The Lorak: A Brief History
Despite their secrecy, the Lorak family history is quite the amazing tale of hard work and luck. Even till now, this knowledge had driven countless members into dedication for their most famous trade, medicine. They had earned their place, through blood and sweat, breaking through the chains of slavery in the midst of devastation.
Lorentz Lorak was a gifted healer, a dedicated doctor, traveling through various cities with his family in tow. His children were also trained in the field, comparable to their father. These northerners seemed not mind traveling so far south from their icy home. They went into various wilderness, offering medical assistance to anyone in need. Until one day, they visited the swamp city of Kenash. Whispers about a mysterious and deadly malady lured their curiosity there, hoping to figure it out with their experiences as doctors. For half a season or so, they settled in nicely. Their services were much appreciated.
Unfortunately, a group of bandits heard of the family and they were a target almost immediately. Attacking visitors had always been unsurprisingly easy. One night, the Lorak were ambushed as every last piece of copper on them was taken. Completely and utterly broke, they were tossed amongst the slaves, to work in the fields, their talents wasted to pick cottons and tobaccos. Two years went by slowly. The harshness of slavery was too hard on some of the Lorak, resulting in the death of Lorentz's wife and his youngest daughter.
Yet, the ones left alive were not broken down. They kept on living, believing that they would break free of the injustice one day. They were smart and diligent, earning trusts from Dynasties and slaves alike. They were slaves, yes, but they were well-respected and well-liked. The Lorak always offered any medical assistance if they could help it, barely getting any rest as they juggled the live of a slave and a doctor at the same time.
All the while, the sickness had turned into something more dangerous. Hundreds upon hundreds of the population seemed to had caught the symptoms, striking fear in every beating heart on Kenash. Some say they had angered Rak'keli, others simply concluded that the land is cursed. People kept dying and the population in Kenash dropped violently. At first, doctors and herbalists were coming to the city, trying to concoct a cure or at least figure out what was happening. None succeeded and many acquired the same sickness in return. No one was immune. Soon enough, Kenash was left, of fear that the disease might spread even further. They were left to their own devices.
Lorentz's daughter, Lissira, was the first to make a breakthrough. The young female slave had managed to gain access into the herbalism lab of a shop she was working in. She had succeeded to make a medicine that slowed down the stages of the sickness. Together, with her brothers and her father, they perfected it. Secretly, they passed it along their fellow slaves under the very nose of their Dynasty masters. But of course, everyone would notice this group of slaves who had suddenly gotten healthy for no reason while the Dynasties and Freeborns dropped dead. It didn't take for the Loraks were noticed as the masterminds.
Lexio, the eldest son, finally developed a makeshift clinic for treating the particular sickness as the demands of their medicine rocketed. He would demand a price for the medicine from Dynasties and Freeborns, but would treat slaves freely. No one protested against the policy. They
needed it and would do anything for it. The Lorak had wanted to make sure that when all of this was over, the family will have enough power and money, making them immune to slavery. On that moment, these slaves held more power than the wealthy plantation families.
Rumors had said that it was so devastating, so deadly, that even the Rujaro had offered some help for the sake of the decreasing population. Some even said that the Lorak had succeeded so well was because he had worked with the runaway slaves, using their knowledge of the terrain's flora in order to whip up a cure. It was never proven, not that anyone had cared. The medicine had worked and lives had been saved. That was all that mattered. The slaves were for once, seen as a savior, their status completely forgotten after the deed Lorentz Lorak had accomplished.
For the first time, slaves had gained their freedom - even a status in the city. Hope sprouted from the lowest of the low. The Lorak was granted a small patch of land and since then, they grew stronger. Lorentz's son and daughter proved to be just as driven as he was, delving in the arts of farming and agriculture once they had the chance. Slowly, but surely, the Lorak grew in power, receiving the golds through their near-miraculous talents in healing and medicine. It was doubtful that anyone else in the city could challenge their skills.
Now, the northerners stood proudly amongst the strongest and most influential families, working hard to keep everything together, striving to make the best out of everything.
by Fiora Radacke on September 11th, 2013, 10:10 pm 
And I will be prioritizing the quest I am currently involved in! So, sorry everyone!
