In the foothills of the Bezladian Range is an ancient hardwood forest, and nestled at the western edge is a quiet agricultural community the inhabitants call Far Haven. Many of them arrived after long wanderings, to settle and relax in the peaceful day-to-day life of caring for the animals and the land.

So, too, did Aqua and Suliss, fighters and adventurers, a team that worked so well together in time it seemed they grew able to fight as one being with four limbs. They were weary of carnage and death, having seen too much of war, and the peace of Far Haven called to their souls. They built a home, and shared with the other villagers the trials and tribulations of farming life.

Occasionally, word of need for help would come from outside, whether to track down a predator that was thinning the herds too much, or find and bring to justice one who had preyed on his fellow beings. At these times, Aqua and Suliss would bring out the stored tools of their trade, and these were many and fine after so many years of work as fighters. They each possessed magical swords that increased the speed and strength of each strike, and armor that protected them beyond the capacity of ordinary steel. The two fighters would go forth and aid in searches, rescues, and occasionally defenses of the towns and villages of the area.

In time, they had a family, two sons, Kjell and Ruath, and a daughter, Ylloelae. Kjell and Ruath loved the animals, and the work outside. As they grew up, their parents trained them in all the arts of combat, tracking, and survival that they had learned, while other villagers taught them about farming and animal husbandry. Ylloelae, too, had her share of lessons, but at every opportunity would sneak away to Moira, the local healer, for lessons that appealed to her nature far more.

As their children grew, Aqua and Suliss would keep finding one magical tool or another in their collection that seemed to suit one of their offspring, and it would be given to that child, and he or she would be taught its use. One day when Ylloelae was seventeen, she and her mother were digging through a small chest of jewellry, when a silvery pendant caught her eye. The outer filligree seemed to be formed in the way of old runes, and the opal it surrounded glowed with a soft light. "It's never done that before," said her mother. Suliss was surprised and concerned, but had seen enough of magic to recognise its awakening. As she picked it up, the glow died, so she placed it in her daughter's hand and watched as the glow strengthened then stabilized to a soft light.

"It tingles very softly, Mom, but feels warm and good." Her own protections did not signal any harm or evil, so Suliss told Ylloelae the amulet was now hers, and they went to Moira for advice and help in learning the jewel's properties. Under the guidance of her mother and the healer, Ylloelae learned to use the amulet to heal the small animals she loved, and soon people as well. They could not find limits to the amulet's power, but frequently to Ylloelae's skill and strength.

One day Moira told her that there was no more she could teach her, but that if she travelled to a bigger city, she might find one who could. This appealed to Ylloelae greatly, for her brothers by now were rangers, and having plenty of adventures of their own. Her parents were not happy to see her go, but knew that she was good with her quarterstaff, (another tool from their collection), and that each person must in time go out to meet life in their own way, and learn all they can of who they were meant to be. She was a trained healer and could gather herbs and prepare and use them safely, as Moira had been a good teacher, and maybe there truly was more in the wide world that she was meant to do and become. Far Haven would be here for her, whenever she needed to return.

And so, Ylloelae is now wandering and exploring the world, meeting many new people and trying always to improve her skills, learning much from others along the way.

Should you so desire, you may go into the Portal Room, back to the Main Room, or to meet those who helped in some way in the building of Ylloelae's Place.
Please, feel free to leave comments, questions, and greetings!

©1996 By Ylloelae