Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

Era of Adventure



It was the tale that everyone shared. The same story with different protagonists all facing the same villain, the same hardships, and the same fates. I was no different, I was not a fortunate exception from this inevitable ending to my story. But this is not the time to speak of such things as endings and fates, no… now is the time for genesis. It is the beginning of beginnings, the start of an Era. In my case it is the Era of Adventure.

~Prolouge~

My name is Eden Roh. This is a tale of adventure unlike those most tell, that’s because I leave nothing out. I tell everything from the beginning to the end. Which reminds me we need to do just that, start at the beginning of the day it all started…
I awoke that morning quite early, hoping that I did not awaken my siblings. Unfortunately my plans were not a secret to anyone in Kayle, the main city of our prosperous kingdom. Prosperity…its not what it once was in the world. Once long ago, prosperity meant that everyone prospered from the kingdom. Instead it meant nowadays that those with fat wallets prospered while those whose families wallets were slightly less obese were fortunate enough to have the tax collectors keep them that way. As was the case with my household.
I slipped into the main room of our home on muted feet. Peering through the ebon haze of night I could vaguely make out the shape of the armor I sought. It belonged to my uncle who had died several years back in the war. The armor was sturdy if not slightly damaged by the two-inch wide hole where the spear had impaled my uncle through the left side of the chest plate. I gave a silent sigh as I thought of the upcoming events that this armor would have to be utilized as best as possible. I started to wish I had saved enough to get some new equipment. But I knew as well as any other that all payment went to food and taxes…mostly taxes.
I pulled on the armor trying to get a feel for its cold, hard texture. Once it was fastened securely I grabbed my pack and began to grab what was needed for my venture. Some food, clothes, salves, water, and a kit my dad had put together the week after I had made my decision. Once it was all packed I sighed once more and brushed back my hair which had fallen over my face in an awkward mess. It was hard to manage on a once a week bathing schedule. But the crimson tinged mid-length web of hair was still in good condition considering the terrible treatment I gave it. As I straightened it back into its usual “style” I measured the weight of my load. It was more that I had hoped to carry considering that I was expected to come back heavier than I left. As was what everyone my age was expected of.
In my mental ramble I had not noticed as my youngest sister came up to my side, gripped my hand with surprising force, and whispered her tidings to me. I never understood how she could be so mature at such a young age but she always knew how to act in such situations as this. No drama, no tears, just sincere thoughts. I felt like it was necessary to say something but she simply looked up at me and nodded as if in understanding. So I settled on a warm hug to convey my thanks for her sincerity.
Once more I was startled by the appearance of my family as my mother, father, and oldest sister stepped into the twilit room. I rose to my full height and looked my father directly in the eye. He had been the only one to truly accept my decision and I had never really shown him how much I appreciated it.
“Well Eden,” my father began towards me, “It seems that you’re ready, how are you feeling”?
“I’ve been better.” I answered honestly. I wasn’t fully ready but I had little choice at this point. “I’m sorry for not waking you guys on my own…I didn’t want to say good bye.”
In truth I had been thinking of ways to get around the farewell that would inevitably end in tears from my mother and possibly even my father. No one wanted to see me go.
“Neither do we son, but I think we all know that it must be done.” My father always enjoyed speaking to me as if I were trying to get out of everything difficult in life. Mostly because I am. But this time they were all right, I had to go.
In this time period, the overall market of the kingdom has plummeted to an all time low. Money became scarce due to the wars on the other side of the world. As a result the king made a “move in the right direction”. That’s what he called it anyways, him and those in the upper districts. His “move” was to return the profits to the empire from the pockets of the citizens. In simple terms, higher taxes. Much higher. So high at this point that over 85% of all decent income is turned over. Now we peasants don’t make decent pay, we make decent taxes. So to overcome the “move” of the king, we made our own “move”. Those of us at the age of 19 or older, with proper equipment and courage, set out into the world to make a fortune. We are the true adventurers. It is not a destiny we choose, although the choice is ours to make. If we do not choose to make it then the ones we love suffer, that is enough to make those like me set out and make a name for myself. A name that carries far and wide, especially in the obituaries.
The following events were not those unlike the others that I had dreamed would happen. Leaving Kayle was not easy for me to do. I felt as if I was abandoning everyone by setting off into the world, but deep down I knew that it was what was needed. After all, the idea belonged to the people back at home. My friends had set out earlier in the year and some had returned with fortunes big enough to keep their families in the upper districts. It wasn’t long after that I was pressured into my decision.
And with that, here I stand. Ancient armor, pack heavier than a mountain and little confidence towards surviving to see my next day, sounds pretty good to me! I said my final farewells, certain that’s what they would be. As I left the house and walked through the western gates to the city, a single tear rolled off my cheek, I knew that would be the last of my tears I would ever shed…