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S
I R L
Brought into a monastery at a young age, after his
village was destroyed, he and his brother Robyn survived the tragedy and soon
adapted to the beliefs of the Monks. The Elder Monk – Demiah brought up the
two brothers as his sons. They were educated, loved and taught the powers of
nature.
His brother Robyn
was five years older, and was the reason for Sira’s existence. Sira would have
been burnt to death if his brother didn’t grab him from his bed during that
fateful evening. Sira loved his brother and vowed that he would help his brother
for the rest of his life.
During his time in
the monastery, Robyn used his powers for evil intentions; Sira saw this but
could not bring himself to stop his brother’s actions. At night, Robyn would
sneak out and go on a stealing rampage satiating his greedy habits. He asked
Sira to join him a few times but Sira wanted not to hurt anyone unless he saw it
as teaching the person a lesson. Sira always thought of ways of learning through
violence, and that is how he went his ways.
Sira had regular
discussions with Robyn to try and show him what he was doing to other people but
nothing ever changed. Sira knew time would create a consequence for his
brother’s actions. A few years passed, until one day during a ceremony, the
Elder rejected Robyn from the monastery. All
the other monks had no idea why this had happened, Sira moved back into a dark
corner, disappointed and ashamed of his brother but was upset that he couldn’t
do anything.
Robyn left by ship
the next day, no-one knew if they would see him again though Sira felt that
their life-paths would cross again and it would be for the best of things. Sira
became very quiet after Robyn left, mainly concentrating on learning different
skills for the day when he would set off to find his brother.
Four years pass,
and finally Sira tells his Elder that he is leaving, he feels that he has to
find the true meaning of his life. The monastery was his home, but he felt he
had to leave. The Elder granted him his wish, set him up for his journey and
said goodbye. All the monks were sad to see Sira leave, but all understood.
Demiah asked Sira to return if ever he needed anything, but if he returned with
anyone else, he would not be allowed in.
The monastery was
on the outskirts of the city of Saral in eastern Saralis and it was here that
Sira headed. He brought some extra
supplies and managed to obtain passage on a ship in exchange for work as a
sailor.
The captain John
Smith, believed that he had seen Sira before, but could not put a memory to it.
It never bothered Sira, as he was too young to remember. Sira enjoyed sailing,
he always felt that he was heading somewhere that would teach him more about his
life. He always had a feeling that his life was a quest but wasn’t sure what
it was. But he knew that he had to find it, otherwise death would find him.
He sailed for
seven years and then arrived in Norek. He was very enthusiastic about getting
off at Norek, he was familiar with the architecture but could not place it. He
had a strange sense that he had been there before and was anxious to explore
Norek, and to continue the search for his brother, which lay ahead.
Norek
You can’t help but think that your meeting with the
young man in the cell was not entirely coincidental.
Even after meeting the others but you couldn’t lose the feeling that
there was something familiar about him. An
odd-looking elf, he carried himself with the self-assurance of a military man.
It was rare indeed for an elf to join the military. The elves trained as
small strike-forces or large bands of archers, not as soldiers.
The others also
seem familiar in some way. You are quiet as they discuss the arrests, content to
follow the conversation and study the speakers.
Eventually it is
time to take your leave. You
arrange to meet them the following day at a café on the river.
You leave just as the sun is setting over the city walls.
Your heart is
troubled. When you left Saral you
left with a purpose. The monastery
training you had has calmed your mind. You
can now sleep at night without waking, heart pounding, dripping with sweat after
a nightmare.
You clear your
mind of the distractions the past and stride through Norek.
As you walk along the wide avenues of Norek, the people are beginning to
pack away their stalls and lights come on in the buildings all around you.
Up ahead two Sentinels stop and talk to a merchant, as you walk past you
catch a snippet of conversation.
“Come on Rufus.
You must have heard something! Captain
James would be very interested in any information, this wasn’t just anyone
that was offed, the Council is very interested in this being solved.”
Leaving the
guardsmen, you head down a long tree-lined avenue towards another bridge.
This leads to Spheari Isle and you wonder how you knew that.
The lattice stone work of the bridge beneath your feet seems so familiar,
yet you have never been to Norek before, of that you are sure.
Reaching the other
side, you step from the bridge onto an enormous open lawn in the shape of a
cone, the thinnest point opened onto the market circle.
Weary tradesmen dismantling their stalls and loading up their carts make
way for the revellers and more nocturnal inhabitants of Norek.
As you stride
across the grass, you become aware of a low humming sound coming from up ahead.
Two people walking a dog pass you by with a cheery “A’Rhim!” and
no-one else seems to notice the humming which is becoming louder and louder.
Ahead you think you can see the source of the sound, some sort of
sculpture. Suddenly a familiar
smell wafts by you. Incense!
For nearly ten years you woke, trained and slept with that smell all
around you. You see the familiar
entwined dolphins atop a small building. A
blue light spills from the curtained doorway.
Cut into the walls are huge glass windows and within you can see hundreds
of fish swimming within the walls.
As you enter,
stopping only to bow your head, Shaal was not a God who valued fawning
followers, the source of the blue light becomes clear as the entire western wall
is an huge aquarium. Light from the
candles scattered around the room reflect from the blue water, bathing the room
in shimmering tranquillity. Shaal
felt very close here in this place of worship.
Below the aquarium is a small offering bowl, there are a few coppers
resting inside it. You stand for a
moment, drinking in the presence of your God, your earlier tiredness and anxiety
about the Sentinels is washed away and you feel rejuvenated.
A young acolyte
steps inside the door.
“My apologies,
sir, I stepped out from some fish food only.”
He has a large bucket of krill in one hand and an enormous bucket of
water in the other. As you see his
simple but cared for white robe of Shaal, you suddenly notice the dirt beneath
your nails, and your dishevelled appearance.
It is not right to appear before one’s God thus.
The acolyte stared at him for a moment, “Sir, would you like a drink of
water, you look a little pale.”
“Nay, I am
aright, I wanted to pay my respects thassall.” You realise that you look no more like a monk of Shaal than
this man looks like a sailor.
“Afore I go,
though, do you know aught of my brother? Robyn?
He was an acolyte of Shaal like yourself, from Master Demiah’s
monastery in Saralis.”
The young man
shook his head, “I’m sorry my son, but although we have many visitors, there
are only four of us who tend the shrine and I have known them all my life.
Why do you think your brother might have come to Norek?
Has he been gone long?”
You talk for a
while with the acolyte, keeping the subject firmly on him and finally you stand.
“Ah well, Jum, it has been good to talk, Sotor Grek to you and
your kind.” The use of the old
Shaalian greeting confused him, but he rose and gave the customary greeting back
“Indeed, bluweir
stronth to you and yours also, my friend.”
As you walk past
the collection bowl you drop a silver piece into it.
You may not have got any closer to finding your brother, but Shaal was
still strong within you.