Role

Chapter 7

It was well over a hundred years ago when the birth of Kaeldran took place.
Amidst the stormy seas where his giant kin lived, a great tempest swelled.
Among the giants of the storm, this was seen as a blessing, especially if a
child was born as the eye of the storm hovered over them.

On this night, the birth of a baby was marked by such a blessing. His parents
named him Kaeldran Matterok, meaning 'Child of the Storm's Eye'. As his parents
held their new child in their nurturing arms, a malevolent chuckle was heard
above the din of the storm. The clouds swirled and a face appeared. "I have
plans for this one." With that, the winds howled and a great rush of air tore
Kaeldran from his parent's arms and flung him into the tempest.

The storm had carried the child far away from his home. He landed safely in a
pasture of wild grass as the winds ceased and the tempest dissipated. It may
have seemed that the child was alone, but the divine presence that tore him
from the arms of his mother and father also blessed him to be able to survive.
The animals of the forest were heeded by the immortal and watched closely
over the infant. Food and protection was provided by a pack of wolves, several
deer lead him to water sources, and the smaller creatures of the forest
provided companionship in times of loneliness. So Kaeldran grew safely in his
environment, never seeing another like his kind, but becoming the child of
the forest.

Years of growth went by. The child never learned the tongue of man, but came
to understand the language of the animals. He ate and drank and enjoyed the
bounty of nature. It was one sunny day that a storm appeared out of nowhere.
Kaeldran grew quite afraid and looked for some shelter, but an invisible power
held him fast. He looked with horror up in the sky as a face appeared in the
clouds. "My child, your name is Kaeldran, kin to the giants of the storm. I
brought you here many years ago so that I could shape you into the servant
you must become for me. You will never know who your biological parents are,
nor will you ever be allowed to search for your true home. The meaning of
your life is to be the servant I require. You must go forth in the world and
let them know that I come. Go now, for I have blessed you with the knowledge
you need to survive in the world of man, just as I have caused nature to let
you survive in her world."

With that, the storm ceased and the sun shone brightly. Kaeldran was free to
move and realized he had understood all that had been said to him. Vast insight
into the world was afforded him, as well as the gift of man's language. While
the identity of the divine presence that ordered him into the world was yet
unknown to him, he looked around and started walking in the direction he knew
Galadon to be.

The immortal laughed to himself... "A great puppet he shall be to me. I look
forward to the destiny he shall fulfill..."