Dux Lactuca Folipar

Aftermath of Veneficus & Origin of Helianthus
After their Captivating & thrilling adventures across many land and realms. Veneficus Novlin and his wife, Acacia, avoided death of bandits and mercenaries that were hunting them for their value as being famed for the “last Tūk alive”. While steering clear of being the cause to the extinction of the two Tūk species (the Letūk and Jetūk). The last surviving Letūk (Acacia Novlin) and Jetūk (Veneficus Novlin), had two children (one Letūk which was named Helianthus and one Jetūk named Magus). Veneficus & Acacia decided to move to the very small nation of Bjørn’sberg, a tributary of Aurlûnor Velande in the continent of Syltör. This marked the end of the Novlin conquest and Veneficus & Acacia were no longer targeted which gave them the opportunity to settle down. And so their first son, Helianthus, was raised, and fell in love with Juniper, a human. Helianthus and Juniper married and Juniper promised Helianthus she would not tell about his secret powers and give his identity away to the bandits who might try to hunt him down. Helianthus' possessed a unique Botanokinesis ability like all the Letūk before him including his father. His was manipulating and controlling sunflowers (hence his name Helianthus). The other Jetūk son, Magus however did not considered the village his "true home" and decided to move elsewhere and change his surname to "Pacis". At this point the Novlin Family was falling apart with Helianthus refusing to tell the story of the Tūk race to his future son that Juniper would have very soon. This made Veneficus very angry knowing that he himself might not even be alive to inform their new son of the Tūk legacy and how one day he would have to restore it. Helianthus loved his beautiful wife, his home, his family, and his life. He didn't want to lose his son to an adventure to save the Tūk culture that might get him killed. He promised himself and his wife he wouldn't put his child in danger and never tell him about the Tūk "promised land" and the prophecy that was supposed to be fufilled by his son. He would not tell him that he would be “The Final Tūk Pilgrim”. He would not lose his son like he lost his brother.

Childhood of Dux
When the time came and Juniper and Helianthus had their first child, whom they named Dux. They soon began to realize however that his Botanokinesis ability was manipulating and controlling lettuce, so they gave him the middle name, Lactuca (however in Bjørn’sberg his friends and neighbors referred to him as Salat). When each Letūk’s power was discovered, that marked the beginning of their training. And Dux was no different. Dux spent years in Bjørn’sberg growing up in his small home carved into a mountain, attending events such as Frognog Flaskor and Devian Sloth's wedding as the ring bearer, training with his powers, and building steampunk technology for himself and society at that time. He benefited the economy by instantly being able to make lettuce so now no one he knew could possibly be hungry. He even created his own business called Salat’s Block Stop where he sold colorful building materials. However, he longed for something more and felt drawn somewhere, a part of his culture’s past lied elsewhere. He began plotting his escape out of Syltör and the place he felt drawn towards, and left without saying anything to Bjørn Helheim who was the duke of Bjørn'sberg at the time, President Frognog Flaskor who was the other owner of Bjørn’sberg, or his parents. He gathered his belongings and his steampunk gear and said one last goodbye to everything he loved before leaving one night to find his purpose.

Northern Voyage
By the time Dux had left Bjørn’sberg he was about 17 and had no idea where he was going. While not living in severe poverty he never received a proper education nor learned of the various cultures, customs, religions, practices, and geography of Rathnir aside from the usually town gossip and neighborhood children telling stories and explaining the various races of Slytör (Most notable the infamous celestial elves). However, soon after leaving Bjørn’sberg only a couple miles behind him (still deep in the chilly climate of mainland Syltör in its various mountain ranges). He came across a map which he found confusing and intimidating at it’s scale. (mind that he was only a small Tūk and he had no knowledge of rathnir and it’s vast and expansive world) He identified Syltör and it’s two north and southern regions and marked where he was and decided he would head into the arid regions present in the southwest, through the Ashuran Desert and beyond into the Great Western Desert Belt (GWDB) in Ummarnu. He would decide from there his next destination. He would soon after plotting his course, miraculously tame a High Horse (very rare to find in Syltör and impossible for the average elf or man to ride because of it’s small size) and joined a traveling party including a majority of Celestial Elves and a handful of Aurlûnoren Men. Wandering through Syltör’s cold mountains, taiga, and deciduous forest, he talked and exchanged information with his fellow venturers as they advanced further south. Young Dux learned more and more until eventually, after 11 days of traveling he arrived at the Ashuran Desert. His fellow nomads would go no further as they were foreign to the land and would only stay in the northern region were it was cooler and had a higher altitude (besides they were celestial elves and they respected the Dune Elves enough to keep in their own boundaries). And so, he made an effort to find an oasis that would bring him rest and revival for his next journey into Ummarnu.

Southern & Ummarnu Voyage
After wandering through the desert for quite some time he came upon the Sawiya Oasis. Upon arrival he stayed at an inn and talked with the folk that resided and traveled through the Oasis across long journeys. He then would start to save up for a camel and begin working as a Glassblower by shoveling and smelting sand for glass production in order to make make a profit. After saving up enough gold and consulting a Dune Elf merchant, they agreed on a deal for a Vastallosi llama (ironic because that would be his next destination) and a robe to suit his journey across the scorching desert. And so, after a few more nights of rest, food, and reading from a local library (he didn’t have access to a library or any type of fine luxury such as this in Bjørn’sberg, even if it was dimly lit and dusty) he set off to travel the rest of his journey through the GWDB. But, while wandering the Ashuran Desert and crossing into Ummarnu, he came upon the realization of the Tūk through the voice of Plaûtqwę, goddess of plant life and the Tūk (also known as Flos, goddess of plant life and Faun through Flosism although several different ideas, practices, sacred scriptures, and stories). While we don’t for sure know how long Dux wandered in Ummarnu, we do know that at some point whilst Dux was sleeping beside his camel under the stars atop the dunes of a desert in Ummarnu. Dux received a dream from Plaûtqwę, the first part of his dream were graphic scenes from the demise of the Tūk. Letūk and Jetūk children screaming, mothers mourning, and men fighting against the various, hunters, bandits, and mercenaries controlled by Magus who sent the order to kill every last Tūk out of selfish rage. The second part of his dream was a conversation with the goddess Plaûtqwę herself. She told him he must venture into the once glorious land of the Tūk and restore their legacy, she would guide him and keep him safe as long as he followed her every command. Plaûtqwę then told Dux he would have to journey into Vastallos and find a Faun named Kori, a Flosist worshipper and priest who served her as well. He will be expecting you and you will show him the tomb of Magi the Prophet, and the long lost artifacts of the Tūk. Then Dux woke up in a fright and knew what he must do. Finally he had something to work for, a purpose in life. His destiny was to journey to Dønsktopt, (the modern day name for the city which was formerly Tūkia, the ancient Tūk promised land) in the sub-continent of Vastallos and restore the Tūk’s legacy. And he immediately began his journey there which no hesitation nor doubt.

Arrival & Settlement
Dux landed in Takenuma, capitol of Kamiwaga (which at the time was one of the two provinces of Enosis) in the Spring of 135 SMP (March 20). He was found, him and his llama, kneeling on a small wooden path and drinking at a small pound used for decoration and ascetic purposes. A trolkin named Jaymie who lived in the city that found him was rather puzzled when he found a small & young nomad and tried to negotiate with him and invite him to his home for a drink of fresh water and not from their pond. At first, Dux was skeptical since he had rarely seen another living being since his time in the Sawiya Oasis, mostly just traveling and finding water and food to keep him and his llama going. Ignoring the offer he replied,

“I’m looking for Dønsktopt and a Faun named Kori, you know of there whereabouts?”

To this Jaymie responded,

”Why of course! The metropolis of Dønsktopt is the capitol of the Galinios province. My friend Kori is the mayor of Dønsktopt and King of Galínios. If you come with me I can give you more information, and perhaps you can become a citizen!”

Now Dux knew if he followed him he might possibly find all the answers he was looking for. On the other hand he could be a hunter or mercenary that was hired to lure and kill him. And so with a small dagger that he had taken from his home in Bjørn’sberg strapped to his belt hidden from sight beneath is cloak. He accepted his request and joined him, carefully walking at the side of his newfound companion down the winding steps, bridges, and paths of Takenuma. It was quite a sight to see, a young, 4’7” Tūk walking at the side of a enormous 6’8” Trolkin. Dux began to tell Jaymie of how his journey had led him here (excluding the part about the Tūk prophecy & dream, and not telling him he was a Tūk while hiding his cap, and instead saying that he had a friend in Dønsktopt that he was meeting). He told him about his journey through Syltör and Ummarnu and how he lost his map and had no idea where Dønsktopt was, only asking for directions to Vastallos in which he got lost looking for Dønsktopt. By the time Dux was done telling about his journey, They must have walked through the entire town of Takenuma. Jaymie was astonished and believed every part of his story. It was not uncommon for young adventures to leave home at an early age to find fame and glory or perhaps a purpose. Jaymie asked,

”Might I know your connection with Kori and why you’re meeting him? Also might I add, what race are you? You don’t possess the features and the height for a faun.”

Worried by these questions, Dux replied,

”I believe that’s classified information reserved for Kori himself, as for your other question I am of Aurlûnoren Man I’m just very small for my age”

“Very small indeed! I thought you were a child when I first saw you and quite impressed you could take care of a llama all by yourself. Alright well I’ve gotten enough out of you now I shall answer some of your questions.”

And so when they had reached Jaymie’s home Dux asked him if he could take him to Kori and the city of Dønsktopt.

Jaymie chuckled and responded with,

”Of course, buts it’s getting late and I’m sure your journey has already been tiresome enough. First thing tomorrow I will take you to him and he can show you around Dønsktopt himself”

Dux then followed up with,

”Is there possibly a public library I can access?”

”Certainly,” Jaymie replied

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