My daughter is discovering Dragonquest - the best role-playing game ever. This is the background of her character Ivy.
Ivi is a Wood-Elf.
Tall, strong.
She is second of three children born of adventurous parents. It is not uncommon for children of adventurers to want to see the world like their parents did. Her elder sister is already out there somewhere... Surely still alive. Her brother studies magic with the High-Elf elders.
She is learning the arts of earth magics, and has mastered the general knowledge spells of that college - though not yet with any proficiency.
With the pittance given her by her family (surely after so many years and so many adventures, they have more gold than that?) she has bought a solid long bow, and a dagger.
Her mother has taught her some proficiency with the blade, and she is keen to test her skills.
Ivi woke in the bed she had slept in since she was a child. Today was the day. And if not, I will probably never leave.
The woodlands chirped and clicked around her. The trees whispered her name. A lyrical voice somewhere echoed their calling. As an Elf she had always known that the trees and plants could sing. But now, with her earth magic, she had learnt to sing back to them.
So much energy though. Why do I always feel so tired after casting magic? As if I had just sprinted around the pools!
She looked to the wall, her bow leaning within reach. Her hand crept beneath her pillow and felt the leather-wound handle of her dagger.
Today.
The path through the woodlands was well known to her - she had walked the paths behind her since childhood. But soon, after she crested the hill, even her family would stop. And walk away. She would be on her own.
On my own.
She looked to the forest ahead, the gentle rise of what was the beginning of the borders of the Elven lands. Why? Why am I doing this?
The tales of heroes down the ages had filled her head since childhood. Warriors, mages. And those, like herself, who would be both warrior and mage.
Heroes battling with and against the strange magics of the world. The stranger creatures, of magic, of faerie, of this world - and from the gods only know where. Those born of evil and those undead still here.
The treasures won, ancient and enchanted.
And the friendships made. Her mother and father speaking daily still about the exploits of friends and companions now long gone. The hurt and pain of loss as nothing compared to the memories of camaraderie.
One by one her entourage fall behind and return to their homes, until only her mother and father remain. Then they too stop.
Eyes alive with laughter and love, fear and loss, they stand, the three of them together. Until at last her mother removes her necklace and places it over Ivy's own head: the familiar concentric circles hanging from the chain falling lightly against her chest.
And then they were gone.
Ivi looks to the path leading away from everything she has ever known.
Alusia, here I come.
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
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