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"Because we have none!" Tarjun pouts. "And everything out there is expensive! And I don't wanna spend my whole life growing crops or making bows... It takes way too much time and it's soooo boring! So there must be something else I can do that will pay a bit more than playing the flute..."
"Where the heck is Mrs Johnson?!"
"My Granny tells great stories." Clara proclaims and joins Tarjun in the search for her, asking everyone that comes into sight where she might be.
Someone has actually seen Mrs. Jonson Sr. but not Tarjun. The kids are pointed in the right direction.
Mrs. Johnson sits under a tree in the shade drinking some tea, watching the lumberjacks working.
Jewel looks at her brother and shakes her head. "Tarjun! We have no money because we're kids and don't need any. Fast ways to make money are probably either very dangerous or illegal and likely evil. Remember how it felt when that jelly cube caught you? Was it fun on that pirate ship? That kind of stuff might have had plenty of gold that we could've gotten."
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"Eeeh - pirates didn't earn much, from what we've seen," Tarjun shrugs. "Not the underlings anyway. And the jelly cube had nothing inside!"[b] He gives it some thought. [b]"Dragons are rumored to have hella stuff. But we're not dragons."
"And I don't mean hurting people or anything. I just wanna know what our options are, thassall. If we don't wanna do back-breaking work for the rest of our lives."
All of his optimistic confidence seems to waver somewhat, however, when he spots Mrs Johnson. He clears his throat before approaching her. "Heya Mrs Johnson!" he greets her with fake cheer. "How's it going? You enjoying Oakstead?"
"I enjoy every minute knowing that I don't have to live here." Mrs. Johnson replies without looking away from whatever it is she observes. "What do you want." She takes another sip from her cup.
"If you're in charge of the ship, you get the treasure. We just hafta start our own crew. Seems to me that goin' after pirates and takin' their stuff wouldn't be that bad." He quietly imagines stabbing the captain of the pirate ship they recently escaped and sighs happily. "But fightin' dragons would be good too," he allows.
Jewel shakes her head. "Fighting a dragon would take really powerful people, not kids. Or an army. Or both."
"And hunting pirates? With who's navy? Anyone actively hunting pirates will be hunted by the pirates. All of the pirates will band together so you won't be fighting just one ship full!"
"Mrs. Johnson. Tarjun wants to know a quick, easy way to make money. Lots of money. He seems to be tired of being a kid." She turns to frown at her brother.
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"I'm not tired of being a kid!" Tarjun protests. "I'm just thinkin' about what comes next. Ya know, making plans for adulthood and all. You should be proud of me for doing it - you're typically the one who does all the thinking!"
"It's just that... everyone here looks so happy to do boring stuff all the time. Taking forever to reap crops or making wood into longbows. Having no fun. I don't want that! I'd rather go on adventures, or... Play music, or some stuff like that!"
"And everyone's tellin' me it's stupid, and everyone just keep on being poor anyway!" He throws up his hands in frustration. "Surely there must be a way of living that pays you enough to get your own bow!"
"Do I hear someone who wants to change religion?" Mrs. Johnson inquires. "Like, f+&! this backwater village, I'm going to forge a fate for myself with fun, adventure and riches?"
"Or like this famous bard stated - get rich or die trying? Because that is what a good portion of those trying do - they die."
"I chose that and I still believe it was the best decision ever. Better die trying for a better life, than being dead inside while alive in Oaksteadt. But many choose the safety of the community over freedom. And even if you try your best, your daughter can turn out as such a sissy."
She finally turns her head to look Tarjun in the eyes. "Do you have it in you, to tell your parents that you don't want any part in their future life and will leave to make a fortune?"
Oddly, Jewel stays silent while she watches Tarjun. What would he decide? It's a little and she hopes nobody notices when she lightly bites her tongue....
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"It ain't about religion," Tarjun shrugs. "It's just about changin' life." Any metaphor is lost on him.
He thinks for a bit. "Well, I've told already I don't want to become no farmer - they just pretend they don't hear it. I know I don't wanna stay here. It ain't about leaving forever, or about not wanting to take care of my Pa and Ma when they grow old. But there's cities out there," he gestures at the horizon, "where people do other stuff than ploughing the fields and cutting down forests. I wanna try that."
"What did you do when you left?" he asks Mrs Johnson.
"Caravan guards at first. Then treassure hunting. All kind of dangerous stuff. The more dangerous it was, the more money could be earned. A lot of that money went into expensive gear." Mrs. Johnson tells.
"We even killed a dragon and took its hoard. In our best days, we could have walked into Oaksteadt and buy the whole thing. Not just what it is worth, but to put so much gold on the table that they couldn't refuse." She lets those words linger for a while.
"But in the end what is all the money in the world if all you could buy would be some kind of Oaksteadt. No matter if it is this one, or a villa in Magnimar. Both are boring neighborhoods."
Thinking about it you notice that Mrs. Johnson's home is basically the same as Oaksteadt. It is smaller, but it is a house with farming for vegetables attached.
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The more Mrs Johnson explains things, the more Tarjun's dreamy smile begins to fade. "So you... don't really like how your life turned out then?"
It was a common problem with adults, he realised. He had yet to meet one who seemed perfectly happy with their lot - no matter how proudly they emphasized that they worked hard to get there.
"I'm good with my life. I got stories to tell with no end, and if I wanted I could pack my stuff and travel around the world again. I just don't feel like it today."
"Hey, YOU might like Oaksteadt, to each their own. But not liking it and being stuck here - that is what makes a life miserable. And once you marry here and have kids, there is no way you get out of here if not for a miracle or a catastrophe."
"What I'm trying to say is: Know what you want and how to get it. Riches alone won't make you happy. And some things you can't buy with money."
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"I know what I want," Tarjun replies confidently. "Well, more or less. See stuff. Carve wood into things. Play music. And all."
"Pa always said that money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes life easier. You need some to live abroad. Or get a really cool longbow without working for weeks on one," he suggests not-so-innocently.
Jewel is surprised but happy to hear Mrs. Jonson's answer. 'Riches alone won't make you happy.' Hadn't their father preached a sermon similar to that a couple of years back? She wonders if Tarjun might remember it if she reminded him.... Probably not. He didn't pay attention like she did.
"Gertrud said making a longbow would take around 6 months. Making 'a really cool' one will probably take longer. But we've got several years before we'll be adults and have to decide where our lives will take us. In the mean time, we can have fun." She pauses for a second of thought and adds, "What is fun for you Tarjun? Carving wood? Playing music? That's work for some people. Maybe 'fun' is an attitude? Didn't we have 'fun' digging for buried treasure until we found out we were being tricked by Gertrud? That was when we dug that well that somehow granted Clara's wish. That was hard work, but it was fun while we thought it was fun...."
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"Anything that isn't working," Tarjun replies immediately. "Or praying to some gods. Or making food. Or cleaning the house. Anything that you do for yourself and isn't boring, really. Or taking six months to be done!"
"Everyone's like oh, you need to be an adult, you need to get used to do repetitive stuff same days of every week and be [b]responsible and all for your future family... But I don't wanna be responsible. Responsible's all about what you like in life being taken away when you grow up. Whassa point?"[/b]
"I've become so used to being dissatisfied that the ever-present feeling of frustration is a comforting constant in my life." Mrs. Johnson replies.
"Isn't that in the teachings of Erastil?" she inquires from Jewel.
"For you I have bad news. If you don't manage to become a really powerful wizard - which you won't because you're lazy - instant satisfaction of all your wishes is not going to happen."
"For things to make you happy, they need to be an achievement. Or a gift of some kind. If everything just falls in your lap, it will be boring tomorrow."
Jewel is surprised to here a question about Erastil from Mrs. Jonson Sr., but replies as she's been taught. "Followers of Erastil believe that groups work best when led by a good and strong leader. The strength of a leader is about the virtue of the soul. A group may be small, like a family, or a whole community. Children should honor their parents. Their parents should value and earn the honor and be good examples. And children should understand the difference between work and play time."
She smiles, but then notices that the others don't seem to be really listening. Did she say it right? Maybe she'll need to review with her father that evening....
"I know Erastil's ways may not be as fun to people as Desna, or Cayden Cailean, or Calistria. But if more people followed his way the world would be a lot nicer place to live!"
"I see, the concept of irony is lost on followers of Erastil." Mrs. Johnson replies.
"Listen - everyone their own. If you're content with the life in a community like this, enjoy it. But if you tell the world would be a better place if all did that, that is a blatant lie and an offense to Desna."
"Desna is for people who are able to take responsibility for themself. She is one of the good ones. She just doesn't set up her congregation like a kindergarten. Desna is like 'You do you, but don't be an ass about it'. Many who are not evil could live under that general rule. If everyone had to follow Erastil, life would be very boring for all who are not into farming communities."
"And lumping Desna together with that Elven... godess is just insulting."
In general it seems Jewel found a sore spot of Mrs. Johnson.
"Would a god that says 'do what you want, I don't care' have followers at all?" Clara thinks aloud.
Jewel feels almost repelled by Mrs. Jonson's reaction. She hadn't intended to be insulting. Elven Goddess? She'd have to ask her father why Calistria would be insulting to Desna worshipers....
Listening to Tarjun she wonders how they'd grown up in the same house and had such different views.
"That's a good question Clara. But what about gods that want to destroy everything, including all of their worshipers and themselves? I think I read something about one like that called Grotis, or something like that...."
"Probably someone miserable?" Clara makes a guess. "And instead of just killing themself to further the goal of their god, they want to make other people miserable too."
"As Gods have existed before this world, I guess they can do without us. But if your goals as a god are for this world and the people therein, you are not getting anywhere with that if no one believes in you."
"Rovagug on the other hand would do his own bidding of wanton destruction and could do without any followers if he ever gets loose."
Jewel is surprised to hear the name and remember reading it. "Rovagug? I remember reading about.... it. I understood what I read, but it was hard to understand in relation to anything here. Kind of a monster with power beyond any individual God. And just wanting to destroy, everything. Even with several Gods working together they couldn't kill it. They imprisoned it. Scary."
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Tarjun sighs. "Sometimes, I think it'd be better if gods didn't exist," he mutters. "At least we'd get some peace and quiet instead of all that 'destroying things' nonsense."
He can't shake off the feeling that they've been somewhat side-tracked. "So what are you gonna do now?" He asks Mrs Johnson. "Are you gonna spend time with your daughter?"
"It's nice to see her again, but lets not overdo it. There is a reason we live that far apart and don't see each other often." Mrs. Johnson replies.
"But you haven't told what option of 'not working' you want to pursue to get the life of your dreams." she teases Tarjun.
Jewel feels pure anger well up in her when Tarjun makes his statement about things being better if the Gods didn't exist! If Erastil didn't exist!!! Had he slept through the lesson their Dad had taught about the creation of... everything!?! If the Gods didn't exist, nothing would exist! There'd certainly be peace and quiet since there wouldn't be any people!
She starts to draw a breath, to yell at him, to scream and ask how he could be SO STUPID!?! But finds that she can't even think straight after that comment. She turns and heads to the house. Maybe if she gets a drink of water it will clear her anger.
Pierce has been listening to the discussion, unwilling to contribute his own thoughts for the time being. He watches Jewel leave and frowns. He doesn't understand why she would be so upset, since atheism was the norm on his ship and where he came from. "Maybe it isn't about what god you follow, it's about what god follows you," he suggests quietly. "Seems to me if some big ol' powerful god told me I'd better do somethin', I wouldn't have much of a choice. Just like the cap'n on the ship. Maybe there's nowhere you can go where someone isn't tellin' you what to do all the time."
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"Ah, but with gods, maybe you can just ignore 'em," Tarjun shrugs. "They're usually pretty quiet, and it's not like they're walking around."
His gaze follows Jewel as she stomps off, and he sighs. "We got different opinions. I know it's important to her and all. It's important to my parents too. They've never been too comfortable with me not liking prayers and such. I know they'd like it if I changed and settled down and started to believe in Erastil in earnest like they do." He shakes his head sadly. "I've tried a bit, when I was a kiddo. But I can't, really."
"I'll apologise later..."
"Don't." Mrs. Johnson objects. "She chose her god and that's fine. If she has a problem with you choosing different, then that's her problem, not yours."
"Apologising for your life decisions that are yours to take is a slippery slope you shouldn't step on. You'll end up at the mercy of others to be allowed to live the life you want."
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Tarjun rolls his eyes. "It ain't about that! It's about makin' sure she's not hurt, and talking things out! She's my sis. You gotta do that with your family members if you wanna keep them talking to you!"
He realises, a bit too late, that he might have spoken without thinking. "At least that's encouraged," he adds lamely.
"She'd have a hard time staying mad at you. Unless she turns into an adult and starts sitting around a table drinking funny smelling stuff with the other adults, she'd have nothing fun to do anymore."
Jewel gets in the house and goes to the kitchen for some water. She sits down and stares at the water for a while. She starts to take a sip but stops with the cup raised and quietly prays to Erastil for guidance, and the help her calm down. She knows that Tarjun, and Clara, don't see things like she does. But sometimes it is just so hard to accept them!
"She loves you. She'll get over it. And it is important that you speak your heart in such regards. They won't like it. But if you keep silent about it and then one day you pack your stuff and leave it will hit different. Either they'd be like 'It was clear that day will come. He was always different.' or if they didn't see it coming you'd hear 'How could you betray us!'" Mrs. Johnson throws in.
"Nah, get someone else to give you advice too. I don't want you whining about me screwing up your life later."
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"Eh, I think it's just part of growing up," Tarjun shrugs. "Every grown-up I know's pissed at someone for their life choices. They don't really mean it, though. I better go find Jewel."
It doesn't take long to guess where his sister could be. Ever the nice kid, of course Jewel would go back to the house if she found herself alone.
"Hey there, Jewie," Tarjun leaves his crutch against the kitchen wall, and sits down next to his little sister. "Still mad at me?"
Jewel hears her brother coming before he enters, the crutch making his steps different from any others. When he greets her, sits and asks the question she feels the last bit of anger evaporate. "Oh. You know I can't stay mad at you. It's just...."
She stops and looks around, trying to think things through. "You know, I guess really it's just that I really don't understand things. I've listened to Dad, and read what we have. And I pray for guidance. but I still do stupid things. You know, like doing too much trying to help the local animals. Getting involved with the natural order of things, life!?!"
"I hope that when I grow up I'll understand things better. But then I think about things. The people that we encountered. That dwarf. The lord in the castle and his servant. That whole town of pirates and then the ship. You know, even when we encountered the drow they didn't seem to act that mean! Hurting people just to take some treasure? Maybe I don't want to understand that...."
She leans against him and smiles. "I'm bored here too sometimes. But I'm not ready to leave, just like none of us are really ready to be looking for a husband and having a family. Wife for you of course, even if there were any options!"
"And I wonder about Gertrud. It seems like she must have done some adventuring. But she settled down here and has her family. And she's so different from her mother. None of our business, but I am curious...."
"Well, Grandpa's dead. Mum doesn't want that for dad." Clara comments as she walks in shortly after Tarjun.
"Also, it is not forever. When I grow up and need a husband, we'll move away. And if I overheard it right, then the whole village will stop existing once the wood is no longer needed, or all the trees gone."
Jewel grins when she hears Clara's voice. "That'll never happen. Wood is needed for building, and I'm replanting so the forest won't be destroyed."
"So where will you, and your 'needed' husband going to move to? Gonna be the captain of a pirate ship?"
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"Oh. You know I can't stay mad at you. It's just...."
"You know, I guess really it's just that I really don't understand things. I've listened to Dad, and read what we have. And I pray for guidance. but I still do stupid things. You know, like doing too much trying to help the local animals. Getting involved with the natural order of things, life!?!"
"I hope that when I grow up I'll understand things better. But then I think about things. The people that we encountered. That dwarf. The lord in the castle and his servant. That whole town of pirates and then the ship. You know, even when we encountered the drow they didn't seem to act that mean! Hurting people just to take some treasure? Maybe I don't want to understand that...."
"I'm bored here too sometimes. But I'm not ready to leave, just like none of us are really ready to be looking for a husband and having a family. Wife for you of course, even if there were any options!"
"And I wonder about Gertrud. It seems like she must have done some adventuring. But she settled down here and has her family. And she's so different from her mother. None of our business, but I am curious...."
"Don't worry 'bout it," Tarjun ruffles Jewel's hair affectionately. "I don't think anyone really knows what's going on. Maybe not even the gods. It's all about making things up as you go, and accepting you can't figure out why things happen all the time." He drags his bad leg into a more comfortable sitting position. "No one can really know. You just keep on truckin'."
"And you know I ain't that big about getting married," Tarjun scrunches his nose. "Settling down and having kids? Yuck!"
"Also, it is not forever. When I grow up and need a husband, we'll move away. And if I overheard it right, then the whole village will stop existing once the wood is no longer needed, or all the trees gone."
"Where'd you hear that from?" Tarjun sounds almost uncharasterically concerned.
"How many trees do the lumberjacks cut each day? The treeline is moving away from the village a lot. But even if the trees last longer, no one has moved here in all the years. Do you see your parents doing farming here when they are old? I mean really old?" Clara inquires.
"I won't make my home on a ship. Maybe look at life in a city. Or become a travelling merchant. And there are other jobs than farmer or hunter and butcher in bigger communities."
"Even if you want to become a full time cleric you'd need a community larger than Oakstedt." she adds directed at Jewel.
Jewel considers Clara's comment and nods. "But I could be a farmer as well as a Cleric of Erastil, just like Dad. And if the treeline is moving away, it's just creating room for some more houses. That will be homes for other people that don't want to live in a city. Not everyone loves crowds you know." After speaking though she looks out the window at the land around the house. How much longer could their parents continue working the way that they were? They were still young. At least young for adults....
"Not everyone who wouldn't want to live in a dump like that pirate city would go and move here." Clara objects.
"We didn't look at anything when we were with Granny in Annesley, but that city has a lot more than we have here. Theater, fancy clothes shops, and a lot more. If I need something new then it is waiting forever until someone visits the city, or my mum asks your mum if clothes can be made wider or longer."
"Do you remember that shirt I had where the cloth at the lower part for the arms and belly were different? I grew too fast and too long away from the next trip to town and that was the solution. It was all scratchy and awful!"