Third generation Rostlander, Actaeon grew up on a successful farm in southwestern Rostland, near the East Sellen River and the northern border of the Stolen Lands. While land crops like wheat, corn, and potatoes were a staple on the farm, Acteaon’s father was an avid beekeeper, and his farm was known for its delicious honey.
His father, Aristaeus Pythanus, inherited the farm from his grandfather Apollon Pythareus who moved to Rostland to escape Taldan politics and an arranged marriage to live with his one true love, Cyrene. Apollon changed his surname slightly to further distance himself from his noble Taldan bloodline. Aristaeus, while selling his goods at a village market, fell in love with a young Kellid woman named Autonoe.
With a mix of Taldan ancestry from his father’s side and Kellid ancestry on his mother’s side, Actaeon is proud, community-driven, and connected to the land. He is the youngest of three children. He never met his oldest sister Macris. Before Actaeon was born, his oldest sister disappeared from the farm. The story, told by his mother Autonoe, describes the search for young Macris. Autonoe was able to follow tracks through the forest which led to a cave, but Macris was never found. Aristaeus and Autonoe’s favorite memory of Macris was how much she loved collecting honey from the hives kept on the farm. She would get the sweet honey all over her hands and lick her fingers clean. His parents smiled at each telling of this story. His next oldest sister, only by a year, is Ludivine. Being so close in age, they were very competitive in their youth, but grew apart as their interests diverged. A year or so ago, Ludivine became ill and never seemed the same after that. After her recovery, she seemed to have changed somehow.
Actaeon never cared for farming the land very much, but he worked hard and diligently to help take care of his family. He found that he did enjoy nature and exploring the Rostland countryside. His mother eventually taught him to hunt and cure the animal hides into leather products. He became very adept at this process and would travel to the local villages and sell his wares. Whenever he went on a hunt, his father would always suggest that he take the hounds with him, but Actaeon always rejected the idea. Actaeon would always say, ’Those hounds would be the death of me.’
{There’s a greek mythology joke in there somewhere.}
Life was simple for a time. Actaeon would tend to the farm, hunt, and cure and sell his leathers. Then word spread of bandits pushing north into Rostland from the Stolen Lands, and there were reports that the local villages and farms have been falling victim to their robbery and violence. Actaeon knew he had to do something.
He traveled to the latest village that fell victim to the banditry. With his hunting skills well honed, he tracked the bandits to their camp. Normally, Actaeon would show the impatience of youth, but while on a hunt, he could wait for hours in complete silence for his prey. He hid until dark, then attacked, his bow finding mark-after-mark. In the darkness, the bandits never saw him as they fell one-by-one. In the morning, the village awoke to find their stolen items in their village square.
For the next several months, similar scenarios played out, and the local villages and bandits alike started referring to him as The Shadow. The bandits became weary and retreated south back into The Stolen Lands, and things were again peaceful for a time. Then word traveled of a new bandit lord pushing north from The Stolen Lands, and Actaeon knew that it might be time for The Shadow to once again darken the night. But it was his sister, Ludivine, that changed his course of action. She brought home news of an official charter dictated by the Swordlords of Restov and the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne, and he knew that this must be his path. Ludivine, surprisingly, seemed more ambitious to receive this charter than he did. Especially after the illness that she recently recovered from.
So Actaeon and Ludivine set out to receive their Charter.
