Light of Pelor

1st Woodsday of Seedbirth in the year 1031

Today was a harrowing day.  I am shaken and exhausted, so my journal may be brief.  I am hoping that sleep will erase the horrible day from my mind.

We have finally arrived in Cordal, but getting here was a nightmare of epic proportions.  We rose early to sing hymns and offer morning service and then headed out.  It was not long before we reached the gaping hole in the side of the mountain ridge, beyond which a long dark passage that would take us the greater part of the day to pass through.  Everything was going fine, with the exception of Vann still needing a a bath.

The old passageway was carved from the mountains heart in the ancient times by Dwarves.  Inside it is dark as pitch, so Vann hung a dim little oil lantern on a metal ring from the cow’s yoke to help light the way.  There are barrel lamps with long wicks dipping down into sealed oil barrels place intermittently along the passageway to help illuminate and direct travelers.  They cast a dull flickering light in the tunnel and in some places you could see the time worn architectural details of years now long past.

We had traveled quite far, by my guess it must have been close to early afternoon.  We had reached a portion of the passage that descended with bends in the road like a snake, it was very dark there.  Very dark, it almost felt as though Pelor was not with us in this dark, dark place.  This thought frightened me to my very core.  Without warning two men clad in dark leather jumped on to the cart, one of them reached out to take the pouch of scrolls that I was carrying for the Church and the other was engaging Brother Kaliston.  I do not know what really happened, it is all still a little foggy.  I remember calling out to Pelor and suddenly a flash of golden light appeared between myself and the robber knocking him off the cart and knocking me back into the cart where I fell unconscious.

The next thing I am able to remember is waking up in the Temple at Cordal.  High Priest Ruen and Brother Kaliston working over me.  It turns out that the robber had tried to stab me in the chest but missed and cut my shoulder.  It was very sore, but I could see that between Brother Kaliston and High Priest Ruen that they must have been praying and tending to my wounds the whole time I was out.

Brother Kaliston told me that there was someone waiting to see me once I awoke and asked if I was feeling well enough for a visitor.  I’m okay, but my shoulder is quite sore, not enough to keep me from seeing someone.  In walked Vann, washed and holding his woven floppy brimmed hat sheepishly.  He sat next to the straw tick bed and we talked for several hours, he thanked me for saving him and his cows.  I wish I could remember what happened. I wonder what happened to the robbers, I must remember to ask about them.

I came out of the mending room to join the congregation for evening service.  Vann had asked Brother Kaliston if he could sit with us and join in the service, something I found to be rather surprising considering his dismissive attitude towards the clergy the whole ride here.  Still Pelor works in mysterious ways.  I am happy to be in the city and out of that dark hell hole.

It is time to rest, this day has been long, frightening and confusing.  I hope that tomorrow shines and I am able to continue with my calling.

Blessed is the Light of Pelor.

1st Fieldsday of Seedbirth in the year 1031

I rose early this morning to prepare for Service of First Light.  A few of the other travelers in the encampment followed me over to a large milestone boulder near the road and we sang a long chorus of hymns.  I was happy to see the Stew Woman joining in this morning.   After service Brother Kaliston went off to check to see if any late travelers were in need of his help.  The Stew Woman, whose name I learned was Molga, handed me a small package wrapped in a road dirty cloth.  She informed me that inside were Sweet Sun Cakes, she had made them from some borrowed millet and a small stash of honey comb that she brought with her on the road.  I have not tasted a Sweet Sun Cake in ages.  I thanked her and offered to read another prayer for her, she gladly accepted and I finished the prayer with a hymn of good will sung just for her on this morning.  I could see that it lifts her spirits and we parted ways with broad smiles.

Vann  prepared the cart and hooked up the cows.  He looks disheveled, like he did not sleep very well.  He also looks grumpy, but there’s nothing new with that.  He complains to me that we must get moving, but Brother Kaliston has not yet finished.  Vann makes a sharp remark about the “unnatural devotion” of Priests and Clerics and that it unnerves him.  I find his lack of faith and consideration to just as unnerving.  Finally, Brother Kaliston returns, in his arms are various fresh vegetables and 3 bright red apples that were given to him by our fellow travelers. We load up the rest of our belongings, it is my turn to sit up front with bitter old Vann.

The trip today was a short one to the Cordal Junction.  It is just about a 1/2 days journey from the Crossroads.  At the Cordal Junction the road forms a T shape,  to the North is a lakeport town called Mirrorwood and to the South is the ancient Dwarven passage way through the mountains to Cordal.  We will camp at the Cordal Junction and arise at first light to make our way through the subterranean passage, as going through at night would prove treacherous, especially with these old cows leading the way.

The road was clear, but the sky was slightly overcast.  I held out hope that there will be no rain until we are in the passageway tomorrow, thankfully it did not rain.  To the North in the far distance you could see the edge of Mirror Lake, flanked by green grassy shores.  Ahead it was a long dirt road with Vann sitting next to me smelling rather ripe the whole way.

Late afternoon approached and we pulled up to the Junction.  It was a little busier here and there were several merchant carts displaying their wares for sale.  I purchased a small walnut sized linen sachet filled with clovespice.  That will come in handy in squashing the ripeness of Vann and his farting cows.  Vann had unhooked the cows and they were happy to find a patch of clover grass to nibble close by under his watchful eye.  Brother Kaliston and I spread out a yellow cloth and begin to set out the fresh foods for an evening meal.

We had 3 apples, a couple potatoes, an onion, a half loaf of crusty oat bread, a flagon of sweet mead and a generous cut of salt dried ham.  We decided that the best thing to do would be to set the apples aside and make a stew  to share with some of the poorer travelers who did not have food of their own.  Vann had a fairly large cooking pot with him and when he saw the bounty of food he was right quick to tie up the cows and get a fire started for us.  Although he was less than pleased when he later learned that we would be sharing our bounty with others in the camp.

Vann watched the pot while Brother Kaliston and I prepared for the Service of Last Light.  Several Pelorian parishioners joined in, as well as a few who follow some of the other Gods.  It was a good service, although I am very tired from the road travel.  It seemed as though we were the only clergy present at the encampment, I am happy that our presence was of service to so many.  Vann begrudgingly dished out enough portions for us each to have a share of the stew and we opened up a line to feed who we could, starting with children and mothers.  We passed blessings to all and thanked Pelor for providing us food for which to feed the people.

At the end of the evening, when my traveling companions and I were alone, I opened my flask of church wine.  Wouldn’t you know it Vann was right there by my side filling my nostrils with his stench cup in hand, grunting his request for me to fill it up.  I poured a small drink for each of us to have before bedding down, and we drank to a good night’s sleep.  Vann seemed miffed about the small amount of wine but drank it and toasted to our good health anyway.  Brother Kaliston brought out the apples and I brought out the little dirty cloth pouch given to me by Molga.  Inside were 4 beautiful little Sweet Sun Cakes cakes made of whole millet and sweetened with honey, they were round and plump and Molga had pressed the shape of a sun into the top of each. I shared so that each of us had a cake and re-wrapped the last cake to save for later.

The apples, wine and Sweet Sun Cakes were an exceptional way to end the evening at the Cordal Junction.  Tomorrow will be the long trek through the passageway and out to the Cordal and the sea port, I am thankful that i picked up the sachet as I can smell Vann and he is not close by, perhaps it would be better if it rained to give him a washing.  I am anxious to get to the Temple and receive the next part of my calling.

A Good Evening, Blessed be the Light of Pelor.

1st Moonsday of Seedbirth in the year 1031

The First Light Service this morning was glorious, it was if Pelor himself rose to shine his Divine Light and bless my travels.  I said my goodbyes to the two orphans, Sara and Fedar.  I gifted them each with a small bracelet that I fashioned from rawhide and affixed with a polished bone medallion into which I carved a sun.  I stopped in to bid farewell to High Priest Lanstor, he had a mail pouch filled with letters and a few scrolls for delivery to the Temple in Cordal.  I am happy to take them, but I wish he had informed me of this last night so I could have made room in my pack.  I will have to carry them in my lap the whole way.  But they are important papers for the church and I am happy to be of service.

High Priest Lanstor sent me to meet up with Brother Kaliston, he is a few years ahead of me in study and is an accomplished healer.  I still have not fully chosen my path yet, though I think that I lean more towards the cleansing light.  Perhaps this journey will illuminate my path for me.  We shall see, I am hopeful.  Brother Kaliston will be riding along with me and has the honorable charge of carrying a newly fashioned golden Holy Symbol to the Temple in Cordal.  I do hope that I get the chance to see it unveiled when we arrive.

We make our way down to the main gate on the Eastern slope, it is very lovely there.  The mountains splits in two and the highlands roll out like a green blanket before your feet.  We wait for nearly an hour before our hired stage arrives.  If you can call it a stage, it is more an ox cart being pulled by two sorry looking cows.   I bless the cows and feed them each a bite of maple toffee.  I do love Elven maple toffee, it is one of the few delicacies that I truly enjoy.  The “Ox Handler” goes by the name of Vann, he is an older chap with a leathery face and an equally leathery disposition.   This is going to be a long 3 days.

Vann informs us that we will be traveling a long day to make it to the Crossroads today.  We head off, slowly.  It is almost unbearably slow.  I am not sure that is due to my excitement for my calling or the fact that these poor tired beasts of burden would be better off in a pasture.  The road is bumpy, but thankfully dry.  We pass many carts heading into Arathor loaded with goods, fresh pheasant, salted fish from Mirror Lake, timber and hides.  I am sure to pass Blessings of Pelor to all that we come across, most are happy to receive the blessings but there are a few that scoff at the gift.  My heart is sad for them.

As we began to come out of the Highlands, the sun was beginning to sink below the mountains behind us.  I impressed upon Vann the need to stop to attend to the Service of Last Light.  Vann gruffly told me that he would not be making any stops until we reached the Crossroads and that I would have to offer my hymns and prayers from the cart.  I am not pleased by this.  May Pelor have mercy on his soul.  Brother Kaliston and I do our best to honor Pelor and give the service while we ride along and the sun’s last rays slip out of sight.

To the North of us appears a great wooded area, Vann informs us that we will be arriving in a few hours and to keep our eyes peeled for highway robbers.  He also takes this time to mention that we would not have had this worry if he did not have to wait for us to finish our “silly morning rituals”.  I am wondering how this man was found favorable enough to be of service with the church as it seems that he has absolutely no reverence for our work.  I will choose to bite my tongue, I don’t want to have to walk the rest of the road to Cordal… although it may be faster if I did with as slow as these beasts are moving.

I catch the faint scent of campfire smoke, followed by the smells of roasting meat and bubbling stew.  My stomach grumbles, the scent is savory and delicious. We come up the edge of the forest and ahead there is a faint glow from campfire light.  We are FINALLY at the Crossroads.

The Crossroads encampment is situated at the place where the road north to Silver Stream meets the main road out of Arathor.  The encampment is nestled up against the rim of the dense forest that we have ridden past for about half of our journey.  It is a common rest area for travelers making their way to and from Arathor from the outlying areas.  It is very late, the sky dark and clear.  I spot a large older woman with a pink face stirring a pot of rabbit stew, this must be the wonderful smell I got scent of on our approach.  I notice she has a small Pelorian prayer book in her apron pocket.  I note it to her and she informs me that she can not read it but she would gladly feed me and my traveling companions a bowl of soup if I would read a few passages from the book for her.  Well, of course I will, and not just because her stew smells delicious and is spiked with mountain sage and exotic peppercorns, but because it is my pleasure and my duty as a Daughter of Pelor.

I read to the old woman and as agreed, she feeds us.  Vann even takes second helpings.  I invite her to wake early and attend Service of First Light and she agrees.  Before bedding down I make my way through the encampment with Brother Kaliston.  There are a few with travel injuries that need mending so we set to work.  We hear rumors of Ogre sightings, but thankfully those are far from where we will be sleeping this evening.  Brother Kaliston and I share the cart and bed down for the night, Vann makes his bed next to his cows.  I can hear him uttering profanities to his cows who are suffering from a bad case of foul winds.  I sure hope that it was not the maple toffees that I fed them earlier today.

Until tomorrow’s Light, Blessed be Pelor

1st Sunsday of Seedbirth in the Year 1031

Today after morning hymns and prayers, High Priest Lanstor had sent word that he wished see me in his chamber after the Service of First Light.  I was a bit afraid it was due to the fact that I spilled the sacramental wine again, I do wish we could pour from vessels that did not weigh as much as a fully barded war pony.  After the morning service I made my way to the High Priest Chambers.  When I had entered I saw the two orphans our Temple had taken in, helping to beat the dust out of the tapestry that hung behind the large wooden desk of High Priest Lanstor.  It took me back to the days of my youth.

He greeted me warmly, which was a relief…. maybe this wasn’t about the spilled wine, and he gestured to a roll of parchment sat quite deliberately in the middle of his desk.  He hung his head and whispered for me to open it.  I picked up the parchment, it was sealed with a golden wax seal pressed with the holy symbol of our order.  The brittle wax snapped open.  I unrolled the paper, I do so love the sound that parchment makes as you unroll it, I am reminded of my time spent studying the ancient religious scrolls in the grand libraries of Arathor when I was but an acolyte.

The message written on the parchment was done in a scrawling hand, with long sweeps and loops.  And read as follows:

Adarra Starhand
You are hereby called to make pilgrimage to a small, new settlement to the South of Cordal.  You will leave after the Service of First Light the 1st Moonsday of Seedbirth.  Make haste to the Temple in Cordal for further instructions from High Priest Ruen.
Pelor be with You,
Bishop Faladis Goldcrop

I could hardly believe my eyes.  My first calling!  A chance to do the work of Pelor beyond the walls of Arathor.  I graciously thanked High Priest Lanstor, I knew that it was his decision to place me in consideration.  He must feel that I am now ready, ready to spread the Divine Light for Pelor.

The 1st Moonsday of Seedbirth is TOMORROW!  There is so much to do, I must pack for my journey and there is still the Service of Last Light to attend to!
Blessed be the Light of Pelor