Character Name: Tannyr (Nettle) Age: 20 Place of Birth: In his parents' wagon among the Tuatha'an, somewhere in the forests of Haddon Mirk. Physical Description: Tannyr is 5'10 and lean and athletic, weighing in at 175 lbs. He's got a head of hair much like straw, sandy in color, cut very unevenly just past the ears along with a scraggly, uneven beard. He's fairly tanned all over from living out in the sun. He has golden eyes and dresses in furs and leathers. He carries a gnarled, knotted, Shillelagh made of an Oak root that comes up to his hip, a small flint knife at his belt, a satchel full of herbs, and a reed flute. Personality: He has laughing eyes most of the time and walks with a skip in his step, almost as though every few steps he's trying a new dance step. More often than not he runs to get where he needs to though. Hums and sings under his breath constantly but never loud enough for others to hear. Doesn't speak unless spoken to and when he does speak he keeps it to a minimum. Tends to stare at others with direct eye to eye contact, usually to the other's discomfort. Never goes into towns or cities. Only interaction with other humans is with farms he's familiar with and that aren't too put off by his eyes and who appreciate his music and song. He wanders around the farms outside of Far Madding and will do hard labor sometimes for a meal or food he can't find in the forest. Always goes and visits Tuatha'an when they come to the area. Seems to become a completely different person when around the Tuatha'an: talkative, singing loudly, dancing, and laughing. Seems like one of them if he didn't have the leathers, furs, and golden eyes. Character History: Tuatha'an Life: Tannyr has had a rough life, growing up watching his Uncle's wagons being raided and abused from his earliest memories. He has watched his friends and cousins die and be abused in every way possible. However, he is a strong believer in The Way of the Leaf and has clung strongly to the songs and dancing that his people love. To cope with much of the hurts he, his family and friends have faced, he took up learning every song and dance he could. He hopes that through song and dance he can bring the joy he longs for to everyone around him. He even harbors a hope that they will one day find a song that will make the Tinkers accepted, whether that be The Song or another. He loves to make people dance with his singing, flute and lyre and, for those who don't follow the Way of the Leaf, at least hopes to keep them from hurting themselves. A new problem came into his life at the age of 18. The dreams. These dreams called to him, even when he was awake, and terrified him. In these dreams he was violent and hunting... and on four legs. At first he was afraid to tell anyone about them but when even his parents began looking at him as though he was a stranger. Less people came to his fires to hear his music and eventually he went to his uncle for advice. His uncle then told him that his eyes had turned yellow. He could not believe it. Sure, he had begun to see better but why had his eyes changed color? A week later their wagons were attacked. He tried to warn the wagons as he could smell unfamiliar scents in the air and see movements in the forest they had been traveling in. But it was hard for anyone to look him in the eye, let alone listen to him. Then the bandits attacked. To make matters worse, their leader, his uncle, was killed as he tried to convince the bandits to not bother them. Tannyr's father did his best to lead after that and actually had Tannyr use his new, keen senses to help them be more aware of visitors and possible bandits. This gradually led to more people coming back to his fires to dance and listen to his music. A woman he cared for, Elli, had even begun to show interest in him again. But the dreams were still there and, even worse, there were wolves in his dream, seeming to laugh at him as he tried to stay away from hunting. Finally the breaking point came as they entered the forest north of Illian. Another group of bandits attacked at night. Tannyr had just enough time to get out of bed and see them attacking. Out of the corner of his eye he saw one man grab Elli and attempt to drag her into the woods. Then everything went red. He could no longer hold back the animal inside or those violent urges and the desire to fight. He rushed at the man and began tearing at him with is fingers and teeth. The bandit was so surprised and shocked he hardly put up a fight and before Tannyr knew it he was standing over a dead man. In the next moment, everything went black with a hit on the back of his head. When he awoke, he found himself alone, his head bandaged, with his pack, some provisions, his lyre and flute, and a note of sorrow and farewell. He was no longer welcome among his own people. He had broken faith with The Way of the Leaf. Life as a Wolfkin: After a few days of grieving a man arrived. His name was Karoan Vear and he had golden eyes. He helped explain what was happening. It was also the first time he had wonderful, glorious bacon. He learned more about his dreams and the meanings behind them and that he was actually traveling to a place called the wolf dream. The man then led him to Stedding Cantoine, north of where he was born. It was an amazing experience, the calm was indescribable and meeting his first Ogier left him breathless. This was the place he was able to recover and grieve. However, Karoan became restless and began to leave more and more often. Eventually Tannyr began to travel with the man. This lasted for a year, as Karoan taught Tannyr the area; Illian, Murandy, southern Andor, and Tear, and the life of a Wolfkin. It was very difficult for Tannyr to leave The Way of the Leaf, especially to satiate his hunger for meat. But one day he met a wolf, Rapids, who helped him break through this. As Tannyr was being his usual sullen self, Rapids ran up and pushed him into a mess of stinging nettles. This was of course very painful but after the wolves and Karoan finished laughing, Tannyr's mind finally grasped how even a leaf can have a bite and that taking a life, whether in self defense or to get delicious meat, was a part of nature. Eventually Karoan Vear began talking of leaving as he didn't like being around people as much as Tannyr did and enjoyed living his life in the forest rather than the Plains of Maredo. With a tearful goodbye they parted ways. After a few months though, Tannyr became restless as well and considered leaving the area to search for others who, like him, may need help learning the ways of the Wolfkin. Thus began his wanderings which began with revisiting Stedding Cantoine to see if the Ogier would be willing to let new Wolfkin rest and possibly settle in theirs or other steddings. This is when he learned of the many abandoned steddings across the land where he could begin pointing other Wolfkin to for peace and refuge from a world that wouldn't accept them. Character Reputation: Among the Tuatha'an, he is warily accepted. He is accepted at a half dozen farms and will usually be chased away or attacked if he approaches others. When Tannyr is with those half dozen farms and the Tuatha'an, they actively encourage him to sing or play his reed pipe and he is happy to oblige. He opens up more to Tuatha'an than any other people. He has never interacted with his past wagon train and never asks about it. He lost his lyre when he and Karoan were chased out of a small town in Illian so he only plays the flute now but he would love to get his hands on another lyre. He hasn't gone to any town since. He is known by a dozen Ogier at Stedding Cantoine by name and they greatly enjoy trading songs and music with each other. He has worked on improving his skills at healing with herbs, something his mother began to teach him before he left the Way of the Leaf, and trained with Karoan for a year on how to defend himself with his cudgel. His knife is merely for utility.