Hero Wars
Issaries, Inc. |
The Travels of Biturian VaroshThe Lightbringers' Summons
We made for a campsite at Horngate. I had little left to
trade, and so Norayeep and I searched for healing plants as we approached,
hoping in that way to earn enough to trade for food. The first day was poor,
and all I found were roots and seeds, out of season. Norayeep found some
sticky Liverleaves, useful in absorbing systemic poison from the body. The
next day, I found a Jang flower, and Norayeep found some Fingersticks, both
useful against wounds, and she also found some Inipris leaves, which fight
the Wasting Disease. On the third day we gathered more Jang flowers, some
Hairflowers useful against the Shakes, and some rare Silver Strands, which
combat Soul Waste.
Then we turned and hurried north to the oasis hoping to use these before the week was up. I was glad to find that there were men-and-a-half here, for they are not as skilled at finding these plants as the Eiritha priestesses. But my hopes fell when I sighted, from the distance, a healer. There was no escaping our ill luck, so when we came near I gifted her with all the herbs we had found. She sorted them neatly and cast Preserve Herbs upon them. Through all our greeting she was formal and cool. At least we got a decent meal. After we ate, the healer continued her ritual. I grew chill as she spoke a certain poem, and Norayeep watched me with alarm.
Chaos stalks my world. This is the Lightbringer's Summons which all must answer or lose thereby the faith of their god. The healer was telling me that she had seen the foe and failed, that she was under geas to return and fight it. I explained it to Norayeep. She said, "I have no vows to hunt chaos. You are my master and owner, but even that cannot overcome my fears. I am no magical warrior or blessed healer." "Nor I," I said. Eye-whisper said he detected the ragged ghost of Alain, sword of Humakt, plaguing the consciousness of the healer. I recalled that Humakti had prepared an expedition against broos active in the Sog's Ruins. The mere thought of a foe which could make a Humakti Rune Lord remain as an undead did chill me to my soul. When so filled with fear, I always ask Issaries. He answered, saying that the path to Herodom lay in Sog's Ruins. Must I go? No, Heroquesting for me was voluntary, not compulsory. But still I was obliged to answer to the cult demands that I take my part on a Lightbringer's expedition. A dilemma indeed. "What price can I pay," I asked, "to fill my spot with something greater?" "Only god-things are better than a Lightbringer with a brave heart," she said. "How could anyone replace your skills?" "What about a Truestone?" I asked. "An excellent vessel, Goldentongue, but who will fill it?" The question was rhetorical, of course. Thus I bought my way out of a Heroquest, sending instead a spell-laden stone with all my rune spells for a week and all of my personal power for a day. The priestess seemed pleased with this trade. I did not feel cheated, for my life path did not lie upon the Hero's trail of impossible deeds. But I was poorer, and had even less chance to decently outfit myself in Pavis. The men-and-a-half sold us some meat for a silver, and we slept under a clear starry sky on hard ground. |
