A Well Earned Celebration

[bravenewmods]

[The battle was over and the god Reshiram defeated, driven away by the aid of Union and its allies. The city was safe, by and large, and as the news spread throughout the peoples of the tundra, they began streaming back into the settlement in droves. Dirty, ash-coated faces were filled with relief and gratitude when they saw that it wasn't just a rumor and that their home had indeed been spared. Not everyone was so lucky, but they'd weathered worse, of course. The people of Glacier endured, as they would always endure, and they were also a people that repaid their debts. And they most certainly all agreed that they owed their rescuers a debt.

So, as night fell after the battle, a great celebration was prepared in the center of Glacier. A wide square was cleared away in a matter of hours, and the people gathered what they could in a show of thanks. Tables of food, bonfires towering into the night sky to keep out the autumn chill, and throngs of cheering wellwishers lined the area. Warriors of glacier, men carrying swords and women all bearing axes offered enthusiastic handshakes and claps on the back. Music of all kinds was played, though tribal tunes full of horn and percussion, chanting and yodeling, and even some brass groups dominated the soundscape.

A platform for various elders was set up, and they offered speeches, of course...but those were somehow dwarfed by the presence of the divine beings that were waiting silently for the proceedings to end. Some of the gods that had come to the aid of the war parties had apparently decided to stay, though their reasons were as mysterious as they themselves. The humans would have their time, and the Servants would mingle freely throughout the evening.

Food, of course, is set out in piles. Meat, fish, arctic berries, and various pastries and the like line table after table. A smorgasbord of Glacier specialties, each with a new and unique flavor all their own, and some (such as the stew) possessing a smell that only a native could probably endure. Akutaq in particular seems to stand out among the worst offenders, but the Glacier natives seem rather fond of it, and offer it to their rescuers with great gusto.

And the rewards do not stop at simple meals. either. As the speeches begin to wind down, a woman some might find familiar walks up onto the stage carrying a singularly massive trunk and dropping it down onto the wood with a heavy thud.]

Southerners! You have done a great deed this day! We, the people of Glacier, would like to thank you and honor your sacrifice! Few would do as you have done, coming to the aide of strangers against the might of that dragon...and you have accomplished something we did not think possible. To that end, we would like to present you with the first of many gifts, a token of our gratitude and a promise that should you need it, we will come to your defense in a time of need!

[And then with a sharp kick, she cracks open the trunk and reveals a veritable treasure trove of three different stones to be distributed by her subordinates.]

Rest well, and enjoy the festivities! You are welcome here, for as long as you like! Eat, drink, and be merry within our halls!

Comments

[wise_maiden]

I am glad to see that you are well, also. This entire situation is... I don't have enough words to describe it.

[Even with all her writing. The cold's done for most of her pens, but that's what pencils were for, too. Raine had a pair of gloves, though they were in her lap now, given some of the finer details of her sketching attempts. She sets down the pen, grateful to exchange that for a nice warm mug instead.]

If your friend is willing to share, that would be a great help.

[untalented]

She's also a Ranger, so I'm sure she won't mind if it's for the sake of helping others understand more of the world.

[He cleared a space on the ground nearby as he spoke and sat down, making himself as comfortable as he could in the bitter cold.]

...As I mentioned before, this isn't the first time Union has helped another civilization fight a god. It's strange to think about, honestly.

[wise_maiden]

[She nods, then sighs softly as she takes a sip of the tea.]

I imagine that's why they were immediately looked to, to take care of this. The way some of them charged right in... even the sheer enormity of what they were facing didn't seem to phase them.

[And that was... disturbing? Admirable? It was no wonder the gods had come to join them in the end. Unsettling.]

[untalented]

....it's somewhat terrifying.

[He murmured the words over his steaming mug of tea, and punctuated his sentence by taking a sip himself. The courage and will to act that the Unionites possessed was beyond anything he had imagined. Some of them even outright went to literally punch that dragon in the face--

The sort of steel that these people had supporting their will was nothing short of awe-inspiring and impressive. Waver wasn't sure if he should run away in fear or be glad that this was the nature of the people he had thrown his lot in with.]

[wise_maiden]

There was no planning, no warning, just - off they went.

[She finds herself very grateful for Waver. As it is, she keeps her voice as quiet as possible.]

Let alone what we were facing... a god who allowed himself to bond with a human, and yet they decided they had the right to eradicate everyone else? How unbelievably hypocritical. This is insanity.

[untalented]

This is the state of the world outside of Sanctuary-- outside of Gigas.

[He shook his head. There was no denying the fact that Sanctuary was a settlement under Gigas' jurisdiction for the last several decades-- and there was also no denying that their own affairs had left them blinded to the things that were happening in the world beyond what they knew.]

Though it looks like the Gods don't all agree with each other either-- and I don't know which is more unsettling. The fact that this one God would choose a single person and destroy the rest of civilization, or the thought that there could be more Gods out there that aren't on our side.

[wise_maiden]

It's funny how we hold ourselves to be the pinnacle of knowledge, and yet to be so completely unaware...

[She forces another sip of the tea, trying to get a handle on her thoughts.]

... What even happens next? Will the other nations be warned? Our actions may have bought time, even this -- celebration, but only Union seems equipped to deal with it properly, if at all.

[untalented]

...That will probably be something that the local Council leaves up to a city-wide vote, like they did with handling the Homunculi projects that some of the Magi kept behind closed doors.

[He sighed, tapping his fingers along the outside of his mug while he thought.]

Odds are high that they'll decide to tell Caldera and Citadel, for sure. Possibly Refuge as well, although they still like to keep to themselves. One way or the other, Sanctuary will get information too-- either from Union directly, or through Caldera like we always have. But, it's hard to say where it will go...

Union lacks a dominant fighting force. Any major fighting would be done by volunteers, like now, or by Caldera and Citadel. But that also depends on what the other cities decide on-- and what the Gods decide to do after this.

[wise_maiden]

... perhaps so.

[She doesn't seem too convinced, especially since, as he said, this wasn't the first time a God had attacked one of the civilizations and had to be driven off... but it's something out of her hands.]

... have you approached any of them? It seems like it's a good opportunity to do so and yet, the thought of actually doing so is ... [It's terrifying is what it is.] I mean, what does one even say? 'Thank you for saving us, I hope we were worth it?'

[untalented]

The Gods?

[He looked at her, a flicker of embarrassment in his eyes.]

Just the one....the fire-type hound, with the old-fashioned mannerisms.

[Entei.]

I didn't really say too much, though. He's a little awkward....but, none of them seem like they're against the notion of interacting with us. If you have any burning questions, this may be the only chance you'll get to have them answered.

[wise_maiden]

I feel like the most 'burning' ones would come off as impertinent at best. I mean... who ever thinks they're going to actually find themselves in this sort of situation?

[She glances idly back to her pages.] But I know enough to know that they don't all act with one mind, they have unique temperaments and strengths, and that they believe... strongly enough in those they came to support.

[untalented]

That might be the only thing we know we can trust in situations like this, too.

[The gods were unsettling to him, but it was a small comfort to know that there were a few who were willing to give Humanity a chance.]

Still.....they might expect us to ask some questions. Why else would they be here right now?

[wise_maiden]

It did seem odd that they chose to wait around and mingle... but we should still choose our questions wisely in case they become agitated.

[untalented]

That's right, they are still beings that should be respected...

But they've approached some people before, on their own. As long as you're polite, I don't think they'll mind.

[wise_maiden]

[She sips carefully at that tea again.]

Maybe so... at the very least, starting with simply thanking them might be best. I think I may have been too shocked to do so at at the time.

[untalented]

...I think we all were. That's why I approached the one I did-- to thank them for the help.

[wise_maiden]

From there it might just be figuring out which ones are more approachable. Just because they're staying around doesn't mean they're all invested in a conversation... I wonder how much opinions would vary between them.

[untalented]

I do, too...and there's no harm in approaching them and finding out for yourself. They don't seem like they'll be setting us on fire anytime soon.

[wise_maiden]

Sitting here wondering about it won't get me the answer after all. [But she does tilt her head at him.] We could each choose some to speak to and compare our results.

[untalented]

That sounds like a good strategy-- from one academic to another.

[It would give them both a reason to explore that also took their focus away from the pending existential questions that were weighing on everyone's minds.]

[wise_maiden]

I'm glad you agree! Let's see... you've already seen to Entei, and I plan to approach Cresselia to thank her. That still leaves the other six. [She flips back a page to consult a list that Ami gave her.]

[untalented]

We can divide it up however you want-- or we can talk to others and see what sort of luck they've had too.

[wise_maiden]

There's no reason why we couldn't do both. See for ourselves what they're like, and then talk to those who are more acquainted with them and likely to have learned more...

[She glances at her list.] Divide them by element, perhaps?

[untalented]

That sounds like a good idea, actually. We may be able to hazard a few guesses on their temperament that way as well.

[wise_maiden]

With that in mind...

[She's half musing as she separates them, having pulled out her pen again for notations and making a small chart. It honestly was weird to divide literal gods up in this manner, but that was the way of research. At least it helped with the nervousness, somewhat. For now.]

I... could try approaching the god of thunder, [She circles Raikou] and the bird of frost [Articuno] and... the remaining fire type? [Moltres?]

Although, there's also Cressalia's opposite...