Saturday, January 22nd, 402 (8:03 a.m.) [1 – New Moon]:
As the party makes its way through the city streets, looking to meet up with Melisana (who has run to the market to procure the party some fresh food for the day as the inn’s kitchen hasn’t opened yet for the day) along the way, Caleb gushes about the beauty of the city from atop his pony*. “I don’t know if anybody else saw it, but in the west side of town on the way to get this guy [patting his miniature steed] I happened upon an actual castle built into one of those huge rocks, one of the biggest in the city! It’s so tall you could probably almost see it from here, I bet, if we get a bit of a break in these buildings [pointing to the structures on the party’s immediate right]. I asked around about it at a nearby bar, apparently a long time ago a rich old crazy dwarf started buying up the neighbourhood around it, bit by bit, until finally he owned every plot of land surrounding it. Then he just started digging into it a ways, then sealed up the hole behind him with a solid slab of stone, nobody knows where he got it, and nobody saw him for years, apparently.
“One day the people of the city awoke to the sound of chiseling from far up the stone face and, eventually, a hole appeared fifty feet up. He poked his head out for a spell, smelling the air like he hadn’t smelled it in years, which I guess he hadn’t, then disappeared again. Eventually more started turning up – holes, that is, which became windows – all of them barred up and all of them well out of reach of passersby. Apparently he has a small group of servants he hired years ago, no idea how, all dwarves, and they run errands for him now and then. They keep to whatever chore they’re doing and don’t talk to anybody any more than they have to, not unfriendly mind you, just very efficient, very driven. How they open and close that door, that stone slab, nobody knows, but they do, and without any obvious effort. Even rarer, sometimes the old dwarf gets visitors. They show up, always cloaked head to toe so nobody knows who they are; the door opens, they disappear inside, and that’s all anyone knows. What business they have with him is a complete mystery. But the city dwellers all respect this guy, they leave his rock alone and they give him his space.
“Anyway, every once in a long while, without warning, those servants all march out and begin work on the outside of the castle, chipping and carving away so that by now part of it still looks like the original, natural stone, and part of it is this immaculate, perfectly-carved, ornate castle like out of a fairy tale, more than two hundred feet tall I’d say. Every time they come out they draw a crowd of onlookers that lasts for days; people light torches and stay out all night to watch them go. And when they’re done, they retreat back in and nobody sees them again for a year or more, except for the occasional errand, like I said. There are sketches at the city hall documenting its progress over the years.
“Lots of myths and rumours are floating around about what’s going on in there, the most popular of which is that what we’re seeing is only the tiniest, insignificant bit of their project. They’re actually building down, deep down into the earth, and every once in a while when they feel like having a breath of fresh air, they take a break and work on the outside, almost as an afterthought. No idea how anyone knows that, or how they found out. But it is incredible to think about. Some also say that the old dwarf is actually dead, and those servants are actually building him a mausoleum now, the biggest in the world. But I bet that’s not true–that rumour probably started just because nobody’s seen the guy in a long while. I mean, why would the dead be receiving visitors, right?”
As the party enters into the town center, Melisana waves and calls over to the others from across the square, “I think I saw the wagon train just a few blocks down that way [pointing down a wide street to the south of the square, which has been full of street vendors long enough to fill the air with the smell of fresh baking, old cheese and a thousand different spices]!” and sure enough, not far up ahead is a collection of wagons moving slowly along towards the meeting place at the southern end of Cippenham.
When Reldmun asks his riddle, Caleb thinks for several seconds before responding, “I don’t know about horses. All I deal with are ponies, sorry!”
That’s all I have time for tonight, but I think only Shane’s written so far so this also buys everyone a little more time before the weekend message. Feel free to respond to Caleb, but otherwise there are no action items attached to this message…
J
* Caleb purchased a small pony, white with brown patches, a few days before for the journey.
Cippenham has much to offer. And as the days roll by, Quinn takes in more and more, and respects the city more and more. Truly there are many wondrous and talented people that populate Cippenham, and the prospect of leaving feels a little difficult for Quinn. But Brightwater will be full of just as many wonders and more, he justifies. And given the small fortune I’ve just received, if Brightwater proves shallow, I can just as easily turn around and come right back here.
Having been lost in his own little world for the past while, Reldmun’s question is a bit startling to Quinn. But after a quiet moment’s reflection, he ventures an answer to the doctor’s riddle. Looking Reldmun over once, Quinn squints his eyes in curiosity, “What is the same size as a horse but weighs nothing?” Quinn breaths in deep, nervous to answer in case he ends up being wrong. “The horse’s shadow at noon, or high-sun, or however you prefer to word it.”
He looks Reldmun over once more, sussing the doctor up for any sign that his answer may be right. “Why do you ask?” Quinn feels suspicious of the doctor: it’s not usual for Reldmun to be so free and random with his words. Nevertheless, the physician’s levity is a balm and good-omen for the beginning of the long journey to Brightwater.
.
Quinn listens intently to Caleb’s retelling of the local lore, but offers no response. Instead, Quinn nods approvingly of the gnome’s natural gift, and smiles surreptitiously as the party converges and gradually joins the caravan.
Having no experience with horses, Quinn opts to ride instead in the covered wagons, rather than buy a horse and prove useless to handle it or manage it. If there is a cost associated with traveling in the covered wagons, Quinn will happily pay. Besides, it’s easier to get better sleep when not attending to the needs of a beast.
~Kane
Try The Veal
In response to his diminutive friend’s tale of the crazy dwarf and his eccentric actions, Reldmun replies sincerely with, “That is fascinating! I’m surprised the authorities haven’t looked into it. Letting my imagination run wild I can think of all sorts of potential issues; building a tunnel for enemies to attack the city to a more plausible concern: undermining the structural integrity of the land around the monolith…that could cause a lot of damage were it too fall!”
After a pause to untuck part of his amber coloured cloak that he’d been sitting on, he asks, “So…did you find out if those cloaked visitors ever leave?”
Reldmun is pleased to see that there is another among is friends that enjoys to ride and is especially happy to see how happy Caleb is upon his miniature mount.
As he rides he considers when and how to tell his friends about the very big decisions he acted upon in the past two weeks.
The doctor greets the young lady politely, subtly taking in her beauty at the same time also enjoying the smells of bread, cheese, and spices. While sad that they’ll soon be saying good bye to Melisana, Reldmun is excited about the journey and his please that he’s quite enjoying himself. He reflects that while horrible, being kidnapped by the pirates has turned out to be a very positive and life-changing event for him. With a content smile he directs his steed towards the other wagons.
[He’ll ask his riddle at this point.]
When Caleb advises he cannot answer the riddle, the Brighton smiles and nods politely and says, “Well your riddle of a tale has gotten me stumped too!”
“Indeed, the horse’s shadow!” the doctor replies jovially to Quinn’s response to the riddle. When asked by his friend why the question was asked, Reldmun grins and adds, “Being on a horse all of a sudden reminded me of the first, and well last, time I rode. I was eight, and very apprehensive, so to make me feel more at ease my father asked me a riddle to take my mind of the worries I had. The fun thing is that even after I became an accomplished rider he’d still ask me a riddle whenever we went riding together…the one I asked you all, well that was the one he’d asked the last time we went riding. It was a hunting trip right after I’d graduated from medical school.”
He offers a sheepish grin that’s become a new, and yet enjoyable, expression from the former grouser and continues with, “Hopefully I’m not boring you all with my mental meanderings! If I am just roll your eyes,shake your head,…I Just may stop!”
With a mischievous smile he adds:
“A pony walks into an inn and asks, “Innkeeper, may I have a room?”
The inkeeper says, “What? I can’t hear you. Speak up!”
“May I please have a room? asks the pony.
“What? You have to speak up!” the innkeeper says.
“Could I please have a room?”
“If you don’t speak up you’ll have to leave,” the inkeeper says.
“I’m sorry, the pony adds, “I’m just a little hoarse.”
S
Going deeper
Quinn smiles calmly at Melisana when the group meets up with her, but says nothing. Among the lessons learned this past while, Quinn has understood silence as a deeper teacher than his previous chattering suggested. Things can be learned in conversation, absolutely. But people are generally more interested in what they’re saying, how they’re presenting themselves, and what emotional cues they can glean from observing other’s reactions to actually pay attention to their deeper intuitions.
Far from feeling superior or snobby around others, Quinn generally enjoys his friends, enjoys seeing their personalities shine through in their micro-expressions, enjoys how much more telling their body language, speech cadence, and choice of words are than the actual words they use.
So, when Caleb tells his story and Quinn stays silent, it is an opportunity for the young man to appreciate and comprehend his companions a lot more. In so doing, he can keep stock of their tendencies, weaknesses, strengths, and passions. The net effect is almost exhilarating to Quinn: the opportunity to protect them subtly and precisely.
How much I’ve changed and learned since being taken, Quinn reflects.
A warm flush of relief heats Quinn’s cheeks when Reldmun confirms Quinn’s answer to the riddle. When Reldmun finishes telling the tale of his youth, and why he asked the riddle, Quinn makes a mental note of the doctor’s somewhat idyllic boyhood. Could possibly explain where he gets his sturdy confidence, Quinn muses. A beneficial quality when having to persuade or lead people. Could be an advantage at some point in the future.
“You know how to add amusement, doctor,” Quinn laughs. “I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting that punchline. A little horse.” Quinn laughs again. “I’ll have to remember that one.”
The young man will wait a moment for others to say their greetings and participate in the merriment of the moment. Then, taking an example from Reldmun’s confidence, Quinn speaks up in a smooth voice. “We used to ask each other riddles of a different nature while on the streets. Sometimes certain riddles were used to communicate local events. For example, if I asked ‘if I get wet, I get heavier; what am I?’ and the other person answered ‘a towel’ it was understood that a hanging was going to take place. The obvious similarity of a towel to a rope and wetness to the saliva that typically drips from the swelling tongue of the victim was a way of informing each other that a hanging was taking place. I’m not proud of it, but when you’re hungry, and gazes are fixed on a hanging, people really don’t notice hands in their pockets.
“I’m sure you can tell from my lack of physical prowess though, that those occasions were exceedingly rare. The result was that food was just as rare.”
Quinn studies his companions, realizing that perhaps his own experiences and observations may not be welcome. If anything, following a humorous moment with talk of hangings and pickpocketing was not the best way to carry the moment through.
“I apologise.” Quinn looks down at the road, grits his teeth. “There are better times for these reflections.” He takes a deep breath. “It is on my mind, though. And you, doctor, are a healer, not to mention a man familiar with riddles. To boot, we also have a scholar among us. So perhaps in light of recent events with Bride, you wouldn’t mind to answer a larger riddle that has bothered me since boyhood: if the gods exist, why do they allow suffering to continue? And if the evil gods outnumber the good gods, why are we not destroyed? If the good gods outnumber the evil gods, why do they permit us to suffer if we worship them? Are they powerless to do anything about it? Do they favour some but not others? And if so, is that not an expression of harmful intent and therefore evil?”
Quinn braces for the possible somber moments ahead.
~Kane
It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
To Quinn’s response to the joke, Reldmun grins and says, “I was pretty bad I must admit.”
When the rogue offers his own grim riddle and explanation behind it, Reldmun nods appreciatively and replies kindly with, “Thank you for sharing Quinn. No need to apologize we’ve all led different lives filled with pain and hardships…obviously some of us more than others…and it takes a lot of courage to be as open as you just were. If I may be bold, you’ve alluded at times, and come right out other times, to a life on the streets that has caused you to be at odds with the law. I also know that you’re a good person. So to be frank I think your skills provide you with quite a bit of insight that will keep of us safe from those who might have ill intent towards us.”
Pausing to take a breath he adds, “I know this from experience. While my father was leading the city guards in Brightwater and as a guard himself he would on occasion interview those who trod outside the law so he could understand their thoughts and methods. I took interest in this tactic and make sure to make note of any useful information I can glean. For example, when we were on the oat and the fishing ship approached you suggested we use a trick you used with the town guards to avoid detection or at least to keep an advantage. I was quite impressed. As I am now, for your tale of the riddles you and your fellows used to speak in code could be helpful to us. Perhaps we should consider some similar riddles, or at least code words, to use that could advise others what we’re really thinking if we’re ever in uncertain encounters?”
To Quinn’s question of a larger riddle regarding the divine, the doctor thinks for a moment and replies in a soft and friendly tone with, “Interesting questions. I’ve thought along similar lines. I’ll try to offer my opinion to each part of your riddle.”
“If the gods exist, why do they allow suffering to continue? I assume you’re referring to gods of good, and perhaps neutrality so I’ll respond accordingly. Some feel that suffering and continuing on despite hardship proves faith and worthiness to a god. And that may be true, for on the island Bride told us that due to our ability to survive on the island she would heal us and give us another day to escape. One could argue with her divine might she could’ve whisked us off the island…and another could argue she could’ve simply ignored us. The only real answer I can give is that I don’t really know.”
“And if the evil gods outnumber the good gods, why are we not destroyed? Perhaps, and just so you know I’ll be saying perhaps a lot, the evil and good gods are equal in power or all gods are neutral. For example there is a northern goddess of death who isn’t an evil god…she just a god. To that point there are many pantheons for many cultures, each having gods with abilities and roles very similar. Are these gods not really different and perhaps there is only one true pantheon and each culture simply has a different name for the same god. I’ve even heard it said there there is only one god and he or she has many aspects.”
“If the good gods outnumber the evil gods, why do they permit us to suffer if we worship them? Another though is perhaps the number of worshipers a god has dictates their power. So even if there were more gods of good or evil, lack of worship could perhaps drain power…”
“Are they powerless to do anything about it? Maybe.”
“Do they favour some but not others? Again perhaps. It could be that on a god-by-god basis some have favourites based on actions that coincide with the deities sphere of influence or due to direct worship. Or maybe we don’t matter to some of them and only some truly take interest in us.”
“And if so, is that not an expression of harmful intent and therefore evil? I would disagree that favoring some over others is harmful and evil. For example a mother is walking through a market with her child and she sees that a runaway coach is bearing down on her, her child and an elderly man…yet she only has the ability, power, to get one of them out of harm’s way. Likely she would choose to save her child. Or say we replace the old man with another of her children in the same scenario. If she tries to save both they all would die, so she randomly picks one. Is she evil? I’d say no.”
“In short I’m sorry I cannot give you a definitive answer to your questions, but what I can tell you is that I think it’s possible that even the gods can have limits to their abilities and with so many of them with roles in direct conflict with others of their race they are in a perpetual cycle of either only being able to rescue one child, or spooking a horse so that it throws it’s driver and pulls a coach into a crowded market place, or even being a bystander a hundred feet off watching the whole thing in frozen horror.
After stopping to clear his throat, the doctor continues, “Again, I must also wonder what role mortal’s play in the existence of the divine, for example I did some research on Bride and can quote what was told to me:
“Devonsland is experiencing a religious rebirth as the nation shifts from the Old Gods of previous generations [Bride is a prominent goddess in the Old Religion’s pantheon] to a similar but more Capetianized pantheon introduced (not altogether voluntarily) by the occupiers from the mainland, Capetia. Bride is now Brigantia, and she has changed in several ways, some minor and others quite noticeable: Her symbol is no longer the cross, for example, but rather the form of a young female (which represents the goddess herself). She has, peculiarly, been reduced from a goddess of fire to a minor deity ruling the sea, and the emphasis on her being a goddess of spring has been reduced (but not entirely removed).
The conversion to this ‘new’ religion was not accepted at first by native Devonians, but over a few generations the resistance has largely shifted to acceptance, although the apostasy rate is still rather high across the country. This religious malaise is not widely spoken of, as the ruling class have put laws in place enforcing the national religion and to speak against it is punishable by imprisonment; thankfully public demonstration of religious faith is not demanded, and so those who prefer to worship the old religion (or no religion at all) are not harassed. Thomas stresses that there has not been a large push to proselytize beyond Ventris, primarily due to the threats in the area due to the Minalaeans rendering the waters north and east of Ventris unnavigable during the early years of occupation. The drive to ‘civilize’ the islanders was simply never a priority of the ruling class following this time of conflict.”*
Looking a little sad and reflective, he continues:
“So here we have Bride, a goddess of Old. A patroness of poetry, smithing, medicine, arts and crafts, cattle and other livestock, and spring. Along with these attributes, she also is associated with fire. Any type of fire symbolism, including light, candles, illumination, heat, warmth or sunrises also belong to this goddess. Arrows, bells, thresholds and doorways are also included in Brigid symbolism. Several animal correspondences are also tied to Brigid, particularly ewe, dairy cows, bees, owls and serpents.
“She was also known as a woman of poetry, and poets worshiped her, for her sway was very great and very noble. And she was a woman of healing along with that, and a woman of smith’s work, and it was she first made the whistle for calling one to another through the night. And the one side of her face was ugly, but the other side was very comely. And the meaning of her name was Breo-saighit, a fiery arrow.
“Bride was associated with the concept of elevated state, whether physical or psychological. She is the goddess of all things perceived to be of relatively high dimensions such as high-rising flames, highlands, hill-forts and upland areas; and of activities and states conceived as psychologically lofty and elevated, such as wisdom, excellence, perfection, high intelligence, poetic eloquence, craftsmanship (especially blacksmithing), healing ability, druidic knowledge and skill in warfare. In the living traditions, whether seen as goddess or saint, she is largely associated with the home and hearth. “**
“Yet, mortal bureaucrats have deemed to change her role and powers from goddess of many things, not the least of which is light, to a minor goddess of the sea. To be honest I can’t really understand how that can happen…but I do want to understand and find out more. As I mentioned earlier, perhaps a god’s power is based on their worshipers and in a sense mortals are needed by the divine and can have influence over them in varying degrees.”
After another reflective pause the doctor continues, “With that said, I think since you’ve demonstrated trust in me I’m going to share with you all some thing that I’d prefer we’re kept among us for now at least. Prior to our time on the island I had never truly appreciated the role the divine played in our lives…never much considered it at all to be honest. However after being fortunate enough to be healed by Bride, and to be in awe of her wrathful retribution, well I did a lot more thinking…particularly about how if I were able to channel, with her permission, even a small thread of her divine grace I could enhance my ability to heal, help, and protect others. I’m sure you can see where this is going…so I entered Bride’s priesthood and with some additional training am now an Elucidator*** of Bride. It’s a term I’ve coined myself to be honest, but essentially what it means is that I want to “illuminate” situations: healing the sick and injured, putting wrongs right, and even solving problems in general.”
A look of hopefulness crosses his face as he follows up with, “I share this information in confidence with you, my friends, and Elucidator isn’t something I’ll be calling myself…so it’s best to just consider me a doctor.”
With a smile he adds, “And don’t worry, I won’t push my religion on anyone. You also might wonder how I could become a priest of Bride and yet acknowledge that I don’t have all the answers. Well as part of my ongoing learnings I want to become more enlightened….and solve these very complex riddles.”
S
*Quoted from our dear DM. 🙂
**Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C3%ACde)
***If you’re interested Reldmun is multi-classed: a Cleric of (Bride)/Riddlemaster (Bard Kit).
A Working Title
Quinn keeps quiet and listens intently to the good doctor’s words. “You have a great gift for explaining things, doctor,” Quinn offers. “I could ply you with more questions and responses to what you have said about the gods, but I think keeping an eye toward practicality would be wiser at this point in time. It would be a pleasure to talk with you again, in the future about such weighty riddles. For now though, let us understand the caravanners we will be traveling with; doubtless knowing who they are will help us to be a stronger presence on our journey.
“So I will think back to my days as a prowler on the streets and come up with a list of cue-words that we can all understand as meaning certain things when said. It will be contextual to our experiences so that no-one else can eavesdrop and get ahead of us. And we can add to it or modify it as the need arises. It’s the least I can do for us and, like you noted, Reldmun, and probably your father before you, having some kind of coded communication does help our group’s chances of survival.”
As Reldmun relays his self-named office, Quinn smiles warmly and nods in agreement. “You will be a fine priest, Reldmun. I think that was a brilliant choice for you: a teacher and healer who has the favour of the goddess herself. And an ‘elucidator’ sounds like the title of priest, but I wouldn’t really know. Still…”
Quinn pauses for a moment.
“When we get to Brightwater, I would like you to show me to the best tattoo house in all the city. I will mark the day she healed us and promised us freedom by having a fiery arrow tattooed across the width of my shoulders, on my back. It will be my personal mark of dedication to her.
“Though, if you wouldn’t mind to let her know,” Quinn arches an eyebrow and talks quietly, “that I’m not one for talking out loud to gods, I would be grateful. I’m sure she’d be pleased enough knowing that I’ve got her servant’s back.”
Quinn smiles warmly at the doctor while patting the hilt of his sword. The young man moves off to inspect one of the wagons he has rented, and to assess the worth of their guards [let me know if anything stands out to Quinn, please, James]. He whistles as he goes…
~Kane