Etohya's page

Burkesh was a Shoanti of the peaceful Shriikirri-Quah, the Hawk Clan, a tribe who lived near the eastern edges of the Churlwood. He often ventured deep into the forest to study the native wildlife. While in the forest, he caught the attention of an elf woman from one of the small communities of druids that reside in the forest. After many encounters in various secluded parts of the forest, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a half-elf girl in the druid community. She gave her daughter the Shoanti name of Etohya.

Unlike many half-elves, Etohya didn't face prejudice or discrimination due to her mixed race. The druids viewed this as simply part of nature, and the Shoanti believed that it allowed her to transcend the bounds of the individual races. Etohya's upbringing was steeped in the natural traditions of the druids and Shoanti. She easily learned the druidic arts from her mother, and grew into a well-respected member of the druid community.

While most of the druids were content to remain in the forest, Etohya's Shoanti blood gave her a more restless nature. Periodically visiting her father's clan wasn't enough to satisfy her wanderlust. After learning of its location from the Shoanti, she travelled south to the town of Galduria to learn about how civilization affects the natural land. Etohya would make several more journeys to the town, learning of Sandpoint's Swallowtail Festival during her latest visit. Curious about what the festival might be like, she obtained permission from the druids to attend.

Etohya had spent many years exploring through the Churlwood praying to the forces of nature for one, but this always resulted in silence. The answer she recently received was nothing she ever expected. While returning to the druid community with her father after visiting the Shoanti clan to inform him about her journey, the two were ambushed by a group of several bandits who plague the Churlwood. To save his daughter, Etohya's father shoved her away and commanded her to run while he drew his weapons and distracted the bandits. He was no match for the group of men, and they killed him while Etohya fled and hid. After the bandits left, she returned to try to find her father. She discovered him lying face down, lifeless, and riddled with arrows. She collapsed, her devastated sobs mixed with howls of fury. But her cries weren't unanswered. From directly above, a loud screech pierced the air drawing Etohya's attention. A hawk sat perched in a tree staring at her. At once, Etohya knew that her father's spirit had entered this hawk, and as she gazed up at it it flew to her, landing on her dead father's outstretched arm. Etohya had found her animal companion, naming it Kirri-Burkesh (or Kirri for short) after her father.

After the funeral of her father, the time came to begin her journey to Sandpoint.

At a brief first glance, Etohya could pass for a small Shoanti with ruddy skin, though she keeps her dark hair unshaven but short. Her slightly pointed ears and slighter frame give indication of her true nature, however. In Shoanti fashion, she wears a number of tattoos, most prominent are a leaf figure on the side of her face, and flowing patterns on both arms. She wears simple clothes in drab colors under leather armor. When not flying in the vicinity, Kirri stands on her shoulder.

Etohya's personality can best be described as serene. Like her father's clan, she prefers peaceful resolutions to conflict. However, nature can be cruel, and she understands that violence can't always be ruled out. She can be reserved due to her upbringing in a reclusive druid community, but her time with the Hawk Clan didn't leave her completely inexperienced in communication skills.