Zion: Light of the New Moon, Ch 2.1 Myre
Zion - Light of the New Moon Chapter 2.1
Myre If All Else Fails...
The readers have determined that the Myreans will handle the puzzle encounter.
Dearest Miri,
The caravan went off track today. It wasn't planned, exactly, but it happened. One of the first rules they told us before we set out was that we were supposed to stay on the Highway... but then, it seems more and more rules have been changing as of late.
It all started with an argument... a LOUD argument. Two priests and a wagon master were trying to calm Baharla Splithoof, who was very adamant about her way being the right way, "What's the use of having a guide if all you're going to do is ignore her? Tell me that!"
"It isn't that we don't appreciate your input, Lady Splithoof--" the wagon master began.
"Don't 'Lady Splithoof' me, cud chewer." she interrupted the camel, "I'm not making a suggestion; I'm telling you that the Highway isn't safe up ahead."
"There is no need for insults, Lady Splithoof." one of the priests stepped in an attempt to calm the Wild Lander down.
"It was not an insult, priest; it was an observation." Bahrla stated neutrally, "He is a cud chewer... he stands around all day and does nothing productive. Where I come from, that is a cud chewer."
"Without assessing the wagon master's contributions to this caravan, perhaps we could please focus instead on your concerns then?" suggested the second priest.
The Wild Lander sighed, "They aren't 'my concerns'... why do you city dwellers always talk in circles? I am telling you that the Highway up ahead is not safe. There is no 'concern' and no 'opinion' involved... there is only fact. If we do not take an alternate route around the pass then people will die."
"The Highways have always been the safest path through the Wild Lands, Lady Splithoof and--"
"Bahrla." the Wild Lander corrected, "Enough with the Lady Splithoof thing... my name is Bahrla."
"I meant no offense." the priest explained, "It is a matter of respect to call you Lady Split--"
"And it takes twice as long as saying 'Bahrla'... if you want to show respect then get to the point." the minotaur woman stated flatly.
"Bahrla..." the priest cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable with the informal first name, "Could you be more specific about the danger?"
"Why should I have to explain myself? I am the guide and you should listen." the Wild Lander stated bluntly.
"In our culture," the first priest spoke up, "it is customary to present advice with the reasoning behind it."
"How polite." Bahrla frowned, "The same is true for my 'culture'... only I'm not giving advice... I'm telling you what you need to do."
The wagon master and the two priests laughed at that, but their chuckling slowly dwindled into silence when they realized she wasn't joking. The second priest took his turn to talk, "That is precisely what advice is."
Bahrla shook her head, "No... 'advice' is making a suggestion... I'm telling you what you need to do."
The priest frowned, "Thank you for your service, Lady Splithoof," he made a point to use her formal name, "We will take your advice into consideration." he likewise accentuated how he took her words.
Sergeant Keeland Reilly, who was watching the goings-on just like me, glanced my way, "Not exactly the best use of a resource, is it?"
"She COULD have been more specific." I pointed out, "How is anyone supposed to listen to you if you don't explain your meaning."
The sergeant smiled, his tail wagging behind him on the saddle, "If something were flying at your head, would you prefer I say 'duck' or 'Private Telone, you should duck because a flying object is about to collide with your skull?" He had a way of putting things that was both humorous and educational at the same time.
"Point taken, Sir." I acknowledged; I'm pretty sure I wasn't doing a good job of hiding my goofy grin, "but right now there's nothing flying at our heads... she could have been more specific."
"If she's spent enough time on the battlefield or in the Wild Lands she's probably more used to being listened to than having someone question why she's making suggestions." the dog pointed out.
"Except they aren't suggestions... they're orders." I reminded him with a smirk.
"Just so." he nodded, glancing back toward the minotaur woman, who was coming our way, "And I wager she's used to being obeyed." our conversation came to a close once she drew nearer, "What do you need, Bahrla?" Sergeant Reilly asked.
"I need more of you City Dwellers to listen when I talk." she answered.
"I'm listening." he offered, "The Private is too." he gestured to me. I nodded obediently; Privates are good at that.
"Ride down the column and tell the wagons not to head around the pass." she said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"If we don't take the pass then we'll leave the Highway." the Sergeant pointed out.
"That's the point." she stated, "The pass is not safe."
"Going around the pass will add four days to the trip." he explained.
"And taking the pass will probably end the trip sooner than planned." she countered, "in a lethal way."
"I'm sorry." he offered in a tone that told me that he genuinely was, "but I don't have the authority to make that decision."
"then who does?" she asked.
"The Caravan Master... Priestess Marion... maybe the Commander of th--" at that point Sergeant Reilly just stopped talking; Bahrla had already stalked off, most likely to talk with one of the first two individuals the dog had named.
"Charming lady." I couldn't help but point out.
"Most Wild Landers don't have the time or luxury to be anything more pleasant." the Sergeant explained.
"If the problem really is that great, do you think the powers that be will listen?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Unfortunately, they will probably want Bahrla to make her case." the Sergeant lamented, "Most of the people in this caravan aren't used to taking things at face value unless word comes from a priest."
"Sister Splithoof?" I proposed, and we both shared a laugh. Despite the humor and any upcoming yay or nay from those in charge of the caravan, Sergeant Reilly planned on making sure the caravan was prepared, so the next half an hour was spent preparing for an event that might or might come, and could take any of a number of different forms. Not wholly unanticipated, the caravan made it's way out along the pass, following the Highway exactly as was planned.
By that time, the wagon masters had pulled in most of the side guards, which included Sergeant Reilly and myself. We hopped up onto the wagons as the Highway became narrower and narrower. Bahrla stood at beside the road at the edge of the Whisperfell Gorge, a wide chasm that split the lands that had once been part of Myre from the rest of the imperial nations. The Wild Lander just stared at us as we passed, saying nothing.
She was right, of course... it wasn't safe. Despite the magical and divine energies maintaining the wards and protections over the Highway, it was old... very old... and in poor repair. By the time the ground began to shake beneath the caravan and the pass started crumbling, most of the wagons had made it across. We were only two wagons back from the fault point. In a mixture of screams, dust, and the bleating of terrified livestock, I watched in horror as three wagons slid right off of the disintegrating Highway and into the abyss of open air beyond. It wasn't an incredibly long fall... but long enough that nothing survived.
"Forward!" came a shout from beyond the newly-formed gap.
"HOLD!" shouted Lady Marion from behind me, "The caravan is divided!"
One of the wagon leaders from beyond the break in the Highway climbed down from his carriage and walked back to face us from the edge of the split, "Lady Marion! The caravan cannot stay on the pass... we are exposed and need to reach the other side!"
I looked back at the priestess, who seemed to appraise the situation for a moment, "Proceed slowly!" she called, "We will find another way and meet up before the bridge!" The wagons ahead of the gap continued onward per her instructions. She then turned her attention to those of us stuck on the near side of the pass and began to direct us but that's the very moment when the Highway beneath our wagons gave way. The only warning I had was the sudden lurch of the carriage and Keeland's shout of alarm. For a moment, the only thing that ran through my mind was the word "duck"; it almost seemed comical.
The humor of it ended, however, when I was thrown from my place on the driver's bench and hurtled out over the drop down to my death. The Sergeant reached out for me and, for just a second, our fingers brushed... and then I was-- not falling. A strong grip had encircled my wrist. My head was still spinning from flipping up and over the side of the bench and I thought I was going to be sick, but as I frantically pulled it together I saw a black furred paw wrapped tightly around my arm.
"I got ya." it was Liam Mail, reaching out with his other arm to grab the shoulder pad of my armor. The fox was laying on his stomach at the edge of the cliff, arms draped down over it as he kept me dangling above the long drop, "Come on!" he grunted through clenched teeth, pulling me upward. I tried several times to find purchase on the sheer cliff face with my boots, and it took three times before I could find a foothold. I kicked with all my might, helping him as he heaved me up onto the ground beside him. I just laid there staring up at the sky.
All in all, we lost close to 40 people in the failed crossing... about a tenth of our number. Several wagons and numerous mounts, beasts of burden, and pets plummeted down to their doom, along with a good amount of supplies. We would have lost the only supply wagon on this side of the gorge, if not for some fast-thinking on behalf of Bahrla Splithoof; she grabbed one of the back wheels of a teetering wagon and held it in place while several teamsters managed to gain control of the frightened work animals and lead them onto more solid land, pulling the wagon with them.
Josh and Marion were with us as well, both in the carriage directly behind mine. The priestess and the acolyte managed to urge their wagon back before it tumbled down, and they were largely unharmed. The wagon that had been ahead of us was the one that Liam had occupied. Based on the descriptions of the events as I heard them later, the fox had vaulted from his wagon to the one that Sergeant Reilly and I shared, and then jumped from that to solid ground, but not before managing to snag me out of midair in the process. The description sounded a little more heroic than what I'd come to expect from the fox... but I'm alive, so there has to be some element of truth in it.
As it turned out, around 50 people were stuck on our side of the Whisperfell Gorge, but it wasn't so much 'stuck' as it was rerouted. Valda, who had been the wagon behind Lady Marion's, found a servicable path down into the gorge. Though it would take a significantly longer time to navigate than going straight across the pass, it would suffice. The fact that Bahrla approved of the road was of comfort to those of us who knew of her warning before the catastrophe had struck.
Things became a little less formal as our small group led our few remaining wagons down the thin path. All of us were walking by that point, too concerned about being inside or atop a carriage should the road start to crumble. What few guards there were had been scattered about our little caravan, which meant I was taken from Sergeant Reilly's side, but at least a familiar face was there to walk beside me.
"This is a truly marvelous adventure," noted Anor-Roc, "Despite the obvious, of course." he quickly added.
"You're quite the optimist, Mr Silverflame." I offered with as much neutrality as I could muster.
"I have reason to be upbeat... I almost died, but did not." he chuckled.
"As did I... but I have to say I'm still a little concerned." I pointed out.
"Ruins!" Valda called back to the rest of us, "I see ruins!" I looked to where she pointed and, gazing through a cloak of trees and rising mist, I realized she was right; there was what appeared to be what had once been a small city.
"Whisperfell." Anor-Roc spoke up, adding, "Are you sure?"
"What?" I asked, "I didn't say anything."
"Hmm?" he asked, glancing at me. "Oh... nothing." he added before I could speak up. The fox toyed with the charm bracelet on his wrist, "I think that is the ruins of Whisperfell."
"You know of it?" Lady Marion asked, slowing down so she could regard Anor-Roc.
"Very little." he admitted, removing his paw from his charm bracelet, "Just that the gorge was named after it."
Lady Marion nodded, "The gorge came into being in the latter-half of the 200 year war after forces from Myrh had occupied it. Priest from both sides vied over control with divine power for days and, in the end, the Moon Mother decided that it would belong to no one."
Josh spoke up from the other side of the priestess, "There's a song about it."
"Thank you, Josh." Lady Marion said to him, "Not now, though, if you please."
"I'll sing it tonight at camp!" he offered energetically.
"That does bring up a matter of consideration." the priestess contemplated aloud.
"M'Lady?" Anor-Roc inquired.
My attention was drawn away from the discussion though; further ahead I saw Liam walking beside a wagon, one paw resting against its wooden wall as he made his way carefully along the pathway. Liam Mail had saved my life. Did that change things? No, I realized, it didn't change anything. As if sensing my attention, the fox glanced back my way and offered me a friendly smile. Miri, don't take this the wrong way, but he has a nice smile when he bothers with one.
* * * * *
The Myre Caravan comes to a stumbling block on its way to Zion.
The first part of Chapter 1 presents the group with an important decision.
Contributing readers now get to choose the way the party will face this situation. Myrneese Contributing Readers each get 1 vote on how to proceed. Anyone may spend 1 Willpower to get a second vote (with a successful social roll, Target number of 20). The following options are available:
1) The wagons can set camp on the Highway to protect them from any possible harm while a scouting group heads down to take a look at the ruins. SUCCESS
2) The wagons can set camp in the clearing at the center of the ruins. The camp will be close by and the ruin explorers can be protected by the Divine Shield. SUCCESS
3) The wagons will proceed through the gorge and any exploration will have to be short and sweet-- anybody exploring the ruins won't have long. SUCCESS/FAILURE
4) Enough time has been wasted... just continue onward and leave the ruins. FAILURE
Contributing Readers, make sure you make your vote before midnight (pst) on Friday, June 21st.
Sadly, there are not enough reader votes to provide any characters from Myre the bonus this chapter. Awww :(