2021.05.14:Iceland - Back to the Tavern

Iceland - Back to the Tavern
Ben and Steinar travel back to the Spitting God Tavern to meet with Falke
IC Date	2021.05.14.
IC Time	Day
Players	Ben, Steinar,
Location	Iceland.
Prp/Tp	Iceland Visit.
Spheres	Gaian.
Theme Song	The 13th Warrior

When they arrive back to the tavern, most of the rain drizzling has stopped. It would have been quite a walk back but it was entirely downhill and easy. There are guests inside the main tavern room that can be seen through the window, and further out in the water inlet, there's fishermen boats. 
	 

Falke is outside with a shovel and adjusting a few plants around the building. After the rain, it was easier for him to work in the soil. It appears he got a shipment in of small plants and flowers, and he is attempting to keep up with the village appearances. The whole town in daylight has a modif theme, as if in the hope for tourists, but it's known for being haunted and not on any touristy maps. Not this section anyway. The Rotagar is digging and mixing in mulch.

Hopefully, they are drier by the time they arrive to the tavern. Ben offers a wave in greeting to Falke as they approach, calling over to the other man. "It is done." He explains. Out in the open, there's not much more to be said. "I do believe there is still more business I'd like to attend to, Falke." The Forseti comments, when in more casual conversation range.

Steinar does not mind the rain. In fact, through the walk, it isn't even something he comments on. The rain simply is, as is the fact that he gets wet from it. Arriving back to the tavern, he comes to a stop behind and a bit to the left of Ben; allowing the Forseti to do the talking. His arms cross over his chest, remaining a silent and stoic presence.

Falke looks them both over as they are walking up to him and he can't help but grin. "So I see. Did you like our Nordic Nessie?" Hehe. He puts the shovel in the ground and leans it against the building. "Let's go in back through the kitchen," Waving them forward. "You both seem in one piece." He chuckles at Steinar, "You both must work well together. It is a good sign." He heads for the back of the Tavern Inn and leads them up steps to a door where they can go through the kitchen. By now it's early evening, and the cook in the kitchen is preparing the two menu options for guests.

The cook nods to both Steinar and Ben, "Fish or chicken?" It's what's on the menu.

Falke tells him he'll have the wood fire baked fish. "Bring it in the meeting room would you? We'll be in there."

Ben gives a grin to Falke. "She is... interesting. And impressive." He admits, chuckling a touch at that. A look to Steinar, the man nodding in admiration. "We would not be in a pack, were we bad at working together. His skill brought us where we needed to be, with no questions." A clap on Steinar's shoulder. He follows along, looking to the cook. "Fish would be perfect." A smile of thanks, and he follows Falke towards the meeting room. "We also have a very strong connection with Wild Raven." Steinar adds to this, "Wild Raven gives us aid where few would get it." he nods once, "The Caerns totem is .. unique. For sure." he glances around a bit before he focuses once more on Falke, "Fish will be fine." is said before he follows.

	 Falke leads them back to the familiar table built for eight in the private dining area. The fire lit earlier in the day has now burned low, and only a simmering bit of red embers and gray ashes remain. He pulls out a chair as one of the waitresses comes in to bring large mugs of ale and a pitcher of water. "If you want something else from the bar just call out." She invites them. 
	
Falke gets comfortable and sits as the waitress brings him a hot cloth to wash his hands with after being outside. The other two get the same treatment if accepted, and then the waitress filters out. "May I see my son's necklace?" He does shift slightly to his left to eye Steinar. "Raven you say? That is impressive. My pack is always looking for allies. More and more over time, I think we will all find that international packs are starting to form alliances as our numbers grow thin."

Ben takes a seat and cleans up, after Falke does. Once his hands are clean, the pendant is retrieved from his pocket - offered over to Falke. "He was there, with another Ancestor spirit. He took many of the items that Alruna sent with us, though returned one each to myself and Steinar. I also gave him the hat that Frigg had knitted me." A nod. "Steinar told them that we would be making memorial stones for their sacrifice, and to tell the tale of the battle - both in the Sept of Hearth and Home, and in Stonecreek." There's a grin when the mention of international packs is brought up. "The world is getting smaller in some fashions."

"That would be up to our Alpha." Steinar replies to this, "We follow the guidance and leadership of The Wall. But, even so, it would be foolish to not bring up the subject." he agrees. He takes a seat by the table as well, leaning back some; having removed his backpack and placing it beside his chair, "And yes, once I get back home, I will start looking into erecting a Runestone."

Falke looks pleased to hear of their adventure down below in the Well. "Lagarfljotsormur doesn't allow just anyone down below. There are risks involved when she drains the water. The chamber is kept cold for a reason as I am sure you saw why." The bodies were still hot and cracks were still burning within the black rock shells they were covered with.

He sips his ale, as the food comes in on trays. The wood fired fish looks grilled to perfection and has a light crust with lemon wedges to one side, and a tiny dish of hot butter. With it, are root vegetables, and another big helping of dark bread made just this day from the kitchen. Falke says, "It pleases me that he spoke to you?" He looks down at his plate, still nodding, and listening. "The items went where they needed to go." He grins about Frigg's hat given away to his son. Father and son both have items of a matching set. He finds it humorous and laughs. But more seriously, he looks to Steinar when the memorial is mentioned to be built. "I would also appreciate that."

Falke starts to eat his fish oddly enough with the tip of one butter knife, and not the fork. He uses his fingers for plenty of eating as if it's preferred. "And now let's talk about my son's pendant. You have it. It's power now means you get to decide how to bargain with it." He grins, "I think it's time I met my granddaughter." He chuckles again, as if winning the fight finally over the last twenty or so years.

	 Falke looks satisfied the pendant is the real one and hands it over to Ben. He confirms with a nod.

Ben takes the pendant back, again securing it in his pocket. "I will re-string it, once I have a leather cord of suitable length. It will be done before it returns to Alruna." The man promises. "And it was an honor to speak with your son." A nod to the Elder. His plate is pulled in front of him, letting the Elder start in on his food first. "It is something to barter with - and I would barter with the hope that the family is mended. That you, Elder Falke, and Wiglaf can resolve the past and make a new path forward. Where family is forged, tempered and made stronger in bond." He says, eyes on the old Rotagar.

"I would not wish to have a rift in the families. I would wish her family to be present, should Frigg want a handfasting ceremony. I would want her to be able to come see her Grandfather, and speak to him on length. I would want her mother to be able to speak with her father."

"I fault no one side in the rift - all I wish to do is repair it." For this affair, Steinar stays quiet. And perhaps wisely so. The stoic Godi has an expression that just hints at it. Were he to open his mouth, he would speak his mind and in this case? That might be bad. The Forseti is here for a reason, apart from the obvious. So, instead, he digs into the fish.

	 Falke avoids the lemon on his plate for the fish but he does use it over the root vegetables. And he loads on a ton of pepper. He's listening to the Forseti. "We are of like mind, Ben. But Wiglaf doesn't see it as we do. After the war ended our young who survived left. I'm getting older, and we have a need to keep the Caern protected." He's thinking as he leans back in his chair. "If you can get Wiglaf to agree to let his family return to visit? Then we all might get what we want." He peers over to Steinar, "Spit it out. I'm listening."

A determined look comes over Ben's face. "I will make certain he understands the situation. And if I need to speak to his Alpha, then I shall do so." A smile appears for the old New Moon. "Regardless, he will have no say over Frigg's path. She will come visit you, of that I am certain." He chuckles, then looks to his Packmate.

Steinar shakes his head, looking to Falke. He lifts his right hand up and palm forward, "No. I may have things to say, but they are not informed. They would be heat of the moment, and I do not know all yet. Rage would have demanded blood to be shed long ago. It does you honor that you have not sought that route."

	 Falke frowns at Steinar, "What good would it do?!" He really hates Wiglaf. "I could challenge him but he has rights over Alruna I can no longer interfere with. And as Ben said yesterday, she is most likely following her duty and responsibilities at Hearth and Home. And I'm pissed as hell I haven't seen Alruna, and all my grandchildren are now hitched. I wanted to be there." 
	 This sounds entirely like Frigg's temper when she first was asked to leave home. Her temper, and her grandfather's ire is pretty similar. She gets it from him! 
	 

Falke picks up his mug and looks to Ben, "Wiglaf is stubborn and needs a firecracker shoved up his arsehole." Blunt. "I heard he's got two boys of his own now with Alruna. I'd like to see them too."

Ben listens to Steinar's comments, then Falke's response. "We are a tribe of warriors, each of us in turn. We fight in different ways often, but we all fight." He looks between the two. "It is long past time for us to stop fighting with one another, within the tribe and without." A nod. "Challenges happen, and should - but there should be no emnity for those who are of Gaia." Ben digs into his fish. "I am a man of tradition. I love the Litany, I love what I have learned. Even I, though, see the need for us to progress. Gaia did not make us to be static and unchanging. And you can be damned sure Fenris would not tolerate such. We break the chains - the old chains of hatred, and distrust."

Steinar glances to Ben, then looks to Falke, "I mirror part of that sentiment, but not all. It may do you honor that you have held off on shedding blood this long, but it also means the feud has been dragging along. And that is noticed by all, be they Garou or Spirit." he lets his eyes return to Ben, "You have your work cut out for you."

	 Falke finishes his plate and without another word, the waitress stops back in to take it, or offer more. She also refills their drinks. "Would anyone like anything else?" It seems Falke is connected to those here in the Inn. 
	
"I'll talk to him." He leans closer to Ben, "But I can't promise there won't be a fight when all is said and done. I may be older but I have a few tricks collected over the years." 
	
The waitress lifts a brow at Falke, and he looks back at her. She seems to be giving him a silent warning to not let his rage go any higher. A calming hand is set down on his shoulder, and she gives him a squeeze. "Dessert?" 
	 

Falke says, "I'll pass." He rubs his white long old man beard. "Get Wiglaf to come here if you can. The Inn has no guests this weekend save yourselves. Then he doesn't need to put his fancy pants near our Sept."

Ben thinks a moment. "What issue did Wiglaf have with this Sept, if any?" He wonders, giving a smile to the waitress - nodding to her in thanks. "Cocoa, if you have it?" He asks of her. So macho! A look then to Falke. "He will come this way. If words do not solve it, then a challenge will. And that is the end of the problem, as is our way."

	 The waitress nods, "I think we can manage to make a pot of it and melt some chocolate in milk." Her eyes look to Steinar, "Anything for you?"

Steinar looks to Ben, nodding once, "I do not think we will find out the why until we talk to Wiglaf. Only he can supply us with the reasons for why, and if he is not truthful about his reasons, then it will be a stain on his Honor. The Garou of my home would not stand for such."

	 The waitress will bring whatever they need and she steps back through the door to the private kitchen. 

Falke grumps, "Who knows what Wiglaf is thinking after all these years. His pack came here to help with the clean up. And when he saw Alruna was left with three young pups, he talked her into going with him. He said Alruna couldn't stay in a burnt house. It reminded her too much of what happened, and my son had died defending the Well." He rolls one shoulder back and rubs it, "But you saw the village down the hill that was abandoned. That half fared better than the other half we had to hide from the rest of the people here. No one is in danger of falling through anywhere." The thinned veil. "We fixed those houses up in hopes some will return over the years. No one did. We let new people in to live in them, but some of our kin who died never left. They prefer to stay. For now. They haven't quite moved on yet, but they will." He is hopeful they will.

A mask of thought passes over Ben's face, the Forseti trying to understand. "I will speak to him, Elder. I will make sure he has the correct information. It may be that he was not presented all this information, regarding the sealing of the gauntlet."

Falke drinks another sip of his ale, "And that her half of the village was restored. She could come and stay there or come stay here with me at the Inn. She doesn't have to go back there if she doesn't want to." He leans, "And I got rooms upstairs her children can stay in."

Ben smiles to Falke. "I will offer that, yes. And you should meet your grandchildren - all of them." A smirk. "Gundrun may be tricky, as she is expecting soon." A wink to Falke.

	 Falke keeps Steinar supplied with extra food and drink as needed. He deserves it after running the Well gauntlet. The Elder turns to look at Ben in surprise and he chuckles with merriment. "Hehe, Gudrun. When's her pup due?" He looks eager to meet all his grandchildren, and great grandchildren. "I suppose you'll need to talk to her mate about her coming here. And Svala? Too bad she's hitched out there." He swings a gaze back at Steinar, "Do you have a mate?" Nosey Rotagar. And back to Ben again, "And Svala?"

Ben offer over the information he has on Gundrun's due date. As well as the information he has about the half-brothers to Frigg. "Svala... is a hurricane with a tether." He laughs. "I would think she was born a Rotagar, regardless of being Kin. She is ... a free spirit. Her would be suitor chases her, she flirts with any males who she finds interest in." A smirk. "I have yet to meet her, but I know this to be true." A laugh.

Falke laughs and laughs. He can tell he already likes this granddaughter of his. "Life is boring without a bit of mayhem now and then. If she likes the males, then maybe she'll settle down eventually when she breeds. Or won't even when she does." He chuckles, finding it very amusing. "Alruna must be pulling her hair out."