Day and Night 5
DAY AND NIGHT 5!
It looks like the doctor had left a gift for his fellow plotters, and that at least one of them is still among you. With the abrupt death of the Pardoner, no one else feels like eating or drinking, and everyone goes to bed. The remaining pilgrims take turns holding a watch, and no additional murders occur during the night.
The Franklin senses my need to keep everyone's spirits up, and without any encouragement from me agrees to tell a tale.
The Franklin's tale concerns a Breton knight, who has fallen in love with a beautiful high-born woman. He's nervous to even speak to her, but he's determined to win her love. He preforms many brave actions in her name, and confesses that he's head-over-heels. The lady's heart is finally won, and they are wed. He vows to make her the happiest wife who's ever lived, so he promises he will never command her to do anything that she doesn't want to do as well. He further promises never to accuse her of impropriety, and to always be attentive to her needs. The wife is moved by her husband's vow and in turn promises to always be patient with him. She knows that couples always bicker sometimes, but that she'll always forgive him. "Amen," quod the Wife of Bath, clearly enjoying this tale.
The couple lives together very happily and deeply in love. All of their friends are jealous of their happy marriage. Eventually, however, duty calls the Knight to serve in England, and he sorrowfully departs from his beloved wife Dorigen. Every day, Dorigen looks out over the rocky Breton coastline to see if her husband's ship has returned, fearing that it might be dashed upon the rocks that have doomed many a ship.
Dorigen, however, had another admirer, a young and talented squire named Aurelius. Consumed with passion, Aurelius confesses his love for Dorigen. She explains that she likes Aurelius as a friend, but that she's deeply in love with her husband and that, consequentially, she swears that she'd only give her love to the person who could vanish every single rock from the extremely long Breton coast -- so, in a word, nobody.
Utterly dejected, Aurelius returns home in tears. He barely leaves his room, and is clearly wasting away. His brother comes to attempt to console him, and Aurelius explains his woes. As luck would have it, his brother recalls from his student days in Orleans meeting a learned druid. Perhaps the druid would know of some way to help poor Aurelius?
Aurelius and his brother journey to Orleans to consult with the druid. He explains that it is indeed within his power to work an illusion -- he can make it appear as though all the rocks along the coast of Brittany have vanished. Dorigen had sworn to love any man who could preform this task had she not? Aurelius was so desperately smitten that he paid the Druid illusionist his 1000 pounds, arguing that the love of Dorigen would be worth any price.
Aurelius, his heart finally at ease knowing his greatest desire would soon be his, slept peacefully for the first time since he first set eyes upon Dorigen. The next day Aurelius, his brother, and the Druid return to Brittany. The Druid pours over astronomical charts to determine await an appropriate day on which to preform his magic. By the time such a day came, Dorigen had been joyously reunited with her husband Arveragus.
As soon as the druid brought about the miracle, Aurelius went to the temple at which he knew to expect Dorigen to boast of his feat. He said that he knew she was happily married and everything, but he was hopelessly in love with her. He reminded her that she had promised to love any man who could make all the rocks along the coast of Brittany disappear, and he invited her to return home to look at the coastline.
Dorigen returned home, her face utterly drained of blood, and overcome entirely with sorrow. She had indeed sworn a sacred oath to love such a man! She curses treacherous Fortune, who has presented her with a choice of either killing herself, dishonoring her oath, or dishonoring her marriage vows. She was fully leaning toward the suicide option when at last her beloved husband returned home for the day. Seeing his wife was clearly extremely upset, he asked her what had transpired and she explained her situation.
Her husband was hardly upset at all. He explained that he couldn't bear to live in a world without her, but that he couldn't bear the thought of his wife dishonoring her sacred oath to Aurelius. As far as he was concerned, surrendering her to Aurelius seemed easily to be the least bad option. He said he would always be willing to forgive her because he loved her so much.
Aurelius, curious to find out what Dorigen's answer would be, then came to visit. He finds her in the garden, and she explains that her husband has agreed to allow Dorigen to fulfill her oath to Aurelius. Dorigen is obviously horrified at what is about to transpire. As she begins to undress, Aurelius is moved to pity, and realizes that he cannot bear to force Dorigen to uphold her bargain, so he formally releases her from her oath. Dorigen thanks him, and returns to her husband.
Poor Aurelius still has to pay the 1,000 pounds to the druid, however. His inheritance is a paltry 500. He gives over the 500 to the druid, and begs for time and mercy to come up with the other half. He explains that he felt terrible at the thought of disrupting such a lovely woman's happiness and that he could not go through with his plan. The druid is also moved to pity, and releases Aurelius from the obligation of further payment. Every good and noble deed inspired another one, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Even if Dorigen and her husband are a little too perfect, everyone agrees that the Franklin had told a lovely and noble tale. Everyone, that is, except for the Parson.
"No!" He interjected. "That knight allowed his wife to govern him, which is contrary to nature and God's will!"
"Were you listening, you simpleton? They had a beautiful partnership based on mutual love and forgiveness! Neither governed the other!" Retorted the Wife of Bath.
"No! I shall explain. Let me speak of each of the seven deadly sins and each of the 7 virtues. We shall begin with Superbia."
The Parson goes on for an hour.
Then the Parson goes on for several more.
The Parson still isn't done yet. Everyone is bored stiff.
Finally the Clerk cuts in.
"Dear Parson!" I fear god as much as the next man and more so than many, but I don't know if I've ever heard a sermon this long. We've reached the tavern. Is it not time to break off for the night?"
"You villain! I must still discuss the great and necessary virtue of Chastity!"
"I really think we've heard enough. Couldn't you tell an enobling story like the Franklin did instead of this dreary sermon?" Asked the summoner.
"Vile sinful summoner! I'll cut your throat to purify our Holy Mother Church of your filth just the way I killed that terrible Friar!"
Everyone is shocked to hear this confession. The remaining pilgrims decide that the only the only absolution available to the Parson will be his death.
"As miserable a soul as that Pardoner was, remarked the Franklin, he never killed anyone."
The next day, you wake to find that the Franklin, who had told such a nice tale, had been murdered at night. After hearing his tale, it was clear that he had been one of the wisest of you, and that without him, the party would be seriously disadvantaged in your quest to determine the remaining murderer among you.
XARKAN THE PARSON AND MURDEROUS PILGRIM (WEREWOLF) IS LYNCHED
CAPIBARA THE FRANKLIN AND MASTER STORYTELLER (SEER) IS HUNTED
It looks like the doctor had left a gift for his fellow plotters, and that at least one of them is still among you. With the abrupt death of the Pardoner, no one else feels like eating or drinking, and everyone goes to bed. The remaining pilgrims take turns holding a watch, and no additional murders occur during the night.
The Franklin senses my need to keep everyone's spirits up, and without any encouragement from me agrees to tell a tale.
The Franklin's tale concerns a Breton knight, who has fallen in love with a beautiful high-born woman. He's nervous to even speak to her, but he's determined to win her love. He preforms many brave actions in her name, and confesses that he's head-over-heels. The lady's heart is finally won, and they are wed. He vows to make her the happiest wife who's ever lived, so he promises he will never command her to do anything that she doesn't want to do as well. He further promises never to accuse her of impropriety, and to always be attentive to her needs. The wife is moved by her husband's vow and in turn promises to always be patient with him. She knows that couples always bicker sometimes, but that she'll always forgive him. "Amen," quod the Wife of Bath, clearly enjoying this tale.
The couple lives together very happily and deeply in love. All of their friends are jealous of their happy marriage. Eventually, however, duty calls the Knight to serve in England, and he sorrowfully departs from his beloved wife Dorigen. Every day, Dorigen looks out over the rocky Breton coastline to see if her husband's ship has returned, fearing that it might be dashed upon the rocks that have doomed many a ship.
Dorigen, however, had another admirer, a young and talented squire named Aurelius. Consumed with passion, Aurelius confesses his love for Dorigen. She explains that she likes Aurelius as a friend, but that she's deeply in love with her husband and that, consequentially, she swears that she'd only give her love to the person who could vanish every single rock from the extremely long Breton coast -- so, in a word, nobody.
Utterly dejected, Aurelius returns home in tears. He barely leaves his room, and is clearly wasting away. His brother comes to attempt to console him, and Aurelius explains his woes. As luck would have it, his brother recalls from his student days in Orleans meeting a learned druid. Perhaps the druid would know of some way to help poor Aurelius?
Aurelius and his brother journey to Orleans to consult with the druid. He explains that it is indeed within his power to work an illusion -- he can make it appear as though all the rocks along the coast of Brittany have vanished. Dorigen had sworn to love any man who could preform this task had she not? Aurelius was so desperately smitten that he paid the Druid illusionist his 1000 pounds, arguing that the love of Dorigen would be worth any price.
Aurelius, his heart finally at ease knowing his greatest desire would soon be his, slept peacefully for the first time since he first set eyes upon Dorigen. The next day Aurelius, his brother, and the Druid return to Brittany. The Druid pours over astronomical charts to determine await an appropriate day on which to preform his magic. By the time such a day came, Dorigen had been joyously reunited with her husband Arveragus.
As soon as the druid brought about the miracle, Aurelius went to the temple at which he knew to expect Dorigen to boast of his feat. He said that he knew she was happily married and everything, but he was hopelessly in love with her. He reminded her that she had promised to love any man who could make all the rocks along the coast of Brittany disappear, and he invited her to return home to look at the coastline.
Dorigen returned home, her face utterly drained of blood, and overcome entirely with sorrow. She had indeed sworn a sacred oath to love such a man! She curses treacherous Fortune, who has presented her with a choice of either killing herself, dishonoring her oath, or dishonoring her marriage vows. She was fully leaning toward the suicide option when at last her beloved husband returned home for the day. Seeing his wife was clearly extremely upset, he asked her what had transpired and she explained her situation.
Her husband was hardly upset at all. He explained that he couldn't bear to live in a world without her, but that he couldn't bear the thought of his wife dishonoring her sacred oath to Aurelius. As far as he was concerned, surrendering her to Aurelius seemed easily to be the least bad option. He said he would always be willing to forgive her because he loved her so much.
Aurelius, curious to find out what Dorigen's answer would be, then came to visit. He finds her in the garden, and she explains that her husband has agreed to allow Dorigen to fulfill her oath to Aurelius. Dorigen is obviously horrified at what is about to transpire. As she begins to undress, Aurelius is moved to pity, and realizes that he cannot bear to force Dorigen to uphold her bargain, so he formally releases her from her oath. Dorigen thanks him, and returns to her husband.
Poor Aurelius still has to pay the 1,000 pounds to the druid, however. His inheritance is a paltry 500. He gives over the 500 to the druid, and begs for time and mercy to come up with the other half. He explains that he felt terrible at the thought of disrupting such a lovely woman's happiness and that he could not go through with his plan. The druid is also moved to pity, and releases Aurelius from the obligation of further payment. Every good and noble deed inspired another one, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Even if Dorigen and her husband are a little too perfect, everyone agrees that the Franklin had told a lovely and noble tale. Everyone, that is, except for the Parson.
"No!" He interjected. "That knight allowed his wife to govern him, which is contrary to nature and God's will!"
"Were you listening, you simpleton? They had a beautiful partnership based on mutual love and forgiveness! Neither governed the other!" Retorted the Wife of Bath.
"No! I shall explain. Let me speak of each of the seven deadly sins and each of the 7 virtues. We shall begin with Superbia."
The Parson goes on for an hour.
Then the Parson goes on for several more.
The Parson still isn't done yet. Everyone is bored stiff.
Finally the Clerk cuts in.
"Dear Parson!" I fear god as much as the next man and more so than many, but I don't know if I've ever heard a sermon this long. We've reached the tavern. Is it not time to break off for the night?"
"You villain! I must still discuss the great and necessary virtue of Chastity!"
"I really think we've heard enough. Couldn't you tell an enobling story like the Franklin did instead of this dreary sermon?" Asked the summoner.
"Vile sinful summoner! I'll cut your throat to purify our Holy Mother Church of your filth just the way I killed that terrible Friar!"
Everyone is shocked to hear this confession. The remaining pilgrims decide that the only the only absolution available to the Parson will be his death.
"As miserable a soul as that Pardoner was, remarked the Franklin, he never killed anyone."
The next day, you wake to find that the Franklin, who had told such a nice tale, had been murdered at night. After hearing his tale, it was clear that he had been one of the wisest of you, and that without him, the party would be seriously disadvantaged in your quest to determine the remaining murderer among you.
XARKAN THE PARSON AND MURDEROUS PILGRIM (WEREWOLF) IS LYNCHED
CAPIBARA THE FRANKLIN AND MASTER STORYTELLER (SEER) IS HUNTED
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