Part Three: Spring
The seminary was outside of town in a secluded hillock away from the interference of the baron's cronies. I arrived much to Kellina's delight. The war had left many people homeless and seeking refuge and many others permanently scarred or crippled. There were many children there, cramped in bunks in a huge room that had once served as the dining hall. During the day the makeshift beds were all moved aside and piled up to allow people to eat. The infirmary itself now housed anyone that came along and beds were given out based on who was most injured. It was terrible work. There was great misery there embraced by a kind of gentle spirit I had never quite felt before. These people's lives had been destroyed and still they tried to make the best of it. The children still played and the people took turns working in the priests' gardens. There were different priests here. Kellina was one of two medicus of Fallon. There was a priestess of Isis (1) (here in hiding), a Wayfarer of Ptah (that had stopped to give service for one month and had now been here for three) (2), a Librarian of Thoth (3), a priest of Shu (4) and a militant of Anhur (5). There were also a few Neergaardian soldiers here that the seminary had granted sanctuary to.
Kellina explained to me how the seminary had taught all kind of priests of Ra's pantheon over the years and that a shrine to each of the gods could be found here (even Set; though that room was currently closed off) and that all were allowed to come and go as they pleased. She said that Friars of Nephthys (6) had even used it in the past as a base of operations for their quest to free slaves. Wounded people came in all the time. I learned quickly that the healing powers of the gods, though powerful, were not enough. The gods had granted us intellect, Kellina explained, so that we might develop the skills to heal, protect and create for ourselves. The rudimentary first aid skills I had learned were quickly augmented. I learned to set broken hones, to seek out and suck out poison and how to deal with amputated limbs and other horrid things. I also saw many beautiful things here. I saw Kellina and Rollod heal people many times and Tyth of Thoth allowed me to look at some of his books on occasion. I had occasion to speak with Lorraine of Isis and grew to care for her a great deal.
In addition to my duties tending to the sick and wounded I helped to cook and clean, tend the gardens and went out with Kellina and/or Rollod to collect alms for the poor in Geffanstag. Needless to say we rarely collected more than a dozen copper or so; sometimes a silver if we were lucky. It seemed as if the seminary ran on faith alone for the funds to run it with the added burden of the refugees did not seem to exist and yet we continued.
More than a year passed and I did not have time to practice my pottery or sculpture, but I became fast friends with Kellina and with Lorraine as I had never had an opportunity to do with a woman before. The love and affection; the genuine caring, that I felt from them made me feel so good and welcome. They constantly complimented and encouraged me and one day Kellina approached me with a pouch.
"I know that when you first came here you donated all your coppers to the poor box, but now for all your help here is something in return," she hefted the pouch.
"How can I take money when so many other people need it more than I? What would I need money for? I have no life but my life here and for that I need neither silver nor copper. " I was bewildered.
"Others who need alms get it. I always make sure of that. Haven't we always had enough to eat here and clothes to keep us warm?" Kellina said.
"Yes, but how`? And why are you giving me money?"
Kellina laughed. "Oh my dear sweet Autumn, I wish you could see the look on your own face right now. It is so genuine that I want to cry. I will answer the second question first. "
We were in my small cell and she went to my table where wrapped in my leather apron was my sculpture tools. She lifted them up.
"I want you to begin your sculpture again and to make pottery," she said.
"The seminary needs pots?" I asked. Kellina laughed again,
"Yes. A few. But what it really needs is a creative spirit to bring light in this often dark place. I want you to work with the love I know you have for life, for Fallon, for yourself, for the people here and fill this place and the garden with sculptures that bring glory to the goodly gods and the cause of good."
I was astounded. I was thrilled to take on such a big project. I was on the verge of tears from joy.
"Kellina, oh, Kellina! " I cried, hugging her tight. "You are such a good friend and wise person. You bring me so much joy I feel my heart might burst, but how will we pay for this. It will be expensive. "
"We have time. You will work a little at a time and you will go among the orphans and find those who have the talent to assist you. The money we need will come. I have a great deal of money stashed away in the seminary coffers in Fallon's name. I found it during my adventures."
"Adventures?" I cried and then hushed as if I had said a terrible secret.
"You are going to think I'm mocking you if you keep making me laugh this way," Kellina smiled. "Yes, adventures. I traveled with a group in the year before I first met you. We traveled to the ancient pits of the Nethermen (7) and fought the undead that plagued the area and we helped save a town from a kobold raid. There was some booty to be gained. I claimed my share in the name of Fallon and brought it here."
"You fought kobolds?"
"And hobgoblins as well."
"How could you`? You had to kill; to draw blood?"
"Yes. Did you not read the Ascendancy of Fallon I gave you? Fallon fought and defeated evil. She did not want to kill or harm anyone, but if she had to in the name of good then she did and she relished the vanquishing of unnatural evils like undead and demonic creatures. As she did, I have done and will probably be forced to do again even though I do not look forward to it."
It was then that I broke down and confessed how I had been forced to kill the boy at the River of Blood. I had not told anyone in the almost two years since it had happened and now it came out in a gush of tears and sobbing. I felt so terrible, so guilty. I explained to Kellina that my prayers did not bring me solace in that matter.
"Fallon has already forgiven you. You need to forgive yourself. You did what needed to be done. Remember the story of the time Fallon was forced to kill the wizard Lothgrane's henchman because he did not show mercy on an enemy that had surrendered, and thereby broke the pact between the Fallows and the Curens? Fallon struck down her own ally because she knew in her heart that his action was wrong. There are two sides to Fallon just as there are to every person. And that is what makes Fallon such a wonderful goddess that her mercy and wisdom spring from her humanity. As mighty as she is Fallon was always mighty even when she had a frail form as you and I do, because she kept her power in her heart and in her values and that is where your power lies as well. Some would say that Fallon's way is folly. Did she not heal her enemies repeatedly even though they would recover just to try to slay her again? But she never stopped, her mercy was infinite. Remember Bronthro the stone giant? (8) Did he not work for Agon and kill hundreds of men in the god-king's name? Did not Fallon strike him down seventeen times before he chose to leave her alone? Did she not need to only step before the blow of one of his allies seeking to punish him for his decision only once to convince him of the worthiness of her love and compassion and followed her every afterward being one of the few that witnessed her ascension?"
I was quiet for a time. I had heard Kellina speak of Fallon many times and retell the stories of Fallon's life. There were always lessons in what she said. And I thought, who was I to hold myself to a standard above Fallon's? There was no standard there, only pride.
"I only wish there was another way," I finally said.
"As do I and as does Fallon," she pointed upward. "But you will see things more clearly. You will become a priestess of Fallon as I am. You will spread her word as I do."
"I could never do such a thing," I protested. "I have not the strength."
"The strength to stand is all you need, as you have stood in the face of many trials and troubling episodes. Fallon will provide you with the rest. I will be her tool in this. As you sculpt the clay, so shall ye be sculpted.
Kellina hugged me again and I returned her embrace with strength.
"I am not ready," I said. "I am scared."
"I know you are scared, sweet thing," Kellina said. "When you are ready it will be known. Fallon has told me that much through her divine will."
I hesitated.
"I also fear that since my face is so disfigured that people will cower from me and keep me from doing Fallon's will. Being ugly can be such a curse. I can see the look in the eyes of people that first come here and in the eyes of the children."
"Autumn, you have the only kind of beauty that counts. It shines from within you like a reflection of Ra's Glory. (9) People see that beauty as well. Only evil or ignorance can hide that from them and if you hold true to your faith that light will always overcome that darkness."
"You must have patience," Kellina said.
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Notes:
(1) You can read about Aquerra’s Priestesses of Isis
here, and about the Priestess of Isis class
here.
(2) Ptah is the god of travel and experience, but is also considered creator of the cosmos. You can read about Aquerra’s Wayfarers of Ptah
here, and about the Wayfarer of Ptah class
here.
(3) Thoth is the god of knowledge and magic. You can read about Aquerra’s Librarians of Thoth
here, and about the Librarian of Thoth class
here.
(4) Shu is the god of air & sky, and along with this twin sister, Tefnut, god of twins. You can read about Aquerra’s Windservants of Shu
here, and about the Windservant of Shu class
here.
(5) Anhur is the god of war and honor. You can read about Aquerra’s Militants of Anhur
here, and about the Militant of Anhur class
here.
(6) Nephthys is the former wife of Set. She is goddess of freedom, bravery and friendship. You can read about Aquerra’s Friars of Nephthys
here, and about the Friar of Nephthys class
here. You can also read the character background for Ratchis of Nephthys from the “Out of the Frying Pan” campaign by clicking
here.
(7) Nethermen are strain of humans with a link to goblinkind. They are sometimes called “Norkers” and the few that survive into Aquerra’s current age are usually found as slaves to hobgoblins.
(8) You can read the tale Of Fallon & the Stone Giant by clicking
here.
(9) Aside from referring to the power of the god Ra, ‘Ra’s Glory’ is also a reference to the sun.