Batlh'ghobbogh'yih

Family Tree of Batlh, the last of his Blood-Line

Father: Kzinti/Mother: Qualmi (?)

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Enigma

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              Father: Enigma/Mother: Calazahn of the Crescent Claw

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Shadow

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                                    Father: Shadow/Mother: Thistle

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Batlh'ghobbogh'yih

                      Batlh's Story

I was born deep in the woods of Silverfaith Forest, to the northwest of the Holy City of Dalara. I will tell you the first part of my story as told to me by my father...

The night was pitch dark, Yuzla was new. The other moons had yet to risen. I and your mother were forced to move through the forest by the senses of smell and sound only. In the distance we heard the snappings of twigs and branches as two large humans with lanterns forced their way through the dense growth. They had followed our trail, for though we had tried to be cautious we had had to make haste. There had been a third but he was not within sight.
I knew naught of who they were or why they wished death upon us. All I knew was that they had been brought to anger by the whisperings of my Grandfather's old enemies, the warrior human Grog and the mysrra traitor, Dev. My father had spent most his life running from these two and the ones that they had turned against him. I do know that my Grandfather, Enigma, raised their ire many many years hence.
We picked up our pace and twisted and swerved around many branches and roots. The sound of our persuers slowly faded into the background. We continued on, feeling our way through the brush when Galemon slowly rose, casting a bright, white light about the forest. Suddenly there was a muted *twang* and your mother fell to her knees with a screaming catterwaul of pain and anger. I turned to her and saw her collapse and grabbed hold of her and drug her behind a large fallen tree. I peered through the darkness and saw the brief movement of a shadow behind a tree. I slowly, and with utter silence snuck to where I had seen the figure. I heard movement on the other side of the tree and quickly climbed into it's lower branches and peered down. Against the trunk leaned one of their persuers, dunking arrowheads into a container of dark liquid. I crept quietly to the edge of the branch and jumped upon his shoulders with a snarl. He stood and tried to throw me off, but I extended my toeclaws and rammed them into the small of his back. He let out a cry of pain and he drew a knife from his sheath. I then reached forward and slashed at his throat and jabbed at his eyes. He released his knife and clutched at his face as I continued to dig my claws in digger to stay ahold. Finally with a gurgling in what was left of his throat he pitched forward and moved no more. I jumped off of him and upon his corpse I spat. I ran to wear I had left your mother and found her barely conscious and twitching in spasms. I lifted her gently and followed my nose for the smell of water. Soon I came upon the well used path that led to out home within the branches of a gigantic oak with thick limbs. A small lake reflected the rays of Galemon in the distance.
I somehow managed to get her up the rope ladder and into the house. I carefully laid her upon a bed to examine her. From her back protruded an arrow. I carefully pulled it out, many quiet hissings of pain she gave forth. I rushed for some bandages and herbs and quickly cleaned the wound and wrapped it. By this time she had fallen into a weary sleep. I took the arrow and examined it more closely. On the head was a dark, glistening substance. Poison. I snapped the arrow in two and through it within the fire I had started to boil the bandages. I stayed with her night and day but she continued to get weaker and weaker.
A few weeks later she gave birth and breathed no more. I threw back my head and howled in rage and remorse and for a bit I must have blackened out. When I came to I went to look upon my son. The kitten was small and runty, though with extraordinarily long midnight black fur and mane of hair. Its frame was slight and skinny. The poison had also affected him, stunting his growth and weakening his bones. I wrapped my wife within the sheets, gave her a final look, and took her down to the ground and buried her beneath the roots of our tree, and covered the spot with many rocks. Many years went by, and many a trip I made to the Holy City where I bought milk to feed the infant. Despite many trials the kit did grow and become somewhat stronger, and lived.

My father was forced to raise me alone and taught me the ways of the forest and the geography of the land for he had apparently been a great explorer in his youth. Having no strength he figured me useless for anything physical till the one day when he was showing me how to trap small creatures. With a sound of fluttering a sparrow flew by me and in a flash I caught it. I can now to this day remember the gasp of astonishment from my father. While muscles I had not, speed I had in abundance. From then on he trained me in the Discipline of the Claw, where agility and speed were of more importance than strength. One night, near my eleventh year, as we were asleep a passing goblin party, always hungry and eager for entertainment, ransacked our house and pantries and as my father tried to throw them out they injured him badly. I was thrown in a sack after a brief scuffle, but the goblins being too dumb to realize I had claws, soon found I had torn a hole in the sack and had escaped. I returned, when they had left, to find my father barely breathing and badly beaten. He had seen me fight valiantly, yet hopelessly against the grown goblin warriors. He then named me: Batlh'ghobbogh'yiH, The small one who battles with honor. He then coughed a few times... and did not stir again.

I covered him with rocks and stones and laid him beside my mother. I wandered about aimlessly, not knowing where to go, what to do... I lived off the land as I had been taught, eating eggs and small creatures to fill my stomach. Then one day I came to a great sea, which filled me with awe and fear. Flying off and on the ground were large birds that gave the most rascious calls, and for as far as the eye could see was sand stretching out and running into water that was so big I could not see the other side. Strange smells of all kinds floated to my nose... and then one in particular did I notice. It was the smell of fish.. frying fish. I followed the scent till I saw a little twirling of smoke. I slowly walked closer and saw that on the beach was a small fire with a strange creature lying near it, eating it's meal. I crept a little closer, sniffing in the smell of the fish deeply. Suddenly the creature's large ears billowed out and it turned it head to me. I was a little nervous and backed off a bit, but it beckoned to me and I went up to it. It smiled at me and said something to me in a strange booming voice. It must have sensed my confusion for it switched to Tradespeak, and asked if I was hungry. I nodded eagerly and it held out a pan of codfish. I ate hungrily, answering and asking many questions of the creature. I told of my parent's deaths and everything that had befallen me. It listened with sadness in it's eyes. Then abruptly it stood and as I eyed it curiously it made strange gestures and threw it's head back and semed to throw something at me. It came over to me and graspsed this strange bubble it had put around me and threw me into the ocean, and dived in after me. I instinctively held my breath, but finally could hold it no longer and... breathed! There was air around me. I then calmed enough to look around me. I was far underwater and fish and many many strange underwater creatures swam by me. The aquapura was behind me pushing the bubble along till we came to this gigantic underwater mountain. It took me deeper and deeper till we reached the bottom and I noticed a large cave in the bottom. I was led into it and we then started to go up inside the mountains. Then as we neared the surface he jumped up out of the water and onto dry land and reached for me in my bubble. As soon as it touched ground it burst and I fell to my hands. I looked about in awe. All about me was a city within the underwater mountain. Many aquapura came to me and jabbered curiously.
A discussion started among some of the elder aqua's and I later learned they had decided to protect and educate me. I soon became skilled in many things, and lost most of my fear that mysrra naturally have of the water. Though I was treated kindly and taught much, they lacked the fierce spirit and determination of the Mysrra. I thought back many times to how I came to be here, and how it could have been if someone had just been there to help my father and mother and me years before. With those images in my mind, I came to feel an irrepressible urge to become that Someone and make a difference in some way. I studied with fierce determination in all branches of learning, for along with claws and speed, Knowledge was also a powerful weapon.
Then one night I started to wonder about these meetings that seemed to go on almost every night, but I had not been allowed into even once in my years of stay. I snuck quietly through the dark streets and made my way to the great building where the Council met. At guard by the doors were a couple aquapura guards, bone knives in hand. I maneuvered around them and climbed up the back of the building where it met flush with the stone walls. Spotted here and there were holes leading far down to allow air to move in and out. I put my ear to one hole that was larger than most and echoing from it were the words being spoke below. I listened for a bit and blinked in surprise. They were talking of me. As I listened my face grew hard. I soon learned that they had rescued me for the sole plan of learning about mysrra and to using me to infiltrate my race and bring back secrets for them. I was filled with rage. They even went on to talk about how well the infiltration of the human and braman race was going, gaining postions of power but doing little. They did no actual work or help in the least. They were not but leeches, living off of others. I left feeling disgusted by the species and an idea started to form in my head. Maybe I should do a little leach-work off my own...
From then on I listened secretly to the meetings and turned my focus to the magic that they used. I saw how they abused it and used it only for their own goals. They cared not whom it affected as long as it aided them and them alone. I learned that magic was a knowledge to use, and channel, but not dominate. And so I researched for months and the months turned to years. Then one night I overheard a conversation of how I was to start my 'training'. For I would be forced with magic and other ways to believe myself loyal to their cause and none other. That night I slipped from my bed and out to the water and having learned much, surrounded myself with a bubble of air and dived in. I did not even bother with a last look at the home of this foul, scheming race.
Few hours later I ventured forth through the moon-lit forest. The pine needles between my toes and the breath of fresh air enlivened me. It had been so long since I had smelt air without the ever-present stench of salt and the cool, comforting glow of the moons. And so I made my way to the Rainsong Plains, the location of the Holy City, so that I could meet fellow mysrra and learn more about their ways, being long removed from them. Just as the sun was rising I came to Dalara.
After much study with those of the Crescent Claw and wise old mysrra named Zoffrey I left the city. Outside the gates, idly exterminating the annoying wickerskins, I met my best and eternal friend Kien. The large human and I discussed many things, and taught each other much in the way of combat. We both seemed to share a kindred spirit, wanting to aid all that needed it and drive evil from the land and bring Peace. With his Thunderblade in hand and my claws and Knowledge ever ready, we went about the land visiting all and exploring many places in our personal quest.
We stayed near the Catchburr forests, training in multiple skills, but I noticed that Kien would at times look out, far across the land as if in thought. When asked he told me he longed to see the town of which he grew and see how his parents were faring. I bid him go, and we would meet later. He brightened at the thought and set off immediately.
I headed down to Dalara to check on the news, if any, when I saw a suspicious looking human sneaking about the grounds. I grew curious and followed him. From some tall grass I saw him gather his strength and climb up and over the protective walls. I grew angry and clambered up the walls myself. That infidel knew better than to go within the city!
It was a very warm summer day so most of the guards were within the shade of the battlements and somehow this human snuck past them. I shadowed him and watched him climb down the stairs. I had finally had enough and ran down after him. I grabbed his arm and he twirled around to see me. He sneered and asked me, "What do thou want, cat?". I said, "What is your name?" He took a step forward and towered over me and said, "Why do thou need to know?" to which I replied, "So I may curse it when your head rolls at my feet." And with that I launched myself upon him unarmed. He smirked and took a step back and said," Then thou can call me Grog. But it will not be my head" and he drew two wickedly spiked clubs and bellowed at me. I slashed at his arm and my claws bit deep. He dropped his club and his arm hung loosely at his side. Then with strength of rage he brought down his club and I felt my leg crushed under the blow. I fell down and was trying to sit up when a few mysrra merchants saw what was happening and called for the guards as they lept at him. He gave a contempuous snort and spat upon the dirt in front of me and ran for the gate. He shoved the guard to the side and sprinted into the plains, trailing blood from his arm.
I learned that my leg had not been broken, but that the knee has been dislocated. I was able to stand within a few days and go about normally. Feeling the need to take out my anger upon something, and feeling hungry as well I jogged out into the plains in search of a meal. I was following a deer when I suddenly heard voices. I raised my head above the grass and stiffened in anger. Standing there with a few mysrra was Grog! I jumped out of my hiding place and ran to the group. They had sack of skins and meats with them and by the looks appeared to be a small hunting party coming back to the city. They would not know of him. I crept up quietly but Grog glanced over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes. He suddenly grabbed a shortsword from the scabbard of the female mysrra beside him and launched himself at me. I called for help by the other mysrra but as I was opening my mouth he came down hard with the flat of his sword and unconsciousness took me.
I awoke with Kien standing over me...

To be continued...