Itinerant: A Pilgrim Quest

[Gargulec]

Stay! Unanimously so! Also called: acclamation. I think? Shake your spears! Or something. This is a weird reference. Speaking of weird references: this update contains one that is perhaps the most self-indulgent I have ever written. Also, I am not entirely satisfied with the update, but then again, am I ever? Anyway! The update:

4.13 Violence Breaks At Midnight​

In the end, you decided to stay, and commit once more you fate to the hands of the Saints watching over you. Also of a reassurance was that the Rye-stalk spear was with you, for you had no one you could trust to keep it safe, so you carried it into the feast, still concealed. And even if it was to be revealed, you needed not to worry, for it seemed a custom in the house of Ulla that the weapons were not set aside at threshold. For the men of his family, and men beholden to him, were all inclined to observe the old laws and customs of the Liefs, thinking the time of Otha more noble and just. But although they took those words with them, they did not abide by them, and their hearts were as prone to sin and strife as others in this woeful age, and as evidenced by actions of Ulbert, they spoke of righteousness, but knew more of wickedness.

All around you, swords were drawn and readied, and some men reached for the shields that adorned the walls; and Ulla asked if no one respects the peace of the thing anymore, to which Ulbert replied that it is a heathen custom, and not a saintly one, and to believe that the gods and spirits should smite those who shed blood during a thing is a belief of those not free from the errors of idolatry. Then pious Galen warned him that to raise his arm against his kin is a sin no less grave, and that from the idolaters those are more deplorable in the eyes of the Saints who, having learned of the truth of their gospels, act knowingly against them. But his voice was not heard, and no one observed his cautions. For such is the wickedness of men that they respond to calls for war and shed blood gladly, but turn a deaf ear to the bright words that flow from the font of wisdom.

Then Ulla also drew his sword, gold-glinting, silver-shining, and commanded Ulbert to leave; for if he was not to observe the customs of the thing, then they would not protect him, and his supporters were fewer than those who stood with Ulla: Carolus the Karling, Dagome Golden-beard, both young and very fine warriors, but also of dark spirit, and also Boso who loathed that he had become beholden to Ulla, and Offa, brother to Otha, from the line of Mumolus, who had been a companion to Ulla during the times of war, but was also consumed by greed and envy, and thus eager to break ties of camaraderie and fellowship of the free. Some others joined them, youths and servants, and they all called for Ulla to yield his place. But Ulla merely repeated his command, and said to them that they were to leave and take with them nothing, for they deserved nothing.

But they, being of stubborn spirit, refused, and said: we will not leave the house that is ours, and we will not accept such judgment, for it is unfair. And they said: change it, or else we will kill the maid you favour so much; but to that, he replied:

"I still have the sword and arm with which to win still more and better wives!"

Then, seeing their threats to be hollow, and that they had failed to win the support of abbot Galen, retreated towards the hall-gate, so to scatter into the night. But before this could happen to them, a great call was raised outside the gate, and shouts and cries and ringing of horns. For the Armalings, confident they could claim an easy victory against the house of Ulla, sneaked in during the night, and commenced a raid, to avenge the death of their kinsmen. And some of them pushed open the gates of the feasting-hall, and raised a terrible war-cry, rushed in, bared swords in their hands.

But bitter was their surprise: the house of Ulla was not unprepared, and they would not be taken unaware, and they had raised their battle-should against them, and fought; had it not been for Ulbert and his treachery, the foe would be easily defeated, but now was it as if three armies fought against each another on the same field, not knowing which enemy to strike first.

Around you, women and servants, who were unarmed, hid themselves away, overturning benches and tables, and cowering beneath them, so that they could weather the battle-storm; for the war-cries and clashing of iron terrified them.

You too felt terror at that time, for you had never before been in such fighting, and although you had learned of fear, your heart was ungirded for time of battle. Thus, you too considered to hide beneath a bench, and pray to the Saints that they would deliver you from bloodshed, or else await the killing blow. Yet, the spear was within your reach, and the fight even; and you thought that it would be perhaps preferable to raise it, and join the bout, instead of trembling in wait for the fate which was assigned to you.

You decided to…

[ ] Fight.

[ ] Hide.

 

[Gargulec]

So! Fight! The story of from zero to hero is not one you are likely to find in period appropriate sources, but hey. This quest is a modern-day source! Mix it up. Become a hero. Anyway, the update:

4.14 Our Steps, Into Slaughter​

It pains the heart to tell of such deeds like that which happened on that night in the mighty feasting-hall of Ulla. Great many fine warriors had assembled there, and turned against each another, brother against brother, son against father, kinsman against kinsman, shedding their blood with abandon, to a sinful purpose. Had they instead gathered their strength and turned it to a saintly purpose! But alas, wickedness stirs in hearts of men more easily than virtue, and it seems that with each year, it grows even so, foretelling the coming of a time which men of good heart dread to think, so terrifying it is.

And it is equally saddening to consider the ferocity with which they all went against each another, and savagery more beckoning of the wild beasts than noble men. Such was their blood-thirst that, when the fighting broke out, and light grew dim (for the servants who held the candles all fled or else hid, and only source of light was the fire-pit, and some lamps that hung off the walls), some, with wine clouding their reason, and their senses not knowing friend or foe, and perhaps caring not for that, struck at equally all who were within reach, drawing blood with reckless abandon.

As if to make the slaughter even more terrible, many blows that would be in other times turned away by a helm or a mail-shirt now struck true, for among those who attended the feast, only Ulla, expecting treason, and his son Ulbert, ready for treason, and some among the Amralings, war-readied, carried chain-link suit beneath their garments. Others fought without them, and often without even a shield to protect themselves, and for many, it was their doom.

Truly, it seemed as if the Malefactors themselves had invented such chaos; men who were with Ulla stood against those who were with Ulbert, and the Armalings, but there was no alliance nor truce between the men who chose Ulbert and the Armalings, and so each fought against each. And no mercy was given to the unarmed, and even to the consecrated men; and some of the attendants of abbot Galen fell, but no sword nor axe could strike at the abbot himself, who stood amidst the storm with his arms to the sky, praying for the reason to be returned and peace restored; and by a very saintly miracle, no man struck him, and he was unharmed.

Others, however, bereft of such holy protection, won by him through unwavering faith and zeal, died. Gelbert, brother to Ulla, fell when a sword split his skull in two, and Carolus the Karling was impaled on a spear, and Ulbert slew two of the Armalings who lunged at him, but he did not engage in combat with others of their clan, but rather cut his way towards his father, slaying all who stood against him. For although he was of a vicious character, and of great villainy, as the events previously mentioned had proven beyond any doubt, he was very mighty, and few could stand against him. By his sword was Otha killed, and others still. Then he reached his father, and with some of his men, attempted to slay him too. But men gathered to Ulla, and he stood against them, and they fought each another, evenly matched.

Although fear had at first taken firm grasp of you, you fought it, and pushed it back, and into shaking hands, you took the spear, and bared its fine blade for all to see, and you also took a shield from the wall, and finding it very heavy, took it with you, to guard you against blows. And they both burdened you greatly, but you did not regret your choice, and with your heart and your stomach swollen with fear, you prepared to enter the cauldron of slaughter. And you thought: if that is the death for me, then so be it. Fate abides as fate must; to die fighting is no shame.

But before making the final leap, and raising your spear to shed the blood of others, you considered where to go: for you saw that Ulla was weakening under the blows of Ulbert, and could soon fall, and you thought you could try to defend him, or perhaps betray him, and support Ulbert. But you also saw that the red-headed maid was almost trampled, and she had nowhere to escape, for around her, the fighting was savage; and you also saw that the Armalings were barreling down the hall-gate, and around them, the fighting was the fiercest.

You chose to…

[ ] Attempt to fight for Ulla.

[ ] Attempt to fight for Ulbert.

[ ] Attempt to save the red-headed maid.

[ ] Attempt to push back against the Armalings.

 

[Gargulec]

I apologize once more for a delay, but yesterday I was just incapable of doing this update justice. Not that I am capable of it today! Ha-ha, self depreciation, it is funny! Also makes me more noble. Right? Totally. Anyway, off to the update, I send you:

4.15 In Fellowship of Warriors​

Long had the shield hung on the walls of the great feast-hall of Ulla; but it was made of hard timber which did not yield to rot. It was good protection, a ward against sword and axe. You hefted it high, as you saw warriors do; it was heavy, and beneath it, you buckled. You held the spear in your hand; its fine head bare, gold-glinting, blood-seeking; it was heavy, and beneath it, you buckled. You heard the shouts and roars of battle, steel against steel, death-rattles of those who faced their fate, triumphs of those who yet managed to avert it; they were heavy on you, and you felt that beneath them, you buckle. Many who profess boldness march into battle fearful, when they are untested and unscarred. Dread is a companion to many.

Your shield-arm trembled and your spear-arm trembled and your mind trembled. But beneath it all, there was your heart, and it did not buckle. It was ferocious. And with such a heart, that does not yield and does not break, for it does not abide injustice, you went into the thick of the fray, to shield the red-headed maid, who was defenceless, and sure to perish.

Terrible was the fighting around her, for it was where the Armalings pushed, and men of Ulbert pushed, and men of Ulla pushed. They were all fine warriors, and no cowards, and they faced their foes without worry, and boldly welcomed their fate, when bloodied, they fell to the ground. Rupert fought against Dagome, and was slain, and Ulla, with a sharp axe, split in two the skull of Offa, but fell to an Armaling sword.

That all you witnessed as you rushed, but no more; fighting was upon you, and you were blind. For all you had learned about the spear was gone in an instant when the first blow struck your shield, and you thrust blindly, and heard your voice roar; it was not a bold cry. But you knew that the red-headed maid was near, and you thought that maybe she is behind you, and so, you did not yield at the first blow; you did not yield at the second. And the shield was heavy, and you buckled beneath it. But yield, you did not.

A blade struck against your shield, but it was made of hard timber, and it held; and your thrust, and blood flew. The Rye-stalk was the finest spear in the land; it pierced the mail-shirt easily, and took life without error. From its blade, blood flew. By your hand, a man was deprived of his life; blood was on your hands, and you became a warrior.

***

You gained a new virtue: Warrior. Remember: he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.

***
​

Then you were cut – a sword opened your sword arm, and you bled. But you did not release the spear; you thrust. Then another blow struck against your shield, and you raised it again. A spear opened your side; but the wound was shallow, and you stood. And then through the roar of battle, you heard the scream: "Kill the witch!" and you saw that Dagome Golden-beard was upon you. You raised your shield, he cut, hard was the timber. You thrust, but to no avail; you were weak. He cut, and you raised your shield; hard was the timber. You thrust, but to no avail; you were slow. He cut, and you raised your shield; too slow. A blade cut split you face, from the forehead to the lip, but hard was the timber, and the rim of the shield stopped the sword which would surely kill you, and so deeply did Dagome cut, that he could not free his blade. And you thrust; the Rye-Stalk killed easily. Thus died Dagome.

***

You gained a new scar. That is, if you survive until it heals.

***
​

Then you heard a shout that said: "Ulla!" and thus died Ulbert. The tide was turned; those who stood against Ulla turned, and they pushed against Armalings. And you were in the middle of the fray, bloodied, buckling; the red-headed maid cowering behind you. And you dropped the shield, for it was too heavy. But you held the spear; others were near you, the fraternity of battle, and you were not alone. And the Armalings were ahead, but they were stopped; they could not fight against a house no longer divided.

Your blood flew freely, and so did the blood of others, who were now your companions. And you…

[ ] [Ferocity] …stood with them until the end of the fight.

[ ] ...withdrew from fighting.

[ ] …succumbed to your wounds and fell, unconscious.

Note: blue choices are enabled thanks to your virtues, and most of the time lead to positive results. Also editing note: a single choice was omitted from the vote, amending now.

 

[Gargulec]

So, a short update today. Not much to say. The fighting is done. You are pretty beaten up. You stood fiercely. Which netted you some extra reward options! Joy. Update.

4.16 Like The Old Chiefs​

Strong in your fellowship, no longer divided by treachery, you pushed back against the Armalings, and they could not oppose you. Soon, they were routed, and fled into the night, in utter disgrace, leaving behind their dead and their wounded; they would not trouble the house of Ulla for a long time.

To the end, you fought along with men of Ulla, arm by arm, in fellowship of warriors. To your right stood Gella, and to your left stood Gunthram, and they covered you with their shields, so that you would not be further wounded.

Then, the fighting came to an end. The dead were counted, and fighters assembled around Ulla the Hammer, who, through the grace of the Saint, had emerged victorious from this trial. But, as he had been eager to permit idolatry, the Saints had punished him thusly: he had suffered a terrible wound, by the hand of Ulbert: a sword was driven through his side, and split it open. For such is the way of the Saints that they punish us through the pagan and the wicked, permitting them to be a scourge on us, so that we avert our way and avoid sin.

But Ulla, being of great strength, did not submit to the wound, and presided over his warriors like a chief of old, from the times of the blessed king Otha, who first led the Liefs. And he divided between them the booty of the battle, and commended them for coming to his aid in time of need.

He elevated his nephew Gella, for he stood valiantly, and fought fiercely; by his hand, no less than three Armalings had met their doom. He also had the head of Ulbert separated from his body, so that it could be put on a display, and he also made it so that the heads of others who betrayed him would be treated in such a way. And at first he also demanded that those who fought against him, but switched sides when Ulbert was defeated was to be put to the sword as well, but at that the pious abbot Galen intervened, and pleaded for mercy and leniency. And Ulla was moved by his very eloquent words, and gave his pardon, merely demanding that they swear their loyalty to him again, which they all did, first among them Boso, and they cursed the name of Ulbert, for he was a provoker of strife. Thus was the unity of the house of Ulla restored.

You listened to all of it, and cheered with others; the fighting spirit had not yet left you at that hour, but as the tempers cooled, the toil of your wounds and your exertion weighed heavily on you; and you had to call on the red-headed maid to support you, so that you could stand, when Ulla called for you to make yourself presented before him, and when you did, he beheld you, and spoke:

"You stayed true to your name and fought no less boldly than any man. You stood against villainy for me, and shed blood for me. This, I will not easily forget, and you are always welcome in the house of Ulla; may those who call you witch and insult you be forever silent. And I thank you that you shielded my favoured concubine from savage blows, so that she emerged unharmed from the cauldron of slaughter. Now, it is very correct thing to do to reward loyalty, and to give gifts to one's guest, so I ask you to name the prize that you want, and it will be given to you."

Your mind was clouded as you listened to his words, but you were grateful for them none-the-less, and such commendation from such a great warrior filled you with a kind of pride you did not know before. But the wounds you suffered were heavy, and you knew you could not stand for much longer, and so you…

[ ] Asked to be given a shield, then fainted.

[ ] Asked to be given gold, then fainted.

[ ] Asked to be given the red-headed maid, then fainted.

[ ] Denied reward, then fainted.

 

[Gargulec]

Okay! Shield! Biggest vote thus far. I am happy. Today's update is shorter. And written in a style that is different from usual, if only because I just could not figure out how to do it differently. But I think that the circumstances permit it. Onwards to update!

​

You asked for a shield, so that you would be recognized for a warrior, and before Ulla the Hammer could grant you your wish, the battle and the wounds endured took their toll, and you lost your consciousness, in the red-headed maid's arms.

5.0 The Price For All That​

You woke up in the morning; you were cold. They had cleaned your wounds with wine and olive, and applied bandages to them, and put you by the fire, next to other wounded. But beneath the cover of furs, you felt cold. There was sweat on your brows, thick, sticky.

You were in terrible pain.

Again, you passed out.

You dreamed: of your family's home, which you perceived as distant. Rye grew around it, a wall which you could not cross. And as you dreamed, it seemed to move farther and farther away, until you could no longer see.​

It felt as if your face was enflamed; you could not open one eye, and you could not open your mouth. Your body was very cold. Others gathered around. They touched you. You screamed. You cried. You passed out.

You dreamed: you walked alone through a field of grass, fawn grass. Rye? You had a shield on your back, and a spear in your hand. A fine helmet, and a suit of mail. Something terrible was behind you.​

You heard prayer. It was coming from very near. It was spoken by a woman. It was a prayer to… you cried. You were so cold. You were inflamed. They fed you through a straw. You choked. You passed out.

You dreamed: fighting that never ended. Fellowship of warriors that lasts until the common sainthood comes, as promised.​

"…she was very weak, now the wounds will fester…"

You dreamed: they dig a grave, and you lay in it. With you, your shield, and your spear. Gold. A fine cloak. A warrior's burial. You are not afraid. You are proud. There is no shame in such death.
​

You awoke to a moment of lucidity, and you regretted that. But it did not last very long.

You dreamed: a woman in a cloak of black feather, smiling at you. The crow has not yet cawed! Do not look! Do not look!​

It had been… some time. The pain receded. You were wracked and afflicted. Pus dripped from your wounds. Your lips barely moved. They bled. Someone was near you? You whispered for someone to come. You asked for…

[ ] …a healer.

[ ] …a priest.

[ ] …the maid.

[ ] ...Ulla.

[ ] …Cu.

[ ] …Reda.

[ ] …mother.

 

[Gargulec]

Very late update today, but the day's been pretty weird and hectic. But still! An update. Enjoy. Also there is a bit of anachronism here, because I am using a bit of religious imagination from a couple hundred years up than the epoch depicted, but I think it is actually appropriate and fits, so hey! Here's your priest.

5.1 Now, Abandon Your Wicked Ways​

Knowing that who lives and who dies is decided by the Saints, not by a mortal will, you asked for a priest to be brought to your bedside. As you did that, a measure of lucidity came over you – you suffered from terrible pain, but did not lapse into fevered visions, instead perceiving your surroundings with some clarity. The red-headed maid was near you, tending to you, and other wounded lay around, all that had suffered wounds at the hands of betrayers or the Armalings. Ulla was among them – he too was inflicted a serious wound, but being of a very strong body, it was closing cleanly, and he was recovering well.

As there was no priest in home of Ulla, they sent a servant to a nearby village, where one could be found, and he was brought to you presently. The violence inflicted on the house appalled him, and at the threshold, he balked, but being a man of faith, he did not waver for long, and instead bravely entered the feast-hall, to administer to the wounded and the dying. But first, he asked Ulla about the fight, and upon learning that you too stood in it, he seemed greatly worried.

And he said to Ulla that as it is not correct for a dog to do the work of a horse, and for a horse to do the work of a dog, it is improper for a woman to act like a man; and that under the laws of the old books, such women were to be punished with death, for it was a very sinful thing to do. Ulla would not listen to him, however, and scoff at his words, even as the priest called upon the authority of the great first saints.

The priest then, very wroth with Ulla, said that it seems obvious to him that the errors of idolatry were still present in his heart, and that he did not lead a saintly life; he said:

"Your arm may be strong now, but the Saints will bring you down, unless you avert your ways."

Next, he spoke about it seemed obvious to him that a woman such as you could not stand in fight like a man, and if she did, then it was the work of the Malefactors, for they are the ones who grant strength to the despoilers of peace and saintly order. But he also said that the Saints are merciful, and it was a good thing you were not slain on the field, but rather given more time to renounce your wickedness, and he came by you, and explained to you that you were dying of the wounds inflicted on your body – they festered, and you were afflicted by a fever which would not die; it was likely that your blood was poisoned because of that.

He said:

"Do not despair, however, for you were given a great gift; for the anguish which you now feel is not a hundredth and not a thousandth of what you will suffer when in the clutches of the Malefactors, but also it is a gift from the Saints, and a warning. Suffer it and turn away from sin, and you will be rewarded, and you will be received at Saint Amaulf's table."

Then intervened Ulla, and said that the pious abbot Galen, who was very saintly, said nothing about your actions being sinful, despite seeing them with his own eyes, and more, he also left a finger-bone of Saint Traft in the feast-hall of Ulla, so that it could help the wounded recover; and he praised the courage of those who fought, and how valiantly they opposed wickedness. And so, he explained, it seemed to him that your actions were not in fact a grand sin, and you were not damned, and had no sin on you that you had to shed.

At that, the priest declared that the abbot was surely poorly informed, or perhaps did not notice your sex, and if he had, he certainly would condemn it in same words. With that, Ulla disagreed, but respecting the tonsure, did not proceed to argue anymore; he let the priest address you. And the priest asked you, again, in following words:
"Death is surely upon you, and it is your chance to renounce sin. Do you regret what you did? Do you regret what you allowed yourself to become?"
Others watched your maimed face, as your lips twitched and you tried to say…

[ ] "Yes."

[ ] "No."

 

[Gargulec]

Another short update! I hope they will get longer again when you are out of this pickle. If you ever leave it, that is. Saying no to the priest may or may not be helpful in that regard!

5.2 Dark Night Of The Soul​

Thinking to be in no sin, you rebuked the priest; you saw no wrongdoing in your deeds and knew that the saintly law is not the same as the temporal one. But for the priest, your denial was akin to blasphemy, and he said to you that it is good that the Saints did not make you mend your ways, for theirs is a great justice that they blind the wicked even when the light is offered to them, so that for their greater glory they may be forever punished. And after that, he departed the house of Ulla, greatly angered.

Soon after that, the lucidity which you had so briefly enjoyed, passed and the fever took the hold of you, in spite of cold compresses being applied to your brow. As if through a very thick haze, you've heard voices speaking of you, and saying that although you were brave, you were also of meek countenance and therefore succumbed to wounds and gangrene easily; and that if the finger-bone of Saint Traft would not help you, then perhaps it was true that you were wicked at hearts. You heard that claim being…

…rebuked. A man sat in front of you, holding in his hands a stalk of wheat, and a hatchet, and he rebuked you.

"You have no right to claim righteousness" he said "when you at your heart turn away from the saintly light. Are you a sage, learned in trivium and quadrivium, that you think you can argue such matters?"

You presented your case to him, and pleaded for the rightness of your decision; and that you were not in sin, and that surely you would not meet damnation if you were to die. But the man was very wroth with you, and he lashed against you, saying…​

"…her wounds are swollen, and pus had not drained with them, it is certain that she will die soon, unless…"

…a miracle could save you, and your family. This is why you oath was made; this is why you are a pilgrim; this is why you swore to Cu. But the man in front of you was wreathed in golden light, and his face was like the visage of Saint Odo, and he asked of you:

"In the city of Step, will you receive what you ask for, when you live in sin?"

You did not know what to…​

"…answer. Answer me, Lynx" you heard a voice plead, and recognized it as being of the red-headed maid's. "Why are…"

"…you abandoning all your friends? Is that saintly? Disobeying and leaving? Choosing a weapon over a soul so kindred to you?"

The man wreathed in golden light judged you, you knew that. You knew his judgment. You knew that you renounced the laws of men, and renounced the salvation of faith. In the world, you were…
​

"…lost. Well and truly lost. Alone! With no one to help her. No one to plead for her. Please, my lord, you have to do this. Please, I beg you, I, the servant of…"

"…yours is a very grim fate, unless a miracle comes" the man wreathed in saintly light said, and he extended to you hid golden hand. "But I can grant you a miracle! You must just swear, swear for me."​

You…

[ ] …touched his hand.

[ ] …refused to touch it.

 

[Gargulec]

Okay! A little bit more of that psychomachia, please! Do not touch! Well then. Update!

5.3 A Special Bed For You​

But you saw through the guise; you would not be tempted by the works of the Malefactors, and the devils that serve them, that so often swarm around those not long for the world, to in their last assault throw them into damnation, for nothing saddens a demon as seeing a noble soul depart the body and enter the abode of the Saint, which is forever forbidden to them.

Seeing that he would not turn you with temptation and dark sorceries, the devil instead turned to another mean, and wielded against you…

…fire, crackling, burning. Stoked high. As hot as your fever, and hotter still. You screamed, and your lips split again; your blood was thick and malodorous. Your body turned to rot.​

Fire surrounded you, and burned you, and your pain could not be described, so terrifying it was. And other devils, beckoned by their lord, beset you from all sides, and grabbed you and carried you through a crack in the ground, into cold depths, and they held you above a great lake of ice, where you could see others, and among them, you saw Notker, and he saw you – and he called at you from his prison.

"You will join us, sinners! Us oath-breakers! Us heathens! As our hearts were cold to the truth in life, now we freeze, freeze until the time…"

"…runs off. It is a miracle that she still clings to this life."

"She is ferocious. Such a shame she was born a woman."​

Then the devils threw you down into the hyperborean depths, unwarmed by sun, untouched by light, the home of anguish, the antechamber of damnation. And there was no firm soil, only swamp beneath your feet, and it dragged you down, and you feared: feared that you would not be saved, and that damnation was at hand. For you were dying, and this was the pit of wickedness, the home of the Malefactors.

And they called to you:

"Are you not…"

"…one us. If not in life, then in death."

You lay on a shield, carried by four men, cold, motionless. They put the spear in your hand, and wrapped you in your cloak. It was not a burial for a woman, it was a burial for a Lief. They carried you out of the feast hall, and off into the swamp.
​

"You have sinned! You have rebelled! You disobeyed! You were vain! You belong among the Malefactors, in the house of the torment! Curse, curse with us the Eternal Judges that will pass on the sentence to you!"

There was mud in your mouth, and you were drowning in it; but you knew that there would be no death here, only sinking, and a brief respite of breath, only so that you could be punished further.

You were in…

…great pain. You floated, over water, on a shield that would not go down. And you were in great pain, trembling, shaking, bleeding, dying. But not yet over the threshold. The waters refused to take you.
​

The devils dragged you from the mud, and brought you up, and you beheld others that were damned, and you saw among them Ulrig, his traitorous hand cut, and the wound sealed with burning metal. And the wound turned into a hand, and it was cut again. And his cries of anguish were unlike anything you had heard before.

"We have made a special bed for you" the devils said. "It waits! But it will not wait long…"

You could not bear their words, and their claws; this was a temptation for a saint, not for a woman. And so, you…

[ ] Prayed.

[ ] Pleaded for mercy.

[ ] Reaffirmed your virtue.

[ ] Reaffirmed your oaths.

[ ] Succumbed to the devils.

 

[Gargulec]

Pray! Good for you. Once this is all over, I'll explain WTF those scenes are, because I am kind of cheating at religion here. But I hope I do it in a fun way! Onwards, update. Another short one, I am afraid. They will get long soon enough! I hope.

5.4 A Messenger From The Saints​

Tormented by the devils, and beset by your sins, you nonetheless did not lose faith in the Saints that guard you, and you raised your hands to the sky and prayed, invoking their names, and commending yourself to them, so that in the hour of your death, they could hear that in your heart, you were pious, and never turned from them.

And the sound of the holy song was unbearable to the devils, and they cried at it, for it reminded them of the depth of their own damnation; and then, a trumpet was heard, and light shone on you; a divine messenger had been commanded to retrieve you from the pit of misery, and bring you to light. He was gold-wreathed and fairer than any man could ever be, and the devils recognized in him someone more mighty than them, and released their hold on you at once.

He took you into his arms, and freed you from the mud, and from the cold, and from all the evil afflictions, and he took you to a place which was a very tall bridge, all made out of very fine stone; and around you, there were some other men and women, who each walked with a candle in their hand; and some of the candles were very bright, and some burned low. And among them, you thought you saw some who seemed familiar to you, such as the red-headed maid, who had a candle which was barely alight at all, and abbot Galen, whose light was bright enough to seem like a star. You thought: those are the living, who still seek the road to Step everlasting, and the common sainthood that was promised. And you saw, in the distance, on top of a hill that seemed very far away, a glint of gold, and light that beckoned, and you rushed towards it, for the bridge connected to it. But you were stopped by the saintly messanger, and he explained to you that you were not yet ready to witness the everlasting glory; and that the bed is prepared for you in the abode of the Malefactors, but the house of the Saints is not yet certain to receive you. Then, he asked you if you understood what you were shown; how the Saints allowed the devils to claim you, if only for a time, so that you could by your own eyes witness damnation, and their infinite justice, which rightly punishes the wicked, and spares the men of good nature; and how the Saints next allowed you to be shown how the temporal is: a search for the road to the city of Step with a candle in hand, that burns low for sinful, and blazes bright for the pious. For, as he explained, each man and woman carries in their soul a lamp, given to them by the Saints (and that is why when a child is received, a candle is lit; for it represents the lighting of the light of good religion), and if they are correct in their actions, it grows radiant, and reveals to them the path they must walk to find Step everlasting; and for those who become saints, it also shows to them the name of the God, which is written on the stones of the bridge. But for most, it simmers, and they look for the correct path blindly, often falling into the error of sin, tripping and missing steps, risking falling entirely. He also explained that it is why those who were not received into the saintly religion were barred from salvation, for in their soul, there was no light that could guide them; they were lost. The bridge was very tall, and without a light, it was easy to fall from it, for it was also narrow, and below it, there was damnation that you had only recently escaped.

Next, the saintly messanger displayed to you some candles: one of them was sun-bright, the other shone strongly, another was of a middling flame, one almost guttered out, and one was gone entirely, and he asked of you if you recognize which one of those is the light of your soul.

Without thinking, you picked…

[ ] The brightest candle.

[ ] The strongly-burning candle.

[ ] The middling-flame candle.

[ ] The dim candle.

[ ] The guttered-out candle.

 

[Gargulec]

Okay! We're back! And also this is a good bit shorter than I expected it to be, but that is because I've actually cut out a big chunk of it and saved it for later use. But don't you worry. That is not going away. You will return to it! Someday.

5.5 The Blessing of Saint Odo​

Being confident in your virtue, and the correctness of your path, you reached for the strongly-burned candle, but could not grasp it; even as you moved towards it, it seemed to grow ever distant. The messenger of the Saints, seeing this, rebuked you, saying that it is a great misdeed of pride to think oneself so pious, and it alone it could be a cause for your damnation, as there is nothing as abhorrent in the eyes of the Saints as pride of men, who abide by such a deceit that being wholly in the grasp of the Malefactors, they still think themselves zealous and full of virtue.

And in that moment, you felt great fear, for you knew you had sinned, and you knew you were dying, and you knew that you would pass through the golden gate which you saw ahead, at the end of the bridge, built on a foundation of marble as white as pearl, adorned with sapphires and rubies and lapis lazuli.

But the fear did not last, and as it passed, you said to the messenger that you do not seek to carry the high-burning candle for your own salvation, but for others; and you repeated the promises you had made and oaths and prayers of dedication, that you would not rest until you could find the holy city of Step, not for the sake of your own salvation, but so that your family may be delivered and saved from perishing from the face the land. And you said: no other hope is left to my house, but to receive a miracle, and in this miracle, I believe above all else, for beyond it, there is nothing, only the pit of despair.

Your words were strong, and proper in rhetoric; and upon speaking them, you reached once more for the high-burning candle, which eluded you before, and you grasped it and held it. And at that, the messenger of the Saints said to you: it is yours, for the prayers of your brothers fanned it high and bright, and as they have no hope but you, so that they plead to Saint Odo, who presides over those who are desperate. And he said: although you may err and slip, others pray for you, and put their faith in you, and you do not betray their trust, and it gladdens him greatly. With that, he took the candle from your hands, and opened your chest, and in your heart, he put it, so that it would light your way onwards; and as he did that, you knew you were not yet lost, and your pilgrimage was not yet over. By a miracle of Saint Odo, an extension of life was imparted upon you. And you raised your arms and sung praise to the Saints and their great mercy, and to Saint Odo in particular, for you received an irrefutable proof of his protection. And only then, the messenger of the Saints took you into his arms again, and led you down from the bridge, back into the temporal world, back into your ruined body, and you greeted the pain of your wounds with prayer on your lips.

But you did not remember the pain for long.

6.0 Something Is Restored, Something Is Lost​

You woke up sitting on a crossroads, sun shining bright and warm. Around you, the forest spread far; loud with the music of birds, fecund and green. You felt strange delight, as if something that had ailed you for a very long time had been removed. At first, you did not know what it was, but then it occurred to you that the pain of the wounds you had suffered was long gone; you touched the surface of your face, and felt a scar running from your forehead to your lip, where Dagome's sword split it. But it was closed, healed, and even as you squeezed it, you felt no pain.

Next to you, there was the spear named Rye-stalk, its fine blade covered with fabric, and also the shield given to you by Ulla; a sign of the lynx adorned it. Your sack and cloak were also nearby, all finely restored, although the cloak still bore the stains of blood from when Cu fought in it.

There was nothing in your surroundings that you could recognize, or seemed familiar to you. You were entirely lost, and no path branch from the crossroads appeared to lead in a direction that you knew.

Before you had the time to consider more, look through your possessions or perhaps attempt to consult the book, you heard voices coming from one of the branches of the trail, and saw that a cart, pulled by a mule, was nearing you, and you could see that there were at least two people riding on it. As you sat still, and was covered, it was likely that you had not been spotted yet.

With that in mind, you…

[ ] Allowed the cart to pass by without doing anything.

[ ] Hailed the men on the cart to ask them for directions.

[ ] Attempted to hide, so that you would not be spotted.