Character Sheet- Miana

[Miana]

Physical Description
Name: Miana
Age: 19 (Fall, Day 91 492AV)
Race: Human, Mixed (Inarta/Vantha)undiscovered

• Dek

Known languages: Nari (fluent), Common (basic)
Measurements:

• 4''11
• 44kg/98.8 lbs

At first glance, there are no obvious physical or mental deficiency s that sets Miana apart from the other castes, however when pulling her hair back, you'll notice that the top portion of her outer right ear is underdeveloped. Thankfully, it does not hinder her hearing by much, as her external ear canal, although small, is still present. Unconsciously, she had grown her hair long to hide it when she's doing light work. During particular difficult assignments, weather or even when she's annoyed, she ties her hair back into a ponytail, showcasing her deformed right ear. Her hair doesn't only hide her ears. Growing out her fringe to reach the tips of her eyebrows, she conceals a long, almost faded, thin scar she had gotten as a child. Additionally, she also has a scar under her left rib cage, running across her back. If asked, she would admit her favourite feature of her body would've been her long slender hands- deceptively delicate if looked at a far where the sight is marred enough to hide the faint scars of hard work riddling her hands.
Being a child of a foreigner and an Inartan woman, she sports unusual characteristics that are significantly different in comparison to the vivid beauties in Wind Reach. Miana carries a rather simple oval face, lacking the sharp points and curves that flatters the Inartan's memorable allure. Her nose is subtle, juxtaposing her wide, unnerving grey eyes. Generally unnoticed, they tend to differ in shades when her emotions are unchecked, although they never stray too far from their original hue. Though her usual vague expression either confuses or irritates it's onlookers, she could be rather cute if you looked at her enough. Pallidly pale and scrawny, Miana still boasts a few inches in her hight that are good deal taller than most girls her age. Sporting dark brown hair, a shade or two lighter than black, the only features that spoke of her fiery heritage are her paleness, the faint sprays of freckles across her face and the sudden and inconsistent outpours of emotions that Miana struggles to contain.

Timestamp (joined): Winter, Day 57 511AV

Character Concept
Since her childhood, Miana had developed a social anxiety that makes it difficult for her to communicate with the members of the upper castes. Though the hold of her selective mutism had gradually lessened as grew older, she had developed a dependence on the benefits that her condition allowed; no one bothered to pry further into her thoughts, unable to judge, unable to hurt her. Though she's able to communicate with those who seem to be equal status, or is not as showy as the upper castes, she's highly unwilling to communicate and will use hand signals, one liners and gestures to get away with it.
In terms of her status as a Dek, she had slowly eased herself into the role- acknowledging that it has helped her to mature as a person and understand things a little bit clearer than before. Though she hides her ear deformity, she's not actually ashamed of it; quite the opposite in fact. She just doesn't like to be stared at. Though this trait might've affected her status in Wind Reach to a certain degree, Miana still considers herself luckier than most of the Deks and is thus more willing to help the more immobile drudges. To call her compassionate is rather inaccurate; she'll only help once she's absolutely certain that her life is secure. Indulging in her pessimism is one of her vices- prone to imagining the worst of the situations, but is quick to bounce back into reality as she knows that there are too may things for her to do.
Lacking the physical strength and agility that is so coveted and necessary in Wind Reach, Miana makes up for it in her resourcefulness- often making simple usable things for her comfort. That's part of the reason why she'll risk sleeping in the chamber near the deeper warrens and pitching a tent in the foot of the mountain as her 'getaway'- she knows that there are other ways than looking utterly helpless. During her days off and spare time, she is fond of trips. Either walking around Wind Reach or walking back to her tent (a place she sincerely calls her home) to cook her spoils from her forages, fishing and the occasional light hunting.

Character History

 

Parentage

Despite not knowing her biological father, she knew her mother and loved her deeply. Her mother, Syiavi, was a Dek that had a relationship with a foreign man that had briefly lived in Wind Reach as an Avora. Their relationship, predictably, ended abruptly at the news of Syiavi's pregnancy. Almost immediately, he left Wind Reach for unknown reasons. Despairing her lost love, she focused all her attention on their baby. Naming her Miana, a reminiscent name of her birth father. Despite having to leave her to the hands of commoners in nurseries, Syiavi made her presence known to the babe, not as a mother though- as a strange friend that visited in odd hours.

 

Early Childhood

On Miana's second birthday, Syiavi's luck has started to change for the better. Despite being rather slow witted, she was a beautiful woman that could draw many glances her way. Because of her beauty, another Avora man offered her a way out of her caste; by marriage. Taking advantage of this, she was quickly elevated and insisted to take Miana back into their household. Tentatively, the man agreed. And so, they lived together in a strange sort of peace. However, things took a dark turn when Miana turned four; the Avora man had broken his hand permanently. Unable to practise his craft, weaving, he was demoted to the commoner status and worked under his former assistant. Embarrased and confused, he took his frustrations out on his wife and her daughter by publically humiliating them by reminding them of their former class. Later, he began depending on recreational drugs and drinking regularly.

 

Late Childhood

As Miana approached the last year of her 'childhood', she was already oversensitive of the caste system than most kids her age and began developing social anxiety when spoken to. Her mother, normally jolly and good humoured, was beginning to show signs of depression. Already, the man had begun to seriously abuse them; causing the two scars on Miana's body. Unable to cope with the situation, Syiavi tried to take her own life twice, but was foiled each time by her husband. The violence would later escalate when Miana their left home to train as a Yasi.

 

Early Adolescence

Miana had a lot of trouble trying to fit in with the other children, not only was she different from the other children because of her looks and silence, her situation at home was well known around Wind Reach- while some kids were sympathetic, which made her feel awkward, a lot of kids either bullied her or ignored her. Despite doing her best in her Bendi's, she was unable to fully concentrate due to her frequent visits to her mother. By the time she was nearing thirteen, she was motherless. Her mother both took her life and her husband's.

 

Adolescence

Her last two years as a Yasi was spent indulging in work and cutting off any attempt in communicating with anyone, making her selective mutism a defence mechanism to avoid social confrontations. But by then, it was already too late for her. The Avora that once looked at her had already lost interest; she had lost too much time to catch up to the level of her peers. Although she worked hard and efficiently, most her task was already drudge work and the occasional craft, sparking her interest in herbalism and formed a hesitant fascination of weaving. Predictably, she was assigned to be a Dek.

 

Miana, the Dek

Initially, she was incredibly frustrated and angry at her situation and made many mistakes, making her even more bitter. But as she grew more used to her role, she begun maturing as a person, fully realising the extent of the injustices the drudges were subjected to daily. Putting aside her bitterness and anger, she began seeing life in a whole new perspective and reawakened for her thirst in living. Thus, on her sixteenth birthday, she swore an oath to never ignore a struggling life who she could help.

Skills, Lore and Inventory

 

Physical Skills

Skill	Points	Total
Cleaning	+5+	7/100
Sewing	+5	5/100
Cooking	+5	5/100
Basket Weaving	+5	5/100
Fishing	+5	5/100
Botany	+5	5/100
Wilderness Survival	+10	10/100
Medicine	+5++	8/100
Shortbow	+10 RB	10/100

 

Social Skills

Skill	Points	Total
Observation	+5++	10/100
Rhetoric	+	2/100
Socialisation	+	3/100

 

Lore

• Wilderness Survival- Scavenging(SP)
• Wilderness Survival-Finding Shelter(SP)
• Enduring the distain of being a Dek
• The Pains of communicating without words
• Losing patience with timid Neis
• Lore: Afraid of Friendship
• Escaping the life of a Dek by the lake
• Unable to shake a caterpillar
• Lore: Bandaging a Symenestra

 

Ledger

Winter, 511AV- 100 Pinion
(Starter Package)
-1 Pinion (Jar glass w/ lid)
+12 Pinions(Large tarp- from starter package)
+1 Pinion (Flint and Steel- starter package tent)
+50 Pinions (Mountain pony- starter package)
+12 Pinions (Full set of tack- starter package)
+8 Pinions (Saddlebags, large- starter package)
+50 Pinions(Winter Seasonal Salary)
Total: 231 Pinions

Threads

 

Flashbacks

Title	Timestamp/Description	Status	Link
A Daughter's Tale	Day 91 of Fall, 500AV- Miana tells her mother a story on her birthday.	Incomplete	Solo

 

Wind Reach

Title	Timestamp/Location	Status	Link
Obligated Obedience	Day 8 of Winter 511AV	Incomplete- inactive	Open
Baby, it's cold outside.	Day 48 of Winter 511AV (Wind Reach)	Incomplete Modded	Phoenix
Eager Killer Caught	Day 50 of Winter 511AV (Courtyard of the Sky)	Incomplete	Open Thread
When Fire Strikes	Day 1 of Spring 512 AV	Incomplete	Open (City wide)

Archived
------------------------
Summer, 511AV
Summer, Day 85 511AV-
New Meetings (The Twin Lakes, Krys/Dru)
Winter, 511AV
Winter, Day 25 511AV- Nice to meet you.Again. (Tisuma Baths, Neis)
-----------------------

Equipment and Items
Starter Package

• 1 Lontev
• 1 pair of thin soled sandals
• 1 Backpack -1 Waterskin, Set of toiletries (comb, brush, soap, razor), Flint and steel
• 1 Tent (4 persons)- 1 lanter, rope (100ft), 2 torches, bedroll, blankets, fishing tackles and hooks
• Fur Coat (Heirloom from mother)
  
  (More items from the backpack)
• x2 Cord (1 meter)- homemade from dry grass
• Lavender oil (25oz)- wild lavender, jar, (stolen) oil

Thread Breakdown

Thread	Gained
New Meetings	+2 Medicine, +2 Observation, +3 Socialisation
A Daughter's Tale	n/a
Obligated Obedience	n/a
When Fire Strikes	n/a
Eagle Killer Caught	n/a
Baby, its cold outside	n/a
Nice to meet you. Again.	+3 Observation, +2 Cleaning, +1 Medicine, +2 Rhetoric

[Miana]

Character Questionnaire (Miana's PoV)

 

Location

Where do you live now?
I was born and bred in Wind Reach. For the past nine and ten years, I have lived here. For four years now, I've been assigned to be a Dek, serving the people of higher caste than me. Despite being part of the lowest caste and being treated like so, I still love my homeland and cherish it because in all of Mizahar, there is nothing quite like the beauty of Mount Skyinarta. But, although I say this, I haven't particularly travelled anywhere other than the immediate parameters of the mountain.
If you could live anywhere in Mizahar where would that be?
Truthfully, if that was ever possible in my future, I don't think I'd ever settle anywhere else. If I can't call Mount Skyinarta my home, then I'd rather be a homeless traveler. My position in Wind Reach kind of resembles this already anyway.
Do you have a favorite place to vacation or spend leisure time?
On the foot of the mountain, near a lake and an almost cave, where the forest is thick yet not unfriendly, I've hidden a tent. Since Dek's aren't given any lodging in Wind Reach, I have made this tent my home. Although I can only visit it after my work and during my days off, I find comfort in it as it makes me seem more than a unskilled Dek. There, I can feed myself and make myself comfortable. It's my only haven.
Where do you fear to be?
Tortured in the Courtyard of the Sky, for all the Inarta to see.

 

Traits

Do you have any physical weaknesses (disease, scars, and missing limbs?)
I have two scars; one on my forehead, hidden with my fringe, another one beneath my left breast. My right external ear is underdeveloped, though it seems my hearing is not disrupted. I also have multiple minor scars of burns, lacerations and some scrapes along my body since my four years of being a Dek- but that's to be expected and common. Thankfully, I still have all my limbs with me and they're all functional, which is more than I can say for my other fellow Dek's.
What languages do you speak? What do you sound like? Do you have an accent?
I am a selective mute. I barely speak. I can't remember how I sound like. But, for the sake of conversation... I speak my mother tongue of Nari and some common. Beyond that, nothing else.

 

Occupation

What is your occupation?
I am a Dek. Does that count as an occupation? We do all the manual and unpleasant jobs that are rejected by the Inarta. We also do everything we are ordered to do by the higher castes.
Do you like/dislike your work? Why?
It would be an incredible lie if I say I loved my work, and it would be an incredible lie if I say I hated my work. Of course, it is unpleasant- the system makes it so. But the small freedoms that we are granted and our undetermined statuses allows me to do things such as live in tents and catch fish if I do my job properly. It's not to say that this perk is actually worth it when looking at the overall work I do, since a small action can land you a beating or worse, but to say that it's all bad is not actually good for the morale, if you know what I mean.
If you could be anything you wanted to, what would you be?
Personally, I hate this question. Why set me up for false hope? It's degrading. But again, for the sake of conversation, let's pretend I actually have a chance or someone is willing to lend me some luck. I've always found the realm of medicine fascinating. I have some experience with basic treatments- bandaging, ointments and so on, but that part doesn't really interest me. It's the process of making medicine that's brilliant. All those herbs and stuff. Fascinating. But besides that, I think I'd make a good basketweaver. I've made quite a lot of baskets, not great baskets, but simple ones in my tent.

 

Education

Where or how did you learn most of your skills/abilities?
Most of my skills I've learnt through the Bendi assignments that I was given as a Yasi child. Menial things; cooking, cleaning, running errands. One would think that they were already training me for my future 'occupation'. But I didn't really mind, because through the Bendi assignments, I had a peak into the life of a herbalist and the standard wilderness survival skills that I have since used to supply myself of extra food for the fair seasons. When it comes to actual craftsmanship and my abilitites, my work was pretty standard, not much flair or outstanding qualities, but I was efficient in my work and could pick lessons up pretty quickly. I think, if I'd more time and didn't have the disadvantages of my ear deformity and social anxiety, I would've been apprenticed or been a Chiet.
What are your educational goals for the future?
It's hard to say. As I've said, being a Dek is limiting. But if given the chance, I'd like to learn more about weaving or learn more about medicines.

 

Relationships

Do you form close bonds with people? Why? Why not?
Throughout most of my childhood and now, I've had trouble with talking to people. Although it makes it difficult to speak to the people that's in a higher caste than me, I have no trouble in speaking to people who are either Dek's or act like Dek's. I can talk to them if I wanted to, but really, after years of not talking, I've grown used to not talking to anyone at all. Since relationship requires an extent of communication, I have obvious difficulty in forming relationships.
Have you ever had sex? If so, describe the first time.
What's there to tell? Some guy told me to open my legs, and I opened my legs. It wasn't all that exciting nor did it mean anything, but I am thankful I've been spared of a violent experience as most young Dek's have been subjected to.
In general, how do you treat others?
Although my reluctance to talk makes it hard, I help out as much people as I could. More specifically, I help the more immobile Dek's as much as I physically can without having to commit myself entirely. Although I desire to help them out, I am not naive enough to think that I can save everyone of them and I don't want to be taken advantage of either. For the rest of the Inarta, I am just another Dek and will do anything (except sacrifice my own life) they want me to do.
Who are your parents and what are they like?
Initially, like many of my fellow people that was nurtured by the Chiet's in the nurseries, I didn't have any knowledge who my mother or my father were, just an inkling of my low status and my lack of distinct Inarta features. I had a strange friend then, though. A woman who always visited at odd times. Despite looking simple minded and grubby, her beauty was something else. By the time I had reached a certain degree of consciousness in age, she had adopted me along with a man that would become the trigger of my social anxiety. At the age of eight, I grew to understand that the woman, was in fact, my mother. For my biological father, comparing my features to the travellers that visit Wind Reach, I think he might've been a Svefra. I met one last Spring, a lively fellow. I'd be nice if I had a dormant lively trait.

 

Favourites

What do you find the most relaxing activity to do?
Since making the tent my home, I've enjoyed fishing. There's something satisfying about catching your own dinner while you're unwinding. Hands down, I prefer it over hunting, which requires a lot more energy to succeed.
What is your favorite type of weather? Does any kind scare you?
I prefer fair summer weathers over the winter season because being under hot weather is more comfortable than having no spare clothes to warm myself. I don't particularly like the rainy season either- it makes everything messier than it should be.
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?
The fall season is beautiful. The vast shades of red on the trees are vibrant and wonderful. I love the sunsets and sunshines during this season- everything is just so alive and yet seem so close to death. It's a season of contradictions, I think. When I was younger, don't laugh, I used to gather large piles of fallen leaves and lie down under it, tucking back my dark hair so it won't show. I imagined, from above, it would've looked like I had bright red hair that is so common in Inartans.

 

Drugs and Alcohol

What do you think of drugs and alcohol? Be specific.
The man who my mother married after taking me back became an alcoholic and abused the both of us extensively. He used to humiliate me by cutting my own hair so that my right ear could be seen and goad his friends into joining in making fun of me. He became the source of my mother's depression and also the source of my speaking deficiency. Needless to say, I don't have much of a positive opinion in that subject.

 

Self Image

What is your greatest strength as a person?
I treasure my resourcefulness as a person, because I know there are better alternatives, I won't settle for anything less until I'm proven wrong. That's why I'm so particular about everything, my clothes for example; you won't see a cleaner Dek than me. It's useful in pulling me out of my pessimism too. That has it's perks too- it makes me a great deal more careful when I'm doing something I really shouldn't be.
Describe yourself as others typically see you.
They see a thing with no talent pretending to an Inarta who's only good at fetching things, cleaning someone's shit or an occasional bedwarmer to the desperate. Deathly silent, I might as well be a relative to the stone walls of Mt. Skyinarta. The only thing that makes me different from the wall though, is the fervent emotions that my eyes seem to betray no matter how much I try to conceal them. I am like any Deks, hungry for food but clean enough to not catch anything infectious. None of my physical aesthetics could crown me the praises of 'pretty' or 'stunning', I think.

 

Beliefs

What lengths would you go to to please your deity?
Although I appreciate what the gods had given us, I am not truly that religious. So, no, I wouldn't do much at all unless it's absolutely necessary to my life.

 

Life and Death

What do you absolutely live for?
Honestly, I am still working around this. Although my prime objective is to survive in any situation that is given to me, I know it won't hold me up for very long. I'm waiting something that would make me realise... something.
If you could choose, how would you want to die?
Comfortably, hopefully. With no awful objects sticking in my body and some disease eating me away slowly. If possible, fast and quick. Preferably at old age.
What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death?

Early death is inevitable as a Dek. Before it happens though, I would like to travel around Mizahar. So, if it comes in the forseeable future, I don't think I've left any type of legacy. There's no one to remember me fondly, either. But to humour you, it would be nice to be remembered as a resourceful person that managed to carve a semblance of life in the tempered conditions of Mt. Skyinarta.