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I suppose I should start with who I am before I move onto the why I am here.
I’m Jan, Jan Brightson. The Brightson isn’t my birth name, truth be told I don't know what that is, but the Jan is me. That much at least was written on the paper left with me at the temple.
I’m a priest, a junior one, in the service of his divinity the MorningLord; Lathander. I’ve served well since I can remember, learning the doctrine, observing the tenants, singing the hymns and reciting the canticles in my youth, I’ve honed my self, striven to become all I can be, enjoyed the gifts of my health, mind and heart. I know that a good book, be it fact or fiction, can be a supreme joy. I know the pleasure of running in a storm, of the sun kissing bare flesh, the energy of youth and the blessings of vitality.
I know the satisfaction that can be claimed from seeing something in your mind become a drawing or sculpture, the pleasure of seeing the sensations of a sunrise captured in dabs of oils left by my hands.
Through interest and sparing I’ve learnt to fight, sadly on more than one occasion I’ve needed to call upon this in my services to Lathander, and in some ways I’ve honed my skills, although there are still many to learn.
But despite my services and my dedication, there is a problem.
I cannot give it a true name, for I do not know it, and despite the best efforts of my elders at the temple it still resides within me. This… Thing.
It began as nothing more than a niggle, nothing more; A small lump behind my jaw only discovered by accident. That was a season ago, what sits there now is impossible to miss by touch, although praise to Lathander it does not yet notice through my skin and worse still are the presence of other lumps on my neck, small and hard like the start of the first.
The clerics of Ilmater have been honest and helpful, while the truth that there is little they can do to help filled me with panic at first I see now that a false hope would have been a worse fate.
I suppose you could consider me one of Lathanders most blessed. I’ve grown in his glory, enjoyed the vitality, youth and energy and made the most of the gifts he has given me. That I’ll not live to see age claim any of these is in some way better than growing old and weary, remembering but unable to live up to the energy of the past.
This cursed blessing that I have been granted may have closed the doors on a settled, family life but it has opened many more. To know you are going to die soon, regardless of what you do removes the fear of death. I am no longer held back by worry or fear as the biggest fear – that for my life – has been removed. In one fell swoop I have been saved and condemned. Blessed and cursed.
That is what I tell myself.
That is who I am: Jan Brightson, Awakened of Lathander, blessed and cursed to never seeing middle or old age.
As for why I am here on this boat?
If you were to find out you had only a short time to live, and I don’t mean in the ‘you might get hit by a cart tomorrow’ kind of way, would you not seek to see more of the world? See what other experiences you could have, what other cultures are waiting for you? If you had been set free from fear would you not embrace any chance you had?
It’s just a shame this boat trip has taken so long.
I’m Jan, Jan Brightson. The Brightson isn’t my birth name, truth be told I don't know what that is, but the Jan is me. That much at least was written on the paper left with me at the temple.
I’m a priest, a junior one, in the service of his divinity the MorningLord; Lathander. I’ve served well since I can remember, learning the doctrine, observing the tenants, singing the hymns and reciting the canticles in my youth, I’ve honed my self, striven to become all I can be, enjoyed the gifts of my health, mind and heart. I know that a good book, be it fact or fiction, can be a supreme joy. I know the pleasure of running in a storm, of the sun kissing bare flesh, the energy of youth and the blessings of vitality.
I know the satisfaction that can be claimed from seeing something in your mind become a drawing or sculpture, the pleasure of seeing the sensations of a sunrise captured in dabs of oils left by my hands.
Through interest and sparing I’ve learnt to fight, sadly on more than one occasion I’ve needed to call upon this in my services to Lathander, and in some ways I’ve honed my skills, although there are still many to learn.
But despite my services and my dedication, there is a problem.
I cannot give it a true name, for I do not know it, and despite the best efforts of my elders at the temple it still resides within me. This… Thing.
It began as nothing more than a niggle, nothing more; A small lump behind my jaw only discovered by accident. That was a season ago, what sits there now is impossible to miss by touch, although praise to Lathander it does not yet notice through my skin and worse still are the presence of other lumps on my neck, small and hard like the start of the first.
The clerics of Ilmater have been honest and helpful, while the truth that there is little they can do to help filled me with panic at first I see now that a false hope would have been a worse fate.
I suppose you could consider me one of Lathanders most blessed. I’ve grown in his glory, enjoyed the vitality, youth and energy and made the most of the gifts he has given me. That I’ll not live to see age claim any of these is in some way better than growing old and weary, remembering but unable to live up to the energy of the past.
This cursed blessing that I have been granted may have closed the doors on a settled, family life but it has opened many more. To know you are going to die soon, regardless of what you do removes the fear of death. I am no longer held back by worry or fear as the biggest fear – that for my life – has been removed. In one fell swoop I have been saved and condemned. Blessed and cursed.
That is what I tell myself.
That is who I am: Jan Brightson, Awakened of Lathander, blessed and cursed to never seeing middle or old age.
As for why I am here on this boat?
If you were to find out you had only a short time to live, and I don’t mean in the ‘you might get hit by a cart tomorrow’ kind of way, would you not seek to see more of the world? See what other experiences you could have, what other cultures are waiting for you? If you had been set free from fear would you not embrace any chance you had?
It’s just a shame this boat trip has taken so long.