| Logs |
2003 November 09
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
November 9
Milk as white as a cow
Corn as yellow as hair
A blood-soaked shoe
Dead man's fingernail
Cloth severed from a lost land (one inch square)
Virgin's blood
Virgin's tears
The moonlight song of a virgin clad only in silver and acorns
Semen of a righteous man
Dust from a gift long lain fallow
Rest for the weary
One drop of blood from a true and piercing love
A painful apology that speaks no language
The day is getting on toward mid-afternoon as the party sets out as a single group, on its way to find Farmer Marron-- and hopefully corn, cows and a dead body.
The bag in Aiden's hand still looks nearly empty and weighs no more than an empty sack ought to, despite containing all the items gathered thus far.
Aiden looks quite fascinated at the bag when he picks it up. He puts it carefully at the top of his backpack.
Hours of walking pass before the party walks out of the trees and rather abruptly into a cornfield of somewhat dismal hue. These cornstalks are ripe, but the cornsilk is not bright yellow... in fact, it's closer to dirty blonde, and some are reddish.
Aiden stops dead in his tracks when they walk into the cornfield, "Oh."
Lotte eyes the corn and says to no one in particular, "I don't think we should take any corn without asking, anyway."
Aiden nods at Lotte. "At least we know it's here, though."
Aiden starts walking again, looking around for any sign of the farmer's home, though it's probably a little difficult to see in the middle of the this field.'
Steven pauses, considering, then nods. "You're probably right, Lotte. Still, keep an eye out for cornstalks that match yours or Aiden's hair. I think what the list is asking for is corn the color of your hair.. or if specificlaly yellow then I think Aiden's hair.
Lotte nods and follows Aiden through the field, keeping an eye out for signs of a farm house.
Several minutes' walking brings the party onto higher ground, revealing a barn and what's either a temple or an odd house below perhaps another ten minutes' walk away. The barn and fenced pasture beside it are almost heartachingly like the sort of structure one would find in the Grey World.
Aiden takes a sharp breath when he sees the barn and the farm around it. "Looks like home." He pauses for a moment to enjoy the view, then presses on.
Lotte stops and surveys the buildings. "Ok, here's a question. Do we mention the fingernail or just try to steal one?"
Steven looks around warilly. He's seen this sort of thing in the Breadbasket, usually when approaching towns he wasn't going to be welcome in. "Asking is the more polite thing. Besides... with what we've seen before, the dead here might not like having their nails clipped.
Sol and Seodil both look thoughtful, almost identical, and glance at each other before looking at the rest of the party for their answers first.
Aiden stops and turns. He ponders. "I'm in agreement with Steven. I'd prefer to ask than have one of them rise up and object."
Lotte nods again. "He could be a reasonable guy. It's not like we want to steal a toe..."
Sol says gently, "Assuming clipping it will work, Steven... I fear we may need the entire nail by the wording." She nods and says, "It would have to be done with propriety toward the dead, if not necessarily the dead's watcher."
Seodil seems content not to speak up with other thoughts.
Aiden nods, "Let's focus on the corn and milk for now. Those should be a bit easier. We'll worry about the rest when we get to it."
The party treks over to the oddly shaped house. As they approach, it looks more and more like a temple and less like a place of residence. The walls are wood but polished outside to a lustre, and the door very churchlike indeed. It is ajar.
Aiden walks up to the door looking a bit uncomfortable. He glances back at the others, then knocks quietly on the door.
The door gives back the sound of knocks hollowly, swinging a little farther inward to reveal a slice of the inside of the temple-- dried flowers in earthenware vases surround a simple cloth-draped altar holding what looks remarkably like a body draped in matching white. No one answers.
Steven glances to Aiden, then looks around the temple. "Hello?" he calls out. "Is there anybody here?
Aiden looks even more uncomfortable when he notices the body..
Again, no one responds.
Aiden looks over at Steven, "Maybe the barn, then?"
Steven nods a little, his voie dropping respectfully. "Best not to disturb anything here yet. Let's check the barn.
Aiden nods and heads out of the temple, towards the barn, glad to be away from the body.
The barn holds lowing cows, and the sound of irritable muttering from one of the stalls.
Steven glances to the others at the muttering, and walks forward carefully to the stall. "Hello?" he asks, cautiously.
Aiden glances around him carefully, looking for a cow that's white.
None of the cows that Aiden sees are white. Steven's query gets an immediate and gruff response from the same direction as the irate muttering. "Who goes there?" There is the sound of straw scuffling, then a short, stocky man with an enormous beard tromps out of a stall, glaring from under bushy eyebrows that match his flaming red beard. He's quite bald and about four feet tall... and nearly as wide as he is high. He's holding a milking stool in one hand, by a wooden leg, as though ready to use it as a weapon.
Aiden tries to look as non-threatening as possible. "Hello, Sir."
Steven holds up his hands quickly. "Whoa! We're.. we're not here for trouble, honest sir!"
Lotte hangs back and tries not to stare at the little man.
The stocky farmer looks the group over with evident suspicion. "You're not from the village. Never seen any o' you before."
The farmer says, "Hope you ain't here for milk. Cows is sick, dangnabbit."
Steven looks, surprised, at Aiden. "Er... sick in what way?
Hawking and spitting, apparently to express displeasure, the farmer growls "Milk's comin' out all dun-colored. Poor ol' Buttercup. Sent to the village to ask fer virgins ta bless the fields, get the good mushrooms growin' ta fix it, but nary a word comes back yet. Busy mourning, belike. Hope they ain't used all their virgins up already... mournin's a popular time fer that."
Aiden raises an eyebrow curiously at that.
Lotte pipes up, "Uh, sir? We're trying to collect a few things from the mage Frangipani, and hoped you could help us."
Steven pauses, thinking; Aiden can see his shoulders slumping slo-o-owly. "Virgins, you say.
Aiden pats Steven sympathetically on the shoulder.
The farmer looks up at Aiden out of reddish eyes that nearly match his fiery beard. "What? You ain't never got the urge to c'memm'rate the passin' of a life with the startin' of a new one? Yer woman there's got a certain.. glow, 'bout her."
Red-beard looks at Lotte. "Hmmph. What's the crazy ol' woman want now?"
He adds to Steven, "Yeah, virgins. You got some?"
Aiden looks like he's still trying to process the "certain glow" comment, slightly pale.
Lotte blushes. "Well, to start... we need milk as white as a cow and corn as yellow as hair. I think if you could help us, we could certainly help you."
The short farmer looks at Lotte with less suspicion and more interest. "That so? You got some virgins could frolic in my field, I can get you white milk. Til then... ain't no white milk, only cow this shit matches is poor ol' yeller Buttercup. Corn ain't too happy either, 'sabout as yellow as that lad's hair, or yourn." He nods at Aiden, then Lotte.
Steven's contemplation of his virginity bringing him into all sorts of embarrassing problems is cut short by the mention of 'glow' about Sol. "Uh... well, actually, that's the kind of milk and corn we do need, acording to her. Among other things....
Lotte blushes even redder. "Well, as a matter of fact... Steven here... and I... could help you."
Aiden nods slowly at the man. "I think that would fit the bill." It sounds hollow when he says it.
Steven blinks at Lotte, then looks to the man. "Uh... how do you mean 'frolic,' by the way? We're.. kind of new in these parts....
Lotte cringes at Steven in a mixture of apology and empathy.
The farmer looks much happier. "Well. Well! I c'n gi' you the recipe, and you can have all of the sour milk and pissed-off corn y'like. Go collect it now, I'll get you s'milk. How much y'need?" He smiles at Steven, almost more terrifying when the fierce beard reshapes to make a nice expression. "I told ye I had the recipe. Just needed virgins to do it. I'll get you the directions in a few. Y'don't have to do too much-- hmm. Need four males. Good thing I'm here."
Lotte looks startled. "This recipe doesn't have anything to do with us becoming... um, de-virgined, does it?"
Aiden pulls his backpack off and sets it on the ground. He digs into the bag and pulls out the jar for the milk and offers it to the man. "It's not much, actually."
In the background, Soleil has leaned against a stall door and is looking a bit pale, clutching her stomach with very little expression.
The farmer takes the container with a nod, then shakes his head at Lotte. "'Course not. Thank the goddess-- no offense, ma'am."
Lotte breathes a sigh of relief. "Yes, thank the goddess."
Aiden looks over at Lotte. "Maybe you and I should go out there and see if we can't find some corn that matches, while Steven is getting that recipe?"
The farmer tromps off to Buttercup and the sounds of squirting commence.
Steven coughs a little, "Actually, why don't Lotte and Seodil find some corn what matches her hair, while Aiden and Soleil look for some that matches his?"
Sol looks too unsteady to move, but nods and says faintly "...allright..."
Lotte nods at Steven, then at Aiden.
Aiden nods at Steven. "Good thought.."
Aiden walks over to Sol, offering his arm. "Ready?"
Lotte catches Seodil's eye and heads back towards the cornfield.
Soleil gives Aiden's arm an odd look at first, as though it's suddenly alien, then takes it and leans on him visibly as they walk out.
Seodil follows Lotte without a word.
Aiden wanders out into the cornfield, silent. He starts looking around for one that would match his own hair.
Steven waits patiently for the farmer to finish milking Buttercup.
Ghost bounds alongside Lotte, tongue lolling cheerfully as the small grey wolf moves silent-footed through the dry cornstalks.
Seodil does not bound, but remains equally silent, though he seems not hostile-- more contemplative.
Lotte reaches the cornfield and begins to look for an ear with the right color of cornsilk. She pulls at a ringlet to bring it into her view. Absentmindedly she asks,"Have you finished with the necklace yet?"
Seodil brings a handful of acorns out and displays them to Lotte in his palm, bound together by silver-twined stems. Solemnly, he says "It is half-finished. I will have it complete by moonrise for your song."
The silver elf inspects corn gravely.
Lotte's current pick does not match, but the corn seems to be tinted in patches; the pair is approaching a redder patch as they walk.
Lotte nods. "Yes, my song. It's strange how some of the hardest things we have to do are really so easy." She continues to inspect corn.
Seodil blinks and sounds genuinely curious. "What do you mean?"
The elf adds, "A thing is either hard, or easy... not both, surely?"
Lotte's current ear of cornsilk matches her hair almost exactly.
Lotte shakes her head. "In the Grey World, being naked is often a very embarassing thing. Especially in mixed company. It will be embarassing to sing naked, even though no one will see me. But at the same time, it's an easy thing to do- sing naked." She shrugs.
Seodil appears to consider this quite seriously. "I am not sure I understand, but I appreciate your explanation." It sounds rather like a peace offering.
Lotte nods and smiles at Seodil. "It would be good if we all understood each other eventually."
Seodil smiles back, almost shyly, and looks pleased. He nods at Lotte's handful of cornsilk. "It would. --That ear will do, I think. It is a very close match."
Lotte looks down at the handful and nods again. "Let's go back."
In another part of the cornfield, Soleil is walking somewhat grimly beside Aiden in silence.
Aiden wanders, almost aimlessly, his eyes focused on the cornstalks, looking for one that matches his hair. He pauses, lowering his head towards one of them when he finds one that he sort of thinks might match, looking up at Sol. "Match?"
Soleil starts crying, very quietly.
Aiden sighs softly and abandons the search for now, wrapping his arms around Soleil.
The amber-gold elf gulps unprettily to a stop after several minutes and says, "What do I do if it's true?" She sounds desperate.
Aiden looks a bit helpless. "I don't know, Sol. I have no idea."
Soleil shivers, hard, and tears up again. She stares up at the corn. "Well. I think we f-found your m-match."
Aiden gives Soleil a quick squeeze. "It'll be okay, I promise." He turns to look at the corn, holding a stalk of it up against his hair. "This one?"
Sol nods, dragging her fist across her eyes and looking not at all like a pretty crier. "m'huh." She swallows and nods again, apparently to the first statement. "Okay. Yeah."
Sol bites her lip and says in a rush, "Pleasedon'tleaveme."
Aiden cups Sol's cheek in his hand and smiles. "I'm not going anywhere." He turns to get the stalk that Sol indicated. "Need a few minutes before we go back?"
Looking better after the reassurance, eyes completely trusting, Sol nods and manages a tremulous smile. "Th-thanks. ...Yes. I never have cried pretty... but it goes away fast, too." She sighs and leans on Aiden's shoulder, while they wait.
Aiden rests one arm lightly around Sol, the other holding the stalk of corn. He rubs her back gently until she gets herself sorted out.
Meanwhile, back at the barn, Steven receives a dingy yellowish container of milk that smells just a bit funny. The farmer beams up at him and says, as he starts walking toward the temple, "Now. About yer frolicking. --Will you be frolicking?"
Steven follows the farmer, carrying the container gingerly, closing it and sealing it tightly as he glances at the list. "Er, well, actually, I'm nto at all sure what you mean by 'frolic,' sir. What is it?
The farmer rolls his eyes suspiciously at Steven. "What kind o' virgin is one that don't frolic? You sure 'bout this, son?"
Steven says, "I... might know it under a different name, sir. As I said, we're new to this area...."
The farmer looks slightly relieved. "Ahhh. --Cavort?" He peers hopefully up at Steven.
Steven tries to imagin 'cavorting.' He shakes his head. "Is.. that like dancing?"
A snort. "Well YER it's like dancing." The tone adds 'obviously,' or perhaps 'duh.' The stocky little farmer goes on, "So, y'dance-- frolic!-- in th'fields, all the virgins y'got, under the moonlight. Works better if ever'body's naked. In this case, y'gotta dance widdershins in a circle smack in the middle o' the field at midnight, chanting the virgin song. Y'DO know the virgin song, right?"
Steven winces at the 'YER!' directed at him, and shakes his head a little. "I.. do not know the virgin song."
The farmer cackles. "I'm shittin' ya 'bout the song. Ya gotta make one up, thas' all. Long as it's 'bout bein' a virgin, it don't matter a good goddamn. --Thank th' Lady, forgive me my figger of speech." He grins out of the bushy beard.
Steven nods slowly, grinning back to the man. "All right. I think we can do that. So, it means all the virgins, dancing widdershins, singing the... singing a virgin song, and... the four men you mentioned doing what?
They reach the temple doorstep and the farmer slips in briefly to return with a faded list. Returning with a triumphant look, he answers, "Oh, four men got the easy part. One per direction kinda wets the fence a little in th'name of that direction-- y'know, North, East, South, West, to dedicate-- then before the virgins frolic, the men sprinkle 'em with holy water and bring the beer."
Aiden pauses as he comes in, trying to drink that in and figure out what the rest of this might be. "Wet the fence?"
Steven has no idea what 'wetting the fence' means, but since it's not 'wetting the virgins' he'll let the others deal with that. Seeing the list, he remembers the other things on his list, and he bites his lip. "Actually... er... this is somethign I should have mentioned earlier. There's.. something else Frangipani asked for....
The farmer looks cheerfully at Aiden. "Take a leak."
Sol, immediately behind Aiden, claps her hand to her mouth with a muffled noise.
Lotte arrives as the farmer tells Aiden to take a leak, and looks confused.
The farmer cracks his thick neck like rocks grinding, then looks at Steven. "Yer? What?"
Steven glances to Aiden, then looks down at the ground. "Er... a dead man's toenail."
Aiden nods at the farmer. "Right. Can do."
Lotte whispers to Steven, "Fingernail."
Steven says, "Oh, right, sorry. Fingernail."
Sol leans over and whispers to Lotte, "Boys have to pee on the fence tonight."
Bushy red brows draw close together and down alarmingly fast. "Can't help you with that."
Lotte looks even more confused and slightly worried. Upon seeing Sol's face, she whispers, "Are you ok?"
Sol flushes pink, and whispers back to Lotte, "Yeah... thanks. Honest. Tell you more later if you want."
Lotte frowns and nods. "Sure."
Seodil looks unsurprised by the farmer's refusal to help with the dead man's fingernail.
Aiden nods at the man. "That's alright."
Steven nods quickly. "No problem, we understand! We still want to help you with your field, since you already let us have the milk... I guess it could still be called milk... and the corn.
Lotte says, "What is it we need to do for the field?"
Aiden gets a fierce look back with the farmer's answering nod, as does Steven. "Good. I'm glad we agree. Can't do the ritual til midnight, so if you want to rest up, feel free. I keep my house upstairs in the barn; you're welcome to rest your feet there. I 'preciate the help with the field, so I'll be providin' dinner and beer."
Aiden grabs his pack from where he left it on the floor. He drops the corn he plucked into the bag and hunts around for another one for Lotte's.
The farmer reaches out to whap Steven genially on the back-- with the force of a small warhammer-- and hand him the faded list of directions, which follow the farmer's earlier instructions to Steven. "You tell 'em. I got chores to do before dinner. I'll call ya with the bell."
The magic list from Frangipiani has crossed off the corn in bold, and the milk. Aiden finds containers easily.
Steven oofs! "Ah... sure thing! Thank you again!"
Aiden puts the items carefully back into the bag and puts that back into his pack. "Alright. Sounds like we have some time.. Any thoughts?"
Lotte asks again, "What do we have to do?"
Aiden checks the list, "Fingernail, shoe, your song, dust, rest and an apology."
Sol sighs and says, "The fingernail won't be easy. Likewise, the shoe, unless we're attacked." She sits down on the temple doorstep, looking vaguely hopeful about that attacking business.
Steven says, "Well... let's see.... Basically, at the start of the ritual the four men face each of the cardinel directions and... wet the fence. I guess that means, form what he said, urinate. Then they sprinkle the virgins with holy water. And the.. uh, naked virgins dance in a circle widdershins... I think that's counterclockwise... singing a song about virgins. That seems to be it...."
Lotte's eyes pop. "We have to dance naked... in front of everyone? No way. There's no way."
Steven says, "Oh.. and after the ritual, uh... beer."
Aiden says, "Well. If we're facing the cardinal directions, we won't actually be looking, right?"
Steven rubs his eyes. I'm going to be the only one to embarrass myself again, I guess.... "Well. Uhm, I don't think he said anything about the four men watching....
Seodil grins at Aiden. "An excellent point."
Sol looks at Steven. "You said 'virgins,' though. So you'll both be dancing. Naked dancing virgins."
Seodil adds helpfully, face perfectly solemn, "In a circle."
Lotte stammers, "Yeah, but... but..." She sighs. "Well, I guess if Seodil can finish the necklace by tonight, we can collect that song. A song. About virgins."
Steven lets out a breath, lookign skyward. Neither of you are helping.... "That might be a good time to do that, but.. uh, the song might need to.. go somewhere other than the jar... I think. I really don't know."
The silver elf digs the acorns back out of his pack and quietly commences working on exactly that. "Will that count as naked, for the ritual, if you are wearing acorns?"
Aiden watches the others thoughtfully. He was wondering if the ritual tonight might work for the song as well.
Seodil shrugs. "If I am told to be naked, I do not wear jewelry unless it is specified. Magic is quite particular."
Sol eyes Seodil. "How often are you told to be naked, again?"
Aiden winces.
Lotte says, "I am not doing this twice. Being naked alone is hard enough, but being naked... in the open..."
Seodil's face goes blank after one blink, and he works on Lotte's necklace without a word more.
Aiden looks up at Lotte, sympathetic. "Would you consider doing both in one night? Slipping off after the ritual, perhaps? I know its a lot to ask, but.."
Lotte sighs quietly. "Perhaps... maybe I'll sing alone first. To get used to... being naked."
Aiden nods, "Thank you, Lotte. I appreciate it."
Sol nods sympathetically at Lotte and says, "If you like, I can stand guard to be sure you are not disturbed by accident."
Steven nods soberly to Lotte. "Thank you, Lotte. I'm... glad I won't be trying to do it alone.
Lotte smiles gratefully at Sol. "Please."
Soleil smiles back and says, "I can do it as a wolf, too, if you prefer. Ghost will help. We will all be... girls." Her face twists only slightly. "I thought it might be easier if we were in fur, for you, as well."
Aiden says, "Do you think we should ask him about the shoe?"
Steven says, "I'm not sure where we'd get a bloody show from him. he clammed up pretty tight after asking for the fingernail."
Lotte nods and smiles at Sol again, then at Ghost.
Seodil looks up from twining silver threads of hair around acorns and just shakes his head at Aiden before looking back down.
Aiden nods. He sits down and leans against the wall of the barn, falling into silence.
Ghost rests her chin on Lotte's knee and rolls her eyes cutely.
The group rests quietly until Farmer Marron calls them for dinner by means of a deep-toned bell, true to his word. Roast chickens, buttered cornbread, turnip greens, an immense cheese and mounds of mashed potatoes make an appearance along with copious amounts of beer and hot tea. The farmer is not at all a shabby cook-- or a shabby eater. One gets the feeling that he'd have fried the chicken if this world had deep-friers.
Lotte eats little, but helps herself to a large amount of beer.
Steven eats reasonably well, but refrains from much beer, as good as it might be. he'd prefer to remain clear-headed.
Aiden eats a bit, but not much, apparently distracted by his own thoughts. He drinks a couple of mugs of beer, though. That, if nothing else, feels like home.
After dinner, the sun is just setting and the moon not yet providing much light. Sol walks over to Lotte as the farmer plies the boys with beer and tries to get them to consume yet more food. Hearty declarations of "But you're so puny for such a tall lad" come across clearly.
Quietly, Sol says "I have the song container. Do you want to get ready? I'll follow you whenever." Ghost rubs her head against Lotte's leg.
Lotte nods nervously. "Can you ask Seodil if he has the necklace? I don't think I want to face any of the men right now."
Aiden is quite happy to take a third mug of beer, but he nurses this one. He does not want to get drunk. Pleasantly buzzed would be a nice distraction, but not drunk, anything but that. He eats a little more when the farmer presses, not wanting to be rude. "Thank you. The meal was fantastic. You're an excellent cook, Sir."
Sol nods, "Of course," and walks over to Seodil. The silver elf doesn't respond out loud, but hands Soleil the necklace without changing expression, then lets the farmer refill his mug of beer yet again.
Steven follows Aiden's example, though he does try to beg off on the beer, taking effort to note that it's not the farmer's beer, but alcohol in general that doesn't do well with him.
The farmer doesn't appear to understand Steven's point. At all.
Lotte stands up, a little wobbly, and waits for Sol.
Steven tries to explain the nature of his aescetic devotions, but thinks that will just confuse the man even more, so he tries to limit himself to at most a second beer.
Soleil hands Lotte the necklace with a smile. "Ready."
The second mug of beer helps the farmer's impression of Steven mellow, it seems, but he still tops it off whenever it gets low.
Lotte rubs her eyes beforing taking the necklace. "Ok, here we go." She thanks Farmer Marron for dinner and heads out to find a secluded spot.
Two wolves flank the redheaded bard as she goes.
Aiden grins into his mug of beer when he notices that the farmer keeps refilling Steven's glass despite any protests. He isn't watching his own carefully enough to notice if the farmer is doing it to him, too.
The farmer most certainly is, but the boys likely won't notice, as it's reasonably subtle for a fierce redheaded dwarf.
Steven, once he notices the farmer refilling him, nurses the beer for as long as he possibly can. Must not get drunk tonight, must not get drunk tonight....
After several minutes' travel, Ghost and Soleil in fur lead Lotte back to a stand of trees that begin the edge of the woods by the cow pasture.
Lotte walks a few feet away from the two before putting on the silver and acorn necklace. She takes a deep breath and quickly removes her clothing, then takes a minute to stand nude in the moonlight. Her mind is racing, nervous and slightly drunk, but she does remember to open the container that she took from Aiden. Holding it in her palm, she sings a soft, melancholy song about a group of travelers who are lost in the woods. When she finishes, she closes the container and gathers her clothing, not sure what to do next.
Ghost whuffs and waves her tail encouragingly. Lotte can see that Sol's back is politely turned, even as a golden wolf.
Lotte says, "Sol, can you go back and tell the rest of the group that I am ready to start the ritual?"
Sol barks, then trots off without a backwards look.
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