RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes

Jancis · **08-18-2015, 10:19 AM**

"And now, to send us off from our celebration, Lady Ciel has a story to share with us all."

Ciel Sauveterre motions in welcome. "'Tis good to see you all again, and hello to those joining us if this happens to be your first Celebration. "

"In the spirit of the celebration, I thought it meet to first mention just how much of a -challenge- it was to come up with something this time around. Â Whether song or tale, I've spent the past moon or so trying to cobble together something proper for the occasion. What I found myself with were bits and pieces of ideas, and scarce enough glue and twine to stick them all together into something cohesive. "

"In the end, here we are with a tale which may appeal to some for its familiarity, and which may yet bring a dawning of inspiration to others who most need to hear it."

"Now, this tale is best told with some audience participation. Â Might there be a gentleman present who wouldn't mind playing the role of the story's hero? Come now, don't be shy..." Ciel looks around.

Cyneler waves. Koporo raised his hand...Erm sword. Edda holds up Chuchukepa's arm. Ciel beckons to Cyneler.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the hero of our tale, Ser Cumference!"

"Herloix Cumference was a man who had spent most of his youth living in privelege, and sparing hardly a concern for those among the poor. Â He had practically been born with a mythrite spoon in his mouth, and he would put up a tremendous fuss if it seemed anyone had any ideas of taking it out. "

As with many young men of Ishgard, Herloix had aspirations of becoming a knight and began his training toward knighthood in the usual ways. Â His tests involved fortitude of mind, body, and will, as well as in his devotion to the Fury. Â Time and again, he proved himself, but his knighthood was finally won in felling a dragon which tried to devour the lord of his House.

Ciel asks "How big was it?" Cyneler looks stumped, waving wildly in various sizes... Ciel makes a straight face at Cyneler. "...Oh my, that -is- impressive."

"Anyroad... Herloix's life only got better from there. Â Not only did he get to distinguish himself amongst his peers, but he quickly thereafter proposed to his sweetheart of many years, Cevilia, and within another year or two later they were bound and brought their first child into the world. Â He was happy, and found himself wanting for nothing."

"Alas, Ser Cumference was oblivious to one thing working against him. Â For as long as he knew his beloved, never once was it mentioned that she had someone else - an inquisitor - who had been jealously pursuing her as a rival for her heart, and this fellow took it none too well when his intended lass accepted her life with Herloix."

"The inquisitor bided his time, planning in the shadows, and eventually brought charges of heresy against Cevilia. Tragically, this ended up costing her her life, and Herloix his knighthood and all of his fortunes. Â Seemingly in an instant, the life he knew had been utterly destroyed, but he was allowed to keep breathing and deal with the consequences." Cyneler slumped, collapsing to his knees, he head bowing even further.

"Having nothing left but his his infant son and the clothes on his back, Herloix slipped away from Ishgard late one night during a raging storm, certain that no one would bother going to look for them. Â He sought shelter among the caves until the worst of the storm passed, and then continued to pluck his way south until the then green, rolling slopes of Coerthas vanished from view."

"He wandered for suns, hitching rides with merchant caravans when he could and doing some spare work for them until they reached a small fishing village. Â With no idea as to where he and his son would go next, only that he still wished to put more room between himself and his former home, he boarded the first available sail ship and departed for the Vylbrand. Â Several suns more passed, and much of that time was spent surrounded by naught but shore-less sea as he again worked to earn his passage."

The man wandered the stone 'stage' above the pilgrims, looking around as he plodded.

"Herloix and his son eventually disembarked upon the shores of a young city with white stone walls gleaming in the light of day, and he spent the last of his earned gil keeping his son fed. Â Limsa Lominsa was such a change from what he had always known, the people were free to live and believe as they please, and they were not afraid to embrace a life outside of the watchful eye of the Fury's servants. Â There were abundant opportunities to be had, but for someone who had started life in a high place, Herloix had no idea where to even begin."

"Still with his son clutched and dozing against his chest, the once knight wandered into a busy tavern and sat down. Â He listened and watched as other patrons boasted of treasures they found, or lucrative orders they've fulfilled through their guilds. Â He met another man at the bar, his clothing sweat and soot-stained from a long day's work at the anvil, and he asked Herloix what his story was. Â In the end the other man shrugged and placed a well-worn hammer on the counter in front of Herloix."

"You know the best part about being any sort of artisan? Â I've seen people turn shattered bits of broken glass and turn then into colorful mosaics and murals. Â Sounds like you had a solid life once," said the man with neither a smile nor a sigh of sympathy. Â "And you have but shattered pieces left. Â It's not enough to be -given- a life of ease simply by birthright, that sort of life is meaningless in the end. You already have everything you need, friend. Pick up those pieces, pick up that hammer, and follow me."

"Herloix, even though he had no trade skills and sensing he had no other options, did as the smith bid him to do and followed him to the workshop. Â The smith cast a hand about the room, a place lit mostly by the glowing embers of fire and coal. Â "We've just begun work toward one of the city's grandest fleet ships, and we need all the help we can get. If you're willing to work and work hard, I'll teach you everything you need to know, in the meantime you and your son will have a place to sleep and three square meals a day."

Cyneler practically grovels, nodding fervently in agreement.

"All at once, the weight of hopelessness lifted away from Herloix's shoulders. Â He looked to his son, and then to the hammer etched with the sigil of Byregot clutched in his other hand, and he knew in that moment that everything would be alright. Â Byregot, he realized, was not just the god of artisans and crafters but he would also be the hand which would help to put the shattered pieces of his life back together into something even more beautiful."

"And thus did the life of Ser Cumference come full circle." Ciel and Cyneler bows.

"Thank you for being such a great sport, sweetling." Cyneler blushes with embarrassment as Ciel claps for him.

Celebration of the Builder

RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes