OOM: Uppsala

[bigarmy_strangepants]

Inside the tent, it's murky and a bit smelly, and full of rather drunk people lying around and laughing.

"Athelstan, pour your friend a drink," Ragnar calls from somewhere in the middle, waving at the people entering.

Comments

[capture_eternity]

"It is!" Dorian agrees. "And it's all rather different from what I expected. The men are much friendlier, and the women are very lovely, and everybody seems to have so much fun."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"This is really your first cup of mead?" Ragnar asks, as if doubting it in view of Dorian's effusive vagueness.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan laughs quietly to himself and lets Dorian handle that one.

[capture_eternity]

"Yes?"

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Then you probably swam in on a river of good Frankish wine, to look at you," Ragnar concludes, quietly shaking his head with a smirk.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not that there's anything wrong with that", Athelstan says cheerfully.

[capture_eternity]

Dorian takes another sip from his mead.

"This is a chance to be cheerful and be merry, honour the gods and enjoy the good life they've given you?" he says, looking at Ragnar as if trying to gauge his reaction, his opinion.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"The gods aren't quite as easy as you might think, in the south where the sun is warm and all the answers are set down in books you can carry around with you," Ragnar says, looking over towards Athelstan with a little amused shake of his head. Poor monk was probably lonely for anybody a little bit more like himself.

"The gods do ask for something back, and we wouldn't dare tell them no. Mortals and gods have a more complicated bargain than you seem to believe."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Ask?" Athelstan says from the background, raising his eyebrows. "When did any god ask? Gods give, and they take away."

[capture_eternity]

"Do you have seers who tell you what the gods want?" Dorian asks, curious.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"They translate the signs the gods give us," Ragnar says, "same as Athelstan here translates all the foreign languages other people speak. But just like it's possible to learn those, it's not all that hard to understand the gods yourself."

He takes a deep sip from his own cup of mead.

"When the gods have to make demands, it's too late; we should have paid attention long before that. They give and take; we ask and we offer, and just like merchants at the market, we strike a bargain and live another year without them taking too much."

[athelstanthescribe]

"If they're inclined to listen", Athelstan says softly. "But they have their own will, and sometimes there's no changing it."

[capture_eternity]

Dorian sips his mead, apparently not having expected Vikings to ponder that kind of questions.

"Life is fragile," he finally says, "I don't think there's anything that will ever change that."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Their will," Ragnar says, "sometimes reaches much further than we can see, and it's best for us to just drift along on the tide of the gods. However, if you think we're fragile, and that's that, then there's no reason to have any faith at all. Sometimes, it's enough to feel the currents of fate and listen for the gods to whisper to you that now would be a good time to start rowing."

[athelstanthescribe]

"The small still voice. They do speak, for those who can listen."

It's part of Athelstan's problem. He hears too many gods.

[capture_eternity]

"Perhaps I haven't learned to listen well enough," Dorian muses.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Sometimes I feel I'd have to plug my mind's ears shut to not hear those voices," Ragnar muses. "Perhaps I'm so used to them by now."

[athelstanthescribe]

"But look where they've led you", Athelstan says with a slight smile.

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"To a very comfortable place so far," Ragnar grins, "but the path is far from finished."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Then perhaps there are still greater comforts in your future."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Or greater challenges," Ragnar muses. "One doesn't get comforts except by working or fighting for them."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods, coming forward to sit cross-legged on the floor.

"Unless one is very lucky, you're right."

[capture_eternity]

"I must admit," Dorian says, sipping his mead, "I mostly rely on being very lucky, and mostly, I am. I do like my comforts."

[bigarmy_strangepants]

"Until one day, your luck runs out, as it must with everybody," Ragnar says. "Even with Frankish merchants, the gods aren't infinitely patient. Or do you think yours is?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"The Christian God is", Athelstan says softly. "Except with unrepentant sinners."