A Little Incense

Log Info

• Title: A Little Incense
• Emitter: Gadget
• Characters: Gadget, Ashes
• Place: A14: Artificer's Hall
• Time: Tuesday, September 08, 2020, 9:48 PM
• Summary: Ashes holds a small memorial service for Gadget to help her get over the loss of her limbs.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A14: Artificer's Hall *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The Artificer's Hall rests slightly off the ground, supported on all sides by eight strong, if nonfunctional legs. The entire Hall is carved from an ancient automation of a giant arachnid. While at one time--many eons past--it may have been functional, today it is a hollowed-out shell of its former self, with rooms made for professors' offices and class rooms. The Hall itself may be accessed by a stairway that leads up, and up...and up through one of its many legs.

Once inside, its appearance is anything but a mechanical spider's guts. With ceilings of polished stone and artifice-metal, the Hall possesses the same, ominous acoustics as any grand cathedral. Twisting, jointed arches of metal reflect its true form--as a great, massive structure hosted within an arachnid's mechanical belly. Everything is dark and metallic, with seams barely visible where pieces have been welded together. The whole building pulses every so often with a hum of energy, powered by a kind of arcane force scarcely comprehended by the outside world. Yet, the energy seems almost gobber-chaotic.

The centre of the building is a great octagon, with eight, great halls leading away from its core. Decorating its core are stained glass windows. They add to the almost holy ambiance. Instead of leading to the outside world, each shadowbox displays life-sized figures enact scenes from Alexandria's past from the Artificer's perspective. They display feats of Building, Achievement, and Experimentation. Towards the north is one depicting the Forge of the World. It depicts what is thought to be a snapshot of the tower at the center of the World Engine, the god's planar home.

The whole of the complex includes dormitories and construction rooms, where artificers compare notes, ideas, and puzzle over the grand works of history. These buildings spawn from the Central Hall in an almost arachnid fashion, connected by walkways of dark steel and overseen by golem guardians.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
 Ashes           A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face
 Gadget          A bundle of...possibly joy?
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Mr. Jinglewidget is currently sitting with a bit of bread, greedily taking tiny-creature-sized bites and chewing. Gadget, meanwhile, has a cluster of grapes laying on her bared abdomen. The blankets are bunched up on either side of her like gutter bumpers when very young kids go bowling. She concentrates and a single grape tries to pull itself free. The bunch jiggles as it's shaken off, then brought to her mouth, where she consumes it.

There is a breeze at the door to the workshop, followed by a cloying and tight sensation. Ash has arrived. She stops at the threshold, seeing the buggy open and the gnome's bare belly. She watches the floating grape. She announces, "I'm interrupting."

"Probably," Gadget says. Mr. Jinglewidget rushes to the buggy and closes it, protecting Gadget's privacy. He makes some monkey noises. "Naw, she's cool," Gadget's voice says from inside. Mr. Jinglewidget doesn't re-open it, but he does go back to nomming his bread. "That sounds like Ashlee," Gadget says. "You bring me something else to eat? I have grapes. They're so good," she says, the last sentence spoken with a full mouth.

"No." Ashlee says, setting something down on the worktable. It sounds like another box, not to large, nor heavy. The one with scarves and makeup was left behind previously, to move to whatever storage spot seemed appropriate. "You were worried about eating too much. I can bring some fruit tomorrow."

"If you want," Gadget says. "I should probably be eating more vegetables. If you want to bring me food, bring me healthy stuff. Healthier the better. Try to make sure it's bite-sized, though. I need more practice." She pauses, likely to chew and swallow another grape. "So, what brings you to me, stylista?"

Ashlee stands quietly for a moment, thinking her next words over. Her hunches are usually better about things, people are harder to understand. "I have a portable altar. The Grey Lady governs the lands beyond the veil. The mourners assist those crossing over, and those left behind. The service is in memory of the departed."

She pauses, there's the light click of her fingernails as she rests a hand on the worktable. "I thought you might want one. To thank your arms and legs and eyes, and say goodbye."

Gadget is quiet for a moment. Mr. Jinglewidget has paused as well, looking back and forth between the women to gauge Gadget's reaction and see if he needs to raise a fuss.

"That's," Gadget starts before hesitating a moment longer. "That's actually really sweet of you." The canopy raises itself. "You're very sweet to me," Gadget says vaguely toward Ashlee, though she misses by several degrees.

"It's not the usual closure, but I thought it might help." The ashen Arvec says. She opens up the portable altar and starts laying things out. There's a mat, on which goes a small stone base. The statue of Vardama is a two piece design that nests in itself, the larger piece is reversed and attached as the wings. The statue itself is stylized enough it's all species and none at the same time. There are candle holders, which she arranges, places the candles and lights them.

It's not visible to gadget, but the candles are an odd, translucent grey. Near the flame the light shines through, making the wax seem white, the further from the burning wick the darker the wax appears. A transition from light to darkness. There is a sweet scent as they start burning.

Gadget takes in a whiff of the candles. "Nice," she manages. Mr. Jinglewidget stands, wiping mouth on his furry arm, then brushing the crumbs off that forearm with a hand. He seems to be trying to be respectful.

Ash unfolds a small stole and places it around her shoulders. There's a veil for her as well, so she puts that on. There are a couple other veils, she holds one out to Mr. Jinglewidget, and Gadget feels the soft lace placed on her face, light as spiderwebs.

Ashlee takes out her holy symbol, Vardama's scales, which are used to balance the souls and judge them. It's small, in her hand, but placed on the alter it stands large, amplified by the size of the statue. There's also a bell, which she picks up and rings.

"Feiu of the Tears, my friend Gadget has suffered, losing her sight and limbs to the lands of decay. She is happy to live, and wishes you to keep them safe until she joins them." Her voice is raised, but her words remain flat, monotone.

Gadget shifts a bit in the buggy, not sure what to say. Mr. Jinglewidget is still trying to get the veil on properly as the litany is spoken. "Um...amen?" Gadget tries. She then whispers, "Is that right? I'm sorry. I'm not very good with church stuff."

Ash turns around. She's holding one of the candles so the sweet smell comes with her like incense while the smoke makes a thin trail to the ceiling. Her voice is quiet, "If you wanted to thank them, or say things about them, this would be the time. Normally the family would eulogize the departed. Or cry. Its to say things that must be said, that you want the Feiu of the Tears to hear."

"Um," Gadget tries. She huffs out a breath which causes her veil to flutter. "I mean, my right hand was always my favorite," she starts. "But I would have missed lefty if she was the only one gone. They were a team, really. Always getting into things they shouldn't have and--" she chokes up a bit. "And they gave good hugs and--" she tries to continue, but she just starts crying. Mr. Jinglewidget moves and reaches over the buggy's side, putting his hands on her head and shoulder.

Ashlee rings the bell again, letting the light tone fade away until it draws the silence forth. She speaks, in a measured pace, formal and flat. "Hear Gadget's words, Feiu of the Tears, and accept the pain behind her loss. Her injuries are more than physical and she needs a healing that can't be seen from our side. Wrap her in your wings and send soft comfort."

Tinnnnnnggggggg........

The mourner continues her improvised service. It is largely one about remembrance, with appeals to the Grey Lady. She has to adapt some of them, and it's not particularly long. It's somewhere between a full funeral, and an annual memorial service. The Temple of Vardama has short ceremonies every day for people who feel moved in the moment to revere one of the departed. They have prayers after, to keep the mourners centred and capable of their tasks. They see intense grief every day, and it sinks in. It's no wonder they, or at least Ashlee, hardly reacts to most things at all.

And then, it is done. The last bell rung, and tears shed, but never the last one of those. The Grey Lady has many names, and for the goblinoids, she is always crying. The fount and their final destination.

Mourner Ashlee Ciaradh packs up the altar, and leaves quietly.