Raven Wildflower's page

Raven was a gifted girl. She always had a passion for the outdoors and finding her way around. Her father was a prominent commander of Frozenheart, a forward city established to bring the fight to the humans. Raven was being trained to be a forward scout.

When Raven was nine years old her city was attacked by an human strike force that had discovered the location of the city some time prior. The resulting battle was fierce.

The warning horn was sounded. She saw father rallying the troops in an attempt to repel the force. Since her wings had not developed yet she ran to help father arm everyone. The humans were ferocious. They had just breached the main gate. Nobody was being spared. Bodies were lying everywhere.

Her father was magnificent. He formed up the ranks and began to repel those inside. Volley after volley of arrows, spears and many other weapons were used until finally, they were pushed back. One second they were advancing and in the next a distant horn sounded and they were retreating. A pursuit group was being formed to dispatch the remaining survivors. They had just finished arming and were beginning to take flight when it hit. Catapults. Flaming shots were being fired and those still in the air were being taken out by magic arrows and magic missile. Climbing up to a rampart, she saw with quickening realization that the attackers were not alone. There were two! Father came and got her and immediately began to make their way out. The battle was quickly turning and if they did not leave now they would be killed. Father did not fly as they would be easy prey to those wizards. With a small group of guards, they made their way to the south. Several scouts saw their movement and called the alarm. During the ensuing commotion, she got separated from her father. She ran towards the hills as she didn't know what else to do.

She was pursued by two that had noticed her leaving the fight and followed her. She traveled for two days trying to get away. Finally, upon coming to some large ruins she tried to hide there and escape. She was not good enough. They found where she was and tried to kill her.

Picking on a defenseless girl are we? For shame. Now you answer to me.

Turning, she saw a strong looking half-orc jump down from a wall and began to fight. Raven in turn began battling a sorcerer. Raven managed to get a couple hits in when the sorcerer managed to get enough distance to begin casting. Trying to stop it, she charged. With a thud she tackled the arcane caster. The spell he had went wild and and exploded. With a scream, she was knocked back into a partially ruined tower that finished collapsing and fell on her when she impacted.

The next thing she knew was waking up in a bed. Where was she? As she looked around the small cottage she realized that she did not know her name. Or anything else for that matter. And her head hurt a lot. She got up and looked around. She saw a dark skinned woman in the kitchen she did not know looking over at her.

I am Selvina. You have already met my husband, Gar’uuk. He pulled you from that tower that collapsed on you.

I....don’t remember. I recall strange dreams about fire exploding around me, then hurting and that’s all.

”Don’t worry yourself none. You are safe here. We are in the mountains now. Gar’uuk brought you here after that fight.

”I don’t remember any fight.”

You poor girl! Come sit and have a bite to eat. You’ll feel better soon.”

Raven was taken in by Gar’uuk and Selvina. They gave her the name Raven Wildflower because she was as black as coal and she loved the outdoors and would roam like the wild animals. Raven came to see them as her parents.

Once, she asked them why they lived out here all alone. The answer was that they were outcast due to how they looked. Their hearts were good, but many people unfortunately do not see beyond the color of their skin. Gar’uuk an orc, and Selvina a half-drow. They found each other and left to have the life they chose. They were not going to live in fear every day because some people refused to see who they really were. So they came here. Nobody to tell them how to live, dress or eat. To make their own choices beliefs and live up to them. Being good is something that is worked on every day, a little at a time.

They taught Raven about the goodness in everyone, even if they didn’t show it. The important thing was to treat everyone with respect, and make judgments based on individual merit rather than a stereotype based on what society says that race is like.

During this time, Raven’s wings didn’t seem to have the strength to allow her to fly very high when she went gliding. Sometimes after trying harder than normal her wings & back would hurt for a while. Maybe that explosion and tower falling on her that father told her about. As hard as she tried, she just couldn’t remember anything about the fight and before. Just snippets that never made any sense. A face, a place, but nothing that helped her to remember. Even if she did remember it didn’t matter anymore. She loved her new life and her parents.

As she learned more about the wilderness around her she came to discover caravans that would make their way through the wilderness. She started following them to the their destination but was deterred as they seemed to think she was attacking them. She did love to know about what other places were about. She wanted to fly and see the world and find out what life was like! It was like something out there was calling her to come and find it.

Eventually she came of age and decided to break the news to her parents.

”I have thought about this for about a year now and I am finally decided. I am going to start a new part of my life by going out to see the world. I know this must seem like a shock and a sudden decision but there are new things for me to learn that I cannot find here. I hope you are not mad at me.

Selvina spoke first:
”Oh dear Raven! Your father and I have known for a long time that you would one day leave us. You always looked out at the horizon and dreamed of what was out there. We have some things that we bought and traded for to be ready for the day when you would go. Know that we will always love you no matter where you go or what you do.”

The next day, after big hugs, kisses and many tears, Raven made her way through varisia looking for new experiences. She made her camp in the canopy and had not yet fallen asleep when she heard something out of place in the forest. The sound of armor. Immediately alert, she found the source of the sounds. Bandits. They were moving over to a plateau to which there was small caravan that had camped for the night. She followed them after they had passed her camp and took to the air to get a better vantage point. There was a small about of light which came from a quarter moon. She could see the bandits getting closer and getting ready to strike. The caravan would be taken off guard unless.......she sounded alarm and attacked. She had seen the remains of caravans that had been ambushed. She hated bandits.

Immediately there was activity and the guards responded quickly. The bandits, having been discovered before they were ready, fought hard but to no avail. They were quickly dispatched.

After the commotion had abated she entered their camp and intoduced herself. She had been the one who sounded the alarm and wished to travel with them. Suspicious, they questioned her and after being satisfied with her story and demeanor agreed to her request.

Eventually they came near to a place called Turtleback Ferry. Here she parted with the caravan and would continue on her journey. It seemed like a quiet place. Having flown in, she landed and began making her way into the Turtleback parlor.