Martial melee weapon (longsword), 1d8 damage, Finesse, Versatile (1d10) (requires attunement by an elf or half-elf of non-evil alignment)
Description
Toruviel is a double edged longsword with near unmatched balance and surprisingly light in weight. As a result, it can be wielded with exceptional dexterity. Runes adorn the center of the blade which are obviously elven, but so old that only the oldest living elves could have a chance of deciphering them. The blade is made of a brightly polished metal which almost seems to shine with an inner light. The guard is made of brass and metal, and the two-parted heft has tightly braided metal wire tightly wound top to bottom. The craftsmanship is second to none.
Abilities
While holding Toruviel you gain darkvision out to a range of 120 feet. The sword is used as an arcane focus for spells.
Attack Bonuses
Bonus to hit: +2
Bonus to damage: +2
Air Blast
While holding Toruviel, as a bonus action, you can send a blast of air out of the sword. The blast area is a 5 ft wide, 20 ft long. Anyone caught in the blast area must make a Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 ft away from you. Creatures who are one size category smaller than you in weight, get a disadvantage to their saving throw. Creatures who are one size category larger than you in weight, get an advantage to their saving throw. Two size categories smaller or larger than you in weight, automatically fail or succeed, respectively. Additionally, for each size category you are below medium in weight, you can propel yourself into or through the air by 20 ft.
Bard’s Experience
While attuned to Toruviel, you are proficient with the lute. You also gain proficiency and Expertise in History, Performance, and Persuasion.
Blade of the Aeromancer
While holding Toruviel, you gain a +2 bonus to spell attack rolls. In addition, you can ignore half cover when making a spell attack.
Blessing of the Aeromancer
While attuned to Toruviel, you gain two extra sorcery points. In addition, you can apply a second metamagic option to a spell.
Feathers and Lead
While holding Toruviel you can adjust your weight relative to your normal weight. It allows you to shift your weight between two size categories below your own, and one size category above your own. If you’re a medium humanoid, you can shift down to small and tiny, and up to large. Each shift down diminishes your weight to one-eighth of the previous category, while each shift up multiplies your weight by eight.
Additionally, as a reaction, you can cast Feather Fall on yourself (and yourself alone, unlike the spell) while carrying Toruviel.
Dancing Blade
Once a day, while holding Toruviel, you can use a Bonus Action to toss this magic sword into the air and speak the Command Word. When you do so, the sword begins to hover, flies up to 30 feet, and attacks one creature of your choice within 5 feet of it. The sword uses your Attack roll and ability score modifier to Damage Rolls. While the sword hovers, you can use a Bonus Action to cause it to fly up to 30 feet to another spot within 30 feet of you. As part of the same Bonus Action, you can cause the sword to Attack one creature within 5 feet of it. After the hovering sword attacks for the fourth time, it flies up to 30 feet and tries to return to your hand. If you have no hand free, it falls to the ground at your feet. If the sword has no unobstructed path to you, it moves as close to you as it can and then falls to the ground. It also ceases to hover if you grasp it or move more than 30 feet away from it.
Martial melee weapon (trident), 1d6 damage, Thrown (20/60), Versatile (1d8) (requires attunement by a creature that worships an aquatic deity)
Description
This trident is an exquisite weapon engraved with images of waves, shells, and sea creatures.
Abilities
While carrying Muirgheal and being submerged, you gain darkvision out to a range of 120 feet.
Attack Bonuses
Bonus to hit: +1
Bonus to damage: +1
Critical range: 19-20
Commanding Depths
Muirgheal has 3 charges. While you carry it, you can use an action and expend one charge to cast one of the following spells:
Dominate Beast (save DC 15) on a beast that has an innate swimming speed.
Control Water (save DC 15)
Watery Sphere (save DC 15)
Muirgheal regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.
Death at Sea
If you score a critical hit with Muirgheal, the target takes an extra 1d6 necrotic damage. A creature is immune to this effect if it is immune to piercing damage or has legendary actions.
Mariner’s Embrace
While carrying Muirgheal, you can use an action to create a bubble of air around your head. It allows you to breathe normally underwater. This bubble stays with you until you spend a bonus action to remove the bubble, you are no longer carrying Muirgheal, or you are no longer underwater.
Mariner’s Experience
While attuned to Muirgheal, you are proficient in Athletics and Nature. You also gain Expertise in Athletics (Swimming), Nature (Water).
Mariner’s Grace
While you are attuned to Muirgheal and are moving through a body of water (GM’s discretion), you get a +10 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) checks and can’t be tracked except by magical means. You leave no tracks or other traces of your passage. This works not just while swimming across a river, but also walking through the surf on a beach.
Mariner’s Resilience
While carrying Muirgheal, you gain resistance to cold damage. In addition, you and everything you wear and carry are unharmed by temperatures as low as -50 Celsius.
Mariner’s Swiftness
While attuned to Muirgheal, you do not suffer the half movement penalty because of difficult terrain while under water.
Salt’s Bite
While attacking with Muirgheal, the critical hit range of the weapon is expanded to 19-20, as if the wielder had the Champion’s Improved Critical 3rd level class feature.
Simple melee weapon (quarterstaff), 1d6 damage, Versatile (1d8) (requires attunement by a warlock of non-lawful alignment)
Description
A six foot staff made of a dark ebony with a jewel sitting at the tip, which shines like a piece of night sky, filled with stars. The heft of the is decorated with pieces of cut obsidian which can be very sharp. Anyone not familiar with the staff has a slight chance to cut their hands while holding and wielding the staff.
Personality
Last Devour: Second Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262
Abilities
While holding Blackstar you gain darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. The staff is used as an arcane focus for spells. Even for those which don’t require one.
Attack Bonuses
Bonus to hit: +2
Bonus to damage: +2
Devour Soul
Whenever you use it to reduce a creature to 0 hit points, either by melee attack or when using Blackstar as an arcane focus for a damage dealing spell, the staff slays the creature and devours its soul, unless it is a construct or an undead. A creature whose soul has been devoured by Blackstar can be restored to life only by a wish spell. Blackstar‘s hunger for souls must be regularly fed. If the staff goes one ride or more without consuming a soul, a conflict between you occurs at the next sunset.
When it devours a soul, a harmless flash of intense pain shoots through your body after which Blackstar grants you temporary hit points equal to 50% (rounded down) of the slain creature’s maximum hit points. These hit points fade after 24 hours.
If you use Blackstar to hit an undead with a melee attack or as an arcane focus for a damage dealing spell, you take 2d4 necrotic damage and the target regains hit points. If this necrotic damage reduces you to 0 hit points, Blackstar devours your soul.
Soul Hunter
Awareness: While you hold Blackstar, you can use a bonus action in order for you to be aware of the presence of Tiny or larger creatures within 60 feet of you that aren’t constructs or undead.
Fortitude: While you hold Blackstar, you can use a bonus action after which you can’t be charmed or frightened until the end of the round.
Pact Keeper
While holding Blackstar, you gain a +2 bonus to spell attack rolls and to the saving throw DCs of your warlock spells. In addition, you can regain one warlock spell slot as an action while holding Blackstar. You can’t use this property again until you finish a long rest.
Spell Storing
Blackstar stores spells cast into it, holding them until you use them. Blackstar can store up to 5 levels worth of spells at a time.
Any creature can cast a spell of 1st through 5th level into Blackstar by touching it as the spell is cast. The spell has no effect, other than to be stored in Blackstar. If Blackstar can’t hold the spell, the spell is expended without effect. The level of the slot used to cast the spell determines how much space it uses.
While carrying Blackstar, you can cast any spell stored in it. The spell uses the slot level, spell save DC, spell attack bonus, and spellcasting ability of the original caster, but is otherwise treated as if you cast the spell. The spell cast from Blackstar is no longer stored in it, freeing up space.
Previously, upon returning to the Sheridan estate from the ancient catacombs, the adventurers and the companions they picked up in those mysterious depths — the Lyrian knights, Bartosz and Brandomiir — were hailed as heroes, while there was a lot of consternation at the arrival of the four Kaedwyni orcs, who were prompty given “boarding” in the stables and two armed guards making sure they did not leave their “accommodations.” Meanwhile, a celebratory feast was arranged and the adventurers were asked to take up another quest; finding the Sheridan middle brother Destan and returning him home to Lynnecombe. All the while, the adventurers grew fearful for the fate of the Kaedwyni orcs.
The adventurers had just concluded their negotiations with Lord Jonathan for the task of retrieving his younger brother, having been promised a staggering one thousand gold crowns each, a cart and two horses for their journey and another one thousand gold crowns for expenses. It was clear that the Sheridans would not spare anything to get Lord Destan home safely.
Sixth Day, Third Ride, Summer Light, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is waning. Darkmoon is in high sanction.)
When the negotiations were concluded, Emma requested permission to perform a ritual of confirmation for Bartosz, to acknowledge the ordeal he has gone through and to confirm his new standing as a local hero, in front of his community and the gods. Lord Jonathan was indifferent to the idea at best, but Ser Benten supported Emma in her initiative.
Later, in light of their coming effort to free the orcs from their imprisonment, it was decided to make sure that the orcs had some arms to defend themselves with on their long journey back to Kaedwyn. While Luca wanted to raid the armoury, Emma objected to that claiming that it would be a gross breach of the laws of hospitality which were extended to them. At most, she would be willing to part with her own arms and gear. Astrid quickly offered two hand axes and her great sword, the latter was deemed too hard to sneak into the stables. Emrys offered a dagger and Luca rolled up the weapons in a blanket and put them aside for when the time was right.
Luca suggested retiring to the chamber he shared with Emrys in the servant’s building and spend some time analysing the magical artifacts they had retrieved from the catacombs using a ritual he had learned from the book he always carried around with him. He would hopefully learn more about the weapons, their history and their magical properties. And more importantly, learn whether they would be dangerous in the hands of the party. Luca approached Lord Marcus with his plan, who nonchalantly parted with the twin swords he had claimed as his own.
Luca used a pestle and mortar to crush to dust the pearl he had received from Benten earlier. He mixed it with wine and created a thick paste with which he drew an arcane circle filled with infernal symbols. He sat inside and took Lord Marcus’ swords in his lap and divined their origin. One by one he did this with each of the weapons, ending with Emma’s trident. What Luca learned surprised him; the history, the exact nature and potential of the weapons remained unclear.
What was clear was that the twin swords were supposed to be wielded by one person and lost their enchantment when wielded separately. They — no, it — was called Gladia. It required bonding between weapon and wielder and once such a bond was created would the features of the weapon become clear to its user. It was also clear that through this special bond, the weapon would grow in power as its wielder would gain experience and power.
Toruviel was the name of the elven sword that Emrys had laid claim to. The magic surrounding the blade was old and ancient even for elven standards, and was almost solely comprised of transmutation magic. The difference with this weapon’s bond was that it would be a bond for life, unlike that of the other weapons. The bond could only be lifted if the weapon would be destroyed or if the wielder perished.
When Emma was still a little hesitant to hand her trident over to Luca, he decided to inspect his own staff instead. Blackstar it was named, and he found that it greatly boosted his abilities as a warlock. The types of magic that it emanated were varied, but a strong necromancy stood out.
Finally the Sister of Streams relented and handed her trident over to Luca who divined that its name was Muirgheal and that, like the others, its power was closely linked to those it bonded with. The magic surrounding it was varied as well, with enchantment, necromantic and transmutation.
Everyone departed the chamber with their weapons while Astrid and Brandomiir, who had been there to witness the ritual, left a little disappointed, having expected to see more fireworks or learn more about the weapons than they did. Brandomiir said that he had witnessed the identification of magical items before, since he knew some runewrights.
Emma went to find Bartosz and found him stringing a row of crossbows in the armoury. She and proposed the ritual she wanted to perform to Bartosz. He claimed to be a follower of the Platinum Father but admitted he was raised in the faith of Chauntea, his father being a gardener in Lynnecombe-upon-Lyn. Emma explained that Chauntea is supported by the life-giving streams that Sedna holds domain over. Benten suddenly spoke from behind Emma urging Bartosz to accept the offer.
“It is a great honour to be chosen for such a rite by a Lady of the Lake. It’s especially auspicious for someone who has grown up on the bank of an important river.”
Bartosz started to get excited and asked Emma when and where the ritual would take place. Emma told him that it could be performed that very evening in the courtyard of the estate. He asked if he could invite his family and she encouraged it, even going so far as to offer to take over his task of stringing the crossbows so that he could take off and inform his family and bring them back to the estate.
Meanwhile, Luca spent time with Blackstar, while Emrys took the time to attune himself to Toruviel. Emma followed once she was done talking to Bartosz and she and Muirgheal bonded, too. Muirgheal immediately sang to her.
“Beware, beware, the daughter of the sea.”
“Beware,” I heard him cry.
His words carried upon the ocean breeze,
As he sank beneath the tide.
When Bartosz later arrived back at the estate, he had half of the village following him in festive procession. Another feast had been prepared and people made merry. Eventually it became time to perform the ritual. Emma took centre stage on the landing at the top of the steps leading to the entrance to the mansion.
Those blood-soaked coasts of Jagg’d Shore,
Where sailors fought and died.
The Admiral fell at Dunagore,
because… she left his side.
Everyone gathered at the bottom of the steps and Emrys started expertly playing the lute he had borrowed from one of the servants in accompaniment of the ritual.
Words were spoken to acknowledge Bartosz ordeal and his return from the wilderness into the waiting arms of the community he grew up in. He was no longer the adolescent they knew, but now was an adult and one who strengthened the community as much as the community strengthened him. Bartosz was lead in a vow of dedication to the community as well as the Gods. He was then washed in Sedna’s holy waters.
At the start of the ceremony Bartosz older sister had made some teasing, playful jests at his expense that drew friendly giggling from the crowd, but by the end the community stood in awe of the new man standing in front of them. They cheered him on!
In the meantime, Luca had secretly slipped away from the ceremony to go to the stables, intent on freeing the orcs from their captivity. When he approached the entrance to the stables he noticed that the two guards were not at their post. When he eventually stepped inside the dark stables, he noticed that the orcs had extinguished the lights, and could barely make out the two unconscious guards, tied up in the corner. The orcs were armed with the weapons that Luca provided, as well as the arms they had taken from the guards. Brandomiir was there as well, having beaten Luca to the punch.
Quickly, Luca bid the orcs a safe departure and they sneaked out of the stables. Brandomiir and Luca returned to the ceremony just in time to witness the end of it. While people were cheering and the orcs were using the hay-filled sacks they had taken off their cots to climb over the spiked walls behind the stables, hounds could be heard barking ferociously. It didn’t take long before captain Mollen noticed the two missing guards and she immediately went to toll the warning bells!
Confusion erupted among the villagers and servants, and for a moment both Emma and Emrys weren’t sure what to do, so they lead the villagers to the well while the servants were fleeing inside the mansion and the servants building.
Why this? Why this, oh Daughter of the Sea?
Why this? Did you forget your seaside days?
Always the pride of our kingdom’s eyes,
How could she go astray?
Captain Mollen had quickly formed a squad of six guards and had retrieved the crossbows from the armoury, eager to pursue the fleeing orcs. Ser Guillaume and Ser David had joined Emma and Emrys and took over the care for the villagers. Bartosz, together with Dame Julie and Dame Madeline, ever the friends of the orcs, had followed the guards in pursuit of the orcs. Brandomiir retrieved his arquebus and was running out of the gate as fast as his short legs could carry him. Luca and Astrid made their way in pursuit, too, and somewhat reluctantly, Emma and Emrys also joined the chase.
Lyrian Arbalist
They found the orcs not far south, on the high bridge over the stream leading to the river Lyn, being held at crossbow point by the six arbalists, under the leadership of captain Mollen, who was ordering the orcs to surrender their arms, while Bartosz was trying to deescalate the situation and prevent any bloodshed. Captain Mollen was unwilling to listen. Korath and Kaedan had lowered but not dropped their weapons, while Summi had taken an aggressive crouch and Garr was pacing from one side of the bridge to the other, pumping himself up and getting more enraged by the minute.
When Emrys tried to talk to captain Mollen, he was confronted by vicious riposte with a thinly veiled racist undertone that told him that the captain would not be reasoned with. He positioned himself to the side of the arbalists and quietly drew Toruviel…
Bartosz had not given up trying to talk sense into the captain, while placing himself protectively between the arbalists and the orcs. The Lyrian knights did the same, flanking Bartosz on either side. Dame Madeline kept her halberd disengaged, and Dame Julie left her swords sheathed, but did protectively hide behind her shield. Luca had also tried to convince the captain to stand down, but when that didn’t work, he commanded her and the nearest arbalist to flee the scene.
The arcane words he uttered impacted the captain and arbalist hard, and they fled with a startled cry, roughly pushing their way past the other guards. This shocked the group of arbalists so much that one of them yelled “fire!” and five bolts went flying. That’s when Emrys used one of Toruviel‘s innate powers and sent a gust of strong wind to fly into the projectiles, knocking three of them aside. One of the arrows bounced harmlessly off Dame Julie’s shield, but the last buried itself deep in Bartosz’s chest.
Suddenly there was a flurry of movement from the orcs, as they all jumped over the edge of the stone bridge, plummeting in the rough water far below. In seconds they were washed away beneath the white froth of the stream below.
Bartosz sank to the ground, bleeding from his chest and mouth and the light quickly faded from his eyes. Emma ran towards him, mumbling a prayer to Sedna even before she laid her hands on him to heal him from his otherwise mortal wounds. The Lady of Lakes heard her words and responded and the bolt was pushed from his chest and the wound mended itself neatly. Breath once again filled Bartosz’s lungs and his eyes opened wide in panic.
The irony of it all was not lost on Emma. Even though the other adventurers knew nothing of her stringing the very crossbows that eventually were turned on the man she sought to cement as a local leader and hero, they all felt that perhaps they had overstayed their welcome in Lynnecombe.
They returned to the estate to gather their things and depart. Lord Marcus was more nonchalant about what had occurred, saying that he would make the arrangement for them to get the cart and horses, as well as the small fortune that was promised to them for expenses. He believed that by the time they would return with his brother Destan that things would have calmed down and returned to normal. As they departed, he wished them a well;
Good luck. And may Mask soften your step.
The orcs had escaped what was likely a bloody fate, to test their mettle against the uninviting countryside of Lyria, where every soul they meet would see them dangling from a rope tied to the highest tree.
Bartosz would never be the same, as he saw more violence inflicted upon him at the hands of those he called friends and family more than the Skaven ever did.
The adventurers are once again in the employ of the “noble” house Sheridan, who seem a mix of equal parts ambition and mystery. Having never once been eye to eye with the patron of the house and having mixed feelings about the three other Sheridan lords they had to deal with. And now they are charged to retrieve a fourth Sheridan lord, taking them to Kingsport, Bournemouth and likely through the Riverlands and into the Silverpine Hills beyond.
Korath and his brothers have escaped. All of us, and Luca in particular, are under suspicion, although Lord Markus expects it all to blow over. I guided a young man into maturity and great responsibility, and nearly got him killed. I have met the trident called Muirgheal. We are on the road now, with a small fortune to pursue the figments and fancies of a wayward brother.
The stream meanders.
Understanding that Luca would not be deterred from freeing the Orcs, I decided to play a difficult balancing act. I was favorably disposed to freeing the Orcs, but bound by the laws of hospitality to not act contrary to our host in too obvious a manor.
I decided that a major distraction might serve Luca to succeed in freeing Korath and his brothers, while I could create such a distraction by bringing blessings upon Lynnecombe-upon-Lynne and its people.
I offered to perform a ritual to sanctify the transformation that Bartosz had clearly undergone. Lord Jonathan was unenthusiastic, if not uncaring. Sir Bentan was more favorably disposed to the endeavor and convinced the Lord, if Bartosz consents of course.
We first gathered in our quarters, where we were joined by Brandomir. Luca wanted to examine the weapons we had retrieved from the tunnels. He crushed the pearl and made from it a thick paste with wine. This he used to draw intricate and worrisome symbols on the floor around him.
He then handled each of the weapons in turn. I was reluctant to hand over the trident with which I had sung, but Luca reassured me that it was merely an observation of the weapon.
The set of blades that Markus took are twins that mustn’t be separated and are called Gladia. Emrys’ blade is called Toruviel and seeks a permanent bond with its wielder.
Luca called his staff The Blackstar, which seems ill-omened to me.
My trident is called Muirgheal. All of the weapons are sentient and seek a personal bond with their wielders. I am uncertain on how this works exactly.
After this, to Brandomir somewhat disappointing, display we went our own ways.
I sought out Bartosz and asked him if he would accept blessings in the evening from the Lady of the Lakes. He was hesitant at first, but when Sir Bentan appeared from nowhere and reassured the boy he was more than happy to accept. In fact, he asked if he could bring his family, which I encouraged him to do.
After that I asked Emrys about ways to deepen the bond with Muirgheal. He claimed to have created such a bond by meditating with Toruviel. This I could understand so I sought out a quiet place and sat there with Muirgheal in my lap and meditated and hummed hymns to Sedna.
Muirgheal has as much a connection to water as I have, but perhaps slightly different. I think he may be more of the Father, the Lord of the Dark Depths than of my life-giving Mistress.
His … her … its abilities are impressive. Its demeanor, however, worries me. It seems bent on converting people and to exterminate the faithless. Such a stark stance does not suit me or my Mistress. Certainly not when the weather is so pleasant and the lands so alive.
This will take some getting used to. Muirgheal and I will have to learn from each other. It tends to communicate in verses, bits of song or ribald. These are very cryptic, however, and so far its efforts have failed to make much sense to me.
I spent the remainder of the afternoon preparing for the evening’s ceremony.
As supper was served much of the village had followed Bartosz back to the estate and a good crowd of servants and villagers had gathered for yet another feast in the estate. I mingled politely with the family of Bartosz.
After supper I took to the dais overlooking the courtyard and improvised a ritual setting. I performed a speech stressing the added value of Bartosz in his community and the value of cooperation within the community as a whole. Emrys accompanied the speech and especially the hymns with the lute, and his timing was impeccable and greatly enhanced the overall ceremony.
I called Bartosz to the dais and made him vow his loyalty to his community before his fellows and the Gods. Upon completion, I used holy water to rinse his head. In the corner of my eye I could make out that Luca had indeed made use of the climax of the ceremony to release the Orcs.
Sedna willing, they would have a good head start before their absence would be noted.
Alas.
The hounds starting baying not long after and the bell was tolled. Confusion gripped the estate. Emrys and I looked after the crowd of villagers, while many of the servants locked themselves away in the buildings. The guardsmen hurriedly armed themselves and prepared to follow a seething Cpt. Mollen. I urged Bartosz to join the other guardsmen and to uphold his vows.
The escape of the Orcs had gone terribly wrong.
After some more confusion we all made our way out of the grounds and into the surrounding wilderness. We quickly came upon a stand-off. Cpt. Mollen was barking at the Orcs to put down their weapons, while the Orcs were standing on the bridge over the small stream. Efforts to calm Cpt. Mollen were futile, but a small group started to form a line between her and her crossbow-men, including Bartosz. I joined their ranks, but was uncertain of where this was all heading.
I didn’t quite follow what exactly happened there. All of a sudden Cpt. Mollen and one of her men fled. The others fired their bolts. Emrys in a stroke of genius used Toruviel to blast most of the bolts out of the way but one hit a mark … Bartosz. Only by the intercession of Sedna was he saved.
The Orcs, taking advantage of the confusion, and the confusion that followed, jumped of the bridge and escaped.
What a mess. The ritual was insufficient to let the Orcs escape without notice. Now the very lad I initiated was shot by a crossbow that I had strung in his stead that very afternoon. The grimmest of ironies.
Perhaps a fitting warning for my vanity?
When we returned to the estate we sought out Lord Markus. We all agreed that we should leave immediately. Markus arranged for the essentials and within a short while we were on our way in an open cart with two horses … and a 1000 gold pieces in a small chest.
Lord Markus bid us a farewell and good fortune … citing Mask as a parting shot.
Emma’s Speech at the Sheridan Estate in honor of Bartosz
Sisters and Brothers
Welcome to our worship
Today we celebrate the glorious return of our brother Bartosz
He returned from a journey into darkness, suffering great trials and hardships
He was forced to leave two of his brothers behind
They had gone beyond where he might have saved them
Beyond the veil
In the face of such hardships brother Bartosz showed great resolve and resilience. Because of his formidable fortitude he was able to return to us, and moreover, to become a better and stronger man.
We drink to his youth, to days come and gone
For he lived through darkness and strength he has won
We drove out the enemy and restore what we own
The waters of Sedna will flow into our home
Sisters and Brothers
There is but one thing I would hope to teach you this day
The Gods help those who help each other
The Gods lead by example
The beloved Earthmother brings us the seasons and feeds us with bountiful crops
But she does not do it alone
Without the nourishing waters of the Mistress of Streams, the crops cannot grow.
Only with the help of Sedna can the Earthmother’s crops grow and humanity feed.
Even us humans play our part
Every act of lovingly planting a seed and watering it to produce life and food is a minute act of worship to the Earthmother
And my Mistress, the Lady of the Lakes
We drink to his youth, to days come and gone
For he lived through darkness and strength he has won
We drove out the enemy and restore what we own
The waters of Sedna will flow into our home
The Gods help those who help each other
We all have our part in our communities. Some are farmers. Others are Lords. And there are so many in between.
Our responsibilities vary in weight perhaps, but they are shared none the less.
As we grow, mature, and experience our abilities change and so may well change our responsibilities.
That is why we often turn to our elders for wisdom, for example.
There is no denying that Bartosz’ recent experiences have left an indelible impression on him. He has changed rapidly. In many ways he is not the same man that went into the tunnels some days ago.
No, he has become much more than that man.
His brothers and sisters will find comfort in his presence in times of peril, and he will naturally assume the mantel of leadership to protect his brothers and sisters from harm.
If not in blood, then certainly he is gaining a nobility in spirit that will become a bulwark of confidence and security in his community.
Bartosz, come forward
Please prostrate yourself before the gods and repeat after me
I Bartosz
Solemnly swear
With the Gods as my witness
That I’m bound to my brothers and sisters
In both body and spirit
If they grieve, I grieve
If they suffer, I suffer
Whatever they feel, I feel
As long as my arms bear strength
As long as my eyes still have light
I will protect them from harm
And ward off the agents of evil
So that we may feel and live
In peace, joy, and happiness
Gods!
Hear the solemn oath of this man and give him the strength to stay true!
All rise!
Brothers and Sisters of Bartosz and the Estate.
Say ‘Aye’ if you bore witness today to the oath proclaimed here before the Gods.
Bartosz, let me wash away the old and welcome the new with the Holy Water of Sedna.
