DF Novices, Merrill interlude, part 3

      Here is the concluding part from Merrill's solo journey. As always, I am giving out an Impulse Point to any player who writes a summary for the blog.

Party roster:

Merrill Tangled Tail, cat-folk martial artist, 92 points (PC)

Campaign Dates:    22 to 25 September, Year 645 of the Vycenaean Empire.

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Diary of Merrill Tangle Tail:

Merrill told, Scratch is angry young man. Merrill told, Scratch likes start fights. Merrill told, Scratch big and strong. Merrill even told, Scratch bad temper and easy to anger, yes. All these things Merrill been told, but not until Merrill see Scratch and speak with Scratch, Merrill understand these things. Scratch very very angry young man, yes yes. Anger like river of fire, and temperament of snake. He ask, why Merrill lie about Scratch, tell everyone Scratch is liar? Merrill say to Scratch, but Merrill speak with Master Silis, Merrill know Scratch not from Ten Tiger Academy, but Scratch say this to everyone Scratch meets. That lie, so Scratch liar. That not something Merrill say, that something people understand when Merrill speaks with them and they speak with Merrill about Scratch.

For brief moment, Merrill ask Scratch if perhaps Scratch would prefer talk in proper language? This Merrill asks in the language of ears and tails, but get only grunt in response. So Merrill ask, does Scratch not speak language of ears and tails? To this, Scratch replies 'I speak'. That... unexpected. It seem young man Scratch not fluent in language of kin! Where Scratch grow up? This tragedy! After, Scratch return to language of humans, and Merrill decide to continue speaking in language not so precise but spoken by most. Merrill long suspected this reason why there so much misunderstanding among humans, but at same time, knowing now that Scratch not grow up among own kin, Merrill lost any kind of anger Merrill once felt to Scratch.

Instead, Merrill decide, Merrill will be instructor to Scratch. First lesson, manners.

In great rush, Scratch run at Merrill, after accusing Merrill of not wanting to fight without stick. To this, Merrill replied, is only little stick, come take it from Merrill.

At that moment, Merrill reminded of incident nearly half lifetime ago, when Merrill was headstrong student in temple. Merrill then nine years old, and challenging Master Lashki. Merrill heard, if student beats master, master must teach student to become master. Was Merrill not quick? Was Merrill not smart as smart? Was Merrill not swift, and agile, and trained? Did not Merrill deserve to be master? So when Merrill challenge Master Lashki, Master take up staff and tell Merrill to come and show skill. Merrill then snarled it not fair, why Master fight with staff and Merrill only with paws? To this Master Lashki smile, and say, is only little stick, so come take it from Lashki little Merrill.

All this Merrill remember as Scratch charge, and Merrill put out tip of staff to stop Scratch in tracks. Angry, Scratch push staff aside, and Merrill turn this in strike to leg. But Scratch quick quick and get out of way of staff, but Scratch also impatient, and swipe wildly at Merrill, missing by full width of paw. So Merrill step back and aim tap at side of head of Scratch, calling patience, like Master Lashki do to Merrill years and years ago. It happen much same way as then, and Merrill smack Scratch in face. Hard.

Merrill not intended to hit that hard, no no. Back when Merrill challenge Master Lashki, Merrill get thumping and learn patience and humility, and also how to fight with staff. In moment, with Scratch, Merrill not intending to give thumping, only warning tap. Still, Merrill afraid Merrill may have broken nose of Scratch.

It seem Scratch much surprised, as surprised as Merrill, and begin slinking away. Merrill considered that lesson learned and well taught, but Scratch shout Scratch will wait for Merrill, and next time will have weapon. To this Merrill can only shrug, and wait for minutes while Scratch run. Merrill would not want Scratch to think Merrill was chasing. Lesson taught, and that enough. Perhaps next time Scratch think twice before attacking someone smaller and weaker, and hopefully Scratch also learn patience and humility like Merrill did after thumping.

Still, Merrill need to find rabbit, and that greater concern as Merrill walk back to village. Then Merrill remember that Merrill seen many many small farms near village, and remember that Haldor say rabbits sometimes eat vegetables from field. So Merrill go to small farm and ask to buy rabbit. Yes yes yes, Merrill know, that not way these things done. It normal student catch thing in person when presenting gift to Master, but there no need to count teeth when looking into mouth of dragon. Merrill is told, there no rabbit for sale at farm, but rabbit eat much from fields, they pest. But farmer also show Merrill to other farm, where rabbit possibly sold. So Merrill go to second farm, but there also no rabbit there.

It all made Merrill think, if Merrill is going to buy rabbit, perhaps Merrill should look for shop of meat and dead animals? There no shop of kind in Cribble, but there small shop of many thing, and Merrill go in to try luck. It seem luck still with Merrill, and Merrill buy rabbit, and ask how much. Six, Merrill is told. Merrill ask, six copper or six stater? This make keeper of shop laugh, and Merrill told six copper, six stater much too much for rabbit. So Merrill pay for rabbit, but Merrill not know how to carry rabbit, and keeper of shop tell Merrill, it no matter, rabbit dead, carry any way Merrill like. Then Merrill ask if keeper of shop perhaps seen Scratch? Merrill worried about Scratch. But keeper of shop not seen Scratch, but much much interested in what happen, so Merrill say Merrill had word with Scratch about manners, and had to give Scratch bloody nose. It seem keeper of shop very pleased with that.

When Merrill return to tavern, it seem people there also very pleased Merrill had word with Scratch, because Merrill not charged for cups of milk Merrill drink. That good! Haldor also promise to cook rabbit, but ask when for, because rabbit need cooking soon as soon. So Merrill say, after the noon, next day. That important, yes yes. It not necessary to eat Feast of Two Moons at time of middle of night, but it important food for feast made after middle of day on day of moons rising. It time of no questions, no work, no training. Haldor ask how Merrill going to get food warm up hills, it surely cold by time Merrill get there.

That good point! Merrill forgotten this! So Merrill say, Merrill will invite Master Silis to come to inn to share feast, yes yes! Will go do that straight away! But Haldor tell Merrill, it too late now to go into hills, Merrill should go early next day. And so this Merrill do, after speaking more with others in inn. They too much curious about what happen between Merrill and Scratch, and happy when hearing from Merrill what happen. Wrapped in blanket by fire, full of delicious fish stew, Merrill go to sleep.

It then day of Feast of Two Moons. Tonight Ieschool and Chubbuth bright in sky. Merrill know this thanks to fisherman, yes! Merrill of course knew two moons bright in sky tonight, but now Merrill also know names, correct names. After breakfast, Merrill meditate, and take time to make sure robes and ribbons and hair and fur and all things in proper order and manner. After all, Merrill going to speak with Master, so Merrill must be perfect.

Walk into hills not too long, but still Merrill very nervous when Merrill arrive at cave where live Master Silis. When Merrill get there, Master Silis give Merrill cold greeting, and ask why Merrill fight with Scratch? Merrill say Merrill no other choice, because Scratch attack Merrill. Merrill believe Scratch not told truth about that, but Merrill bite tongue. Then Merrill finally work up courage to ask Master Silis to join Merrill for Feast of Two Moons, down in village.

Merrill is told no. Master Silis not do this thing, because Master Silis need look after Scratch, who hurt.

It at that moment, Merrill feel Merrill at choice in path. There one turning, where Merrill nod and bow, and go back down hill to village and eat Feast by self and then leave Cribble without Master, to wander on path of Disciple. There other turning, where Merrill challenge Master, and then trust in wisdom of moons. One path smooth and easy, other path grown with thorns and hard to see. Everything in Merrill want to take easy path. So Merrill know that not correct path. When path easy, it not path worth walking. So say Master Lomarr, to First Disciple, in scroll every student read in first year when able to read. Merrill always believed Merrill knew what words mean, but now Merrill understand what words mean.

So Merrill swallow hard, and Merrill tell Master Silis that Merrill will not do this thing. Merrill say, if necessary, Merrill will bring inn up hill, piece by piece, so that if Master Silis not go to Feast, Feast will come to Master Silis, and Master Silis will eat Feast with Merrill. Merrill say, Master Silis know of Path of Two Moons Dancing. Merrill say, Master Silis know that followers of Path known to be stubborn. Merrill say to Master Silis, when follower of Master Lomarr say thing will be done, then thing will be done. So Merrill bring whole village up hill if Merrill must. Merrill travel long way to find Master, Merrill has found Master, and Merrill will have Master, and Merrill not going away until Master Silis take Merrill as student.

This was thing that Merrill say. And when Merrill say these things, Merrill realise this first time Merrill spoken sharply in years and years and years. Merrill not done this thing since Merrill was angry young student, and suddenly Merrill again reminded of time when Merrill challenge Master Lashki.

It seem for while, things will go same way. Master Silis smile at Merrill and ask, Merrill thinks Merrill is ready?

To that Merrill reply that, yes, Merrill know Merrill is ready to become master.

And then Master Silis reply in only way Master can reply when student make that claim.

Show me!

So Merrill bow at Master Silis, and Master Silis bow to Merrill. Staff against staff, and Merrill begin by striking to arm of Master Silis. It simple strike, and Master Silis deflect with ease near contempt. Merrill can tell, Master Silis certain Merrill not ready. In next blow, Master Silis try to sweep legs out from under Merrill. It good sweep, but Merrill expecting it, and Merrill keep footing, but in same sweep staff is swept out of hand of Merrill! Amazing! Merrill never seen such thing! Now Merrill must fight with paws against staff, same way Scratch had to fight Merrill, and same way Merrill fought Master Lashki seven year ago.

But Merrill well trained. Merrill not only train in staff, but Merrill student of Two Moons Dancing, yes yes! That mean if Merrill must, Merrill fight with paws and feet and elbow and knee and teeth. So Merrill step forward, knocking blows away time and time again. It fun! It such fun! Then Merrill surprise Master Silis, and grab staff with it come towards head of Merrill. Merrill can tell, Master Silis not expecting that! And for nearly six second, Merrill and Silis fight for control of staff, while Merrill nearly force Master Silis to step out of sparring area. There no line, of course, but Merrill and Master Silis both know where limits are, and what Merrill and Master Silis can do. This duel between Master and student, and there rules as old as mountains. But Master Silis break hold of Merrill over staff, and then run quickly to try to get behind Merrill. But Merrill quick as quick, yes yes! So Merrill run quickly and stand behind Master Silis.

It so much fun! Merrill not have such fun in years and years, and Merrill only now remember how much Merrill enjoy sparring in Temple. It no matter Merrill fighting paw against staff, it good exercise, it fun! Yes yes!

Quick as quick, Master Silis then step and turn, away from place where Merrill nearly pushed Master Silis out of bound, and try to tangle up legs of Merrill, but this time Merrill jump over staff and step forward quick as quick. Next moment, Merril grab hold of arm of Master Silis. It weak hold, but it show that Merrill can do this thing. For two seconds Merrill and Master Silis grapple and counter grapple, with Merrill using all forms of Little Moon Waxing, and blocked by technique Merrill does not know.

Then Master Silis step back...

... but Merrill forced Master Silis to drop staff!

So Merrill put foot on staff, and bow to Master Silis. Staff for staff, yes yes, that prove Merrill worthy!

But it also very sneaky, and Merrill know Merrill must now pay for showing off to Master. So Master Silis bow to Merrill, and then sweep feet of Merrill out from under.

Of course Merrill fall. Merrill expecting it, but Merrill also smart enough to know that when Master teach student humility, it turn of student to stand and accept lesson. Or, in case of Merrill, fall flat on tail to accept lesson. But Merrill then accept hand of Master Silis to get back up, and hand staff of Master Silis back. For that Merrill earns pinched ear. It worth it.

Then Master Silis say, Master Silis will not come to Feast of Two Moons. But perhaps Merrill come back next day, with food, and Master Silis and Merrill can share meal. That excellent!

With final bow, Merrill say that Merrill will do this thing, and walk back off hill towards Cribble. Merrill tired and bruised, but Merrill happy. Oh, so happy! And Merrill still happy when Merrill step into inn, and must answer questions of others about what happen to Merrill! Merrill say, all is well, all go as well as Merrill could expect.

But Merrill had tail kicked, say someone. That true, say Merrill, but Merrill walk down hill and not been thrown off mountain. To that everyone agree that, if Master Silis want to throw someone of mountain, Master Silis throw that person off mountain, even if it mean Master Silis must first drag that person from hill all the way up mountain.

So next day, Merrill take pot with rabbit stew up hill. It heavy! But it also worth it. Merrill and Master Silis share meal, and talk. Merrill talk of home, of reasons to come in world, of reasons to choose path of Master. Master Silis listen, and speak of Ten Tigers.

It three days later Merrill back on hill and sparring with Master Silis. This day, Master Silis not ask Merrill if Merrill certain Merrill ready to learn. This Master Silis now knows. So again Master Silis and Merrill begin, and as good student, Merrill yield first strike to Master Silis.

That mistake!

Like whirlwind, Master Silis come at Merrill and try to sweep away legs. Pfft, that move Merrill knows, that easy to defend, and Merrill step back, block one attack with staff, jump over next. Then swiftly dodge third! That unexpected! But Merrill pleased Merrill dodged third attack, yes yes!

Merrill still pleased when Merrill crouches down for own strike and see, in very very brief moment, head of staff coming at face.

It some time later, Merrill wake up inside cave, looking at worried face of Master Silis. For moment Merrill laugh, because this exactly what happen between Merrill and Scratch, this exactly what happen seven years ago. And then Merrill confirm, Merrill feel as if two moons of Merrill were pounced by ten tigers. To this, Master Silis smile, and speak more of Ten Tigers.

It now many day later. Merrill has gone back down to Cribble for moment to return cooking pot to Haldor. And Merrill ask Haldor to pass on message to Lamdomon, when tinker comes to village, to tell anyone asking about Merrill that Merrill is alright.

Merrill has found what Merrill was looking for.