Professional Scout, Accidental Legend
Ever meet someone who’s perfectly happy being nobody special? That was Gard. Born during an avalanche (because of course he was), middle kid of seven (because the Fangrocks believe in strength in numbers), and about as ambitious as a rock taking a nap.
Growing Up Fangrock
The Fangrock Clans aren’t exactly known for their subtlety. They’re the folks who look at a mountain and think, “Yeah, I could probably headbutt that.” But every clan needs its scouts – the quiet ones who can actually sneak around without starting a rockslide every five minutes.
That’s where Gard came in.
The Quiet Kid
While his siblings were out there having rock-throwing competitions and practicing their war cries (the Fangrocks take their war cries very seriously), Gard was learning how to move without making a sound. Do you know how hard it is to be stealthy when your magical birthmark naturally wants to connect you to every piece of stone around you? Pretty damn hard.
But Gard? He figured it out. His birthmark showed up right on schedule – classic mountain peak pattern, nothing fancy – but he learned to dampen its connection, to touch the earth lightly instead of stomping around like most earth mages.
The clan elders thought he was weird. His dad, a hardcore warrior who could crack boulders with his bare hands (and his magic, but he’d argue it was mostly the hands), was convinced Gard was adopted.
Finding His Place
Here’s the thing about being the quiet kid in a clan of warriors – you notice stuff. Like how the Granitehold Dynasty’s patrols always seemed to show up right when the clan was most vulnerable. Or how the best hunting grounds mysteriously became “unstable” right before major festivals.
By his fifteenth winter, Gard had mapped more of the clan’s territory than any three scouts combined. Not because he was special – he’d punch you if you suggested that – but because he was patient. And in the Fangrock Clans, patience is about as common as a gentle breeze in the Voidmoor.
The Scout’s Life
Before all this “talking to mountains” business, Gard’s biggest claim to fame was spotting a Zephyrgale raid three days before it happened. Saved a whole bunch of lives, got a nice feast in his honor, and immediately went back to being the guy nobody really noticed.
Perfect scout material. Perfect nobody.
Personal Bits
- Looks like your typical Fangrock clansman (built like a boulder with arms), but moves like he’s half his size
- Keeps to himself, but not because he’s shy – he just likes the quiet
- Never married, but there’s this girl in the Evergrove Druids he keeps “accidentally” running into on patrol (Her name’s Lira, and she thinks his awkward attempts at flirting are hilarious)
- Secretly really good at cooking, but if you tell anyone, he’ll deny it
- Has a weird habit of naming interesting rocks he finds (current favorite: Herbert)
Skills and Stuff
- Best tracker in three clans
- Can walk across scree slopes without making a sound (try it sometime – it’s harder than it sounds)
- Knows every cave system in Fangrock territory by heart
- Makes a mean rock-mushroom stew (but good luck getting him to admit it)
The Weird Bits
Even before the whole “stone that speaks” incident, there were signs Gard was a bit different:
- His birthmark always seemed to pulse in time with the mountain winds
- Animals were never scared of him (weird for a Fangrock)
- Could find water underground better than any dowser
- Had a habit of talking to rocks when he thought nobody was listening (turns out he was practicing)
What Keeps Him Up at Night
These days? Everything. He’s got:
- Ancient mountain spirits trying to chat at all hours
- Every major power in Tempesta watching his clan
- A birthmark that won’t stop growing and itching
- The growing suspicion that the elements are planning something big
- Lira from the Evergrove Druids asking way too many specific questions about talking stones
Looking Forward
Gard just wants to go back to being a scout. Maybe work up the courage to properly ask Lira out. Instead, he’s sitting on the biggest magical discovery since… well, magic.
And the mountains? They just keep talking.
The real kicker? Of all the people who could’ve found that singing cliff, it had to be the one guy who really, really didn’t want to be important. The elements have a sense of humor, I’ll give them that.
But between you and me? That’s exactly why it had to be him. Because when the mountains decide to start talking again after centuries of silence, you probably want the guy who knows how to listen.
Even if he’d rather be anywhere else.