Caron 1

Caron seeking aid from the Domine at the Temple of Argona in Kjent

*Knock-knock*

Domine: Who’s there?

Temple Assistant: Young man here to see you, domine.

D: Thank you, Darring. Send him in, will you? I finished the sermon, by the way. I think I got some excellent witticisms in there.

TA: Can’t wait to hear it, domine. I’m sure it’ll be fantastic. As always.

D: Yes, yes. Aah, here’s our visitor now. Please come in! Have a seat! Tyron, is it?

Caron: It’s Caron, sir… Oh sorry. I mean “domine”.

D: Oh yes, how could I forget?! You’re Serenia and Trystan’s son. I love your mom’s chanterelles. How have you been since schooling here at the temple? I don’t think I see you very often for sermon.

Darring! Please fetch us a mug of tea for young Caron here, and would you be so kind as to fill mine up, as well?

TA: Certainly, domine…

D: Now what can I do for you, young Caron?

C: Well, I just lost my job at the mill, sir. Berdall says I’m cursed with magic or possessed by demons. He don’t want me near neither seed nor flour, he says… Ma said I should go to you, sir. That maybe you’d help me. Remove the curse or maybe tell Argona…

D: Dear child, first thing: It’s “domine” not “sir”. Second thing: We never “tell” Argona to help us. She cares for us out of limitless benevolence. We “thank” her, and sometimes “implore” her through genuflecting prayer.

Now, this curse of yours sounds a highly unlikely scenario. You go tell master Berdall that you’ve talked to me and that you are perfectly fine. Was there anything else?

C: Well, I’ve been having these awful dreams, and at the mill I accidentally smashed Mindra’s hand with a millstone, and then I sort of undid it again… There was blood and everything, and then there wasn’t. She can tell you! I’m pretty sure she was about to lose at least a couple fingers, but I held her hand, and I sort of felt the owl from those dreams and now she’s fine, s… I mean domine. It sure looked unnatural like it was magic or something…

D: Wait a minute… An owl in your dreams? And you say the owl caused you to perform a Laying on Hands…

TA: The tea, domine…

D: Not now, Darring!! Go away!! And close that door!!

TA: Yes, domine…

D: Caron. You dreamt of an owl, you say? What did it look like? Did it say anything to you? Anything at all?

C: Uuh… yes. I been dreaming of it for weeks. Every night. I can’t sleep. Real scary looking too, swinging two cups around. It flies around and it talks a bunch, actually. It says something about needing something, or that I need something, or that someone needs something from me, but I don’t understand.

D: Caron, do you remember anything from your schooling? Why do I even bother with these children?! An owl is a form of Wodon, blessed be Their name forever. Those are not cups; those are the Scales of Justice! He is calling you. She is calling you! Can’t you see?! This is most unusual, but certainly not unheard of. It’s a great honor. You must heed Wodon, my child. You must follow, or divine retribution could result!

C: Wodon? The god of…uuh…books and stuff?

D: Our Almighty God of Knowledge, Inspiration, Wisdom and Justice, Caron. It must be.

C: But I don’t even like reading… And knowledge… I only know about milling and maybe…

D: Well, you better start reading! Here! This book describes not only Wodon, but their divine siblings of the Glorious Pantheon, and all the practices you should have already learnt about, had you paid attention in school and in the temple.

C: Maybe Wodon got the wrong guy? Maybe he’s not looking for me but for someone else. Someone that likes to go to temple and school and to read and stuff…?

D: The God of Wisdom seems highly unlikely to make such a mistake, Caron. Although I must agree with you that you seem quite the improbable candidate, given your… qualifications. Or perhaps lack thereof… Given the idiosyncrasy of this situation and the seeming urgency with which our Dual-Headed Ruler of Truth is contacting you, I say you go quite urgently to the Tower of Wodon in Northgate. One cannot hide from one’s self.

C: Northgate?!! But that’s so far, domine…

D: They will know what your next steps should be. Whatever Wodon is calling you to do, they will help you achieve it. That may indeed lift this… condition… from you, in which case you can return to Kjent. And if you do, I will help you reclaim your status at the mill.

Hold on.  I will also give you this symbol of Wodon that I myself carried while studying and researching the mysteries of Argona. Also, come back here before you leave, and I will pen you a missive to give to Mistress Aria Linton Ridley at the Royal College of Inquiry. She is a trusted friend. I will request for her to make arrangements for your introduction at the Tower. I shall also collect for you what little gold the temple can spare and some water that I will bless. Such holy water keeps evil at bay. You may need it.  Wodon guide you , my child.