ftp.ee.pdx.edu/2014.02.ftp.ee.pdx.edu.tar/ftp.ee.pdx.edu/pub/frp/stories/darkness/darkness.6

Internet Message Format | 1991-04-10 | 23KB

From [e-mail] Mon Apr  8 17:19:39 1991
From: [e-mail] (bruce.w.reisman)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: STORY: Darkness Rising (Part 6)
Keywords: long
Date: 8 Apr 91 13:01:04 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|            Copyright 1991, 1990 by B. W. Reisman & E. Wolfe.            |
|                           All rights reserved.                          |
| No part of this tale may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,   |
| or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying,  |
| recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the     |
| authors.                                                                |
|                                                                         |
| Permission is hereby granted, in so far as no fee or charge is made for |
| such publication, and that this notice is retained.                     |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

A MEMORIAL SERVICE


    [Trun]
    It is early afternoon on the 22nd day of High Spring in the year 6049
    The weather is:
        temperature:    83
        sky:        light rain
        wind:        5 mph (light breeze)

Elured goes to see Winston and presents Leia's note.  After some discussion
over what would best suit his needs, Elured departs with several potions
and a note for Leia.

Elured finds Todd in the library and asks him if he can read what the note
says.  He can't, but Princess Leia overhears and says she'll take a look at
it.  When she discovers that it's for her, she's annoyed and grows more so
after she reads the contents.  Elured decides not to ask what it said.

Kidd, Leia, Todd and Elured spend the rest of the afternoon in the library.
Alicia casts enchantments on her herbs.  Ragnor goes to the Masons' Guild
to get advice in building the keep.  He's directed to see Norman or Norman
once he explains the nature of the work he wants done.  It turns out that
only one of them is currently present, so he discusses the endeavor with
Assistant Guildmaster Norman Rike.  "I'm looking for something to house
and protect less than a hundred troops when under attack by ten thousand."
Norman says he'll need the Master Architect, who's currently in Uweomy
directing that re-building effort.  Ragnor says that he'll arrange for him
to summoned.  Ragnor leaves with the understanding that the armaments will
have to be developed by others and that the Royal Treasury had better be
deep.

Omerta and Felicia return from squirrel-hunting in time to clean up for
the service that Jhere announced.  Dale rouses the princess from her
meditations and helps her bathe and change.

Most of the staff of the Keep assemble in the chapel, along with the party.
Princess Jhere enters, wearing her white gown, platinum crown and (glowing)
holy symbol pendant.  Dale follows, holding a small pillow with a one and a
half inch diameter opal on it.  Jhere nods to Winslow (chapel priest) who
is standing at the altar.  He taps a silver bell and she walks through the
chapel and steps onto the dais.  Jhere turns to face the gathering, motions
Dale to stand off to her right a bit, and asks everyone else to form a
semi-circle in front of the dais.  She then raises her hands and says:

    "Oh, Freya, giver of life and love, Goddess from whom all good
    and greatness flows, hear my prayer."  (Winslow taps the bell.)

    "Your presence extends everywhere, throughout the many strange,
    magical, and beautiful worlds.  To all places of wilderness,
    enchantment and freedom.

    "You are awesome.  The powers of death bow down before you."
    (Winslow taps the bell.)

    "You are the Goddess of Love.  At your blessings and desire,
    the sun brings forth life anew.

    "Now, all herein are totally and completely apart from the
    outside world that we may glorify you, whom we adore."  Jhere
    turns and steps up to the altar.

    "As above, so below.  As the universe, so the soul.  As without,
    so within.  Blessed and gracious one, on this day I do consecrate
    again to you my body, my mind and spirit."  (Winslow taps the
    bell.)

    "You have walked my unwilling path with me.  For this I give
    thanks to thee!"  (Winslow taps the bell.)

    "You have guided and taught me in your power.  For this I give
    thanks to thee!"  (Winslow taps the bell.)

    "You have elevated me beyond the expectations of any low born
    mortal woman.  For this I give thanks to thee!"  (Winslow taps
    the bell.)

    "You have brought me to your greatest servant, my queen and
    mother.  For this I give thanks to thee!"  (Winslow taps the
    bell.)

    "Accept, oh Freya, mightiest of Lords, this token of my gratitude
    and love."

Jhere turns, steps down to where Dale kneels, gently lifts the opal into
her cupped hands, and returns to the altar.  She lowers it into the font
and releases it.  The gem dissolves and a blue-green radiance emits from
the font.  A strong feeling of well-being spreads over the assemblage.
Jhere steps back, and with her face reflecting the glow from the font, she
continues:

    "Blessed be Queen Ariel, that she may walk in your path forever.

    "Bless me, Freya and mother, for I am your child."

Jhere dips her right hand into the font and touches her forehead, lips and
heart.  Turning to the gathering, she spreads her arms again, and says:

    "Bless and protect, oh Freya, your children in their hour of
    trial, I beseech thee.  My blessings on you."  (The glow from
    the font begins to noticeably fade.)

    "The rite draws to its end.  Oh supreme and gracious Freya, be
    with each of us as we depart."  (Winslow taps the bell.)

Jhere lowers her arms, looks at everyone, smiles, and says, as she steps
down, "Thank you for coming.  It means a lot to have my companions share
this with me."  Winslow and Dale guide Jhere to the cleric's chamber, off
to the right of the dais.  Most of the group leaves.  Omerta stays to
meditate for a few minutes.  Elured follows Princess Jhere, with Ragnor
and Todd looking on, until he steps out of sight into the other room.  As
he steps into her presence, Elured falls to his knees.  He then abruptly
rises, as though shaking off the effects of some charm, congratulates her
and leaves.  Jhere is bemused, Winslow is bewildered, and Dale wishes she
were somewhere else.

After dinner, Todd takes Merle Lir aside to tell her that things are not
turning out well.  They decide to visit the guild hall after Leia's service
tomorrow.

Ragnor has Cyrus find a scribe and dictates a note to King Thiokol on the
results of his visit to the Masons' Guild.

Omerta returns to the library, where he unsuccessfully continues his search
through the tomes and scrolls until midnight.

Alicia heads out at dawn to continue training her beasts.  The rain has
ceased for the moment, though the sky remains overcast.

After breakfast, Elured tries to convince Winslow to grant him use of the
chapel for a service to Diancecht.  He is politely, but firmly, told that
only the Queen could give permission.  Elured says he'll ask Leia and goes
off to find someone to take a message to the Queen requesting an audience.

Omerta spends part of the morning in the library, then meditates before the
memorial service.

We gather in the chapel for the service.  Princess Leia enters, wearing her
ceremonial gown and a platinum tiara set with jacinths.  She lights candles
set about the altar and says:

    "Today we gather in memory of the people of Knearn who have met
    the end of their earth bound life. We offer up our prayers that
    they may pass on in peace in harmony. I ask that we all bow our
    heads and join in prayer.

    "Oh Gods and Goddesses of the Light, we pray that you keep our
    loved ones safe.  Bless them for they have served you well while
    on this earth.  Protect them for they are your children.

    "The presence of our noble Gods and Goddesses extends everywhere,
    Throughout the many strange, magical, and beautiful worlds. To
    all places of wilderness, enchantment, and freedom.  The powers
    of death bow before you.  Amen.

    "At this point if anyone wishes to say a few words in memory
    of the people of Knearn, you may do so."

Omerta, who is wearing a black armband for this occasion, rises and
approaches the altar.  He lights his candle from one on the altar, and
says:

    "I am Omerta, of the House of Bastone.  I thank Gods and Goddesses
    of the Light for my escaping the evil that destroyed Knearn.

    "My father and Uncle lived up to the standards of our ancestors,
    and earned the name Bastone in their fights against evil.  My
    mother, Lucia, used spells of Light and Fire in her time, combating
    the forces of darkness...."

(Omerta's voice fails, then he clears his throat.)

    "I can think of no better memorial to them than the works of the
    King and Queen, and my friends here, to remove the blight the
    Darkness has created.

    "Though their lives were extinguished by Darkness, let us remember
    in life that my family and friends in Knearn illuminated the world
    with their good works.  May the Gods and Goddesses of the Light
    bless them and keep them.  Amen."

Afterward, Omerta thanks Leia for the moving ceremony, and when all have
gone meditates in the chapel.

After lunch, Merle Lir changes into her robe of protection and elven cloak
and goes with Todd to the Thieves' Guild.  Much persuasion is necessary
before they finally are escorted to "see" the guildmaster, who remains
obscured by darkness in an ill-lit room despite several attempts by Merle
Lir to shed some light.  Todd's headband allows him to penetrate the gloom
and he takes Merle Lir's hand and guides her to the desk that the
guildmaster sits behind.  Merle Lir expresses extreme displeasure at the
way her contract has been handled, but the guildmaster steadfastly refuses
to offer her any compensation.  Thoroughly annoyed, they depart (guided out
by some underling).

Back at the Keep, Merle Lir recruits Vilim, Omerta and Elured to aid her
in gaining some measure of satisfaction.  Ragnor doesn't think it's a good
idea and Kidd offers no comment.  Merle Lir suggests that she and Todd
take "casual walks" about town; Todd can point out any thieves that he
recognizes to her.  Todd says he'd be willing to take casual walks with
Merle Lir, but he does not think they will either see or identify any
thieves.  He thinks the whole plan is rather childish and wasteful of time.
If he has nothing better to do, he'll watch guild house with her -- more
for amusement than any other reason.

Merle Lir looks aghast at Todd and replies, "You, Todd, *dare* suggest *my*
actions are childish?  You, whose apparent greatest pleasure in life is
fleecing drunken card players?  You, who are *barely* a man, so address a
woman who could be your mother?  Shame.

"If you are this uneasy over this little plan of mine; if you hold this
dishonorable thieves' house -- that I might point out did *you* no service
-- in higher regard than a companion in a dangerous quest to save the
world, well, all I can say is: 'So be it.'

"I release you from any claims to help me -- for after all, we must still
work together.  You've done enough, and I *am* grateful.  And if I ever
return to Zan, the *honorable* guild there will certainly hear about this
pathetic excuse of a guild."

Todd retorts, "I can not understand how you can place revenge over a
petty larceny by these unethical thieves over the good of the mission we
have before us.  Defocusing our attention and resources on such a risky
undertaking does not seem prudent.  I believe that I have acted in good
faith with you, volunteering my time to help you with no reward to myself.
I have also offered to help you, to some degree, on this venture if you
choose to proceed; however, I am obliged to give you my advice that to
continue seems *to me* to have few benefits and much cost.  These thieves
will get their due some day.  It may not be from us or not from us at this
time, but their actions will catch up to them.  I must be honest and say I
am hurt by your reaction to me expressing my views and do hope it does not
affect our relationship on the journeys ahead.  I also am not a child and
do not wish to be treated or talked to as such!"

After more discussion, it is decided to hit the Thieves' Guild the day
before Merle Lir leaves with the westward party.

After dinner, one of the Queen's maidservants finds Elured and tells him
that the Queen will see him now.  He follows her to the Queen's audience
chamber.  He enters, bows and falls to his knees in front of Ariel.  She
doesn't invite him to rise, but inquires, "You wanted something?"

"Mighty queen, would you please grant me permission to use the Keep chapel
for a service to my deity, Diancecht?"

"I'm sure you can find someplace suitable," she replies bluntly.
Groveling, he crawls out backward on his knees.

A little later, Omerta, Jhere and Leia are summoned to see the Queen.
Jhere knocks and we enter.  Jhere says, "Your Majesty, you sent for us?"
as all three bow.  Queen Ariel explains that several of the guilds have
sent inquiries to the Keep about distressing rumors of events in the south.
The guildmasters have been granted an audience for late tomorrow morning,
when the King and Queen will address their concerns.  The Princesses and
Lord Omerta are to join the King and Queen for the audience.  Jhere will
sit to the Queen's right and Leia to her right.  Omerta will sit to the
King's left.

Afterward, Omerta agains burns midnight oil in the library.  He finds the
genealogy of the Kings and Queens of Trun.  According to this record, in
a little over 3000 years, Thiokol is but the 24th king and Ariel but the
third queen!  Something is amiss....


    [Trun]
    It is dawn on the 24th day of High Spring in the year 6049
    The weather is:
        temperature:    45
        sky:        light rain
        wind:        5 mph (light breeze)

Alicia goes out at dawn to train her beasts.  Omerta gets a quick bite to
eat and returns to the library, where he's joined shortly by Princess Jhere
and Kidd.  Ragnor, Todd and Felicia sleep late, recovering from last night.

Jhere goes to see Reginald, who reports no success, as yet.  When she
returns to the Keep to get ready for the audience, Dale insists that she
wear her gown, much to Jhere's discomfiture.  Leia also dresses for the
occasion and Hathaldir sees that Lord Omerta has suitable attire.

At mid-morning, the Princesses and Omerta join the King and Queen as the
Guildmasters of Trun are granted an audience in the Great Hall.  Thiokol
bids whomever has been elected spokesperson to come forward and speak.
An elderly bearded fellow, steps forward and says, "Your Majesties.  Your
Highnesses.  M'Lord.  Recently, persistent and incessant gossipry has
suggested, implied or otherwise indicated that phenomena or incidents of
previously unheard of proportions and perhaps surreptitious nature have
brought about the seizure and appropriation or even ruination and
obliteration of some inhabitancy ..."  After about a quarter hour of this,
he finally stops and looks at the King for a response.  Thiokol is not
quite sure whether or not he's been asked a question, but responds, "As
some of you may have heard, Knearn has been destroyed by those who would
sow dissension in our domain.  Even as we speak, armies are being raised
to march south and put down the uprising...."

The discussion continues with a burly fellow (perhaps Guildmaster of the
Fighters) asking about the nature of the enemy.  And so on.  About an hour
later, the Queen ends the audience.  After the Guildmasters depart, Lord
Omerta thanks Queen Ariel for the use of the chapel and asks the King and
Queen if there is anything in particular that the groups should keep in
mind as they prepare for their journeys.  They say, "No.  Just keep us
apprised."

Jhere goes upstairs and changes back into her customary shirt and breeches
before joining the rest for lunch.

Elured creates a ward and takes a bath in it, but he has an uneasy feeling
that he may not be using this gift from his deity appropriately.

Meanwhile, Vilim and Merle Lir get up.  Merle Lir is indisposed for a
little while and then they go to the Clothiers' Guild, where she orders
a leather vest.  They reach the Keep in time to join everyone for lunch.

Over lunch, Alicia offers to extend the life and enhance the performance
of anyone's herbs, if they wish.  She also would like to inventory all
of the herbs (in case she can learn about something she didn't previously
encounter).  Merle Lir is interested; Omerta also.

Vilim lights his pipe and puffs contentedly as we continue chatting.

Omerta suggests that the westbound party wait until after the feast in
Jhere's honor, much to Todd's annoyance.

Ragnor tells about his meeting with the Masons.  It is suggested that
Ragnor contact the Messengers' Guild.

After lunch, Omerta gives his slird to Alicia.  Merle Lir goes upstairs
and retrieves her herbs from her saddlebags.  She gives them to Alicia
and offers some sort of payment.  Alicia suggests that she could repay
Kidd for her.  Merle Lir finds Kidd and gives him four silver pieces.

Ragnor goes to the Messengers' Guild and spends a bronze piece to send a
royal summons to the Master Architect, currently in Uweomy.

After dinner, Elured offers to pay for the party's drinks with a gold
piece.  Merle Lir is finally able to pry Omerta loose from the Library.
Merle Lir dances with Omerta, but when Vilim starts to play, her limbs
become heavy and it's very hard to continue.  Figuring it was Vilim's
doing, she sits down on *his* lap, until she feels less "heavy" and
*he* is ready to dance.  The evening passes more or less drunkenly and
eventually we leave the Tavern for bed.

In the morning, Alicia goes out to continue training the animals and we
break fast outside, since for once it's clear.  Omerta then goes up to
the library.

Dale tells Princess Jhere that she has made arrangements for the Clothiers'
Guild to send up some tailors to see Jhere on the morrow, so that she can
order whatever clothes she should need.  Jhere replies resignedly that she
really doesn't need much, but thanks Dale graciously enough to keep the
girl happy.

After Merle Lir and Vilim get up, she goes to get her vest.  At the Keep,
she carefully sews her gold pieces into the middle of the back, for
protection.


    [Trun]
    It is sunset on the 25th day of High Spring in the year 6049
    The weather is:
        temperature:    60
        sky:        drizzle
        wind:        9 mph (light breeze)

At dinner we discuss if there's anything that we should tell the King and
Queen.  We decide that we haven't found any information that would not
already be known to the Queen nor anything the King would care about.

Jhere and Omerta go to the library.  Felicia heads to the Tavern of
Crossed Swords, where she loudly announces she's looking for male rangers.
She meets Hathaldir (not the Steward of the Keep) and Ronald and discovers
that word has been passed at the Hunters' Guild about the need for a
ranger to guide a group westward.  She can't persuade either of them to
take the job, so she goes back to the Keep and gets Jhere.  Merle Lir and
Vilim come, too.  And Omerta.  And Elured.  Ragnor comes to keep an eye
on Elured.  Kidd says that, if everyone else is going, he might as well
go too.  Leia says she'll come later.  Todd says that he'll wait for Leia.
Alicia decides to come watch everyone else get drunk.

Back at the tavern, Felicia introduces Omerta to Hathaldir and Princess
Jhere and Merle Lir to Ronald (who's with a young woman and really badly
flustered by the mere presence of Their Royal Highness).  Hathaldir points
out to Omerta that he doesn't know the region in question, and Omerta buys
him a beer anyway.  As Jhere is talking to Ronald, Merle Lir casts a spell
on him and then easily persuades him to help find a suitable candidate for
the job, after he states that his skills are too meager and further, that
he's unfamiliar with that area.  Princess Jhere asks if he's seen Maisie
and he tells her that she's guiding a hunting party and should be back in
a couple of days.  At Jhere's request, he agrees to tell Maisie that the
Princess wishes to see her.  Merle Lir buys a round of drinks for the
table: beers for Ronald and his lady friend; wine for Jhere, Vilim and
herself.

Merle Lir is surprised that Felicia is not drinking and casts a detection
spell to see if everything is okay.  (It is.)  Felicia says she has to get
in shape for the forthcoming journey and departs for the Keep with Omerta.
On the way they pass Leia and Todd.

At the tavern, Leia and Todd come over to where Jhere is sitting.  Jhere
introduces Ronald (his lady is ignored) to the Princess Leia and the poor
fellow again jumps out of his chair and goes on his knees (the woman
curtsies).  Room is made for the newcomers at the table and more drinks
are brought.  Eventually, Ronald can't stand it any longer and begs to be
excused.  The Princesses let him depart with the woman and continue to
party well into the night.

At dawn, Alicia is surprised to see Felicia as she goes out to train her
animals.  Felicia is going out for a run around the outer wall of the city.
It is partly cloudy (at least it has stopped raining for the moment) and
right at the freezing point.  Despite many frozen and slippery spots,
Felicia completes her circuit without mishap.  Jhere is cold despite the
fire that Dale has built in the fireplace; she puts on warmer clothes.

Leia and Omerta return to the library after breakfast.

Around mid-morning, tailors from the Clothiers' Guild arrive with a
variety of sample fabrics and drawings.  Jhere orders some clothes to
make Dale happy.

On the way to the Keep, Merle Lir and Vilim stop off at the Denethor home
to ask Lady Denethor if this evening or the next would be good for dinner.
She accepts for this evening and Merle Lir says they'll stop back for them
in the early evening.  They then join the others at the Keep.

Felicia continues her exercise program by using Elured as a set of
dumbbells.  He enjoys the pain when she hurls him to the ground.

During lunch, Merle Lir asks Leia how they're going to travel.  Leia says
they better do something about getting mountain ponies.  Merle Lir, Leia
and Todd ask Hathaldir (the Steward) about ponies and he says "no problem".
They also decide to ask Alicia whether she can do her trick that enables
people to go without food for a month (without even getting hungry).

Merle Lir and Vilim return to the inn for the afternoon.  When they go
to get Lady Denethor for dinner, they find that Winston has remembered
after all.  So the four of them go to the Golden Ox for an elegant (and
expensive) dinner.

Ragnor, Jhere and Elured go out drinking after supper.  Most of the rest go
up to the library.  Omerta finds six significant pages about the early days
in Trun (they tell the story of a sailor's pursuit of a great white whale).

The next day, Alicia and Felicia head out at dawn for their customary
activities.  Around mid-morning, the tailors return with some completed
garments for Jhere and some that require final fittings.
--
- + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + -
      Bruce W. Reisman          AT&T  Bell Laboratories
      att!mtfmi!bwr             200 Laurel Avenue   MT 3G-102
      908/957-6533              Middletown, NJ  07748-4801