Name: Balban Carter Race: Human Gender: Male Age: 18 Class: Druid Alignment: Chaotic Good
Lifting his exhausted body from the hole in the cave where the ceremony was held, Belban stretched back down to pick up the emblem that was given him by Elrry Fiedlerson, the Arch Druid of his people. He was finally on his way to becoming an elder of the circle. He attached it to the woven hemp given to him and made his way out of the cave entrance. Walking out of the cave into the forest he was once again taken aback by the enormity of the cliffs that but up to his valley.
The massive forest consisted of majestic burwood and oaks interspersed by massive pine trees. It is a strange mix of trees, not one that is normally found in other locations, but the friends of his people, the treants, allow his people to live in this nursery because they have learned to commune with the forest in millenniums past. This land is also now a safe haven to the forest creatures and they live synonymously on the outskirts of the valley with the guardian druids where they both work together to protect the Nursery.
Belban’s people, studied the martial arts for as long as recorded time and following the way of peace did not fear these creatures. They knew there was a good alliance to be had between them, if they could be trained to assist. As so they did, and the symbiotic relationship has grown stronger ever since. The potent combination of his people’s martial art training and the natural power and abilities of the creatures have allowed them to keep danger out of the grove.
He was tired now, so he found a huge branch that had fallen from a tree and sat down to rest. The ceremony was tiring for him but he had passed. He had successfully taken on the form of a black bear cub, the first time in his young life that he had changed into a creature and he sat there contemplating his future life.
As he sat, he looked off into the trees and something overcame him, he went into a trance of some sort and realized that he had fallen into a void, but not a void of nothing, this void was an inferno of fire. He went into a panic thinking that perhaps he had fallen asleep and the forest had caught fire. Looking around he saw nothing but fire all around him with no escape and he was sure that he would die. However, he soon realized that the fire was not harming him, he was perfectly fine. What kind of dream is this he thought to himself?
Just as he was coming to this realization he heard a roar behind him and he turned with a jerk. There, coming up behind him was a massive creature about the size of a brown bear, it must have weighed as much as even the biggest bear he had ever seen. It had a massive head and an imposing set of claws. Belban, he thought to himself, what have you gotten into now. He turned to run, but with his first step he found himself not in the inferno, but back in the forest in front of his branch.
His heart pounding as fast as a hummingbirds wings and his blood cursing through his veins, he stood there still as can be, just trying to catch his breath and wondering what he just experienced. But he was not alone; he felt the breath upon his neck and slowly turned around where he found himself eye to eye with the massive creature he saw in his vision. He knew from the descriptions he had been told earlier that it was a tiger, but why had one come this far into the grove. They never entered this part of the sacred forest, they were forbidden.
Perhaps the others had returned he thought and they are here to exact their revenge. That would mean … just as he is thinking that, the creature jumps backwards turns and runs toward the tree that the branch had fallen from, leaping directly at it, but it does not climb the tree instead it bounds off the tree and using it as a springboard lands and begins to charge right back at Belban. Roaring and running faster and faster it is headed straight for him, all he can think to do is shield himself somehow, but with what. Too late, this beast leaps right at him with the massive claws bearing right down on him and all he can do is stand proud and hold his ground hoping this is just a dream, only a dream.
But just short of landing on him and ripping him to shreds, the beast stops and just stares at him with eyes a thousand leagues deep. Belban says not a word, but just stands there staring back at him for the longest time. The forest grows quiet, unnaturally quiet as the two stare at each other, each sizing the other up. After what seems an eternity, Belban finally speaks, “Who are you and why have you come into the grove?” he commands.
The creature begins to change and actually shapes back into his Arch Druid, Elrry. Bron is relieved, but also confused as to why his trusted teacher would pull off such a ruse. Didn’t he realize that he had almost scared him to death? “Forgive me Master Elrry, I did not know it was you,” he says as he bends down to one knee.
”Please stand Belban, you have done well today and you should be proud. You have spent a great deal of time in your studies and it shows. You have also just passed your final quest; you have shown that you can handle a companion. This means that you are ready to leave the grove and take your place as our representative in other kingdoms. You will be given your own companion who has been raised for you and named Eligen Carter so she will always remember her duty to you. Treat her well and she will always be loyal to you. Treat her poorly and she may leave you. But because of her bond to you she will never attack you and you will share some of her protection.”
Timidly Belban speaks, “Master Elrry, I don’t know if I am ready to face the world outside of our grove. I mean, I was just frightened by you and a tiger, but I have heard how much worse some other creatures can be. If the creatures hear around our grove seek our alliance for protection from the outside monsters then they must be horrible indeed.”
Elrry put his hand on Balban’s shoulder as they began to walk through the forest, “Fear not Balban, when the time comes for you to meet such a monster, your training along with the bond between you and Eligne should enable you to survive, but still be careful. Continue training your new abilities and eventually you will be able to replicate her exactly. It will take years of trying and practices before you become that powerful, but never give up and it will come.”
Balban relaxed a bit while they walked, “What do you mean by representative, are you asking me to be some type of diplomat, I don’t think my skills with those outside the forest would be very effective.”
A small chuckle comes forth from master Elrry, “No, not in the least. You do show other skills though that we think will be of benefit to a request that has been sent forth from Baron Regenald Bottomyr in the city of Bottome. It appears that there is an evil going through the lands and he has requested a help in tracking it down and stopping it.”
Puzzled Balban inquires, “But are we not supposed to protect the grove from such dangers, if I leave then our presence here will be weakened?”
Stopping and turning to Balban, master Elrry responds, “You are wise to ask such a question Balban, and in a way you are correct. However, if we don’t assist the Baron stop this evil, then it may spread to the grove, and with no allies we may be in more danger than with you here.”
Balban smiled back, “You right as always master, I shall finish my training at once and begin the journey to Bottome at the next moon.”
Elban trained with Eligen for a few weeks and then they left to see the world and ensure that his people’s business was attended to outside the grove. He received further orders that he was to meet with a Chancellor Valorym when he gets to the city.
After arriving in the woods outside Bottome he lets Eligen know in their own special way that she should wait for him in the woods outside the city as he isn’t sure how the city folk would take to a tiger walking through their streets not on a leash.
Instantly he is taken aback in awe at how the people live inside the city, the filth and cramped quarters are no way to live. He wonders how one can survive without the trees of the forest. Perhaps this is why the treants have refused to leave the grove. They must be angry at his brother humans for causing such destruction to their home. He makes his way to the where he is to meet this Chancellor Valorym and is lead inside to a comfortable room, well comfortable at least for people that live inside these oppressive walls. There are some chairs and a table so he takes a seat.
Tomorrow, why couldn't he just go talk to this Baron right now, the less time I need to stay around this filth hole they call civilization the better. He gathers his thoughts and goes out to the woods to spend the night with Eligan. Tomorrow I will bring her into the city with him, let them tell me that I can’t go with them after they see her.
My apologies to all I game with, going through some challenging times with RL at the moment but I am still here and will persavere. TY for your Patience.
My apologies to all I game with, going through some challenging times with RL at the moment but I am still here and will persavere. TY for your Patience.
We left the city after a large feast provided by the Baron, although I suspect that it was prompted more by the Chancellor. The Chancellor seems ta be more interested in this quest than the Baron who only stayed for a short time ta say his greetin's before leavin'. Me new companions seem pleasant enough and there is a large range of varied skills ta help complement each other. Upon request the Chancellor provided us with mounts, it seems that he is flamin generous in helpin' us with what we need ta succeed.
It felt bonzer to be back in the woods out of that smelly City and we picked up the trail of this Wormtail not far outside the city, it's not gnarly to follow. They tend to destroy most everythin' they pass. I did catch signs of at least one Ogre with the group, we will need to be wary of that one. After a few hours we came upon a town that had been ransacked by Wormtail and his minions. Sadly there was much loss of life for the townsfolk along with much damage to the city itself. I did notice that some of the damage seemed to be haphazard, as if it was accidental. I also noticed that some of the fires were set magically so there is some in Wormtails legion that have arcane powers. It was disheartening to leave the people without aid, but we must find this band before they do more such damage.
We have traveled as far as we could and setup camp for tonight.
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My apologies to all I game with, going through some challenging times with RL at the moment but I am still here and will persavere. TY for your Patience.
Today’s travel was much like yesterday, except thankfully we did not come across any towns that were devastated like yesterday. It seems the group is stayin' pretty much on this trail except huntin' excursions off ta the flanks. They seem ta have a set purpose in mind or someplace they are going to, it does not seem random. The more we travel the fresher the trail becomes; we should catch up to them by tomorrow if all goes well. We should all get some bonzer rest tonight to make sure we are ready for what may come.
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My apologies to all I game with, going through some challenging times with RL at the moment but I am still here and will persavere. TY for your Patience.
Dec 3rd, 2012, 02:39 PM
