I wake up on the ground, my memory a mess standing up, a bone fashioned into a club in my hand and a crude shield in my other. my body feeling off bigger and stronger. Looking around I can't see much of interest, only trees each one more bland than the last. There seems to be a couple of pathways leading through four directions: a campfire near my feet, several corpses laying there strewn across the ground all in similar animal pelt garments to me.
looking through the bodies I don't find much a waterskin, a firestarter and some rations useful outside of combat. I decided to make this camp my home for now before I start exploring outward. Looking around I see that the sun is beginning to set so I gather some firewood and set up a fire laying down and falling asleep. I begin to have a dream looking around it seems as though I was in an endless void unsure of where up or down was looking around. I couldn't see anything. None of my senses were active before suddenly I burst awake by a searing pain, a dagger lodged into my arm. looking up a strange humanoid creature stands there the dagger in its hand it looks like a child but with strange flappy ears one cut off it has a horrific nose and teeth and white skin instinctually my hand lurches out grabbing its skull before I smash it into the ground standing up I bring down my club on its skull again and again until im sure its dead. Searching through its corpse there seemed to be nothing of use. Looking up I saw the sun had risen. A new day has begun. I grab some leaves and wrap them around my wound as a makeshift bandage. It'll have to do for now. I decided that I shall travel west and so I began down the path after walking for a while. I encountered a strange man sitting on a stone altar of sorts, his head adorned with the skull of a deer, a necklace laced with teeth and feathers around his neck. Next to him on the stone several sharp bones are laid out next to a bowl filled with blood he looks up noticing my presence and greets me saying "hello barbarian I have not met one of you for quite some time please sit allow us to talk" before gesturing to a log next to him listening to his instructions I sit looking at him I ask "who are you?" he responds "i am the shaman björn may I ask for your name?" I look at him and begin to think about my name looking into my memories. I can't think of anything. I decide to make one up and say "I am rynn" the shaman looks at me saying "Interesting, well barbarian rynn, I have an offer for you. Are you aware of what a spirit mark is?" I look at him with an inquiring gaze and say "no please do enlighten me".
björn then begins "a spirit mark is a special kind of tattoo that we shamans can place upon a warrior to grant them strength and great boons as I am a follower of the god of beasts I can engrave the mark of the wild onto you its effects differ from person to person but I feel yours will be especially interesting" before gesturing towards a hide on the ground stating "if you wish to accept my offer then lay down" looking at him I consider this seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity hardening my resolve I lay down. Björn then walks next to me, his blood bowl in hand as he starts drawing something on my back in not fully sure what it is. He goes back to his tools and brings out his needles and a cloth throwing the cloth to me and saying "this might hurt a little"
before jabbing a needle into my back as an overwhelming pain overtakes me. biting into the cloth as björn continues his work after what felt like hours he finishes. I begin to stand up still weak in the knees I look to where he should be standing to curse him out but I find that he is gone no trace of him even the hide I was laying on is gone its as though he was never there but something was still feeling off my body felt hot could it be the spirit marks doing? I feel a burst of vigor coursing through me and feel far stronger than before. My heart beating wildly I looked down on my bandaged arm which felt better removing the makeshift bandage. I look in astonishment at my now healed wound, nothing but a light scar left. in the sky I see the sun beginning to set. I better get back to my camp soon.Once I arrive I sit down and light the fire. As I lay down I begin to wonder where am I who am I but I harden my resolve these thoughts will do me no good and will not help me survive as I slowly drift to sleep. I find myself in that black void again but this time I see a figure with a cloak covering it. As I try to go towards the figure they slowly begin to turn but before I see their face I wake up. still in this forest. Still alone. Sighing I stand up and decide to explore again today after all yesterday was a rather fortuitous encounter perhaps I will encounter yet another one. This time I will explore to the east as I start trekking through the forest. After walking for a few minutes I encountered a man in simple leather garments far more advanced than what I was wearing. Looking at me he smiles and waves I walk towards him and speak "hi there im Rynn may I ask for your name" the man looks at me shocked as he stutters out "i-i am Viden pleasure to make your acquaintance" looking at him puzzled I ask "whats wrong?" he then responds regaining some of his composure still stuttering "we- well you see it's rather…uncommon to say the least for a barbarian such as yourself to be so well polite yet your shouting really loud." I reply "ah sorry but how would a barbarian normally greet someone?" "Well" he begins "they would either challenge you to a fight or invite you for a feast; it's rare for them to even let you talk let alone introduce themselves and ask for your name." After he states this I begin to realise that I would be considered an oddity of sorts a polite barbarian now that I think about it that does sound off as I begin to ponder Viden draws back my attention "but hey I think thats a good thing it makes you unique even if still rather intimidating" I then realise something and ask grabbing Viden by his shoulders "hey are there other people nearby besides you" looking at me he slowly begins to speak "sadly no one is near at least not that I am aware of" I let go of his shoulders still one guy is a good start in this world im gonna have to make a lot of allies to survive I offer the man a handshake and ask "hey do you wanna travel together" he accept my handshake and replies "i would be honoured"