Begging Brothers

 

Encounter: Begging Brothers

See also: The Vale, The Capital, Faith Militant

It is about midday when you begin to hear chanting drifting through the bare brown trees.

è Party can do an insight, perception or investigation check

o   If successful: The party can tell that the chanting sounds like voices raised in prayer.

The chanting fills the woods like pious thunder. And suddenly the source of the sound appears in the road ahead. A group of begging brothers block the way, scruffy bearded men in roughspun robes, some barefoot and some in sandals.

Behind them march threescore (3x20) ragged men, women, and children, a spotted sow, and several sheep. Several of the men have axes, and more have crude wooden clubs and cudgels. In their midst there rolls a two-wheeled wayn of grey and splintered wood, piled high with skulls and broken bits of bone.

When they see you they halt their chanting

“Good knights” one says “The Mother loves you”

Correct return: “And you brother”

 

Q: Who are you?

A: “Poor fellows,” said a big man with an axe. Despite the chill of the spring wood, he was shirtless, and on his breast was carved a seven-pointed star.

è Successful history check:  Human warriors had carved such stars in their flesh when first they crossed the narrow sea to overwhelm the kingdoms of the Capital City;

Q: Where are you headed?

A: “We are marching to the city,” says a tall woman following behind the wayn, “to bring these holy bones to be blessed, and seek succor and protection from the king.”

 

Before Parting:

“Join us, friends,” urges a spare small man in a threadbare tutor’s robe, who wore a crystal on a thong about his neck. “The Vale has need of every sword.”

“Sparrows need no gold,” the tutor said. “Sparrows?” “The sparrow is the humblest and most common of birds, as we are the humblest and most common of men.”

 

“These are the bones of holy men, murdered for their faith. They served the Seven even unto death. Some starved, some were tortured. Churches have been despoiled, maidens and mothers raped by godless men and demon worshipers. Even silent sisters have been molested.

Our Mother Above cries out in her anguish. It is time for all anointed knights to forsake their worldly masters and defend our Holy Faith. Come with us to the city, if you love the Seven.”

One of the begging brothers spat, and a woman gave a moan. “You are false knights,” said the big man with the star carved on his chest. Several others brandished their cudgels.

The barefoot tutor calmed them with a word. “Judge not, for judgment is the Father’s. Let them pass in peace. They are poor fellows too, lost upon the earth.”

A Glimpse into Bad Times:

“What sort of man would slay a holy tutor?”

Mathias and Gideon knew the sort.

Near Brightvale, she recalled, the OSS had strung a tutor up by his heels from the limb of a tree and used his corpse for archery practice, for failing to heal the ailments of a brother. You might even wonder if his bones were piled in that wayn with all the rest.

“A man would need to be a fool to rape a silent sister,” Ser Creighton was saying. “Even to lay hands upon one … it’s said they are the Stranger’s wives, and their female parts are cold and wet as ice.” He glanced at Tori. “Uh … beg yourpardon.”