Entry 4.
Ursal of the Axe is dead.
His time as an adventurer was short, but he lived fiercely and with great devotion to his mission: to protect his friends.
Joined funeral mission with Azurea, Dalyor, Darius, and Langren, to return Ursal's beloved axe to his family. Learned family is Bouldercleave, of Broken Spear Trollmoot. Met his sister, Sostree Bouldercleave, Elementalist of the Moot, inheritor of her mother's mantle. Ursal's need to protect driven by mother's role as moot protector, compounded by lack of spellcasting.
Ursal's zeal unfortunately annoyed rest of moot. Appears they were pleased to see him go. But also sad to see him dead. Emotional life of Namegivers complex and nuanced. Outside scope of these notes. A splotch on the page, as if struck by two droplets of water.
Moot tradition is interesting. When one of their own dies, they burn the body. If body is missing or unavailable, they use animal as totemic proxy. Presumably to have animal represent the dead in spirit journey? Fascinating. Friends and moot-mates of deceased participate in ritual combat. Purpose not to do harm but find the most worthy.
We participated. We were most worthy. I did not control myself well enough. Two trolls fatally injured. Fortunately, they had been provided with blood charms that allowed them to survive. Am grateful - did not want to cause permanent harm. Azurea chosen as champion; she is troll, and also closest to Ursal. Is good and proper. Hers is the best heart.
Sostree tells us of a sleuth of bears who are causing problems. Also tells us crystal bear is Ursal's totemic animal. Tellingly convenient, but acceptable.
We go to deal with the bears. Langren's relationship with the beast world allows him to pacify them. We fight the largest of the three, as we feel it will serve as the best proxy for Ursal. I speak to the bear as we fight it. Kill it. Tell the bear that we are grateful. Bring the other two bears back so they can be released into a less problematic ecosystem. More food for them, less trouble for trolls.
The pyre is lit. The bear is burned. Its spirit sent to champion Ursal's journey into the next life. There is song. The trolls sing with heart, with throat voices. It is an ancient sound. I recite a poem I composed. Attached: Ode to an Axe, a Funeral Poem in 14 stanzas. Moment filled with emotion. Azurea is given Ursal's axe, which survives the pyre.
The next morning, troll smiths offer oversized flight daggers to Darius and Azurea. Very large knives. Seem unwieldy, but perhaps well suited to troll hands. Am perfectly satisfied with hands I was born with. No need to fling gigantic cutlery. Aerodynamic properties, supported by True Air, are quite interesting however. Designs attached.
We return to Throal safely.Statistics:Posted by bronzemountain — Tue Jun 23, 2020 12:11 am
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