Arn
Arn
Arn is a Shee that lives with the family of the leader of the Eburii tribe of the Kingdom of Cambia on the Island of Thallmar. He is a male Shee of indeterminate age that has coexisted with the Eburii family for 65 years.
Arn stands just 25" tall and probably weighs less than 25 lbs. He has a pallid gray complexion, thin blue-black hair that covers a thin strip of his head but a broad swath of his back and shoulders and enormous pointed ears. His head is almost ridiculously large for his thin, frail-looking frame.
Physical Description
Identifying Characteristics
Arn has two different colored eyes in his face. His left eye is a pale green, while his right eye is a light brown.
Physical quirks
Arn is a wonder at building and repairing longships for his adopted family... as long as those ships are completely out of the water. Arn, for reasons no one can absolutely determine, will not set foot on a floating ship. He will only work on boats and ships that have been completely pulled out of the water and onto the beach or shore. He won't even walk onto a dock or pier.
Special abilities
Arn has shown to be a master craftsman in all aspects of longship design and construction. Each and every time he has ever worked on one of Camran's longships, he has built, designed or repaired something with a degree of genius that amazes all that see it. Block and tackle, stanchions, capstans, anchors, winches, oar locks... all have been worked and reworked by Arn to a level of ergonomic perfection that is the envy of the entire Kingdom.
Specialized Equipment
Arn wears a tiny ring on his right index finger's first knuckle. This ring appears to be far too small for even his tiny fingers, but he shows no discomfort or pain because of it. The ring is the only jewelry he has ever been seen to wear.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Arn first encountered the al Ebori family in the year 168 AF. Anyar al Ebori was the heir to the title of Ebori clan leader and he was wooing a beautiful young woman named Lynnea. While taking her on a picnic lunch near a stream on the family's estate, the young couple was approached by a male Shee. The Shee seemed drawn by the smell of their food, which was wrapped in a soft cloth satchel and contained some cold roast beef, a smoked fish, several fresh pears and several fist-sized honey cakes made by Lynnea herself.
Lynnea was initially startled by the Shee's sudden appearance at their picnic, but Anyar motioned her to remain calm and quiet while he greeted the Shee with a soft and encouraging voice. The Shee continued to cautiously approach the couple, glancing between them and the satchel of food. When he had finally gotten to just beyond the reach of either Human, the Shee suddenly sat down and began to chatter in a high, song-like voice that neither Human could make anything of. Anyar smiled, nodded and indicated that Lynnea should do the same. When she did, the sitting Shee laughed long and loud, eventually rolling over and holding its stomach as it continued to laugh in sheer delight. When the laughter finally subsided, the Shee smiled at the young couple and said in a high-pitched voice, speaking perfect Thallian, "I'd share your meal now so we can be friends always."
Lynnea took the satchel and removed each piece of food to show to the Shee. It made no effort to take the beef, fish or fruit but stood up and approached the girl with hands outstretched when she held up one of the honey cakes. It took the cake, returned to its previous place, sat back down and began to nibble on the cake, which was nearly as big as it's head. The Shee's huge eyes grew bigger, as did its smile while it chewed on the cake. The three of them ate and talked quietly for more than an hour, and when all the food was gone, the Shee stood up and motioned for the Humans to do the same. When they were all standing, the Shee asked what they would call him now. Anyar hesitated, but Lynnea immediately said the Thallian word for laugh, which is arn. The Shee smiled, nodded, and quietly walked away with a deep bow.
The Shee continued to visit the couple, sometimes when they were together and sometimes individually. These visits grew more and more frequent, until the day when Lynnea and Anyar were wed. Anyar had constructed a fine stone cottage for their new family home, and when they entered it for the first time as husband and wife, the Shee was busy stoking a fire in the hearth and laying out a meal of smoked meats and honey cakes. Arn has remained a close member of the al Ebori family for more than 65 years now. Both Anyar and Lynnea are dead, but Arn continues to frequently visit and assist their oldest son Camran and his family in the very same cottage.
Intellectual Characteristics
Arn is quite social with his adopted family, specifically Camran al Eburi and his wife, brothers, sister and his five children. With all others, he is very shy and will only allow himself to be seen from a fair distance or through windows and doorways. Arn was particularly close to Camran's mother, Lynnea. Arn wept loudly for more than three months when Lynnea passed away from old age.
Personality Characteristics
Likes & Dislikes
Arn is incapable of refusing the offer of a baked sweet. Oatmeal cakes, honey cakes, fruit pies, sweet biscuits, sweet breads, fruit cakes, candied fruit... all are as irresistable to the creature as breathing air. There is no surer way to win Arn's trust and attention than the offer of a baked sweet.
