Natural Tendencies

S01 — Session 43

1626, Fire Season, Illusion Week

Fire Season, Illusion Week, Clayday to Fireday

Dramatis Personae

Events

As before, the log will be recounted with extracts from Berra JarangsdottiHumaktisaga, NalaTiwrSaga and The Death of Rajar. There will be extracts from the Sonnets to Varanis, Sonnets in Praise of Xenofos and The Sonnets to Mellia, Sweetest of Healers, White Lady of Esrolia. There will be reference to the Accounts of the Travels of Irillo Goldentongue. Editorial commentary will be recorded [thus]. The {“D”} voice appears.

[The bringing of the Cross to Wilmskirk and Boldhome was not without its alarms. First of all, a messenger brought news of the death of Kallyr. The result for Varanis was to make her immediate magical heir to Sartar, without preparation.]

She vowed t’avenge her kin, with words that burned with fire,
To strike out at her killers with a rage that would not tire.
Preserving then the throne against all hell and mortal strife
That Kallyr might return to it when reuinited with her life

[And we will see later how that went. Here, two threads of narrative are overlapping, and while the Death of Kallyr is important, we are also following The Death of Rajar and his many, many deeds before that happened.]

I only hired him.
I didn’t tell him ‘touch Death’.
Don’t be Cross with me!

1Spurious Rajar:

If pockets had been
Invented in this era
I could go through his.

{“So. Proud.”}

[As for the rest of that tale, we know that the Cross came to Boldhome, and indeed this event is recorded in Temple Records. It is also recorded in NalaTiwrSaga, in the Love of Ikadz, Hate of Eril section, from which we take this:]

{“Do not ask for credit, as a betrayal often offends.”}

Knowing you want death,
knowing you want its respite,
why would I grant it?

[It is, indeed, a good question. Five hundred words on why Death should be granted in Late Bronze Age Glorantha, Sartar area. And here is Death, in a loud glory, and a brief mention. Rajar and Berra JarangsdottiHumaktiSaga.]

To summon up rage
Must be done with due honour
To Storm Bull’s hot air

Dire duty done
Onward drew Dagger

[We know that High Sword Eril of the Boldhome Humaki was replaced pro tem, at this point, although records are sketchy. We know he was ‘unable to fulfil his duties’ but we do not know why. Much speculation has wasted much ink. Our best clue is from Mellia.]

So into Death’s cold hall she walked with loving eyes set soft.
No fear was in her of the ending, for she saw it oft
Upon the field of battle and the birthing bed,
And as a Mercy Lady her white robes were often red.

Still lay the Sword of Humakt on a bloodied couch of oak,
Within his room austere and deathly, on a gore-drenched cloak
All cut about with many wounds that tore the surface skin
And dying slowly from the blow that cut away his sin.

Within delirium of pain he spoke of secrets deep
Of knowledge that would blast one who could not a secret keep
But Mellia calmed him as she would for any patient there,
And Eril slept beneath her knife and lived beneath her care.

[And thus we return to the beginning – the news of the death of Kallyr. Of all those who reacted to it, Xenofos was the most closely related, by Clan and oath.]

So often thoughtful ere the battle call should sound
He cast aside the stupor that is in the Library found.
First to rally to her side lest danger at her spring,
He earned the seat of knowledge then when Varanis formed her ring.
Stout through the night he guarded her as foes came in to see
If she had weakness but the Scribe was armed most faithfully.

[And let us see if we can get Professor Tomm back after his extraordinary computer problems last week. Professor, are you there?]

[“Ah yes, yes, I am. I’m sorry for last week. It appears that a wild boar released by animal rights activists dug up and ate the fibre bundle. What are the chances? Now, we have reached the end of what is known as the ‘Erillo Cycle’. The Accounts are their usual concise self, and are best seen as a means of confirmation of other sources. Let us consider this entry.”]

Free from my mind.
Am I changed?
A love grows. A darkness within, but also an understanding of his code.
A respect for Humakt. So different from my own Way.
Such dedication- to carve a difference into yourself for the good of Sartar.
I would not have the Will.
I admire him, and dislike him both.
But I can keep the balance and harmony in my mind.

What Really Happened

Session Quotes

  • 1
    Spurious Rajar:

    If pockets had been
    Invented in this era
    I could go through his.

    {“So. Proud.”}
  • 2
    Oh no. No no no. That is not just inaccurate, that is wrong! It is like the time I had to purify that poor grey sage who could not punctuate. And these are not footnotes, they are corrections.

    Eril was guilty, and he was burdened. He could not pass on to reward or his just punishment yet. He was impure.

    For those who, vainly, idolise him, let me list his impurities. I     assure you these are only the most// egregious.

    He did not keep a promise to his Regiment. He had pride in the wrong things. He had committed murder. He loved, desperately, with a flame that burned for someone who is not his God. He would have preferred her over others, if she were in danger. He despised his own father. He was afraid to die with his work undone. He had pain for his family, despite being cast out. He had uncompleted ambitions. He had Hope.

    I don’t think you understand what it is to bear love for such poor men.
  • 3
    Sigh.
  • 4
    pure