The first observation you make is not with your nose, but with your eyes. There are footprints here, and you know immediately that they are your uncle’s. His left foot is smaller than his right. They’ve clearly been made within the last hour. So did he come here before your run-in, or after? You start smelling the footprints to see if you can learn anything from them. Odd. They smell of smoke. Why would that…
“Why, if it isn’t my dear nephew Pine! I just heard you’re a full Olfactor now,” says the monk. “Shame I was late for dinner, I’d have hurried over if I knew you were preparing it.” You always feel uncomfortable around Uncle Xavory – he has such high hopes for you, and that means he usually gives you more difficult tasks. You’re actually somewhat relieved he missed dinner – as he is in charge of…
It smells like eight o’clock. But the clock tower is only showing seven-thirty. You checked the tower yourself at the crack of dawn this morning. The time matched the scent, and you long ago passed your time-sniffing tests. So either someone has been in the tower and disrupted the clock, or something has gone wrong with the smell of time. Neither option is comforting. Most likely, the senior monks have already noticed. They can smell…
She points to one of the monastery’s towers. There are monstrous statues surrounding the spire. “Gargoyles,” she says. “Lyrie’s been terrified of them ever since she was little, and a stray one gobbled up her pet canary. We can’t have her freezing up if the monks release theirs.” “That was fifteen years ago! I’m not going to freeze up!” you protest. “You vomited when I showed you a picture of one on the move last…
The sergeant rides up a hill, and stops near the top. You both dismount. There’s a long gap past the hill, and across it you can see the monastery. This is the first time you’ve been this close to one, but you’d recognize it even if you’d never seen a picture. The style is so jarring, so lacking in Harmony. But much to your chagrin, you also see your sister Melody. She joined the Corps…
Aroma and Music have been in conflict since the world began. Those who follow the guidance of Aroma shall find plentiful food and drink, and lead fulfilling lives. But the forces of Music tempt weak minds with the promise of a united people, living in harmony. It is a false promise, of course. If it were true, why would they so regularly wage war? But it is a promise that too many people are desperate…
At long last, your training is complete. Not that there is to be any ceremony. The monastery is not a place of celebration. No, you have simply taken your final test and passed. You have proven that you can handle one of the most fundamental forces of nature, and the only change is that you will have new duties befitting your training. But your master is pleased enough to smile. “You are now a full…