A Written Version of The Sermon on the Mast, first orated by

Sanjuro

T'skrang of Legend, Swordmaster of Renown and occasional Poet of Epics

Finally, we come to the biggest enigma, The Sermon on the Mast. While not a poem, this recitation by Sanjuro is quickly becoming his most well-known work. One particular reason is the amount of mystery surrounding its origin. On 12 Strassa, 1507, Sanjuro climbed to the top of the Syrtisian Dreadnaught and began preaching. Again, certain scholars follow the claim that he was touched by Floranuus while the more skeptical hold to the rumor that he was merely drunk. Regardless, his recitations were heard by followers of Lochost and Mynbruje. Although neither group has much in common, they both have adopted his sermon to promote their own Passions. The followers of Floranuus have taken it as the word of the Passion himself. All three groups are said to have badgered Sanjuro enough so that he wrote a copy of this sermon and left the Cliff City to escape the more fanatical elements. Here is a copy of that pamphlet. For some reason, Sanjuro elected not to include the morals to each tale like he supposedly did on that first night. Included are the morals, which have been reconstructed after many days of interviewing and analysis. Included also is a copy of the arrest record related to this incident.

Vardin Silvertongue

"The Sermon on the Mast" c. 1507

The Parable of the Young Boy - One day, Sanjuro was wandering the streets of Bartertown. A young boy came up to him with a toy wooden sword. The boy swung the sword and hit the swordmaster. When Sanjuro took the sword away, the boy began insulting him with words and phrases shocking from a lad his age. The boy then began bragging about how his father could beat him up. When the boy finally left, Sanjuro followed him home. There, Sanjuro proceeded to beat the father terribly. After giving the boy back his sword, Sanjuro left.
Moral - Never make boasts you cannot back up and raise your children to be responsible.

The Parable of the Honorable Ork - Sanjuro was walking the winding trails of the Serpent River when he came upon an impossibly old ork huddled against a tree. When Sanjuro asked his age, the ork said twenty-two. Shocked, Sanjuro asked what had happened. This was the ork's tale - Grown up to believe in honor, the ork led his life by never betraying his word. Once, wounded and starving, he was saved by a windling. Although minimal humanitarian aid was rendered, the ork pledged total loyalty as thanks. Unfortunately for the ork, the windling was Horror-marked. The windling proceeded to spit on the ork, stab him and do whatever it took to send the ork into gahad. Each time, the windling would remind the ork of his promise. Each time, the ork would swallow his gahad and stay true to his word. When the ork was nothing but a husk of his former self, the windling left him. Although proud that he stayed true to his word, the ork was consumed by bitterness and died after telling his tale.
Moral - Be careful what promises you make and to whom.

The Parable of the Deceitful Ork - Sanjuro visited a town where all the people hung their heads in shame. When he inquired why, this is what he was told - Once there was an aspiring ork warrior who wanted fame and fortune without any of the work. Instead, he travelled to far lands and gathered the tales of other adventurers. Returning home, he wrote accounts where he was the hero of these tales. This brought him the fame he wanted and, like a sick glutton, he devoured every scrap that his dishonesty brought him. One day, word of a great adventurer arriving brought the city to a standstill. It was a traveller from Thera. When the ork learned of the traveller's Name, he was dismayed to discover that it was one of the people he had stolen his tales from.

As the resident hero, he was forced at every corner to share a table with the traveller. Finally, at the great banquet, the affable stranger recounted his tales for the eager crowd. Invariably, one of his tales matched the orks. When people brought this up, other stories came out. To everyone's shock, the stranger gasped with anger and agony. Many of the orks tales were stolen from the Theran's comrades who had died bravely. Before he could say anymore, the ork slew him and tried to declare him an imposter. However, the people knew otherwise and he was stoned to death. For all his glory, he ended up dying miserably and slowly, hated by those whose admiration he sought.
Moral - Glory is earned and Truth catches us with all eventually.

The Parable of the Servant Girl - On a particularly cold day, Sanjuro sought passage with a rich caravan. He stayed with the head merchant, who was eager to hear Sanjuro's tales. A beautiful servant girl came to serve them, and Sanjuro was shocked to see the demeaning attitude the merchant took with her. Not wanting to offend his host, Sanjuro remained silent. Later that night, Sanjuro awoke to the sounds of a whip and muffled cries. Grabbing his sword, he raced into the merchant's tent. There, he saw the servant girl tied to the ground, naked with her back bloodied. The merchant had a whip in one hand and was unbuckling his pants with the other.

Grabbing the whip from the merchant, Sanjuro proceeded to thrash the merchant terribly. A number of guards came in, and Sanjuro dealt with them as well. As he turned back to the bloodied heap of the merchant, he became aware of the servant girl's screaming. As he moved to free her, she spat at him. Confused, Sanjuro asked about the ingratitude. She told him that this was a game between her and the merchant. She said that she could enjoy the act of lovemaking only after a good solid whipping. Bewildered but a bit wiser, Sanjuro felt it best to leave that night. After returning the whip to the semiconscious merchant, he departed.
Moral - To each their own.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son - One day, the younger of two brothers grew bitter about the hard work of the fields and the fact that his older brother stood to inherit most everything. He went to his father and demanded his share of the inheritance. After some reluctance, he was given it. The younger brother then left to make his own way. His first stop was Kratas, where he was immediately mugged and all his money stolen from him. In order to survive the cold season, he had to work in a butchery and spent his nights sleeping in a pig pen. During this time, he realized how much better he had it at home.

When the warm season came, he resolved to apologize to his father, refusing to return as a son but as a servant just as long as he had food and lodging again. When his father saw him coming, he stopped working in the fields and ran toward him. When he arrived, the father pummelled the son into unconsciousness. When the son awoke, the father told him that his older brother, having to work harder because of the younger's absence, did not survive the cold season. Furthermore, the father explained that the only reason he ever allowed the younger brother to work was because he was family. As a worker, he was terrible. The father told him that as a son and worker, he was useless. With a dull sickle, he proceeded to drub the son off of the property. Out of options, the son returned to Kratas where the pig merchant refused to have him back because he was a poor worker.
Moral - Appreciate what you have, and realize that life is difficult. Deal with it.

The Parable of the Gold Coin - At an offering for the Passions, many people gave money to the various temples. One old woman, full of piousness, gave all she had to the collection. She died of hunger two weeks later.
Moral - Passions do not reward stupidity. Balance out your hopes for this life and the afterlife accordingly.

A Sample of Reactions to the Sermon on the Mast

Introduction to Sanjuro

Excerpts from the biography of Sanjuro

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Last Updated 05/20/98 by Paul

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