*label hisbroke *temp outfit 1 Traditionally, the pilgrimage to Hisbroke is performed in the days prior to Odo Cluranh's day, 1st Sow. The pilgrimage iself begins in the village of Loren at the Tavern of the Rescued, and lasts for five days, concluding at the odoma of Odo Cluranh in Hisbroke. You take the family nodi from their box and put it over your head. The weight of the individual nodes feels heavy on your chest. You father completed this same pilgrimage before; the iron node he received is stamped with the mark of Cluranh. Soon, a node marking your own journey will hang beside your father's. *page_break *temp companion squire *temp companion_inf squire_inf *temp companion_he squire_he *temp companion_his squire_his *temp companion_him squire_him *if knight_hired *set companion page_name *set companion page_inf *set companion_he page_he *set companion_his page_his *set companion_him page_him The next day, you gather your things. As the patron of orphans, the pilgrimage is supposed to be one of individuals who are equal before the divine. How will you adorn yourself for the journey? *fake_choice #I will adorn myself as is customary. *set hubris %-10 *set tradition %-10 *set orthodoxy %+10 Other than your nodi, a grey cloak, and some simple clothes, you will leave the trappings of your station behind. #I will wear my normal clothes; it is unbecoming to be seen as less than I am. *set hubris %+10 *set tradition %+10 *set outfit 2 Your clothes are not that fine and you have little in the way of jewelry to your name, but you are a thornet and no one should forget that. #I will wear sackcloth—tying it with rope—and wrap my feet rather than wear shoes. *set hubris %+10 *set orthodoxy %-10 *set piety %+10 *set outfit 3 You will abase yourself before the odo and thereby honor him with your sacrifice. #I wear the grey robes because I wish to blend in with the other pilgrims. *set piety %-10 *set spendthrift %-10 Other than your nodi, a grey cloak, and some simple clothes, you will leave the trappings of your station behind. *if knight_hired ${knight_inf} has declined to accompany you; $!{knight_he} has no interest in the pilgrimage, and ${knight_his} company isn't required. If anything, ${knight_his} presence on the manor is preferable. ${companion}@{knight_hired , however,|} will be joining you. Though it is a pilgrimage—and you are suitably dressed-down—it would not be proper for you to travel without some sort of companion. *if mother_alive Your mother rolls up some apples and cheese in a cloth and stuffs it all in a bag. *if outfit = 1 *set rel_mom %+20 "Your grandmother would be proud of you, ${name} ${patronym}. She always hoped to make a pilgrimage, but even as the wife of a thornet, it would have been too much a of a drain on the household for even such a short time." "How was my father able to do so?" "He did it when your grandfather was still alive. Besides, even after he was thornet, your father never troubled himself over leaving the manor." *fake_choice #"It is not proper to speak ill of the dead, mother." *set piety %+10 Your mother's lips purse at your chastisement. #"It is not proper to speak ill of your spouse, mother." *set tradition %+10 Your mother's lips purse at your chastisement. #"I know that you grieve for him, mother. I too am angry with him for leaving us at the verge of ruin." *set compassion %+10 *set spendthrift %-10 "He never listened to me," she says, shaking her head. She hands you the satchel of food. You throw it over your shoulder and kiss her on the cheek goodbye. "I will come back, mother." As you turn and walk out of the kitchen, you wonder if that was the sound of her heart breaking or if you were just imagining things. *goto road_to_ulm *else Without looking directly at you, she addresses you: "Do you think your attire is appropriate for this pilgrimage, ${name} ${patronym}?" *if outfit = 2 *set rel_mom %-10 "I am a thornet. Even if I am a pilgrim, I am a thornet first and foremost," you reply@{sword |, your sword swinging at your side|, your father's sword swinging at your side|}. "The odomi of Odo Cluranh would say you're just another orphan, wandering this earth in search of a home." "I have a home, mother," you reply curtly. You take the satchel and exit the kitchen. *goto road_to_ulm *else *set rel_mom %-20 "I must show myself worthy of Odo Cluranh's forgiveness, mother." "I appreciate your devotion, ${name} ${patronym}, but is your devotion for Odo Cluranh, or for you?" "It is improper for you to speak that way, mother," you reply, taking the proffered satchel from her hands and exiting the kitchen. *goto road_to_ulm *elseif (karol_status = "domestic") and (married = false) Karol rolls up some sausage, apples, and cheese in rough cloth and stuffs it all in a satchel. "I wish I could come with you, ${brother}." "Perhaps next year you will go on a pilgrimage in my stead." Karol's eyes go wide. "Yes! To Hisbroke? Or Sturmreich? Or…or…" "We'll discuss it later," you say, releasing the satchel from Karol's suddenly-crushing grip. *goto road_to_ulm *elseif married TODO wtf *goto road_to_ulm *else The cook hands you a satchel of food meant to serve as your lunch. "You'll be back, yes?" You nod. "You won't get rid of me that easily." "The rest of the household will be sorry to hear it," she says with a smile. *goto road_to_ulm *label road_to_ulm *page_break *gosub_scene ulmheit road_to_ulmheit Unlike other occasions, you travel it on foot. The pilgrimage itself—from Loren to Hisbroke and back—will be made on foot, and you will take a boat from here to Loren. Thankfully, you ordered a new pair of boots this year, and they have already softened to your feet. You visit the Mercer's guildhouse to collect some debt-notes and a few coins. *comment Get to know clerk? The journey to Loren is uneventful. There are a handful of other pilgrims on the boat as well. You swap some stories with the others, and find yourself enjoying the conversation more than you had anticipated. @{(outfit = 1) |At some point or another, almost every one of them remarks on your choice of attire, which you pointedly ignore.} *comment choice about the types of stories? Meet the other pilgrims? The ship pulls up alongside the dock and you see what must be the Tavern of the Rescued. Its lights illuminate the night, beckoning one and all to drink at its tables. Whether it's other pilgrims or simply locals, someone is enjoying themselves, as the sounds of music and merriment reaches out through the night. As you open the door, some minstrel assaults you with a bawdy poem. *comment react to minstrel Pushing open the door, you are soon met by Gunrel Wrenich, the tavernkeeper who doubles as a caris for this shrine to Odo Cluranh, welcomes you. "You're just in time; we were preparing to say a prayer and share communion." *temp accomodations 1 *fake_choice #We will sleep with the other pilgrims on the tavern floor. *set manor_liquid -2 #We will take a private room. *set hubris %+10 *set tradition %+10 *set accomodations 2 *set manor_liquid -5 *if (outfit = 3) #I ask to sleep in among the beasts in the stables. *set hubris %-10 *set spendthrift %-5 *set accomodations 3 The room quiets down. Bread, salt, and butter are passed through the room. Finally, Gudren's son makes his way through the crowd, refilling mugs and horns with cider. "Most of you are gathered her today to celebrate the annual pilgrimage to Hisbroke," she begins. There are a few huzzahs. "And tomorrow you will be on your way. But since you'll all be fasting between here and the Cave of Reflection, it's time now to eat and drink your fill!" You take your communion with ${companion}. Once everyone has had their share, the real eating and drinking begins. *if outfit = 3 You, however, abstain from the indulgence, choosing instead to retire early. @{accomodations When the merriment finally begins to settle down, fresh straw is brought in for the floor of the tavern, both as bedding and to soak up all that has been spilt that evening. You curl up in you cloak and fall fast asleep.|At some point in the evening, you retire to the sole private room of the tavern. It is not so quiet, but at least you are separate from the rabble that are still singing in the main room. Sleep comes swiftly.|The stables are pleasantly warm, thanks to the bodyheat of the motley collection of pigs, horses, goats, chickens, and a dairycow. The downside is that the animals keep their own hours, and sleep is harder to come by.} *page_break The next morning, many of the pilgrims are nursing headaches. They drink great quantities of water, while trying not to beg for a morsel of bread. *if outfit != 3 You do you own fair share of groaning. The pilgrims load up on a boat, which pushes off a little after daybreak. It's a long two days with no food. You do your best to stay focused, but by the middle of the second afternoon, everyone is on edge. The presence of a loudmouthed pharen, Tórin Kadercomich Bendres-ye-Sildarnfar, does nothing to keep the peace. *comment conflict? *page_break There are exclamations of joy when the docks of Waaleid are spotted. Soon, the pilgrims have tumbled off the boat and into the hamlet. It's a small affair, not unlike ${thurnet}, but anything and everything is an improvement on the tiny boat with no food. Not that you'll eat here, either. But at least you can stretch your legs. Waal's Rest is the hamlet's tavern, such as it is. It seems that most of its purpose for the year is served during this particular week. The next morning, you and the other pilgrims hire a guide by the name of Wren. He has mules to carry you to the Cave of Reflection, and a small repast once you arrive. He counts your number and your coin, and seems mildly disappointed in both. *page_break The journey to the cave on muleback is monotonous. The path is relatively well-worn, and Wren goes first to deal with any obstructions. Around sundown, you arrive at a small cave. The pilgrims fall silent in respect. Wren pulls several rushlights from his packmule, lighting some and distributing them among you, before stepping into the darkness. Inside, the cave expands and extends unexpectedly. Wren clearly knows his way, however, and soon leads you to a cavern containing a large pool and a cairn of stone. The pilgrims gather around the cairn for a quick prayer before all thoughts of piety are discarded in the name of hunger. As you chew on your meal of bread and apples—a nod to the last meal that the unknown draig had with the young odo—Wren relates the story of the odo's flight. You've heard it many times before, of how the unknown draig died of apoplexy at the edge of the pool, and the young odo built the cairn and spent the night in a vigil. He was just a child, and he did not know the prayers of death, but he reasoned that Sénan would know what was in his heart. The next morning he left the cave for Waaleid. Grateful for the small repast, you and ${companion} fall into contemplative silence. It's been a long day, and sleep beckons you. Out of the corner of your eye, you spy at least two other pilgrims whose heads have lolled to the side in uncomfortable sleep. *fake_choice #Sleep is sacrilege. My suffering is nothing compared to that of the young odo. *set piety %+10 @{(outfit = 3) Your sackcloth outfit helps keep you awake, in fact, as the pricks and scratches periodically remind you of your devotions.|} The night passes in silent contemplation. #No one will know or care if I take a short nap.… *set piety %-10 *label sleepAtCave @{(outfit = 3) Your sackcloth outfit doesn't help with matters; its pricks and scratches are not condusive to rest.|} It is not comfortable, but with food in your belly and a long day of riding, your body needs little in the way of permission to relax. #Surely neither Odo Cluranh nor Sénan care if I stay awake all night. *set orthodoxy %-20 *goto sleepAtCave In the morning, Wren convokes the pilgrims with the promise of food: by midday, you will be in the odoma for porridge and prayers. And when the sun goes down, the Feast of Odo Cluranh will commence. The pilgrims give a lackluster cheer. You emerge from the cave, mount the mules, and push forward for the last leg of the journey. Coming down from the pass into the valley, the cooking-fires of Hisbroke are visible within an hour. Your stomach grumbles at the sight. "They're preparing for our arrival," Wren exclaims. "I will eat until there is no more room, thornet, and then I will find a waste closet, empty myself, and return for more," ${companion} says, in a more conspiratorial manner. "Almost the whole day still to go, ${companion}, and only porridge in the meantime," you note. ${companion} wrinkles ${companion_his} nose at you. *page_break The peasants of the hamlet are all smiles and greetings, pointing towards the odoma, though Wren already knows the way. This hamlet has a number of amputees, begging alongside the main throughway. "Why are there so many individuals missing limbs, thornet?" ${companion} inquires. "They must have been miners. It's a dangerous business," you reply. *if outfit = 2 The amputees call out to you in particular, attired as you are for your station. They plead with you for any shred of mercy. They are soon distracted, however, by Tórin Kadercomich, who has begun *if outfit != 2 You watch in surprise as Tórin Kadercomich begins handing out coins to the amputees. *if outfit = 2 He looks over at you with a sly grin, as if daring you to join him. *fake_choice #I ignore him. Such games are beneath my station. *set hubris %+10 #I ignore him; why waste money in such a manner? *set spendthrift %-10 #I join him in distributing some coins; I will not be known as tight-fisted. *set spendthrift %+5 #I intend to outshine Tórin with my generosity. *set spendthrift %+5 *set hubris %+5 Wending your way to the odoma, you are greeted by the ferranax. She introduces herself as Eorwyn Cluranich, and welcomes you to Hisbroke. You and ${companion_inf} take seats among the long table of the great hall of the odoma, while odomi come around with bowls of porridge to offer. $!{companion_inf} rolls ${companion_his} eyes as a bowl is placed in front of ${companion_him}, but the moment ${companion_he} catches a wiff, ${companion_his} mien changes in surprise. Taking a wooden spoon, ${companion_he} carefully scoops some into ${companion_his} mouth. $!{companion_his} eyes go wide in surprise. Another spoonful, a third, a fourth, a fifth…and the bowl is practically empty. $!{companion_he} discards the spoon and begins trying to lick the inside of the bowl. You look at ${companion_inf} in surprise. "That good?" "It's the best porridge I've ever had, thornet!" You take a bite yourself, and have to agree that it's the best you've ever had. You too are disappointed by the size of your portion, but the flavors radiate from your mouth and the warmth from your belly. "Impressive," you conclude. *page_break You will sleep in the odoma tonight with the odomi and the other pilgrims. After the meal, however, it is time to receive your node and make a donation to the odoma. The distribution of the nodes is surpisingly perfunctory. What is much more elaborate is the question of how much you will donate. *fake_choice #The absolute minimum for a member of the gentry: enough wheat to feed a serf family for six months. *set spendthrift %-15 *set manor_liquid -25 *selectable_if (manor_liquid > 150) #I can afford to be ever so slightly generous: enough for a year. *set spendthrift %-5 *set manor_liquid -50 *selectable_if (manor_liquid > 300) #I can be a little more generous than that: two years. *set spendthrift %+5 *set manor_liquid -100 *selectable_if (manor_liquid > 400) #I can share the largess of the manor. *set spendthrift %+10 *set manor_liquid -200 The ferranax thanks you for your donation, which you sign with a flourish. With that, you are on your way out the door and into the hamlet. Not quite full, not quite hungry, and @{(piety > 50) grateful for the opportunity to have made this journey|noticeably poorer}. Several hours later, the sun finally sets. By this point, you've had a change to explore the hamlet. It is somewhat larger than ${thurnet}, but aspires to more. Sometime recently, a center square was cleared of buildings; since being here, you've heard rumor that Thornet Pappernod Pappernodich has been seeking the right to a market fair from @{(year <= 579) his sister|his nephew}. The Feast is all that it was promised; though, you must admit, nothing is quite as delicious as the porridge that began the day. *comment meet Pappernod? *comment conflict with Tórin? *page_break The next day you are roused early by one of the odomi. You are handed another bowl of porridge, which is somehow not as delicious as the one from yesterday. You and ${companion_inf} share disappointed looks, but when a higher power is the source of your dismay, you suppose that there is nothing to be done. The mules await. The next week passes in a blur as you retrace your steps home. The new node, strung alongside the others, weighs heavily against your chest. *return *label donel_amerlich *return *label donel_amerlich_first_time The temple of Odo Donel is in Colheit-ye-Sénarch, the part of the city on the western shore of the river. It was founded by the odo himself, after his revelation. Its massive spire was pointed out to you before the city came into view while you were still on the boat. It only grew larger as the day progressed. Now that you're on foot, your appreciation of its height deepens further, until you stand before it, dwarfed. When you've finished gawking at its height, you turn your attention to the stonework, which incredibly detailed. You learn that one family of masons has been working the stone façade for the past three hundred years, depicting the pilgrims who come to pay their respects to the miracle-worker. The inside of the temple is similarly ornate; the many pilgrims over the centuries have been generous with their donations. *return