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

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ Human, you look ridiculous. Are you trying to impersonate a Duskull? You need to levitate more, be a bit more spooky.

Oh, right. You probably got hurt. Whoops. Hmm. ]

"Yes, I should say so, judging from your current state. That does look painful. That is why your head is wrapped up like that, yes?"

[commissionergrump]

[Jim nods.]

Head wounds. Even the superficial ones bleed a lot. They might have been perhaps a little overzealous with the bandage, but it gets the job done.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

"Disgusting. Please keep your human bleeding to yourself. I hear it's messy."

[ Moltres says what it wants. ]

"Also wasteful. But if that many bandages will keep your... human bits inside of your head, then I suppose that's good."

[commissionergrump]

[Far from offended, Gordon actually gives a light chuckle at the god.]

That's the idea, anyway.

[He touches the bloody spot on the bandages, wincing almost imperceptibly, the spot still a bit tender.]

Thanks for the hint back there, as well. "Unforgiving Blaze."

[He sighs.]

I guess there's still those gods that hold humanity's past against us, no matter how much we change.

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ Moltres ruffles its feathers a bit. ]

"Excuse you. I think you might have hit your head a bit harder than you thought. The Unforgiving Blaze would be the dunderhead who decided to pick a fight with Savior's own. If you must call me something, it would be the Fire of Eternity."

[ Cooling its heels a bit, the great fire bird preens its wings before letting them rest again. ]

"A few centuries is hardly enough time for some to forgive. There are those who would rather keep their tail feathers in a tizzy over past transgressions."

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon shakes his head.]

I didn't mean you. When you called them that, the fires, everything else, it kind of clicked. But thank you, Fire of Eternity.

[Ruffled feathers on a fire bird deity, something best avoided.]

[bnw_sheepy_npcs]

[ Moltres gives Gordon a surprisingly chilly look. Making it say things it rather not say, the nerve of such humans. So plucky. The great bird sighs, practically shrugging its wings. ]

"You are welcome, I suppose."

[ N-not like it wanted to tell you that anyway. Baka. ]

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon gives a small smile at that, and bows.]

I just wanted to show my gratitude. Thank you for the assistance, and I hope you continue to watch over us in the future.

[With that, unless the god tells him otherwise, he turns and heads back towards the main group.]