Voices of Mist: Difference between revisions

<span class="DROPCAP">I</span>n the far north of Layonara on the island of Krashin, where Mist is respected and revered as a bringer of life and death for the hardy seafarers, a few people stand out from the regular worshippers. They are the Voices of Mist, individuals who offer praise to Mist using their voices as a tempest to wreck havoc amongst their enemies.

The Voices of Mist have little formal organization, but they recognize in each other something that sets them apart. A reverence for storms, a restless nature or a longing for the sea. The touch of Mist takes many forms. Mainly skalds but also bards and others with talented voices are seen amongst them.

The Voices bring the word of Mist with them wherever they go and tell others of their goddess. They do not preach, but tell tales of how people have overcome all odds, for that is as respected amongst the Voices as it is amongst the priests. They tell tales of the sea, how a storm tears a ship asunder and still men survive where most would have given up. They tell tales of heroes who take up the gauntlet thrown down by fate, whether they fail or not. They tell dark and brooding tragedies of how cowardice, foolishness or lack of respect for their mistress brought doom upon lesser men.

Little is known of how the Voices of Mist began, but tales told amongst the Voices speak of a master skald named Agmundr who met a beautiful woman while walking on the seaside. She was sitting in the surf praying feverishly to Mist to avenge the death of her sister Kitta. Agmundr spoke to the woman who was in fact a priestess of Mist named Hrafnhildr. She told him that her sister had been killed her third sister Stynfridr. She knew this for so the ocean had whispered to her when she had prayed for Kitta. She should have been married this very day, but alas as she was dead. Stynfridr was the one who would now be married to a strong and rich family. Agmundr felt his blood boil over this and started to walk towards the home of the sisters. Hrafnhilr followed him and soon they were at her home.

Everything was ready for the wedding and when the families gathered saw the skald approaching they were filled with joy for now they would surely have a grand feast. Then they saw Hrafnhildr behind Agmundr. Everyone gathered fell silent as the skald boomed out across the courtyard, “Where is Stynfridr?� After a pause Stynfridr stepped forward and told who she was. “Why do you seek me skald?� she asked, “Are you here to congratulate me on my wedding day?� Agmundr looked her in the eye, and as he did he told what the ocean had whispered to Hrafnhildr. He told that the Lady Doom had come and explained it, and now he was here to set it straight. Stynfridr burst into tears for every word he said was true and as tears flowed down her cheeks so that everyone else saw the truth in the skalds words. That night it was not marriage that was held on the farm, but an execution. Stynfridr was burned alive for her crimes and when there was nothing left but smoldering ashes, Agmundr and Hrafnhildr left the farm.

Agmundr and Hrafnhildr travelled together telling tales and praising Mist for their revenge. After a year Hrafnhildr gave birth to a son, whom they named Hafleikr - meaning sea war in the old tongue - for he was born from the union of the sea and war. They continued their travels until they arrived at a temple of Mist. Hrafnhildr felt the calling of her goddess so strongly that she could not go on. She had to pray at the temple and offer her respects as long as the Lady of the Sea wanted it. Agmundr could not stay in one place for so long and Hrafnhildr knew this. They parted with few words as each knew what the other wished. Agmundr took Hafleikr with him to teach him the way of the skalds for he already had a strong voice. He would teach him to sing, but he would also teach him of the Lady of the Sea.