Fiction by J. D. Conrad - 2016
Areza stopped on the way out of the hospital wing of Saint Hestar. She undid the blood spattered apron that protected her clothes and dropped it into the bin for soiled linens. After taking a deep breath, the priestess said a prayer to the Green Lady and raised her right hand to make a circle over the tree symbol on the breast of her faded blue cassock. Only one more task, then finally some rest.
She plodded down the hallway and turned into the monastery's chapel. A single person knelt in prayer. Not in front of the central figure of the Great Mother's Handmaiden, but instead before the small figure of the Great Mother herself, just to its right. Areza stepped slowly forward and knelt in front of the central green soapstone figure representing a young mother in a long robe. She again made the sign of the wheel over her breast then turned her head to regard the person next to her.
The man was looking back. Deep dark brown eyes peered back at her from under a mop of obsidian hair cut in a simple bowl style. He was wearing a plain home spun robe and hemp rope belt. The lack of symbols on his robe meant he was a lay member of some monastic order. Areza of course knew that Nusha was from the Monastery of Saint Shoku that lay southeast of the city. That was what made this whole scheme possible.
She smiled at him and said, “I trust you are well Nusha?”
He nodded, “Yes mother Areza. I am fine, a bit nervous perhaps, but fine.”
“Nerves? I can understand that. You are about to take a dangerous risk for the good of others. But as Saint Brigid said in chapter six of the holy book, 'To live is to risk. To love is to risk. But living without love is the same as death.' You are taking a risk out of love, that is a holy deed.”
“I know revered one, but I am no saint. Just a humble farmer.”
“Nusha, no one is ever 'just' an anything. You have proven that by being here. I have come to tell you that all is in readiness. You should leave soon, the hour for the dawn bell fast approaches. And the crush of many waiting to leave the city as soon as the gates open will be to your benefit.”
“Yes mother.”
They both rose, Nusha turned to walk away but Areza stopped him with a gesture. She made the sign of the wheel before him and said, “May the blessings of the Nine go with you. And most especially the protection of the Compassionate One.”
“Many thanks mother.”
“My thanks to you brother. You are now the guardian of a great treasure. A treasure that the lords of Taran do not want to see slipping out of their grasp. But if you are brave and keep to the plan things should go smoothly.”
Nusha gave her a wry smile, “That is why I am nervous mother.”
They both chuckled, then looked up as bells all across the great city of Iron Tower gave one long ragged toll.
“Go now Nusha.”
“Yes mother.”
Got to Part II
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Goldilocks of the Gods
One of the things that tends to catch peoples attention about Rhym is the fact that there are only nine primary human gods. And each is directly associated with one of the nine alignments. This notion occurred to me when I was first considering developing my own 5e setting. I was pondering two things that bother me about D&D pantheons. Alignment, which has always seemed a somewhat artificial construct, and the fact that any deity must be shoe horned into that system. The other issue is that religions tend to try to answer all the big questions, not just one. And most D&D deities have very specific areas of concern and responsibility.
The first thought was to just skip the whole alignment thing, as it is much less entwined in character design and concept than in previous editions. And perhaps have a monotheistic religion. But that didn't feel right. D&D without alignments wouldn't do. And then it clicked. One god per alignment. Following your alignment is a way of showing your character's devotion to a specific deity. But instead of each god's followers having their own organization, I decided that they are all part of one big church. Between them the nine gods address all the big questions. And a priest will usually belong to an order that reveres one god above all others, but they still worship all nine.
The implications of this setup lead to many interesting facets in the campaign setting. For example the machinations among the various church orders. Close ties between certain regimes and the various orders. I drew on things like the the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, Camber of Culdi series by Katherine Kurtz, the 1632 series by Eric Flint, David Weber and many others, and of course our own real world history. The result were copious notes in my original draft on how the various parts of the church both created sources of conflict and kept those conflicts from growing into full fledged war when possible.
Just think of the gaming potential, Your players could be dashing heroes with allegiance to the king, But the High Priest's minions are always out to thwart you and your liege. Or perhaps mercenaries are needed to settle a small conflict that has erupted between two political factions supported by different parts of the church. Or, the reverse, perhaps your characters have been hired to protect church envoys out to stop a war. I can go on and on. And this is only one little piece of Rhym.
So to paraphrase Goldilocks, one god was not enough. Many gods for with this or that specialization was too many. But nine was just right!
The first thought was to just skip the whole alignment thing, as it is much less entwined in character design and concept than in previous editions. And perhaps have a monotheistic religion. But that didn't feel right. D&D without alignments wouldn't do. And then it clicked. One god per alignment. Following your alignment is a way of showing your character's devotion to a specific deity. But instead of each god's followers having their own organization, I decided that they are all part of one big church. Between them the nine gods address all the big questions. And a priest will usually belong to an order that reveres one god above all others, but they still worship all nine.
The implications of this setup lead to many interesting facets in the campaign setting. For example the machinations among the various church orders. Close ties between certain regimes and the various orders. I drew on things like the the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, Camber of Culdi series by Katherine Kurtz, the 1632 series by Eric Flint, David Weber and many others, and of course our own real world history. The result were copious notes in my original draft on how the various parts of the church both created sources of conflict and kept those conflicts from growing into full fledged war when possible.
Just think of the gaming potential, Your players could be dashing heroes with allegiance to the king, But the High Priest's minions are always out to thwart you and your liege. Or perhaps mercenaries are needed to settle a small conflict that has erupted between two political factions supported by different parts of the church. Or, the reverse, perhaps your characters have been hired to protect church envoys out to stop a war. I can go on and on. And this is only one little piece of Rhym.
So to paraphrase Goldilocks, one god was not enough. Many gods for with this or that specialization was too many. But nine was just right!
Monday, June 5, 2017
Fiction: No Chance Meeting - Conclusion
Fiction by J. D. Conrad - 2015
Go to Part 1
Aleeto sighed inwardly. Well, so much for gathering any information from this lot the easy way. He tried to stop fussing at himself and prepare. Taking slow regular breaths like a sleeper, wasn't the best way to center yourself before a fight, but it would have to do. Three to one odds weren't the best, but the only one who looked like he'd be much trouble was the half-orc. Again he tried to focus and clear his mind. The thugs were almost close enough.
Now! Aleeto's arm snapped up flinging the remaining hot tea at the orc's face, then slinging the mug at the man with him. He erupted out of the chair as if on a spring. His left hand cocked back, at a thought his ring transformed into a bronze capped fighting staff. His right hand grasped it further down and he snapped it in a high strike going for the half-orc's head. The hot tea hadn't really done much to blind his opponent, but it had distracted him. So he didn't notice the staff until a bit too late. Even so, the hulking thug rolled with the strike. Despite a sound like an ax hitting wood, the thick skulled halfbreed didn't fall. He did stumble though, and he dropped the knife.
Unfortunately the half-orc's companion produced a nasty little stiletto and moved to come at Aleeto from a different direction. His staff was already swinging into a position for a follow up strike on the halfbreed, leaving him open to this new attack. Suddenly another bit of motion at the edge of his perception registered. A fraction of a second later there was an angry metallic hiss and a meaty thunk. The human thug looked down at the long sword buried in his chest. His eyes followed the steel blade to the knight's mailed arm and then up that to meet his killer's eyes. As the man collapsed, the now very awake knight shook the corpse off his sword. Aleeto's staff continued to move, making a fast one, two, three combination and the half-orc collapsed.
Looking around for the proprietor he found the him slumped next to the bar with the dagger he'd earlier seen on the knight's belt sticking out of his heart, and a cocked crossbow next to his limp hand. Aleeto blinked in confusion and turned to face the knight who held the bloody sword in a casual nonthreatening manner, but was regarding him with a suspicious expression.
In a thick aristocratic Therlander accent the knight said, “Methinks thou art no more a helpless popinjay than I was asleep at yon table.”
“Er, no.” Aleeto bowed and said, “Aleeto, Agent of the Dorian Information Gatherer's Guild at your service.”
The knight smiled and returned the bow, then wiped the blood off his blade and sheathed the sword in one smooth motion, “I am Sir Garold, Order of the Long Road. I perceive that we must both be here to put an end to the nefarious deeds of these miscreants.”
“Ah. That explains what you are doing here a day and a half from the nearest point on the Pilgrim Road.”
“Aye. I was to meet a companion in Three Corners. But there was no sign of him. As he had undertaken a mission to Dori on behalf of the order, I took myself this way in hopes of ascertaining his fate. This establishment had an unsavory air to it. Thus you found me here testing their mettle.”
“Why weren't you knocked out?”
“How could I not find it peculiar that such a vile place as this would serve such an exalted beverage? So I took a vial of anti-toxin and let my head fall forward. As Saint Willum said in chapter seven of the Book of the Wheel, “Those with things to hide often reveal their secrets when they think no one will witness it.” I hoped to find out if these loathsome spawn worked mischief on my missing companion, without need of putting them to the question.”
“Isn't that being a bit...Well sneaky? At least for someone of your order?”
“Anyone who thinks a man in full gear such as I wear could fall asleep in that chair, and remain seated, would be called a fool by some. So if someone thought I was in a doze, that is no fault of mine.” Garold gave him a crooked smile.
Aleeto tilted his head and laughed. “I think I've just been called a fool. Well, I can't say this evening turned out as I'd hoped. I would rather have taken the boss prisoner, but at least I can report back to the Guild that this operation is shut down. It was bad luck for these bastards that we both ended up here to deal with them at the same time.”
Sir Garold nodded soberly, “Perhaps twas the gods that arranged it? It could be this was no chance meeting.”
Go to Part 1
Aleeto sighed inwardly. Well, so much for gathering any information from this lot the easy way. He tried to stop fussing at himself and prepare. Taking slow regular breaths like a sleeper, wasn't the best way to center yourself before a fight, but it would have to do. Three to one odds weren't the best, but the only one who looked like he'd be much trouble was the half-orc. Again he tried to focus and clear his mind. The thugs were almost close enough.
Now! Aleeto's arm snapped up flinging the remaining hot tea at the orc's face, then slinging the mug at the man with him. He erupted out of the chair as if on a spring. His left hand cocked back, at a thought his ring transformed into a bronze capped fighting staff. His right hand grasped it further down and he snapped it in a high strike going for the half-orc's head. The hot tea hadn't really done much to blind his opponent, but it had distracted him. So he didn't notice the staff until a bit too late. Even so, the hulking thug rolled with the strike. Despite a sound like an ax hitting wood, the thick skulled halfbreed didn't fall. He did stumble though, and he dropped the knife.
Unfortunately the half-orc's companion produced a nasty little stiletto and moved to come at Aleeto from a different direction. His staff was already swinging into a position for a follow up strike on the halfbreed, leaving him open to this new attack. Suddenly another bit of motion at the edge of his perception registered. A fraction of a second later there was an angry metallic hiss and a meaty thunk. The human thug looked down at the long sword buried in his chest. His eyes followed the steel blade to the knight's mailed arm and then up that to meet his killer's eyes. As the man collapsed, the now very awake knight shook the corpse off his sword. Aleeto's staff continued to move, making a fast one, two, three combination and the half-orc collapsed.
Looking around for the proprietor he found the him slumped next to the bar with the dagger he'd earlier seen on the knight's belt sticking out of his heart, and a cocked crossbow next to his limp hand. Aleeto blinked in confusion and turned to face the knight who held the bloody sword in a casual nonthreatening manner, but was regarding him with a suspicious expression.
In a thick aristocratic Therlander accent the knight said, “Methinks thou art no more a helpless popinjay than I was asleep at yon table.”
“Er, no.” Aleeto bowed and said, “Aleeto, Agent of the Dorian Information Gatherer's Guild at your service.”
The knight smiled and returned the bow, then wiped the blood off his blade and sheathed the sword in one smooth motion, “I am Sir Garold, Order of the Long Road. I perceive that we must both be here to put an end to the nefarious deeds of these miscreants.”
“Ah. That explains what you are doing here a day and a half from the nearest point on the Pilgrim Road.”
“Aye. I was to meet a companion in Three Corners. But there was no sign of him. As he had undertaken a mission to Dori on behalf of the order, I took myself this way in hopes of ascertaining his fate. This establishment had an unsavory air to it. Thus you found me here testing their mettle.”
“Why weren't you knocked out?”
“How could I not find it peculiar that such a vile place as this would serve such an exalted beverage? So I took a vial of anti-toxin and let my head fall forward. As Saint Willum said in chapter seven of the Book of the Wheel, “Those with things to hide often reveal their secrets when they think no one will witness it.” I hoped to find out if these loathsome spawn worked mischief on my missing companion, without need of putting them to the question.”
“Isn't that being a bit...Well sneaky? At least for someone of your order?”
“Anyone who thinks a man in full gear such as I wear could fall asleep in that chair, and remain seated, would be called a fool by some. So if someone thought I was in a doze, that is no fault of mine.” Garold gave him a crooked smile.
Aleeto tilted his head and laughed. “I think I've just been called a fool. Well, I can't say this evening turned out as I'd hoped. I would rather have taken the boss prisoner, but at least I can report back to the Guild that this operation is shut down. It was bad luck for these bastards that we both ended up here to deal with them at the same time.”
Sir Garold nodded soberly, “Perhaps twas the gods that arranged it? It could be this was no chance meeting.”
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