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[gypsy_merrique]

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The son of Walter and Merrique was growing into a bright and strong child who was eager to learn the warrior ways of his father. There were days it seemed impossible to keep up with his incessant exploration, and the day that the lad got into his father's explosion potions and blew up one of the upstairs windows made it quite clear to Merri that this energy needed a guided direction. Having sworn the child to Umbra, Merrique decided that she would take the toddler along on whatever adventure the Warmaster had planned for the evening.

A note was left for Walter, who was sleeping off the fatigues of his latest killing adventures, and mother and child made their way to the Sepulcher. Shalcross clutched the toy bow that he had become so fond of--and adept with as to be nearly uncanny. It turned out that Myrrdin had a nautical outing in mind, and Merrique forced herself onto the ship. The way the deck moved below her feet turned her stomach and even more frustrating was her refusal to give an outward sign of the distress she felt.

Soon enough the party was at sea, and nets were cast. Terrible creatures came up from the sea (another reminder to Merrique why she preferred her feet firmly planted on terra firma), the monsters hurling spells and hurtful attacks at the Umbrans. Many fearsome beasts were slain, looted, and pushed back into the waters and Merri felt a good deal of pride as her son shot his arrows into the scales of the monsters with an unbelievable accuracy.

It was at the Britain docks that Merrique was able to officially present the child to the Matriarch Merci. The Matriarch and Warlord Willow quickly decided that it was time for Shalcross to begin his formal training. With a confused smile on his face, the boy's eyes roamed from adult to adult.

Merrique saw the confusion in her son's face and she squatted down before him and asked him if he understood what was happening; the boy shook his head no.

"You're going to school, Shal. You're going to learn to fight like your dad! No more toy bow. You'll get the real thing sweetie!"

The smile that lit the boys face was one that Merrique would not soon forget. He exlcaimed "Cool, mom! I want to go tell dad. Can we go, huh?"

Home they went, and Shalcross leaped onto the sleeping form of his father shouting, "Dad, dad, guess what!" That was the last she heard. Merrique quietly closed the door to her own rooms and stared at the wall, refusing to acknowledge the grief tugging at her mother's heart.
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. . . But the dark is very trustworthy.
It's always as dark as you thought it was.
And you don't have to work at staying there.
All you have to do is survive it.
And I've been doing that forever.
from the novel "Dark Debts" by Karen Hall

[Walter]

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"Dad, Dad, DADDY!, Guess What!" Then with a leap he landed on the sleeping Walter.

"Uhhh, what? what? huh?" Walter was quickly woke from his peaceful slumber.

"Dad dad, I'm going to school, I got to shoot my bow, and killed some big ugly's" Without so much as a pause to take a breath Shalcross rattled off everything he did that night.

Still recovering from his sudden waking "Oh, that's good. You must be getting good with that little toy." With a groan he sits up and sets Shalcross next to him. "So, school you excited?"

Shalcross with a huge grin, "Oh yeah Dad, really excited, Mommy took me to see the war man and ummm the Matr... the lady. It was so much fun, They said I'll be a leader when I get big and strong. Just like you dad!"

"Yes, yes like me. Mom and Dad are proud of you boy. You remeber what I told you about family right son?"

Shalcross thinks for a moment, "Yes, always do right by your family name."

Walter grins, "Now you better go lay down it's getting late, almost your bedtime."

With that the little one races off to his room.
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[20:28] Inkari: walter=chuck norris

"What do you mean I can't sell castle deeds I create on Ebay?" - GM Darwin circa 1999

[Merci d'Rue]

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A WIT child was worth a thousand other children to Merci, she was proud of the young military trainees. Of course Shalcross showed great promise and she was pleased to see a new grub to add to their pack.

As the boat plunged thru the tossing waves Merci watched the young lad clutch his bow and she could see the love and lust for his weapon keen on his young face. He was ambitious, he was courageous such noble qualities. Now Umbra would do what it did best and mold the young boy into the warrior that longed to be freed, that would carry him far thru the rest of his life. Merci new their program for training the young far exceeded any that was out there, Umbra was not afraid to put them thru rigorous tests that would one day, save their lives. Children did not need coddling they need structure, discipline and the tools to suceed.

If he could withstand the trials that lay before him, he would go far.

Cold resistance,
Fire resistance,
Air and Energy Resistance.
Survival training.

Umbrans were taught to hold a weapon from even the tender age of three, and they were taught to survive in the harshest of conditions be they firey volcanos or poisonous swamps the Umbrans could charge on...

The coming months would once more bring the boon of WIT children and Warlord Willows work was cut out for her.

Death was unstoppable as were they. With that, the Matriarch looked out to the breaking seas she was pleased. She whispered to Ceinwyn who toiled upon her newest love.

In darkness our might grows, my Matriarch...
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May destiny guide you...