Ullfinn, Eiwaz, Perthro and Sowilo stood around a map table with Modi Thorson. The god was pointing at an outcrop of land into a lake. "This is where I was beset last time and forced to drop the four heads I had collected. We should go back and look for them."#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
Eiwaz pointed to a frost giant fortification nearby. "How many jotuns do you expect be in this castle?"
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
Ullfinn said, "We don't know. If the castle is full, we will be overwhelmed again. Sowilo?"
Sowilo looked at the map and her eyes glazed over. #futharkvillage
"I will need something from within the fortress, a bowl of sea water, and a full meal. Also, I will need someone who can sing the necessary runes to help me enter the prophecy state," Sowilo said.
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
Magni frowned. "We do not have anything from inside the fort."#futharkvillage
"Then it is too much of a gamble," Perthro said. "That fort is too close for this plan to work without more information." Eiwaz and Ullfinn nodded in agreement.
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
"Then we shall have to attack the fort itself," Modi said. "We can gather heads and trinkets both."#futharkvillage
Eiwaz traced his finger along a path marked on the map. "So we shall enter Jotunheim along this road, moving with all haste and avoiding combat until we arrive within bowshot of this castle."
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
"We?" Ullfinn asked. "You intend to accompany us? You are mortal!"#futharkvillage
"I may be mortal, but I bested you," Eiwaz retorted.
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
"That's not the point," Ullfinn said. "Mortals stay dead when you die. Hel's realm is barred to the Einherjar."
"But not to me," Modi said. "I'll remind you that we are here because my father is dead."#futharkvillage
"I welcome all who would aid me in my contest against my brother," Modi continued. "Even Perthro, who seems better suited to a game of Tafl than to battle."
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
"In fact I am, Asa Modi," Perthro said. "I would help, but I have no place on the field of battle."#futharkvillage
Perthro smiled. "I will keep Sowilo company while the warriors fight."
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
Modi frowned again. "Should not the seeress come with us, to provide us insight during battle?"
"No," Sowilo replied. "Perthro is right. What insight I can give you will be given here."#futharkvillage
Modi's face flushed with anger. "You would sit cowardly back and allow me to take all the risks, Sowilo? No, you will come with me and use your gift of prophecy to guide us through the battle!"
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
"No." Sowilo responded. Modi raised his fist to slap her.#futharkvillage
"Listen to her!" Perthro shouted, putting his body between Modi and Sowilo. Eiwaz had drawn his sword and pointed it at the Aesir. "She can't just recite prophecy at will. It takes ceremony and poetry and a high seat to bring out a volva's power."#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
"I remind you that I am here of my own will." Sowilo stepped out from behind Perthro. "I've seen this day in prophecy, and I know that this's where I belong. But if you want me to tell you of tomorrow, you will lower your hands and never raise them to me again."#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
Modi lowered his hands more out of shock than out of obedience. This human had just addressed him as if she were an equal. He was unused to this.
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 17, 2019
"Okay," he said dumbly.
"Now fetch me the things I need to make prophecy and I will help you," Sowilo commanded.#futharkvillage
A second throne was assembled and placed upon a dais for Sowilo. The cushions were stuffed with down and a strange fluff the dwarves used. Dwarves hand-carved the arms, legs, and back, covering them with scenes from the recent Ragnarok. It would do.#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
When the seat was ready for Sowilo, Modi asked, "Are you ready to give your prophecy for me? I must know the correct strategy for my sortie into jotunheim."
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
Sowilo looked disdainfully at the Aesir god. "No. I am not ready. I have not yet been feasted."#futharkvillage
"Did you not hear what she needed yesterday, Modi?" Perthro asked, stepping up beside Sowilo.
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
"She said she would need those things to see into that fortress," Modi said testily, "But all I heard for today was that she needed a high seat."#futharkvillage
Perthro looked at Sowilo questioningly. She nodded to him, giving him permission to speak for her. "She needs a high seat, yes, but also a feast with meat and wine in great quantities. She needs a rune singer. She also needs her staff, which was left behind."#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
"How do you ever prophesy with so many requirements?" Modi asked in exasperation. He took a breath, wiped his brow, and said, "The others can be found, but I have no rune singer. Know you where I can find one?"
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
Perthro said, "Ansuz was headed to Nidhavelir."#futharkvillage
"Fine. You! Send a messenger to Nidhavelir to seek out Ansuz the rune singer." The einherjar in the corner left the room quickly at Modi's command. "And you," Modi gestured at another einherjar. "Please escort Sowilo to the dwarves' sawmill for a new staff."#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
"Is there anything else I will need?" Modi asked Perthro, now that the hall was nearly empty.
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
"I would recommend being nicer to her," Perthro smirked. "You wouldn't want her to leave out something she sees tomorrow."
Modi turned bright red and raised his fist.#futharkvillage
"Uh uh," Perthro said, stepping back. "You also need to keep that temper of yours in check. She won't take kindly to her friends being hurt before she can prophesy." Perthro saw that this was a dangerous game, and began to plot how he would get the others out.#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
Modi's hand stopped in mid-air and he turned even redder. After a moment's pause he let out his breath all at once, turned on his heel, and stormed out of the room.
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
Perthro hadn't realized that he had been holding his breath until Modi was gone. #futharkvillage
Sowilo was amazed at the dwarves' craftsmanship in making her a new staff. She had watched the creation of various wooden implements by humans, but humans cut trees above the ground, the part on which the sun shone. The dwarves worked with the roots.#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
The dwarves' gnarled hands worked quickly and efficiently, carving the sigils and symbols she requested with the greatest of alacrity. Sowilo marveled as the tiny beads she had requested came into view out of the blocks of rootwood that the dwarves were carving.#futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019
She felt guilty, but she was a little glad that her previous staff had been left behind in that sunset raid when she was kidnapped: if she had had it, they might not have carved her this beautiful creation now appearing before her appreciative eyes. #futharkvillage
— Perseus Greenman (@futharkvillage) December 18, 2019