章 37: Life after: Shaman Story: Side:
Act 1 cold:
I felt odd. . . My limbs did not move, my breath did not passed and my thoughts different than what they were before.
??? "What happened? Did we defended the marriage? Am I in healing tent? Priest! I'm awake! I just can't see anything!" And it was true, even though I opened my eyes I only see darkness, was I blinded? and even my words seemed to come out as nothing but bare whispers. Has my tongue been cut?
What's going on? I'm not breathing, and why do I feel so cold. . . So weak. . . I . . I . But also my memories cleared, as I remembered my life, from my birth, my childhood, adulthood. . . And death.
There I stood, surrounded in darkness, as I look upon, a ball of glass, seeing my life like that of a clan ritual.
Act 2 Birth:
I was born in the rider clan known as the Free-Spirits, in the warrior family of Oaktail. . . My mother Liliete a clan-sword and father Pinetel a shaman birthed me as there 3rd and last son. . .
It wasn't a glorious birth, as it was during the dark-season, but the season made my auspicious sign, even stronger. As my birth made the snow around are home to thawl melting it away, pushing of the cold for 3 days.
Our family's elders thought I would become a good priest or warrior if the 'Flame brother' chooses me as his worshiper. But my father and his family argued that I could become a powerful shaman if bonded early with a fire spirit.
In the end they thought whatever my path, my future has already been decided, as I would be one of the many that would drive away the darkness of the world.
Act 2 Childhood:
My life moved forward as I saw myself as a child, herding sheep as I practiced my drum beat, making the lesser spirits of summer, swoon at the rhythm.
My path to become a shaman was enforced, as I was adopted by the Drumtale family after my mother died in battle and my father went missing, exploring.
My mother died valiantly defending our herds against the raiding reliant clan called as the Burned-hooves, they were a respected clan with reliable Swords, but not well liked by the other clans, our clan included.
I vowed the day I saw my scarred yet still strong remains of my mother, and her bow given to me, that I would slay as many of the swords of the Burned-hooves clan as the number of mothers that died defending the herds with my mother.
As my vow was made at the present of the family heads of my mother's and father's family and those other children that has felt lost, for the first time.
My words gave them what they needed to take heart, and swore similar vows, this made the heads took notice of me and gave me a nod of approval but also calmed our hearts with songs that made us remember the lessons of our parents and stories giving us cautionary wisdom.
The next year my father left, he was with a party led by one of our best shamans that had elevated himself to a noble and also a close uncle, that's one of the reason my father came with him as a bow and shaman.
The place that they went to was a place we heard existed in the east, days of travel away from a neighboring clan during a gift giving visit. Our clan was interested as it was supposedly a place filled with spirits and there magic.
The party came back fewer than when they departed. . . My father was not among those that came back, my uncle told us that many of the spirits they came upon was friendly but not all where, and that they were attacked by a powerful one and scattered them, he was only able to find those that was accompanying now using his owl spirits.
Later that day my uncle visited me and apologize to me crying as he given me the only thing he found of his only brother, and it was the spirit drum I was practicing with. . . And after that he vowed to take me in as his own and train me as best he can.
And that's how in my youngest days have been sharpening my blade with other children, like one of my closest friend Yucatan, she and two others received there gifts of flame early much like how I gained my connection to the spirits early.
And improved my skills of the spirits by learning as much as I can from my uncle, from the clan spirits and from other shamans that enjoys sharing there secrets to the young so they're art may never die.
In the end of it all I was powerful for my age considered excellent in magic and good with the sword and bow as I entered the ritual of induction so I may become a youth the newest generation of adults.
Act 3 Youth:
The raids from the Burned-hooves had stopped 2 years before I was inducted as an adult, I now fight as a bow, even though they had stopped raiding us we're still raided by others like the chaotic scorpions last year and a herd raid skirmish in the beginning of the fire season, but it's becoming less and less .
But my vow was still strong. . . But I wasn't able to fulfill it just yet, as I was barely able to stay a season at home, as ever since I was inducted as an adult. I was given less work but much responsibility. . . And started being pushed to find a wife or mate.
Now I was in an exploration mission, escorting a noble my uncle, as we re-explored the spirit hills. . . Some of the children of the vulture came to us a season ago telling us of this place in much more detail than our neighbors, and after we supplied them and feasted with them, they told us ways to avoid the more dangerous spirits.
But still I was concern of what I might find regarding my father, and excited at the prospect of finding another powerful spirit to bond too, I have yet to find a fire spirit strong enough to bond with, but if I did find one depending on its strength I might need to release or give away my powerful wolf spirit.
I found her when I was younger, she was a recently made spirit after dying in our clans woods, she helps me to never get lost, whenever I wandered as a child.
And everytime I offer my magic to her, I would be given the ferocity of predators whenever I fight. . .But sadly, she was a spirit of the wilds and earth, and I am more in tuned with Fire and the hearth, normally I shouldn't have been able to bond with her, yet I was powerful enough as a shaman and she a young enough spirit that I was able to do so, but it limits both our power and potential.
Yucatan spoke as we rode, she was the same as I, and have been given the same treatment less work around or in the clan lands but more responsibilities and work outside the clan. "Brother Chillan, are you alright, you seem lost? do you feel something of the local spirits?"
She questioned me, with concern as she more closely observed our surrounding looking for signs of ambush, from spirits or mortals. As she asked I did so, asking my lesser spirits to look around us, they tell me nothing but I felt them happy as I played my drum. My wolf spirit doesn't smell blood or that of other predators.
So I answered Yucatan "No, my spirits tell me we are not in any danger for now. . .I was just thinking of my father and if I'll finally find a powerful enough fire spirit to bond with." She looked at me oddly as I answered her and then felt the scabbard of her sword pound my head. "Agh! What was that for?" I reacted.
She spoke with playful contempt and laughter "You think to much brother! This is why you'll never pass the Clan-sword ritual!" She was teasing me again, and being to physical.
I asked the lesser wind spirits to blow her hair away and they did as I answered "And this is why you'll never get a decent husband! They'll fear how abusive you are!" We started crossing spear shafts as are party rested letting our horses graze lightly on wild fields.
We always break into light spars like this whenever we traveled and rest. It sharpens are skills and my uncle seem to approve of it. We exchange twenty more times before I was defeated as my spear was swept to my side and I felt the edge of hers on my neck.
She did not use any sun-fire priestly combat magic and I did not continue to use any of my shamanistic magic. . . As that would have been a more serious and injuring spar.
I lifted both of my hands and said "Alright, I yield, sister Yucatan." She gave a triumphant laugh and then started singing the victory song used by those who fights there younger kin.
My uncle spoke up as he stood up from a large flat rock. "Alright that's enough you two." He tossed us each a milk-skin and continued "Rest up, will continue riding in an hour or so, will get there by midday tomorrow, gods willing."
And we did, Yucatan calmed down as we sat on the grass and spoke. I Chillan talked to her. "I'm just worried that I've already reached adulthood and I have yet to find a Fire spirit strong enough to possess my mother's bow." I said this as I rubbed the fang necklace on my neck, the vessel of my wolf spirit, pathfinder.
Yucatan was holding the bow in question, it used to be a blessed weapon, but when mother died the blessing left with her and made the weapon into a well crafted mortal Bow, breakable and incapable of channeling the magic of a user. but still I treasured it as it was the few things my mom left me and I was able to keep.
Usually when a Sword or bow of the clan dies or when we loot weapons or armour from those we battled are crafters would just repair it as best they can or destroy and remake the war goods and then they give it to there families or the clans warriors.
After that is was the warrior's choice if they want to blessed by a priest or ask a shaman to let it become the vessel of a spirit. Usually it depends on the affinity of the warrior or clan. and as my clan was strongest in magic and shamanism most warriors tries the spirits first before the gods.
But my heirloom was different it had a curse and a blessing, there was still remnant magic within it. Meaning it needs to either be broken and remade by a crafter to lose the remnant magic and be compatible with most blessings and spirits. or I get it blessed by the patron of my mother, which was hard for some like me to do. or I find a spirit truly compatible with it or strong enough to overcome the remnant divine magic in it.
I didn't want the crafters to remake my mom's bow, I wasn't trained as a warrior priest of the 'Flame brother' and I've already been told by the elders that while the 'Flame brother' had weapon blessings similar to his mother the 'Guardian sun' they are not the same blessings and that the history of those that tried in our clan had records of weakening the strength of there heirloom weapons and equipment and one cauldron.
Compared when there ancestors had used them. . . So I was left to looking for powerful spirits that had atleast some of the characteristics of my mother's bow, it would make the possession ritual easier rather than me brute forcing it with a clan level spirit, like the ones that serves our great spirit, Raven.
After looking at it I saw Yucatan draw upon her sun-fire magic filling my mother's bow but then the magic failed and the bow dimmed back to that of an ordinary bow. as she spoke. "I know, I know, I need to be part of your bloodline before I could use it. . . before anyone can use it, it's the inheritance of your mother. you don't need to remind me of rider lore." I nodded in acknowledgement as she handed the bow back to me and holstered it on my hip.
I started to play my drum, I feel the ghosts trapped within it empowering it, captured by my grandmother, my fathers, mother who had passed after my 6th fire season. two years before my mother left me and 4 years before my father followed. . . I played a beat well like by the horses and those who feed on grass, and those who protects them.
I spoke as I played my drum. "Sister, how about you? has your flame calmed. . . Are you still bothered by sister Lyafion's, call to action?" I spoke, I've learned to know people well, and I knew her the best, an elder of mine forced me to learn diplomacy and leadership from him whenever my uncle need to work outside the clan.
I looked at her, she was hesitant, I can see from her tells. . .Avoiding my eyes, tapping her foot and other small things, she doesn't like being open about things, but she hates lying more, so she spoke honestly as I squeezed her shoulder. Yucatan spoke "I'm not sure, I just get angered with the smallest things, and it's getting worse, every time I go through one I go farther with it. . . I hurt another a girl while we were sparing, she just keeps on annOYING ME!" She let out a scream, as fire appeared in her eyes and her hair glowed of amber flames and this made me bring out my flute, I had it possessed by a small pond spirit, I found her dying as her home was draining into an irrigation some of our farmers had made.
I played the song of harmony taught to us by our god of Mending Errinal, it was it's core use was to calm the soul of those in pain, but now the priests of his order would use it ritually as they heal the wounded and dying.
Spiritual water came from my flute as I fed her my magic, and then that water went into Yucatan and moistening her dampening the heat of her wrath. . . and within moments her fire was weaken as her hair and fur turned back to normal, and her eyes no longer holding fire. I looked around and saw that most had stepped away leaving only the Swords and my uncle close to us.
They checked on us, and nodded we where safe and went back to there busy work as they rested, sharpening weapons, brushing horses, foraging and looking for animal tracks, discussing our route with my uncle or just that one guy who likes carving animals out of bones and giving it to the kids. . . he's the uncle who gave me the fanged wolf necklace and fashioned it enough that it could hold a spirit. and he was the one who taught me how to make charms.
I looked back at Yucatan and she seemed ready to speak again. "Sorry for outburst and thank you for doing what you did. . . I think me, little Avyten and Lyafion. would have done really bad thing for the clan if you weren't always their playing with us. and you're calming water. . . are you sure your ancestors weren't part weeder people? ha ha ha" she joked to herself and I laughed with her, and then I thought about it and remembered yes, my father's family did adopt weeder people when a group of them asked to be adopted and gave the secrets of fishing to us.
I'm not sure if my father was a descendent of those we adopted or just had some of there blood through the blood bonding ritual. . .I kept those thoughts to myself as I spoke. " ha ha ha, Probably a distant one, and you three where the most troublesome ones! always singing the goats I was herding making me put out the embers!" I joke around with her more but then I stopped playing my drum and spoke seriously.
I said this in the most sincerest way I could. "Listen Yucatan, if you ever want to talk you can always do it with me. you, brother Avyten, little sister Lyafion, my uncle, and Aunty Clarissa are closest people I have in the clan. . .I was sad when sister Lyafion left she even given me my first drink of kumis. . .and I still hold her promise to comeback as a person and not as a ghost as I promised to trap her in a drum if she did. . ." I smiled as my words ended and the only answer I got was a nod as we were called to once again ride.
Act 4 Youth: The Salamander:
I felt spirit hill before I have seen it. the placed felt sacred for all spirits and those that worships them, I don't know why, but the realm described by the elder shamans seems to have a gate here. a gate to the spirit realm, a wild portion of the gods realm, where spirits ruled.
My uncle looked back at me but I didn't noticed it, but I did when he spoke and stopped are party. "You feel it don't you Chillan? that's spirit hills. I was naive back then but after the Vulture people told me of there secret, I realized that the hills has its own clans. . .the spirits have their own clans and territories. . .thanks to them I know which path is safe so do not worry, as I would not let it happen again." I felt true confidence and rare furry in his words, and I was confident in myself as well, as I was there when they told us there secret of the spirit hills.
As we walked I felt a change in the air, the usually unorganized spirits of the wilds changed, they've become more no less fearful of things. . .there being protected, like what we do to our sworn spirits, they feel almost like this, but they felt more free and because of that more powerful. I Chillan yelled a call of joy as the realization struck me. "Yes! finally I can find one!"
Those around me was surprised with my sudden bout of joy, finally out of my worried mood. Yucatan Smiled at my sudden change of mood, but because I was distracted something happened, that someone like me and my uncle, with such skill should have noticed, as a powerful spiritual wind struck at our party and my visioned turned odd.
I saw lands I have never seen, I saw my father now older, battling War-carters with powerful spirits dressed in vulture garbs fighting with both the Lion-goat people and the Carrion people. and he saw me he paused in his fight and gave me smile, and flicked my head. . . things went dark after, and as I came too, I was near a small lake and in that lake I saw a herd of salamanders and watched them bathed in the sunlight there scales shining and some blew fire from there noses as they slept.
I took a step closer to watch them more but felt something watching me and looked in that direction it was largest of the giant red and brown salamanders. it was observing me as I watched its herd, so I started playing my drum and showed myself for I remembered my ancestors were never the cowardly sort.
I spoke channeling the power of my clan, as it was given for such an occasion for me to find another sworn spirit. "I am Chillan of the Cottonings tribe, I am here to find a spirit of the sun to be sworn with." I felt the largest of them ster, at my words giving me hope and made me use more of my magic, drumming a song developed by my ancestors, after hearing from the 'Earth weaver' of a song that makes earthly descended spirits to become more charmed with the musician.
I spoke more passion in my speech. "Please matriarch of this herd! let me find a new friend, that would fight anything that this world had in store as are fate! I vow to protect them as they would protect me in each of our challenge!" I stopped my impromptu spirit ritual, and did not kneel and bowed in worship, for that would have made me look weak, and for spirits of fire, that would lead to death.
I heard laughter from around me I did not notice, but I was surrounded by them, there beautiful scales dazzled me, there powerful heat reminded me of the three young prodigies of the sun. and then the matriarch spoke. "Ha ha ha, your performance was wonderful son of the 'Earth weaver' your song had reminded me of when he had visited all the spirits of the land and played music for us. . .I was so young back then, I would gladly be sworn to you, but I have a herd to take care of."
She tapped my head with one of her claws, and I felt my knowledge my lore of the 'Earth weaver' become clearer, and learning secrets he had only told to a few of his mortal children, in the time before the war of the gods. and then a smaller younger Sun-salamander spoke, she felt much like the matriarch of the herd. "Mother likes you! I like you! I'll be your sworn spirit and promise to be one of the spirits to guide you back to our lands once you parish!" What?
Before I could understand her words, I saw her jump into me, and the world turned liquid and then it was night and I looked around and saw I was in a fired camp, my uncle was meditating near me and Older-sis Yucatan was asleep on my belly, like I used to do on brother Avyten when I faint from using to much magic.
I spoke, my throat rough. "Uncle? why are we outside the Spirit-hills?" He stopped mediating looked at me gravely and then smiled and tossed me a water skin. "Drink first then we'll talk." I gave it large gulp as my mind cleared and my throat moisten, as my head cleared I understood what happened.
"Your lucky Chillan most who travel to the Spirit realm don't come back. . . Tell me have you gotten what you wanted?" This made me smile and I looked for my mother's bow and saw it at my side. I stood up excitedly and woke up Yucatan she wasn't able to say anything as I raised the bow, and sent my magic to my new connection I felt inside me, and gave its power to me channeling it into my bow was easy, and then drew it, my entire body glowed taking the attention of the rest of the party and then released.
My flaming arrow went up and up and then. "Let there be light!" I proudly proclaimed and the arrow exploded into a blinding light, banishing the darkness around us, challenging the night for a few seconds making it seem like it was day, and then it was gone, my body's glow fading.
I turned around and met my uncles surprised look, and then it changed into something I thought I would not see again as it turned into a joyful smile. "Yes uncle, I found it and it was worth the wait." I took a knee onto the grassy dirt, and bowed towards where the Guardian sun would rise, and made a promise.
"I descendant of Cottonia! Swore with my power, to fight the incoming cold darkness of our world!" I felt something in me stirring warming my heart, and my vision showing a glimpse of the 'Earth-weaver' and 'Sun-guardian' and they were smiling at me, and lady Cottonia gave me an approving nod a top Lord Raptori. that gave an indifferent hoof of air from her beaked nose. . . I guess I need to prove myself before she gives me her approval.
Act 5 Raid:
As we came back after another few days of exploring the spirit hills, my uncle captured a powerful butterfly spirit that promised that if given magic or freed from there new alliance, it would uplift the hearts of the entire clan from any defeat or loss. My uncle was satisfied with this promise, as our clan would need it for our history has many lost, even if the spirit wouldn't anything to the living now, it would satisfy some of our ancestors spirits.
When we gotten near home we heard it, the bells and sacred amber smoke of a Cottonyan raid. We trotted forward, and I saw my clan fighting my hated Burned-Hooves clan, I charged forward I was an adult now, I can fight! my uncle was too late to stop me, and the swords escorting us followed me. I took a breath and breathed out giving out my magic to my sworn spirits and the yet born spirit within my raptor, making her body fed and rested.
I felt a wild bloodlust on my neck, and a powerful heat in my heart. I shot arrows at the flank of the enemy, ablaze with the blessing of the 'Flame-brother' and they shot true, piercing the back, the arm and the head of three different enemies, and then I yelled my challenged. "I am a child of the Free-spirits clan! son of clan-sword Liliete! I challenge any who dares raid my clan!" my bloodlust soared as no bows of there clan dared to take the challenge, getting out of my sight.
But a swords did not, one closer to the age of my uncle, answered my challenge, she burned with the power of the 'Guardian-sun' and brought her spear towards me. "I had killed your mother child, come at me!" my bloody instincts flared my whole being glowed and I peppered her with arrows of scorching light, she was still behind the battle line, fortunately my clan knows of my magic better than the enemy and disengaged.
"AHHH! AHH! AH!" Worshipers of the sun, warriors both great and low screamed as there eyes burned, there flesh singed, I smiled beastly, as I smelled the burned flesh of my enemy and I was hungry for more, I was only a handful of metres from there ranks as I saw my mother's killer charging at me, one eye blinded white, and armour ruined. she was singing an old song of the 'Guardian Sun' as her lance burned with the blessing of the Sun.
My own power starting to wane, my magic low. . ."Brother, free me. . .avenge your mother, and let us see each other again." A soft voice came from my neck, I have never heard of Pathfinder speaking before, she had grown stronger as we fought.
Her voice gave me a bout of clarity, and felt the arrows in my body and blood dripping from each wound, they pained me, but not as much when I thought about losing one of my oldest friend. . .But then a lesson from my father passed through my mind. "Son, remember well, nothing is permanent and everything can change, and everyone would one day leave. . .but don't be sad, as those you truly treasure would comeback to you, if not in this life, then the next."
With tears in my eyes, I yelled as I freed my sworn spirit. "I will find you again Pathfinder!" Great power swelled within me, as the figure of a wolf howled! behind me, terrifying those weaker than me, and shaking the bones of those stronger than me. "I know you will." With that last word from a soft voice, the wolf spirit left in a gust of spiritual wind.
A sad excited smile and bloodthirsty eyes met my shaken foe, as shot after shot of arrows flew, from my bow, she deflected most of them with her lance but some still went through and then a shot pierced her raptors heart and she fell at my raptors feet. "Thank you, your the reason I have become so sharpen." she tried to talk but only blood came out, her ribs must have punctured a lung. Those was my last thoughts.
As I shot an arrow into her heart, her lance was stuck on the ground, I took it as my prized and rode towards the healers as the day was won, the enemy retreated taking the bodies they can, they'll come back for the rest later.
I looked around as I rode, and saw a Yucatan sitting on a rock already being bandaged, she was smiling at me giving me a shouting solute, as I looked around and many where doing the same. giving the heart pounding solute given by the cavalry women of the golden city of Nievon and they would keep doing so if I didn't.
"Praise the Guardian sun!" I yelled raising my hand, and they yelled the same answer, a victory dedicated to our head god would empower us for the rest of the year. I would be damned if I would not asked to hand the bullying Burned-Hooves a reprisal.
Act 6 Adulthood:
I watched myself, as my body warmed in this dark placed. . . As that's the only thing I could do watch and try my connection to my spirits they were weak but still there.
My life continued and my legend began, after my first victory I became a sword and then led a reprisal raid on the Burned-Hooves, near the end of the fire season, they where to weaken to fight back to many of them were still injured from our last battle, I finished off the rest of their Swords, crippling and killing as many as I could and it was enough after the battle, A manifestation of the 'Guardian-sun' appeared, in all her Amber glorious beauty.
This was the first time she spoke to me. "You have done well in fulfilling your promise child of Cottonia. You have shown your strength, now show mercy as this is my boon." I didn't know it at the time but I was performing a ritual of vengeance the moment I made the promise, a powerful ritual long forgotten by our clan that would empower the quester or kill them.
Back then I felt the surge of power but then it disappeared. "My son's power would manifest in you only after you show mercy, and leniency to your enemies and defeated foes. . . I wish you luck" and then she disappeared in a burst of light, my new lance still at the neck of the clan chief of the Burning-Hooves.
I looked at her eyes my wolven bloodlust still surging within mine, and she looked down in defeat. "Promise me now, with your life and in the name of our beloved Sun. Change your ways!" I yelled powerfully to those that hear them. "Stop your raids against our people and I would show the mercy I was told to show, but don't and I would burn this land you call home."
She had chosen mercy and I felt my wounds heal even the old ones, and my heart filled with even more magic than I used to have.
We left only taking the herds they wouldn't be able to take care of, and as we left, the power of our goddess surged into the skies, above the ruined Burned-hooves lands.
I did not understand the powerful summer magic, so I asked my sister about it, and she told me it was a protective ward that would last at most three years.
I nodded, as it was normal that our goddess would protect us in our clans weakest, our mother and grandmother clans where given such protections according to our Lore tent, and are elders even believed that we would have needed one to, because of our war crazed neighbors.
But looking back it now, the gods gave my clan something better, heroes in a generation that needed as many of them as it can get. They had me. the river child that I felt a connection to. the three blessed flames that was adopted after being rescued in the wilds. and a new child, born only three seasons ago, a direct female descendant of our goddess, the little one has a big fate a head of her.
After being given the name Merciful-wolf, I had stopped joining raids only protecting our lands and exploring the world. I was promoted to noble as my magic reached being renowned to all of the valley, and my wisdom and combat skills followed only a step behind.
As it goes, a year passed, and in the start of the new year, I was asked to explore the far north, our ancient home, the place we started following our folk heroes ways. . . I accepted as they said they wanted to see how far the glacier had moved and for us to find a friendly Earthborn trading outpost.
Act 7 Forrest:
"Brother, look!" I looked away from the rough map given to me by the elders and asked to fill out as we travelled, the farthest of our clan had ever gone to.
I looked at what my actual blood-brother had pointed out, and I see it, a mountain range called Ether Mountains some Stone people live in them, the elders told us to go around the mountain range and go directly north from it.
I held my newly made wolf necklace and then ordered. "Good, let's get closer and circle the mountains when we reach the forest edge." After I finished giving out my order I lead the party as we rode through the forest, I felt the blessing from Zarlia daughter of the Guardian Sun, her blessing was similar to those that my ex-companion pathfinder use to give me.
I felt the traveling goddesses magic within me and my party as we traveled and then I heard it, the silence of the air, the trees, the rocks, and the small animals we passed.
I brought my hand up and then spoke slowly but loud enough for the 4 swords and 8 bows with me to hear. "Be alert, the spirits became silent, be prepared for anything." I touched my right feathered earing, and channeled my magic into it, bargaining with the spirit within.
What came out was a small flock of red-tails, they were of the weakest spirits, but after learning a shamanic technique of an ancestor instead of finding a strong owl or hawk spirit I was able to catch a flock of red-tails spirits and made them into one strong spirit. The little red-tails chirped in unison and then coalesce into one large red-tailed bird her feathers where of blacks and wheat. With long scarlet tail feathers.
I reached for one of my traveling pouches and pulled out a handful of grains, and let the large spirit bird to feast on my hand as I gave her my order. "Take to the skies and look around, show me what you see." And after she had eaten the last, grain she flew up ward becoming a flock of small birds.
I then look around my party and saw they had went to a small hill and assumed a defensive circling formation. I joined them. Pulling out my bow, and channeling some magic to get her out of her sleep. "Is there a fight Chillan?!" I heard her excited voice through our connection.
I replied to her in a soothing soft voice. I do this so my arrows wouldn't explode while still inside my quiver. "Relax, Emberia, where not sure if we need to fight yet." I said as I played a calming song using my bell stick.
I felt a tug on my senses and let it take my senses as I closed my eyes. what I saw was not darkness, but the vision of a small bird, and she was looking at a group of Nymphs, the forest people, they were people in the form of humans but much of their flesh are made of wood.
There hair where of leaves, there antler of branches and skin of pale soft bark, they were nude like any other beast, but any Rider foolish enough to see them as animals within there woods would quickly become there soil once they pull their bows.
They seem to be performing a rite, I do not recognize there ceremony, it means are ancestors has yet to encounter one of them like this, or I have yet to fully learn everything in our lore tent. I told what I saw towards my party and told them to follow me.
With my birds guiding me we rode close to the Nymphs and then I kissed a stone with blooded insignias and channeled my magic into it as I spoke the language of the forest. "Hear me children of Dryadal! Husband of our ancestral goddess Cottyalor, Friend of the 'Earth-weaver!' we come in peace and give a blessing for passage through your lands!" I ended my words nodding to my party to support me and they did, I felt there magic entering me as I prayed towards the 'Earth-weaver' to lend his blessing in support in the Nymphian rite.
And it was so, as I felt the land around there site, turn even more fertile as everything that can decay, decayed and turn it rich fertile soil the Nymphs marveled at the blessing and cheered as they continued there ritual.
Satisfied I ordered everyone to retreat back to the open hill and set camp, I'm curious to there answer, I know from the Lore tent that my ancestors made deals with Nymphs before, but it's usually the Nymphs going to our settlements or appearing in our woods and asking for magic and we can ask them things they'll take from others.
It's been a generation since the Crynalor revelation where we learned that Dryadal and Cottyalor had a child before Cottyalor ascended to godhood, and then a few years later proven to be true by Cottyalor herself during a Gods realm ritual.
I'm hoping this group of Nymphs are more pious than territorial cause we have to many stories of encountering Nymphs and being peppered with arrows the size of lances. . . It's hard to admit but they have better bows than we do, it's probably because they have better wood to make them out of.
It took until Lady Elmhelia had moved on, to protect another part of the summer path, before the elves had showed themselves without the spirits of the land to tell me of their presence.
But I was not alarmed by it as I saw them leave the safety of the forest, and move towards us in all direction, my party started to show fear. "Children of the Rider, we have come to thank your aid, for your have helped our seeds survive this coming season of darkness. . .We would grant your request, when the Sun appears we would guard you safely out of our lands."
The one who spoke was of brown wooden skin, rings of lighter shades of oak, what was shown in her nude form, her dignity only covered by leaves and vines. "We accept your offer children of the forrest father." I said to the flower haired nymph. As I walked towards her and offer a small pouch of bone ash. she smiled at the gift as she nodded to those in her group as they left.
They came back few breaths later holding onto a recently killed doe. "Here, eat, I know your people need to eat, and I would not want any of our cousins to be eaten, as we treat you as guests." I thanked her and went up the hill to see my party had already started a fire and a small camp we would rest now and leave tomorrow.
Act 8 Rams:
At dawn we raise, prayed, broke camp and met our guides at the foot of the small hill. I played my drum to renew my connection to the spirits of the land and those sworn to me, as I played I spoke to their leader who was a little taller than me even as I rode my raptor.
I smelled her, she has the scent of wild flowers and dew dripped grass. "Where going to the mounts after those ones, where looking for a friendly group of Earthborns." The mention of the Earth people made the Nymphs turn their attention to me.
Her breath smelled as sweet as honey yet also of dead insects of poison. "Rider, You are looking for the Jordia Mountains." After that she turned around and led us in a different direction away from the mountains we already see.
The blessing of Crynalor, gave us the ability to understand her father's people, atleast those that doesn't eat Summer worshiper flesh, but still coexisting with them was still a hard thing the clan was struggling with. . . Like come on, our foragers can't even pick barriers in peace without them promising that they'll plant the seeds later.
But still cooperation with the Nymphs made our clan closest to the forest lands be given the largest wilds bounty, making us not worry about hunger even as the world becomes colder and growing golden wheat and grazing herds a lot harder.
We've even started to raise thick seeding foliage grass to support a larger herd and stronger Raptors. . . or just sell them to the other clans. "Do you know the of dwarven folks were looking for?" I asked our guide, our clan still hasn't figured out how to know how old one of these forest folks are.
I'm not sure if I need to be more respectful or less, the ancestors would be displeased if I do not show proper respect to those older than me or show to much respect to those younger than me. But she answered me as I thought. "They are the only group of short folks that had not used there terrible machines to hack at our forests, but traded fertile black dust, for forest meat."
She was calmed as she spoke and walked with us as are Raptors matched there relatively slow pace. . . This slow pace of our unimpeded travel through the forest reminds me of our only advantage against the other peoples of this age, and it was are speed atop our beloved mounts and the protective light of our Sun.
As the thoughts passed I took a strip of snake jerky from my bag and fed it to my moving mount, Lily doesn't like eating the meat of the warm blooded, but anything else was fair game for her, atleast she's not a picky grain eater like the one Yucatan rides.
"Do you know of my clan? We are of the Free-spirit clan, we try to coexist with the forest and his people, I wanted to know which groove your group is from." I was being honest as we have learned long ago that it was not good to talk in circles with the nymphs as they are not the best when it comes to understanding others.
We continued are march as she responded. "Yes, we know of you, and you had seen our groove, atleast it's outer edge, if your people are to start giving 'gifts' like you've given to the River-willows do not bother. we would come to you if we are in need of magic." Yes! we never knew they named there groves, River-willows!
Are those the Nymphs my mother used to go too when she escorts the priests of Cottyalor? to give what we use to believe they liked, which was finely crafted blankets, it was lucky that one of the councilors learned that they prefered bone meal and cow manure rather than crafts.
She gave a secret so easily! can I get more? but as I was about to try to talk more out of her, we stopped. before I can ask, she covered my mouth, and lead my party to a thicker part of the forest. I was concerned and took my lance out afraid we were betrayed. but then she let go and pointed something to me and my party.
What she pointed out was a group of people of the storm tribe, the rams, dark of skin, painted in blue dye tattoos and their horns covered in bronze, four of them armoured in bronze scale chest pieces, and six others in long thick woolen tunics. with long forward curving swords in one side of there hip and a sling stick on their backs
"There from our valley, based on they're clan woad skin paints, but I don't recognize their leader, she must be new." I motioned to my party, and then did an echoing drum that made the spirits of the forest repeat my rhythm, this disoriented the rams as they became alert but confused.
"Will meet them, please stay here daughters of the forest, we don't know if they like your people or not." The Nymphs looked at each other speaking with there pollen and then they nodded and melded into the forest.
"Alright we don't know if there friendly but we have the element of surprise. raise your hand if you want to talk with them, if you don't that means you want to attack." My party only had 5 swords me included, and 3 bows. we outnumber them with elites but they have more people overall, 4 raised their hands the rest didn't.
We talk to them, I lead my party out of the foliage we had the higher ground, as I beat my drum one more time I yelled with the power, of the local spirits, amplifying my voice. "Hello, Daughters of the storm goddess, it is good we meet." Spirits of flames danced around me making me the focus of their attention while my party prepared for violence, slightly hidden, only the 3 bows where visibly beside me.
"Bastard of the Sun! where you the one playing the trickster! sisters to arms! we be taking that boy's belts!" The noble at the centered order but her Thanes did not moved as they seem to have seen through my distraction, and patted the noble to calm. as one spoke.
"We are from the Lastralia Clan, Son of the dead Sun. we call peace for we have not come here to fight but learn more of the changing world." She was older than her noble, maybe 10 summers older than me, I showed respect and gave her a salute,
"I trust the words of a warrior of the Lastralia clan, my party is hidden and was ready to attack at a moment of violence, but as a sign of peace. come out!" I said as I rode my raptor down, they were small when I was atop of my mount, but there leading warrior was much bigger than I was, as I dismounted and reached out my hand towards the dark redheaded berserker.
But she wasn't the one who accepted my hand, as she pushed her smaller noble towards me so she could receive my greeting as my party stayed tense on the overlooking small rise. "I am Marthia of the Lastralia clan, Well met shaman of the Riders." She took her helmet and placed it at her chest as she gazed into my eyes, I saw defiance and pride within them.
I smiled at her, my eyes friendly and uncorned as the flame spirits did there work. "And I am Chillan son of Free-spirit clan, I know of our clans relations and it is good, do you want to exchange knowledge of the land before departing are separate ways?" I asked lightly as they looked at each other, the Berserker gave the smaller noble a nod as she answered me yes.
We talked for maybe a few steps of the Guardian-sun, walking on her Summer-path. the exchange went well, I warned them that a clan of aggressive Nymphs has gathered from direction we came from and they told us that they encountered a group of Hillwomen, that they avoided closer to the mountains.
I gifted there noble Marthia a redbone beaded bracelet that I had placed a small wind spirit in that will, help dry her hands if they get wet. the younger girl didn't know what to do and looked at her guardian, her guardian responded by giving her a well made bronze wire twisted bracelet and she gave it to me, unlike my gift it wasn't magical, but the craftsmanship alone was worth maybe 1/4 of a cattle. After the gift giving we went are ways.
As they had made distance from us and we went to the direction are guides had told us, they emerged from the trees next to us. "Follow us, will be there by the time the sun reaches her highest." We followed and my party felt more confident after encountering the rams and not be beaten and robbed of their belts.
Act 9 Dead Sun:
I watched at as my past self saying goodbye to the Nymphs and rode towards the frendly women of the beneath, seeing my life in the large golden mirror gave me my heat back and then I had vision as the mirror turned to have been a shield and I was laying on the cold dark earth of this land.
I stood up holding the shield, I wasn't wearing my blessed vestments nor spirit enchanted gear. I had only the shield given to us by those that stayed under the golden dome, we thought it a weak treasure but our hero Berenna proved as wrong and made it a shield imitating the protection of Lady Elmhelia.
I'm in the underworld, but why do I have Berenna's shield? and why the underworld? I should be at my grave or are Lore tent guiding the young, and those who would want to learn.
Then on the hill I was standing on overlooking a dark large cavern light appeared and as I closed my eyes and opened them again. I was with a being of light with with solar disk brightly radiating behind him, a golden crown cresting her Amber gold hair.
Her skin was paler than milk, her eyes shone even brighter than the light of Elmhelia the Guardian sun, her tusk gilded with small rings of gold, her trunk holding a golden flower. I quickly kneeled and bowed to her for she was the goddess of all of my ancestors the one each of them prayed to us a new day came and went during their time in the golden city.
I felt her smile as her radiant voice commanded me up. "Rise my child, as I have need of you." I did and as I stood she placed her hand on my head filling me with her light, and blazing my heart with her furry.
She then held my hand and guided me to the edge of her hill. "Go forth, help my daughters against the coming end, and help your clan through the eternal darkness and my new light!" I felt a prophecy in her words as I riding into the darkness above, not knowing what challenges it had prepared for the rebirth of light.
クリエイターの想い 
MA_Writecraft
MA_Writecraft Alright this is my first side mini story, and as you can guest my writing is heavily inspired by Glorantha's six ages. I love the series and would continue writing in a parrallel of there world adding my own and others and then move on.
Also the side stories are connected to the main one.
週次パワーステータス
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