Voices of Mist

In 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.

Few as they are, these travelling heralds of Mist seldom meet, but when they do the world seems to explode in a tempest of games, song and drinking that besets the area around them. Then as suddenly as it came the storm departs, for though they are brothers their nature sets their courses apart.

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.

They are mostly friendly people who like to talk and have a good time. But despite how peaceful they are when in friendly company, they are violent and loud when they enter combat. They are the fury of Mist.

Voices travel the land safely knowing they are valued guests, for they bring news and the surest way for a hero to achieve fame is to have a Voice sing his praise. Thus the path to immortality often crosses that of a Voice. Down south they are not so lucky for the southlanders hold little regard for tradition, honour and hospitality -or so the Krashinites say.

Organization

The Voices have no real structure within them. They are free souls who walk the lands often without meeting others of their order. Even thought they are not part of the Church, they all answer to the Church of Mist and her priests should they call, for these are the closest to their goddess. Though they rarely meet, they know of most, for the temple and land bring word of their brothers. Lacking a defined hierarchy, common decisions are made in view of the respect they command among each other. Voices often get nicknames, but they are quickly replaced by new (though the old are not forgotten.) This change in names reflects their chaotic nature.

Becoming a Voice of Mist

New Voices are most often trained by other Voices, but some are trained in other ways becomeing voices later on. When a Voice comes to a settlement he must be open to take an apprentice, if anyone with suitable talent and dedication approaches and asks. A Voice shall never ask anyone to be his apprentice, for it is a step into another world which one should seek out of ones own will and not because one feels obliged to accept an offer. If a Voice takes an apprentice they will travel together for several years until the Voice thinks the apprentice skilled enough in combat and singing to manage on his own. They then travel to a temple of Mist where they new Voice is set before a panel of two priests and a Voice who question the applicant about Mist and her ways. He performs a song of his own making in praise to Mist before the panel. If the priests deem the answers good and the hymn appropriate they will then bestow the title of Voice of Mist upon the applicant, whom is now a full member of the order and has a right to take on apprentices of his own. Such an event as this is always celebrated amongst the Voices for they have gained a new brother, and those who can will always try to attend the festivities.

Others are discovered when they already know the ways of combat and song and are then brought before the priests for the questioning immediately. There is no need for these to spend time with another Voice for if they carry Mist in their hearts and know how to get by in life then they can fulfil their duties. Of course these people are never asked to become a Voice; it is something they must seek for themselves, for that shows their dedication to becoming one of Mist's heralds.

Origin

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.

And so they parted, Hrafnhildr stayed at the temple for many years while Agmundr and Hafleikr travelled Krashin and spoke tales of many things, but one thing was always in them. Their goddess Mist, for they felt as if they were one of hers in both mind and body.

Agmundr and Hafleikr were the first Voices of Mist, and they taught what they knew to others that were talented with their voices and worshipped Mist as they did. Only a few did they meet, and still to this day it is seldom to find someone suited to be a voice in both body and spirit.

Requirements

Can be joined via CDQ