...And that is Quick Stone, because he's quick to come to a decision and move on it and steadfast like stone.
Quick Stone had a pretty tragic childhood himself... but first a bit about the family tree, just so we're all on the same page.
Zeke and Quick are actually second-cousins, once removed through their Great Grandfather, the late Chief Stand Tall. He had a number of sons, but the only two that survived to marry and have children were Dashing Bear (Zeke's Grandfather) and Cold Snow (Quick's Grandfather). Cold Snow is pretty much what you would expect of someone gifted with such a name. He's a cold man, petty and bureaucratic. And on top of it all, he's prone to fits of rage.
Like his brother, Cold Snow only had one daughter, a girl named Soaring Fox. The polar opposite of her old man, Soaring Fox was warm, helpful, and affectionate (and not a little bit sneaky and playful). She married a fellow tribesman named Tall Rain. Tall Rain is honestly as good of a man you could ever hope to meet. He was widely regarded as a peacemaker in the tribe and it was rumored that he would soon take Cold Snow's place on the tribal counsel.
Quick Stone was born under auspices that lead a good deal of the tribal counsel (and, in particular, Cold Snow) to believe that he was the one that was prophesied to be the Avatar of Raven. From day one, he was groomed as such.
But then, six years later, Ezekiel was born. With the markings that he bore, it was utterly undeniable that it was Zeke who was Raven's chosen avatar, and not Quick Stone.
Cold Snow went blind with rage, and in a berserk fury he killed his daughter and son-in-law. It was only quick thinking on the part of other tribesmen that Quick Stone at least was saved. When the old man finally came to his senses, he was ashamed of what he had done. It caused no small amount of controversy amongst the tribe, but it was decided that it would be enough to strip Cold Snow of his Counsel status. It was considered that the pain of knowing he killed his family was considered to be punishment enough. In time, he was even granted permission to spend time with his Grandson, though only when supervised (fortunately, the child had not witnesses the violent deaths of his parents).
Even so, Cold Snow was not one to give his approval lightly. He would constantly challenge his grandson to forge himself into a better man until he had no equal. Quick Stone took this to heart and set about aiming to become the tribe's next shaman. Under normal circumstances this would likely have been Zeke, but since he had another calling it would fall to Quick Stone instead.
Zeke himself was no stranger to the tribe by any stretch. His ability to hide had eventually earned him his own name amongst the tribesmen: Hidden Leaf.
Quick Stone had been quick to study under his Great Uncle Dashing Bear, and it helped that he had several years on Zeke. However, when Zeke was placed under Quick Stone's tutelage (in part because Dashing Bear was busy at the time, and also in part because Quick Stone needed the experience), the older cousin was gobsmacked by how quickly Zeke seemed to not only pick up on things, but then develop his technique to a stage more advanced than Quick Stone's.
Quick Stone was torn between anger and bemusement. While Zeke had made an impression, it didn't have much chance to set. The sudden and horrific death of Zeke's mother, Soft Crow, had rocked the entire tribe. Soon followed by his father's disastrous wreck that left him with a permanent disability, Zeke was left in the care of the tribe. At this time, Quick Stone had only sympathy for his younger cousin. (It should also be noted that Teletha, being inseperable from Zeke at this time, stayed with him at the behest of Dashing Bear. She became so closely enmeshed with Zeke's affairs that she soon earned a name herself: Gray Leaf - because if you ever had to find Hidden Leaf, you would only need to find the Gray one, first.)
For a time, Quick Stone, Dashing Bear, Zeke and Teletha were an odd, but close knit family unit among the tribe. Cold Snow did not approve, but he held his peace until Zeke and Teletha had to go. Afterward, he laid into Quick Stone and reminded him of his anger at how the child, Avatar or no, had been able to show up the Shaman-in-Training.
When Zeke would show up in the later years, his reception with Quick Stone was unusually cool. Even though this troubled Zeke, he took it in stride. Quick Stone, meanwhile, hid his growing anger at how the people lauded the boy and how he had seemed to surpass him in every way. Even worse, Quick Stone would remember how his mother would tell him that he was the special one, the chosen one.
When Zeke went to Japan, Dashing Bear confronted Quick Stone. He noticed how the young man would act around Zeke and the two had it out. It eventually ended with Dashing Bear declaring that as long as he pursued this pointless path of bitter rivalry, Quick Stone would never be their Shaman. Enraged, Quick Stone struck out on his own and began his quest for personal power - if Raven had not chosen him to be his Avatar, then maybe, he figured, some other worthwhile deity would.
Little did he understand that while Gods may answer prayers... sometimes, they will do so in twisted ways. And thus begins Quick Stone's tragic downward spiral.
For more fun, his theme music is A3's Woke Up This Morning. Especially the version with the long spoken intro (even if it the spoken introduction doesn't really fit Quick Stone, it sets the mood beautifully). Special thanks to Bob Schroeck for that link to the song on Youtube in another forum.
Quick Stone had a pretty tragic childhood himself... but first a bit about the family tree, just so we're all on the same page.
Zeke and Quick are actually second-cousins, once removed through their Great Grandfather, the late Chief Stand Tall. He had a number of sons, but the only two that survived to marry and have children were Dashing Bear (Zeke's Grandfather) and Cold Snow (Quick's Grandfather). Cold Snow is pretty much what you would expect of someone gifted with such a name. He's a cold man, petty and bureaucratic. And on top of it all, he's prone to fits of rage.
Like his brother, Cold Snow only had one daughter, a girl named Soaring Fox. The polar opposite of her old man, Soaring Fox was warm, helpful, and affectionate (and not a little bit sneaky and playful). She married a fellow tribesman named Tall Rain. Tall Rain is honestly as good of a man you could ever hope to meet. He was widely regarded as a peacemaker in the tribe and it was rumored that he would soon take Cold Snow's place on the tribal counsel.
Quick Stone was born under auspices that lead a good deal of the tribal counsel (and, in particular, Cold Snow) to believe that he was the one that was prophesied to be the Avatar of Raven. From day one, he was groomed as such.
But then, six years later, Ezekiel was born. With the markings that he bore, it was utterly undeniable that it was Zeke who was Raven's chosen avatar, and not Quick Stone.
Cold Snow went blind with rage, and in a berserk fury he killed his daughter and son-in-law. It was only quick thinking on the part of other tribesmen that Quick Stone at least was saved. When the old man finally came to his senses, he was ashamed of what he had done. It caused no small amount of controversy amongst the tribe, but it was decided that it would be enough to strip Cold Snow of his Counsel status. It was considered that the pain of knowing he killed his family was considered to be punishment enough. In time, he was even granted permission to spend time with his Grandson, though only when supervised (fortunately, the child had not witnesses the violent deaths of his parents).
Even so, Cold Snow was not one to give his approval lightly. He would constantly challenge his grandson to forge himself into a better man until he had no equal. Quick Stone took this to heart and set about aiming to become the tribe's next shaman. Under normal circumstances this would likely have been Zeke, but since he had another calling it would fall to Quick Stone instead.
Zeke himself was no stranger to the tribe by any stretch. His ability to hide had eventually earned him his own name amongst the tribesmen: Hidden Leaf.
Quick Stone had been quick to study under his Great Uncle Dashing Bear, and it helped that he had several years on Zeke. However, when Zeke was placed under Quick Stone's tutelage (in part because Dashing Bear was busy at the time, and also in part because Quick Stone needed the experience), the older cousin was gobsmacked by how quickly Zeke seemed to not only pick up on things, but then develop his technique to a stage more advanced than Quick Stone's.
Quick Stone was torn between anger and bemusement. While Zeke had made an impression, it didn't have much chance to set. The sudden and horrific death of Zeke's mother, Soft Crow, had rocked the entire tribe. Soon followed by his father's disastrous wreck that left him with a permanent disability, Zeke was left in the care of the tribe. At this time, Quick Stone had only sympathy for his younger cousin. (It should also be noted that Teletha, being inseperable from Zeke at this time, stayed with him at the behest of Dashing Bear. She became so closely enmeshed with Zeke's affairs that she soon earned a name herself: Gray Leaf - because if you ever had to find Hidden Leaf, you would only need to find the Gray one, first.)
For a time, Quick Stone, Dashing Bear, Zeke and Teletha were an odd, but close knit family unit among the tribe. Cold Snow did not approve, but he held his peace until Zeke and Teletha had to go. Afterward, he laid into Quick Stone and reminded him of his anger at how the child, Avatar or no, had been able to show up the Shaman-in-Training.
When Zeke would show up in the later years, his reception with Quick Stone was unusually cool. Even though this troubled Zeke, he took it in stride. Quick Stone, meanwhile, hid his growing anger at how the people lauded the boy and how he had seemed to surpass him in every way. Even worse, Quick Stone would remember how his mother would tell him that he was the special one, the chosen one.
When Zeke went to Japan, Dashing Bear confronted Quick Stone. He noticed how the young man would act around Zeke and the two had it out. It eventually ended with Dashing Bear declaring that as long as he pursued this pointless path of bitter rivalry, Quick Stone would never be their Shaman. Enraged, Quick Stone struck out on his own and began his quest for personal power - if Raven had not chosen him to be his Avatar, then maybe, he figured, some other worthwhile deity would.
Little did he understand that while Gods may answer prayers... sometimes, they will do so in twisted ways. And thus begins Quick Stone's tragic downward spiral.
For more fun, his theme music is A3's Woke Up This Morning. Especially the version with the long spoken intro (even if it the spoken introduction doesn't really fit Quick Stone, it sets the mood beautifully). Special thanks to Bob Schroeck for that link to the song on Youtube in another forum.
