Day Four of The Odinsleep (In the Garden of Idunn - The Mission Revealed)

Day Four of the Odinsleep (7:31 am)


Kysek grumbles, “Guarding apples? Doesn’t guarding the wall protect them just the same?”


Shadow pushes out to the edge of the group and stares off into the distance, taking in the immensity of the orchard. Though his dark elven eyes may deceive him, it seems as though this garden is larger than some cities he has lived in over the course of his long life.


The drow pulls Raven aside, giving Hansuke the chance to transform into his cat-form and clamber onto the elf’s shoulder, and asks “Whatever shall we do if she offers us an apple?”


Raven frowns, “Eat it, I suppose. It would be rude to refuse the ‘food of the gods’ would it not?”


Niklas continues the conversation about Raven’s song comment, “A fine song it may turn out to be. Let’s see how this day ends, perhaps it will inspire Cedron to compose one."


Morn clears his throat, “What am I? Chopped liver?”


Niklas shakes his head, “Never! It’s just that Cedron is so enchanted that I was trying to be funny!”


Morn hums to himself enjoying rather musical sound of Idunn’s laugh. “So one could say the apples would be the gift of Idunn?” A stray melody drifting though his mind which he absently hums as the words start to take shape. “I think I can work with that title at least” dredging up memories of symbolic uses of fruit or animals on rituals he had seen be them in temples of hamlets.


Korbin flits over to a nearby try and alights on one its many branches. The crow preens his feathers for a moment, smoothing them back into place and begins studying the bark, leaves, and lastly the fruit. At first, there seems to nothing unusual about the tree itself and the apples it bears are small, oddly shaped, and covered with scratches and dings. Korbin hops along the branch, moving closer to the trunk of the tree until he finds a spot broad enough for his intentions. He drops to the ground, opens his portable hole and retrieves a book he took from the library in Myrlund’s house in Wonderland. Grasping the book in his claws, he flies back up to his spot in the tree and flips through the tome until he reaches a section on trees. Skimming the pages quickly, he finds a reference to cold-weather fruit that says apple trees in colder lands produce fruits that are ‘high on the tree and sour’, best used for cooking instead of fresh eating.


That whole thing about being ‘high on tree and sour’ doesn’t deter Grotto from trying to jump up and grab at the lowest-hanging of the fruit. He does manage to hook a branch with apples hanging from it with the head of his axe and pulls it down but Idunn approaches him, touching him lightly on the shoulder with the tips of her fingers and asks that he not eat from her trees.


Ra’ziir takes in the tableau, his jaded nature causing him to remain on guard for whatever inevitable surprise awaits us while Arthur floats along above the group, expecting the worst as well.


Drax trails along at the back of the group. After the insanity of the Grimmlands, the assassin remains largely unaffected by the presence of these “gods”.


Cedron catches the impulsive and belligerent dwarf eating apples out of the corner of his eye. He hopes the asinine dwarf’s behavior has not offended their hostess.


“The importance of this garden does not escape me. I too am familiar with the power that trees possess, and their importance to the divine. My lord Malazzarr has a tree of glorious progress that I would love to show you Idunn.” says the priest to the beautiful goddess. “But first you mentioned duties. How may we be of service? I am no stranger to labor, but I assume you have other plans for those of our particular skills?” He inquires.


Idunn opens her mouth to speak but stops short as a wide smile spreads across her face. Cedron turns to see where the goddess’ gaze is directed and sees the long-bearded Bragi stepping out from around a bend in the path. The two gods approach each other and kiss and then Idunn’s husband speaks, “I would have you protect my bride. My beautiful darling was once kidnapped by the Jotun and I would not have that happen again. What say you, all of you?”



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