I
was only a humble farmer until I found myself caught up in a world that
was changing. Changing for the worse it seems. I have watched fifty-seven
summers come and go. I was born to Gareth and Lynda of Cove. They had
a small plot of land that gave us food to eat and a little income when
the harvest was good. I was the last born of five children and the only
son. I grew up learning to hunt and learning to farm. I knew no better
life than working with nature's bounty. Aye, as a kid I fondly remember
the journeys to Vesper. Twice a year we would make the journey to sell
our goods or barter for supplies. The noise and hectic frenzy of the
city was intoxicating. And oh the smells, I would stand outside the
bakery and revel in the aromas within. As I grew older I began to notice
other things about Vesper. Things that left a gnawing fear within me.
The smell of something rotting in the alleys, the dark forms and eerie
sounds I remember frightened me.
It was a happy, carefree childhood that grew into that of a carefree young man. My sisters became married and one by one they moved away. After living good lives they all have passed on except for Mariam the youngest of the sisters. I visit her whenever I am in Vesper. What a joy it was to play with her children, but they too have grown to old for that.
As a child I would admire the smartly dressed soldiers as they paid visit to Cove during their patrols. I dreamed of the day I would one day become a soldier myself and defend Lord British's new realm. I was 19 years old when I boarded a ship to Britain and joined the Britannian Army. The reality of military life struck me hard and dissolved all of my childhood imaginings. It was hard, backbreaking and mostly very boring work. For a youth used to a lot of freedom the strictness of military duty was a very difficult adjustment. While garrisoning in Britain I came upon an elderly man of great wisdom. I spent much of my free time listening and learning of his philosophies and insights into the way of the world. It was through him that I began to look upon the world through different eyes. In my second year of military duty the call to war came down to us. The southern orcs had laid siege to Trinsic and the forces of Lord British were being mustered to aid in their relief. Fearfully I set off to my first and only great battle. It was then, during the Battle at Ghost River that I learned of the barbarity of war. I stood proudly with my brethren as the orcs marched upon our lines. I ran full of fear as the orcs routed Lord British's great army and I looked down with great horror upon my bloodied hands and armor after we had driven the orcs into the Ghost River turning it red. I saw how man turns into the vilest of beasts and rends the bodies of those he hates but does not know. After my third year I left the military and returned home to the quiet forests near Cove.
When I was 27 my mother fell ill and after a long battle with the sickness died in the depth of winter. Together my father and I continued working the farm as we had always done. One autumn day as we toiled in the field my father collapsed and at the age of 54 he died of a weakened heart. I buried him next to my mother and thus began a long period a solitary life.
I toiled contentedly year after to year, not noticing the darkness that was descending upon the land. It was on one evening that the animals in the barn began making a terrible racket. Thinking a wolf or cougar has gotten in I grabbed my bow. I left the house intent on killing the beast. I emerged from the house to find smoke and flames coming from the barn. In the red-orange glow of the fire I saw man shapes killing my livestock. I raised my bow and let fly an arrow. It caught the villain in the throat and he dropped dead to the ground. I readied another arrow and let fly again. This time I was not so lucky. It caught him in the arm and with a great bellow I was revealed. More shapes materialized from the smoke and darkness. First there were five then ten, then more. I knew I was in mortal danger. Advancing upon me they came. I let fly one more arrow and fled into the forest and the night. I know not whether the arrow found its mark but I could here them crashing through the brush in search of me. I knew the forest well and was quickly able to lose them. I hid until morning and carefully made my way back to the farm. All was lost. The barn, the house, the animals were all gone. I had nothing left. I had planned on going to Cove for safety until I saw the black smoke rising above the forest in the direction of Cove. I gathered up the few items that had survived and instead headed for my sister's home in Vesper.
Arriving in Vesper I had expected to see the town armed and moving to quicken Cove's relief. Instead I was met with the same disdain and uncaring attitudes the Vesperians have always held for the simple folk of Cove. There was no move on the Vesperian's part to come to the aid of Cove. It was only when word came that the Britannian Army had driven the orcs back onto the peninsula did the Vesperians head towards Cove. As I traveled with them I discovered that many traveled not to aid the Covians but only to see what goods they can gather from the deserted farms and buildings.
I arrived to find Cove badly damaged by the orcish attack. Only the lighthouse remained behind a barrier of stacked crates and overturned carts. I spent the next two years helping Cove to rebuild and its folk recover from the grievous wounds to their body and psyche. Even this began to sour when the strangers started coming to town. They brought strange words and wanton death to the forests. It saddened me to walk the woods for I would find all manner of beast slain and left to rot in the sun. Cove became a place of thieves and ruffians. Every morning would bring word of another death upon the streets. The deaths did matter not, for they seemed to kill each other most frequently. It also became a time of worry. Stories of Orcs and Ogres coming out of the mountains became more common. Knowing that my heart was no longer here I set out to find a new place to call home.
I learned the secret of the moongates and one day found myself at the outskirts of an island town named Skara Brae. By Fate's hand I came to town the same day a meeting was being held in the town hall. It was there that Lady Raven and Sir Tiagianna invited me to sit with them and learn of their town. I have been here ever since.