Raksha, Lady of Tharn
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Race: Half-Elf Strength: 12 Weapons: Quarterstaff +1, Sling. Armour: Plate Mail |
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Only daughter of Derwe, a Ranger, and Coreme, a Wood Elf from The Great Erm Woods, Raksha spent all of her childhood and most of her youth in the care of her mother. Her father, a born adventurer, spent much of his time travelling the Realms in search of the 'Eye of Armery', a family artifact lost during the Time of Troubles.
Derwe, on one of his sporadic visits to the Elven village, found his beloved Coreme had been slain during a vicious and unprovoked attack on the village by a band of warrior ogres. Raksha had escaped the attack and was being cared for by the remaining villagers.
After a black period of mourning Derwe gradually came to terms with his loss and began to succumb to the wanderlust once again. Bound by duty and the love of his daughter they set out together…..
After many months of travel and some minor dangers overcome they arrived at a town called Arabel.
It was while staying here that Derwe heard talk of a band of warrior ogres that had been attacking villages along the Southern coast of the Realms steadily making their way east. The attacks described were very similar to that which had killed Raksha's mother. Swearing revenge Derwe was determined to track down the ogres and bring their cowardly attacks to an end. Word of his proposed actions sparked much interest in the town. Many people had lost friends and loved ones in the attacks and very soon Derwe found he had a formidable following and plans of their departure and route were soon formulated.
Much to the annoyance of Raksha her father decided that this adventure was far too dangerous for her to accompany him and he made arrangements for her to be cared for at the temple of Tymora. His own Grandmother had been brought up by the priestesses of Tymora in a town far to the North and he felt that Raksha would benefit from their wisdom and teaching.
Promising to return soon Derwe bade farewell to his daughter and rode out of Arabel heading east.
Raksha spent the following months learning the ways of the Tymoran faith, proving to be an exceptionally gifted pupil. "Touched by the Lady herself", the High Priest was often heard to say.
As the months turned into years her growing apathy for the strictures and sermons which were central to the temples way of life began to bring her into conflict with her superiors. The wanderlust of her father had obviously found its way into her blood and she would often be found dreaming of adventures, instead of concentrating on her duties. She was frequently seen practising her fighting skills, initially learned from her father, instead of using the garden tools for their proper purpose.
Word was received from Silver Morn (an old friend to the temple) of trouble in the Dales and the unfortunate loss of two valued members of an adventuring party lending aid to the Dale Riders. It was decided that Raksha could be "spared" from her present gardening duties to lend assistance to the troubled lands spreading the Tymoran Faith through actions rather than prayer alone.
Raksha, anxious to put her "skills" into practice, did not need any encouragement! She set forth in the company of a trading caravan to Shadowdale as requested, to meet up with the Righteous Fist. It did not take her long to discover the favourite watering hole of this noble band of adventurers. She settled herself in a comfortable corner at the Old Skull Inn with a large glass of red wine and eagerly awaited their return.
She was aware of an elf sitting in the opposite corner who seemed to be paying her a great deal of attention. She was just deciding whether to make polite conversation with him or not when the door to the Inn burst open and four weary, dirty, and judging by the amount of food and beer they ordered, hungry and thirsty travellers thundered in. They must be the party she had been waiting for and so taking a deep breath and a large gulp from her wine glass she walked over to where they were seated to introduce herself….