CURRENT SEASON - Mid-Summer
STORY
Week 1 Story:
The group had been traveling now for many moons, over hills and across wide prairies. At long last their leader had called for the group to come to a halt. They hadnÔÇÖt seen any other signs of life for several weeks of relentlessly trudging south, away from the vicious and animalistic tribe they had escaped from to the north.
The leader of a large barbaric tribe, who called himself Rongarr, had sent warriors out to the smaller tribes in the plains to threaten or attack them one by one, bringing them under his control. The Calix tribe was only just able to escape, but the losses they suffered in the attempt were great. Over half of the tribe had been killed when they fled that night, their pack of wolves had rushed to meet their attackers and been overwhelmed, and several more adults and children had died on their journey. The greatest loss was Chief Diran, who led RongarrÔÇÖs wolves and barbarians away, and whose noble sacrifice will be remembered for generations. But hope was on the horizon, as the small group climbed what they hoped would be the last hill.
As the group reached the crest and finally caught up with their young leader, DiranÔÇÖs son Elto, they saw a lush valley before them. As Elto declared that they would make their home here in this valley, tears welled up in some of their eyes. The many children in their small group broke free from their grandmothers and ran laughing down the hill, ignoring the warning shouts from the adults among them.
The valley that laid before them stretched further than the eye could see and was teeming with undisturbed life. Small herds of animals grazed and played alongside a wide stream, which was fed by a pool at the base of a crashing waterfall set deep into one huge cliff face. Clusters of trees and bushes dotted the plains, leading to a dense forest just in sight, at the north end of the valley.
A small cluster of dark cave mouths dotted the base of the cliff wall, close to an expanse of trees and sheltered by an overhanging crop of rocks. Elto pointed them out to the tribesfolk as they made their way carefully down the slope after the excited children, whose raucous laughter had scared away a pair of deer which had been staring wide-eyed at the group.
Catching up with their young, what remained of the Calix tribe began the last leg of their long journey, chattering happily together as they made their way towards the caves.
Arriving at the foot of the mountain the children, whooping and hollering, ignored the cautionary calls of their elders and ran into the caverns. Their laughter echoed throughout the caves but suddenly turned to screams. The five children of the tribe ran from the caves, faces white with fear, followed by the low rumbling growls of a bear. The bear that emerged from the cave had seen many seasons and its eyes had long since clouded over. Even so, the ferocity with which it bellowed its anger at the fleeing children put a deep fear into the menfolk, who ran forward, scooped up the children and backed away. Without thought for his own safety Elto drew his spear from his back and charged. The point of his spear plunged deep into the bearÔÇÖs chest, narrowly missing its heart. The bear, roaring its pain and rage, swiped its long claws at Elto and cut three shallow slashes into his chest. Ignoring the burning pain of the wound, Elto yanked free the spear in a violent motion, tearing the bearÔÇÖs flesh further, and in one fluid arch he twisted and stabbed again. The ancient beast panted out a last, almost frustrated-sounding huff and collapsed at the ChiefÔÇÖs feet, the spear still lodged in itÔÇÖs side.
Standing tall over the carcass, Elto looked down at his bleeding chest and then back up at the gathered tribe. The stars smile on us today, only an old blind beast lay as our last challenge between us and this, our final destination. It is a sign: This is to be our home. There is much work to be done - but first I think we deserve some dinner. Perhaps bear?
As Elto watched his followers move past him into the cave and busy themselves with unloading their backs and checking their still-worried children, he raised his hands and said ÔÇ£My friends...it doesnÔÇÖt feel right to call ourselves the Calix tribe, now that my father and many of yours are not with us. We will start anew here in these caves: a new tribe, honoring our ancestors as always, but with our own name. I shall ponder on it - if you have a suggestion, I would hear it soon.ÔÇØ
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Begin! Do whatever you like, however your first
Group Quests are:
to name your tribe and to make the caves habitable, in any way you see fit. The spoilers in the first post contain information about the belongings your tribe managed to bring with them in the escape. You have each been sent a PM detailing your personal effects, which are a few special items relevant to your backstory or decided by the GMs. Feel free to post what you have in OOC, itÔÇÖs not a secret - people will surely see what you own when you post about using it
"You have each been sent a PM detailing your personal effects" etc - please add that "these are what you had on you or were able to grab during the escape, which is why you only have a couple of things"