Thessirris Running Brook's page

Thessirris did not have a happy childhood. In order to gain citizenship in the city of Quantium her abusive father taught her to steal at a young age rather than do any hard work for the government, and when her claws were sharp enough, to cut purses. Simply put he'd beat her if she didn't steal, and beat her if she got caught to 'straighten her out'. But Thessirris was not cut out for thievery or any brand of thuggery, she found it was easier to talk people into charity for bread rather then steal the bread herself. While this was good enough for her, as a child her father wanted coin and valuables.

By the time her father had bought himself citizenship on what she had pilfered or begged for, he abandoned her on the Street of Gods and left her a literal stray. Young, alone, terrified of being caught if she did steal without her father's support, and after days on her own, she was growing hungry. Then one morning she found a thrush on window sill started to chase after a beautiful bird…mostly to eat it. She chased it through alleys, climbed up onto the roofs of the slum houses and straight into the temple of Shelyn where the bird and many of its kind were sheltered. Face to face with the clergy she was taken into by clergy of Shelyn to be fed, and clothed in exchange for cleaning the temple. While still legally a stray, Tess took the path of a paladin in the church after seeing a beautiful warrior in a storybook and learning of their job to protect others and works of art and beauty, including true inner beauty. She got her first taste of true weapons training, and her appreciation for music in the church. She also keeps the same thrush she chased as a child as her familiar, even though she doesn’t treat him like one, as she views their bond as a partnership rather than service. Still, she wanted earn true citizenship, and do it the way he father found so distasteful, part of that motivation was still spite, but her dedication to protecting art and beauty could be accomplished well in service to the Guard.

To join the guard, she kept her young age a secret, more by not divulging it, rather than outright lying. She followed orders of her superiors to the letter during training, sometimes literally if it didn’t violate her paladin code. She made high marks for her agility, and sword play, taking a liking to the long and sharp Estoc. She also is valued for her willingness to open dialogs with anyone no matter what they look like. She was deemed well qualified to be in the ‘special squad’ and when assigned she gleefully accepted the post.

When she was working to gain full citizenship the paladin of Shelyn eventually came across her deadbeat father. Her father had been brutally beaten and left in an alley to die. Though part of her wanted to leave him to his fate, she not only healed him, but forgave him. She even took his testimony on what had occurred, and discovered her father had racked up a serious gambling debt, and set out to arrest the perpetrators of the crime. Working with her squad she tracked a group of half orcs bruisers and convinced a few of the lower ranking members, they’d receive leniency, for assistance in apprehending the main leader. By the time the bruisers’ leader was in manacles, she had managed to uphold the law, with minimum bloodshed.

Tess is a born negotiator but also knew she was small and not the strongest member of the guard by far and thus has also sought out teachers in fighting styles that combine quick foot work and agile use of her Estoc in ways that lets her use the long stabbing blade one handed and keep her hand free as well as allowing a few practical close quarter tricks with her sharp and often painted claws. She has often put in for extra training assignments when none are required to further her talents in swordplay and negotiation.

She hasn’t figured it out yet, but the same thrush she keeps as a familiar was the same one almost four years ago that she had chased into the temple, and hasn't yet learned that her Barrett is a very special guide, that led the otherwise doomed girl to have a chance at making something of herself. He has helped when he could, chirping at important religious symbols and sharing his feelings with her to guide her spiritually. He also watches her back, though as of yet he can not yet find a way to truly communicate with her.

While not magically gifted in bardic arts she does own a flute and can play it well, though for her it is more a hobby then a way to earn additional income. She is quite happy to live on her on salary as a Guard in Quantium.

Background:
Thessirris did not have a happy childhood. In order to gain citizenship in the city of Quantium her abusive father put her ‘on the market corner’ rather than do any hard work for the government. This did a significant amount of damage to her sense of self-worth, though it did teach her how to ‘conduct’ herself around people, and the dangers of the profession forced on her, lead to her developing a talent for avoiding blows from customers and her father.

When her father bought himself citizenship, he abandoned her on the Street of Gods and left her a literal stray. Young, alone, terrified, and after days on her own, growing hungry, she started to chase after a beautiful thrush…mostly to eat it. She chased it into the temple of Shelyn where the bird and many of its kind were sheltered and was taken into the clergy to be fed, clothed and Common. While still a stray, Tess took the path of a paladin in the church getting her first test of true weapons training, and learned an appreciation for music. She also keeps the same thrush she chased as a child as her familiar, even though she doesn’t treat him like one, as she views their bond as a partnership rather than service. Still, she wanted earn true citizenship, and do it the way he father found so distasteful, part of that motivation was still spite, but her dedication to protecting art and beauty could be accomplished well in service to the Guard.

To join the guard, she kept her young age a secret, more by not divulging it, rather than outright lying. She followed orders of her superiors to the letter during training, sometimes literally if it didn’t violate her paladin code. She made high marks for her agility, and sword play, taking a liking to the long and sharp Estoc. She also is valued for her willingness to open dialogs with anyone no matter what they look like. She was deemed well qualified to be in the ‘special squad’ and when assigned she gleefully accepted the post.

When she was working to gain full citizenship the paladin of Shelyn eventually came across her deadbeat father. Her father had been brutally beaten and left in an alley to die. Though part of her wanted to leave him to his fate, she not only healed him, but forgave him. She even took his testimony on what had occurred, and discovered her father had racked up a serious gambling debt, and set out to arrest the perpetrators of the crime. Working with her squad she tracked a group of half orcs bruisers and convinced a few of the lower ranking members, they’d receive leniency, for assistance in apprehending the main leader. By the time the bruisers’ leader was in manacles, she had managed to uphold the law, with minimum bloodshed.

Tess is a born negotiator but also knew she was small and not the strongest member of the guard by far and thus has also sought out teachers in fighting styles that combine quick foot work and agile use of her Estoc in ways that lets her use the long stabbing blade one handed and keep her hand free as well as allowing a few practical close quarter tricks with her sharp and often painted claws. She has often put in for extra training assignments when none are required to further her talents in swordplay and negotiation.

She hasn’t figured it out yet, but the same thrush she keeps as a familiar was the same one almost four years ago that she had chased into the temple, and hasn't yet learned that her Barrett is a very special guide, that led the otherwise doomed girl to have a chance at making something of herself. He has helped when he could, chirping at important religious symbols and sharing his feelings with her to guide her spiritually. He also watches her back, though as of yet he can not yet find a way to truly communicate with her.

Thessirris (Or just Tess to her friends) stands 5’2” and without her armor is a lithe 125 pounds. She has jet black fur that shimmers when light catches her coat. Her hair is short in the front and cream colored kept in a very rainbow dyed short pony tail that juts out from her uniform’s cap showing her allegiance to the goddess Shelyn. Despite the multicolored end of her hair, the rest of her uniform is pressed and polished, covering over her mithral shirt as it’s one of the only outfits she owns and she has a certain pride in her appearance. Her Estoc is a brightly polished steel blade made for thrusting attacks and is just under four feet long including the leather wrapped handle, and engraved lion’s head guard & pommel.

Personality:
Tess’s biggest character flaw is she is very attentive to her looks, she has to brush her fur every night, and keep her outfit and weapons clean. Like all catfolk she can be a bit naïve, tending to take things literally at least at first and is easily distracted. For most people she doesn’t know a stranger, and will approach just about any humanoid creature to converse with if they aren’t an obvious threat. As she dislikes cages of any sort, she lets her familiar fly overhead and free when she can, or otherwise prefers to keep the bird in hand or on her shoulder.

While not magically gifted in bardic arts she does own a flute and can play it well, though for her it is more a hobby then a way to earn additional income. She is quite happy to live on her on salary as a Guard in Quantium.

Background:
Thessirris did not have a happy childhood. In order to gain citizenship in the city of Quantium her abusive father put her ‘on the market corner’ rather than do any hard work for the government. This did a significant amount of damage to her sense of self-worth, though it did teach her how to ‘conduct’ herself around people, and the dangers of the profession forced on her, lead to her developing a talent for avoiding blows from customers and her father.

When her father bought himself citizenship, he abandoned her on the Street of Gods and left her a literal stray. Young, alone, terrified, and after days on her own, growing hungry, she started to chase after a beautiful thrush…mostly to eat it. She chased it into the temple of Shelyn where the bird and many of its kind were sheltered and was taken into the clergy to be fed, clothed and Common. While still a stray, Tess took the path of a paladin and keeps the same thrush she chased as her familiar, even though she doesn’t treat him like one, as she views their bond as a partnership rather than service. Still, she wanted earn true citizenship, and do it the way he father found so distasteful, part of that motivation was still spite, but her dedication to protecting art and beauty could be accomplished well in service to the Guard.

To join, she has kept her young age a secret, more by not divulging it, rather than outright lying. She followed orders of her superiors to the letter during training, sometimes literally if it didn’t violate her paladin code. She is valued for her agility, and willingness to open dialog with a person no matter what they look like. She was deemed well qualified to be in the ‘special squad’ and when assigned she gleefully accepted the post. She is truly happy to serve Shelyn and Quantium, and happy to work her way to citizenship…the right way.

She hasn’t figured it out yet, but the thrush she chased that day, was a very special guide, that led the otherwise doomed girl to have a chance at making something of herself. He will help where he can and watches over her, for she is still bound to find trouble.