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Fell Undtivives: Off to find my fortune
Posted: 05 Oct 2005 12:03 PM |
Please humor me as I attempt this introduction. It should not be a gamble for most, as I'm not one to ramble. Indeed, after only 18 years, there is not much to tell.
I was reared mainly by older sister, Valarre, my mother having perished after a long parturition. I sometimes am pained that my emergence into this world coincided with mother's passing. My older brothers, yet alive somewhere in this world (but also alive in my head), can even now be heard murmuring "Coincided? Nay Caused!”. As I never knew my mother, I cannot mourn her, but I have assumed some of the guilt that my distraught brothers imparted. Apparently she was quite a woman.
Until recent spurts of growth that gave me some length and girth, I was “the runt”. My father labeled me such, and I hope oft times he called out to me “Here now runt” with a smatter of affection. My brothers shared no such affection when they taunted “Runt!”, but I gather their jeers and ribald humor have made a stronger man of me.
You may have heard of my father, Ferneaux Undtivives. He was well known north of these parts as a hired sword. Well known, at least to men who know of such things. For my own part, I learned only recently of father’s reputation as an efficiently quick and silent sword. After his funeral pyre had blazed and was still smoldering, his mates decided I was old enough to join them and my brothers for a night of drink and reminiscence. That night the yarns told by father’s comrades introduced me anew to a man I thought I had know. The stories filled with adventures and conquests and routs and the coups of a blade master of such presence and repute. It was said that his very renown oft times saved him from spilling blood to achieve the goals of his masters and their handlers. I had known father was a mercenary, I learned that night that he was THE mercenary.
I would have loved to hear him tell my siblings and I the same tales, but he was no braggart. Indeed he kept that part of his life almost entirely from us. I suspect he hoped to keep us from following his footsteps. At any rate, I will tell no more of his exploits. That was his tale; this is the introduction to mine.
When opportunity between jobs afforded father time with my brothers and me, he coached us incessantly on swordsmanship. Always it seemed to me, that father focused on defense and parry and safe retreat. I have since rebelled from such philosophy, and now attempt to do as he did, rather than as he said.
I would choose the initiative and hope to finish encounters with quick decisiveness, rather than parry and pray to The Sisters it not be finished with equal quickness and opposite fate!
I said I would not ramble, and I fear I am making a liar of myself. Luckily there is not much else of interest that I care to share. Hopefully as I cut my teeth, I will have accounts of my own to regale others with. With some luck and a bit of embellishment, perhaps they will live up to father’s legacy.
-- Fell |
All my problems are meaningless
But that don't make them go away
~ Neil Young "On the Beach" |
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