1629, Fire Season, Death Week, Wildday Night
Context
Varanis is in Whitewall and it’s time to spread the word of Eril. Follows from the Legend of Eril Linebreaker (part 1). After Session 5.S.05.
Events
1 B: Roll Death, please. V: Why yes, that works to start: 02The Humakti Temple, on the night after major worship, is quiet. However, as it is a holy night, there is a ceremony. There are a dozen initiates including Adnew, and not even the same number of lay worshippers; most of them would have been up for a good chunk of last night.
A few people drift up to give their regards and leave. Adnew takes it all with reserved manners, until dusk arrives, and he leads everyone, initiates or not, into the room of the altar.
In here it is cold despite the season, and the iron broadsword on the altar is the only light. It glows blue-purple, and everything is shadows.
Adnew talks a little, and the lights go out, and…
… Varanis is on a plain, where great fires roar. By the light of them she can see an army before her, and then they flicker and there is darkness, and…
… she rides out to battle, the sharp point to a spearshaft, as the stars fall…
… she lies on a battlefield, near the hand of a dead soldier…
… she sees the dawn, and cuts off the hand of the troll that chases Yelm as he springs into the sky…
And in all of those things, she is the one thing. She stands apart from all else, something so different that it was created from the deepest of darkness, and used to kill the sun.
Then she is back in the room with others, and the sword on the altar is so bright it hurts to look at, just at the edges.
From the murmurs of those around her, many were in the same sort of trance. Most are looking at the sword in fear or admiration.
She takes several slow, deep breaths, not to chase Humakt away, but rather to remind herself that she is not his. Not completely, anyway. She reaches her hand forward, to the hilt of her own iron sword. It rests on the rug she uses whenever she must place it on the floor. We are still us, she tells Dezar.
The sword in her hand feels like all swords, ever. Adnew’s voice is quiet and calm, but she cannot hear it.
I’m made of Death, Dezar says quietly. It is in me and we are still alive.
The kitten sounds awed.
Yes, she agrees. We are alive.
She looks to Adnew, trying to refocus her attention on his words.
Whatever spell Adnew was weaving begins to dissolve. The sharpness of the edge of the sword is fading, but she gets the sense of it, if not the words. The Wyter of this Temple is close enough for her to feel that all swords are one sword and that sword is Death. No wonder Berra’s sword and Vareena’s are related. They are identical, except for the detail of being different bits of metal.
And then Adnew sheaths what is on the altar. Someone lights a lamp. Nobody talks.
Vareena continues to breathe. Breath is life and she is alive. Air is of the Storm Gods and she belongs to them. As the intensity of the worship begins to ease, she briefly thinks she may understand how Humakt can be both separate and… no. Perhaps she can’t after all.
The silence stretches, until Adnew says, “That is all until after midnight, and you may rest, save that you may wish to talk to our visitor. She brings news of a Hero who is associated with Whitewall.”
Perhaps he has timed it badly. The lay membership looks confused. The initiates look like this is yet another thing that happens at Temple.
Varanis rises, so that she can be seen easily. “I am Vareena, cousin to Kallyr Starbrow. While I am a Daughter of Vinga, I also worship the Hero Eril, High Sword of Humakt in Boldhome, known to some as Eril Linebreaker.”2V: I can orate at those willing to stay to listen? I orate good. B: Do a Charm, first, to see who does stay? V: That’s not as good a skill. I shall open up my char sheet to see if 53 = a pass. Alas. It is 50, therefore I have failed. B: And do an INTx3. V: 20. That one works.
There are curious looks, and tired ones. The room is warm now, and many people here probably want to sleep. However, about half of them – four initiates and six of the laity – do stay.
The Humakti probably never knew this place under siege, or they would have died with Broyan. They have less connection to a Whitewall hero than the townsfolk who survived by not being warriors.3V: That’s ok. Thanks to Adnew, Varanis call tell them the story of that. Mind terribly if I generalise a bit? B: Sure! Now you get to roll Orate. V: Orate roll is a 43. Not special, but passable.
Varanis invites those who have remained to sit in circle with her. She is not physically claiming authority within Humakt’s temple. But, as she starts to speak, her voice carries the confidence and power of one who knows how to hold an audience.
“The Hero Eril was once of the Cinderfox Clan, though his mother’s people were the Kultain,” she says. “He is one of Kallyr’s most powerful allies and acclaimed a Hero of our time. He can politick with the best of them, but on the battlefield, he is something to behold. Adnew witnessed the Hero’s early days, here when Whitewall was under siege. He told me of…” Varanis shares Adnew’s tales, though in a way that does not underline the tensions between the Regiments during the siege. She watches to see how his people react.
There are a couple who drift off to sleep, but most are interested, despite the late hour and the lack of sleep on Fireday. A couple, definitely Orlanthi, probably think that if they had been there, they would have been heroic. The initiates of Humakt are nodding along, like they appreciate a good Hero.
From there, Varanis moves into more recent events, glossing over how he saved the Boldhome Regiment’s relics, and really focusing on the Battle of Heroes and the emergence of his worship.
A few people have heard of that already. There is some explaining to each other. Eril called forth the White Bear, apparently.
She tells them that she will be worshipping him tonight and any who wish to join are welcome, though she is not a priest.
Nobody leaves, except the two who were already asleep. One gets helped into the front room, which is the barracks. The other gets taken to the front door and wished goodnight.
Then there is a room with an empty altar, and several warriors.4V: Want something like an INT roll to see if V remembers how to do this? Or can we assume she’s got that part and what we need is the worship bit? B: Hmmm. For your own Worship, I think you get to roll as normal. For leading people, yes, INTx5 is good. V: 36 for the INT. She’s putting 8 MP in to ensure worship doesn’t fail, assuming I don’t fumble the roll. 5Mad cackling as the dice turn up a 001 on the worship Eril roll. Maybe I picked the wrong cult on start up!!! I didn’t. V is very Orlanthi. 6 B: @Hobbitomm You know, Humakt and Orlanth are friendly cults… V: I’d totally initiate to Humakt if permitted to do so.
Juniper twigs soaked in water spit as they burn. There are enough lamps that everyone can see the altar and each other. The sacrifice goes perfectly, and blood and wine mix in the bowl, and magic pours out…
It is as always strange to worship without a Wyter present, yet in a group. Varanis can feel those next to her, separate but still with her, and then distantly she can feel that cold presence that is both man and god.
Lord Raven’s wing brushes her brow. The Strategos, the Linebreaker, the avatar of Humakt, is revealed as the touch fades. He stands without a sword, watching over a battlefield. Before him is Death, and he commands it. Because all swords are one sword, he also wields it. He has sent his power out, and kept it.
Briefly, he notices Varanis, and is satisfied with her presence, and then he ignores her once more, and the raven’s wings enfold him.7B: I think you could potentially be both if you were only Orlanth Adventurous, but the Lightbringer can’t be related to Humakt. Maybe. I think it’d be very rare, and I think Humakti don’t usually go the other way. Pleasingly, Humakti are also friendly with Yinkin. In the First Age, they were worshipped together, apparently, but not any more. V: I’ve not technically initiated into Orlanth Lightbringer, which is separate from Orlanth Rex, but I think we’ve firmly established V’s path towards Rex and Lightbringer. B: Yeah. Learning that they used to be as one might be a future arc.
She forgot to breathe when his eyes were on her, but as he turns away she draws a slow, steadying breath. It worked. Berra would be pleased with her. She opens her eyes to study the worshippers around her, assessing their reactions.851 on Insight. Pass, I think. Yes.
Mostly, they are taking it in. A couple look puzzled, like they wish something had happened. The rest, including all of the Humakti, are thoughtful for other reasons. One shudders, and then throws off his mood. Another smiles like he sees a thing he has liked. In a quiet voice, a third thanks Varanis. “Thane, that was good of you to do, and we are grateful.”
She offers him a small bow in response. “We need Heroes in the days to come. Giving them our worship now will help make them stronger.”9B: And finally, do me another Charm. Let’s see how well you convert people. You can use the ritual for a +20. V: Wouldn’t have made it without the +20! 68/50+20
The man nods. “We’ll do our part,” he says after looking around at his companions.
Varanis smiles at him warmly and offers her arm to clasp. He does that. He is missing a couple of fingers on his right hand, but his grip is firm.
- 1B: Roll Death, please. V: Why yes, that works to start: 02
- 2V: I can orate at those willing to stay to listen? I orate good. B: Do a Charm, first, to see who does stay? V: That’s not as good a skill. I shall open up my char sheet to see if 53 = a pass. Alas. It is 50, therefore I have failed. B: And do an INTx3. V: 20. That one works.
- 3V: That’s ok. Thanks to Adnew, Varanis call tell them the story of that. Mind terribly if I generalise a bit? B: Sure! Now you get to roll Orate. V: Orate roll is a 43. Not special, but passable.
- 4V: Want something like an INT roll to see if V remembers how to do this? Or can we assume she’s got that part and what we need is the worship bit? B: Hmmm. For your own Worship, I think you get to roll as normal. For leading people, yes, INTx5 is good. V: 36 for the INT. She’s putting 8 MP in to ensure worship doesn’t fail, assuming I don’t fumble the roll.
- 5Mad cackling as the dice turn up a 001 on the worship Eril roll. Maybe I picked the wrong cult on start up!!! I didn’t. V is very Orlanthi.
- 6B: @Hobbitomm You know, Humakt and Orlanth are friendly cults… V: I’d totally initiate to Humakt if permitted to do so.
- 7B: I think you could potentially be both if you were only Orlanth Adventurous, but the Lightbringer can’t be related to Humakt. Maybe. I think it’d be very rare, and I think Humakti don’t usually go the other way. Pleasingly, Humakti are also friendly with Yinkin. In the First Age, they were worshipped together, apparently, but not any more. V: I’ve not technically initiated into Orlanth Lightbringer, which is separate from Orlanth Rex, but I think we’ve firmly established V’s path towards Rex and Lightbringer. B: Yeah. Learning that they used to be as one might be a future arc.
- 851 on Insight. Pass, I think. Yes.
- 9B: And finally, do me another Charm. Let’s see how well you convert people. You can use the ritual for a +20. V: Wouldn’t have made it without the +20! 68/50+20
