Elendor
A Ceann's confession
Bear Ceann Gregoir Laoghaire has something weighing on his mind.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Hall of Fire, Creatrach Keep
Game Date: 1 of December in the year 3045
IC Time: Late evening
Description:
Hall of Fire -- Creatrach Keep
The Hall of Fire is the main eating and entertaining hall in the keep. It is not only a place to exchange stories of travels and battles, but also where the clansfolk living in the keep eat their meals. Two hearths lay on the long walls, one for the cooking of the meals and containing large cauldrons, the other is for relaxation by and is surronded by various wooden furnishings. The table in the middle of the rooms almost runs the entire length of this room. It is quite plain but has a strip of red Bear cloth running its length. At the far end of the table is a larger chair than the rest for the Chieftain of the clan. Above that chair on the far wall is another rampant bear tapestry not unlike the one in the main foyer. Under that on the wall a door leading to perhaps the Chieftain's chambers. Next to the cooking hearth is another larger door that leads to various clansfolk chambers and the Guest Quarter.
Obvious exits:
Red Door leads to Chieftain's Chambers -- Creatrach Keep.
Archway leads to Main Foyer -- Creatrach Keep.
===============================================================================
Dunland Time and Weather Forecast
===============================================================================
Real Time is: Sun Jan 11 00:11:18 2009
IC weather is: Wind: gale - Clouds: moderate
IC Moon is: Not visible
IC time is: Mid Morning
IC date is: Hevensday, Day 1 of December in the year 3045.
===============================================================================
Ciaran Ranich is growing restless. As important as matters are here in Creatrach, winter is swiftly approaching and returning home is pressing more and more upon the young man. It's late in the evening, the time when drunk men begin passing out and more sensible folk turn in for the night. The Fian is standing at one end of the hall in front of the hearth, staring into the flames. He holds his staff in his left hand, his grip tight enough upon the weapon to turn his knuckles white.
From the Main Foyer, Diarmad enters, quietly. A passive nod is given to Ciaran before he sits at an empty table.
Ciaran turns at the sound of footsteps and his brows lift when he recognizes Kedhern. He returns the nod, then considers quietly before slowly approaching the man. "I hope that the Wulf's need for vengence is satisfied now." Ranich says in a soft, level tone, but there's more than a hint of accusation in his words.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Diarmad simply stares into the fire with dull, lifeless eyes.
Another person enters the hall, this one from the direction of the Keep's inner rooms. Breveg's gaze fixes first on Ciaran, and it is beside him he pauses. "Fian? Were you needing anything?" The words are soft. The most fleeting of frowns crosses his brow as his gaze brushes over Diarmad, but he does not comment on the man's apathy.
[Olmys(#32384)] Neither drunk nor seeming overly tired despite the late hour is the Ceann Gregoir, who steps into the hall from his own chambers. Scrubbing a hand through his coppery hair he looks about the room for a moment before settling his gaze upon one of the Keep's servants. "Meat and bread," he says and heads for an empty chair.
[Finnian(#23897)] "Nothing to say now, Kedhern?" Ciaran asks, looking at the man with irritation on his face. Brev gains his attention, and Ranich gives the man a nod in greeting. "No. I do not need anything. Thank you, Breveg." He says, then as an afterthought he asks, "How did your day go? I did not see you all afternoon."
When Gregoir enters, the Fian gives the younger man a bow as he he calls for food. "Good evening, Ceann."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
It is a different Diarmad who sits here tonight. The man who used to radiate energy and vigour now sits, defeated and crushed. It is difficult to tell if he is in deep thought, or he simply has no thought.
Breveg dips his own head to Gregoir in silence, but at Ciaran's query he scowls. "I had ... an unexpected errand that took up most of the afternoon. Someone seems to delight in wasting my time." A note of irritation creeps in to the soft words, quickly suppressed. "So I did not have time to locate the last of the things needed for winter repairs. How much longer before we leave?" One might almost deem him eager to be gone.
With a glance at the quiet Diarmid, he adds in a murmur, "Thought he'd be gone from here by now."
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir finally takes a seat next to Diarmad. "Fian Ranich," he says in greeting to Ciaran and then returns Breveg's nod of greeting. "Diarmad is a Bear and welcome within this hall so long as I am Ceann," he says, apparently to Breveg, but his voice is loud enough for all within the hall to hear.
"Let us not forget it was not by Diarmad's command those men marched on Redvyrne, but his brother's. Had Kedhern's plan been successful, we'd be praising the Kedhern family not attempting to rub salt in their wounds."
He gives a shake of copper hair and then turns to Diarmad himself. "I am truely sorry for what befell your men," he says. "I know what my . . ." he pauses here and looks towards the others and then shakes his head. "Whether you believe me or not, I am truely sorry."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"It sickens my heart."
Diarmad finally says while looking into the fire. "It sickens my heart that many lives -- lives of Bears, your clansmen -- were lost. They were my friends. They were husbands and fathers of our clan. Good men. Yet not a single one of you mourns for them."
He rises from his seat. "Yes. I am leaving. There is no place for me here. I have lost my army, my family, everything. Ceann Gregoir, if you have /any/ compassion, you will release me."
[Finnian(#23897)] Ciaran nods to Breveg, indicating her heard the words, but meets Gregoir's gaze when the accusation is implied regarding Kedhern. His eyes narrow faintly. "Do not mistake my attitude towards Diarmad as my feelings towards all the men that were sent ravaging through Redvyrne to burn the homes of -other- families. Certainly some were good men, of that I am sure, but many were nothing more than brutes such as Brodie that didn't hesitate to send innocent people to Kiern. This man," The fian points at Diarmad, "was more than willing to send a child to pay for the sins. And were you not the one that was demanding he go instead, not so long ago, Ceann? Does the loss of an army exonerate him or change anything? If it does, then let it guide your decision just so."
Breveg blinks at Gregoir's words, but does not query them. At Diarmad's speech he regards the man with an assessing gaze. "If you had cared for their lives, would you not have recalled them long since?" he queries, but says nothing other to back up Ciaran's claims.
[Olmys(#32384)] The food he ordered arrives, but Gregoir only looks at it for a moment before pushing it away, his appetite apparently gone. He looks then towards Ciaran and then back towards Diarmad.
"Aye," he replies to the Fian of Ranich. "I was, but they were not my words. Well my words, but not my feelings." Slowly he rises from his chair and places a hand upon Diarmad's shoulder.
"I will release you Diarmad, but first I wish you to sit and hear what I have to say." He releases the man's shoulder and then slowly moves across the room to sit in the high seat at the table.
He takes a deep breath and then slowly releases it. "Kiern give me strength," he mutters softly and then another deep breath and his eyes move over those in the room.
"The idea to attack the Wulf did not come from the Kedherns," he says. "The idea was brought to Ceann Kedhern by my grandfather. Was his thought that if Kedhern attacked Redvyrne the Wulf retaliate and would be the Kavanagh's who took the brunt of those retaliations. Though he claims in public to be the friend fo Gabharn Kavanagh my grandfather has always coveted the Kavanagh lands and if they were sufficiently weakened by the Wulf they would then be easy for the taking. His plan also involved shaming the Kedhern's to the point that they would be stripped of lands and titles for their actions."
He lowers his eyes to the floor and shakes his head. "I knew what he intended, but I did not attempt to stop him. He promised I would be Ceann when it all ended," he laughs. "Here I am as he promised, but what good am I to the clan if I allow him to sacrifice our clansmen's lives for his own gain? I tell you all it was Fian Maulduin who sold out the Kedhern army to the Wulf, was he who told them that they were free to do what they must, because no Bear reinforcements would be coming."
Here he drifts off into silence and stares at the floor shaking his head.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
In the silence of the room full of people, the roar of the fire is the only noise. It starts out as a soft sigh, then an intake of breath, then a sharp exhale. Thus it continues until it builds up into a laugh, rumbling at first, then it resonates loudly until the noise threatens to awaken the drunks.
"So it was all a ruse? All of this?" Diarmad speaks, in between the laughter. "One of old Maulduin's tricks?" He laughs until he cries.
[Finnian(#23897)] Ciaran listens quietly, gazing at Gregoir first with surprise, then a hardening of his features as he hears the entire tale. The fian of the farming community takes several quiet breaths, then asks quietly after a glance towards Kedhern. "What are your feelings now, Ceann?" He does not look towards the retainer at his side. Instead his dark eyes shift between the Ceann and Diarmad. "What do you intend to do?"
Breveg's questioning glance comes hard on the heels of Ciaran's query, the man seeming content to let his Fian do the speaking for now.
"Not all men covet Redvyrne, you know," he murmurs to the hysterical Diarmad before turning away. His own gaze goes to the nearby hearth, as though he could see through the flickering flames and away northward ...
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir lifts his head at Ciaran's question, but his gaze goes instead to Diarmad. "Diarmad," he says. "I can not bring you back what you have lost, but I can make sure that the truth is known to all and that your name at the very least is cleared."
He takes another deep breath and he looks then towards Ciaran for a moment and then turns towards the doors where a pair of guards stand. "Gather what guards you can," he says to the pair, "and bring me the Fian Maulduin. If he will not come willingly drag him here."
His gaze passes over Ciaran once more, but eventually falls on Diarmad. "And I can give you justice."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Diarmad lets the tears stream down his face as he continues to laugh. But even the heartiest of laughter must end sometime, and his does.
"Justice."
Diarmad says, as if testing out the word to see how it rolls out his tongue. "Justice." He says again, and decides that it tastes bitter.
"There can be no justice, Ceann. Look around you." He gestures towards Ciaran and Brev. "Look at the eyes of these men. They look upon me with contempt and hatred. I will never win them back, Ceann. My position within the clan is gone. For what? I offered a hostage in the form of an innocent boy, yes. But in exchange, I would have saved the lives of many others. I spoke when no one was willing to make the decisions."
He shakes his head. "There can be no justice. Vengeance, maybe. But no justice."
[<#23897>] Ciaran leans over to speak softly to Brev after Gregoir sends the guards to fetch his grandfather, "If his idea of justice is to send his grandfather away with Kavanagh, I do not think we can trust the Ceann. This all seems very contradictory to what we have seen.."
The Fian of Ranich has a frown on his face as he watches Diarmad's reaction first. He has no response for the man as he silently weighs his words. Ciaran turns his gaze to Gregoir and asks in a careful tone of voice, 'What kind of justice do you plan?' He adds with caution, 'Do not act with haste, Ceann.'
At Gregoir's command Breveg jerks out of his reverie. ''Kiern,'' he mutters softly. Then he shifts position, moving to stand at the side and a little in front of Ciaran, his hand sliding toward his hip. ''Try to stay out of the way, Fian,'' he cautions aloud. ''Should they find Maulduin, there will surely be blood spilled this night.'' Whose, or where, he does not say. Then his head dips as he responds to the murmur with one of his own. "Perhaps he aims to break free of the old spider?" he murmurs. "And blame a Kedhern for doing the deed ..."
Glancing across the room to Diarmad, he shakes his head. ''You assume much. It is for the Ceann to judge, not the likes of I.'' He favours the man with a lopsided smile.
[Olmys(#32384)] Eyes once more dropping to the floor Gregoir shakes his head and holds up a hand to stop the guards. "Do not bring the Fian here, but place him in the dungeon. Since the Fianni are still here we will hold a second council and let them decide what punishment should be handed down for his deeds. Prepare a cell for me as well," he adds. "I am as guilty as my grandfather, for I knew his deeds and did not try and stop him."
He rises from the chair and steps towards Diarmad. "I can give you no more than what I have offered Diarmad," he says. "I put my life and the life of my grandfather's in the hands of the clan to be judged for our deeds."
He looks younger than his 18 years as he lowers his eyes once more, the round cheeks of youth not entirely faded, his cheeks and chin sprouting a soft downy hair that may one day be a beard. When he lifts his eyes they are turned to Breveg and Ciaran. "Until the council has decided this matter do not call me Ceann. Bear deserves better than I, and I will allow the Fianni to choose if they wish to recast their vote."
[Finnian(#23897)] Ciaran can't hide all of the unease from his face. What had started as nothing more than the Fian working through his worries alone in front of the hearth has turned into something else entirely and the farmer's thoughts are racing. Breveg moves in front of him and he grips his staff more tightly, fearing that blood might be spilled after all. When Gregoir again confesses his guilt and chooses to place himself in the dungeon as well, Ranich looks shocked.
As he often has during this visit to Creatrach, Ciaran tries to think of what wisdom his father might have in a situation such as this. Finally he speaks, "It seems there is much honor to be found tonight. " The Fian looks between Diarmad and Gregoir. "I will go rouse the council to discuss this..." He fails to find the correct word, "It is not the type of thing that should be delayed. Rumors travel fast and can be devestating." Brev is given a gesture to stay as Ciaran moves towards the guest lodgings.
Breveg tilts his head. "A second council, with the same attendees as the first? I believe I can guess the outcome. Why waste time?" he murmurs in Ciaran's direction. But then the Fian is gone, and he himself ordered to stay.
Shaking his head, Breveg looks back to Gregoir. ''I do not believe that to be necessary,'' he states simply. ''Should the man chosen by the Fianni as Bear's Ceann choose to confine himself to his quarters, then none will gainsay it.'' He shrugs. ''Placing an elected Ceann in the dungeons would be an insult to the whole clan.'' For a moment his eyes are narrowed.
For the brooding Diarmad, he has naught to say.
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir turns towards Breveg and gives a nod. "Then I shall await the council in my quarters," he says and turns towards the door. He stops momentarily and looks at Breveg once more. "When the guards return from retrieving my grandfather would you see that they come to my quarters?" he asks. "There are close to two hundred men of Maulduin in the camps outside they'll need to be watched. There are few of the Fianni who also must be watched, else, like you said this council will be no different than the last. My grandfather wields much power, but he does not wield it all."
Breveg dips his head. "I shall pass on the message," he acknowledges Gregoir's request. "Though whether it will change aught, I cannot say." He offers no more, merely watching in silence as events move on. The cooking hearth is empier than it was earlier - already the gossip will be spreading, sanctioned or no.
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir gives a nod of thanks and then turns lastly to Diarmad. "I will not order you to stay," he says. "I released you and you're free to go, but you are still a Fian of Bear, and your voice would be welcomed at the council." He waits not for an answer, but slips into his chamber and closes the door behind him.
Hall of Fire -- Creatrach Keep
The Hall of Fire is the main eating and entertaining hall in the keep. It is not only a place to exchange stories of travels and battles, but also where the clansfolk living in the keep eat their meals. Two hearths lay on the long walls, one for the cooking of the meals and containing large cauldrons, the other is for relaxation by and is surronded by various wooden furnishings. The table in the middle of the rooms almost runs the entire length of this room. It is quite plain but has a strip of red Bear cloth running its length. At the far end of the table is a larger chair than the rest for the Chieftain of the clan. Above that chair on the far wall is another rampant bear tapestry not unlike the one in the main foyer. Under that on the wall a door leading to perhaps the Chieftain's chambers. Next to the cooking hearth is another larger door that leads to various clansfolk chambers and the Guest Quarter.
Obvious exits:
Red Door leads to Chieftain's Chambers -- Creatrach Keep.
Archway leads to Main Foyer -- Creatrach Keep.
===============================================================================
Dunland Time and Weather Forecast
===============================================================================
Real Time is: Sun Jan 11 00:11:18 2009
IC weather is: Wind: gale - Clouds: moderate
IC Moon is: Not visible
IC time is: Mid Morning
IC date is: Hevensday, Day 1 of December in the year 3045.
===============================================================================
Ciaran Ranich is growing restless. As important as matters are here in Creatrach, winter is swiftly approaching and returning home is pressing more and more upon the young man. It's late in the evening, the time when drunk men begin passing out and more sensible folk turn in for the night. The Fian is standing at one end of the hall in front of the hearth, staring into the flames. He holds his staff in his left hand, his grip tight enough upon the weapon to turn his knuckles white.
From the Main Foyer, Diarmad enters, quietly. A passive nod is given to Ciaran before he sits at an empty table.
Ciaran turns at the sound of footsteps and his brows lift when he recognizes Kedhern. He returns the nod, then considers quietly before slowly approaching the man. "I hope that the Wulf's need for vengence is satisfied now." Ranich says in a soft, level tone, but there's more than a hint of accusation in his words.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Diarmad simply stares into the fire with dull, lifeless eyes.
Another person enters the hall, this one from the direction of the Keep's inner rooms. Breveg's gaze fixes first on Ciaran, and it is beside him he pauses. "Fian? Were you needing anything?" The words are soft. The most fleeting of frowns crosses his brow as his gaze brushes over Diarmad, but he does not comment on the man's apathy.
[Olmys(#32384)] Neither drunk nor seeming overly tired despite the late hour is the Ceann Gregoir, who steps into the hall from his own chambers. Scrubbing a hand through his coppery hair he looks about the room for a moment before settling his gaze upon one of the Keep's servants. "Meat and bread," he says and heads for an empty chair.
[Finnian(#23897)] "Nothing to say now, Kedhern?" Ciaran asks, looking at the man with irritation on his face. Brev gains his attention, and Ranich gives the man a nod in greeting. "No. I do not need anything. Thank you, Breveg." He says, then as an afterthought he asks, "How did your day go? I did not see you all afternoon."
When Gregoir enters, the Fian gives the younger man a bow as he he calls for food. "Good evening, Ceann."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
It is a different Diarmad who sits here tonight. The man who used to radiate energy and vigour now sits, defeated and crushed. It is difficult to tell if he is in deep thought, or he simply has no thought.
Breveg dips his own head to Gregoir in silence, but at Ciaran's query he scowls. "I had ... an unexpected errand that took up most of the afternoon. Someone seems to delight in wasting my time." A note of irritation creeps in to the soft words, quickly suppressed. "So I did not have time to locate the last of the things needed for winter repairs. How much longer before we leave?" One might almost deem him eager to be gone.
With a glance at the quiet Diarmid, he adds in a murmur, "Thought he'd be gone from here by now."
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir finally takes a seat next to Diarmad. "Fian Ranich," he says in greeting to Ciaran and then returns Breveg's nod of greeting. "Diarmad is a Bear and welcome within this hall so long as I am Ceann," he says, apparently to Breveg, but his voice is loud enough for all within the hall to hear.
"Let us not forget it was not by Diarmad's command those men marched on Redvyrne, but his brother's. Had Kedhern's plan been successful, we'd be praising the Kedhern family not attempting to rub salt in their wounds."
He gives a shake of copper hair and then turns to Diarmad himself. "I am truely sorry for what befell your men," he says. "I know what my . . ." he pauses here and looks towards the others and then shakes his head. "Whether you believe me or not, I am truely sorry."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
"It sickens my heart."
Diarmad finally says while looking into the fire. "It sickens my heart that many lives -- lives of Bears, your clansmen -- were lost. They were my friends. They were husbands and fathers of our clan. Good men. Yet not a single one of you mourns for them."
He rises from his seat. "Yes. I am leaving. There is no place for me here. I have lost my army, my family, everything. Ceann Gregoir, if you have /any/ compassion, you will release me."
[Finnian(#23897)] Ciaran nods to Breveg, indicating her heard the words, but meets Gregoir's gaze when the accusation is implied regarding Kedhern. His eyes narrow faintly. "Do not mistake my attitude towards Diarmad as my feelings towards all the men that were sent ravaging through Redvyrne to burn the homes of -other- families. Certainly some were good men, of that I am sure, but many were nothing more than brutes such as Brodie that didn't hesitate to send innocent people to Kiern. This man," The fian points at Diarmad, "was more than willing to send a child to pay for the sins. And were you not the one that was demanding he go instead, not so long ago, Ceann? Does the loss of an army exonerate him or change anything? If it does, then let it guide your decision just so."
Breveg blinks at Gregoir's words, but does not query them. At Diarmad's speech he regards the man with an assessing gaze. "If you had cared for their lives, would you not have recalled them long since?" he queries, but says nothing other to back up Ciaran's claims.
[Olmys(#32384)] The food he ordered arrives, but Gregoir only looks at it for a moment before pushing it away, his appetite apparently gone. He looks then towards Ciaran and then back towards Diarmad.
"Aye," he replies to the Fian of Ranich. "I was, but they were not my words. Well my words, but not my feelings." Slowly he rises from his chair and places a hand upon Diarmad's shoulder.
"I will release you Diarmad, but first I wish you to sit and hear what I have to say." He releases the man's shoulder and then slowly moves across the room to sit in the high seat at the table.
He takes a deep breath and then slowly releases it. "Kiern give me strength," he mutters softly and then another deep breath and his eyes move over those in the room.
"The idea to attack the Wulf did not come from the Kedherns," he says. "The idea was brought to Ceann Kedhern by my grandfather. Was his thought that if Kedhern attacked Redvyrne the Wulf retaliate and would be the Kavanagh's who took the brunt of those retaliations. Though he claims in public to be the friend fo Gabharn Kavanagh my grandfather has always coveted the Kavanagh lands and if they were sufficiently weakened by the Wulf they would then be easy for the taking. His plan also involved shaming the Kedhern's to the point that they would be stripped of lands and titles for their actions."
He lowers his eyes to the floor and shakes his head. "I knew what he intended, but I did not attempt to stop him. He promised I would be Ceann when it all ended," he laughs. "Here I am as he promised, but what good am I to the clan if I allow him to sacrifice our clansmen's lives for his own gain? I tell you all it was Fian Maulduin who sold out the Kedhern army to the Wulf, was he who told them that they were free to do what they must, because no Bear reinforcements would be coming."
Here he drifts off into silence and stares at the floor shaking his head.
[Gabhran(#15443)]
In the silence of the room full of people, the roar of the fire is the only noise. It starts out as a soft sigh, then an intake of breath, then a sharp exhale. Thus it continues until it builds up into a laugh, rumbling at first, then it resonates loudly until the noise threatens to awaken the drunks.
"So it was all a ruse? All of this?" Diarmad speaks, in between the laughter. "One of old Maulduin's tricks?" He laughs until he cries.
[Finnian(#23897)] Ciaran listens quietly, gazing at Gregoir first with surprise, then a hardening of his features as he hears the entire tale. The fian of the farming community takes several quiet breaths, then asks quietly after a glance towards Kedhern. "What are your feelings now, Ceann?" He does not look towards the retainer at his side. Instead his dark eyes shift between the Ceann and Diarmad. "What do you intend to do?"
Breveg's questioning glance comes hard on the heels of Ciaran's query, the man seeming content to let his Fian do the speaking for now.
"Not all men covet Redvyrne, you know," he murmurs to the hysterical Diarmad before turning away. His own gaze goes to the nearby hearth, as though he could see through the flickering flames and away northward ...
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir lifts his head at Ciaran's question, but his gaze goes instead to Diarmad. "Diarmad," he says. "I can not bring you back what you have lost, but I can make sure that the truth is known to all and that your name at the very least is cleared."
He takes another deep breath and he looks then towards Ciaran for a moment and then turns towards the doors where a pair of guards stand. "Gather what guards you can," he says to the pair, "and bring me the Fian Maulduin. If he will not come willingly drag him here."
His gaze passes over Ciaran once more, but eventually falls on Diarmad. "And I can give you justice."
[Gabhran(#15443)]
Diarmad lets the tears stream down his face as he continues to laugh. But even the heartiest of laughter must end sometime, and his does.
"Justice."
Diarmad says, as if testing out the word to see how it rolls out his tongue. "Justice." He says again, and decides that it tastes bitter.
"There can be no justice, Ceann. Look around you." He gestures towards Ciaran and Brev. "Look at the eyes of these men. They look upon me with contempt and hatred. I will never win them back, Ceann. My position within the clan is gone. For what? I offered a hostage in the form of an innocent boy, yes. But in exchange, I would have saved the lives of many others. I spoke when no one was willing to make the decisions."
He shakes his head. "There can be no justice. Vengeance, maybe. But no justice."
[<#23897>] Ciaran leans over to speak softly to Brev after Gregoir sends the guards to fetch his grandfather, "If his idea of justice is to send his grandfather away with Kavanagh, I do not think we can trust the Ceann. This all seems very contradictory to what we have seen.."
The Fian of Ranich has a frown on his face as he watches Diarmad's reaction first. He has no response for the man as he silently weighs his words. Ciaran turns his gaze to Gregoir and asks in a careful tone of voice, 'What kind of justice do you plan?' He adds with caution, 'Do not act with haste, Ceann.'
At Gregoir's command Breveg jerks out of his reverie. ''Kiern,'' he mutters softly. Then he shifts position, moving to stand at the side and a little in front of Ciaran, his hand sliding toward his hip. ''Try to stay out of the way, Fian,'' he cautions aloud. ''Should they find Maulduin, there will surely be blood spilled this night.'' Whose, or where, he does not say. Then his head dips as he responds to the murmur with one of his own. "Perhaps he aims to break free of the old spider?" he murmurs. "And blame a Kedhern for doing the deed ..."
Glancing across the room to Diarmad, he shakes his head. ''You assume much. It is for the Ceann to judge, not the likes of I.'' He favours the man with a lopsided smile.
[Olmys(#32384)] Eyes once more dropping to the floor Gregoir shakes his head and holds up a hand to stop the guards. "Do not bring the Fian here, but place him in the dungeon. Since the Fianni are still here we will hold a second council and let them decide what punishment should be handed down for his deeds. Prepare a cell for me as well," he adds. "I am as guilty as my grandfather, for I knew his deeds and did not try and stop him."
He rises from the chair and steps towards Diarmad. "I can give you no more than what I have offered Diarmad," he says. "I put my life and the life of my grandfather's in the hands of the clan to be judged for our deeds."
He looks younger than his 18 years as he lowers his eyes once more, the round cheeks of youth not entirely faded, his cheeks and chin sprouting a soft downy hair that may one day be a beard. When he lifts his eyes they are turned to Breveg and Ciaran. "Until the council has decided this matter do not call me Ceann. Bear deserves better than I, and I will allow the Fianni to choose if they wish to recast their vote."
[Finnian(#23897)] Ciaran can't hide all of the unease from his face. What had started as nothing more than the Fian working through his worries alone in front of the hearth has turned into something else entirely and the farmer's thoughts are racing. Breveg moves in front of him and he grips his staff more tightly, fearing that blood might be spilled after all. When Gregoir again confesses his guilt and chooses to place himself in the dungeon as well, Ranich looks shocked.
As he often has during this visit to Creatrach, Ciaran tries to think of what wisdom his father might have in a situation such as this. Finally he speaks, "It seems there is much honor to be found tonight. " The Fian looks between Diarmad and Gregoir. "I will go rouse the council to discuss this..." He fails to find the correct word, "It is not the type of thing that should be delayed. Rumors travel fast and can be devestating." Brev is given a gesture to stay as Ciaran moves towards the guest lodgings.
Breveg tilts his head. "A second council, with the same attendees as the first? I believe I can guess the outcome. Why waste time?" he murmurs in Ciaran's direction. But then the Fian is gone, and he himself ordered to stay.
Shaking his head, Breveg looks back to Gregoir. ''I do not believe that to be necessary,'' he states simply. ''Should the man chosen by the Fianni as Bear's Ceann choose to confine himself to his quarters, then none will gainsay it.'' He shrugs. ''Placing an elected Ceann in the dungeons would be an insult to the whole clan.'' For a moment his eyes are narrowed.
For the brooding Diarmad, he has naught to say.
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir turns towards Breveg and gives a nod. "Then I shall await the council in my quarters," he says and turns towards the door. He stops momentarily and looks at Breveg once more. "When the guards return from retrieving my grandfather would you see that they come to my quarters?" he asks. "There are close to two hundred men of Maulduin in the camps outside they'll need to be watched. There are few of the Fianni who also must be watched, else, like you said this council will be no different than the last. My grandfather wields much power, but he does not wield it all."
Breveg dips his head. "I shall pass on the message," he acknowledges Gregoir's request. "Though whether it will change aught, I cannot say." He offers no more, merely watching in silence as events move on. The cooking hearth is empier than it was earlier - already the gossip will be spreading, sanctioned or no.
[Olmys(#32384)] Gregoir gives a nod of thanks and then turns lastly to Diarmad. "I will not order you to stay," he says. "I released you and you're free to go, but you are still a Fian of Bear, and your voice would be welcomed at the council." He waits not for an answer, but slips into his chamber and closes the door behind him.
Players: Ciaran, Diarmad, Breveg, Gregoir, Finnian, Saf, Rac
Located in: Dunlending
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- A Ceann's confession