Coming of Age (book) - Revision history

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	"Into the center of the pack circle we walked, the last time in		"Into the center of the pack circle we walked, the last time in
	that protected place. As we formed a small circle of four,		that protected place. As we formed a small circle of four,
	facing in towards the elder Jugtahr, he began the recitation of		facing in towards the elder Jugtahr, he began the recitation of Hehdk's lines from the falling of the pearl moon. At the name of

	Hehdk's lines from the falling of the pearl moon. At the name of
	his great grandfather, Hehdk turned and faced the outer circle of		his great grandfather, Hehdk turned and faced the outer circle of
	our families. Jugtahr did the same with each of us until we all		our families. Jugtahr did the same with each of us until we all
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	breath as each of us began to walk forward, drawing farther from		breath as each of us began to walk forward, drawing farther from
	each other and childhood as we headed towards the four winds.		each other and childhood as we headed towards the four winds.
	Thus began my journey to adulthood."		Thus began my journey to adulthood."


	"I was slightly comforted knowing the pack would wait for my		"I was slightly comforted knowing the pack would wait for my
	return, and I was certain my family would beseech Mrod in my		return, and I was certain my family would beseech Mrod in my

CARAAMON at 19:00, 20 March 2012

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	certain his children had some ceremony to mark their coming of		certain his children had some ceremony to mark their coming of
	age at the tenth circle in their Guild.		age at the tenth circle in their Guild.
	[[~~Category~~:~~Book~~]][[~~page~~ ~~type~~ is::~~book~~\| ]]		{{cat\|Book}}[[page type is::book\| ]][[race association is::rakash\| ]]
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	age at the tenth circle in their Guild.		age at the tenth circle in their Guild.
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	certain his children had some ceremony to mark their coming of		certain his children had some ceremony to mark their coming of
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	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]]

Maintenance script: Coming of Age moved to Coming of Age (book)

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Coming of Age moved to Coming of Age (book)

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	<center>'''Coming of Age'''</center>		<center>'''Coming of Age'''</center>
	<center>by Master Bard Kyrie Needels</center><br><br>		<center>by Master Bard [[Kyrie]] Needels</center><br><br>
	As recorded for posterity in the 358th year since the Victory of		As recorded for posterity in the 358th year since the Victory of
	Lanival the Redeemer.		Lanival the Redeemer.
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	Outside, snow was falling heavily, but the fire in the den at		Outside, snow was falling heavily, but the fire in the den at
	Marachek's Oak welcomed and warmed all. It was there that I		[[Marachek's Oak]] welcomed and warmed all. It was there that I
	joined a group of travelers who, brew in hand, were whiling away		joined a group of travelers who, brew in hand, were whiling away
	the time telling tall tales of their experiences. One of the		the time telling tall tales of their experiences. One of the

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	certain his children had some ceremony to mark their coming of		certain his children had some ceremony to mark their coming of
	age at the tenth circle in their Guild.		age at the tenth circle in their Guild.
			[[Category:Book]]

Maintenance script at 04:36, 27 April 2006

2006-04-27T04:36:21Z

New page

<center>'''Coming of Age'''</center>
<center>by Master Bard Kyrie Needels</center><br><br>
As recorded for posterity in the 358th year since the Victory of
Lanival the Redeemer.

Much of my life has been spent listening to others recount the
story of their lives, that I might sift through for kernels that
might be of interest to us all. I have traveled far and wide,
met people from the different races that populate Elanthia, heard
truth that was stranger than fiction, and lies that were sworn to
be truth. Due perhaps to the charm of their disappearing past,
I have a particular interest in learning the customs of the
Rakash. It is a rare pleasure to find one who remembers life
before the migration.

Outside, snow was falling heavily, but the fire in the den at
Marachek's Oak welcomed and warmed all. It was there that I
joined a group of travelers who, brew in hand, were whiling away
the time telling tall tales of their experiences. One of the
travelers was a Rakash Barbarian, whose white coat concealed any
symbol of age. All grew quiet as he told the tale of his testing
for acceptance in his pack.

"It was cold when the time came for my passage. Winter had come
and stayed long, and even my excitement at the testing could not
hold the chill of the damp dawn at bay. Quickly I drew on my
odaj, strapped my thigh quiver on and slung my bow across my back
before I scrambled out the door of my audiwah. Stars glistened
brightly in the night sky, as if bidding farewell to each other
before they rested for the day. A small group had gathered,
readying the items needed for the hunt and the ritual that lay
ahead. Hehdk slipped beside me as we prepared to enter the
circle and the sight of my friend steadied me like a horse calms
at its owner's voice. That which I had awaited all my life had
come to its time. It would be done that night."

"There were four of us, all cubs still. That night we would
hunt, first as we were, then as the Lord Mrod made us. It would
be our first hunt in which we would be alone for the change.
Till then we had hunted in packs, and with care as to Katamba's
fickle nature. Proof of our ability to serve the pack, be one
with the pack, would be if we returned after the light of Katamba
had shone over the sun thrice."

"Into the center of the pack circle we walked, the last time in
that protected place. As we formed a small circle of four,
facing in towards the elder Jugtahr, he began the recitation of

Hehdk's lines from the falling of the pearl moon. At the name of
his great grandfather, Hehdk turned and faced the outer circle of
our families. Jugtahr did the same with each of us until we all
faced away from him, towards our families. When the recitation of
my line was finished my father handed me my weapon and backpack;
it was all that would sustain me in my quest to be accepted as a
full member of the pack. At the nod of Jugtahr's head, in unison
the pack spoke, "Mrod guide." The moment had come, I held my
breath as each of us began to walk forward, drawing farther from
each other and childhood as we headed towards the four winds.
Thus began my journey to adulthood."

"I was slightly comforted knowing the pack would wait for my
return, and I was certain my family would beseech Mrod in my
name."

"Heated with the excitement of the moment, I pulled my odaj
around my body and remembered the ways of the pack. A huge gulp
of frosty air helped calm my nerves as I delved deep within
myself seeking the core of my people, the balance of oneness. I
inhaled the air, sensed its movement within me, let it warm with
my scent and released it. I inhaled the air, allowed it to bring
their distant scent on memory, felt it, released it. I inhaled
the air, they were beside me, within me, at one with me and I
with them."

"The road I traveled crested in front of me just as the sun broke
free of the reigns of darkness and set its light loose in the
sky, turning it pink with the promise of warmth. I had watched
many groups of cubs while standing with my family as they left
seeking full pack status, now it was my turn. I planned long and
thought hard about how and where I would wish to be at the time
of the change. Previously I had explored with my friends and
set what I thought was a good plan. In the valley below, there
was an overhang where tall trees had grown on top of each other,
so entangling their roots that they pushed upward out of the
ground creating a small enclosed area. My thought was to watch
Katamba and spend the change within the confines of that cradle,
where I could regain my energy before becoming a delicacy for
some wandering beast. Something I assure you I had no intention
of allowing."

"All was going according to my plan until I stepped from behind a
tree and saw a group of ice gibbons. Unfortunately, they saw me
as well. Too late to run, I stood my ground as they advanced,
more curious than irate with my trespass. I slipped my bow from
my back and casually drew an arrow from the quiver. I had almost
set it when a tall gibbon in the back cast frost patch at me. I
struggled to maintain my footing but failed miserably. Air
escaped from my lungs with a thwack as I landed on my back
sending my arrow straight up into the air instead of at its
target. My mind raced as I tried to regain my footing while
drawing my ice pick. If it were to be melee, then my strength
would have to hold against the crowd. A loud fffwwonking noise
in the distance brought the advancing horde up short. For a
moment they glared at me in unison, then turned and scrambled off
in the direction of that odd sound. I remember the burning in my
chest that reminded me I had ceased to breathe and I confess I
gasped for air. At that moment, Katamba chose to rise and
suddenly against my best plans I lay on the plain in full view
and at the mercy of whatever might arrive."

The narrator glanced at a thin line on his arm that could have
been an old scar, guzzled his brew, and announced, "All's well
that ends well."

I thought to press him further, but a fight erupted in the corner
over some local grave robbery and before the furniture got
righted, the accusations sorted out, and the injured tended, he
was gone.

As everyone settled down and ordered a new round of spirits, a
young Rakash who had been listening to the evening's tales retook
his seat under the blackened torch. I hoped I might learn more
about this custom so I leaned over and whispered to him asking if
he would care to relate the story of his right of passage. He
smiled sadly as he stated that he had never had a ceremony for
acceptance into his pack. He said he planned on sharing the
information he had heard tonight with his pack and he would be
certain his children had some ceremony to mark their coming of
age at the tenth circle in their Guild.