DF Novices, Session 40 - Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail

     Here is a write-up of last week's session from the player of Merrill.

Session Date:    Tuesday 25 July 2023

Party roster:

Doran Longbeard, dwarf knight, 128 points (PC)
Eleanor Bayley, human thief, 138 points (PC)
Erizax Ofaris, human wizard, 148 points (PC)
Ben, half-ogre barbarian, 89 points (PC)
Merrill Tangled Tail, cat-folk martial artist, 65 points (PC)
Randall, human warrior, 125 points (NPC)
Renaud Aymon, human holy warrior, 103 points (NPC)
Agis Keylar, wood elf cleric, 135 points (NPC)
Methra, cultist of Subgar, unknown points (NPC)
Ganelon, cultist of Subgar, unknown points (NPC)

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Diary of Merrill Tangled Tail:

It often seem to Merrill that there many more things to do when there no things to do. It odd, but it true! In Temple, masters would always find things for Merrill to do even when there nothing to do. If no training, no feasts, or no ceremonies, it was 'go clean statue in courtyard, Merrill', or 'go to Ylphos to see if they need help, Merrill'. Sometimes, and this Merrill always liked, it was 'go speak with Pilgrims by the gate, Merrill'. But always there something to do when, to eyes of Merrill, it perfect time for nap.

Same true in Titan's Hand. Friends are certain we have made last of undead lay back down, and found every last corner and crook of Hand. So, it perfect time for nap, yes? No! Now it time to gather up all things in Hand, put all together, and carry all things back to Bridgegate. Why not Fairhill, Merrill is not certain, but Ben explain that of position of Fairhill Ben is not certain. And if Ben not certain, then friends cannot go, because it Ben who takes us where friends want go. It truly exciting to not know where things are! But friends disagree with Merrill and decide that Bridgegate is better choice.

First Swift Eleanor want travel to Bridgegate alone, to buy food and hire more hands for Hand. Merrill offer to go with her, but Eleanor say she too swift for Merrill, and she want go to Bridgegate in one day. One day! That so quick quick, there certainly no time for naps! Merrill ask Eleanor to bring back good food, but Eleanor not certain if good food even sold in Bridgegate, but promises to bring back much much food for Merrill to eat. This good thing! Merrill very happy Eleanor has been feeding Merrill since rations from Temple have run out. Merrill give Eleanor shiny rocks Temple has given him, to exchange for his food.

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It now seven days since Feast of Two Moons, and Big Moon chases Little Moon. Soon Big Moon will catch Little Moon, and Merrill not looking forward to this. Eleanor return from Bridgegate with more hands for Hand, and Big Hand named Baris. Merrill also found chest on top of Hand yesterday with shiny coin among nest of bird creatures. Merrill remembered Eleanor already look up there and say nothing there, so Merrill certain Eleanor lost coins there while searching. Now Merrill offer coin back to Eleanor, but she surprised. Said it not her coin, and to give to Erizax for safe keeping, so Merrill does this. They only few coins, but many coins that shine like moon. Friends seems to like coins that shine like moon. Merrill certainly understand that!

Friends, hands, and Big Hand Baris all return to Bridgegate. Again we sleep in tent, but this time Merrill has corner of smaller tent, and this much more to Merrill's liking, so Merrill sleep well. It now eight days since Feast of Two Moons. Dark times nearly here. And today, for first time in some days, Merrill ask the question of Why.

Why guard outside Bridgegate ask toll to use gate by bridge? Friends explain it because there bridge, and bridge need maintaining. This cost coin, and so everyone using bridge pays coin to maintain bridge. Merrill confused! Surely, when building bridge, it known that builder will need to maintain bridge, or otherwise bridge fall into river, like other bridge next to bridge. It Erizax who explain, it like gate on path of wisdom. This Merrill understands! Gate like question on Path, and toll like answer. And sometimes gate like answer, and toll like question. That make more sense to Merrill, yes yes! Merrill cannot help but notice, it coins Merrill found on top of Hand that pay for toll. Merrill reminded of old story, of First Disciple opening Path for first novices. But Merrill does not think he did same now, for friends. Did he? Is Merrill on different path than Merrill has always expected?

Is Merrill more like First Disciple than masters seemed think? It big question!

Question nearly as big as Bridgegate! It big big! Merrill used to villages by Temple, like Ylphos, Ieshool, Tintathia, Corboros, and Shubhuth. Merrill always had difficulty pronouncing that last, so Merrill always write it last. That way, Merrill remembers. But they biggest villages Merrill ever seen outside of Temple, and Temple much bigger than villages. But Bridgegate is big big too. Nearly as big as Temple!

Now Merrill understand why friends have taken all things from Hand to Bridgegate. Here, things are exchanged for coin, many many coin, and friends give some of coins to Merrill. Merrill think this is very kind. Then friends pay for stay at inn, and Merrill find comfortable corner of room to sleep in. Cozy!

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As days pass, Merrill find that there many things to do when there no things to do. It odd! There no masters nearby to tell Merrill to go do this or go do that, but still Merrill go do things! First and first, Merrill go pay respects to local gods. Here, Merrill understands, there no balance, and there one Big God and other Smaller Gods. Big God is named Mezzan, and is God of Merchants. Merrill understands this. There certainly need for God of Merchants in town of Merchants. This all makes sense to Merrill. There also shrines of other Gods, and Merrill visit all, giving coin to all. Priests at temple and shrines speak with Merrill, and it seem none ever heard of Temple of Two Moons Dancing. How far away is Merrill?! Merrill now even more excited. Not only does Merrill not know which way is Temple, but other priests in Bridgegate also do not know. We share incomprehension and confusion, yes yes! This good thing!

It seems that, after while, priests understand where Merrill from and what Merrill do. They very kind to explain how things are done in this part of world. This takes long time!

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There no moons in sky tonight. Big Moon has caught Little Moon. All is darkness. Merrill hide in corner of room. No lantern. No candles. No light. There only darkness. Merrill hear friends knock on door, but Merrill not answer. Merrill cannot! It time of darkness. Merrill does not think friends would understand.

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It first day after Time of No Moons. Little moon chases Big Moon, and Merrill emerges with new question, first question of new cycle. What? What Merrill to do now? And this time, Merrill asks question only of self.

It very clear now to Merrill that Merrill much much further from Temple than Merrill was supposed to be. Path of the Novice only supposed to be few days of wilderness, of contemplation and questions away from Temple. To see small bit of world so that bigger bit easier to understand when Novice begins path of Disciple. Merrill already knew he much further from Temple when food run out. But Merrill also blamed that on Merrill's decision to go with new friends rather than stay on path. Now Merrill has left path, and is in wilderness.

Today, for first time, Merrill realises this. Merrill has left path. Not Path, but path that Merrill was walking. It small path, but it clear. Now all around is wilderness.

Merrill remember, when Master Lomarr came to world, to Master Lomarr and First Disciple, all was wilderness. Master Lomarr made own path, and it Path that Merrill still follows. But like Lomarr, Merrill must now forge own path through wilderness. Like First Disciple, Merrill must now wander, guided only by Path and words of Master Lomarr.

For first time Merrill realises, Merrill has left Path of Disciple. Merrill is now on Path of Master.

This, Merrill will do!