Play by Post Thread

[Corwin]

"In other words," Henrietta says, a frown quite promiment on her face, "you believe that lycanthropy widely affected a tribe in ancient times, sweeping through it like a plague, and then some of them wanted their humanity so much that they decided to follow Hecate?"

Henrietta tilts her head this way and that, as if testing the theory out. "I suppose I do not have a particular problem with any of that, but is, well, that is," She hesitates slightly, before blurting out, "how can you say that dogs have human souls and then talk so happily about sacrificing them?"

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

"No, you misunderstand," Vriskna shakes her head patiently, "The people were turned into wolves. Those sheltered by Artemis became lycanthropes, and those sheltered by Hecate became dogs. As for sacrificing them?" she shrugs lithely, "The more important the sacrifice, the greater devotion it shows. What better to sacrifice than a creature touched - however indirectly - by the Goddess herself? There is greater meaning in it than sacrificing these strips of meat," she gestures down at the offerings currently placed on the plate.

"But sadly it's the way of things to change," she sighs melodramatically. "I may be clinging too tightly to the old ways. There are many who say the sentiment behind the sacrifice is more important than the offering itself."

[Corwin]

"So what are the new ways, then?" Henrietta asks, deciding to hurry right past the incredibly disturbing pseudo-human sacrifice that she sincerely hopes has all been left in the distant past.

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

The elegant horned woman raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and gestures once more down at the copper plate filled with meat cutlets. "Sacrifices of fish and frogs are also accepted..." the causes her to start smiling nostalgically. "Did you know that several decades ago, the people of Plinyrica believed that the red mullet fish was especially sacred to Hecate? It was believed that by offering it in sacrifice they would receive great fortune and riches - the bigger the fish the better, of course. Nobles made great sport of it, paying fabulous sums for the most prime examples of the breed. It was quite the economic boom, until the fish was driven extinct within a few years."

"Of course, Plinyrica is more famous for being the site of the first Collective uprising, and many of those same nobles found themselves dancing the hempen jig. It's an interesting lesson in taking things to excess. I like to wonder what the Goddess thought when she received the last red mullet in offering... as the very last one, would it not be the most meaningful of sacrifices? And yet knowing no more would ever be offered must have been most melancholy."

[Corwin]

"I did not know that," Henrietta admits. "Frogs? Really?"

She shakes her head. "I suppose everyone has their own unique taste...."

But that is not really the important part, she knows, and so she asks, "How about you? Do you believe that Hecate wants a terribly extravagant sacrifice from you, in order to bring you fortune or riches?"

It would be rude to ask all that and not to respond in turn, and Henrietta muses, "As for what I think, should Hecate merely bring the red mullet fish back if she really wanted it to? It does not sound a very difficult task for a goddess." There is just a bit of challenge behind those words, and Henrietta finds herself wondering what excuse will be given here.

[Merc]

"I see! That's convinient then," Glenn replies looking a bit more pleased. "Very well, remember how my companions mentioned that the disease is contagious through bite? If you've been infected, the disease takes a while to incubate before it causes noticeable mutations. While it does so though, the infected person will become irritable, perhaps some headaches and generally just find it harder to think clearly the more time passes, so that should be a warning sign to watch out for."

"Did any clerics or alchemists go with the rescue party, Lady Arabani?" he adds, pausing for a short breath, having spoken rather quickly. "If some have, I would confirm that restoration and remove disease do seem to work on an infected person, at the very least prior to mutations taking place. While it doesn't guarantee they will work on your son, it should improve the chances at least, knowing what will work on someone infected."

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

"Ancient depictions showed Hecate with the head of a woman, a dog, and a frog..." Vriskna glances at the statue with three quite human heads on it and shrugs, "Tastes change."

"As for myself, I have no interest in fortune or riches. I have all that I need - when I sacrifice it is done out of respect, not the expectation of reward."

She smiles smugly at Henrietta's last question. "Clearly Hecate does not want to bring the fish back into the mortal realm, else she would indeed. Resurrection is hardly unknown now, is it?"

Glenn

"That's some small comfort," Lady Arabani nods gratefully to Glenn. "There is another druid among the rescue party who is capable of lifting disease from the sick... though in truth I fear far stronger measures will be required if my Walter is caged as you said yesterday. A week is a long time to go without food or water..."

[Merc]

There isn't much comfort Glenn can offer in regards to that statement, except to briefly bow his head. "I can only hope everything goes well."

[Corwin]

Of course, it makes perfect sense. Henrietta is too cultured to roll her eyes, and glances at the statue herself. "Does that mean that Hecate changed with the aeons, you think, or that people believe in different versions of Hecate over time?"

And the personal response is too good to pass up on, so she soon after wonders, "And what is it that a follower of Hecate like yourself needs?"

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

"People's interpretations change. The spiritual needs of these young scholars are no doubt quite different to the needs of the tribal peoples who dwelled upon Pranneria before King Koryand and the Queen of the Sky forged the first true nation. The true nature of the Goddess is something we can only divine through the ever-shifting lens of our culture," Vriskna replies, walking in a slow circuit around the well polished statue.

"I suppose at this moment in time I most need to help the Blessed One find wisdom and power... but before that of course I need to ensure she survives," she flashes a knowing smile at Henrietta. "So I shall turn the question around. What do you want, Blessed One?"

[Sierra]

"Well, I'm not really settled in just yet," Lucie starts, looking down at the hopeful child. "That is...Oh, just let me know in advance that you're coming, will you? Send a letter or something. I'll be very busy soon and I'd want to make sure you don't drop by while I'm out. We wouldn't want to miss each other, would we? And Midolin has to be on his best behavior, alright? It's a quiet neighborhood and they're not used to giant snakes on the streets."

Lucie turns to the giant man-child next: "And yes, Dawley, you can easily buy yourself a new bed with your share of the treasure. Could be you could even afford one big enough for you. Or more than one bed, and set them up next to each other? Up to you. The bed-buying is limited only by your imagination."

[Corwin]

"You!" Henrietta exclaims, going so far as to point at Vriskna. "That time with the assassins! You got the third one-- and warned me?" Henrietta tilts her head in confusion. "Didn't you?"

[Ebiris]

Lucie

Dawley and Maya both take their shares with much eagerness, the former going off into a daydream now and mumbling to himself "Two beds?" in awe. Hermann takes his but with considerably poorer grace, glaring at his money-bag as if it were directly responsible for all his ills.

"Guess you'd better get going to your new digs. Don't worry about us, we'll get by just like we always have," he offers churlishly, dismissing Lucie.

Henrietta

"Clever girl," Vriskna smiles approvingly at Henrietta. "It is nice to be appreciated, I'll say that much, I suppose. At least I think I heard a thank you in there... perhaps its better for me simply to imagine I did?" she cocks her head curiously. "But do share some of that boundless gratitude for Hecate while you're being so effervescent with thanks.

Glenn

Think we're good there, not a lot to say in response either

[Corwin]

At the answering smile that answers and confirms so much, Henrietta rushes to envelop Vriskna in a hug!

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she repeats, holding onto her. "I live alone here and it was oh so very scary to be attacked by assassins at night and they wanted to kill me and the guards were so close but they still did not hear anything and I had to go to them and-- and-- thank you for being there!"

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

The dark-haired and rams-horned woman is startled by the hug, but awkwardly returns it for just a moment before quickly extricating herself. You can notice that quite a few people are stopping to stare at the pair of you now. "Yes, well... think nothing of it, I was only doing my duty," she replies, slightly flustered as she looks away and smooths her robes out some more. "It wouldn't do for one blessed by the Goddess to meet such an ignoble end, but all I really did was give you a chance - you did the rest," she refocuses and turns a stern gaze on Henrietta, "So please don't abuse my good nature and take it as license to risk your life mindlessly with the reassurance that I'll be looking out for you, Miss Ul'Copt."