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I figured we should have a thread for background stuff for the new characters to keep it organized :)Here's mine:
Tok, Changeling Bard
The changeling known as Tok hails from the windy plains of Western Akhas, where he was born in the city of Yeshual and sold as a child to the Melohi tribe, one of many groups of nomadic peoples that followed the grazing trails of their flocks throughout the seasons. As a young man he was trained in the songs and history of the tribe in order to fulfill the role that the tribal elders had prescribed to him - that of the tribal advisor, storyteller, and scholar, a respected and influential position in the tribe.
As a young man he took his place at the side of Ketal, the tribal chief, after the death of his mentor, the previous advisor. He served well, often counseling moderation and diplomacy in the tribe’s dealings. Although well-versed in the arts of war and the need for decisive action, his was usually a voice of reason. For nearly twenty years he served Ketal as both advisor and friend. During the war with Nerath he became known as a shrewd strategist, but an even shrewder diplomat, managing to keep the Melohi from being involved in much of the fighting that happened around them. As a result, his tribe lost fewer warriors and was better able to weather the storm than many other tribes, some of which they later absorbed under Tok’s guidance.
When the chief passed on and his son Ketalan replaced him, Tok became advisor to the new chief as well, becoming a link between the generations. By now, at the age of forty, he was seen as one of the tribe’s elders. As was tradition for advisors, he had taken no wife and had no family. His was a life dedicated to his chief above all else, and he was well contented with his place in the world.
Within one turn of the seasons, however, the peace he had worked for would be shattered when Ketalan died under mysterious circumstances and was replaced by his younger brother Kelel. Kelel was a vain, greedy man who sought to increase the tribe’s power through force rather than diplomacy and began raiding nearby tribes for their wealth. Tok tried to counsel him against this abuse of power, but Kelel wouldn’t hear him, and when the time came to record the histories of Kelel’s warfare, he ordered Tok to change the histories to make him look more favorable. Tok refused, clinging to his traditions, and began speaking out about the abuses and cruelty of Kelel even going so far as to create and sing songs painting him as a monster and tyrant. Kelel knew that Tok was too respected to have executed, so instead he ordered him to Nerath, to be an “Ambassador” for the tribe. Tok knew that the chief had no need of ambassadors. What he really meant was “Banished”.
Still obedient to his tribe, Tok took ship to Nerath and for a while he made his home in Vanilorra, surviving as a storyteller and beggar. Finally, five years ago, word arrived from his homeland via a cargo ship that his tribe had been exterminated, wiped out and absorbed by neighboring tribes in petty feuds and pointless fighting.
Devastated at the loss of his people, Tok decided to make the journey back to Akhas to see if anything remained of his people. On the way, however, the small group he was travelling with became lost in the Change and emerged in the feywild, homeland of his racial ancestors. Tok took this as a sign of providence and decided that he would stay on in the feywild, searching for a new, worthy master. After he was introduced to lady Kumiho she was impressed with his knowledge and ability, and offered him a place working with her. With few options and fewer friends, Tok accepted gratefully.
Tok, Changeling Bard
The changeling known as Tok hails from the windy plains of Western Akhas, where he was born in the city of Yeshual and sold as a child to the Melohi tribe, one of many groups of nomadic peoples that followed the grazing trails of their flocks throughout the seasons. As a young man he was trained in the songs and history of the tribe in order to fulfill the role that the tribal elders had prescribed to him - that of the tribal advisor, storyteller, and scholar, a respected and influential position in the tribe.
As a young man he took his place at the side of Ketal, the tribal chief, after the death of his mentor, the previous advisor. He served well, often counseling moderation and diplomacy in the tribe’s dealings. Although well-versed in the arts of war and the need for decisive action, his was usually a voice of reason. For nearly twenty years he served Ketal as both advisor and friend. During the war with Nerath he became known as a shrewd strategist, but an even shrewder diplomat, managing to keep the Melohi from being involved in much of the fighting that happened around them. As a result, his tribe lost fewer warriors and was better able to weather the storm than many other tribes, some of which they later absorbed under Tok’s guidance.
When the chief passed on and his son Ketalan replaced him, Tok became advisor to the new chief as well, becoming a link between the generations. By now, at the age of forty, he was seen as one of the tribe’s elders. As was tradition for advisors, he had taken no wife and had no family. His was a life dedicated to his chief above all else, and he was well contented with his place in the world.
Within one turn of the seasons, however, the peace he had worked for would be shattered when Ketalan died under mysterious circumstances and was replaced by his younger brother Kelel. Kelel was a vain, greedy man who sought to increase the tribe’s power through force rather than diplomacy and began raiding nearby tribes for their wealth. Tok tried to counsel him against this abuse of power, but Kelel wouldn’t hear him, and when the time came to record the histories of Kelel’s warfare, he ordered Tok to change the histories to make him look more favorable. Tok refused, clinging to his traditions, and began speaking out about the abuses and cruelty of Kelel even going so far as to create and sing songs painting him as a monster and tyrant. Kelel knew that Tok was too respected to have executed, so instead he ordered him to Nerath, to be an “Ambassador” for the tribe. Tok knew that the chief had no need of ambassadors. What he really meant was “Banished”.
Still obedient to his tribe, Tok took ship to Nerath and for a while he made his home in Vanilorra, surviving as a storyteller and beggar. Finally, five years ago, word arrived from his homeland via a cargo ship that his tribe had been exterminated, wiped out and absorbed by neighboring tribes in petty feuds and pointless fighting.
Devastated at the loss of his people, Tok decided to make the journey back to Akhas to see if anything remained of his people. On the way, however, the small group he was travelling with became lost in the Change and emerged in the feywild, homeland of his racial ancestors. Tok took this as a sign of providence and decided that he would stay on in the feywild, searching for a new, worthy master. After he was introduced to lady Kumiho she was impressed with his knowledge and ability, and offered him a place working with her. With few options and fewer friends, Tok accepted gratefully.
