Svarr was born quietly. The midwife assisting the birth had to prod the infant to take a breath and cry. The moment he did, the earth shook and spirits rolled boulders down the Stormwalk Mountains to show that they were watching. His mother, Leika Spirit Talker, recovered quickly from the birth and was soon able to journey to the mountains with the little Svarr to thank the spirits for their attention. In the past, Leika had spent many hours in the high country with the spirits and many believed quietly that she took the infant to show him to his true father.
The youngest son of Jarang the Proud, the young Svarr worked hard to make a place for himself at the family's stead. Svarr had many difficult years as a child competing with his older brothers Otag and Illig. Whether with farming or crafts, they always seemed to learn quicker than he. Svarr brooded when his brothers became men five years before him. Illig, Svarr's elder by only one-year, was the worst. Their older sister Theya smoothed many arguments and prevented many scars.
As Jarang's stead grew and became more profitable, Svarr was pressed into service watching the family's herds while still young. He was pleased to find himself a quick learner when left alone in the fields. Using shadowcats, a horn, and a bow, Svarr kept good care of the animals. He learned the best ways to forage them through the winter and how to care for the sick. Although Svarr was not yet a man, Jarang made it known that he was proud to have such a gifted herder for a son.
When not herding, the dark haired youth took to wandering the fields and forests surrounding the stead. Here he watched the wilder animals and began to learn their ways too. Once when he was alone in the woods, Orlanth showed his might, lest men forget to honor him. Wind blew, the sky darkened, lightning seared the sky, a driving rain fell, and thunder spoke. Svarr, caught many hours away from shelter, became frightened. He called to Orlanth but couldn't speak the tongue of storm. He called out the spirit names he had learned from his mother, but still the Storm God beat him. Cold and shivering, Svarr called out one last name, a name he had herd his uncle Harmast Gray Wolf speak. The name of Odayla must have held power for suddenly lightning revealed a proud buck standing before him. Svarr watched in awe as the deer stared at him, water dripping from the velvet on its antlers. When the buck bounded away, Svarr followed. It led him to a path and then to a pond where a rock outcrop provided shelter. There Svarr slept and dreamed of the deer. When he returned the next morning, again people spoke of spirits; this time saying Svarr awoke a spirit in the woods that watched over him.
When Svarr related this story to his uncle, Harvast thought for a longtime before he spoke. "Svarr" he began, "you were gifted that night, for Odayla is a powerful god. It is he who sent the deer to you. It is he who guided you to shelter. You shall thank him for this blessing." Then Harvast instructed Svarr how to properly thank the god. Afterwards, Svarr and Harvast spent many days hunting together. This made Jarangnervous, lest the herds be neglected. But Leika spoke with her husband and the uncle and nephew were not separated. Still, Svarr made it apoint never to disobey his father's wishes and hunted only when he notneeded in the fields.
One day Harvast came to the stead with several other men. Harvast spoke to the boy, "Today you and I will hunt with these proud men. What we bring down today will be offered to Odayla." To the boy's surprise the hunt took them to the same pond and rock outcrop where he had taken shelter years ago. The men stood in a circle around the boy while Harvast made a strange sound. Again Svarr was surprised, and more than a little frightened, when the same buck that had saved him came bounding through the brush to stand near the pond. Harvast instructed the boy to slay the deer. Shaking and near tears, Svarr did as he was told. Harvast then began to instruct the boy in the secret ways of hunters. Over the years Svarr learned much from Harvast. He taught how to release an animal's spirit and pay homage to Odayla. He learned how to use the winds and the god's sight to guide a shaft. He also learned the secret language of wild game to call beasts to him.
Svarr did not become a man in the eyes of Orlanth until he was 18; when he learned to honor Voriof and the god of storm. But it was on that day in the forest that Svarr became a man. He was 15.
Svarr refuses to speak of him mother's murder at the hands of the Stranger
except to say that that night the dream of the buck returned to him. When it was proposed that the family journey north, Svarr quickly agreed. Perhaps once more he hopes to find shelter in the midst of a storm. ------------------------------
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