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Grandfathered in ( Completed - Maragarn )

Started by Griznuq, October 15, 2007, 08:57:40 AM

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Griznuq

Players involved in this thread: Maragarn (Wildfire)

Thick fog spilled slowly over the fields of this brisk early spring morning. The air was thick with the scent of budding leaves and sprouting flowers. Already the tribe was up, bustling about.

The herds were beginning to move back north with the warming, and if there was one thing the Satyr had learned in the past fifty years, it was that they had to be ready to move with their source of food.

 The men were busy preparing arrows and spears for the night's kill or loading carts to be ready for the traveling that would likely begin in the evening. The woman cooked the morning meal on a fire while keeping the children from hurting themselves, or one another.

 "Maragarn," your father's voice came from behind you. His voice had an unyielding strength to it. Your mother had said that if your father had asked a boulder to split, it would ask how many fragments were required. "Your grandfather is ill."

This was something you already knew. He'd been sick for a few days now. Everyone had suspected that it was simply a cold from the changing of the seasons, which was not uncommon. The fact that your father was bringing it up now meant that was no longer the case.
=]V[=

Wildfire

Maragarn was carrying a bundle of newly made spears to a pack mule. He wasn't much of a hunter much less a weapon crafter so his chores were relegated to more labor intensive endeavors and even then he wasn't considered as useful as others.

He stopped in his work and turned to face his father. He dreaded the inevitable day that the news he feared he would be told would come. His grandfather had been a waterfall of wisdom to the family and offered insight to the "curse" that ran through the bloodline. To have that void in his life and to now be faced with an unpredictable future filled Maragarn with a sense of despair.

"Dad, it's a spring cold just as every year...he will get better...when the weather changes?" Maragarn was trying more to convince himself of this than anyone despite his knowledge otherwise.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Griznuq

"We were wrong, this has nothing to do with the changing of the seasons. He was bit. Perhaps by a spider."

Maragarn was not what would be regarded as a healer or much of an expert on arachnids, but this certainly didn't sound like something that could be fixed easily.

"I've done what I can as far as slowing things down, but not only is there a venom, but infection as well. We need Ironroot..." Serephus trailed off, as he was certain Maragarn understood the implications of this.

Ironroot was from the Ironbark tree, and the Ironbark trees were revered by the Centaurs, the guardians of the world. One does not simply cut down an Ironbark tree. Even if it was an easy feat to cut one down, one would not get halfway through it before being run off by Centaur scouts.

The only way to get Ironroot was to ask, and one must be worthy. Ironroot could not be harvested from a full grown tree, it was simply too dense. For the medicinal properties to be utilized, a new sprout must be killed, and only about a dozen or so sprout each year.

The Centuar were not without sympathy of course, and would oblige if they could. However, time was of the essence. The Centaur rarely gave more than four sprouts in a year, and the new ones would be sprouting soon.

Another hurdle: the Satyr are not regarded well by the Centaur. Indeed, even before the Emerald Dawn, the Centaur looked down upon the practices of the Elven tribe that'd become the Satyr for their malicious worship practices. The Centaur feel the curse on the tribe was just, but maybe lenient. Maragarn could only hope they're not aware of the shadow magic.
=]V[=

Wildfire

Maragarns heart sunk and with trembling hands he placed his burden on the ground. Most likely he would be forced to strike out into the wilds on his own. Given the ill favor that his family had secured in the clan it would be highly unlikely that anyone would venture out and get the medicine plant. His father would have to stay and tend his grandfather and his mother had to attend to the daily life and upkeep of the family. He was the only one that could go.

Though trained in the ways of the wilds, Maragarn's talents were better suited to sages and shamans. He had been taught by his family elders in such ways and all of them knew he had become skilled with "the curse". To go out on what was essentially a hunt, alone at that, made him both nervous and excited. This would be his chance to prove his usefulness in the clan but if he failed he could die. Worse yet, he'll have failed his family and his grandsire would die.

With trepidation he asked, "How many days travel and in which direction will I find the saplings and Centaurs?" There was no going back now. He was committed to this. The winds of change were practically blowing him from his stance and he wondered if it was for good or ill.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Griznuq

Serephus' face became stern. "I told you to pay attention to your studies, that should have included geography."

He drew a deep breath and relaxed visibly. Maragarn's studies had been years ago, and the reality was that almost none of it had been put into any real use. As with any tool, disuse leads to atrophy.

"It's a week or nine days south from here. The Ironbark forest. If you hurry, you should be able to get back by month's end."

This statement brought about a realization; The tribe was moving, and it was not moving south. Seven to nine days south from where Maragarn stood that moment could mean a fortnight return with the tribe moving north.
=]V[=

Wildfire

Maragarns concerns grew stronger. Not only would he be forced to catch up with the travels of his clan but questioned if his grandfather would be able to travel with his sickness.

"Sire..."Maragarn said, "...will Grand-da be able to make such a seasonal journey with his sickness? and if so would it not cause him to become sicker? How much time does he have before he is taken by it? My travels to catch up with the clan would, in fact, be longer than if they stayed here?"

Maragarn knew the urgency of his task but having measured the travel and the circumstances around it, it became that much more paramount. He would certainly be leaving this day.

His Grandsire would say, 'We walk in the shadows but it is hope that lights the way'. Maragarn smiled as he came to appreciate the meaning of that statement.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Griznuq

Serephus' face looked calm, almost dismissive. "You need not worry about the time, there is enough. Now that we have found the true issue, we can slow it down enough that he should easily have a month, maybe more."

Serephus hoped that statement would bring some measure of peace to his son. "We will leave the customary signs of our passing so you can follow behind. I am certain you'll remember your lessons."

The tribe had scouts who would travel ahead to follow directly be hind the herds, and would leave signs of direction of travel for the rest of the tribe. Typically, it was a small pile of stones, a darker stone on one side indicated the direction of travel. There were others too that indicated things like trouble ahead, or proceed slowly, or speed up as well.

Serephus clapped his son's shoulder and said, "I know this is the most difficult burden we've ever placed upon you, and you'll feel more alone in this than in anything you've done before. Do not make the mistake of believing those feelings, for we are all in this, though we are unable to do anything about it.
=]V[=

Wildfire

Maragarn's nerves calmed. It was not the task that was daunting to him but the idea that he might fail and disappoint those he loved that weighed heavy on him. He wated to know that his father had faith in him to do this.

He realized that if his father had not the faith that he may not have asked him to go. But given the situation they were in with few others to take on the travel that his father may not have had any other choice.

Regardless, this was now his mission and he was already mentally preparing himself to meet the challenge. Though he had some fear, he decided that he wouldn't be a slave to it and chose to push it away.

Maragarn looked down at the burden of spears that he had been carrying and picked one out. He held it firm and took a deep breath. He looked at his sire and said, "I'll prepare my things and leave on the morrow's daybreak."

Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Griznuq

=]V[=