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Collyn |
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Created on Friday, 05 October 2012 01:39 |
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I was born in the Sonhi badlands to a Sonhi father, and a Kogurian mother. Life was difficult, living hard on the badlands. The Sonhi tribes did not accept me openly, and neither did the townsfolk of Koguryo. Members of both, and yet and outsider to both. I do not wish to dredge up painful memories of my parents, or bore you with a sorrowful story. My father was a Border Walker, as was his father before him. His decision to take a foreign bride was not popular with our people. They shunned her, and when I was old enough to know the difference I learned they shunned me as well. At the age of seven summers I began my training under the watchful eyes of my father in the ways of the Border Walkers. On the second summer of my training, my father was murdered in the city of Koguryo while travelling with my mother to her homeland. She was so grief-stricken at his loss, I am told she took her own life by diving from the top of Du Mountain. Ultimately, I was raised by my uncle who was also a Border Walker. He taught me the ways of the Border Walker for the next four summers. Hunting game, tracking prey on four legs as well as two. He taught me to kill with a bow, fight with a blade. I learned how to recognize plants in the wilds, their uses. How to forage for food, supplies, and herbs for medicinal and other uses.
When I reached the age of maturity amongst our people--thirteen summers--I performed scrupulously my task of carving the bow of a Border Walker. It took twelve long days to craft the bow. On the thirteenth day, I shot an arrow through the shaft of my first shot. Feeling the need to prove myself, I repeated the stunt. The next two summers and two winters were spent as a Border Walker. Still unwelcome among my own people, I set out to learn of my mother's homeland of which I knew so little. It was many months of travel to reach Kugnae, the capital city of the Koguryian nation. Armed with little more than knowledge, skill, a sharp blade, and a Border Walker's bow, my journey began. Knowing the value of animal hides to traders, I decided to gather a number of them as hunted and traveled towards my destination. Upon arrival to Koguryo, I set out for the bazaar. It was mid-day on the middle of the week, and the markets were a bustle. My hides found their way to an enterprising trader, and a small sum of gold found its way into my pocket. I had heard rumors of a band of people called Rangers who were exceptional bowyers and master archers. With my gold in hand, I trekked out into the wilderness. I found the source of these exceptional bows, and negotiated a deal to purchase a fine Molghi bow. I have hunted game with this bow for five winters now, and it has served me well. In all of my travels, hunting and trading, I found a home in Kugnae with the Destiny Clan. In recent days, I've found I wish to better the skills which I learned from Uncle Ray in the Sonhi badlands. The hunting, tracking, trapping, and so forth. I've learned this is the strong suit of the Rangers, the same men and women who crafted this fine archer's tool which rests against the oak tree I sit beneath as I put this pen to paper.
As the only member of my family within the Koguryian realm, and feeling unwelcome in the land of my father, I elected to become a Ranger. Rangers follow many of the same traditions as the Border Walkers of my homeland. They are protectors of the Wilderness. In this land I am the only Border Walker, and the only living soul of the Walker clan. Once per year I make the journey back to my homeland to visit my Uncle Ray. The short vacation is good. I enjoy his company, and he mine. My tribe will always have good men from my family to protect our people. Now Koguryo and the Wilderness have a Walker to patrol their borders. I will perform scrupulously the duties of my clan, as is my birthright and solumnly sworn duty.
In my own hand,::Cordell
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