literature

Renegade Elves ch1

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Jatariel and Breena sat on the deck of the Hound of Tinlanding. As ever, the cleric of Umberlee was giving her young pupil her lessons.

"So you have read the contract. What does it entail?" the sun elf asked Breena.

"It was written in very difficult language, Mother. It says that we are to travel on this ship for six consecutive voyages to provide protection against storms, pirates and sea monsters," answered the human girl.

"And what else?" asked Jatariel.

"That was the complicated part. The Church of Umberlee has agreed to a deal with the Church of Waukeen that is to last two years. We are to protect all their shipping. As part of that deal, a cleric of Umberlee is to work with a cleric of Waukeen to ensure the deal goes smoothly," explained Breena.

"Very good. You skipped some of the minor details, but that is otherwise a very good summary of the contract. I will be acting as representative of the Church of Umberlee and tomorrow we will be joined by a cleric of Waukeen. He or she will travel with us for the duration of the six voyages that initiate the new working relationship between our churches," said the sun elf.

Breena had learned so much in their time together. When Jatariel had taken the orphan girl as an acolyte, she had been unable to read or write. Now she was able to read a detailed contract and carry out all of the rituals of the Bitch Queen.

Breena suddenly returned the wave of a young sailor who passed. Jatariel gave the girl a frown.

At the age of fifteen, Breena was getting distracted from her studies very easily. She had always been short of attention at times, but now she was paying to much attention to young sailors. Jatariel had made it very clear that the acolyte must keep an appropriate distance from the crews and that a sailor would be an unsuitable boyfriend for a cleric of the Bitch Queen. Hopefully, once these six voyages were completed, the two of them could get back to one of the temples, where Breena could spend her time with fellow acolytes.

"Will the cleric of Waukeen be a human?" asked Breena.

"I expect so. It is mostly humans who worship Waukeen," replied Jatariel.

Jatariel was a little concerned about the possible influence that the cleric of another god might have on Breena. But as the girl was immersed in the Bitch Queen's doctrine, that was unlikely to be a problem.

"I want you to be careful with this cleric, Breena," instructed Jatariel. "The clerics of other gods are not to be trusted. We are to work with this cleric, but you must remember that he or she serves an unworthy goddess. Waukeen is a decadent deity. Her ways are all about things such as money and trade. Our goddess is quite different. She represents power, the raw and naked power of the oceans. She is mighty and strong. She is far above such things as wealth and trade."

Breena gave a puzzled look.

"But we are always doing business with merchant vessels. Our church is one of the wealthiest. So surely wealth can't be all bad?" she suggested.

Jatariel sighed and gave her student a frustrated look. Why did the girl have to be difficult?

"Wealth is not bad in itself. As it serves so great a goddess, the Church of Umberlee has a right to status in the world and we are happy for it to enjoy the trappings of worldly riches. But such things are secondary. Commerce is the mere creation of humans. Before humans even existed the sea was there. The sea is something primal, a power that existed before all life in this world. That is what our goddess presides over, not a mere trifle among the civilized."

"May Umberlee be praised!" intoned Breena dutifully.


***


"Do hurry up, Mallow!" shouted Dagestu Baenre at the gnome cobbler. "Do you really need to take so much clothing?"

Mallow Blacknickel II shoved another pair of breeches into the bulging case.

"Of course I do, Dagestu. You know how changeable the weather is in Moonshae. And it would hardly do for a merchant to appear in one pair of clothing. It would get pretty soiled. People expect merchants to look the part," insisted the gnome.

"Well do be quick about it, dear Mallow," insisted the drow priestess.

"I'm sure you've packed plenty of clothes yourself, Dagestu," said Mallow.

"I shall mostly be wearing my clerical robes," replied the cleric.

Of course, Dagestu had several variations on her gold cleric outfit. She had the elaborate robe she wore for ceremonies, a simpler robe for travelling, as well as the gold evening gown she favoured for parties. She had also packed over ten pairs of shoes. But that was to be expected when you were business partners with the greatest shoemaker in the world.

"That should be enough," said Mallow, as he closed the case. "This cleric of the Bitch Queen, is it a human?"

"I expect so. They said it would be one of their best. Possibly the priest called Vartren; the one with the big grey beard," replied Dagestu.

"He was very scary. I can't say I like clerics of Umberlee. Very fierce people. And they are always barefoot. I don't trust people who don't wear nice shoes."

"Their church is pretty rich though. They are definitely doing something right," said Dagestu.

"You wouldn't think so, what with how scruffy they dress," said the gnome cobbler.

"Frugality is something that Waukeen values. Frugality and luxury must ever be balanced," explained Dagestu.

"I'll stick with luxury, thanks."
A Forgotten Realms fanfic.

A story featuring both my Forgotten Realms OCs!

Jatariel is a sun elf who turned from the elven gods to serve the evil sea goddess, Umberlee.



Dagestu Baenre is a drow and the daughter of Sos'umptu Baenre. She rejected Lolth and became a cleric of Waukeen, the goddess of wealth.

© 2012 - 2024 Celestialhost
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Michel-le-fou's avatar
:star::star::star::star::star-half: Overall
:star::star::star::star::star: Vision
:star::star::star::star::star: Originality
:star::star::star::star::star: Technique
:star::star::star::star::star-half: Impact

As usual, your dialogues are well-done and show some essence of humanity, which is called "magic realism." This is true until today of both genres that you wrote. The characters are very "human" for being elves etc. I really appreciate that. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the fiction you based this on. I wondered whether the Hound of Tinlanding was a "corruption" of the Hounds of Tindalos or not. That sounds like it can be. I remember your OCs very clearly though. I still prefer to read original fiction, as I am not very good yet at fanfiction. [My vignettes may qualify and my stories are based thereon but are not exactly fanfic] In any event the details are good like before.