Story name: Parting
Author: i Bethron
Publication date: June 29th, 2011 (MKGuild)
Date: December 24, 706 CR
Location: Åelfwood
Overview
An ancient powerful wolf meets an ancient Åelf friend in the forest for the last time.
Summary
On December 24th, a wolf walks through the snow-covered forest to a clearing, where a lone Åelf rests asleep in a chair. Despite its quiet approach, the Åelf speaks up, welcoming it back after so long. The Åelf is unafraid of the wolf's bravado, and it becomes clear that the wolf and the Åelf have known each other for many centuries. Among other things, they talk about the Åelf's young apprentice who is adapting well to changes in the world, about the wolf's past history such as provoking the Ecclesia and lifelong search for a home, and the Åelf's approaching death in the coming year. The wolf is surprised and sad that such a long-lived friend will die within the year, but the Åelf denies wanting to live, knowing that his death will serve a greater purpose.
After a long silence, the Åelf suggests that the wolf go to Metamor and be its protector, as the wolf is capable of great power. He also predicts that the wolf will eventually find a home, that it will seem unfamiliar at first, but the wolf will bring great changes upon arriving. The wolf is angry, as it has never had a part before in the Åelf's "Story", but the Åelf says it is not prophecy, merely a prediction based on the wolf's past history.
The wolf and the Åelf finally say their goodbyes with unexpected tenderness. The Åelf's name is Qan-af-årael. Whatever the wolf's true name, Qan-af-årael knows the wolf only by one name: Ingemer.
Characters
Main Characters:
- Ingemer: An ancient, powerful wolf-like creature.
- It has blue eyes, lean muscles, and shiny black fur. It is at least 4 feet tall, standing a foot above the chair.
- It apparently eats animals whole. It enjoys elk, with deer being a mere appetizer.
- In Qan-af-årael's words, it has "unique qualities" that make it stealthy. It boasts it was the first ever to enter the Åelfwood without permission.
- Though Åelfs are generally known for watching the forest, only Qan-af-årael knows Ingemer is visiting.
- It has an extraordinary power that brings chaos and disorder, at great physical and mental cost. It is forced to use its power against the forces and powers of this realm. It can give its power to others, but feels they don't deserve it.
- It cannot speak, but nonetheless is able to communicate with Qan-af-årael, including the ability to use a long-dead language and then translate it.
- It is currently seeking a purpose for its existence, and a home, believing that both exist somewhere despite a long fruitless search.
- It occasionally needs to create some mischief every 125-150 years or so in order to not get bored.
- Ingemer has been alive for a long time. It has seen enough of the world to have lost interest in it and its people, except for Åelfs. It does not have any interest in forming alliances with other races, viewing them as ephemeral.
- It obliquely refers to itself as someone who once led change in the world.
- Some time ago, it lost its temper, and was duly punished. Such incidents rarely happened.
- Possibly related, it has a quarrel with the gods.
- Qan-af-årael: The oldest Åelf in the world, Ingemer's friend.
- He wears gold-trimmed green robes.
- Others believe him to be a prophet. Ingemer believes he is merely a good judge of character. Qan-af-årael does not confirm or deny either stance.
- He is over 3000 years old.
- Next year, he will die, apparently alone and under distressed temptation to live, but must die for the good of the world.
Important Mention:
- Qan-af-årael's apprentice, Andares.
- According to Qan-af-årael, Andares has the same temperament as Qan-af-årael, and adapts well to change.
- He is younger than 1000 years.
- According to Qan-af-årael and Ingemer, he will take part in the overthrowing or razing of Yesulam within a hundred years from now.
Referenced:
- A guest of Qan-af-årael's, an Ecclesian visiting him later. Almost certainly Kashin.
- Someone else who will die with Qan-af-årael, whose family has had great powers of foretelling. Most likely (SPOILER).
- He must die, alongside Qan-af-årael, in order for a prophecy to be fulfilled.
- Ingemer has seen him before.
- The first ancestor of the aforementioned family with the power. Most likely (SPOILER).
- Ingemer believes both individuals misused their powers and have a history of arrogance.
- The protector of Metamor Keep, Kyia. She defends the Keep, but only when attacked.
Locations
- There are wards in the Åelfwood to keep intruders out from certain areas.
- There is a clearing in the Åelfwood, kept warm and free from snow despite the open sky. It is unknown whether this is a natural feature of the woods, or is Qan-af-årael's doing. There is a single wooden chair here.
Society
- Åelfs are believed to be quite powerful, more than they really are.
- Events in certain prophecies are expected to be fulfilled soon. Afterwards, however, they will begin to contradict each other, and eventually predict entirely different things.
- "Bado mae, Qaneg" means "Go well, little Qan" in a very ancient language.
Chronology
- Qan-af-årael and Ingemer have been meeting for centuries.
- In 652 CR, Ingemer provoked the Ecclesia in Pyralia, claimed to have been trying to change their stance on magic. Qan-af-årael suggests Ingemer only provoked them for its amusement.
- There is fresh snow in the Åelfwood tonight, and no wind. The moon is a waning crescent.
- Note that, in the canonical 706 calendar, December 24 would be almost full.
- In 707 CR, Qan-af-årael will die.
- Before 806 CR, according to Ingemer and Qan-af-årael, Yesulam will be overthrown or razed. Andares will be in this fight with all his strength, heart, mind, and soul, as well as "that which is not his".
Story Connections
- This story takes place concurrently with Winter's First Chill, just before Qan-af-årael meets Kashin.
- Qan-af-årael's role in "the Story" is told in The Last Tale of Yajakali.
Points of Interest
- Ingemer sarcastically calls Qan-af-årael "great Pencina" when asking how it dies. Pencina could be either a name or a title, perhaps for a prophet, a priest, a sage, or some other ancient figure.