Soren Thundersong of the Diamond clan

[Soren Thundersong]

Soren Thundersong of the Diamond clan

Basic Info
Race: Drykas
Age: 19, born Spring 492AV
Gender: Male

Physical Description
Soren stands 5ft 4in and weighs around 170lbs, smaller than most male Drykas. He is a wiry build and light on his feet with a deeply tanned skin. His face is all angles with sharply defined features. A small mouth, sharp nose and peircing emerald eyes. His brown hair hangs to his shoulders, usually tied up with a simple cloth strip. His windmark is a twisting pattern of thorn vines, going from one wrist, across is shoulders and around his neck, down to the other wrist. He prefers light clothing, usually wearing little more than cotton pants and a v-necked short sleeved shirt, sometimes a white hooded cloak in colder weather. Soren is accompanied everywhere by a white female fox named Mika, usually either near his feet or riding in his pack. His strider, Talkinum or Tal is white with brown splatters, as if he had been running through mud for a day.

Personality
Bullheaded and fiercly passionate some would consider Soren reckless, while others belive he could be an excellent leader. Soren lives moment to moment, adapting to situations on the fly. Overly independent, he dislikes help but usually accepts after some prodding. He strives to better himself both mentally and physically.He has a strong sense of honor and very dedicated to tasks givin to him, due to living with the Akalak. These qualities along with a natural curiosity, challenging nature and a ton of pent up energy oft get him in trouble. Soren seems to prefer the company of animals, often seen talking to Tal and Mika. Mika is a mischevious sort, possesion a coy personality and a curiousity matching Soren's own. Tal, while having a lot of energy is calm and thinks more rationatly than Soren. Tal can often tell if someone is trustworthy upon first meeting. In combat Soren and Tal think as one, the strider moving exactly as Soren needs without command. When traveling Soren keeps his belongings in small saddlebags, his stuff the left bag as Mika likes to sleep in the right bag.

History
Soren was born in the spring of 492 AV to Karena of the Windstep family, part of the Diamond clan. He grew like any other Drykas, but like most members of his clan, excelled in combat. He showed skill in unarmed combat and with a dagger, but he proved to be deadly with a bow. At a young age it was apparent that he was going to be smaller than the average male. Because of this most of his clan, even his family, to believe in him. Even with this he grew fast, sure footed and wiry. While the other children were stronger, Soren was faster.

A few weeks after turning 8, Soren was chosen by his strider. He was with a cousin helping take care of their small herd. A smaller horse, a white and brown one, not but a year old. It was the first he tended to that day. As he moved around, tending to the other striders, the horse followed him, snorting and stamping his hooves, occasianally nipping at Soren. His cousin quickly noticed, but said nothing, watching and waiting for the young boy to realize. After a particurly hard nip, Soren turned to tell the horse off, when suddenly it hit him. He whirled around, his eyes wide. "Your picking me?" awe in his voice. The magnificent horse whinied and step foward. Choking back a sob Soren wrapped his arms around the strider's neck. "I shall call you Talkinum." His cousin smiled and waved, as he climbed onto Talkinum's back and shouted "Let's go Tal!" They galloped off to his families pavilion.

In honor of being chosen Soren was allowed his Windmark. He chose a pattern of tightly twisting razorthorn vines around both arms starting at the wrist, crossing his shoulders and circling his neck.

The seasons passed quickly, boy and horse growing closer. At ten Soren and Tal joined his mother on patrols. He loved the wide open spaces of the sea of grass and the people they met. Soren talked to many while on patrols, Isur, Vanth's, kelvic and once a Konti. Soren's favorite though was the strong, proud Akalak, who hunted near a common camping ground of the Diamond clan. He became friends with one named Artanis. The two hunted togather often, trading stories of their respective cultures and families.

During his 12th spring, Soren's life changed drastically. On patrol with Karena, two brothers, Coli and Tio and his cousin jaelen. A storm suddenly overtook them, the sky darkening. Rain hammered down on them and lightining cracked the sky. Karena ordered them back to camp when a dreaded sound made the patrol draw their weapons. Suddenly glassbeak calls filled the air and scores of the rushed them. Coli screamed, sword swinging, as he was pulled from his saddle. "Soren run!" Karena commanded him, fear shaking her voice. Paralyzed, Soren couldn't tear his eyes away. Tal realized the danger and ran, keeping his beloved rider safe. "We can't leave them. We gotta go back." Soren tugged on his strider but Tal continued on. The rain pounded down harder, the group no longer visable. Without warning a bloodcurdling scream cut the air, chilling them both to the core. "Momma.." tears ran freely down Soren's cheeks. They rode silently through the grassland till Soren fell asleep, Tal still troting onward.

Soren woke in a small, sparsly lit room. He sat up, his first thought being what happend to Tal. The door opened and his old friend Artanis came in, a small tray in his hands. "Ah your up." Artanis said with a smile. Soren suddenly started babbling, the questions running togather "Its you! Where am I, where's Tal, how'd I get here?" his friend chuckled. "Calm young one. Your in my home in Riverfall. Tal is in the stables, doing very well. Tal brought you here. The guards thought you were dead. Now, eat and tell me what happened." Soren told him the tale, eating slowing and holding back tears. Once he was done Artanis spoke "That's quite a tale. I'm sorry for your loss my friend. Now, you must decide. We can send out a scout to try to find your clan or you may stay in Riverfall, and live with me and my two sons. If you stay though you must be as the Akalak, learning our customs and history." Soren thought for a moment and then replied "There is nothing left for me in my clan. I wish to stay." Artanis smiled and took the tray, telling Soren to sleep.

Soon after joining the Akalak Soren changed his name to Soren Thundersong.

Living with the Akalak was difficult but Soren enjoyed the challenge. Artanis's sons, Antinos and Kitan were a lot like their father. Calm, humble but proud, always thinking, they enjoyed a good yarn. Both Tal and Soren grew stronger, faster, and smarter every day. At 14 he was accepted by all but the most stubborn Akalak. He could easily go toe to toe with most of the Akalak around his age in unarmed combat, Kitan teaching him how to use his speed to strike quickly and keep his larger opponents off balance. While living with them he learned of the Akalak's terribe burden, their dual personalities.

In his fiftenth year Soren undertook the Akalak Rite of Trial with 2 others. Though he succeded, one of the others died. Afterwords he was considered a full tribe member. He also gained a new teacher, an older Akalak named Terran, who taught Soren a magic called the Flux. Soren learned fast and quickly knew everything Terran could teach him. He soon applied the powerful magic to his unarmed combat to great effect. He also quickly adapted the skill for archery, using it to draw better, shoot farther and strike harder.

At 17, Soren gained a new companion. While hunting one day with his brothers they happened across a fox mother, dead in the long grass. Dropping to the ground from Tal's back, Soren heard a faint chittering growl. Searching the area slowly, he spotted a small white bundle of fur. Slowly, Soren reached toward the creature, obviously a baby fox. the fox nipped Soren's finger. cooing and clicking his tounge Soren convinced the young female fox to him. His trust earned the fox went back to his home becoming a new friend, almost never leaving Soren's side. He named her Mika.

Now 19, Soren has left Riverfall. Just before leaving he visited his old friend and adoptived father Artanis. Bedridden and dying the old warrior clasp Soren's hand between his own, pressing a sharp curved dagger, sheathed, into his hand. "Soren, you an honorable warrior and a great man. You brought a new perspective into my life and changed it for the better. This blade is called a saxe knife. It was givin to me by an old friend, a warrior of the northern Vantha. Use it well. I love you my son. Now go. Perhaps I will live to see you again one day." Soren tied the saxe to his waist and said "Goodbye my father. May the gods watch over you." At that Soren traveled to the gate, telling family and friend goodbye. Reaching the gate Soren climbed onto Tal, dagger on his waist, bow and quiver on his back and a small amount of provisions in the left bag of the small saddlebags, Mika sleeping in the right. Galloping away they made for the city of stars ,Lhavit.

Skills
Riding +10 (Racial Bonus)
Archery +15 (Sp)
The Flux +15 (Sp)
Unarmed combat +10 (Sp)
Dagger +5 (Sp)
Hunting +5 (Sp)
Medicine +1 (exp)
Teaching +2 (exp)
Seduction +1 (exp)

Lores
Akalak history and culture
The bigger they are...
Offering food to a stray (exp)
Being attracted to naked Kelvics (exp)
Abstract concepts in common (exp)
Kissing (exp)
Nonreciprocal feelings (exp)
Buying a pretty girl pretty things (exp)
Isette (exp)

Languages
Fluent - Pavi
Basic - Common
Poor - Tukant
Poor - Lhavitian

Iventory
1 Weeks supply of food
1 eating knife
toilettries
small pack
Small saddlebags (4gm)
Small quiver (2gm)
20 Arrows (1gm)
Shortbow (30gm)
Heirloom: Saxe knife, givin to him by his adotive father

Ledger
100gm
-37gm (Shortbow, 20 arrows, small quiver, small saddlebags)
63gm
- 10gm (Givin away)
53gm
- 15gm (Bought dress fir Isette)
38 gm

Threads
The cat and the fox (Isette) - Graded - http://www.mizahar.com/forums/topic8212.html
Local flavor (Surya, open) - in progress - http://www.mizahar.com/forums/topic8169.html
I like two clumps (Emizal) - in progress - http://www.mizahar.com/forums/topic8227.html
Angels fall first (Open) -in progress - http://www.mizahar.com/forums/topic8098.html
A pinch of salt (Tao) - in progress - http://www.mizahar.com/forums/topic8343.html