Page 1 of 3

The Relic Commune in IceMule
by Iscikella Zinnonn

[Editors note: Italicised items in this article are logs of actual in game events. Names have been changed as necessary to protect the identity of those involved.]

Today is Restday, day 16 of the month Lormesta in the year 5100 of the Modern Era. It is 22:00:02 by the elven time standard.

You hear the ringing music as Iscikella runs her fingers over a set of opalescent glaes chimes.

Ahryelle moves to a hastily-erected dais set between the two altars at the front of the chapel.

Ahryelle recites:
"We are gathered, we of diverse ideologies,
To seek out guidance on a common concern.
The item of power, known to most simply as
The Relic,
Haunts both our waking and sleeping hours
With possibilities, both fair and foul.
We seek not to limit those possibilities,
But to accept them with some degree of insight.
Therefore have followers of three Arkati
And one immortal gathered here together."

So began the ceremony of commune by which we hoped to connect with the Arkati most directly involved and gain insight into the purpose of the relic. It was not to be. And many would like to smile smugly with that "I-told-ye-so" look upon their faces and pretend even slightly to know the will of the Arkati in this. But they do not know. No one knows.

From the beginning we were taking a risk. Many warned us to call upon the pantheons of both Light and Dark was much too great a risk. But the relic belongs to Luukos and is seemingly guarded over by Amasalen. Thus they could not be excluded in any quest for insight into its purpose. And the initial revelation on that relic so long ago to me, "To restore the balance, Restore the order," came from Lumnis. While now the dream visions which tell of the nature of the relic and the danger it poses come from Ronan. So excluding these Liabo deities also was not a possibility.

Let me say that for myself, as a follower of Lumnis and the balance She seems to wish maintained, I never once considered the idea of "stealing" the relic for Her or any god of the Liabo. That simply does not appear to be what She wants done. I know those of Ronan feel differently and that is their prerogative. Their ideas come from what they see as the wishes of their god. And, though I disagree with their ideology, I also understand the wishes of the Luukosians, who view the relic as a means to allow one of His faithful -- the wizard Thurfel -- the means to "righteously" punish the town of IceMule Trace for the murder of the serpent stranger and the living entombment of nine of the Council of Ten by the town elders so long ago. Perhaps my problem has always been that I can see the "right" of all sides in this.

Shortly before the commune was to take place a youngster, who was hunting in the caverns under the town well -- the place where what the Ronanites now call the "dark gate" once appeared and within it the relic, was to catch unfortunate sight of Thurfel. He came across a halfling wizard, who hid his visage in a hooded cloak, wildly casting what he referred to as "explosion spells". The wizard, when asked, muttered his name, and the youngster caught it as "Thurfen", but there can be little doubt who this wizard was. He muttered constantly of "the council" and his "brethren" and "Luukos" and "the relic". He was much annoyed at the youngster for intruding upon his privacy, and insulted that youngster's elven heritage most vigorously. In the end he killed the youngster by casting a spell, and vanished as a fogger came into the caverns to evacuate the body. He did not leave the place; he simply vanished.

Now the reason I mention all this is that, when I spoke to this youngster, he brought forth some things I had not previously considered at all. I had told him the tale of the Ten and of the relic after he had spoken of what happened to him, and he began to ask many questions. Very pertinent questions.

*Youngster* asks, "I have a question, how come Lumnis bestowed the same power upon you that this relic has?"
*Youngster* says, "If you wish not to answer, do not."
Iscikella says, "My only guess was so the relic could be replaced on the altarstone."
Iscikella says, "That She knew otherwise I would die in the attempt."
Iscikella says, "For Lumnis seeks the balance."
Iscikella says, "My abilities to fight were increased three-fold for those minutes."
Iscikella says, "I did not cast, but I fought with three times my power."
Morstanya says, "What's to say Lumnis bestowed that?"
*Youngster* asks, "But, is there a correlation to the fact that your powers went up three-fold like the relic bestows?"
Iscikella says, "Perhaps She did not, Mors, ye are correct."
Iscikella says, "Perhaps..."
Iscikella rubs her chin thoughtfully.
*Youngster* nods to Morstanya.
*Youngster* says, "That's what I was thinking."
Iscikella says, "Perhaps Luukos thought to tempt me."
Iscikella recites: "Having surrendered halfway to the dark..."
Iscikella rubs her chin thoughtfully.
Iscikella shudders.
*Youngster* asks, "Because Luukos is evil and deceptive, correct?"
Iscikella nods to *Youngster*.
Morstanya says, "He is the Lord of Lies."
Iscikella says, "Perhaps Luukos wanted me to taste the power so that I would keep the relic."
Iscikella says, "And not return it to the altarstone."
Iscikella says, "Perhaps that is why Lumnis was sighing."
Iscikella says, "Ye have given me pause for thought."

And indeed he had. Those thoughts haunted me before the commune. And during it as well. Even as I tapped the scrive to my forehead and gave my mind into the direct sphere of The Wise, those thoughts, those doubts, remained. Did they displease Her? Did She deem me unready to know more of the relic? I cannot say. I can only hope, if it is so, She will forgive me my mortal frailties.

When Ahryelle, as communing cleric, cast the spell to contact the gods and spoke aloud the question we all wanted answered, my heart was in my throat...

Ahryelle recites:
"We call upon any Arkati or Immortal
With knowledge of the relic
To shine a small flame
Into the darkness of our denseness
And counsel us as to that object's
True Purpose."

Not a sound came. Not a stirring. And my heart remains yet in my throat to this moment, awaiting the inevitable, which must at some point come.

Some say we were fortunate that no immortal answered our request. But I believe the truth will be known, in some way, at some moment. The relic exists. Its purpose will become clear. Perhaps through a dream vision of a Ronanite. Perhaps though a riddle from Lumnis' own lips. Perhaps from a sneering declaration by Amasalen or a demonstration from Luukos through the means of His follower Thurfel. One cannot say; one cannot know.

I do know this -- some say the commune was a failure, but such it was not. It proved, if nothing else, the depth of religious feeling in Elanthia. The declarations to the gods I heard there were strong with many brands of faith. I may not agree with all of them, but I am in awe of them.

One very strange result of the ceremony did come about. Katsuragii, the Green Wizard of IceMule who is much devoted to Lumnis, was overcome during the service and went into a screaming fit. Later, when the fit subsided, he found he had not use of his tongue. First he could not speak at all. When he did regain his voice, he did not regain his use of the common language. What this means, I cannot say. Has Lumnis a plan? Perhaps. Perhaps indeed.

After the ceremony I went back to the Hall of the Mind and sat in the glow of the many lit candles. The place did not seem abandoned but expectant. Perhaps Lumnis but bides Her time to speak. Or perhaps Her son Ronan, who shares this chapel with His mother, bides His to reveal all in dreams. Or perhaps, like His devotee Armaxis, Luukos but hides in the shadows waiting for some precise moment to spring forth with the truth of the relic.

For myself, for the present, I must remain hopeful that IceMule can be kept well and whole. Since the first day I traveled from my birthplace in the sylvan community of Silent Pines to this good-hearted halfling town, I have seen it as my home. And I will not idly stand by and let my home be "punished" for its stout heart.

Very early on the morning after the commune I returned alone to caverns, to the hillock where we had beseeched the guidance of the gods, and I prayed alone. A mist rose as it is wot to do there, but the silence was deafening. I can only pray that, in the good time of The Wise, the disheartening silence fades and melds into the cheering sound of good counsel.

Dear Commie

Dear Commie,

Missus Ylena told me I need to bathe more often to meet wimmen. What do you think?

-- Bathe or not to Bathe

Bah. Ylena is your typical high maintenance woman that thinks we have "evolved" or in my opinion, regressed where we need to think of such trivial things such as hygiene. Ignore that advice.

Dear Commie,

Ylena suggested buying flowers for the missus on our upcoming anniversary. Should I go with that? I think she does like flowers.

— Flower Girls Unite

Nonsense. Do you even know if she likes flowers? Certainly don’t ask her. Asking questions like that will only open up uncharted places you best not visit. If you must, save your silvers for a new set of chain mail and forage those free flowers from the forest. The "A" answer would be to offer to sharpen her sword or carry something around for her.

Dear Commie,

I took your advice and clubbed a woman that I was attracted to with my sword and accidentally killed her in town. Now I have this giant fine and she hates me. You’re a jerk.

— Disgruntled Reader

I never said use a sword. A blunt weapon works better or if you must, wrap that sword in a sack from gremlins (free!!) and then wonk her with it. If she questions it (unlikely), point behind her and yell "Gremlins!" and run off down the street.

Dear Commie,

Why are you picking on me? You men claim to know everything but spend half your time chasing us around yet I still agree to help you.

--Ylena

Ylena dear, as long as you state publicly that there is nothing sexy about spitting tobacco juice into a barrel while sitting around with the guys talking about frequent kills or near death injuries, we will have a fundamental disagreement. Further, drinking whiskey with a mouthful of food and wiping off the slack with our sleeves is a right born to every man that should be fought for. Secondly, you make it sound like woman should have a voice to be listened too. Now music is fine but this other stuff, you must understand that woman love to hear us tell great stories of conquest and such.

Dear Commie,

I took my wife hunting and she complained about the food I brought. I bought some Poorman's Pleasure (the Silver Gate menu describes it as "A generous trencher of leek and barley stew.") and some Light Sherry (the Silver Gate menu describes it as "A delightful, mildly fruity aperitif wine.) What should I do next time?

-- The Reluctant Gourmand

First of all, you broke the first rule of dating and that is spend no money unless you have too. You know there is some perfectly good food for free in the warrior guild such as the roasted roa'ter sandwich and Elven brown ale. Next time, bring a couple of sandwiches and show her the carcus of something you killed recently while taking a great deal of time explaining how you heroically killed it. She will appreciate it. Trust me.

Dear Commie,

My daughter is dating a wizard that is older than her by a few years. Should I be concerned?

-- Concerned Father

Wizards are not all bad but I suggest you have the relationship broken off by asking her or just plain treachery. Find a suitable warrior with well to do parents and arrange a marriage. That way, you will gain a powerful family as an ally and you can stop having to pay for her expenses such as bread and water when you turn her out. If she becomes upset, just tell her a story along the lines of, "when things get really bad, I just push them into the deepest recesses of my mind and don’t think about them…"

[Continue to Page 2][Continue to Page 3]