[center][h1][color=slategray][b][u]Roog[/u][/b][/color][/h1][/center]

The wind howled high above in the canopy, jostling branch and leaf aside and against one another in a gentle symphony of natural elegance. It was as the days had been many times before around the Hunter’s Eye, a place of general calm on Kalgrun. They were, for many of the new-born Vallamir, the first sounds they ever heard. For Roog it was but the natural voice of the forest speaking in its whispered tongues beyond his understanding.

It had been but a few weeks since the creation of the Vallamir at the Hunter’s Eye but Roog had been active every hour of it. The race had been scattered far and wide around the island and the blessed embrace of the lake that surrounded its shores and the First-Born Roog had accompanied in the creation of the Vallamir. The original plan, to remain together and began teaching the new-born race, had proven too slow for the needs of these new sentient thrust into a harsh and unforgiving landscape. As such, Roog had broken away and had moved rapidly across the countryside to gather as many of the Vallamir to him as he could so as to spare them undue suffering. Casualties of Kalmar’s actions, driven by a desire to weed out the strong from the weak as nature would always have it, were apparent wherever Roog went. Though not numerous as they could have been in a harsher season their deaths weighed heavily on the Great Wolf.

Despite this slight displeasure Roog had understood the sentiment; Kalgrun was not a place lifted from the seas for them and them alone and the creatures that shared it with them had needs as well. Nevertheless, Roog’s actions were driven solely by a desire to see as few corpses of the unfortunate dead as possible. As the wind he tore through the underbrush, his pack of Wargs assisting him by stalking bands of Vallamir that formed around the eye in loose conglomerations. Roog had then travelled between these bands, gathering those not already found by other gods to himself to provide adequate safety for them. As he had offered to the First-Born that had joined in the covenant of the Vallamir’s creation, he would teach the new-born race the skills to protect themselves in the wilds of nature from beasts, weather, and everything in between.

By now the bands he had gathered to himself numbered several thousand individuals though Roog had to admit himself that he did not keep an exact count. They were numerous, to be sure, and their needs became readily apparent by the sheer amount that they needed to survive. It was beneficial indeed that they could enjoy the fruits of Kalgrun, most literally, and they proved only marginally more interested in the consumption of meat. To Roog this was a most valuable of traits, having learned during the rearing of the first Wargs that when pups must only eat meat the difficulty of feeding them only increases exponentially. For now he kept them scattered over a moderately large area of land, well within his reach but not threatening one another with over consumption. Nevertheless, Kalmar’s warnings of overconsumption had proven prophetic and Roog knew full well what came with starvation.

For the time being Roog spent his days busying himself with providing additional sustenance to the Vallamir under his charge, welcoming the other Gods when they came to provide their own teachings to the group of Vallamir he had come to protect, and occasionally finding more Vallamir yet wandering in the forests. His thoughts were always spent considering alternatives and ways to satiate the needs of this vast host. He knew of Li’Kalla’s general plan, to take a band back to her island and do with them as she saw fit. Simultaneously, he had been told by Kalmar the Man-God’s plans. He could trust Arae would do well by them, despite not knowing her exact intentions, and that left only him without clear direction. He was, in fact, a deity of Demise and not of life-giving. What, if anything, could he do to assist them in this most dire of times beyond continuing to feed them like a mother wolf?

His eyes had turned more than once to the North, where he had travelled numerous times during his early exploration of Kalgrun. There were several healthy sized packs of Wargs in the North, with dense forests that rose up from the coasts to high mountains wreathed in fog. There were numerous herds of animals that roamed the pine forests of that coastline with many rivers and streams and lakes to quench one’s thirst. The winters were cold though not overly harsh with proximity to the seas calming air. It was a place of plenty, to be sure, and one where the dedicated could make a pleasing living for themselves.

This would be his path.

“Great-Wolf,” came a voice, pulling Roog from his thoughts and back to the realities that surrounded him.

Roog’s bronze gaze shifted from the north to his side where, standing before him, was a pair of Vallamir and their band spread out down the hill behind them. From Roog’s place high on the hill he seemed most imperious, his seated posture and distant gaze only increasing the perceived majesty of his person. The wolf’s ears slumped slightly, dropping partially to the sides of his head rather than straight up as he had when so utterly focussed on his thoughts. As his eyes passed over them they seemed to quail, all but the two before him who lowered their gazes from him instead but fought hard to remain strong for their pack; [color=slategray][i]admirable qualities[i][/color], mused the wolf.

“The herds, Great-Wolf,” continued the Vallamir, a male with black hair, bronze eyes, and all the other qualities born of Roog’s own blood, “They move from us. Kalmar’s reach does not hold for the hunts slacken in rewards. What should we do?”

Roog stared down at the male with great interest before looking away, once more towards the north with the look upon his face of revelation. It was as if the world itself wanted him to walk that way. 

[color=slategray]”We will move north, with the herds. Among those great pines between mountains high we shall find a home for your people.”[/color]

There came a murmur from the crowd as the advice seemed sound and offered respite from the growing dangers posed by the struggles of survival. Great-Wolf had yet to lead them astray and his Man-Father had proven a bountiful teacher in the arts of survival. Some of this band had been winnowed away by the Lady-of-Rain, though they had been few and far between and had often been lured away with promises of greatness due to their hair of silver or eyes of blue. Other bands had been met already under the protection or tutelage of the Man-Father or Mother-of-Many and had proven friendly in their interactions. Despite these many gods vying for their attention, these bands were followers of Great-Wolf and would follow him to the ends of the earth. 
 
“What of the monsters, Great-Wolf,” came the next question, this time from the female standing to the Male’s side, “What shall we do when they close in? There are some that reek of death, that eat their own kin and rage at nature. Will you guard us all?”

Roog considered her words; wise beyond her years, or lack thereof. He had but three Wargs directly under his sway and it would not be reasonable to simply call all the Wargs to his side to protect these Vallamir. In addition, though his speed was considerable and his strength at arms well beyond any mortal animal he might be faced with in the forests of Kalgrun, he could not be everywhere at once. He would need to find a better alternative before the migration began. His gaze turned back to the pair and then to the crowd, their lowered eyes bringing a sense of displeasure to the wolf. He was not one of the monsters they feared in the depths of the forests nor desired to be an object of divine separation. He was with them not as a god but as a protector and wanted more than anything to be seen as someone to trust rather than a god to be feared and served. His thoughts passed from idea to idea, the flames of his mind licking and biting at new possibilities before one caught light and burst into a conflagration of purpose.

[color=slategray]”I will teach you to defend yourselves, to bare tooth and claw and fist as weapons for your people’s protection. As we travel north we will be faced with many challenges and you must face them with your own might. I will aid you everywhere I can, but your people are numerous and I cannot safeguard them all. You must learn to be strong for yourselves, your families, and all your kind.”[/color]

There was a murmur that began to roll across the crowd of nearly a hundred in a wave as agreements were asserted. Many had lost new found friends or had seen themselves and others harmed in the struggles against the natural world that had been thrown into. Great-Wolf was known to them as a protector and giver of things but a taker of life in equal measure; surely he would know how best to defend himself and could teach them these skills in bountiful quantities? 

[color=slategray]”Among you I will need volunteers,”[/color] continued Roog, now looking individuals in the eyes as long as they would match his gaze, [color=slategray]”Those who will stand strong for all your people. The Valla will need guardians and you shall serve in my stead where I cannot be. Who among you will take on this heavy burden?”[/color]

The crowd seemed to go tense for a long while, gazes drifting away from the wolf or to one another where friendships had begun to blossom. A quiet malaise seemed to fall over them as this new request by Great-Wolf was mulled over; what of this risks to self? They had lived for only a few weeks and now their protector asks for them to put their lives on the line? A hard decision to make, to offer one up as such a sacrifice.

“I volunteer. No one will say Emla hid from nature.”

Roog’s gaze pulled back from the crowd to the woman who stood before him, a light burning in her bronze eyes. Her wolfen ancestry was apparent on all of her features and her body seemed more made for violence than it would ever be for foraging. Defiance was clear to see in her heart, an unwillingness to see another of her kind harmed without action; Roog was suitably impressed.

“Where she goes, so will I. I, Aesc, will learn from you, Great-Wolf.”

As the pair volunteered more began to rise, men and women both. Soon all had risen, unwilling to be cowed by the risks and dangers presented by the world, and the same defiance that burned in Emla was set alight in each and every one of them. They all stood, proudly as the wolf before them, and Roog was now cowed by them. With but a few words from each other there was now unity and determination where before there was fear. [color=slategray][i]The mortals are far beyond us[/i][/color], considered Roog with a hint of animalistic alarm. One day, far from now, the First-Born would be eclipsed by the sons and daughters of these very mortals, of that Roog was sure.

[color=slategray]“You will be my chosen, then, my Cenekyn, and you will give your lives for your people if needs be. I warn you, it is not a gift I give you, but a curse; to take life is never a reward and always costs you dearly. Will you take this oath, still?”[/color]

For their part not one of the Valla sat down or seemingly showed a hint of reconsideration. Each stood proudly and accepted their path with valorous intent. Roog’s vision did not waver as it passed over each and every one of the Vallamir before him until finally finding Aesc and Emla before him once more. A knowing grunt escaped his from between his teeth before his maw opened and his voice poured forth. As both wolf and man the echoes of his voice rang forth and filled the space with audible power. One by one the band spoke in return, their voices joining Roog in an other-wordly chant in a language they could not possibly understand. Flames from Roog’s hide sparked and hissed and sputtered. The black sparks whispered through the air before finding homes before the foreheads of each of the volunteers, flickering with lightless brilliance as black flame. 

The crowd looked to one another or grasped at the flames now that marked them as Cenekyn, eyes wide with fascination and awe. They grasped at the heatless flames, watched them sputter and lick at the air, watched with ever deepening reverence. With renewed adulation they turned back to the Great Wolf that sat before them, his bronze eyes mirrored in many of theirs. Fear still tinged their hearts, an awareness of the vast power before them and the danger it posed, but it was challenged by an ever growing determination that would not be matched.

[color=slategray]”You will go to all the bands we have gathered and offer them this same path, this same choice. Those that wish to join the Cenekyn may come and swear the oath as you did, while all others who will join us north to a homeland for your people will be kept safe on the journey. So begins your great journey.”[/color]

The host split apart then, members of the band going off in pairs or trios into the many directions where smoke plumes rose in the distance. Though there would be few who would join the Cenekyn without the direct prompting of a god their numbers would no doubt grow, strengthening the Cenekyn and making safe the journey to come. It would be up to Roog to teach them, to arm them, and to make them ready for the struggles to come. 

[color=slategray]“Aesc, Emla,”[/color] called Roog, catching the attention of the pair as they prepared to leave, [color=slategray]”For you I have knowledge; how to make for yourselves hardy spears from ash and sturdy garments of hide and fur. The spears shall be your claws to best the beasts that assail you, while the garments you don shall be your hides, proof from tooth and talon and biting cold. Share these with your people and your people shall thrive.”[/color]
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[hider=Summary]
After the creation of the Vallamir Roog acted quickly to save many from grizzly fates in the deep forests of Kalgrun. With the aid of his Wargs, Ran, Lumi, and Dis, Roog succeeded in gathering several thousand under his protection.

Knowing full well that they would need a place to call their own that could support their population and provide the resources they needed to not only survive, but thrive, Roog looks to the North East of the continent of Kalgrun.

After some deliberation he offers them the plan and then welcomes any and all to join a pact with him, becoming protectors of the Valla on their journey to the North East and beyond. The entire band, led by Aesc and Emla, swear oaths to join the Cenekyn.

The Cenekyn are sent to bring the news of the Great Journey to the numerous bands now under Roog and their protection. Though some few may decline, the vast majority from this group are expected to join in the Great Journey to the North East.

Roog, knowing full well the dangers that await them, teaches the Valla and, in particular, the Cenekyn how to defend themselves. In addition to training them in fighting techniques, Roog imparts the knowledge of high quality spear making and the making of hide and fur armor to combat the cold north and the beasts within.
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[hider=MP Expenditures]
Starting:
4MP, 4FP

Expenditures:
2FP on the founding of the Cenekyn, a [b]Holy Order[/b] with the express purpose of defending the Valla from all threats. (Martial Combat Portfolio)
1FP on teaching the Valla how to create high quality spears, intended for hunting and self defense. (Martial Combat Portfolio)
1FP on teaching the Valla how to make armor and clothing out of hide and fur that will be resistant to both harmful attacks and, more importantly, the cold weather of Northern Kalgrun. (Martial Combat Portfolio)
1MP on teaching the Valla and the Cenekyn how to fight in order to protect themselves and others from the dangers of the Kalgrun continent. (Martial Combat Portfolio)

Ending:
2MP, 0FP
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