Sojourn - Chapter Fifteen
Aug. 27th, 2023 08:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalinara posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
i_read_whatSo last time, Drizzt has been settling in with his new mentor and they had a rather cool sparring match - one of the very rare times we get to see Drizzt genuinely get his ass kicked. Nice! Also Roddy McGristle is back.
Apparently things have been a bit quiet since Drizzt gave his full backstory to his mentor. Drizzt is brooding, understandably, and Montolio is giving him his space. But we're told that they gradually come closer together. Drizzt starts hoping that he may have found as true a friend as Belwar, or even Zak. Now that is high praise indeed.
That, of course, is when he hears Roddy's voice outside. He goes to eavesdrop.
“Drow elf, Mooshie,” Roddy McGristle was saying, holding a broken scimitar out for the old ranger to see. The burly mountain man, looming even larger in the many layers of furs he wore, sat atop a small but muscled horse just outside of the rock wall surrounding the grove. “Ye seen him?”
“Seen?” Montolio echoed sarcastically, giving an exaggerated wink of his milky-white eyes. Roddy was not amused.
Hah. Roddy clarifies that he knows full well that Montolio "sees" more than most people. Meanwhile, his dog starts sniffing around excitedly. Montolio snaps at him to call his dog back, with a quick lie:
“I’ve a brood of fox pups in there,” the ranger lied angrily. “If your dog sets on them...” Montolio let the threat hang at that, and apparently Roddy was impressed. He dropped a noose down over the dog’s head and pulled it tight to his side.
...a NOOSE? I'm pretty sure you could just say "leash" here, Salvatore, and we'll be fine. Tying up a dog is not a terribly modern practice.
Anyway, Montolio says that a drow came through before the first snows and had some trouble with Graul and left again. Montolio guesses that he went to his "dark home". Drizzt is relieved to hear Montolio lie for him. He's also happy to see that Montolio doesn't hold Roddy in high regard.
Roddy repeats the accusation about the Thistledown murder and offers him some of the bounty. Montolio pauses, long enough to worry Drizzt. He turns down any money, then tells him to catch the drow and that it'll be the best bounty he'd ever earned. He points him to "Morueme's Cave", a landmark at the edge of the Anauroch desert.
I've heard of that place! It was in Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide! The Desert, that is, not the cave! Apparently, the name (of the cave, I presume) comes from a family of blue dragons that lived there. Roddy doesn't ask how Montolio knows Drizzt's destination. This does seem like a big defeat though: the desert is a hundred and fifty miles away, through the Nether mountains, and dealing with dragons will be really fucking hard.
Looks like Roddy is SOL.
Drizzt, meanwhile, has decided that he won't run from Montolio, and he'll face whatever judgment Montolio has for him. Aw.
Anyway, Roddy is still determined: it's more about his pride (and ear and dog) than the money. He'll go. He storms off.
So Drizzt and Montolio talk. Montolio knew about the Thistledowns already of course. He'd wondered initially of Drizzt had done it, but now knows he didn't. Drizzt gets to talk to someone, finally, about his version of events.
Montolio reassures him about the gnolls, and this, well...
“It has been a confusing journey,” Montolio said, and his sincere smile relieved the tension considerably. “Come along, and let me tell you of the races, and of why your scimitars struck for justice when they felled the gnolls.”
As a ranger, Montolio had dedicated his life to the unending struggle between the good races-humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halftings being the most prominent members-and the evil goblinoids and giantkind, who lived only to destroy as a bane to the innocent.
The whole good vs. evil races are a problem. They've always been. It's a staple in fantasy, but that doesn't really make it okay. Nowadays, I think Wizards of the Coast has gone with the idea that these races are evil due to culture rather than race.
TVTropes, in an entry, criticized this, seeming to think it's just as bad. I agree and disagree. I think a lot of our judgment regarding "good" and "bad" culture in the real world comes from ethnocentrism and bigotry. So in that since, TVTropes isn't wrong. But I also look at the Roman Empire.
And honestly, the Roman Empire, IMO, is pretty fucking evil culture. Like the trope example of a lawful evil culture, to me. That does not mean individual Romans were evil, of course, but as a society? They did a lot of shit. The Empire from Star Wars is a pretty good fictional example.
Maybe "society" is a better word than "culture" here. Either way, I do think the idea of the races being considered evil because of society allows for more potential for individuals to be recognized on their own merit. So I feel like it's a step in the right direction.
Montolio notes that orcs are his particular unfavorites. Or "racial enemy" in D&D terms. So he keeps an eye on Graul.
Drizzt asks a good question: what about Roddy. He doesn't really fit into the good vs. evil descriptions that Montolio gives. And indeed, Montolio clarifies:
“There is good and bad in every race,” Montolio explained. “I spoke only of the general conduct, and do not doubt that the general conduct of goblinoids and giantkind is an evil one!”
“How can we know?” Drizzt pressed.
“Just watch the children,” Montolio answered. He went on to explain the not-so-subtle differences between children of the goodly races and children of the evil races. Drizzt heard him, but distantly, needing no clarification. Always it seemed to come down to the children. Drizzt had felt better concerning his actions against the gnolls when he had looked upon the Thistledown children at play. And back in Menzoberranzan, what seemed like only a day ago and a thousand years ago at the same time, Drizzt’s father had expressed similar beliefs. “Are all drow children evil?” Zaknafein had wondered, and through all of his beleaguered life, Zaknafein had been haunted by the screams of dying children, drow nobles caught in the fire between warring families.
I don't know what I think about this last bit. I don't think Montolio (or Salvatore through him) is meaning to say that the children of evil races are inherently evil themselves, so much as they reflect what they're taught without knowing how to hide it.
At least that's what I hope he's trying to say. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt about this. For now, at least.
Drizzt asks about the "Mooshie" nickname. It still makes me wince a bit, but it's not actually as bad as I'd remembered. I'd forgotten Montolio's last name was DeBrouchee. So it's really more of a contraction of his name. Montolio laughs - it's a nickname for friends, and for people like McGristle "who striggle so with any words bigger than spit, bear or kill!"
Drizzt is very amused and it's clear that he intends to use it. Montolio playfully shoos him off to his chores with a "Drizzit". This time, it doesn't sting. Aw.
So we switch over to Roddy, who is griping about Morueme's Cave. This is when Tephanis decides to make trouble. He figures that if Roddy catches Drizzt, then they'll both be out of his way. Tephanis is an idiot. Anyway, he informs Roddy that Drizzt is here, and shows him where he can observe them from the high bluffs.
Well, in case we had any doubt about Roddy's alignment:
Roddy, his eyes fixed upon the distant scene, hardly noticed the quickling’s departure. “Ye’ll pay for yer lies, ranger,” he muttered under his breath. An evil smile spread over his face as he thought of a way to get at the companions. It would be a delicate feat. But then, dealing with Graul always was.
Oh dear.
There is some good news though, as Montolio receives word from Dove Falconhand. Drizzt, now literate, is able to read for himself the account of the Thistledown murder - and his acquittal. Drizzt is very relieved. Dove, for her part, is pleased and grateful that the "deserving drow" is now with Montolio.
Aw. The chapter ends here!
Apparently things have been a bit quiet since Drizzt gave his full backstory to his mentor. Drizzt is brooding, understandably, and Montolio is giving him his space. But we're told that they gradually come closer together. Drizzt starts hoping that he may have found as true a friend as Belwar, or even Zak. Now that is high praise indeed.
That, of course, is when he hears Roddy's voice outside. He goes to eavesdrop.
“Drow elf, Mooshie,” Roddy McGristle was saying, holding a broken scimitar out for the old ranger to see. The burly mountain man, looming even larger in the many layers of furs he wore, sat atop a small but muscled horse just outside of the rock wall surrounding the grove. “Ye seen him?”
“Seen?” Montolio echoed sarcastically, giving an exaggerated wink of his milky-white eyes. Roddy was not amused.
Hah. Roddy clarifies that he knows full well that Montolio "sees" more than most people. Meanwhile, his dog starts sniffing around excitedly. Montolio snaps at him to call his dog back, with a quick lie:
“I’ve a brood of fox pups in there,” the ranger lied angrily. “If your dog sets on them...” Montolio let the threat hang at that, and apparently Roddy was impressed. He dropped a noose down over the dog’s head and pulled it tight to his side.
...a NOOSE? I'm pretty sure you could just say "leash" here, Salvatore, and we'll be fine. Tying up a dog is not a terribly modern practice.
Anyway, Montolio says that a drow came through before the first snows and had some trouble with Graul and left again. Montolio guesses that he went to his "dark home". Drizzt is relieved to hear Montolio lie for him. He's also happy to see that Montolio doesn't hold Roddy in high regard.
Roddy repeats the accusation about the Thistledown murder and offers him some of the bounty. Montolio pauses, long enough to worry Drizzt. He turns down any money, then tells him to catch the drow and that it'll be the best bounty he'd ever earned. He points him to "Morueme's Cave", a landmark at the edge of the Anauroch desert.
I've heard of that place! It was in Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide! The Desert, that is, not the cave! Apparently, the name (of the cave, I presume) comes from a family of blue dragons that lived there. Roddy doesn't ask how Montolio knows Drizzt's destination. This does seem like a big defeat though: the desert is a hundred and fifty miles away, through the Nether mountains, and dealing with dragons will be really fucking hard.
Looks like Roddy is SOL.
Drizzt, meanwhile, has decided that he won't run from Montolio, and he'll face whatever judgment Montolio has for him. Aw.
Anyway, Roddy is still determined: it's more about his pride (and ear and dog) than the money. He'll go. He storms off.
So Drizzt and Montolio talk. Montolio knew about the Thistledowns already of course. He'd wondered initially of Drizzt had done it, but now knows he didn't. Drizzt gets to talk to someone, finally, about his version of events.
Montolio reassures him about the gnolls, and this, well...
“It has been a confusing journey,” Montolio said, and his sincere smile relieved the tension considerably. “Come along, and let me tell you of the races, and of why your scimitars struck for justice when they felled the gnolls.”
As a ranger, Montolio had dedicated his life to the unending struggle between the good races-humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halftings being the most prominent members-and the evil goblinoids and giantkind, who lived only to destroy as a bane to the innocent.
The whole good vs. evil races are a problem. They've always been. It's a staple in fantasy, but that doesn't really make it okay. Nowadays, I think Wizards of the Coast has gone with the idea that these races are evil due to culture rather than race.
TVTropes, in an entry, criticized this, seeming to think it's just as bad. I agree and disagree. I think a lot of our judgment regarding "good" and "bad" culture in the real world comes from ethnocentrism and bigotry. So in that since, TVTropes isn't wrong. But I also look at the Roman Empire.
And honestly, the Roman Empire, IMO, is pretty fucking evil culture. Like the trope example of a lawful evil culture, to me. That does not mean individual Romans were evil, of course, but as a society? They did a lot of shit. The Empire from Star Wars is a pretty good fictional example.
Maybe "society" is a better word than "culture" here. Either way, I do think the idea of the races being considered evil because of society allows for more potential for individuals to be recognized on their own merit. So I feel like it's a step in the right direction.
Montolio notes that orcs are his particular unfavorites. Or "racial enemy" in D&D terms. So he keeps an eye on Graul.
Drizzt asks a good question: what about Roddy. He doesn't really fit into the good vs. evil descriptions that Montolio gives. And indeed, Montolio clarifies:
“There is good and bad in every race,” Montolio explained. “I spoke only of the general conduct, and do not doubt that the general conduct of goblinoids and giantkind is an evil one!”
“How can we know?” Drizzt pressed.
“Just watch the children,” Montolio answered. He went on to explain the not-so-subtle differences between children of the goodly races and children of the evil races. Drizzt heard him, but distantly, needing no clarification. Always it seemed to come down to the children. Drizzt had felt better concerning his actions against the gnolls when he had looked upon the Thistledown children at play. And back in Menzoberranzan, what seemed like only a day ago and a thousand years ago at the same time, Drizzt’s father had expressed similar beliefs. “Are all drow children evil?” Zaknafein had wondered, and through all of his beleaguered life, Zaknafein had been haunted by the screams of dying children, drow nobles caught in the fire between warring families.
I don't know what I think about this last bit. I don't think Montolio (or Salvatore through him) is meaning to say that the children of evil races are inherently evil themselves, so much as they reflect what they're taught without knowing how to hide it.
At least that's what I hope he's trying to say. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt about this. For now, at least.
Drizzt asks about the "Mooshie" nickname. It still makes me wince a bit, but it's not actually as bad as I'd remembered. I'd forgotten Montolio's last name was DeBrouchee. So it's really more of a contraction of his name. Montolio laughs - it's a nickname for friends, and for people like McGristle "who striggle so with any words bigger than spit, bear or kill!"
Drizzt is very amused and it's clear that he intends to use it. Montolio playfully shoos him off to his chores with a "Drizzit". This time, it doesn't sting. Aw.
So we switch over to Roddy, who is griping about Morueme's Cave. This is when Tephanis decides to make trouble. He figures that if Roddy catches Drizzt, then they'll both be out of his way. Tephanis is an idiot. Anyway, he informs Roddy that Drizzt is here, and shows him where he can observe them from the high bluffs.
Well, in case we had any doubt about Roddy's alignment:
Roddy, his eyes fixed upon the distant scene, hardly noticed the quickling’s departure. “Ye’ll pay for yer lies, ranger,” he muttered under his breath. An evil smile spread over his face as he thought of a way to get at the companions. It would be a delicate feat. But then, dealing with Graul always was.
Oh dear.
There is some good news though, as Montolio receives word from Dove Falconhand. Drizzt, now literate, is able to read for himself the account of the Thistledown murder - and his acquittal. Drizzt is very relieved. Dove, for her part, is pleased and grateful that the "deserving drow" is now with Montolio.
Aw. The chapter ends here!