My story begins as so many of my Ama's do, in slavery. I was born in a slave village on the plains of Rhe'Yubla, surrounded by the foul Yath'lu who used us to gain the lumber they so desire. I do not remember anything but the scents of my Adh and Adi, though when I remember them it still soothes me. As is their want, the Yath'lu took me once they decided what my gifts were and sent me to a dancer's training camp. After years of training, I was sold with 3 others of the same coloration to a human, Lord Jareal, who lived in the imperial capital, Nagosan. I recognized the scent of one of the others I was sent with from my village, though in the confusion and movement I could not tell which of my companions was from that nearly forgotten time.
Two of my companions were labor slaves, bred and trained for hard labor. The other was quiet and seemed to distance himself from the rest of us. His eyes were slightly haunted and he seemed nearly afraid of us. We arrived at Nagosan soon after, though if asked where the training camp or even my own village was, I could only tell you if I was there by the scent of them.
I was held in a small room with a set of bars for one wall, the entire area made to look like a jungle. I was often viewed as an interesting show piece, something to be shown off for my grace and beauty. As I matured even more, my master took more of an interest in me. He approached me then violated me, using the power of the Nil�Shira chesska to make me into a courtesan for his pleasure and that of selected guests. I hated the violations, and did my best to hide in my prison. Lord Jareal was always able to force me from hiding using the power of the chesska, even as my communing with nature grew contnuously stronger. I was unable to use the skills I was learning to prevent my pain and became extremely despondent.
It was then that something incredible happened. One day the room I was in shook violently and deafening sounds were roaring through the area. The next thing I remember is the Re'har who had been bought with me that had stayed apart came before my cage with his eyes ablaze and a look of fury on his face. He saw me and opened the door, telling me in Re'hari to follow him for my safety and my freedom. I was frightened but an aura of power surrounded him. When I seemed reluctant he grabbed my wrist and dragged me through hallways and out a huge set of double doors, with servants screaming and running around without any purpose. We ran down a street and he quickly led me on a wild race through Nagosan. It was a nightmarish night where my senses and his fast thinking saved us many times until we were in the wilderness.
He collapsed soon after we entered the woods, and I dragged him deeper until I felt that none would follow us. His chesska was unlike mine, a black box with a jade center. I wondered what was to become of us and what had made this all possible. My chesska was dormant, and I expected my master's call at any time. It was several hours into the next night before the other Re'har awoke. He introduced himself as Geshtai Myriss. I blushed and stood on the other side of the small clearing I had hid us in. He asked if I was ok and where we were. Haltingly at first, I explained what had happened since he had fallen unconscious. His eyes stared at me and seemed to consume every detail I told him before he accepted it and placed it with the rest of his stored knowledge.
Geshtai told me what had happened the night before. He was a Re'hari Theurgist, one of the few who had a calling to the magic of the elements in his blood. He had been used to entertain the master and as an enforcer, using his abilities to strike terror into others for Lord Jareal or to provide light shows at night for parties. Last night Geshtai had managed to get ahold of a staff and had snuck through the house, killing Lord Jareal with a strike to the throat as he sat reading before a fire. With no one to control his use of majick, he had wreaked havok in the house, setting fires and collapsing entire wings of the mansion. When he had seen me Geshtai recognized my scent from our village and he freed me. He sighed sadly when he told me he had been unable to find the other re'har who had been with us when we were purchased.
I sat shocked, listening to the powers at this re'har's control. He still had a slightly haunted look to his eyes, but one that spoke of great sorrow more then the fear I had thought it was so long ago. We stayed another day to recover, my skills with the woods allowing me to bring in enough fresh kills to feed us. Without the fear of Lord Jareal using my chesska against me, I reveled in the closeness with nature. Our trek took us around the city and we slipped into a seedy part of town near the docks. Geshtai had had the presence of mind to bring a large amount of imperials he had stolen from the house during our escape and used it to buy us passage no questions asked out of Vash and to a new place I had never heard of, Kaezar.
We managed to survive the journey, though I was sick from the moment my feet left land. The diet of salted pork and stew did nothing to help me. Geshtai seemed immune to seasickness, even eating whatever was placed before him with a quiet thank you. He seemed driven, an intense fire burning within him that made him immune to whatever was around him. He did his best to keep my mind off of my sickness, telling me stories he made up and little sleight of hand tricks. Even the other men on the ship were solicitous to us, kind people who tried to alleviate my fears for the voyage.
Then we reached Kaezar. I drew in a deep breath, feeling the ground beneath my feet once again as Geshtai thanked the captain of the vessel again and led me into the city, a small handful of royals and sovereigns left. I nuzzled against him, my security with him having increased over the journey. I enjoyed his company and we made our way in the town together, meeting new people and learning of the ways in this wondrous new place. I asked him to be my mate soon after in the Crossroads Inn and he smiled and stroked my back, saying always. Since that time I have met many friends, including a dwarf battlerager named Herger who is so cute! But don't tell him that (winks mischeviously with a smile playing on her lips). I have worked on my skills as a ranger and am having a wonderful time in my first year of freedom.
