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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Arkhandus" data-source="post: 1359176" data-attributes="member: 13966">Argus quietly listens to the others making their plans in the morning, and understands they will gather again in Dumeldein come winter.  As he collects his meager belongings, he again discards the druidic fetish Rolf had returned to him, and notices a strange wooden coin in one fold of his waist-sash...  Argus fingers the coin for a moment, and stashes it again, deciding it couldn't hurt.  He heads out quickly, placing a hand on Kirran's shoulder briefly as he passes.  The Hibridean quickly enters the city and purchases some jerky and hardtack for the road, then heads out into the woods.  Jade, the snake, is left behind at the camp, confused at her companion's long absence, as he leaves her behind. After several days, he reaches the river and hikes alongside it to the southeast.  Argus hunts and forages for food once his rations are gone, and fills his waterskins at the river when needed.  He hustles once he reaches the end of the river and sees the ocean once more.  Argus pauses for a moment at the sea, then grunts and turns southwest, running angrily for a time.  After some time of hiking, running, and jogging, Argus finds a small settlement out in the wild.  He is surprised to find anyone living out here, knowing that he must have left behind Mittendeinish territory many days ago.  Argus creeps up to the camp and sees a tent village of human barbarians, apparently nomads.  Argus ponders what to do, and realizes that his many days in the wild have left him rather odorous and unkempt, and with a laugh he realizes he'll probably fit right in! Some of the barbarians hear his sudden laugh, and dash out into the woods to find the source of the noise.  They find and surround him, and Argus goes sober again.  He cautiously tries some diplomacy, but the barbarians don't understand him.  They lead him into the village where he meets their shaman, a middle-aged man with a wizened look to his face.  The shaman understands Mittendeinish, and Argus convinces the man that he only wishes to stay with the tribe for a time, learn their ways and maybe share some of his own skills.  The shaman scoffs at this, but Argus insists that he's also a fair hunter and warrior.  The shaman translates for the chieftain of this small tribe, apparently called the K'ultan.  The chieftain looks Argus over, scoffing at the man's only slightly-muscular build and pale complexion.  He barks out a command to one of his warriors, who steps up.  The shaman tells Argus that he must prove his ability to the tribe by subduing this warrior, and the monk nods his assent.  Argus steps over to the tribal warrior, bowing briefly, and the man laughs harshly at the strange custom.  He strikes first and catches Argus in the chin, still coming out of the bow, and Argus staggers back, rubbing his jaw.  However, once the man steps up again to take another shot, Argus snaps out a fast punch and stuns the warrior, then pummels him into submission with a rapid succession of blows.  The chieftain appraises Argus' skill, and apparently decides the foreigner deserves a chance.  The shaman tells Argus the chieftain's consent, and the young monk spends a few months with the tribe, proving his skills as best he can. Argus is uncertain how much time has passed, but as autumn sweeps over the land, he is presented with a strange demand by the shaman, Pah'rel.  The chieftain grimaces down at Argus from atop his wooden throne, and Argus squirms under the large man's gaze.  Chieftain Hrel'tar demanded, via the shaman, that Argus must marry into the tribe or be cast out.  Apparently it was expected of him some time ago, but he never realized it.  He is still a foreigner to them, and has overstayed his welcome as such.  Yet Argus has absolutely no idea where the tribe is now, as he lost track of which direction he came from, and the tribe has traveled many times since then.  Now, the chieftain demands he either marry into the tribe or flee, into the unknown wilderness beyond.  The only female in the tribe currently unmarried and of the proper age is the chieftain's daughter, however, and there are other warriors who desire her, for the chieftain's only son is still young, and thus whomever his daughter marries might eventually become chieftain.....  Argus nervously accepts the marriage, realizing several warriors will not be happy with him afterward. Just as Argus' luck seemed to abandon him before, it does so again a month after his forced marriage to the chieftain's daughter.  Surprisingly, the time isn't all that bad, aside from a daily roughing up by jealous warriors.  The chieftain was recently slain in his sleep, and all eyes are drawn suspiciously to Argus....  The Hibridean bids a hasty farewell to his new wife, fleeing the tribe as several warriors accuse him of the heinous crime and come for his head.  The monk moves swiftly away from the camp, managing to find which way is north and heading that way.  After a few months of fleeing, Argus finds his way back into Mittendein and hustles towards Dumeldein, certain that at least some of the barbarians are still after him. Once he finally reaches the city, Argus hides out in the park, still not used to the bustle of an urban sprawl....</blockquote>

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