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[Exalted 2e] Chosen of the Second Age
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<blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 4641894" data-attributes="member: 5203"><p><strong>The Healer's Heart</strong></p><p></p><p>A storm had rolled in during the night, and had turned the little village’s simple dirt-track road into a muddy morass by the next morning. Rain still pattered on the straw rooftop of Grandmother and Grandfather’s home, with the occasional drop falling into an iron pot in the corner. Children sat huddled on the floor, crowded into the tiny dwelling, some with streaks of mud still drying on their faces. They sat quietly, each sucking on pieces of rice candy that Grandmother had somehow produced from a simple clay jar on the high shelf, as Grandfather settled into his favorite chair, another scroll case in his weathered hand.</p><p></p><p> Grandfather broke open the case, the dry wax seal snapping with a report that sounded much too loud in the small room. He carefully unrolled the parchment, and perused it with his sharp, bright eyes.</p><p></p><p> “Ah,” he said at last. “Now I understand.”</p><p></p><p> “Understand what, Grandfather?” a young girl asked.</p><p></p><p> “Why the gods of the sky choose to weep this day. They must have foreseen whose tale I would tell this day.”</p><p></p><p> “Is it a sad story, Grandfather?” the girl asked, her eyes wide.</p><p></p><p> “It is, at first,” he said in answer, “but in stories, as in life, we cannot always choose to make the beginning to our liking, but only choose what to do with what is given to us.”</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">☼ ☼ ☼</p><p></p><p> Far to the East, where the endless forests grow so deep and thick that the sun never touches the earth, there is a village known as Petgrana, which lies to the south of the Yellow River. The villagers of Petgrana make their living as most other villages in this land do, by felling the great trees that lived deep in the forest and selling them to the Guild, and by buying slaves from the barbarians who also lived deep in the forest, and selling them to the Guild as well. The villagers made their offerings to the little gods of the forest, and life was peaceful and orderly for them.</p><p></p><p> One of the people who called Petgrana their home was a young girl named Ayama. At an early age, she had been apprenticed to Kaila, the village wise woman, to learn the secrets of the land and of the spirits that resided there. She learned her lessons well, even though some suspected she lacked the intellect to master the profession, due to her tendency to speak very little. But none could deny her caring heart, or her tenacity. She soon caught the eye of another resident of Petgrana.</p><p></p><p> V’neef Odaask had come to Petgrana some years ago, and was now the town’s healer and surgeon. Though he did not rule the village, he held great influence, thanks in large part to his status as a Dragon-Blood from one of the Empire’s Great Houses. There were whispers that he had come to Petgrana because he feared to return home to the Blessed Isle; that he had been with the Imperial Army at the Battle of Mishaka, and that something that had happened in that battle had caused him to leave in disgrace. But none spoke openly of this. For his part, Odaask tried to instruct the villager in the ways of the Immaculate Philosophy, discouraging their worship of the little gods of the land, only permitting those spirits to deal through him. As his interest in young Ayama grew, he began to insist that the wise woman allow her apprentice to learn under his own tutelage – in this he had the right, as he was Kaila’s superior in the healing arts. At first, it must be said, V’neef Odaask’s fascination with the girl was simply a recognition of great potential. Though he found her stubborn and at times irrational, he admired her devotion, and as the girl became a woman this admiration turned to attraction, though he did not make his desires known. He knew that he was past his prime, and a poor husband for the young woman.</p><p></p><p> As can be expected, once Ayama became a young woman she was betrothed to the wise woman’s nephew, Kayin, and after they were married she bore him two children, a son Rutendo and a daughter Dakarai. Ayama and Kayin loved each other deeply, and both cherished their children. Ayama continued her work as a healer, while Kayin would go deep into the forest in search of rare trees to cut down.</p><p></p><p> One day, when the children were still young, a strange and terrible storm struck Petgrana, and several of the villagers went missing, including Kayin. Ayama joined the search parties over the protests of the elders, arguing that the missing villagers might require healing when found. After two days, the missing villagers were found, having been trapped on a ridge by a mudslide. But as they returned to Petgrana, they were attacked by wild barbarians. Many of them were killed, those who surrendered were taken captive. Only three survived; Ayama, Kayin, and one other. Though terribly injured, Ayama managed to bind her own wounds and fashion a litter, and dragged the two other survivors back to Petgrana, an ordeal that lasted four days. She almost died for her efforts, but the other two men were saved. It was a full year before Ayama recovered her strength fully, even with the efforts of V’neef Odaask to heal her.</p><p></p><p> More years passed, and Rutendo and Dakarai grew older and began their own apprenticeships. Life was peaceful and content for Ayama. But one day a tribe of grim-faced barbarians came to Petgrana, leading a band of slaves that looked more dead than alive. The barbarians had come to bargain with the Guild for the slaves, which was not an uncommon sight. The barbarian chief and the Guild factor argued over the price, but surprisingly the chief relented and agreed to a price far less than they had asked. The factor kept the slaves in Petgrana, allowing them to rest and recuperate their strength before returning to Nexus to sell them. But soon the slaves began to show signs of sickness, and the town’s healers were called in. Despite their efforts, the plague killed the slaves quickly, and then spread. Within weeks, half the village had either died or was too weak with plague to support themselves. Ayama watched as her mentor, Kaila, fell ill and died, and she grieved as she lost Dakarai, and then her beloved Kayin.</p><p></p><p> At last, though Ayama’s tireless efforts, a cure to the disease was found, just as V’neef Odaask fell victim to exhaustion. Ignoring the early signs that told her that she had been infected, Ayama spread the cure to others, saving her village, but by the time she stopped to administer the medicine to herself, the plague had already taken hold. As she lay on her deathbed, listening to the wails of her son Rutendo, she found herself the recipient of a strange vision.</p><p></p><p> She felt her spirit floating away from her body, but then suddenly it snapped back. Opening her eyes, she saw all around her a vast field of the injured and dying, as far as the eye could see. Even as she watched, some succumbed to their wounds or to their illness, and died before her. Looking around, Ayama felt a presence behind her, and when she turned she saw the radiant form of the Unconquered Sun, looking at her expectantly. She knew in her heart that it was her duty to heal, but the magnitude of the task was overwhelming. The Unconquered Sun seemed to flicker and flare for a moment, and when she looked on him again she saw that arrayed at his feet were all manner of strange and wondrous tools of the healer’s art. Deep in her soul, Ayama knew her purpose. She reached for the tools offered by the Unconquered Sun, and awoke as she did so. She sat up, bathed in a radiant glow, her illness gone. Rutendo was the only witness to this miraculous event; V’neef Odaask was still recovering and had not yet awoken. Her life had been spared, but she had lost a daughter and a husband. She wondered what kind of life she could have now, and what her strange vision had meant, though she spoke of it to no one.</p><p></p><p> Slowly, Petgrana recovered, but they had lost many. Barbarians came from the forest to trade slaves, but soon saw that the village was weak and ripe for conquest. Fearing for their lives, the villagers began to petition the little gods of the forest for protection. Odaask protested, insisting that the spirits should only deal with him as one of the Dragon-Bloooded, but the spirits ignored him. It was clear to them that the villagers were willing to give so much more than what Odaask offered.</p><p></p><p> One of these spirits, a little god named Sunlight Pierces the Canopy, appeared to Ayama directly. Ayama knew this spirit well; he had often tried to cajole her as a youth into becoming a priestess for him. She had never been particularly awed by the spirit before, which only served to intrigue him. But Sunlight Pierces the Canopy now knew of Ayama’s Exaltation, and hoped to use it to garner greater favor and worship from the villagers. He told her that if the villagers were to open a hole in the canopy of trees over Petgrana and let in the sunlight, he would be able to create a glamer around the village that would confuse the barbarian raiders.</p><p></p><p> Ayama informed the villagers of Sunlight Pierces the Canopy’s offer. V’neef Odaask stood, and forbade the villagers from accepting, as the forest-spirit was attempting to circumvent the established order. Rather than argue with the elder Dragon-Blood, Ayama simply set about accomplishing the task herself. But Odaask caught her, and had her beaten severely as punishment. But the next morning she was once again in the treetops, showing no signs of her injuries. Inspired by her example, the other villagers made their way into the trees, saws and axes in hand. Odaask, infuriated, once again demanded that Ayama stop, but this time threatened to beat her son to death. Ayama climbed down and faced her old tutor. Though age had weakened his body, and his past disgraces had stripped him of whatever arms and armor that he might have once borne, he was still a Dragon-Blood, possessed of the power of the Elemental Dragons. His anima flared with whipping tendrils of thorny vines as he went after Rutendo with a simple whip. Ayama interposed herself between Odaask and her son, taking the vicious blows he landed even as leaves and branches rained down from above.</p><p></p><p> A column of sunlight broke through the trees, illuminating Petgrana in golden light. Suddenly light began to radiate from Ayama as well, flaring up into arcs of azure and amber forming the sigil of the Unconquered Sun, two blue winged serpents intertwined across its face. The slashes left by the whip vanished as Ayama stood before V’neef Odaask defiantly. Behind her, Sunlight Pierces the Canopy manifested himself in support of the newborn Solar. Odaask, knowing that he could not withstand both an Anathema and a disobedient god, turned and fled, never to be seen again.</p><p></p><p> The village of Petgrana exists to this day, though it is not the same place it once was. It is now a place of healing, and nearly legendary among the residents of the East. Sunlight Pierces the Canopy acts as the village’s patron god, and hides its presence from all, except those who are truly in need or who are deemed worthy. The little god now has the priestesses he craved, though he still attempts to tempt Ayama into his service by dangling his knowledge of the forgotten lore of the First Age in front of her. The villagers of Petgrana, who now comprise mostly healers and their charges, look upon Ayama as their savior, and have taken to revering the Unconquered Sun. The barbarians in the forest surrounding Petgrana have declared the place taboo, and only approach if they themselves are in need of healing. Peace has come at last to the village.</p><p></p><p> But there is not peace in Ayama’s heart. She still recalls the vision granted her by the Unconquered Sun, and is plagued by thoughts that there is an even greater purpose waiting for her. And she also knows that somewhere in Creation, V’neef Odaask still lives, burning with hatred from his betrayal and humiliation. She knows that he might well try to regain favor with the Empire by sending the Wild Hunt to her village, to destroy her and all she has created.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Delemental, post: 4641894, member: 5203"] [b]The Healer's Heart[/b] A storm had rolled in during the night, and had turned the little village’s simple dirt-track road into a muddy morass by the next morning. Rain still pattered on the straw rooftop of Grandmother and Grandfather’s home, with the occasional drop falling into an iron pot in the corner. Children sat huddled on the floor, crowded into the tiny dwelling, some with streaks of mud still drying on their faces. They sat quietly, each sucking on pieces of rice candy that Grandmother had somehow produced from a simple clay jar on the high shelf, as Grandfather settled into his favorite chair, another scroll case in his weathered hand. Grandfather broke open the case, the dry wax seal snapping with a report that sounded much too loud in the small room. He carefully unrolled the parchment, and perused it with his sharp, bright eyes. “Ah,” he said at last. “Now I understand.” “Understand what, Grandfather?” a young girl asked. “Why the gods of the sky choose to weep this day. They must have foreseen whose tale I would tell this day.” “Is it a sad story, Grandfather?” the girl asked, her eyes wide. “It is, at first,” he said in answer, “but in stories, as in life, we cannot always choose to make the beginning to our liking, but only choose what to do with what is given to us.” [center]☼ ☼ ☼[/center] Far to the East, where the endless forests grow so deep and thick that the sun never touches the earth, there is a village known as Petgrana, which lies to the south of the Yellow River. The villagers of Petgrana make their living as most other villages in this land do, by felling the great trees that lived deep in the forest and selling them to the Guild, and by buying slaves from the barbarians who also lived deep in the forest, and selling them to the Guild as well. The villagers made their offerings to the little gods of the forest, and life was peaceful and orderly for them. One of the people who called Petgrana their home was a young girl named Ayama. At an early age, she had been apprenticed to Kaila, the village wise woman, to learn the secrets of the land and of the spirits that resided there. She learned her lessons well, even though some suspected she lacked the intellect to master the profession, due to her tendency to speak very little. But none could deny her caring heart, or her tenacity. She soon caught the eye of another resident of Petgrana. V’neef Odaask had come to Petgrana some years ago, and was now the town’s healer and surgeon. Though he did not rule the village, he held great influence, thanks in large part to his status as a Dragon-Blood from one of the Empire’s Great Houses. There were whispers that he had come to Petgrana because he feared to return home to the Blessed Isle; that he had been with the Imperial Army at the Battle of Mishaka, and that something that had happened in that battle had caused him to leave in disgrace. But none spoke openly of this. For his part, Odaask tried to instruct the villager in the ways of the Immaculate Philosophy, discouraging their worship of the little gods of the land, only permitting those spirits to deal through him. As his interest in young Ayama grew, he began to insist that the wise woman allow her apprentice to learn under his own tutelage – in this he had the right, as he was Kaila’s superior in the healing arts. At first, it must be said, V’neef Odaask’s fascination with the girl was simply a recognition of great potential. Though he found her stubborn and at times irrational, he admired her devotion, and as the girl became a woman this admiration turned to attraction, though he did not make his desires known. He knew that he was past his prime, and a poor husband for the young woman. As can be expected, once Ayama became a young woman she was betrothed to the wise woman’s nephew, Kayin, and after they were married she bore him two children, a son Rutendo and a daughter Dakarai. Ayama and Kayin loved each other deeply, and both cherished their children. Ayama continued her work as a healer, while Kayin would go deep into the forest in search of rare trees to cut down. One day, when the children were still young, a strange and terrible storm struck Petgrana, and several of the villagers went missing, including Kayin. Ayama joined the search parties over the protests of the elders, arguing that the missing villagers might require healing when found. After two days, the missing villagers were found, having been trapped on a ridge by a mudslide. But as they returned to Petgrana, they were attacked by wild barbarians. Many of them were killed, those who surrendered were taken captive. Only three survived; Ayama, Kayin, and one other. Though terribly injured, Ayama managed to bind her own wounds and fashion a litter, and dragged the two other survivors back to Petgrana, an ordeal that lasted four days. She almost died for her efforts, but the other two men were saved. It was a full year before Ayama recovered her strength fully, even with the efforts of V’neef Odaask to heal her. More years passed, and Rutendo and Dakarai grew older and began their own apprenticeships. Life was peaceful and content for Ayama. But one day a tribe of grim-faced barbarians came to Petgrana, leading a band of slaves that looked more dead than alive. The barbarians had come to bargain with the Guild for the slaves, which was not an uncommon sight. The barbarian chief and the Guild factor argued over the price, but surprisingly the chief relented and agreed to a price far less than they had asked. The factor kept the slaves in Petgrana, allowing them to rest and recuperate their strength before returning to Nexus to sell them. But soon the slaves began to show signs of sickness, and the town’s healers were called in. Despite their efforts, the plague killed the slaves quickly, and then spread. Within weeks, half the village had either died or was too weak with plague to support themselves. Ayama watched as her mentor, Kaila, fell ill and died, and she grieved as she lost Dakarai, and then her beloved Kayin. At last, though Ayama’s tireless efforts, a cure to the disease was found, just as V’neef Odaask fell victim to exhaustion. Ignoring the early signs that told her that she had been infected, Ayama spread the cure to others, saving her village, but by the time she stopped to administer the medicine to herself, the plague had already taken hold. As she lay on her deathbed, listening to the wails of her son Rutendo, she found herself the recipient of a strange vision. She felt her spirit floating away from her body, but then suddenly it snapped back. Opening her eyes, she saw all around her a vast field of the injured and dying, as far as the eye could see. Even as she watched, some succumbed to their wounds or to their illness, and died before her. Looking around, Ayama felt a presence behind her, and when she turned she saw the radiant form of the Unconquered Sun, looking at her expectantly. She knew in her heart that it was her duty to heal, but the magnitude of the task was overwhelming. The Unconquered Sun seemed to flicker and flare for a moment, and when she looked on him again she saw that arrayed at his feet were all manner of strange and wondrous tools of the healer’s art. Deep in her soul, Ayama knew her purpose. She reached for the tools offered by the Unconquered Sun, and awoke as she did so. She sat up, bathed in a radiant glow, her illness gone. Rutendo was the only witness to this miraculous event; V’neef Odaask was still recovering and had not yet awoken. Her life had been spared, but she had lost a daughter and a husband. She wondered what kind of life she could have now, and what her strange vision had meant, though she spoke of it to no one. Slowly, Petgrana recovered, but they had lost many. Barbarians came from the forest to trade slaves, but soon saw that the village was weak and ripe for conquest. Fearing for their lives, the villagers began to petition the little gods of the forest for protection. Odaask protested, insisting that the spirits should only deal with him as one of the Dragon-Bloooded, but the spirits ignored him. It was clear to them that the villagers were willing to give so much more than what Odaask offered. One of these spirits, a little god named Sunlight Pierces the Canopy, appeared to Ayama directly. Ayama knew this spirit well; he had often tried to cajole her as a youth into becoming a priestess for him. She had never been particularly awed by the spirit before, which only served to intrigue him. But Sunlight Pierces the Canopy now knew of Ayama’s Exaltation, and hoped to use it to garner greater favor and worship from the villagers. He told her that if the villagers were to open a hole in the canopy of trees over Petgrana and let in the sunlight, he would be able to create a glamer around the village that would confuse the barbarian raiders. Ayama informed the villagers of Sunlight Pierces the Canopy’s offer. V’neef Odaask stood, and forbade the villagers from accepting, as the forest-spirit was attempting to circumvent the established order. Rather than argue with the elder Dragon-Blood, Ayama simply set about accomplishing the task herself. But Odaask caught her, and had her beaten severely as punishment. But the next morning she was once again in the treetops, showing no signs of her injuries. Inspired by her example, the other villagers made their way into the trees, saws and axes in hand. Odaask, infuriated, once again demanded that Ayama stop, but this time threatened to beat her son to death. Ayama climbed down and faced her old tutor. Though age had weakened his body, and his past disgraces had stripped him of whatever arms and armor that he might have once borne, he was still a Dragon-Blood, possessed of the power of the Elemental Dragons. His anima flared with whipping tendrils of thorny vines as he went after Rutendo with a simple whip. Ayama interposed herself between Odaask and her son, taking the vicious blows he landed even as leaves and branches rained down from above. A column of sunlight broke through the trees, illuminating Petgrana in golden light. Suddenly light began to radiate from Ayama as well, flaring up into arcs of azure and amber forming the sigil of the Unconquered Sun, two blue winged serpents intertwined across its face. The slashes left by the whip vanished as Ayama stood before V’neef Odaask defiantly. Behind her, Sunlight Pierces the Canopy manifested himself in support of the newborn Solar. Odaask, knowing that he could not withstand both an Anathema and a disobedient god, turned and fled, never to be seen again. The village of Petgrana exists to this day, though it is not the same place it once was. It is now a place of healing, and nearly legendary among the residents of the East. Sunlight Pierces the Canopy acts as the village’s patron god, and hides its presence from all, except those who are truly in need or who are deemed worthy. The little god now has the priestesses he craved, though he still attempts to tempt Ayama into his service by dangling his knowledge of the forgotten lore of the First Age in front of her. The villagers of Petgrana, who now comprise mostly healers and their charges, look upon Ayama as their savior, and have taken to revering the Unconquered Sun. The barbarians in the forest surrounding Petgrana have declared the place taboo, and only approach if they themselves are in need of healing. Peace has come at last to the village. But there is not peace in Ayama’s heart. She still recalls the vision granted her by the Unconquered Sun, and is plagued by thoughts that there is an even greater purpose waiting for her. And she also knows that somewhere in Creation, V’neef Odaask still lives, burning with hatred from his betrayal and humiliation. She knows that he might well try to regain favor with the Empire by sending the Wild Hunt to her village, to destroy her and all she has created. [/QUOTE]
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