Stormwind City, Year 22 ADP (After Dark Portal)
Mat weaved his way through the busy streets of Stormwind's trade district with the surefootedness of a young man who knew his way around the hustle and bustle of the city. He'd grown to look the part of a man, but was still lean and nimble. Clothed in a smattering of brown linen, checkered with patchings, he fit in well amongst Stormwind's poorer citizens. However, with adventurers, travelers, and tradesmen from across the Alliance filling the city these days the poor stuck out more than ever. Dwarves had become commonplace in Stormwind, a whole district of the city had in essence become their territory, and some gnomes could be found amongst their ranks as well. Even more impressive, although less common, were the elves, long eared elegant creatures who'd expanded the humans understandings of the world they inhabitated.
The Alliance may have brought a sort of renaissance to Stormwind, yet Mat wasn't seeing himself benefit from this change of fortunes. He found himself on the lowest rung of society, with no easy and clear path up through the social ranks of the Kingdom of Stormwind. Some people might be getting rich, gaining new technologies, and learning new skills, but some had been left behind. On this day, he was making a clear path for the exit of the city. As he approached the gates he crouched to the left behind some crates and observed the merchants of a local cheese shop. A man in the clothes common amongst the upper crust, mostly silks, debated prices with one of the merchants. Seeing the men preoccupied with their dealings Mat stealthed his way around the crates until he found a stack of documents. Permitting himself a smug smile Mat looked through the papers before shoving one in his pocket and quietly backing away from the shop. He nonchalantly blended back into the crowds entering and exiting the city.
Red wavy locks danced in the wind as Mat sprinted down the rough stone road that ran away from Stormwind and through Elwynn Forest. He seemed to leap with joy as he turned off the road and into the woods, leaving civilization behind, his bare feet feeling the grass beneath him. Although the forest seemed to envelop the young man, surrounded by towering trees and full green thickets, a closer observation revealed a well worn path being followed by someone who knew it's twists and turns by heart. After some leaps and bounds through the forest Mat came upon a clearing with a canvas tent set up and a small fire going. As he approached he called out, "Pa, I'm home!" From the tent emerged Mattias, a smile visible through his full unkempt beard, "Welcome back son, I was worried for ya being in that monstrosity of a city, come sit by the fire and tell me how your journey went." Mat embraced his father with a warm hug before taking a seat on the ground by the fire and diving into his recollections of the day's events.
Mattias sat down alongside his son, the man looked aged and haggard, and began tending the fire. His son explained, "Stormwind was pretty busy today, I got a few small jobs running goods from the shops." The young man pulled out a small leather bag, which jingled as coins clinked together, and tossed it to his father. Mattias looked at his son, a mixture of tears and pride in his eyes, and spoke, "Mat these are your earnings, you worked for this, don't worry about your old man." His son fidgeted with some of the kindling alongside the fire and responded, "it's alright pa, it's my contribution for all the folks around here, you're always making sure everyone's taken care of. I just want to do my part." Mattias looked at his son with a sad smile for awhile before speaking, "I'm proud of you, and the man you've become." He began to tend the fire and continued, "a few of us got lucky trapping rabbits again today, I've got one prepared for us, are ya hungry?" Mat nodded vigorously and responded, "yes sir, pa I'm starving!"
His father sat up and retrieved an iron kettle which he filled partially with water from a wineskin and added in pieces of meat. The man allowed the fire, which he'd built up substantially, to die down nearly to a bed of embers before placing the pot on top for cooking. The father spoke to his son, "why don't we get a game of catapult going while we wait for the food?" Mat eyed his father and spoke with pride, "if you think you're ready to take on the champion you've got it!" He scrambled a few feet away from the fire and arranged pebbles to form three circles in a triangle. Returning back by the fire he dropped a handful of pebbles into a pile and put a thin stick on the ground and balanced two wood spoons on the stick. His father scootched over alongside his son and each picked up a single pebble and put it in the spoon. They took turns slapping the handle of their spoons launching the rocks in the direction of the circles. The pebbles landed in and around the circles as the two men continued their game and joked with one another.
After awhile Mattias stood up and headed to the fire where he poked around inside the pot with a hand carved wood laddle before speaking, "Well my boy I think the foods about done, it's not your mom's cooking by no means, but it smells good and it'll fill your belly." Mat seemed to cringe initially at the mention of his mother before smiling and saying, "awh pa' you know you were never going to win at catapult, like usual, but I am ready to eat." The young man joined his father by the fire and the two took turns ladling mouthfuls of food. Each spoonful was a mix of steaming golden liquid with chunks of succulent meat. As they finished their meals the sun was beginning to set, the last rays of golden light poking through the trees. As the sun light continued to fade the glowing flames of many campfires became more obvious which told the story of the camps, just like this one, all throughout the area.
As the darkness of night enveloped the forest the father and son gathered by the glowing light of their fire. Together the two worked to build up the flames with sticks and logs they had alongside it. With the fire roaring again they took up leisurely sitting positions similar to one another's, their bare feet pointed towards the fire nearly letting flickering flames lick their feet. Mattias eyed his son for a moment before speaking, "some of the younger folk were talking about heading to Northshire looking for work tomorrow, why don't ya tag along?" Mat met his father's gaze and replied, " I dunno, my place is here, Northshire is a ways away." Mattias frowned and replied, "this isn't our home m'boy, I want the world for you, and this world is changing, it has been for awhile, you've got to change with it and find your place, my place is with what's left of the guild, but that's my choice not yours."
Mat sat frozen for a moment, his face partially hidden by the dancing shadows cast by the fire, before responding with a voice choked by rage, "the guild?! The Stonemasons are gone pa' let them go! When people hear their name all they think of is the death of a Queen, and all I think of is how we lost mom!" Mattias face darkened and he grimaced at the mention of his wife. He responded to his son in a quiet voice, "Your mother meant the world to me, as do you and your brother, my family is my world, but the Stonemason's Guild gave me that world, they are my family too. We built cities, and started families, out of the ashes of war. After rebuilding this city all we asked for in return was the payment we were promised. We wanted our voices heard. What happened to Queen Tiffin during the riots was a tragedy, not least because she was a supporter of the guild and that her death has brought about the permanent scorn of the kingdom down upon us. Her life was not the only one lost that day, many were lost just like your mother with fates unknown, and all of our lives became forfeit. This tragedy doesn't need to mark your future, let the past be history and make your own way. For me, for all we suffered."
Mattias looked towards the glowing fires in the distance and continued, "when I walk amongst these camps and talk to men and women whose partners never came home I see your mother and do the work I know she would have done for the people she loved, as I watch the sons and daughters of co-workers and friends grow up without their parents I think of you and your brother and dream of the bright future that lays before you. You deserve the chance to make something of yourself, to meet others who you can make common cause with as I did, to forge your own destiny. I want you to go back to being the boy who dreamed of being a hero like Anduin Lothar, not someone surviving in the wreckage of such tragedy." Even in the darkness it was clear that his father's speech had moved Mat to tears, which streamed down his face. He choked out a response, "I pretended to still be asleep and listened to you give a similar speech the morning Conrad left." His father's scowl deepened and he replied, "I hope you'll heed my words, your brother didn't and I fear greatly for the path he has embarked upon."
The crackling of the fire was the only sound that pierced the silence of the space between the two men for some time. Finally Mat spoke, "you're right, I'll go tomorrow with the others. I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me, it's not my place to challenge your wisdom as a father, please forgive me?" His father reached out and put a hand on Mat's shoulder and replied, "I do not seek the obedience of a son, but the happiness of someone I love." With a soft nod Mat responded, a reply that brought the long silence back to the campsite. Both men seemed to stare deeply into the fire with only the sights and sounds of crackling flames, and the forest around them, for entertainment. After some time Mat stood up and then moved to help his father up. The two embraced with a short hug and without a word headed into their canvas tent and went to bed.
The morning brought grey skies and light rain which pattered across the roof of the canvas tent. Mat layed on the floor of the tent wrapped up in a blanket or two, a large number of raggedy blankets in a variety of colors made up the floor. His father sat with crossed legs and gazed out the entrance of the tent with a twisted expression on his face which reflected a mind deep in thought. Occasionally he'd glance towards his sleeping son and his hand would wander up to his chin where he'd stroke his beard. After awhile he sighed and reached to his left where he grabbed a chunk of wood and a knife and began carving flakes of wood off. The wood had begun to take the shape of a rabbit when his son began to stir and finally rolled over awake. Mattias kept whittling away at the wood but responded to the commotion across the tent with a simple good morning to his son. Mat groggily sat up and muttered a good morning in return as he stretched his arms and rubbed his eyes.
Mattias spoke to his son, "it's been a wet morning, the farmers are surely happy, but it looks like it's slowing down." He held up his wood carving and continued, "I've been watching the weather and working on a rabbit, she's really coming along, what do ya think?" Mat glanced at his father's work and responded with a smirk, "reminds me of last night's dinner." Mattias laughed and set the wooden rabbit down and spoke, "hungry huh?" He picked up a piece of bread wrapped in linen fabric and tossed it to his son who began to pick at the tough hunk of bread and attempt to eat. Laughing again Mattias reached across the tent and handed Mat the knife he'd been carving with, commenting, "it's tough I know but it's all we got, this might help to get some edible bits."
As Mat began carving through the crust his father continued, "I'm sure once it dries up a bit some of the folks will be sending out hunting parties, and there's that group planning to head for Northshire today." He glanced at his son, who was chewing on a piece of bread, and added, "I wouldn't mind hanging around camp and playing some more catapult with ya, but we probably need to get some food." His son finished chewing and spoke, "I'm going to go with the folks to Northshire if they're still going, it'll be an adventure." Mattias smiled at his son clapped him on the shoulder and said, "I'm glad to hear it, keep my knife for the trip, I freshly sharpened her, and grab another piece of bread and some water to bring with you."
As the rain subsided and rays of sunshine began to poke through the clouds the two men grabbed their gear and exited the tent. The father had a bow slung across his shoulder and held a few arrows, and the son had the dagger tucked into his leather belt. Mat grabbed two wineskins full of water which hung from one of the wooden supports of the tent and handed one to his father and slung the other over his shoulder. Mattias clasped his sons arm and spoke, "good luck on your adventure my son, be safe and I'll see you soon." Mat responded with a smile, "good on your hunt pa, may your rabbit charm bring you luck." The two embraced and then together headed towards a large group of people gathered in an open space in the forest between the various campsites.