communicate with the tribesmen, they soon attacked us.
"They're Talfar, but they normally don't attack groups such as these." she said when several of the tribesmen had fallen to Caleb's mace. "We must make haste. If they attack such a large group, their friends must be nearby."
The gates of Speranza were open, and a tall northman stood blocking the entrance with a shield. "Ah, new arrivals!" he announced.
I think it was Odelia who asked after Tijl, and the northman turned around. "Tijl! Friends of yours!"
A man stepped out of the shadows. "Friends?" his voice was gruff, a rasping sound torturing the ears.
We all shook hands, glad to be united once more. "I'll show you around." Tijl said, coming down to business.
Near the ever-burning ruins of a house that once housed a Demonologist, James found a puzzle. He told me about it, Olav standing by. The puzzle seemed horribly complicated, involving a riddle and maths. I left them to it, and later I heard some girl had solved the puzzle and we would be allowed access to the goldmine through the hatch underneath the puzzle.
I met the village tailor that evening as well. "Ambrogino Schnoodaert." he smiled, and shook my hand. "You are a friend of Tijl?"
I explained to him that the seven orders had each sent a representative to the New World to aid Tijl.
"And your expertise?"
"I am trained to recognise signs of witchcraft and nigromantia in the fields, the woods and the waters. You could say I'm a special kind of agricultural expert." I told him about six-legged silver salamanders and talking toads.
"Well, miss. I have an opening, as it so happens. Speranza is in dire need of some expertise. We have a problem with our food acquisitioning." Ambrogino said.
"I've run into the Talfar tonight." I said.
"Indeed. We need someone to coordinate the hunter's efforts, someone who can oversee the farmer's work. You know, so they don't plant potatoes where only onions can grow."
"I'm not a farmer." I replied drily. "If you need to get rid of talking cows, I'm there."
"Nonono." he interrupted me. "We need someone to coordinate the efforts. Someone who can steer people in the right direction. You are, of course, free to delegate."
"Ah." I said. "I see."
Ambrogino dug into his pockets and extracted five silver coins. "These will cover your expenses for now."
I took the silvers and pocketed them. "I suppose you will want receipts? Well, Odelia can help with the bookkeeping."
"Or just let whoever you buy something from write you a receipt. I'm glad we have an agreement."
After our tour of the town, someone was gathering volunteers because the Talfar were attacking more beached survivors. Olav, James, David, and Caleb-Johann joined me to go along, as well as a young huntress and several others. By the time we reached the beach, the Talfar were again trying to attack us, without much luck, until one of them used a sleep poison. I fell to the sand, and when I woke several minutes or maybe hours later, I was flanked by two unknown shapes. In the distance, I heard voices discussing what to do next.
"James!" I cried out. Before I could call his name a second time, the back of a dagger descended on my head, and all was black again.
When I came to, the world was upside down. Olav's voice sounded from behind and James was trying to wake me up.
"Ohhhh...." I moaned. "I have a headache."
"She's awake?" Olav asked. "Then she can walk." He bent his knees and put me back on my feet. "Now let's get out of here before the Talfar decide a few slaves is worth the risk of being killed."
I stumbled into the bar, untied my cravat, and asked the barman to wet it for me. I didn't feel up to pulling the well's handle, and he obliged me. The sodden cravat was cold against the bump on my head, and it was a bit of a relief, but the headache remained.
It throbbed all through the meeting with Demian, who claimed to be a prophet of Aon, a third God. In the Old World, the man would have been arrested by the likes of us for being a heretic, but Tijl insisted we'd hear him out.
"When Celes and Nandoah touched, so much power was released that from that point, a shell started to form. A crust of some kind. It grew larger and thicker and this became Aon. Celes, god of light and air, Nandoah, goddess of fire and darkness. Aon is the God of water and earth that separates the two."
My head reeled, the headache unfocused my thoughts so I could no longer think straight. A heretic telling us he was prophet of Aon, who was sent to the New World to spread its word, and none of us acted. The people around me asked questions, Odelia, Olav, David and Caleb, even James. But I was silent, clutching the neckerchief to the bump on my head and trying to make sense of it all.
The Collective of Dissolutions - Photo by Ork de Rooij.
Saturday
The day started warm and humid, as is usual in the New World. My mood plummeted soon after breakfast. The seven of us gathered in the tent, sitting on benches.
"We've been brought here to uphold the laws of the Domus;" Tijl spoke; "but now we have a choice to make. The classical Domus, who only supports Celes and Nandoah, has a chapter house here. But you've all heard what Brother Demian had to say last night, you've had a night to think about his words. He preaches peace and servitude, and he wants us to uphold Celes, Nandoah and Aon, all in one Domus Nova."
I shifted in my seat.
"We can discuss this for a long time;" it was Olav who spoke; "but it boils down to deciding if we support the Domus, and uphold its laws, or whether we support Domus Nova."
"We do realise that if the vote is not unanimous, the minority will be stuck serving a Domus, upholding the laws they might not support themselves." I pointed out.
"Very true." Tijl said. He waited for me to say more.
"I just wanted to keep the individual in mind." I said. "We are a Collective, but this choice will decide so much of our future."
They all nodded. Tijl put the question to the vote. "Who votes to support Domus Nova?"
Six hands rose. Six. I counted them again. Everyone looked at me.
"My world is upside down. So much happened before I came here, and so much has happened since I came here. I just don't know yet." I said.
They accepted that explanation. I decided to talk to the Aon prophets some more.
The garden next to the Domus Nova temple looked luscious and I stepped inside to inspect it for signs of witchcraft. A salamander eyed me from the small water's side. Soon enough I was joined by Elana, who wore the same colours as Demian and Eamon, the prophets of Aon. We'd spoken the previous evening about the various tribes of indigenous people after my first brush with the Talfar.
I asked her about the garden and gifted her the seeds of an apple I had previously eaten. Together, we planted the seeds in piles of fresh earth.
Elana told me about the roses, and when I asked her about the tribes, she told me more about the M'Beki, the Raikua, the Talfar, the Ipolak and the Red Death. By the time she finished telling me about the various habits of greeting and showing respect for each of them, it was time for the service of the Domus Nova.
I sat in one of the benches while a smaller woman, with lovely dark brown hair, spoke the words of opening. It was much similar to a normal service back home, but then she started to preach. After only a perfunctory mention of Nandoah and Celes, the rest of the service was centred on Aon, and balance, and helping each other. Does Celes not teach us to hold the light in our hearts? Does Nandoah not teach us that even in death there is compassion? These things were ignored completely, and I felt sorely cheated in the service, as I had supposed it would tell me things about Celes, Nandoah and Aon, and how their lessons could teach us.
I refused to ask the blessing of Eamon and Demian, since I was not yet convinced their story of the third god was true, and left the temple after a donation. At least I had by that gift paid for the apple cake they had served us in reminder for their sermon.
Shortly after the service I gathered Serek, Elana, Ares and some others and set out to meet the Raikua. Elana had told me several stories of how friendly they were, and how to show respect. Ares and the Merodes, our neighbours, also spoke highly of the Raikua, and I was interested in them. The previous night the mayor of Speranza had asked me to become the diplomat of Speranza to the Raikua, and I had accepted the task gladly. I figured I'd bring them a gift of food as an introduction and a first step towards friendship. I am not completely without diplomacy, though the finer (and rougher) edges of diplomacy are more Olav's expertise.
At the edge of the Raikua territory we paused, and shouted their tribe's name to announce our presence in the proper way. It took them five minutes or so to arrive, and I mimicked the gesture Elana had shown me, pressing two fingers against my forehead as a greeting.
"My name is Henriëtte Deresa. I've newly arrived in Esperanza." I said.
The Raikua introduced themselves, difficult names I would have to double-check with Elana to make sure I wouldn't make a mistake in the future.
"As I'm sure you know, the people of Esperanza have had many different leaders. There is new leadership in the village today. Gideon has been appointed mayor, and he has asked me to become official diplomat to the Raikua. I have brought a gift of friendship." I said, extending a parcel of various foods to the woman Nissa. She took it in both hands.
We spoke for a short time, and then I spoke about food some more. "I also ask for your wisdom." I said. "We're trying to decide where we can grow crops, so that the people of Esperanza will not starve. Perhaps you can tell me where we may grow these."
"Anywhere between your gates and Holm is free to use, except the territory of the Raikua." one of the men said. "You know how to see the sign?"
I said I did. The Raikua continued. "We've long ago offered our wisdom to the tribe of Many Faces, but they never listened to us."
I apologised. "That is why I am here. I will help bring about this change, so that we will not perish and so that we can prove to you that your advice will be listened to."
The Raikua nodded.
"What about wildlife?" I asked.
"The animals draw further and further away from the humans of Speranza." one of the Raikua said.
Someone suggested we would breed animals inside the walls, like cattle. All in all it was a fruitful meeting, one that I would like to repeat at a future time. When we said our goodbyes, I felt I had accomplished something.
After returning to the village, I instructed several people to prepare for the new plans. Capturing rabbits and other wildlife would not be too much of a problem, with several skilled hunters in the settlement ready to do so. The problem would be making a corral or cage to keep them safely in. I talked to several people to set this in motion and soon the first two live rabbits were penned next to the Aon temple, thanks to Max. I also spoke with Ambrogino to bring him up to speed.
I called upon the rope maker, a pirate, to create nets and lassos to capture larger live animals with and perhaps to use for fishing, though I doubted any fishermen would be able to ply their trade after my encounters with the Talfar in that direction. Instead, I focused more on the hunt and domestication of wild animals.
After noon, a woman came to us to call for our aid. "My daughter's possessed." she wailed, pulling a girl in her teens behind her on a chain. "Please, good sirs, help me."
Tijl called for a stretcher and we pulled the girl down and tied her so she couldn't get away while we tried to exorcise the demon. Salt, holy water, red brick powder and other necessities were acquired and Tijl and Olav set to it with the expert help of Elana, who in a pinch helped us drill a hole in the girl's forehead so the demon could get out of her head.
I turned to the mother before Elana set to work, saying "You don't want to witness this, ma'am."
"But it's my daughter!" the woman wailed. Next to her, one of the village council members shifted nervously. I happened to know his name.
"Alessandro, please take this woman and give her something to drink. She need not witness her daughter having a hole drilled in her head."
Alessandro obliged me and took the frightened woman away and we set to work. I washed the daughter's hands and feet with holy water and then Elana drilled a hole where Tijl excavated the demon. After a moment or two, the girl came to her senses. "What's going on?" she asked. "Where's mommy?"
We untied the poor girl, and sent her off with her mother, telling the woman exactly how to ward her house from evil spirits to prevent this from happening again.
 David, undergoing an exorcism calmly. (Photo by me) |
When finally the plant demon decided to leave David's body, it flew upward in a roaring ball of flames, igniting the roof of the hospital . Tijl, still holding the bowl of holy water, reacted quickly and soon it rained droplets of holy water from the roof. We moved David outside so he wouldn't be troubled by the smoke, but he'd have to recover from the experience.
Not two seconds later the smithy exploded. Everyone was flung back and once we picked ourselves up from the ground we found several badly injured people. Olav was amongst them. Later, we puzzled together the story what had happened: he had had some of the demonic plant on his mace, and Tijl had told him to burn it. When he'd placed the mace into the smithy fire, the plant had exploded and the blast was so strong that it ripped the building apart.
I sat with Olav for a while, talking to him and Demian who joined us later once the healers were done. His wounds were very severe, but he would pull through.
Max approached me later in the afternoon. He was a craftsman who seemed to have associated himself with the Domus Nova, where he'd built the rabbit pens. He had set up a list of seeds they wanted to order from the Old World and he wanted my judgement.
When he thrust the list at me, I told him to read it to me and we discussed the various plants. I was surprised to find that except for grain, all the other seedlings could be planted since we'd already found soil that was suitable. Even the rice could be cultivated near the village. Hopefully we could offer the farmers enough protection from the Talfar.
"How about this?" I proposed to Max. "Instead of ordering the seeds from the Old World, we should try and procure them locally. The Umbeki..." I pronounced the tribe's awkward name wrongly; "...might have seeds that we can buy from them. I've heard they need protection from the other tribes, and perhaps we can strike a deal that way. That would mean that we would have a harvest come autumn. The ships from the Old World take two to three months to get here, if the ships bearing our letters requesting aid even arrive and don't founder."
Max nodded thoughtfully. "That way, we can begin planting this week. Farmer Hendrik will be happy to hear that."
"Have you any contacts with the Umbeki?" I asked. "Perhaps you and Farmer Hendrik can talk with them and open negotiations. I'm sure we can offer them money or services, whichever they need."
Max set out to do so, and I reported this small success to Ambrogino as well. "You've been getting much done." he smiled.
"You think so?" I replied. "It's nothing, really."
By the time evening fell, Odelia tore herself away from her bookkeeping duties. She had worked her way into the accounts of no less than five households or businesses, and had been kept extremely busy acquainting herself with the books. I missed her cheerful presence, but she promised me to do girly things later that day.
"I heard the Wigs are having a masked ball later tonight." she twinkled. "Shall I try and procure an invitation?"
If anyone could do it, it would be her. She went off to charm the Wigs with her smiles and soon returned with a riddle that would need solving before she would get the invitation. As she went on to solve it, James and I were asked to join an expedition to find a missing archaeologist.
When we set out, guided by two natives in brown clothes, we discovered that the mission was a request from the Old World, meaning that the man in question had been missing for at least half a year.
"I thought you needed people who can track. Do you think we can still find his tracks after six months? I'm not that good a tracker."
We continued on anyway, through the jungle, and went to the edge of the New World where sheer cliffs dropped off into a roiling sea. We carefully hugged the cliff side, crawling under creepers where necessary, and soon enough the path wound down to a beach. There we saw a chest near the water, bones strewn about. Before James or I could act, the others (a group of a dozen villagers) pounced on the chest, not quite shouting "LOOOT!".
"Do you think it might be wise to stick your hands into a chest with bones? For all you know it's been cursed." I pointed out, upon which one or two carefully retracted their hands. I looked into the chest, but nothing stood out as demonic or witchy, and I let them have their fun.
I did insist the bones we found would be properly put to rest, a prayer to Nandoah spoken over the remains. That way, we could at least try and prevent some necromancy. (as if!)
We returned with the
When we returned, Odelia had procured two invitations for us and we set about the promised girly stuff. We had nothing to wear and mere hours before the ball Ambrogino could not procure different outfits any more. I opted to just wear my hair differently, and Odelia tied it in a high knot, locks falling around my head like a warrior's hairdo. Ambrogino had given us both a mask to wear, a simple domino for me, and a feathered peacock mask for Odelia.
Odelia stuck a silver clasp in her red locks, so they fell playfully on either side, and asked me if she could just wear her petticoats and corset as a ball gown.
"Tijl would have you flogged if you did that." I grinned. "They're red, Odelia! You can't possibly!"
Finally, she agreed with me it would be too much, andwe just doffed our hats and coats for a more leisurely look.
When we approached the Domus Nova an hour later it was transformed into a ballroom. Brother Demian would guide the both of us inside, but someone asked him something and he left us for a moment. Zebedeus (who pretended to be Allessandro) snatched up Odelia's arm, and started to guide her inside, leaving me quite alone outside.
I leaned into a tree, the raging beast of jealousy rampaging through my soul. But before Odelia went inside she saw me, notified Demian and charmed him sufficiently to take my arm and guide me inside as a partner.
Inside we were welcomed by the viscomte and doctor, who also had switched personalities, since that was supposedly the point of a masked ball. Someone offered me champagne and I took a swig right away.
Odelia told me to mingle, and the judge Van Binsbergen approached me. I greeted him politely, feeling very out of place. "And where did you study?" Van Binsbergen demanded in a sour voice. I never knew the man could be so arrogant! What a mask can do to liberate a man...
"I...er...didn't." I replied, feeling ashamed to have to admit it. The Order had given me an education, but it wasn't scientific or noble.
"Oh." Van Binsbergen replied. "Do you have any hobbies?"
"Yes!" I replied, relieved. "I collect, er, strange creatures in jars." My voice dwindled. Perhaps it was not the best topic for the occasion.
I looked around, gulping champagne. The nobles, Schnoodaerts and other guests mingled. Limericks were recited, making fun of guests from Holm and Speranza alike, and I enjoyed myself less and less. Odelia seemed to be having fun, hanging onto the arm of Zebedeus Schnoodaert, and laughing in his ear. After I'd finished my champagne I fled the temple.
I nearly ran to our own lodgings, and pulled my hat down over my ears, but my elaborate hairstyle prevented it from staying put. After a moment I ripped the elastic from my head, braiding my hair severely and pushing down my hat firmly.
At least I looked ready for service, even if I didn't feel it.
I lingered on the settlement's main square with its well, watching revellers and party goers enter and exit the temple, often swaying a little from the champagne. Suddenly, the door of the tailor's shop opened, and Ambrogino stepped out, wearing a huge red ball gown fit for any lady, his hair in curls swaying as he walked. People stopped to stare, and as he entered the ball people applauded.
I returned to the edge of the village, sinking down under a tree to return to myself. The moon lit the space between the trees, and I thought of Nandoah. But before I sank down I saw someone. Two Raikua and one other tribesman, though I didn't recognise him as such, stood under a tree.
I approached them and greeted them properly, pressing fingers to forehead. A few paces behind me I heard James, his leather coat rasping on the bark of a tree.
The Raikua told me the third man was of the Obsidians, another indigenous tribe, who had a special mission. The Raikua were teaching him to hide in the shadows (and not doing such a great job at it, if I could find them so easily!)
The Raikua told me they wanted to get to know me better, and they suggested I would meet the other Raikua. I was pleasantly surprised by their offer, and nodded my thanks. "I would enjoy that, but can I bring James along?"
James stepped forward, extending a hand to the Raikua man who stood opposite me. "James Fluisterwoud." he introduced himself.
I took James' arm and pushed it down. "Er, James. That's not the proper greeting, for the Raikua. I should have told you, but for them it means something completely different."
The Raikua, meanwhile, spoke too. "However, I am flattered by your offer."
I decided not to tell James what offer he had just made, and instead instructed him in the proper greeting, which he executed with flair. Then the Obsidian shook our arms, their cultural greeting. Even if I can't tell them apart yet, I know how to greet them now.
We set out on dark forest paths, feet whispering on the sand as the light of the moon guided our steps. We walked to the Raikua territory, a road I knew. I pointed out the ring to James and told him what it meant. We took a left turn and walked down another path, and came to another fork in the road, where more Raikua waited. Suddenly there was a call from the left fork as well. "Ipolak! Who is there!?"
"Raikua. We wish to approach with three." the reply went.
"You can approach." called the Ipolak, and three of the Raikua swiftly disappeared down the path.
The darkness swallowed them, and most of the Raikua further off, but I estimated there were some ten Raikua around, and an unknown number of Ipolak. I had no idea what to do, but we held our positions. Around us, there were sounds like rain, which were caterpillars falling from the branches onto the dead leaves. The whispers of conversation drifted from our left, but I couldn't make out the words. The Raikua were very quiet, except for a sneeze or two, and James and I didn't speak.
Then one of the Raikua returned from his conversation with the Ipolak, and approached us. "I want you to meet the Ipolak." he said, shifting his fur hat. "I'll instruct you in the proper greeting before we get there."
In hushed tones I asked James to come along, and the Raikua told us to lie flat on the ground, and to wait until the Ipolak would touch our shoulder before standing up. "It's important that you show them the respect they deserve." he emphasized, but there was no more time before we reached the Ipolak.
I sank down on my knees and placed my spear to my left, bending over my hands and placing my head nearly in the sand. I think James did the same to my left, and we waited. Long seconds stretched out. A voice said "Stand up."
Thinking this was a test, for we should be touched on the shoulder before we could get up, I stayed where I was, and the command was repeated. Only when the Raikua repeated it, did we stand.
The Raikua turned around and walked back to their group. To my surprise, one of the three people on the path was Gideon, the mayor of Speranza.
"I will return you to Speranza." Gideon said while the Ipolak sped ahead, their dark shapes still very anonymous to us. "I have some business to take care of with the Ipolak, but after that I'll explain everything. There's not enough time now. Do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
"Yes. You have an obligation to the Ipolak." I said.
"I hope that is done with after tonight. But we'll see. After I'm done with the Ipolak, I'll explain everything, but the short version for now is that the Raikua have presented you as a gift to the Ipolak. In the past the Domus has sent paladins, who have massacred much of the Ipolak tribe, and perhaps the Raikua thought that the Ipolak wanted revenge. But that is not their way. They told the Raikua they had no use for slaves, and would not accept their gift, but just to be sure I'm taking you along. Speranza is there. I bid you goodnight."
Gideon followed the Ipolak and the dark jungle swallowed them, while I turned to James.
"So, the Raikua gave us away?" he said. "The Ipolak could do what they wanted with us?"
James raised his crossbow, and turned on his heel. I called his name, but he started walking back into the forest, back to the Raikua. Before he could walk three paces, I raised my spear, and wrapped the wooden staff in front of him, holding him back. "James, please don't."
"Why not!?" he said, acid in his voice. "If they would make sacrifices of us, I will make sacrifices of them!"
"We don't know that for sure. I'll come with you if you go, but please wait for Gideon's explanation." I let my staff go, and he turned to me.
"Do you know what you ask of me?" he said, restraint echoing in his voice. "If you ask this of me, I would know who asks it of me."
I rubbed my eyes. Would I risk our friendship over this? Could I dare not to?
"I ask it of you as Henriëtte." I said, gambling everything. I knew it was the only right answer, but it felt like throwing away our friendship for something... something... oh, I don't know!
We entered the encampment, where the rest of the Collective had been waiting for us, noting our absence and not knowing where we had gone. I ducked into our tent but as soon as Odelia started to ask what was going on, I went outside again, escaping to the edges of the village. They said there'd once been a wall there, but now one could just walk out of the village into the wild. James sat beneath one of the sparse trees, at the end of civilization, talking to David in hushed tones. I chose a spot nearby, sitting with my back against the wood. The brim of my hat crushed against the wood so I took it off and rested my head, staring up at the dark sky and moonlit leaves.
I heard James and David whisper for a while, but their conversation ended when James said "Take care of Henriëtte first."
David sat opposite me. "James told me what happened." he said.
"How could I have been so wrong about them?" I asked, not expecting an answer. David put both his hands at my shoulders. "Look at me." he said. "This is not your fault. You could not have foreseen this. You could not have known. Find the truth in that, and hold it in your heart."
It had been a while since my last confession, and a priest sitting opposite me, going straight to the truth of the matter, reminded me of what I had left behind in the Old World. To remember confession, to remember forgiveness. I tore my eyes away from David's, and rubbed both hands over my face.
From our tent I heard Odelia cry. "They've been gone so long, and now they return and they won't talk to me. And they're not fine!"
"I'd better talk to Odelia." I said to David. "I owe her an apology."
"Don't forget what's in your heart." David replied. "And if you want to talk about it, you can always confide in me."
Truer words were never spoken.
I apologised to Odelia, but it was a half-hearted apology, my heart still in turmoil over what happened with the Raikua, and what happened between James and me. Would he hold it against me?
I owed Odelia a better apology than I gave her that night, but she accepted it, wiping the tears from her eyes. I hugged her, and then went outside to think.
The judge came by our tent later and asked after Odelia. She walked with him for a while and then dashed back into the tent. "Do we have salt?" she cried out. "I need holy water. Someone's possessed!"
We all jumped to our feet and ran after Odelia to the Domus Nova, where Samantha was held by Demian and Eamon. James sank to his knees behind her and Tijl shouted for red bricks. I ran back to the tent, where he had placed two, and dashed around a couple of people in the square. When I returned, I took the bricks in both hands and rubbed them together, walking a slow circle around the stretcher with Samantha on it, and then another circle just to make sure.
I stepped inside the circle after I'd put the bricks away. James was talking softly into Samantha's ear, while Tijl held a mirror to her face.
On the stretcher Samantha writhed and thrashed and the girl was strong. How Demian and Eamon had held her is a mystery. At some point she broke away, avoiding strong Olav's arms and running outside. I was a step behind her, but I had seen her strength and decided to not try and stop her when she jumped on top of Michelangeo and beat him up.
It took Olav and Ares to restrain her, and we accompanied her back to the temple. "No! NO! LET ME GOOOO!" Samantha shrieked. We walked briskly, our long black coats swirling in the dust of the square, and I closed the temple door behind us. Boy, what good publicity...
When she was back on the stretcher, we tried a different approach. Tijl held a party mask up to Samantha's face and James carefully cradled her head, while Olav and Ares stood by to hold her still.
"Samantha, I need you to remember how you feel when you're in the garden. Can you focus on that feeling for me?" James asked.
"Okay." Samantha's voice sounded very scared.
"Demon, can you hear me?" James said then. "Can't you see this pretty mask we found for you? Isn't it much prettier than Samantha herself?"
Tijl pointed towards a mirror, and I held it up to the masked girl's face. James continued cooing to the demon. "Look at that pretty mask. How beautiful it is. And as pretty as Samantha is, she will grow old and die. The mask will never grow older, never grow frail. Wouldn't you like to be inside that mask instead?"
When I pulled the mirror away from Samantha's face, my hand started to shake. Something was trying to hold onto the mirror, and not even Elana's hand on mine could make it stop. I carefully brought the mirror closer, and then moved it away again, and again, but it still shook wildly.
Finally, the demon released Samantha's body, and Samantha herself asked in a tiny voice what had happened. I threw the mirror into the wax of a slow burning candle, and the mask was held gingerly by Odelia.
After we'd helped Samantha up and she was taken care of by Brother Eamon, James insisted we needed to check whether the demon had really taken possession of the mask, but there was nothing there. Then he sat himself down on a bench and took the mirror in his hand. He tilted it so he couldn't look into his own eyes, and peered down at the reflective surface through his eyelashes. He looked, but the seconds stretched, and the mirror moved.
I folded my hand around it and pulled the mirror around so James could no longer look into it. "James!" I said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you dare."
"What?" he said, confused. Then he shook his head and rubbed his eyes with one hand.
"It's in the mirror." I said, handing the mirror to Odelia and giving her my cravat to wrap it in. "Keep it." I said. "I'm not tying a cravat around my neck that has been around a possessed mirror."
While Olav bent a piece of lead around the mirror with his bare hands, I turned to Samantha. "Samantha, how are you?"
"Scared." she said.
"You'll be fine. You were very brave." I replied. "But I need you to do something for me, okay?"
"Okay." Samantha replied.
"If you go to sleep tonight and you dream, try to remember. I want you to tell me if you have dreamed something, and what you have dreamed. Even if it's just about playing in the fields or sitting in the garden. Can you do that for me?"
Samantha nodded. She clutched her swords closely, and I put an arm around her. "You did really well tonight. How about we go and have some tea later this week?"
Sunday
I was up early and broke my fast on the square in front of the inn, watching the villagers go about their business. Some people were still in their beds, groggy from the night previous despite the fact that the party had broken up early. I could understand the sentiment, myself. Having helped perform three exorcisms of various kinds in one day really takes it out of you.
After breakfast there was an announcement that broke off the play for a while. Many other larpers have blogged about it, but I should mention it as well. Eef had died. He was a man who always did a lot for Enneade (organisers of Aon and BoneBreakersBar before that), which made his passing away especially painful. I knew Eef by name and I'd like to think he knew mine as well. He was always around to help people fix things, arrange things, or just facilitate things so that the game could continue. Though the announcement was painful for many people and really affected the mood, I figured I'd best remember Eef as someone who would want the game to go on – and go on playing. There were many people who knew Eef a lot better than me, and for them there was the chance to drop out and sit with friends to tell stories of a great man, but others could, if they wanted, continue playing.
I will remember Eef fondly, as someone who always lend people a helping hand.
There would be no new plot that day, but that was understandable. The game started up again slowly. Our group (minus Vince, who'd gone home for Pentecost the night previous) sat in front of our tent, and talked for a while before letting ourselves drop naturally back into the game.
The official assignation of the Collective as keepers of the Law had been finalised the day previous, and council members appointed Tijl a rank in the Custodita to make sure the right people would be persuaded to listen to him. We made our rounds through the settlement, and I picked up gossip that said the woman who had been on the boat with us had not only laid cards for someone, but that her predictions based on the cards had come true. We decided to invite her for some questions, but she was nowhere to be found.
When I saw Raikua appear from the forest, I first checked James' position. I couldn't guarantee he wouldn't fly off the handle then and there, but he nodded to me, as if to say I could do my thing. The Merodes, friends of the Raikua and our neighbours, sat down with the Raikua for a talk, but before they could even say two words I used my spear to work Uljas against the ground and demand an explanation.
Which boiled down to "you misunderstood us" and "it wasn't that way at all". I wasn't sure whether I should believe them, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Henriëtte talks to Uljas while the Merodes and Tijl listen closely. - Photo by Ork de Rooij.
When we sat in our tent to discuss the matter, it was Olav and Odelia who spoke the most. Somehow, the two of them held strong opinions on the Raikua subject. It irked me that James and I couldn't get a word in edgewise, and I told James, as we exited the tent after the discussion, that we, and we alone, would talk to the village council on the Raikua matter.
There was also some confusion about the post of coordinator, which had not only been given to me. I checked with Ambrogino, as I'd heard Zebedeus now held the post and Eamon had done so before him. When Ambrogino confirmed this, I dug into my pocket and extracted the five silvers he'd given me. I'd intended to exchange them to coppers so I could pay the hunters, but since my services were no longer needed it would only be fair he would get them back.
When I remarked we only had two rabbits to feed seven people that evening, he also promised to help, but the help never came.
Later that day Tijl had listened in on some other conversation, and we brought a couple of scouts in for questioning. The man, wearing a magenta satin shirt, had introduced himself as a scout the previous day. The other was none other than Serek, the elf who could talk to animals. I had had my eye on her for a while, but still had not had enough proof to arrest her for witchcraft (after all, usually it's the other way around and the animals talk to people, like Toby the talking toad!)
Tijl had overheard they wanted to set up an assassin's guild, and they had also said their first assignation was in. We questioned them, six imposing figures standing around in their long coats, weapons at the ready.
"No, no, you misunderstood." Serek said. "We were just joking!"
"We've actually settled on an entertainment guild. You know, with jokes and stuff. Haha." the other one said. I pointed out to him nobody was laughing now, and he tried a staring competition with me.
In the end we released them again, but they have to report in every day so we can keep an eye on them. However, the Doctor and the Viscomte (the "wigs" in slang) had gotten wind of the plot on their lives, and decided to file an official complaint with the judge. I wonder where they'll get the evidence to back their case. I haven't seen Van Binsbergen mete out punishment yet – even the ex-chief of the Talfar who had murdered children from another tribe was just banished from the settlement. But we'll see.
A good event, with lots of roleplay. For a new group, we were instantly involved in way too many things. I missed a lot of the main plot, but I guess that's only to be expected.
The Raikua backstabbing was interesting. I don't know their motivation behind it (or not all of it), but then I don't need to know. However, what was so interesting is that I felt OC offended and betrayed by their IC actions. On Saturday night I really couldn't make myself sit with the Merodes, their friends, and drink and joke because of what the Raikua had done.
Luckily, I ran into the Raikua in the bar, who were OC and drinking. I got this nagging feeling out of my system by joking around with them, and all was well. Interesting, unexpected twist of things!
As for the new food system: it does create interesting play and if one or two people actually set their minds to it you can get a lot done and not everyone will be hungry. But I do expect better physreps next time. Two pieces of paper of 1x1 centimeter is just not enough! Life-size would be nice, but cumbersome. Not everyone can drag around three meat pies in their coat pockets, but then we don't expect them to and it creates opportunities for other play (like theft or misappropriation of unguarded food).
The bare minimum would be to have cards (A6 or even A7 size) with full-colour images on them. These shreds of paper are really quite disappointing.
I'm looking forward to the next Aon, as there is the promise of much more play. I honestly can't tell you whether I am or am no longer the minister for agricultural affairs. I just don't know!
If you want to see the awesome photo's Ork made at the event, check out his Website and:
Aon 7 gallery ~ Portraits from Aon.
All images of his are reposted here with his explicit permission.
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Date: 2010-05-27 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-27 06:15 pm (UTC)We did buy rabbits from Dunja, so at least Tijl won't starve. I didn't know about your 'gift'.
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Date: 2010-05-27 11:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-28 07:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-28 07:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-28 07:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-28 10:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-28 11:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-30 07:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-30 07:56 am (UTC)Aon must be the most confusing event I've been to so far. So much is messed up, unclear or even unreal. Nobody told me the service was to Aon only. Would I have come? I don't know!