Sits with the party around the campfire, carefully cleaning, smoothing, and folding a scarf embroidered with multiple, often conflicting patterns. As he runs the pads of his fingers over the colorful thread, the Brinchie quietly recites names to himself. As he does so, his body noticeably relaxes, as if the stress of the day is leaving his body.
Looking up, Tier notices that he is being watched.
"This. This is a family heirloom. Passed down for generations. It started as a simple wristband the family matriarch made for her daughter..." Tier pauses to point out the different patterns. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen owners ago."
He unfolds the scarf, holding it up for all to see.
"Mama Gristikna was a powerful woman. And she called the Light to protect her daughter Taskimir when she wove the band.
"Taski added several rows of her own before giving it to her mate Khirasno.
"He claimed it protected him from death in the Hennwoods, and he added his own row before giving it to his son Khisnor.
"Of course, buy then it was too big to be a wristband, so Khisnor wore it as a choker. He narrowly avoided being beheaded by some bandits, and so he kept it as a lucky charm, passing it on to his daughter Shikafir.
"Shika herself was a powerful shamaness, and when she wove her own tale into the threads, she added her own blessings before passing it on to her sister's daughter Firna.
"Firna wore it for years, adding many rows before she gave it to her son Rhonnor.
"Rhonnor was a wanderer and explorer, and he disappeared for almost twenty years before returning to the family with a young bride and a newborn. Rhonnor had three more children, adding a new series of threads for each new member of his family.
"His youngest, Brinnanna, was the first to wear the lucky heirloom as an actual scarf. She was an accomplished hunter."
Tieronar grins mischievously.
"She was also an accomplished seductress. She always left the clan for her dalliances, and came back more than once with a kit of her own. After adding a few rows to this scarf, she passed it on to her son Ferd.
"Ferd was quiet and studious. Never got into a real fight. Spent most of his time fixing wagons and making things with his hands. But he kept the tradition and added his own threads.
"His son Chirnonor was the exact opposite. He wore this scarf everywhere and he put it's legacy to the test, constantly getting into duels and other scrapes. Each of these knots," the Brinchie points to thick tangles of thread, "are for a different duel he won.
"Chirnonor passed the scarf on to his sister Dichera, who was a seamstress by trade. She added this lovely pattern with the family crest before giving it to her own son Achreor.
"Achreor was another spiritual follower of the Light, and he used the scarf as a vestment every day when he made his morning prayers. When his children hit their teens, he gave it to his own son Tamnir, who wore it for years. However, Tamnir gifted the scarf to his twin sister Teera when she was married, as a present for her future offspring. Each of them added their own rows, sometimes completing each others' patterns.
"Teera's daughter Niecha was a confident warrior, and she wore the scarf while acting as family guardian. She claimed it protected her more than once from strange forces.
"When her son Caedmeron was gifted the scarf, he relied on its power to keep him safe in...less noble pursuits. Great Grandsire Caedmeron was something of a...rake and confidence man. He spent time running from city to city romancing people and taking money from others, always returning to the Clan with a small fortune to keep us going. Then one day he returned with a Kit of his own, Hriska.
"Granddam Hriska grew up precocious and wise, and she traveled a bit before settling down as Matriarch of my side of the family. When she gave this to me before I left on this", Tieronar sweeps one hand wide, " grand adventure, she made me recite the names of each family member over and over. Told me this scarf, the family scarf, the Skein of Ages, would keep me safe. And that someday, I would have to add my own story to the thread."
The Brinchie begins to fold the scarf again.
"Now I just need to learn how to sew. Or find a mate who can."
He places the scarf on top of his pack. Folding his hands, he recites the names again.
"Gristikna, Taskimir, Khirasno, Khisnor, Shika, Firna, Rhonnor, Brinnanna, Ferd, Chirnonor, Dichera, Achreor, Tamnir, Teera, Niecha, Caedmeron, Hriska."