Drum
Storyteller Minani v'gi T'ju (a.k.a. Drum)
"None of those buffoons will amount to anything!"*Dumani - lit. shooting star, it is used as a term of respect for a Nefu'he's elders.
"You can't know that, Minani! To say you see no potential in them is an act of arrogance!"
The young Storyteller rolled her eyes. "Just look at them, Dumani*!" She pointed at a small group of young halfling men with their bows, generally missing the straw targets not one hundred feet away. "They are no heroes!"
The older halfling grinned. "No, today they are not. But... yesterday, you were simply Ketu Kilyatir'e. Today, you seek the next great story. They will improve and... if not one of them, who?"
Minani's mentor patted her on the head before walking away, leaving her to her thoughts. From anyone else, the gesture would have felt condescending, but her teacher was never anything but genuine. She sighed heavily, regarding the hopeful warriors at target practice. The idea of following them through the southern plains bored her. The old legends were full of wondrous stories and heroes that were bigger than life. Now, Storytellers found themselves chronicling the rise of various village chiefs, overseeing hunting expeditions, and maybe witnessing small skirmishes with feralings and other monsters.
As she turned away, she spotted a lone figure moving slowly between the huts. The halfling was pale with grey hair and no one that she recognized. Her curiosity piqued, she moved towards the woman, who walked with stilted, uncertain steps.
As she approached, she tried to catch the woman's eye. "Hello?"
The woman flinched away and Minani stepped back. She took a moment to regard the woman more closely. Her clothing was torn in places and she was dirty. "Are you OK?"
She reached out to touch her gently on the shoulder. The woman shrieked and turned away, her shoulders hunching tightly. Minani could see she was clutching something to her chest.
"Oh, no... shhhh...," she looked around to see a few others in the village were looking their way. She turned back to the cowering woman, who was obviously in trouble and showing signs of trauma. Minani took a deep breath to steady herself and did the only thing she could.
If anyone ever wondered why Minani was selected by the Lodge to apprentice as a storyteller, those concerns would fall away immediately upon hearing her sing. Her mezzo-soprano voice could carry across the entire village, but her she wielded it softly, the soft caressing notes of a common lullaby known for ages and sung to babes every night and in every village.
Weaving subtle magics, she created a musical accompaniment that carried lightly through the air. Once the instruments were set and as she rolled into the second verse, she drew upon the essence of the world around her and in her head, shaped it into a blanket. She imagined wrapping the blanket softly around the woman's shoulders, caressing her with each line of the lullaby.
It was a few moments before she began to relax and Minani nearly sighed with relief. She waited, voice carrying on, until the woman stood loosely, swaying arrhythmically, eyes cast to the ground. Then she carefully crept forward, placing an arm around her shoulders and, still singing, she began to lead her to the Lodge. Minani looked up and saw that a small crowd of onlookers had gathered, but none came to help.
She scoffed internally. A gaggle of slack-jawed, confused 'heroes,' the lot of them.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
An active youth has contributed to an athletic figure. She is lithe and powerful, the latter belied by her compact form.
Body Features
Drum has a triangle body type, her shoulders just wider than her hips. She has a slender neck, archetypal breasts, and a slim waist. The muscles in her arms are well defined, and those who are particularly observant can see her left forearm is slightly more wiry and taut than her right forearm. She has powerful quads and calves.
Facial Features
Drum has thick, mildly arched brows over prominent, neutral eyes with thick, long lashes. She has a pert nose and rounded lips. Her jawline is weak and she has a soft chin. Her low cheekbones and plump cheeks contribute to a round face. Small ears with the pointed tips common to all halflings are low on her head.
Identifying Characteristics
Drum's right arm is tattooed according to the traditions of the Nefu'he. The vines and leaves represent her Lodge and home along with various portents and insights gleaned from the stars.
Physical quirks
Her feet are bare, with her second toe longer than her big toe.
Special abilities
Drum is a natural acrobat, able to maneuver around obstacles with relative ease. She is also a talented musician, with perfect pitch and tempo, a beautiful singing voice, and proficiency in a variety of musical instruments.
Additionally, she is versed in the magic of the Starhunters and Storytellers. She can call upon the spirit of the land around her for aid and she can assert thoughts and emotion. As a young Storyteller, her magic isn't exceptionally powerful but is a useful part of her repertoire.
Apparel & Accessories
Drum prefers to dress for comfort over modesty, like most Nefu'he. She prefers to leave her arms and legs bare. Her travel wardrobe consists of a one-shoulder top and a sleeveless shirt, both midriff baring, and several split skirts. She also wears a cloak and hood, but procured these on her trip to mehr'Kuldashta.
She adorns her hair with beads, trinkets, and feathers and often paints her face in the Nefu'he traditions. Around her neck is a necklace strung with the teeth of predator animals and a large jade pendant. She will often wear additional accessories such as bracers or pads as she feels the need.
Drum has never experienced a harsh winter, much less polar climes.
Specialized Equipment
One thing she does treasure is her talking drum, which once belonged to the great Storyteller Pudi k'Ama. This drum is a magical artifact that she acquired after earning her independence as a Storyteller of the Nefu'he.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Drum's childhood was much like any other for the villagers of Koneni. She played with the other children in the forests and jungles near the village, she learned the myths and legends of her people, and she was taught to be wary of feralings.
When she came of age, she was chosen to apprentice as a Storyteller, to ultimately be charged with guiding her generation into their own myths and legends.
Decidedly unenthused at the prospect of following her fellow villagers around on their day to day activities, Drum turned to the men that had recently arrived in her people's lands. Rumors spoke of them settling near the coast, but in Koneni they passed through rarely in small groups.
It was Imari who became the catalyst for Drum's departure from Koneni. After calming the woman, Drum befriended her and learned her story. The book Imari carried, the place she had taken it, and the strange powers that she now seemed to exhibit, certainly this was Drum's call to action.
And uncontrolled eldritch outburst from Imari became the final weight that 'forced' the elders of Koneni to exile Imari. They did not expect Drum to go with her, but she did and the two of them traveled to the coast to Midanulabira, Imari's birthplace. The village was now a town with a growing population of men. Most halflings remember Imari and while they did not treat her cruelly, none seemed interested in helping her.
They stayed long enough for Drum to learn something of the way of men before chartering passage on a ship and traveling to mehr'Kuldashta.
Gender Identity
She/Her
Sexuality
Bisexual
Education
Drum has been trained as a hunter and in the basics of hand to hand combat.
Her formal training as a Storyteller has given her knowledge of magic both arcane and spiritual, knowledge that would be coveted by any wizard or University with a magic program. She is also an adept astrologer, capable of navigating by the stars if necessary, and has a solid understanding of mathematics and physics.
Accomplishments & Achievements
Drum has earned the right to be recognized as a Storyteller for her people.
Failures & Embarrassments
Drum has never quite failed at anything she has attempted. There are lessons yet to learn.
Relationships
Wealth & Financial state
Drum has little in the way of wealth. If she cannot carry it, she leaves it behind.
Alignment
Chaotic Good
Species
Ethnicity
Date of Birth
29th of Tabepsil
Year of Birth
3397 TS
19 Years old
Birthplace
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Gender
Female
Eyes
Hair
3B; Chocolate
6 inches, 'Cropped'
6 inches, 'Cropped'
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Height
3'0"
Weight
36 lbs.
Foru
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