Backstory:
Cael's father Flint was a true woodsman. He loved tracking, hunting
and living off the land. He settled into the North Woods twenty
five summers ago, and had never found reason to regret his
decision. He had built his small two room cabin with his own
hands, from materials he himself had gathered. He made a living
as an occasional hired tracker/guide as well as from the sale
of pelts and some rarer deep woods plants and herbs.
Flint had rare dealings with the elves that roamed the North
Woods. He knew a few by name, but would not have called them
more then an acquaintance. This changed when he met Cael's mother.
They seemed to cross each other's path more often then would
be considered normal. One morning while out checking traps, he
found Cael's mother gravely injured. She'd surprised a couple
of bugbears. Flint had carried her back to his cabin and nursed
her back to health. With his minimal skills in healing, her recovery
took several weeks. They grew quite fond of each other during
this time. Eventually she was well enough to travel alone and
return to her home. Several more summers passed before Flint
was to see her again.
When next they met, she brought with her a toddler girl, their
daughter, whom she left with Flint to raise. She had named the
child Caelcarnadhiel, meaning “red archer", for the girl
had inherited her father's red hair. She left a small chest to
be given to Cael eventually, though when exactly her father would
not say. Nor would he name her mother. he says he will tell her
when the time is right.
Currently Cael has seen sixteen winters. She has soaked up woods
lore from her father. In most ways she takes after him. Her human
heritage is dominant, yet betrayed by elven oddities. Her red
hair has deepened to the richness of rubies, a vibrant color
not seen in humans. Her emerald eyes flecked with gold, betraying
a sense of "otherness". Her tall slender build, and
quiet movements do not seem out of place with her leather garb.
Her mannerisms are all human. She has a very outgoing personality
for one raised in the quiet solitude of the deep woods. She learned
as a young age that most people would somewhat overlook her differences
if she didn't give them a chance to dwell upon them. Therefore
she became quick to initiate conversations, steering the topics
in whichever direction she felt most beneficial at the time.
She is quick with a joke or sarcastic comment, always meant playfully,
never to hurt or bully.
As soon as she was old enough to travel to town on her own her
father was content to let her. He preferred the solitude of his
home. She travels into Willowford at least one a week to trade
anything gathered and to look for side work. She is well known
both in town and around the outlying farms. Her skills as a tracker,
archer, and animal handler are well tested and respected. She
is often away from home a week or so at a time if a job as guard
or guide presents itself.
Cael is young in appearance and personality. She is full of
youthful convictions unmarred by years of compromise and experience.
She thinks she knows a great deal about life, the world, and
how things are. Unfortunately she lacks much life experience
outside of the North Woods and Willowford. She has been lucky
enough to avoid any trouble on her few trips to Lonn or Demming,
and has thus far not had experienced anything to prove her as
inexperienced as she truly is. |
