Chapter I - Packing My Things
It was becoming more and more burdensome, what with my family making most of their living outside of the Haventree clearing and markets. My father wants to appoint me as the next chieftain of the Proudtail clan and with that comes expectations of finding a suitable consort or groom and inevitable producing a child.
There were talks of a union between Proudtail and Silvertouch, as their clan numbers were dwindling since their last encounter with the Naga. As much as we don't want to believe it, there is still much tension between the Naga and those they fought against.
Sightings of Unitaur have been confirmed as they have made their presence known for the sake of maintaining peace within the Isles. I hope that their are still enough of them to counteract the effects of these past devastating battles... but I'm drifting.
Such is my point, I can't continue the habits of my youth. No longer can I wander between the main gathering place and my clan. If I marry a Silvertouch, I'll be obligated and honor bound to help restore their numbers and keep their own stories alive. Fortunately, a great many more of us are learning to read and write once more. I hope to one day place this very journal within the Great Library.
Chapter II - Saying Good-bye
It's been even more difficult than I had anticipated saying a farewell to the great many friends I had made during my early years. Though many of them make heartfelt promises to visit as often as possible, I still fear I may never see them again.
There's been talk of a courier service. A band of the swifted Cervitaur and Centaur are holding talks on how to organize a method of delivering messages to as many parts of the Isles as possible. Of the many races, those two seem to be the most eager to progress as of late.
The Cat- and Foxtaurs seem still too interested in their own personal gain to offer much by way of help or cooperation. It was to be expected, it will take some doing to make them change their very nature. Cattaurs seem to be born to want to be pampered in treasures and the Foxtaurs are all too eager to try and steal it away.
The Wolftaur have offered to help carry messages by rivers and boats, since many a tribe or village already live along the riverbanks. They even have begun construction on a port, where they plan to have a shipyard. A traveling Wolftaur named Gehmat says that a ship that could carry taurs should most certainly be able to carry messages and other precious cargo.
All these things, I must leave them now and it saddens me greatly. Surely there must be someone I can get to take my place. Someone who could... wait a moment.
My father said there were was a half-breed Satyr in the market today who seemed the sort who had the knack for getting nearly anyone to dance, sing, and her stories were something nearly anyone could relate to. She may very well be the one who could accept my proposition for someone who could send me the reports of Haventree.
Chapter III - Appointing the Minstrel
She wasn't hard to find and it was really surprising, minstrels having been known to leave as quickly as they came. The satyrling was there, to be sure, but when they said she was a half-breed I had not expected the other "half" as it were to be Centaur. A pairing like that seems practically unheard of, it makes me curious as to her parents' origins and what their story was. I'm sure one day she'll tell me, among the many other things I would love to know.
Amongst the crowd and doing what she loved most, singing a tale to a group of children she'd been left to mind while their mothers and fathers went to buy at the markets. It was enchanting, I found myself wanting to sit in amongst them and let myself get caught up in wide-eyed wonder. It seemed like no chore at all to her when I asked for her assistance in gathering news of Haventree for me. Not once did her eyes widen nor did the idea seem intimidating to her. She said her mother would have loved to have her stay in once place, but she had inherited her father's wanderlust. It was a sign from her ancestors, she claimed, that she be appointed a Minstrel of Haventree and this encounter only confirmed the idea.
Sally Ragtag will be among the first to help me get a message courier service organized. From here to Haventree and, gods willing, beyond!
