The Everlasting Abbey

[Enoch]

Temple to Moradin, Dwarf-Father

Services available here TBD.

[Enoch]

Standing before the great doors of the abbey, with Moradin's hammer-and-tongs standing out in bas relief, Gundri Gundrudson takes a deep breath. He tugs fitfully at the shroud wrapped around his body and shifts his shoulders under it. The funeral oils smell strange and spicy and make his skin itch.

Taking another deep breath, he nods to the acolytes standing to either side of the doors; they pound on the doors with their ritual hammers and silently push them open.

Before he can even step across the threshold into the shadowed vault, he is greeted by an acolyte in dark robes, wearing the mouthless mask of The Silent One. The acolyte stares at him for a long moment before taking his arm and leading him into the chamber.

Gundri's breathing quickens as they emerge from the darkened vault into the torchlit sanctuary; he looks around at the rows of masks seated around the edges of the chamber. He is tugged along by the acolyte to the anvil in the center of the chamber and stares at the priest of Moradin standing across from him.

[Enoch]

FYI: Any spectators would have been issued a simple mask with monstrous features when they arrived and would be seated in rows along the walls.

All dwarves, as well as non-dwarves of special esteem (i.e., any PCs) are welcome to attend and participate. The purpose of this is to spur roleplay and help flesh out the world!

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit having been invited...sort of fusses with the mask not caring for anything covering his face other than his prized beard and mustache, watches quietly from one of the rows near the wall.

[rossik]

Berta attended the ceremony. Her heart is full of respect for the solemnity, and her mind travels to her early ages, listen with her brothers and sisters to the loremaster stories about Moradin and the songs of the Great Anvil.

[Enoch]

Zhym, I believe we are ready to start.

[Enoch]

OK, I'm not sure where Zhym is on this, but as I wrote the ritual I'll go ahead and get us started. I will pause in spots to allow other PCs to interject and participate--the goal here is to allow everyone a chance to join in! I'll try to provide cues as to what's expected, but you are of course free to respond as you will.

The priest, clad in the ceremonial forge-apron of the clergy of Moradin, waits for a long moment as Gundri Gundrudson shifts nervously on the other side of the anvil. Finally he speaks, his voice low and muffled by the forge-mask which hides his face.

"Greetings, initiate. Having been accepted for initiation, having completed your vigil, and having been granted entrance to this sacred chamber, you no doubt consider yourself a champion of Moradin. But you are not.

"Though the iron bar of an axe may be heated in the forge and hammered into shape on the anvil, it must yet be tempered and quenched, to give it strength and allow it to hold an edge. Likewise, you must be tested and tried, to ensure you will not break, and will always remain sharp in your duties to Moradin and dwarfkind.

"In your duties as an Axebearer, you will face many dangers and many enemies. Death shall be your constant companion and foe. As such, you will face the same in this chamber."

He extends one arm, scarred with many spark-burns, and gestures to the rows of masked attendees.

"Even here, in this most sacred chamber of dwarvenkind, you are surrounded by enemies."

At this signal, the masked participants begin shouting, pounding their feet, and shaking their fists. The room erupts with a ferocious roar, the sound echoing off the stone walls in an overwhelming wave.

[Zhym]

Sorry about the delay, everyone. I've been trying to digest Enoch's terrific setup for this ceremony and put together a post that would do it justice. Enoch, please feel free to drive the whole thing. You're already doing a much better job than I would have!

[rossik]

and im not sure when do we interact, if we do, eheh

[Enoch]

Sure, I'd be happy to!

Rossik, as to your question, feel free to jump in after any of my posts (or anyone else's). I'll generally try to end posts at spots where I think it might be appropriate for the audience to jump in, and will try to describe what the others around you are doing to give you an idea what you might want to do.

For example, right now all of the others are wearing masks (like you), and are making lots of threatening noise. You might want to describe yourself as yelling, hooting, banging on things, and otherwise seeming threatening--or describe how you're not. Throw in what you're thinking, or feeling, or whatever!

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit still very uncomfortable with the strange mask on his face joins in by banging his weapon on his shield throat singing a battle like song/chant.

essentially this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OJmHZe8jKE

[rossik]

Berta recalls a ancient hakka, and use it to contribute to the ritual

[Dram]

Neegan-The ritual is as he had heard thru his kin. He roars with others. Making the noise of a giant brown bear. He once heard.

[Enoch]

The priest nods in approval at the crowd's threatening noise, then gestures for silence.

"Now begins the Rite of Civilization."

He walks to the side of the great anvil in the center of the room, his granite-grey robes swishing quietly and his stole, worked with gold and silver thread, swinging slightly as it hangs from his shoulders.

"As you are to be a defender of dwarvenkind, it is necessary you should understand that which you defend."

He tells the origin story of the dwarves, the basics of which all dwarves are familiar, interlacing it with a symbolism unfamiliar to any who have not attended this ceremony before. As he talks about Moradin the All-Forger, he swings his left hand toward the anvil, hand open and palm up.

"I will now explain to you the symbols of the Axebearer.

"From out of the primordial forge-fire, Moradin created the world, hammering it into shape on the Great Anvil of the Universe, which symbolizes the the creation of the dwarven people. It also symbolizes those trials and afflictions through which a thinking being is shaped. You too, Initiate, shall be tried upon the Forge of this world."

He drops his hand and picks up the forge-hammer from atop the anvil, cradling its peen in his left hand.

"The Hammer is used to shape metal, as the petitioner will be shaped by the Great Smith. A flawed work may come about either through a flaw in the materials or through a lack of skill on the part of the smith. As the All-Forger is the Perfect Smith and cannot fail, it follows that should the materials be pure you cannot fail in your purpose or duties. A failure is due to a flaw in the metal, and not in the smithing."

He sets the hammer back down and picks up the tongs.

"The Tongs, which are used to grip and manipulate pieces that are dangerous or should not be touched. Likewise, an Axebearer is a defender of civilization, but an essentially destructive one, and must therefore be kept at a certain remove from society. Thus your elevated position. It is a lonely duty, but an essential one, to be a part of society and yet apart from it."

He again replaces the tongs in their place on the anvil, laying them crosswise across the hammer. He then presents the candidate with coal, the stone that burns hot enough to shape and melt the most obdurate metals, and oil, used to quench a finished piece and harden it into usefulness.

"Finally, you shall hear from the community those values which dwarfkind holds most dear."

Each of the dwarves present rises in turn, naming a value held by their civilization.

This is your opportunity to stand up and name something such as a quality or trait that dwarves value, and optionally say something about it. For the purposes of gameplay, we can assume that none of the dwarves that have stood before you have named the value you come up with. There's no wrong answer- as dwarves we get to define what's important to dwarves!

[Enoch]

One dwarf, known to be distantly related to the king, stands up. "Ancestry," she proudly announces. Several dwarves around her nod in agreement, including those of more humble birth.

"Fire and Stone!" yells another. Several dwarves stamp their feet in approval until quelled by a glare from the priest.

[GreyWolfVT]

Galmit standing he shouts "Honor, great beards an' strong ale!"

[Enoch]

Several nod in response, with one leaning forward to clap Galmit on the shoulder. "I'll drink to that," he murmurs.

[Zhym]

Olaf, Son of Olaf, Son of Olaf, the first Axebearer of King Drunil, Lord Protector of I'didmi'dum and the Southern Road, stands. His family's crest, a smith's hammer crossed with a miner's pick over an anvil, is worked into the breastplate of his armor. A sheathed longsword with a blue dragon-scale hilt hangs on his back, proving that "axebearer" is not always a literal title. His beard is finally growing back to a respectable length after too many encounters with fire.

His gaze settles on the supplicant, stern but with a flicker of welcome. He nods, ever so slightly, to the dwarf who would be his fellow protector of the realm.

"Loyalty," he says solemnly. "Duty."

"...an' gems!" he adds with a grin before sitting down.

[Enoch]

Gundri's eyes widen as his future compatriot stands. His mouth opens and he draws in a breath as if to speak, but calms as the priest briefly lays his hand on Gundri's shoulder.

[rossik]

Berta rises, first looking at his kin, then waiting for their voices to shut.

"Patience", she say slowly. "To gorgeous a act of strength, spirit, skill and patience"