Tattoo of My Mother
Written By: The Author, Jacob Folkler
In this heartfelt piece of TTRPG-inspired narrative fiction set in the village of Dawsbury, Theo the Tortle adventurer steps away from the festivities of his adventuring party to receive a tattoo from Frigg, the adopted daughter of the blacksmith Froy. What begins as a simple request for body art becomes a deeply emotional moment of remembrance, as Theo immortalizes his mother’s image in ink and confronts his grief, loss, and identity. Blending themes of memory and identity, this tale offers a poignant reflection on how personal history and chosen family shape an adventurer’s journey.
As Night sets in the Village of Dawsbury, and a large campfire is lit for evening celebration and song, The Boys and Co. come back from a day of long errands, shopping, and worries of a deal struck with Orion the Green Dragon of Tryalcross.
Tired of festivities and in need of the spiritual cleansing of the mind, Akanu separates from the group, heading to the hut provided for them to stay, in hopes of getting time alone to meditate and clear his thoughts.
Julius finds himself alongside Rose, keeping with her while she partakes in heavy drinking, dancing, singing, eating and an unfortunate consumption of mushrooms.
As the night rolls in and embers sparkle toward the sky, Theo finds himself at the door of Froy, the Old Tortle blacksmith, who has spent his better part of the day crafting and upgrading the party’s caravan.Froy is seen seated up front with a pint of ale, straightening out a long sheet of mithril metal.
Froy
Ah yes Theo! Come lad, come. My wife said you’d be joining us! Head down to my study, Frigg should be there setting up.
Theo
Thank you Froy, uh… Frigg your daughter?
Froy
Naturally… Oh you wonder why it ain’t my wife giving you the skin art?
Theo
No… no, not that. I just, well, I assumed it was your wife doing it since you two extended the offer. I'm okay if your daughter Frigg does it. It’s just that this design means a lot to me.
Froy
Lay off the worry lad, Frigg won’t bite at you. She’s been running the ink business for almost a decade now, the girl's just a shy younger than you. And you’re quite accomplished, no?
Theo
Right, well, I’m sorry if I insinuated anything. I’ll go down and see her. Thanks again, Froy. for all the help, and for this offer.
Froy
Mention it when the job is done.
Theo walks past Froy’s desk and heads into the house, before making his way to the basement stairs.
Theo
I hope this is the right decision…
From downstairs, Theo hears a voice.
Frigg
What is?
Theo, now arriving at Froy’s basement, amidst the series of bookshelves, material racks and toolboxes, sees a reclined chair at the corner of the room. Next to it, a small table with a box full of vials with coloured inks in them, and several thin needles and small mallets.
Next to the table stands Frigg, a tortle no older than himself, with fine posture and a humble floral dress, covering a flat and softly framed shell.
Frigg wears a welcoming and coy smile.
Theo
Oh, hey Frigg. Nothing, just uh, Froy sent me down here to look for you. I’m here to get some body art for my arm. I was told this was the place to get it, and, well there is comfort in getting it in the home of a Tortle family. Been a while since I’ve been around my people.
Frigg
Well, I’m happy to oblige. Faud’vil (Faw-dth-ville) told me I’d be getting a shelled canvas today. Figured the only other Tortle in town besides us was gonna bless the business.
Theo
Faud’vil? Wait, Froy is your father-in-law?
Frigg
Oh, you understand Elvish?
Theo
Yeah, a little. My uh… My mom taught me.
Frigg
Well then Theo the linguist, have a seat. .
Theo gets in the chair, placing his shield on the floor next to him and raising his left arm onto a small table.
Frigg moves to his side and takes a seat.
Frigg
So, what can I do for ya Theo?
Theo
Well I… Here, I’ll just show you.
Theo reaches into his haversack and pulls out the image Akanu drew of his mother, from the vision he had. Beautiful as they came. Side by side with Theo. Theo folds the drawing, isolating her portrait and shows Frigg.
Theo
Her please, just under my left shoulder. An outline of black and grey is enough. As long as it's her.
Frigg
Of course.
Frigg begins preparing a needle and black ink, placing the image next to her and tracing its outline on the scroll before turning to Theo’s arm.
The first few taps begin and immediately Theo flinches.
Theo
Ow! Hey, be gentle.
Frigg
Ha ha, I’m as gentle as they come. First time?
Theo
Yeah, is it supposed to sting?
Frigg
Well seeing as I’m knocking ink into your thick skin, yeah i would imagine a small amount of pain.
Feeling embarrassed Theo falls very silent, He has endured a lot of wounds and cuts before. This would be a walk in the park. But his initial discomfort had him react harshly and now an awkward silence fills the room.
Frigg breaks it.
Frigg
I didn’t answer your question.
Theo
Hm?
Frigg
Froy isn’t my ‘Dad Dad’. I call him Faud’vil and Freya, Maud’vil, because they adopted me.
Theo
Oh. I'm sorry if I seemed intrusive.
Frigg
Not at all. I am happy. They have sheltered me, let me grow in my talents, kept me safe. So, I am more than glad to let people confuse me for their daughter.
Theo
How long have you stayed with them?
Frigg
Little over 14 years. My original parents have never been in the picture. My earliest memory was being raised by a family of travelling Pilgrims. From what I heard from them I was found floating in a basket but… Part of me doesn’t want to believe that.
Theo
Why not?
Frigg
Because I don’t recall it. I prize memories very fondly. Any memory forgotten is a wasted story. No reason to tell a wasted story.
Theo
And so you tell others’ stories through the images you ink onto them.
Frigg
Quite the inference there Theo. That’s correct, and I've put my life into this art. But not just my clients memories though. See?
Theo looks on as Frigg pulls back a sleeve of her dress to reveal a fully tattooed arm. Images of flowers, stars, animals, cloud-like designs and magical beasts adorn her as she looks toward them longingly.
Theo
That's really beautiful Frigg.
Frigg smiles at the compliment.
Frigg
Thanks. She is really beautiful too.
[BEAT]
Theo
I know.
Frigg continues the Tattoo.
Frigg
Well her outline is almost done. Just a few touch ups and then shades. What do you think?
Theo looks down and is stunned. As odd as it was to have Akanu perfectly replicate her in a sketch, to see her accurately envisioned onto his arm was truly a sentimental yet painful sight to see. Theo holds a long silence before he closes his eyes, A single tear drops from his cheek.
Frigg notices this and consoles him.
Frigg
Hey there, I’ve had a few tears in my time doing this, but never for internal pain. Is everything ok?
Theo
I’m sorry… I just… I really miss her. I miss them both.
Frigg pauses for a moment as realisation hits.
Frigg
Wait. It's you isn’t it? The Tortle from the Harbour place? The one who’s parents… That was you?
Theo
*clears throat* Yeah… Seems like you are pretty good at inference yourself.
Frigg
Hm. I’m sorry.
Theo sighs, letting the emotion pass as the last few notches and shades of the Tattoo are being finished.
Theo
You know. This path I’m on. The people I meet and the trials I’ve faced. I feel like I’ve lost so much of myself. My parents were always a part of who I was. ‘Catherine’s boy’ was never Theo till I left home. And after all this time. All this distance from the Harbour. Only now do I feel that sinking wane of loss. Only now have I begun to accept that my parents may truly be gone. But I can’t bear a world where I’ve accepted that.
[BEAT]
Frigg
Then don’t.
Theo
What?
Frigg
Memories only stay with you as long as you regale them. Give them meaning or significance. Remind yourself of them, and assign them power. Look, if there is anything tattooing has taught me over these years, it’s that they serve as a reminder of what keeps you going. Somewhere and at some point this meant something to you, and it clearly still does. And now etched into your skin, will it never die. Let that fuel you Theo. Don’t let your memory of home and your parents go to waste.
Theo catches Frigg’s eyes, and the two connect in a moment of sudden relatability. Frigg leans back, wiping a wet cloth over the freshly finished Tattoo.
Frigg
Promise me?
Theo looks at the portrait of his mother, inked into his arm. A surge of hope and drive fills him to the brim and he once again meets Frigg’s gaze, this time with a determined look on his face.
Theo
I promise.
[END]
