Wrapping up at Cynewulf's Hold

[Thomas Fulmer]

Date: 41 Winter 1913

The morning after the feast comes quickly enough. Similar to back at Ebersfjord, the party wakes to find most of the Wodinfolk, hung over or not, awake and engaged in either work, weapons training or physical training. The women are mostly running or doing calisthenics if not involved in some sort of work. The men are doing weapons training with breaks for more high intensity workouts.

It's nearly noon when Sirius and Figol find their way back to the group, they are hauling a Wizard's chest between them. It was a very long night of sorting and organizing and they're both exhausted, better to not end up in a fight until they get some rest. But they do have what they came for, a Wizard's chest, fully stocked. Apparently Cynewulf has three more full ones and two partial ones, they probably just made him a pretty penny but are getting fairly well paid for their work. Wizard's chests are expensive items.

When Annadin returns to the group he has Merilneth with him. She's carrying her personal possessions which is to say a few articles of clothing that were custom made for her and thus serve little purpose to leave behind.

A quick talk with Ivar's crew tells you that with winds and tides being what they are, if you left now you'd be getting back after dark tomorrow. They seem against the concept of landing after dark due to the dangers along the shore line. They say they could take a longer route further out to sea and be back the morning of the following day.

"That is, if your southern friends aren't afraid of sea monsters" One of the crew says to Ragnar.

--GM / Thomas

[John Garden]

> When Annadin returns to the group he has Merilneth with him. She's carrying her personal possessions which is to say a few articles of clothing that were custom > made for her and thus serve little purpose to leave behind.

ooc: Per PM convo w GM, this is an error - a minor one, of course. This only matters if someone wants to say something to or about Merilneth.  Thomas has confirmed via PM that ...

IC:

As the earl said earlier that he would, Cynewulf makes a present of Merilneth to Ragnar. 

ooc: Thomas may still embellish this, obviously. In any case, Merilneth's status is parallel to Calima's. For Wodinfolk purposes, Merilneth "officially" belongs to Ragnar; Calima "officially" belongs to Thariania.

Cynewulf / John as temporary proxy for GM

---

From: mithras...@googlegroups.com <mithras...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Thomas Fulmer <tful...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 5:30 AM
To: mithras-TFTRPG
Subject: [Mithras][Q2:TheCult] Wrapping up at Cynewulf's Hold

 

Date: 41 Winter 1913

When Annadin returns to the group he has Merilneth with him. She's carrying her personal possessions which is to say a few articles of clothing that were custom made for her and thus serve little purpose to leave behind.

--GM / Thomas

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[Thomas Fulmer]

OOC: We'll Go with this and I'll try to find time other than 4am to push posts forward (unlikely, so expect similar mistakes)

IC:
When Annadin returns with Ekie who had left with him, he has two others in tow. One is Merilneth, the other is the slave who seems to be something like an accountant/clerk who Sirius and Figol helped with the wizard's chests.

The clerk approaches Ragnar and inclines his head, "Lord Ragnar, the mighty Earl Cynewulf wishes to present you with a gift. The slave Merilneth." He indicates Merilneth and steps out of the way.

Merilneth approaches and quickly lowers herself into a very deep curtsy, almost touching her knees to the ground before bowing her head forward, "I hope I am acceptable to you, master." She says, seemingly waiting for instructions.

Slaves in the north tend to mostly just kneel. Trywth and a few others do more formal techniques like this, presumably taught at their master's whim to do something a little more difficult.

--GM / Thomas

[Ragnar Ivarsson]

Ragnar nods at the slave announcing the gift and turns to Merilneth as she curtsies

"Hm, what a coincidence this is!" Ragnar says with a glance at Annadin, He sounds genuinely surprised, like it actually is a coincidence. He looks Merilneth up and down. "What are your skills, slave?"

Ragnar / Eric

[Ragnar Ivarsson]

> "That is, if your southern friends aren't afraid of sea monsters" One of the crew says to Ragnar.

Ragnar laughs to the crewman and says with a shrug, "This bunch has been huntin' Nidhoggspawn since we set out from Minot last summer, and the Nidhoggling, apeps, and Helspawn have been huntin' us, too. So there's been findin' and fightin' aplenty. Sure they're a motley flock of sheep, but ain't none of 'em run from a fight so far."

ooc: Ragnar would know the answer to this seafaring question, but I don't - Why not take the short route and just hang out offshore in a holding pattern til morning when it is safe to land?

Ragnar / Eric

[Thomas Fulmer]

Merilneth remains in the seemingly uncomfortable position, when Ragnar questions her, she says, "I've been a domestic slave, master. I cook, clean, sing and polish armor. I've also helped with mead making and keeping the bees though I'm not qualified to do either myself. I can also read and do some math if those things are of any value to you."

She remains in her curtsy with head bowed.

--GM / Thomas

[Thomas Fulmer]

OOC:  Wodinfolk prefer to stay further out because they find shorelines treacherous at night and don't need them for navigation. They don't like staying still because outside of the mist it makes them more vulnerable to scrying whereas normally at the speed they travel, scrying and sending a ship to intercept them would be near impossible. There is nothing preventing them anchoring, it's just not how they normally travel.

--GM / Thomas

--

[dpo...@comcast.net]

OOC: reading about them for years, this is true..it was even brought forth in the  movie  13th warrior. when the Main character is cowering Under a Tarp and  one of the  Vikings had him some  Hot soup/stew...the waves are High  and the  wind and rain is  coming down, the wrriors  on the tiller  are laughing as the hero says"..should  we not be closer to shore?"..the  guy who brought the  soup laughs "..No Boy!, This is not a night to be close to shore!"

---

From: "Thomas Fulmer" <tful...@gmail.com>
To: mithras...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 2:59:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Mithras][Q2:TheCult] Re: Wrapping up at Cynewulf's Hold

[Ragnar Ivarsson]

Ragnar laughs, "This flock's becomin' quite musical, isn't it? For the cookin', you'll work with Calima there." Ragnar points out Calima. "For cleanin', just keep after the messes."

"For the singin', you'll trade what Wodinfolk songs you know from here with the ones Calima's been learnin' in Ebersfjord, - and also you need to learn the songs Annadin's written about this group's fightin' and slayin' Nidhoggspawn, apeps, demons, and such. Learn those well - who knows? You may end up singin' to impress at the Thing."

"My armor's leather, not metal, so not for polishing really. Would you know how to oil it? If so, I might put you on that task when we get back to Ebersfjord. Do you know how to polish weapons without cuttin' yourself?"

"Readin' - like understandin' the squiggly bugs? Yeah, well, nearly everyone in this group can do that - 'cept me, Darc, and Ivy, I think. You can keep an eye out if we're ever stuck or confused or somethin', but mostly the group's got readin' covered. But I don't hear too good, so more useful might be tellin' me if you think I missed somethin' important. And math? Well, maybe when we get a Nidhoggling's hoard."

Ragnar finally waves a dismissal at Merilneth's deep curtsy, "Go talk to Calima - trade what you know with the cookin' and the singin' for this group."

Ragnar turns to the slave accountant, "Tell Lord Cynewulf that I thank him for his generous gift and for his warm hospitality in general. I look forward to the day when he comes to drink the mead of Ebersfjord."

Ragnar / Eric

[Thomas Fulmer]

OOC: Most of the domestic staff type slaves have a similar skillset to include singing. It makes sense in such a rigid culture and makes GM character sheet creation a lot easier. Any slave bought for domestic use that can't sing will probably be told to learn. The party may keep getting musical if slave acquisition becomes common. Calima is a bit different both because she's a PC and because she was captured older and has residual talents from before.

IC:

Merilneth listens carefully to Ragnar's instructions and responds when an opportunity comes along, "A warrior can never have too many songs, master. I'll be honored to learn yours. And your armor will be cleaned, oiled and I'll make the studs shine, master. But forgive me, I have not worked with weapons. I will learn though, master, if that pleases you."

When allowed to rise she bows her head deeper for a moment and says, "As you wish, master" before raising herself gracefully back to her feet. She didn't mention dancing, but probably has the ability to learn it. Ragnar might want to add that to her list of skills to have a nice, all round slave.

Merilneth quickly goes to take her place next to Calima who she looks over a bit confused before bowing her head and simply remaining silent.

((Calima, carrying all those weapons for Thariania, looks odd for a slave, but then, can't be disobeying instructions ^_^ ))

---GM / Thomas

[John Garden]

ooc: Marianne just left today for Europe for the first time. She'll be spending a week in Paris and Rome, so she asked me to fill in for her on Calima. 

IC: 

Calima nods and smiles a welcome at Merilneth, "Hello, Merilneth, I'm Calima. I understand you're Annadin's cousin? My mistress there is Thariania." Camila nods respectfully toward the (apparently) young Elven girl. "She bought me from Earl Ivar just a few days ago after Ivy there," Calima nods likewise respectfully in Ivy's direction, "learned who my kinfolk were back in the Wild Lands. You'll find these people extremely kind."

"Let me first show you where the cooking gear is, and then we'll start learning each other's songs. Probably we should start with Annadin's songs if Lord Ragnar thinks we might be performing them at the Thing."

Calima will start by teaching Merilneth the melody of Annadin's ballads "The Dragon of the Westfall" and "The Battle of Demon Isle." Depending on Merilneth's ability to master and hold onto the melody by herself, Calima will begin experimenting with some harmony. 

Calima / John for Marianne

---

From: mithras...@googlegroups.com <mithras...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Thomas Fulmer <tful...@gmail.com>

Sent: Friday, August 14, 2015 5:27 AM
To: mithras...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Mithras][Q2:TheCult] Wrapping up at Cynewulf's Hold

 

[Thomas Fulmer]

Calima finds Merilneth a good student, she has a pretty voice and sings songs with passion. Annadin, coming from a more formal Bard background believes she has great potential, although probably has to get some formal training to iron out a few minor technical issues if she wanted to make a career of singing. She could probably be a Master Bard some day with formal training to compliment her natural abilities.

She learns lyrics quickly, tapping her hand gently on her leg to keep the beat and to help train her mind.

--GM / Thomas

[Neal Setchell]

Figol appears weary and disheveled when he arrives with Sirius.  He cracks a knowing smile at Sirius as they stow the chest away. "We're very well prepared now, but it took all night. We're going to need to rest a bit, if we're to be of any use the rest of the day".

Figol notices that Merilneth is now with the party and gives her a formal welcoming bow, then prepares to rest.

Figol/Neal

--