DOCTRINAL DEBATE
Oktavianus spit on his amulet and he rubbed it against his shirt. The dirt it had gathered from an impetuous digging was polished away. The sorcerer stood shocked as the cleric laid forth his tirade. At first, a loss of words filled the silence, but before the dwarf walked away into the night, Glade imparted
Gulius knelt and gave a small kiss upon Morray's forehead. Scooping her lifeless body in his thick muscular arms, he rotated in a circle for all to see and then carried her to the edge of the pyre. Teflar watched the ceremony for a few minutes before turning away. He knelt and wiped his blades on a dead orcs' fur vest.
The cleric apologized for his strong remarks to Splendor as the rest picked for valuables in every crevasse of the orcs' foul clothing. Nothing was found except the crude fashion of the spiked clubs and iron hatchet already strewn about.
" A proper funeral, Splendor, is when a body rejoins the earth it came from. The soul will depart and join her god. I guess I missed the briefing on how this circles' funerals shall be conducted."
" I did not mean to cross lines with your belief system, Oktavianus. I have an idea or two on how a respectable burial should be run from my knowledge of the Bethlun field soldiers. I admit, I haven't had first-hand experience and don't mean to set anyone at odds here." He looked to the group " Will we take a vote then on what must be done with Morray and then the orcs?"
None spoke save Aramil who considered the cremation a viable notion, but the orcs shalt be left as feed for wild animals. Opinions expressed stabilized from staunch neutrality to outright indifference on the issue. Gailwind gathered Morray's precious belongings and set it within his belt pouches for safe keeping. Despite the healing potion he had attained, many noticed he was more elated to receive her scroll.
"I had not known her, but long enough to realize she was a good woman. She was funny, kind, and friendly. I promise you, in the light of this fire and in name of Athena, your death will not be in vain. May your ashes enrich the soil to give new life and may your spirit live on in all of our hearts." Gulius tossed the corpse into the low fire. The flames took on new life and leapt up fiercely grabbing for the twinkling stars. A faint cry of a distant bird pierced the downs as the spouting pops of the flames whistled forth.
" I'll search around the camp to see if I can find any tracks or signs of more beasts while someone left behind can look and see what's around here. I would not mind a blade or two to help me."
Vaedamir and Nerendil volunteered as the discussion now swung to the decision of the journey ahead.
All who spoke agreed that the tight swamp path should be avoided; better to add travel than chance a journey's progress with the forsaken fens and any dangers that the tiny trail beheld.
The bard opened the chest and peered in slowly while Gailwind examined the leader orc with queer expression.