Sillagoilemont's page

Sillagoilemont was born on the road to Finderplain and on the road is where he has spent the major portion of his life. His family, and their extended family with them, wandered the caravan roads of Eastern Garund and returned to Finderplain often. One of his great uncles even served as Grand Duke for a week, but the truth of what happened has evolved as all good tales do.
Sill-mont, as his long-legged friends have called him, enjoyed the time away from the towns and villages his family would take up temporary residence in. He had trouble explaining it, but he felt that having a structure between himself and the sky was “too quiet”. Especially at night. For him, the night seemed to sing, often just for him.
During the spring of Sill-mont’s fifty-second year, his family began to travel with a small group of northerners from Avistan. They came from the region known as Varisia and they were eager to share both the road as well as traditions with the gnomes. They shared their songs and their dances while Sill-mont’s family shared the tales and foods of Garund. Sill-mont quickly found he enjoyed the time with the newcomers.
When the now larger group arrived at a town a few months after they first walked together, one of the Varisian elders saw that Sill-mont seemed uncomfortable. The older woman asked, ”Young one, what has you troubled here? Your elders tell me you have been here numerous times, yet you alone look unhappy.” She paused and motioned towards the other gnomes. ”Is there some memory that troubles you?” Sill-mont was unsure how to explain things but he had grown to trust these new friends so he tried.
”Respected one,” he began. ”I have never liked spending time indoors with a structure over me. The world grows quiet when I do. I no longer hear the song the sky sings to me. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
The Varisian elder smiled and giggled slightly. ”Young one, you have heard our tales of The Traveler, Desna. I know you have. As with many of the gods, she is known by other names. What you are hearing is the Song of the Spheres, and Desna is The Singer. Many do not hear it and most do not understand what it is. Be assured though, you and I share this secret and I feel unease when it is silenced.”
The elder introduced herself, Estarlee, priestess of Desna. She asked if Sill-mont would like to spend the night with her under the stars rather than under a roof. Several of the Varisians would be there and they would enjoy telling the tales of Desna to him. Sill-mont eagerly accepted. When the day rose again, the gnomes explained that they would be staying a few weeks at least and some of the Varisians welcomed the chance to stay as well, but Estarlee and her fellow Desnan faithful wished to continue their journey. Sill-mont felt this was a chance and he approached his family. They were saddened that he would be leaving, but they had always known of his discomfort and the said he should go.
For another seventeen years Sill-mont travelled with the Varisians. At times they joined the greater caravan they had left, a welcome reunion with their collected families. Sill-mont learned the songs and dances of his Varisian companions. He learned their stories as well. After a time he began to make his own and to teach them, adding to the groups traditions, and they welcomed these.
Estarlee grew weak eventually, but she never wanted to settle in somewhere. The road was for her and she still had more to show young Sill-mont but she felt the song begin to call her more and more. Peacefully asleep under the night sky, Estarlee passed, but even this state of mourning would not crush the wandering spirit of Sill-mont and his companions.
Another fifteen years passed and Sill-mont saw a new generation of Varisians to wander with. Something was changing though. Among these younger companions, some felt the call to wander not only under the sky but also over the sea. Some wanted to return to Avistan and see their ancestral home. Sill-mont had never travelled so far and he eagerly accepted their invitation to join him. Again, the caravan divided as some wished to remain on the road and other wished to take to different lane they said.
Sill-mont proved to be a fairly competent sailor and found that the song took on a new tone far from shore. It had elements of the same sound but now there was a rhythm below it, like a band accompanying a singer. When the ship docked in Andoran, he knew he could not give up this new sound and once again he had to say goodbye to his friends, but they told him to meet them in Magnimar in time. For nineteen more year he spent time going ship to ship, returning to Magnimar often and meeting with many of his old friends. Some with families of their own now and others having settled in their waning years.
At one hundred and three years, Sill-mont felt the call to return south though. He said he would return one day, but he bid farewell to his adopted family. He knew they would like pass before he would return, though he knew in their tradition you are never truly gone as long as the stories continue to be told. And he knew all the stories now.
After two years on board a halfling run merchant ship, Sillagoilemont found himself in the Shackles. He had seen pirate havens before. Riddleport in Varisia has been a favorite port of some crews he had been on. He knew not all crews were blood thirsty murderers and many Varisian stories involve liberating material wealth from those who do not deserve it. Perhaps some time on such a crew would be a new adventure. Or at least add to the stories he can pass on and keep the traditions alive.