Tiding 02: Absolutely Useless Things

## Content Warnings

Interpersonal conflict

*"Beginnings are always hard. There’s never a perfect place to start a story. The moment we pick is a choice that says as much about us as it does the history that we tell. I could open on the refugees from Ninut, fleeing a deadly storm, leaving their homes and half of their community behind them. I could open on the caves beneath Carn Veskl, lit by bioluminescence, where something sinister is brought to life. Or, I could start in the gardens of the Heriot, where an agent of Provenance corrupts an idealist's dream to heal shattered Remnants. Instead, let me show my hand."*

 *Show more/less*

*Let's open on a town where summer never seems to fade; at town with squat, white buildings that shade dusty alleys. Where, every day, there is a different festival, an observance to a distant remnant: the central square filled with dance one day, and sombre chanting the next. Imagine the girl plucked from these streets, to be trapped between cold stone walls that silence the world outside; her fate determined by her gifts, trained by the very people who share them, to use them in the service of the town's governors and guilds.
 For two decades, she weaves spirit and fate to predict fortune and prevent disaster. She protects the power and fortunes of the very people who took her. She earns enough to keep a simple house; collects trinkets from the few times she's allowed to travel on Guild business: books in strange languages; shells from a coast she's never seen; dried flowers from half a continent away. She finds friends, a precious few; she builds a life as best she can. Then, things, as they always do, change.
 She sees a vision of the dark thing growing in the south; glimpses a conspiracy that has to be stopped. She sees the end of the world and, defying the guilds that refuse to help her, sets off to stop it. Her name was Vilte Gosditte and she would change everything.*"

―The Counterfeit God, by Avyn Fiir Vorunt

## Summary

The people of Ninut abandon the village of Etrys. They load their carts hoping to outrun the oncoming storm. Bris struggles with responsibilities, Challa soothes the weaver, Belka packs for an adventure, Venz decides to stick around - for now. A group is formed to scout the looming mountain, Carn Veskl.

## Synopsis

We re-join the caravan half an hour onto the road.

Bris is leading the caravan, but also sometimes going back and checking that stragglers aren't straggling too far, as she feels it is her responsibility everyone left.

On the way back up to the front Bris checks on the cart with Vilte, then goes to Challa's parents' (Yani and Sarran) cart where Korrin is sitting. She checks up on Korrin, reminding him that he is as responsible for the people he is with as they are for him. Korrin says he's scared and asks where they are going and Bris tells him about the forest and the mountain, saying they'll be safe. Bris then asks for Korrin to check up on Vilte from time to time, which he agrees to do. Bris grabs his shoulder supportively then heads back to the front of the caravan. Korrin heads to Vilte's carriage and Challa goes with him.

Vilte's wagon is led by Aachen, and the only one with walls and a roof, which Belka has painted with their favourite stories. Vilte lies in a bunch of pillows and furs. Belka is walking alongside Vilte's carriage, thinking about the storm when Challa comes up to them with Korrin. Challa asks how the Weaver is and if Belka has painted any new stories. Belka replies that Vilte is sleeping and that they are running out of walls, but tells Challa that she should tell Vilte a story. Challa asks if they know what is happening, and they have a conversation about how this storm is different, and how every storm is different. Belka says how the fact that they don't know what is happening is what makes this exciting.

Korrin asks Belka if they are ok, thinking they are the Weaver. Belka corrects him, and sits him in the wagon next to Vilte. Korrin touches Vilte's forehead and says "She dreams weird". Belka blankly stares at him because Belka as a Keeper didn't dream, and now that they are an ex-Keeper they have started but don't know what dreaming is yet. Challa asks what Korrin means and he says that she has strange dreams, in her head. Challa gets scooped up into the carriage next to Vilte too, and is told to keep her company and tell her stories. Challa pulls out the cookbook and tells Vilte about her favourite type of stew, which is the first full recipe that Challa added to the cookbook.

Venz is towards the front of the column, with Bris, giving some gentle encouragement about the directions that the column should take. Bris asks if Venz can do something about the storm, as it is supernatural, but he says there is nothing he can do but lead the caravan. Bris asks for Venz to pray, do anything that could help. He says it doesn't work like that, and Bris leaves to check the back of the column.

The caravan pushes on through the night. As the sun rises the forest is half a days travel in front of them, and the wind is picking up. The villagers are starting to complain about how tired they are. Jeddah asks if they can take a break to appease the villagers, but Bris says they do not have time. Shu, Kallan, and Ri join the front of the column, and Ri asks why the forest when the walls of the village wouldn't protect them. Bris says that it isn't safe but they can keep moving through the forest while in shelter, and that they need to stop somewhere. Bris asks Ri for a favour to make sure the villagers share the carts. Ri sends Shu and Kallan to do Bris' suggestion, and then argues with Bris about who put Bris in charge, telling Bris she's not disputing her orders but to be better than this. Bris says this isn't what she trained for and asks for ideas. Ri says the forest is a good idea but they can't stop there, suggesting going to the caves or continuing north. Bris says the caves are a good idea but wants to get there through the forest, to which Ri suggest sending some scouts out to Carn Veskl to see if they can. Bris doesn't want to split up, but Ri tells her to trust other people and eventually Bris agrees for the caravan to continue north while the scouts set off east. Bris goes to find Kallan and Shu to scout, and check in on Korrin. Venz is still deciding whether to go with the scouts (he knows that the caves lead to Carn Vers, a different territory), as he's still looking for Sharrow and knows it's in the north.

Belka, having heard the comment from the argument "Maybe the Parish can start pulling their weight", decides to follow Bris where she is looking for Kallan and Shu. Bris asks what they want, and Belka keeps following her. Bris finds and briefs Kallan and Shu about heading to the caves at the East to try and find a path, ignoring that Belka is still behind her, bells blowing in the wind.

Kallan and Shu are with Verask (a beautiful farmer), Kallan in Verask's arms. Shu, normally easygoing, is glaring daggers at Kallan. Both Shu and Kallan agree to go, Kallan kissing Verask on the cheek, and they both go off to gather supplies. Belka, having continued to be ignored by Bris, goes off to gather food and completely useless supplies, and then heads to the front of the caravan to join the group. Challa sees Belka gathering stuff and decides to join in, gathering her stuff and following Belka, asking them where they are going, to which Belka replies that they don't know yet. Challa asks where they think they're going and Belka replies that they think they'll find out later, then hushes Challa when they reach the group and tries to hide Challa behind them.

Bris is talking to Kallan and Shu and notices Belka walking up, saying that she doesn't want Belka coming with them, asking if they have any experience surviving in the wild, and saying that they will be a liability. Belka looks at Ri and says that they are pulling their weight. Ri stares back at Belka and Bris and eyeballs Bris like "You know what I said", at which point Bris says that she will take a member of the Parish but not Belka as they can't look after themself, which Belka says is offensive.

Bris then notices Challa, who says that she's coming with, which Bris desperately tries to stop, telling Challa she needs to stay to look after Korrin. Challa says that he's got her parents so he'll be fine, and Bris says that Challa needs to be with her parents and that its an adult only job and she can't look after them all. Challa says that she doesn't need looking after, and Belka joins in, saying that they would be walking either way and that the storm would be there anyway. Bris promises that when the storm is over she'll take Challa with her exploring for a full day, and makes a concrete assurance that the first sunrise after the storm they'll head out and even camp. Too tired to fight with Belka she just accepts that they will be coming along. Venz wanders up and decides to join the scouting party, and the scouting party sets off leaving Challa with the caravan. On the walk Belka and Venz are at the back having a conversation about birds while Bris marches ahead unreasonably fast.

Challa, left with the caravan, goes to sit with the Weaver and reads more recipes, about what to do if you have a cut, and which snakes are bad, and spends a bunch of time looking at her favourite page which is where everyone practices their drawings. The day passes and sometimes members of the Parish join her in the cart, and eventually Korrin joins her. She tries to get him to read a story, getting him to read the method of a biscuit recipe, but stutters and Challa asks him to talk about Vilte's dreams instead. Korrin says he saw the Sharrow on the ground in the canyon, and that he could feel its pain, and there was a figure standing on top of it, "Like my mother, after she fell".

The scout party reaches the forest at night, with Carn Veskl in front of them with its caves and hollows where birds nest. Bris asks Venz about any caves he knows in Carn Veskl, but he only knows ones in Carn Vers, a further mountain. He suggests heading to a settlement in the north of Carn Veskl. Bris says they should go to the caves in the east, and Venz warns about leaving the Sharrow's territory. Bris asks if the others are ok, and they say they are, Kallan and Shu still avoiding each other.

Belka goes and talks to Kallan, who is slower than the rest of the group. They walk together, Belka asking him questions about how quiet he is and when he does like to talk. He says that would be telling, and Belka say yes, to tell them, at which point he turns beetroot and Belka laughs and winks at him. He talks about how it can be difficult to talk depending on the people around him, and asks where Belka is from, at which point Belka looks sad and says 'not here'. Together they talk about leaving home, and Belka asks him if he's sad because they are leaving or just sad, and he says the second. Belka says that it's ok, and nudges him and takes his hand, and sings him a sad song like a child's lullaby in Belka's own language.

Morning breaks and the scouting party is getting tired, but they are in the north-east of the forest with the mountain rising in front of them. Looking back they see the storm, as wide as they can see in the Sharrow's territory. Venz works out that it's another remnant that is taking over the territory, and Bris and Venz agree they should head to the caves but argue over leaving the Sharrow's territory, deciding to get the caravan to the caves first.

Back with the caravan Challa wakes up in the cart with Vilte and it is snowing, getting heavier and heavier. Ri and Jeddah are encouraging people to keep on going, and Challa asks what she can do to help. She gets told to bring food to people and try to lead a cart. Challa drags Korrin along to bring food to everyone pulling a cart and tries to take over from whoever looks the most tired. She finds Polav (who has not spoken for as long as she has known him) nearly dozing off leading a cart. She shoves food in his hand and tries to copy what he is doing, not taking no for an answer. He argues with hand signals, and Challa tells him that Ri told her to take over so to argue with her. He lets Challa lead the donkey and walks with her, sometimes adjusting what she is doing and slowly teaching her, and eventually seems satisfied and gets into the cart.

We close on the snow starting on the mountainside for the scouting party, with the knowledge that they need to find the caves soon.

## Quotes

**Adam**: "What are you doing?"
**Thryn**: "Gathering supplies"
**Adam**: "Cool, what supplies do you gather"
**Thryn**: "Absolutely useless things"

―*Belka gathering supplies so they can join the scouting party*

**Challa**: "I'm coming with!"
**Bris**: "No no no no, absolutely not, that is not happening- "
**Challa (overlapping)**: "I've got my slingshot, and I have my cookbook and I have all my supplies, and I have like my good parka on-"
**Bris (overlapping):**: "That is not happening."

―*Challa trying to join the scouting party*
## Game Mechanics

* Bris rolls 12 in Powerful with The Guardian
* Venz rolls 11 in Scared with Lead People Through a Dangerous Situation, to lead the caravan towards Carn Veskl
* Bris rolls 6 in Scared with Manipulate to make Ri sort out the carts (Fail- mark XP)
* Challa uses her bond on Bris to try and allow her go with them, and Bris Refutes the bond, rolling on a +1 and getting a 10, giving Challa 2 more bonds on Bris
* Challa rolls 10 in Peaceful with Manipulate to get Korrin to read a story
* Belka rolls 12 in Sad with Manipulate to try and cheer Kallan up
* Bris rolls 6 in Peaceful with Pay Attention to the World Around You to try and see the caravan (Fail- mark XP)

## Notes

### Plot Notes

**Warning! There are spoilers ahead!**

The (extended) narration refers to several facets of the wider story that have not yet been introduced.

* The caves beneath Carn Veskl are introduced in episode 9, when the caravan enters the caves for shelter and is menaced by Corpus.
* Heriot is a settlement to the west of Ur-Taal; the idealist is likely Serrata Paige who is studying and working with Remnants, and Provenance refers to an organisation.
* It is currently unclear who some of the players in Vilte's story are, or which town specifically she was in, but it's likely it was near Ur-Taal, since she met Belka soon after Belka left the Hearts.

The mention of caves in Carn Vers may well be a reference to it being a mountain stronghold of the Remnant Duier, in Cenja.

*These Flimsy Rituals is distributed under a CC BY-NC-SA license. This wiki contains excerpts of scripted text and official shownotes, and is considered to be under the same license. Official artwork is not to be used on this wiki. Fanart pieces are distributed under licenses determined by the artist- please check the caption or alt-text.*