Verdin Teofolynn
Nov. 2nd, 2008 12:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tinhuvielartanisThis was written in 1986 and was heavily influence by the music of Antonín Dvořak, particularly his Slavonic Dances and Symphony #8.
(to be continued)
Verdin Teofolynn was born to Belga and Yana Brishen Thlapflynne to years after the birth of Iada Pfehlion. He was descended from Elders Kelda Thlapflynne of Rogreth and Bwaeni Tnaci of Lhihlhithia, was were banished for their marriage across religious lines. They were Verdin's grandparents, and gave their grand son his name which was a variant of an Ecksburian word which meant "innocence." And indeed Verdin had an air of curious innocence about him throughout his childhood, which he maintained for the duration of his life, giving him an advantage when Fool Seeking.
Verdin's father was a Sigano-Lavon, unlike Kelda, who seldom travelled. He knew all the lands save for the obscure Darzhevo lands, which explains Verdin's ignorance of Darzhovia. Belga Thlapflynne was what many called "half breed. His skin was dark, his eyes bi-coloured, and his hair was silvery white. Yana Thlapflynne was a product of the Brishen family, a small clan who had aligned themselves with the Thlapflynne clan. Yana's father was a half-breed Rogrethite-Ahne Baini who wed Northemwoodian Tivia Tonalitus. Both, of course, were ostricised during the Great Banishment. The Brishen family were dark like the Thlapflynnes, but only in hair and eye. Their skin was pale, as was Yana's. Yana had blue-black hair and ebony eyes, both of which she passed on to Verdin. Verdin also inherited his innocent expression for Yana.
Verdin had two sisters and a brother. They were Anna, Ariádny, and Patsim. All three were pale of skin and brown of eye, with coal hair and blond brows. It was Verdin who seemed to be but a shadow within the family. He was always small and everything about him was shrouded in darkness. His skin was dark, his eyes black, and his hair and eyebrows were blue-black. The second child after Ariádny, Verdin tended to be a loner, clinging only to his older sister. His grandfather and father taught him the Arts of Survival, which he learned with uncanny swiftness. Between the two of them, Kelda and Belga taught Verdin every single Sigano trick and ploy known in the Arts.
By the time he was twelve years old, Verdin was a dol-Master, second only to the sage Sigano Masters of Survival. But he was also a fanatic patriot of the tribe, as were three other children of three other Sigano tribes. The Thlapflynnes were the superior clan in his eyes, and their tribe was the superior Sigani.
When Verdin was fifteen and a a complete Master and Iada Pfehlion of the Viksigany Tribe was seventeen, Iada was to prove his Master of the Arts in order to become a Master. This was done in all four tribes. Verdin chose the test of Fool Seeking the Swedish community of Boldengrastig. Iada, however, chose the test of pillaging and ransacking. The community he targeted was the Horasigany, Verdin's tribe. No one could stop Iada for he had yet to take the Sigano Oath of loyalty that would bind him to all four tribes. The ransacking was carried out with precision, and the Horasigany loot was successfully transferred to the Viksigany. Iada became a Master of Survival.
The Horasigani suffered the loss of all that they had owned. Their land was burned and could not grow enough food for the clans. Their riches were gone and they could not buy all that they needed. Many of the raiders were too weak to pillage themselves. The Thlapflynne family suffered the death of Elder Kelda, who did not survive the Winter hunger of the Horisigany. Verdin grew vengeful and bitter. He foosook the Rhyllan name Thlapflynne and became pure Lavony with his new name, Teofolynn, when his parents asked him to take the Sigano Oath.
"The Oath is not mine to take until my tribe is renewed with a vengeful force. I will strengthen my people until no person will hesitate to fear the Teofolynn name. The Thlapflynnes of peace are no more."
Word spread to Pfehlion's Viksigany tribe as well as the Sevrsigani and the Dalkosigani that Verdin Thlapflynne was loosed upon the world as the first leader of his tribe, and that his name was now Teofolynn, the Lavony Wild River, which was to be the trademark of his tribe. As the word spread, so did the fear of this darker-than-dark avenging angel whose glance was a curse and whose innocent nature was violently unpredictable.
Ker-tah Rholandh, the young leader of the Dalkosigany tribe, cut off all contact with the other tribes. He shunned the Sigano Oath and his people followed his example. The Sevrsigani, under the counsel of Master Assassin Anokh Óvrendål, turned away from the other tribes, thus breaking alignment treaties with both Rholandh's tribe and Iada's tribe, and causing further animosity. All ties were broken, weakening each tribe. Pfehlion was in disfavour to all but his people, who called him a hero who brought new meaning to the Reckoning. They made him their leader.
The Rhyllan Colonies watch this fare with awe and apprehension, and they labeled the Outcasts, or Bandits, the most feared lot since the Gnomes and their tyranny. The families in Teofolynn's tribe became Lavon each one. They stole many horses from Rogreth and bred them into Teofolynn steeds, the fastest and strongest horses ever bred. Five years out, the horse breeders rode about the land, taking strength and resolve from their leader.
At the age of nineteen, Verdin wed Vermillion Vishnova, a rawny a year older than he. Vermillion refused to be merely the bride of a rai, for her father had taught her the Arts of Survival and created the first Sigana Mistress. She condoned the training of Sigana females and all parents began to teach sons and daughters alike.
The first raid on the Viksigany tribe occurred after the training and testing of the first Teofolynn steeds. The horsemen flew through the heart of enemy territory, sporting the tribal costumes of baggy yellow shirts, magenta scarves, headbands and capes, tempered blue silk sashes, and baggy brick-coloured pants that met high black boots. Teofolynn led his Bandit horsemen in the ransacking of the Viksigany community until finally he chanced upon Pfehlion.
"My people and I are avenged, Iada Pfehlion," he said in a strangely calm voice. "May you find the strength to regain your power under more honourable circumstance."
"Curse you, Teofolynn. You shall pay for this abomination! When we came to your community, we did not kill a single person. Look, look upon this flowing blood, you murderer!"
Teofolynn jumped to the ground and eyed Iada, who shifted his glance to Teofolynn's boots, for he could not meet his stare. "I was merciful, you idiot. I merely killed as may of people as you let die slowly of mine. They were the very young and the very old, those of my tribe who died of the cold and starvation, situations brought about by you and your damned test. They were defenseless. The Viksigani I killed today were not. They were just inadequate fighters, softened by too much of the good life. I killed them quickly. Yes, I've pillaged you, but I do not burn the land, that you might regrow what I have taken. I give you a chance, Iada Pfehlion. Do not curse me for having mercy upon your pitiful people."
And with that Teofolynn mounted his horse and led his horsemen back to the Lavon camp that once was the permanent home of the Horasigany tribe.
Verdin's father was a Sigano-Lavon, unlike Kelda, who seldom travelled. He knew all the lands save for the obscure Darzhevo lands, which explains Verdin's ignorance of Darzhovia. Belga Thlapflynne was what many called "half breed. His skin was dark, his eyes bi-coloured, and his hair was silvery white. Yana Thlapflynne was a product of the Brishen family, a small clan who had aligned themselves with the Thlapflynne clan. Yana's father was a half-breed Rogrethite-Ahne Baini who wed Northemwoodian Tivia Tonalitus. Both, of course, were ostricised during the Great Banishment. The Brishen family were dark like the Thlapflynnes, but only in hair and eye. Their skin was pale, as was Yana's. Yana had blue-black hair and ebony eyes, both of which she passed on to Verdin. Verdin also inherited his innocent expression for Yana.
Verdin had two sisters and a brother. They were Anna, Ariádny, and Patsim. All three were pale of skin and brown of eye, with coal hair and blond brows. It was Verdin who seemed to be but a shadow within the family. He was always small and everything about him was shrouded in darkness. His skin was dark, his eyes black, and his hair and eyebrows were blue-black. The second child after Ariádny, Verdin tended to be a loner, clinging only to his older sister. His grandfather and father taught him the Arts of Survival, which he learned with uncanny swiftness. Between the two of them, Kelda and Belga taught Verdin every single Sigano trick and ploy known in the Arts.
By the time he was twelve years old, Verdin was a dol-Master, second only to the sage Sigano Masters of Survival. But he was also a fanatic patriot of the tribe, as were three other children of three other Sigano tribes. The Thlapflynnes were the superior clan in his eyes, and their tribe was the superior Sigani.
When Verdin was fifteen and a a complete Master and Iada Pfehlion of the Viksigany Tribe was seventeen, Iada was to prove his Master of the Arts in order to become a Master. This was done in all four tribes. Verdin chose the test of Fool Seeking the Swedish community of Boldengrastig. Iada, however, chose the test of pillaging and ransacking. The community he targeted was the Horasigany, Verdin's tribe. No one could stop Iada for he had yet to take the Sigano Oath of loyalty that would bind him to all four tribes. The ransacking was carried out with precision, and the Horasigany loot was successfully transferred to the Viksigany. Iada became a Master of Survival.
The Horasigani suffered the loss of all that they had owned. Their land was burned and could not grow enough food for the clans. Their riches were gone and they could not buy all that they needed. Many of the raiders were too weak to pillage themselves. The Thlapflynne family suffered the death of Elder Kelda, who did not survive the Winter hunger of the Horisigany. Verdin grew vengeful and bitter. He foosook the Rhyllan name Thlapflynne and became pure Lavony with his new name, Teofolynn, when his parents asked him to take the Sigano Oath.
"The Oath is not mine to take until my tribe is renewed with a vengeful force. I will strengthen my people until no person will hesitate to fear the Teofolynn name. The Thlapflynnes of peace are no more."
Word spread to Pfehlion's Viksigany tribe as well as the Sevrsigani and the Dalkosigani that Verdin Thlapflynne was loosed upon the world as the first leader of his tribe, and that his name was now Teofolynn, the Lavony Wild River, which was to be the trademark of his tribe. As the word spread, so did the fear of this darker-than-dark avenging angel whose glance was a curse and whose innocent nature was violently unpredictable.
Ker-tah Rholandh, the young leader of the Dalkosigany tribe, cut off all contact with the other tribes. He shunned the Sigano Oath and his people followed his example. The Sevrsigani, under the counsel of Master Assassin Anokh Óvrendål, turned away from the other tribes, thus breaking alignment treaties with both Rholandh's tribe and Iada's tribe, and causing further animosity. All ties were broken, weakening each tribe. Pfehlion was in disfavour to all but his people, who called him a hero who brought new meaning to the Reckoning. They made him their leader.
The Rhyllan Colonies watch this fare with awe and apprehension, and they labeled the Outcasts, or Bandits, the most feared lot since the Gnomes and their tyranny. The families in Teofolynn's tribe became Lavon each one. They stole many horses from Rogreth and bred them into Teofolynn steeds, the fastest and strongest horses ever bred. Five years out, the horse breeders rode about the land, taking strength and resolve from their leader.
At the age of nineteen, Verdin wed Vermillion Vishnova, a rawny a year older than he. Vermillion refused to be merely the bride of a rai, for her father had taught her the Arts of Survival and created the first Sigana Mistress. She condoned the training of Sigana females and all parents began to teach sons and daughters alike.
The first raid on the Viksigany tribe occurred after the training and testing of the first Teofolynn steeds. The horsemen flew through the heart of enemy territory, sporting the tribal costumes of baggy yellow shirts, magenta scarves, headbands and capes, tempered blue silk sashes, and baggy brick-coloured pants that met high black boots. Teofolynn led his Bandit horsemen in the ransacking of the Viksigany community until finally he chanced upon Pfehlion.
"My people and I are avenged, Iada Pfehlion," he said in a strangely calm voice. "May you find the strength to regain your power under more honourable circumstance."
"Curse you, Teofolynn. You shall pay for this abomination! When we came to your community, we did not kill a single person. Look, look upon this flowing blood, you murderer!"
Teofolynn jumped to the ground and eyed Iada, who shifted his glance to Teofolynn's boots, for he could not meet his stare. "I was merciful, you idiot. I merely killed as may of people as you let die slowly of mine. They were the very young and the very old, those of my tribe who died of the cold and starvation, situations brought about by you and your damned test. They were defenseless. The Viksigani I killed today were not. They were just inadequate fighters, softened by too much of the good life. I killed them quickly. Yes, I've pillaged you, but I do not burn the land, that you might regrow what I have taken. I give you a chance, Iada Pfehlion. Do not curse me for having mercy upon your pitiful people."
And with that Teofolynn mounted his horse and led his horsemen back to the Lavon camp that once was the permanent home of the Horasigany tribe.
(to be continued)
