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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shayuri" data-source="post: 2900639" data-attributes="member: 4936">Kuma looks surprised by the attention, then nods gravely and sits down crosslegged."I will tell you the story of my people, that if I should die in the trials to come, the story may live on," he begins."In the frozen tundra of the far north, my people live. We once numbered ourselves among the traveling tribes of Uthgardt...following the herds of elk and moose, and doing battle with the goblins and orcs that tried to steal the food that was ours. But then we were called. We were Chosen. A great warrior and hunter named Cho'garth saw a mountain while hunting. A mountain alone on the steppes, where none had been just a year before. Smoke curled from its tip. Cho'garth trekked to the mountain, and found it cavernous and hot...actually hot! inside. Being fearless, he entered the caves, and it was not long before he stumbled upon the great god that had created the mountain. Yet to his shock, the god did not burn him, or consume him, or rend him to bits. Instead it spoke to him, and the discussed many things. In the end, he agreed to bring his people to the mountain...to worship the god-spirit that dwelled within and to protect the caves from any who tried to enter them. They would offer tithes of gold and food, and in return it would suffer their presence in the outer chambers. There they would find warmth to keep the fiercest winter away, fires to cook their meat, and safety in the shelter of the mountain."Though not all followed Cho'garth back to the mountain, many did...and they became a new tribe. The tribe of the great mountain. In the passing seasons many tribes of men, gnolls, orcs, and worse came to the mountain seeking its warmth, or the spirit's treasures. Each time, the Great Mountain Uthgardt fought like the great fanged cats of the steppes, driving them back. Thus they earned great favor from their god, who honored them by walking among them in the shape of a man. It even came to pass that honored three women of the tribe, and sired three royal lines from them. The get of the royal lines were men, yet more, for they had been blessed with some of the power of their god. In time, the chiefs of this tribe were chosen of one of these three lines each time, depending on who was strongest, and who gained the favor of their god."Then it came to pass one day that the god left the mountain. Its treasures vanished, and in the passing of a night, it departed...leaving the Great Mountain tribe to watch over its home, guarding it against the day it returned. Seasons passed, and the three royal lines eventually became two...then one. Finally, the last chieftain to bear the godmarks passed to the earth, and only men were left to rule. To test them, without the wisdom of the mountain spirit to decide, it was decreed that anyone wishing to be chief must be of the royal blood, and must complete a great task away from the Mountain, and return with proof. And so it was."Here Kuma pauses, then says, "Now I add my own chapter to the tale, and it is the chapter that unmakes what has come before. Alone of my kin, I have learned secrets that make our histories so much wishful thinking. The 'god' of the mountain was nothing more than a dragon. Old and powerful and steeped in magic, but not a god. We were its slaves. Why it left, I do not know...but I have sworn this as my chieftain's quest." He looks up at the uncompromising blue sky and clenches a fist."I will find a great dragon, crimson as flame, and take its head. Then I will trek the long miles back and show my tribesmen this token...so they will know that they were decieved, and so they will never be the slaves of a false god again."</blockquote>

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