Unnamed Project : Zhan : Rough Draft

Musing of the Revolution - Khnum-Sbeqt 8 - 17

When one looks back at all that has happened, they'll find that it all began on the spring equinox of what they called the hundredth and eleventh year of the 10th dynasty. It was on that day that the Mayor's sons returned.

I remember the day-long party starting early, despite the rain. By midmorning, a hush came over the people to the east which drew my attention. When I went to see what was causing it, I saw 5 riders approaching and heading towards the Lord's Manor. I noticed that two of the riders had shields on the saddles, each with the Lord's scorpion crest facing left with a tree behind it. I also noticed that one of the riders had a big white circle on the tree, while the other one had two smaller circles. Assuming everyone had seen this, and no one mentioning it, I figured it was not important.

At noon, well after several of the typical fights had broken out, Lord Narmor approached with the 5 riders; two of them bore a resemblance to the Lord, though younger. Narmor explains that these two are his sons; I found out later that the circles on their shields showed their birth order, and that they had come to help him manage the land. In celebration of their arrival, he has release twenty kobolds into the nearby woods and would reward whoever brought the most ears.

Can you imagine? Twenty foul kobolds released so close to our homes? Quickly I joined with the group -- Sure, you know their names by now, but then we were all unsuspected nobodies. There was Dirk, whom I always saw as our leader, and Cullin, who I never thought liked me. Jodoc the dwarf had been there from the beginning, as had Arilanya, the eladrin daughter of a slave and a collaborator.

As I was saying, the group got together, though we left at separate times at the edge of the forest, and determined our best course of action. I lead the way through the forest, as I knew it the best. By early evening, after wandering around, we finally came upon the kobolds, which seemed to be constructing some sort of idol to no doubt an evil god. In an intense exchange, we managed to slay all twenty, without allowing any to run. I recall noticing as I was removing the ears, possessions and such from the corpses, poor Arilanya looked sick. While she had training using her father's sword, this was the first time she'd seen actual death happen, actual death happen to something able to speak.

It was decided by Dirk that as I was already a huntsman, I should be the one to return the most ears. The next morning, when we turned the ears, my name was taken down by Terrance, the Lord's chief collaborator. That evening, the Lords and his sons came before us again, and called me forward. After presenting me with a copper circlet baring the Lord's sigil, he proclaimed me 'Chief Huntsman for the Lord's Sons.'

My first task as huntsman came several days afterwards when the lord's sons, named Pa-Mu and Antef, ordered me to take them to hunt something dangerous. I told them I knew where a Bear made its den and then lead them to it. Upon arriving, I discovered the bear signs I had been seeing earlier belonged to a Dire Bear, much bigger than I had thought. The young nobles charged on their horses, and rather swiftly killed the creature. They ordered me to clean it and bring it to the manor. I then directed them how to get home, and set about preparing the body to be dragged back to the village.

Along the way, I recall finding many more animals that the lords managed to kill on the way, including deer, squirrel, rabbits, and they even tried some birds and fishes. Not wanting this meat to go to waste, I do my best to bring it all to the village, even carrying the horses' saddle, to lessen its burden. With my father's help preparing the meat and skins, I took a chance to on my bring some of the meat up, hoping that they would not notice the difference.

My gambit paid off, and after watching them throw the meat I did bring to their dogs, I was able to distribute the meat I kept to some of the larger families that needed all the food they could get.

I know you are wondering how this symbolizes the beginning, but understand that the young lords’ arrival had everything to do with what happened next. Just keep paying attention. I recall a few days later a Tinker's wagon coming through town. In addition to the usual barter of skins for arrow heads, I also managed to trade for a kit to clean metal, hoping to keep the copper circlet clean. I did not have pride of the manacle, but knew that it could be worth more than its weight in gold, if used correctly.

I found out later, that while I was trading for arrow heads, one of our number received a note from those that have snuck in to train us. I never saw this note, but Dirk tells me that it said that we were to remove Pa-Mu, the eldest brother, as he is dangerous.

That note, and the actions that followed, was where everything started.