Rowlan's Journal: Entry #3 "Ceremony"

“My passage ceremony was two days ago, and it is only a short
time before it is my time to join the rest of my people going to
the war. At my passage ceremony the chief gave me my totem
necklace. The intricate weaves on it perplex me. I’ve never
understood how the seers can create such designs while keeping
them strong enough that they do not fall off of a warrior. There
is also a bird on it. I’ve never seen one like it before, but the
chief says that it is an eagle, and it stands for longevity.
Whenever I am in trouble, the eagle will carry me to safety.

"My father’s journals spoke of the superstitions of the Burbah,
mother hates it when I use that word. I am not sure how I feel
about trusting my life to a bird on a talisman. I know that a talisman
can’t carry a club or bandage a wound. My father believed in t
rusting in himself, and the knowledge that passes down throughout
generations. For now I need to begin preparations, it won’t be long
before Galeau returns to the collect the new warriors that have come
of age. Galeau returns every year to retrieve the young warriors, as he
knows best how to train since he has lived longer than any other
warrior from our village.

"I hope that I am not left behind to take care of the camp. I know that
it is an important job, and that there will always be some that are to be
left, but I have to fight. I know that I am supposed to be out battling the
Empire. Even though most people don’t believe what that my father
knew a lot about the Empire, I believe him when he says that it shouldn’t
be there. I believe that they don’t have the right to take what is not there,
and I want to do something about it."