Chapter 1 - let the adventure begin
We have now reached the 100th summer after the little faun came into the world. He has grown into a big beautiful adult male. Malacaan had become tall and very handsome. Even amongst fauns he was admired. Malacaan had reached an age, when the world outside his birthplace, began pulling on his soul. All the wonderful stories and legends he heard about countries far away. He wanted to see them, to live of what he loved more than anything else. He loved to be a storyteller, to be the one who sat by the fire surrounded by friends who all listened to when the stories songs went toward the night sky. So did Malacaan! He went away a hot summer morning. With thoughts of his friends in mind and the story behind the horizon, he departed to the lush meadows on the border with Jagtlar. Jaglerne's rugged mountain country.
Off he wandered, with no more with him than a bottle of water, a little herb knife and his beloved flute. The flute was his dearest possession and it was now just over 40 summers old. Hand cut by Malacaan himself, rosewood and decorated with long slim designs. When he put it to his lips it was almost as if the whole forest sang with the flute tones. After a few days' travel. It was nearing evening. He stood by his first encounter with something he had only before heard about once. He stood in Jagtlar, in front of the inn The Roaring Boar'. The inn was built as a long house. Walls built of clay, and a high thatched roof. Malacaan went in the through door and went inside. He was greeted by an uproar, music and lively chat. The inn room was packed full of many different people... he looked anxiously around. At one end of the inn parlour, there was a big long fire built, over it hung a myriad of pots, which bubbled and smelled gloriously. Malacaan could also see a large wild boar roasted on a spit which turned over the fire. Around the fireplace there stood long tables with benches and a sea of maids ran around serving the many visitors. One of them came to Malacaan and looked wonderingly at him. "You can only be one thing sir. A faun! Am I not right? "She asked curiously as she led him to a seat at one of the long tables. After Malacaan seated, he asked the maid again. "What can I bring you sir?" "Malacaan Moonsong is my name. If you can just bring me the today's special and then a good jug of beer," replied Malacaan friendly, and sat comfortably. Around him sat only a few Jaglers and they sat playing cards. It was so exciting and he turned to the men "Can I try to participate?" he asked kindly. The largest of the men turned and looked down at the faun. "Who asks?" The man looked a little sceptical at faun. "Malacaan Moonsong is my name and yours?" The man smiled and held out his big hand towards Malacaan. "Marinus Feldur, and sure you play with us. What do you have to gamble with? Here we do not play without a little effort." Malacaan looked a little nervous up at Marinus. "What would he gamble with?" he thought. But eventually he took his fluet and put it on the table "This is my bet," Malacaan said and Marinus looked astonished at the nice flute, but then he nodded and said "Let the games begin..."