"Erista?" Eilieen quietly inquires.  "Well you knew Fergus, and for longer at least than I," she continues.  The pre-dawn mist and damp well-supports her mood today, and if she feels this miserable, Erista must be worse.

She eyes the hole with a faint air of distress.  It is not her way, and to watch her friend lie still while dirt is thrown upon him...but no, it is for Fergus, not her.  And she will not argue against his wishes, the wishes of his church.

Erista nods.  "I.. I would like to," she affirms, stepping forward.  "There's people far more qualified than I am, but they're not here, so if nobody else wants it more, I would like to speak of his life."

Velia nods at Erista and smiles comfortingly.  "It is good that he has a friend who will speak for his life.  But who will speak for his death."  Her eyes travel from one member of the group to another, searching their faces for some sign that one of them would be prepared to describe how he had fallen, and what it meant to them, and to others.

Behind her, the other priestesses start to sing quietly...

There are no words that any of the party can understand, but somehow the song conveys sorrow to those who hear it.

Colwyn sniffs loudly, and mutters, "I's bein' 'avin' a cold.  An' maybe some dust in me eye."

"Eye."

Uttering a single syllable, which so happened to be a single word as well, as chance would have it, Bilfro steps forward.

On second thought, however, he might have said "Aye" rather than "Eye".

Perhaps even "I", which in this context makes somewhat more sense, as long as he offers to speak of Fergus' death.

You never can tell with Bilfro.

Aarnr, Eilieen considers, might be best to speak of Fergus' death.  Certainly he'd give a splendid perspective, from a heroic perspective.  Similarly Oswald.  But after a long moment, and a mutter from Bilfro - Aye?  Probably that - she sees none will step forward.

"If there are no objections," the priestess quietly states, "I will speak of his death."

Bilfro looks at Eilieen as if she just boogalooed over his grave, spreading fresh bovine fertilizer in the process, even if he have to turn around to do so.

Standing quietly, Ozzy had been trying to decide if he wanted to speak of Fergus's life or of his death.

Then Erista had jumped in to offer to talk about the former.  And before he could make his own offer, Bilfro had stepped forward with an offer to describe the big man's death.  Leaving Ozzy with nothing to say on the matter.

And then, shortly after, Eilieen does the same.

And the Freyan priestesses are providing a musical accompaniment, so Ozzy really has nothing left to do.  Hopefully there will be a chance for Fergus's other companions to say a few words.

Velia bows her head and stands in silence, and when she lifts it again, she starts to speak.

"All life is a circle.  From its beginning we move through it, leaving our mark on this world, and at its end we return to the earth to nourish new life.  And the Goddess watches over us at every stage, guiding and defending us all."

"The world can be harsh, but She is our guardian, in Life and in Death.  Those who follow her teachings are never really gone, even though their life is ended.  Their body returns to the world, but their soul rises to dwell in Her hall, under Her love and protection."

"So it is with Fergus, who has departed this life and moved on.  And though we are sad that his life has ended, there is joy in the knowledge that he is with Her in death.  For that is Her way."

A pause, and then Velia says, "And now we listen in silence, while his friend tells us of this man's life.  Speak to us of his days in this world, and of the deeds that made him who he was, that we might know the man who we are sending to dwell with the Goddess."  And she lifts her walking stick, before thumping it down on the ground...

Aarnr's up and about his daily remonstration with Bowbe (shouting quietly, mindful of his grandmother's wishes), when the call comes.  Dawn, he assumes, must be the one who cleans the rooms here, and while he himself is always ready to spring into action, he supposes decadent folks might need the full hour.  Leaving them to it, he partakes of a light breakfast and a few beers to stand him in good stead for the funeral service.

Mindful of earlier warnings, Aarnr does not volunteer to speak, smiling and nodding at Eilieen to show he remembered, and is certainly looking forward to the highlights of what was a brief but eventful and glorious career as a monster-slayer.

The hole in the ground does not look at all welcoming, but the priest vows to be respectful of Fergus's wishes and restrains himself from correcting the halfling priestess as she makes many factual mistakes.  Circle indeed !  And that call for silence is a worry, though perhaps the thumping of the staff indicates it's time for musical accompaniment to go with the silence.  Aarnr raises a questioning brow at Ozzie.

Arkan stood solemnly as Velia spoke.

He admitted he looked forward to hearing Erista speak of Fergus's life, and Bilfro or Eileen of how he died, morbid as it might sound, for with their words it would be as if he still lived among them, for another brief moment in time.

It is as our elders taught, mortals are doomed to live but a heartbeat in this world, it is our deeds that make us eternal. Arkan mused.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:51, Sun 11 Oct 2015.

Colwyn moves off to one side and leans up against a tree.  From here he should still be able to hear the eulogies and the sermon.  He watches Erista, waiting for her to start talking about Fergus' life.

Then he notices Bilfro.  The party's resident loon (though a likeable enough one) has also moved aside, and is doing... something...  "Is 'e makin' a spell or summat?" the rogue mutters as he watches the mage gesticulating wildly and silently mouthing words.  And then it hits him: he's rehearsing his speech.

By the looks of things it will be an exciting one.  Perhaps he plans to describe the battle with the giant in an epic masterpiece?

Erista stands solemnly, listening to Velia speak, nodding slow acceptance of the words.  When the staff thumps against the ground, and silence descends, she looks up, realizing that, indeed, that thing she had volunteered for was supposed to be happening.

She takes a few steps forward, and turns so that she's facing everyone.  "Fergus..."  With a sniffle, she wipes a hand across her eyes, and takes a breath.  "Fergus was a good friend, a good son... he was a good person.  He left his home to protect people, to make the world better and safer.  He... he shouldn't have died for someone who was--"  She stops again, shaking her head, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, and taking in another long, shaky breath.  "Sorry.  I only knew Fergus for a little while, but I think I loved him, a little bit.  He was easy to love.  He cared about everybody.  He was a terrible liar.  He stood by Aarnr's side, wished he could sing like Ozzy, wanted to help Bilfro, worried about Colwyn, and admired Eilieen.  He was warm and strong and, and, solid, and without him, the world is colder and darker than it was before."

Turning away, towards the altar, she tips her head up to look at the shrouded corpse.  "I'm sorry, Fergus.  Thank you for everything you taught me.  We'll miss you."

Vella nods as Erista finishes her eulogy.  "He bore the love of the Goddess in his heart, and used it to shape the world around him.  There is no finer thing to say about a worshipper of Freya."

Then she bows her head, "Only those who dwell in the next world live forever.  For one who walks this world, life eternal is an abomination.  The truly devoted know when their time is ended, and embrace that end gladly, that they may move on to rest at Her side."

"Thus it was with Fergus.  He battled things which marred the world, and gave his life willingly.  Who will speak of his death and its meaning?"

And the walking stick thumps against the earth again...

As the thumbing of the stick once more occur
Bilfro the Halfing Giant did so stir
and stepped forward to turn to face
the others gathered in this holy place.

Next he motion to his friend Ossy.
to rally one more to his solo posse,
also motioned to the gathered choir
before tugging at his attire.

He cleared his throat a little
where he stood, looking rather brittle,
and then he slowly did inhale,
his face shaded by solemn veil.

As he stood there, filled with honour,
he began to sing, in the voice of tenor,
about his friend who had just passed
into the unknown beyond so vast.


(to the tune of Auld Lang Syne,
should be sung this song divine)

"Thy name was Fergus Andarson,
thou went out into the world;
whilst thou wast but a farmers son,
thou didst fly with wings unfurled.

    Thou hied so free about the land,
    we fought foul fiends and more;
    we didst walk down many a road,
    in those friendship days of yore.

Thy heart twas large, thy soul twas braw,
and nay harsh words did thee spill;
Thou showed us all what kindness is
all through thy own goodwill.

    Thou rushed into the fray anon,
    to halt the giant's tore;
    Thou died a hero, saving us,
    in those glory days of yore.

Now doth thou sleep, my fallen friend,
and thou rest so silently;
but songs'll be sung and poems writ;
thou shall live eternally.

    Though Fergus fell, we shan't forget
    those grand old days of yore.
    We'll carry thee in our hearts,
    till we all meet up once more."


As silence came upon his voice
a tear fell, but not by choice,
and he look down upon his feet
before retreating, quite discreet.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Tue 13 Oct 2015.

Arkan listened to the eulogies of both Erista and Bilfro solemnly, head bowed. When they finished he looked to each in turn and said, "That was beautiful. Fergus was indeed lucky to count you among his friend."

"Thus we know what Fergus meant to his friends." Vella pronounces, smiling, "He was a friend, a companion, a protector, an object of great affection.  All of these things, and more, made him fit to join the Goddess in Her hall, Sessrymnir."  The singing stops, and the priestesses move to surround Fergus' body.

"His heart was joyful, and his arm strong
And all that is sacred to the Goddess
Was sacred to him.
Mourn not, though Fergus has departed.
For he sees us all from Freya's table.
He knows of the love of his friends,
And how it will endure.
He knows that his example will inspire them,
And that they will strive each day
To be worthy of his friendship.
So we bury Fergus in the earth, firm in our Faith,
That his soul will dwell, for ever, in Sessrymnir."

"In Freya's name."

As the prayer finishes, the farmer's body is lifted, still wrapped in its linen shroud and carried towards the hole.  A board lays next to the hole, with three ropes threaded beneath it.  The body is laid on the board, and the priestesses use the ropes to lower it into the grave...

Aarnr is somewhat disappointed, having hoped for a detailed and gratuitously bloody rendering of the exact manner of Fergus's demise.  Where was the mention of his friend's powerful axe blow that nearly severed the giant's leg ?  Or the ferocious swing of the giant's club that dashed his brains out ?  But before the priest can correct the record, he is silenced by the grim horror of the corpse being lowered into the fell grave beneath the earth.  Aarnr's lips tighten in disapproval, but he holds his tongue.

The ropes are pulled clear, and the priestesses return to their wordless song, now standing near the grave itself...

Their leader raises her eyes to the sky and calls out, "Freya!  Welcome the soul of your son, Fergus Andarson, into sacred Sessrymnir.  Guard well his remains, and permit not the dark things of the earth to take possession of his mortal shell, but let it return to the soil whence it drew life and nourishment."

"Fergus shall be mourned by his friends, and missed by his kin, though they will all gain solace in the knowledge that he lived a good life, and was true to the ways of your teachings.  Brave and generous to the end of his days in this mortal world."

"Thus we beseech you, Freya... take him into your home, and grant him an eternal rest at your hearth.  So be it!"

And on the final words, the mound of soil next to the grave starts to move, sliding slowly across the ground and flowing into the grave to conceal the shrouded body...

Following Bilfro's impassioned song, there comes a speech from the priestesses.  Eilieen remains silent, her head bowed, her head a-swarm with prayers and lamentations.  Down Fergus goes, down into the depths of the earth.  She shivers, once; but the ideas of the priestesses of Freya strike a chord with her.  Fergus is no longer here, no longer in his body.  If they feel he should nourish the earth and its peoples...well, he protected them in his life.

Fergus would most certainly approve.

Finally the earth moves itself to cover her friend, a loamy blanket bringing his body to its final rest.  And Eilieen looks up at Vella.  "May we stay with him a while?  Say some words of our own?"

With his grandmother's words in mind, Aarnr does not pray, sensing that perhaps the impassioned swearing, insults and threats required to move Bowbe are out of place here and now.  Indeed, it is all he can do not to immediately attack the animate mound of earth.  As he watches in horror and disgust, it seems to him as if the very ground has become the open maw of some dreadful beast that slowly but inexorably closes around the corpse of his friend, stealing it away to be food for insects and vermin.

Yet the priest is determined to stand vigil, as if by his presence he can ward off corruption, at least for a little time.

"Is it appropriate to place tokens in the grave ?" he asks the halfling priestess roughly, choosing his words carefully, but unable and unwilling to tear his eyes away, but remembering the ceremony for Nameless.

As the dust pours onto Feargus's body Arkan curiously wonders if indeed it is a divine power that moves the soil, or if it is a spell cast by the clergy. He can attempt to find out, but does not make a move. It would not be proper, after all.

"You are welcome to stay as long as you like." Velia confirms, with a gentle smile, "We will be working over there, should you need anything."  She points a little to one side of the temple, where a small grove of trees stands, the branches sagging beneath the weight of the apples which hang from them.

There are several large baskets stacked beneath the trees.

"The land is good.  I think Fergus' body will be treated kindly by it."

The priestess bows, and signals to her followers, who start to move away, towards the apple trees.  "Once again, I am sorry for the loss of your friend, and I can only assure you that the Goddess blesses her followers, in this life, and the next."

"Our thanks for your generosity lady Velia." Arkan said to the priestess with a warm smile.

"I do not believe we shall be staying long though." He added, glancing at Erista, Eileen and Bilfro, wondering if they wanted to spend more time reminiscing about Feargus, or if the place was starting to hold painful memories of his loss for them.

Arkan absently pulled at the black glove on his right hand with his left, clenching the right one into a fist as he tightened the garment, and repeated the motion with the other glove. It had become an old habit the longer he had spent time on the road, and oft meant he was a little uneasy about something.

In this particular case, the brush with mortality of a companion made him realize again the reality of the dangers they faced. They had yet to enter the dungeon, and already one of their own had lost his life.

The omens did not seem to be in their favor, much less the odds.

The halfling priestess seems about to follow her comrades away from the grave, but then steps towards Aarnr, and peers up at him.  "Tokens, and other things that mightmark affection for your fallen friend, can be placed on the grave, or even buried just below the surface.  I only ask that you remember that Fergus was one of ours, and leave nothing that would desecrate his grave or this holy place, or befoul his memory."

"I am sure that I can trust you all though." Velia finishes with a smile.

"And now I must attend to my other duties."

"Our thanks again, Lady Velina."  Eilieen bows.  "We shall certainly not desecrate the grave nor your sacred grounds."  She holds the bow until the priestess leaves, then moves to the mound of earth.  Such a curious method of honoring the dead...and yet, not without its merits, when viewed from the perspective of Freya and her priestesses.

Dropping into a crouch, she stirs the loam with her fingers, almost pensively.  "Ah, Fergus," Eilieen whispers.  "A short time I knew you, and yet it almost seemed as if there had been times before.  Other lives, perhaps.  Perhaps even upon other worlds, a myriad of them.  Like as not you are remembered there as you are here: with fond respect and affection for the kind, strong heart you bore."  She bows her head, fingers plucking a small pebble from the grave.  "A keepsake, for me - a memory of the times I recall, and the worlds I do not."

A song comes to her then, a song she heard once in a dream, it seems.  Eilieen closes her eyes, hums quietly, then quietly sings - without skill or expertise, but redolent with emotion.

"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light."

She isn't certain what it means, but in her heart, it sounds like Fergus.

"In other worlds," she whispers, rising and stepping away from the grave.  "Perhaps we shall meet again."