Amber's backstory

Q1) Where did I grow up?

I grew up on the move. My ma, and my pa, and my three brothers and a sister and our beloved wagon and, well, my whole clan, were always wandering to where the woods were greenest and the soil softest underfoot. I'd been from Farbottle to Isorah and seen all the country in between, before I'd even fully learned to ride.

Q2) What was my family like?

Well, I had a ma and a pa and and four older brothers and sisters, and four aunts and uncles and seventeen cousins, and two great aunts, and thirty-seven sec'nmore cousins, and if you really me to go into detail, the rest were related somehow. Clans are like that.

We were a merry bunch. Just about once a week it was someone's birthday, and even apart from that, there was always a pretty grove or a nice fishing spot or some reason for a party.

Q3) What did I do as a child, and how was I trained/educated?

As a child, I played with the other girls, of course. When I was a teener, Ellie and Greta and I would ride out into the woods and camp there for days.

I began following the holy path very young. It started as an accident. When the clan is moving from place to place, anyone can ride with anyone--I could be in my grandparent's wagon or on my aunt's pony or even with Mr. Blinley in his floating, shining carriage. Everyone liked having company, after all.

Well, the morning of the move, I had been out collecting pretty rocks from the streambed, and lost track of time. By midday, I had seventeen 'specially shiny pink and yellow stones and no clan. They went on a full day, too, and only missed me at bedtime.

I got on the road and ambled along--distracted often enough by pretty flowers, mind you, and at one point I found a pretty pool and stopped to swim.

As twilight fell, the world transformed. I was unprepared for the change darkness brought. I heard otherworldy shrieks and growls. Yellow eyes that had always twinkled from a distance in the firelight now looked on me green and close and hungry. I heard the click and rattle of dead bones on the prowl, and felt malice from every quarter. It was my first meeting with the menacing darkness, and I was justly terrified. I shrank into the roadside grass and sneakywalked quieter than when I was spying on my brother Nell.

Ahead, I saw light on the side of the road--a floating symbol of sun above a glowing grove. I was filled with hope, and sneaked faster. I saw a small clearing lit as with daylight. There were stone arches and a figure of a dancing unicorn, a pretty pool, and the grass was soft. I curled up and watched the world. Eyes in the darkness turned to me, and the light revealed a maliciously distorted wolven face, but it turned away from the light. A cloud of tattered rags and darkness blew overhead, but barely paused. I felt safe in my little globe of light, and slept like a little kitten.

At dawn, I was awoken by a gentle nuzzling, and looked up to see a unicorn and his pretty elven maiden! "Little girl," she said, "where is your family?" "Um . . . that way!" I answered, pointing up the road.

"I judge her a member of the Brickless clan, by her face and dress. They moved yestermorn and are twenty miles uproad by now."

"A long way for such a little one."

"And this is a dangerous stretch in the evening. By Ehlonna's grace alone has she lasted the night."

"Indeed."

I listened with rapt attention and memorized every word. These two were so beautiful, and a real live unicorn! Boy, I was safe now! And if I thought that was a treat, I wasn't prepared for what happened next. With a reverent bow, the lady summoned the best breakfast I'd ever had (and my grandma could charm dragons with her scrambled eggs), and then swept me up in front of her, on the back of the unicorn!

In a blink, the shrine was gone, and we were miles uproad in the woods. And then we began to ride! The wind made my eyes water, and the flying mane tickled my nose, but not a twig snapped underfoot.

They met my clan coming the other way, calling my name. And then with a stern warning to be more careful, they vanished into the trees. They left me only with the memory of the evil night, and the glory of the morning's ride. When I grew up, I was going to be just like them.

As it happened, I had a great aunt who served Ehlonna. She was our little clan's fix-n'-bless-it lady. I wasn't old enough to apprentice to her yet, but I followed her around anyway. Before too long, I was grinding silver and organizing baskets of potions and fetching herbs and repeating reverent phrases.

Training was natural and easy. Karen was merry and loved her work. She had a thousand and one pets, and could set a panicked pony at ease with barely a whisper. But the best part was the healing. The Haymores brought their babbling and sick son to us in the middle of the night, and she was swift and alert to bring peace and ease. One time my own brother was trampled by a panicked pony, and I was able to keep him alive until Karen could come and set everything
right. And when Jen fell in the river and drowned, and there was nothing we could do, we healed the clan as best we could: buried her with honor and blessed her grave. I fell in love with doing good; the gratitude, the relief on everyone's faces, just easing the pain of life. Training was never hard for me. When Karen asked for ground silver, I made it extra fine. When she needed something from her chest, I ran to get it.


Q4) What do I consider important or motivational?

I live to displace evil by doing good, to drive back darkness by shining light. Darkness lurks in many places - wherever there is deception, malice, or selfishness, there is darkness.

I believe all things are good, and left to themselves, they'll unbend and untwist. The best way to change anyone is to show them what's right and then let them make their own choices. At least, I believed that when I left home. I think I've seen some things since then that . . . that would never mend.

I believe goodness is creative, not destructive--the way to defeat evil is to do good, not to smite evil. Smiting just leaves a void.

I live in light, and that means I keep by eyes open and my senses sharp. The Brickless clan taught me to embrace the merriness of life, but I abhor debauchery. A few kisses and a little wine slow the eyes and heart; dancing on the lawn with noble friends is my kind of party, and a solitary dawn with honeysuckle nectar is my kind of treat.

Q5) What do I look like, dress like, and act like?

Well, I'm small, even for one my my race. Lastborn little runt. I don't mind; I make up for it by a show of spirit.

My dress is simple enough, utilitary leather and cotton. I guess these days you'll see me in armor more often than not--that's just the nature of my work. When I go to cities, I like to be in a long, elegant gown--but I'm happier in my tunic in the woods.

I act, well, pretty quiet and shy. Unless someone needs defending. Then I'll speak up. Usually. But there's a lot of good I could have done if I'd been a little louder, and I have a hard time talking to people even though I really do care about them.

Q6) How'd I get to Cauldron?

Wandering. When I completed my apprenticeship, I decided to leave my clan and my home, and wander the land, doing whatever good was at hand. I picked a road and rode along it, going south many miles.

Maybe I'll return home some day--but those are peaceful lands. Like a moth to flame, I'm drawn to wherever darkness and evil are worst, and they've seemed plentiful in Cauldron.

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[Metagame: Amber is about naive goodness. She's got a good heart
and high wisdom, but perpetually sheltered, she's inexperienced.
She tries hard, but doesn't always know what's best. Trying to
become wisely good without becoming annoying or evil has been a
bit of a bumpy road so far . . .]