❝ 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑔 ❞
spoke the Green Word
Despite the powerful yearning in her heart and a desire to be free, Fran instead decides to temper her desires into faith for her place amongst her people. Ignoring the calls to the outside world, she instead plies her prowess in weapons and hunting to strengthen her tribe hidden deep within the Golmore Jungles. Jote is happy that her younger sister has abandoned the notion of leaving the Wood and instead to be happy among them, and to keep their family intact, this heightens her moral and those of the other viera. Just as the eldest of the three sisters came to womanhood and took the mantle of leader, Fran decided to fully apply herself to the role Wood-Warder: spurred by the memory of nearly losing Mjrn to the forest floor below and the many beasts that called it home she’d decided her traits were better suited for battle than making salves. Guided by the elder viera she was molded into a fierce warrior and hunter: fearlessly leaping into the fray or chasing down prey in hopes of filling empty belly’s back home, many came to admire her steadfast nature and cool temperament -- reflecting how much like Jote she’d become, and yet so very different, mostly due to her fickle tendency’s and aloof personality.
Though she had abandoned the notion of leaving the wood and the dreams of stepping out of the jungles had remained just that -- dreams -- it did not stop her lingering eyes upon the horizon. Each day she would wander the village and stare into the abyss below the planks that held them high into the trees: admiring the depths and verdant color that painted every inch of their home, with hints of browns and yellows. How many a thought that stirred deep within her gnarled gut, aching to at least sneak a peak of the forbidden lands while able to return home to the one they had dubbed their goddess, their guide, their mother. But with freedom came a price, one that she had not been certain she was willing to pay for in her youth all those years ago, when deciding to abandon the Wood and the Laws of her people. Fran’s thoughts were constantly muddled by her mixed desires and so, to distance herself from breaking the vow she’d made Jote, doubled her efforts as a Wood-Warder before ascending even the most experienced of the caste, turning into a sort of General among them: holding the power to give rank to viera that passed their Rites to become Wood-Warder, and the first to decide whether to lay siege on invaders or to extend mercy and allow them to flee.
Outside of the Golmore Jungle tensions with the Archadia and Rozarria began to reach all time highs, with soldiers from either kingdom invading much of the lands between them, using them as a makeshift battlefield in hopes of annexing smaller community’s and land to strengthen either ones advantage over the other. Just from the outskirts of the jungle the viera watched with strained tension beginning to wonder if the humes would truly stay within Ivalice and leave them out of their power-struggle. Fran grew restless as she watched outside of the jungles each passing month, observing as humes scattered through the Golmore in hopes of escaping the unrest or shake off pursuers of the invading army while in kind she could sense the uneasiness of the Wood: her spirit was as restless as her own, and she -- as well -- pondered on the safety of her children and herself. Unable to attack every passerby lest they give away the location of the village, the viera were unable to protect not only the grounds in which they hunted but the foods they would grow or harvest from the wilds, the passing humes and other creatures had just as easily found these plentiful bounty’s and eagerly devoured or stole, even scaring away most of the prey animal’s they would use for blankets, ceremonial rituals, clothes, dressing wounds and crafting their weaponry -- everything was being ripped away and the first time in a long time Jote and many of the others began to worry. It was by the Law they could not leave the forest or the embrace of the wood, and yet with little food or other resources they could not possibly survive much longer, lest they cull their own numbers.
With this new predicament the two sisters were again at each others throats: Fran, whom wanted to open their village up to outsiders in hopes of stimulating trade to help them survive, at least enough until they could reasonably close off again; and Jote, whom was vehemently against any that were not viera from stepping into the village, breaking their sacred laws that they had treasured for many lifetimes, she was certain this was merely a trial they must pass -- surely the Wood would not forsake her loyal children? Unable to find a compromise Fran decided that it was Jote’s role to follow the Green Word, to respect the Wood and to guide their people with reason and firmness, it was her way, and should they not change course she was certain they would starve until little of them remained, so she proposed to her: allow a few of them to leave the to the outskirts of the Wood, trading with those passing through and return to the village with supplies for the wider community, but outcasting themselves from the inner workings of the village. At first Jote resisted but over time softened to the idea, especially when looked upon by the others in their village: fearful of the future, fearful of dying slow, fearful that their way of life was coming to an end. Before making her final decision she consulted with the Green Word, hoping for guidance and mercy, hoping this would be a fair trade -- that she would not be displeased -- only to be rewarded with a favorable answer: yes. But on the condition those whom walked alongside Fran would remain near the front of the village and never again allowed to venture its walls, to instead live just outside of it as sacrifice to protect the wood, to be noble martyrs. And thus the decision was made: Fran and a few of those whom volunteered beneath her left the village to make contact with passing strangers in hopes of discovering what they could trade and what would help them in the long run, after many failed attempts the group turned successful and brought their first bounty to Jote and the others: rejoiced, many of them took the spoils and left just enough for Fran and her band. Though many were grateful none of them could express gratitude, none but Jote herself, whom merely gave a gentle nod to her kin before watching them yet again leave just beyond -- to be part of the wood... and yet rejected by the wood. It was... difficult.
Both disheartened and energized Fran took to her new duty with pride and honor knowing that even though she could not walk among those in the village again, even though she could not smile upon her sisters in the same way, that she was still helping those within and could reasonably have a bit of freedom due to her outcasted status. She was close enough and allowed to walk a certain distance within the village, but her home still remained just outside of it in a small camp made in the ruins where travelers often pass, able to have a bit of freedom with the security of her home and loved ones close by. . .
