[pnpgm] Game update #23 - File #108 - Party sleeps in cabin

[Robert Maxwell]

That night, over dinner, Strie'bog enjoys the companionship of his
friends, and as dinner finishes, he begins to talk about the sacred
forest.  

"As I mentioned, my mother made reference that she was heading to the
sacred heart of the forest.  From what you all have said, many of you
have never been in such a place.  There are some rules you must be
willing to follow if you want to enter this place, and you may want to
know something of the nature of the forest."

"I have heard discussion of chaos, law and balance, as well as the power
of the Sidh and Elder.  There is yet another power, one distinct from
these normally seen.  You have heard me talk about the Court of Life,
the Court of Cernunnos, but I have never really spoken of where this
divine court resides in the conflicts of Law, Chaos, Balance, Sidh and
Elder.  It is part of none of these, but in a sense, it touches all of
these.  It is a neutral power."

"Unlike Balance, which seeks to keep the power of law and chaos in
check, to keep them even, the power of neutrality overlooks these
extremes as natural to life.  Nature has laws, but it also has chaos
inherent within its very weave.  No two creatures are alike, unless
twins.  One sibling may be tall, the other short, and is not variablity
a function of chaos?"

"I once overheard a discussion my father had with Miklav.  They were
discussion the differences and similarities between neutrality and
balance.  My father made the point that when one bird dies, another is
born to takes its place, thus the balance is preserved.  Miklav laughed,
and said my father had spent too long in a monestary listening to people
talk about birds."

"Miklav took my father into the woods, and opened the forest to show him
the history of the woods.  There my father saw birds live and die; saw
numerous young being born only to starve, with no new brids to take
their place.  He saw an entire heard of beautiful golden colored deer
die off in a harsh winter, never to be seen again within the forest. 
'My friend, you now see that life occurs.  The balance you speak of is
not a thing of the present, but an abstract accounting of the gods. 
This is the difference between balance and neutrality.  While you try to
account for each bird, we accept that while life changes, it also goes
along on its way generally unchanged.'"

"As I grew older, Miklav made his comments more clear.  Neutrality is
the basis of life.  It sits between all of the powers, and just moves
along.   Birth, death, rebirth with change is the cycle of life.  So
what these does neutrality fight for?  Survival.  All creatures want to
survive, and so we fight to survive.  The great serpent seeks to end
life, so we fight to preserve life.  Does this mean we cry when
something dies?  If it was an unjust, preventable death, we will mourn. 
If it was neccessary, as the death of those men at my mother's house,
then we move on.  Does a wolf feel remorse for killing its prey?  Does a
wolf feel remorse when protecting the pack?  No."

"How does this affect the sacred forest?  Well Miklav is a servant of
Cernunnos, and therefore follows the path of neutrality.  The forest's
heart is a place for life, but it also a place of communion.  As such,
violence is not tolerated there.  You may think this odd, but cannot the
wolf and deer share water from the same stream with no violence?  Such
is this place, for in the world there is a place for violence and a
place for peace.  The sacred heart is a place of peace.  Weapons may not
be drawn within the bounds of the forest without dire repercussions. 
Remember this.  Also, to enter the forest, you must be invited.  As one
tied to this forest, it knows me, and the forest will grant me entrance,
but I will have to invite each of you into the heart.  Know that you
come to a sacred place, but a place of life.  The forest does not judge
you on your previous actions, but by your intent.  So as we approach,
clear your mind.  Enjoy the beauty around you.  Acknowlege and give
thanks for the life within you.  If you wish, use this journey to
unbruden the pains of the past, and be reborn in the sacred heart of the
forest."