| The Willow Sourcebook |
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In Willow's village they all agree that without Kiaya, Willow "would have frayed himself to tatters" (as the Nelwyn phrase goes). When Willow would sleep past dawn, leaving the hogs unfed and the weeds untouched, Kiaya pulls him out of bed. When Willow stumbles to the door without breakfast, Kiaya pushes him into a chair to eat. When Willow leaves a chore untended, Kiaya is there to push or pull him toward it. Through pushing and pulling, Kiaya plumps up her husband like a pillow, leaving him well rounded and (lately) a little chubby. Everyone knows that Willow could no more stand without Kiaya than could a pillow. Kiaya is Willow's wife and the mother of his children, Ranon and Mims. In all the world there are no others he loves so well. They treat him less as stern ruler of the house than as good-natured uncle, but he doesn't usually mind. When they ignore his commands, it's usually for the best. When he wanted to send Elora Danan drifting downriver, they insisted on bringing her in. Because the children are still young, Kiaya could not even think of accompanying Willow on his journey to the crossroads. But following an old Nelwyn superstition, she sent with him a braid of her hair. In village folklore braids are the symbol of domestic affection (women usually braid their hair upon marriage). The braid comforted Willow on his lonely trip, when he was apart from Kiaya for the first time since their courtship. COURTSHIP Kiaya's happy childhood left its legacy: the twinkle in her eyes and the thrill in her laughter. She grew into a beautiful young Nelwyn woman, and when she reached the age of wedlock - among the Nelwyn, about sixteen - several suitors approached her father, Newgallon, to ask for her hand. Newgallon, a foreman in the copper mines, viewed the beaux with amusement. He made them stand before him in his large home, while Kiaya baked muffins at the hearth, politely silent... but within earshot. Proud of his handwriting, Newgallon inscribed each suitor's name in bold round letters on a parchment nailed to a wall beam. "I can provide her a large house on the river and plenty of food," said Dollum Wheelover. "Aye, you shall not skimp on food," Newgallon said, laughing; Dollum was as round as a kicking ball. The father stole a sidelong glance at his daughter, who pursed her lips primly at her dirty dishes. Newgallon continued, "But that house on the river has nearly fallen in the river, you've let it run down so. Next!" "My family is among the richest in the valley, and my father sits on the council," said Andon Vasst. "Your daughter will be honored to join us." "Your father is a fine man, and your family is honorable," Newgallon replied as he wrote Andon's name on the lengthening list. He peered slyly at Kiaya. Though she gave no hint of attention to the conversation, she regarded her muffin tins with stern disapproval. "Yes, an honorable family," Newgallon continued, "and when you gallivant around the village late at night with your rowdy friends, and stone crows, and taunt your elders, the family must be sad. Ah, well, you may yet grow up, Andon. Meanwhile - next!" Next came Henley Hornbeck. "I l-l-love y-your dau-daughter and w-would l-l-l-l--" What a hopeless smile Kiaya gave to her rolling pin! "Your request flatters Kiaya and myself," said Newgallon, solemnly adding Henley to the list. "I will consider and convey my decision to you soon. Next!" HOW WILLOW FELL INTO KIAYA'S LIFE Though he played judge, Newgallon actually passed along Kiaya's own decisions. Like many Nelwyn fathers, he would decree his daughter's marriage when (and if) his daughter found a suitor she could love. Until then, he forestalled the rest. "My dear, do none of these fellows please you?" he asked Kiaya. She hardly looked up from her baking. "Oh, I like them all, in their ways. I just wish...." She sighed. "I just wish one of them could make me laugh. Or cry, or keep me awake thinking of him. Or be afraid for him." Kiaya forgot that thought by next afternoon, when she carried a basket down a wooded path near the village. An elderly Nelwyn couple lived in the forest, and they traded part of their blueberry harvest to Kiaya for breads and candies. Now she was bringing them the muffins from the day before. The tree branches arching overhead, garlanded with small spring leaves, cast spiky shadows on the path. Suddenly Kiaya heard a crack and a crash overhead, and a choking scream. "Glory!" she cried, as down through the branches hurtled a shape, all limbs and grasping hands. Then the shape halted and there, hanging by one leg from the lowest branch, covered with twigs and twig scratches, dangled a young Nelwyn. It's that silly Ufood boy, Kiaya realized. "Willow! Are you all right?" "Hnnrghhghh," said Willow, and then, distinctly, "Owww." After she helped him down, she asked, "What in all the valley where you doing up there?" "I'm sure I'll remember in a moment," said Willow. He uncrossed his eyes. "Oh, hello, Kiaya. --Oh yes. I was searching for a blue robin's egg to use in my magic act. And I found a beauty, too!" he said. He flung open one hand, and Kiaya jumped back. "Oh, drat!" said Willow. "Sorry about that. It was whole when I got it. Did any pieces get on you? Here, we can clean that yolk off at the river." He limped off toward River Freen. Kiaya followed, to make sure he wouldn't fall in. "Are you hurt?" she asked at the shore. "Oh, no, no. Well, maybe. I always thought I could use a couple of extra joints in my legs anyway," he said, and Kiaya laughed. She hadn't realized how much Willow had grown over the years. That stubby little boy she used to play with at Festival had magically turned into a fine young Nelwyn man. "Be glad you don't have to climb trees for your magic act." She giggled. "Your position there looked pretty undignified." "Painful, too." She washed the egg's remains from her dress, then made a splint for his sprained finger. He talked all the while about his new tricks, plans, and his dream of becoming the High Aldwin's apprentice. "I was heading for the river anyway, to fish for copperbacks," he said. "Imagine how everyone will gasp when I pull away a scarf from my table and there are beautiful fish swimming in a bowl! 'Oh, Willow, how did you do it?' they'll say. The Aldwin will appoint me on the spot. 'Willow, my boy--'" His puff-cheeked imitation of the Aldwin made Kiaya snicker. She couldn't understand how Willow had grown so charming, as though overnight. "Look, you see them near the shallows here?" said Willow, pointing out the swimming copperbacks. "I've even got a hook in my pocket too - Owww!" While she cut the hook out of his thumb, Kiaya asked, "What will you use for bait?" "I had some worms in my pocket, but the fall out of the tree didn't agree with them at all." She laughed again. "Do you think fish like blueberry muffins?" "If they have any sense they do! You have some?" They put a pinch of muffin on Willow's hook, and the rest in Willow's mouth. Fish leaped for the bait, forestalling Willow's own leap for the muffin basket. "Delicious!" he said. (With his mouth full of muffin, it came out "Velimmmfrmmf!") He swallowed and added, "Those copperbacks will be patrolling my fishbowl in no time." But somehow they lost interest in fish. Talking first about the muffins, then her cooking, then her life and his, the village and the villagers, the weather, the birds, rain and wind, magic, monsters, heroes, and wishes, they ended up stretched out on the grassy bank, watching a glowing spring sunset over River Freen. In the twilight their conversation turned, tentatively, to love. At first the young Nelwyns lay looking up at the emerging stars, discussing love in the abstract, like a class topic. Gradually, circling in toward their own lives, they sat up and looked at the river, pulled their knees up and looked at the grass, clasped their arms around their legs tightly and looked at nothing. They talked a long while. In full darkness he walked her home. They forgot both hook and basket. By the light of her home's torches and of Newgallon's careful gaze, they finally looked at each other, and they smiled. Willow left, Newgallon shut the door, and Kiaya ran to the list of suitors posted by the hearth. She crossed off every name, and at the bottom wrote in big letters, "WILLOW UFGOOD." RANON AND MIMS After a courtship of socially acceptable length, Willow and Kiaya married. Marriage calmed Willow noticeably, and he became less accident-prone. Kiaya never discouraged his dream of becoming apprentice Aldwin. But she was glad that Willow also gave thought to planting, mending fences, and reality in general. After another socially acceptable interval, Kiaya gave birth to their boy Ranon. Mims, the daughter, followed a year and some months later. The parents lavished affection on the children, even by generous Nelwyn standards. "I feel complete for the first time," Willow once said. Some villagers (notably Burglekutt) thought Willow remained incomplete, especially in regard to brains. But they all agreed Willow and Kiaya made good parents. Apart from their chores, Ranon and Mims spend time as all Nelwyn children do. They take lessons in history and folklore from the High Aldwin, learn reading and arithmetic from their mother, and play with other children. They grind pigments and sand wooden slats to make paintings. Soon they will be old enough to go to the village archives to read, or to swim in the river and explore in the forest. Since Willow returned from his adventure, well along on the path toward great sorcery, villagers often speculate about Ranon and Mims. There is some evidence, though not much, that the gift of magic is hereditary. No one can explain where Willow got his; but every villager has a story about how Ranon can spot fish in the river just before they leap, or how Mims did a painting of some event that later came true. It's much too early to say. But everyone is watching closely. GAMING NOTES 0 skill-level normal Nelwyn SKILLS Cooking and other domestic skills, parenting, first aid, persuasion, conversation. No combat skills. Ranon and Mims |
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