Safehouse

[Madel_H]

The old building was there alright, right where the elders had said.

Why me? the ranger thought to himself. Why was I stuck with this dump?

True, the log house was quite large, but it still looked run-down and neglected.

So this is to be my home?

How he longed to go back to his kin-folk, to revel in his own forests. But he had given that up with the oath, so instead, the green and brown clad man just hefted his shoulder pack and walked inside. The place was a flop. A portion of the ceiling had caved in, the wooden walls rotted away, tables were left lying broken on the floor, and to top it off: mugs shattered on the ground. It would take a lot of work, but the ranger was willing to put his time and effort into it.

[Madel_H]

It was long, tiresome work, but it was finally over. The longhouse was finished, and the ranger could finally relax. Rolfe, the old dog that had been here when he arrived, layed at his feet. Sitting on the porch, a cup of cider in hand, he decided he should explore the Myrken forests, get to know the local area.

He traveled the woods in giant circles, learning the area as he went. Each animal received special attention, as he studied their habits, memorizing them for later. Each tree was painstakingly placed into a mental map. Every plant was noted for reference. The building of a house would seem like easy work compared to this, but this was a ranger's life, and he even found a bit of entertainment in it. A nerd if there ever was one. After several days of wandereing the wilds of the land, he came upon the Dagger. He watched and waited for a while, guaging the average patronage of the inn, entering only after he was confidant that it was safe enough. The first in a long line of unfortunate assumptions.

[Madel_H]

The ranger looked out the window of his now functional home. As the sun creeped high overhead, he set the mug of cider in his hands down onto a nearby table. With quick strides, he heads out the door and into the forests, heading east towards the clear stream he had found.

Every step of the way was mentally noted, individual rises and falls in the landscape stored away. When he had reached the stream, he turned and began to follow it along its course.

* * * *

An hour or so later, the ranger climbed up out of the steep bank, emerging into clearing of wood. He almost turned back towards his cabin, but movement caught the corner of his eye. Turning slowly, he looked upon a white wolf, not ten feet from where he stood. It watched him, yellow eyes belying sentience.

The ranger stared into those eyes for what seemed like an eternity, then the wolf rose up off its haunches and stalked into the woods.

A small smile tugged at his lips, before he turned and headed back once more to his home.

[Madel_H]

Early in the morning he arose, forcing his heavy eyelids to open. Like any other day he busied himself with breakfast. After that was done, and he had dressed, the ranger slipped towards the main door, careful not to awaken the six or seven others who slept on the other sides of the doors he passed.

The door opened soundlessly on well oiled hinges. The ranger took one step outside before stopping short. His mouth hung slightly open as he gazed at the open area in front of his house.

All manner of wildlife sat noiselessly, looking up at him through intelligent eyes. From the smallest of chipmunks to the largest of bears, all gathered together without any prejudice or grouping.

The ranger said nothing, but continued to look out over all of the creatures present. Finally, he forced his jaw to close and gave a nod to all the animals present. Movement near the front as the wolf he had seen earlier silently trods up the steps of his porch to stand in front of him. Again he is staring into those sentient eyes.

When finally the line of sight is broken, the ranger looks up to see that only the wolf remains. Again it trots into the forest, stopping at the edge of the clearing to look back at the ranger before disappearing into the foliage.

A smile on, Madel walks across the clearing and towards Myrkentown, never once realizing that his were the only footprints in the snow.

[Madel_H]

At long last spring had come, and the snows were gone. For a short time, there was sunshine, but the rain and the storms soon took over. The clearing in front of the house had been reduced to mud and muck, due to the lack of cover. The house, on the other hand, was always dry thanks to a thick canopy of leaves. It had been a while since that visit from the forest animals, many months now. On the other hand, several of the Lai`Quen had visited, stopping in to swap stories and share a meal or two before heading back out.

Madel stood out on the porch, leaning against a support beam that had been intricately carved into the likeness of a wolf. Its twin had all the details of a bear. Rain drops the size of faeries fell through the hole in the treetops, striking the ground with force and turning the yard into a pockmarked mudpit.

There was a pipe clenched in the ranger's teeth, and blue-grey smoke drifted lazily about. Eyes roved the land, searching for something, anything aside from dull grey weather. From the corner of his golden eye, the one crossed by a deep scar, he spies it. Something white, moving with steady pace towards the cabin. There was only one thing that the ranger knew of that could get through the guardian huorns: animals. And he only knew of one animal that had a pelt so white that he could spot it through this rain: the White Wolf. As Madel watched, the wolf came closer, and he could begin to see that it was untouched by rain or mud; that though its ankles sank into puddles a foot or so deep, the came out clean. That the rain that fell upon it seemed to bounce right off. A curious glance was thrown his way from the wolf, and in moments, the animal was staning before him on the porch. Then, the oddest thing happened. It spoke.

"Mae Gonnin, Fionyetille ar Madel . I am Shin`tae. But you would more likely know me as 'She who walks the woods'."

The voice came from nowhere, but everywhere at once. It had no source, but it came from the wolf. If one listened close enough, there was almost a hint that the voice was feminine. As suddenly as it appeared in the air, it was gone, leaving not even the faintest of traces of sound. No fading whispers, no echo against the wall, just gone.

Madel's jaw hung slack, pipe dropped to the ground forgotten where its contents where extinguished by errant drops of rain. Then, as though regaining a lost part of his brain, the ranger drops to one knee, fist is clapped over his chest, covering the silver amulet that hangs ther beneath his shirt.

"Shin`tae! My Lady, goddess of the Lai`Quen, you are welcome in my home." Arm is held at length towards the door, an offering of hospitality. For the tird time in his life Madel was meeting with the Forest Guardian, twice more than any other man since nearly a thousand years ago. It was definitely something noteworthy.

The wolf stood and padded through the door, which opened of its own accord as she neared. Madel stood and followed quickly, shocked to find that now in place of the wolf was a woman, young and beautiful, scantily clothed in silks of rich colors. Her hair was long, and any color that she wanted it to be. Her eyes a bright blue from one angle, deep purple when veiwed from a hair to the left. Again the ranger's jaw hung slack, and again he snapped it shut in sudden realization.

"Forgive me; may I get anything for you?" He said, hurrying around the bar to grab at some bottles, wines aged since before Madel's father-father had been born. Shin`tae indicated that she would like some, and Madel rushed about to get a crystal goblet from a heavy trunk in the back room, and pour into it the richest red wine that he possessed. The Forest Guardian took it up and sipped lightly at it.

"You have the gift f greatness within you, Fionyetille. I do hope that you come to use it with responsibility."

The ranger stammered that of course he would, if she so desired. That he would do whatever she asked.

"Silly Madel, you're no more grown up than the last time." And with a playful giggle, the silks were gone, replaced with a gown that was much less revealing.

Madel blushed, turned away to pour himself some cider in attempt to mask his embarrassed look. When he had finished, he turned to Shin`tae and asked "What is it that has brought you to me once again, milady? Another quest, perhaps?"

"Something like that, yes." She stood up from the seat she had taken, slowly crossed the room to where he stood, and leaned forward to look him in the eyes until her face was only inches from his. "Fionyetille ar Madel, you are to lead the Lai`Quen as Cheiftan."

[Madel_H]

For a long time there was silence. Madel stared at Shin`tae, and the Forest Goddess stared back. Many seconds ticked by on the water clock above the mantle, and still no words were spoken. Then with a deep breath, the ranger began tentatively, not wanting to insult Shin`tae's decision.

"You know...uh...we don't have chieftan any more, we have a counci-" but he was cut short.

"The time of the councils are over. They are imbelilic old fools, outdated in their thinking" That's what they said about the old chiefs, Madel thought to himself. "They are snakes, taking advantage of the weak, and using Lai`Quen lives to gain footholds for their own gains. You, though, you have it within you to lead your people back to greatness."

"We don't need greatness, we are fine as we are. In fact, we are thriving as we are. There is no need-" again Shin`tae interrupted.

"There is need. There is need for impovement, for expansion, for restoration. The Lai`Quen need these things, or they will not survive. Already the population has decreased by an eigth; your people are dying."

The ranger had nothing to say to that; she would know better than he the goings on of her people. Wandering away towards the bar, he leans against it, arms crossed over his chest. Outside, the rain pounded the ground, lightning illuminated the scene, and thunder rattled it all to hell. After a few moments, he decided on his next arguement.

"Why should the people follow and old ranger?" quirking a brow, certian he had her there.

Shin`tae sighed, pulled out a chair and sat cross-legged upon it. Madel half smiled; there it was, she was defeated. Or so he thought...

"Your sword. You remember when you got it? When you had been chosen to be a ranger. To be my ranger. You remember?" I gave you that sword." Madel nodded in agreement, he remembered it all very clearly, the ceremony, the private meeting, the shock at being the first man to see Shin`tae in over ten decades. The goddess continued, "That sword was the sword of the very first chieftan of Lai`Quen. He was the one that led the people into present day Lai`Qunedelli. It was he who defeated the bandits that plagued his people. It was he who made the Lai`Quen who they are. And it is you who will uphold his legacy."

Madel stared down at his blade as though it were a serpent that had just bit him. All this time he supposed it just a gift, and all this time he was oh so wrong. Looking back up to the Forest Guardian, he relented. "So it is set in stone then?"

"It is."

"And I am destined to do this thing?"

"You are."

The ranger sighed again. Glancing at the storm outside, he cheered up slightly. "Well, I can't leave until this storm...lets..." but he was speaking to no one. He stood alone now in the room, thinking to himself about the fate thrust upon him. After some time, he pushed away from the bartop and blew out the candles along the window sills and headed off to his room to sleep.

[Madel_H]

Axe and saw, hammer and nail. By the sweat of a score of tall, brawny men did the extensions go up. Two new wings on the building, a large stable for the horses, even a pen for goats and sheep was erected behind the house. A chicken coop, a fletcher's hut, two smithy's forges, and a flour mill also found themsleves built on the large open space. And no more hauling water from the river by the bucket-full; a waterwheel has been built on the shore, an ingenious contraption that scoops the water out of the river and deposits it into a long trough, angled downwards to carry the cool liquid in through the back wall of the house's kitchen.

But such hard work cannot be left unprotected- a high wall encircles the clearing, complete with a rampart and gatehouse. Four towers stand at four corners, providing security and watch. And within the walls, massive bonfires keep the property well lit, night and day.

Several dozen men and women are now living in the house originally meant for eight, all working hard to keep this outpost working efficiently. And from the window of his second-story bedroom, Madel looks out over the scene and nods before turning to sit at his small desk. Upon a small scrap of paper he would write, near illiteracy allowing for several mistakes and mispellings.

[Kenwolf]

He was so graciously invited to the long house before by his brethern but a dire message from his Master Taronde brought him back home to the steeped forests of New Dauntless.

The lazy spiral of smoke rising from the chimneys and sounds of an anvil being beat upon brings a soft smile upon his face.It has been some time since he has been in the company of so many fellow Lai` Quen. He steps inside just after he shakes dust off his boots and sighs contentedly