Whitzz/544K-RP-Datasets huggingface dataset:
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Althaea watched the interaction between the Jarl and the raider leader. Without the benefit of language, it was hard to know exactly what was happening before her, but she could not deny the aura of authority exuded by him. She could tell, by gestures and gazes, that they referred to her, but to what end, she could not say. Canute filled in the details to her. Raped to death? She whispered, trembling as the words spilled from her lips. She didnt want to die, but she did not fear it either. She knew there was a place in Elysium for her, among the favored of the gods. Still, such manner of slow, torturous death made her seize up in dread. No, she had hoped to end this life with her virtue intact. Your people murdered my fellow priests and priestesses in swift blows. Why do I have to be different? Canute shrugged, It is the Jarls orders. You yet have a chance to spare yourself. The sight does not work this way. I am a servant of the gods, they do not answer to me! Althaea insisted, desperation rising in her voice. She could hear the snickers of the men around. They didnt have to speak her language to understand that her tone and body language indicated fear. You said you were favored by your gods before, yes? Canute reminded her. I did, yes- Well then, if your gods cannot save you from this fate, perhaps you arent as beloved as you believe. Althaea stiffened at this remark, as it cut to the heart of the matter. Have faith in her gods. It wasnt that she was a faithless woman, quite the opposite in actuality. It was much more that she had developed a sense of independence, and did not want to rely on the Gods more than was necessary. But this was not something she could do on her own. Truly, her only choice was to put her life in Athenas hands. Closing her mouth without a word, she merely nodded. She was quiet in thought for a while before she spoke again, Tell your Jarl that I require a basin of fresh water, and I will tell his future. Canute relayed her message to the Jarl, who replied in their guttural language, and motioned for some men to do his bidding. Before long, a basin was brought before Althaea and she began to focus on the ripples, watching them for signs from Athena. Althaeas eyes grew shaded as she read the future foretold by the rippling water, watching the visions play out before her. She blinked a few times as her vision returned, and took a deep breath, before speaking to Canute. This is for his ears alone. There is a traitor in his midst. A traitor who will make an attempt on his life before the sun rises tomorrow.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Canute frowned as she finished her statement. It wasn't completely impossible, there were several men that had been sranded here with them that were not part of their usual warband. Some of them chafed at being stuck here, some of them may very well harbour the idea of siezing control from the Jarl. It was a fools errand, any of the members of the core band knew that, the jarl was all but unassailable. He didn't hold his position through hereditary title, but through force of will and arms. But if this was what she wished to tell him, then Canute would oblige her. He left her side and crossed to the Jarl. My Jarl, she- He started, but the jarl raised a hand to forestall any further words. I heard her Canute. I know the tongue. I will not lower myself to speak it, but I understand it just fine. Clear the hall for this night. Order the guards away. I will wait for this moment alone. The jarl breathed. But...jarl- On second thought have the seer remain. She and I will await the coming of this moment. And should it not come to pass, then I will start her punishment myself. Canute nodded. It was an act of almost unmitigated insanity. And he believed that the jarl knew what he was doing. Canute stood at the front of the hall, and cleared his throat. The seer performing her task had drawn a lot of attention, and they were all waiting to see if there was to be some amusement to be had. But the order of the jarl, the hall must empty. Any who enter without his first leaving will be slain out of hand. Clear the building. Canute called. Eyes turned to the jarl, who nodded. Men lifted horns of mean, and gripped food as they left, all exiting in a swift fashion. Canute was on his way out when he stopped beside Althaea. He orders you to stay. He knows your tongue, and can understand you. If your vision proves false, then he intends to begin your punishment himself. Be watchful seer. And good luck. Canute finished the journey out of hte building, shutting the heavy doors. A pervasive silence filled the hall, only the sound of the fires breaking the moment. The jarl hadn't moved from where he sat, one arm on the throne, his head leaning on his hand. Well then seer. Eat something. It may be your last meal afterall. The jarl said in a passable Greek, though he still mangled the softer sounds. All around there were trays of meat, bread and cheese, barrels of ale mead and water were in abundance. The men seemed to be doing well enough to afford feasting on a regular basis.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Fate was as fickle as it was cruel, and even by merely warning the Jarl of his, did Althaea threaten to alter it. And then she watched as the men left, until she was alone with the Jarl, and Canutes words. She watched the Jarl, hoping to get a better understanding of the man. There was an easy confidence about him, seemingly unperturbed by what she had told him. Lifetime around nobles and highborn informed Althaea as to how to behave around the Jarl. They might have sought her out for her wisdom, and connection to the Gods, but underneath the veneer of veneration was a contempt, for the woman, and the former slave. She could sense a similar derision from the Jarl, and while her gender might have something to do with it, she was sure being Greek did little to help it. Even if she proved her abilities, what could she expect form the man, or his men? Seeing the future was not the same as seeing into a mans heart. Well then seer. Eat something. It may be your last meal afterall. With a solemn nod, Althaea took stock of the offerings available to her. If the raid on the temple left any doubt in her mind, she could tell that they were quite accomplished raiders. She might have refused out of pride, if she werent already so hungry and tired form her ordeal. And like he said, it may very well be her last meal. So she piled food upon a plate, and even helped herself to a mug of mead. She didnt drink often, but if he was determined to have her violated, she didnt want to be sober for it. If you had doubts about my abilities, why didnt you ask the leader, who brought me here? He can tell you how I used my gifts to prevent the deaths of many of his men, as they carried me form the temple. I saw your fate, but the sight cannot account for the changeable nature of man. By isolating yourself so, you might have deterred him from taking action this night. She tried explaining, in between bites of food and drinks of mead. She helped herself to a second glass before continuing. Do not take my reticence as fear of death, Jarl. I will face the inevitability of my demise with eyes wide open. If I am to die, it is surely the will of Olympus, and far be it from me to refuse the Gods. By all means, if my visions fail to pass, cleave my head from my body or pierce my heart upon a sword. But there is no dignity in being raped to death. It is beneath warriors, such as yourselves.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

The jarl listened to her as she spoke, adn it became clear to him that she might have some of the spirit that he could admire, but she did not know as much as she might think. Thorkell knows nothing of the Sight. And anything he might say would be tainted by his desire to preserve his own honour. And if you Sight cannot be counted on, it's of no use to me. The jarl drawled out lazily, eyes tracking along th ehall, picking out the places a man who wanted him dead might come from. There were not many. Further words from her required reponses. Beneath his warriors. The jarl actually leaned his head back adn laughed, a great booming sound that filled the hall, but the mirth in it was not one made to cultivate comfort. You know nothing of my people. We take what we please, when we please, from whom we please. Your gift will keep you useful, and thus alive. Shoudl you prove false, well, they've carried you this far. If you to simply die by a blade then it would have been done already. They will need some...compensation for your transportation. The jarl looked to one side, the faint sound of wood creaking catching his ear. He dismissed it, he'd been hearing it for days. The hall was newly built, and still shifted and settled as only a new building could. Tell me then seer. Your gift. Divine it may be, but was it passed through your bloodline, or only yourself? He asked her. Another creaking sound from the oher side fo the hall than the last. This one heavier, but only faintly so. The jarl didn't react to it, but his attention was now split between the two points in the building, and his nerves began to tighten, preparing hismelf for sudden action if he needed it.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Althaea stiffened as the Jarl burst into laughter at her. She would find no mercy from this man, and there wasnt anything she could do to make her last hours on earth any easier. At this point only the Gods could save her. He mocked her requests for a quicker death, suggesting that her body and virtue should be payment to her kidnappers. Your men take me against my will, and I have to compensate them for the ordeal? That seems just and reasonable, Althaea remarked, unable to hide her disdain. The comment made her thirst for another cup of mead, and as she still up to refill her cup, she thought she heard something. She froze, and glanced over at the Jarl, and from his expression he heard it too, his eyes searching for the source of the sound. Still he didnt show tension at the sound, and continued speaking with her. Tell me then seer. Your gift. Divine it may be, but was it passed through your bloodline, or only yourself? Before she could speak, another creak, louder this time. Did this mean something? She could see the strain in his form, ready to jump in action at the next target to present itself. Whether he believed in her gift or not, the Jarl wasnt taking any chances. If there was someone waiting to ambush Jarl, perhaps they would take the chance if they thought the Jarl was distracted. So she answered his question loudly, attempting to cover the sound of movement, and encourage the assailant to make his move. Well, my mother was a slave, in the pleasure houses. If she were a seer as well, I am sure she would have put it to use to rather let herself waste away there. And my father could be anyone, but the sight is extreme rare in men. So unless my father is Teiresias I doubt he had it either. As she spoke she heard it again, the moaning of the boards. Either the traitor was getting closer, or her death was.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Hm, divine only. A shame really. You would have been far more useful if it was a bloodline trait. The jarl lamented. It didn't take a genius to know that while a bloodline trait would keep her alive, it would only be in the strictest sense. She was answering with volume, adn the jarl had to admit it made it harder to hear any further advances from the likely coming attacker. He heard a faint whislting sound, and stood quickly. A throwing axe hammered into the throne where his head had been. It had been a good shot. A man came charging out of the shadows, raking a sword free of the scabbard. The jarl didn't seem to react, only clenching one hand into a fist. Your rule ends here! The man screamed out in barely coherent Norse, but the jarl only stepped forward. His open hand swpet up, slapping into the flat of the sword, pushing it aside and hammering his fist into the chest of the man. There was a cracking sound, ribs breaking right through the mail armour he wore. The jarl shot his hand out, gripping the neck of the man and hauling him up off the floor one handed. The attacker struggled, trying to get free, the jarl in too close for the sword. Asmund Asgersson. I took your men into my crew, and led you to glory, and this is how I am repaid? The jarl hissed. Asmund struggled a moment before the jarl clenched his fingers, adn ripped his hand away. A handful of bloody flesh was in his hand, and Asmund fell, clutching at his neck, his throat missing far too much flesh to be able to function. Ingavain curse you, and strike you from his eye. Thunir damn your cowardice, and my the Choosers never find your spirit. May it wander, lost and alone until the last battle, and may fortune favour me, that I might see you again then, so I can wipe the stain of your existence from the world. The Jarl took a steadying breath, and then walked smoothly to the front doors, throwing them open. The seer is a truth. Asmund betrayed us, someone dump his corpse. Thorkell! You will be rewarded. Lodge the seer. And be sure she is not unduly damaged. The jarl ordered. Thorkell sighed, in relief and annoyance. He'd rather hoped that the jarl might take spossession of the seer himself. As long as he was to be caring for her, it was unlikely that he would be leading further raids into the Greek lands. Shaking his head, he moved intot he hall, seeing the seer had been busy taking her fill. He smirked at that, and stepped close to her. The jarl has placed you in my care. He told her as best he could. He had the hope she might have a gift with languages, because he did not, and the Greek was not easy for him to manage.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Althaea cringed at the Jarl lamented the nature of her gifts, the implications in his meaning clear to the seer. He would have bred her, like cattle if that were the case. Before she could express her revulsion to the idea, the moonlight caught on the glint of a fast moving object. She could not hold back the shriek that left her lips as the axe become lodged in the throne, slinking back into the corner as the would be assassin made his move. She watched as the Jarl defended against the attack unarmed, and ripped the mans throat out. Language was not needed for her to know what he said to the dying man. The specifics were lost to the foreign tongue, but the hatred came through clearly, cursing the man in his death throes. Althaea eye were stuck on the pool of blood forming under the man, as his body stopped twitching. Shaky hand brought her third mug of mead to her lips, needing the alcohol to burn off the memory of the gruesome death. Still, it was a good thing, wasnt it? She would live, and her virtue would remain hers, for the time being. The Jarl spoke to his men, and the once who took her -Thorkell, she believe he was called- approach her, as others scraped the dead man off the floor. The jarl has placed you in my care. Her eyes met his, as he spoke barely manageable Greek. She nodded, already feeling the three drinks swimming in her head. May I rest now?
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Thorkell sighed, but nodded. Aye. Come. He was short, but not overly so. He led her from the hall, making sure to keep an eye on her. he didn't want any of the more alcohol fueled members of the band to get any ideas. That was a disaster waiting to happen and he'd rather avoid it compeltely if he could. Many of the warriors slept in the hall, either by design or by passing out from alcohol consumption. Thorkell was not one of them. It had taken some time, adn the use of some of the wreckage from the island, but he'd made himself a fairly effective house here. Stone walls that had likely at some point been for a temple out building, but had fallen on hard times and a great deal of neglect. Shoring up the walls had been the hardest part, and laying a roof back on it had taken the aid of several of his companions. But it was his, a place of his own. The jarl had acknowledged it to be his as well, making him a landowner, even if that land extended no farther than the walls of his house, it was still his. He pushed the door open, the wood slab dragging onthe floor. There were no proper hinges that would fit the door, and the few smiths among their number were occupied with maintaining the war host, and had no time for trivialities, no matter the price offered. The house had three rooms, one large on, adn two smaller ones. Thorkell had one room largely empty, and if he was to be keeping the seer safe here, he would ask the jarl for bedding and the like to make sure that she could remain comfortable. Until then, he would offer what scant comfort there was to her. He pointed at one of the rooms. In there. You'll find a pallet. Sleep, rest, whatever you wish. You'll be safe within these walls. Thorkell told her as best he could.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Althaea followed Thorkell quietly, not so eager to get the attention of any of the men here. Just because she was valuable to the Jarl now, didnt mean she was all that safe. Thorkell seemed to think so as well, as he turned every so often to check that she was still right behind him. He led her to a stone building fashioned into a makeshift residence. It was a bit cozy, if not terribly extravagant. But he offered her a room of her own, and she was certainly in no position to turn it down. Her room was bare, save a straw mattress on the floor. It was a far cry from her accommodations at the temple, reminding her of how she lived when she was still a girl, and a slave. To think she thought she was past that life. That her gift would protect her from ever going back to that life. Ironic, that her gift of sight is what made a slave of her now. Still, as Thorkell told her, she was safe inside these walls. At least, she wanted to believe she was. She settled down onto the straw, exhausted form the event of the past couple days. Even uncomfortable bedding couldnt prevent her from sleeping this night. In her dreams, Athena spoke to her. This was not, however, a prophetic dream. Your trials have just begun, my child. If you are to survive among the barbarians, you must speak their language. Althaea awoke with a headache. No doubt from the mead she had imbibed the day before. It wasnt so bad, mostly a mild throbbing that worsened as the morning sun hit her eyes. Cool water would cure much of the ache. Cautiously and quietly, she stepped into the main room of the dwelling. She considered whether she should wake Thorkell. She hadnt exactly been instructed on whether she was truly a prisoner or if she was allowed to move about freely. Thorkell had said she was under his care. Was that to protect her from the other men, or was it supervision?
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Rest was not easy in the chair of the main room in his home. But the fire burned brightly, and he had slept in worse places on the campaign trail. Still, he knew that he had to at least maintain a basic level of awareness, and be effective in such. For all he knew the seer might take her chances and kill him while he slept. While she wouldn't make it far, he would still be dead, and that would be poor comfort. It was a raiders doze that he remained in, resting, but not truly sleeping, the kind that you used when you had to be ready to act at a moments notice. The footsteps in the room were light, hesitant, which were fine thigns really. If the seer wasn't a pervasive sound in the house that would make it easier for him to bear. Still, if she was awake, it meant that he should likely find out what the next plan of the jarl was. Thorkell opened his eyes. He wasn't fully rested from the doze, but he was fresh enough to face the day without a qualm. he tracked her movements easily enough before he rose slowly to his feet, stiff from sleeping in a sitting position. Why I agreed to be saddled with your care I've no idea. We need to eat. Thorkell muttered, mostly to himself, before looking at Althaea. I'll b escorting you to the hall for food. There should be something there for us, adn the Jarl will likely want to speak to you again. He said this last in his best broken Greek.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Althaea frowned at the first line he spoke. She almost responded, Perhaps you shouldnt have captured me then, before she recognized that it wasnt in Greek. Obviously not meant for her, given he spoke it in his native tongue. She wasnt sure yet if she should reveal to him the gift given to her by her goddess. She knew all about the power of knowledge, it was the basis of her authority, after all. She nodded in response to his Greek, finding him harder to understand in her native tongue than in his. Perhaps she should tell him about her newest gift, just to make communication easier. But it was difficult to know how much she could trust the man. I wanted to ask, She started in Greek, What is my status, among your people. Am I a prisoner? Must you accompany me wherever I go, or am I free to move about as it pleases me? I mean, its not like I can do any of the men here any real harm. I am but a woman, who has never once wielded a weapon in her life. I certainly cant escape, I cant swim to another shore, nor can I row a boat by my lonesome. Its not like I would try to kill myself. If I wanted to die, I would have forced your hand when you came at me. So, I dont see any reason why I should require an escort, unless the men here would have some less than noble intentions towards me. She reasoned with Thorkell, as they made their way to the Jarls hall. All around her, she heard random bits of conversation in the foreign tongue. Trading, making requests, for armors and weapons to be repaired and maintained. Some spoke about her, commenting on her looks and whether she would be made available to the men. She tried not to show the distaste on her face, lest she reveal her knowledge of their tongue. Regardless of the bits of conversation she picked up, they arrived at the Jarls Hall without incident.
Thread: Waging War Against the Heavens (Alvis and xanaphia)

Thorkell parsed through her words, the language still not easy. But while some of the words didn't process well, he was able to decipher the meaning of them. You are...a captive. What rights or privileges you have are dependent on the jarl. And how useful you prove to be. He explained. As for their intentions for you... he looked around at the warriors wandering about, more than one eye on her. ...there are precious few women here. And if you give them the chance they will likely take what they can from. Do not expect sympathy should you place yourself in peril. He spoke as they walked, reaching the hall. He pushed the doors open, and all eyes within turned to him. The Jarl was still on his throne, or at least was back on it. It was hard to say. But no matter, he was there and his presence was something of a calming force for the hall, the men subdued in their activity. There was food on the long table in the middle of the hall, adn thorkell made for it. Until the Jarl actually called on them, he intended to ignore his leader. Less likely to cause problems that way