|
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 5
|
 |
|
Author
|
Topic: The Coming of Age (Read 7154 times)
|
Lukipela
Enlightened
 Offline
Gender: 
Posts: 3620
The Ancient One
|
As always, there is a ruckus in the younglings hut. Makaki and Tanaki have gotten into a loud argument regarding the nature of honour. Setanka and a couple of others are playing tag. The air is filled with noise, but it is a happy kind of noise. It’s the sound of young Shofixti growing up.
Suddenly, the curtain in front of the hut door is pulled aside. Three elders stride in, and the noise immediately dies down. Setanka, slow as ever, is the last one to notice the visitors as he bumps into one of them. The elder lifts him up and looks at him critically.
“You are brash and young!”, the elder shouts at the quivering Setanka. “If you were outside the hut, things may have gone quite badly, you miserable excuse for a Shofixti!”
He begins to shake Setanka back and forth while speaking in a calmer voice. Somehow that makes it worse.
“You are almost adult you miserable runt. Soon, you will exit this sad excuse for a hut and by the all father, if you do not shape up by then I will show you every face of pain myself! A Shofixti is always aware of his surroundings! A Shofixti does not run around like a decapitated chicken!”
With a swift throw, he sends Setanka flying. The hapless youngster smacks against the far wall of the hut, and falls to the ground. He whimpers slightly. The elders turn to look at you.
“Younglings of the third hut! Tomorrow you will have seen three moons and your childhood will come to an end. You know the lore. Leave this hut by dawn and do not return during the next three suns. When you come back, you will be adult Shofixti.”
The elders leave without any ceremony.
As soon as they have left, the air is buzzing with excitement. Finally! You’ve spent your entire life in this hut, playing and training during daytime and learning at night. Every day, you have waited for the moment when you would be allowed to leave the younglings hut and take your place in the clan. And now the time has finally come. You are all excited, even Setanka though he is still a bit dizzy from his fall. You discuss where to go and what to do during your banishment. Every Shofixti must go alone, but there is no harm in discussing the alternatives together.
That night, you have a dream. This is unusual, as the nights are usually times of learning. You are not used to this kind of luxury, to be allowed to waste time during the night. In your dream, you are flying far above the younglings hut. You can see the entire Island, the place the clan calls home. Suddenly, you hear a voice in your head. So much for being alone.
“There is a cave in the eastern mountains. It hides many strange things, but also plenty of danger. If you go there and live, you will return to the clan with a marvellous story to tell. To the west, by the great pier, a small boat has been hidden in the rockfall. With it you can sail out from the island towards great adventures.”
As you hover far above the Island, both places begin to glow. Slowly the glow spreads from the places along the paths, until it reaches the younglings hut. You memorize the paths, unsure which is the right one to take.
Suddenly, you wake up. It is dawn, but the other younglings are still asleep. It is time for you to leave. The question is, where should you go?
1. The Cave sounds exciting.
2. The Sea is my destiny!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
What's up doc?
|
|
|
Gekko
*Many bubbles*
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 199
Arena regular
|
2. The Sea is my destiny!
I feel like sailing.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
RTyp06
*Smell* controller
Offline
Posts: 491
|
Yar ye shipmates!
edit: Had to make my choice a little more clear 
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 18, 2010, 02:23:06 am by RTyp06 »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Alvarin
Enlightened
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 795
|
Sea... Isn't it wet and stuff... Not a chance!
Cave, on the other hand, could be fun for hunting!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Draxas
Enlightened
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1044
|
Everyone knows the best adventures are to be had in the deep places of the world. To the cave!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Death 999
Global Moderator
Enlightened
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3870
We did. You did. Yes we can. No.
|
Let's go find some red flowers so we can berserk better when the time comes! Let this be a cave story!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Angelfish
Enlightened
Offline
Posts: 568
|
The Sea!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Lukipela
Enlightened
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3620
The Ancient One
|
Caves are dank and dark. They are no place for a freedom loving Shofixti of the clan! The sea on the other hand, is a place of mystery and danger. It wouldn’t be half bad to come back with an amazing story and make all the other younglings jealous. The others are still asleep, so you sneak out through the door and into the world for the first time ever. The Village around you looks just like you expected. The houses are where you’ve been taught, but this early there are no Shofixti out. A strange sound makes you flinch and you realise that isn’t quite true. A few Braves are standing guard, but they blend in so well that you’d never have noticed them had one not just sneezed. Under their watchful eyes you leave the Village and head west, towards the sea.
It is a beautiful day for adventure. The sun has only just risen, yet it is warm outside and a light breeze makes your fur move in an altogether pleasing fashion. After only a few hours of walking on well trodden paths, you arrive at the small beach. Just as the dream promised, a small boat has been stowed away and filled with supplies. You pause to reflect on this. You briefly wonder how many of your friends have had similar dreams. There are probably packages such as this put out in many places to aid the younglings on their quest. You smile as you drag the boat into the shallows. Your society may be hard, but it is not cruel.
As you set out, the wind blows through your fur. It’s a wonderful day for sailing and you are content to let the wind move you westwards. Though you have no destination in mind, you feel certain that you are on the right path. The first day of sailing is not eventful. this close to the island you still see small rocks and tiny islands sticking up all over, but none of them seem to offer anything of interest. As nightfall comes, you secure your boat to a small rock and sleep well under the stars.
The next morning you feel cold and chilly. Sailing doesn’t seem like much of an adventure any more, but there’s not much else to do but carry on. As the day passes you start leaving most small islands and rocky outcrops behind as you leave the archipelago and approach the open sea. This is exciting in itself, your people rarely venture this far out. Surely some form of adventure will be waiting for you here!
After a few hours of sailing the open sea you see a small rock sticking out of the sea. As you approach, you see that someone is sitting on it. The creature has blue skin and from afar there seems to be something wrong with its legs. Your whiskers quiver as a memory comes to you. The Merpeople are not your friends. You should avoid them if possible, as they can twist your mind and make you believe that you can swim.
On the other hand the creature has now seen you and is waving its hands, trying to attract your attentions. You wonder what would be wiser, to follow the lore and stay away or to approach the creature.
1. Let’s see what these Merpeople are really all about!
2. The wisdom of the clan guides my path. I will avoid this foul creature.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
What's up doc?
|
|
|
Angelfish
Enlightened
Offline
Posts: 568
|
Let's teach these Merpeople a lesson. Kyeeeeeeeeeeeee!
1.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Draxas
Enlightened
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 1044
|
Why did we spend 3 moons learning, if only to ignore what we've learned? The beast is best left ignored.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
RTyp06
*Smell* controller
Offline
Posts: 491
|
How can we grow if we simply comply with the rules of our ancestors. Let us greet the stranger.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Alvarin
Enlightened
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 795
|
Clan lore doesn't come without reason. I say steer clear.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: March 24, 2010, 09:48:43 pm by Alvarin »
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
Death 999
Global Moderator
Enlightened
Offline
Gender:
Posts: 3870
We did. You did. Yes we can. No.
|
What else was I told about the mer-people? Do they actually hunt us? Are they merely standoffish? Were we once friendly and had a falling-out?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 5
|
|
|
|
|
