Drive Forward
With a new goal in mind Valdís worked her way south. While she had a goal in her mind she didn't quite have a plan, not yet, beyond just visiting the other packs and learning what they were all about. She also needed to talk to Chaos and learn what would be expected of her if she wished to climb higher in Legion's ranks. Then there was the matter of getting her den prepped and ready for winter. So much to do and so little time! Jynette, her red fox companion, bounded along next to her as the moved south of the Rio Grande and into the Corpseghoul Swamplands. Val realized she should get a better understanding of the lands that surrounded Legion. She hadn't realized there was a swamp here. At least… she hadn't thought about it. There was an eerie sense of familiarity but she couldn't be sure that she had actually been in this terra before. "What do you think Val?" She looked down at the fox. "If we head east we'll make the borders of Olympia. We could try visiting there first." "Talk" "You" Think |
leaving her little pet behind - that was a joke, for the young man was quite large - Huntington would wander the swamplands solo. her plan for this fine day was simple; gathering resources to envoke the loa. t'was common sense to form an attachment to the ancestors and the lesser gods, tethering their watchful eyes upon the land she was gracing. her long limbs carried her silently forward, avoiding the marsh and muck to hover behind a thick brush of foliage. her pale eyes focused on the beings before her. a wolf and her companion - or familiar - in the shape of a fox... they were speaking in words she was not close enough to hear properly. Huntington made out the words of 'Olympia' and her interest sparked. perhaps the name of a pack? she left the safety of the brush to approach both beasties."hail, strangers" her Cajun accent apparent as she addressed them. her tone quiet. her body language was non-threatening, casual almost. she exited the brush completely like a thin wraith. "are you long for the swamp? if you are lost... I can guide you out." she offered smoothly. |
Valdís continued on her way, pushing through the swamp when the sound of movement alerted her to the approach of another woman. She hailed them in an unfamiliar accent and Valdís pondered the woman's question. She didn't consider herself lost but she also wasn't in a great hurry either way. "I appreciate the offer but we're fine. Just passing through at our leisure. Is this your home here?" She knew loners made their homes in all sorts of territories that packs had not claimed and she wouldn't mind hearing from a local. "My name is Valdís and this is my companion Jynette." The fox eyed the woman warily but dipped her head in polite greeting all the same. "Talk" "You" Think |
the woman declined, stating she was just passing through. if they got lost, that was their fault though Huntington only hoped they moved from her lands as soon as possible. she did not need anyone sniffing about while she worked. no expression was lost or gained as she looked at the woman - known as Valdis now - and her familiar. lacking a companion of her own, she could only give her own name. though there was power in names; the urge to use a false one was tempting enough. "I am called Rose" let those have some idea of who ruled the swamplands, yet she would not give her true name so freely. a small smile appeared on her features "though I do not look like one, I agree" she could boast her birth givers were quite simple folk from this. a controlled chuckle escaped her lips. "no, this is not my home. I only know the location since I venture in from time to time for herbs." there was no harm in giving that, for she did smell a lot like foliage. to deny such an obvious thing was dangerous. "where are you headed, if I might ask?" she'd venture, curiosity spiking her dull eyes.
SPEECH |
The strange woman introduced herself as Rose but Valdís couldn't help but feel that there was something off with this woman. She could not decide whether to stay and try to learn more about the woman or just go ahead and get on her way as quickly as possible. Her ears perked at the mention of herbs. "Ah, for healing or ritual?" She knew Ásvor might use herbs for either though generally for healing and even for poisoning on rare occasion. Jynette sat down next to her feet, violet eyes gazing out into the swamplands. "I'm headed toward Olympia, a pack not far from here. Perhaps you're familiar with them?" "Talk" "You" Think |
Huntington felt any being was worthy of suspicion, herself included. so she did not underestimate doubt when it was presented. if she knew Valdis was a bit hesitant and suspicious of her, the girl would display innocence. there had been nothing to confirm or deny those fears. she had given nothing away, not even her name. though her ears did pique slightly at the woman's words. ritual or healing. perhaps this Valdis had some usefulness after all. "ritual" she desired to find some herbs that put her in a trace so she may call to the gods of this realm.
if there were any gods to be found, that is.
though she did not hear their whispers in this land. perhaps it was a useless endeavor. "no, I am not familiar" Huntington knew a pack resided close by - several of them by the scent - though a formal name had not been given to those that sat at the shrine. "are you going to negotiate, or merely visit?" the girl asked if the woman had any intention of making a treaty between her own pack and the one called Olympia, or if she was just socializing with an acquaintance or two.
SPEECH |
Valdís focused her attention on the woman as she stated that she was using them for a ritual. After promising to help Ásvor with her gods and the rituals associated with them she had to admit she was growing more curious about the religious beliefs of others. She remember dimly the stories she was raised on but now she didn't believe in very much. Spirits certainly, but gods? No. "Mostly a visit." She would bring up matters of trade but as she was not the alpha she could only negotiate so far. This was more to gauge interest. "What sort of rituals do you do with your herbs?" She tried to remember the names of some of Ásvor's gods but now that she needed them they fled her brain, typical. Perhaps this other woman might jog her memory if there was indeed any connection. "Talk" "You" Think |
just like Valdis to not give out information, Huntington would not either. instead, she settled into making up half-truths. "I offer a piece of the earth to the gods" a mortal, living connection... she would much prefer sacrificing a living being or two but a plant worked just as good. blood was just easier to come by and had a more potent effect. deities loved their violence. "and see if my offering was received. I may collect more than plants, however. trinkets, items... I only just want to see if there is a nibble before committing."
no use giving if one did not receive. at least, she felt that it was best to receive something in return for her 'devotion'. in reality, she merely used the gods as a vessel to greater things. but they were silent here, and Huntington knew there were probably no active ones. "does Boreas have gods though? native ones? I do not think mine traveled with me" she forced an amused smile as she addressed the woman.
SPEECH |
Valdís cocked her head to the side at the mention of offering a piece of the earth to the gods. She wasn't quite sure what that meant but it made her curious of the woman's religion. Most of what she knew was that the earth was either created by or owned by the gods. She wondered why they would want pieces of it. "I'd be curious to see one of your rituals if you didn't mind sharing. I myself don't practice any particular religion but there are a number of them in Boreas. Too many to really pin it down to one. Everything from belief in spirits, to ancestors to some wolves who even think of themselves as gods." She shook her head, unable to understand the hubris that drove some creatures into what she considered madness but that suited her fine. She could brag she defeated a 'god' in battle if she ever needed to take one of the down. "Talk" "You" Think |
Valdis seemed confused on why she would offer a piece of the earth the gods ruled over. Huntington fixed her with an emotionless stare as she explained. her head would thoughtfully dip, wondering where to start. "my gods cannot cross into the mortal realm without the assistance of earthly offerings and mortal interference" she added easily, twisting to walk away to a rotten stump where she had stored a few offerings around it. gathering the herbs she had placed all around the swamplands so far, she put it on the makeshift altar along with a small skin of alcohol she had purchased on the road. stored for later use like right now.
Huntington would sit before the altar, a tail flickering behind her to invite Valdis. she was always ready and willing to impart her knowledge upon any world. the woman had been... acceptable, so there was no reason for her to withhold such a request. "when the offerings are made and accepted... I shall enter what is assumed to be a trance to others. in reality, a deity has entered my body" she added quietly. though this was a makeshift altar and a small ritual, there was no animal sacrifices to be made. she would merely give the herbs and the alcohol, hoping to summon one of the loa in order to see their presence.
1/3 taught a lesson |
Valdís listened with interest as Rose spoke. It seemed the gods the woman served were in some other plane of existence and needed help to cross over. She followed rose over to a rotten stump filled with items and herbs. The strange swamp woman sat before it and Valdís moved to join her. She wondered if Ásvor's gods wanted similar shrines or anything of that sort. Rose continued to explain and it certainly sounded spooky to her, the idea that another being might enter the woman's body. "Are you able to commune with your gods then after that happens?" She hoped her girl friends gods did not need to communicate in such a way. The idea of another being inhabiting Ásvor's body disturbed her. "Talk" "You" Think |
"no" 'Rose' gathered her items together and began preparing a mixture to breathe in. typically there were drums, and music, and others chanting but small shrines like this were also fine if one worshipped alone. she did not look at Valdis as she spoke, focusing on her task of prepping. she overturned the small amount of alcohol and poured a bit of it on strong smelling herbs. then she dripped a few droplets around the stump to direct the gods here. "once they enter, I am unable to commune with them. though while in control of my body, they leave behind clues to decipher their will."
as she was doing this alone, she did not require the aid of a translator. she had enough intelligence to figure out meanings herself. Huntington approached the makeshift altar, her hooded eyes viewing the items before she entered a soft hum. her eyes closed, and the hum... it grew and grew as she rocked her lithe body back and fourth to mimic mad chanting. it was a low murmur, but it sometimes gained a few notches of louder. in reality, she was uttering prayer under her breath. the words old and foreign. she rose slowly to her back legs, her front dangling in the air as she moved in a fluid motion. dance was perhaps one way to appease the gods; it was a universal language.
whatever Valdis was doing during this time was unknown to Huntington. her focus went to the loa and her mind had tunnel vision. the light from the swamp faded until she entered a blackness. there, she would reside until the gods were finished with her. outwardly, she continued to sway and hum. her conscious mind elsewhere for this trance.
2/3 taught a lesson (religion) |
The mysterious woman was blunt and to the point but that suited Valdís well enough. It seemed that her gods would completely possess her. Valdís could not imagine surrendering her body completely to another. It was just bizarre. She kept her thoughts on this strangeness to herself though. If she wanted to be any sort of diplomat she'd need to respect the odd rituals and religious beliefs of others without being condescending. She watched quietly as Rose began the ritual, making sure to sit far enough back as she didn't know exactly what this woman was going to do. As she watched she dimly wondered if a diplomat would be the best fit for her. Chaos wasn't really known for his diplomacy. He was brash and impulsive and really seemed to be happiest when he was getting under the skin of a more serious leader. On one paw her more level-headed nature would be useful but on the other… she didn't want to be a maid cleaning up diplomatic messes either. Perhaps lead warrior would be better after all? Valdís opted not to get to far ahead of herself. She'd see how this little trip went and then afterwards she would decide. "Talk" "You" Think |
her vision was laced in darkness, and suddenly she gave a start. she leaned backward physically, in Valdis' company, and ceased her hums and movements. there was no good way to explain the ritual from an outsider's eyes, yet it did work... somewhat differently than she thought it would. different than the times she had done it, for sure. her body felt hot - so very hot, her eyes - even opened - could see only a black stale. as if looking at an eclipse; yet there was no outline of the sun. it was all ebony. she stared at this openly, searching for meaning to the gods' will.
yet the more she looked, the more frustrated she became. Huntington was about to attempt to pull herself out when the light came back just as quick. she was standing in her swamp again. her sides heaved from the effort and she felt suffocated. the girl hunched over, eyes wide though expressionless. there was a feeling of dread the gods left behind. an omen of things to come. she coughed, her throat rough and dry. she felt like she had inhaled fire itself. her swallowing only made her choke more, a feeling of burning for no plausible reason.
from one look it was clear she had no clues aside from this. nothing was left but these feelings, and she was slightly disappointed. any touch from the gods was a good sign though. composing herself quickly, she would look to Valdis. "you should leave" her voice stated dully, an echo under the water. it was not a command though, merely a warning. "I should leave" the girl added, looking away and beginning to gather her things. whatever the gods had shown her... it spelled disaster for all in the vicinity of this area. "my thanks for observing. the ritual is done." she once more added in, attempting to gain control over the situation.
"the gods chose to speak. it means their presence is here with me, watching and observing" though choosing to do absolutely nothing, if she knew deities. shoving the items back in their hiding spots, she could not shake the feeling of impending doom.
3/3 taught a lesson (religion) |