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Backgrounds: Gilgamesh, Jackal, Karianna, Menedraile, Merayen, Seraph, Skyla, Spark
Backgrounds
Artifact ***
The Mighty Hammer, Dailas, that Skyla found laying forgotten in the small Crafting-Chamber of the Golden Manse is one of her most treasured possessions in all ways. It's not so much it's power; it is clear to her that Aeas considered the item a simple tool, useful only because any lesser item would shatter or melt when put to the abuse to which she constantly subjected it. Skyla treasures it because she knows it is hers, well- and truly. It's also quite efficient at the cracking of heads, regardless of that not being its primary purpose.
Backing **
While still quite new to the position and not fully in the trust of the King, you have been named the Champion of Madaan and sit at the right-hand of the King Randal Saeris in all things. This gives you some official capacity among the state, and makes you a figure of some little power.
Contacts **
You know more or less everyone in the village of Nulam, having lived there since you were 6. It is home to you in so many ways, and you remain quite close with your adopted Father, Jhord. After your Exaltation, the month you spent among the Hill People nearby also endeared you with them, and you try to keep an eye on Janna's new life there.
Influence *
You are quite beloved by the people of Nulam, considered a fine smith and a generous person in general. The people might grow worried about your confrontation with the Guild, but only for your own sake. Those that know of your nature as one of the Anathema, such as the Town Council, worry for your to some degree -- but you have long since earned the trust of your people.
Resources **
You are quite wealthy, having access to your fathers forge and more or less having inherited the business since your return from the Golden Manse. The fact that Opal Blossom "stole" most of the good stuff from the Manse was disheartening, but you still managed to make it out with a big hammer and enough to pay for the entire years effort.
Intimacies
By far the "baby" of the Circle at only 16 years old, Skyla was the second of them to Exalt, having been touched by the sun a little over a year ago. It had taken the young girl a long time to adjust to her new surroundings, but even so she never fully got over the traumatic events that so drastically redirected her life 10 years prior. She had grown to accept her new home, come to love the man she called "father", but even so Skyla found herself constantly reminded of both her short but sickening experience as a slave and her knowledge of how lucky she was to have escaped her fate. Even through the veil of time and the twists of destiny, she couldn't help but think back to her long lost existance that seemed so distant from her now. She'd forgotten so much; more slipped away ever year. That was when the Caravan came into the town, and she saw her for the first time in 10 years...
The Guild Caravan came into Nulam every year, in the Spring, an event that was celebrated by a large trade caravan and a two week celebration of plenty and life. Ever since she was a little girl, Skyla hated and feared those that came, angry at them for making her mother abandon her and fearful that they would find her and take her again. She grew distrustful of all those associated with the guild, even those in town that traded with or worked with them. Yet as such things do, she overcame this. The people in the town were her tribe, and she knew none of them would ever hurt her or force her away. She learned that there were even a few friendly people on the Caravan, and that the Trade Faires were places of wonder and joy. As she grew older, she learned of the good that the Guild did, even though she never forgot and never overlooked the bad.
Occasionally, when the Caravan passed through town, there was a slave or two with them. Skyla felt bad for these people and she did with she could, but that was precious little. What could one person do? Then, when the Guild came into her village on her 16th year, one of them brought a pretty girl dressed in silks and draped in jewelry but bearing the same dull expression worn by any concubine. Janna had grown up in the 10 years since she'd last seen her, but Skyla could still recognize the slightly older womans thin girlish figure. Skyla's heart was pounding through the entire fair but this time there was little concern and even less self pity. She was not just angry; her emotions exceeded that emotion in the way that a fireplace is exceeded by the Forge.
When the Caravan left, Skyla followed after it, carrying little but a knife and her smithing hammer. That night she set to work as quickly as she could, moving between lazy guards who didn't really expect trouble this close to the quiet little village where nothing ever happened. She untied knots and cut ropes, she pulled out pins and pried loose boards, she frayed harnesses and carved at the stress points of wagons axels. Once she decided she'd caused enough potential chaos, Skyla made her way to the wagon where she was fairly certain she'd seen Janna -- her heart was beating so loudly she almost feared the guards would overhear, but she managed to sneak past them in any event.
The fat pig of a merchant was sound-asleep, and Skyla almost cried to see her friend laying next to him. Janna was barely dressed at all and almost looked peaceful, making a bit of a sound when she was shaken awake. The effect wasn't as immediate as Skyla had hoped, but she could quite clearly point out the point at which Janna's eyes narrowed with recognition. She almost hoped that the Merchant would wake up but he slept through his concubine carefully climbing out of the bed, and through the quiet conversation that took place there while Skyla tried to get her old friend to put on something warmer and Janna tried to figure out what was going on.
Though clearly frightened at the prospect of freedom, or perhaps getting caught, there was clearly something there that convinced Janna to trust her. Maybe it was their remembered friendship, or something in Skyla's eyes that convinced her friend of her conviction. It might even have been a sign of what was to come. Regardless, the two of them snuck out of the door and carefully squeezed around the wagon to avoid the notice of the Guards. On the way out, Skyla casually smacked a horse with the flat of her dagger and set her earlier chaos into motion. The entire Caravan fell into chaos as the two young girls slipped into the forest.
Skyla had thought they'd gotten away clean, she she heard Janna scream and start running. A glance behind them revealed a number of Caravan Guards trailing after, moving through the underbrush at a steady pace. Someone must had seen the two of them slipping through the shadows and alerted the others, who had alerted the guards as a whole. While a number were still managing the chaos back at the camp, there were an awful lot out here.
The two young girls ran, like foxes being chased by bored Dynasts. Skyla could tell that they were being herded, and it just caused the anger in her to grow white-hot. "Stop! We're not running anymore," she said, and such was the confidence and lack of fear in her voice that her friend stopped running and took up a position behind her. "They aren't taking either of us this time."
Five Guards from the Caravan came up slowly, somewhat uncertain though they couldn't tell why. Behind them, roused from his sleep, the Merchant Prince waddled his way toward the group. He looked angry, and the thought just made Skyla laugh so hard that the Guards just got confused and looked back and forth - even Janna seemed off-put by the reaction. The merchant opened his mouth to say something, then everything stopped as Skyla stopped laughing and fixxed him with a stare even as she erupted into a glorious bonfire of multicolored light - a half-filled circle of gold on her brow.
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