Re: Chronicles of Vieliria
Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 9:19 am
The night starts uneventfully, with the dwarves and their visitors sharing a meal of cabbage, oats and thick chicken stew accompanied with ale or beer, except of Roddek who was offered roasted spiced meat along with the stew that the women made for him. During the meal the adventurers met the rest of the small dwarven community totaling 7 adults and 2 children. Married couples and families were sharing the larger rooms and singles were staying in one of the smaller bedrooms.
Roddek was seated on the head of the large table in the common room and Elder Rhevsur on the opposite side of the table. Fregon's widow and daughter, that have witness Fregon's execution by the anchorites sit as far as possible from the anchorite and don't speak a word, even if addressed. For the most part the dwarves are polite to the humans but distant and absently distrustful. They don't seem to give great value on their oppinion. On the contrary Roddek gets their full attention and respect. Even in his father's clan, rarely he felt that his every word carried such weight except when he was leading his troops in battle. Elder Rhevsur is also greatly respected but he never contradicts anything Roddek says or suggests. The dwarves are warmer to Wilfred, especially Bavur but still it's clear that Roddek is the honor guest here.
The meal carries for about an hour with the women serving the meal, the children setting the table. While the dwarves start with introductions, small talk and telling Roddek what they do in the quarry or the statues they sculpt in their free time soon they seem to relax enough around him to start sharing their concerns with him. They don't seem shy to tell him their greviances with the church of Ezra that seems to support humans and especially followers of Ezra over everyone else. They support that for the Anchorites of Misheril, only followers of Ezra matter. When the despotic Bishop of Nails was around, things were much worse but still things are not good. They also share that they don't like that they're treated as second class citizens to humans, although they contribute as much to society, they're way better laborers and out-live the humans that share their professions by centuries.
After the uncomfortable for the humans meal is over, the children gather the plates, wash Elder Rhevsur's and Roddek's plate, cup, fork and knife, bring blankets for the visitors and turn in for sleep. The adults go to the kitchen, wash their own plates and cups and one by one say their goodnights to Roddek and turn in to sleep too. Bavur is the last to go to sleep.
"I apologize Wilfred. All of us have treated unfairly by humans in the past and we're prideful people. Lord Greyaxe, I also apologize if we offended your companions. Goodnight"
The group gets as comfortable as possible lying on blankets on the stone floor. One by one doze off to a comfortable, welcome sleep that comes after a long, tiring day when one's stomach is full and his body is warm.
And then, Garret's scream pierces the night. The troubled man jumps up drenched in cold sweat, without any memory of the terrible, haunting nightmare except abject terror and a feeling of crushing, oppressing doom. Bavur is the first dwarf out of the door, axe in hand, followed by Taklinn, holding a heavy crossbow. By the time the party makes sure nothing is wrong and reassure the dwarves, every dwarf is awake.
And yet, just a few minutes after the situation is under control and the party has again set to sleep... it's Arneu's turn to wake everyone up screaming in terror, babbling about centipedes eating his skin while he's alive.
Elder Rhevsur in his night-clothes, gives a sigh.
"In our time since the mists closed in Vieliria, after the civil war started, many people have fallen prey to similar maladies of the mind when faced with the horrors of the world." He says looking at Boiros "Some of those horrors visited upon us by the very church that is supposed to protect their followers. I don't know what terrible fate your friends have witnessed, but I don't think less of them." He turns to the other dwarves "Nor should any of you. Some of you had similar reaction to Fregon's execution by the Anchorites that our guests and companions of Lord Greyaxe experience now." He gives a nod to Fregon's widow and she darts in her room, returning with a thick, oily, white brew. The venerable dwarf takes it from her hands and presents it to the humans.
"Humans", the Elder said to G and Arneu, "You can use this to help you sleep without dreams. It contains a lot of alcohol, some animal fat, yogurt, eggs and addictive herbal tranquilizers. You will wake with a strong headache and a clouded mind. Don't use it often! As I said it's addictive and not healthy. Take a lot of it and you'll start seeing hallucinations. Too much and it could be harmful or perhaps even lethal for humans."
Arneu doesn't even wake for the old dwarf to finish before he takes the jug and takes a deep swallow of the drug, making a grimace for the taste.
Roddek was seated on the head of the large table in the common room and Elder Rhevsur on the opposite side of the table. Fregon's widow and daughter, that have witness Fregon's execution by the anchorites sit as far as possible from the anchorite and don't speak a word, even if addressed. For the most part the dwarves are polite to the humans but distant and absently distrustful. They don't seem to give great value on their oppinion. On the contrary Roddek gets their full attention and respect. Even in his father's clan, rarely he felt that his every word carried such weight except when he was leading his troops in battle. Elder Rhevsur is also greatly respected but he never contradicts anything Roddek says or suggests. The dwarves are warmer to Wilfred, especially Bavur but still it's clear that Roddek is the honor guest here.
The meal carries for about an hour with the women serving the meal, the children setting the table. While the dwarves start with introductions, small talk and telling Roddek what they do in the quarry or the statues they sculpt in their free time soon they seem to relax enough around him to start sharing their concerns with him. They don't seem shy to tell him their greviances with the church of Ezra that seems to support humans and especially followers of Ezra over everyone else. They support that for the Anchorites of Misheril, only followers of Ezra matter. When the despotic Bishop of Nails was around, things were much worse but still things are not good. They also share that they don't like that they're treated as second class citizens to humans, although they contribute as much to society, they're way better laborers and out-live the humans that share their professions by centuries.
After the uncomfortable for the humans meal is over, the children gather the plates, wash Elder Rhevsur's and Roddek's plate, cup, fork and knife, bring blankets for the visitors and turn in for sleep. The adults go to the kitchen, wash their own plates and cups and one by one say their goodnights to Roddek and turn in to sleep too. Bavur is the last to go to sleep.
"I apologize Wilfred. All of us have treated unfairly by humans in the past and we're prideful people. Lord Greyaxe, I also apologize if we offended your companions. Goodnight"
The group gets as comfortable as possible lying on blankets on the stone floor. One by one doze off to a comfortable, welcome sleep that comes after a long, tiring day when one's stomach is full and his body is warm.
And then, Garret's scream pierces the night. The troubled man jumps up drenched in cold sweat, without any memory of the terrible, haunting nightmare except abject terror and a feeling of crushing, oppressing doom. Bavur is the first dwarf out of the door, axe in hand, followed by Taklinn, holding a heavy crossbow. By the time the party makes sure nothing is wrong and reassure the dwarves, every dwarf is awake.
And yet, just a few minutes after the situation is under control and the party has again set to sleep... it's Arneu's turn to wake everyone up screaming in terror, babbling about centipedes eating his skin while he's alive.
Elder Rhevsur in his night-clothes, gives a sigh.
"In our time since the mists closed in Vieliria, after the civil war started, many people have fallen prey to similar maladies of the mind when faced with the horrors of the world." He says looking at Boiros "Some of those horrors visited upon us by the very church that is supposed to protect their followers. I don't know what terrible fate your friends have witnessed, but I don't think less of them." He turns to the other dwarves "Nor should any of you. Some of you had similar reaction to Fregon's execution by the Anchorites that our guests and companions of Lord Greyaxe experience now." He gives a nod to Fregon's widow and she darts in her room, returning with a thick, oily, white brew. The venerable dwarf takes it from her hands and presents it to the humans.
"Humans", the Elder said to G and Arneu, "You can use this to help you sleep without dreams. It contains a lot of alcohol, some animal fat, yogurt, eggs and addictive herbal tranquilizers. You will wake with a strong headache and a clouded mind. Don't use it often! As I said it's addictive and not healthy. Take a lot of it and you'll start seeing hallucinations. Too much and it could be harmful or perhaps even lethal for humans."
Arneu doesn't even wake for the old dwarf to finish before he takes the jug and takes a deep swallow of the drug, making a grimace for the taste.