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Elsbeth kneels at the side of the swampy ground with Rethe to one side waiting for Callum to take his place. Every one else stands close to watch the ceremony, Edgar still perched on Mandrakes shoulder. Even Laddie the wolf pads over and starts padding towards Elsbeth, but when Jessie puts down a hand and clicks his fingers, the wolf lies calmly at his feet - waiting for its mistress to finish. Every one, that is, except Herloch - who stays leaning against his tree watching from afar. ------------------------------------------------------- OOC You've not left me much to do this post. LOL |
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Rolf stands, respectfully quiet, a few paces behind Elsbeth. It would be good, seeing the ceremony. The others had been witness to the Norse funeral when Aenis was laid rest, and now a Celtic rite. It would be good, to see into this realm of his companions. OOC: Got to side with John, not much for Rolf to do at the moment. |
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Funerals |
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Sure are a lot of funerals for such a short trip, thought the hobbit. |
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OOC: I'm doing a bit at a time to allow others to participate or interject their reactions. Elsbeth sits very quietly for a bit, her lips moving in silent prayer, her hair draped about her like a halo. Then, she begins to speak. As she does, her voice takes on a steady maturity and dignity. "Forces of water, earth and air; Gods of the streams, land and wind. We come to this place for healing, for remembrance, for honor. From death, to rebirth and life, we come and go by the wisdom of ye. "Mighty Gods and Goddesses, before ye comes Callum, mighty warrior, lad of honor. He brings ye the three heads of his enemies, taken in battle, given ye in thanks. This is the first sacrifice, the sacrifice of the enemy, slain in combat." She looks to Callum, holding her hand out to the bog. |
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Yuri mills around near Elsbeth, not quite sure what is expected of him. He spares a look now and then at Herloch, curious as to what has gotten the man so worked up. Sure, killing dogheads appeals to Yuri, but they're staying the night here regardless. When Elsbeth pauses for Callum, Yuri looks over to the large man, eager to see the skulls. |
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Mandrake finds it hard to have any great feeling for the ceremony, he didn't even know the person they are going to bury *I assume that they'll bury him this time* he thinks to himself. *That's a burial and a burning, I wonder how many other ways these humans deal with their dead. Not very dry ground for a burial though, a gnome wouldn't get caught dead in a grave in ground like this*. Mandrake sniggers at what he just though, but manages to turn it into a cough and clearing of his throat, which, as he feels his face flush, he hopes will fool those present. After a while Mandrake whispers out of the corner of his mouth to the Raven on his shoulder "Edgar, you must think it a waste of good food the way we deal with the dead." |
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Peter stands quietly watching with interest, he's never seen a celtic ceremony before and wants to see how it differs from his native Norse ceremonies. |
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Callum steps forward to the edge of the bog, bows to Elsbeth and speaks: "Ard-mhàthair, gabh so ìobairt thusa agus leanabh a th'agaibh. Ceann seo," He casts the first of the three heads into the bog. "tabhair-mi gu Morrigan - coirbidh-na-bhlàr. Ceann seo," He casts the second head into the bog. "tabhair-mi gu Lugh - tabhairach na siol riastarthae. Agus Ceann seo," He casts the final head into the bog. " thusa agad ard-mhàthair, màthair na dian." Marbhphaisg orm aon duine s'eascaraid sibh!" He pulls out a small dagger with which he slices his forearm and allows the blood to drip on to the earth, before stepping back and handing the dagger to Elsbeth. OOC: Sorry it took so long - I couldn't find my Gaelic books - many apologies to any proper speakers reading this. |
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Elsbeth's brow furrows as she listens to Callum, then she nods, taking the dagger carefully from him. She holds it in her right hand, Callum's blood still marking the blade. "From the Warrior comes the gifts of three, won in conquest of evil. For the second, I call on ye, Beloved Brigantia. In your woods and glades did our enemies find life and death. To your bosom they return, ever in the cycle of life, death and rebirth. My gift I be giving is the cycle of life itself." The young woman holds up Callum's blade. "The Warrior gives the blood of death, of death in honorable battle." She hesitates, her hand shaking slightly, then she draws the blade across the palm of her hand, biting her lip against the pain as her own blood flows. "From the land comes the blood of life, of the pure and unstained." She bows her head in momentary prayer as her blood drips to the ground. She then squeezes her fist tight, forcing the blood to slow, then stop. "From both comes rebirth, the cycle complete." She holds the blade now stained with both her blood and Callum's, then thrusts it deep into the bog, submerging it beneath the water. "These are given, to Brigantia, to the spirits of land and water, and to the Bosom of the Great Mother." "As we complete the cycle to ye, I ask Rethe to bring the third gift- the gift of healing, of the land restored." She looks to the other druid expectantly. OOC: Malc, outstanding job! I don't dare go far in a language I do not know :) |
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Rethe stands tall, holds the garland of leaves forward, and speaks loudly in the same language that Callum used, although it is clear that he is stuggling with a little used language.Ard-Mithair glac na duilleogGlac na duilleog na tuathDair-righ, Mistletoe-righPlandak na DianectBhur tabhair Ard-MithairHe pauses for a moment and the speaks againGreat ones, take these leaves The leaves of this land The mighty Oak and Mistletoe The plants of Dianect, We give to you our mother. He bends to touch the garland to the earth and then holds it high in the air, before casting it into the bog. By the earth and the air and the waters of the land, may these leaves help bring healing both to land itself and all of your followers within it.The garland seems to split apart in mid air and the leaves flutter down to rest on the surface of the bog, covering the area where the heads and dagger landed.Then he looks back to Elsbeth to complete the ceremony. |
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Elsbeth raises her hands, the blood still on the left palm, mud on the right. Her hair hangs raggedly about her face and shoulders. She looks now less the daughter of an elder of the clan and instead the wild offspring of the woods. "All present, I call on ye to offer these gifts as a clan, as those gathered together to celebrate a victory, to promise revenge, to remember those passed." She pauses, then speaks, allowing the others to follow as they choose… "Ard-Mithair, Beir na a trí siopas!" As the voices die out, Elsbeth leans forward until her hair touches the ground, her arms outstretched. She begins to pray, uttering a language that is neither Norse nor Celt, a tongue unknown to her friends and traveling companions. Her voice is soft, intimate. This continues for several moments. |
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Yuri nods to himself, looking suitably impressed with the ritual all participants. When Elsbeth raises her head Yuri holds out the cloth she previously lent him with a small smile. He was going to wash it before he gave it back, but heck, she's a lot dirtier than it now! |
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Peter seems to catch the gist of the ceremony and watches it with pleasure. The contrast between the three participants is striking - Callum looking the very essence of the beserk warrior he is, Rethe stately, tall and serene and Elsbeth loosing the wild free spirit that is within her. Peter starts to get caught up in the ceremony and is leaning forward with anticipation waiting to see what happens next. |
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"All present, I call on ye to offer these gifts as a clan, as those gathered together to celebrate a victory, to promise revenge, to remember those passed." calls Elsbeth "Ach - 'tis as it should be and so be it." responds Jesse from the side lines |
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Rolf watches the rite with interest, finding it oddly significant, yet unfathomable. The symbol of death, the symbol of healing, the binding of the two. Rolf finds himself swept up in the ritual. He quietly tugs an amulet from within his armor, hung from his neck on a leather string and made of bone. Carved upon it, the Norse sign Othila, man and natures interdependence. Stepping up to a place behind Elsbeth, in a soft voice, he speaks up. "If a clan we are, then it falls to me to speak in the name of our clan. By this symbol I do avow that we respect the earth that gives up it's bounty to those who walk upon it and that we and it are but two parts of the same whole." Bringing the amulet up, he brushes it with his lips before stepping back again, looking almost sheapish for having spoken up. |
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Edgar does not answer Mandrake at first, as he closely watches the strange goings on. At last, as the ceremony comes to a close, he turns his beak towards the Gnome's ear and whispers his response, "Not if one truly believes." He turns his head back to the participants, staring almost fixedly at Elspeth and Callum, as if re-evaluating the pair. |
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Jesse looks around fairly sharply at Edgar and Mandrake as Edgar attempts to whisper his reply. |
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"Caaark !" responds Edgar, noting Jesse's interest. Almost reluctantly, he preens his feathers, in a spontaneous display of normal birdlike behaviour, though the frequent glances up at Jesse show that he doesn't think he's fooling anyone. |
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After her voice stills, Elsbeth remains still for a long moment longer. Then, she sits up, not seeming to see the offer of the cloth from Yuri. She dips her hand in the bog, then draws it forth, the remaining mud rinsed and her palm glistening with the moisture of the water. She stands, an unnoticed tear on her cheek, her eyes deep with emotion. She walks to Callum and gently places her wet palm over his heart, looking long into his eyes. "Brae Callum, Warrior and Guardian. Ye protect the Clan, and it honors ye. May the Gods and Goddesses grant ye many a victory, for ye have proven honor and courage." Her voice is deeper, more accented. Elsbeth hesitates, almost as if she does not know what she is doing, but is guided by some other force. She dips her hand again and approaches Yuri, placing her hand over his heart, meeting his gaze. "Yuri, though ye've suffered so, life is your lot by the grace of the Mother. Live it full, as every day is a gift to be treasured." Finally, she dips her hand a third time and turns, hesitating, her eyes searching. She steps forward to Madelyn, placing her damp hand over the other woman's heart, meeting her confused gaze. "Madelyn, the Mother hears th' pain in ye. For ye is the gift of rebirth, in tha' what ye have left, so much awaits. She knows well that though ye think of what ye lost, she promises what ye will find shall be greater." Elsbeth turns to the rest, her hair damp, matted with mud; her hand still bleeding; her knees and legs muddy. Her face is one of joy... and peace. She sways and abruptly sits, overcome with fatigue. |
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Yuri opens his eyes wide and mouths a 'whoops' when he realises he's incorrectly assumed the ritual was over. When Elsbeth digs her hands into the mud and walks over and spreads it on Callum's chest, a small smile spreads across Yuri's lips as he looks down at the small piece of linen in his hand. The smile rappidly disappears however as she approaches Yuri and he meets her gaze as tears well up in his eyes, remembering the faces of the lives lost. When Elsbeth finally collapses to the ground Yuri does not see, for his head has drooped and he cries silently as possible into his chest. The forgotten linen begins to soak up the mud on the ground... |
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As Elsbeth moves to Callum,Yuri and Madelyn, Peter seems to shrink into himself a bit, you can almost see him thinking *Not everyone, what will I do*. As Elsbeth sinks to the ground he relaxes slightly, but appears concerned *is it over, does she need help, or is it still part of the ceremony?* he thinks .... |
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Rolf watches, confused, as Elsbeth touches Madelyn, speaking of losses and gains. It's all too involved for him to follow. But as she sways, that's something he can understand. Rushing over, he helps support her. "Elsbeth, are you well?" He fumbles for his waterskin, offering her a sip. |
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Elsbeth leans against Rolf, accepting the sip of water gladly. "I feelin' fine," she whispers, her voice back to normal. "A wee bit tired, I'm supposing." She allows Rolf to hold her upright with a sigh, for the moment not caring what she must look like, a smile on her face. |
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Callum seems to shake himself out of a trance and wanders over to where Elsbeth is leaning against Rolf. As he reaches her, his face breaks into a broad grin and he gently squeezes her shoulder. "Ye did fine, lass - even the druid from my own village would be strugglin to complain about ye there, and he's a right grumpy ould bugger. Aye, ye were fine!" He turns and wanders away nodding to Rethe and muttering "Feasgar math" as he pulls out a strip of cloth and looks for somewhere to sit to bind the cut on his forearm. OOC: Title should read as Glé Mhath |
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"Fàilte" nods Rethe in response to Callum's greeting. |
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Kerim looks on, unsure what to say or do. He holds the Mules so that they are quiet so they don't disturb the Ceremony and what follows. |
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