Posted by Jaldean on November 19, 2000 at 12:05:06:
In Reply to: And thats all folks posted by Jaldean on November 17, 2000 at 12:18:04:
My goal at the end was to get Sebeok's tattoo... I'd started working toward it a bit, but hadn't had time to persue it in earnest yet, hence the uncompleted look to the end of the role. What quickly appalled Drenalian even more, however, was that not A number of years have passed since a young Drenalian set out to
Drenalian grew up in a decent sized village of storm giants far
to the east of the Aryth Ocean. Two things were held above all
others among his kin, the first being their heritage as
warriors, and woodsmen. They built shelters from their
surroundings, and gathered, hunted, and fought for what they
needed to survive in the wilderness. By the time Drenalian was
old enough to handle a weapon without injuring himself, he was
made to provide for himself with minimal aid from his parents.
Such was the way of his people, for they believed that should
one learn to grow dependant upon others, even a parent or a
friend, and even for something as simple as shelter or food,
they would find themselves weakened in both body and spirit,
and unable to bring forth their strength when it would be
needed most. There was no consideration of what would happen
should a young storm giant be unable to care for him or her
self - it simply never happened. Though it has been told that
once it was so, that there were giants who were unable to care
for themselves without aid, such a thing was considered little
more than an inconceivable tale, as if someone had told you that
young people once had trouble breathing without assistance.
The second belief Drenalian's kin held strongly, was their
religious faith. A council of advisors loosely brought
leadership to their large village, for while their belief in
individual strength was great, it was also recognized that
many could often achieve what one or few could not. Each of
the advisors on the council provided spiritual guidance also,
interspacing lessons in combat and survival, with lessons in
faith, religion, and spiritual strength. In an unusual
fashion, however, they worshipped no individual god or goddess
in their rites. The core belief of their religion centered
around an ancient prophecy, passed down from generation to
generation, and taught to every child born for ages past.
There would come a time, somewhere in the future of Thera, when
the gods of Light would be unable to come to the aid of their
children, as they had in ancient times during the chaos wars.
All things, life or death, survival or destruction, Light or
Darkness, would fall upon the shoulders of the mortals, and on
their strength to prevail without guidance or aid from their
very creators.
Shortly after his one-hundredth year of life, Drenalian set out
away from his village, to learn from the rest of the world,
teach them of what was coming, and to judge their strength to
stand for themselves. It was shortly thereafter that he found
himself appaled to find the use of magic wide-spread throughout
the rest of Thera. Their religious texts teach that magic was
a weapon devised by the Lords of Darkness at the time of the
chaos wars, shortly after the prophecy came into existance.
This weapon, magic, was sent in the guise of a gift to breed
weakness in the body, mind, and spirit of those blind and
foolish enough to use it. Through natural selection, those
who are weak should be ferreted out, unable to provide for
themselves in the harsh world. In such a way nature provides
for her children, and assures their prosperity. It is here
that the deadly edge of the Dark Lord's weapon comes into
play, as it provides the crutch by which the weak can both
survive, and remain weak. Those lulled by the power will learn
to rely upon it, and not upon themselves, and when the time
foretold in prophecy comes, and the Lords of the Darkness
take their deadly gift back, the weakness of those who have
become reliant upon it will hand the world into its destruction.
one person, be them giant, human, or any other race, would pay
the slightest heed to his words of warning. So immersed were
they in their own weakness, that many laughed, and others became
hostile at this threat to their easy way of life. In addition
to thier reliance upon magic, Drenalian also found many
hopelessly reliant upon their cities and social structures, to
the point where many were unable to even wield a sword properly,
and the thought of standing up for themselves in a confrontation
was nearly unthinkable, so reliant had they become on others.
It was here he became familiar with the group known as the
Battle Ragers, those set upon the destruction of magic, and
those that make use of it. While he quickly realised that their
motivations varied greatly, and few if any were familiar with
the foretold prophecy, it was clear that they shared an end
goal, simply via different reasoning and means. So, dismay at
his findings since leaving his village weighing heavily upon
his heart, Drenalian set out in search of the place simply known
as the Village.
find the village of the Battle Ragers. He has become a mature
giant, well versed in the ways of battle and life outside his
homeland. His life as a Rager has seen many victories, and
multiple defeats, but he has learned from them all. Recently
however, he has found himself restless. As his life draws out
to an endless series of battles and skirmishes, some won, some
lost, but none appearing to accomplish anything in the larger
scheme of things, he begins to question his path. Coming to
this realization after one of many battles at the Tower of Magic,
Drenalian decides that it is time to find a way to regain his
faith in what he once knew to be right. After much meditation,
he resolves to spend his time in the woodlands - the places he
grew up in - and seek the strength and enlightenment he felt as
a youth, where ever it may be found.