That night Lenris and Cerphyla arrived just after sunset. The village of Regjoral seemed very similar to Lenris’ home village but a trace of something… malicious hung in the air. In all of the buildings the surface of every third log was charred, in fact fires seemed to be a large part of their everyday life. A great pit was present in the middle of the village and small pits were also about in select places, these pits seemed very well used. Lenris came to the conclusion that they did not appreciate the cold.
Most of the inhabitants were inside their center hall. The Regjoralan people were strange, they all seemed barely contained, as vicious and on edge as threatened animals. They all had a less than reassuring number of scars and many of them were still healing. Every single one of them almost old enough to pass for an adult had a large weapon strapped to their side or back.
A slightly raised platform adorned the mid section of the center hall where four people had begun to set upon each other with heavy sticks and other blunted, mock weapons. Lenris was feeling a touch disturbed while he watched. A combatant seemed to be suddenly taken by a rage and directed an array of strikes at the closest participant. The opponent was successful at evading or parrying the attacks but was being forced toward the edge. All possible ground had been lost when a savage blow aimed for the head was swung by the attacker. The assaulted’s weapon was mal-placed and unable to return to a position of defense. Seeing the blow coming she responded by blocking with her free arm. The collision commenced with a cracking thud, the recipient stumbled and fell, clutching an arm forced into an grotesque, unnatural angle while groaning. The people in the hall stomped excitedly and some cheered. It was then that Lenris began to worry about what he had gotten himself into.
Lenris felt a little sick, this whole experience was overwhelming, he turned to Cerphyla. “Why would they do that? What’s happening? Why didn‘t someone stop them?” She seemed confused, “If they didn’t they would have no chance of being prepared for the Culling.” For some reason that didn’t sit entirely well with Lenris, “What’s the, uh, culling exactly? “You don’t know about the culling? It’s what we always reach for, it’s the whole point of our people. It is the act of making this place clean by removing those our god cannot tolerate.” She paused and it must have shown that Lenris didn’t understand because Cerphyla continued. “Those worthless things are the small, soft skinned creatures.” Though she normally expressed little emotion she said that with a spite that left Lenris worried, he didn‘t feel very comfortable talking about this anymore. He decided changing the subject to something a little more welcoming was in order, he inquired as to sleeping arrangements.
