Itinerant: A Pilgrim Quest
- Location
- scrabbling
[X] …took your spear in your hand and…
-[X] …thrust it between the not-monk's legs.
If he has a problem it shouldn't fester.
-[X] …thrust it between the not-monk's legs.
If he has a problem it shouldn't fester.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
And it returns, with a promise of a new chapter, at that!
[x] …walked away into the night without a word, leaving a coin behind.
They already know we have things of value, so leaving a coin probably wouldn't compromise us that much. They may follow... if they aren't afraid for their lives. Following an armed person into the night with violent intent is usually a poor decision. There is easier prey.
[x] …walked away into the night without a word, leaving a coin behind.
They already know we have things of value, so leaving a coin probably wouldn't compromise us that much. They may follow... if they aren't afraid for their lives. Following an armed person into the night with violent intent is usually a poor decision. There is easier prey.
Scify
It always starts with a lighthouse.
My concern with dropping a coin and leaving is it indicates that we have coins in the first place, which makes us potentially worth the effort of robbing. And while I'm not deeply familiar with historic guest protections, I'm fairly certain that they no longer apply once you leave.
I also don't trust this lot as far as we could throw them, hence voting to just leave.
8.1 A Princely Spear
Gargulec
impact!
- Location
- a garden
Go to sleep! Do not care about the strangers. Move between them freely, walk the land as if it was yours. Because it belongs to the Saints, and your life belongs to the Saints. Thus, it is yours to inherit. Or maybe you do not belong to them, any more? Who knows.
Also, this update is very short, but I want to avoid padding as much as possible, and so, I will instead endavour to make the next one count!
You woke up before dawn. The bonfire was still warm with embers, glowing dim orange. Across them, you saw the not-monk sit. You did not if he had woken before you, or perhaps did not sleep at all through the night. He held a spear across his lap – and you recognized it as the Rye-stalk. There was something reverential in how he touched it, how he looked it. It reminded you of those who were in the presence of a relic of a Saint, stepping back and averting their eyes, while yearning for nothing more but to look at it and come closer.
You stirred, or made some other noise which alerted him. Quickly, he tore his eyes away from the weapon, and turned to you. Then, with a sigh, he stood up, and gently placed the Rye-stalk next to you, where you left it for the night. You brought it closer, and held on tight. The man did not say anything, just sighed again and threw dirt on the embers to extinguish them. With the dawn still some hours again, you drifted into sleep again.
The morning was cold and grey. Heavy clouds covered the sky, and there was autumn in the wind. You remembered watching first flowers bloom on the day when you left your home. That was then.
Now was now.
The three men were already awake. They shared some bread and some cheese with you, and you shared some wine with them. You gathered your equipment, strapped the shield to your back, and holding the spear as a walking-stick, you prepared to leave.
"It is a princely weapon that you carry" the not-monk halted you. "I come from the land of spear-masters, and I have never seen one as fine as this. Before you leave us, stranger, pray, tell. How did you come across it?"
Ready to depart, you nonetheless faced him and…
[ ] …told him about Cu.
[ ] …told him that you found it.
[ ] …told him that you inherited it.
[ ] …did not tell him anything, and left.
Also, this update is very short, but I want to avoid padding as much as possible, and so, I will instead endavour to make the next one count!
8.1 A Princely Spear
You woke up before dawn. The bonfire was still warm with embers, glowing dim orange. Across them, you saw the not-monk sit. You did not if he had woken before you, or perhaps did not sleep at all through the night. He held a spear across his lap – and you recognized it as the Rye-stalk. There was something reverential in how he touched it, how he looked it. It reminded you of those who were in the presence of a relic of a Saint, stepping back and averting their eyes, while yearning for nothing more but to look at it and come closer.
You stirred, or made some other noise which alerted him. Quickly, he tore his eyes away from the weapon, and turned to you. Then, with a sigh, he stood up, and gently placed the Rye-stalk next to you, where you left it for the night. You brought it closer, and held on tight. The man did not say anything, just sighed again and threw dirt on the embers to extinguish them. With the dawn still some hours again, you drifted into sleep again.
The morning was cold and grey. Heavy clouds covered the sky, and there was autumn in the wind. You remembered watching first flowers bloom on the day when you left your home. That was then.
Now was now.
The three men were already awake. They shared some bread and some cheese with you, and you shared some wine with them. You gathered your equipment, strapped the shield to your back, and holding the spear as a walking-stick, you prepared to leave.
"It is a princely weapon that you carry" the not-monk halted you. "I come from the land of spear-masters, and I have never seen one as fine as this. Before you leave us, stranger, pray, tell. How did you come across it?"
Ready to depart, you nonetheless faced him and…
[ ] …told him about Cu.
[ ] …told him that you found it.
[ ] …told him that you inherited it.
[ ] …did not tell him anything, and left.
The Road Goes On
Gargulec
impact!
- Location
- a garden
Okay.
Right, I don't know how to say it. First of all: I am sorry. I am deeply sorry. When I started writing this quest, I did not imagine just how much additional work I'd receive over next few months. Right now, I am working on my master's thesis, a series of essays for a history website, a number of papers for various Polish journals, some university work and assorted personal projects. It is not to say that I do not have the time to write this quest; the amount of hours I have logged into League of Legends over past few weeks paints a different picture. But the truth of the matter is that I just do not have it in me to run this quest in a manner that I would find satisfactory, putting in enough research and care to make this quest what I would want it to be. It is a kind of a creative work that I just cannot carry along with all the other writing projects that are on my back.
And for that, I am sorry. You guys, you were truly excellent, and I loved the appreciation I received. It was wonderful - and so, even more, I do not want to subject you to one-two shitty updates per month, because you deserve way better than that. This quest deserves way better than that. I am sorry. But this has to end.
Just, one more thing. Arrakis teaches the attitude of the knife - chopping off what's incomplete and saying: 'Now, it's complete because it's ended here. We all know that quote. So although I can't wrap up that quest in the way that I planned to, I can give at least some semblance of a send-of. And so...
"Harken!"
And you said: that among the green hills of the Rosemary Island was Cu born, a princeling, of a line as ancient as deep are the roots of an thousand-years oak. And you said: he was fair, and he was strong, and all knew that he would become a great king, just and brave. And you said: he had a sister, who was as beautiful as the dawn, an envy of nations. And you said: he grew tall, and he grew proud; he fought many and never lost a fight. His was the strength of a hundred men. And you said: others saw him and his sister, and said: there are no finer souls in the entire world, no man stronger and no women more beautiful. And those among them who were of good spirit cheered, for they saw light; but those who were of vile character, and could not bring themselves to look upon such brightness schemed to smother it. And chief among them was an evil man, from a line that had long since been inferior to the line of Cu, and whose name should forever be left forgotten. And as he could not challenge Cu in a fight, he instead sought a dark spell, and brought a fell fever on Cu's sister, and she withered, and she died. And although in life she was as beautiful as the dawn, in death, her body was like all the stars which adorn the firmament, and those who looked upon her as she was given to the ground could not help but to weep at the saintly visage.
And you said: knowing that his sister dear was felled by a foul spell, Cu took his father's spear, and swore to avenge her, or perish trying. Hearing that, the evil man sought refuge in a shrine, where he cowered, for he knew he was doomed. However, even in death, evil brings damnation to others; and so Cu violated the peace of the sanctuary and slew the evil man upon the altar-slab, and that was a grand blasphemy. And for that, he could no longer be allowed to walk the soil of the Rosemary Island, but instead was exiled, and told that he could not return until he found the city of Step, the abode of the First Saint, and there received absolution.
And you said: and he never found it, for the city of Step does not exist.
And you said: once there was a girl, who was stolen from her home by bandits, and all was taken away from her, but for her red hair. She was sold to a king, and made his concubine, and when the king was slain, she was taken as a trophy, and made a concubine. And she prayed, although she did not believe, that somebody could save her, and take her to the city of Step, the abode of the First Saint, where no one is ever treated unjustly.
And you said: she never found it, for the city of Step does not exist.
And you said: once there was a fair girl, from a house of Reda, son of Rada, from the line of Reik, who was a companion to Otha… and you said of how disaster came over your house, and how you promised to avert it, and save the family, and took on a journey, took on a pilgrimage to the city of Step, abode of the First Saint, to there receive a miracle, to stop the ill fate, to turn around the misfortune.
And you said: she never found it, for the city of Step does not exist.
And you said: Cu died a wretched death, but it was a good death. And he will never reach the city of Step.
And you said: the red-headed maid died a wretched death, but it was a good death. And she will never live in the city of Step.
And you said: I died a wretched death, but it was a good death. And I will never find the city of Step.
And you said: the road goes on.
And you said: this journey will never end.
And you said: Let us consider where our true home is;
And then let us think how to come thither;
And then also strive that we indeed come there,
Into the blessedness there everlasting.
And you said: one day, I will find the city of Step.
And all that you said was true.
Right, I don't know how to say it. First of all: I am sorry. I am deeply sorry. When I started writing this quest, I did not imagine just how much additional work I'd receive over next few months. Right now, I am working on my master's thesis, a series of essays for a history website, a number of papers for various Polish journals, some university work and assorted personal projects. It is not to say that I do not have the time to write this quest; the amount of hours I have logged into League of Legends over past few weeks paints a different picture. But the truth of the matter is that I just do not have it in me to run this quest in a manner that I would find satisfactory, putting in enough research and care to make this quest what I would want it to be. It is a kind of a creative work that I just cannot carry along with all the other writing projects that are on my back.
And for that, I am sorry. You guys, you were truly excellent, and I loved the appreciation I received. It was wonderful - and so, even more, I do not want to subject you to one-two shitty updates per month, because you deserve way better than that. This quest deserves way better than that. I am sorry. But this has to end.
Just, one more thing. Arrakis teaches the attitude of the knife - chopping off what's incomplete and saying: 'Now, it's complete because it's ended here. We all know that quote. So although I can't wrap up that quest in the way that I planned to, I can give at least some semblance of a send-of. And so...
The Road Goes On
You smashed your spear against the soil.
"Harken!"
And you said: that among the green hills of the Rosemary Island was Cu born, a princeling, of a line as ancient as deep are the roots of an thousand-years oak. And you said: he was fair, and he was strong, and all knew that he would become a great king, just and brave. And you said: he had a sister, who was as beautiful as the dawn, an envy of nations. And you said: he grew tall, and he grew proud; he fought many and never lost a fight. His was the strength of a hundred men. And you said: others saw him and his sister, and said: there are no finer souls in the entire world, no man stronger and no women more beautiful. And those among them who were of good spirit cheered, for they saw light; but those who were of vile character, and could not bring themselves to look upon such brightness schemed to smother it. And chief among them was an evil man, from a line that had long since been inferior to the line of Cu, and whose name should forever be left forgotten. And as he could not challenge Cu in a fight, he instead sought a dark spell, and brought a fell fever on Cu's sister, and she withered, and she died. And although in life she was as beautiful as the dawn, in death, her body was like all the stars which adorn the firmament, and those who looked upon her as she was given to the ground could not help but to weep at the saintly visage.
And you said: knowing that his sister dear was felled by a foul spell, Cu took his father's spear, and swore to avenge her, or perish trying. Hearing that, the evil man sought refuge in a shrine, where he cowered, for he knew he was doomed. However, even in death, evil brings damnation to others; and so Cu violated the peace of the sanctuary and slew the evil man upon the altar-slab, and that was a grand blasphemy. And for that, he could no longer be allowed to walk the soil of the Rosemary Island, but instead was exiled, and told that he could not return until he found the city of Step, the abode of the First Saint, and there received absolution.
And you said: and he never found it, for the city of Step does not exist.
And you said: once there was a girl, who was stolen from her home by bandits, and all was taken away from her, but for her red hair. She was sold to a king, and made his concubine, and when the king was slain, she was taken as a trophy, and made a concubine. And she prayed, although she did not believe, that somebody could save her, and take her to the city of Step, the abode of the First Saint, where no one is ever treated unjustly.
And you said: she never found it, for the city of Step does not exist.
And you said: once there was a fair girl, from a house of Reda, son of Rada, from the line of Reik, who was a companion to Otha… and you said of how disaster came over your house, and how you promised to avert it, and save the family, and took on a journey, took on a pilgrimage to the city of Step, abode of the First Saint, to there receive a miracle, to stop the ill fate, to turn around the misfortune.
And you said: she never found it, for the city of Step does not exist.
And you said: Cu died a wretched death, but it was a good death. And he will never reach the city of Step.
And you said: the red-headed maid died a wretched death, but it was a good death. And she will never live in the city of Step.
And you said: I died a wretched death, but it was a good death. And I will never find the city of Step.
And you said: the road goes on.
And you said: this journey will never end.
And you said: Let us consider where our true home is;
And then let us think how to come thither;
And then also strive that we indeed come there,
Into the blessedness there everlasting.
And you said: one day, I will find the city of Step.
And all that you said was true.
***
So. That's it. Thank you again. You were amazing! Thank you a hundred, a thousand times. And sorry again I could not carry it, but I think it's better to just let it end than have it fester. And I wish I could say all of that in a better, clearer way.
Maybe next time!
Maybe next time!
Last edited:
- Location
- scrabbling
Thanks for running this — it was an excellent quest. Reading this was a joy and having an update never a disappointment; even here at the end it isn't the sensation of dropping but instead one of looking upwards. It sounds like all is well with you, happily, and I hope it continues that way.
- Location
- ?
Thank you for sharing this quest with us. I had a lot of fun participating, and reading the posts in-between, and I know more now than I did before.
Thank you also for a proper ending, I'd rather have this than have the quest slowly fade away.
I hope you complete all your projects to your satisfaction, and have fun with your chosen entertainment.
And if you ever feel like running another quest, or an interactive story, maybe just a short one, I'll be there to read it. And if I miss it, I hope someone tags me
Thank you also for a proper ending, I'd rather have this than have the quest slowly fade away.
I hope you complete all your projects to your satisfaction, and have fun with your chosen entertainment.
And if you ever feel like running another quest, or an interactive story, maybe just a short one, I'll be there to read it. And if I miss it, I hope someone tags me
I didn't know that quote
Gargulec
impact!
- Location
- a garden
And if you ever feel like running another quest, or an interactive story, maybe just a short one, I'll be there to read it. And if I miss it, I hope someone tags me
I might do one of those things in a few months, but until then, if you want more writing from me, you have to look to...
SHAMELESS SELF-PLUG MODE ON
THE WHORES OF YORE!
SHAMELESS SELF-PLUG MODE OFF