Episode 28 | Mortal & Væron

Windshell activates.

It is night of the same day as last episode. Snow falls heavily now and a strong wind blows. Raka and Lyn are plodding through the shin deep snow. Raka carries Malaki in her arms. He is semi-conscious and drifts in and out of consciousness. He groans in pain occasionally.

Off in the distance, the Koshoryce bellows again.

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) If I’d known the snow was gona be like this, I would’ve-

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) Fiyar’ta… did you hear that?

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) Hm? You mean the windshell?

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) No, the Koshoryce. It’s still out there.

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) Do you think it’s chasing us? But why would it do that?

Raka:(breathless, raised voice, exasperted) If I still had access to Væron knowledge, we could ask Ferryce. But I don’t, so we can’t. (sighs) No… we probably wouldn’t have found him at all when the desire spirit lured him away.

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) Yea, I’m glad you did what you did. It was the right thing to do-

Malaki:(groans, rattling) I smell it… It’s near…

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) You have to preserve your energy. Get some rest.

Malaki:(groans, rattling) It hurts too much to rest…

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) Fiyar’ta… this can’t be very comfortable for you…

Raka stops. Lyn turns around and joins her.

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) What did he say?

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) He’s in pain!

Lyn:Oh no…

Raka:Fiyar’ta, Malaki, you must be the luckiest Skurki in the world to have survive that fall…

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) And without breaking just about every bone in your already fragile looking body.

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) Well… except for that leg. The rest remains to be seen…

Malaki:(weak, rattling, sly laugh) You won’t get rid of me so easily. I am the wind, after all. Nothing… breaks the wind… (laughing)

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) Malaki, I could… Fiyar’ta, you won’t like this… I could summon a Væron and-

Malaki:No!

Raka:(cont’d) barter with it to make at least the pain more bearable for you-

Malaki:(groans, rattling) no Væron… please…

Raka:(breathless, raised voice, worried) I don’t know what else to do to help you!

Malaki:(weak, rattling) There are… plants in forests. In this area. Blossoms in summer.

Lyn:You mean flowers?
Raka(breathless, raised voice) It’s the beginning of Kukolon’kos, we won’t find flowers this time of year! Not in this snow.

Malaki:(pained, rattling) The blossoms… turn into bulbs, harden like bark just before winter. Protects the unshed seeds from cold, preserve it for next year. The seeds… help with pain.

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) Alright. We’ll keep an eye out. Lyn, you got that?

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) Plants with wooden bulbs at the end. Got it-

In the distance, the Koshoryce wails again.

Lyn:(breathless, raised voice) Shit- is it me or is that thing getting closer?

Raka:(breathless, raised voice) I don’t know, I can’t see-

Windshell deactivates.

Windshell activates.

It’s a bit later. Lyn and Malaki are in a clearing. Malaki has been stuffed into Lyn’s bedroll and Lyn is wrapping a rope around him to keep him strapped in.

Malaki:(winces)

Lyn:Too tight?

Malaki:(pained, weakly) A bit…

Lyn:Sorry, it’s really hard to see what I’m doing without Raka’s headlight…

Lyn:Is that better? Are you comfortable and warm enough in there?

Malaki:(groans, then drifts off)

Lyn:Hey, Mal?

(pause)

Lyn:Well, comfortable enough to go right back to sleep, I guess. Geez, it’s really cold without the fur-cloak…

Behind her, a large quadrupedal animal cracks carefully through the underbrush. There is less snow here.

Raka is in her Therion form her voice slightly distorted as she speaks the emotional tongue.

Raka:I’ve… not used this form in a while.

Lyn:(shocked) Holy shit, Raka! You scared me!

Raka:Appologies…

Lyn:Oh, you weren’t kidding when you said your Therion form was much bigger than Malaki’s.

Raka:I hate this. I feel… clunky.

Lyn:You ARE clunky. But that’s just what we need right now.

Raka:I suppose so…

Lyn:I really didn’t think your plan would work, considering how small Malaki is in this shape. But you’re the size of… I don’t know, a Bear? Tiger?

Raka:I feel like a Pack-Aivi

Lyn:I think you can definitely pull off carrying him in this shape. And maybe even me.

Raka:Don’t even think about it.

Lyn:Booo.

Raka:Could you stuff my clothes in one of the backpacks?

Lyn:Can I wear your overcoat? It’s really cold without any of the blankets…

Raka:Did you wrap him up in all of them?

Lyn:Keeping him warm is more important right now!

Raka:(sighs) True.

Lyn picks up the remaining cloths and stuffs them into a backpack.

Lyn:Were you always able to turn into that form at will?

Raka:Of course. The Therion from is every Rontar’s… “true form”, I guess you could call it. I try to avoid being in this shape, though.

Lyn:You look like a giant cat, if I were you I’d just be in that shape all day long.

Raka:Did you make sure Malaki is rolled up tight in that bedroll?

Lyn:I even wrapped the rope around him, just to make sure he doesn’t fall out.

Raka:Good. That should keep him warm. Lay him across my back.

Lyn starts heaving up Malaki.

Lyn:(strained) Alright… and here I said Malaki was skinny… One… Two- (she lifts Malaki up and heaves him over Raka’s back)

Raka:Great, now tie the straps of the Backpacks together and hang them around my neck.

Lyn ties the straps of the backpacks together.

Lyn:On it. You sure you don’t have room for one more?

Raka:I’m not a pack-Aivi. I’m already carrying Malaki and our backpacks, but if the Koshoryce attacks, I might have to throw it all off to protect you both.

Lyn:Did anyone ever tell you that you’re trying to be too good at too many things at once?

Raka:I suppose so…

Lyn picks up the two heavy backpacks, slightly strained.

Lyn:Well, at least now we have a fighting chance. (heaves, as she tosses the backpacks across Raka’s neck) Does that work?

Raka:A bit further to the back.

Lyn:Like this?

She adjusts the backpacks.

Raka:Yes, much better.

Lyn:Could you turn your headlight back on?

Raka:Not in this form… I can’t use runes in Therion form.

Lyn:Dang. Does that also apply to the heatsphere? It’s pitch black, I can’t see a lot without your headlight…

Raka:I can turn the heatsphere on. It doesn’t need a rune.

Lyn:Uuuh, thanks bro. Wait, let me get the heatsphere and the glove out of your backpack.

Lyn starts rummaging around in the Backpack.

Off in the distance, the Koshoryce bellows. A large tree creaks and falls over.

Lyn:Oh goddamnit.

Raka:We have to get moving

Lyn:Why won’t that thing just give up?

Raka:Got the heatsphere?

Lyn:Umm… Yup, got it.

Raka:Great. Make sure you don’t leave my bow and quiver behind.

Lyn:Bow… Quiver… Got them.

Raka:Let’s get get moving again-

Windshell deactivates.

Windshell activates.

Lyn:Could you turn the heatsphere up a bit brighter?

Raka:If I did it’d singe right through the glove.

Lyn:Damnit. I think those there… COULD be the plants Mal was talking about?

Raka:Grab a few. We’ll ask him when he’s conscious again.

Lyn:(sighs) Through all those thornbushes?… Can’t you do it?

Raka:Not with Malaki on my back.

Lyn:Urg, alright. I hope these aren’t the Sparkthorn things that Malaki likes so much.

Raka:I don’t think they are.

Lyn:Here we go.

Lyn starts cracking through densely growing underbrush.

Raka:Be careful. Stick to your left.

Lyn:Ouch- Ouch- I don’t got this. Ah, I don’t- Aah! Uuuh, damn these thorns!

Raka:Can you reach them?

Lyn:Not there yet. Oh, there’s a berry bush over there too, should I grab some?

Raka:Focus on the plant we need. We don’t have time to gather food right now.

Lyn:Poor berries. (sighs) Alright…

Lyn reaches the plants and starts breaking off the pods.

Lyn:Got it. (slightly raised voice) Just the pods, right?

Raka:(slightly raised voice) Make sure there’s seeds in them.

Lyn shakes one of the pods.

Lyn:Alright, seeds… (slightly raised voice) Yup this one got seeds.

Raka:(slightly raised voice) Take a few of the pods, just in case.

Lyn breaks off three more pods.

Lyn:Three… four. (slightly raised voice) Four enough?

Raka:(slightly raised voice) Maybe. I think so.

Lyn:(slightly raised voice, gasps) Oh, Raka!

Raka:(slightly raised voice, alert) What? Is the Koshoryce-

Lyn:(slightly raised voice) No, no threat. I see a house up ahead.

Raka:(slightly raised voice) A house? Where?

Lyn:(slightly raised voice) Up that way a bit, in a clearing, next to the cliff. It’s lit by moonlight. You see it?

Raka:(slightly raised voice) Ah, yes.

Lyn:(slightly raised voice) We should go around it, I don’t feel good putting civilians in the way of that beast…

Raka:(slightly raised voice) That’s… Not a house, it’s a shrine.

Lyn:(slightly raised voice) A shrine? In the middle of nowhere?

Raka:(slightly raised voice) Those are usually build very remotely. This is good, we can seek shelter there!

Lyn:Are you sure?

Raka:Yes. Now come, get back here.

Lyn:Alright…

Lyn starts moving back to Raka’s location.

Lyn:I wouldn’t wana pull the wrath of whatever god is worshipped there for having it destroyed by a mad spirit… (sarcastic) Fiyar’ta!

Raka:(normal volume) Most Vær know better than to intrude on a shrines peace.

Lyn:Even a mad one?

Raka:We can hope…

Lyn:I hope you’re right… I’d hate if that beast molested people that lived here.

Ferryce:I’ll show it it’s place if it dares to defile a place of worship.

Lyn:Heyyy, Ferry-boy, you’re back! We can always count on you to put those bellow you in their place…

Raka:This trail might lead right to the shrine, if locals use it to get there.

The distant Koshoryce wails again.

They start moving up the trail. Lyn breathes heavily.

Lyn:Gosh I hope you’re right and this thingy won’t attack us there. I’m getting really tired.

Raka:Me too…

On Raka’s back, Malaki stirs and groans. Suddenly he starts coughing. First weakly, then increasingly so.

Lyn:Hey, are you alright?

Raka:Is he not getting enough air?

Lyn:I don’t know- Mal?

Raka:Get him off my back.

Lyn:Like… right now?

Raka:(urgent) Yes, quickly!

Lyn strains, as she makes an effort to get Malaki off her back. Malaki continues to cough. Lyn starts patting him on the back.

Raka:Lean him over a bit. If he’s got something stuck in his lungs, he needs to-

Raka changes from her Therion to her humanoid form.

Lyn:Woa, warn me before you start changing back, that’s a horrid sight!

Raka pulls the waterskin out from her backpack and pulls up the stopper. She kneels down beside Malaki and offers it to him.

Raka:Here, drink some water.

Malaki swallows the water and his coughing subdues. He breathes heavily, exhausted.

Raka:Lyn, the seeds.

Lyn:Ah, right, right, right- The seeds, here.

She pulls one of the pods out of her pockets.

Raka:Malaki, are these the plants you spoke of?

Malaki:(clearing his throat, weakly) Fnatir, Yes…

Raka:How many seeds?

Malaki:(weakly) Twelve…

Raka:Twelve, alright.

Malaki:(weakly) No, no… Ten.

Raka:Ten. Sure. Fenet Ronturi. (Fire Rune: jewel torch)

Raka pulls out her knife and cuts the husk open with a crack, then starts counting out seeds.

Lyn:Are you doing alright, bud?

Malaki:(weak, frail voice) The thing you wrapped me in… I can’t move…

Lyn:That’s the whole point of it.

Malaki:I think it’s merging with me.

Lyn:We’ll get you out of the bedroll in a few minutes.

Raka:Nine… ten. Here, stick out your tongue.

Malaki does so, and Raka drops the seeds on his tongue.

Raka:Now wash that down.

Malaki swallows the water Raka offers him. He huffs exhaustedly, then begins to relax a little.

Raka:Alright. Lyn, grab the backpacks. I’ll carry him the rest of the way.

Lyn:Don’t you want to put on some clothes first?

Raka:I can do that inside. It’s just a few more steps.

Lyn:(shrugs) Sure, if that’s how you wana do it.

Lyn picks up the backpacks. Raka heaves up Malaki and starts walking on ahead.

Lyn:(resigned) Alright…

They approach the shrine. Raka takes the steps to the entrance door and heaves it open with a shoulder.

Raka:(calling out) Fæhu? We are travelers, seeking for shelter. Is anyone here?

(pause)

Raka:Fæhu?

Lyn:Do you think there’s anyone here?

Laika:(calling out from further inside the shrine) Hello!

Lyn:Oh.

Raka:Fæhu!

Laika:Come in.

Oþan:No, stay out!

Laika:(hushed scolding) Oh be still, Oþan.

Lyn follows Raka up the five steps.

Raka:One of our companions is hurt-

Laika:(concerned) Hurt?

Raka:-is there a way we can treat him?

Laika:(alarmed) Yes, bring him to the kitchen… That’s… um… (she tries to reach out for a pillar to confirm her direction) Ah, yes, this way. Come.

Raka and Lyn follow her into the kitchen. A small fire crackles on a stove.

Laika:There… should be some blankets in that corner.

Raka:Can we use those?

Laika:Yes, go ahead. Make your companion comfortable.

Raka carefully puts Malaki down on the blankets.

Malaki:(groans)

Laika:What kind of injury does he have?

Raka:He fell down a cliff, he’s badly injured.

Laika:Open wounds? Broken bones?

Raka:Wounds, yes. One of his legs was broken, but I don’t know if he broke anything else. We had no time to check, we needed to get him to safety first.

Laika:Do you need hot water?

Lyn:Hot water sounds good.

Raka:Yes.

Laika:Oh. I didn’t realize you had another companion.

Raka:Oh.

Lyn:Um. Sorry, the fire threw me off. We’re three, I’m Lyn, that’s Raka and our injured friend is Malaki. Nice to meet you.

Raka:Fæhu…

Laika:My name is Laika.

Malaki:(groans, biting down pain) Lai… ka…

Laika:Oh, yes.

Malaki:…not an elder…

Laika:(amused) No I’m not an elder. I’m also not a Skur. Only Skur still hang on to that naming tradition. Anyway, I think I have a bucket to fetch water with around here somewhere, I just used it to scrub the floor earlier today…

She hits the bucket with her foot.

Laika:Ah, there it is. Great.

Lyn:Can I help?

Laika:You could get the water.

Raka:I’ll take care of that.

Lyn:Great, what else can I do?

Laika:I don’t know, you’re the one with the injured friend. Tell me what you need and I will tell you if I can provide it.

Raka:Lets get Malaki out of the bedrolls first.

Malaki hisses in pain.

Raka:Oh Fiyar’ta… Lyn?
Lyn:Yes?

Raka:The wounds seem to have crusted up with the blanket you wrapped him up in.

Lyn:Shit, really? Oh gods, I guess he’s really merging with the blankets…

Raka:We really need that hot water. Lyn, stay by his side.

Lyn:Sure…

Raka:Laika, where do I get the water from?

Laika:Out back, there’s a small stream.

Raka:Do you have pots for the stove?

Laika:Of course… let’s see… the pots should be over there… (she reaches out to find the place she keeps the pots)

Lyn:(muttering to self, slight confusion) “Should be”?

In her excitement, she accidentally causes a few ladles to fall from their hangers.

Laika:Woops- All’s good, I got three!

One ladle slowly slips and falls to the ground.

Laika:Oops.

Oþan:(laughs) Not the fourth one.

Laika:I guess not…

Oþan:Two to three.

Laika:Oh well…

Oþan:If you keep this up, I might win today after all.

Laika:I forgot about number four…

Raka:Is… everything alright? Do you need a hand?

Laika hangs all the ladles back on the hangers.

Laika:(clears throat) Ah sorry, sometimes I play this game with myself where I try to catch all objects before they fall- Erm, never mind that’s not important right now. The pots should be right here.

Raka:Ah, I see them. Can you put two out for me? We can heat one on the stove and I have a heatsphere for the other.

Laika:A heatsphere…?

Raka:An item that can heat water without a fire.

Laika:Oh. Alright, yes we can do that.

Raka:I’ll go get water.

Raka leaves the room. Laika starts moving pots around.

Laika:Your friend surely has a commanding presence.

Lyn:I’ve never seen her this focused before, to be honest.

Laika:Do you need medicine for your friend? I might have some herbs we could give him. And alcohol.

Lyn:Thanks, we just gave him some seeds from this weird bulbous plant.

Laika:Oh.

Lyn:He said they’d act like painkillers.

Laika:What kind of plant?

Lyn:I still have leftovers, wait…

Lyn:Here, this plant.

Lyn shakes it.

Laika:Ah. I hope you didn’t give him too many. They have psychedelic properties in large quantities.

Lyn:Oh, well… he’s used to that… He said we should give him 10.

Laika:Oh…

Lyn:What, was that too many?

Laika:No…

Laika:That… will take care of the pain. It’s also not enough to give him hallucinations, but enough to… keep him awake for a while.

Malaki:(sly) 13 is for fun. Now is not the time.

Raka:(strained) It certainly isn’t.

Raka comes back in, heaving a pail of water.

Laika:Ah, you’re back. I put the pots over there, on the table.

Raka:(strained) Thanks. I see them.

Raka takes a pot and fills water from the pail into it.

Raka:Lyn, give me the heatsphere.

Lyn:Oh right, here you go.

Raka drops the heatsphere in the other pot.

Raka:Do you have some clean cloth we can use to wash his wounds?

Laika:I should have a few in the storage.

Oþan:No! You can’t give those to these intruding-

Laika:(scolding) Enough, Oþan. Those clothes have been collecting dust for the past 10 years, we might as well put them to use.

Lyn:Um… what was that?

Laika:Oh, sorry- I talk to… to myself sometimes-

Oþan:Listen, travelers. If you want my mortal’s hospitality, you will have to pay for it!

Lyn:Is that… a Vær?

Oþan:(infuriated) I’m not a VÆR, you insolent little-

Laika:That’s enough, Oþan.

Lyn:Fæhu to you too!

Laika:Sorry. She doesn’t like being called a Vær. You… can hear her?

Raka:She’s… a Væron?

Laika:Yes.

Raka:Does that mean you… You are the Mortal?

Laika:(laughs) Aren’t we all a little mortal?

Raka:Some more than others…

Laika:But to answer you, yes. I am this shrine’s Mortal, and that voice you hear is Oþan, my Væron.

Lyn:What’s that all about?

Malaki:(rattling) Væron…

Lyn:Shhh, Malaki go sleep, the big people talk here.

Raka:I’m… sorry, I didn’t realize you were- I wouldn’t have been so brusque.

Laika:You treat me like a normal person. That’s great, not many do. And your friend needs treatment. That’s more important right now.

Oþan:You should insist getting the respect you deserve, Mortal!

Laika:I’ll have time to insist later. I will get your cloth.

Raka:Alright, thank you…

Laika leaves the room.

Lyn:You heard that, Ferryce? There’s someone for you to play with here.

Ferryce:Væron don’t “play” with each other, little human.

Oþan:(infuriated) You brought another Væron?! Into my shine?!

Ferryce:Nice to catch up with you as well, Oþan.

Oþan:Ferryce.

Ferryce:Still bound to a Mortal, I see. You seem to be enjoying being tied to mortals, don’t you? What number is she? The third? Fourth?

Oþan:Shut up, Ferryce.

Ferryce:(laughs)

Lyn:I have the feeling it was a bad idea to mention it…

Oþan:Very bad, insolent mortal.

Ferryce:(amused) Oh don’t worry. It’s all just friendly banter.

Oþan:Aren’t you tied to a mortal yourself right now?

Ferryce:A temporary bond, an Oathbond. She is not my Mortal, and I am not her Væron. And I’m not currently on speaking terms with her, so you will not have to endure me any longer.

Raka:Ferryce look, I’m-

Ferryce:I understand why you did what you did, and, as a person, I am pleased with your choice. As Væron, I am cross with you. Now focus on the task at hand. We can talk later.

Oþan:Yes, go caress a rock, Ferryce.

Ferryce:(amused chuckle)

The water in both pots starts boiling. Laika returns to the room.

Laika:I heard that, Oþan. Be nice to our guests.

Oþan:If you had made sure that our guests hadn’t brought in another Væron-

Laika:Here are some cloths you can use to clean your friends wounds.

Raka:Thanks.

Laika:It’s pretty large, you can shred off small bits if you need.

Raka:That’s good, thank you.

Raka rips off several pieces of the cloth and drops them into the pots.

Lyn:Sorry, I didn’t realize there’s such animosities between Væron.

Laika:Don’t worry about it. Oþan always acts this way, but she’s really a very kind Væron.

Oþan:Don’t give them the wrong impression, Mortal. They might be disappointed.

Raka:The water is boiling.

Laika:Give the cloth some time to get thoroughly soaked.

Raka:Right. Time to… Peel Malaki out of that blanket. And his clothes.

Lyn:Speaking about clothes, maybe it’s about time you start putting some on?

Raka:I suppose so…

Raka stops tearing cloth apart and pulls her own clothes from her backpack.

Laika:Has she not been wearing clothes this whole time? Oh.

(pause)

Lyn:You… didn’t see that?

Laika:I don’t see a lot of things. I’m blind.

Lyn:Oh. Sorry, I didn’t notice that.

Laika:(laughs) You’re not supposed to.

Raka:You have… a broken soul?

Laika:Yes, if that’s what you want to call it.

Lyn:Can we focus on Malaki for a bit here? I don’t want him to completely fuse with that blanket.

Raka:Yes, I think the cloth is now sufficiently boiled.

Raka starts peeling off some layers of the blanket. It sounds like Velcro coming apart.

Malaki:(winces in pain)

Raka:Aren’t you unconscious yet?

Malaki:(weakly) I was unconscious until you started skinning me alive.

Lyn:Um… Oh man… that doesn’t look good.

Laika:It doesn’t SOUND good, either.

Raka:If you’re queasy go find something else to do.

Laika:I’ll help you. Tell me what to do.

Lyn:Yea I think I’ll… go… cook something?

Oþan:Do I really need to remind you mortals that you owe my Mortal an offering?

Raka:(gasps) I almost forgot about that! Lyn, offer her something!

Lyn:Um, like what?

Laika:(amused) I take food or stories.

Raka:Mortals in service to a Væron have to rely on the food offerings of worshippers to survive.

Laika:Oh, you are familiar with the line of Mortals?

Raka:I… know a Mortal, yes.

Oþan:If there are no worshippers that bring the Mortal food offerings, that means there is no real NEED for that Mortal… And the Mortal starves and the Væron returns to the weave.

Lyn:Oh boy, way to raise the pressure…

Lyn:Let’s see, we got… smoked fish and meat. Those sound like good offerings, right?

Oþan:No! Those are horrible offerings!

Lyn:What? But why?

Laika:(laughs) Sorry, I have to respectfully decline. Oþan doesn’t appreciate dead animals being eaten in her shrine.

Lyn:Uh… okay… Then… How about porridge with nuts and berries?

Laika:Ooh, porridge?

Lyn:Apparently I suck at cooking without a ceramic stove, but I’m pretty sure I can cook that… (suspiciously eying the stove) even on a semi… open… fire…

Laika:Yes I’ll gladly take you up on that offering, I love porridge!

Lyn:Broken soul and porridge lover, we’re sisters!

Raka:You can also cook with the heatsphere. I think we don’t need it anymore right now.

Lyn:Okay.

Malaki:(rattling) If you make me eat what the human cooks, that might really kill me.

Lyn:Hey!

Raka:(muttering) After the trouble we went through to get you to safety? I swear, I’ll summon a Væron just to bring back your soul so I can punch you. I dare you.

Malaki:(laughs weakly, then winces, as Raka tears some of the blanket away from his open wounds)

Lyn:So should I… start cooking already?

Raka:This is pretty dirty work here. It might be better to wait until we’re done with this. You can cook when we’re done and have cleaned up.

Lyn:Okay, I guess I’ll… just sit here then. Not facing you.

Raka:Laika, can you wring out a piece of cloth for me?

Laika:Ah yes, of course.

Raka:I’d rather not fumble with the pot with my hands all bloody like this.

Laika:Don’t worry about it.

Raka:Sorry, you have to do this-

Laika:Not at all. Tending to the needs of other mortals is my duty as… the Mortal.

Raka:Thanks.

Laika:What are these? That feels… weird.

Raka:Oh, feathers. They grow on my head. Sorry, I must’ve lost that one.

Laika:Oh don’t worry about it.

Lyn:Hey, so… what exactly is all that Mortal business about anyway?

Laika:You haven’t heard of the practice?

Lyn:No.

Raka:She’s… from a culture where knowledge about Væron is not common.

Laika:(laughs) That’s fine. Væron were not well known in my village, either-

Oþan:Not YOUR village, the village you were born and raised in! You are my Mortal now. You have no ties to that village anymore.

Laika:(amused) Well, it is just down the hill and the villagers still visit me regularly. If it wasn’t for them, I would’ve starved already, and you wouldn’t have a Mortal anymore.

Malaki:(winces) Stop hurting me!

Raka:(scolding) I’m cleaning your wounds, so bite your teeth and hold still!

Throughout the course of Laika’s explanation, she periodically fishes more cloths out of the pot and wrangles them to hand them to Raka.

Laika:You see, Væron exist to take care of the balances of the natural world. Or rather, the Vær they conduct do, but Væron make sure that every spirit does what it is supposed to and doesn’t become gluttonous or interfere with mortals too much.

Lyn:Hmm, I understand.

Laika:However, sometimes things happen in the natural world which we mortals might consider disastrous, like landslides, earthquakes or floods. Væron know why they happen or what benefit they have. We mortals don’t. Yet we have to live with their consequences.

Lyn:(understandingly) Mhm, mhm.

Laika:That is where the Mortal comes in. Mortals dedicate their lives in service to a Væron, forging a strong bond with them. The Mortal will then act as the voice of a shrine’s worshippers. They will hear the pleas, prayers and concerns about changes in the natural world of other mortals, and bring them before the Væron. The Mortal and the Væron will then try to find a working compromise to allow both the natural world and the world of mortals to coexist in a way that one does not impair the other.

Lyn:Awww, that’s beautiful! I wish humans could do something like that…

Laika:Oh, are you a human?

Oþan:(scoffs) Obviously.

Laika:(scolding) Be nice, Oþan.

Malaki:(rattling laugh) You can tell by her smell.

Lyn:Oh come on, bro! I used a deodorant just yesterday!

Raka:I’ve… never heard of a person with a broken soul becoming a mortal.

Oþan:Well she’s not the first.

Raka:Can I ask you something regarding that?

Laika:Of course!

Raka:I’m not sure how much this affects you, but people with broken souls are usually more susceptible to Spirit infestation. As a Mortal, I assume you deal a lot with minor spirits. Have you… faced any troubles because of your broken soul?

Laika:Before becoming a Mortal, yes. I had Vær live in my eyes, before I became a Mortal. But now that I have Oþan… The Vær have too much respect of her to try and infest her Mortal.

Raka:How about now that you-

Malaki:(in pain) Ow! Watch what you’re doing!

Raka:Oh, sorry! Er, what I meant to ask, has the Tangleweave changed anything about this situation at all?

Laika:Tangleweave?

(pause)

Raka:You… don’t know what that is?

Laika:No, I’m sorry. I’ve never heard of that.

Oþan:There is a hole in the Aetherweb that insolent Vær can use to escape the weave through and manifest.

Laika:You didn’t tell me about that, Oþan.

Oþan:Of course not, you don’t need to worry about it because I keep you safe of its effects! You are MY Mortal, after all, focus on YOUR job, and I’ll focus on MINE!

Raka:It’s not technically a Væron’s job to protect their Mortal.

Oþan:But it’s technically YOUR job to fix the tangleweave, Raka, yet after 22 days it remains open!

Raka:(concerned) 22 days?

Laika:(palacating) Don’t mind her words. She’s very frank, but she means well.

Lyn:Aw. Just like Ferryce.

Oþan:Oh don’t compare me to that insufferable stone-lover.

Raka:(sighs) You must have strong nerves to bear with that attitude every day. Ferryce doesn’t talk to me very often, but they are very exhausting when they do.

Oþan:Be happy they only bartered to occupy your gem, not to keep it.

Laika:(laughs) Oh, I enjoy having her around, despite her attitude. Oþan is my life safer in many ways, and I’m very grateful to her. I wouldn’t know what would have become of me without her.

Lyn:What did she do?

Laika:She gave me a purpose.

Lyn:Oooh.

Laika:You see, in my… the village I grew up in, I was quite useless. I couldn’t craft anything, I couldn’t help herding the Stock, or help with farming. I mean, I could do a few things, to some extend. But I was more of a burden to my family than I was helpful, and they let me feel that. All I could do was listen to stories, gossip, Forest-tales, stories of travelers and musicians, and commit them to memory. I was fairly good at that… A small compensation for the villagers, not… really enough to bother caring for me.

Oþan:Those insolent villagers… Imbeciles! You preserved a wealth of information with the stories you collected, most other villages on the Skundr wouldn’t even have access to! They should’ve appreciated your efforts more!

Laika:Oþan… Be nice.

Oþan:It still makes me mad that they would’ve let such valuable knowledge be forgotten!

Laika:(sighs) The Mortal before me had died roughly 7 years before I succeeded her. She never spoke of Oþan to the villagers, or only spoke of her capricious nature. Before long, the villagers began telling each other horrifying tales of the malicious spirit that dwelled in this shrine, and they left it to deteriorate.

Oþan:Ridiculous!

Laika:As result, the village was regularly ailed by floods and landslides after the Mortal passed away.

Oþan:Of course! Nature doesn’t care for the people living within it. Not without a mortal to find compromises with the Væron.

Laika:Eventually the Headmistress decided to send me to the shrine to become the new Mortal.

Lyn:Were you… scared? I mean, since you said you committed all those stories about the “malicious spirit” to memory…

Laika:(agreeing) I was terrified. And Oþan’s way didn’t make my entry into the duty as a Mortal any easier. She played many tricks on me at first, demeaned me, until… well until I realized she loved stories just about as much as I did. And I had many stories to share. That is when we really bonded. Now I truly consider her a friend.

Malaki:(rattling scoff) Considering Værons friends… Those deceptive things are friends to no one but themselves.

Oþan:Watch what you say, you insolent Skur, you are STILL in the shelter of my Shrine, you better not-

There is suddenly a loud crash, as the Koshoryce charges at the Shrine’s walls. It bellows in anger.

Laika:What was that?

Lyn:Oh shit- No!

Raka:Fiyar’ta- The Koshoryce!

Oþan:A Koshoryce?

Oþan:That’s not a Koshoryce, that’s a- (infuriated) A Khorpan’hakkaris?!

Raka:Fiyar’ta- was the windshell on this whole time?!

Lyn:Shit, I knew this was a bad idea, we shouldn’t have come here –

Windshell deactivates.

The sounds outside of Yosha’s room have started to indicate late evening, the streets are quieting down.

Parek:(deep breath, steeling himself) Hmm… Alright… I think I get why these might be a bit difficult for you to listen to on your own.

Yosha:(shaky, distraught but keeping it together) I’m glad they got Malaki to safety… and under the protection of a Væron, no less…

Parek:Do you think that’s safe enough?

Yosha:I don’t know… I’ve never been to a lecture on the different types of Vær, have you?

Parek:(exasperated) Sha-sha, no! None of my fields come even close to dealing with the inhabitants of the aetherweb!

Yosha:Neither do mine… I’m honestly not sure how concerned I should be about a kaporhan hakaris…

Parek:Do you mean a Khorpan’hakkaris?

Yosha:Yea…

Parek:Oh okay. I guess… there is a downside to being in a room that’s not across the hall from the library, huh.

Yosha:Yea… but my mother might have some books on the topic downstairs…

Parek:Want me to go down and have a look when you transcribe the next one later?

Yosha:No! You can’t- (leave me) I… I’d rather you stay here with me…

Parek:That’s alright. I’ll stay here then.

Yosha:Hey, Reki?

Parek:Not this again… Why are you so obsessed with pet names?

Yosha:Oh come now, you’re the one to talk.

Parek:What? Sha-sha is cute.

Yosha:Reki is cute, too.

Parek:No it’s not.

Yosha:Yes it is.

Parek:Just call me Paru if you want call me a pet name.

Yosha:That one’s Nilti’s. Just like Sha-sha.

Parek:(sighs) Fine. What were you going to say?

Yosha:(shyly) Thank you. For being here with me today.

Parek:I’m sure Nil would’ve done the same, if she was free today.

Yosha:I know… But she’s already helped me with so much in the last few weeks when I had trouble focusing on my lectures… I didn’t want to take up more of her time.

Parek:Ah come now. You spent all Luri taking care of her grocery when she had to work late. It all evens out.

Yosha:That’s the least I could’ve done for her!

Parek:That’s not the point, Sha-sha.

Yosha:I… I know.

Parek:You should’ve asked either of us for help with this much earlier. When Akasar Auril disappeared, for example.

Yosha:Well, it’s one thing to sneak into an Akasars study on your own on a regular basis. It’s another to take a friend along with you. Imagine if Akasar Ethiovar had found both of us, or even all three of us in Akasar Aurils study!

Parek:At least there won’t be any Akasars budging in on us here.

Yosha:Right… Anyway, let me just quickly wrap up with the reference, alright?

Parek:Sure. Can I help?

Yosha:No, don’t worry I’ve got it.
Alright, date of recording was the same as the last one. Vocal enchantments were woven by Kessir Riliniki, Carollyn Monterola, Eyþór Viðarsson, Ester Ellis, Tanja Milojevic, Jordyn Parker, Neil Martin and Hem Brewster. Music-shells were provided by Fuimadane. Audio-Enhancements were by Sarah Buchynski. Written and Produced by Kessir Riliniki.

Parek:Hmm… By the way, when did Akasar Raka set out on this trip?

Yosha:Oh, let’s see…

Yosha:Ummm… She started out on the 95th of Bäkkos…

Parek:It’s 5th day of Kukolon’kos today, so that’s…

Yosha:15?

Parek:15 days now?

Yosha:(disbelief) Really… it feels like she’s been gone for longer.

Parek:I think this might be the longest time she’s been out to fix a tangleweave…

Yosha:Oh… you might be right… Oh… This one really IS big, isn’t it?

Parek:I mean, it spans across the entire Skundr, I’m sure it must be…

Yosha:Alright, one more, let’s do this!