Echoes from the Caverns

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with the next chapter in this wonderful story by Olthadur, entitled

The Pilgrimage of Virtue

Background music by Smartsound

Chapter 7, “Resolute to Vertas”

We stayed in Resolute for a few more days while we discussed our options for the next leg of the pilgrimage. The morning before the day we left I went to the Bell of Courage devotional and sat at the edge of the fountain. I was reflecting on what it meant to be courageous, and what the Soldier did in the pass, when the Elder slowly walked up and joined me.

“This has been a good journey, has it not?” he said, slowly leaning on the fountain.

“We are not yet half way and already one of us almost died,” I replied.

The Elder nodded slowly but did not look remorseful. The Farmer, noticing us, walked over to join us.

“The world is not a safe place. It never was, and it will never be,” The Elder said.

“But isn’t that what the outlanders are here for? To make this place safe again?” The Farmer asked.

The Elder looked up, taking a slow breath. He watched as the shattered moon began to set.

“Make it better,” he said, slowly, “fix what was broken, help us – perhaps. But they will never make a safe world. Such a thing does not exist. It cannot exist,” the Elder said. In a slow motion he turned, deliberately, and looked up at the carved bell above us. “They don’t seem to suggest they will fix everything. They teach Courage. Courage to leave the places we know and journey to places we have never been. And there is danger in that. If they were going to make us all safe, they would never need to teach us Courage.”

When we got back to the inn, the plan to leave South Paladis was shared. We would head west and make our way through Vertas Pass. Our next stop for provisions would be Vertas. Many thought it was a dangerous plan. The elves of Vertas may not want us there, there is rumour that the elves have been quite violent recently. The rumour started an argument, and we all reconsidered the safety of our pilgrimage. We did finally agree that if we were serious about the Virtues, we would need to have the Courage to continue.

Unlike Nightshade Pass, Vertas Pass wound up into the mountains and was known to be quite cold. There was talk of bears wolves, and elves on the pass. If the animals didn’t kill us, maybe the elves would. And if not that, then the cold.

It may be foolhardy, but we had Courage. Maybe it was the actions of the Soldier, or the fact that we were in Resolute, with the Bell of Courage and the statue of Grannus, but we all agreed that we would take this dangerous leg of the journey.

We arrived at the base of the pass before nightfall. We were already frozen. We built a fire, huddled together under blankets and were spent. Our bodies shook in an attempt to warm us. No stories were shared that night.

We were nine frozen, achy travellers who awoke and ascended into the Vertas Pass that morning. Even though we were tired and cold we needed our wits about is. The pass was populated by hungry animals.

Luckily, we only encountered the wolves. I doubt it was the worst thing we could encounter, and I don’t think we would want to encounter anything else. They were very large, hungry wolves, and when they ran, they were incredibly fast. I did not imagine that such an animal could be that fast.

We bested them with raw meats that were purchased in Resolute, throwing them at the wolves, feeding them with meat rather than our own flesh.

“Don’t run,” the Soldier reminded us, as we moved as quickly away from the wolves as we could without running.

After the wolves we thought we would have much more ...

Hello Everyone! Here is the news of the week!

Game Development

* Vendor Variations & Improvements (cont.)

* New Harvestable Trees

* The Making of South Fetid Swamp (cont.)

* Heraldry Items (cont.)

* Release 49 Telethon Items

News Announcements

* URGENT: Confirm Your Physical Rewards Shipping Address!

* Release 51 Postmortem Telethon

* Release 51 on the QA Server

* For Rent Flier (and Boards)

* Free Trial: Choose Any Path!

* Flash Sales: Hollow Log House, Trees & Plants

* Job Opening: Executive Assistant

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* Virtue Marathon 2018 This Sunday

* The Magnificent Trophy Rooms Contest

* PaxLair’s Campground Sleepover

* Congrats to The Syndicate Guild’s 22nd Anniversary!

* Did You Know: All Creatures Have Vulnerabilities!

* Recommended Project to Support: Wasteland 3

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Hello Everyone! Asclepius is away this week, so I will do my best to keep things interesting! Here is the news of the week!

Game Development

* The Making of South Midmaer Way

* The Making of South Fetid Swamp

* New Bears to Roam New Britannia

* Vendor Variations & Improvements

* The Making of The Lost Vale (cont)

* Heraldry Items (cont.)

News Announcements

* R50 Postmortem Telethon YouTube Video & Missed Questions

* NPC Submission Requests: Xenos & Yew

* The Adventures of Lord British & Lars Janssen

* Free Trial: Choose Any Path!

* Flash Sales: Viking & Wolf Items

* Job Opening: Executive Assistant

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* The Magnificent Trophy Rooms Contest Returns!

* Virtue Marathon 2018: Children’s Miracle Hospital Network

* Sequanna Brasserie – Valentine’s Day Dinner – February 14 – 3-7pm CT

* Getting Started Videos: How to Learn New Emotes!

* Did You Know: The Forests of New Britannia are Fraught with Danger!

* Recommended Project to Support: The Saga of Lucimia MMORPG

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Hello Everyone! Here is the news of the week!

Game Development

* The Making of The Lost Vale

* Heraldry Items Revealed

News Announcements

* R50 Postmortem Telethon Results

* NPC Submission Requests: Xenos & Yew

* Shroud of the Avatar Launch Event

* Livestream: The Making of Physical Goods

* Free Trial: Choose Any Path!

* Job Opening: Executive Assistant

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* The Magnificent Trophy Rooms Contest Returns!

* Virtue Marathon 2018: Children’s Miracle Hospital Network

* Crossroads ‘Palisades Mall’ Monthly Flea Market

* Getting Started Videos: The Mail System

* Did You Know: Sun Magic Spells Strengthen Depending on the Daytime?

* Recommended Project to Support: REEF

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with the next chapter in this wonderful story by Olthadur, entitled

The Pilgrimage of Virtue

Background music by Smartsound

Chapter 6, “The Cooks Tale”

I sat in the Courage Plaza for most of the morning. I looked at the statue of Grannus, staring off into the distance in stoic strength. It has been a week since the soldier was injured. He will survive and will walk with us. His arm is badly broken – shattered they told us. But he demanded he be allowed to leave with us.

Determination and Courage. Where was the line between Courage and foolishness?

We sat in the tavern that afternoon with the Soldier. He was glad to be out of his bed and eating. He refused his normal mead, but seemed in good spirits.

“Maybe we should think about going back?” the Farmer said, nodding once to the Soldier.

There was a quiet pause. No one said anything.

The Cook cleared his throat.

“If every time someone got hurt they stopped what they were doing, no one would have done anything worthwhile.”

“That’s easy to say when you aren’t the one who almost died,” the Farmer said.

“You assume that I was never hurt before. You must have been hurt before as well, all of you. And yet, here we are, like the Soldier, continuing on.”

“Tell us more,” the Elder said, picking up his fork and eating once again.

The Cook took a look around the table and nodded.

“I suppose it is my turn,” he said.

“I knew a woman who lived in Braemar. She was not a well off woman by any stretch. But she could afford to survive. She had a small house, a garden and hunted enough to feed herself and earn some coin.

“She was considered beautiful and was courted by many. She refused all advances. She did not really care for such things. She focussed more on her work, hunting, tanning, and making leathers. She became quite good at it.

“Hunters and artisans looked for her leathers and paid good coin for them. Others, who were more ambitious, asked her for her hand in marriage, hoping for both love and wealth.

“She denied the marriage, but took the coin. Eventually this got tiring, and a little lonely. She wouldn’t mind a companion, one who could hunt with her, help in her chores and learn from her. Maybe, and she was very reluctant and afraid to admit it, love her.

“She believed she found someone and reciprocated his affections. Many were surprised at this change in the Lonely Huntress, as they called her.

“She was excited and nervous. The relationship was good, for both of them.

“She used her coin to build a larger house and together they hunted, stretched and tanned leathers.

“One fall the Lonely Huntress found out she was pregnant. This was unexpected for both of them. The news meant that things would change. The man she fell in love with said things would be fine. She could care for the child and he would hunt, tan and sew. She said she could hunt, tan and sew with child. She loves what she does and will find a way to care for the child and continue her work.

“As time went on the Lonely Huntress grew with child. She hunted as much as she could, but took many more breaks than she anticipated.

“When the child was born she had to remain indoors for some time. Her child was beautiful and strong, but birth took a toll on the mother.

“She lived, being strong herself, and used a wrap she had made to carry her child into the wild to hunt with. The hunting never stopped, but it did change. The child did not yet know of stealth and patience. Soon, the Huntress remained home to care for the child while her partn...

Hello Everyone! Here is the news of the week! Hope you are enjoying Release 50!!!:

Game Development

* Play Release 50 Now!

News Announcements

* Release 50 Postmortem Telethon

* Shroud of the Avatar Launch Event

* SXSW Schedule Latest News

* R50 & R51: Skill Unlearning 100% Return

* R50 QA Testing Incentive Winners

* Community Livestream: Wild Boars & Wolves

* Free Trial: Choose Any Path!

* Job Opening: Executive Assistant

* Last Chance for Shroud Perks via BrightLocker CrowdEquity

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* Virtue Marathon 2018: Children’s Miracle Hospital Network

* Prism and Diamond Fields Present a Grandmaster Tutoring Event

* Getting Started Videos: ‘Crafting Complete’ Series by Datendrache

* Did You Know: Shroud of the Avatar Features Dedicated Community Orators and Playwrights?

* Recommended Project to Support: Midboss

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Hello Everyone! Here is the news of the week:

Game Development

* New Wolves Attack!

* Making of Sunless Barrens (cont.)

* Introducing the Watermill Home

* Valentine’s Day Items

News Announcements

* Release 49 Postmortem Missed Questions

* Release 50 on the QA Server

* DJ Darkstarr’s Revenge: The Sequels (Holiday Party & Release 50)

* Last Chance for Shroud Perks via BrightLocker CrowdEquity

* New Free Trial Continues!

* Job Opening: Executive Assistant

* Weekend Flash Sale: Signs, Numbers & Letters

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* The Avatar’s Guide to Knowledge and Virtue Contest: Winners Announced!

* Virtue Marathon 2018: Children’s Miracle Hospital Network

* UO Forever 5th Anniversary: Richard and Starr Live Video Conference

* PaxLair 20th Anniversary – Jan. 21

* Did You Know: Shroud of the Avatar Features Taming Skills?

* Recommended Project to Support: Denis Loubet Patreon

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with the next chapter in this wonderful story by Olthadur, entitled

The Pilgrimage of Virtue

Background music by Smartsound

Chapter 5, “Nightshade Pass to Resolute”

We awoke early the next morning. There were some obligatory troll jokes commenting on our survival. The Sailor, the Tailor and myself did not partake in the commentary. Mostly because I didn’t feel quite comfortable saying anything.

“You all know that the Troll is in the Pass we are about to go through,” the Soldier said. “If something is to happen, it will happen today.”

With that our pilgrimage took a very serious tone. Some must have believed the danger was in the night, but the Soldier reminded us that it wasn’t.

We packed our camp in silence.

The pass itself is beautiful. It is quiet and pleasant. The path went up into the mountains and opened into a beautiful valley. We followed it until the soldier made us stop.

“The troll is ahead. It lives near the bridge. If we are lucky, we can simply walk past. If not, it will be on the bridge and we will have to wait for it to decide to leave,” the Soldier said quietly.

The tension in the group was high. No one spoke, even though the surroundings were calm and beautiful. Other than the Soldier’s words, we had no reason to be frightened.

The Soldier went forward, cautiously, down the path to scout the bridge. He returned a short time later and said that we were clear to go.

“We must remain quiet, and go quickly,” he reminded.

The bridge was an ancient stone bridge crossing a river that came from the surrounding mountains and emptied in a lake that dominated the valley. I wish I could have stopped here and described it more, but the threat of the Troll kept us going and focussed on that. Perhaps one day I can go back when there is no longer a troll.

There was a loud gasp from the Cook, then the Soldier drew his sword and told us all to run.

The troll was walking towards the bridge from a path on the right. We all ran onto our own path, turning left. The Soldier walked towards the troll.

“Go! I will join shortly!” he said. We all went, the Scholar and the Smith helping the Elder move quicker than normal.

We rounded a corner and were out of sight and sound of the Soldier and troll. There was a wall of rock and woods between us. We all stopped and argued between waiting for the Soldier to return and leaving to save ourselves.

“His sacrifice is valiant and seemingly necessary,” the Smith said. “If we wait, it will be for nothing. The troll saw us, it will come when it finishes with the Soldier.”

“We wait,” the Tailor said bluntly. “I’m not leaving without one of our own. Either he is dead and should be buried, alive and well and we will be abandoning him, or injured and in need of care.”

“And you would go and see?” the Scholar said. “You would risk your life just to see if he is alive or dead?”

“I will,” the Cook said.

“I can, if you all wish it,” the Farmer raised her hand.

There was a small argument before it became clear that the Cook and Farmer were not going to change their minds. They were going to go back for the Soldier.

“They are going to die, same as the Soldier,” the Smith said as they walked off and turned the corner beyond our sight.

“There is no reason why we shouldn’t wait, for them and the Soldier,” the Elder said. He was sitting on a rock behind the group, catching his breath. “I still have hope, as we all should.”

“We will give them a fair amount of time. But we shouldn’t have to die because of hope if there is no hope,” the Smith said,

Hello Everyone! Here is the news of the week:

Game Development

* Making of Sunless Barrens

* Making of South Drachvald Spur

* Making of Yew (cont.)

* R48 Telethon Items (cont.)

News Announcements

* R49 Postmortem Telethon Results

* New Clasped Gauntlets Cloak Option for Community Events

* Markeedragon Interview: Something About Bob

* Livestream: New Log Homes Revealed!

* Last Chance for Shroud Perks via BrightLocker CrowdEquity

* New Free Trial Continues!

* Job Opening: Executive Assistant

* Weekend Flash Sale: Party Supplies

* Upcoming Events Calendar

Community Updates

* The Avatar’s Guide to Knowledge and Virtue Contest: Final Weekend!

* Virtue Marathon 2018: Children’s Miracle Hospital Network

* UO Forever 5th Anniversary: Richard and Starr Live Video Conference

* Weihnachten Holiday Party – Jan. 14

* Did You Know: You Can Get Combat Trophies?

* Recommended Project to Support: Underworld Ascendant

* Resources: Players Helping Players

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with the next chapter in this wonderful story by Olthadur, entitled

The Pilgrimage of Virtue

Background music by Smartsound

Chapter 4, “The Sailor’s Tale”

The campfire crackled as we all got comfortable. Our eyes and, more importantly, our ears were directed to the Sailor.

“You are certain it is safe? I heard there is a troll that lives in the pass,” the Scholar said.

“There are nine of us,” the Sailor said.

“Not all of us are fighters,” the Tailor added.

“Virtue is on our side,” the Elder said. “Tell your story, Sailor.”

“Worry not, this is a happy tale,” began the Sailor. “It ends well, unlike the Soldier’s.

“My tale is about a boy. A man, verily, when this tale is all told. He was born in a small village in Verdantis in a modest home. He had little to show for himself. His father was a cobbler. His mother was a seamstress. They made clothing and shoes in the hamlet they lived in. It kept them fed, but gave them little else.

“This boy was well liked, true to himself, fair to look at despite the dirt that was seemingly always on his young face.

“His heart was set on the mayor’s daughter. She was his age and beautiful. She was well dressed, wealthy and well educated – for the area. She wasn’t a Brittany scholar, or a wealthy Lady of Resolute – but she was beautiful.

“Our hero courted her, picked daffodils and dandelions for her, cleaned his face in the puddles of the street, and learnt to sew his own fine clothes from his mother.

“His love, the mayor’s daughter, endured him. She smiled and accepted the flowers. She spent time with him and was kind to him. But she did always speak about going to Harvest to live. Other times she spoke about leaving to Valhold. Or even Brittany. She wanted to live in a large city with stone houses and stone streets and hundreds of people.

“Our hero smiled and nodded and said ‘Where ever you go, I will follow.’ He said this so often that the Mayor’s daughter began to believe it to be true.

“By the time they were in their late teens they were the couple of the hamlet. When they walked by, hand in hand, people would smile and say ‘There walks true love!’ and ‘He saw through the class and silk and she saw through the burlap and dirt.’

“It was true, you know. They did love each other. As much as they were able to.

“Time went on. Our hero wanted to give the entire Island of Norgard to his love. So he started to look at how to get her there and give her a place to live in a stone house on a stone street.

“He needed a job, something that would pay their way and would buy that stone house on the stone street. He couldn’t make that coin in the small hamlet they lived in.

” ‘I must go my love!’ he said one day, holding her hand tightly.

” ‘No! I can’t go on without you!’ she replied.

“They went on like this, as lovers do. Our hero eventually persuaded his love that he must, indeed, go. He was offering her everything she wanted, and it was the only way she believed she could get it. They would talk through letters. He would constantly update her on how things were progressing and how close they were to moving to Norgard.

“I won’t tell you the details of what he did. But he worked. More than most would. His heart was in it. He worked two jobs if finding work was difficult. He worked through his free time. He worked the land, on boats, underground, protecting caravans, anything that gave coin. And he saved every coin he could.

“And he wrote a book of letters to his love. He spoke of his work, where he went,