[RPG] [Atamara] Quixote's Heir

[Greg McGlynn]

In Loratil, Eston, at the McGlynn family residence, after dinner:

    "So Quixote is dead? And his wife too?" the distinguished Trantante 
mused. It was only half a question--he had had long minutes for the news 
of his brother's demise to sink in.
   
    "Yes, sir." replied Jaarno, the bearer of this ill news.
   
    "As I told you, I never saw him since I was fifteen and he left here 
to fight with Eston's army against Norland. We were close brothers, and 
I heard from him frequently while he was near hear. Even after I went 
off to join the nobles of Falasan we were in close contact. Then he went 
off to Fronen, in the western lands. After he left I heard from him 
infrequently. I heard that he then went to one of the southern islands 
and rose to some prominence. But presumably you know more of Quixote's 
life in the south than I do. What do you remember?"
   
    "Well, sir, he told me that he met my mother as the ship that 
brought him away from Fronen stopped at Kiro for provisioning--Kiro is a 
small island in the middle of the ocean; I think it would be no larger 
than Loratil. My mother left Kiro with my father and they landed on the 
South-East Island, where I was born and we stayed for many years. My 
mother named me: that is why my name sounds outlandish to you.
     "Quixote was a high-ranking military official; when I was 12 he was 
appointed General of the whole realm! I still remember how excited I was 
that day... But Ikalak lost the war and we fled the island. My mother 
and I went back to Kiro; my father refused to leave. One day, though, he 
was found on the shoreline, exhausted and alone. Apparently he crossed 
the ocean by himself in a small boat--how he found Kiro in the huge 
ocean I will never know. He said the war was lost. For a long time he 
was depressed and sullen, but with my mother's attention he got better. 
But then my mother died in childbirth, and only a few months later my 
father died too, griefstricken.
    "I was on my own, and decided to find you, my father's family. I 
remembered he had said his home had been in Loratil. I left Kiro on the 
next big ship that stopped by, which sailed to the East Continent. From 
there I sailed to Atamara. I landed in Leohampton and made my way here 
overland. The journey has been long, but it has been successful--for 
here I am."

    "Here you are," agreed Trantante. "I am indebted to you for your 
knowledge of my brother's and your father's death. But think now about 
yourself. What will you do now? You are of noble birth, so you can 
choose any worthy career. Unless you wish to return to Kiro, having 
found us?"

    "Oh, no," exclaimed Jaarno. "I grew up in Ikalak, a fine and 
cultured city. My mother was from Kiro, and she gave me a traditional 
name of Kiro, but Kiro has nothing to compare with the fine art and 
wealth and worldly nobility of a city like Ikalak. I have always assumed 
I would live somewhere in Atamara... But now that I think about it I 
didn't really have plans for more than that..."

    Jaarno frowned and thought. Trantante leaned back, patient and 
silent, watching calmly.

    "While I was in Leohampton," began Jaarno tentatively, "I heard of 
gods and goddesses that aid men in battle, perhaps even fight alongside 
mortals and could swing even the most hopless battle in favor of the 
outnumbered. In intrigued me, but I had to move on, to find you. I did 
not learn much of this creed, but if it is true, perhaps these gods 
could aid me in my wars, my struggles... --perhaps they could have won 
the war for Ikalak! Yes, I shall go and learn more of these deities." 
Jaarno was animated, as if he was leaving immediately.

    "Yes, your father fought in many battles," Trantante murmured. "Many 
more than I ever saw on relatively tranquil Atamara. A god would have 
been a worthwhile companion at his side."

Greg McGlynn