A young woman out in the world, looking for her best childhood friend. She serves the god Pelor, and seeks to right any wrong she can while on her journey.
- Eyes
- Bronze
- Hair
- Long, bronze
- Skin Tone/Pigmentation
- Tanned
- Height
- 5'6
Lei was born in the tiny village of Penrith near Goldenfields to Kevan Wildroot and Isuldra Wildroot. Both her parents were priests of the god Pelor, and ran the small temple near the center of town. Lei grew up watching (and later assisting) their rituals, from healing villagers’ common illnesses, to blessing the crops each year. Though she was known as part of the town’s religious life, from an early age it was clear that Lei was a bit different from the other children. Her hair was an obvious sign, but the townsfolk whispered that they had seen her in the fields talking out loud to nobody, and that if you looked too closely into her eyes you’d find yourself spellbound and unable to move.
As a result, Lei was often ostracized and bullied by others her age. At first, she tried to fight back, but after coming home one too many days in a row with bloody knees and a dirty face, she couldn’t help but tell her parents everything. “I don’t understand why they hate me so much,” she wept.
Over Lei’s head, her parents exchanged a significant look. Then her mother kneeled down and smoothed the hair out of her eyes. “Lei, it is important that you understand this: not everyone will always be kind to you. But that does not mean that they are not worthy of kindness in return.”
“But they’re just so mean! Why should I have to be nice to them when they’re so awful to me? They’re just bad people,” Lei said.
Lei’s mother sighed. “That’s not true, sweetheart. The world is full of shades of grey. No one person is completely bad, or even completely good. Everyone is capable of redemption, so you should always try your best to treat everyone with respect, and only fight when you absolutely have to.”
“However,” said Lei’s father carefully, “I think it would be a good idea if she learned how to defend herself. What if we set up lessons with the local guard?”
Lei’s mother looked at her. “How would you feel about that?” she asked.
“I’d be willing to try,” Lei sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve.
From that day forward, every day after her lessons she went and practiced with the local guard. She practiced with fists and staff, then the sword. At first, it was difficult, and heavy, and tiring. But then she thought of being shoved into the mud day after day, and summoned the wherewithal to continue. For the guards’ part, it couldn’t have been fun either to take the time each day to train this young girl. Lei couldn’t understand why they would, until one afternoon when she saw her father chatting with one at the gate, and then saw a glint of gold as coins exchanged hands.
One day, as she crossed the cornfields towards home, out of the corner of her eye she saw movement in the stalks nearby. Bracing herself, she turned around and called out. “Pelor’s blessing upon you. What can I do for you?”
Out of the stalks materialized a thin boy about her age, with floppy long blonde hair and wearing clothes that looked like they could use a wash. “I hear you know how to fight,” he said quietly. “Care to show me?”
A fight ensuesd.
Breathing hard, they both took a long look into the other’s eyes. And then, he reached out and helped her to her feet. “I’m Levant Coaling,” he said. “I’m the son of the new butcher in town.”
Taking a closer look at him, she cursed herself. She should have realized earlier, she thought crossly. New folk were such a rarity that she should have realized when she couldn’t immediately place his face.
From that day forward, the two were inseparable. Each day, he walked with her to and from their school lessons, and escorted her to her training. And each day, they practiced fighting in the sequestered quiet of the tall corn stalks. Levant began to eat dinner with the Wildroots 3-4 times a week. He was quiet and polite at the table, but ate with ravenous abandon. Through careful questioning, Lei and her parents learned that despite being the son of a butcher, he didn’t seem to have much to eat at home. And they learned without having to ask, from the bruises that often appeared on his face and arms, that his father seemed to enjoy disciplining his son a little too much.
The years passed by in this way, mostly peacefully and far too quickly. By age 18, Lei was happy with life, but itching to get out and see more of what the world had to offer. She and Lev had had several long conversations about leaving the village, but every time, they ran into the issue of his family. Levant’s father was getting older, and too much drink and food over the years had taken their toll. He wanted Levant to take over the butchery, and though Levant was too tall and strong at this point for his father to beat him, his 3 younger siblings, and his mother, still bore the brunt of his father’s anger. Levant couldn’t bear to leave them alone, and Lei wouldn’t leave without Lev, so they frustratingly talked in circles each time, with no real tangible solutions.
And then came the night of the raid.
The evening was like any other. The corn softly swayed in the wind in the fields outside Lei’s home as she went about her usual nighttime routine. As she splashed water on her face from the outside well, she heard nothing. Climbing into bed, she shut her eyes and thought of the day to come. She had healed their next door neighbor Etheria’s youngest from a fever earlier that day; she should make sure to go over and check on her sometime tomorrow. The house needed more produce; she would pick that up as well. With those thoughts, she dozed off.
Only to be woken as if someone had shouted at her.
Wake up! someone roared inside her head. You need to wake up and get out now!
Obeying, she threw off the covers, and ran into the front room. Through the windows, she saw a garish orange light flickering, and heard the sound of distant screams. My parents, she thought with a jolt. She rushed into their room and shook them roughly. “Get up! Something’s going on outside; we need to get up now!”
Her parents, sluggishly at first, then with panic, rose to their feet. “The temple,” her father began anxiously, only to be interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. A stone landed by their feet.
“I’ll protect the temple,” Lei yelled. “You need to get out of here.”
Lei’s parents glanced at each other, and nodded. As Lei’s father clutched the holy symbol around his neck and began muttering, Lei’s mother put a hand to Lei’s cheek.
“Be careful,” she said worriedly. “We’ll meet you at the big hill just outside the village. Remember, we love you so much, and stay safe over all else.”
Lei nodded. “I know, and I love you too. Now go!”
And with that, her parents ran out the back door.
Lei ran into the temple, where she found two raiders attempting to make off with the temples supplies, including some gems kept well hidden for use in only the most sacred of rituals. She didn't understand how they could have found them. Regardless, she fought them off and they run away.
In pursuing them, she made her way outside, to find a scene of chaos. Buildings burning, people running through the street. She saw a young child crying alone. She picked up the child, and looked around to find a way out. Then she heard a familiar voice not too far from her.
She whipped around to see, of course, Levant. He was on horseback alongside the raiders, directing them out of town.
She shouted out for him, and the two had a moment of prolonged eye contact. Then, he turned away, and galloped off.
Lei found her way back to the big hill and met her parents. Mercifully, neither was hurt in the attack, and had guided most of the other villagers to safety as well.
Over the next few days, as the village slowly attempted to assess the damage and rebuild, Lei struggled to understand what happened. She didn't know why Levant would have done this, but clearly there were things he didn’t divulge to her. Also tellingly, Levant’s father was among the few killed in the attack.
That night, Lei had a dream where a bright figure spoke to her. She could not distinguish its face, but it told her that it was time for her to leave the village and pursue her destiny. She woke up, feeling more certain than she had since the attack.
Lei told her parents of the dream, and that she planned to leave. The two shared startled looks, but gave her their blessing. Over the conversation, Lei got the feeling that they weren't telling her something, but chose to let it go.
That very day, Lei left Penrith and made her way up the Sword Coast, stopping in villages here and there, finally landing in Mirabar where she took a job as a mercenary guard for a delegation to Waterdeep by way of Goldenfields, citing her knowledge of the area as a reason to hire her.
FAMILY TREE NOT AVAILABLE
As a result, Lei was often ostracized and bullied by others her age. At first, she tried to fight back, but after coming home one too many days in a row with bloody knees and a dirty face, she couldn’t help but tell her parents everything. “I don’t understand why they hate me so much,” she wept.
Over Lei’s head, her parents exchanged a significant look. Then her mother kneeled down and smoothed the hair out of her eyes. “Lei, it is important that you understand this: not everyone will always be kind to you. But that does not mean that they are not worthy of kindness in return.”
“But they’re just so mean! Why should I have to be nice to them when they’re so awful to me? They’re just bad people,” Lei said.
Lei’s mother sighed. “That’s not true, sweetheart. The world is full of shades of grey. No one person is completely bad, or even completely good. Everyone is capable of redemption, so you should always try your best to treat everyone with respect, and only fight when you absolutely have to.”
“However,” said Lei’s father carefully, “I think it would be a good idea if she learned how to defend herself. What if we set up lessons with the local guard?”
Lei’s mother looked at her. “How would you feel about that?” she asked.
“I’d be willing to try,” Lei sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve.
From that day forward, every day after her lessons she went and practiced with the local guard. She practiced with fists and staff, then the sword. At first, it was difficult, and heavy, and tiring. But then she thought of being shoved into the mud day after day, and summoned the wherewithal to continue. For the guards’ part, it couldn’t have been fun either to take the time each day to train this young girl. Lei couldn’t understand why they would, until one afternoon when she saw her father chatting with one at the gate, and then saw a glint of gold as coins exchanged hands.
One day, as she crossed the cornfields towards home, out of the corner of her eye she saw movement in the stalks nearby. Bracing herself, she turned around and called out. “Pelor’s blessing upon you. What can I do for you?”
Out of the stalks materialized a thin boy about her age, with floppy long blonde hair and wearing clothes that looked like they could use a wash. “I hear you know how to fight,” he said quietly. “Care to show me?”
A fight ensuesd.
Breathing hard, they both took a long look into the other’s eyes. And then, he reached out and helped her to her feet. “I’m Levant Coaling,” he said. “I’m the son of the new butcher in town.”
Taking a closer look at him, she cursed herself. She should have realized earlier, she thought crossly. New folk were such a rarity that she should have realized when she couldn’t immediately place his face.
From that day forward, the two were inseparable. Each day, he walked with her to and from their school lessons, and escorted her to her training. And each day, they practiced fighting in the sequestered quiet of the tall corn stalks. Levant began to eat dinner with the Wildroots 3-4 times a week. He was quiet and polite at the table, but ate with ravenous abandon. Through careful questioning, Lei and her parents learned that despite being the son of a butcher, he didn’t seem to have much to eat at home. And they learned without having to ask, from the bruises that often appeared on his face and arms, that his father seemed to enjoy disciplining his son a little too much.
The years passed by in this way, mostly peacefully and far too quickly. By age 18, Lei was happy with life, but itching to get out and see more of what the world had to offer. She and Lev had had several long conversations about leaving the village, but every time, they ran into the issue of his family. Levant’s father was getting older, and too much drink and food over the years had taken their toll. He wanted Levant to take over the butchery, and though Levant was too tall and strong at this point for his father to beat him, his 3 younger siblings, and his mother, still bore the brunt of his father’s anger. Levant couldn’t bear to leave them alone, and Lei wouldn’t leave without Lev, so they frustratingly talked in circles each time, with no real tangible solutions.
And then came the night of the raid.
The evening was like any other. The corn softly swayed in the wind in the fields outside Lei’s home as she went about her usual nighttime routine. As she splashed water on her face from the outside well, she heard nothing. Climbing into bed, she shut her eyes and thought of the day to come. She had healed their next door neighbor Etheria’s youngest from a fever earlier that day; she should make sure to go over and check on her sometime tomorrow. The house needed more produce; she would pick that up as well. With those thoughts, she dozed off.
Only to be woken as if someone had shouted at her.
Wake up! someone roared inside her head. You need to wake up and get out now!
Obeying, she threw off the covers, and ran into the front room. Through the windows, she saw a garish orange light flickering, and heard the sound of distant screams. My parents, she thought with a jolt. She rushed into their room and shook them roughly. “Get up! Something’s going on outside; we need to get up now!”
Her parents, sluggishly at first, then with panic, rose to their feet. “The temple,” her father began anxiously, only to be interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. A stone landed by their feet.
“I’ll protect the temple,” Lei yelled. “You need to get out of here.”
Lei’s parents glanced at each other, and nodded. As Lei’s father clutched the holy symbol around his neck and began muttering, Lei’s mother put a hand to Lei’s cheek.
“Be careful,” she said worriedly. “We’ll meet you at the big hill just outside the village. Remember, we love you so much, and stay safe over all else.”
Lei nodded. “I know, and I love you too. Now go!”
And with that, her parents ran out the back door.
Lei ran into the temple, where she found two raiders attempting to make off with the temples supplies, including some gems kept well hidden for use in only the most sacred of rituals. She didn't understand how they could have found them. Regardless, she fought them off and they run away.
In pursuing them, she made her way outside, to find a scene of chaos. Buildings burning, people running through the street. She saw a young child crying alone. She picked up the child, and looked around to find a way out. Then she heard a familiar voice not too far from her.
She whipped around to see, of course, Levant. He was on horseback alongside the raiders, directing them out of town.
She shouted out for him, and the two had a moment of prolonged eye contact. Then, he turned away, and galloped off.
Lei found her way back to the big hill and met her parents. Mercifully, neither was hurt in the attack, and had guided most of the other villagers to safety as well.
Over the next few days, as the village slowly attempted to assess the damage and rebuild, Lei struggled to understand what happened. She didn't know why Levant would have done this, but clearly there were things he didn’t divulge to her. Also tellingly, Levant’s father was among the few killed in the attack.
That night, Lei had a dream where a bright figure spoke to her. She could not distinguish its face, but it told her that it was time for her to leave the village and pursue her destiny. She woke up, feeling more certain than she had since the attack.
Lei told her parents of the dream, and that she planned to leave. The two shared startled looks, but gave her their blessing. Over the conversation, Lei got the feeling that they weren't telling her something, but chose to let it go.
That very day, Lei left Penrith and made her way up the Sword Coast, stopping in villages here and there, finally landing in Mirabar where she took a job as a mercenary guard for a delegation to Waterdeep by way of Goldenfields, citing her knowledge of the area as a reason to hire her.
FAMILY TREE NOT AVAILABLE
Appearance
Mentality
Personality
The major events and journals in Lei's history, from the beginning to today.
Ignited and Inspired
11:28 pm - 08.04.2020Ignited and Inspired
10:59 pm - 08.04.2020The list of amazing people following the adventures of Lei.
Social
Birthplace
Penrith