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The Look
The first thing you notice about this man, besides his beaten and patched cloak, is his height. Standing at 5' 4" he does not seem like an imposing man. He is compact, and looks to be born of Cairhien. His dark black hair is cut short, semi spiked as it is parted to the side. Unusually tanned, as though he spent his entire life in the sun, for a Cairhien. He has a dark appearance accented by his midnight eyes. They seem almost entirely filled by his large irises. You notice that, for his size, he is a very strong man. Well muscled but still yet a lean man. His hands are hard with calluses from rough hard work, maybe fighting. He moves gracefully, like water, and even with his initial appearance of short and thin he seems... dangerous.
The Life
Born to a small noble family, Vokon was an only son. For 2 short years he grew up in the staunch household. His life took a drastic turn though when, during a bid for power, the lone son was kidnapped apparently for ransom, but mistakenly left within the caravan of one of the merchant trains headed into the waste. Among this small train of merchants, was an old gleeman. He was rumored to be of a former house that fell after a struggle for the Sun throne. The small boy of 2 caught the old man's eye and was soon taken under his wing.
The young man proved to be very bright for his age, and the gleeman decided to begin teaching him both in the ways of gleemen, but also Daes Dae'mar. For a year they traveled across the waste to the trade posts at the edge of Shara. For that year the youngster helped the old gleeman with his performances in brief stops near Aiel clan holds. Often attracting more viewers with the quick witted yet naive boy.
Yet again, though, the boy's life would take another unexpected turn when the caravan train was attacked by a renegade band of Aiel. They looted and left many of the people dead, only sparing the old gleeman and his apprentice, being that they were peaceful gleemen anyway.
Many of the survivors were badly wounded, and on a desperate gamble the people left tried to reach the closest hold for help. In this case, Taardad. Most of the merchants and others along with the gleeman, died of their wounds, not able to continue the trip. Without food and water, the 2 gleemen, almost themselves did not make it.
With a plead for help, and mercy the unwary Aiel of the Taardad took them in, saying they could not let an old man, or small boy go without help in the waste. They were gleeman, after all... The old man knew though, he would not be able to make the trek back to Cairhien, with or without the boy. He pleaded yet again a month after arriving if the Aiel would offer them permanent sanctuary, but the Clan chief did not like this, an outsider within the clan. He agreed however, that if the old man my stay for a year, but will have to leave at the end of that time. The child of only 4 now, could remain in the care of himself, and his 2 wives.
The old man agreed to his terms, but knowing his fate lay in the waste he made a last and great effort for the boy he had grown to love. He began immediately writing a book, putting everything he knew into it, all the knowledge he had bestowed to Vokon and more. Giving him his history, gleeman techniques, ways with women, everything he could think of.
He at the eve of the last day of the year, gave the book to the Clan chief, asking him to give it to Vokon when he reached the age of 10. Under much protest from the child, the next day, the old gleeman set off into the threefold land... forever.
Vokon grew up and was subject to many pressures by his peers, being the outsider, as well as some adults. Though he did make very good friends with the elder son of the clan chief, who was just about his age. The two became near-brothers and were fiercely protective of one another. Many times Vokon proved he was as much of a fighter as any of the much taller born aielman, protecting his brother's honor.
When he reached 10 years of age, the "little one" as they called him, received the precious book of the old gleeman. Vokon was quick to accept and read over, and over, and over the contents. Much of which he could remember being taught amazingly, but he poured over it again and with as much vigor as the first, second, third... time.
Still young he had decided what he would do. In addition to joining the Cor Darei, or Night Spears, the young man would become a sort of gleeman for the hold to honor the old man. Using much of the material he found in the book, and a few of his own weapon oriented tricks, Vokon became known for his performances.
Many of the clan viewed him as one of them for the first time, proud to have him among their clan. He was not Vokon the outsider, he was Vokon, clan Taardad, of the Cor Darei. He lived for years later, into his early twenties before the 3rd change was to occur. New had arrived concerning Laman's hideous act. He has cut down Avendoraldera!!!
Continues...
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