TRAVELS // WITH // METHUSELAH

[singmod]

T R A V E L S // W I T H // M E T H U S E L A H

"Well then, Newcomer. Let us see what we can make of you."

When players go on hiatus, they may choose to have their characters go on travels with Methuselah for an amount of time. Here, out in the wilds, they will spend time honing a skill — trapping, archery, tracking, fire-craft, field-dressing, fishing. This, however, will come with a price: injury and illness are common, and the exchange OOCly is character being injured along the way, or getting ill. Rest assured, Methuselah will look after a character when something unfortunate befalls them — and he will safely return them back to the safety of Milton.

While he is a man of few words, and unused to companionship for the most part — he will talk to characters about things. He will be focused on the task at hand, the skill they're working on, he may tell stories he has grown up with — folk tales, and off the like. But he is also sympathetic to the plight of the Interlopers, and will do his best to help them in terms of information.

Characters will be able to ask Methuselah questions whilst on travels with him, but this is limited to only three. Players/characters must choose their questions carefully, and Methuselah will try his best to answer them. Characters may not like the response given, but that's the chance they have to take.

Here, you will find interactions with Methuselah: short threads that can be played out or handwaved with Mod discussion. Handwaved interactions can simply be the three questions posted by character and the response.

Please note that this is only open to players who have gone on Hiatus and chosen Option Two, and following the acceptance of this by Mods. This feature is entirely optional.

An organised list of all information discovered can be read here.

Comments

[singmod]

Sorry for the delay on this one. But here's three stories!

One: The Ghost Stag — As Maelle wasn't here for when the Ghost Stag made its appearance, he will tell her the story of it. In the Northern Territories, there is a majestic white stag that roams the world. It is said that the beast would bring good luck to those who manage to hunt it down.

He has seen this beast before himself, long ago, when he was a young man. When he encountered the beast itself, he chose not to kill it — as he was stunned by how beautiful it was and could not bring himself to harm it. Instead, he and the stag shared a moment before it bowed to him. Methuselah bowed back, and the stag disappeared. While Interlopers were blessed with either a white deer fur blanket or deerskin boots, Methuselah had no need for such things as he was adept at making such things himself. However, he was blessed with good luck in his hunting — allowing him excellent shots with his bow and earning him a bountiful harvest, which he gladly shared with the people of Milton.

Two: Methuselah's Folly — He knows he is met with a little suspicion by some Interlopers. In truth, he does not like to speak of himself as he has considered himself only a witness to the events of the world, detached from much of life. He is a hermit, a nomad, he follows his own rhythms. But he was once much like Interlopers, and he too has learned many lessons and faced many hardships.

He tells another story of his youth, and how he was not careful about the wildlife while out hunting. He came across a black bear with its young, and was attacked by said bear. While his furs helped, he was not impervious to damage and suffered badly — sustaining multiple injuries in the attack. He rolls one of his sleeves back, revealing his bare arm — covered in scars and damaged flesh: In the wilds, I too have never always come out unscathed from Mother Nature's wrath.

He concludes by advising the bear did eventually give up and he was discovered by fellow hunters, who returned him to Milton. While he had to stay there for several months to recover — he eventually did recover and was very grateful to the people of Milton for caring for him.

Three: Enola's Farewell — He tells the story of the last time he saw Enola, on the cusp of womanhood. Following the fire of Milton house, Enola's adopted mother — destroyed by her grief — eventually left Milton and abandoned Enola. Methuselah holds no judgement for the woman: sometimes there are things just too painful to endure in this world.

Enola was subsequently placed under the care of various townsfolk, who came together to raise her. She was a difficult child, following the fire. Always sad, and sometimes feared and despised by others. But Methuselah recalls an old woman who took Enola in for several years. She was happier, for a time. The woman died when Enola was a teenager, and afterward Enola felt out of place in Milton — bereft of family and community.

Perhaps she felt as though the Darkwalker's name for you rang true: she was the Interloper. She decided to leave, and Methuselah came across her as she began her journey south. While Methuselah could not truly empathise with her desire for community and family, due to his own isolated nature — he wished her well and gave her parting advise.

I told her not to lose heart. That there would always be the things she desired in her life, if perhaps she might need to build those things herself. That she could build her own family, her own community. Wherever she went in the years that followed, I hope she found that.