2 Ta'ro the Druid
Now for our second companion for this journey: Ta'ro. A Druid female , who is about to become of age this summer in just a few weeks. She hails from Nymwell, a druid village in the middle of forest Jura, that resides in the south western region of Spriglade that houses mostly druid along with some other Fae species. She has a light brown skin complexion, long pointy ears with a piercing on her right ear lobe, emerald eyes, long dark-brown hair which she tends to put in a half ponytail and some tattoo like tribal symbols on her right shoulder. She had a lean amazoness-like build, with large hips and legs like her mother's mostly brought on by the intense training she went through in her adolescence , and measuring in at six feet tall. Ta'ro was stubborn but earnest, loyal, diligent in her work, somewhat awkward, and a little impatient to say the least.
Ta'ro was never alone; Accompanied by a large red squirrel named Folia, who loved to mimic her partner's actions while training, wore a small leather chest piece an left shoulder pauldron of metal with a crack in it that came from a broken armor a local guardsman discarded, had a carrying bag over it's shoulder, and a pointed staff(that it sharpened with it's own teeth). Folia never left her partner's side ever since Ta'ro rescued it as a baby. Together, they were ready to take on the family tradition of becoming warriors, guardians whom care for her people and the creatures close to the village grounds. Her parents diligently told them how honorable their duty is and how important it is for the village and the safety of those who call it home. She never once complained about her training, just the lack thereof. Now they count the days for Ta'ro's coming of age to embrace her duty, and to meet her grimoire for the first time.
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Not often does a stranger or outsider in general visit Nymwell, since those who do most likely stumble in on accident, and only few use it as a stop before continuing on to their destination, but there have been cases of rouges, bandits, and thieves that make their way which is more rare than a friendly encounter, but rare means there's always a chance. What is of more concern are the dangerous creatures that have gone ravenous during this dark era in Sprigladale. They are blinded by rage and attack any creature regardless of their adversaries strength. That not only makes them reckless and unpredictable, but also makes an attack spontaneous. Unless it lets out a cry in the distance or before attacking, you can never truly know if there is a beast hidden just outside the village waiting on it's next victim to cross it's sight.
Ta'ro knowing this was as determined as ever to keep those she cares for safe. Never having to back down from a fight anymore, now that she will have full access to her magic and might, she will be much more powerful and able than ever before. Her combat prowess were already very capable thanks to her training, but the added benefit of magic was the next step in growing more powerful, so her eagerness grew, her patience diminished and so did her parent's from the constant reminders these past few months. All she did everyday was let all whom she would cross know how many days until her birthday at every chance they'd meet.
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Soon she gets her wish. The weeks turned into days until finally, just hours away before the big day. Though she was loved, just about everyone was also eagerly awaiting for Ta'ro's day. Many thought just maybe she'd train so continuously they'd be relieved of her constant reminders and her outbursts of eager energy. Ta'ro eventually came to a calm. Many in the village saw this as an omen. As if to think it is just a calm before the storm. So everyone braces themselves for the possible outbursts and reminders of her finally having said grimoire for at least another week. For the only child of the male Druid Torrel, and female Druid Gilvyre was finally entering adulthood.
As dawn came, Ta'ro lay still in a hammock inside a treetop hut that goes over her home on the ground, with an opening on top giving her the view of the sky as it turned into dawn. She gazed at the mixture of stars and clouds as a few tears rolled down her cheek. Folia snuggled into the nook made between her under arms and the hammock. The weight of what it meant to protect those she cared about was starting to weigh her down. A pressure to exude excellence and strength like her parents was setting in. Between her growing self doubts and moments of trying to stay calm, a sudden emerald green light radiated from her body. From her abdomen a grimoire emerged covered in a emerald green aura to match. "Is this really happening?!" she said aloud. Taken aback from the sudden emergence of her grimoire. She was waiting for the ceremonial breakfast her parents were going to hold for her that morning. They told her she was birthed in the morning, she never figured it would be THAT early in the day.
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Suddenly she had more tears, but these were tears of joy and not of doubt and self pity. It was her day, what she dreamed of was finally here. She did her best to stay calm and take it all in. "Folia it's my grimoire! It's official... I'm grown up...". Folia hugged her partner in such an emotional time. Ta'ro held Folia in her arms with tears running down her cheeks and onto Folia's back, but Folia didn't mind. Eventually they drifted off into a calm slumber. When they awoke soon after what seemed more of a nap, they ran down the treetop hut and went to find her parents and give them the big news.
Folia was on Ta'ro's shoulder as they made their way to find her parents who were getting ready for their morning patrol. With a large leap she jumped from branches and tree trunks before making it to her house below. "IT'S HERE!!". The booming voice could only unmistakably belong to one being. With that, Ta'ro's parents braced themselves for what was to happen next. "LOOK AT IT, IT LOOKS AMAZING RIGHT?! I TOLD YOU IT WOULD BE!!"
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"Yes dear we wouldn't expect anything else but the best from you." her mother stated while embracing her. Then told her, " Ta'ro take your day to unwind and celebrate, you can train another day, you've earned it." "I agree, take it easy today, because tomorrow is gonna be tough." her father said with sly smirk.
"I expect no less!" exclaimed Ta'ro with a comically stoic look. Ta'ro then disappeared as quickly as she came, and went into the village to share the news with her friend everyone who cared to listen as well as those who didn't. Eventually night would come to fall and her big day came to pass. For the next three days Ta'ro became familiar with her grimoire and learned to understand it, all the while having the absolute toughest of training which she took in strides. She excelled so much in such a short time it was hard to believe how far along she was. Ta'ro was living the dream. That is, before it turned into a nightmare. Just six days after receiving her grimoire, her world as she knew it would be dismantled.
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"Aaauuggh" a terrifying shriek came from a local druid woman who tumbled into the entrance of the village. Without a moment's notice, Ta'ro, her parents and two other guards rushed to the village entrance. Ta'ro caught up to her mother and they arrived together on the scene. The woman was a neighbor named Talia. It was graphic. Her arm was missing, and blood was draining onto the floor. Before Ta'ro could react, her mother pulled her back away from the woman and soon after a beast landed on the woman crushing her skull and abdomen with a crunch and squelch that would make anyone nauseous. This beast was terrifying, large, and brutal. Resembling a bear but roughly three times larger, having short tusks, sharp teeth and claws to match, with a silver mane running down it head to the middle of it's back. Ta'ro was frozen at the sight of it all.
"Remeber your training, move! Anticipate! Adapt! Overcome!" Shouted her mother. "We can mourn later, we have to stop it from hurting others.". Ta'ro nodded, took her weapon at the ready and kept her eyes on the beast. She felt uneasy but knew this is what she was training for, and it was time to put that training to some good use. "You two! Evacuate those close by to the center of the village, you're the last line of defense!" instructed Gilvyre to the other guardsmen who acknowledged her order and left right after.
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Fft! An arrow zipped by from above, hitting the the beast's shoulder as it lets out a roar in rebuttal. "I'll cover you both!" it was Ta'ro's father Torrel from a vantage point amongst the tall tree branches. Ta'ro and her mother Gilvyre flanked the beast on each side, creating an opening for them to strike one at a time while arrows hit their mark from above. The beast was slowly being shredded to death from spear strikes, arrows and slashes from daggers. The beast was in a bad position and let out a foul bellow that made their ears ring a bit, the beast emitted a dark aura around it's body as if it were black smoke. This spelt danger, the beast was enraged and surrounded by corrupted magic.
"Don't forget you have magic too!" her father shouted. They all gleamed of their elemental nature as their grimoire exposed and flipped to pages with ancient looking text. Her father had fire magic that was suited for ranged combat, he summoned a magical bow and three arrows, and let a trio of flaming bolts strike their mark. Her mother had nature element that excelled in close combat as well as subduing opponents. She touched the ground as her grimoire flipped to a page and summoned hardened roots out of the ground with cork screw tips that then shot out and wrapped the beast pulling it to to it's knees.
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Without hesitation Ta'ro followed up with her magic. She was a rare jack of all trades. Her magic favored combat of all kinds. She grew hardened wooden boots and gauntlets with a wooden mask that emitted emerald light. She grabbed her spear, and launch herself above the beast using hardened roots that catapulted her from under her feet. In the air her grimoire glowed and she gave her spear a flame like aura of nature magic and threw her now glowing spear to the beast and like a beam, it flew through the beast's skull and onto the floor while she landed soon after.
"I hope it's dead for sure now... " Ta'ro sighed a moment later and felt relief at seeing the beast lay limp but fury for what it had done to a fellow villager. Gilvyre turned towards Ta'ro, "Don't be hard on yourself kiddo, no one could've expe-", cutting off her words there was a large set of claws from the beast in her abdomen. The beast was not dead just yet, but used it's remaining strength to strike the one before him in a desperate attempt to bring death to one more victim before drawing it's final breath. As it did, the beast slowly began to disintegrate and disappear.
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"Gil!" yelled her father as he rushed to her side. "Mom!" cried Ta'ro snapping out of her sudden shock. Her mother coughed some blood. "How stupid of me...I-I wasn't careful, I should've known be-" , being cut off mid sentence to cough some blood. "Stop talking Gil, I'll take you to the healer!" Torrel insisted, carrying his wife, and rushed to the village healer. Gilvyre's condition worsened in the short time it took.
Once there the healer tried his best but to everyone's fear could not heal her wounds with his powerful magic. The wound was turning black like the aura of the monster. "She's been corrupted by the beast that attacked and it's not letting me save her, I've used my strongest magic already." pointed out the healer. "If her life doesn't end now she'll turn into something that she isn't and wreak havoc upon us. I suggest you give her a warrior's honorable death. Please say your goodbyes, she doesn't have much time."
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In that moment Ta'ro and her father felt pain and heartbreak like no other. "P-please...I don't want to hurt any of you." Gilvyre breathed heavy before continuing, "Especially my only daughter...and the only man I loved." The darkness from the wound started corrupting the rest of her abdomen as she winced in pain and more blood seeped from the wound. With a forced and kind smile she said " I love you all, and sweetheart you did great, you saved lives " , which broke Ta'ro into a stream of tears but she could not cry out loud so her mother would not have to suffer any more. Torrel too could not help but have tears in his eyes. He took out a blade and in an instant, did as what was asked of him by his friend, wife, and mother of his child. Putting her out of her misery. Followed by the small family the finally releasing their anguished wales and their pain to begin grieving their loss.
That dreadful day marks the beginning of the journey for Ta'ro the Druid: a spirit of Justice turned into Vengeance.
