As written
by Cember himself
I was born in the Northwestern Highlands of Scotland, in the Village of
Glenngarry near Loch Hourne.
The spring of what is known by my people as the first Troll wars saw me
kicking and screaming into the world, and into the arms of my Clan. The
Clan McCue.
My Father, Regal McCue, was a Clan elder and along with my Uncle Angus
were two of the mightiest warriors in our Clan.
My Mother Heather, named for the flowers that grace the Highlands in
such abundance, was one of the most beautiful women in the lands. These
then were my family and I loved them greatly. They and my Clan
comprised my whole world...until the second Troll wars visited it's
dark shadow upon us.
When I was a child the first Troll wars were fought and won. The Trolls
were pushed back to the caves and crevices from which they came, but in
my thirteenth year the Trolls returned, stronger and in greater number
than before. Ever seen a Highland Troll? Well, I can tell you they are
Cousins of the Legends Of Cosrin variety, but bigger and more evil.
For deeds in the field, and for sheer number killed, the Troll King
placed a bounty on my Fathers head. He also placed a ten thousand gold
piece reward for the capture of my Fathers sword.
On that
blackest of days, the Trolls overwhelmed my village. I saw my Father
fight valiantly, but eventually succumb to the Trolls superior number.
He was beheaded before me. The last thing I remember of that day was
seeing one of those dark beasts carry off my Fathers head in one hand
and his sword in the other, no doubt to collect the blood money
offered. Later I learned - for I remember nothing of the days following
- that my Uncle Angus, full of grief, delivered me and my then pregnant
Mother to friends outside the Lands. He then returned to our Village
and we've not heard of him since. I turned inward, a very brooding
child. My only solace, my newborn Brother Tember, whom I loved with all
my heart. I vowed to not let our Fathers memory die, and to pass along
all traditions of him and our Clan that I could. My mother tried, Bless
her soul, but Ica forgive me, I could not see past my own thoughts of
revenge. Being of a Warrior race, my Mother understood, and on my
Eighteenth birthday, when Tember was five, she finally told me of
Regnar.
