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A Voice of the Realm

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Resoun

Resoun

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The office of High Priest of Saradomin on Entrana is a most noble and Sacred Trust. Since the First Day, when Saradomin had entered the world treading upon this sacred island there had always been one charged with preserving the perfect order. This trust had been passed from generation to generation of man with the understanding that true order and purity are found within the heart and not in any visible artifice.

The most ardent zealots of any religious order are frequently those who have crossed from another as converts. Such was the case this decade as Mahr Tunzeh (a former native of Tai Bwo Wannai village) had risen over many years to attain and now hold the Sacred Office. He was regarded as a fair man in practice and a scrupulous man in detail. He had developed in his tenure little respect for the more extravagent trappings found in other churches thoughout the land.

At that moment he was standing at his desk looking through letters that had arrived on the morning boat. Here a missionary was requesting assistance in rebuilding an ancient shrine. There a priest asked for a new brother to maintain the church grounds. Occasionally an interesting piece might come in. Perhaps someone was requesting an investigation of some rare item. Or maybe a spiritually dangerous location had been recently discovered. There are many things buried in the past that perhaps should remain buried.
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

09-Dec-2009 05:34:44

Resoun

Resoun

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A shadow rose across the desk obscuring the latest missive. A sidelong glance seeking the source revealed a large bulk standing in the doorway. Further inspection detailed the form of an old friend. "Murushk!" The High Priest surged to his feet, a smile larger than usual creasing his face. "Welcome, my brother! Did they give you any problems back at the castle?" The handclasp was both warm and vigorous as the two joined in the traditional warrior's greeting from the priest's home island.

"No Bwana, aside from issues of a material nature there were no problems." Murushk answered with a smile on his face. "Of course, such things mean little now."

Mahr broke away and turned back to his desk. "So, old friend you are certain you are prepared to take up orders here with us?" He opened a drawer and brought out some papers bound together with a single strand of rope. "I ask to give you fair warning. As I have said before, our life here is not so glamorous as that of some priests with whom you may have been acquainted."

He turned and fixed Murushk with a serious expression. "Once you have been sealed to our order you may have to endure many years of rigorous training and preparation. Only when we have become sure of your strict adherence to our tenants can you look forward to serving in any capacity off of this island."

"My brother," Murushk intoned, "I have no desire to leave this island. I look forward to diligent work here. My labors shall be for charity. My thoughts shall be to learning. My actions shall be towards helping others."

A wry grin crossed the High Priest's face as he prepared the documents for signing, "Brother Murushk, I think you are already well on your way."

[END OF PART ONE]
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

09-Dec-2009 05:35:07

Resoun

Resoun

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Chapter 3
The Order

"Everyone judges about others according to one's own character…"
Dorotheus of Gaza (505-565 AD)

For three days Murushk sat in his cell reading a small book entitled "Orders of the Brothers of Saradomin". The language was a bit archaic but with contemplation one could make out what was meant. Meals had been provided; one early in the morning and one shortly after mid day. The food was bland; cooked fish and boiled seaweed accompanied by a small loaf of bread and half a glass of wine. The conditions here were far better than what he had become accustomed to in war.

At times he found his mind wandering. Frequently he considered for whom the drunken spy aboard the boat worked. Try as he might he could not reason a means by which anyone outside of the Temple Knights could have come by his identity much less his intentions on that journey.

Each morning he could hear the brothers chanting as they went on their way to services. Again they could be heard returning from the fields and places of work when summoned by the bells of the church in the evening. Aside from these noises there had been no conversation or break from the monotony.

The book, though short, was a fairly detailed look at the rules and regulations concerning not just the day to day operations on holy Entrana but also the rules by which all monastics of Saradomin were expected to live. Murushk was surprised to learn that there were several different classes of monks, each assigned a particular task. These tasks produced rankings allowing a brother to formally advance in both station and responsibility. One might advance in any class and still have equal opportunity to reach the position of High Priest. Once attained, the office was held for a decade whereupon the entire assembly of monks voted on either a replacement or to bind the one serving for another term.
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

09-Dec-2009 18:59:14 - Last edited on 12-Dec-2009 21:27:06 by Resoun

Resoun

Resoun

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As a "guest", Murushk was expected to have spent his time thus far in contemplation of the seriousness of the course he was choosing for his life. At sometime before sunset tonight he would be approached by a brother who would then lead him to the main cathedral. There he would be questioned on the central tenants and prayers of Saradomin. Assuming he answered correctly he would then be given the chance to become a postulant for a period of about three months. During this time the brothers would observe him to see if he showed signs of a calling to the order. If at the end of this time both he and the brotherhood agreed he would be elevated to the position of novice for about a year. At that time he would receive the "tonsure" or ceremonial shaving of the head and be given his robes. After his first year as a novice he would be given the opportunity to take his solemn vows and begin his life as a true monastic. At this point he could take on the life of a missionary amongst the people. His other option would be to serve, renewing his vows every year, until he was ready to take the permanent vows which were binding for life. At this point he would remain until he either entered the priesthood, became a missionary amongst the people, became a hermit in some distant wilderness, or died. The vast majority of monks remained novices their entire lives.

Murushk supposed that he would have ample time to decide on his final course. For now the goal was one of immersion into the monastic way of life.

The sound of slow footsteps approaching his cell caught his attention. He found himself involuntarily reaching for the missing sword at his side. A knight's conditioning is a long and brutal path. Grimly he realized that some reflexes would have to be shed if he had hope of remaining here.
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

10-Dec-2009 23:33:37 - Last edited on 12-Dec-2009 21:21:05 by Resoun

Resoun

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"Sir Murushk, are you called to follow?" came a gently questioning voice from beyond the cell door. Murushk stood and turned, "I humbly seek the path that I may serve." he gave as the practiced response. The hooded monk beyond the door frame slowly turned and began a gentle walk down the narrow tunnels of the living quarters. He carried a simple candle made of beeswax sheltered in his hand so as not to allow it to be extinguished. As they walked, the candlelight played off the carved rock walls revealing the occasional crude devotional carving of some Saradomic quotation or depiction of his life and works.

The corridors seemed to stretch forever in the dim light. The occasional intersection showed adjacent hallways most often black as night, but occasionally one could discern a faint glow of candlelight far in the distance. Aside from their footsteps and the sound of their breathing there was only silence.

After some time they came to a carved spiral stairway leading up. Here they ascended, the dim light from above gradually growing till they no longer required the candle. The hooded monk now extinguished the flame with a small spoon and deposited the candle on a small shelf conveniently carved in the side of the stairwell evidently for just such purpose. The remaining stairs were but a few and they soon emerged into bright sunlight from the staircase hidden within the well.

Standing here, two hooded monks awaited them. One placed an end of a loosely bound rope in Murushk 's hand. This was both to symbolize the link of the postulant to the brothers in service and to lead him slowly to the east where the traditional tests would be administered at the cathedral.
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

11-Dec-2009 17:13:01 - Last edited on 13-Dec-2009 02:34:51 by Resoun

Resoun

Resoun

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The ceremony was a solemn but unremarkable affair consisting of a recitation of the eight Saradomic virtues (love, peace, charity, chastity, honor, fealty, compassion, and truth) and the six monastic obligations (poverty, discipline, service, separation, humility, and patience). This was followed by the placing of a simple rope necklace about the aspirant's neck. He was then led back to his cell to fast till morning; a newly sealed postulant.
---+---

It seemed he had barely closed his eyes when Murushk found himself being rousted from his slumber by having the rough sheets ripped from his sleeping fingers. The coldness of the air in the room cut short his intake of breath. Opening his eyes did little to illuminate things. It was still dark. At the foot of his bed he could barely make out the hooded figure of a monk folding his bed sheet and placing it in a pack. Once done, the figure left without saying a word. "Do they really expect me to keep up with the same schedule as that of a youthful postulant?" Murushk wondered silently to himself.

He sighed and rolled, reaching over the side of the cot to find his boots. His questing hand located an unexpected set of sandals in the darkness, but of his boots he found no clue. Puzzled, he sat up, trying to look at the sandals in his hands.

A gruff voice speaking with a heavy catherbian accent came from his doorway. "There's no leather boots for the likes of us, brother." The voice gave a rolling lilt to all "r" sounds. " Here on Entrana we're closer to the soil." Murushk looked up to see the silhouette of a rather short but apparently powerfully built monk standing there. "You'll find a set of rough pants and shirt folded under there as well. Them fancy things you've been wearing will be sent off to help the needy."
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

11-Dec-2009 17:13:14 - Last edited on 26-Dec-2009 15:22:03 by Resoun

Resoun

Resoun

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The monk stood for a moment while Murushk digested what had been said. Finally the monk seemed to become exasperated. "Look brother, if you're not ready to take your sealing seriously, there be no point in my delaying with you! Either get dressed now or it's off on the next boat with you! What in the name of the holy isle is keeping you!?"

Murushk got busy first finding the promised bundle of roughly crafted clothes (by texture they seemed a woven flax material). With the speed born of many a past military campaign he disrobed and donned the new outfit. The silhouette gathered his old clothes as he tucked his shirt into his pants. They came close to actually fitting he decided. No sooner had he completed dressing than, with the command "Follow me now!", the monk turned and began a brisk walk down the corridors. Murushk hurried to keep up.

Twice on the journey through the halls he tried to ask questions of the figure leading him. That he got no response lead him to believe there was a rule forbidding speech there. As they emerged from the well this was confirmed when the brother, now more visible in the early morning light, turned to him saying "I know we gave you a copy of the book of the rules to study before you were lead below. Did you not read it through?" The baleful stare was intimidating. The brother had a tonsure and dark beard, but the windburned face, though slightly creased near the eyes, still retained much of the appearance of youth. The arms spoke of power and a faint tattoo of one of the fishing clans of Catherby was visible near the left wrist. Though his stature might be short, Murushk decided that this would likely be one monk that could hold his own in a fight.
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

11-Dec-2009 17:13:25 - Last edited on 26-Dec-2009 15:27:45 by Resoun

Resoun

Resoun

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"Well!? Did you or didn't you!" The monk demanded, interrupting Murushk's observations. Remembering the obligations of discipline and humility saved him from making an instinctive angry retort. Instead he steeled himself and spoke with as humble a voice as he could muster, "I was given such writings, good brother. It is out of neglect that I failed to remember the rule of silence in the halls.. I ask your forgiveness." Seemingly surprised by the contrition in Murushk's voice, the monk raised one eyebrow and looked him up and down. "Well, it is a rule." He paused. "I'll hope you'll be taking greater care next time to remember it as such." The monk turned and began a fast walk again. Murushk, caught unawares, struggled to keep pace once more.

As he caught up, the monk began talking. "I'm brother Drew. My job is to hand out your daily assignments and introduce you to the ways things are done around here. I can normally be found near the docks if you have need of me. Hereafter In the morning your first job is to report to me for assignments. Do you understand that?" Murushk acknowledged that he did. Brother Drew continued, "Your first day here will be working with the very soil blest Saradomin himself tread. For that I'll be leavin' you in the tender care of Brother Talbeer over here." Murushk looked up to see another monk with his back turned to him weeding a patch of hops with a crude spade.

"Brother Talbeer!" Brother Drew called, voice slightly raised. "I've got a new postulant here to help you in your labours!" The busy monk ceased his efforts and turned to regard them. With a start, Murushk realized he was looking at the mystery man from the boat!
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

11-Dec-2009 17:13:41 - Last edited on 26-Dec-2009 15:34:52 by Resoun

Resoun

Resoun

Posts: 671 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Chapter 4
Clearing the Air

"Many a time from a bad beginning great friendships have sprung up."
Publius Terentius Afer (Terrence)
Comic playwright of the Roman Republic,
184-159 BC
From: "Eunuchus"; Line 873.

Brother Talbeer turned out to be quite an authority on gardening. He had been "apprenticed" (as he put it) to Brother Francis numerous times. Most of these times had been a result of "indiscretions" concerning the over consumption of wine and ale. Time in the gardens was seen as an "oject lesson" among the monks on the island.

For his part, Brother Francis spent most of the time helping pilgrims who came to Entrana to plant. The monks in his care were kept busy either making sure the grounds were weeded and fertilized or that the stocks in the store were maintained.

Many of the pilgrims who came here to plant believed that the island's sacred soil gave special properties to the crops grown here. Entrana grown hops were highly sought by brewers in many lands, particularly amongst the devout.

Over the course of that morning's conversation Murushk came to realize that Brother Talbeer's comments about "monk's vows" on the boat had been in reference to his -own- vows. Brother Talbeer had no knowledge at that time of Murushk's calling. In fact, it was for drunkenness on the boat that he was once more consigned to gardening.
We must all learn to embrace our own inner newbishness

11-Dec-2009 18:21:10 - Last edited on 08-Jan-2010 02:52:01 by Resoun

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