Do These Come in Navy Blue?

[Woe]

11th of Saun 721

Woe was eager to become a blue cloak, but at the same time, there was a sense of apprehension. He'd be considered a journeyman for most intents and purposes, allowed to work alone in the field or Outpost if necessary. There were new freedoms inherent in the trust bestowed on him, but also responsibilities. Sod was currently wrapping his tiny arms around Woe's shoulder, climbing him like a tree.

Woe was dressed in a short white robe of linen, with linen trousers. On his feet, a pair of simple sandals. His hands were unadorned. In front of him, the green cloak he'd be shedding today, hanging from the chair. Sod followed his eyes and hummed as he often did when thinking. Then Woe took the cloak and wrapped it over his other shoulder.

"Hmmmm, I like. Green. On you."

"Don't get too comfortable with it. I'll be switching to blue soon if all goes well and they don't expel me for being horrible."

"Horrible? Hmmmm. Perhaps? I don't. Think. They. Will." Sod tapped him on the ear, whipping his tail against his back. "You worry. Much."

But there was nothing for it, but to prepare his children for the day unsupervised. Of course, Gloom would be there, as well as Botany. But Gloom wasn't exactly an imposing presence in the household. Sometimes you forgot he was even around, if Woe was being honest.

So he sought out Iago where he practiced his swordplay in the yard. Toutouye was in his tent, watching with one eye as Iago cut through the weeds with a wooden sword. "You have the castle, Iago. Look after your brother, and make sure he doesn't venture too far into the wood."

Iago groaned, "He barely ever leaves that tent of his, as far as I see." He stopped whipping his sword around, and turned upward to squint at Woe, the suns nearly blinding. "You going to work at the Order, or...?"

Woe sighed, as he looked at Iago. He was getting older too fast, and soon, in his fifteenth arc he'd be ready for independence. A full adult as it were. Woe couldn't imagine he was ready, but then he'd plucked him out of Quacia he'd been a short little guy, and didn't talk for a long while.

Still, he'd come a long way in his education. Woe had similar hopes for Toutouye, but wanted to be patient for the wild child. At any rate, he had to trust Iago would care for the home while he was gone, and Gloom would keep watch on things, as he ever did.

So with a final farewell, he marched down the way, toward the northeast, where the old Slave Pens had been, and now the Order Outpost was standing. He arrived within the break, Sod still clinging invisibly on his shoulder, and watching everything around with silent curiosity.

The mortalborn waited to see if someone would greet him at the door. He wasn't sure how this promotion would go, as he'd skipped over his green hood and was said to be prepared for going straight to a blue. Woe wasn't sure which part of the prospect troubled him more, the freedom or the responsibility. Either one came with its dangers and pitfalls. Woe only hoped that he wouldn't let the Order down.

[Pegasus]

The Order of the Adunih branch in Egilrun was rather new.

This meant that this was their first graduation ceremony and, as such, it was seen as rather a big deal. It was also for Woe who had funded them and had been instrumental in there being an Order outpost here. So, that was considered both appropriate that he should be the first and another reason that they had to get it right.

The woman who greeted Woe when he arrived was a woman he might well recognise. Galena was the head of the Order in Scalvoris and she had been called here to perform the ceremony. As he'd approached the Order outpost, people greeted him politely, but it was Galena who waited at the door for him. "Woe, it's nice to see you," she said quietly. "I am Galena, and I'm going to be giving you your blue cloak to-trial." She smiled at him and gestured for him to come through into a small room.

Woe knew the layout of the building, of course. This small room led out into the small hall that was used for teaching, for meetings and ~ now ~ for cloaking. "I prepared some tea, would you like some?" Galena asked, and she gestured to a seat. "They'll call us when they're ready." If he wanted tea, she'd pour it for him, if not then she'd pour just her own and would then sit opposite him. "There's been a lot of thought put into how we might do this ceremony here in Egilrun," Galena said. "I think what we've come to is suitable. Before we begin though, is there anything that you have concerns about?"

Galena smiled at him, having asked that question, and she waited to hear his answer.

[Woe]

With deepest regret, I must appoint you my confessor.

Nason, one of the members of the Order that Woe had perhaps spent the most time working alongside, had told him how his own initiation had gone. That four members of the Order would come to speak and tell a story about him. Then, they would all have a small ceremony, where the old cloak was discarded, and the new one mantled. Then afterward, Nason recalled fondly that they’d all gone out to drink afterward. It seemed a very nonchalant affair. A very down-to-earth one. However, as Woe approached the Order Outpost, he felt very much on the clouds as the Head of the Order on Scalvoris was there to greet him.

He managed his composure, but inside he was quite taken with the idea of being named a blue cloak by none other than the leader of their Island. Woe wasn’t sure what to make of that. Perhaps it was his benefaction of the order, or else the fact that he was the first to earn a new cloak in the Egilrun Outpost. Whatever the case, he did feel honored by her presence.

”It’s good to see you again, Galena.” He gave back to her, mimicking her manner of addressing him, as he wasn’t sure what titles or honorific he was meant to apply to her as a more experienced member of the Order. He’d of course met Galena at the feast, although he wasn’t convinced he’d made a wonderful impression there. Nonetheless, he was glad she was here, for this occasion, and he was determined to get this right. ”Thank you.”

So he followed her into the small room. The scent of black tea with some herbal blends wafted into the air, and he nodded to her, ”Yes, I would appreciate the tea.” So saying, he took a esat opposite where he supposed she would, smoothing out his green cloak.

He took a sip of the tea, before answering her next question. ”I hope I’m worth the trouble.” Woe said, with a small smile. ”I think, there is something. Giselde came to me after I gave Augusta her counseling. As she cannot speak common or understand it very well, we had our talk in Vahanic. Giselde asked me what it was about. However, I didn’t answer at the time, as it’s a sensitive matter, very personal between the two of us…”

Woe thought on it for a moment, then his smile faded, ”I hope you know that what I tell you is only a function of how much trust I put in the leadership of the Order. I wasn’t sure if Giselde was prepared to hear what I have to say, and truth be told. I wasn’t prepared to let the secrets of my past out of the dark. It is something that’s troubled me, persistently. A terrible crime I committed before coming to the Order.”

[Pegasus]

As they waited, Woe spoke to her and Galena looked at him with an expression which was not, in any way, surprised at what she heard. When he spoke, she listened to him and she nodded her head thoughtfully. "I don't know why," Galena admitted, "but there is something about these ceremonies which tend to encourage people to deeply reflect, to share." She had seen it many, many times. Some people grew unsure of their ability to perform at a higher level in the Order, others felt that their own skill was insufficient. Yet others - like Woe - spoke of past deeds. Either way, it came to the same thing.

"I believe it is called 'Imposter Syndrome' by the academics," Galena said. "The idea that we can not possibly belong where we are." It was an experience they all had, from time to time. She wasn't entirely sure that was what Woe was experiencing right now, he was rather inscrutable, but she thought it might be. So, she looked at him with a calm and kind gaze. Often, people felt the need to confess to her and Galena always listened and never judged. Of course, if Woe confessed a crime to her, there were moral responsibilities she had. But Galena knew that people changed, that they grew.

The room they waited in was quiet, there was the sound of birdsong in the far distance and the muffled sounds of the room where they were about to go. But, for the moment, it was just the two of them. Just them and the tiny specks of dust caught in the sunslight pouring through the window.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Galena asked. She smiled softly and added to her words. "I believe you are worth the 'trouble' as you put it, and if it would help you, I'll be happy to listen and offer what advice I can." So often, as a mentor and senior member of the Order, that was her job. Probably more than most realised. She sat and looked at him and waited. It was, very much, up to him.

[Woe]

Woe considered it, really he did for a moment. But in the end, he decided that she wasn't well served to hear about his crime. And revealing it could only do undue harm to himself and his family. There was no telling who might be able to listen in on this meeting, and so Woe erred on the side of discretion. That wasn't to say that he wouldn't share something, but it wouldn't be the great crime he alluded to there.

"There was a war in Quacia, that's where I lived before I came to Egilrun. Our enemy was not mortal in any sense of the world. We faced monsters. In the siege of Quacia, we had to cut corners, and make hard decisions, and make common causes with people whose social mores do not match much of the world. People who participate in sacrifice, and traffick freely in profane magic." Woe shrugged, "It was difficult knowing where the line ought to be drawn, what sacrifices were to be tolerated, which lives were worth saving. I was a different person than to who I am now, I think."

The mortalborn sighed, "Anyway, we left Quacia where it was, as it was."

"That's all I have to say about it, really. But I do wonder sometimes if my moral flexibility will resurface at any point, and prompt me to act in a way that isn't in accordance with the way the Order operates."

"Soraia, one of the green cloaks here, herself is one of those that I brought from Quacia. She was given as a slave to me by the Guild of Hospitality there. When we landed on Scalvoris, I of course granted her freedom. She can probably tell you more of what happened there."

Woe sipped some of the tea that was brought to them, and then after a moment's pause, and listening to anything Galena had to say, he nodded, "I'm ready for whatever happens now."

[Pegasus]

Galena maintained her gently neutral expression; did she know that he had changed what he was going to say? Could she see thought processes in his mind? Somehow, she managed to have the air of someone that did, even though it was hugely unlikely considering Woe's skills and experience. It was those skills and experience which told him what he needed to know, though ~ Galena was a good listener and she was, most importantly, a good healer. She had the ability to seem to be completely in control, even when she wasn't. Woe's skills with peopledetection, psychology, socialization gave him the insight to recognise that. She knew what he told her, nothing more.

"It's hard," she said quietly. "War has many casualties, and lines blur in it. My understanding is that Quacia is a city with extremes of poverty and deprivation. Those also make for some very hard choices, I think." Lifting her shoulders ever so slightly, Galena smiled at him. "Life is a very messy thing, I think. I wish I could see things in black and white, but the more I see, the more difficult that becomes."

Pausing for a moment, she seemed thoughtful before she spoke again. "Moral flexibility, as you call it, is a tricky thing. None of us know where the line is, every situation has nuances and unique context. If there comes a time when your path and the Order's diverge significantly, then I would hope that we can resolve things." She smiled at him. If she thought it was odd that he would discuss such here and now, she didn't show it.

As for whatever happened now? Galena smiled at him with a rather mischievous expression. "Well, what happens now is that you and I walk through that door and, when we do, you're a blue cloak. We have some food and a bit of a chat with those who are gathered to congratulate you and then we get on with our trial." She smiled and stood. "We'll be back at work within the candlemark, but for now you just get a bit of a pat on the back. Ready?"

And indeed, through the door there was a small gathering - there were chairs for everyone and on his chair was draped his new blue cloak. There were sweet and savoury snacks and a chance to mingle, or not, as he chose.

[Pegasus]

Your Review

Woe

Overview

I enjoyed this thread and reading about Woe's almost-going-to-spill moments. You portray a man who is really layered - his internal dialogue shows that he's conflicted, but externally he seems to be the very epitome of calm and collected. He's such a nuanced PC, it's a real pleasure to write with him and to get a glimpse into his life. Enjoy the rewards!

Points

XP: 15
Renown: 10

Loot

Order of the Adunih new cloak and hood.

Adunih Points: 2

Knowledge

Deception x 2
Discipline x 3
Etiquette x 3
Politics x 2

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this review - drop me a PM.