In my sixteenth year, I found that I had some amount of skill. on a horse. Over the next few years I rode and practiced constantly learning everything I could from the various peoples who passed by our Water. It made for an interesting style of riding, and eventually combat, that didn’t conform exactly to any racial style or discipline. As such, I availed myself well in an impromptu “contest” with some of the young men from a nomadic tribe that passed by there on their annual trip to the Port. After twenty matches, in the final round, I was finally unhorsed by a rider dressed in black who the others mysteriously called “The Outsider”. I got the impression that he wasn’t part of the group, as he didn’t socialize at all with the rest of us. I never saw his face, and I got a broken collarbone for my trouble.

For the next few years my studies continued until this past Mirtul when Ariana came with her petition on behalf of the Druidic community in Mosstone. I was chosen by the elders to represent us. 

And just to show I’m still not above a little humbling, when we finally left the enclave on this mission I admit that I was feeling a bit cocky about my skills as an adventurer. After all, it was I who had been chosen above all others to accompany my elven friend to deal with the Druid Balek -- although in retrospect I was probably chosen: A) because I was somewhat expendable to the community and B) the Elders knew that given the news about Alexa and the itchy feet that I was developing, I’d have most likely left on my own anyway. So with excitement in our hearts, our trusty weapons at our sides and riding a pair of fine desert ponies, we set off. Of course, had I been paying more attention; had I not been so over confident, I’d have noticed that Ariana was miserably picking sand out of her hair and clothing and not entirely paying attention herself, and I wouldn’t have been practicing sword forms on my horse while we stumbled into a nest of giant ants. A nest that had he been paying attention, any child would have noticed in plenty of time to avoid it entirely. 

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