From: erik_read@qms1.life.uiuc.edu (Erik Read)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [Jarl] Tundra
Date: 14 Dec 1993 19:02:57 GMT
Message-ID: <erik_read-141293125958@gardner2.life.uiuc.edu>


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Raido  Mannaz  Thurisaz  <<<<<read right to left

He had been wandering for quite some time. The days jumbled together like
glacial run-off tumbling down the mountainside. Swirling in the mists of
time, the day to day events became obscured as quickly as they appeared.
The world around Jarl faded and resolved, shifting from a hazy remembrance
to a distinct reality. Jarl was not sure whether or not he was dreaming,
but to him that was of little consequence, what was important was that his
spirit walked, sooner or later he'd find his way........

......The character of the terrain was familiar, though he had never been
there. The lay of the land was that of his youth, a vernal, untamed tundra,
subdued in appearence but vigorous in it's intensity. Every vista reminded
Jarl of his homeland and his youth as a Saami. To the south a verdant plain
of green stretched to the horizon. To the north rolling hills undulated to
the feet of distant snowcapped mountains. As a boy boy he had often
traversed between these two extremes, constantly herding the Reindeer
towards greener pastures. The life of a Saami was hard with little
security, it was also full, full of work, and full with the clan. The Eklof
clan was not large or small, but the number of Reindeer that bore the mark
of the three oak leaves was great, this meant that every one worked, the
young, the old, even Jarl's family, the Shaman. His family had carried the
clan drum for countless generations, passing from father to daughter,
mother to son. Some said they were born Shaman, others said they became
Shaman, the truth was a little of both, as it always seems to be. Memories
came flooding back, he had been groomed to be the next Shaman since he
could stand on skis, learning to cast the Runes,  sing the Joicks,  and
even moving  as one of Nature's Folk. Jarl would have always be respected
as the clan shaman, even if he didn't fill the post until the age of
fourty. His decision to leave the clan was a hard one, but the Runes had
said there was more for him than Reindeer. The Runes were right, but now
Jarl began to doubt their wisdom; he was lost, naked and hungry. To make
things worse, by the location of the sun and condition of the plants,
winter would soon lay it's icy grip upon the land.

With the realization that winter was close Jarl had obtained purpose, and
with this purpose he had focus. He had move from empty trance, to forlorn
nostalgia and finally to reality. Quickly slipping into the patterns of his
youth, Jarl concentrated on immediate, practical concerns, food and
clothing. A cursory study of the rocks which littered the hill told Jarl
all he needed to know, Elk had grazed here recently and were moving
westward. There were no signs of human conpanionship which meant the Elk
were free for the taking. Tracking Elk on the tundra is not a difficult
task, this time of year the Elk would be grazing heavily,  putting on
weight for the long dark night to come, and this left tell-tale marks. Jarl
looked off to the setting sun that was painting the sky orange, with a deep
breath he began walking........


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 )Hey you, Antero Vipunen, rise from sleeping, from dreaming too much ! )
( There's not a man in the departed...my mound of flesh already rotted!(
 )Erik_Read@qms1.life.uiuc.edu                            -The Kalevala )
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