It is evening. All the people of the village are gathered around a large fire on the village green Tonight is the first night of spring. A night of happiness, feast and celebration. A night when winter releases its cold clutches on the land, and spring heralds the coming of summer. Especially for you, for tonight you are all celebrated.
Last night you were set loose in the forest, left to fend for yourself for a night. You were expected to hunt for the village.
Some of you grouped together, and brought down a wild boar, or a deer. Others went by themselves, catching hare and squirrel, or fish, in the silent hours of sunrise.
What you caught, or how much, matters not. What counts is that you came back, alive.
In the afternoon some of you slept, while others told their outrageous tales to the children, who laughed and squeaked when Jarod tells a tale of his highly improbable meeting with an enraged bulette and his cunning escape plan, leading it into the clutches of an owlbear, himself fleeing while the two mighty creatures fought it out amongst themselves.
But tonight, you are accepted as equals amongst the adults of the village. The mayor himself gives you a glass of his finest apple brandy, and toast to welcome you.
The deer and boar are roasting over the open fire, and tables filled with whatever delicious dishes the village wives could make compete for your attention with the barrels of fine mead and foaming ale.
But all of the sudden the merriment and celebration stops as Scarfang enters the clearing. Voices stop as people stare at the druid.
Scarfang commands and gets respect. But what he gets even more is fear, for none dare stand up against him. He has no one that you know whom he calls friend, and no one can remember him smile.
Some say he lived through the crusade. Some say he fought the Silver Flame. Some say he fought the Lycanthropes. Some say he fought both.
He looks to be in his fifties, strong and unbent, with the effect of old age yet to claim him; He has looked like this for as long as you can remember. Even your father, or your father’s father, does not remember him otherwise.
He looks around the clearing, undisturbed by the whispering behind his back. With a gesture he summons the village elder. They confer, and a whispered discussion takes place. The elder gives as good as he gets, but everyone knows that whatever scarfang wants, he’ll get. After a minute the elder gives a sharp nod, then walks away.
The druid walks towards the group of youngsters, bunched together at the side of the fire. The pleasant talks, which had just restarted, stop when the druid approaches. When it is clear that he’s coming straight to you, you jump to your feet, all of the sudden chilled to the bone, the food suddenly heavy as a brick in your stomach, all the effects of alcohol washed away.
The druid lifts his hand, and Aluir jumps onto his outstretched finger, both tilt their heads as they stare at one another, as if silently communicating. The corner of his scarred mouth twitch into something that could almost be called a grin, and he looks Caw in the eyes.
“The crow and raven are cousins, you know. They are not alike, but similar. So are you to your cousins. They fear what they do not understand. But fear will be replaced by respect, if you let them know you. That is a choice you will have to make. Soon. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Stulgar the Swift.” He looks at the double axe. “Your knowledge of other cultures will soon be called upon. But forget not, that you are what you are, and can never be what you are not. Look and learn, but stay true to yourself, or you will fail. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Ranvar hardheart. You follow a different way then the ways of old. That is the choice you have made. Hold on to your faith, for it will be tested. The gods are distant from men, and they do not seem to care. Stay true, and the beasts will bow to you as they bow to your master. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Roral Parl. You too, follow not the traditional path of the path of the people. From this you draw your strength. But if you are to become the leader you want to be, you will haave to understand our ways better then you do now. If you learn, you will rise higher then any; If you fail, you will fall. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Umbra. Shadow. Beast. Like Caw, they whisper about you when the night is dark. But you must never forget that shadow is created by light. Without light, no shadow. If you dwell in darkness, you will fade away. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Silver. You have seen what happens when the beast controls the man. But if you leash the beast to tight, it will die, and you will be lost. To learn this balance you must make peace with your past, and with yourself. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
Without another word, he walks away into the darkness, and disappears; All around you, the people start talking amongst themselves, and the six of you find yourself being watched by the entire village with a mixture of pride and fear.
Last night you were set loose in the forest, left to fend for yourself for a night. You were expected to hunt for the village.
Some of you grouped together, and brought down a wild boar, or a deer. Others went by themselves, catching hare and squirrel, or fish, in the silent hours of sunrise.
What you caught, or how much, matters not. What counts is that you came back, alive.
In the afternoon some of you slept, while others told their outrageous tales to the children, who laughed and squeaked when Jarod tells a tale of his highly improbable meeting with an enraged bulette and his cunning escape plan, leading it into the clutches of an owlbear, himself fleeing while the two mighty creatures fought it out amongst themselves.
But tonight, you are accepted as equals amongst the adults of the village. The mayor himself gives you a glass of his finest apple brandy, and toast to welcome you.
The deer and boar are roasting over the open fire, and tables filled with whatever delicious dishes the village wives could make compete for your attention with the barrels of fine mead and foaming ale.
But all of the sudden the merriment and celebration stops as Scarfang enters the clearing. Voices stop as people stare at the druid.
Scarfang commands and gets respect. But what he gets even more is fear, for none dare stand up against him. He has no one that you know whom he calls friend, and no one can remember him smile.
Some say he lived through the crusade. Some say he fought the Silver Flame. Some say he fought the Lycanthropes. Some say he fought both.
He looks to be in his fifties, strong and unbent, with the effect of old age yet to claim him; He has looked like this for as long as you can remember. Even your father, or your father’s father, does not remember him otherwise.
He looks around the clearing, undisturbed by the whispering behind his back. With a gesture he summons the village elder. They confer, and a whispered discussion takes place. The elder gives as good as he gets, but everyone knows that whatever scarfang wants, he’ll get. After a minute the elder gives a sharp nod, then walks away.
The druid walks towards the group of youngsters, bunched together at the side of the fire. The pleasant talks, which had just restarted, stop when the druid approaches. When it is clear that he’s coming straight to you, you jump to your feet, all of the sudden chilled to the bone, the food suddenly heavy as a brick in your stomach, all the effects of alcohol washed away.
The druid lifts his hand, and Aluir jumps onto his outstretched finger, both tilt their heads as they stare at one another, as if silently communicating. The corner of his scarred mouth twitch into something that could almost be called a grin, and he looks Caw in the eyes.
“The crow and raven are cousins, you know. They are not alike, but similar. So are you to your cousins. They fear what they do not understand. But fear will be replaced by respect, if you let them know you. That is a choice you will have to make. Soon. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Stulgar the Swift.” He looks at the double axe. “Your knowledge of other cultures will soon be called upon. But forget not, that you are what you are, and can never be what you are not. Look and learn, but stay true to yourself, or you will fail. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Ranvar hardheart. You follow a different way then the ways of old. That is the choice you have made. Hold on to your faith, for it will be tested. The gods are distant from men, and they do not seem to care. Stay true, and the beasts will bow to you as they bow to your master. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Roral Parl. You too, follow not the traditional path of the path of the people. From this you draw your strength. But if you are to become the leader you want to be, you will haave to understand our ways better then you do now. If you learn, you will rise higher then any; If you fail, you will fall. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Umbra. Shadow. Beast. Like Caw, they whisper about you when the night is dark. But you must never forget that shadow is created by light. Without light, no shadow. If you dwell in darkness, you will fade away. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
“Silver. You have seen what happens when the beast controls the man. But if you leash the beast to tight, it will die, and you will be lost. To learn this balance you must make peace with your past, and with yourself. You will join me tomorrow on a trip. Feast tonight, but be ready by dawn. You have a long way to go.”
Without another word, he walks away into the darkness, and disappears; All around you, the people start talking amongst themselves, and the six of you find yourself being watched by the entire village with a mixture of pride and fear.
