Careena stood and asked Gamana, "Shall we go?" and then, "Which way?"
"Yes, my friend, we go north-west and talk as we walk," Gamana replied, and mentioning deeds to words, she picked up her load and strode north-westwards, with Careena following.
As they walked, they initially discussed the Augur ritual comparing Rhuddli's method with Gamana's. Gamana was surprised that Rhuddli chanted while the ravens' were present and could not understand its purpose - until Careena related the words of the chant.
It seemed that Rhuddli's chant was intended for him to hear the result of any Augur that was performed with it ... Rhuddli had intended to eavesdrop on Careen's Augurs ...
And then, when the result of Rhuddli's last Augur came up - that he should collect a debt - it emerged that he had lied about that; Gamana had never owed Rhuddli anything.
About the only thing that was true, was the attack of the Simulacrum. Gamana had never heard of a ritual able to pull its target into the dreamworld in the way that Rhuddli had described to Careena and severely doubted that it was possible.
As to why he would lie, they had no clue, and no idea who had Awakened the Simulacrum either! Unless Rhuddli had done that and faked the whole thing? but why?!
They could not discern the answers they sought without more information and resolved to use their rituals to try to learn more, but not until thsy had put more distance between them and Rhuddli. So their conversation moved on to other things.
Careena naturally wanted to know more about Dweomer, so asked Gamana to explain ...
Dweomer is the art of magic and mainly consists of manipulating the five elements - Aethyr (the spirit element that gives life to all things), Air, Earth Fire and Water in the environment and in creatures. Behind the elements and their Kings stand two forces - the Light and the Dark which are the two types of (mutually exclusive) Dweomer.
The Light requires the service of the practitioner, they must subsume themselves to it, freely allow it to enter their soul. It requires a life of service, putting the good of the many first and others' needs before one's own. Their beliefs and actions are summed up as 'Do as you would have others do unto you'.
The Dark Dweomer demands nothing of its practitioners, but even so, it still enters their soul making them grasping, greedy creatures, seeking nothing but their own gratification and continued existence. 'I will do as I will, for I am the only being that matters' is their credo.
Rituals are the way those un-trained in Dweomer can achieve magical effects - anyone that has learnt a ritual correctly can use it to mimic Dweomer. Only a few are able to learn Dweomer and the first step is always learning to open one's Sight. Without it, one cannot pierce the Veil and see the forces to manipulate them.
Rhuddli, Gamana said, did not have the Sight and all that he had taught Careena were lies, a waste of time, the only purpose of which that they could surmise, was to keep Careena serving Rhuddli.
Gamana could tell that Careena did have the Sight, she just had to learn to open it, something that Gamana was confident that Careena was well able to. Careena swore to herself that she would learn to open her Sight and take her first steps on the Dweomer-road.
Swear an Iron Vow: I will learn to open my Sight (dangerous); 4 +2 [heart] vs 3,4; strong hit +2 mom -> 10They walked the rest of the day, steadily but somewhat slowly to Careena's mind - still it was faster than Rhuddli walked ... until as night fell, they made camp.
Make Camp: 6 +2 [supply] vs 8,10; miss BURN (mom reset to 2) -> weak hit, choose Focus +1 mom -> 3It was a cold and wet night, and the new day dawned wet as well. "My lady," Careena began, but Gamana interrupted her.
"Careena, did we not agree that we are friends?", she waited for Careena to nod, "Then why do you call me 'my lady' - you do remember my name?"
"Yes, I do my- Gamana," Careena replied, "It is meant as respect, but if you insist I will stop."
"I do, it implies a position of power over you that I do not have, nor do I want. It may not seem an important thing, but it creates a position of mind that can effect your learning in a very detrimental fashion," Gamana explained.
"Thank you explaining, Gamana," Careena replied. "Before we set off today, I'll have to forage for supplies as those we have are running low."
Resupply: 3 +3 [wits] vs 5,2; strong hit, +2 supply -> 4Careena's foraging was very successful and quick, so they set off before the sun had risen very high. They did not speak for the morning - Gamana had told Careena to meditate upon what they had discussed the day before and that morning.
Careena's learnt a lot in only one day, including that some of the progress that she had made was worthless, so I'm got mark progress on a couple of vows ...Careena examined the lessons that she thought she should learn from her conversations with Gamana and examined them closely, before rejecting them each in turn, until none were left. As they stopped for their mid-day meal, Careena said to Gamana, "I do not know what I have learned. I am sorry."
Reach a Milestone: I will become a Ritualist, -> 7/10
Reach a Milestone: I will learn to open my Sight, -> 2/10
Gamana was silent until after they had eaten and cleared everything away. She had Careena kneel and then knelt herself in front of, taking both of Careena's hands in her own - "You have put the most important lesson into practice, though you know it not. Never, ever, be afraid to say that you do not know. Being afraid to admit your ignorance is the first step on the road to pride. It leads to failing to admit to mistakes and then spirals down to the Dark Dweomer."
"Now we continue our journey, you will meditate further and I am sure that you tell me the lesson that you have learnt by the time we stop for the day at the Dark Rapids," Gamana finished.
Before long they were on their way and Careena was once again meditating upon their discussions. Once again, she examined them. This time, however, as Gamana had requested silence for the morning, she asked questions of Gamana.
Gamana seem pleased by Careena's speaking up and explained to Careena, "You listened to my request exactly and followed it the same way. In our learning that is something that you must do."
Careena attacked her ideas, until finally a new one settled in her mind. She examined it, tore it apart and rebuilt, becoming more and more sure that it was correct. She conjured counters to it and saw that none them held water.
She was so engrossed that she lost track of time and was surprised when Gamana called their final halt of the day.
"Gamana," Careena began, "My learning will be with you, not from you. It is a path that we are walking together, not one that you will lead me upon."
 |
| Mask-less Gamana |
"Yes, Careena, that is quite right and now that you know that, you have taken your second step upon that road," and so saying, removed her mask, and Careena could see her beautiful smile for the first time.
More progress I believe, so I'm going to mark it on her vows ...
Reach a Milestone: I will become a Ritualist, -> 8/10
Reach a Milestone: I will learn to open my Sight, -> 4/10
And time to pause again; more soon!