Chapter 3 : Sedna's Comb : (Yuralria, Ogtuk-Luk, Unulaq )

[ImpInTraining]

Unalaq frowned and looked to the Chief, then said "What does it mean to be chief if you are not the one who makes decisions? Just a title? A fancy fur to wear at ceremonies?" He looked to the elders and said "If it is so frowned upon to save my brother's life, then at least I should be allowed to chase after Sashila and bring her back. She may not survive... she is no warrior. What if the Ijiraat attack her... or the bad Vikings cross her path?"

[DSIGFUSS]

All four of the Edlers glare at Unulaq and Chief Kalituk glares back at them defiantly. . While the chief holds power in the Dorset village… the Elders often are heard above the voice of the chief when concerning serious matters of spiritual significance. If all four Elders agree… the chieftain’s spear can be taken from the acting chief. He can, of coarse, try to get it back but only through heroic deeds is the chieftain’s spear given.

Kalituk then looks back to Unulaq and Yuralria, gritting his teeth in frustration

I understand your feelings on this matter Unulaq. I pray to all our gods that Qannaq reached Tornuaq before he did something regrettable. The elders are simply concerned for the Shaman’s council with the goddess as should we all in this dark time for our people. We will send a small hunting party after Sashila ahead of the village.

One of the Elder’s begins to interrupt but Kalituk silences him with a stern look.

They will meet with us before the combing ceremony. This should satisfy the goddess and the Elders.

He then puts a hand on Unulaq’s shoulder.

I’m afraid Tornuaq is on his own… May Sedna guide him home.

[ImpInTraining]

"Tornuaq can take care of himself - and if he dies, then it is his own fault and the will of the gods. It is Sashila I am worried about." He glanced at Yuralria and shook his head, "Poor foolish girl, thinks Tornuaq's heart belongs to her. She chases him out of love. Misplaced love at that. But I suppose that's her own fault as well."

He looked back to the chief and sighed "Let's get this on with then... what are we waiting for?"

[trixie]

[OC Yuralria is currently in her hut, bawling her eyes out...so Unulaq can say that but it wouldn't be directed to her.]

Yuralria can overhear the words drifting in from the door of the hut and her thoughts are wild with irrational temptation. Surely she couldn't follow after him herself....but she contemplated it seriously for a split second.

Tornuaq! No!!!!

Sashila running after him seemed typical of her, and Yuralria felt a stab of jealousy that she could, and get away with it. Yuralria, however, was wearing the chains of responsibility. Diving to the bottom of the sea to speak with Sedna would earn her the right to speak to the elders the way she should be able to, with weight and gravity on her words. At this point, though, she needed to mind her manners.

She rose from her bed, wiping the tears away angrily, snatched up her supplies, and burst through her door again.

"We must begin."

She didn't pause to ask permission, just wove through the men standing by her hut door and marched determinedly into the village. This was her moment to shine, and she knew it. Besides, changing the subject during times of disagreement seemed to have worked rather well in the past.

In her heart of hearts, she selfishly wished Unulaq would send the best warrior after Tornuaq. Either that or go himself.

[DSIGFUSS]

The Elders watch Yuralria enter their midst with disdain and worry clear on their faces. They turn and march away from the small group beginning to gather around the Shaman. One of the Elders turns and points to Unulaq.

You are brave Unulaq... and a great asset to the tribe. Do not be late to the combing ceremony. Do not think the goddess will mistake your absence for heroism. Everything rests on this meeting. The tribe’s best warriors must be present or Sedna will think it an insult. It has happened before.

Chief Kalituk looks curiously at the Shaman before adressing Unualaq.

Go then Unualaq and find Sashila. Take Faroo with you and we will meet at Sedna’s cove in time for the combing ceremony. Please Unulaq…. Do not go after your brother.

[DSIGFUSS]

Ogtuk-Luk plants his spear into the snow and looks at Yuralria with deeply concerned eyes.

Come Shaman! There is little time left to prepare. Sedna waits for no one.

Yuralria knows that Ogtuk-Luk means no offense in hurrying her from this awkward moment between her tribesmen. Perhaps he was trying to save her the shame of choosing not to accompany Unulaq in the search for Sashila or perhaps she really was pressed for time and if she didn’t finish her preparations in time, she could not make the dive.

[trixie]

"Yes Ogtuk-luk. Let's get going. I want to be one with the ocean and listen to the waves before I meet Sedna. Let's begin our journey."

Yuralria fiddles with the supplies she brought, lashing her spear and rattles to the outside of her soft leather pack. Inside, her vial of red and black powders, for the ceremonial face paint, dandelion root for healing should she be poisoned by the sea urchins, the arrow heads she would need to give to the men in her victory dance, and her offering to Sedna. She checked it to make sure it was still in order after her haste in leaving, and twisted the top rope in a knot to keep it all safe.

She threw her pack over her shoulder, and began to walk purposefully to the ocean side, eyes to the ground to avoid Ogtuk-luk's piercing glances. She knew that he could sense there was something not right with her. It would take her best brave face to fool Ogtuk-luk....he knew her so well.

If only there were time to spirit walk to Tornuaq....this day has robbed me of many things.......

[ImpInTraining]

Unalaq nodded to Chief Kalituk, "As you wish. Maybe you should take Thorrin with you?" He did not waste any time waiting for a response to that last suggestion. The warrior ran to his hut, grabbing up his spear and bone club, then hooked up the dogs to the sled and looked around for Faroo. As soon as they were both ready, he left to follow the tracks in hopes of finding Sashila.

[DSIGFUSS]

oc – check out the map on the Dorset Maps thread to get a rough idea of your immediate area. Where you are going. Where the tribe is going. etc…

It’s a 4 hour sled ride to the Thule hunting grounds where Qannaq, Tornuaq and Sashila supposedly went. The point on the map marked Sedna is a 6 hour forced march.


Faroo is ready for travel almost immediately with his spear in hand and his long narrow walrus ivory club slung on his back. As Unulaq and Faroo ready their sleds Thorrin walks up to Unulaq with a curious look on his face, chewing on a giant peace of seal meat. He offers a piece to Unualaq before asking….

Tornuaq?

[ImpInTraining]

Unalaq smiled to Thorrin and accepted the whale meat, after all he almost forgot to eat. His smile disappeared as he explained, "Tornuaq..." he responded, and added... "Knife," while holding one hand open he slid it across his other as if cutting it.

[DSIGFUSS]

Thorrin eyes Unulaq and regards him with a very saddened expression. Faroo is now waiting impatiently by the sled dogs.

Thorrin grabs Unulaq’s hand and locks forearms.

Gódur Heppni Unualaq. Finna Thinn vinur. Gæta sín á Loki!

He then gives Unualaq the rest of the meat and repeats what little Dorset he has learned.

Tornuaq Unulaq friend… Loki evil.

Faroo finally calls for Unulaq and starts his sled dogs moving at a slow trot, hoping Unulaq will get the message.

[DSIGFUSS]

Ogtuk-Luk shadows Yuralria as she readies her supplies. She won’t need much, but the items she will require are delicate and will have to be packed with great care. Rattles and wands and intricately carved spirit sticks that her people will carry and use as best they see fit to attract the goddess’s attention.
Especially her shaman’s mask. Over the last few months, Yuralria has made three and she will have to choose the mask that most defines her. The snow owl… The walrus…. Or the lemming. If she is not happy with either one, she will have to make a fourth to wear as she first presents herself to Sedna. The tribe will be gathering in less than an hour waiting for their Shaman to lead them to the ancient birthing grounds of the creatures of the sea.

After a short time, Chief Kalituk calls to Yuralria from outside her hut.

Shaman! It is your chief. I wish council.

Ogtuk-luk rises… spear in hand ready to defend his shaman should she need it.

[ImpInTraining]

"Friend," Unalaq repeated shaking Thorrin's hand. "I will be on my guard for Loki, do not worry."

He hopped on his dog sled and snapped the reigns getting them moving to catch up to Faroo.

[DSIGFUSS]

Faroo and Unulaq drive their sleds for an hour, following Sashila’s tracks as she follows Tornuaq. Then the tracks suddenly veer west, away from Tornuaq and Qannaq’s sled marks and away from the Thule hunting grounds.



Faroo stops and looks longingly after the sled marks. It's obvious to Unulaq that Faroo wishes to carry on after his mentor Qannaq. He then puts his hands to his eyes blocking the light of the morning sun.



Sashila has gone off the trail. It is possible that she simply got lost. Damn her hide Unulaq. There is nothing but hills and iceflow to the west. In all honesty I had hoped that the women's trail would have led us to Qannaq and Tornuaq.

[trixie]

Especially her shaman’s mask. Over the last few months, Yuralria has made three and she will have to choose the mask that most defines her. The snow owl… The walrus…. Or the lemming. If she is not happy with either one, she will have to make a fourth to wear as she first presents herself to Sedna. The tribe will be gathering in less than an hour waiting for their Shaman to lead them to the ancient birthing grounds of the creatures of the sea.

After a short time, Chief Kalituk calls to Yuralria from outside her hut.

Shaman! It is your chief. I wish council.

Ogtuk-luk rises… spear in hand ready to defend his shaman should she need it.

Yuralria picks up her mask of the snow owl fondly, and turns it over to inspect for any cracks. This was her favorite..for somehow she felt stronger and wiser just by wearing it. She turns it over to gaze at the familiar paintings and traces them with her finger thoughtfully.

Chief Kalituk startled her and she jumped, looking at Ogtuk-luk in alarm. She laughed at herself inwardly however. She always felt far away and lost in thought in her hut. She strode to the door and emerged, pack in hand and mask clutched tightly.

"Yes, Chief? What may I help you with?"

[ImpInTraining]

Unalaq stopped his sled and also looked toward both paths. "I know. Me too. But we cannot afford to anger Sedna, like the Elders said." He pointed in the direction where the sleds ran and said "That way lies Tornuaq, Qannaq, the cursed knife, Loki-following Vikings, and perhaps more crazed Ijiraat. We are fortunate to take a different path. I am just a little concerned that it is taking us in the opposite direction from where we need to go to meet the others. I hope we aren't late for the ceremony."

[DSIGFUSS]

All four Elders enter Yuralria’s hut and gaze from side to side frowning their displeasure. One of the Elders seemed particularly disgusted with Yuralria’s collection of white Lemming rattles scattered about her wall. Some were ceremonial and some were decorative, but all of them made the Elders uncomfortable. It was that or the hollowed out walrus skull Yurulria kept close to her bedside to warn the spirtis she was not a woman to be trifled with. The skull still had a small amount of brain matter dried onto it’s white polished sides.

Your hut is…. interesting!

There is a long silence as Ogtuk-Luk positions himself in between Yuralria and the Elders, ready to strike if they were to presume themselves above the sanctity of the Shaman’s hut. Finally one of the Elders steps forward and addresses the Shaman with the respect she deserves.

Oh glorious Shaman… Bless us with the wisdom of all who have loved the goddess before and give us the courage to honor her til the ice breaks and melts back into the sea.

He bows low before Yuralria and the remaining three Elders follow suit.

We have come to ask you for guidance Shaman. We have received counsel that you are not to be trusted… but if you are not to be trusted, then who amongst us is. The Norseman? Surely Sedna would not leave her children in the hands of of a Shaman who wishes us harm. We have come to you this day before the combing ceremony to offer you our own blessing and wish you well in your task. And to ask of you a favor….

[DSIGFUSS]

Faroo looks off to the south as the two leave the trail to follow Sashila’s foot prints in the snow. Unulaq can see a deep sadness in his eyes before he finally turns away from Tornuaq and Qannaq’s sled trail.

The two travel for an hour in the morning light heading west. In another couple hours it would be dark once again and depending on the moon god Aningan’s temper, the tracks would be increasingly difficult to follow.

During the short sled ride, Unualaq’s mind wanders to the inner politics of his tribe. Everyone had been acting so strangely over the last few days. The Edler’s were pushing their authority around as if they were about to lose it. Chief Kalituk seemed more of a pawn now than a charismatic leader. He cowed to the Elders like a deceitful child. The Shaman was holding secret meetings with unfamiliar gods. His best friend Tornuaq, bewitched by Viking Steel, had professed his love to Yuralria after years of keeping it to himself. Aside from a select few, the Dorset people seemed unconcerned that the Vikings could be invading their island home; that the once peaceful Ijiraat had gone savage and attacked the Dorsets as they made their way to the Thule hunting grounds to assist Unulaq and Tornuaq. The strange symbol on the underbelly of the Ijiraat; the symbol of Loki. It was all being ignored by those with the power to help.

Then Faroo stopped his sled just ahead of Unulaq. He jumped off and began to inspect the snow. Faroo looks back and motions silently, with the stillness of a great hunter,for Unulaq to approach.

ooc – Please include a Track roll in your next post Unulaq.

[ImpInTraining]

Spot Hidden (70%) (1d100=65)
Sneak(70%) (1d100=27)

Unalaq hopped off the sled and approached quietly to Faroo. He looked around at the ground and the surrounding territory to find out what had Faroo so spooked.

[trixie]

He bows low before Yuralria and the remaining three Elders follow suit.

We have come to ask you for guidance Shaman. We have received counsel that you are not to be trusted… but if you are not to be trusted, then who amongst us is. The Norseman? Surely Sedna would not leave her children in the hands of of a Shaman who wishes us harm. We have come to you this day before the combing ceremony to offer you our own blessing and wish you well in your task. And to ask of you a favor….

A mixture of emotions washes over Yuralria's face; first the colour drains from her cheeks at the mention of trust, then worry, then changes into somewhat of relief and curiousity.

"A favour?" she croaks from a choked and anxious voice, then she smiles a little from embarassment, and waves her hand as if to indicate 'please go on'.