Zelaide


Now, a little about myself you say? Well let me see what I can recall about my younger days before my acceptance into my beloved guild. When I was younger I lived with my parents Somewhere to the west of what is known as Shard. We weren't really a rich family but we weren't to bad off, my Father being a Trader and My mother being a Bard. We were never without, that's for sure.

Father spent most of his time away from home traveling and trading for this and that. I never really was to sure what he traded but I heard the same whispers everyone else did. Weapons, that's right my father was, if you listened to the rumors, a smuggler. Now that never meant much to me because after all, he was my father. I think I probably knew somewhere in the back of my head that what Father was doing was wrong, but I knew he did it so that My mother and I would always have whatever it was we wanted. I always loved him for that.

Mother, what can I say about my mother? She was, I guess you could say a good Bard. Sure there were better, I have no doubt about that, but I'm not one of those children that thinks no one is better than my parents. Guess I'm a little to realistic for that, but who knows. Anyway, as I was saying, Mother made sure that the town always had instruments, if she wasn't fixing them she was talking father into picking up a few extras for the locals. Mother was awfully keen on making sure that everyone knew at least the rudimentary skills of playing an instrument for she always said, "No one can take the music away from you." Looking back on this years later I've finally come to understand those words. Music is in the heart and no one can take that from you. In fact you don't' always need an instrument.

So how you ask did I, the daughter of Trader and a Bard, become a Mage of the Moons. well It happened on one of the rare nights father was home with us. He decided to sit out in the yard with mother and I, which we did every night after chores. Mother sat as she always did, with her harp in her lap singing her lovely songs. Father well he just kinda sat there, probably thinking about how much money he'd make on his next trip. Lying on the ground as I always did on these occasion, I was observing the constellations. I had the hardest time observing the Panther constellation that night, which was odd in its self due to the fact it was always, the first one I saw when it was out. All of a sudden the constellation was just..there, then things started to grow fuzzy. I could see something in front of me but it was like peering through fog and I could barely make it out. There was a man sitting at a desk reading what I think was an ancient manuscript, then the picture faded and I saw a turtle sunning its self on a rock. Next thing I knew Mother and Father were standing there staring down at me, I knew something was wrong because I could see the moonlight glinting off the harp strings where the harp lay in the grass, and mother never dropped her harp. Just then I felt something...some sort of warmth all over like something was there, then as quick as it came it was gone again.

I explained this to mother and Father and they kinda took things in stride and accepted what I told them but they never talked about it. I don't think they ever really believed me to be honest with you. Well I thought about it constantly,and one day I finally told my parents I had to make a trip to Shard and I had to do it alone, there was no way around it I had to go. They both relented and finally saw that I was determined to go with or with out there consent and blessing. Well, father gave me some maps, and mother, she had to make sure I had my whistle and plenty to eat. The day I left was the last day I saw either of my parents.

I found my way to shard and talked with each of the leaders of the guilds until finally I came upon one that was different than the rest. At least she seemed so to me, her name was Gylwyn, I explained to her, as I had to the others, what it was that I had seen and why it was I felt the need to come to Shard and visit with the guild leaders. The whole time I was talking with her she had that smile that just kinda says, "yes I understand, I know what you've been through." She then explained to me that what I had was a vision of sorts, It was how Moon Mages predicted the future. That was when I decided to join the moon Mage Guild. I have never regretted that decision. One day I hope to see my parents again, but I know, I feel, that they're okay.


Last Revised: 9/14/00