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Beanillus the Wanderer

"All points need heard and considered. Only those who have been heard will ever open to co-understanding.

Only solution based communication will deliver satisfaction for all parties. Connection must always come before correction.

Patience is the key to people's hearts and it cannot be improvised or side stepped."

I've never forgotten that speech. With a hundred heroes gathered it had felt like father spoke directly to me, as a father to son. The irony that such a Sword Master and revolutionary as he would orate such words at such a gathering seemed obvious enough, even as a lad, but the faith those men had in their prince was such that seemed as if only he heard it. Such was the power of fathers character. A man who had never failed.

Beanillus he named me, after his grandfather. Centuries had passed since that once famous house had been named, but the short years of fathers rise to power filled the exiles with certainty that this time would be different. This time the half elven homeland would really manifest.
"The Jaguar" they called him. Impossible to find. Reclusive, and cunning. Sudden death, by night or by day.
But even a jaguar can be cornered.

I introduce myself as Ben nowdays, what few folks notice me call me "Wanderer", or even "the wanderer", since many only know me by sight from my comings and goings.
For now it must remain that way. Not all lands nor all people are fond of half breeds, and the return of 'the hidden child' as man is not a prospect I would choose to face alone. The possible rise of the heir of the Four Houses of the independent kingdom could draw the wrong kind of attention.

Even writing these things in this journal could be a mortal risk, but I feel compelled to tell the story as I know it. History will judge. Perhaps there will be some who desire to know of the last son of the Four Houses.
There are many now who don't know these once famous tales. Tales of an elven princess ages hence whose passion was stirred by the courage and virtue of a human prince, who had fought beside her father. Tales of an elven prince who kidnapped a human princess, only to fall in love in exile. Tales of the joining of the Four Houses of Elves and Men
Few men remembered, and even the elves seemed to have forgotten, until the Jaguar was first sighted. The Prince of the Four Houses had direct claim to various possible lines succession, and represented numerous threats to the balance of powers. Though he was mighty, he fell to treachery.

I need allies. Ones I can trust. People who have been tested. But why would such people ally with an unknown, nondescript wanderer? Though athletically built and tall for my kind, my elven heritage gives me a light frame that seems small when compared to most human warriors. With fathers jet black hair I pass well enough as one of the humans from the distant south, but so far my only claim to fame is my hard-won one tan.

Half a century has passed since fathers death, but anyone who knew him would recognize Beanillus as his son. It's said that we are mirror-image, especially around the eyes, which both share that particular green shade that only humans with some trace of certain elven bloodlines possess.
I suppose it's lucky that so few yet live amongst men who remember the face of the Jaguar. And though the memory of elves is long, there are few among that race that ever cared about the details of a bastard claim to long bereft houses. Father's habit of success as a revolutionary has left very few enemies who might recognize his face.

If I am ever to unite the half elven under one banner in a homeland of their own I will need to prove myself. Until then I will have to make way as a huntsman and guardsman, keeping an ear for causes worth achieving, and trying to pass for human as often as possible.

Wanderer Beanillus

Advisor Description

I'm being watched. By at least two people. I'm nearly certain of it. It took me a while to notice, but when I did, I recalled several other events that occurred previously.

The first incident was actually before I arrived in Town. I knew it was dangerous to expose myself in public, and so was on my guard. After I had seen the town from the crest of the hill, and as I finished the last turn in the road, I noticed a man sitting under a tree. Though dressed casually he sat with the posture of an athletic man. Upright and attentive, like a guardsman.
Father had made sure I was taught to be perceptive, and at a first glance the man seemed to be waiting.
It isn't hard to tell if someone is waiting. It's more difficult than some might guess to pretend to be busy. People who are waiting, truly waiting, are not bored, or busy, or thinking. This man wasn't resting. He wasn't doing anything. Nothing but sitting, and watching.

But that wasn't the strangest part. What was strange was that, as I passed into the woods I used the cover of a tree to look behind me, and the man had quit waiting, and was walking towards town.
I thought little of it until today.

At the tavern there has been a different man watching me. At first I thought it was just because I was new in the tavern, or perhaps he was looking to hire. So I stood outside one night and looked through the window. He definitely acts differently when I am in the room.
He's not very good at watching. He would be obvious to anyone who wasn't drunk, blind, or overconfident. I overheard he is known as Erigard the Politician.

At first I was shaken. But after a few days, when nothing happened, I began to get the sense that there was no malevolence from this man. There was even once when I was knocked down by a loose bull that I thought I saw him start, as if concerned or to move to my aid, and then stop himself.

But today is when the parts made a picture. I was in the street, and a traveler was entering by the main road. Recognizing the man trailing a distance behind him as the same man who had shadowed me into town, I suddenly noticed Erigard standing not far away, pretending to be speaking to an elderly woman.
He was really waiting.

That's when I remembered that he had been standing in the same spot when I first entered town. He had looked conspicuously past me, making too obvious eyebrow gestures at the man behind me. Innocent enough till a pattern arises.

Stepping into a shop, I observed the two men enter town. The traveler first, who resembled me slightly, and his shadow behind. As I predicted, the traveler went to the tavern, and the shadow broke off and approached Erigard the Politician. As he approached he shed the postures of a strolling gentleman and took on the bearing of one with military training.

I wasn't close enough to hear, but with a shake of the head the man delivered his negative report. Disappoint showed on Erigard's face for a moment before he stilled it.
"They're looking for me", I thought. "They know who they're looking for, but aren't sure what he looks like". But only my mother knew I would be heading to Town this month.
Was it more possible she'd been discovered, or that she had sent assistance?

The 'warrior' departed, and Erigard turned towards the tavern. Impulsively, I decided "I can't continue to avoid this man". As he passed the shop I was in I stepped out of the door, directly in front of him.

Erigard stopped in his tracks, not knowing what to do. He opened his mouth, then shut it again without a sound. Then he looked me directly in the face with a mixture of sadness and joy, and opened it again.
He froze when his eyes met mine. We were close enough to each other that I'm sure he could see the 'elvish green' in them. Most men don't notice, and fewer know what they see, but Erigard had apparently met elven royalty before.

After a few moments he stammered "I should go", and glancing to see if we were noticed, continued to the tavern.

Beanillus the Wanderer Post Play & MMORPG RPG Text

Message to Advisor

Though I am uncertain of your motives oh, I see few choices except to trust you. It is my hope but my relationship with you will help me receive news from distant lands and perhaps guide me towards the sort of small tasks that I should pay attention to while learning my way about.

I visited the Body Guild today. It was quite impressive, and there are many things I wanted to learn. For today I was forced to be satisfied with Hand Wrestling lessons, but I look forward to returning.