Inheritance of Chaos[Memory, Raellon]
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2020 12:10 am
Searing 29th, Year 95, Age of Steel
Alyssum had lived in Raellon most her life, and like most of the Rathari who'd lived there for more than a couple weeks while traveling, she prided herself on the fact she knew just about everyone who'd been there as long as she had. Occasionally those she considered to be close, those she considered friends, and even those she considered family, she would pay random visits. Her dear Elinora was no exception. Born in the 59th year, Elinora Barnell was only one year older than Alyssum. The two had actually been playmates for a time when Alyssum first came to live with her adopted uncle and he was still close to Elinora's family. After her beloved and departed uncle died, however, Alyssum stopped being close to Elinora's original family. Some specific members managed to win her favor now and again, but after throwing away the Crow kinship with the death of the 'last skilled craftsman the family ever had' Alyssum took personal offense against the heads of the house and cut most contact.
That was something a lot of people whispered after Rúnar died. That the Crow kinship had actually died with him. That his feeble attempt to adopt in fresh blood was practically an insult to the Crows who died to disease and war, protecting Atinaw from the Imperium. That even if she'd been adopted, she certainly hadn't learned enough from those who came before her. That she wasn't a real Crow. The funny thing was Alyssum noticed an intriguing silence from the Rathari members of the community. It made sense. Their beliefs actually gave her a chance to prove herself.
Alyssum certainly became pickier after that, but she was willing to get in touch with Elinora again when she learned that the woman had married and formed her own Kinship with her new husband. Alyssum had wondered at that moment if Elinora was more human or more elven, if she'd have to live through the pain of watching friends and children die long before she reached old age. It was a thought she quietly smashed to pieces and stored the shards away in the back of her mind. Alyssum... had decided a lot time ago that she wouldn't get attached. Not anymore. Not to Humans, not the Jastai, not to those she'd have to outlive by generations. Other elven races were fine but...
Of course, she knew that wasn't a promise she was going to be able to keep when Elinora asked if they could meet up. If Alyssum would be willing to meet her boys and maybe give them a pointer or two from someone who'd survived the world so long as a traveler. Alyssum knew more about swords in theory than she did in practice, but she knew how to fight dirty enough to keep herself alive and she could give a couple of life lessons when it came to surviving on the side of a road nightly. So she figured she'd give it a shot. She'd keep her distance as best she could, she wouldn't be befriending children she'd have to outlive by tens if not a hundred or two hundred years. She'd teach them enough to keep them alive.
Alyssum knew that promise was a dead one the moment she saw Elinora appearing, approaching Alyssum who was perched up on a stone wall. The pair agreed to meet in Raellon since they were familiar stomping ground and if Alyssum was taking kiddos out into the woods she wanted to be somewhere she knew. She knew that problem was doom the moment she saw Elinora's gaggle of little ones and something very old and distinctly Rathari jumped up with delight in the back of her head.