Scene #9502: A Simple Ritual

Owner	Pose
Trudy Grimm	The warpgate in the town square of Hamarrheim is a great wooden thing wrought by ancient ash trees grown together in such a way that they weave and twist, their branches carefully guided over decades, into a perfect circle of living wood. Ancient runes are carved into the bark, glowing with soft orange light whenever the red-ringed portal to its connected hub is active. Strongly rooted, the great trees extend overhead as well, swaying softly in the late autumn breeze. The air here is crisp in a nostalgic way, filled with the scent of burning wood from hearths and ovens and cooking meats and breads. The roads, tightly packed river-worn rock, sprawl out like spokes on a wheel. The chatter of trade and the ringing of a blacksmith on his anvil and the distant singing from a warmly lit pub where citysfolk have chosen to gather early. Snow is on the ground already, this far North, though it is swept aside on the roadways. Locals in all manner of metals and pelts and leather, offer greetings as they pass; their English is laden with a thick Swedish-like accent. This is a land of Vikings, the proud people of Trudy's homeland. Per the witch's offered directions, a modest rune-carved stone sits near the south wall's gate, dusted lightly with snow. The three-forked rune of Protection, Algiz, carved neatly into the surface and glowing a soft blue that is easy to pick out in the autumn afternoon. This southerly road is an easy walk through the snow-dusted lowland forest around Hamarrheim; all the oak, birch, and beech have already lost their leaves; broken up by the resilient firs. A fox dashes into hiding. In the distance, a handful of deer trot out of the woods, across the road, and into the trees on the other side. Some thirty minutes of walking, following the easy turns and curves of the road, there is a second little stone cairn there; this one again sports Algiz, with an inviting blue glow. While facing the Algiz stone, in the distant forest, one could just make out an identical glow through the trees, just as the witch said. Travel through the forest is peaceful. The bears have long since gone to sleep, the wolves have moved towards the coast. All that scurries about these woods is foxes and the rodents they hunt. Here is another stone, Algiz glowing softly; pointing the way to the next, deeper into the forested foothills.
Trudy Grimm	After another thirty-some minutes, the final cairn brings the group to the crest of a hill that overlooks a clearing. In the center, an old broken-down, abandoned house. There is no roof, two of the walls have collapsed. A doorframe stands, proud but lonely. It could have once been a cute little forest cottage, in another life. In its heart, though, a stone oven rests-- almost completely undamaged, cleaned and tended to. It's also lit, adding that woodsy smokey scent to the air through a long chimney that once pierced the roof. Here is Trudy, sitting in the snow cross-legged with a heavy tome in her lap, writing while she waits. A handful of live chickens cluck about the clearing, scratching through the snow and pecking at seeds. A handful of crows make some noise in the trees overhead, drawing her gaze up. The curious expression transitions to a smile and she closes the grimoire with a little thump, "Ahh, welcome. I hope the walk was pleasant. I did my best to choose a cozy route." "Come, come, warm yourselves at the hearth. I've got hot tea in the kettle, there. Help yourself." Resting the book in her lap-- It's an entirely new tome, not the old and worn grimoire she had cradled before-- the witch sweeps a hand to a semicircle of fallen logs, "And have a seat if you like. There's some work to do for this ritual, but it's easy enough." By her tone, she probably could've done this on her own, but would rather have company and share the experience. There are bundles of wood strewn about, rough-hewn into useful lumber; a heap of shimmering black stone shot through with white and gray streaks almost like color-inverse marble; a pot of wheat, freshly harvested on some other world; and an old steamer chest, currently closed. All just strewn about in the snow, waiting for their time to shine.
Riku Asakura	Today, instead of the jean coat, Riku is wearing a heavier coat. It's black and has a hood to cover the ears. He's still got jeans on and is wearing sneakers on his feet to walk the path to Trudy's new home. The trail is a peaceful one, and Riku wishes he had worn more layers, having forgotten just how cold Trudy's home can get. He could transform and fly there, but there is no point in that. Besides, he might need to transform later. Also, it would ruin the peaceful, if not cold, walk to the cottage. Eventually, the trail breaks through into the clearing, and the house, or well cottage, sits there waiting for some repairs. Riku waves to the witch as he approaches, all smiles as he greets her. "Trudy! I came as quickly as I could... It was a pleasant walk from town. A bit cold, but you did warn about that..." he says and carefully sits by the hearth and takes some tea. Thankful for the warmth and the pleasant company!
Meresankh	On her first visit to a world Meresankh often likes to make an impression for diplomatic purposes, but this is a personal call, so the people of Hamarrheim are spared the sight of the queen's funereal barge warping into the town square. Instead, two cloaked figures arrive through the gate, one in dark green and the other in deep blue. The snow crunches a little heavier under their feet, but to a casual glance they're just another pair of winter travelers. Only once clear of a town does one of the pair's footprints cease as that figure rises a few inches off the ground. Once in the woods, the earthbound member of the pair begins to chatter at the other. "I really do believe we are forgoing too many of the ceremonies, your Majesty. Surely at least a chariot could have sped this journey? In style, no less." "I wish to take in the sights of the world," says the queen, "and that means taking things a little slower. I understand you are eager to reach the festivities, but we do not want to frighten the locals with too grand an impression." "Eager undersells it, your Magnificence! I am practically humming with excitement!" "I know." In time the pair arrives at, well, it's not a cottage really. Meresankh lowers the hood from her cloak, as does Iseptah, her blue-robed seneschal. "Ahh, welcome. I hope the walk was pleasant. I did my best to choose a cozy route." "There is much life present, even in your winter. It seems a hopeful season, here." "Indeed, your Vivaciousness! Although, erm, Miss Grimm, are these the full accommodations you have prepared for us...?" Meresankh takes tea, though she cannot drink it. She seems content to hold it, feeling its warmth through her hands.
UFO Gang	Two young-seeming women emerge from the warp gate and look around for a moment, the crisp air hanging lightly. One of them is wearing a plain cloth coat - a battered tan, clearly secondhand if indeed the right size - accented with a knitted yarn scarf. She is carrying a staff, and in one hand, a small paper bag. Shou Toramaru breathes in the air, the scent of fall shading towards winter. Some aspects are unfamiliar to her, but the scent and clatter and the clank of metals, the distant singing from within a building... Shou smiles, and savors the presence of the moment. "G-geez it's cold," huffs Minamitsu Murasa as she emerges. Minamitsu is wearing a similar coat, though hers is gray and a little too big. "I feel like I'm still in the ocean!" "It isn't that bad," Shou remarks with a smile. "Just a surprise." Minamitsu lets out a mrgrgr of discomfort. Notably, there is no plume from her breath. After a couple of seconds of this, Shou reminds her, gently, "It isn't so cold that you'll freeze solid, if you keep moving." Minamitsu jogs in place for a moment! ... And seems to see the wisdom of this. "Which way are we going?" "That way," Shou says, pointing towards the southern gate. "I recognize the sign." "Where'd you learn that?" Minamitsu says while jogging in place alongside Shou, who is walking in a more normal stride, less affected by the snow. "A book," Shou answers. -=-=-=- By the time the two of them reach the cairn, Minamitsu has either gotten used to the cold or has forgotten to be chilly. Shou has been unperturbed: there is no cruel wind, and she can simply accept the small aches in her hands and calves as the natural order of things. "So... is the rite here?" comments Minamitsu. "I think I saw someone familiar just ahead, but I lost track. It's too bad we didn't bring along Nazrin." Shou observes noble silence on the question of the Rudest Mouse, and peers into the woods. A gesture of her staff - "There." Minamitsu squints. She shades her eyes. Then, cautiously: "I think...?" -=-=-=- "Ohhh," Minamitsu says as they crest the hill. "I think that's it! - Hey, I see Riku!" "Oh, from the party? The Don Shine gentleman," Shou says as they make their way down. "Yeah!" tromp tromp tromp tromp AND SO "Doooon shine!" Minamitsu greets Riku as they enter the threshold. She does the pose. After this she looks at Meresankh and Iseptah with evident curiosity. Shou does not participate in this, instead approaching their host. "Good evening," she says, with a deep bow nearly to the waist. "I am Shou Toramaru, a traveller, as is my companion, Minamitsu." Still bowed, she sets the bag on the dusty floor. "I have brought this humble sign of our appreciation for your hospitality; please forgive its simplicity." Then she goes for the tea! (The bag contains a glass jar of about six ounces of tangy honey, sourced Somewhere Out There, along with a solid piece of lapis lazuli about the size of a tangerine orange or a small apple.)
Regulus	Regulus isn't that busy just yet. She's thinking about what sort of bones she can throw White that aren't something Vertin, let alone the Foundation, would never go for. but she figures she'll probably be busy SOON. That warpgate isn't going to build itself. But, hey, maybe that means she can go along and drop by and see this weird ritual or magic trick thing Trudy's got going on. Maybe a rabbit will come out of a hat. Maybe the dead will rise. She doesn't know. But she figures she can run away if it gets too spooky. She arrives wearing a hat with goggles (instead of a shades), a miniskirt as she'd warned, and long black leggings. Her coat and boots are heavier that before with some fur lining around the boots and she's wearing a sweater underneath the jacket. She naturally first recognizes the UFO Gang goobs. "Oh hey, haven't seen you since the spookiest holiday of the year, loves. Are you looking to see what the heck this is all about." She looks over to Minamutsu. "She say she raises the dead and such." After thirty minutes of walking she's exhausted holy shit thirty minutes of walking do you know how often she exercises and what she eats and drinks? She's high energy as heck but a thirty minute walk is a thirty minute walk dear god her feet are killing her and she's exhausted. "I'm not sitting in the snow." She tells Trudy. Regulus might be willing to wear a miniskirt with some thick leggings in this weather but she isn't going to literally sit on ice. She'd freeze her ass off. She's brought a thermos of something steamy and has her bag as usual. "Are you going to start up a fire? That sounds like a positively lovely idea."
Trudy Grimm	> "I came as quickly as I could... It was a pleasant walk from town." "Mister Asakura, it's good to see you again!" The witch brightens on Riku's arrival. > "Although, erm, Miss Grimm, are these the full accommodations you have prepared for us...?" Trudy covers her mouth to laugh, eyes closed, "Ahh, no such thing, Iseptah," Yeah she remembers his name from when she attended Meresankh's big reveal party ages back, "This little house here is going to be the subject of the ritual I invited you all to be a part of. We're going to give it new life and purpose, you see." Gesturing, she turns a bit to indicate the stove while Meresankh gets herself some tea from it, "The walls have seen better days, but you see, the hearth is as strong as ever and that is the piece we'll need." > "Doooon shine!" Trudy doesn't recognize these people! But they're here for the party; she glances Riku's way, "Friends of yours?" When Shou offers a gift, Trudy stands up to receive it with both hands, her grimoire tucked under one arm, "Oh, thank you for the gift, no matter how humble, it is the gesture that has the most value." She returns Shou's bow in a somewhat unpracticed way; then checks the contents. After a moment of appreciating that golden honey, she sets the jar on the steamer chest and takes a moment to examine the lapis, "Ooh, what have we here?" She holds the lapis lazuli up to the sky, examining it intently, "How wonderfully perfect. Miss Toramaru, this may be a simple gift but I will make great use of this, thank you." > "I'm not sitting in the snow." "Ahaha, I couldn't blame you," Trudy gestures for Regulus, "You're welcome to stand by the hearth and soak up some heat from the stove." She tucks the lapis into her sleeve, then claps her hands together and rubs them briskly; how she manages in this winter without gloves is a mystery, "We are going to perform a little ritual and bring something back to life. Ahh, but nothing so gloomy as a corpse or a ghost. No, no, today we are going to revive this cute little home an give it a new lease on life." Trudy turns in place and points; poking out of the snow at five equidistant points, there are more little stones with runes on them, though the runes are dark at the moment, "I am going to prepare this Lapis stone. If one of you could take this wheat? Light it in the hearth and wave it over each of the cairns, there." As she pulls the stone out of her sleeve again, she comments, "Once the rune lines appear, we will want to arrange the black marble stones along them... Oh, and someone is going to have to capture one of those chickens."
Riku Asakura	Tromp tromp tromp... Riku hears the snow crunching and turns to see Minamitsu tromping up towards him. He smiles at her and puts the cup of tea down. He can feel her heart with his and knows what's coming up next. "Doooooon Shine!" he says, posing just like her! He laughs and says, "How are you doing, Minamitsu! It's been a moment!" 'Friends of yours?' "Haha... Yeah, we met at the party that took place in Ms. Timekeeper's suitcase," Riku says, with a big grin on his face. "She's a fellow Don Shine enthusiast! Her name is Minamitsu. Minamitsu this is Trudy!" Although he doesn't mention how new to the franchise she might be. 'Oh, and someone is going to have to capture one of those chickens.' "I'm on it!" Riku says after he picks up his tea and drinks it down. Putting the glass down, he runs outside to stalk a chicken. Slowly trailing one, he moves to try to wrap his arms around it and pick it up in a wide hug and present the beast to Trudy.
Meresankh	"This little house here is going to be the subject of the ritual I invited you all to be a part of. We're going to give it new life and purpose, you see." "Oh, how splendid!" Iseptah says, clapping his hands together. "To be present for such a ceremony is truly an honor!" Then Trudy explains the participants' roles, and Iseptah balks. "Ah- er- is-" Meresankh shoots him a look. "Very well! I shall assist in the gathering of these creatures!" Iseptah awkwardly shuffles past the wrecked chimney and does his best to assist Riku in capturing a chicken. His assistance comes mostly in the form of trying to head the chickens off when they flee, letting Riku do the actual animal handling. Meresankh, meanwhile, sets her cup on the hearth and receives the sheaf of wheat. "It is wise to observe these rituals," she remarks as she holds it into the hearth's fire until it catches. "Through observance of ritual propriety is a society kept stable and healthy, on any world. The rites for raising a home are just as important as those for raising a child, or burying the dead." Solemnly, she waves the burning wheat over one of the rune stones, and then another, moving around the perimeter of the five-segmented ring.
UFO Gang	"Regulus!" says Shou, who is better angled to see the grooviest captain. "A pleasure. We had gotten word, and I thought that it would be appropriate to mark the passage of the seasons. You should come nearer to the fire; you seem as though you're suffering..." Minamitsu glances over with some curiosity, and then looks at Trudy, as if to go '/is that so/' with an uplifted eyebrow. She doesn't seem eager, but is curious. "Mmm," Shou echoes, pleasantly, at Trudy's acceptance. "Will you grind it for pigment? It makes quite an excellent blue. Even in this state, though, it reminds me of a sight of the ocean in a sunny spring day." Back to Riku. "I found some disks of the show!" Minamitsu tells him. "But when I tried to put them in a player they didn't work, so I'm working on that." She claps her hands. "A David's not the same as a Blue Ray, right? I think these are Davids. Other than that I'm doing A-OK!" (Someone at the Nth-hand video and sundries shop did not explain the intricacies of modern disk-based video content well.) The secret of the ritual is revealed, even as Shou takes a big sip of the cup of tea she'd poured herself. (She will pour Regulus one if Regulus doesn't stop her.) "I see... a revivification of the spirit of the house itself," says the Buddhist-tiger-terror-youkai, who probably lacks a certain amount of imagination. "That sounds splendid." Her head turns to look out at the stones, the markers of the boundary. A chicken is mentioned. Shou is momentarily concerned-- but Riku has volunteered for chicken catching duty. A mild look of relief crosses Shou's face, even as Minamitsu volunteers, "I'll flank 'em!" And moves to tramp out into the snow, moving without a care in the world for the bitter chill. Meresankh is closer and already on wheat duty, so Shou says to her, "Things may inevitably rise, endure, decline and fade, yet just as inevitably shall they move on. There are many milestones in a life." She watches Meresankh, though she does not stray far from the hearth, looking at Trudy afterwards to add quietly, "(If you'd like me to prepare something now...)"
Regulus	Regulus seems suspicious of Trudy sitting on the snow and quickly positions herself near the hearth, occassionally shifting her weight from foot foot because she's been walking ALL DAY (30 minutes)( and now has to stand (??) and of course this means another 30 minutes of walking down the line at some point. This does mean that she's not really being much help at all because Regulus is a bit of a brat who doesn't want to be cold but also, perhaps more reasonably, doesn't want to assist in a ritual that does ''something''. She doesn't know Trudy! It could be anything! She doesn't know the ritual is what she says it is and she's a bit dubious, honestly, she hasn't really heard of a ressurection-based arcane skill before. "Aren't you cold? Do you normally just hango ut in weather like this?" Regulus asks. She blinks twice at the idea of 'reviving a home' which is a strange way to put it but does seem viable in Regulus-logic. Some homes are basically dead homes and some are alive homes and it doesn't strictly have to do with home condition so much as home vibe though a home like this is definitely dead. "I don't think ghosts are really gloomy. From experience they're pretty sweet..." She's only known two ghosts but. ''Appropriate to mark the passage of the seasons.'' Regulus blinks, noncomprehending. "Well it'd be nice if there was a chair." Regulus doesn't stop Shou but she is already drinking large thermos of hot cocoa which she is drinking periodically. She swaps to the tea periodically just to maximize 'hotness' in her beverage choices.
Trudy Grimm	> "She's a fellow Don Shine enthusiast!" "Don Shine?" Trudy is clearly unfamiliar with the glorious heroism of Totally Not A Kamen Rider Don Shine; though she's on the record as not really being savvy on a lot of modern things like TV shows or rap music or... like, phones. She does catch on to Timekeeper though, "Oh, that associate of Miss Bouanich. Sorry I missed the party." > "Will you grind it for pigment? It makes quite an excellent blue. Even in this state, though, it reminds me of a sight of the ocean in a sunny spring day." "I had planned to do so with the remainder. The bulk of this stone will serve a purpose in today's ritual, though." From her sleeve, Trudy produces a knife of pale white...wood? No, that's bone. Despite bone's brittleness as a material, she has little trouble shaping the fist-sized lapis, "In my culture and my practice, gemstones are of special importance, and lapis lazuli is prized for just as you say. The Sea is lifeblood to my people, where we swim and get our fish, where we cross to distant lands, where the land once came and shall someday return in the fires of the War at the End." "I had planned on a malachite, as I have several," Trudy holds up the shaped stone, "But a Lapis heart-stone... This, I feel, shall have a much cleaner 'new start' and imbue the home with vigor." By the time Meresankh reaches the first cairn, the wheat's burning has died down to a smoldering; it is mostly smoke that she waves above the stone, but this seems to be just what was expected. In response, the rune-- Peorth, the Hearth-- takes on that same warm blue glow. When she waves it over the next, the two become connected by a curve of blue light. By the third, they all connect; and so on, becoming a flower-like design by the fifth and final, shining through the snow. Three different people have volunteered to catch chickens; clearly Riku, Iseptah, and Minamitsu are all familiar with how wily hens can be. There are four birds all told, milling about relatively close to one another right up until Iseptah and Minamitsu encircle them. The animals scatter with wild squawking, dashing in all directions with a scattering of loose feathers. Trudy gestures for Shou "At each point where the lines cross, place black marble," She indicates the black stones, arranged neatly in a pile, "And work it inward along the runic lines right to the foundations. They can touch, but a little space won't e a problem. The hen will do the rest once--"
Trudy Grimm	BaGAWK tAt last, the teamwork of Egyptian Space Skeleton, Defender of the Galaxy, and Vengeful Ocean Ghost have collectively captured a plump bird with black and white feathers in a speckled salt-and-pepper pattern. She's quite soft and plush, very comfortable in the cool weather. In Riku's hands, the second she is lifted, the hen's apparent panic completely disappears. She just sort of sits there in his hands, making chicken noises and doing that thing chickens do where their head remains perfectly stable no matter how he's moving. She makes no attempt to escape. "--Ah, well done. You captured a fine bird! See how she calmed down once you picked her up? This isn't a wild hen, she escaped someone's coop. She's used to being handled by a farmer, you see? That good temperament will be helpful." Trudy's stonecarving comes to an end and she holds up the Lapis that Shou had given her; she's smoothed it out into a near-perfect sphere, now, with the Hearth rune Peorth engraved deeply into the surface, "Let's get that marble in place. Mister Iseptah, Mister Asakura, Miss Murasa, if you could help Miss Toramaru?" > "Aren't you cold?" "I grew up in these lands, ahaha-- you get used to it, you know?" Trudy places the lapis on her steamer trunk, then accepts the chicken from Riku to free up his hands, "In my experience, ghosts are quite a varied bunch. Some are gloomy or even nasty, but a great number just want to be seen and heard. They want to tell their story, be acknowledged, and finish what they started." She holds the fowl up, looking into those gormless eyes for a moment, "Yes, yes. You are a very fine bird. Miss Regulus, you could hold this warm lady for a while." She holds the hen out to the rocker pirate DJ, "Once the marble is placed, this bird shall need to go into the oven. With the circle active, neither you nor she will be burned, so don't worry one bit." The flame inside the stove has become the same blue as the runic lines from the cairn stones, so something is definitely happening. The chicken certainly doesn't seem to mind being close to it; just making chicken noises.
Riku Asakura	'A David's not the same as a Blue Ray, right? I think these are Davids.' "A David..?" Riku says, momentarily bewildered until he puts two and two together. "Oh no, those are DVDs. A DVD isn't the same as a Blue Ray so you'll have to find a player that either plays both or only DVDs." On the field of chicken capturing, Riku is very appreciative of the help that Minamitsu provides with her flanking and Iseptah's coralling. BaGAWK And a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Riku hands over the bird to Trudy with a smile on his face. "Thanks, Minamitsu and Iseptah! I couldn't have done it without your help!" 'Don Shine' "Yeah, he's a superhero. Sort of like a Kamen Rider, He battles evil and was a show I grew up on. You should watch it, it's a good watch!" he explains to Trudy. 'Let's get that marble in place. Mister Iseptah, Mister Asakura, Miss Murasa, if you could help Miss Toramaru?' "Of course!" Riku springs into action, ready to help move the marble slabs into place and get the ritual ready. Unlike Regulus, he fully trusts Trudy after their time in the underworld of this place, and through her trials of dealing with her family's inheritance.
Meresankh	The chicken is caught, at last! "Aha!" exclaims Iseptah. "We have vanquished the vexing creature! ...Now what does Riku do with it?" throw it into the fire, of course! "I... see." Iseptah nervously waves a hand near the blue hearth-flame, feeling for its warmth. "As long as you are sure you're doing this properly!" He stands by, ready to recapture the chicken should it escape or be dropped. Meresankh, once the runes are activated, busies herself with arranging the marble stones at each intersection. She also listens attentively to Trudy's discussion of ghosts, periodically finding herself distracted entirely from the task at hand. "Finish what they started," she mutters to herself, barely audible even to those close by. "Yeah, he's a superhero. Sort of like a Kamen Rider" "Ah, yes, one of your fellow transforming heroes. I wonder if he was among the guests at my banquet... I shall have to double-check the list when I am back at the tomb." Beat. "A 'Kamen Rider' is one such as yourself, correct?"
UFO Gang	"Oh, you aren't wrong," Shou agrees with Regulus. Easy for her to say. Shou has a staff to lean on, which is at least 30% of a seat. "Perhaps that would be the next order of business, to make or acquire chairs... but it would be far more pleasant, even with the walls alone, don't you think?" Shou seems pleased that her gift has been such a hit. "It did seem like the right one," she says lightly. "I only knew some things of your lands here, and its culture; but I am quite pleased to find it serves your rite so well." As for Minamitsu, she explains briefly to Trudy, "It's this awesome show! I think! I mean he says it's amazing so at worst it's going to be really good!" while gesturing at Riku. (To whom she assures, "I'm confident, but I ought to watch the whole thing first!" Basic judgment reasoning?!) Anyway, chickens ensue: When Minamitsu's presence cuts off a line of retreat and Riku gets 'the score,' she puts her hands together with a clap. "Ohhh," she answers Riku after. "Okay. I thought it was just an abbreviation. Like "NASA" or "MRSA"!" Which are acronyms, but there are limits, perhaps, on what Minamitsu's waterlogged brain can take on board. Shou watches the movements of the Necrons with some curiosity before the next step is offered. Her eyebrows lift again at the mention of the chicken going into the flames - but neither the chicken or the Captain shall be harmed, nor made into Captain's Chicken, and so all seems well. "Of course," she says, stepping forwards, crouching to collect the black stones into the crook of her arm and leaning her staff against a wall as she picks up the marble. Roughly equal portions are given out to the others; Minamitsu accepts hers with both hands, although she does ask Trudy, "Can I put them in the pockets?" Meaning, perhaps, of the coat. "You're a transforming hero?" Minamitsu also asks, looking between Meresankh and Riku with surprise. From the look on her face, Minamitsu has zero skepticism on this front. After doling out the rocks, Shou turns and begins walking - she has, by chance, the eastern direction, as might suit her. She walks in a peaceful and meditative way; after a few steps she begins to hum. At first it's a simple hmmmm, almost an auummmmm, but then it begins to develop a beat. hum, hu-hum, hu-hum, hu-hu-hu-hu-hum. Her head begins to bob slightly with each step. Once she reaches the far end of her journey she sets down the first stone and turns round, walking back with that same meditative-rhythm hum, placing a stone with each step. Minamitsu moves quickly (she went for South) and ends up at the start point before Shou. Observing Shou's example, perhaps, she returns at a much more measured pace, although she does not begin to hum in the same way.
Regulus	Regulus was hoping there'd be at least some sort of mechanical element to the ritual, even if it was a longshot hope, but that doesn't mean she can't observe out of a more plebian interest. People talk about 'magic' and 'powers' out there and one of her jobs, in her head, is to take a look at what's out there and maybe see if it can help Vertin in some way. Or Regulus in some way. Look, she's in that suitcase for far too long each day as it is. She's wondering, also, how a chicken helps build a house. Is she going to turn it into, like, a Baba Yaga style hut? Oh actually that'd be pretty groovy. Regulus perks up and leans forward. "...Mm....I guess..." She doesn't think that exactly describes Poltergeist or Minamitsu, but it maybe sort of describes them? She isn't really a ghost expert and-- ''Could hold this warm lady for a while.'' "Oh yeah sure." Regulus takes the chicken automatically without even thinking about it. ''BIRD IN OVEN??'' "Wait what--" Regulus begins. She's informed the bird won't be harmed. "Okay, so long as Miss Clucklesworth won't be harmed..." It seems reasonable to her that fire will suddenly not burn because of ritual reasons. Sure why not. She groans as Shou waves off her complaint about the lack of chairs. She's cold but also feet achey! Achey feet! She doesn't like!
Trudy Grimm	> "Yeah, he's a superhero. Sort of like a Kamen Rider." Ah, that's a term Trudy recognizes. The Paladins have employed or worked with a few Kamen Riders in her time with them. She nods in understanding, "I see. I'll-- think about it." Always cagey about recordings. It's basically just a stage play, even she isn't sure why she's hesitant about watching media. She might be intimidated by the tech needed-- as Murasa so helpfully demonstrates with her confusion about DVDs and Bluray and the players needed to enjoy them. "Oh, thank you, Queen Meresankh," Trudy had specifically not wanted to ask Space Royalty to do something as menial as placing stones, even for a magical ritual. To see her do so of her own accord is a bit stressful but welcome. Evn earlier, awakening the cairns, was unexpected. Trudy had only expected Meresankh to watch. After last time, she's trying to be careful about respecting the Necron lord's status, which includes how she addresses herself. Iseptah's inspection of the flames proves they are hot-- but they don't burn. Of course, he's a metal space skeleton, that's to be expected, but it doesn't even try to catch his robe or anything. He could run one of the hen's feathers right through the coals and it would come out pristine. The flame is magical now; heat without burning. Trudy hands the hen off to Regulus, then collects her bone knife again. With a swift motion, she slices across the palm of her own hand. The knife is quickly set down, the lapis heart-stone lifted, and Trudy carefully drips her blood into the runes she had carved across the surface. Peorth, the Hearth; Kaunaz, the Flame; Algiz, Protection; Wunjo, Joy; Laguz, Water, though chosen here for its secondary association: Living Renewal. "You seemed cold, miss Regulus, so I thought you could do with some downy protection from the elements," Trudy says as she palms a bandage from her pocket and holds it over the wound by just making a fist. She keeps the heart-stone carefully balanced in her other hand, patiently, as the wind above the dilapidated cottage starts to pick up. The line of the runic circle has started creeping up into the black marble stones, filling their cracks and reinforcing the lines drawn between them into the cottage foundation. > "Okay, so long as Miss Clucklesworth won't be harmed..." "That is my promise to you!" Trudy pauses, though, repeating, "'Miss Clucklesworth'? Ahaha, what a fine name, Miss Regulus." The gathering wind starts to collect flakes of snow and fallen leaves, though it's high enough off the ground to not chill those gathered about the cottage. Once the light has fully suffused the black marble, the witch nods, "Alright; in she goes. Gently, now." The chicken doesn't resist in the least. If anything, once set down into what should be a blazing stonework oven, she struts around amidst the coals. Trudy reaches in next to place the Lapis Lazuli heart-stone; its bloodied runes take on a red glow. Without hesitation, the chicken settles on top of it as if the stone were an egg. Trudy closes the oven door, "We'll have to wait a moment, but we should do so 'outside'." Without hesitating, the witch hops off the stonework foundation and takes a few steps so she can sit on her steamer trunk and properly tie off the bandage on her hand. "Miss Toramaru, was that one of the forms of Eastern meditation? That hymn?"
Riku Asakura	'A 'Kamen Rider' is one such as yourself, correct?' "Nooot exactly. I'm an Ultraman. We're a race of aliens from a different star that gives us our power. Kamen Riders tend to be humans from Earth who get their powers from transforming into a Kamen Rider. Whereas Ultramen transform into our natural state, if that makes any sense?" Riku tries to explain to Meresankh. It might not go as well as if Woz were to explain it. Or Einar. 'You're a transforming hero?' "Yup! They call us Ultraman. I'm specifically Ultraman Geed. I can grow real tall!" he says, trying to explain what an Ultraman is again. Once Riku gets his marble slab up, he walks back to the hearth only to be told to step outside. He at least grabs a final cup of tea before heading outside to stand in the cold as he sips on it.
Meresankh	"Oh, thank you, Queen Meresankh," Meresankh tilts her head quizzicaly. "You're welcome. You did invite us here as participants, did you not?" Either she doesn't know why Trudy is thanking her specifically, or she's making a good show of hiding that she does. "Nooot exactly. I'm an Ultraman." Another look of uncertainty, this time at Riku. "So instead of becoming large in crises, you are actually becoming small the rest of the time? That sounds taxing." Queen and herald both step free from the house's foundations, standing next to each other near Trudy's makeshift seat. "You are... sure this won't harm the chicken?" asks Iseptah, earning him an elbow in the ribs from Meresankh.
UFO Gang	That is perhaps Shou's flaw: she is going to be all religious and philosophical about stuff like freezing your butt off. Also, she has like a fur vest on underneath that coat, which is an unfair advantage. Minamitsu is at least content as long as she keeps moving -- though Minamitsu does give Regulus a brief grin, seeing her holding the newly dubbed MISS CLUCKLESWORTH like a natural! Anyway, stones. They keep going down. As the group ends up reconvening outside of the space of the house proper, Shou's eyes turn towards Trudy and she says, "It was. When I was a very young student - this was quite some time ago, you must understand - my teacher would often use a rhythm to make sutras easier to remember and more sonorous to chant. When a thing is done well, I think it is natural for it to become beautiful..." She hums that baseline again. It is strangely funky for something from Long Ago, although she doesn't press the point. Minamitsu answers Riku with her hands going onto her hips in a rather enthusiastic posture. "So you /shrank/ to be here with other people and hang out! Are Ultramen from a planet where everything's enormous? That must be /so crazy/. I guess you'd have trouble making ships... but if you're big enough, you'd just have to swim across the ocean yourself, right?" She raises a hand to her chin, as if she's gaming this out in her head. Shou watches the brief inurement of Miss Clucklesworth with another note of her concerned expression... but the chicken seems to be strutting around, perfectly immune to the heat, at least in the context of the sorcery. "I suppose that we did it rightly," Shou remarks to Trudy. "Still... I am almost envious of Ms. Clucklesworth, now, to be in somewhere so warm." "Do you believe that a chicken finds satisfaction, simply in sitting upon something round?" Shou muses, before answering Iseptah: "I had been a bit concerned, but I see that our hostess offered of herself, not of the chicken." ("Will you be alright? Hands are delicate things...")
Regulus	Regulus recalls Riku gets big and she hasn't seen Petra get big and she doesn't care about Woz because he's a jerk who was a jerk to her for no reason and she isn't going to think about why that might be at all and just be very unhappy with him! Jerk!! And oh good, Trudy is just cutting herself and not the chicken. ''You seemed cold, miss REgulus'' Regulus has had cold nights before. And cold days. She's from London after all and, also, the seven seas but she's grateful for any extra heat. Regulus resists in the least. In the sense that she flinches when putting the chicken in. She can BELIEVE that the fire won't hurt her but it still looks and feels like fire. So. She breathes a little sigh of relief when Miss Clucklesworth just seems to be chilling there and she absentmindedly rubs her hands together. ''Do you believe that a chicken finds satisfaction, simply in sitting upon something round.'' "They probably find satisfaction in not being on fire." Regulus muses. "But yeah probably, because of--like--nests right?" She isn't a chickenologist but she's doing her best.
Trudy Grimm	> "We're a race of aliens from a different star that gives us power." "'Giants of Light' is a term I've heard to describe your people," Trudy offers, "Though you are far kinder than any Jötunn I have met, ahaha~..." She uses her teeth to help tie off the bandage after wrapping her hand a few times, using the knot to keep pressure directly over the cut. Once she's finished, while flexing her fingers testingly, she adds, "Thank you for standing by me, Mister Asakura." > "You're welcome. You did invite us here as participants, did you not?" "I did," Trudy admits, "Though I was a bit wary about asking actual royalty to do menial tasks. It seemed somehow beyond me, even if in the Paladins we are equals." She lets it go with another little laugh. When Meresankh shifts her attention to Riku and the nature of Ultraman Geed, Trudy addresses Iseptah, "Oh yes. Miss Clucklesworth settled in quite nicely. You all did a fine job preparing a good home for her. Your concern is touching." With everyone shifting out of the house, now, it becomes clear why Trudy suggested not being inside; the winds above have become a whirlwind and, in the shape of a twister, descend upon the oven in the center of the cottage. The blue flames through the vents in the stove door are all that can be made out. > Shou talks about sutras and hens and hands "Oh yes," Trudy nods once, "I understand completely. Some prayers to our own gods take the form of songs as well. One song that comes to mind, sung by sailors as they seek good winds and calm waves and bountiful fish. One might call it a 'sea shanty', and it is quite fun to sing as a group-- but it is also a prayer to Njörn, god of the sea, who may grant these winds and waves and fishes." Minamitsu probably has plenty to share about the morale benefits of sea shanties, if she overheard that. "I imagine she would prefer something egg-shaped, but an orb contains the magic of the runes more effectively, alas." She shrugs. Some sacrifices must be made, it seems. As to her hand, she nods once and whispers back, "( I will make do, but thank you for your concern.)"
Trudy Grimm	> "They probably find satisfaction in not being on fire." "I have no doubt!" Trudy offers, speaking up over the wind, "It would hardly be a good home for Miss Clucklesworth if she were burning. Also, that would mean we made a mistake somewhere." As she speaks, the chains of black marble start receding into the foundation, disappearing into the whirlwind. "Of course, this ritual could not work without black marble. Do you know where it comes from? It was once the very bones of the ancient Jötunn slain by the gods, petrified into this; stronger than steel, still bone as far as magic is concerned. Quite versatile. The blacksmith in Hamarrheim uses an anvil made from it, as well." After a few minutes, the wind settles. Snow and leaves, whipped up by the gusts, settle and disperse; the dilapidated cottage seems completely unchanged. There is, however, no longer any clucking coming from the oven. Rather-- well-- Trudy returns to her feet and gestures upward with her uninjured hand, "Up, up. Show us who you are now." It seems Regulus had guessed correctly; the entire cottage shifts and shudders and then rises up; a little circle of earth on a colossal feathered chicken torso an great big chicken legs fashioned from black marble. The house shakes a bit from side to side, scattering earth from its underside feathers. "Ahh, I'll have to make sure my shelves are truly secure..."
Riku Asakura	'So instead of becoming large in crises, you are actually becoming small the rest of the time?' 'So you /shrank/ to be here with other people and hang out!' "Not exactly. I'm half human, so this is my natural form, sorta? I can just assume the form of an Ultraman and grow large like they do. Does that make sense?" "As far as other Ultramen, I don't know much about them. What I do know is that their planet is very far away, and they're all large. They can merge with humans or aliens who have heroic hearts. Other than that, I am afraid I know very little..." ''Giants of Light' is a term I've heard to describe your people,' "Yeah, I've heard the term used as well. Mostly because they take the shape of large giants and are brilliant. They tend to do good wherever they go." 'Thank you for standing by me, Mister Asakura.' "Aww... It's quite all right, Ms. Grimm. I can understand what you were going through through my own experiences. I'm just glad we're here now, you know?" he smiles at Trudy, and it's one thing he can do well: provide a bright smile. When the house stands up, Riku looks amazed. "Wow, Ms. Grim... It's a Chicken house!" he says with awe. "So this means it can move anywhere you want it to?" he asks, curious to what the Chicken house can actually do now that it's created. "Oh yes, I would make sure things are nailed down quite securely!"
Meresankh	Meresankh watches the transformative ritual with clear interest - her eyes, seeing in spectra other than the visible, can perhaps make out more of what transpires within the whirlwind than most. "A fascinating procedure," she comments. "It moves, but is it also alive? How will it eat?" Iseptah, meanwhile, is clapping his hands. "Fantastic! Remarkable! Extraordinary! To think a simple, small chicken could contain so much... large chicken!" He turns to look at the other birds, likely scattered to the woods by the spectacle. "Which one's next! We'll have a whole neighborhood in no time!" Then, to Meresankh: "Your Benevolence, perhaps we could adopt such a technology. Think of it! Whole cities striding the deserts of Oryx, rearranging themselves as need be! Miss Grimm, would it be possible to expand in scale and output to meet the needs of... how many waking citizens are we at now, your Majesty?" Meresankh just looks at him and folds her arms. "We'd need a lot of lapis."
Regulus	Regulus is totally fine with eating chicken but after meeting Miss Clucklesworth she might be a little more hesitant in the future. If she meets a cow next she'll really be in trouble. ... Well, actually, she'd probably be much healthier in the long run so maybe the opposite of trouble, but she wouldn't like it. ''THE CHICKEN BECAME A HOUSE'' "...Oh bugger..." Regulus says, eyes wide as she stares at the chicken hut. She reaches into her bag and withdrawsa bag of cornuts. She slowly rips it open, dumps a bunch into her hand, and offers it to the house. "Uhh... Sorry I didn't know you would turn into a house. Do you want some?" She lifts her hand up higher.
UFO Gang	"Yeah, that makes sense," Minamitsu answers Regulus. "It might be like, nostalgiac. Every chicken was under their mom's butt for weeks before hatching, right? So being on the other side of that..." Minamitsu's gonna have to repeat Chickenology. "'Giants of light' sounds quite poetic," Shou observes, looking towards Riku with a faint smile. Her eyebrows raise at the mention of the Merger, but there's something else going out... the winds are picking up. Shou gathers her coat around her -- and then, after a moment, reversing herself. The secondhand coat is opened and lifted off her sleeves to be proffered to Regulus. Minamitsu is less giving, and is instead focused on the SKY WHIRLWIND. "-- Huh? OH, yeah, singing is a great way when you have to get everyone to pull together, sorry, I'm just looking -- there's lots of great sea songs, though I guess the ones I know are pretty old! And in ancient Japanese and stuff. There was stuff about hauling in the anchors, or fishing nets..." She seems a little distracted. But she has a good cause. The whirlwind was one thing... it is another when the bird reveals her true form, and the cottage shifts and RISES UP on top of the enormous feathered shape of a great chicken with black marble legs! "Oh, what a wonder," Shou says, eyes widening -- she actually moves a little to the side, because she LEFT HER STAFF INSIDE OOPS (well, hopefully Miss Clucklesworth is going to be sharing and good tempered). A hand covers her mouth for a moment, the astonishment clear. Minamitsu is stepping back to give a LOT of space, even as Regulus makes an offering -- of food?? She also looks at Iseptah. "Oh, do you guys use a lot of jewels?" Minamitsu gestures at Shou. "She has a trick on how to get lots of jewels!" "Er - if you're making - buildings -" Shou says, faltering slightly. She may also be feeling the cold. Or experiencing more shock at the giant chicken. Some might insist that that there is a house - but they're wrong, we tell you. Wrong! Minamitsu puts her hands on her hips again. "If you need advice on how to stow stuff, I can let you know! I bet it's going to be a lot like ships going over rough seas - it's a pain in the butt at first, but soon it's second nature to handle things right so you stay ship-shape!"
Trudy Grimm	> "It's a Chicken house!" Reaching up with her uninjured hand, Trudy closes her eyes and laughs, rubbing at the back of her head, "Miss Clucklesworth makes for a fine chicken house, doesn't she?" In response the house just shifts a bit. When Trudy gestures down, the house settles back down-- effortlessly sinking into the snowy ground until the snowy grass around the house is level with the ground that isn't part of a house. > "How will it eat?" "It doesn't have to anymore, though if the hearth goes out she will go dormant until it's re-lit," Trudy assures Meresankh. Iseptah gets really excited, and Trudy feels a need to temper that a little, "Ahh, you would need more than jewels, you know? Black marble, of course, and compatible leylines." She isn't terribly enthusiastic about being roped into solving the Necron Housing Crisis. > "Uhh... Sorry I didn't know you would turn into a house. Do you want some?" "Save your snacks, miss Regulus, she doesn't have a mouth anymore. Ahh, but come on, come," Trudy uses both hands now to beckon, stepping up onto the house floorboards, "Sit by the fire again. Trunk, Lumber, that goes for you too." The steamer trunk rises up on three pairs of stubby skeleton legs and, with a little clattering and rattling, shuffles onto the house foundation where it settles down again somewhere out of the way. Similarly, the pile of lumber rises up on a wooden pallet-- itself sporting multiple pairs of skeleton legs-- and scuttles over until it's just inside the grassy radius of the chickenhouse body. There it settles again, holding the wood firmly in place with... Oh, those aren't straps or braces, they're just skeleton arms hugging the wood. Right, Trudy is a necromancer. Even if it's just luggage or building materials, she's gonna make it at least a little spooky. > "If you need advice on how to stow stuff, I can let you know! I bet it's going to be a lot like ships going over rough seas." The seated witch hums thoughtfully, tapping her chin, "You have a very good point, miss Murasa. Why don't you give me some pointers on the way?" She stretches out her legs, placing her hands on either side of her hips, "You came all this way to help me out, each of you, of course I would spare you most of the walk back to Hamarrheim. Shall we go for a stroll?"
Riku Asakura	Riku watches the skeleton arms and feet sink into place. It seems a little disrespectful of the dead to use them like that, but he's not sure... and not a necromancer, so he doesn't have all of the knowledge. It does, however, make the house at least fifty percent more spooky by volume. Maybe more! "So the hearth keeps the chicken, and thus the house, active. That's really neat."
Regulus	''It doesn't have to anymore.'' "That's sad." Regulus says, rolling her eyes a little at the talk of leylines. Discredited arcanum!! Come on! But. "But Clucklesworth still has the soul of a chicken..." And chickens do like to peck at corn shaped objects. She's feeling suddenly quite sad about this suddenly, a little tear in her eye that she quickly rubs away. "Uh yeah. Probably nostalgic for chickens." She mumbles at Minamitsu, still haplessly holding out the corn nuts until her hand gets tired. "I'm uh. Gonna..." rShe trails off haplessly.
UFO Gang	"An energy other than food that sustains her existence," Shou muses. "It's astounding... I wonder if the other chickens will be jealous? Or will they be glad," now she looks to Trudy, "to know that they are with their familiar friend?" "Imagine if you were one of her chicks," Minamitsu observes. "You'd be bragging about this..." She trails off. Maybe it WOULDN'T be bragworthy. She also looks at Regulus with some concern. "I would certainly be glad for a lift to the gate," Shou tells Trudy. "It's an honor to have been a part of this moment." ("And it really was quite good tea, what leaves did you use?")
Trudy Grimm	With everyone aboard, the chicken house shudders and rises once more onto its black marble legs. Gently, it steps forward; mostly staying level, with a little sway to the building with its steps. Minamitsu can easily compare this to the gentle rocking of a ship at sea, so her advice will definitely come in handy for keeping cupboards and drawers secure. With the house's long stride, even if it's carefully picking its way through the forest to avoid breaking down any trees, it'll be a much faster trip back to Hamarrheim than it was to get all the way out here. > "But Clucklesworth still has the soul of a chicken..." "Oh, but remember what I said?" Trudy raises a finger as Regulus gets sad thinking about a chicken that can't eat corn anymore, "And remember where her home is? She should get it if you put the treats in the hearth." Whether that's true or she's just trying to help Regulus feel better with a little white lie is unclear, but burning is kind of like it's being eaten, so the logic tracks. > Shou muses on the ideas of chicken jealousy or pity or pride-- and tea "Ahaha~... I'm rather fond of chickens, but I couldn't pretend to understand how their minds work, I'm sorry, miss Toramaru." Trudy leans back a bit, casting her eyes up towards the ruined rafters; already, a handful of crows have taken to perching on the aged wood, "I'm much more familiar with crows, their little moods, and their ways of speaking." "(Northern Black. I'll get you some seeds~.)"
Regulus	Regulus exhales, rubbing at her eyes, "Oh--yeah. Yeah I guess that makes sense. Yeah." She totally buys it!! It makes sense to her. Of course it does. Why wouldn't it work like that? She tosses the corn nuts in. Well corn nuts for normal chickens are probably a little tough to get down but hey, this is a big chicken. "Good Miss Clucklesworth." She says. Whether it's true or not, Trudy's logic has cheered Regulus up considerably.