Role

Chapter 2

The waters were the blood of the Al'Rahka tribe. A seafaring people who sailed
the domains of the Dragon Sea and the Aryth Oceans, they worshipped the
spirits of the waters who guided them to calm waters and granted them prowess
in their battles. At a young age, boys and girls were tested by the waters,
to see if the spirits deigned their bodies worthy to take up the axe and the
oar in their name. Those who failed, like Telez, were cast out to sea on a
canoe, their fate to be decided by the waves.

Telez met the same fate, and was cast off into the Dragon Sea. There was no
farewells, no tears from his mother or father. He was awoken, early, before
the sun had yet risen, and lowered into a canoe that barely fit him, and
pushed off. Within minutes, he could soon only hear the lapping of the waves
against the sides of his boat, and the occasional cry of the early bird.
Telez was alone.

He felt great shame, the firstborn of his family to be found too weak, too
unfit, for the spirits. Even if he made it to an island or to the coastline
by some stroke of luck, he had no purpose. What would he even do? Resolve
filled within him, to do what he knew was the proper course of action, one
that was the will of the Al'Rahka. There was a reason no provisions were
given to those cast off. Slowing standing to his feet, Telez took a deep
breath, and fell into the waters.

Telez exhaled, bubbles springing forth from his mouth as he purposefully let
himself sink into the darkness. His limbs began to spasm, his lungs and nose
burning as water was inhaled. Within seconds, dark spots began to haze his
vision. Soon, it would be over. As he began to lose consciousness, Telez
heard the faintest of voices...

"Your body was not meant for the front lines of war, young Al'Rahka. Your
actions have pleased us, for you are willing to sacrifice your life for us.
The waters have grown foul with the taint of civilization, of cities that
grow and infest Thera. You are chosen, to stop the spreading of this
parasite, to heal the waters of Thera. Such is the task we give unto you,
young Al'Rahka. Serve and you shall be rewarded."

...Telez woke up to heat of the harsh noon sun that beat down upon the sands
of the coast. Wincing at the pain that still coursed through his chest, he
slowly brought himself to his knees, and grimly smiled. Telez Al'Rahka,
firstborn of Johun Al'Rahka, was no longer without purpose. There was work to
be done.