Character 10 - Human (Half-Elf) Monk
You were born and raised on a farm just east of Meadow’s End, the child of two half-elven parents who had settled here some years before. Your early life was typical for that of a farm child -- you helped till, tend, and harvest the fields. The pastoral life was a pleasant and peaceful one. There were other half-elves about, but the village of Meadow's End was predominantly a human settlement. You knew you were part elf, but throughout your entire young life, you never met a full-blooded elf.
When you were fifteen years old, a woman named Vylona Nighshade - half-elven like you - took up residence in a small hut among a copse of trees between your farm and the nearby village. She offered services to the Folk of farm and town as a healer and herbalist. She was a mysterious sort, and you were fascinated by this mystery. One morning, you decided to spy on Vylona at her hut. As you stayed hidden, you watched her perform a series of exercises and movements - punching and kicking at unseen opponents while executing elegant acrobatic movements.
Suddenly, Vylona spoke without breaking the rhythm of her routine. “Well, it was about time you showed up.” Fully taken aback, you replied hesitantly “Y-you knew I was coming?”. Her reply was eqully unnerving: “Of course. I had dreamed of your arrival a week ago.”
Vylona's began to teach you about the Dreamer Gods - the Humanar Somnion and the Alevar Aurelana. She explained that some believed it was the cooperation of these two that permitted half-elves to be born of mixed parentage, so it was right for half-elves to honor them. She also explained that how the gods spoke to their disciples through dreams, providing glimpses of the future and an understanding of their wills. She belonged to a monastic order called the Temple of Twilight Dreams - a sect of exclusively half-elven clerics and monks that were dedicated to the Dreamers. You continued to work on the farm, of course, but every spare moment you had was spent at Vylona's hut. She taught. You studied texts she provided and practiced the stances and forms she showed you.
One day, Vylona informed you that she would be leaving on a journey. This had happened before; she'd be gone for a few months and would then return. But this time she didn't. Three months... then four... then six... and there was no sign of her return. You continued to practice your forms every day, but you were beginning to worry about her safety. Then, one night, she appeared to you in a dream. In that dream, she spoke a mere twelve words: "You are ready. Seek your heritage, then seek me at the Temple." You knew what the message meant; you had spoken of it before.
The next morning, you informed your family that you would be leaving. The farm was in capable hands; your parents were healthy and you had siblings enough to get the work done. Packing a few belongings, you headed south toward the Feywood. "Seek your heritage" meant you needed to find the elves and begin to understand their culture. And the elves were in the Feywood. Southward through Dryad Falls and on to Feybridge Crossing. In the taverns there, you heard of an elven enclave to the southwest. You would travel down the road toward Karnstown, then turn south into the forest itself to find them.
About a week's journey out of Feybridge Crossing, you came to an inn along the road. This was as good a place as any to spend a night or two, and perhaps the owners knew more about the elven enclave. And so here you are... sitting in the common room nibbling on a bit of hard cheese and drinking some sort of herbal tea that the halfling kitchen woman prepared for you. There seemed to be a few others here that had come from many places, and you could sense they were all looking for something.
When you were fifteen years old, a woman named Vylona Nighshade - half-elven like you - took up residence in a small hut among a copse of trees between your farm and the nearby village. She offered services to the Folk of farm and town as a healer and herbalist. She was a mysterious sort, and you were fascinated by this mystery. One morning, you decided to spy on Vylona at her hut. As you stayed hidden, you watched her perform a series of exercises and movements - punching and kicking at unseen opponents while executing elegant acrobatic movements.
Suddenly, Vylona spoke without breaking the rhythm of her routine. “Well, it was about time you showed up.” Fully taken aback, you replied hesitantly “Y-you knew I was coming?”. Her reply was eqully unnerving: “Of course. I had dreamed of your arrival a week ago.”
Vylona's began to teach you about the Dreamer Gods - the Humanar Somnion and the Alevar Aurelana. She explained that some believed it was the cooperation of these two that permitted half-elves to be born of mixed parentage, so it was right for half-elves to honor them. She also explained that how the gods spoke to their disciples through dreams, providing glimpses of the future and an understanding of their wills. She belonged to a monastic order called the Temple of Twilight Dreams - a sect of exclusively half-elven clerics and monks that were dedicated to the Dreamers. You continued to work on the farm, of course, but every spare moment you had was spent at Vylona's hut. She taught. You studied texts she provided and practiced the stances and forms she showed you.
One day, Vylona informed you that she would be leaving on a journey. This had happened before; she'd be gone for a few months and would then return. But this time she didn't. Three months... then four... then six... and there was no sign of her return. You continued to practice your forms every day, but you were beginning to worry about her safety. Then, one night, she appeared to you in a dream. In that dream, she spoke a mere twelve words: "You are ready. Seek your heritage, then seek me at the Temple." You knew what the message meant; you had spoken of it before.
The next morning, you informed your family that you would be leaving. The farm was in capable hands; your parents were healthy and you had siblings enough to get the work done. Packing a few belongings, you headed south toward the Feywood. "Seek your heritage" meant you needed to find the elves and begin to understand their culture. And the elves were in the Feywood. Southward through Dryad Falls and on to Feybridge Crossing. In the taverns there, you heard of an elven enclave to the southwest. You would travel down the road toward Karnstown, then turn south into the forest itself to find them.
About a week's journey out of Feybridge Crossing, you came to an inn along the road. This was as good a place as any to spend a night or two, and perhaps the owners knew more about the elven enclave. And so here you are... sitting in the common room nibbling on a bit of hard cheese and drinking some sort of herbal tea that the halfling kitchen woman prepared for you. There seemed to be a few others here that had come from many places, and you could sense they were all looking for something.
Comments