An Unfamiliar Familiar Forest, John Oakmaster alone in a new world

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An Unfamiliar Familiar Forest, John Oakmaster alone in a new world

(256 posts) (4 voices)

Started 3 years ago by Oak
Latest reply from M. J. Young

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M. J. Young
Moderator

Again you reach the village in the late afternoon, having been miles away at lunchtime.

Your prayer has dramatic results, as the sick man nearly leaps from bed, hugs you in his gratitude, and rushes out shouting to the village about his miraculous recovery. His more subdued but clearly grateful wife offers you, Philip, and your Nottingham companion a meager dinner and space by the fire for the night.

And before you can as much as wash your hands, villager are massed outside the cottage with children for you to bless.

Assuming you agree to "bless" the children, please tell me what affect you anticipate the blessing having on them.

--M. J. Young

Sat Mar 14 2009 5:52 am #
Oak
Member

I thank the LORD for manifesting His power, and smile in surprise as I am hugged, and quietly thank my patient's wife for her kindness.

And when the villagers appear outside the cottage, I go to meet them, and smile warmly at the children, and nod.

"Dear friends, hear the Word of the LORD. As it is written in the book of Luke:"

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

"I am but a humble servant of the LORD, but I will gladly ask His blessing for these little ones."

"Let us pray together."

"Dearest LORD, we pray for these children, and lift them up to Thee now."

"We pray that each of them will love Thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind, and with all their strength, and their neighbors as themselves, all the days of their lives."

"We pray that Thy Word would be a lamp unto their feet, and a light unto their path."

"We pray that they would walk before Thee in such a way that when they appear before Thee, they would have the joy of hearing Thy voice, saying, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant'."

"And we pray for wisdom for these parents, that Thou would guide them to train up these children in the way they should go."

"Thank you for hearing our prayers. We pray in Jesus' Name... Amen."

After praying for them all, I take each of the children individually, asking their names, laying my hands upon them, and praying.

"{Child's Name}, '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.' "

Sat Mar 14 2009 8:04 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

You pray for over a hundred children that day, and every one of them appears to benefit from the power of God touching their lives.

Tired from the long day, you retire to eat the meal that has been held waiting for you. Your hosts ask you many questions about your faith and God and the church (which is of course the Roman Catholic church, as it is not yet 1200 AD). You sleep on the dirt floor by the fire.

Breakfast is prepared in the morning. They appear to have stretched their resources to provide you with a better meal than most peasants usually have.

--M. J. Young

Sun Mar 15 2009 10:41 pm #
Oak
Member
I silently pray for wisdom, and thankfully and thoughtfully answer their many questions, emphasizing the "five Solas" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_solas) as the doctrinal foundation of true faith:
- Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
- Sola fide ("by faith alone")
- Sola gratia ("by grace alone")
- Solus Christus ("Christ alone")
- Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")
As needed, I expand on these points (with Scriptural proofs) based upon the 1689 London Baptist Confession (http://www.ccel.org/creeds/bcf/bcf.htm#confession).

OOC: Yes, I'm aware that this makes me... wait for it... "John the Baptist"... :p

I make my explanations as accessible as possible, gauging their ability to absorb the information as I teach.

In the morning, I thank them for their kindness and hospitality, and pray for them and their house.

"Dearest LORD, thank you for this family, and for their kindness and hospitality. As they have received a servant coming in your name, I pray that you would bless them, and that you would bless this house, and that you would bless the work of their hands, that what they have sacrificially given to us would be received back from you many fold. And even more importantly, I pray that the seeds of salvation and truth planted here would take root and grow, and that they would be a blessing and a light to all that pass this way. Thank you for loving us, and blessing us, and sparing us so much. We pray in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ... Amen."

OOC: BTW, my prayers would be not only verbal, but accompanied by some physical gesture (either bowing head and closing eyes, or raising right hand, depending upon the situation).
Mon Mar 16 2009 2:53 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

OOC: BTW, my prayers would be not only verbal, but accompanied by some physical gesture (either bowing head and closing eyes, or raising right hand, depending upon the situation).
Ah, but therein lies the rub.

The statement is that you can choose what physical gesture to use, "depending on the situation". That means, in theory, you could pray this same prayer while holding off enemies with pistol fire: unless the gesture is specified in a way that limits what other actions you could take at the same time, it is not a required part of the prayer.

Were you to say that to make this prayer effective, you place your hand on the lintel of the door, or the outer wall of the building, or one of the adults in the family; or that you have to bow your head (preventing you from seeing what is happening around you) or raise your left hand palm toward them (preventing you from using your left hand for something else), these actions would matter because they would be limiting. That you do something that indicates an attitude of prayer is a very minor point taken for granted by the inclusion of your religion SAL bonus. That you can alter what it is you do without affecting the efficacy of the prayer means that what you do doesn't matter.

You pray for them, confident that they have been touched.

Philip, being one of the Merry Men, will accompany you only part of the way toward Nottingham. Your other companion will take you into the city and introduce you to his sick sister. As mentioned, it may take more than two days to walk through Sherwood Forest from east to west.

--M. J. Young

Mon Mar 16 2009 10:45 pm #
WilliamTWodium
Member

Interesting. I might have awarded -4 (instead of -10) for "bowing the head or closing the eyes or raising the right hand", stipulating that one of those must be done (one body part for baseline, -2 for each alternative, so -6 if the left hand is okay, too). That would require marking the options in the skill, though, and it seems an oddly disjunctive definition of somatic involvement. Perhaps your way is best.

Is there any situation in which an attitude of prayer would be impossible? If so, could the skill not be performed, or be possible but denied the religion bonus?

Tue Mar 17 2009 12:43 am #
Oak
Member

OOC: Sorry, I didn't write that very clearly. I was referring to the blessing of the children as well as the blessing of my hosts, but not being clear about either of them... :p

To be more specific, I envisioned myself as raising my right hand when blessing a group, and bowing my head when blessing an individual. :)

BTW, how am I fixed up for provisions? Do we have enough to get to Nottingham? And back? :o

Tue Mar 17 2009 6:14 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

From Scott:

Is there any situation in which an attitude of prayer would be impossible? If so, could the skill not be performed, or be possible but denied the religion bonus?
I think this helps underscore why I don't give any bonus to "attitude of prayer" without something more. I think I can assume an "attitude of prayer" while driving, or reading, or running, or cooking, or probably fighting. It might be argued that under some particular circumstance this would be impossible, but how would I determine that it was or was not possible? The simplest is to say that the assumption of an attitude of prayer is part of the ordinary means of blessing in his faith, and that failure of the skill might reflect that he was distracted or otherwise unable to achieve the appropriate frame of mind. That is much easier, and gives me much better explanations for prayer failure, than determining the success of failure of achieving the appropriate attitude up front and then having the skill fail for some other reason.

John, I can rewrite and recalculate the rituals on that basis, if you like. It should get you a few intensities bonus on the latter. The former already included that you were laying hands on the individuals; I'm not certain (I would have to look at the details again) whether bowing your head would make a difference to it.

As far as I am aware, you have no provisions. Your original trip was to be a hike to a village near enough that you were certain of making it in a day, and you have been traveling from one village to another since, getting your meals and drink along the way.

--M. J. Young

Thu Mar 19 2009 12:14 am #
Oak
Member

Before departing the village, I spend an hour apart in prayer and Bible reading and worship.

And at the end of that time, I petition the LORD for guidance and for provision...

"Dearest LORD, you have put before me someone in need, in Nottingham, but we lack provision for the journey. I do not want to ask these poor villagers, and be a burden to them. I do not want to lead anyone to Robin's camp to get more provisions, lest I put anyone in danger. I do not want to part ways with my guide to Nottingham, and lose the way to his needy sister."

"I pray now that you will provide the means for us to make this journey, if it be your will. If you wish the villagers to be the means, then I pray that you will move their hearts to offer what provision is needed, without my asking. If you wish to bring the provision with manifested power, as when you multiplied loaves and fishes or brought manna, I pray that you will show this to me, and help me do your will. If you wish us to go forth without provision, I pray that you will either lead us to find whatever provisions are needed along the way, or sustain us so that we do not need any provision on the journey. And if you do not want me to make this journey, I pray that you will show me, so that I would do your will, in this, and in all things. Thank you for loving me, and for hearing my prayers. I pray in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ... Amen."

Thu Mar 19 2009 8:09 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The answer comes more as a question: what would you choose?

--M. J. Young

Fri Mar 20 2009 10:14 pm #
Oak
Member

OOC: I want whatever the LORD wants. However, if He really has no preference, other than deferring to mine, then I suppose that I would go for the first option:

If you wish the villagers to be the means, then I pray that you will move their hearts to offer what provision is needed, without my asking.

This seems to me to presume the least on my part, not seeking a flashy overt manifestation of His power, yet would also encourage me that I am doing what pleases the LORD, and receiving support in the same way that the LORD provided support for Paul via the Philippians (Phil 4). :)

Fri Mar 20 2009 10:29 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

I certainly do not want to "impose" my own theology of guidance on anyone; my answer above is based strictly on the roll of dice and an effort on my part to make it consistent with your own faith. Permit me, though, to raise a few thoughts.

Sometimes in my life, God has told me quite clearly what He wants me to do. Yet sometimes He seems to tell me to figure it out for myself.

Some of these situations are obvious. If I'm tempted to shoplift, I don't really spend a lot of time asking God whether it is His will for me to shoplift or not, because no matter how easy it appears to me I know that it's not God's way of meeting my needs. In fact, I'm pretty sure that God would never tell me to shoplift, and if I thought He was telling me that I would expect some really extraordinary confirmation before I would do it.

It is not always those "obviously right and wrong" situations, though. I'm not much of a fan for the "What Would Jesus Do?" school of thought, because 1) nine times out of ten there's no way to know and we wind up projecting what we think into His will for us, and 2) I'm much more interested in what Jesus would have me do than what He would do Himself--His gifts are obviously different from mine. I'm sure that were He to visit my sick friend, He would probably heal the man; that's not a gift He has given me, so the best I can do is comfort and encourage, and I think that's probably what He wants me to do, even though it is not what He would do in the same situation. Still, it is sometimes the case that I don't have the clear impression "God wants me to do this," but I am asking myself what is the more loving choice, what is the more trusting choice, what is the more Christian choice. I think that on some level God wants us to grow to the place where we choose to do the kinds of things that children of God do, not necessarily by asking Him what we should do now but by beginning to understand how He thinks and what He expects of us.

The other point I would mention is that sometimes God does not tell us what He is going to do because he wants us to step out in faith. We are called to trust Him, and to do what we believe He would have us do even when we do not see how it is going to work.

All of that is my "out of character" thought on the subject. What I know is that the dice showed no clear answer from the Lord, but were so close that I would say you knew you were in touch with God and that He simply left it to you to come up with an answer.

The local peasants in this village thank you for coming, and feed you breakfast, but they do not offer you food for the road. Your companion does fill a skin from water from the well.

--M. J. Young

Tue Mar 24 2009 12:06 am #
Oak
Member

I appreciatively enjoy their breakfast, listen and share, etc.

And before we depart...

"Dearest LORD, I know that you can sustain us on our journey by whatever means you desire. I pray that you would strengthen us as we journey, to your glory alone. I pray in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ... Amen."

And thus I depart with my two companions...

Tue Mar 24 2009 12:26 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Late in the afternoon you hear a carriage coming from behind you.

Your companion Philip, who comes from Robin's band, says, "I think your prayers might have been answered. We've got Normans coming down the road, and they're running late. I'll bet they've got a bit of food, and they'll be frightened enough we could relieve them of some of their burden."

Your other companion, headed for Nottingham, says, "Oh, I can't be involved in anything like that. I have family in Nottingham, and if the Shire Reeve determines that I'm in league with Robin Hood, he'll arrest me for certain."

It appears to fall to you as to what to do next.

--M. J. Young

Wed Mar 25 2009 12:32 am #
Oak
Member

I smile, and gently shake my head.

"The LORD has brought me here, as best as I can tell, to help bring healing to sin-sick bodies and souls, whether Saxon or Norman. How then can I raise my hand against those whom the LORD might have me minister to?"

"I will happily take what is freely offered, but I have no desire to take another man's food by force or threat. Whether they be friend or foe, I desire to let them go their way in peace."

Wed Mar 25 2009 12:54 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The carriage rides by, the driver giving you a wary look. The move into the trees beyond.

"We could have gotten quite a bit from that one, I think," Philip says. "Ah, well, probably all the better--it would have been a bluff, and if they'd called it, it would have cost."

The sound of the carriage stops abruptly.

"Mon dieu," a voice says, and continues in French (I do not see French on your character sheet, but I would expect that it is familiar enough to most Americans that we know the sound of it even without knowing the meaning). The horses snort and stamp their feet, and the French voice sounds distressed and apologetic at once.

--M. J. Young

Thu Mar 26 2009 6:36 am #
Oak
Member

OOC: No, French is not on my character sheet. I know a pitiful few phrases in Modern French ("Hello", "How are you", "Sir", "Ma'am" married and unmarried, "Do you speak French", "Do you speak English", etc). I also have some additional familiarity with a small subset of vocabulary via a few choral pieces that I know the overall translation of, and via reading historical fiction like Dumas, so I can figure out "Mon dieu". However, that wouldn't get me anywhere near understanding most Modern French, much less Medieval French. :/

I gently smile and give a friendly nod as the carriage passes by.

Once I hear the carriage stop, I glance at my companions with a slightly raised eyebrow, and then start walking toward it.

As I walk, I silently pray that the LORD will give me insight into their thoughts, and help bridge the language barrier. Then I quietly sing an appropriate song as I continue walking (a choral piece based upon Psalm 139). Also, as I walk, I hold my Bible over my heart (one-handed, since I'm carrying my oak staff as a walking stick), and my prayer includes a relevant Scripture passage. However, I do not attempt to open and read from the Bible, since I'm walking.

I continue the petitioning/preparation right up to the time that our walking brings them into view, however long that takes. (So the mechanics of this M7@8 Hear Thoughts attempt are somewhat different than my other attempt back on my first day in Sherwood Forest, as is the duration.)

Once they are in view, I make my attempt to sense the French speaker's thoughts.

IF I am NOT successful, then I experimentally stretch forth my psionic senses, attempting to read thoughts and tap language center that way instead... :)

Thu Mar 26 2009 10:29 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

I don't know whether this matters, but as you come around the bend you see the carriage stopped, and a large tree fallen across the road. The driver looks very nervous and ill equipped to move an obstacle of that size.

The carriage is less than three minutes ahead of you afoot. If you wish to attempt to contact the man's thoughts, I will roll for that, but I think what he is thinking is at this point fairly obvious.

--M. J. Young

Thu Mar 26 2009 10:28 pm #
Oak
Member

I want to know not only his surface thoughts, but also details such as who they are, why are they here, etc. So yes, please do roll.

"Well, lads, it seems the LORD has brought us someone in need. Shall we lend them a hand, and see if we can be of service?"

If they are agreeable, I head over toward them in a friendly, non-threatening manner, and ask (with gestures, if necessary) if we can be of help...

Thu Mar 26 2009 10:44 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

As John Cross would insist, God certainly knows what it is that you are hoping this prayer will accomplish. As I have often told him, I do not, and can only go by what you appear to be asking.

I have examined Psalm 139 and concluded that it is too long for a three minute song. (I noticed that many years ago, that most settings of scripture took very small snippets, and those which did not turned into major works.) Thus I'd like to know what words are included in the song as you are singing it. That should help.

Also, you are praying for "insight into their thoughts" and also that it would "help bridge the language barrier". However, you want "not only his surface thoughts, but also details such as who they are, why they are here". I can make a long list of distinct things you want to know--names, titles, station in life, current business, immediate and ultimate destination, purpose of journey, understanding of their language, luggage, skills....obviously this is more than you expect to discover, but I think it's necessary for us to figure out between us what it is you do hope and expect to discover.

For example, I think that knowing who someone "is", in the sense of name, title, employ, possibly the purpose of this journey and such, requires a searching of someone's memories in some way; knowing their present intentions and what they are trying to communicate is much more about surface thoughts (and possibly emotions). Knowing whether these are essentially good trustworthy people is something else again--you would have to search through a lot of memories to draw such a conclusion, but you could presumably detect their character directly without any contact with their memories.

I'm probably confusing the issues here. I suppose what I'm asking is, are you trying to cram complete and total knowledge of the carriageful of people you are about to meet into one three minute prayer, or is your expectation focused in some way that I am not yet comprehending?

Thanks.

--M. J. Young

Sat Mar 28 2009 6:06 am #
Oak
Member

OOC: When I first arrived in Sherwood Forest, I read the thoughts of the rider on the road ("http://discussions.gamingoutpost.com/index.php?&showtopic=82995&st=20").

I first read his surface thoughts.

Then you gave me the option of prioritizing what else I wanted to know before the rider vanished from view, and I gave you a wish list.

All this was translated from French as necessary.

I aspire to do the same thing here, except that I would have a longer time to prepare, but I would be walking, and not looking down to read from the Bible.

Since I have longer than the 18 seconds I used last time, wouldn't this potentially work? :)

Sun Mar 29 2009 5:38 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Got it. You are using this:

1@2 Hear Thoughts M+7@8 sing, read from bible, requires both hands, 0:18TF, includes surface thoughts, memories, and translation if necessary, -5 SM
as an example for creating a new skill, something like this:

Hear Thoughts M+7@8 silently pray for insight into thoughts and to bridge language barrier, including relevant Scripture passage, then quietly sing song based upon Psalm 139, while holding Bible over heart one-handed, 3:00TF
When you use the words "silently" and "quietly", exactly what do you mean? Is "silent prayer" entirely in your head, or do you move your lips, or do you vocalize it very quietly? Is "quiet singing" actually audible to those around you, and how hard do they have to listen to hear it?

And yes, it ostensibly should work, depending on--well, on whether or not it does.

--M. J. Young

Sun Mar 29 2009 11:09 pm #
Oak
Member

I move my lips for the prayer and Scripture, and sing with volume as if I was singing to myself -- light conversational, rather than project-from-stage-to-rear-of-auditorium volume.

Do I get the benefit of the same example I used for the original Hear Thoughts, or is my previous Hear Thoughts used as the example? Which one is more beneficial in terms of game mechanics? :)

Mon Mar 30 2009 7:08 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The man is afraid that he has driven his employer into a trap, that robbers are about to emerge from the trees and take their money and goods. He does not know whether he can shift that tree himself, and thinks he will have to unhitch one of the horses to do so--which will immobilize the carriage if they are attacked in that time.

He is not certain who or what you are.

He is a Saxon, and so speaks English; his employers are Norman, and their English is limited. They are wanting to know what is happening out there, and he is trying to explain to them that he has to clear the road as it has been blocked by a fallen tree.

Your arrival could be fortuitous, or it could be the trap springing closed, and he does not yet know which.

His employers are bound for Nottingham, and although they are aware of the dangers of passing through Sherwood Forest, they have their own reasons for doing so. These are somehow related to a son seeking a position in which to learn combat at arms, and the belief that the Shire Reeve in Nottingham can use such a man.

--M. J. Young

Tue Mar 31 2009 5:10 am #
Oak
Member

I approach the driver with a friendly nod and gentle smile, walking neither faster nor slower than when he earlier saw us walking along the road.

My pace slows casually as I draw nearer, and I speak with gentle friendliness.

"Peace be unto you, friend. Do you need any help?"

Tue Mar 31 2009 6:58 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

He relaxes some.

"Oh, you are a godsend. When I saw the road blocked, I feared--well, no matter. If you would be so kind as to lend a hand clearing the road...."

Philip can see your inclination. He mutters, "I can't believe I'm doing this," but moves over to get a grip on the fallen log. Your other companion does so as well, as does the driver of the carriage. His employers remain inside.

--M. J. Young

Tue Mar 31 2009 6:28 pm #
Oak
Member

"Glad to help, friend. I am John, by the way..."

I find a suitable place to grip the fallen log, and heave in time with the others...

Wed Apr 1 2009 1:00 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

The four of you shift the log until it is lying alongside the road, leaving space for the carriage to pass.

The driver thanks you profusely, and asks if there is anything he can do to return the favor.

--M. J. Young

Thu Apr 2 2009 1:48 am #
Oak
Member

"It is a blessing to be able to serve the LORD by serving you."

I smile warmly and nod in response to his offer.

"Well, this lad and I are bound for Nottingham to visit his sick sister, but that wasn't decided until after I had set off journeying a few days ago, and our food is already gone. If you have food enough to share a bite with us, that would be a blessing indeed."

Thu Apr 2 2009 5:54 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"The two of you, ey?" He glances at Philip, the one you've excluded. "Well, I can do you one better, perhaps. If you don't mind one riding up top with me and the other hanging on the back as footman, I'll have you to Nottingham by nightfall, assuming we don't hit any obstacles the three of us can't manage. Does that solve your problem?"

"Don't worry about me," Philip says. "I can find food in the woods and get back, er, home without trouble."

--M. J. Young

Thu Apr 2 2009 10:29 pm #
Oak
Member

I smile warmly.

"That would indeed, and get us to her all the faster. Thank you very much."

I turn to Philip.

"It has been a pleasure sharing the road with you, my friend. LORD willing, before long, we shall again."

Then I turn to <Do-You-Want-To-Name-Him-Or-Shall-I>, and ask "Well, lad, it looks like the LORD speeds us onward. Do you want the top, or the back?"

Fri Apr 3 2009 12:26 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

Phillip seems surprised, and recovers poorly. "Oh, right. Of course. I'll let R--everyone know where you've gone."

We'll call him Jared.

"It's the same to me. You get to sit if you're on top, but you're also more likely to hit low-hanging branches if you don't keep your wits about you."

--M. J. Young

Sat Apr 4 2009 12:04 am #
Oak
Member

I nod.

"I think I'll face the peril of the branches, and the opportunity to chat with our new friend, the driver..."

And so I take my place up next to him.

"Thank you again for the ride."

"Tell me something of yourself, my friend. What is your name, and what paths brought you here today, to share this journey with me?"

Sat Apr 4 2009 7:40 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

He tells you his name. He is in the employ of the Lord Richelou and his Lady, a knight of some distinction but now retired. Mostly he cares for the carriage and the horses. He is not unhappy with his pay or his keep, although he has a cousin who insists that it is wrong for him to work for the Norman lords. His Lord and Lady are bound for Nottingham, and it is not for him to ask the purposes of their errands.

He asks about you in turn.

--M. J. Young

Mon Apr 6 2009 2:43 am #
Oak
Member

OOC: Sigh. You wanna name this one, or shall I? :p

"I am a traveller from afar, seeking to serve the LORD by ministering to those around me. Jared told me that he has an ailing sister in Nottingham, so I am going there to look after her, and to encourage her from the Holy Scripture, and to pray for her."

"I have yet to go to Nottingham. What is it like?"

Mon Apr 6 2009 5:43 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

OOC: Sigh. You wanna name this one, or shall I? :p

Um--no?

In my approach to play, incidental characters don't get names unless they cease to be incidental. For the moment, this guy's name is "the driver"; probably in future his name will be "the driver of the carriage through Sherwood Forest". That's a name I will have little trouble remembering.

If you want to call him something else, you certainly may call him anything you like; but when you want me to know who you mean by that, you will have to add "the driver" so I know.

There are a lot of tricks like this, and some of them can be a bit silly. For example, anyone who played in E. R. Jones' games knew that the stableboy's name was "Bob", even if it was the thousandth stableboy, and anyone you met whose name was Henry was a professional thief. Players used to tease that, as their characters would walk into unfamiliar towns and address the stableboy by name immediately, and tell the barkeeper they were looking for someone named Henry.

I avoid that. I said "He tells you his name". Now your character knows his name, and I know that your character knows it, and you will use it. If you want to make a point of using it, you can say something like, "'So you see,' and I address him by name, 'it comes down to this.'"

Otherwise next week at this time, the driver will be a forgotten character and I'll have burned up a useful name.

Does that make sense?

"Beg your pardon, Father; I did not recognize you as a holy man in your traveling attire."

"What, Nottingham? Well, it's not London, you understand; it's not even Canterbury. But it is the biggest city in these northern parts. I don't think the crown takes it too seriously--the shire reeve is really the highest ranking nobleman in the city, charged with protection of the forest, which is more than he can handle to be sure. There are a few other nobles who stay for extended visits, as they enjoy the hunting--but that's not so common as once way, or so they say, since this Hood and his thugs have made the forest unsafe for them as has the divine right of kings on them."

--M. J. Young

Tue Apr 7 2009 2:17 am #
Oak
Member

"No, I am not a clergyman, just an unworthy follower of our LORD."

"Please, tell me of this Hood."

"If the forest is unsafe, then why would your lord venture to pass through?"

Tue Apr 7 2009 6:40 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Hmmm. Never heard of someone travelin' somewhere to pray for the sick, who wasn't like a priest or a friar. I woul'n't have thought you could do that, if you weren't in the Lord's employ, or however you want to say it. Called, I think, is the word they use, i'n't it?"

"You've not heard of the robbin' hood that prowls these woods with his band of brigands, waylayin' travelers as have any money, and vanishing into the trees like ghosts? They say he shares his ill-gotten gains with a few peasants, which gets him help vanishing when he needs it. The shire reeve has yet to find anyone willing to tell him how to find this villain; he can't even be sure whether the peasants know."

"I guess you've no idea. Sherwood Forest is easily a hunnert miles across, I'd wager. Well, maybe not so big as that--but it's quite a distance out of the way to go around. To the north, of course, you'd be skirting the edge of Scotland, and the Scots are no better than the local bandits--worse, as they'll hold for ransom anyone they think might have more money or rich family or political connections. The south is just so far out of the way--if you're going into Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Forest is the dominant feature, and you've pretty much got to pass through it."

--M. J. Young

Wed Apr 8 2009 3:06 am #
Oak
Member

"I am Called indeed, but as a layman."

"How long has this robbin' hood been active?"

"Where do you live? You mentioned a cousin before -- tell me about your family..."

Wed Apr 8 2009 2:42 pm #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Called as a layman? Is that kind of like joining a monastery? I don't really understand all that--being called to do the church work but not being a priest. But then, of late it's mostly Normans who are priests, leastwise in London. Don't know if it's different up here."

"Oh, I'm from London. We only heard of this Hood this year. Couldn't say how long he's been at it, but some say it started as soon as His Majesty King Richard left for the Crusade, leaving his brother John as regent. Richard should be back soon, though, they say. He'll get the matter sorted, no doubt."

He's not married, but he sends some of his pay to help his aging father, who lives in London still; his mother died giving birth to another son, who also died. The cousin he mentioned is his mother's brother's son, and there is another boy and three girls in that family. All are married with children of their own. They struggle to make due in London, and to pay their taxes, and they blame the Norman rulers for their poverty, but it seems to him that it's as much to do with trying to make a living in the city. "You can only work for people what has money, and if the Normans has the money, there's no point grousing about having to work for them."

--M. J. Young

Thu Apr 9 2009 11:45 pm #
Oak
Member

"No, I am not called to withdraw from the world, but to go to those in need of healing, whether physical or spiritual."

"Is your employer also from London?"

"Do you know if Nottingham has craftsmen who make musical instruments? I had to leave my instruments behind, and wouldn't mind seeing those used in these parts, and learning more of them..."

Fri Apr 10 2009 6:01 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"I don't know," he says. "It sounds like you're from one of those monastical ordinaries, or whatever they're called--a bit of medical care, a bit of spiritual encouragement and guidance, tell a man how to better himself, what to give to the church, and what herbs to take for what ails him. But you say you're not part of any order? So I guess I don't gut who you are or what you're doing--not as it's any of my business, o' course, but, well, it seems like it's something new, and I'm trying to understand what it is."

It is the driver's first visit to Nottingham, but he says that there are craftsmen in London and in Canterbury, so it's likely that there would be some in Nottingham. His employer's home is in London, but he has business concerns in Canterbury, so they travel between the two cities quite a bit and stay in Canterbury often. The driver thinks that the employer might be investigating whether he can expand his business to Nottingham, although the bandits in the woods are definitely a problem for anyone who wants to ship goods up here.

--M. J. Young

Sun Apr 12 2009 11:11 pm #
Oak
Member

I smile reassuringly at his queries, plainly unoffended by his curiosity.

"In a way, I suppose it may well be new to these lands, though it is really quite old. I hear the LORD's will through neither Pope nor Priest, but through His Word, the Holy Scriptures, alone. And long before these Romish traditions of men arose, the early church of Bible times followed the pure teaching of the Holy Bible, as I seek to do also."

I begin to explain some of the differences (the "Five Solas", etc.) with a brief overview, happily expanding or curtailing my discussion based upon his interest level...

Wed Apr 15 2009 12:50 am #
M. J. Young
Moderator

"Well, what you say makes sense, but--how do you know you've got it right? How do I know you know what you're talking about? I mean, it would seem to me that it takes an educated man to know what the Bible means by what it says. I don't even know French, and the Bible is in Latin. So how does a man--any man, really, but let's say you and let's say me--know what the Bible means, except we ask someone who's been taught it right, because he was taught by people who were taught by people, back to Paul and Peter themselves?"

--M. J. Young

Sat Apr 18 2009 6:57 am #
Oak
Member

"Well, it does so happen that I am indeed educated. However, your point is well taken. To know the LORD's will concerning true and sound doctrine, we must be able to test any and all doctrinal teachings against what appears in the Holy Scriptures... and the Romish church has cleverly erected language barriers to hinder the people from doing so."

"But the Bible wasn't originally written in Latin. The original language of the Old Testament is Hebrew, and of the New Testament is Greek. It was translated from those original languages into Latin... just as it can be translated into English, or any other language."

"I know that the Romish church does not teach true and sound doctrine because I know the Holy Scriptures in my own language. Allow me to compare and contrast the relevant Holy Scriptures with various Romish teachings..."

And so I proceed... :)

Sun Apr 19 2009 1:35 pm #

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