Dag AnderssonQuotes

Siv: On this, the day of our deity of reciprocity, we gather to give special thanks for the precious Sun. As an offering for our Father, we will today surrender nine human lives. As Hårga takes, so Hårga also gives. Thus, for every newblood sacrificed, we will dedicate one of our own. That is: four newbloods, four from Hårga, and one to be chosen by the Queen. Nine in all, to die, and be reborn, in the great Cycle.

Sten: [they step forward] The four newbloods, have already been supplied. As for our end, we have two already dedicated... And two who have volunteered. Ingemar and Ulf. You have brought outside offerings, thus volunteering your own bodies. You will today be joined in harmony with everything. And to Pelle, who has brought new blood, and our new May Queen, you will today be honored for your unclouded intuition. And so, for our ninth offering. It is traditional that our fair Queen shall choose, between a preselected newblood, and a specially ordained Hårgan.

Sven: Turbeyon.

Sten: [Turbeyon steps forward from the crowd; A Hårgan woman wheels Christian, whose eyes are locked wide, away from the base of the stage. She positions Christian beside Dag to also be facing the stage; Dani's eyes go back and forth before settling on Christian] Honorable Turbeyon! Please step forward. And... These are your candidates for the ninth and final offering. We patiently await your verdict. The honor has been bestowed on Christian Hughes, our ninth and most sacred offering!

Sven: [after one of the sacred texts goes missing] Where is your friend? Josh?

Christian: I know, ah... We have no idea.

Sven: He, and your other friend – They both disappear the same day. You see how it looks?

Sven: [showing Josh a sacred text] We describe it like "emotional sheet music.

Josh: What does it say?

Sven: Well, each runic letter represents one of the 16 affects, which are graded from most holy to most unholy. This one here is about grief. You can see at the end, however, we have blank pages. This is because the Rubi Radr is a constant work in progress. Forever evolving. We have many, many hundreds of these.

Josh: And who decides what's added?

Sven: Well, uh, this iteration is being written by Rubin.

Josh: Wait. The... disabled?

Sven: Since birth. He draws, and we, the Elders, interpret. You see Josh, Rubin is unclouded by normal cognition. It makes him open for the source.

Josh: Uh, what happens when Rubin... dies? Do you just wait for a baby that is... "not clouded"?

Sven: [chuckles] No, no, no. Uh, Ruben was a product of inbreeding. All of our Oracles have been deliberate products of inbreeding.

Josh: Can I take a photograph?

Sven: What?

Josh: Uh, a photograph.

Sven: [closes book] No! Absolutely not!

Josh: Okay, sorry.

Sven: Absolutely not.

Sven: Well. We, um - have something regretful to announce. This morning, the nineteenth book of Rubi Radr was found missing, from the temple. We don't want to - point fingers, and yet we kindly ask that whoever took it return it, to its original place. You can leave it in the temple, which will be left unguarded, unwatched. Nobody need to know, it was you.