GLOGtober '23 - 2: She Who Sings in Reed and Rush

GLOGtober '23 prompts can be found here.

 

She Who Sings in Reed and Rush

Lake Dallieun is caught in the minds the people of Poltan, sitting right next to the modern capital of Sarcens. Many a painting captures the glimmering surface of lake, appearing in the backgrounds of royal portraits across generations of Poltanish Kings. Numerous castles and villages line the shores, and stories across the world frame the lake as places that heroes rise and villains are slain. Perhaps most famous is The Cathedral Mireaus (Mir-os), dedicated to The Mother Current, Vasobus. Her priests claim Dallieun as her respite, a blessing to mortals for their faith.

Few however remember the old faith that claims the glimmering waters, She Who Sings in Reed & Rush. Her followers are scattered around Lake Dallieun, but are a small faith compared to the churches of the land. While they are often not rooted out and slain, they are a patchwork faith. Many teach of forgiveness and acceptance, and often hold an oath of non-violence. Others teach of the cycles of life, one that one cannot escape no matter how strongly they fight it. Followers can are often found in those whole live on the lake shore, but also in doctors and wise-folk.

1d12 Events & Rumors:

1. A mother has recently lost her son in battle and can’t get over her grief. She needs reeds gathered to weave a basket to carry his sword and helmet into the lake, however bandits are said to patrol the lake’s edge.

2. A bard challenged The Songstress, claiming they were a better singer. When their boat returned from the fog all that was found was a broken violin and a dog sized cricket.

3. This is the third time in a month a fisher has been found hung from a tree, suspended by a long bone hook through their neck. Locals whisper of the vengeance of The Songstress.

4. Rush lamps are the new craze among nobility wanting “to live a simple life, just like the peasants”. Already old beds along Lake Dallieun are being yanked up to fill this need. Followers whisper than unless this stops soon She Who Sings will have her vengeance.

5. A local priest has declared that She Who Sings is but a misinterpretation of The Mother Current and has begun tearing down shrines. This isn’t the first time this has happened, but tensions are already mounting quickly.

6. The village elder has begun to preach that the afterlife The Churches promise is a lie, that all flow on the endless river that circles the cosmos, returning to the world each time born anew. This particular heresy is too much for The Churches to tolerate.

7. A child was found floating in a basket among the reeds. Was this the fault of loveless parents, or the next prophet of The Songstress?

8. They say that if you can catch She Who Sings she will take a memory too painful for you, in exchange for bearing the memory of another.

9. Rumors have spread that if you wander the reeds alone in the dark under the light of the full moon then The Songstress will guide your love from a past life, to reunite again and again. Seems like an easy way to get people out and alone in the dark.

10. After the loss of all seven of his sons in a single battle their father was seen weeping on the lake shore each night, begging for them to come back to him. A week ago a rogue wave suddenly spewed a literal swarm of fish onto shore all around him, worth a small fortune. Now everyone who has ever suffered even a minor inconvenience is down by the water, begging for restitution.

11. A small conclave has formed up, nicknamed The Water Bearers by the locals. Having taken a vow of poverty and non-violence this community works to produce and give out holy water made from the lake in an effort to fight undead.

12. The palace of She Who Sings sits at the bottom of Lake Dallieun, but should one of pure heart sail the lake it shall rise from the deep to greet them.