The expeditionary force set up camp on top of a hill, guards were set up all over and Marlin and his group had been assigned the south east side of the hill. Many suspicious and aggravated guards that demanded they take this serious were silenced when Marlin gave them a demonstration of his ludicrous perception and how little went past him. After he pointed at a bush and Gary shot a hiding deer in the lungs they were left alone.

a few of the other Tj’utt adventurers and tribesmen shared their meal.

Brial a middle aged looking Tj’utt shaman 120 years of age, of which there were very few, he was level 7.

“Why did it take you so long? To get to level 7? do you have the gift of strife as well?” Marlin blurted out.

”Marlin don’t be rude!” Milly slapped Marlins arm.

Brial smiled softly. It’s ok Milly I ought to explain our young but not so young brother here a little about how shamans operate.” Brial’s smile grew cryptic. “You walk upon one path. I walk upon two. Our journey involves more than just combat and skill."

Marlin was curious. “What do you mean?"

Brial nodded. "We interact with the spirits, the revered ancestors, there have been shamans who beseeched the great leviathan of old itself, although that is mere legend now. We seek their wisdom and knowledge. Sometimes, we must offer part of ourselves in these exchanges."

”you… offer your experience?”

“Yes, Marlin. To gain the spirits' guidance, we must sometimes barter our own growth. The experiences we would use to rise in power are given to the spirits, in return for their ancient knowledge and guidance their gift of fate. Through this, we gain insights that guide the tribe and protect it."

Bron spoke up with an absolute respect in his voice "And in return, Brial receives fate and fortune for us."

Marlin was confused, “Fate and fortune? What does that mean?"

Milly, grabbed Marlins arm, “you’ve seen the results without realizing it. Brial's gifts shape all our path and protect our tribe."

Marlin felt a chill down his spine. “I... I see. That sounds... powerful, dangerous.”

”ah how delightfully perceptive you are, not just with your eyes not-so-young brother! You would have been a fine shaman had your fate not been so… exotic.”

”That’s one word for it” Marlin scoffed. “Fucked in the..” Milly practically slapped her hand on Marlin’s mouth. “Marlin you absolute idiot! Not in front of a shaman!” Milly gasped at her own words and started profusely apologizing. Brial just laughed and waved it off.

”Rather blunt eh? Not-so-young brother.”

”It’s Marlin if you please.” Marlin wiggled out Milly’s grip. “Ah i apologize.” The shaman tapped his temple. “Two lives i see. Marlin. Im glad your soul found its way to your parents. There is an indelible truth about your bonds in this word you sorely lacked in the old one no?” Brial looked at him with a curious gaze. Although Marlin wasn’t perturbed perse, he felt he should have been.

”They call me perceptive, but it pales in comparison to what you can see. To answer your question, yea I Lucked out big time with my parents and yes.” He wrapped his arm around Milly.” The bonds that i have here. What i have observed others have…” Marlin couldn’t find the words for a moment.

Brial smiled, “Indescribable I would say. That particular gift of sight in of itself makes it worth, to be shaman. Brial smile faltered. “Yet we find ourselves in times where those bonds will be tested, shaken, broken.” Brial’s cheery nature became despondent for a bit as he gazed into the distance.

Marlin followed Brial's gaze, the crackling of the fire created an almost mystical backdrop to the shaman’s words.

Brial continued, "The spirits speak of a great trial coming our way. A trial none of them has witnessed." Brial shrugged. “Some suggest… “he was quiet for a moment hesitant to speak. “That they might have a point of reference if i was able to link than the seventh generation.

Milly tightened her grip on Marlin's arm, a look of concern crossing her face. "Can the spirits not see clearly what is ahead?"

Brial shook his head slowly. "Not clearly. The spirits speak of shadows and beasts, the greater the change to the course of fate, the less clear this ‘future comprehension becomes."

”The dark side clouds everything.” Marlin said it without thinking. He couldn’t remember where he heard it. It was from his old life he knew that but those memories were vague and sparse these days.

Brial nodded, “An apt thing to say not-so… Marlin.”

Brial’s eyes met Marlin’s, and for a moment, it felt as though the shaman was peering into his very soul. "Stay true to your path, Marlin. Trust in that sharp perceptive instinct of yours, but also at the danger of sounding like a hopeless romantic, thrust your friends, everyone has a unique perspective sharp or not."

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Come Milly your responsiblity as a Sorceress is needed. Milly knew what that meant chanting and dancing to the tune of ancient melodies, invoking the attention of the leviathan and the guidance of the ancestral.

Come! My brethren it is time to let the fires roar! Brial exclaimed loudly. Be used his magic to let the flames of the camp fires roar. Many of the kin and nobles were startled and reached for their weapons but the older and more seasoned Kin calmed them down. Letting them know that this was an Utt tradition.

Milly began a slow rhythmic dance around the fire. Bron had somehow procured a drum and set the pace. Both Brial and Milly began humming a leading tone one for the females or males with high pitched voices and Brial a low baritone hum that was joined by those gifted with a powerful voice. Marlin was coaxed into following Brial’s lead. As a Brother of the tribe he was no longer allowed to just watch. Although he felt embarrassed it wasn’t particularly difficult. As the minutes passed on, Many of the Tj’utt started singing harmonic variations. Some danced along with the rhythm some had musical instruments and it created this harmonic crescendo that kept building. Emotions swept up high fueled the crescendo and like a flame it roared higher and higher.

A stomp of Brial quieted everyone down with near perfection. Only a few noticed the slight delay.

The stars above shone brightly ever so slightly, as if drawn to the energy radiating around them. The silence that followed Brial's stomp was deep. The flickering firelight cast shadows on the faces of the Tj’utt tribe. Everyone was grimm.

Brial stood tall, his presence commanding reverence. He raised his arms, and the flames responded, swaying gently in time with his movements.

"Brothers and sisters, we find ourselves on the cusp of great change. The spirits whisper of trials, of battles and victories to be claimed."

He paused, his eyes sweeping over the gathered crowd, lingering on Marlin for a moment before continuing. "Our path is fraught with challenge!” Everyone’s eyes glinted at that smiles ever so slightly. marlin realized it had some context that eluded him, “yet all of it will be blinded by the light of our spirit! The goblin horde threatens our lands, driven by the machinations of a war not of our making. But we are Tj’utt!” He paused for just a moment and gazed at the Kin observing.” And we are Kin! We are resilient, strong, and united!”

Marlin understood what the shaman was doing, it didn’t take a genius to notice the discord between the different camps. Now he saw several people from all factions nodding in agreement, swept up in the collective spirit of an alliance that needed to be ironclad.

He stepped closer to the fire, the flames reflecting in his eyes. "Remember this, all of you. When the battle rages and the enemy seems overwhelming, all that matters in that moment is your brother or sister on either side."

The crowd murmured in agreement. Marlin felt a renewed sense of determination he knew some form of manipulative magic was involved but he needed this, to be undoubting, the shaman's words resonating deeply within him and he reveled in it. So did most for that matter.

Milly, who was standing beside Marlin, her eyes shone with a mixture of pride and resolve. Pride at the heritage she was part of. And Resolve at coming out on top.

She glanced at Bron and Kotak both were no longer morose or doubtful. Both seemed eager to crush some goblin skulls now that they felt how deep their bonds with their tribe and their people really was.

Brial's voice lowered, taking on a more personal note. "All who stand with us tonight, know that you are the bearers of the future. Your actions in the coming days will shape many things. Trust in each other, trust in the ancestors, the gods, and above all, trust in yourselves."

With that, Brial lowered his arms, and the flames settled back into their usual rhythm. The shaman sat down, seemingly tired and went into a meditative state. Everyone slowly dispersed and went about their own business. Marlin noticed a few young Nobles fidgeting with the hem of their sleeves. He decided to walk up to them.

“A fine evening for an eve of battle don’t you think?” He greeted them.

They seemed taken aback at first being addressed by someone like Marlin. But the moment had them in a but of a daze so the usual snappy underhanded comments from nobles were absent:

“Good day the name is Eamon”. The tall one introduced himself, Eamon, was tall and lean, with sharp features and a cascade of raven-black hair tied neatly behind his head. His green eyes darted around, betraying his unease, he waited for a moment and spoke, “after that shaman’s speech, I feel like I should say something to my men, but I don't know what. I can't just let his words hang there without adding to them."

the woman nodded, she was a striking figure with auburn hair that fell in loose waves around her shoulders. Her deep blue eyes reflected both intelligence and uncertainty, she looked more like a scholar then a mage or someone that belonged on the battlefield.

"I share your concerns, Eamon. I'm used to speaking in academic settings, not to soldiers before a battle. I fear my words might not carry the weight needed to inspire them. I mean how could they after such a performance.” Marlin was a little irked at her assessment. To him Brial had felt genuine and raw, the tone of this woman indicated a lot of what she did as a noble was theatrical performance. But he ground his teeth and kept quiet.

The last one a stocky fellow with broad shoulders and obvious Military training with how he carried himself, had a deep scowl. "I've trained all my life for combat, but leading men with words is different. I feel like I should step up and say something profound, something that will rally them, but I don't know where to start."

Marlin looked at each of them in turn. “You shouldn’t say anything. This was more of a spiritual moment. A moment of bonding. That’s the purpose of priests and shamans in this world is it not? Think of something to say tomorrow.”

”ah, that is a fine social tactic, it breeds a sense of community and if we speak up it would diminish that effect. My I must say the title of Lord is not just show with you is it not tyrant?” The way she said it was matter of factly, like a scholar might speak on a subject. It felt utterly dehumanizing to Marlin however and he felt his rage boiling.

”Time will tell if that is true. Well i’ve kept the 3 of you from important duties no doubt, il excuse myself now.” Marlin turned around before his eyes turned red and walked away. The woman was scolded by Eamon for her tactless words but she didn’t see the problem with stating the truth.

Marlin hated how he agreed with her but still felt offended. It made him realize he lived in complete defiance of his role something the woman had no concern or knowledge for. “Fuck il be glad when this is over and il never have to see a noble like that again.” He thought to himself. He had really wanted to knock her lights out but even Marlin was coherent enough to know that that would create a shitshow of epic proportions he had no way of dealing with in his current state.

“some day,” he murmured darkly to himself.