The way of the Beard !

[Torben]

Young Torben sat alone, once more, on his favourite pile of hay in the Stable of Great Lord Erik's Mansion, Queensgift.

The impressive dwelling has become somewhat quieter since the untimely demise of poor Ondurga, on the recent Hero Quest, and what with his Lord's busy schedule the only living beings he had to talk to were the horses and livestock that resided at the Mansion with him. The conversations were somewhat one-sided but at least the animals seemed to enjoy his company, well, tolerate it at least and none appeared bored with his musings over what the future may hold in store for him.

It was that very future that he sat contemplating now, in particular whether his path lay in continuing to embrace the God of Knowledge, Lhankor Mhy, or should he seek spiritual enlightenment by following another of the recognised Gods, in partnership with Mighty Orlanth to whom he had already committed himself as an Initiate and, hopefully, further roles of greater importance. Hmmmhhh.....there were Pros & Cons to both options.....the biggest Con was this damned nonsense about having to grow or wear a beard, in the first instance his youthful cheeks had shown little in the way of permitting the actual growing and, aside from a few wisps of moustache hairs, his skin was as smooth as an infant's backside so that left him with adorning one of those awful, itchy false beards which had proven such a unwanted irritation so far! Then there was the tedious work of sorting and filing heaps of dusty old scrolls and parchments in the Grand Library complex, surrounded by those ancient old Scholars who seemed blissfully unaware of his presence except to curse him when he either dropped some of them or made some noise that interrupted their research......stupid old sods weren't they ever young once?!

However, on the plus side if he did become an Initiate there was the extra 10 lunars a month income, the opportunity to spend time himself researching the Homeland Lore stuff, always good for future self progression AND the chance to attain higher cult status....I guess it was a case of 'better the devil you know, or, in this case, 'better the God you know'! Furthermore he was now a Ten-Thane in a Regiment that clearly had links to the God of Knowledge and so that also help his new military career, wouldn't it....at least a bit!

Ok, musings over, he decided and turning to address one of the passing chickens that were searching for grain amongst the hay and straw of the stable floor he gave a thumbs up and said "The false beard is a small price to pay, on reflection, I'll be straight off to the Grand Library this coming Season with my application to become an Initiate and may the Learned One smile kindly upon me in the years to come. A Dungshuvler I may be BUT I intend to become the first Dungshuvler to learn proper reading and writing and the first Dungshuvler to command soldiers, rather than shovels. Onward to Glory"!