I am Thaerin Swordsong, Bard of the Crescent Moon. My story begins twenty-three twelvemoons ago in a simple farming village in the far Northwestern Lands. It is a land of steep and rugged mountains, swift rivers, deep lakes, and ancient forests. It is a land of the Druids where the Old Gods are still venerated in the traditional ways.

The morning I was born there were horrible storms and fog so thick one couldn't see their hand if it was touching their own nose. My parents were simple farmers who tended a plot secluded in the forest on the flatlands between the mountains and a large inlet of the Great Western Ocean. For a few years I lived on that farm with my family. I don't remember much of it as I left at a very young age.

On the morning of my fourth naming day a strange man came to my house asking to have some time with me. All I remember of that time is the symbol embroidered on the man's tunic and his asking me many questions as well as having me perform tasks at his bidding. At the time I had no idea what was going on and I must admit to feeling very scared of this man. He was very slight, yet had a palpable presence which I will never forget, and will ever strive to emulate.

After a time, I had no concept of the flow of time at that age, he told me to fetch my parents as he would speak with them. I did so and went to play with one of my friends along the bank of a nearby river. When I came home the man had gone and my parents were acting somewhat strangely....I didn't quite know what it was then. Being older I know now that it was an anxious pride. Any parent knows the feeling, when your child does something difficult yet dangerous and makes it though safely. My mother was sitting at her spinning while father was sharpening a scythe. I remember the looks they both gave me very clearly. Their eyes lingered intently on mine as father asked me to come sit next to him as he had something to tell me. Something very important.

He said I was to leave with that man the next morning to begin my training as a Bard, possibly even to become a Druid, one of the reclusive clergy of our people. He said it was a great honor to our family that I was chosen and that I needed to do everything they told me as best I could. That evening we had a celebration before I went to bed early as the next day was going to be a tiring one.

More to come later folks...