Owen McGuier

Sylvan / Bard

Submitted character story

Sylvans, or forest-children, are born as the first child of a deserving family, usually one that is well-connected to flora and fauna. The families are loving and kind, always there for one another, and so the Daymaker awards the family with a child that embodies their traits.
When Owen was just a baby, he was abandoned by his family and left alone in the wilderness. The local fauna did their best to raise the lone forest-child, but there's only so much animals can do. At only 4 years old, Owen became something of a celebrity in the nearby village, often seen wandering through the streets and following the crowds. Sylvans are very intelligent, and so he had no problems navigating at such a young age. He was content living with the animals, but he felt an ache in his heart every time he saw a family. The parents would swing their child between their arms, and the street would be filled with joyous laughter. Since he knew what it was, Owen wanted to be part of a family. He wanted to be the one held in a mother's arms, or helping his pa with work. And so every day when he rested his little head, he dreamed of a family of his own.
One day, a middle-aged couple moved into town. Owen, again exploring the village, happened to walk under their open window when he heard a woman crying inside. He stayed to listen, and learned that the couple's daughter had just passed away. Owen felt sorry for the family and left a bundle of flowers on their doorstep.
A few days later, Owen had a run-in with some unfriendly wolves that had been expanding their territory into the forest. They were aggressive, making everything in their path run for their lives. Owen was chased by them, and in his rush to get away, he tripped and became tangled in brambles. As he squirmed to escape the tangling bushes, he felt the thorns scratch and poke him all over. The wolves began to close the distance between them and the forest-child, but an arrow came out of nowhere and struck a wolf in the side. The other wolves ran for their lives while a tired and injured Owen struggled to free himself from the brambles.
"Woah there, what have we here?" A warm voice came from the direction of the arrow, and Owen turned his head to see the man that had just came to the village. "I went hunting for food, but I've found a boy."
His last comment frightened Owen, who began to struggle harder, entangling himself even more with the thorny bushes.
"Hey, relax, little one! I won't hurt you. Here, let me help you out." The man helped Owen out of the bushes, and looked at his small frame. Owen was covered in tiny scratches, most of them bleeding. "Why don't you come with me? The missus can get you all cleaned up, and we can treat you to a nice bath and meal. By the smell of ya, you could use a wash!" So Owen went with the nice man, who pointed out herbs and named them as they passes. Most of them Owen had seen before, of course, but he didn't know about all of their properties.
After a nice bath and meal, as well as some unpleasant stinging herbs the woman had used to clean Owen's cuts, he ended up falling asleep by their warm hearth. In the morning, he thanked the couple and started off for the forest. Just as he reached the edge of the village, he heard the man call out his name, and turned to see the man running towards him.
"Sorry... but the missus... she remembered," he said between breaths, "She remembered that there were wolves in the forest, and sent me to bring you back. Why don't you stay with us, at least until I clear the wolves out or they leave. That way, you'll be safe. And, my wife and I wouldn't mind having a little guy like you hanging around our house. We plan to start a farm, and we could use all the help we can get. What do you say?" He knew it was too early to tell, and it might not last, but Owen saw this as a chance to be a part of a family.
Over the years, Owen was officially adopted into the couple's family. The farm was the most successful around, supposedly because of the sylvan. Owen was told that the couple's daughter had passed away in early wartime. Even when she was alive, the couple was unable to have any more children as her siblings, but the family was perfectly happy. They were devastated by her death, and because of the war, they became refugees and had to start their lives over, leaving behind any place that might've carried her memory. Owen had filled that hole in their hearts, just as they had filled the hole in Owen's. They expanded their farmhouse into a house made for many more than three people. Then, they opened up an orphanage and cared for more children like Owen, who had no one to call on when they were in trouble. Owen worked hard on the farm and in the orphanage, becoming the eldest sibling of many. He loves each and every child that comes into their home, just as the couple loves him.