A Land Far Away

*authors note*
Elements of this story have been gathered across a period of time during the time of the Gathering Storm, and before, in the lands of Faerun.
This tale follows the path of an Uthgardt Barbarian descended from a fallen, scattered tribe. It is only through other folk's tales along the road, and a personal diary recently found, that this tale is available to the reader. Take heed to the tale, and the fabled resurrection of the Blue Bear Tribe, and what a great sign of uncertain import is beheld by the still surviving Uthgardt Tribes councils. This tale is based on facts alone.

Some names may be mispelt in the telling, as may the grammer be for the faint of eyes, and the readers herein. Anyone under the age of reading level, should not attempt.

_________

Dear Pa,
i met up with the Saergant, as ye sais. he was right barky. kept saying i need'd to keep back real straightr. well. got me a sword, now, its short, not like yours. i hope to get some leathers, as it rains alot here in the sundabars.. hope you get this. last scout was found skewer'd to a tree.
~banunan'tuk

*written in a graceful hand by Tynndahl*
the letter was the first i found, on my arrival in Jalanthar.
i had met some family of his, living nearby.
The farm he was from had been burnt, and all remained was a small ruin of a firemantle. They welcomed me in to thier makeshift tents and shared a tale, plus a translation of the letter you have just read above.
They were eager to know my interest in their kin. But i was wise, and simply said, i had trained with him, before in the militia..we were.. old friends.

*quoted*
Strength is everything. Civilization is weakness. Men should hunt fight provide for wife and family. Family sacred, and its bonds are not cast aside lightly. Magic that does not come from the gods is effete, self indulgent, and ultimately leads to weakness, since one depends on magic to accomplish things rather than ones own hands. Shun reliance on secular magic, as an evil and false path, for that way leads only to death and great ruin.
Revere Uthgar, Beorunna, Son of Tempus, the Uthgardt ancestors, and the beast spirits that guide ones tribe.
The beast spirits hold wisdom and raw power - take them for your own.
Study the beast so that you know its virtues and its weaknesses from your spirit.
Make the others of the Tribe fear yet respect your power and your knowledge, so that they will heed the wise words your ancestors speak to you in days of trouble and turmoil.

i recorded this as they partook in a ceremony. I am glad i had left my wand of magic missle, back in the port, with that sultry half-elf, as the mere mention of a flare cantrip, set them on edge. They still seemed wary of my presence but soon a pipe was passed. After some time, and some long silences, they finally passed me some more letters from Banu.

Dear Pa.
youls never get this letter ah reckon. made it to the lines in sundabar. huge weapons of fire, and trolls bigger then ol Jeffer at the Mill. they kept saying, that a support army was on the march, but were worried. out of bolts. some are carving them own out a wood and deadbones. Sundabar may fall. and i herd the Orcs, the horns, they flank south. dam. outa ink. some bastards says i waste it..

another.

Dear Pa.
well, a fella i just met just died. he sias, before we went on patrol, that i should write you, as im out of ink. well.. he died, and i searched him, found a whole pot o' ink.. i wanna draw the scene,
just like ye taught me in the hills!!-- 'afore the mess al started. course, feel bad for the Cormyr lad wit the ink, that fell, but he kept prancing on about how well he did in some academy. I did kinda chuckle when the arrow went through his throat. I think he was a bout to say "time for lunch". anyways... i got trained on the greatsword, liking its feel.
/banu

Whats been gathered so far..
A Scattered tribe, the blue bear-- after the betrayal of a chief elder long ago,
the blue bear tribe crossed over to the evil path, forsaking the history and loyalties
to the Uthgard traditions. Some clans of blue bear resisted, and went into hiding, near
forsaking their roots, yet knowing as the prophets ordained, that the one true shaman
would return, and reclaim the greatfather tree, and standing stone, uniting all beast
totems together under Uthgard's children from all over Faerun.

Banu'nantuck, or Banu, is descended from this blue bear tribe. His father, an exiled elder shaman, taught him his tribes history, as he grew up on a small farm near Jalanthar. Banu at the age of 16 undertook his first "spirit quest", and under his fathers guidance
Spent tendays in the High Forest, where in a dream the bear spirit told him of his path

Dear papa
no supplies now five day. everyone wild like mountain cats.. think i may have to get something, food..gold.. for the captain. he makes me work extra hard cause im northern. i want his respect , like ye sais i earn.
i will send a note north, capt sais can be redeem'd fer gold crowns.
we are holed up. and i wish i had my oma.
/B

In common history now, we know Sundabar fell under a great war. It was at this point that the letters stopped. Banu had ben captured by a horrendous Pack of Orcs, and forced into a slavery.

to be continued

Great stuff, a fun read and a more light spirited one. Keep it up.

Following is what was gathered at the time of Banu's capture by the Orcs in Sundabar. These notes were gathered by a company elf rangers, and delivered to Lord Hignar of Battlehammer Hall, who was gracious enough to pass them on to me. Much of the text was blurred, but through much painstaking analyse, managed to reconstruct what was said. As the author, i was confused as to why his letters seemed to be written to different person's, and/or spirits.


Dear Great Spirits,
I am alone now. i have found a scrap of paper, and some granite stone.
I hope this can be read.. ...felt after they left was a long time. soon i was in a camp though. fell asleep many time. hit hard many time. On a day when ..taken to a group of orc tribesmen, they wounded, they slashed, they howling with no honour. They screamed so much, and the Orc Guard motioning me to help them. I did what i was taught. and used herbs, and balms. but even that would not help them all. The Orc Guard Chief seemed happy. Oh great spirit, is this my path? i feel aweful, and they treat me worse then dog. The war is not going well, i pray for you to speak with me , even in dream.

------------------

Dear Great Spirits,
other day, you sent me deer. i was on a hunt to get wounded back from a battle in silverymoon pass. as they were gathering the dead, and dying. i saw you. you were high in the hill, but a strong deer you were, a horn like a ram. you looked so sad. i wanted to cry out, but just then, an orc spotted you and fired his crude bow, missing by ten paces, but i know it was you. i thank you.

------------------

Dear Spirits
i had the dream again, i was upset, and could not sleep. other slaves were sleep sound, so i crept out of camp-tent. I looked to the sky's and the great night rainbow in the north, and i saw. I heard the long call of the night owl, and the howl of the dog. The spirit is strong, i hope i can hold out.

------------

Dear Pa,
hells, i hate war. They attacked us, and as i helped the fallen Orcs Tribes, as i am charged to do, the elves let rain arrows on the wounded! i had but enough time to bury myself under the stack of dead bodies there. The confusion is terrible. I am afraid they may take me for Orc, and not their slave. I want to escape.

---------------------

Dear Great Spirits,
I have angered you. i ask forgiveness. Great Shaman of orc Tribe was horribly wounded, by their enemy. I tried my best to heal with herbs and potions, but they stuck knife to my throat and made me swear i could heal the shaman. i had to call upon the great bear, and the spirits of our sacred ancestors to heal such a monstor. I am ashamed, you answered. and i healed. i am so sad. they were much happy, and i got some water, and slightly cooked meat. i am not wanting to do this again. i know i do wrong oh spirits, please allow me the freedom of the fish in the water, to slip through their paws.


It is assumed here, that Banu escaped, as there were no more letters gathered at HammerHall. Or, they were lost.
Still, I shall seek out more glimpses of this tale, and keep the reader informed...

It was with great triumph i came across these new tomes, and script accounts. You see, it started with a chance encounter with a Militia man, by the name of "Doc". A halfling in DaggerFord, though well regarded, and decorated with medallions, and rank. He had some private accounts of Banu, and though our meeting was brief, he was inspired by this tale, and gave the documents over gladly, that the "Bearman" [as he insisted he be called], be given proper tribute.

What follows is a few letters to a lady, i have edited much to ward the reader of any, erotic, or personal dialogue, at the request of the publisher, so that they remain un-sued. The rest is eyewitness accounts, first person, records, from a variety of sources. Some alive this day, most fallen.

Bear,
I have to leave. The Tribes call of revolt, and a new begining. I cannot have you come with me, though we are to be wed in tenday. Our ceremony we had in the glades of the forgotten gardens. we [deleted]
and i will always treasure those times. Please know that I truly love you, and you will go far, around the whole world, as you spoke at night in tired twilights. I will miss you, but do not come for me. Do Not!
We are taking back the Home of our ancestors, and you cannot interfere. You know it as the House of Stone, But we are the Elk Tribe, it is rightfully ours.

I have taken some of your belongings, do not be mad. I will need them to defeat what awaits us. Please live long, and find the path you so speak about in dreams, and awake.

[text untranslatable]

Vallya [a sign of the Elk]



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Militia Reports:
Orders to travel to Cromm's Hold, held up due to disturbance with some children being snatched in the east quarter. Patrolman Banu, delayed, and sentenced penalty of four hours in drill duty with new recruits.

Significant deaths, in farmers quarter, has led to Militia expanding patrol to encompass the northern parts of River. PT. Softclaw, arrived with several heads, decayed considerably. After insisting that these "deaders" came from River, the Captian was notified.

-incidental-
Patrolman Banu is hearby barred within fifty steps of any bar in Daggerford, affective immediately

Corporal Meradoc (excerpts from journal):
"...Situation got oh so ever bad, we were called into to support the southern part of the high road, yet Gnolls, managed to pin us in the Pass. We needed to bring the supply to the front lines, but alas, it t'would not be.
Then Bearman, summoned a silverback Bear, the size of my house at Temple School! It took to the astonished Gnolls, like a badger to my dear Aunt Linnie's Cabbage!...well, then that got me thinking of Shining Falls, and my dear..."



more to come, and all Banu storys welcome. who knows, i may make a script out of it, to sit on my shelf, and collect dust.

It is known that the Bearman, travelled far and wide, upon some quest most knew nought about.
Following is a timeline I have reconstructed after much diligent work. Work i hope my employer feels neccesary to compensate.

Tome's to be published:
Sundabar Wars - recovered
DaggerFord/Undead Wars - recovered Partially
The Exile to Pirate Isle's - w/Fyevarra Amalith - recovered partially
Sembia Bound- none recovered
Daggerdale, and the haunted woods- none recovered
The Desert Walk - recovered, but very faded
Luskan, and The North - none recovered

The Tome, itself, we hope to complete in time, as the reckoning, that the Bearman speaks of, dost come nigh. This Reckoning to be published at a later date, as some thugs just broke in and stole one copy. Thankfully, i have another, but need to secure myself to safer lodgings.

Tynndal