Greeting the Grey

Long before Scarrow Black had forged the Empire of Naggaryn from the countless feuding nations that spread throughout the southlands, the mortal races were forced to endure and battle against the Cryptic spirits that lurked thick within their boundaries. Of these, one of the most feared was that of Enevir, The Grey Lady. She rules over ignorance, over knowledge deprived and absence where once there was curiosity, and by her nature does she seek to spread this darkness across the world.   Legend has it that she knows all that is not known by another, and that in reverse, she forgets what others discern. As such, her followers prowl the lands, searching for those seeking secrets long hidden, and ensuring that their inquisitive natures burn bright, and burn fast. The Chronicles of Naggarn are then natural enemies of The Greyfane, for they pride themselves not only on spreading their tales across the land as wandering storytellers, but uncovering lost myths and legends buried throughout the millenia.   So was born this tradition then, a measure or protection, for though the Chronicles are formidable, they are few in number and scattered far. They would announce to the world of when they were departing, and of which path they would tread, hoping that such would steal the truth from her grasp. Over time, many would adopt this custom for good luck, and some cities would even build specific gates for the purpose, naming them Legends and carving upon them all the destinations the path could lead.

The tradition itself is very simple, designed as it was by those who possessed little and travelled far. One must stand before the gate through which they intend to leave, think clearly of when they intend to go, and merely mutter the following rhyme:   "Where We Go Wander, Where We Go See,
The Old, Grey Lady is After Me."   Such declares loudly to all that may hear that their path is haunted by The Greyfane, and in doing so would strip from her mind the knowledge of both who they are, and where they would be. Doing so before a Legend is considered of particular efficacy, for by the laws of the land, they must always be manned by at least one soul of sharp hearing.

There are no tools, foci nor fetishes required for this simple rite. Only a wish to wander and the feet to follow the heart's desire onwards. A few scatter coins as they do so, offer a prayer to their god of choice, or leave some trinket or marking symbolic of where they head, but such are the actions of the overly cautious. The rite either works, or it does not, for none can truly say. Those who would know, their lives bound to Enevir, can never speak what is not known, their tongues branded with grave runes of quiet and calm.

Being a ritual of one, the only member needed are they who wish to travel safe behind a simple superstition that can ostensibly fool a god. For the more formal declarations, some may request a witness to their revelation, a belief that the knowledge must be shared before it can be hidden. In small villages and towns, this is often the responsobility of the lamp-lighter or night's watch, but within the larger cities, this duty falls upon the Keeper of Secrets. This title is given to the one who watches the Legend, who ensures the routes carved upon it are both accurate and in-date, and who carries the weight of paths promised in solitude, forever guarding them from The Greyfane.

A matter of convenience, this ritual is performed as required by those who seek to avoid The Greyfane's attention. A similar ritual is performed by Chronicles when their paths cross however, an event that occurs precisely once a year for each of them. How such a thing is possible is a truth that, with some irony, is perhaps known only by Enevir. Lacking any formal title, it is merely referred to as 'Sharing the Flame', and entails nothing more than the two Chronicles sharing the tales of the road, and their plans for the future. This event is treated with great respect by the storytellers, and many carry a special bottle for when such an occasion occurs.