(Alivilda) The Joining

[Jasper]

Ymiden 10 722

Jasper knelt before the shrine to Myrkvior at the edge of the forest outside his childhood home of Alivilda. His eyes were closed as he meditated not for anything specific but just to find peace for this trials event. He felt a bit empty but not as empty as he had been after the horrors he had seen when the Immortals had dragged him away. His hand gently ran across the Aspergillum that rested in his lap even as he meditated. Jasper had found himself again but still Eldloga slept.

As he sat there he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the shrine. Jasper slowly open his eyes and saw the men of his party. His father lead the expedition accompanied by his next youngest brother. In addition one of his mentors, Eadric, was with them. Jasper knew that Toka, one of his other mentors, would be finish his preparations for the coming ceremony. The young man stood up and walked forward so that they meet up outside of the little shrine. They were all dressed in their best clothing. His father and brother each had on vibrant colored tunics and trousers with worked belts that had been passed down for generations. Eadric was wearing brightly colored tunic with a traditional Aesir skirt. He also wore a worked collar that much newer then the farmers.

Jasper walked forward and found himself enfolded in his father arms. They two stood there for a long moment and just enjoyed the father son bond. His father stepped back and allowed Rewan to step forward enfolded Jasper in a brotherly hug. He stepped back after a moment and squeezing his brother should said. “It’s time this trial has come.” He said in his deep voice. Jasper smiled at his brother.

“You know this means you have to deal with both of our humor.” Jasper said not trusting himself to be serious. Rewan half laughed as Jasper turned to his mage mentor. Eadric enfolded him in a huge as well and stepped back a moment later.

“Okay men we need to get the groom ready and to the chapel.” Eadric said after the greeting was done.

Jasper stripped down to his underclothing and carefully folded up his meditation clothes. His brother tossed him a white shirt. After slipping it on Eadric handed over a brightly colored Aesir wrap with elaborate belt. The last item was a coat his father handed him. “This is the coat I wore at my wedding and my father at his.” Jasper very carefully slipped the coat on. He stopped as his father stepped forward to button him up. “It is said that it was originally made by Alivilda herself for her son’s wedding.” Jasper’s eyes opened wide at the statement and felt extremely nervous as he was now afraid of touching the thing. “So keep food off it, and I don’t care how excited you get this evening, don’t rip it off.” Jasper eyes widened and he blushed as Eadric laughed up roaring and Rewan chuckled.

Once Jasper was dressed and attached the Aspergillum to his belt. Even with the Dirri in a coma Jasper would dream of not bringing him along. He then slipped his sandals back on even as his brother said. “Your supposed to go shoeless.”

“There is no way I am walking across that field barefoot. I am not going to spend this evening having my wife tending my feet. I have other plans.” He said dead panning that statement but his eyes twinkling with mirth. Once again everyone laughed and crossed that field back towards the village proper. As they crossed Jasper felt his father wrap his arm around his shoulder and said. “Son let me share some wisdom that my father shared with me on my wedding.”

* * * *

Jasper stood before the wedding crowd. Much of the village was in attendance especially those of the Ardiechy and Alivilda clans since while Jasper was an Ardiechy his mother was an Alivilda as was Astra. Jasper looked and saw his brothers eagerly sitting, except for Lynond and his wife. His wife at least was trying to look interested. Lynond didn’t even bother to hide his boredom. He glanced over at Astra’s family where her brother was eagerly watching. Both sets of parents were off to the side watching. Toka was standing waiting to officiate.

Jasper looked down and saw the crowd murmur and part as the bridal party came towards the front. In a throw back to more barbaric ages The bride was surrounded all of her close young female relatives. They came down together isle and as they came upon the groom and parents and Aesir. They formed a half circle around the group. Traditionally these woman would have been armed but that part of tradition was less visible these trials.

Jasper felt his heart pounding and was sure that there were tears in his eyes as he looked upon the Astra. She was dressed in a sky blue dress and woven belt and intricate necklaces. Like his jacket they were heirlooms brought out on weddings. Jasper smiled broadly as she came close and he wondered at all of this. Astra and himself had grown up together. He had been best friends with her brother. They had watched each grow up and at some point she had decided that they would marry. Their parents accepted it and finally Jasper understood that they were right. They were each other’s love. Now like their parents before them they were about to become one.

Jasper smiled at her as she took her place next to him. The young Aesir resisted reaching out and taking her hand. It wasn’t time for that yet. The two turned and looked at Toka. The older Aesir looked at them and with that smile Jasper had noticed on the faces of all the married people he had talked to that trial.

“Children of Alivilda we are gathered here on this trial to watch as Astra Rel Alivilda and Jasper Rel Ardiechy become Joined.” Jasper kept glancing at Astra as the older Aesir said a few words about them. Luckily he didn’t talk to long before he said. “Please hand the couple the trees.” Jasper turned to his parents who handed him a small sapling. “Please plant them.”

Together the two of them knelt and placed the trees in the hole. As the secured the trees in the hole they each said together "Forest of mine, together as one. We join."

Still kneeling they where them handed a wood bowl filled with dirt from the mountains they used it to finish planting the trees and said. "Earth of mine, together as one. We join."

The last part was a small jug of water that was handed to each and they said as they poured the water. "Water of mine, together as one. We join."

Once they were done they stood back up and Toka smiled at them and spoke again. “And now by the Induks of our beloved land are these two joined. We will now hear from the couple.”

The two took each other’s hand and then Astra reached to her parents and took a portable brazier while Jasper unhooked the Aspergillum from his belt. Jasper opened it and using it stretched forward and together the two of them said “Fire of mine. We join our hearth.”

[Pig Boy]

Eldloga the Hearthflame
Awakening to the Kindling of Hearth

For a moment, It seemed a perfectly pedestrian, albeit poignant and appropriate gesture. The addition of a honoring of the spiritual element of flame. Not a element traditionally revered among the Melrathi, truth be told most respected fire, but feared it as well. It was a necessary part of CIvilized life, but as it went with the natural world, it was seen as a destroyer and despoiler. The Induks of Melrath did not honor fire, or embody it in most of their forms, so it went unworshipped.

That was until the fateful evening that the Prophet himself was put to rest. A modernist to his core, always forward thinking and seeing, the Prophet would have been proud of the moment that Eldloga was kindled, and brought into this world. Aye, perhaps that was even the Prophet's plan, and why he'd requested cremation on the foot of the mountains.

Whatever the case, Jasper had seen extraordinary things in the company of Eldloga, and lighted many beacons and hearths with his flame. Yet that fateful moment when he'd overstepped, and used Eldloga's flame to combat the hungry Castaway Heart in Quacia, his flame had guttered, and gone out.

But now, as Jasper lingered with his aspergillum over the brazier, it burst to life again.

Eldloga let out a sound that was mingling flaming roar and yawn. And then he looked down upon the congregation. "I honor this union, and shall serve as their Hearth Guardian, until the very end of the Alivilda line. You have my word. Though flames may gutter out from time to time, so long as an heir wields the aspergillum, it shall roar to life on the lighting of their Hearth."

Jasper and Astra heard this in their minds, as Eldloga telepathically communicated with them.

The Aesir shamans gasped at this, and some of them came forward and pat their Monk on the shoulder, in congratulations, and in awe. They all crowded around the couple, until one pushed them aside. It was Jasper's Mentor, Toka. They spoke to Jasper then, "I saw a vision in the flames. Of a land whose Induks share a bond, four Induks, one of fire, one of earth, one of air, and one of water and ice. These Induks are unlike ours, something binds them together, allows them to cooperate. We have decided that you will go to this land, with whosoever you choose to take with you. Eldloga and you might have much to learn and grow by visiting these strange spirits."

Off Topic

Heya, one-off mod bomb. Feel free to wrap up with the Mentors talking more to Jasper, and Astra, and figuring out how he's gonna organize them for the trip should he go to seek these induks. I will review when you have finished.

[Jasper]

Ymiden 10 722

Astra and Jasper had hoped that this act would help awaken the slumbering Dirri. Jasper understood the spirit well enough to know that while it genuinely was concerned for hearths and for people he was also aware that there was a certain amount of flair to it. Which the young man could actually understand. Walking in and finding your hearth cold was frustrating and disappointing, and when the hearth flames come to life there is joy and congratulations. So it would make sense that such reaction would be part of the Dirri who worked to embodied it.

The very dramatic reemergence of Eldloga was a bit more then he had expected, as they both looked upwards at the fire shaped man who roared/yawned from his home. Both sets of parents stepped back in surprise, and the crowed of relatives and friends all flinched back. Then they began to cheer at the event. They were proud of Jasper for becoming an Aesir, it wasn’t a occupation many in the village took up, do to the distance from the capital, but they honored it. They had heard stories spiritual things that had happened, to Jasper even, but this was the first time in communal memory that any such thing had happened to them.

The couple looked at each other as the dirri approved of the union and made a promise to watch their hearth as long as Alivilda’s children survived and that Jaspers guardianship would be passed down to their children. Whatever plans they had for finishing the ceremony kind of fell apart at this moment as the Aesir’s who served the village and had come to see one of there own married abandoned all form of protocol and rushed forward to surround them.

Luckily their parents stepped up and Lynond Sr. looked at his family and clan and with the authority of a clan head directed that they head towards the waiting feast and dance. The crowd wanted to stay and watch but they obeyed and began to shuffle to the celebration. Lynond began to usher the crowd but paused as he came upon Astra’s brother and his oldest sons. They didn’t speak but he nodded at those who had been closest to the couple. Dragging Lynond Jr. with him, he continued to usher the crowd away.

While this was going on, the Aesir were congratulating the couple on their union and Jasper on waking up Eldloga. As if getting married, and having his family become the hereditary bears of Eldloga was change enough for one trial, Toka came forward and announced his vision and there decision. Jasper’s mouth dropped and he stood very stunned by the announcement. They couldn’t be serious he thought, but looking at them he could see that they very much were. He turned to Astra to figure out her reaction. Her eyes had a bit of a wild look to them, but at least her mouth was closed. They had known they could be sent anywhere at the whims of the Aesir’s. Traditionally anywhere had stopped at the boarders of the country.

Astra meet his gaze. He questioningly looked at her, and she nodded her head, and Jasper reached forward and grasped her hands. She would stand by him. They pulled themselves into each other arms and in a whisper spoke together even surrounded by the crowd of fellow priests. “I promised I would come with you to what ever place the spirits directed. I would be haunted by Alivilda herself if I refused to keep that promise because I had to cross the world.” She looked up at him and grinned mischievously. “Maybe this way we can get some time to ourself.”

Jasper squeezed her at the last comment, but they were interrupted by a trio of voices. Everyone turned to see the couples brothers, politely, push their way forward. “We are going with you.”

“Well there goes any alone time.” Jasper said to Astra and turned to the brothers. “Guys you really don’t have to drop everything and come with us.”

“Who would you take.” Rewan said with a raised eyebrow. Jasper looked at Astra. “Obviously Astra, Eldloga, I of course would bring Lanquin, he would eat anyone else who tried to care for him.” He glanced at Toka. “Anyone else my Mentors would suggest.”

Toka looked at him. “I don’t see a problem taking your brothers, they are young, unattached. Taking a host of Aesir would be silly.”

“No my brother is staying. He might not be married, yet, but my father and the farms rely on him.” Astra interjected. Her brother looked offended and began to speak up but with that authority only a sister has. “No, you do at least fifty percent of the work. Your staying.”

Jasper pointed to his brothers. “What about these two rascals.” Hoping she would help keep them here.

“I actually don’t have a good argument. Rewan can blacksmith any where and has been tinker independently of his master for a arc already. Bryil’s survival skills would also be useful, and again he isn’t attached.”

“Yes but we would be taking three of my parents children away.” Jasper said. The local Alivilda Aesir came forward and said.

“I know your family well enough to know that your mother would feel better if you actually took your brothers with you.”

“Why.”

“Because you three are an excellent team.” The Aesir said, and began to list the various pranks and tricks the boys had performed together over the arcs.

“I was one of those to.” Astra’s brother said a bit offended.

“True, but your sister is right, you have roots here, these boys don’t.”

Jasper looked around him and then into Astra’s eyes she smiled and nodded and Jasper looked around. “Okay I can see the value of bringing them. I would love to have those that Astra and myself are closest to with us, BUT I will not bring them if Mother says no.”

When asked Mother seemed to feel that if the three stayed together they might keep each other alive.

Eventually everything was settled and the two loves joined in celebrating their Joining, and for three trials the celebration continued.

[Pig Boy]

RPG Rewards:

Jasper

• Renown: 15
• XP: 15
• Knowledges:
  • Etiquette: x2
  • Meditation: x3
  • Leadership: x3

Loot: Eldloga is restored from his sleep.

Link to Review Request on the Forum: N/A

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: This was a finely written ceremony, and I was very intrigued by the fact that the loving couple had improvised with their own addition to the ceremony. The prophet would've been pleased with Jasper, as a firm modernist, always with a look toward reform and growth and finding new ways to bind with the spirits. Believe it or not, this was not a guarantee that Eldloga would be renewed, but when I saw the two doing that, I knew it was what would happen.

Great writing!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!