The lands of the Primal humans had an unusual hierarchy of leadership compared to the other races. All the diffrent small settlements and villages, along with the capital city of Kylos, were ruled by a single council. Each Elder of said council lead a different tribe; each tribe had their own internal hierarchy and role in society, but one rule was uniform. The leader was the person with the totem of one of the six Great beasts.
The fierce wolfish protectors were led by a Lykanos-kin; it was their duty to protect the innocent and weak.
The druid mages were led by a person with the Elwyn totem; the underlings of the great white stag were the ones who uplifted the whole society with their magic.
The Primal humans under the crest of the Vulture had the Sephalkin totem bearer to administer them. The vulture was an animal that picked on redundancies in the ecosystem and eliminated them. This reflected the role of the tribe- Everyone made sure not to mess with the winged administrators.
The Faetusk, a stronger and more intelligent cousin of Elephants, blessed the humans with its totem. The keepers of knowledge offered guidance to anyone seeking help. They were keepers of knowledge and wisdom.
As a consequence of the hierarchy of the Primal Humans and the power they wielded, most of them were less fertile. Children being born were, if not an oddity, a rarer occurrence than in different races. Because of this, the Rabbit clan came to be; they were the ones the whole society depended on to have children and to supply the other clans with their inventions and creations. The Rabbit clan was the backbone of their whole civilization; the innocent crafters tasked with the burden of supplying everyone else.
The Veloren blessed was the guiding hand for the youth, the person to come when in need of support. He trained many of the Teachers and caregivers the Primal humans were depending on. His ingenious inventions were spread throughout the whole nation.
All of the vastly different tribes were equal, at least on paper, but if there was one tribe to be designated as the most crucial, it would have to be the Fox-kin.
When war was on the doorstep, they were the mediators that talked with foreign countries. They signed treaties with other nations, and if war was inevitable, they manipulated or blackmailed key figures to ensure both sides' survival.
Their deceptions were only on par with their adaptability. Their most important ability was for them to change their totem into another one. The change was irreversible, but in a time of need they didn't hesitate; the duty to the tribes came first. Only the Maskari blessed had the ability to change back and forth between totems.
There were many festivals and holidays in the Primal human calendar but the most important was the Totem bestowal ceremony. It spoke of the future of the tribes. Too little of one totem and gaps formed, too much of another and people had no work to do. Balance had to be reached, no matter the cost.
That was why everything leaned on the Bestowal ceremony; the future of the tribes was in the hands of the system, the one in charge of totem distribution.
That was why Callum was so restless; as the son of the Lykanos-kin he needed to be an example. A figure to aspire to be.
Sitting in a lotus position, his thoughts thrummed quietly in the background. The whole structure of his society became the object of his lazy pondering. He wondered if there was a better solution, a way to break the Primal humans out of this uncertain and unstable Cycle.
Time flew by, Callum was content; nothing could break him out of his thoughts. This is so nice, maybe I should do this more often.
What Callum didn't consider was that when he was sitting, thinking about the world, the world moved. Regardless of his thoughts.
Deep ice-cold spikes pulled him out of meditation immediately. “AAGH, MUTINY! SOMEONE IS TRYING TO KILL ME!!!” His screaming and tussling apparently didn't faze anyone; no one came to help him. Those bastards, those druids all must be in on it!
A calm, amused voice pulled Callum out of the spiral.
“Stop yelling you idiot and get up, you're late.” The declaration caused Callum to freeze, how could he have forgotten. He had been waiting for so long and he just forget! He immediately stood up, looking around, the druids were already gone. Everyone was at the ceremony, probably waiting for him.
The cruel bastard who splashed him with cold water was Corin, his uncle. He was standing, tapping his furred foot impatiently.
"Ugh why did i get the only annoying Elder as my Uncle.” Callum groaned. Despite his whining, the boy was happy to see his uncle. Urgent matters often kept him away from spending time with his nephew.
"Trust me the other Elders are even more annoying than me, they just hide it under all the pretentiousness and seriousness. Now get on, everyone is waiting for us.”
The Veloryn-kin tapped his back expectantly. Surely, he didn't expect him to ride him like a horse? right? The notion seemed ridiculous, an esteemed council member being used like a draft animal. “You serious?” Callum asked with exasperation.
“Dead serious, now hurry up.”
“I can see you smiling”
“That's just my resting face.” Oh gods I can't do this… agh fine. Callum thought.
The drenched boy gave in; some battles just weren't worth fighting. Having hopped onto the powerful Primal human they took off, the insanely strong legs of the Veloryn totem-bearer got them to their destination in mere minutes.
“Ugh I think I ate a bug accidentally.” The spattering Callum hopped gracefully off his mighty steed- Well… it looked more like a ton of bricks being unceremoniously dropped on the ground by the Councilman.
"You're finally here, everyone is waiting for you Callum- Oh god what happened to you?! why are you so… wet?" His mother's voice snapped him to attention. Causing him to look up
She was not of high stature, what no one could negate however was her apparent beauty. Her pale skin created a contrast to the long, freely kept, black hair; she didn't look inexperienced in the art of life. Slight groovy imperfections showed on her face, not that he would ever admit that. Even so, the marks just seemed to benefit her good looks, giving her appearance that warm motherly quality.
Of course, looks could be deceiving- Anyone on her bad side would wish they were never born. Her sharp tongue had an almost legendary status and any foolishness just added to it's legend.
The still laying boy just groaned in response:
It is all that bastard's fault, first he dunks me in water and then he tries to suffocate me with bugs!
Instantly his mother assessed the situation, deemed Corin’s course of actions necessary and chipped in her own judgement: “No matter, you will be fine. The officiators are already waiting for you. We’ll talk about this at home.
Callum gulped audibly at hearing his mother's verdict, but had no choice but to obey.
After a few moments he felt slightly better. He was sure to be punished, but that could wait. Rubbing his hands to warm up slightly he walked in the direction of the sounds and voices, straight into the lush forest.
Many rows of people sat in the stands, likely here to spectate the ceremony. Among them stood a couple of raised seats; it surely were the Councilmen's and women's seats. They were ordained with gold and purple colors.
In the middle, surrounded on all the sides stood the initiates. Some fidgeted nervously, while others stood motionlessly, trying to appear serious and dignified. The last group chatted excitedly in hushed voices.
In front of them stood one person however, Callum had no qualms that didn't belong to the teenagers; he was covered in a magnificent linen cloak hiding most of his features. The piece of clothing was a deep green color embroidered in a twisting tapestry of white. The color of purity. he noted absentmindedly in his awe.
The most shocking part was the giant pair of antlers rising from the holes in the cowl. Not from the top of the hood- From under it; not a mere decoration but a living sign of grandeur.
While Callum was approaching the man- the Arch druid spoke. His powerful baritone voice demanding obedience, or at least respect from his equals:
“I can see the late arrivals are finally here, with that we can begin.” All chatter had stopped after the first word. It was so quiet that Callum thought his rapidly thrumming heart could be heard over miles.
Clap!
The sound was even louder in contrast to the silence just moments ago; with the gesture came swirling patterns of mana comprehendible only to the caster.
The effect was instant. The suns in the sky dimmed, even though it wasn't dark. Instead, an ethereal hue covered the surroundings in an otherworldly glow. The world itself seemed to pay attention now instead of just the assembled. The air itself carried the weight of unseen knowledge.
After the scene had been set, the key actors had to come on stage and play. The mist swirled, forming into a distinct shape. An animal- No, a Beast. The Elwyn appeared in all its magnificence. It was many long strides tall, towering over all the gathered. Untainted white fur flowed like rivers of white while its silver antlers were raised slightly to the ground. Not in obedience but recognition.
Most striking were its eyes. The widened pupils shimmered in a light, lime glint, washing everyone in the power of nature. All the children were trembling under the sheer weight of the display, waiting in anticipation to see more. However, it was not to be, the lights dimmed slightly. The powerful presence was still there, just muted, watching. Not the one to officiate the ceremony, just observe it.
The Arch-druid's eyes also changed, taking on a similar hue to the Elwyn. His gaze was however, lightly tinged by the natural color of his eyes- Blue.
He spoke once more. His tone this time carried exhaustion, as if shouldering an unseen weight. However, he also seemed more… satisfied? maybe realized was the correct word.
His words didn't register for a few moments, but Callum forced himself to focus:
“When I call your name, you will walk up and then you will receive your totem. The experience may rattle you so head straight to the medical tend behind me, there you will be able to rest.
Everything seemed self-explanatory, no questions were asked. The first one to go was a girl Callum vaguely knew but hadn't talked to much, still he was rooting for her along with everyone else:
“Bianca Pearson please come here child.” Her nervousness was clear as day, her legs shook as if she was approaching a rabid animal. She fiddled with her fingers nervously. It didn't take her long to walk up to the Arch-druid, her steps clacking on the polished stone walkway, reflecting the muted light of both suns.
The Druid waited patiently, no speck of irritation showed on his features. It was like he knew exactly what the girl and every initiate was going trough, and in a way he did; every member of their society went through their Totem bestowal.
Wordlessly, the man pressed his thumb up to the forehead of the girl in a ritualistic manner. Soft radiant light shone slightly but nothing on the previous scale:
“Today we have the blessing of welcoming a new member to our tribe. On this day Bianca steps into adolescence, forever leaving her childhood behind. Everyone, welcome the new Fox-totem bearer.” Cheers rang out from the stadium; everyone seemed satisfied. A Fox-kin surely would be a great boon for the Tribes. Down the pale face of the girl tears of joy could be seen. Slowly, with unsteady steps she was guided straight to the medic's tent.
After that everyone couldn't wait for their turn, the crowd erupted into half-hidden whispers. The stoic Elwyn-kin pretended not to notice, one by one he pressed his thumb to everyone's forehead. Sometimes whispering blessings heard only by himself and the initiate. He followed by warm words of welcome. Nothing in the selection was out of the ordinary, one by one the crowd thinned after everyone got their totems.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
The number of different totems seemed to be about equal; some of them were more abundant for sure, but overall, everything had been going great. At least no one voiced their concerns.
It was just Callum, and a few others still left on the once full clearing.
Right after bestowing another totem and exchanging a few words with the initiate in question the Arch-druid looked straight at Callum, he smiled softly under the cover of the long hood.
“Callum Lykaris come forth and receive your totem.” It was as if a switch had been flipped. Immediately the boy felt countless gazes on his back. Everyone wanted to see what totem the pup of the Lykanos-kin received. Callum didn't care as much for the looks he got from everyone else, because in that moment he saw his father standing. A reassuring smile on his lips, his arm was half wrapped around his mother.
She was smiling too, as if wanting to say: we will accept whatever you receive, we love you. This filled him with the courage and warmth to go forward.
Callum vowed to himself: Any totem I get, I'm going to accept. Slight apprehension filled him at the thought of getting the rabbit totem but is quickly faded. no offense to Uncle, but it just wasn't his path. The disruption made him stumble, almost tripping before the Druid.
The man just smiled warmly with amusement. No words were needed for Callum to feel the weight of expectations. He had grown used to it after all.
“I won't disappoint you.” The words barely left his lips; the sound echoed faintly in the silence of the moment, going unheard by almost everyone. The Elwyn-blessed still heard him; his lips twisted into a real smile this time his brow rising minutely. Questioning the gall of the not-yet adult.
Then the moment came fast. Callum felt a rough thumb on his head. He closed his eyes to focus on the growing connection.
The trees and plants bent slightly, as if wanting to touch the initiate; Callum heard strange ethereal whispers, just out of reach, too far to understand anything. The soft white hue shone lighter, turning sharper. Callum could feel it, the Stag's totem stood just outside his reach, I’m going to be a Druid! Half formed thoughts raced inside his head at a frenzied pace.
Then suddenly, a gut-wrenching feeling came upon him. His blood churned; his marrow singed in terrible pain as if turning to black sludge. He opened his eyelids in alarm, what he saw sent a cold streak through his neck. The light was flickering. Then it went out, and with it the last dregs of Callum's hope.
A purplish hue tainted the air now. It just stayed there for a moment, as if mocking him. Then, it stopped as abruptly as it appeared.
All the spectators stood in shock. Some covered their mouths in a silent scream; some stood jaw lying on the floor. The Elder stirred, for the first time he seemed… hesitant as if afraid saying the result would cement it in reality.
“What is it? surely it can't be that bad, right? Callum's sole, uncertain voice brought the Elder man out of stupor. He mouthed to himself Impossible soundlessly. Clearing his throat in an attempt to regain previous decorum he announced the outcome:
“Callum Lykaris, you have gained the totem of the… the Progenitor.” The word felt alien even on the druid's lips. Just what in mother nature was the "Progenitor"?
He continued in a trance, too focused to care for the rising murmurs of the crowd.
“You will surely do a lot of good for the tribes, Rise, the new Elder of the Undead Tribe.
The crowd Erupted. Everyone shouted at everyone trying to voice their outrage, disbelief or amazement. Sometimes all at the same time.
It was too loud to hear anything. The sounds just rose. Then a spark came to fuel the oncoming conflict. A spell fizzled into existence. The dark-purple bolt hit the intended target, one of the ones protesting the loudest. This sparked even more outrage, the atmosphere was dense, spells and skills were getting ready to activate and many of the gathered lost their human forms. Thick fur grew from underneath clothes, muscles swelled and irises widened in animalistic instin…
“SILENCE!”
The Raw Guttural roar impacted everyone. People covered their ears. Spells fizzled out when concentration was broken. All previous outrage was nowhere to be seen, covered by a different emotion- fear. This was the might of the Elders. Sticking out now would mean waging war on their entire populace.
A giant figure jumped down from the honorary seats. Landing with a heavy thump right beside the shaken Callum.
“Stop this madness. Are you mindless animals not knowing better? You are Primal Humans, act like it.” The admonishment caused the crowd to cower in shame. However, the words of the Elder soon took on a darker hue.
“The only reason I don't hold an execution right here, right now was that the spell used was a concussing one. The culprit will be put to do community work. His assets will be seized for compensation to the victim. Guards! Take him away.” Pointing at the guilty man the guards swiftly locked him into chains and took him away.
The man, Callum's father still had that look in his eye. Daring anyone to challenge him. When no one came, he relaxed slightly. Having done his part, he looked at the Arch-druid expectantly. The other Elder understood immediately, no words were needed.
“Due to the unique circumstances of this chap’s totem bestowal, the council will be formed to discuss it. As a consequence, tonight's ceremony will be postponed.
The words caused a loud gasp of shock. During the whole history of their tribes, the times the Bestowal ceremony was canceled was in single digits. It was crucial to everyone's survival. The mounting revulsion was quickly stopped by an angry glare of the Guardian. He was the one to speak up again.
“Corin, gather everyone. As fast as possible.” The sound didn't have that wrathful quality as before, just necessity. The man in question just nodded from the stands. His usual carefree attitude was nowhere to be seen, seriousness took its place. He took off. Callum didn't even see any movement, one moment he was there and the next the usually cheerful Elder was gone.
During the entire rant of his father, the boy held no fear. This was because he felt reassurance from his father; it was a small Imperceivable thread connected to him. It offered warmth and protection. He squirmed, uneased even under the effect of the ability. A question still bothered him. He said uncertainly, his tone shaky after today's events:
“Dad, what about me, what will happen to me.”
The stalwart figure turned. His gaze softened. The man put his arm on Callum's shoulder and squeezed reassuringly. “Don't worry Cal, it's going to be fine. We just need to discuss your totem, that's all.
The words should have reassured him, after all there would be no harm having his totem talked about, right? Still, Callum couldn't shake off a growing feeling. It was like his veins had frozen over, locked in fear.
“Dad, am I… am I a monster?
The shaky exclamation hit Callum's father like a physical blow. His eyes darkened in sadness. Quickly replaced by resolve and burning determination. He hugged his son tightly, and whispered in his ear:
“Even if all the tribesmen declare you a monster, you will always be my son. Even if it's just us. But right now, we have to play by the rules, I will take you to your room until we are ready for the council, okay?
Callum, let go, slightly relieved. He nodded and let himself be led by his father. It almost felt surreal; the steps he took earlier now lingered in the back of his mind, overshadowed by his worries. What worried him the most were the looks he was getting. No longer the friendly teenager, now people looked at him with apprehension, not sure whether they should fear him or defer to him with respect.
The road to their house passed in a blink, then he was in his room. His dad spoke a few reassuring words, then left. Now Callum was left to his thoughts. Surely everything will be all right… It must be.
His previously shaky demeanor was now falling apart. He tried to hold his emotions in check before, but now with no one to see, the dam of emotions collapsed. He cried, in confusion and in pain. It felt like his whole life felt apart. No longer could he talk with Eleanor the friendly baker, or even the librarian; they would all look at him like some thing. Some monster. All his attempts at trying to integrate into his society were destroyed.
That last thought gave him some pause, not enough to stop sniveling but to slow it down. Surely it can't be that bad, right? There were always his parents. They were a solid pillar he could always lean on. I still haven't checked the notifications. This caused him to remember something else. His system access was now unlocked, He was thrilled to uncover its functions.
Like a baby not sure in its step, Callum navigated the Status clumsily. Finally, he found his new skill. He pulled up the description:
You have gained a skill: Totem of the Progenitor(undead)
You were not made to brave this world; your kindness is your weakness as much as it is your strength. Don't ever forget it, my children. Ruthlessness makes us strong in so many ways, but in much more it weakens us. That is the reason I created you; beings capable of, at the same time, the biggest atrocities and the biggest mercies. Perhaps even in the same moment…
I must go now; I have to uphold my duty and keep you safe. Away from the dangers of the abyss, to take you to a place where you can prosper. Remember your purpose, but don't ever forsake your origins.
You are not meant to uphold the cycle, you are meant to break it. A being of both worlds, it is in your destiny to achieve great things, whatever they may be. Take this totem in an appreciation to what you can become, as well as where you come from.
This skill will allow your bone marrow to produce a black sludge. This substance gives you resistance to all bodily diseases, clots wounds more efficiently and is non-lethally toxic to other beings. Your authority will change due to the nature of this skill- Your aura will bolster your allies' hope and at the same time will strike fear into your enemies' hearts. As an active ability, this skill will allow you to drain a tiny amount of life force from other dead beings; withholding the energy from the cycle, at least temporarily. Affinity: Body, Dominion, Undead, Vitality. Soul Spark cost: Passive- Moderate; Active- Extreme.
The description left him spinning. His thoughts filled rapidly with insistent questions: Who the hell was the Progenitor? Was he the person speaking in the description? What did he mean by the Abyss?
He forced those thoughts aside and focused on the effects of the skill. The power of the Elders was great; now he could see it for himself. He couldn't wait to see how he could grow the skill. Some unease remained, because of that Callum spent his time in isolation pacing around the room.
Just as he was getting bored, he heard a knock.
“Callum are you there? The Council is ready now.” It was his mother, there to get him to the meeting spot. He opened the door. The fresh air hit him; a stark contrast to the stale air he suffocated in for hours.
His mother hugged him and wordlessly led the way. Now that he had time to calm down, he felt a lot better. The glances he saw being thrown his way no longer seemed terrified, just hesitant. They'll warm up to me.
The Council room was not far, after a few twists and turns on the cobbled path they were there. Ornate wooden doors adorned in gold greeted them. Talk about being humble. His usual sass was partially returning. He confidently opened the door, his stride unbroken.
All the gathered looked in his direction. The Arch- druid and the Guardian were there, looking expectantly. Among them, the Administrator sat. His creepy white eyes met Callum's gaze. The boy visibly shivered. Guy gives me the creeps. Corin stood in the corner, too worked up to sit in the huge, decorated chairs, busy tapping his furry foot.
Across from him, the Scholar napped. The ancient old woman apparently wasn't faced with the situation at all.
All were there, all except the Maskari-kin. In that moment Callum spotted something-Someone in the edge of his vision. It looked like a woman was walking… out of the wall. The young dame dressed in orange robes wearing red lipstick just winked at him and took her seat by the table. Three fox tails jutted out from underneath her clothes. No one looked even remotely shocked at that.
The druid spoke up first. “Ehkm, we gathered here today to discuss the emergence of a new Elder. The Undead elder.”
If the previous atmosphere could be described as tense, now it was grave. All the Elders knew what the emergence of a new tribe meant.
The man continued, not caring for the change in the air: “This boy” with a wave of his hand he pointed at Callum, “Got the totem of the "Progenitor". Do any of you know who this "Progenitor" is?
No one spoke up, their lack of knowledge apparent. That's when the Sephalkin spoke. The rusty, wheezing sound as unnerving as Callum imagined.
“The boy is a danger to the balance we have painstakingly kept. He Must Be Killed.” The simple declaration caused a chain of reactions. Callum's dad exploded if fury, screaming at the Administrator. Corin also was not pleased with the opinion, now sending death-glares at the other Elder. The mysterious Maskari Elder waved her fan quickly as if she was about to faint.
"Okay, that's enough.” The Druid tried taking control of the situation; no one listed to him.
“I Said, THAT'S ENOUGH.” Green mana erupted, amplifying the mage's voice. This seemed to do the trick.
“While the administrator's opinion is… controversial let's just say. It does hold some truth; the boy could destabilize our entire society. However, I do believe we can come to a different solutio…”
The last words cut out, after hearing the mage take the administrator's side Corrin began a shouting match once more plunging the room into chaos. This time nothing the antler wielding man did broke the noise. It just added to it.
“Listen to the Elwyn-kin you fools. The quiet declaration caused everyone to stop. The old lady was no longer sleeping. She looked accusingly at all of them, her bony finger spreading unease in the Elders.
“You all fight like children, not capable of uniting in spirit. There are dark times ahead if the System send us another Elder, yet you all can’t decide what to do with him.”
Her words caused most of them to flinch in shame; they, the Elders, failed to pose a united front, who was supposed to be the leaders if even they couldn't decide.
Most, because the Guardian didn't flinch, didn't recoil. His conviction was absolute.
“What do we do then? What do you want to do with my son?”
He didn't look convinced, not one bit. Yet the old keeper of knowledge had an answer to that, too.
“There is an old law, one you don't remember since it is old even by my standards. I was a young girl at the time, newly bestowed with my totem. Those were dark times, I remember it clearly- Children weren't born, infertility spread, and a recent war wiped out most of our populace.
Destruction loomed on the horizon, that's when we were brought a gift from the System. A young woman, blessed with the Veloryn totem, she was our salvation. The first Rabbit Elder. New children were born, and destruction was put off until now.
The thing is, however, that the young woman had a hard path in front of her. She couldn't just sit still and wait for other people to get the Rabbit Totem, she had to go on a journey, all alone. Away from our country, deep into unknown lands all over Epision, she had to become a true elder, a person that could support a whole tribe and pass down knowledge onto her successor. Either she would die, or she would uplift the whole Primal human race. Only when she came with her newfound followers did the Rabbit tribe came to be.” Throughout the long statement, all the Elders sit in silence, catching onto every word. Callum, however, was mortified. Am I about to be banished?
Reaching the conclusion, voices rose once again but were quickly silenced by the old lady. “The law is, he must be gone from our lands for at least ten cycles and bring back at least fifty Undead totem-bearers. Otherwise, we are all destined for destruction.”
Silence clung heavily in the air. Callum’s father seemed saddened, trying to come to terms with the declaration. Corin looked devastated. All the other Elders were silent and unmoving- Their part done.
“Can we at least not leave him in the wilderness; it’s a death sentence.” Corin spoke. The Faetusk-kin just nodded.
When they left the building, Callum’s mother burst into sobs, hugging her baby. His father loomed; he looked like he aged a decade. His usual stalwart demeanor now cracked at the foundation.
His mother wrenched free, and looked at her son, committing every detail of his face to memory. She handed him a sealed envelope, she didn’t speak probably not certain she could hold a few words together. Callum’s dad butted in to clarify. “Those are your extended family’s addresses. They will help you get established. Unfortunately, we can only get you to the most border town from our lands, you have to get to the New Empire’s capital on your own.”
Those words seemed to seal the deal. It made everything from the ritual to the council meeting real. I’ll... leave? Those thoughts were alien to him. Alas, his fate was sealed. He was officially banished from his country. Nothing left to do. Just prepare for the hard times that were sure to come.
