Dragonstone 13

**Chapter 13**

We're back in the present with Arin and Alos and Samurai Chick and Egil. Alos wants some booze \~/

and we get a discussion about magic items, er, *“tokens of power.”* Arin says they are *“Something empowered to fulfill a destiny,”* which Egil and Alos find baffling, because they are morons.

This transitions to a discussion of wyrds, which Egil describes as *“that which drives men in the deeds they do . . . or the thing that awaits them in the end.”* That sounds like two different and entirely separate concepts to me, but I'm not a Viking.

Samurai Chick takes offense at this, saying *"Hmph. Just men? You grunt like the priests of Hodakka. Baka-gojona dokemono,”* which Google Translate informs me has something to do with mutual aid. \~/

Alos mentions that he doesn't believe in wyrds (which seems bizarre for someone from his culture, but whatever), but that *“these tokens of power, well, they seem to be another thing altogether.”* Arin says they can be good or bad, and lists a few that are not important here. She mentions that *“there is a sword in Adonar, Bale by name, and it would appear to fit the mold, though what its destiny may be none can say.”*

What mold? How does one identify a Token of Power? Is there a 0-level *detect token of power* spell? They don't seem to have been created by thinking beings like most magic items; they just sort of . . . exist. \~/

“*Others are unknown and seem to be one thing – jewels, poniards, rings, a trinket – but are truly something else altogether.”*

What, like Transformers?

“*Many look as if they hold no power at all, until, that is, they manifest their doom.”*

How do they do this? Do they turn into humanoid robots?

Egil asks what happens if he has a Token of Power, but when the destined time comes, he doesn't know how to use it or tries to use it and fails? Arin replies *“A token of power seems to have ways of fulfilling its own destiny. If thou didst fail, still would the token strive to achieve its doom. By another's hand, if not by thine.”*

But . . . how would you know? I thought these tokens were undetectable, and no one knows what their destiny is except in retrospect? This is starting to sound like some sort of retroactive bullshit, decided on after the fact –

Hold on, I think I've figured it out. \~/

Egil asks Samurai Chick what she thinks *“about tokens of power . . . and whether or no they compel is to pursue their destinies.”*

Samurai Chick says *“If I were to come upon one, then perhaps I would choose the token for it would suit my aims, and perhaps the token would choose me for the selfsame reason,”* and that she believes she could reject the token if it did not suit her aims. Egil asks for elaboration, and she says that she believes in free will, *“all things being equal.”*

“*Just this: the gods may will it otherwise that I do a thing I would rather not. Then I would have no choice at all in the matter.”*

So she believes in free will . . . except when she doesn't. She can choose her own path except when she can't.

\~/

Egil pretty much agrees with her, and suddenly Alos starts sobbing. Naturally, McKiernan is sure to remind us that he even does this in a disgusting and gross manner. \~/

Samurai Chick *“glanced at the old man in disgust,”* because she's a heartless sociopath, then decides to get her Tumblr on: *“Only men have wyrds? What of women . . . and what of the Dylvana and Lian and Dwarves and all other of Elwydd's creations? And what of the Foul Folk made by Gyphon? Am I and all of these others completely bereft of wyrds?”*

Egil reacts with confusion, as well he might, since I'm pretty sure that by “men” he meant “people,” not “adult male humans.” He reassures Samurai Chick that yes, of *course* she has an inescapable destiny, but she's feeling very tsundere (mostly tsun, almost no dere, actually) and calls him *“Rikotekina otoko!”* which may actually be accurate (“selfish man,” per Google Translate). \~/

Alos wants some booze. \~/

They stop for the night. Alos wants some booze. \~/

Arin talks him into staying with the promise of more booze in the morning. Samurai Chick once again “meditates,” because that is identical with sleep except it's totally not. \~/ Seriously, I've meditated. It can be very calming and restful, but using it as a substitute for sleep is about the same as smelling a delicious meal and not eating it. \~/

Samurai Chick is once more referred to as *“the yellow warrior.”* \~/

Egil has bad dreams. I don't care.

Morning comes. Orri the sea captain wanders by and gives Alos a red eyepatch with a hammer symbol on it. He also shares a pitcher of ale with Alos, *“much to the oldster's dismay.”* \~/

And around noon, Arin finally gets back to her endless flashback. Can't you just *feel* the tension?

Drinks: 13

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