Morulthien's Tale
Part I
Introduction
My character in Everquest is named Morulthien. He is a low-level (16th as
of this writing) Ranger who worships Tunare, the goddess of Nature. His
friend Kittiana is a Druid. Once, after she helped him with a particularly
difficult task, he repaid her by telling her this tale.
- Russell
Part I
Morulthien found a comfortable
spot on a mossy tree branch and pulled out his pipe. Lady Kittiana chose a
patch of deep grass opposite him and leaned her back against a large, cool
boulder. Once his pipe was filled, Mor lit it and offered it to Kit first
(which he always does) but she politely refused (which she
always does...).
She did, however, take the offered wineskin which she knew would contain a
good, well-aged elven vintage. As a Ranger of Tunare, Morulthien may not
keep many personal possessions or make it to civilization much, but she
should count on him to always have good Elven wine and Halfling tobacco.
Though she doesn't smoke tobacco herself, she does enjoy the aromatic
clouds that dance on the evening air when Mor tells her of his travels.
Though Kittiana is a Druid herself, and much more experienced that the
younger Wood Elf, she enjoys the stories of his adventures and the company
they share when the Mother crosses their paths. She and he have a special
connection that allow them to contact each other over vast distances in
time of need. This ability is actually not uncommon among the peoples of
Norrath, but its commonality doesn't make it any less special an ability.
The two have a deep connection.
In the beginning, Kit would meet Mor and bestow upon him many gifts; articles that were themselves bestowed upon her by another more experienced companion. But as Morulthien's abilities quickly increased and his skills sharpened, these meetings became less formal and more relaxed. Morulthien is very comfortable in Mother's environment.
Her musings were interrupted
by Mor as he cleared his throat and, without further preamble, began his
tale.
"Do you remember the very cold winter we had 2 years ago?" he
asked knowing full well that she did. A freakish early winter had hit that
year hard and fast, taking everyone by surprise even the Druids and the
animals. At her nod he continued. "I was in the Butcherblocks tending
to Mother's business in the high reaches when The Blizzard hit."
Kit took a swig from the wineskin and handed it back to Mor. She then
leaned forward and listened with rapt attention. Taking a drink himself,
Mor continued.
"As you know, I was young, inexperienced, and foolish back
then." Mor smiled sarcastically and they both laughed the easy laugh
of long acquaintences. "I was
confident that I would be protected in the wilds because I 'did the
Mother's bidding'. I have since learned the hard way that Nature can be
cruel. Tunare
protects those who protect themselves. But I thank Her every day for the
lesson she taught me then. I was truly in Her hands there toward the end,
as you will see."
"Anyway as I was saying; I was hunting and tending to business in the
high reaches when I was set upon by a group of Orcs, curse their stinking
hides! I had found the trail of a wounded deer in the new snow that had
fallen that morning and was following it to put it out of its misery (and
provide me something to eat) when a black-feathered arrow flew past my
head so close that parted my hair in its passage! Most likely the orcs had
wounded the deer earlier and were surprised to see me following the same
trail. I am sure that the
thought of adding a bit of Wood Elf to the venison stew was in the
forefront of their minds as they gave a yell and charged across the
clearing toward me!"
"With one look, I saw that I was outnumbered. There were 2 large
centurions and 4 pawn, all armed to the teeth and coming in fast. Firing
off one arrow, I
turned and fled through the thick trees that ringed the clearing. I could
hear their yells and taunts as I made my way as quickly as I could through
the thick snow."
"My mind raced as quickly as my legs as I tried to find a way to
throw the cursed orcs from my trail. As I ran, my prayers went up to our
Mother Tunare."
Morulthien stopped for a moment to take a thoughtful drag from his pipe
and glance up at the waxing moon. Kittiana remained silent, waiting for
him to continue.
"I ran down a steep hill and found myself blocked by a deep ravine. I
could hear the roar of an unnamed river below. Knowing my option to flee
had gone, I turned to face my pursuers. I didn't hold out much hope that I
would win this confrontation, but I faced them stoicly. What else could I
do?"
Not waiting for Kittiana to answer, he continued. "As they came into
full view I saw that my first arrow must have found a mark; one of the
pawns was missing.
In typical Orc fashion, the cents had pushed the pawns ahead of them,
preferring to clean up rather than fight in the 'front line'. Seeing me
and my
predicament, the group gave harsh cries of triumph and charged toward me
with renewed vigor. Their fangs open wide in leering grins, they quickly
ate up the distance between us on their bandy legs."
"I loosed one arrow as they approached, knowing it would be the last.
I had flung down my bow and already had begun to draw my sword when the
arrow found its mark in a pawn's upper chest. It would have stopped to
pull it out, I am sure, but the larger orcs behind yelled at it and pushed
it forward roughly. My sword Morningbreeze leapt from its scabbard,
singing in the chilly air, eager to taste the blood of the enemies of
Tunare."
Kit nodded and, in spite of the seriousness of the tale being told, smiled
in remembrance of the day she had given Morningbreeze to the then much
younger Ranger.
Mor caught her half-smile, and returned it along with the wineskin.
"The wounded pawn was the first to feel the bite of Morningbreeze. I
slashed him across the shoulder and the sword slid along the collarbone
and into the foul creature's neck. Kicking the creature off my sword I
turned to face the other pawns who had hesitated abit, fearful at the
viciousness of my attack. I have been told that I am more than half wolf
and you know how fiercely a wolf will attack if cornered!"
Kit smiled at this as well. She was the one that had first called him
"Wolf" because his sharp features, natural instincts and
lankiness reminded her of a
young wolf.
"After a few kicks of encouragement from the centurions, the pawns
waded in, one to either side and one in front. As they did so, I backed as
far toward
the edge of the ravine that I dared so that they could not come in behind
me. I managed to wound the one to my right and had turned to face the
unwounded pawns when the cents suddenly charged in. Turning toward the
biggest threats, I felt a pawn's jagged short sword bite deeply into my
left arm. Bashing the creature with my wounded shield arm as best I could,
I parried a tremendous blow from the one of the cents with Morningbreeze,
our two blades ringing loudly."
"I could smell the putrid breath of the orcs as they crowded in
around me. I fought with all my might and skill, oft times feeling
Morningbreeze bite more than their leather armor but it was to no avail. I
had been wounded several times and was losing strength and blood fast when
I decided my next course of action."
"Orcs would not eat Elf flesh this day!"
Kittiana nodded in understanding, predicting his next course of action.
She shuttered to think of her young friend coming to such a gruesome end
but she would have done the same herself. Eyes dark and brow furrowed, she
listened intently as Mor continued.
"Saying a quick word to the Mother I suddenly leapt backwards and
into the ravine. The expressions on the orc's faces would have been
comical if I hadn't been in my present dire circumstance..." Mor
smiled and took another puff from his pipe. Looking somewhat puzzled, but
eager to hear the rest, Kittiana leaned forward as he began his tale
again.
"For one moment, I seemed to hang in the crisp air looking up at the
deepening sky. The rising moon and I hung together for that brief moment
and I can honestly say that I have never, ever felt that deep sense of
"Eternity" before or since. It was as though the Mother held me
in her arms as she does the moon and would not let me fall."
Busying herself with building a fire, Kittiana nevertheless listened to
her young friend's tale with interest. She had never seen him so animated;
so intense.
"But of course, I did fall." He continued. "I fell into the
dark ravine head first and could hear the rushing of the rapids quickly
rising up to greet me. But when I hit the bitterly cold water seconds
later, it felt as though I had hit the softest Kelethin featherbed! It is
hard to explain..."
"I think that all of Tunare's children have pain thresholds that,
once passed, will shut the body down so that no more pain is felt. I have
seen this before and so have you, many times. Coming upon a wounded rabbit
caught in a vile iron-jaw trap, it will many times just sit and wait
patiently for me to put it out of its misery, its eyes vacant and
far-away."
"The soft darkness of the river swallowed me and I knew no
more..."