Stranded in the Flaming Forest

[hans1976]

Confused, lost, stranded?

Uncertaincy and failure to comply, fear of commitment, fear of saying yes or saying no. Listen to my tale as I can tell it while sitting at the nothern entrance of the Flaming Forest:

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Two days ago, I was hunting the beasts here, the Timari, the Tyrancha. Then a voice in my head spoke:
"You, Frydeswinde of the Tryker, member of Evolution, Assumed Sister of Neun and Tryker armorcrafter, you need to turn your head against and to ones you know and love."
Naturally, I freaked out. Was it the fumes from the bathhouse where I spend some time the other night with Jyudas? Was it something he put in the rum? Maybe I filled the pipe we smoked with fine silverweed by accident? Last night was a bit hazy, yes. In fact, I woke up in the baths, naked, axe in my hand. I cant even tell if anyone got hurt, the water washed all the blood away already.

So I finished the Tyrancha I was playing with and walked up to the safety of the Route. I sat down and closed my eyes while I opened a mental link with Jyudas to ask if he spiked the stingarum more then usual. What he told me caught me completely off guard.

The time of playing wild is over, winking at the kami when they teleport me around the world and trading with the karavan when they do the same. The homins of Atys are frowned upon by the powers that be, we have to be faithfull now, or be friendly to none. Jyudas told me a bit more about what and how but I already stopped listening and looking in my heart who I was most faithful to.

My heart didnt know.

So I looked with my mind to reason what is best for me.

My mind stayed blank.

I listened to the ether to hear my guild chatter and the words neutral and kami, tryker and more tryker were uttered. This confused me more.

I dont know. No side, no in between. Just blank.


Now I sit here, undecided.
Kageno named me Senin, she who lives all by herself in a remote area.

[marct]

It may take many a homin some time to see the light that draws them. The dedication to follow the whims of a power on the basis that they will lead you to a better place does not come easily.

Your friends, your loved ones, and many a homin who thought they knew better will now have to take the time and evaluate why they would choose to follow the Kami or Karavan. I must say that sitting in the middle appears a ripe place to be tossed aside to be forgotten.

I would be happy to take the time to show you and others the joy of the Love of Jena. I am sure she will lead me and many other homins, whether they yet know it or not, to a place of eternal bliss. A place where we all are happy and all of our friends, even the ones who follow the Kami will have a place to call home, and have no more battles.

Your faith, your friendship, and the truth is all in question, some by you and many other homins, and some by the higher powers looking down on us. Your actions will be judged, and you will be rewarded accordingly.


May you find the light of Jena,

Noin.

[901941]

Not long ago I saw you by the road to Flaming Forest and as we exchanged salutations you confided to me your predicament. I took a moment to console you and hoped that my words give you strength to continue on the path that is before you. The world we live in can be cruel, sometimes it’s filled with greatness, but more often than we like it reminds us that nothing last forever. Atys will always evolve and we must progress with it. This may be disappointing to some if those that are tested by this grate land fail to see their way.

I know that loyalty and friendship can cloud ones head, even control the path we take, but it is not for our friends that we make decisions; it is for what lies in our hearts. Kami or Karavan, we are still the same individuals, respectful and humbly we shall all step toward greatness and individuality. I cannot tell you what path you must take for it is your own. I can only hope that you are in peace with your decision. Listen to your heart and let it guide you, you already know where your devotion lies, do not be afraid to decide.

[iwojimmy]

When I was told to choose between Kami and Karavan
I chose Homins
When I was ordered to take up a citizenship, and turn against the other peoples
I chose Homins
The price is persecution and exclusion, and the rewards are intangible, but joining a side against my own principles and integrity purely for the benefits they promise would be moral prostitution.

[hans1976]

There was a war in the Flaming Forest last night. The Samsara claimed ownership of an outpost there, some bandits seemed to have set up residence in the same spot and kind of disagreed with them.
Jyudas contacted me and asked me how I would feel about lending a hand, as I was there anyway. How could I refuse an old friend any favor? We struck a nice deal and as a small army we moved out to crush our enemies, see them driven before us and hear the lamentation of their dying.

A small army? Yes, citizens of all races, of all alignments were there. The nature of the Samsara is to be true neutral, as their business of war requires. So future customers who could become opponents one day depending on the dapper joined the fight. The reasoning is nice, better hire a strong mercenary then battle a weak one.

And while fighting in the heat of battle and fire from burning trees I longed for the refreshment of a good swim in the lakes I love so much. The lakes...

What to do? I love the desert and the people in it, one distant cousin of mine was born a Fyros. I am a Tryker, I belong in the Lakelands. And there is the business of the Old Alliance, for which I will fight any day.


The Tryker and the Fyros are my people.
The Lakes and the Desert are my home.
The armor I wear is Tryker tinkering combined with Fyros force.
The Axe I use has the raw edge of a Fyros warrior with the stealth of a Tryker spie.


A small Tryker woman is stuck in the Flaming Forest. Find me at the entrance near Oflovak's Oasis, the Tyrancha make nice playmates to kill time between my meditation sessions.

[hans1976]

The Samsara allowed me to take up residence on a hill west of their outpost, I named it Frydes' Senin Hill. Seems Jyudas doesnt like it when people give names to area's he considers his.

Yesterday late at night a visitor came to me, Lrac.

Me and Lrac go a long way back, as members of the same guild, as brothers in arms and he has made me my first axe and kept it good ever since. We battled some Tyrancha and chatted a bit when he told me he couldnt buy himself a new ticket. As it turned out, he was as undetermined as much as me.

This morning when I woke up, he wasn't on the hill anymore. Likely he moved on, finding a way to come home.

So there I was again, sitting on my hill by myself and looking out over the Searing Gorge when from the east came a Ronin, a Wanderer.

His name is Sholao, a Zorai looking for .... something? He was simply searching, just that and I think he hoped to find out what he was looking for in the first place. So we talked a bit.

While explaining to him why I was here and why I could not leave, he asked me how I could manage. So I told him the rather unfriendly environment, the limitations on movement, the meditation and the lack of communication with other homins made me reach a state of tranquillity.
He told me that his travels made him realize the complexity of the world and life, I told him my exile made me realize the simplicity of life.

As the night was falling, fighting was taking it's toll and I went into a deep trance. Now I wonder if he is there when I come back, or who else will be. Life if full of surprises, maybe Wen was right all along?

[sk8rss]

I'm sure by now, all homins would know which path I'd suggest you choose, however I suggest you also follow your heart. I'd at the very least suggest you choose Tryker. The lakelands are under a conflict that no other land has had the burden to endure, the perversion of the other races and the Karavan trying to take advantage. Help your fellow Trykers fight to make the lakelands neutral. As far as I can see, at least it's a step further way from your former enslavers: the Matis, and their Lord, Jena. Please, at least give this idea some weight in your heart, as the removal of Jena from Atys, and therefore also the lakelands, is in the best interest of whatever land you call home, and whatever homins you call friends. As I hear your story I have visions of you being a proud warrior in the fight to free the tryker lands. Please make this vision a reality, free the lakelands!