|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:01 pm
I spent most of today being washed down a river. I ended up there thanks to a crow of Bae colts who don’t like those of my herd. I nearly drowned, repeatedly, nearly froze and slashed my foreleg open on a sharp rock. When I finally managed to get out of the water, I was in D’ob. It certainly is very green and, hu, pleasant. Wouldn’t want to live there, rich grass or no. Still, that wasn’t what preoccupied me, nor was it the non-brindled Jala mare who was near by that I found my attention on. It was my leg. Me leg had healed.
I know I didn’t imagine the cut; there’s a scar on it now that looks cycles old, and there’s a stain of pink on the white of my coat there. Blood, blood nearly washed away. So, the only explanation is that it healed by itself when I was willing it away and trying to keep my head above the surface. I healed myself. Magic. Real magic, like in stories, like ute and riruy have told me the one named Mordre in our homelands possesses.
No. Not like his actually. He does illusions, they said, and I heal. That makes me a shaman. A Shaman. That makes me important, for being me not for being my parent’s foal. I can’t tell them, obviously, I have to actually get to be some good at it first. They’re going to be so proud of me, and I of myself, too.
It was around sunset when Virgil finally caught up with me. Poor silly thing had driven himself half mad with worry, and it took me quite a while to calm him. I haven’t told him about my magic either, but I think he’ll be one of the first to know; I shall want a test subject other than myself once I’m working on things more severe than just scratches.
We’re heading back to Shrilal now, and it seems I haven’t come so terribly far; Virgil thinks we’ll make it by morning. I’m not sure I like the idea of walking all night, but I do want to get back to the safety of the tree and my parents as soon as possible. The world, it seems, is not an entirely safe place for a young Katilenuck alone. I shall have to be more cautious in future.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:02 pm
Well today sucked royally. I had no idea that there were Jala out there who were so... stupid. They neither of them understood what it is to be Jala, the rights it gives us. I had to put on the poor brainwashed little colt act to avoid having my face kicked in by the b***h. Ech. Plus my magic isn’t going well. I know I’m not just mad now; I can do it... just not very well yet. I have a long, long way to go before I can call myself a shaman, let alone tell others of my abilities. Still, one day I’ll get there I’m sure. Well, so long as I can avoid psychotic bitches in the meantime; I’m really going to have to watch how I address people if their reaction to the natural order is the norm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:05 pm
Well, my practice today wasn’t all that successful but it could’ve been worse. On my way back to my cave I ran into Zara and decided to stop to talk to her like the good brother that I am. She asked me what I planned to do once I was of an age to choose, and I told her I had Plans. When I let her know how ambitious I really am she said she was beginning to like me, which was pleasing. If I can make Zara start to like me I can make anyone start to like me.
Another thing, I’ve made a decision. I must go to the Illusionist and see if he can help me learn my magic. Mine’s a different kind to his, I know, but I’m sure there must be some commonalities. Still, even if there aren’t it will be nice to have another one touched by power to speak with. He will be the first I tell of my powers. The first to know save those two idiot Jala. I’m not quite sure how to approach him yet, but I shall think on it and when I've made a decision I shall do it. Then, once I have a good grasp on my magic, I shall reveal it to my friends, my family and to the herd. I cannot wait to see how they react, and where this power of mine will take me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:11 pm
Excellent. At some point in the future, I shall probably either have a second slave, or one to give away as I see fit. This advantageous turn of events is thanks to the reports of Shrila-Ochre. Seems some mare named Hera has a slave who is most infatuated with own. She tried alerting the silly thing in her reports, but apparently to no avail. Still, she came to me a couple of days ago and I’ve now sorted it out. Hera, quite a pretty thing she is really but not my type, has agreed to breed them. If there’s only one foal she gets it, and if there’s an odd number I plan to claim the extra.
She doesn’t know how lucky she is I picked out her slave, how fortunate she is to be in my good graces. As yet, I must admit, things still aren’t progressing that well but I am sure I shall remedy that soon enough. I will be powerful, and she will be glad she met me. Perhaps I take too much pleasure in that, but there again perhaps not. I am quite tired of being known for my father and, to a lesser extent, my mother. Still, it will be over soon.
I think I shall put off the breeding until I have got the hang of this magic of mine; no sense trying to focus on too many things at once. I’ll need to send at least one person off to make sure the mare is controlled, and I will be in a better position to do that once I’m respected (and or revered) in my own right. I trust Virgil, of course, but I don’t know if he could best Eilir in a fight if it came to it; a soldier or some such would be desirable to make sure she and all her foals return to the herdlands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:10 pm
Well, I finally got around to going to see the Illusionist. I found a lot of things out today; that you can sort of sense magic in another, that the Illusionist isn’t really a little colt, that people might be out to get me for my magic, where I might be going wrong with my magic, that it might be nice to have a father figure. Horrible run on sentences aside, it was a good day. Mordre was so... normal, and nice, too. I don’t understand why father dislikes him so, really I don’t.
Anyway, yes, hopefully now I should start making some progress with my magic, and it’s about time too. I’ve been floundering in the dark for too long, and now i know what causes my spells of weakness and faintness. Lack of magic, I shall have to spend time in these places which will apparently feel right as they’re full of magic. Don’t quite understand it all yet, but I’m sure I’ll catch on in time. Mordre has made me his apprentice; he says that he sees it as his duty to help me, to look out for me... It was all a bit overwhelming to be honest, but I’m sure I shall come on in leaps and bounds now. Before long, I shall announce myself to the herd and become Dahak the Shaman rather than Dahak the Advisor’s son. What a day that shall be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:25 am
Magic. It is an elusive thing, but today I tracked a patch of it down in a nice quiet grove. It was an amazing feeling, just relaxing there and drinking in the power; enlivening to say the least. it seems that it is not just magic users who benefit from high magic areas however, fo before I had been there long princess Lucina arrived. That grove, it seems, is one of her favorite spots; I shall have to ask Mordre if he knows anything of how high magic areas affect normal folk.
In any case, she arrived and we talked. She is not one to use her rank to benefit herself, but I suppose I should have guessed that given how her brothers Hidalgo and Aeolus are. In any case, we talked about how having better than average blood has affected us, and how tiresome she finds all her hangers n. Personally I quite like having a few suck ups about the place to do things for me when Virgil is busy but everyone is different I suppose.
we talked then about our ambitions; hers to be a teacher and mine to be a ‘healer’. I hope she isn’t too annoyed with me when she finds out exactly what I meant by that, but if she is there’s no help for it, I’m not ready for others to know that about me just yet.
The time is getting near though, very near indeed, I do not think it will be long before I can present myself to the Queen.
With this in mind, I found, and find, myself rather more relaxed than I have been for a long time and as such I felt able to just go for an aimless fly with Lucina. I have missed such simple pleasures and, once I am announced as the her’s shaman properly, I look forward to having a bit more time to do such things. Oh I will be busy of course, but I am sure I will be able to make time for myself as well as for my duties.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:38 pm
Today was... interesting. I was just outside the herdlands with Aeolus looking for plants which pleased my senses in the hopes of building up a healing garden. Just as I’d happened upon something good however, I was interrupted by an Aeri. An awful Aeri. He was wearing a skeleton for Jala’s sake! A red skeleton at that, red as blood; I remember it well.
He was looking for somebody, somebody neither Aeolus nor myself had seen. Had my princely friend not lost his temper, all might have blown over without a hitch. As it was, the red-boned Aeri attacked him and would have slain him if not for the intervention of another Aeri, one who called him father. I cannot imagine the mare that would let that black monster so much as near her, but that’s the lower races for you I suppose.
At any rate, the big green brute persuaded him to let us both live, and the orange-eyed monster told me to lie about how Aeolus had been hurt. I didn’t feel up to lying, and so I attempted to heal him. Surprisingly, it actually went really rather well; I tied the spell off and everything.
Needless to say, we departed as soon as we were allowed and made haste back to the safest areas of the herd territories.
Once the fear had subsided, I found myself unable to keep still. I did it. I actually did it! I think, with a few more successes to my name, I will be ready to present myself to the Queen and pledge to use my power for the good of Jala, and more specifically for the good of this herd.
I feel as though I have waited forever, and it is almost hard to believe but there it is; my time is coming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:40 pm
It’s odd, but I don’t think there’s a lot I can say about today. I went to see the Queen, showed her my powers and she named me Shaman Dahak officially. It went perfectly; the magic, Virgil was wonderful, I had the right words; perfect.
I am now what I have planned to be for so, so long; I am recognized by the herd in my own right. Already people have come to me wanting my help, my magic for old injuries that just won’t heal. I helped quite a few in fact, a couple of soldiers can go back to their old duties that they thought they could never take up again, and for a few life is just more comfortable.
I don’t know what my family will make of this whole thing, but even if they hate me, it is worth it. I have realized my ambitions in their fullest, and I am useful, indispensable, to our herd. From now until the day I die, I shall be Shaman Dahak, proud and prominent member of Handrakai Katilenuck. What more could anyone want?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:50 pm
Being Shaman Dahak is even better than I expected. I feel truly productive for the first time in my life, and important in my own right, too. I’ve started plans for a big area of healing herbs that I can tell the doctors the uses of; some they will probably know but I suspect I’ll have some new ones for them too. In addition to this, I’m practicing my magic as much as I can and I look forward to getting to work on people who come to me for help... But it’s not all good. Father came to see my earlier, having found out from Gods know who that I... well, that I am what I am.
He was angry that I didn’t tell him and the rest of my family when my magic first showed itself, and I think he is also rather angry that I have magic at all. Don’t know why, don’t much care. I love him, but... sometimes I really hate him too. Speaking of love-hate, Zara showed herself as well. She rambled on and make witty little comments like she does, but eventually father sent her off to look after our little sisters. I resisted the urge to snigger.
After that, he gave me a parting ‘pearl of wisdom’ that he would do well to take on board himself, the daft git.
Still, telling mother went somewhat better; she laughed and said that it explained a lot. After that, though, she was quiet. I have a nasty feeling that she’s plotting uses for my talents that involve being close to violence. Still. Oh well. Nothing I can do about the whizzing of her brain, I’ll just have to do my best to dissuade her from sending me along with the soldiers to fix them as they fall or whatever.
So, all in all, I’m enjoying myself, other than the usual family-shaped thorns in my flank. Don’t you just love relatives?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 8:02 am
Humm. Xerris after magic. Well there you have it; always knew she was an ambitious little thing but I didn’t expect this of her. I tried to tell her how unlikely it was that she’d develop magic, tried to tell her that going looking for it won’t change whether she gets it in the end or not but I don’t think she cared. She’s set her sights on something she wants and probably won’t quit until she dies, goes mad or gets it. Something of a family trait, that.
Still, lofty ambitions aside, she has decided to learn healing. I shall teach her all about the healing plants I know of and the basics of how to use them. The more complex or serious things I always tinge with magic, and the understanding I get of wounds by seeing the ah... the red stuff (need a name for it.) The rest she will have to learn for the real doctors; I’m sure they’ll be glad to have somebody of such good blood join up. It might even make them more friendly to me, which can only be good.
My only concern in this, besides the very real possibility of Xerris ending up disappointed, is how the family will take it. Mother and Urien will be fine with it I think, Xu might be, I’ve no idea on ‘Dine or Zara and father will blow his top. He’ll probably blame me for infatuating her with magic or something, and whether he blames me or not his relationship with Xerris is going to take a nose-dive unless I’ve read him entirely wrong. Damn. Last thing I want is more enmity inside my family but if it comes, it comes. I didn’t seek it, and Xerris isn’t seeking it. I can’t help what I am, and she can’t help what she wants. Joy. I can see the next few days being a real game.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:20 am
Ah-ha, success! Virgil and Eilir are off to the fruit lands, Aelous with them to see a bit of the world for himself and to make sure Eilir doesn’t try to cause trouble. Ochre has gone with them for now, but she’ll soon be back with news of how many buds there are. I hope there are at least two, though more would be convenient.
I want to give one to mother, but I also want to give one to Urien. I shall have to talk to both of them, see who needs one more. Mother does have Ochre; though she’s not actually a slave and can’t do the heavy work of a slave she can do many useful things, and I don’t think my ute is often left wanting for somebody to do something for her.
My brother on the other hoof... well he could do with somebody to keep and eye one him really, the daft thing. I’ll bring that up with mother, see what she thinks. I suspect she’ll agree it’s the best idea if I do indeed only end up with one foal to give to whom I choose. She’ll be a bit peeved though I think, so I shall have to be on the lookout for a slave for her if she doesn’t get one of Virgil and Eilir’s.
In any case, for now my life is going on and I’m discovering just how useful Virgil is. Funny how you only notice such things when they’re not around; borrowed slaves just don’t know how I like my bed made up, and I certainly don’t trust them enough to have them around my herbs, or around me while I’m practicing. The sooner Virgil gets back the better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:32 am
Ochre got back today and reported to me in short order. It seems we have two fruits, which works well; an odd number might have led to awkwardness. I’ve informed Hera, and I’ve also informed mother. She has decided that if Urien wants one, he can have one and she’ll borrow it from him when she needs to until she gets one of her own. I have also been informed by Ochre that the tree and parents and indeed my friend Aeolus are all very healthy and happy. Virgil is going about collecting food, and Aeolus is remaining quite close to the tree to make sure nobody tries to damage Katilenuck property.
I’m glad to know what’s going on now, and glad that I have a vague idea how much longer I shall have to manage without Virgil. It really is a pain in the backside not to have him here, but I’m still progressing just fine with my magic and my herb patch is looking wonderful. Xerris continues her studies both with the doctors and with myself, and I’m finding our esteemed healers becoming more friendly towards me. Perhaps all I really needed was a bit more contact with them so that they know me rather than just knowing about my magic.
Now that I’ve spoken with several of them on a few occasions, I think they realize that I am not going to replace them, and that even if I wanted to I wouldn’t be able to. They’re quicker to send those they can’t help to me now, and I’m quicker to send to them people they can help just as well as I. They find my ability to see what’s wrong with a Nequus at a glance most useful, too, as it lets them get on with treatment all the faster.
All in all, life is going very well indeed despite my current lack of slave. I must get myself a second one at some point so if one is ever away from whatever reason, at least I still have one Nequus around who knows how to do the tasks I give them the way I want them done.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:47 am
This is worrying, very worrying.
Ute came up to my herb patch today at mid-sun. We ate elppas, and I decided to talk to her on my thoughts about getting myself a mate. She seems quite happy with the idea both of me looking at all, and of me looking outside the herd. I suppose I should talk to trie as well, but I’m not sure what he’ll think. Hu, well, not a lot he can do to stop me. His approval would be nice but I don’t need it.
In any case, we probably would have gone on talking about that for quite a while, but she started looking distracted. I guessed, correctly, that she had come to see me for more than my company. I was a bit disappointed, but I understand her not taking time out of her working day just for the pleasure of coming to talk to me; Jala knows I don’t do it for her or anyone else come to that. Still, yes, she complained of a headache and so I set about preparing to fix it for her.
I couldn’t see it. Nothing there, no wrongness, nothing to heal.
We were both more than a bit surprised by that, and in the end I told her it might be stress and sent her off to rest. It might be stress. It might not. I went to the doctors and asked them about madness, about how it starts. There are many different kinds of madness, they tell me, some grow aggressive, some paranoid, some withdrawn and some, some start to hear noises in their heads that have no source in the real world.
Ute said her ears were buzzing.
It might be nothing at all, I might be just worrying over nothing, but what if she is going mad and I... and I can’t help her. What if my powers can only heal bodies, not minds? What if my brilliant, proud, oftentimes distant mother is drifting away from me, from all of us? I can’t see it, she’s so sure and stable and strong. But the doctors said madness can come to anyone, and that most of the time there is nothing they can do to help.
This is very worrying.
I don’t want to lose my mother.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:15 am
So, now I know that ute was alive and well a short while ago. Though it is still quite possible that she’s gone mad, at least I know she was alive then, and apparently fairly rational. Sekhmet, an outsider mare, gave me that news once she’d finished insulting me for the time being. She is a rather worrying creature; she refuses to suck up to me but I can tell she wants something from me. She was eyeing me up, and not in the usual subtle way either. I owe her for telling me of my mother, but I intend to repay that debt by speaking well of her when she makes a bid to join the herd.
Despite the fact that she insults me and eyes me up a little too blatantly, I rather like her. Not many people are willing to insult me these days; it should keep me sharp to have her around. The fact that she’s good looking doesn’t hurt there either; nice for me to look at, and being seen with a mare will probably do my image some good. Let them think I’m screwing her if they want; I could probably use a bit of scandal to keep me interesting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:52 pm
Sekhmet is intolerable. She tells me to take her to the queen, and I arrange it for the very next day. She tells me to use the last of my immediately available power on a mere rit, and I do it. I am intolerable. This is a stupid way to behave. Just because she’s pretty, and just because she talks to me like an equal I seem to be tripping over myself to please her. I think she sees through all my grumbling about it all too; she’s a perceptive little b***h. I told her to drop the rit off with Virgil and then come to my cave. She came.
She wasn’t flirty when she arrived, she was chilly and snappy at first but then... She mellowed, and we laughed at each other happily. She will be seeing Savit tomorrow, and I have no doubt at all that she will be accepted into the herd. She’s asleep next to me right now and I... I wonder if I might like that to go on. A mare beside me would look good, one who wasn’t born to the herd is a bit different and daring but still within the realms of acceptability. But she’s stopped flirting with me. She gets within spitting distance of what she seemed to want, and now she seems to have changed her mind.
Perhaps it’s for the best, I haven’t known her all that long yet, and I’m a busy stallion. I don’t really have time for a mate. Still, all that said there’s a part of me that won’t be quite. A part of me that can’t stop thinking about the blasted female. I’m sure it’s just infatuation but... Oh hell; I give up for tonight, I’m going to sleep.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
