Shantiva

Shantiva

Born in Dereth within months of her parents jointly answering the call from a strange purple light they noticed near their farm Shantiva grew up amid the splendors and horrors of the land. She learned at a young age to use the simple Katar to defend herself from the roaming bands of drudges, shreths and the like as she went about helping her parents run their small farm a short distance outside Shoushi. However she had never become more than simply familiar with this or any weapon.

During her adolesence she became increasingly aware of a growing number of adventurers traveling the highway near their farm and occasionally remarked to her aging parents a growing envy of the possible sights they were getting to see and adventures they must be involved in. Her dreams were quickly snuffed by her parents who would indicate that this other lifestyle was one no truly decent person would desire and all those who were involved could not really be trusted as they had no true roots as did those who attempted to make a permanent homestead in this land.

As the years passed she continued to hold in her heart a desire to join those she saw from afar despite the words of her parents but had no idea just how this would come to pass until the day a large band of Mosswarts suddenly attacked her home lead by several Mosswart Chiefs and their accompanying Shaman. Her parents had never truly spent much time learning more than the simplest spells to help aid in defending their home as never before had any need arisen to do so. The say could be said for the use of weapons and though her father and mother and she fought valiantly it was not but quick work for the horde of monsters to take their toll on the family. As she watched her mother was run through with the ever present spears carried by the feeders and as her father turned to defend himself from the spells cast by the magic users in the group he called for Shantiva to run and saver herself.

As tears of grief blinded her she did as her father instructed and ran, and continued to run toward the closest town of Shoushi until her lungs felt as if they would burst.

Dropping to the ground next to the roadside she looked back the way she had come to see smoke billowing in the direction of what had been her home and knew she was truly alone and the tears again came to her eyes. At that moment a gentle voice came from behind her asking if she needed healing. She turned to look into the face of a man several seasons older than she as she answered she did not want healing as it would not remove the pain she felt in her heart for the loss of her parents who had just been murdered by mosswarts.

To her surprise the man in full armor sat down next to her and simply nodded in understanding.

"Then I will rest here and make sure you are not bothered as you grieve my friend for we all understand loss in this land", he said.

At that moment two more warrior types arrived at this point in the road, the first kneeling in front of the first stranger and speaking,

"I apologize for taking so long in town Lord Dragonheart, The Redshift and I were appraising the wares at the local weaponsmith."

"Think nothing of it Actorios, it seems we are too late in any case. This young lady has just come from the smoke we were going to investigate and it is her farm and family that have been lost."

With simple polite words of simpathy the two new strangers took places on the other side of "their lord" and began to discuss among themselves what they should do next. Be it continue in the direction they were heading hoping to find and avenge the deaths they had just heard of or return to town to see if there was news of further attacks around the land.

Shantiva listened as the one who's name she now knew was Lord Dragonheart discussed the best weapons for killing mosswarts and that if they were truly going to pursue this band ahead they should ready their fire weapons and best magic resistance spells and amulets.

"Before we go in pursuit of these beasts however my good friends I for one and going to make sure this child reaches town without further danger to her,"

"I am not a child," Shantiva spoke before she thought, revealing her evesdropping.

Grinning, the warrior general turned to her with his reply," Apologies, I meant that in terms of your ability to defend from the ever increasing strength of monsters in this land we now find is our home"

Shantiva noticed the other two were smiling as the leader of their group spoke for in truth they looked no older than she. She was not so foolish as to try and deny the truth that she had little skill at defending herself at this point and quickly accepted the apology and the offer of safe escort to town. As they traveled she asked questions as to why the one was called "lord" and was told the story of the Runeguards, the allegiance founded by Sigil who had been sent here by King of Ispar to investigate what had been happening to his people.

By the time they reached Shoushi, Shantiva knew what she wanted to do and kneeling before Dragonheart she swore her loyalty to his runehouse of Jara and to the allegiance of the Runeguards, asking only that he teach the ways of a warrior that she too might be able in the future to defend those less capable. After many lessons given not only by her Runelord but her new brother runeknights Shantiva began to feel herself worthy of the title Runeknight of the House of Jara, although she knew from the things she had seen her lord and the other Runelords achieve in battle she still had much, much more to learn and had every intention of learning it.


	Shantiva Born in Dereth within months of her parents jointly answering the call from a strange purple light they noticed near their farm Shantiva grew up amid the splendors and horrors of the land. She learned at a young age to use the simple Katar to defend herself from the roaming bands of drudges, shreths and the like as she went about helping her parents run their small farm a short distance outside Shoushi. However she had never become more than simply familiar with this or any weapon. During her adolesence she became increasingly aware of a growing number of adventurers traveling the highway near their farm and occasionally remarked to her aging parents a growing envy of the possible sights they were getting to see and adventures they must be involved in. Her dreams were quickly snuffed by her parents who would indicate that this other lifestyle was one no truly decent person would desire and all those who were involved could not really be trusted as they had no true roots as did those who attempted to make a permanent homestead in this land. As the years passed she continued to hold in her heart a desire to join those she saw from afar despite the words of her parents but had no idea just how this would come to pass until the day a large band of Mosswarts suddenly attacked her home lead by several Mosswart Chiefs and their accompanying Shaman. Her parents had never truly spent much time learning more than the simplest spells to help aid in defending their home as never before had any need arisen to do so. The say could be said for the use of weapons and though her father and mother and she fought valiantly it was not but quick work for the horde of monsters to take their toll on the family. As she watched her mother was run through with the ever present spears carried by the feeders and as her father turned to defend himself from the spells cast by the magic users in the group he called for Shantiva to run and saver herself. As tears of grief blinded her she did as her father instructed and ran, and continued to run toward the closest town of Shoushi until her lungs felt as if they would burst. Dropping to the ground next to the roadside she looked back the way she had come to see smoke billowing in the direction of what had been her home and knew she was truly alone and the tears again came to her eyes. At that moment a gentle voice came from behind her asking if she needed healing. She turned to look into the face of a man several seasons older than she as she answered she did not want healing as it would not remove the pain she felt in her heart for the loss of her parents who had just been murdered by mosswarts. To her surprise the man in full armor sat down next to her and simply nodded in understanding. "Then I will rest here and make sure you are not bothered as you grieve my friend for we all understand loss in this land", he said. At that moment two more warrior types arrived at this point in the road, the first kneeling in front of the first stranger and speaking, "I apologize for taking so long in town Lord Dragonheart, The Redshift and I were appraising the wares at the local weaponsmith." "Think nothing of it Actorios, it seems we are too late in any case. This young lady has just come from the smoke we were going to investigate and it is her farm and family that have been lost." With simple polite words of simpathy the two new strangers took places on the other side of "their lord" and began to discuss among themselves what they should do next. Be it continue in the direction they were heading hoping to find and avenge the deaths they had just heard of or return to town to see if there was news of further attacks around the land. Shantiva listened as the one who's name she now knew was Lord Dragonheart discussed the best weapons for killing mosswarts and that if they were truly going to pursue this band ahead they should ready their fire weapons and best magic resistance spells and amulets. "Before we go in pursuit of these beasts however my good friends I for one and going to make sure this child reaches town without further danger to her," "I am not a child," Shantiva spoke before she thought, revealing her evesdropping. Grinning, the warrior general turned to her with his reply," Apologies, I meant that in terms of your ability to defend from the ever increasing strength of monsters in this land we now find is our home" Shantiva noticed the other two were smiling as the leader of their group spoke for in truth they looked no older than she. She was not so foolish as to try and deny the truth that she had little skill at defending herself at this point and quickly accepted the apology and the offer of safe escort to town. As they traveled she asked questions as to why the one was called "lord" and was told the story of the Runeguards, the allegiance founded by Sigil who had been sent here by King of Ispar to investigate what had been happening to his people. By the time they reached Shoushi, Shantiva knew what she wanted to do and kneeling before Dragonheart she swore her loyalty to his runehouse of Jara and to the allegiance of the Runeguards, asking only that he teach the ways of a warrior that she too might be able in the future to defend those less capable. After many lessons given not only by her Runelord but her new brother runeknights Shantiva began to feel herself worthy of the title Runeknight of the House of Jara, although she knew from the things she had seen her lord and the other Runelords achieve in battle she still had much, much more to learn and had every intention of learning it.