Growing up in a small village some 10 miles east of Lockridge in the River Kindoms, Yirrik grew up fleet and wiry from work in the fields and play in the hills surrounding the town.
Life was fair and Yirrik's family, while not rich, were prosperous enough to not have to worry about going hungry over the hard winters.
Early memories, consisted of games of chase and hide and seek in the nearby woods and hills, and of evenings falling asleep at Grandpa's feet as he regaled the children with tales of
derring do, or of more interest to the young Yirrik, stirring accounts of the peoples who came before, whose ruins the children played in up in the hills, the Azlanti.
Head filled with dreams of glorious cities of old, Yirrik, when he had the chance would lead 'expeditions' to the nearby ruins , there to renact the tales Grandpa had told.
One day, the other children having become bored with Yirrik's game, had left the youth to his own explorations. Recent rains had eroded some of the earth around some of the old buildings, revealing
a dark cavity.
Frightened, Yirrik approached, his curiosity overwhelming any good sense his father might have attempted to beat into his head. Poking his head into the hole, Yirrik could see a room exposed...
empty but for sand and chunks of rock, but still he marvelled at the newness of his discovery.
From that moment forward, all his spare time was spent scouring the hills for caves and holes to poke around in. Usually, these holes in the rocks were occupied by wild animals , but sometimes
he'd discover evidence of fires and camps. People had lived there!
Some caves went deeper into the ground. These excited Yirrik immensely, where did they go? what mysteries would be revealed?
Exploring one such cave led Yirrik to the discovery that would define his life.
In his 14th year, he'd found a cave that looked to be the entrance to a network of caves and caverns. He spent a great deal of time exploring the twists and turns , learning what creatures lived
there, some harmless, others much less so; encountering more than his fair share of ooze-type creature in his exporations.
So it was, creeping along a dry underground creek bed, Yirrik came to a flat cavern that had a stone ledge of worked stone. And leading down to this
ledge was as set of stairs, carved into the rock. His face screwed up as he thought, This creek must have been we at some time and this was where someone came down to get water!"
Exited, he raised his torch and made his way up the stairs, rounded by the passage of many feet , in the past.
Finally he came to the top and found his way barred by something he'd encountered before. A clever door that rolled out of the way...if one could find the trigger....There! The door slowly
moved into the wall, and Yirrik looked out onto a sunken courtyard. The position of the sun, showed that he'd been underground for some hours.
Eager to get to high ground and figure where he was, Yirrik stepped out of the entrance and was shocked to discover an older man crouched nearby, gently taking an impression of some carvings
on a nearby wall.
"Oh!" the man said, surprised, falling backward onto his backside, "Who are you? Don't hurt me!"
Holding his hands out, Yirrik assured the man he was harmless. Cautiously, they both came to the realization that they were not a threat to each other, and introduction were made.
The man was Theodus Canatik, a scholar up from Taldor, examinging Azlanti ruins here in the River Kingdoms. Yirrik revealed his own interest in Theodus' area of study, and his own
meager discoveries. Sensing a kindred spirit, the two struck up a friendship, Yirrik accompanying Theodus on his expeditions as help and protection
and Theodus imparting knowledge of the Azlanti language and culture to Yirrik.
Their partnership remains for some 4 years, until Theodus' grant money was exhausted and he had to return to his university to reveal the results of this studies. He offered to take
Yirrik with him, but Yirrik demurred preferring the more exciting , adventurous explorations underground.
It was Theodus who had told Yirrik of the Emerald Spire, that shining example of Azlanti culture, up in Echo Wood. What a marvel, Theodus had said, encouraging Yirrik to at least
go see the emerald edifice .
