A party returns to Contin and meets Fotla again, now in charge. After much deliberation, Uvar, Aethelwig, and Mongfhind take the gift of tongues in the Temple of Onthloug. Gest trades the Fairypenny for food.
Party
- Mongfhind (Vivian)
- Rónnat (Neal)
- Uvar (Tom/Tehwit)
- Gest (Matt)
- Aethelwig (Galgoa)
- Refereed by Danni
Intention
Return to Contin
- Gest wishes to trade a fairy penny!
- Aethelwig is looking to patch over some potential bad feelings between himself and Contin/Mongfhind
- Uvar is looking to get out there and get some experience in the face of upcoming flotilla changes
- Ronnat is here because Beimer died to a wyvern she is looking for oppurtunities to draw in resources to defeat the necromancer king and gain some resources
- Mongfhind is looking to secure a potential powerful ally in the people of Contin and find a new direction for herself
Summary
The party passed quickly to Contin, without much of note happening on the voyage through the waters or the roads through Tonintoul (although the death of the small town was all the more visible now). Upon reaching Contin, they met Seonaid, who was presented to us as the town hetman last time we were here. Much has changed here. Fotla, the adherent of Onthloug who guided us through the rituals last time has taken up control of the town, and upended the previous social order. Before, a lifetime of devotion and hard work was needed to receive Onthloug’s greatest gift, the gift of tongues that allows you to speak and understand any language. Now, after seeing Aethelwig’s sham performance at the previous visit to Contin, he grants it willingly to all. His own demeanor has changed considerably, now more confident and well spoken than before. It would seem Fotla has learned the power of disrespecting established religious traditions and offers to the fleet friendship and power. As we
spread word of Onthloug and his gifts, more will come to Contin seeking the ritual, which as it is fed, will grow the power of both Onthloug and the gifts.
We noticed however that many, such as Seonaid, no longer speak. When asked why, Fotla indicated that they were those who did not accept the gift of tongues and were no longer allowed to speak. The party went to Seonaid to confer with her. It was a difficult written conversation (full transcript below), as Seonaid was struck with a crisis of faith, and unable to grant us any firm offer or resolution.
We separated from Seonaid, and conferred amongst ourselves. It was decided that three of us, Uvar, Aethelwig, and Mongfhind, would undergo the ritual, and return to the fleet and offer any there the chance for the ritual as well. With the information gained from the ritual, we will be able to better decide who we wish to ally ourselves with, the old ways of Seonaid or the new proselytizing ways of Fotla.
We underwent the rituals, which are detailed below. Uvar, Aethelwig, and Mongfhind emerged from the temple of Onthloug with new blackened tongues, able to understand speech they could not before. In good spirits, they proclaimed that the ritual was a wonderful opportunity that all needed to try for themselves.
Boasts
Gest
In the boat, Gest takes a moment to show Brui the mule the fairypenny from his pouch and boasts “Know it doesn’t look like more than a snack now but should be able to turn this into something more than even expected with those Continites today.” then pockets it again before Brui can snatch it up.
Uvar
Uvar steels himself and speaks up as the group debates the merits of the two followers of Onthloug. “I - I will undertake this ritual, even if it means the sacrifice of my tongue. If this power is real and can help the fleet, I volunteer to be the first.”
Rumors
No rumors were discovered this session.
Full Notes
Day 35, overcast but not rainy, with a light northern breeze
- Aethelwig and Mongfhind bury the hatchet, resolving to use their powers of deception in conjunction, not opposition
- In the boat, Gest takes a moment to show Brui the mule the fairypenny from his pouch and boasts “Know it doesn’t look like more than a snack now but should be able to turn this into something more than even expected with those Continites today.” then pockets it again before Brui can snatch it up.
- Makes landfall in 1006, early in the morning, in Tonintoul
- We move quickly through Tonintoul. The black paint of mourning on the doors of the town is fading, and the town is dying. The ghosts of her failures tug hard at the cowl of the somber Mongfhind 🙁
Contin
- We arrive at Contin at around noon, recognizing Seonaid, the be-muscled leader of the town, flanked with guards who recognize them.
- She gestures for us not to speak, and does not speak herself, and leads us to the largest house at Contin, where we met her on the way back from our ceremony with Fotla on our previous visit.
- She does not enter, but gestures for us to enter, which we do, leaving the mule Brui tied up outside
- The interior is talk, and six figures are within, three seated, and three preparing the room. Fotla is sitting amongst them, and stands upon our entering. He sounds different now, filled with confidence, and depth, a little sensual, very different from what it was before, which was a wavering and wheedling voice
- Fotla butters us up, makes it clear that the exploits of the flotilla have reached them and asks what we want
- Mongfhind compliments him on his new found blessings, and offers our help to secure the friendship of Contin
- Fotla tells us that he once toiled in vain within a different religion for advancement, but it was never granted. He now knows the gift of Onthloug should be spread. They do not have material wealth, but they have secrets, what were previously closely guarded, but now can be spread by us as a gift. He tells us that there is a deal to be made to eliminate language barrier.
- Gest confers with Uvar and Ronnat about whether they wish to commit to tooth based devotion. They are committed
- Mongfhind asks if there will be a quota to fulfill their end of the bargain. Fotla cares not for such miserly bean counting, but cares about the spirit of sharing. Telling us that each offering makes Onthloug stronger, and strengthening the gift in turn.
- She also asks if there are gifts beyond healing and the gifts of tongues. Fotla shares that healing has always been open, but the gift of tongues has been the closely guarded one that they are now openly giving.
- Gest asks what we would need to sacrifice for the gift of tongues. Fotla tells us that we must give up our mortal tongue, which would allow us to go into the forbidden places of Onthlug, and within there, find a special place to receive his special gift.
- Danni “opens the window” and tells us the players that the deal will mechanically change how our character works, and advancement as well.
- Mongfhind asks why others in Contin aren’t talking. Fotla says they aren’t interested in the gifts, and force a silence on them. They don’t want a return to when this was a closely guarded secret.
- Aethelwig butters up Fotla and says he will undergo the ritual. Fotla says that the monk doesn’t even understand how Onthloug had worked through him and that this gift is the only way to repay him.
- Gest tries to use our connection with Fotla to try to secure a more profitable trade for the fairypenny. Will grant us 3.5 days of food, if at least three of us take the gift of tongues.
- The party confers on their plan of action. Many pluses and minuses are given to signing on with the whole tongue sacrifice. They resolve to find Seonaid and ask her more details about this.
- About an hour passes as we talk. We take another hour to find and talk to Seonaid. She looks pretty sad, and is clearly tasked with guarding us. We begin to write in the soil with her. She leads us to a cottage away from the main town and looks wary
- Seonaid is literate in her letters but not as well as us, nevertheless is able to communicate. We ask her why she has not taken this deal. In written communication, the following exchange occurred.
- M: “Fotla has given us a potential trade offer. He wants us to prostelitize for Onthloug and will grant us favorable trade conditions, and the gift of tongues. It sounds too good to be true. You ken much. Why have you not taken this trade?”
- S: ONLTG IS REAL
- FOTL ASCENDANT
- GIFT REAL
- BUT OLD WAYS SAY PATIENCE
- FOTL PASSING
- ONTHG FOREVER
- OLD WAYS FOREVR
- M: “How is Fotla passing?”
- “Fotla is young. How long do you think the old ways can wait until they are forgotten by the living? Especially if he brings in more young.”
- S: FLOWRS OF OLD WAYS NOT JUST N CONTN
- OTHER PLACES IN ALBAN
- MANY BELIVRS
- M: “True. Many know and believe the old ways. Including this one.” She flashes her almost toothless smile. “But we need not wait for chance. Fotla offers us honeyed words and a new way. We doubt him. We can respect the old ways, but only so long as it strengthens our flotilla, as we need strength to stand upright as Contin stands upright. Can you offer us friendship and access to Onthloug’s gifts? You know we honor him.”
- S: ONTHG GIFTS ONLY FOR WRTHY
- WORTHY CHSN BY WISE
- IM NOT THE WISE
- YR OUTSIDERS
- M: “All are outsiders to begin with. Would protecting the Old Ways not show us worthy?”
- S: IM NOT THE WISE
- FLTLA ASCENDANT BUT NT CHOSN
- NO WISE HERE
- DONT KNOW WHAT T DU
- M: “Where are the wise?”
- S: WISE TRAVLS
- THEY GIVE BELIVRS TRIALS
- PICK BEST SOULS
- ONLY THOS SOULS BECOME WISE
- ONLY THEM ASCEND
- M: “If you can provide us with a guide”, she glances again at Aethelwig, mindful of his goals, “who can show us how to find one, we can find guidance. Can you do this?”
- S: I NEVR LEFT CONTIN
- THIS IS MY HOME
- HOME OF ONTHG
- I GUARD SPECAL PLACE
- WE MUST STAY
- WAIT FOR WISE
- THEY COME ON SHORT DAY
- SHORTST DAY
- M: Mongfhind sighs. “We have not that time. Fotla offers to take us to secret place of Onthloug. I believe there we will find wisdom. I also hope that closer to him, Onthloug himself can speak more clearly to us. I know you are uncertain but we cannot wait till winter, the flotilla has not the means” She carves the next part deeply and emphatically into the soil. “But you must decide here and now. Will you stand with us, come what may?”
- S: I STND WITH ONTHG
- I STAND WITH OLD WAYS
- IF YOU TAK GIFT YOU EMBRACE ONTHG
- IF YOU TAK GIFT YOU DENY OLD WAYS
- NO WAY
- CANT THNK
- M: carves one last thing into the soil, erasing all else. “We will return and confer with you again.”
Temple of Onthloug
- We debate shortly. Unable to decide who to side with, we at least decide we must try the gift of tongues to see if we can learn more by doing so. We go with Fotla to the temple of Onthloug. Ronnat decides she does not want to undergo any ritual. Gest, already down one tooth, decides to keep his tongue. Uval, Aethelwig, and Mongfhind will undergo the ritual of the gift of tongues.
- Uvar has tooth removed by Fotla, and is also the first to have the gift of tongues done. Like before it heals quickly.
- Mongfhind removes her own tongue. It heals quickly.
- Aethelwig removes his own tongue. It heals quickly.
- We cannot communicate. Fotla will guide us deeper some of the way, but when we reach a chamber will instruct us and then leave us alone. We go down the staircase that we previously had only ever gone up before. At the bottom of the stair is a large statue, with three arms, each ending in a seven fingered hand. The head is a riot of tongue. The statue looks incredible lifelike and shows minimum tool marks. The tongue looks slick. The passage continues down. Fotla stops and tells us that in the next chamber there is a guardian who will never let someone with a tongue pass, and will inspect our mouth. We should not impede that inspection, and should present our mouths.
- The chamber is filled with the scent of death. Swords liter the floor. There is a nude tattoed man sitting on a throne of coin. He is covered in Christian iconography. He opens a gauntlet hand to us and beckons us in very old pictish.
- He inspects Uvar closely and then tells us we can proceed. Same occurs for Aethelwig and Mongfhind.
- We walk past many corpses to enter a final chamber. Where we must press our face against the hole to receive the gift.
- Uvar goes first. Something moving enters his mouth. It meets where his tongue was. And then many wonderful things happen. His brain lights up and he remembers things that he still knows he never truly ever knew. It is as though not understanding all languages was a curse that has now been lifted.
- Aethelwig goes second. He experiences the same thing, but does not have to wait as long as Uval did.
- Mongfhind goes last. Same thing happens. The curse is lifted.
- We all return from the temple, Uvar, Aethelwig, and Mongfhind praising Onthloug to Uvar and Ronnat.
|||