Tamarkorda hums the refrain of Desola's song, singing the chorus as it comes around, while she talks to the others.

In reply to Oligur Jaffez (msg # 151):

As Sanuzi listens to Oligur's adventures, his face reveals excitement, sorrow, and resolve.

Oligur, you are a good man, a good storyteller, and you are among new friends, now. I mean that.

Sanuzi makes sure his friend, Tam, gets settled, then addresses Desola's question: I am not too studied in the gods, but I imagine it was a time of plants and elves.

As Desola listens to the various descriptions of the Green Age, she continues to sing softly.  (Thanks to Tamarkorda for this as an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLgM1QJ3S_I)

In reply to Desola (msg # 158):

Bingling tries to frame his tale.

"I think you speak of the time before we came here to Hurtplace, Komor. We lived in Wonderholme where the Great Mother ruled us. There were many mushrooms and insects and others to eat. All of us were Uzuz, Mothers; Korasting blessed every birth. The other Seven Sacred Ancestors dwelt among us, too; weaponmaster Karrg, Vaneekara who throws, Jakaboom who talks with great spirits like Dehore and Zong, the ferryman Jeset, beating Hombobobom, and lazy Boztakang. But that was before the Sun Died, and before the Permanent Harm."

"In the Green Age Asrelia lived in my hometown, Ezel, the holiest place in existence. At Ezel, Asrelia lived with her six daughters. They shaped the earth. Hills, rivers, crags and fields were all made by these girls.

When Asrelia was getting old, she called her daughters to her, and their daughters, and granddaughters, and so on so that someone from every generation and every family was present. She told them she was going to retire, and thereafter everyone must bring all the Eldest Decisions to her daughter, Ernalda. She then gave the house to Ernalda.

In the Green Age there was no violence, for nothing had to eat or do anything difficult to survive.

The world grew, and the inhabitants grew in number. The elements reproduced. This was the origin of the ancient tribes. The first ones were the Earth Tribe, the Darkness Tribe, the Water Tribe, and the Fire Tribe."

Tamarkorda sings on oblivious

Desola nods at Bingling's answer, but smiles when Henetha gives her answer.  The smile is of a mother impressed with a child.  It is warm and encouraging.

She stops singing, and says, "yes, the four tribes.  Earth, Darkness, Water and Fire.  Tamarkorda is from a Fire tradition, a Fire people, as is the Murval family.  Whether ancestral memory or not, Tamarkorda seems trapped in the memories of the Green Age."

"Do you remember what caused the first age to end."

As she says this, she continues to stroke Tamarkorda's head.

In reply to Tamarkorda (msg # 161):

Sanuzi sits enraptured by all the stories and entranced by Tam's beautiful singing. He is clearly still drained from his earlier exertions, but remains attentive enough to soak in the lore shared by his elders and new, more knowledgeable friends.

Henetha seems hesitant to answer. She keeps her composure but moves her head just a little, maybe as a "No", maybe as an indication she doesn't want to answer.

Oligur stares at his sandals for a few minutes, hoping someone else will answer Desola's question. 

"Well... I am not sure if this is right, exactly. Lore of the old days is not my strength. But I believe the first age ended with the loss of the great god called Nysalor. He was a new god, he perhaps discovered or invented illumination... some of his teachings are still with us today. The Preceptor, Idovanus, has experienced this illumination.

Well I think it was the end of the first age that Arkat the Destroyer attacked Nysalor, besieging him in his city. This all happened down in the land of Dorastor, I think. There was this great battle. I remember, when I was younger, seeing a painting depicting the siege, with a demonic looking Arkat, a troll, and some Orlanthi barbarians waging war on Nysalor and his allies.

In the end, there was great destruction, the city in which the destroyer fought Nysalor was turned to "dust and poison". It sounds better in New Pelorian--it rhymes. So Nysalaor was destroyed, but... the Arkat that emerged from the battle was changed. Since Arkat had gone through many changes already, from Orlanthi to troll, liberator, destroyer--seven times already he had transformed himself. The story says that this final change was different though--as if he was no longer Arkat, but someone else.

Anyway, I think that all happened around the end of the First Age."

In reply to Oligur Jaffez (msg # 165):

Bingling nods in agreement, but does not add anything about his sometime hero, the antagonist of this tale.

Desola smiles at Oligur's answer, then says, "Nysalor and Gabaji were creatures born into a world of time.  The Green Age was before the Great Compromise and the birth of time."  She smiles at the people around her, and continues.  "It is not unusual to misunderstand the ages before time was born, for we are creatures of time.  We expect one event have preceded another, and for another event to come after.  Can you imagine a world in which all things happen at the same time?"  Desola pauses to give them time to consider.  "Consider all of the events of your life as having happened in the same moment?  It is not easy, is it?"

"The Golden Age was a time of peace, ruled over by the Celestial Court.  The Green Age was part of this Golden Age, and was when the gods formed and learned how to use the Plant Rune, also known as the Green Rune."

"When did the Green Age end?  This is the paradox.  It never did, but it ended when the gods began to make war upon each other.  We can visit the Green Age through myth, but it is a place beyond time, and so it still exists.  Cause and effect have little meaning when there is no time."  She leaves you to ponder this statement, before finally stating, "this is the problem with Tamarkorda.  Somehow, his mind has slipped the bounds of time.  For him there is no before or after, there is only now.  This is why he is so confused.  If we are to heal his mind, we will have to journey back to the Green Age to find his spirit.  As you are friends of Tamarkorda, you would be the best to journey into the myths of this time.  The selection of the myth we choose must match Tamarkorda's current experience."

"Perhaps a journey to the Green Age could help more than Tamarkorda.  Once I have word back as to whether the Murval will tend to Tamarkorda, I will retire to the temple to contemplate the story that we will tell during Sacred Week."

"Henetha Hofaktsdottir, you will come with me to the temple.  You will have to portray the Earth Tribe in the story chosen.  There will be much that needs to be prepared before you can assume such a role."

Looking to Bingling, Oligur, and Sanuzi, she says, "I would suggest that you speak to your religious leaders about the Golden Age.  Learn what you can from their perspective, and learn about the Spike.  I feel all of this will be needed as you reenact the story."

Tamarkorda's whole body twitches as Desola finishes her homily to his companions. People sometimes do that as they are about to fall asleep, perhaps it is more pronounced in Tamarkorda.

In reply to Desola (msg # 167):

Sanuzi's mind, exhausted and buffeted as it is, allows his words to escape before the dread of embarrassment can set in: But that's all any of us really have... right now!

Having achieved this feat of endurance and potential blasphemy, Sanuzi finally passes out.

"GAH!"
Oligur tries to catch Sanuzi.
"Say, friend Bingling. Would you help me get our exhausted Shaman friend back to his room in the inn?"

In reply to Oligur Jaffez (msg # 170):

"Of course!"

If Sanuzi allows, Bingling carries him back to the tavern.

Sanuzi seems in no shape to resist.  You easily escort him to the inn, and are shown up to the room he had occupied.  Anasan asks, "is either of you going to stay with him at present?  If not, I will  have Hofal watch over him.  He may be thirsty when he awakens."

Outside, Desola still holds Tamarkorda, who seems very drowsy.  Shortly before he falls asleep, she whispers in Fire Speech, "what is your name little one?" 

Still holding Tamarkorda, she looks to Inkarne, who has been standing close by.  "Will you carry him to the Murval compound.  Being close to so many who bear the Fire Rune will be helpful."

Inkarne comes over, concentrates for a moment, then picks Tamarkorda up.  "I will continue to treat him if that is acceptable."

Desola replies, "we need to keep him calm.  We will have to wait for more to be done."  She stops and thinks, "is there another initiate of Chalana Arroy in town?  They may be useful in a quest such as this."

Desola turns to Henetha as Inkarne moves off.  "Come dear, let us return to the temple.  I will need some assistants in the coming days.  As you have no official duties in the town, I will take you on as my assistant.  That will give you more of a chance to learn what you came to learn."  She turns, and with a look of grandmotherly compassion says, "but be careful Henetha.  Some time what is sought is not what was desired or hoped."  Appraising you, "but you are strong yet, but still unmarried.  That is something that must change.  Is there any young man that has caught your eye?"

'Dance with... '

At loose ends, Bingling looks around for where people are heading.

Bingling was helping take Sanizu back upstairs.
Desola asked you to learn what you could about the Green Age and the Spike.

"To be honest, I've not been able to think about such things because of all the events that have occured since I arrived here. I would need someone to guide me."

Henetha follows Desola to the temple.

"Good Bingling, I thought I would go chat with the Preceptor, Idovanus, and see what stories I can learn from him about these matters. He is quite wise and knowledgable, though till recently I ... Would you join me?"
Oligur heads to the table where Idovanus is sitting ((OOC hopefully?)).
Gesturing to the Preceptor at an empty bench, Oligur interprets his response as permission to sit (for himself and Bingling, if the friendly troll joins him).
Oligur bows deeply before he starts.
"Well. It has been quite a day, eh? Quite, um... ahem.
I apologize that with all the goings on, I don't recall if you were present for this... As you may know already, the young shaman apprentice, Tamarkorda, his spirit has left his body and been replaced. Desola believes that the spirit in him now is a creature of fire from something she called "The Green Age", and that collecting tales of these times of old would be necessary to help restore Tamarkorda, as well as perhaps saving Mother and the town.
She wanted each of us, Bingling here, Sanuzi, and the Esrolian, to learn about the spike and the Green age--or was it the golden age? um... you did mention that there was a story you knew that we could experience in Sacred Time? And that..."
Oligur pauses. "And that the lady Astrelia would... would take part? Can these things not be dangerous? And can you tell us about these olden times and of the Spike? I am too ignorant to even know what questions to ask."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:00, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

In reply to Oligur Jaffez (msg # 177):

Bingling nods and joins, giving his best approximation of a human smile.

In shock Idovanus states, "yes, Heroquesting is one of the most dangerous tasks you can undertake.  What I had proposed for you would be considered a practice quest, a pantomime, a re-enactment.  You would only skim the surface of the other worlds.  We are not equipped to fully emerge you into the other worlds, and you are not ready."

"What is that Earth witch playing at.  Even the most experienced Heroquesters are fearful of the Green Age."  When he realizes that you do not understand, he says, "the Green Age is the time of the Namers.  All things were named, save for the Air, which did not exist during that age.  Any misstep in the Green Age has ramifications throughout all of existence.  All who have gone to the Green Age have been changed.  Even the GodLearners were cautious in their attempts to reach the Green Age."

"Well, the high priestess did seem pretty determined to collect stories from different backgrounds about that time--didn't you think so, Bingling?
When shall we perform our Goddess story, lord?"