Itinerant: A Pilgrim Quest

[Gargulec]

With the support for the village option being absolutely overwhelming, and me being in good spirits thanks to overwhelming amounts of ibuprofen and aspirin, an unscheduled update is upon us!​

1.4 Reik​

The hermit, possibly distraught by your choice not to heed his advice and instead still go for the mighty city of Grace, stayed true to his word, and after you prayed with him for the success of your pilgrimage and a soon end to injustice, so that the name of God may be revealed to all, he took you to a trail by a forest creek. Taking that path, you both marched for some time, until the hermit was confident that you would not lose yourself again on it, and biding you farewell and citing the need to avoid meeting with the peasantry (for it had happened to some holy hermits who lived in forests and mountains that the simple people, upon learning of their presence, hounded them incessantly in search of blessings and patronage, thus forcing them to flee even deeper into the wilds to find the solitude that was so desirous to them), he left your side, and once again you were alone in the woods. This time, however, the path ahead seemed clear, and in fact shortly before night, you arrived at the outskirts of small village.

As the huts of the villagers were close to each another, and surrounded by a rampart of wood and soil, you recognize that it was likely the dwelling-place of people who carried no weapons and were not called to ost, instead relying on their lord and master to protect themselves. Once, such people were uncommon, and mostly came from the lines of the people who lived in these lands before the coming of Liefs, but recently, you had heard that their number was growing, as more and more once-free men surrounded themselves to the yoke of service in exchange for promise of safety from the mighty of the land.

There, you were hosted by a peasant, his wife and two sons, who, upon learning of your pilgrimage, opened their home to you, and you broke bread and drank wine along with them, and then were offered the best place by the fire-pit, so that the embers would keep you warm all night. In the morning, you were informed that although the peasants there scarcely knew the way to the city of Grace, there was however another village nearby that allegedly lay nearer to the paved road, and that you should wander there. Having restored your supplies, with still-warm bread in your pack and a new measure of wine in your wineskin, you departed in the direction given to you, to arrive in the early hours of the afternoon.

There, in a village that was not altogether that different from the one before, you once again asked for directions and received them from peasants who sometimes hosted merchants travelling to and from that mighty city. Subsequently you also learned that one of such merchants was at that time present in the village and preparing to leave for the city of Grace next morning. His name was Reik, and he was a salt-trader who last autumn was attacked and savaged by a bear while near the village, and was found and bloodied and not far from death by a farmer whose name was Ivulf and who, being a man of kind heart and good mores, decided to take him into his home and treat his wound or, if such was to be the will of the Saints, ensure that he would not die on a road, cold and alone. And although Reik's recovery was slow and painful, he managed to return to good health and was eager to return home, having left a wife and a number of children behind. He was quick in refuting any suggestions that in his absence, she could had taken a different husband, thinking him dead. Meanwhile to Ivulf, out of gratitude for saving him from such an ignoble demise, he left most of his possessions: three rings of gold, one of them set with and amethyst and a shirt of eastern silk, and a heavy medallion of silver, with a chrysoprase in it and numerous other goods of considerable value, who Ivulf, being, as said, a man of commendable morals, refused to hoard and instead brought them to a shrine and offered them to the coffers of the Saints, to ensure good fortune for him and his children.

And that Reik, you were told, left scarred by previous lonesome travel, was hurting for a company on his way to the city of Grace and would rather avoid travelling alone again. You were brought to him, and beheld a spiritful young man, who although disfigured on the face appeared to you a kind and honest soul, and promptly suggested to you that you should take his company to the city of Grace and, perhaps, farther still, for it was not his intention to stay there longer than it was for him necessary.

Presented with that offer, you…

[ ] Accepted, and departed along with him next morning.

[ ] Refused, and continued your pilgrimage alone.

 

[Gargulec]

So, I was told that one should not mix ibuprofen with aspirin, which explains several things. In other news: departing along with Reik won the vote, easily. And thus, you now have a companion on your road! See how long you can keep him around.​

1.5 Grievances​

Having experienced solitude, and contempting it deeply, you decided to travel along salt-trader Reik, who too seemed cheered by the prospect. You spent the night in the house of the good farmer Ivulf and left the village shortly after dawn.

The weather had changed again, and the heavy clouds that tormented you so when you were lost in the woods dispersed, and instead sun shone brightly, clearing away the snow that remained. As the trail you travelled was not paved, it turned muddy, and so your progress was slower than expected, but Reik did not seem discouraged. In fact, after an initial time of silence, he soon started to speak to you at lengths, apparently being starved for a company more eloquent than that of simple villagers, who knew little of the world.

He spoke to you about many things that concerned him greatly; chiefly, he lamented the passing of justice and honesty for the world, saying that the men he had hired in his home city of Breakers turned out false at heart and abandoned him after he had reached the port city of Ivory Gate in the summer, despite being well-paid. He spared them little, describing them in the most derogatory of terms and cursing them through the name of all the Saints, hoping that they would see their greedy hands rot away and that they would be launched into infernal flames to burn in them for all of eternities. He then also lamented his lack of mercantile fortunes, and the many ruins that the last year had brought to him, of which being nearly slain by an angry beast seemed the most insignificant. In fact, he had left Breakers with an escort of men-at-arms and a cart pulled by a pair of mules, heavily burned with salt which he had hoped to sell at a profit (as the traders are wont to do). However, not only was he betrayed by the men who were to protect him, but it also turned out that the new king of Brant people in the south had declared a series of new tolls and taxes on the routes and bridges, as well as inflicting high tariffs on salt, and so that which was to turn a modest profit instead became a terrible loss, and after selling his wares, he had to also sell his cart and mules and make way back home on foot.

Then, he also cursed the peasant Ivulf and his own lack of considerations. For in fact, as he explained to you, when he was found on the road, he thought himself dead for sure, such was the depth of his pain and despair, and gave away all what he had, hoping that it would be pleasant in the eyes of the Saints and that he would thus earn himself an easier way to their domain after passing from the temporal. However, he made a recovery, and by the time was lucid again, the peasant Ivulf had already given away his gifts to a shrine of Saint Gerulf, and thus the goods were rendered well and truly unrecoverable, which brought Reik significant grief. It was also a cause of much sadness for him that he had never previously returned to home empty-handed, and now he was supposed to come back like a beggar, on foot and with little to call his own, although he did mention that perhaps there was still hope for him and with the grace of the Saints, maybe there would be a chance for him to gain some new fortunes in the city of Grace.

His laments lasted for the better part of the day, and you made your stop at another village, where you were hosted by an elder man and his pair of youthful sons, who, although of few words turned to be gracious and kind to you, and did not allow you to go hungry.

Next morning, you set out again, and Reik, being in higher spirits than on the previous day, did not continue his litany of grievances, and instead talked with you about other matters, and you found him a pleasant partner in discussions, for he was a worldly man and had seen much, despite being in prime of his youth. In fact, the talks you had while making your way through the woodland paths turned out to be rather informative, and with your curiosity being unsated, you managed to learn quite a bit about the world from asking right questions and listening to right answers.

Yet, the time you had was rather limited, so you had to focus on specific matters, which was not helped by the tendency of Reik to launch into diatribes about the diminishing of the world at a slightest provocation; in fact he had a pointedly dim view of the temporal matters and was confident that the end was near and that the sings that were promised would soon be given for all to see.

In the end, you primarily discussed the following…

[ ] The matter of coin and trade, and the value of things.

[ ] The matter of the lay of the land, and places worthy of note.

[ ] The matter of nobility and kingship, and the nature of power.

 

[Gargulec]

The matter of coin won handily, thus showing that it is money that in fact makes the world go round.
​

1.6 Coins​

Although there had been money in the home of your youth (and you recall once glimpsing into your father's coffers, to see the gold stacked within), it occurred to you as you discussed various subjects with Reik that you had never put much mind to the value of coin, and to its power, which the tradesman seemed to view highly. Your brothers, who sometimes ventured to the city of Grace to make purchases there did not speak much of the matter of gold and silver, and it appeared to you that it did not behove a woman to exhibit such a lust for the things of the earth as to learn more about the value of things than her family had deemed fit to teach her. In fact, you recalled, however distantly, that your father had once complained that women with too good of a sense of the worth of their dowry are of deplorable mores and receive their morning gift with canny eyes of seasoned whores.

However, all of that was very strange to Reik, who seemed singularly convinced that the knowledge of money is the foundation of all that is lasting in the world, and spoke at lengths about many blessed qualities that it brought to men, and to women as well; for he explained to you that a woman who does not know her own value makes for a poor wife, and that in the cities farther north, where the mores of White Wall had not yet entirely disappeared from the minds of men, the contract struck between the husband and wife is no different from any other contract of purchase, and that even farther north, on the isles on the sea which are known as Thistle Islands, the word they use there for "wife" is the same that they use for "cattle", for among those people there is in fact little difference between purchasing an oxen and striking out to acquire a spouse. Those stories seemed to you tall tales, and rather revolting too, particularly for the cheer in his tone as he spoke of all those things.

You did not make your distaste apparent, though, and promptly Reik started explaining to you – so that you could make for a better wife and satisfy your husband properly – the intricacies of coin and value. And so, from him, you learned that the principal coin is called solidus and that it is struck from gold, but that also it is seldom minted any more, and although counts of worth are oft given in it, it is rare to see one in use. That Reik blamed on the greed of kings and bishops who would rather hoard gold in their treasuries and cast it into items such as ornaments and rings and chains and all that is of significant worth and brings great prestige to the wearer, but is usually of too high of a value to use it in lieu of coin. He explained to you – he was quite confident about that – that if all those golden candle-holders and cups and chalices, and rings and chains and other trinkets, that the mighty of the land gather, were to be rendered down into base gold, and from it, new coinage was to be minted, then the wealth of men would surely increase manifold. That too seemed to you a very strange notion, but Reik believed it zealously. Then, you learned from him that each solidus is divided into twelve parts (as each year also divides into twelve months), and those parts are called denars. Denars, you then learned, are struck from silver, and are the most common coin that one could find, and that there is a great variety of them out there, but of them, none can compare with the Breakers denar, which was issued from pure silver and never falsified. Then, you were also taught the basic value of things: that for a denar, you will get twelve wheat breads or a sixth of a measure of wheat, or a fourth of a measure of rye or half of a measure of oat (and that all those prices were ordained by the king, so that the paupers would not suffer too much in the time of famine). That a sheep was worth (in times of good fortunes) twelve denars or a single solidus, and an ox was worth twice that in the north (where they are plentiful) to nine times that in the south (where there are less common). And that your cloak was worth hundred and forty denars, which was how much they would give for a slave on southern markets in times of prosperity, and which was also one and a half of the price of a sword with a scabbard.

He seemed surprised that you displayed little confusion at that, and in fact that you seemed to gain a good grasp at the basic value of things and after nearly a day of discussing it with him, you felt like you could enter a marketplace and not be immediately stricken with confusion and cheated out of your good.

***​

Since you are already wise, you manage to get more out of Reik and acquire basic knowledge of the value of things! With this, you can now ask for precise monetary value of various items you have or encounter and be provided with a moderately accurate response, as well as a suggestion where best to sell or buy such items.

***​

Before the night, you managed to reach the paved road, and soon found yourselves a good resting place; that was a stable where the horses for king's couriers were held, so that they could deliver their messages quickly across the realm. For your stay, you paid with service; Reik chopped some wood, while you assisted in the kitchen, and for that, you were offered a place to sleep, as well as some supplies.

On the next day, your discussion about the value of things did not continue, for it seemed that some strange sort of melancholy overcame Reik and he marched mostly in silence, replying to your questions in short words and refusing to indulge you in a more engaged talk.

Before noon, you reached a bridge thrown over a river, which you had to pass in order to continue towards the city of Grace. It was an old, stone monument, raised in the times when the skill of man was not diminished and great wonders of stonework were raised all across the realm (of them, the paved road was another). The presence of a river was also a surprise to you, because you did not realize that there was one barring the road to the city of Grace, but you thought to yourself that maybe you were approach from a different direction due to having been lost in the woods.

A pair of guards hailed you as you approached the bridge, and demanded that you pay the toll to the bishop of Grace, to whom this bridge was belonging by the right of a king's investiture, and that the toll was a denar for each leg you intended to put on the bridge, and that if you did not have the coin then you would have to wander for a day down-river, to find a ford, which was free of toll.

After cursing the guards and the bishop's greed (although compared to some of the laments you had heard him give, the curses that he spoke came off plain and uninspired), Reik reached for his meagre pouch, to pay the toll for both of you.

Seeing that, you…

[ ] Allowed him to pay.

[ ] Stopped him, and paid the toll yourself…

[ ] …with the fibula holding your cloak, which was worth a solidus.
[ ] …with the silver-embroidered sheathe for your knife, which was worth half a solidus.​

[ ] Stopped him, so you could check the Book of Roots to see if pilgrims travelling through the city of Grace can travel through without being taxed.

[ ] Stopped him and demanded that you go for the ford instead.

Author's note: I am not an economy historian, and therefore I am not really inclined to go too much in-depth in the workings of the monetary systems of the epoch that the quest is based on. The above is based on a system that is ever-so-slightly anachronic for the late Merovignian epoch (that is, it is basically based on Carolignian monetary system, with the prices cited being for the year 797), but due to its simplicity and the comparative wealth of sources I have on it, I will be using it instead of a more period appropriate system (which, all things considered, would not be that different, although the value of a denar would probably be significantly lower, and there would be more gold in circulation). Also, Reik's observations about thesaurisation are also something I am somewhat unsure about; I don't know how aware the people of that time were on the fact that the scarcity of gold in circulation came due to accumulation of it in the treasuries of kings, churches and monasteries. Nonetheless, it is an interesting bit of trivia, so you will all forgive me for breaking the verisimilitude here (although then again, historians consistently underestimate the subjects of their research, so perhaps I am treating the merchants of eight century unfairly).

 

[Gargulec]

So, the write-in option about consulting the book and checking if you are not exempt from the toll won! Easily. Something something bandwagons? Not that it was a badwagon.

1.7 Misdirection
​

Before Reik could pay the toll, you intervened, asking the guards if it was in their view proper for them to collect the toll of the road from the people who do not belong to the temporal, for while it is right and just for the lord of the land to govern his domain justly, and to that end institute such a law that a traveller must pay for the use a road or a bridge, it is also a fact of common knowledge that the law of nations is separate from the law of the Saints. To prove that to them in full, you undid your sack, and presented them the Book of Roots, and from it you read to them a passage that seemed to you appropriate:

All laws are either saintly or human. Saintly laws are based on nature, human law on customs. For this reason human laws may disagree, because different laws suit different peoples. Fas is saintly law; jurisprudence is human law. To cross through a stranger's property is allowed by saintly law; it is not allowed by human law.
​

***
​

Next to that passage in the Book of Roots, you noticed a strange gloss seemingly written by a different hand than other notes on the book's margins. While you did not have the time to decipher it near the bridge, you remembered it location for the future.

***
​

And while they pondered the meaning of the words, you explained to them more in full, inclining at the staff in your hand; that as a pilgrim, you were not beholden to human laws, such as the property of land (for one has to own something to tax it, from which you drew the conclusion that the bridge was the property of the bishop of Grace), but rather to the saintly law mandating that you do not stop until your task, that is your journey, is complete. To that, you also added, quoting from the book of Gospels a passage that had been passed to you by priest Ethal that he who bars the pilgrim's path stands in the way of the Saints, and you asked them if it is their will to stop what the Saints themselves have put on the road, and you also asked them, with great fire in your voice, if they do not think that the bishop to whom they are beholden, who carries not only the sword of a temporal rule, but also the ring of service that shows him to be but a humble servant of the Saints, would surely allow you to pass.

Your words troubled them greatly, and in fact they considered you a witch for a moment, but Saint Odo, who surely watched over you every moment, dispelled such foolish notions from their heads, and they considered their deeds and actions and finally came to the conclusion that it would not constitute a break from their duties to let you pass, free of toll, since you were so obviously a pilgrim, and also possibly mad.

All the while you made your discussion, Reik, who was well accustomed to such tribulations on the road, slipped by the guards as they listened to you read to them, and crossed the bridge, hiding behind bushes on the other end, and he joined soon after you yourself had crossed, his mirth renewed. He laughed in cruel fashion at the simpletons that allowed themselves to be befuddled so easily and thank you for saving him some money; he also voiced his surprise that you knew the letters so well. And that also seemed to put him in quite a good mood, and he remarked on several occasions that people such as you are the treasure of the world. Then, he grew silent and sullen once more, thinking heavily of some subject that he did not share with you.

The night, you spent under the open sky; although thankfully the weather was favourable and you managed to set a low fire to burn, and therefore did not suffer much. And by the morning, Reik informed you that if the Saints were to permit it, you would reach the city of Grace in time of vespers. However, he also spoke of a different matter, which was less cheering; that if a toll was collect on bridges that were free for all to use before, then it must mean that the bishop of Grace had fallen foul of the worst greed, and he certainly imposed more taxes on the city gates, and entering the city of Grace could prove ruinous, not to mention all the thieves that certainly prey on innocent travellers within the confines of the mighty walls. And finally, that they would also be far less inclined to exempt honest pilgrims from the dues, for greed know no faith. And then he said:

"But that, I can remedy, for I know a man who lives not far from the city of Grace, and who brings wine into the walls on the feast-days, and even the bishop buys from him; and he is a friend of my family and certainly, if asked, he will help us enter the city without paying, perhaps by hiding among the barrels he brings to the market."

He then also explained that such trickery was common among the merchants who suffered the yoke of too heavy taxes and persecution from the mighty of the land. He voiced his regret that it would likely delay your pilgrimage by several more days, but asked you if you did not think it worth the money.

You considered this plan and…

[ ] Accepted it, seeing the value in it.

[ ] Trusted in the privileges of a pilgrim, suggested that only Reik take that route…

[ ] …after seeing you to the city of Grace.
[ ] …splitting your paths now, and meeting back again in the city of Grace.
​

[ ] Refused it, and insisted you do not dally on your way to the city of Grace.

 

[Gargulec]

So, with minimal vote turnout (I do not understand the ebb and flow of votes; it is a mystery), the option to split up and meet Reik in the city won. Well then! Onwards to Grace, and well, here's to first part of the story ending. In seven days, you managed to reach the city, only three days late compared to your original plan. Could be worse. Also, I apologize if the post is not up to snuff today, I found it difficult to write today.

1.8 Grace​

After some consideration, you refused Reik's plan; firstly, you spoke to him of honesty and loyalty: that while the scheme was cunning, it was also dishonest to the lords of the land, who by saintly privilege are given to rule, and until their injustice is proven, their laws were laid out iron-like, not for man to declare void. At that Reik scoffed, for it seemed to him a strange notion, and he called you a child that knows little of the world, and he also declared, his voice ripe with anger, that a mare such as you should be broken in with an iron bridle, and even that would likely be too much of a kindness on you. You engaged in an argument with him about that, but in the end it proved fruitless and so you finished your morning meal and departed for the city of Grace, Reik once again covered by a heavy shroud of melancholy; to your questions, he replied nothing at all, and halfway through the day, when you were at a crossroads, he declared that he will now leave for the accomplice of his, asking once more if you want to accompany him; you refused, and you bade each another farewell, and Reik promised to see you in the city in three days' time, and so that you should wait for him.

Once more, you wandered alone and in silence; but the road ahead was straight and paved and forests around seemed thinner than on the other side of the river, and oftentimes, you would pass next to fields and clearings which bore clear signs of human use, and so the fear of solitude did not trouble you much.

And finally, just as Reik had predicted, you emerged on a great clearing that was made in the woods, and instead of trees, you found yourself surrounded by fields (and since the hour was not yet that late and spring was in full bloom, there was some going on them), and beyond the fields, you saw a mound raise from the ground, and on the mound you saw the mighty city of Grace, and was awed by it.

It seemed scarcely possible to you that its stone walls were raised by a human hand; truly they seemed as if the very bones of the earth were upturned and dragged to the surface, or as if the Saints themselves had made them from living stone; and you recalled the story of a great city that refused to open its gates to the Saints and was for it deprived of its walls, and you thought to yourself that it is how they must had looked before it incurred the wrath of the Saints. As you closed in (and the road by the city was busy with people, some dozens of them of returning from their work in the fields to the safety within the walls), a deep impression was also made on you by the fact that although the span of the walls appeared immense, and certainly a great host could be housed inside, it did not encompass all that was within the city, and outside the walls, there stood many houses of wood, as if they could not be fit in within, and had to spill outside. And among them, there was also a great multitude of people, and their voices, raised together in a bustle were like a mighty roar.

Despite Reik's warnings, by your staff and general countenance, you were easily recognized at the gates for a pilgrim that you were, and directed to a hospice for strangers that was by the Saint Odo's Shrine, and entered the city without being hassled or harassed, and thus ended the first leg of your pilgrimage, and for the progress made, you thanked the Saints.

2.0 Resting Day​

The walls themselves appeared a great marvel to you, what was inside at first made another sort of an impression, far less pleasing; for you found that the streets were twisted and narrow, and that houses were built so close to each another that a meanest spark could cause a great fire; and finally that the crowd was even greater inside the walls than outside, and the bustle and hurry of people around you made you feel uneasy, for it was different from what you had known, as different as night is from a day. You moved from a city square to a city square of uncertain purpose, was called many a derogatory term by people that you did not know and who seemed intent on offending you just because you were in their, and through three different bridges, you crossed the river that was dividing the city in two, all the while the night was falling and lights around were going out, until only a few lamps remained lit. Soon, the crowd thinned, and its roar was replaced by drunkards' songs that rose from inns and taverns which looked to be more common in the city than actual homes. Finally, some fellow passer-by took pity on you (so obviously lost and alien you were) and showed you how best to find thethe hospice, and thankfully, he did so without mocking or insulting you further. Thanks to him, quickly you found yourself treading the shrine-grounds of the city of Grace.

There was a great concentration of temples around you; and even in the poor light of the night, the great shrines of stone were to you a wonder just as a great as the city's walls, if not greater still; for walls were raised for temporal glory and protection, while the shrines and temples spoke of the glory everlasting that is the due of men of good faith and devotion, and which is more important than anything that passes in dime. Among them, you finally found the hospice and was received at the door by a monk who did not hesitate a single moment to let you in, and you were seated at a table and bread and wine was offered to you to lift your spirits and keep you strong. Then, you attended the compline, and after singing the prayers, you were led to a high-vaulted chamber with many beds, where other pilgrims were sleeping (you were informed that most of them did not travel past the city of Grace, because the city housed great many shrines with great many relics of significant holiness, prime among them being the miraculously preserved head of Saint Odo).

In the morning, after prayer followed by a meal (for each pilgrim two of them were provided in the hospice; one after prime, and another after vespers), you asked some questions to the monks, who were all very eager to assist you, although they did warn you profusely that the city held many dangers to one's piety and virtue, and therfore discouraged you from leaving the shrine grounds where, as they assured, no ill will could manifest due to great number of relics and acts of faith committed daily. From them, you learned that the bishop, Gresius, was receiving petitioners daily in his palce, and that you could seek him out if such was your will. You also learned that it was the custom among pilgrims to ask for alms on the shrine steps, so that the people of good religion could assist them on their arduous way, and that you should not worry about staying in the hospice for too long; because while there had been cases of pilgrims living at the expense of the monks, they thought it but another test of their generosity and piety and did not protest that, for to tend to sinners is a virtue even greater than to tend to saints; you found it strangely forthcoming from the monk to declare that to you upfront, but you considered that perhaps he had little opportunity to distinguish himself yet and was searching for pious acts that could elevate him. Which in itself was a sin, you considered, but did not speak about.

Besides the suggestions of the monks, there were many more things that you could do in a city such as Grace; and quite a bit of time, too. Reik had promised to return in three days, after all.

For your first day in the city of Grace, you chose to: (pick three)

[ ] See the bishop Gresius as instructed by Ethal.

[ ] Pray in one of the large temples, hoping to earn a blessing…

[ ] …at the shrine of Saint Odo, to thank him for safely delivering you to the city.
[ ] …at the shrine of Saint Reus, patron of soldiers.
[ ] …at the shrine of the First Saint.
[ ] …at some other lesser shrine.
​

[ ] Ask for alms at the steps of Saint Odo's Shrine.

[ ] Go wandering the city, trying to learn more about it and what is there to be done in it.

[ ] Ask about the nearby land and try to learn more about it.

[ ] Go look if Ethal the priest had returned to the city, to learn about your father's health.

[ ] Attempt to sell some of your possessions…

[ ] [specify what]
​

[ ] Attempt to buy something…

[ ] [specify what]​

[ ] [Write in]

 

[Gargulec]

Was supposed to be early. I was supposed to be working. Oh come on, who did I try to fool? Anyway. Bishop. Lay of the land. Shrine of Saint Odo.

2.1 First Day​

At that time, the bishop of Grace was a man called Gresius; who had held the episcopal see for many years. He was known to be a genial soul, that took the matters of the faith very close to his heart and never allowed the contamination of heresy or idolatry to spread under his eyes; furthermore he put salvation of his flock ahead of any other temporal good, and worked relentlessly to ensure it by gathering in the city of Grace a great multitude of relics and building a great number of shrines and temples, so that the city saw the number of them triple under his pastoral protection, and great was the praise raised to his name.

However, as no man can live without erring, and even the Saints themselves had known the bitter taste of sin, so was too Gresius afflicted with a terrible vice of the temporal, that is greed; for he thought to himself that if all the gold of realm was to be in his hand, he could raise even more shrines and temples and put each relic in a case of precious metal and gems, so that the everlasting glory could be made manifest before mortal eyes. But he had soon lost the virtue in the purpose and focused on amassing earthly gain solely to fill his own coffers; and he imposed a great multitude of taxes on the city and where once songs of praise were sung to his name now laments rose to the sky, for he became a ruin of many good people, who could scarcely pay him off; and those who could not, he would persecute with considerable zeal.

Then one night, he had a following dream: he saw two shepherds who walked a very narrow bridge over a very narrow chasm; one of them wore a shirt of plain wool, and the other wore a sheepskin one, and they each tried to walk across the bridge, but only the shepherd with the wool shirt managed, while the one with a sheepskin shirt faltered and plummeted into the chasm. And waking from that sleep, Gresius understood what he saw as follows: the shepherd with a wool cloak fleeced his sheep, that is taxed them appropriately, so that they could live and provide for him, and he managed to walk to salvation, while the shepherd in a sheepskin shirt skinned them instead for greater gain, but the greed which led him to butcher his own flock was also the cause of his damnation. And from that time, Gresius lowered the taxes and tolls that he had instituted, and sought to exhibit modesty instead of greed. But the Saints, who reward virtue and punish vice, saw also fit to inflict him with a strange affliction that caused his body to swell, as if to make him atone for his past misdeeds.

This is why when the bishop received you in his palace, which was next to the city's fort, where the king's castellan resided, he seemed strange to your, almost bloated, and he bemoaned with his each word that for the disease he had, he could not indulge in hunts and feasting, which brought him considerable grief. He listened to you carefully, though, for the sake of priest Ethal who was his assistant; he also knew your father from the times of war, for they had fought together against the threat of the Seafarers. Because of that he told you that he would not stop you or avert you from your way, despite it being now forbidden for women to make pilgrimages, particularly ones that are young and yet unwed, and due that, tempestuous in their desires of flesh. He also gave you such advice: that few wander to the city of Step anymore, because it is very far away, and that he himself does not know the way and in fact does not know of anyone who knows it, but that in the city of High Tower, which lies in the north, there is a monastery where they keep much obscure wisdom, and the abbot of the monastery, whose name is Eadald, is a friend of his. And saying that, he also gave you a pendant of silver and gold with his name impressed on it, so that you could show it to Eadald, so that he would help you for the sake of their friendship, and having done that, he asked you to leave, for there were other petitioners waiting.

***
​

You have gained a Signature Medallion, and appraised it to be worth three solidi!​

***​

You…

[ ] Left immediately.

[ ] Asked him for his blessing.

[ ] Asked him for some coin.


Having met with the bishop, you decided to go to the temple of Saint Odo and pray there, to thank the Saint for safely delivering you into the city and ask for continued protection and guidance. The temple did awe you, when you entered, for it was filled with treasure, and so much of gold there was inside that with the light of the lamps and candles, it seemed that the entirety of the temple glistened and shone; and a choir of monks sung hymns to the glory of Saint Odo unceasingly, and even though the relic itself was not put on display (you had later learned that it was only shown to the lay two days each year, that is on the Feast of All Saints and Saint Odo's own feast-day); and more, there were also paintings of the Saints on the walls and the vaulting, rendered in reds and golds, that depicted the martyrdom of Saint Odo and many miracles that followed. You prayed fervently for some hours, until your voice grew raspy, and the chill from the floor got to your bones; then, taking example from the other faithful, you crawled from the gates of the temple to the very front of the altar-slab, and kissed the stone beneath which the remains of Saint Odo were said to be deposited.

Thus refreshed, and confident that the Saint's blessing would not leave you, you left the temple. On the steps leading up to it, you passed by a gathering of beggars, who asked for alms from the faithful; they presented their crippled limbs and other deformities and invoked the name of Saint Odo, for they were hungry and cold and without anything to call their own. You noticed that most of their bowls were empty, and that few of the people of the city of Grace deigned to stop by them to offer them charity.

You...

[ ] Passed them by.

[ ] Gave one of them your knife's sheathe (worth half a solidus).

[ ] Gave one of them the fibula fastening your cloak (worth a solidus).

[ ] Gave one of them the signature medallion (worth three solidi).

[ ] Gave one of them your fur cloak (worth twelve solidi).


The rest of the day, you spent making quests to the lay of the land and asking about the roads from and into the city, particularly the ones leading north, where the city of Step lay. You had learned a lot, although some people that you asked thought you rather stupid for asking such things. Firstly, you learned the following: that three weeks of marching (or four weeks if one was to take the river route which was safer, but also slower) north, there was the city of Breakers and three weeks north from the city of Breakers, there was the city of High Tower, and that along that way, there were some smaller cities which were less worth of mention. Secondly, you learned that to the north of the city of Grace, between it and the city of Breakers, there opened a great swathe of swampy land which was difficult to travel; and although a paved road ran through it, and there were inns and road-stops along it, there was also a great number of brigands and exiles who hid in the woods and swamps and hunted lonesome travellers, and that the danger of the People From Beyond The Mountains could not be discounted either, for they being a scourge of the sinners often sent their raiding parties deep into the wilds; as arrows sent by a blind archer whose name was Death. Thirdly, that in the middle of the swamps, there was the city of Pillars, which was wretched by all reckonings. Fourthly, that in and around the swamps, there were pockets of good land which were claimed by a number of monasteries, which laid off the paved road, but there were narrower trails leading to them. And fifthly, that there were many tales of strange beasts that lived within the swamps and forests, that did not care much for ordinary men and found great joy in tempting them off the path and into their doom, and that some claimed that deep in those woods, there is a hollow hill through which one can enter Hell, although this is dangerous for a great number of devils guards it, so that the damned souls do not escape.

All that, you had learned and remembered, from monks and lay people that you asked, and the knowledge was good; however, it was also likely that some of those things interested you more than others, and so during your inquires, you asked about them more.

You…

[ ] Actually refused to show curiosity.

[ ] Asked more about the city of Pillars.

[ ] Asked more about the People From Beyond The Mountains.

[ ] Asked more about bandits and brigands.

[ ] Asked more about the monasteries.

[ ] Asked more about the river route.

[ ] Asked more about the strange hill.

 

[Gargulec]

You decided to not bother the bishop, give some alms out and check out the rivers and hellish hills! That's something.

2.2 Second Day​

Towards the closing of the day, shortly before evening prayers, when the sun was yet up on the sky, even as it leaned more and more towards its nightly rest, you again took into your hands the Book of Roots, to see what the pious monk Desiderus had to relate about the strange hill that was rumoured to be a gateway to the infernal realms. While you looked to sate your curiosity, others, who were gathered in the hospice, were very surprised that you carried with yourself such a book, and listened carefully as you read, even if they did not understand what they heard.

Of the lower depths, such were the words of Desiderus:

A cave is a subterranean rift from which it is possible to 'look out'. Fumarole is the name given to all places of pestilential exhalation, which the Easterners call Charon, or Acheron. Reatinus, too, calls such a place a fumarole; and fumaroles are so called because they are places where the earth produces an exhalation. A cleft is a deep break of the earth, as if the term were 'a departure'. Properly speaking, however, cleft is the opening of the mouth of a human being, with the sense transferred from wild beasts, whose eagerness for something is shown through opening of the mouth. The deep is properly said of something as if its bottom were 'far off'. Incorrectly, however, 'the deep' is applied to what is on high as well as what lies below, as in: The seas, the lands, and the deep sky. Abyss is the word for an excessive depth: and it is called as if the term were "black abyss", that is, black from its depth.
​

Next to that description of abyss, there was a gloss scribbled in a steady hand that read: Liefs call in their tongue "black abyss" the hill that stands not far the Abbey of Saint Traft in the vicinity of the city of Pillars, from which we can confer it contains in itself a road that leads into the depths. On that, the gloss ended, and you resumed reading from Desiderus.

Erebus is the deep inner part of the underworld…
​

Below that continued the description of various layers of hell, but before you could read them, one of the monks who were tending to the hospice, alarmed by the commotion, commanded that you stop reading about such dark matters in what is the home of the Saints and that also you should present yourself and your book to him on the morning of the next day, although he did not specify why. And others who were in the hospice made gestures of devotion, for listening about the infernal matters set them ill at ease, particularly when the words seemed alien and strange to them; and there was some discussion as whether you should ever speak of such things, but then the call to meal and prayer was heard.

Later, when the needs of both your flesh and your spirit were sated, and you laid in bed next to others, you recalled the events of the day one last time before falling asleep, particularly thinking of two matters, one that was related to the bodily aspect of your pilgrimage and one that related to the spiritual. First, you thought of what you had learned about the river routes; that ships often sail the river Charm from the city of Grace to the city of Breakers, carrying various goods and passengers, and that such way, while slow and often onerous is considered safe, for the river Charm is known to be blessed ever since saint Marga the Martyr had been drowned in it by pagans for refusing to bow down to their idols and not renouncing the Saintly faith, and that it is also held under special protection by the king, who keeps ports along it well-maintained, and even appointed some of his closest companions to keep watch over them. Therefore, it was prudent for those travellers who wanted to avoid the bleak swamps, dangerous trails and the city of Pillars to take the river route, and you had also been informed that a ship would be soon leaving for the city of Breakers, but also that the ship's captain, king's companion Notkar was known to be ill-inclined to taking passengers who do not carry arms, and required a considerable fee of silver and gold to be convinced to do otherwise.

The matter spiritual was that charity you offered to a haggard-looking man on the steps of Saint Odo's shrine; the sheathe of your knife, which was encrusted with silver. He took it and thanked you profusely for helping a man who had all hope taken from him, and blessed you by the names of all the Saints that were known to him, and as he did, a sense of lightness came over you, and confidence that the path you tread is a just one, even though you also had to put your knife in your pack, and felt strange not having it on your belt, as was the custom.

***

Saint Odo's blessing strengthens! You grow certain that when the time comes to invoke it, it will have even more impact!

***
​

With such thoughts on your mind, you slept, but hardly easily; you woke up before prime, covered in sweat and feeling sore, as if something terrible had just occurred to you; yet you could not recall any dream or nightmare that could had plagued you so. The feeling passed with the prayer and the morning meal, and receded entirely when you set out to decide how to spend your second day in the city of Grace.

In the end, such were your decisions: (pick three)

[ ] See the monk that demanded your presence.

[ ] Seek the king's man Notkar and ask him about river passage to the city of Breakers.

[ ] Look for more information about nearby lands…

[ ] About the city of Pillars.
[ ] About the Abbey of Saint Traft.
[ ] About the bandits and brigands of the swamps.
[ ] About the People From Beyond The Mountains.​

[ ] Go look if Ethal the priest had returned to the city, to learn about your father's health.

[ ] Go wandering around the city, to see what is there to be done in it.

[ ] Attempt to buy something…

[ ] [specify what]
​

[ ] Attempt to sell something…

[ ] [specify what]
​

[ ] [Write in]

 

[Gargulec]

In that order: see the monk (thank the Saints you did, he'd have kicked you out of the hospice otherwise!), see Notker, ask about the strange people. Consult the book for medicinal knowledge. Let's go.

2.3 In Motion​

Early in the morning, after you had received your measure of bread and wine along with other pilgrims (as well as some honey; although the monks endeavoured to keep the food in the hospice plain not to distract the itinerants from the spiritual with too much of an earthly gluttony, it was the day of Saint Aelta, whose name did the prior of the abbey carry, and therefore in line of celebration, such foods were given own), as commanded on the night before, you sought the monk that demanded to see you and presented himself before him. He demanded that you surrender the book that you carry to him, for the fear of it leading you into the grasp of the Malefactors, as being a female, and therefore of meeker countenance of the spirit, you could mistake the lie exposed for the truth explained; but you refused and explained to him that it was a boon given to you to by your ailing father, who was deathly ill, or already at the Saint's side, and that you would not surrender it to anyone, but in the sacred city of Step, to which your road leads. Upon hearing that, the monk grew silent in considerations and remained so for some time. And it had to be noted that he was a very sagacious man, wise in years and unwavering in his piety, who had tended to the hospice for time so long that he could remember the bishop that was before the bishop who was before bishop Gresius, and had, therefore, in his life, seen many pilgrims, genuine and counterfeit alike. Finally, drawing on his wisdom, he told you thus:

"What the Saints had put in motion may by no mortal hand be stopped; I will pray that you will find the way that is unknown to us."

And then he urged you to not read from the book again in the common room of the hospice, and also cautioned that wisdom is saintly, but only when paired with faith, and that on its own it leads to great many sins that should not be spoken about. He also reminded you that chastity is beloved in the eyes of the saints and that the urges of the flesh should not be heeded, for they are the Malefactor's doing, and finally that a pilgrim has little, and cares about even less, and that an encumbered man will not cross the narrow bridge.

You thanked him for his advice, and went on your way, to find the king's man Notker. The task proved rather easy, for he was well known to reside by the river-side dock, which was outside the city's wall, along with his company of warriors, and so you reached him quickly. He was a great man; that is great of size, and had long hair (which were how they were carried some time ago; he had held on to the custom for the sake of own pride). He carried on himself great many jewels: golden was the clasp of his cloak and belt, golden were the medallions on his neck, rings on his fingers and ornamentation on the scabbard of his mighty sword, and in the pommel of the sword, there was also a large pearl, although its surface was cracked and blemished, as if some stain of rot had taken it from the inside. He was always surrounded by some of his men, whose number was eleven; they looked to you rather young, all of them, and not that dissimilar from your brothers, although some of the looks they gave you felt mean. Notker himself, at first, did not want to hear about taking you on. He said, in rough and unpleasant words that he was not at all keen on taking additional luggage such as you. To this, he had also added:

"And I would rather hire a whore or two to keep my men's mirth and company on the way, than take on a prattling zealot that will surely drown herself at first opportunity."

On your insistence, he declared the price of transit to be fifteen solidi, which seemed to you rather unfairly high, but he would not change his mind, and instead mocked you cruelly when you tried to argue with him.

You said to him…

[ ] …nonetheless tried to prove to him that taking on a pilgrim would surely be of benefit for his soul.

[ ] …that the way he treated you was unacceptable and that he should reconsider.

[ ] …that you could be on some use during the journey as well.

[ ] [specify how]
​

[ ] ...nothing. The man disgusted you and you left.

Later, you spent some time asking about for those People From Behind The Mountains, however you learned rather little about them; fellow pilgrims in the hospice had mostly warned you about them in the strongest of terms, claiming that they are godless people who pillage and destroy, and that nothing brings them more merriment than the cruel desolation they bring wherever their hosts go, and that they worship the Malefactors whom they mistake for the Saints, and that the king of Liefs had waged many wars against them, that were great victories, and yet they come from their hide-outs far beyond the mountains, but that also they sometimes send traders, who bring with themselves many wonderful and sorcerous items, and who have so much gold that it is worth no more to them than copper, and that silver is for them as valuable as hay, and that such traders can be sometimes seen in the city of Breakers or High Tower. One of the pilgrims in particular considered that they must come from the same womb as the Seafarers, because both are obviously scourges sent on the faithless by the Saints, or possibly the signs given by them that the world is about to end, as it had been told; and that all should make penance and seek absolution, for the time is nigh. He then went on to describe how in the northern land, three stars had appeared on the sky, two of them red, and one of them golden, and how it was a sign that two great wars will befall the good people before the Golden King comes to rule them in great prosperity for a millennium before the name of the God is revealed to all. Finally, he also blamed the bishops, who live like princes, on the fact that such promises are as of yet unfulfilled, and expressed concern that it might be a great plot by them (and that they are certainly in league with the Malefactors) to stop common sainthood, so that they can put on the yoke of their cruel rule on the lay people and detract them from sacredness.

You considered what he had said, but also noticed that he was drooling from the corner of the lip and one of his eyes was quite ravaged, so out of worry that he might be afflicted with something more than madness, you did not dispute his claims (although it bears note that you had later heard that the man was later healed from his stubborn insanity by the grace of Saint Clovis and on his death-bed, he atoned for all of his blasphemies).

Finally, towards the evening, you found a mostly lone place for yourself and attempted to consult the book on the nature of the bishop's ailment. After some searching, you had found a mention of a disease similar to his, called sarcia, which was described thusly: Sarcia is an excessive increase in flesh, by which a body grows fat beyond measure, for the Easterners call flesh sarcos. Alas, there was no mention of a cure to it, and you had conceded to yourself in spirit that what the Saints had put in motion may by no mortal hand be stopped. One thing, however, drew your attention, and that was a gloss filled on the margin in a similar hand than the one you had noticed some time ago by the description of law saintly and human. As you were not pressed for time, you read it, and it struck you as quite. It read as follows: Nothing on the diseases of the deep.

***

You have found another mysterious gloss! It's been added to the character sheet. Or, as someone would say: "I have updated my journal".

***
​

Before you could investigate it more, the call to prayer was heard, and then to a meal, and the matter slipped of your mind for the night. Yet, when you laid to sleep, in a bed that was emptier than the night before (for some had left the city already, to return to their homes, wherever they might be), you found a strange sensation come over you, and remembered that the night before was not easy on you. As you closed your eyes to sleep, you thought that something similar may be coming over you.

You…

[ ] Prayed it away, and allowing no nightmare to touch you.

[ ] Allowed it to come, and tried to remember more of it come morning.

 

[Gargulec]

So! Saying nothing and allowing the vision. That was your choice. Now the third day is upon you!​

2.4 Reik Returned​

However much you invited the nightly visions and mares to come over you, little of them of remained when you were raised in the morning; although others that shared the bed with you did alert you that some sort of terrible thrashing came over you in the middle of the night, and that others woke and were worried that it might be a devil or a Malefactor possessing you. However, it passed quickly, and it was also reasoned that in the closeness of such great many shrines and relics, no force of evilness could weave its nest, and so you were left to be. From that you concluded that there were great many visions imparted on you during the night, and only the feebleness of your mind caused most of them to fade away, save for one; that is of a sound which you recalled clearly hearing, and that was the sound of a great gate slamming shut behind you, and then being barred three times, so that no might, no matter how great, could force it open. That you remember clearly, but the meaning of it was unknown to you, if there was a meaning to it. For it was well known that the Saints often send sacred visions to the faithful and sinful alike; for the first to reinforce them in their zeal, and for the other to avert them from their ways. However, it was also commonly recognized that the ranks of the Malefactors are also by saintly privilege allowed to mislead and deceive; that is to test the faithful, and to lead the faithless into even a greater damnation. Therefore, it was the task of each man of good religion to tell the saintly dreams from the maleficent, and it was a task often made greatly difficult, for being bereft of the knowledge of the name of God, the Malefactors seethed in their immense wickedness and ever devised new traps and snares to capture the souls of men, and such was the saintly decree that they were allowed to do so unrestrained, until the ripeness of time and the coming of common sainthood.

Such considerations were on your mind in the morning, and as if to confirm the rightness of them, while praying in the morning services, you noticed a painting rendered on one of the walls of the shrine that had previously been unseen by you, and it depicted a pilgrim with a stout staff in his hand, and he was walking over a very narrow bridge over a very deep chasm; and behind him was the city of the temporal and ahead of him was Step everlasting, and below him was damnation.

Afterwards, the day rose, and the matters of perishable things returned to your mind, for you had to consider how to go about your further pilgrimage. The king's man Notker was set to leave with his boat in a days' time, and if not for him, then it seemed to you prudent to do some preparations for your way through the swampy lands. As a pilgrim, you could of course expect the charity and alms from the people of good religion, but it seemed to you from what you had heard that there may not be all that many of them in the bogs; although perhaps such concerns should not be raised and your life should be put again in the hands of the Saints, for them to do with it as it was fit. For no matter how much you tried to focus on perishable things on that day, your mind always found a way from them to go to the matters of what eternal, and therefore most worthy of attention.
That is until the tradesman Reik had found you; of him promise that he would reach the city in three days' time, you did not think much until he entered the hospice and demanded to talk to you. He was asked to leave by the gatekeeper brother, who seemed unfond of him, but that not before the information of his presence was relayed to you, and you were instructed that if you were to meet with him, he would be waiting in an inn belonging to a man named Chilperus; that inn was also known as the "Cattle's Inn", for it was where the cattle-drivers would rest and strike their deals in the time of the great cattle fair which happened on the fields before the city of Grace each June.

Having little else to do, and with the day being still young, you went there, and there, in the company of people who seemed rather dishonest, and certainly not as faithful as the ones in the hospice, you met with Reik. He greeted you and immediately went on to tell a sad tale of how his alleged friend turned false, and presented some bruises to you show where the man's slaves had beaten him. He then asked you whether you had accomplished more, and you explained to him your recent activities; most of which did not interest him, but for the mention of Notker and the steep price he had imposed on your passage. He spoke to you such:

"Ah, but you are not a tradesman, and I am; and the river runs all the way to the city of Breakers, where I must go, so perhaps I can convince him to take us both for a lower price. King's men do not know the value of coin and can be easily befuddled by it."

On that, he asked you to wait for him, for he was going to without delay go and talk the matter over with the man. And so, you spent some time in the inn, which was not very lively, as it was not the time for travellers and strangers to flood the city yet. Some men played dice on a cow's skin by the fire-pit, and a young woman watched over them, cheering for their victories, although she did not seem to support any particular one. There was also the inn-keeper's wife, who tended to fire and the stew on it, and seeing that you were alone, sat by you and asked if you knew Reik well; having heard that you did, she laughed at him, calling him a very avaricious man, who does everything for coin and for coin only and who thinks that one day it will be the coin that will replace the crown or the pall. However, you did not have much opportunity to talk more, because Reik returned promptly, in the highest of spirits.

He explained to you that he managed to convince Notker to take you both, for he had appealed both to his sense of religion, and also to his sense of gain (and he laughed mirthfully as he said so, the words cheering him up a great lot), and although that would mean that you would owe him some money, he thought that it would be perhaps prudent to thank the Saints more for his deliverance from the beasts of the wild, and so he would not demand it to be repaid. More, he said that your mere presence on the way would surely make up for any losses he might had suffered, and smiled again at those words. He then asked you if you agree to his offer, and urged you to respond quickly, for he had preparations to make that could not wait (now that he was leaving on the next day), and therefore he scarcely had the time to answer questions.

You listened to him carefully and…

[ ] ...agreed to his offer.

[ ] …did not agree to his offer.

 

[Gargulec]

Agreeing to the offer won, and therefore your voyage continues. So, about that candy in the van...​

2.5 Leaving Grace​

In spite of all of Reik's perceivable flaws of character, you decided that it would be for the betterment of your pilgrimage to agree to his offer, however untrustworthy it might had appeared. He cheered you on that and bade you to be present in the river-side dock next morning, for Notker was not keen on waiting and rather he wanted to presently, to deliver his men and missives to the city of Breakers. Having told you that, he immediately departed, to see to his own preparations.

Your last day in Grace you spent mostly on idling; you made some efforts to find priest Ethal, but he was nowhere to be seen, so it seemed to you likely that was still standing in vigil by your father's bed of misery. By chance, while looking for Ethal, you found a house of baths, from the times of White Wall, and entered it to wash yourself, for a next chance would not be offered to you in some times. Having thus refreshed your body, you returned to the hospice to there spend the last hours of the day and as well make your goodbyes to the monks tending to it, for they were the most gracious hosts.

In the night, no new visions or dreams were imparted on you, and you slept soundly, and waking up before prime, you gathered your belongings, and without stirring others from their slumber, you left the hospice and then the city's walls, and made yourself presented in the docks, where Notker's barge was waiting. You boarded it along with Reik and others, and were soon on your way, farther still into the unknown world.

3.0 Sailing River Charm​

The river Charm, although said to be blessed, was of foreboding colour, for the waters were grey like iron; and the sky above was shrouded in clouds and of similar character, and it seemed to set everyone ill at ease. As the undertow tugged the boat onwards, you left the lands inhabited by man, and now by your sides, on the banks of the river, there were only thick woods, dark and swampy, and from them noxious fumes rose to the sky, and truly if there was to be land where a hill that contains a route to the infernal regions could be find, it had to be this swamp.

As there was little to do on the barge, Notker and his each sought their own amusement. The king's man himself opted to find a spot on the boat's prow and brood there, or perhaps keep vigilance; and to approach him or speak to him was to receive a very sharp and unkind rebuke. His men – who did not introduce themselves to you, so you were not sure of their names – instead turned to other ways to make the time pass more quickly. Some, particularly an older, keen-eyed man who was apparently called Richbert, took on bows and competed in shooting the water-fowl which was greatly abundant over the river, although that competition was cut short when Notker, having noticed it, commanded them to stop, for they were wasting arrows. They obeyed him without hesitation, and it seemed to you that he was like father to them, such was their submission.

Then they instead sat on the deck and talked about many matters; although women and war seemed to be the most prevalent. They each boasted their prowess and mettle; Cifi from the Thistle Islands, who spoke the language of the Lief people in a strange fashion, spoke about how he had impaled three sea-farers on his spear in one thrust, and at that, he was challenged by Sigbert (who was recognizable for he had lost one ear in battle), who told how he once put a lance through five People From Beyond The Mountains at once, all while they were on horsebacks, to which Cifi said that it was no feat, for the cowardice of those people is well known, as is the leanness of their horses, and each Seafarer is worth three of them at least, particularly since they go into battle in mail hauberks and are therefore impervious to mundane blows, to which Sigbert only spat. Then another man (whose name you did not catch, but who was remarkable in that he carried on himself no gold nor silver) spoke of how on the king's war he once captured the concubines of some traitorous lord. There, his story became awful to listen to, and the raucous laughs of other man grating, particularly since you felt like they were looking towards you in doing so, so you turned away from listening and instead considered other matters.

A very strange thought came to you then, as you watched the water flow, that is that you were in possession of yourself. That is, of course, your father still held your mundium, that is the principality over your and over your life, which is the father's prerogative – if he still lived. If not, it would pass to your brothers, who were in captivity, or next of kin, which would make it Rado the Old. But all of them were very distant, and would only become more distant, and therefore, their rule over you could not extend to command you in actuality. You were no rachinburga, and did not know the laws of Liefs all that well, but such state seemed to you a very peculiar one and perhaps even a bit lawless. Such thoughts passed through your mind.

Then, something else grabbed your attention, and that was one of Notker's man finding a different sort of amusement for himself. He was a lad still, with red hair and thin limbs, and he took in his hands a javelin, and leaning towards the river, skewered fish onto it with great agility, and other man seeing that cheered him, from which you learned that they called him Cu. And thus, with his nimble spear, he captured twelve fishes in the span of half of an hour, if not shorter, and even to you, it seemed a great feat.

As the night was drawing near, Notker sent one of his men to be on a look-out for a place to land and make camp, which was promptly found and the barge was steered towards the river's bank, and you landed. Quickly, Notker's men went on to prepare a fire, while you and Reik were commanded to work on the fishes that were captured by Cu, and when the tradesman complained that he was being set to a womanly work, Notker hit him on the face, after which he would not complain more.

Afterwards, in the time of nightfall, after you had you eaten, you all gathered around the fire, readying yourself to sleep (aside from the man that drew the short lot and was therefore sent to stand guard over you during the night). Notker's men again returned to their favoured stories, although they spoke less of war and mettle now, and more about stranger and more outlandish things, such as men-eating witches who were said to inhabit the bog in great number, or about the wickedness of the men of the city of Pillars.
You sat near them, and they seemed to pay you no attention, until the one called Cu approached you with a wide smile. And he spoke to you, in similar fashion to Cifi the Islander.

"Methinks that I fancy the spot you have by the fire."

Having heard that, the others hushed their stories and looked all in your direction, while Cu smiled still.

Said Cu:

"Methinks that you should sleep in the dark, not by the bonfire."

Saying that, he thrust his javelin in the ground between your legs.

You…

[ ] …obeyed him and moved away from the fire.

[ ] ...did not obey him, and stayed where you were.

[ ] …reached for the javelin, to defend your place.