Day Five/Six of the Odinsleep (Kiss of the Valkyrie)

Day Five/Six of the Odinsleep (7:06 pm - Midnight)

The afternoon's summer fades quickly into autumn as the sun slips beneath horizon. A chill breeze that carries the crisp bite of oncoming winter blows through the city, gusting ever so often as a light drizzle falls off and on throughout the evening. The trees that line the city's streets turn brilliant shades of gold, red, and russet-brown before dropping to the ground to be carried away on the wind. Idunn's Grove ignores the passage of time, its trees remaining vibrant and green. Woodsmoke from chimneys mixes with the aromas of the feasts. The cawing of ravens and the howling of wolves feeding on the corpses of the fallen enemies outside of the city provide a somber counterpoint to the revels of the mead hall.

Ra’ziir enjoys the food and drink, making the most of the feast.

Cedron sits with Ra’ziir and the others to partake of the feast. His empty stomach aches as he consumes his first few bites of food and drink. “We push ourselves too hard at times.” he says aloud. “I’m not as young as I was when I started my adventures. I look at many of you with your long lifespans in comparison, and I wonder how you keep pushing yourselves throughout the years. Maybe one day I’ll retire? Malazzarr willing…” he says with a smile. “But not today. Today we celebrate.”

Upon completing his meal, Ced will join the Einherjar in their festivities, hoping to learn a new ballad or two for the ages.

Grotto leads Abacus and Foil Hat around and offers them various libations.  The unlikely trio stop amd make conversation with several fierce warriors that Grotto recognizes from the battlefield even if he doesn't quite recall their names. The Einherjar, upon seeing the dwarf's scarred visage and howl with delight and press mugs of mead, cider, and ale into his hands, pleased to be in the presence of such an honorable fighter. Several of those warriors mistake Grotto for one of Ivaldi's sons and offer gold and jewels in exchange for magical, dwarf-made items of power.

Niklas settles in for a good meal that resembles anything but grass. While eating with his friends, he listens to the conversation but studies the actions and mannerisms of Baldur, Thor, Bragi and the new god character, to see if he can ascertain the cause of their grim appearance without engaging in conversation with them. Even through the din, he is able to glean that the new arrival is Forseti and that he may be some sort of magistrate. With that information, the ranger finds it likely that the dour attitudes the four seem to carry are brought on by thoughts of Loki and the justice they intend to visit upon him.

(All credit to original artist)
Shadow makes his way over to Hildr, grabbing two tankards of whatever is on the tray as it goes by.  He will thank her for saving him a seat and join her with a smile before passing one of the tankards over to her. The Valkyrie takes the drink, rises, and grabs the drow by the wrist, leading him from the hall. Once away from the revels, Hildr pulls Shadow in close for a kiss that goes on for almost a minute before she breaks it off to take a breath.

"And that is as far as it may go" she tells him.

"What? Why? I don't understand."

"I am a Valkyrie, a Chooser of the Slain. Do you know what that means?" Hildr doesn't give Shadow a chance to reply. "I do not simply fly out over a battlefield and decide who will live and who will die. If I did, Asgard would need no army. Just Valkyries who decide that the enemy will fall before they reach out gates. Yes, I do collect the souls of the fallen but I do not pick who falls. No, after the battle, we Valkyries go amongst the prisoners and decide who we will mate with. We choose the bravest and strongest of the fighters to mate with. Then, we kill them. We choose which prisoners are slain, which ones who will live on through us. In the end, I have a duty and, should fortune be kind, you will return home one day. Have a good life, Nym Millithor. I hope you find all that you deserve."

By midnight, the weather has shifted and snow falls upon the Golden City, covering it in a blanket of white. Singly and in pairs, or accompanied by ponies, the group gradually makes their way back to Völundr's home, seeking sleep in the common room, the stables, or wherever a flat surface is available.

When the party seems to be wearing down, Grotto and the ponies find a comfortable spot to sleep. Before turning in for the night, Grotto says his prayers to Hanseath. Once Ra’ziir has had his fill, the Eldritch Knight finds a quiet place to study his grimoire in preparation for the the next leg of the journey home. He finds Raven in the smithy, still awake, and the fighter tells him about his encounter with Shaundukal.
- - - - -
• Cedron: 100% health;
• Drax: 100% health; Nondetection (lasts until about 10 pm), Undetectable Alignment (lasts until about noon tomorrow),
• Grotto: 100% health;
• Kysek: 100% health; Half of the Tome has been read;
• Niklas: 100% health;
• Raven: 100% health;
• Ra’ziir: 100% health;
• Shadow: 100% health; Overland Flight (8 hours, 57 minutes remaining),

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