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Post by zurajai on Nov 19, 2014 20:00:41 GMT
"I must be completely clear with you," said Staas, clearly at his considerable breaking point, "That there will never, ever be any option where this is involved. King Elon, for one so blessed to have a lineage of Aed's followers you are woefully uneducated in matters of faith. Both the holy books are necessary for our understanding of Aed's will. See to it you read the Raegarnam as soon as possible. And make sure, might I add, to read it yourself: do not listen to another read it. Sermons of one can alter your own reading of the holy text. Now. You will leave Anabella in the hands of the Vaekirate Guard to take to the south and unto Messara. Now if you will excuse me, this conversation has tried my patience and exhausted my tempers. You are welcome to stay in Karmozijn Kerk as long as you need but I must retire. Good day."
With that the usually calm and collected Chief Priest spun on his heels and made a beeline for his quarters, desiring nothing more than to have some peace to reflect on this. As he exited the hall a host of Vaekirate guardsmen in shining plate and wielding their fearsome halberds attended to the party, directing them outside calmly just as another force was getting into formation to take Annabella.
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 21, 2014 3:37:17 GMT
The and his councilors left with feeling of anxiety and edginess themselves. Jordan Delaney realized he probably should have foreseen something like this happening. Elon had been Aedakom for centuries, but for most of that time they had been relatively isolated from the rest of the Veakirate and living close to many pagan religions. The cultural understandings and interpretations of the holy books had evolved in slightly different ways. Separated from the centralized Veakirate, trust in one's personal honor and the self-discovery of one's duty and moral strength to live by it and master it, as well as trust in local holy leaders, rather than the distant higherarchy was prioritized over scriptural study and adherence to traditions or dogma. Sometimes the closer you are to something the harder it was to degree on the details.
Azlyn saw to it that news of Annabella's fate would be sent to him as soon as it was known, but remained broody and sour for a while, unusually thoughtful and quite. He cheered up however, when he took his daughter on a tour of the city. They stayed three days, waiting for the prince to be announced pure and then witnessing his first blessing in the cathedral. Then the party traveled home, expect for a few members who remained in Karmozijn Kerk for business.
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 25, 2014 6:13:57 GMT
It was the evening before the commencement of the Grant Tournament. The sun was setting in the west, gleaming golden light onto the white cliffs of Dovwynn and painting the tops of the waves rosy pink.
King Azlyn came alone to the old manner house, where the representatives of the Veakirate where staying during the tournament. When Haakon Titanhand had last seen King Azlyn he'd been bidding the Tovennar Akur and cheerful farewell, sitting bolding upon his horrse, his constantly bright smile upon his lips and hopeful words on his tongue.
This evening there seemed to be a weight upon his shoulders, dragging him down in both body and spirit. It may have been the huge great sword upon his back, something he hadn't carried last time Haakon had seen him, but large as the sword was, Azlyn was built with more than enough strength to wield it. There was something else, something more spiritually troubling that was weighing upon the King of Elon.
He knocked on the gate and greeted the church officials respectfully, but waisted little time in requesting that Haakon walk with him alone down to the festival square.
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Post by zurajai on Nov 25, 2014 6:53:08 GMT
Haakon strode from the open gate with a cheerful smile nearly hidden behind his beard, eyes pulled back nearly shut from the broadness of his grin. As he raised his hands in what seemed like some sort of horrifying, Giant bear-hug he bellowed loudly at the sight of his friend.
"Azlyn, to gaze upon you again brings great mirth to my heart! It has been too long since our boring march!"
Haakon clapped the King on the shoulder as gently as he could, the massive humanoid dwarfing the man as he bent over to look down at him with his broad, pearly smile.
"Come now, I was told you wished to walk alone; trying to learn my secrets for the tournament no doubt! Hah! Come, I wish to be rid of this place! All the Priests tell me it is a sin to fight in such tournaments as an anointed of Aed! Bah! If Aed had not meant for me to win tournaments he would not have made me so good at winning!"
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 25, 2014 7:51:13 GMT
Azlyn couldn't help but smile at his friend's greeting. Haakon was like a refreezing balm, or a cool wind in the face after affair with Sarvo and Gudrik. As they walked together down the road, it reminded him of many other fine evenings, when they'd walked and talked along the many roads of the north.
"In Elon we believe that if Aed grants you a gift or talent, it is part of your sacred duty to exercise it with all honor and good intention. If Aed made you to win, Haakon, you better damn well do it." He smiled up at his friend, but then his face grew more serious.
"Haakon, I didn't come just to seek your company, though it comforts me greatly to have it. You may not have heard, but Thane Gudrik of Jotun challenged one of the Elonese nobles, Lord Sarvo, to a duel today. The grievance against Gudrik was deep and he couldn't take it out on Sarvo alone. After bashing the lord's head in with his hammer, he ended the duel by nailing the body to the Tree of Oleo and driving the stakes too deep for men to remove." Azlyn was grimacing now, his voice tight as he tried not to let his bitter emotions show.
"As you know the tree is sacred to my people and an integral part of how we worship and relate to Aed. My people were nearly ready to riot on the spot. I..." Azlyn let out a breath his passion starting to overtake him, "I can't explain what this means to us. What that tree means to Elon! If I don't find a way to restore it, the shame Sarvo and Gudrik brought upon this country will weight on our spirit for as long as history remembers the Kingdom of Elon."
They were nearly down to the festival square now and Azlyn paused, turning to face Haakon, "I fear what this means for me, Haakon, what is means for my people on a spiritual level. I came to you, because I have faith in your wisdom and in your friendship and I also have faith in the Church you represent and the magic your people possess. Please tell my the Tovenaar will be able to fix this."
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Post by zurajai on Nov 26, 2014 4:39:23 GMT
"Hmph. Aye, that does not surprise me. That is the way of the Jotun; I once considered myself among their number."
Haakon grumbled and stroked at his beard as he continued down the path, heavy plate crunching against the chainmail underneath as he marched.
"I know nothing within my own powers to do the job yet I know of someone who might be able to aid you. You are familiar with him, in fact. You would know him as the Master Tovenaar Abdur-Rashid. Together we may be able to heal the tree."
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 26, 2014 4:55:17 GMT
"Rashid?" Azlyn asked, in slight surprise. "He's a good man and I trust him completely. Elon will be double in his debt, if he is willing to my aid once again. However, I fear the trouble over Annabella Rose may have soured him against me. I fear I may have unintentional insulted him and upset the Chief Preist last spring."
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Post by zurajai on Nov 26, 2014 5:11:15 GMT
"Aye, I heard of that . . . Rashid will not hold it against you. He is an honorable dwarf despite his heritage and will certainly not hold scorn against you and your people; Chief Priest Staas, however, will not be so forgiving. I have been to Messara and as beautiful and holy a city as it is, the Messarom are known for their orthodoxy. It is, after all, their faith."
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 26, 2014 5:30:38 GMT
Azlyn didn't wish to speak any more of his argument with Chief Priest Staas. He hadn't meant to anger the man, but, nonetheless, he felt as he'd failed Annabella and should have done more to protect her. It was a mess where his instincts and his instructions on the meaning of his duty had collided and left him feeling helplessly lost.
By now they were standing before the Tree of Oleo and Alzyn ran his hand over the bark, as if to comfort a wounded child. "Send for Rashid then. If he truly can restore the tree, he may ask of me whatever he wishes and if it is with in my power to do so, I will grant him his wish."
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Post by zurajai on Nov 26, 2014 6:42:05 GMT
Master Abdur-Rashid arrived but twenty minutes later, called for by a messenger sent to him by Haakon. The dwarf moved with urgency, huffing and puffing as his robes whipped in the wind, trundling forward at "high" speeds, his beard framing his face.
"Legate Haakon Titanhand! I came as soon as I could! I was told you were in grave da- . . .", Haakon turned to look at Rashid, grinning partially, obviously unharmed. "Ah . . . its like that, eh . . . "
Haakon chuckled to himself before waving his hand towards King Azlyn.
"Master Rashid. I believe you have met the good King. He has need of our services in healing the Tree of Oleo. Can you do it?"
Rashid glared up at Haakon, raising his hand immediately to shake his extended finger, wagging it back and forth with displeasure, "Now you know you should not have called for me in such a manner! It was completel- Hmph . . . Alright, nevermind. Good King, despite our past grievances I would be happy to heal the tree. I know it to be a Holy Relic to northern Aedakom and it would be a neglecting my Duty as a Tovenaar to leave it harmed as it is. Tell me, what caused such pain to the tree?"
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 26, 2014 6:51:21 GMT
Azlyn bowed to the dwarf. "My deepest apologies, Master Rashid for any grievances between us. You have rescued my family once already this year and I failed to show you the proper gratitude. Now, again, I am pleading for your assistance, this time to save the emblem of my people's faith in Aed and the spirit of our culture. Do this for me and I swear I shall find away to repay you in truth."
Stepping back, Alzyn made room for the dwarf to inspect the tree in the dim light of the fading evening. "Gudrik Blood Dancer nailed a man to it's trunk earlier this very evening. The stakes are too deep for men to remove and I do mot wish to scar, or harm the tree by cutting them out."
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Post by zurajai on Nov 26, 2014 6:58:17 GMT
"You need not repay me, Azlyn, for this is my Duty in life. A simple 'Thank you' should suffice just fine."
With that the dwarf waddled forward, plying his voluminous beard with his right hand whilst pressing his left to his hip in thought. Haakon, meanwhile, stood back and stared with a raised eyebrow, watching with curiosity born from one of the same profession.
"Hmmph... the spike is deep. The members of your race are strong, Haakon, no doubt of that. It shall take a great deal of labor to remove the metal from the tree completely whilst doing as little harm as possible. Any left over damage to the tree should be easily healed through simple remedies. But perhaps, once the metal is removed, you will want the small scar left on the tree: a lesson, perhaps, to your people who are willing to poison hundreds for their own gain? When embarking on a path of violence, dig two graves, or so the Messarom say."
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Post by missmilkmaid on Nov 26, 2014 7:08:14 GMT
Azlyn's mouth tightened slightly. "The poisoning was committed by one man and his actions were unauthorized and unknown by the rest of Elon. I would never condone poison and Elon certainly had nothing to gain by killing the brave giants of Gudrik's army. When Lord Sarvo's crime was made known to me, I tried him and condemned him according to the law and with all due haste. He has paid for his actions and I would not have his sin staining the soul of my people. If you can heal the tree completely, please do so."
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