|
Never having been the religious type, Tarjun barely pays attention to his father's preaching. It doesn't help that his younger sister freaked out just the day before after meeting a stag.
He waits for his father to explain a particular theological point to try and start a conversation with his sibling:
"Hey, Jewie," he whispers. "You okay? You've been really quiet."
While Jewel normally enjoys the service, at least enjoys the interesting parts.... Today she is distracted. Had the stag been dangerous? They had just been playing and hadn't intended harm. But sometimes animals didn't understand. If she hadn't frozen and had spoken up? Maybe after the service she could talk to their father, or Mrs. Johnson. She just barely hears Tarjun, but quietly replies, "I'm OK. Just wondering.... Later, after the service."
"Hush. Some are trying to listen." the one adult who visits the service scolds the kids.
The service is short, as Erastil isn't about talking but doing. Will Branston colses the holy text, speaks a prayer asking for rain and a plentiful harvest and then the service is done.
"Peter, want to stay for lunch?" he asks the man.
"Thanks for the invitation. But I would have to check if I'm in time to stop Evelin from preparing one herself."
"Do that, and if you can bring her too." Will exrends the invite.
Turning to Clara he asks "What about our new visitor. What can I do to make you enjoy this a little more. A Service to Erastil shouldn't be a punishment." He looks over to the Johnson house, where he will have a talk with someone later.
"You're a kid. Your responsibilities are not getting eaten by a bear during the day and being home in time for bed. When you're an adult, then it is fun to have a big party in May, when the first harvest comes in and you can put all the provisions on the table that are left over after winter."
"No fun is to sit in front of an empty table mid January with still a month of snow ahead of you. Of course this stuff is not as interesting and exciting as having adventures, or running after the fun right now. But after you heard your responsibilities, as Erastil sees them for 500 to 1000 times, you know them by heart. And you lived with them for many year, by seeing us do them and taking an ever bigger part in that."
"What do you consider fun?" Will hands back the initiative to Tarjun.
"Then how about we do carve holy symbols, until we wait for lunch to be ready." Will soggests.
Clara blows a raspberry. "Boring. Desna is so much cooler than Erastil. I get to stay up in the middle of the night and then we watch the stars."
Her thoughts wandering off for a few moments she sits in silence. Then she bursts out "I want to have a swallowtail festival."
Jewel accepts the "shush" like she should and pays attention to the rest of the short service. She is interested to see a visitor but stays quiet as a proper child should do.... She cringes slightly at Tarjun's words. They could usually make their tasks fun, but shouldn't complain about it. The reply was exactly what was expected. She has trouble not jumping in when "a bear" was mentioned, but joins Tarjun at the mention of carving holy symbols. "The bear was really nice though. Not scary at all like the stag was!"
She hardly hears Clara until she mentions a swallowtail festival. "Are you going to organize that Clara? Festivals may be fun, but I'll bet getting ready for it is a lot of work!"
Totally oblivious to the fact, that her parents work every day from dawn til dusk, like everyone else in the village she states "Desna doesn't do that 'a lot of work'-thing. The festival is a big potluck event where everyone has fun and many swallotails are released. So the only things we need is a mowed meadow where everyone can put their picknick blanket. And we need to catch two swallowtails to marry, so they have hundreds of little schwallowtails to release at the festival."
|
|
"Sure," Tarjun deflates.
He doesn't try arguing that he'd much rather make flutes and toy fortresses out of wood than holy symbols- he did kind of set himself up for spending the rest of the morning making Erastian symbols. And it's not like he feels that his parents are silly for worshipping Erastil, or working the the land the whole year for a crop that may or may not sustain them. It's all Things That Need to Be Done, after all.
He just cannot quite put into words how much he hopes that his adult life won't follow the same path.
"A swallowtail festival would be a nice thing to have. We'll for sure come if you set one up." Will encourages Clara.
Seeing Tarjun's reaction Will responds "I'm sorry. I know I'm all grown up and boring. Let's see if I can make it sound like the fun it should be - you hear holy symbol and you think we're going to make a useless figurine to collect dust. But for a cleric this symbol is used to channel the power of Erastil through it. And we're talking Erastil here. He does nothing just for religious decoration. The holy symbol is a bow made of antlers. And you can make that in a wide range of sizes."
Will holds up the one he has on a leather string as a necklace. "It can be as small as this, but you can also carve a four foot fully functional composite bow for a holy symbol of Erastil."
Jewel takes a carving knife and starts working on a small bow for a necklace. "I'm not strong enough for a big bow like that. But I'd like to have a symbol to wear...."
While trying to carve the delicate little pieces she pushes too hard and breaks the piece. "I guess I need to be more careful. Starting over!"
Making a bow sounds not that bad so Clara joins the activity. But that interest is quickly lost as that bow looking like antlers turns out to be a hand crafted thorny stick with no further use.
|
|
Tarjun seems to cheer up a little as his father speaks, though he doesn't answer. His absence of religious convictions is not a subject he can easily put into words at such a young age, and so he resorts to do as his father says, and get to work on the holy symbol.
It's, by far, not his best work- at least it definitely resembles a bow, but the antlers lack finesse and details. It's still a recognizable symbol of Erastil though, and he can't repress a laugh when he sees both Jewel and Clara's failed creations.
"At least it's a nice stick," he tries to console Clara. He is quite struck by Jewel's another attempt: "Hey, look at that dad! It's better than mine!" he calls out happily.
Tarjun's attempt only angers Clara more but it also gives her an idea what that stick would be good for. Luckily for Tarjun's head there are adults around.
"That's a really nice work Jewel." Will compliments her.
Jewel finishes polishing the little bow and looks at it. It is pretty, but... "But I'm not a Cleric. None of us are. So this is just a pretty pendant. We can be the Guardians of Erastil. But we'll need to find a real Cleric to use a holy symbol, or the healing septer that is with the other equipment. It kind of feels like we're just holding things until the real Guardian shows up." She looks around for a cord to use for a necklace.
"What hinders you to become one?" Will inquires.
"You don't want to. But Jewel takes this guardian business very serious. Maybe she wants to."
"And even if not: How did you become guardians? As I see it, you will appoint the next guardians."
"What do you believe will happen if by some crazy caprice of fate a REAL cleric of Erastil shows up here in the middle of nowhere? You know - one of those guys who is so serious about working together with the community and searching the best for it together that he or she devoted their whole life to it."
"'Thanks for being intermediate guardians, but now I'm here.' is not what a follower of Erastil would say. Much less a cleric. That is the path Breathnacht took."
Jewel listens, grinning a bit at Tarjun's words, but then serious to the rest. "I guess I just don't know. We were.... appointed, as the guardians because we wanted to help. We were being attacked by goblins, and the shrine had been broken open and things taken. We're just kids, but we could help. And we did. Then all that other stuff."
"I guess I just thought that a cleric got a calling to BE a cleric. I got, well, I got a little bird and a sense that I needed to pay attention to him, and I learned to do things because of that. I get a sense of a power when I commune with Chirp. I don't know who that power is, but from what I've learned of Erastil I don't think it is him."
Once she finds a cord Jewel places the necklace around her neck. Maybe there was a way to use the clerical powers, but it would take time to figure it out.
"Dad? Yesterday evening we were.... looking around over on that side of town." She points to where they were when they saw the stag. "We went into the woods past where the lumber is being cut. It was getting dark so we were turning back to come home, and we saw a stag. I mean a really big stag. It looked really dangerous, and it was late and I pretty much forgot everything.... like my ability to talk with animals and you know."
"I guess I'm just wondering, how dangerous are they? I mean, it's an animal and really big, but I was wondering if it was there for a reason. Erastil is also known as the Stag God, right? Seeing that could have meant something. Or maybe there's danger over there? I think we should go check it out!"
"Stags are not dangerous most time of the year. Only when they are going in to the rut you should stay out of their way."
"If you imply Erastil came in disguise, this would be a good sign and nothing to worry. Don't you think? But as guardians of the forest you can check anyway." Will bounces some thoughts off Jewel.
Jewel nods, smiling to herself as she is caught up in her own thoughts. She barely registers her Dad's words until he mentions checking out the area. "Good idea. Tarjun? Clara? Let's go back there and see if we can find the foot prints.... er, Hoof prints? of that stag! And just look around for anything important, or interesting!"
She starts to run but then remembers proper courtesy, and Tarjun. "Thanks Dad! We Guardians are going to check out that area again!"
"Me guardian goes nowhere until I got lunch." Clara protests.
Jewel spins around, mercurial emotions of a child showing on her face.... then she laughs. "OK, but we need to eat quick. Mama owl is probably hungry too and we should check on Mr. Beaver. The area isn't flooded or dry so he hasn't diverted the river, yet. Then we go look for tracks from that stag. I still think that may be something interesting. And I'll try not to get scared again when maybe an animal wanted to talk."
Clara eats what she can get and as Jewel urges to leave already she tries to look malnourished and asks "May I get some extra food on the way?"
Once she has a mug with a lid filled with stew and a spoon she is willing to follow.
The creek looks like last time. And a first check finds no more trees missing, and no beaver around mama owl's nest.
When they get to the creek Jewel quickly baits a hook and line to try and catch a fish. Having spent the time in the area with fishing and the trap they all know where the cover is under water so getting a little fish to feed Mama owl shouldn't take too long....
Once they have a fish they head over to the nest. Jewel activates her Feral Speech hex to let the owl understand her, "Mama Owl, I've got a fish for you. I'll just leave it here at ground under your tree. Are your babies OK up there in your nest?"
She drops the fish by the tree and backs off to wait for an answer.
The owl hoots back in excitement until Jewel is far enough away. Then she swoops down, grabs the fish and flies back up into the nest. "Hoot."
Jewel grins when Mama Owl replies. She hadn't expected details. She turns to the others, "Now off to the other side of town and see if we can find tracks?"
"I'll find that stag!" Clara boasts with her mug in hand. She carefully keeps an eye out for hoofprints or deer droppings.
Once they get close Jewel tries to remember where they had seen the huge animal. She remembers something huge, maybe 20' tall? but then forces herself to relax and be ration-able. It had been huge to kids, but compared to the trees.... "Remember not to step on any tracks. If they're all messed up we won't be able to figure out what they were!"
After giving her warning about stepping on the tracks Jewel practically trips over the first track she finds. Embarrassed she looks around, maybe hoping to see the stag in the area? "Ooops! And I messed up. Now the stag went this way, and turned.... if we can follow and look around? I'm not sure what we might find. I don't know if we could help an animal that big, even if he might want our help?" Once she realizes how much she is rambling she stops and looks at her friend and brother. "Let's just try and follow these. Might be nothing but I wonder why that big animal came so close to town!"
After some criss crossing through the woods you finally find a clearing where there are two dozen deers and the big stag with the large antlers. Even though you are trying to be silent someone manages to step on a stick. On the cracking noise all deer heads come up and turn in your direction. The big stag steps up in front of the heard.
Keeping her arms down in what she hopes is a submissive posture Jewel steps forward activating her Feral Speech hex.
"We're sorry to intrude. We mean no harm. We.... No, I, was scared last night when we saw you by the edge of the forest. I don't remember ever seeing such a magnificent animal as you near to the village."
"We came to see if we could find you, and if you need anything? We're young, but we're working to learn as we've taken over the responsibilities of Guardians of Erastil." Feeling almost certain that she's said too much, and wondering what the stag might understand, Jewel stops talking and holds perfectly still, waiting.
The stag takes another step forward and looks Jewel straight into the eye.
"It isn't your duty to care for every ache some animal might have. Your care for the owl is a cute thing, but it is not necessary from the viewpoint of a guardian."
"You keep pillaging hordes out of the woods. Or tribes who want to burn it down. Or Breathnacht. Threats to the whole ecosystem. Even your little village could become a threat, if too many people join to produce more timber and don't care about the balance with nature. But a beaver cutting a tree with a birds nest is not."
"You got the heart in the right place. But you need to learn to see the bigger picture. Nature is great and can take care of itself in most cases."
"It will be nice to have some more owls in this woods. But in the long run you don't want animals that come to you for food and shelter and can't take care of themself anymore."
"Grow up and become a guardian."
After a long while that feels like forever, the stag roars, lowers the antlers and charges halfway towards the kids. He stops, raises his head, snorts and parades across the clearing.
Jewel stands rigid at the words of the great stag. When Tarjun pulls her it just about yanks her off of her feet, but it does break her trance-like state. Her mouth moves but nothing comes out and she has to swallow several times before she can even speak. She responds to the stag first with her head lowered in respect, "Thank you for that guidance. I see that I have much to learn. There are adults in the village that I can seek for wisdom. We will return to our homes to think on this."
To Tarjun and Clara she turns and says, "The stag said.... well, I'll tell you everything when we get home. But for now, he can protect the herd without us, and we.... No, I need to learn better what we should be doing."
"The stag said to learn what guardian meant, and to grow up and become the guardian. And he was right. I've been pushing us to be like baby-sitters for each little thing, each little animal. We saved the Mama Owl from an attack, that she might have been able to save herself, then started feeding her. And the same with the beaver. She might have fought him off or discouraged him from chewing her tree down for his home, but I pushed us to stop him, and then help him with other trees."
"The forest and nature can handle those little things all by itself. As Guardians we should be watching for the threats that aren't just normal things. Things like tribes trying to burn down large ares, or undead monsters like Breathnacht, or even our own village if we're cutting down too many trees. I hadn't really taken the time to think about it, but Erastil is about living in harmony.... So maybe we need to stop interfering and learn more about the forest, and nature."
"Wow. If what the stag said wasn't as logical and down to earth I would think you tried my ritual herbs." Gertrud comments.
"But why are you telling this to all of us? I had the impression this was again something that affects the whole village."
"I like to hear it." Will objects. "It is great to hear how our little one is guided." he encourages Jewel.
"There are no better guardians than us, and there will be no better guardians! Because we become the bestest guardians ever." Clara postulates.
Jewel does a double-take when Mrs. Johnson mentions "ritual herbs", but decides not to comment. "I thought we should tell both of our parents about it.... well, cause it seemed important. I had thought that we were doing right, but the Stag pointed out that we weren't. And I thought that we just need a little focus, from people that know better than we do. We're kids. We'll get better, but we need to grow up."
She thinks a moment on Tarjun's words, hardly hearing Clara. "Tarjun, I think that's wrong. He was pretty clear that nature is a big thing. It can mostly take care of itself, so maybe all that was needed was kids. And as to us being heroes? I think a hero is just someone that steps up to help when they are needed. Anyone can, but not everyone will. We were heroes for Breathnacht, helping him to undo the evil of his life, and I'm sure Erastil liked that. And now we're still kids, but if needed we can be heroes again!"
"I want all three of us to be the best Guardians that have ever been, around here! I thought Mrs. Johnson could teach us everything she knows about animals and the woods, and anything else that we'll need to know. And Dad, I promise that I'll always pay attention about Erastil, or any of the other gods. I know that's a lot, but we've got several years before we become adults!"
"And Clara, before you complain about all the hard work and learning, we have several years so we'll still have time to play!"