[X] Hail from the frigid north, the son of a family of hunters and trappers, protecting the local village. You've grown up in a world of white, where colors dance through the night sky and great birds fly, bringing gusts of snow and ice. Harsh and unforgiving, you've been trained in the basics of survival.
The North of the Emerald Kingdom is a land of harsh realities. There is no arguing with its biting winds, and hunger cares not for dreams. Snow will fall when it falls, and the wolves will come when they come.
There are no great cities in the North. Although there are riches to be had - furs, amber, ores entrapped in ice-covered mountains - few come here searching for them. Spirits, demons and beasts roam freely, and are kept in check largely by each other. Still, for those who are born here, carrying on traditions generations old, it is home.
Your name is Lind Tallak and you were born in a village at the base of Mount Rani. The son of a hunter and a weaver. From the moment you could walk and talk - there was always some chore or task that needed to be done, be it feeding chickens, spinning thread or mending clothes. In between, you learned lessons on the history of the Kingdom and the Empire, though such grand tales seemed far removed from your daily life. More real to you were the stories of your people and their dealings with the dangers of the North.
When you grew older, you learned to walk the game trails with your father and helped your mother at the loom. You readied yourself to take your place in the life of the village. You learned to pluck the bounty of spring with sling and snare, to plant seeds for later harvest, to dry fish and meat, all for when the weather turned, and ice began to stalk the land.
Among all of this, you learned the simplest tricks of breathing and cycling, to take in the energy of Creation and use it to imbue your limbs with strength, your eyes with clarity, your mind with quickness of thought. While you showed an aptitude, your family had no secrets of cultivation, and you would never have access to the pills and techniques that were kept by sects and noble clans. And there would never be enough time to burn away the impurities you accumulated, for winter was ever, always, coming.
It was undeniable to all that you had a certain spark that raised you above most of the others of your village. Eyes were on you with the expectation you would be a leader of the village one day, a scrutiny that only intensified when you:
[x] Dove into an icy lake and retrieved a villager who had fallen through. (Strength: 4.)
[x] Ran from your village to the nearest town one in one night to fetch medicine. (Agility 4)
[x] Were able to track a group of poachers that had invaded the Village's hunting grounds. (Insight 4)
[x] Survived three days and three nights in a blizzard after searching for a lost child. (Will 4)
[x] Befriended a Spirit Elk and gaining a protector for your village. (Empathy 4)
The trajectory of your life changed when a stranger came to your village. It was obvious at first glance that they were an outsider. Skin the color of a pale moon, untouched by the blizzard which had been raging for hours, dressed in clothes finer than any you had ever seen, spun with silk and wearing jewelry of gold, unmarred by damp or dirt. Nonetheless, it was the eyes that were most distinctive. Although she bore no weapon, a glance at her eyes was enough to tell that she expected the world to fear her. None could bear to meet her gaze. Except you.
When she glanced at you, you fought the urge to look away, feeling your body tremble and your spirit quail, but you stood your ground nonetheless. After a few moments, she inclined her head and broke contact.
Before she departed, on what errand you didn't know, she spoke to the village leaders, and then to you.
"The Golden Reeds sect holds its trials on the first day of summer. If you are brave enough, you may tell them Hou Hua gave you an invitation."
You had grown up on tales. Now, if you were brave enough, you could make them.
—
You have one stat at 4, as determined by the deed you are proudest of. You have two more stats at 3, one stat at 2, and one stat at 1. Please vote by plan as follows:
[x] Plan Example
-[x] Ran from your village to the nearest town one in one night to fetch medicine. (Agility 4)
-[x] Agility 4
-[x] Empathy 3
-[x] Will 3
-[x] Strength: 2
-[x] Insight 1
