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Message: <blockquote data-quote="nopantsyet" data-source="post: 408045" data-attributes="member: 3109">The Seven Pillars, Part 1Sunday, September 29In Ammah Sept of Garugh Zakh, survival is the occupation of every waking moment.  Every member of the society has a role, and they know and perform their role or people die.  And even then, the reality is that death is an ever-present phantom, always waiting behind the next rock or in the next food shortage.  And so it has become the state of affairs among Ammah Sept to operate in a very efficient and orderly manner unlike that of all other Vek, even the other septs of Garugh Zakh.All adults hunt, forage, patrol, and fight, regardless of gender and until they die.  The youth maintain the camp, prepare the food, and raise the children, though in other cultures they themselves would be considered such.  At the age of four they begin instruction in these duties, which they recieve from the older children.  They are guided in these responsibilities until they are capable of performing them independently.  And then, where necessary, they impart these skills to others.Combat training takes place within the camp also.  There are always at least two armed patrols at the encampment.  One has watch duty and the other oversees the martial training of all children aged ten and older, although in reality their training begins much earlier as even their childhood games reflect and teach the skills necessary for survival.And so it was that on the particular day of which I speak, a certain group was patrolling the southernmost edge of the Dire Peaks when they encountered a most bizarre character.  Short by their standards, and far too thin to have the necessary strength to carry the obviously Vek body that slumped over his shoulder.But even more bizarre was his manner of fress.  Unlike the loose stitchings of skins and furs that the Vek are accustomed to wearing, this man wore clothing of supple skins, cut and stiched finely to conform to his figure.  As well was his sword, being of a craftsmanship unknown among the Vek, its blade gleamed in the sunlight and curved back slightly at the end.Andrinador, being chief among the patrol, accosted the strange man while Turbac made his way quietly through the surrounding rocks to bring his spear to the ready behind him.  The questions put to him, in order of importance were, what are you doing in our lands. why do you have a Vek warrior on your back, and who are you?He introduced himself as Ashgon of the great swamp at Tirnoth.  And while his speech was accented and bore the lilt of a child, they understood what he said except for the thing called a swamp and the place called Tirnoth.  These things were not known to them, so Ashgon explained swamp and told that Tirnoth lay at the southwestern edge of the continent, where the land meets the great waters.The Zakh patrol was again confounded, for the idea of dense vegetation steeped in water and mud were too foreign to their experience; and for any waters to be large enough to be called "great" was simply ludicrous.  But they all knew, although they did not speak, that they had of late had strange thoughts and dreames strange dreams.  And if those could be, so too could the words of the stranger.Ashgon continued to tell how he had that same day come across the body that he now carried, battered and bruised and left for dead.  They could tell he was not of Zakh, but no Vek would be so foolish to venture into Nepehelym territory alone.  And this one had almost paid the price of that foolishness.Andrinador pressed him again, why was he here, and he explained, "There has among us arisen a prophetess, and she dreams and speaks what she sees.  She speaks of a broken world--our world, and mad visions of destruction and hints of secrets long forgotten.  We understood but little of what she spoke until recently when she has become increasingly more intelligible."Most recently she spoke of a vision in which she saw seven pillars that stretched far into the sky.  And on those pillars were inscribed the secrets that have lain hidden for generations: the secret of our broken world."There are those of us who believe on her words and follow her.  We are those who also have had our minds opened to the discord of our existence.  We are those who will throw off the cloak of ignorance and fear and seek the answers that are lost.  I have crossed the land, and will continue to walk it until I find what I seek."The three Zakh thought on these words, for each had seen similar things and thought similar thoughts.Andrinador continued to press, "But why have you come into the lands of Garugh Zakh of Vek?""That answer is twofold," began Ashgon.  "Firstly, the prophetess spoke of a pillar among the highest peaks, which are those at whose base we now stand.  Secondly, we know of members of many peoples who also call themselves "awakened," but none from among the Vek.  I had hoped that in my search I might encounter such as well."The Zakh conferred briefly.  None even hinted at his recent thoughts, but each was clearly affected by the words of the stranger.  They must take this stranger back to Drakha, dhiin sar of Ammah sept and also father of Andrinador.  But for the moment, they did their best to rouse the semi-conscious warrior, and they shared waala and chapaati with both, assuring them both if nothing else, safe passage out of Zakh lands.</blockquote>

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