Sagiro
Rodent of Uncertain Parentage
Sagiro’s Story Hour, Part 239
A Little Slice of Heaven
The Company is gathered around One Certain Step, at the top of a green hill. Morningstar and Ernie have both offered to cast atonement and are preparing for the ritual. Step notices Dranko frowning despite the glorious sun and the cloudless blue sky. Dranko is still sullen about the Tapheon incident, and now keenly aware that his God-derived power lags behind that of his fellow clerics.
“Dranko, I’d appreciate your help as well,” says Step.
Dranko looks up sharply, but his expression softens and he nods his head.
Step sits down on the grass and closes his eyes, a picture of solemn introspection. He has no need to dwell upon his misdeeds, having done that on a daily basis every day since the battle with the giants. Instead he focuses on his desires for the future: that he serve the Sun Goddess with an unclouded mind and unsullied heart; that he show an unflinching bravery when he is called upon to sacrifice; and that he not only be at peace with his lot, but understand the depth of the honor Kemma has bestowed.
While he prays, he chews on a perfectly-made cinnamon bun, prepared by Ernie for the occasion.
Ernie casts consecrate on the hill, centered on the paladin.
“Yondalla, I ask you to take unto yourself, and also place on me, the burden of Step’s soul. He acted, as I did, from enthusiasm but not from wisdom. He struck when it was not necessary, and brought pain where it was not needed. He knows this well, and wishes to atone.”
Morningstar effects a personal darkness for her own part in the ritual, but follows this immediately by activating the daylight power of her holy shield. This moment is not about her, after all. Step’s body is rimmed with light, his armor gleaming.
“Ell, I ask you to help me take up this burden, to restore the balance that is needed, between darkness and light, between daylight and night.”
Both clerics feel the chill of life-force lost, and the sins of Step being lifted away. Then Dranko speaks.
“Life is path toward the sunrise. Stay out of the shadows. Not the darkness – the shadows.”
“Well do I know the difference,” says Step, and as he speaks, his sins are cleansed, and the atonement is complete.
* *
The Company feasts upon a fine breakfast (prepared by Ernie, of course). As they eat, Kibi looks up at Dranko and catches the half-orc’s eye.
“Dranko... I’m... I’m sorry that I made you mad. It’s hard, I know, not to speak out to a nasty evil demon lord like that. I know you’re brave, and I know you’re not stupid. I shouldn’t have said what I did, and I’m sorry.”
Dranko finishes chewing and looks straight and hard at Kibi.
“You need to understand,” he says. “You don’t bargain with that sort of evil. Nor do you get down and lick its boots. He asked a question, and I gave him an answer. He didn’t like the answer, so he turned me into something that would kill me. I was ready to die for that. You don’t, however, get to claim that I was ‘stupid.’ I don’t think you have the moral authority to make that sort of judgment. Not on me. If you wouldn’t give your life for that, that’s your choice.”
Dranko realizes that everyone is listening to him now. He speaks broadly to the Company.
“You don’t bargain with a being like that. If you give in, if you make deals for the little things, then it knows it can make you bargain for the more important things. You should have let me die, if that’s what it took, or you should have called his bluff. He knew that if I had died, you never would have agreed to help him. But if I’m wrong, if that wasn’t the case... so, I die. If it thwarts something like that, it’s worth it.”
Flicker takes exception. “But, Dranko, from our point of view, it was Tapheon who wasn’t worth it. Your life’s more important than any dealings with demons.”
“I still think Dranko gave a legitimate answer to Tapheon’s question,” says Aravis.
“Sure!” agrees Flicker. Then, to Dranko: “And so some demon guy got all pissy, and we gave up some useless junk to soothe his ego. Who cares? He’s still a jerk, and you’re still alive!”
Dranko turns to Kibi again. “I’m more upset that you... no, you apologized, and that should be the end of it. Maybe you understand, and maybe you don’t.”
“I doubt I do,” says Kibi. “But I do understand that I shouldn’t make moral judgments about your decisions. And that you have your own code you live by, that’s very important to you.”
Dranko nods and grunts. The discussion is over.
“Let’s move,” he says, standing and stretching.
“Where are we going?” asks Flicker.
“I think there’s a little town down that way. By the time we get there, it’ll be time for lunch.”
* *
There’s some debate about going in disguise, but there’s a general feeling that it would be nice to trust people for a change, and besides, it’s not as if they can sneak up on the Lord of the Roses. Surely he knows they’re coming. The Company packs up and heads down the hill toward the distant straggle of smoke that rises from a distant valley. As they walk, they speak at length about the what they learned from Tapheon, and again about such arcane topics as the “interstitial matrix,” and the relationship between wild magic and the Far Realms. There’s general agreement that the encroachment into the Abyss must have been why the Black Circle wanted to destroy the Hets. In Tapheon’s own words, “it is always bad news for people on the Primes to open permanent ways to the Lower Planes.”
The party comes across the source of the smoke sooner than they expect. Not more than an hour has passed before they are looking down another hill into a picturesque valley, with small well-tended fields, clear green pastures, and a single farmhouse with a nearby barn. There is no town, only the one farm, and the smoke rises from the farmhouse chimney. A lone farmer works in a field not far from the house. As a group they walk down the hill towards him.
“Hello!” shouts Morningstar, when they figure he’s close enough to hear them.
The farmer looks up, sees them, and goes stock still. He drops his hoe. Dranko smiles and waves. The man shakes his head as if to clear it, gives a small wave in return, then turns his head and shouts something over his shoulder. Kibi activates his Ioun Stone of tongues.
The Company doesn’t want to tromp across the man’s crops, but they get as close as they can. The farmer just stands there, turning in place to track them and looking deeply concerned, or at least puzzled.
“Hello!” says Kibi, standing about twenty feet from the farmer. The man reaches down slowly to pick up his hoe, but doesn’t take his eyes off these well-armed strangers. He’s an older man, probably well into his sixties.
“Have you seen anyone else pass through here?” asks Kibi. “It looks like you’re not used to seeing strangers.”
In a slow drawling voice, the farmer says, “What’re y’ doin’ here, eh?”
“Just passing through,” says Kibi, now translating for the others. “We’re wondering where the next Way is.”
The farmer looks as though he’s trying to solve an impossible riddle. At last he answers.
“Passing through? But... this is heaven. Are you dead?”
Kibi thinks long and hard about how to answer.
“Have you been here a long time?” he asks finally, evading the farmer’s question.
“It’s kinda hard t’ gauge th’ passin’ of th’ years,” says the farmer. “I’d say maybe ten’r fifteen, since Trin and I passed away.”
“So, you died and ended up here?” asks Kibi. “How did you die?”
“We jus’ assumed we passed in’r sleep,” says the man, idly scratching his head.
In a small voice, and unable to help himself, Kibi asks, “So... how do you know this is heaven?”
The farmer seems undisturbed by the question. “What else could it be,” he says smiling. “It’s just me and m’ wife here on the farm.”
“Have you seen any angels, or holy beings?” asks Kibi.
“Can’t say that a’have,” says the farmer, amused. “F’ya don’t mind m’ askin’, how’d you all get here?
“Have you seen the shimmering blue things?” asks Kibi.
“Yeah. Temptations, they are. I’m not going through and losin’ heaven, believe you me. Like m’wife says, even if they take y’ somewhere else, what’s better’n here?”
“I’m staying,” says Dranko, smiling widely for the first time in a while.
“I see your point,” says Kibi. “This is... really nice.”
“You speak th’ language, but yer friends don’t,” observes the farmer. “Don’t mind m’askin’, but you ain’t human. What are ya? And are ya hungry?”
“We just ate a big breakfast, but thanks,” says Kibi. “And I’m a dwarf.”
“Well, y’are kinda short. And why’re you here in heaven”” asks the farmer. “I figgered, since it was only us, everyone must have their own heaven, right? But you ended up in ours!”
“We’re able to pass through from one heaven to another,” says Kibi. “but some of them aren’t heavens at all. They’re bad places.”
“You mean hell?” asks the farmer with a knowing nod.
“Yeah,” says Kibi.
The farmer looks awed. “You’ve been through hell, and now yer in heaven. What kind of critters are ya, who can travel like that?”
“Ones who aren’t as fortunate as you. We haven’t found our peace yet.”
“We’re testing our will by going through the temptations,” says Aravis, while Kibi translates.
“So you came from yer own heaven, and yers had those blue things too, and you went through ‘em? I don’t think you outta have done that. How do you know you can get back? You mighta just failed!”
“Ours is not a good fate, forever wandering, but we’re hoping to finish our quest and find peace,” says Kibi. “Can you tell us, where is the next blue doorway?”
“Sure can,” he says, pointing. “It’s a few miles that way. Through some woods, then across the stream. It’s up on another hilltop.”
“Is there anything we can do for you? Anything you need?” asks Kibi.
“Oh, we have everything we need. We have each other. Maybe it’s you who outta be askin’ what we can do for you. But I think the only answer to that is to pray, isn’t it. I’m sorry, I really am. While you’re here you’re welcome to everything we have. Food. Place to stay. Warm fire. Stay in the barn if you want.”
“That’s very kind, but we shouldn’t dawdle,” says Kibi. “Thanks for your kindness.”
An old woman has come to the door of the farmhouse and is just staring at them confusedly.
“I think we’re disturbing them,” whispers Ernie. “We should go. And if we fix all this, they’ll end up back here. But it’ll still be where they’re happy, and I think this will be their heaven after all, in the end.”
“Peace be with you,” he says to the farmer, bowing.
“Well, may Shayle bless you, and may he bring you a bounty and a happiness like he’s brought me and Trinia. Mind you don’t step on the crops on your way.”
As the Company climbs up the other side of the valley, Ernie turns to see the old couple holding hands, standing and watching them go. He waves back and smiles.
...to be continued...
A Little Slice of Heaven
The Company is gathered around One Certain Step, at the top of a green hill. Morningstar and Ernie have both offered to cast atonement and are preparing for the ritual. Step notices Dranko frowning despite the glorious sun and the cloudless blue sky. Dranko is still sullen about the Tapheon incident, and now keenly aware that his God-derived power lags behind that of his fellow clerics.
“Dranko, I’d appreciate your help as well,” says Step.
Dranko looks up sharply, but his expression softens and he nods his head.
Step sits down on the grass and closes his eyes, a picture of solemn introspection. He has no need to dwell upon his misdeeds, having done that on a daily basis every day since the battle with the giants. Instead he focuses on his desires for the future: that he serve the Sun Goddess with an unclouded mind and unsullied heart; that he show an unflinching bravery when he is called upon to sacrifice; and that he not only be at peace with his lot, but understand the depth of the honor Kemma has bestowed.
While he prays, he chews on a perfectly-made cinnamon bun, prepared by Ernie for the occasion.
Ernie casts consecrate on the hill, centered on the paladin.
“Yondalla, I ask you to take unto yourself, and also place on me, the burden of Step’s soul. He acted, as I did, from enthusiasm but not from wisdom. He struck when it was not necessary, and brought pain where it was not needed. He knows this well, and wishes to atone.”
Morningstar effects a personal darkness for her own part in the ritual, but follows this immediately by activating the daylight power of her holy shield. This moment is not about her, after all. Step’s body is rimmed with light, his armor gleaming.
“Ell, I ask you to help me take up this burden, to restore the balance that is needed, between darkness and light, between daylight and night.”
Both clerics feel the chill of life-force lost, and the sins of Step being lifted away. Then Dranko speaks.
“Life is path toward the sunrise. Stay out of the shadows. Not the darkness – the shadows.”
“Well do I know the difference,” says Step, and as he speaks, his sins are cleansed, and the atonement is complete.
* *
The Company feasts upon a fine breakfast (prepared by Ernie, of course). As they eat, Kibi looks up at Dranko and catches the half-orc’s eye.
“Dranko... I’m... I’m sorry that I made you mad. It’s hard, I know, not to speak out to a nasty evil demon lord like that. I know you’re brave, and I know you’re not stupid. I shouldn’t have said what I did, and I’m sorry.”
Dranko finishes chewing and looks straight and hard at Kibi.
“You need to understand,” he says. “You don’t bargain with that sort of evil. Nor do you get down and lick its boots. He asked a question, and I gave him an answer. He didn’t like the answer, so he turned me into something that would kill me. I was ready to die for that. You don’t, however, get to claim that I was ‘stupid.’ I don’t think you have the moral authority to make that sort of judgment. Not on me. If you wouldn’t give your life for that, that’s your choice.”
Dranko realizes that everyone is listening to him now. He speaks broadly to the Company.
“You don’t bargain with a being like that. If you give in, if you make deals for the little things, then it knows it can make you bargain for the more important things. You should have let me die, if that’s what it took, or you should have called his bluff. He knew that if I had died, you never would have agreed to help him. But if I’m wrong, if that wasn’t the case... so, I die. If it thwarts something like that, it’s worth it.”
Flicker takes exception. “But, Dranko, from our point of view, it was Tapheon who wasn’t worth it. Your life’s more important than any dealings with demons.”
“I still think Dranko gave a legitimate answer to Tapheon’s question,” says Aravis.
“Sure!” agrees Flicker. Then, to Dranko: “And so some demon guy got all pissy, and we gave up some useless junk to soothe his ego. Who cares? He’s still a jerk, and you’re still alive!”
Dranko turns to Kibi again. “I’m more upset that you... no, you apologized, and that should be the end of it. Maybe you understand, and maybe you don’t.”
“I doubt I do,” says Kibi. “But I do understand that I shouldn’t make moral judgments about your decisions. And that you have your own code you live by, that’s very important to you.”
Dranko nods and grunts. The discussion is over.
“Let’s move,” he says, standing and stretching.
“Where are we going?” asks Flicker.
“I think there’s a little town down that way. By the time we get there, it’ll be time for lunch.”
* *
There’s some debate about going in disguise, but there’s a general feeling that it would be nice to trust people for a change, and besides, it’s not as if they can sneak up on the Lord of the Roses. Surely he knows they’re coming. The Company packs up and heads down the hill toward the distant straggle of smoke that rises from a distant valley. As they walk, they speak at length about the what they learned from Tapheon, and again about such arcane topics as the “interstitial matrix,” and the relationship between wild magic and the Far Realms. There’s general agreement that the encroachment into the Abyss must have been why the Black Circle wanted to destroy the Hets. In Tapheon’s own words, “it is always bad news for people on the Primes to open permanent ways to the Lower Planes.”
The party comes across the source of the smoke sooner than they expect. Not more than an hour has passed before they are looking down another hill into a picturesque valley, with small well-tended fields, clear green pastures, and a single farmhouse with a nearby barn. There is no town, only the one farm, and the smoke rises from the farmhouse chimney. A lone farmer works in a field not far from the house. As a group they walk down the hill towards him.
“Hello!” shouts Morningstar, when they figure he’s close enough to hear them.
The farmer looks up, sees them, and goes stock still. He drops his hoe. Dranko smiles and waves. The man shakes his head as if to clear it, gives a small wave in return, then turns his head and shouts something over his shoulder. Kibi activates his Ioun Stone of tongues.
The Company doesn’t want to tromp across the man’s crops, but they get as close as they can. The farmer just stands there, turning in place to track them and looking deeply concerned, or at least puzzled.
“Hello!” says Kibi, standing about twenty feet from the farmer. The man reaches down slowly to pick up his hoe, but doesn’t take his eyes off these well-armed strangers. He’s an older man, probably well into his sixties.
“Have you seen anyone else pass through here?” asks Kibi. “It looks like you’re not used to seeing strangers.”
In a slow drawling voice, the farmer says, “What’re y’ doin’ here, eh?”
“Just passing through,” says Kibi, now translating for the others. “We’re wondering where the next Way is.”
The farmer looks as though he’s trying to solve an impossible riddle. At last he answers.
“Passing through? But... this is heaven. Are you dead?”
Kibi thinks long and hard about how to answer.
“Have you been here a long time?” he asks finally, evading the farmer’s question.
“It’s kinda hard t’ gauge th’ passin’ of th’ years,” says the farmer. “I’d say maybe ten’r fifteen, since Trin and I passed away.”
“So, you died and ended up here?” asks Kibi. “How did you die?”
“We jus’ assumed we passed in’r sleep,” says the man, idly scratching his head.
In a small voice, and unable to help himself, Kibi asks, “So... how do you know this is heaven?”
The farmer seems undisturbed by the question. “What else could it be,” he says smiling. “It’s just me and m’ wife here on the farm.”
“Have you seen any angels, or holy beings?” asks Kibi.
“Can’t say that a’have,” says the farmer, amused. “F’ya don’t mind m’ askin’, how’d you all get here?
“Have you seen the shimmering blue things?” asks Kibi.
“Yeah. Temptations, they are. I’m not going through and losin’ heaven, believe you me. Like m’wife says, even if they take y’ somewhere else, what’s better’n here?”
“I’m staying,” says Dranko, smiling widely for the first time in a while.
“I see your point,” says Kibi. “This is... really nice.”
“You speak th’ language, but yer friends don’t,” observes the farmer. “Don’t mind m’askin’, but you ain’t human. What are ya? And are ya hungry?”
“We just ate a big breakfast, but thanks,” says Kibi. “And I’m a dwarf.”
“Well, y’are kinda short. And why’re you here in heaven”” asks the farmer. “I figgered, since it was only us, everyone must have their own heaven, right? But you ended up in ours!”
“We’re able to pass through from one heaven to another,” says Kibi. “but some of them aren’t heavens at all. They’re bad places.”
“You mean hell?” asks the farmer with a knowing nod.
“Yeah,” says Kibi.
The farmer looks awed. “You’ve been through hell, and now yer in heaven. What kind of critters are ya, who can travel like that?”
“Ones who aren’t as fortunate as you. We haven’t found our peace yet.”
“We’re testing our will by going through the temptations,” says Aravis, while Kibi translates.
“So you came from yer own heaven, and yers had those blue things too, and you went through ‘em? I don’t think you outta have done that. How do you know you can get back? You mighta just failed!”
“Ours is not a good fate, forever wandering, but we’re hoping to finish our quest and find peace,” says Kibi. “Can you tell us, where is the next blue doorway?”
“Sure can,” he says, pointing. “It’s a few miles that way. Through some woods, then across the stream. It’s up on another hilltop.”
“Is there anything we can do for you? Anything you need?” asks Kibi.
“Oh, we have everything we need. We have each other. Maybe it’s you who outta be askin’ what we can do for you. But I think the only answer to that is to pray, isn’t it. I’m sorry, I really am. While you’re here you’re welcome to everything we have. Food. Place to stay. Warm fire. Stay in the barn if you want.”
“That’s very kind, but we shouldn’t dawdle,” says Kibi. “Thanks for your kindness.”
An old woman has come to the door of the farmhouse and is just staring at them confusedly.
“I think we’re disturbing them,” whispers Ernie. “We should go. And if we fix all this, they’ll end up back here. But it’ll still be where they’re happy, and I think this will be their heaven after all, in the end.”
“Peace be with you,” he says to the farmer, bowing.
“Well, may Shayle bless you, and may he bring you a bounty and a happiness like he’s brought me and Trinia. Mind you don’t step on the crops on your way.”
As the Company climbs up the other side of the valley, Ernie turns to see the old couple holding hands, standing and watching them go. He waves back and smiles.
...to be continued...
.
