As we walk, I discreetly check my clock to find out how long the journey has been thus far.
Then I ask softly, "Where does this road lead?"
And I continue journeying on with them toward the object of this mission of mercy...
An Unfamiliar Familiar Forest, John Oakmaster alone in a new world
(198 posts) (4 voices)-
"Lead? Well, Nottingham, of course, but that's behind us. Roads through Sherwood all head to Nottingham; it's the royal government in Nottinghamshire. In this direction, it doesn't really go anywhere--just passes through the woods to the outlying villages. Farmers use it to truck goods to Nottingham, and the Shire Reeve's men travel it to collect taxes and conscripts."
You've gone about two hours at this point.
--M. J. Young
Thu May 8 2008 9:13 am # -
Oak
MemberI listen with interest.
"What are the outlying villages like? What are their names? How many people live there?"
"And what is Nottingham like? How many people live there?"
"How risky is our journey today? How often are the Sheriff's Men out and about? Would they know you on sight, and wish to capture you if they could?"
And thus we journey on...
Thu May 8 2008 2:58 pm # -
They are farm communities in the midst of fields and pastures. Not all of them have names, unless the shire reeve calls them something. Usually they're just called things like South Fields and West Pastures and Brookdale, describing where they are. They consist of three to twenty families who work the surrounding lands."What are the outlying villages like? What are their names? How many people live there?"
"And what is Nottingham like? How many people live there?"
Nottingham is a big city--not as big as London, but probably five or six thousand people. There are lots of fields and pastures surrounding it, all worked by residents of the city for the Crown, overseen by the shire reeve.
"How risky is our journey today? How often are the Sheriff's Men out and about? Would they know you on sight, and wish to capture you if they could?"
It's almost impossible to say, really. Some of the shire reeve's men would know Stephen, some wouldn't; some would want to know what peasants were doing traveling instead of working; some would just harrass them for being peasants, or arrest them on suspicion of being part of the bandits in the woods. Some would ignore them as beneath contempt. But it's unpredictable. You can't know where they will be when.And if that answers your questions, the trees part and you see fields and pastures at the center of which, still perhaps two miles away, is a cluster of small mostly thatched buildings.
"We're here," Phillip says, as if that distance was the length of the driveway.
--M. J. Young
Fri May 9 2008 1:13 am # -
It will be between two and a half and three hours by the time you reach the houses themselves, and your clock says quarter after one; sunset is getting later, around seven, so you have a few hours before you must return--and your guides do not seem worried about traveling at night.
--M. J. Young
Sat May 10 2008 1:27 am # -
His sister is younger than he is, married, six children, a farmer's wife. Stephen doesn't see that much to tell, really--she's an ordinary person, but that she matters to him because she's family.
The interesting surroundings have been described as fields and pastures, sheep in the pastures, various crops growing in the fields, most of them far from ripe.
You come among the houses, and are led to one. There is a woman abed there, looking pale and weak, and several young children standing around looking helpless. Although she is prematurely aged by the hardships of farm labor, it is difficult to imagine that she is older than twenty-one.
My recollection is that you did not spend the preparatory time in prayer at camp before departing.
--M. J. Young
Sun May 11 2008 7:53 pm # -
Oak
Member"Peace be unto you, my sister in Christ."
"Stephen has asked me to come, and to minister to you as I can in your affliction, and to pray for you. And so I shall."
And so I do...
Simple things, really. Gently wiping a feverish forehead with a cool damp cloth. Spooning a bit of broth into her mouth. Anointing her with the oil I brought. Reading relevant passages of Scripture from the Bible I brought.
Each simple act of ministration accompanied by gentle, soothing songs of praise and petition to the LORD, and interspersed with intercessory prayer.
And after around half an hour total, a final word of prayer...
"Dearest LORD, Almighty God, thank you for loving us, and caring for our every need. Thank you for inviting us to come before you with our praises and petitions. Thank you for your Sovereignty, that you are also able to do anything, and all things."
"We lift up this daughter of yours to you now, and pray that you will put forth your hand of healing upon her. We pray this not because she deserves such favor as to be healed, and not because I deserve such favor as to have my prayer heard... but we pray this by appealing to your mercy and grace, and to your glory alone."
"We know that you know best, O LORD our God. We know that you may have your own reasons why it is needful for this daughter of yours to remain in affliction. But we lift her up to you, asking that you would heal her to your glory, if it be your will. And we pray that through your grace and mercy manifested, that these children of yours would come to know you in a deeper and truer way."
"Thank you for loving us, and for hearing our humble prayers. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ... Amen."
Mon May 12 2008 6:57 am # -
You sing, read, and pray, anointing her with the oil you brought.
She thanks you, weakly at first, and then with a look of uncertain surprise, as if she does not really believe what is happening to her.
She sits up, and tentatively puts a foot out of the bed.
"Dear," Philip says, as if to keep her resting.
"I'm," she begins, "I'm all right." She stands, and the men gasp. "I've work to do," she says. "Again, sincerely, thank you."
--M. J. Young
Mon May 12 2008 9:16 pm # -
Oak
MemberI smile joyfully as she is restored to strength.
"Don't thank me, dear sister in Christ. Give thanks and glory to the LORD for His mercy, through His Son Jesus Christ."
"May you use your restored strength to serve Him and bear witness of Him thankfully and joyfully."
I gently raise my hand in benediction.
"'The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.'"
My eyes fall upon the children, and I smile again.
"'Peace be to this house.'"
I nod in farewell, and exit the home.
When Stephen and Philip join me, I speak quietly to them.
"I need a few minutes before returning, in order to give thanks to the LORD. I'll be with you shortly..."
I go apart from them a short distance to a nearby tree, and sit beneath it, and bow my head in silent prayer for several minutes, giving thanks to the LORD. For I am well aware of the ten lepers, and how few of them returned to give praise to God when He had healed them.
Then I rise to rejoin them for the return trip to Robin's camp, full of thanksgiving for the LORD's mercy.
Tue May 13 2008 6:44 am # -
I'm sorry--you don't get that far. As you exit the home, there is a crowd waiting. Some are obviously sick themselves, and others immediately ask if you can come pray for their loved ones either here or in "nearby" villages.
--M. J. Young
Wed May 14 2008 2:47 am # -
It's a small village; a crowd is twelve.1. How many are in the crowd?
2. How many of them are sick themselves?
Five are either clearly sick themselves or asking you to heal them, personally.
3. How many are requesting me to come to which locations?
Four want you to heal family members in this village--two of them are for the same family member, so that means three here--and three want you to come with them to other villages, all in different directions.--M. J. Young
Thu May 15 2008 4:21 am # -
Oak
MemberI blink in surprise, and slowly nod.
"Friends and brethren, let us gather together, then, and worship the LORD, and pray for your healing."
I gather them into a nearby place where they can listen in relative comfort if available (reclining on nearby ground or grass, sheltered from sun or wind if they bring discomfort, etc.).
I open by singing a hymn...
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and bless'd we shall meet at last.Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine."Now let us hear the Word of the LORD. I read from the Holy Bible, the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, as Jesus speaks within the synagogue."
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
But he passing through the midst of them went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
"Here then is our first lesson: God is Sovereign."
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
"... as Paul tells us in the ninth chapter of Romans."
"We are gathered together to worship the LORD, and to pray for your healing. But there may be reasons why the LORD deems it best for some to be healed at this time, and some not to be healed. We may not be able to understand those reasons. But we are called to fully place our trust in Him."
"For the Scripture even goes so far as to say, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him', and 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'"
"We don't always like to reflect on the fact that the LORD is Sovereign. We are full of sinful rebellion against the LORD, desiring to go our own ways, rather then obey the LORD."
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
"... as Paul tells us in the third chapter or Romans."
"And for such rebellion against the rule of the Sovereign LORD God of all creation, we are all justly under the sentence of death. Our only hope is in the Redeemer, the LORD Jesus Christ, God's only Son, who chose to die in our place, that we might be pardoned."
"Hear again the Word of the LORD. I read again from the Holy Bible, the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew."
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
"Here then is our next lesson: we must have faith in the LORD, through the Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, since he is the only one who can save us from certain death. He is the only one who can heal our sin and corruption, not only within our bodies, but also within our souls."
"As Paul says to the Ephesians..."
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
"You come to the LORD to seek healing for your bodies... and you do well. But far more important than healing our bodies, we must come to the LORD to seek healing for our souls, lest we lose not just our earthly lives, but our eternal souls."
"And to seek him, we must turn away from our sins, and turn toward him. We must leave off our rebellion against the LORD, and seek the amnesty offered through the sacrifice of the LORD Jesus Christ, who suffered the death sentence that we deserved."
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
"Hear again the Word of the LORD. I read from the Holy Bible, the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke."
And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
"We seek the LORD's favor... but when then? Will you go your way, and forget the LORD? Or will you give thanks and worship and glory to the LORD?"
"Let us worship the LORD together. Feel free to join me in the part of the hymn that repeats, as the LORD moves you."
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.Refrain:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, 'Let them come to Me.'(Refrain)
Jesus loves me! Loves me still,
Though I'm very weak and ill,
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.(Refrain)
Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.(Refrain)
Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven's gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.(Refrain)
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.(Refrain)
"Let us pray."
"Dearest LORD, thank you for this time to worship you together."
"We pray for your healing for our bodies, if it be your will, by your grace and mercy alone, and to your glory alone."
"And even more importantly, we pray for your healing for our souls, that we would turn from our rebellous ways, and know your ways, and follow them faithfully."
"Thank you for hearing our humble prayers. We pray in the Holy Name of the Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ your Son... Amen."
OOC: I am first petitioning for the entire group of those present and afflicted to be healed, using the example of Jesus and the ten lepers, plus appropriate words and gestures, reading from the Bible, and appropriate songs. I am also already in a suitable mind-set from having just come from a prayer and petition session for healing Stephen's sister, which may serve a similar purpose to having a quiet time of prepration. Is healing a group a new use, or a new skill?
Thu May 15 2008 6:32 pm # -
The skill description reads:Is healing a group a new use, or a new skill?
1@2 Cure Disease M+2@4 sing while caring for sick, anoint with oil, lay both hands on them and pray for final minute, 15:00TF, +14SM
I see two things which suggest that you are attempting a new skill:- You are not using that final minute to pray individually with laid on hands and anointing oil.
- You are citing the example of Jesus curing the ten lepers at once--an example is beneficial for learning a new skill, not for using one you already know.
--M. J. Young
Fri May 16 2008 2:56 am # -
Oak
MemberHmmmm...
I was about to observe that the nature of my faith would make the specific actions I perform differ each time, which would doom me to having lots of slightly different skills for doing the same thing.
However, I then reflected upon James 5:13-15...
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Since I would indeed take such instructions into account, that means that it is in fact reasonable to assume that I actually would take that final minute for praying, laying on hands, and anointing with oil.
I think that this is in fact a new use, however. In the past, the preparation time was used to individually minister to the sick (wipe forehead with damp cloth, feed them broth, etc.) as I sang to them. However, this time the preparation time was used to lead them in a group worship service, singing and preaching the word to all of them at once.
Fri May 16 2008 5:50 am # -
It doesn't foul things up that all ten "final minutes" occur consecutively at the end?
(pardon the mechanics-interested observer)
Fri May 16 2008 6:08 am # -
I think that the question is more on the order of whether he then takes one final minute to lay hands on and quickly anoint all of them, or whether he takes a minute for each. My inclination is that the former would be the same skill but the latter probably would not, but to some degree we're working with fluid ritual here, and the question is really whether the skill as originally envisioned can be cast once on a group of subjects, or whether it has to be done for each of them individually--in which case, we're looking at a separate group healing skill here.
To some degree we're exploring how fluid our ritual can be. We've established that singing songs and reading scriptures relevant to the miracle can be considered part of a specific ritual even if the specific songs and scriptures change. We're working on the rest of it.
So John, I guess the question is, does your character see himself praying for each of them, or for all of them? If you understand that distinction, I think we can resolve the matter.
--M. J. Young
Sat May 17 2008 3:32 am # -
They are all much improved as you finish praying for them; you can see in their faces that they believe a miracle has occurred.
Those whose loved ones are not present, however, are still asking you to come with them.
--M. J. Young
Sun May 18 2008 11:24 pm # -
Oak
MemberI bow my head, and pray.
"Dearest LORD, thank you for hearing our humble prayers. May these children of yours give you the praise, and glory, and thanks, and use their renewed health and strength to love and serve you, and their neighbors. We pray in Jesus' Holy Name... Amen."
I raise my head, and my hand in benediction at those who have been healed.
"Go in peace."
Then I turn to those remaining.
"Let us go, then, and minister to and pray for your loved ones now..."
I first go to those in the village, starting with the one represented by two family members.
With each, I minister to them in a similar fashion as I did to Stephen's sister...
Mon May 19 2008 7:53 am # -
You watch as the seemingly gangrenous leg of the next patient grows fresh skin and muscle, and the patient leaps from the bed, jumps up and down and stamps his feet several times, and shouts something which probably would be Hallelujah if it weren't for the thick accent.
"Thank you, your grace," he says. "How can I thank you?"
--M. J. Young
Mon May 19 2008 10:14 pm # -
Oak
Member"You can give thanks and praise and glory to the LORD, for it is He that healed you. May you use your renewed health and strength to love and serve him, and your neighbor."
"Let us give thanks together..."
I lead him in a prayer of thanksgiving and dedication, and depart with a benediction.
And so, with an inward stunned sense of wonder, amazed not only with all the healings that have taken place but also at the immediate and dramatic nature of the latest one, I depart with those remaining to the next patient in the village...
Tue May 20 2008 6:36 am # -
The next healing is less dramatic but clearly successful, as the respiratory infection begins clearing up and the patient feels markedly improved and wanting something to eat.
The third is more dramatic, an infected injury clearing to a healing wound that will, if properly tended, scab over and finish healing in a week or so.
You have three persons following you who are eager to have you travel with them to other villages.
You came pretty much due south from the camp of the Merry Men. One of the three villages is southeast, one due west, and one northeast. It is difficult to get clear statements of the conditions of the patients, partly because their representatives here have not seen them for quite a while--presumably neither dead nor well, or word would have come, but thought to be dying. All are a couple hours away from here, which makes them farther from each other.
--M. J. Young
Tue May 20 2008 11:30 pm # -
Oak
MemberI give thanks in prayer with the healed to the LORD for his mercy.
Then I set off with the three for the west, southeast, and northeast villages, in that order.
And as we walk, I ask questions, getting to know them. And I find out more about their beliefs, and gently share of my own from the Word of the LORD...
Wed May 21 2008 3:27 pm # -
In general they believe that one should attend Mass when it is possible, and that by receiving the holy sacraments one is blessed by God and forgiven of all the sins he can remember to confess, and that if you forget to confess something God will have to punish you for it, but as long as it isn't anything too bad you'll wind up in heaven in the end. It's all very muddled and sometimes contradictory, a sort of Roman Catholicism as explained by people who live near the church and are trying to figure out what their neighbors believe. They do believe, or at least say they believe, that Jesus was the Son of God, that God raised Him from the dead, and that there is a heaven for all the good people God receives for Himself.
It will take a couple hours to get to the next village.
--M. J. Young
Thu May 22 2008 1:49 am # -
Oak
MemberWhen I am brought to the patient, I minister once again in a similar fashion as I did to Stephen's sister...
And so I do...
Simple things, really. Gently wiping a feverish forehead with a cool damp cloth. Spooning a bit of broth into her mouth. Anointing her with the oil I brought. Reading relevant passages of Scripture from the Bible I brought.
Each simple act of ministration accompanied by gentle, soothing songs of praise and petition to the LORD, and interspersed with intercessory prayer.
And after around half an hour total, a final word of prayer...
OOC: Did I read in the OOC thread that we were assuming 15 minute duration? I'm actually taking around 30 minutes, so we'll need to adjust the number crunching accordingly... :)
Thu May 22 2008 10:55 pm # -
I think that the number crunching probably looks something like this. Either you are using this skill:
1@2 Cure Disease M+2@4 sing while caring for sick, anoint with oil, lay both hands on them and pray for final minute, 15:00TF, +14SM
and letting the time run long, or you are using this skill:
1@1 Cure Disease, multiple patients, M+2@4 sing and preach to the sick, anoint with oil, lay both hands on each and pray for them, 30:00TF, -16SM
and your multiple patients equals one. The differences between the two skills are minimal, and I am inclined to think that if you are ministering to one sick person you are more likely to use the skill designed for one sick person--not because it is designed for one, but because with one patient you are more likely to attend to physical needs while praying and singing, where with multiple patients you are more likely to preach to the group. That gets you a better chance for it to work. I would say you are doing it twice, but you are not because you are doing the anointing and hands only once, at the end.Remember, part of what we need to do is distinguish when we are doing something different and when we mean to do the same thing. Since your rituals are so flexible, "different" is going to be based more on your intent than anything else.
Now, if you particularly want to design another skill, we'll go with that, but I am not inclined to treat it that differently. Besides, I don't think you brought a timer.
I'll await your response before proceeding.
--M. J. Young
Sun May 25 2008 12:39 am # -
Oak
MemberOOC: My intent is indeed to simply minister to them (individually, in this case). My only thought was that if I was using twice the time, it makes more sense to have that incorporated into the SM bonus.
OOC, I would like to have the flexibility extend that far, rather than simply having to throw up our hands and say "oops, sorry, the game mechanics force us to create a different skill if the SM bonus is going to change". But that is a decision for GMs and game designers, not for humble healers like lil' ol' me... :)
Sun May 25 2008 12:45 am #
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