Just outside of Atzékan, Harbor of Makhan
The sun had already set on the horizon and the harbor was only lit by the torchlights that were placed alongside every walkable path. Vylkan was standing on a little elevation on the edge of the peer and was looking at the reflection of the moon in the water. It was not yet fully filled, but Vylkan could already feel it's power flowing through his veins. For the Wolf Tribe the full moon was the most important source of power. During the Full Moon Festival that was held every full moon, Wolf warriors, druids and other magical creatures of the Wolf Tribe would summon the energy of the moon into themselves to be stronger and healthier. The moon was celebrated with a sacrifice ceremony to Tidan, the god of moon and night and Qaeha, the goddess of life and death – since they were inevitably tied by bonds. After that ceremony the people would feast, they would dance and at midnight, when the moon was at it's prime, the ritual would begin. Vylkan had always dreaded that ritual. Being forced to participate as a child, he had stopped going when he had turned old enough to be allowed his own decision on the matter. The purpose was to get strength from the moon, but Vylkan needed no ritual for that. During the full moon he had always felt an intense kind of power running through his veins and while that did not come naturally to the other members of his tribe, his power was not dependent on a ritual. The Festival was a must for all Wolf Tribe members in possession of some kind of magical powers, because not attending would often lead to a loss of power, illness or even death. It was a catch that Vylkan found quite unhandy, since no war would ever stop for a ritual. Now he was just staring at the moon with crossed arms. The front of his hair was tightly braided all the way back in small braids that had iron rings all over them. In the back the smaller strands were held together by leather bands and the rest of the hair was loosely falling over his shoulders. He was wearing a sleeveless leather west with fur covering the shoulder pads. Over that vest there were leather straps and iron rings to attach weapons and other things to and around his waist was a thick leather cummerbund that was laid with fur from the inside. On his belt he had his axe and dagger attached and thick leather bands were wrapped around his hands up to his elbows. His bow and quiver were strapped to his back and he was all ready to set sail with the rune of Flika, the goddess of sky and travel painted onto his forehead. However, their ride was late. Di Wei slowly stepped behind him.
"The Sailor is late.", he said. "Are you certain he will take us?"
Vylkan kept as he was and moved his head a little towards the peer.
"Heldan better not break his word, or I will break his neck.", he said.
Di Wei shouldered a bag with food supplies and looked around. The harbor was unusually quiet and it was as if something was hiding, watching their every move.
"Aren't you worried, master? Afterall...you are taking a big risk sailing across the ocean into enemy waters just for a dream.", he said. "You do not even know where to find him, who you are looking for."
Vylkan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, loosening his arms and letting them fall next to his body.
"Where we are sailing is where our blood lives. Are you not anxious to return home, my dear friend?", he said.
Di Wei lowered his head slightly, his hand enclosing the carrying strap of the bag tighter.
"These people have killed my parents without reason, have banished you from their land. It is not my home and it is not yours either. I do not even share blood with the serpents. This is our home.", he said.
Vylkan turned around and looked his companion into his eyes.
"We are not welcome here, Di Wei. I might have a name like theirs but I do not look like them. Neither do you. They fear us. There was a time I loved the tribe, but they have shown me that where I come from matters more than who I am loyal to. I will return into the waters of my roots and I will find that priest. I will get the answers I need and when I return, I will make them love me.", he said. "Just as they love my dear brothers."
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Priests of Shadows - Vylkan The Notorious
Fantasy"You wanted a villain. Here I am. In the flesh.", he said as his eyes lit up and the last bit of humanity vanished from them. // Abandoned by his mother and raised by a half-brother who despised him all his life, Vylkan has spent his life in the sh...
