MTG Fantober Week 1: Gariath
The story begins on the Highland Isles of a far off plane. Gariath was raised by his grandfather and grew up to live with his mate and their two sons. They lived a hearty existence, hunting and gathering, always willing to fight for the right cause. Maybe that’s why the village shrunk to nothing, always another noble cause. First it was the oldest, eager for one last great fight. Then the young went, eager to show trophies they never lived long enough to bring home. Finally, it was decided to disband the tribe. Not enough people around and no reason to stay. Gariath heard of a discovered land needing more people to populate it and left for a new start.
On his way from the port town to the only inland town at the time, there was a problem. The new land had been an easy choice for unscrupulous individuals to escape their consequences and the wilds between towns had been an easier choice of a place to create new ones. The caravan’s passengers had heard some sounds in the nearby woods. Not wanting to go in and get ambushed by unseen attackers, but wanting to take care of the problem, Gariath thought the easiest answer to the problem was to give people a view of the foes at hand. He threw a torch into the forest and engaged the enemy. The rest of the company followed, and what ensued would be called a slaughter amongst with none would recant the horrors seen. That night, half the forest burnt and a new story came to be among the settlers.
The new lands had their own fights that needed to be fought, and the people there needed someone to fight them. Together with other companions who saw a cause that would be worth it, Gariath fought foes great and small. Great beasts who flew overhead and roamed the land, and vile beings who manipulated the people aground, the group fought on. Every conquest was a step in securing their new home, and a stepping stone to gaining more power. His group was not alone, as the lands were being explored more and settled even more.
Eventually, Gariath found out about martial tournaments that had been cropping up in the new towns. Looking to prove himself, and his companions looking to make quite a bounty on his endeavors, he entered the biggest one he could find. Every victory earned Gariath more and more appraise and he took a trophy from each combatant. After winning the battle, the fortune made by his companions was enough to make them true entrepreneurs. Rallying with the Wizard collective, the Monster Hunters Guild, and the Great Goblin Blacksmiths, the group took on new roles of business owners and true adventurers going out and bringing back treasures. They had their own motives, power, wealth, justice, and knowledge, and with that they all became more than they were.
The group grew in power and influence, but also grew apart. Their ambitions left little room for collaboration, but their ties still lent themselves to one another. Gariath came to think about what he wanted in life. Hearth and home, a new tribe safe and secure from the ravages of the world, and himself to be the protector of it until one of his own can supplant the position. For this, he has gone to great lengths to empower himself and garner support from individuals willing to join his clan. Many rituals done, many artifacts collected, many armies decimated. Now on the precipice of greatness, he is one step away from gaining all he has needed for his vision to become reality.
