Wolves at Curious Pastimes
Tales of the Dire Wolf
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Wolves at Curious Pastimes
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Many years ago, there existed in the southern reaches of Wolf Lands, a three races of creatures.
In the forest, there were a group of Ogres. They were a noble and strong group of fighters, using their strength to keep the peace in the forest they inhabited. The strongest family lead the forest, with the eldest member leading the House. They hunted for food, and became skilled with bow, axe and sword, seldom wearing armour, as it made too much noise while they stalked their prey.
In the open land and wilderness, there lived tribes of Beastmen of many varieties and kin. These were skilled farmers, living in caves and huts, growing plants to eat, wheat to turn to bread, they wanted for little. The understood the balance of life, and respected the land, and the spirits and magic contained within. They cared for their lives, and their protection, and so they wore light armour, as it was suitable for some protection, but also did not get in the way while going about their daily business.
In the Swamps and marshes, lived a colony of Lizardmen. They had ventured far north from the warmer climes, and found a little haven in the chill north. Snow rarely fell, and when it did, the Lizardmen burrowed under the marsh to sleep out the worse of the weather. They were forced to eek out a living, eating fish from the swamps, berries from the shrubs, and little else. They became adept at using the plant life in and around the marsh to make ointments to aid the weak and injured.
Several years after settling in the swamps, the Lizardmen wished to expand their sphere of knowledge, and their food supply. To the north, lay a cold land, with frequent snow, harsh winds and jagged rocks. To the East and South, lay the water they had braved in their circular craft, not meant for crossing such waters. To the West, an inviting land, with many open fields, not serious snows, and tolerable cold. A band of the hardier Lizards set off across these lands, sampling the local plant life as they went, for anything useful for their ointments and potions.
They identified one type of plant that grew in great numbers, in localised, isolated, uncommon areas, which formed a good healing agent. During a harvest of these plants, they were stumbled upon by a small group of Beastmen, who, from a distance, observed, and withdrew to inform their leaders.
The Leaders did not respond quickly, thinking the group over-reacting or misled by the report of snake like creatures stealing the supplies from the land. It was only when the group announced the plants that were being taken were a rare, delicious specimen, that the Leaders took action. They mustered a force, and marched on the growing grounds.
Upon their arrival, they noticed nothing untoward, save for one, solitary plant with exposed roots, and a handful of missing leaves. The Leader turned to the group, and chastised them for causing such a ruckus over apparently a rabbit. Shamefaced, the group tried to defend their honour, to no avail. They were announced to be cast out of the lands.
“Hold your tongue, warm-blood, they are quite right in their views!”
A harsh, serpentine voice filled the glade. The Beastmen looked around, surprised, and not just a little fearful. Some edged towards their settlement. Stepping away from a tree trunk, a Lizardman reverted to his usual colouration. The Leader of the Beastmen started, dropped his spear, and ran. None of the others followed. They were amazed at the strange creature in front of them.
“I seek not for confrontation, nor accusations of stealing wild plants, but knowledge and sustenance.”
Spoke the Lizard, being joined by several, larger, more well built of his kin, still out numbered many times over by the Beastmen. He signalled to the departed Beastman;
“This is how you are led, by a coward? All I ask is this, return to your place of abode, and tell him we shall be waiting here for his return visit, and to accept his views, on whether we are thieves. We shall not leave here, until he has spoken with us.”
The troop departed with the request.
Later that day, the Beast-leader returned. He came with a retinue of just a handful of Beasts, and approached openly. He met with the Lizardmen, and an agreement was reached quite soon. The Lizards could have free access to the Openlands, on the condition that they replanted what they took, to preserve the balance of the land, and that a percentage of the potions made went to the Beastmen, for their sick and injured, and so the agreement has been ever since, albeit expanded upon as the two communities grew stronger together.
The lessons that can be learned from this, teach us; not to take without asking, to obey the laws and traditions of new lands, and to listen to any business proposition, no matter how strange or alien it may seem, as the profits could be great for all parties concerned.
