Cedric and Iona

The story of Cedric and Iona is a tale of the power of love in the Tribes and how Life Bonds can bring together families, even across the deepest divides.

Cedric was a man of the Reesa Tribe. He was a young and handsome craftsman, quite gifted in the arts of cloth work. Cedric was made famous not only among his own Tribe but also from neighboring Tribes for his ability to sew, weave, and dye cloth from even the most frayed moss into wonderful clothing. Not only did his own Chieftain wear his work, but it was also traded out regularly in exchange for many valuable goods that made his entire Tribe proud. When Cedric turned 17, he began to accompany his Tribe in their trading travels, visiting their neighboring villages to peddle away his clothing. As a handsome and bright young man, he was also freely open to his own emotions, and those two things made him an excellent trader and a desired partner for any young woman he happened to run into.

On one day, after a day's travel through the Great Forest, Cedric and his fellow traders came to the neighboring village of the Stackpollen Tribe. The Reesa and Stackpollen had been trading goods for years, and the introduction of Cedric's fine cloth work had recently made the trade a bit imbalanced. Indeed, the Stackpollen Tribe had more desire for his work than they had material to give. Cedric was too young and unaware to know just how much strife within a Tribe such an imbalance can cause, and it wouldn't have been something he cared to involve himself in, anyways. Cedric was much more interested in the world around him, looking constantly for the inspiration on his next work. He was in luck because that was the day he met Iona, and after that, he would never again lack for inspiration.

Iona was a member of the Stackpollen Tribe, and she was the daughter of a powerful family. Her family also represented a line of excellent craftspeople, specializing in metal work, which is extremely valuable among the Tribes. Stackpollen tools, weapons, and jewelry were renowned among all the neighboring Tribes for their quality and value. Iona herself had trained to shape metal, mastering the fine intricacies required to take formed metal and to tinker and shape it to make beautiful art. To add to her skill, Iona was also fair, and as a young woman, her prospects for a Life Bond were many. Iona's family, however, wanted Iona to form a Life Bond with one of the other powerful families in the Tribe because as a powerful family themselves, such a bond could potentially bolster their power over the Tribe perhaps to the point that they would appoint the next Chieftain. Iona had no such interest in Tribe politics, simply wanting to perfect her craft and find someone with whom she loved and who loved her work.

Cedric and Iona met by chance. When Cedric's Tribe arrived at the Stackpollen village, they were greeted and briskly rushed to the communal hall, wares in tow. There, the local families had already brought some of their extra goods and had displayed them to begin the process of trade negotiations. Iona, having just recently completed some new necklace ornaments, was rushing to the communal hall with them when she ran into Cedric who had an armload of cloth that he was removing from sacks they had carried. The resultant crash sent jewelry and clothing flying into the air, which crashed down around the two, but as the story goes, they took no notice of that. They had locked eyes, and from that moment on both Cedric and Iona knew that they were meant for each other. They collected their fallen goods and as they carried them, began to talk, and they would not stop talking for hours. Cedric marveled at Iona's craft, modeling how if only he could work with her, they would be able to sew into his fine clothing her beautiful metal work. Iona was impressed by Cedric's eye and loved that he seemed to truly see the same beauty in the world that she did.

As their Tribes negotiated a trade, Cedric and Iona strolled around her village. Iona introduced Cedric to many of her friends, and she showed Cedric many of the unique customs of the Stackpollen. Yet, after some hours, their stroll was interrupted as angry, shouting people began exiting the communal hall. It was Cedric's fellow Tribesfolk. They were visibly distraught and carrying their hastily re-bagged goods. Unsure of what to make of it, Cedric and Iona hurried to the communal hall. Enraged members of Iona's family followed Cedric's people out of the communal hall. They were shouting in anger, driving them away. Cedric and Iona learned that they were upset because the price demanded for Cedric's clothing had become so high that they no longer felt they were getting what they deserved for their fine metal work. The resulting bickering had caused a fight, and one of Cedric's Tribe had a bloody nose while one of Iona's family had a bleeding lip. Sorely disappointed at the sudden interruption, Cedric turned to Iona and grabbed her hands. He kissed her on the cheek and promised her that he would return with the next group once their Tribes had worked out the disagreement. Iona smiled, her heart fluttering, and she watched as Cedric ran off to catch up with his friends as they left the Stackpollen village.

Both the Reesa and the Stackpollen were well known for their value of personal honor, perhaps treating it as even greater than sensibility. As such, what should have been resolved with a communal apology instead became a serious point of contention. Both Tribes had great need of something the other could offer, but neither was willing to overlook this scuffle to bring resolution to the dispute. Instead, as some Tribes do, the Reesa and the Stackpollen began exchanging insults and threats. Slights beget slights, and eventually the minor issue of this scuffle turned into a major issue as Stackpollen and Reesa Tribesfolk were getting into scuffles while on gathering trips into their shared, wooded territory. It was feared by both sides that the turmoil might break out into real violence, possibly even a war, and although for the sensible this should have led to a Gathering to resolve the dispute instead fueled fear in both Tribes. This caused them to prepare for war in anticipation for what the other side might be planning. No more trading parties were formed, and thus, Cedric and Iona could not meet.

Yet, this did not stop Cedric, a hopeless romantic. He so badly wanted to see Iona again that he began to hatch a plan. He would travel off into the wood, dress himself like a Stackpollen, and attempt to sneak into their village. He was certain that if he was successful, he could find Iona, and together, they would approach her family and negotiate a truce. Simply, he naively thought, they would recognize the love between the two and see an opportunity for a Life Bond. Such a bond would force the Elders to come terms with each other and stop the hostility. It was what both Tribes really wanted, even if outwardly they couldn't let go of their pride long enough to admit it. So, Cedric prepared some new clothing for himself, adorning it with the symbols and colors of the Stackpollen. He hid it inside his home, and when the time was right, at night, he took off into the Great Forest, alone.

The trip was not long, just over a day's walk, with adequate rest, from one village to the next. However, it was dangerous. All know that the Great Forest is rife with dangers and beasts, and for anyone who travels alone, the journey can be deadly. Cedric, having traveled the route before, knew where to go and how to hide. He slowly made his way towards the Stackpollen village without disaster. However, those in his Tribe, waking to have found Cedric gone, immediately became concerned. Many thought that Cedric had been claimed by The Wild. Others thought that perhaps Cedric had been kidnapped, or worse, killed by the Stackpollen. The Reesa Elders and Chieftain held council, and it was thus decided that they would send some warriors to look for Cedric. Cedric, being very important to the economic status of the Reesa, demanded personal attention, and the Chieftain agreed to join the warriors on their search. So, they departed almost a full day behind Cedric, heading towards the Stackpollen village.

Cedric arrived safely on the outskirts of the Stackpollen village, and he hid himself among the trees until night. He slowly crept his way across their fields, taking hours to do so, so as not to draw attention to him from any of the Tribesfolk who may have been matching the fields. If not by miracle then by pure, dumb luck, Cedric made it into the village. Disguised as a Stackpollen and with it being dark, he calmly strode through the village, keeping his head low so as not to attract attention. Most Stackpollen had already gone to sleep. Knowing where Iona's home was from before, Cedric made his way there. Iona did not live alone, and so Cedric had to be very careful to rouse her and get her attention. He stood just outside her home, silently pulled aside one of the slats, and begin flicking tiny stones at her blankets to wake her. She roused, and in a whisper, he got her attention. She was both scared and overjoyed to find Cedric being the person to wake her. She crept out of her home and joined him in the night. Terrified of what may befall him, Iona pleaded with Cedric to return to the Reesa, telling him that her family was all but ready for war with the Reesa and would surely hurt him. Yet, Cedric refused to leave. He believed that they could convince her family of their love, and he wanted to stay to prove it. Unable to persuade him to leave, Iona finally relented. She woke her family and hoped for the best.

Filled with anger, Iona's family confronted both Cedric and Iona harshly. Their raised voices eventually awoke others in the Tribe, and before long, most of the Tribe was out in the night, shouting and unsure of what to do with Cedric. Iona clung to him, defending him from their wrath, and Cedric, still believing that the power of his love would overcome, stood tall albeit frightened. Harm did not befall Cedric that night, but his dreams were still dashed, all the same. The Tribe, enraged at Cedric's actions, could not decide if Cedric was honest or perhaps a spy spent by the Reesa. In any case, there would be no Life Bond, and due to Iona's pleading, the Stackpollen agreed to escort Cedric back to the Reesa unharmed. Iona and Cedric both cried tears of desperation but they fell on hardened hearts. In the morning, Cedric was taken away from the Stackpollen village, escorted by their warriors and Chieftain. As they marched out of sight, Iona, so overcome by the loss, ran towards the Great Forest after them hoping to somehow catch and talk sense into them.

At mid-day, however, the two Tribes collided as the warriors from Reesa who were searching for Cedric and the warriors from Stackpollen who were returning him met along the path. Seeing Cedric as a captive of the Stackpollen, the Chieftain of the Reesa immediately assumed him a hostage. He ordered his warriors to prepare their weapons. Scared but not willing to back down, the Stackpollen warriors responded in kind. There was an intense stand-off, with neither side willing to offer explanation. Cedric, during the commotion, wrestled free of his captors and ran to stand between the two groups, holding up his hands and pleading with both sides to put down their arms. The forest became quiet as it appeared that a great battle was about to unfold. However, then, suddenly, a scream pierced the air. It was Iona. Cedric, recognizing her voice, shouted her name and tore off into the Great Forest in the direction of the scream. Startled and unsure of what to do, the Stackpollen Chieftain ordered his warriors to stand their ground, and he chased off after Cedric and towards Iona. Equally confused, the Reesa Chieftain ordered his warrior to hold their ground, and he ran off after them all.

Cedric was the first to burst through the brush. He saw Iona, a large branch in her hand, as she was screaming and fighting off what appeared to be a pack of wolves. However, they were not normal wolves of the forest, as they were larger, with longer fangs, almost tusks, and deep red eyes. They were snarling and snapping at her as she swung her branch, knocking them about and preventing them from encircling her. Horrified, Cedric grabbed up his own branch and threw himself into the fray, swinging wildly. Cedric knocked one wolf aside as it lunged at Iona, but because of that, he was unable to protect himself as another wolf lunged at him. It took him to the ground, and Cedric struggled to keep its jaws from clamping down upon his throat. Iona was unable to help as she was busy fending the rest off of her. The scene looked hopeless, and as Cedric wrestled with the wolf, it on top of him, snapping at him, the smell of decay on its breath, Cedric was sure that this was the end of both him and his new love. Just as the wolf was ready to clamp down on Cedric's throat, a war howl echoed as a Stackpollen axe, gleaming steel, buried itself into the neck of the wolf, spilling blood all over Cedric and the ground. In a brief instant, a powerful hand grabbed the handle of the axe, and in one motion, wrenched it free while also tossing the wolf bodily off of Cedric. It was the Stackpollen Chieftain who had rescued him, and without missing a stride, he was already putting himself between Iona and the rest of the wolves, brandishing his axe fiercely.

Cedric stood up and searched for his tree branch, hastily. The wolves, now driven insane by the smell of blood, began to encircle Iona and the Chieftain. They lunged at him, but he deftly avoided them, swinging his axe around with primal fury, burying it into the side of one of the wolves as he dodged its leap. However, before he could wrench the blade free, the other wolves saw their opportunity and beset him. But before they could take him to the ground, another war howl, equally as fierce as before, silenced the forest as the Reesa Chieftain burst onto the scene, brandishing his axe on high. With great strides, he dove into the fray, killing another wolf as he did so, and protecting the Stackpollen Chieftain. The wolves, now having lost three, began to come to their senses and think better of the situation. This gave the Stackpollen Chieftain a moment of respite to grab his axe, and together, the two Chieftains, side by side, both snarling with ferocity, advanced on the remaining wolves. Terrified, they yelped and retreated into the forest.

With the wolves in retreat, the two Chieftains immediately turned on each other, standing ready to battle. Iona was the first to react. She ran in between them and put her arms around her Chieftain pleading with him to stop the fight. She professed her love for Cedric and that they wished to form a Life Bond. Her words began to seep through their anger, and slowly, both Chieftains lowered their weapons. Cedric ran to Iona and hugged her, both now standing between the Chieftains, symbolically. The Stackpollen Chieftain, still wary, spat onto the ground and extended his hand to the Reesa Chieftain for him to grasp. They clasped arms and shook mightily. It was thereby wordlessly agreed that Cedric and Iona would indeed be allowed to form a Life Bond, and for having saved Iona, the Stackpollen Chieftain would relent their feud. Likewise, for having saved Cedric, the Reesa Chieftain would also relent. Together, the four of them made their way back to the warriors where they announced the truce. There was much rejoicing as all of them headed back towards the Stackpollen village.

From there, the story of Cedric and Iona becomes a happy tale of the merging of two Tribes. Their Life Bond would last a life time, and with the skills of both Iona and Cedric, both Tribes became wealthy and learned to depend on each other. Together, the Reesa and Stackpollen would become close allies for many decades to come.

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--Neil (talk) 18:40, 18 October 2016 (AST)