Halën
Chief Halën Daughter of Ytir
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
For her age, Halën is still in really good shape and rarely has ailments.
Body Features
Halën is short and thin, her legs have a slight "o-shape" from riding.
Facial Features
Her skin is weathered and wrinkly, but even though she can look strict, she has a warm, friendly face most of the time.
Special abilities
Halën was trained infighting with a staff and a spear and was really good at it, but ever since the Great Burning of the Sticks, she has not made use of those abilities. She also knows a thing or two about astrology.
Apparel & Accessories
Halën wears simple, practical clothes made from wool, fur, starched linen and leather, like the rest of the tribe. Even though she is the leader and would therefore have the right to wear some more flashy clothing, she prefers to keep it simple and blend in with her tribe.
Specialized Equipment
Halën always carries an ancient compass and map with her that was handed down from chief to chief for generations. She also carries a dagger, but it has more of a symbolic function, since the nomadic tribes are a peaceful people.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Halën was born during a rough winter, her mother dying in childbirth. Therefore, she was brought up by the astrologist of the tribe who was having a baby at around the same time Halën was born. The astrologist's daughter was like a sister to Halën and she saw the entire tribe as her family, even though it was a patchwork tribe of several different families, all of them survivours carrying the loss of family members.
Halën took an interest in astrology and she liked to care for the horses, but most important to her was dinner time when everybody would sit around the camp fire, eat, laugh and tell stories. She had so much warmth and love for everybody in her family and she wanted to protect them and always see them happy. Therefore, she was trained in the art of the staff and spear, back when the nomads still carried weapons.
At night she learnt how to read the hidden meanings in the stars and by day she trained with weapons and helped tending to the horses, gathering fire wood, cooking, mending clothes, whatever help was needed.
When she was 20 she fell in love with a young man, Iln, from another tribe during the annual tribe council. But seeing that it was custom for women to marry into the tribe of their husbands, Halën decided not to pursue it further, and even rejected a marriage proposal because she didn't want to leave her tribe. Iln, however, pointed out that he didn't hold a high position in his tribe and he would gladly join Halën's tribe, but that he wouldn't be bringing rich gifts because his tribe wasn't exactly whealthy. Halën agreed and so the two got married, despite some older tribe members frowning upon a man joining his wife's tribe. They were unbothered by it and Halën's tribe welcomed Iln with open arms.
However, their happiness was short-lived, as only a year after they got married tensions between the two biggest, most influential tribes were reaching a boiling point and everybody was picking sides who to support in the coming war. Halën's tribe, small and almost insignificant in terms of tribe politics, wanted to stay neutral and could evade making a decision for some time, but eventually, they too were forced to pick a side. They chose to support the Tis Tribe because they were promising more autonomy for all tribes. There were many gruesome battles, ransackings and lootings of other tribes and many lives were lost. It all ended when Fisda of the Tis Tribe toppled over the Lotor Tribe and forced them and their supporters into submission. Fisda and her tribe wanted to stop the Lotor Tribe from uniting the tribes of the Western Plains and building an empire, because they knew it would compromise their autority. The Lotor Tribe was dissolved and afterwards all tribes came together and in the Great Burning of the Sticks got rid of all their weapons and it was made illegal to carry any weapons not strictly made for hunting and those were heavily regulated.
Halën and Iln both survived the war, but not everyone in their tribe had survived. Once they recovered from their grief, the tribe lived through a period of whealth and when Halën was 26, she gave birth to her daughter, Aleyn. The tribe was incredibly happy and all was well for a while. It started becoming clearer and clearer that Halën would become the next tribe chief and she worked hard to become the best leader she could be.
But when Halën was 33 years old, tragedy struck again. In a particularly foggy night they were traversing one of the paths leading through the centre of the Western Plains. They were in a hurry because they had a meeting scheduled to trade goods with Thumar. It wasn't customary to traverse the Plains during the night, but they had to in order to make it in time. All of a sudden the fog became thicker and thicker and they were riding right into it. Iln had been providing light for the tribe chief, who in his high age had become fragile and needed to rely on maps to get around again because he often forgot the paths of the ancestors. They stopped when they realised the unnatural behaviour of the fog and Iln gathered a small troup to make sure that everything was alright. He never came back. The Fog Devourer had taken him and the others, only the tribe chief remained unscathed. Halën's grief was overwhelming, but like the brave soul she was, she shouldered on, and two years later she became tribe chief. The old chief died soon after and everything was in Halën's hands from then on.
When she was 49 she became a grandmother to her daughter's first son, Haln. This has brought much happiness back into her life, but she never forgot about that fateful night that changed her forever and she suffered a lot when she saw her daughter's husband disappear.
Halën took an interest in astrology and she liked to care for the horses, but most important to her was dinner time when everybody would sit around the camp fire, eat, laugh and tell stories. She had so much warmth and love for everybody in her family and she wanted to protect them and always see them happy. Therefore, she was trained in the art of the staff and spear, back when the nomads still carried weapons.
At night she learnt how to read the hidden meanings in the stars and by day she trained with weapons and helped tending to the horses, gathering fire wood, cooking, mending clothes, whatever help was needed.
When she was 20 she fell in love with a young man, Iln, from another tribe during the annual tribe council. But seeing that it was custom for women to marry into the tribe of their husbands, Halën decided not to pursue it further, and even rejected a marriage proposal because she didn't want to leave her tribe. Iln, however, pointed out that he didn't hold a high position in his tribe and he would gladly join Halën's tribe, but that he wouldn't be bringing rich gifts because his tribe wasn't exactly whealthy. Halën agreed and so the two got married, despite some older tribe members frowning upon a man joining his wife's tribe. They were unbothered by it and Halën's tribe welcomed Iln with open arms.
However, their happiness was short-lived, as only a year after they got married tensions between the two biggest, most influential tribes were reaching a boiling point and everybody was picking sides who to support in the coming war. Halën's tribe, small and almost insignificant in terms of tribe politics, wanted to stay neutral and could evade making a decision for some time, but eventually, they too were forced to pick a side. They chose to support the Tis Tribe because they were promising more autonomy for all tribes. There were many gruesome battles, ransackings and lootings of other tribes and many lives were lost. It all ended when Fisda of the Tis Tribe toppled over the Lotor Tribe and forced them and their supporters into submission. Fisda and her tribe wanted to stop the Lotor Tribe from uniting the tribes of the Western Plains and building an empire, because they knew it would compromise their autority. The Lotor Tribe was dissolved and afterwards all tribes came together and in the Great Burning of the Sticks got rid of all their weapons and it was made illegal to carry any weapons not strictly made for hunting and those were heavily regulated.
Halën and Iln both survived the war, but not everyone in their tribe had survived. Once they recovered from their grief, the tribe lived through a period of whealth and when Halën was 26, she gave birth to her daughter, Aleyn. The tribe was incredibly happy and all was well for a while. It started becoming clearer and clearer that Halën would become the next tribe chief and she worked hard to become the best leader she could be.
But when Halën was 33 years old, tragedy struck again. In a particularly foggy night they were traversing one of the paths leading through the centre of the Western Plains. They were in a hurry because they had a meeting scheduled to trade goods with Thumar. It wasn't customary to traverse the Plains during the night, but they had to in order to make it in time. All of a sudden the fog became thicker and thicker and they were riding right into it. Iln had been providing light for the tribe chief, who in his high age had become fragile and needed to rely on maps to get around again because he often forgot the paths of the ancestors. They stopped when they realised the unnatural behaviour of the fog and Iln gathered a small troup to make sure that everything was alright. He never came back. The Fog Devourer had taken him and the others, only the tribe chief remained unscathed. Halën's grief was overwhelming, but like the brave soul she was, she shouldered on, and two years later she became tribe chief. The old chief died soon after and everything was in Halën's hands from then on.
When she was 49 she became a grandmother to her daughter's first son, Haln. This has brought much happiness back into her life, but she never forgot about that fateful night that changed her forever and she suffered a lot when she saw her daughter's husband disappear.
Gender Identity
female
Sexuality
Heterosexual
Education
She was educated by her tribe's elders and she learnt important skills from all different members of the tribe.
Employment
Halën is the leader of one of the nomadic tribes in the Western Plains and has been for quite some time. She took on the mantle at the age of 35, when the previous leader stepped back due to old age and died only a year later.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Halën has been successfully leading the tribe for 30 years through many hardships and difficulties. Her pragmatic, undeterrable way of thinking and acting have helped her guide the tribe through everything the Western Plains threw at them.
Mental Trauma
Her husband passed away when their daugher was still young. Through an unfortunate misreading of the map, the tribe Chief, being old and frail, led them off path and Halën's husband along with a few others got lost and was taken by the Fog Devourer. Ever since then Halën fears the Spirit more than anything and when she took on the mantle of tribe chief, she swore to herself never to lead anyone astray and to always stay clear of the Fog Devourer.
Intellectual Characteristics
Halën possesses great wisdom and a lot of practical knowledge she gathered over the years.
Morality & Philosophy
Halën lays great importance on the well-being of her people and her horses. She is a kind yet strict person who values honesty.
Taboos
Don't talk to her about her husband and don't get her started on the fog devourer. Also, mentioning the war of the tribes is not a good idea either.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Keeping her tribe safe and cutting the best deals with others to give her tribe a good life are Halën's primary motivations.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Halën is a great negotiater, a compassionate leader and an outstanding horseback rider. She reads maps like noone else and can convert the actual terrain onto a map just by memory.
Likes & Dislikes
Likes:
Honesty
Respect and Honour
Her daughter and grandson
A good stew
Getting a good deal for her horses and other goods
Stargazing
Dislikes:
People not respecting the tribe's customs
Being looked down upon
Giving away control
The Fog Devourer and foggy weather
Virtues & Personality perks
Halën is calm and rational but also caring and she wants to protect those who are dear to her. In dire situations she can keep a level head and quickly find the best way to get out of that situation.
Vices & Personality flaws
She is very superstitious and coupled with her strong religious belief, especially regarding her fear, it can cloud her judgement and lead her to take unnecessary risks just to avoid a potential run-in with what she fears. Her protectiveness towards her tribe can sometimes come across as patronising and restrictive.
Hygiene
As good as it can be leading a nomadic life style.
Social
Reign
Halën's "reign" started 32 years ago, on the 24th of Grass Wane 2186, Nomad Reckoning, and is still going to this day.
In Western Reckoning of time, she took over the tribe on the 7th of Treechange 7471 AR, which translates to the year 7286763 UTD.
In Western Reckoning of time, she took over the tribe on the 7th of Treechange 7471 AR, which translates to the year 7286763 UTD.
Contacts & Relations
As the leader of a Nomadic Tribe, Halën has relations to the chiefs of most other tribes, especially the one her "sister" married into. She is also in contact with some of the settled Nomads, such as Tulum and she has relations in Ahhot, Deya, Kaat and Tilvin.
Family Ties
Halën has a daughter, Aleyn and a grandson, Haln. Seeing as her mother died in childbirth, she has no siblings related by blood, but the astrologist's daughter was and still is like a sister to her. She married into another tribe though, and the two don't see each other much anymore. Halën's tribe isn't a typical one with one big extended family, but more a patchwork of different outcasts, rejects and victims of war and other catastrophes.
Religious Views
Halën firmly believes in the 5 spirits of the plains, especially because her husband was taken by the Fog Devourer.
Social Aptitude
Halën is very socially skilled, since it is a big part of her job and she has a lot of experience, but she also is naturally charismatic and etiquette is important to her, especially honouring the customs of the tribe.
Speech
Halën's Common has the same soft accent all nomads have, but her accent is only light. Her voice is warm and strong and conveys respect.
Wealth & Financial state
The nomads aren't exactly poor, but they aren't rich either. The trading of goods and especially horses enables them to live relatively comfortably, even though life in the Plains can be very harsh and their environment isn't the friendliest to them. Unlike other tribe chiefs, Halën isn't interested in personal whealth if it doesn't benefit the tribe as a whole, which is why she lives as modestly or as lavishly as the rest of her tribe.
Current Location
Species
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Chief of the Tamontior Tribe
Age
67
Date of Birth
7th of Icebreath 7436 AR
Birthplace
Western Plains
Children
Pronouns
she/her
Gender
female
Eyes
warm dark brown
Hair
long, straight, grey
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
tanned, weathered, wrinkly
Height
150 cm
Belief/Deity
Spirits of the Plains (Nomad Pantheon)
Aligned Organization
Comments