Alila Yao
Description
An exotic face in the crowd, Alila appears to be a tall human woman of unusual heritage waxing her twenties. Her skin bears a pigmentation of mahogany brown. Alila wears her thick black hair bound back in a severe ponytail that dangles down her back. Silver wires bind it along in place and a pair of black beads twines the base of the tail. Alila wears less than most adventurers, found in only sandals, loose breeches, and a loose, sleeveless shirt. The garments are made of silk and dyed to a deep, cloudy gray. Black silk sashes bind the garments tighter against her body, but that only reveals that Alila lacks effeminate curves. Her body is pure muscle, honed to a corded edge. The shirt binds her small bosom close, while the breeches end at her taut waist and hips, baring a sliver of her dark belly. The sashes along her legs reveal weapons -- two small sickle-like kama, one on each leg, the bladed heads slid into simple sheathes. Her belt also reveals weapons -- criss-crossing her back at the belt are two three-pronged, blunt daggers -- sai. On her right hip, a slender arrow-shaped weapon -- a siangham -- is slid through the silk belt. On the left side, a third sai is firmly suspended. Attached to the belt, leaning to the left, is a leather pouch containing her sling and bullets. A leather rucksack, upon which a bedroll is rolled up, is suspended over her shoulders. Alila keeps her glittering brown eyes on the road ahead, ready for all the challenges in the world.
History
The distant barbarian land of Kukul was home to many unusual tribes of people. Most of them were dark-skinned and fierce. The Yao Tribe of southeastern Kukul was once one of the strongest. But prolonged war with the Tsimbe Tribe shattered the Yao. Its peoples were sold into slavery, such as Alila, born in 887. She was only a child at the time, yet she recalled the horror and denigration of the Yao's fall. She was taken as a possession and shipped overseas to a land of pale-skinned peoples in a country called Verdentia. A wealthy merchant, Sly Opul, purchased her and made her into a housemaid at his sprawling estate in the city of Trimoria. Alila spent all her free time keeping the ways of the Yao alive in her own life at least. She did this especially through the practice of a unique girls' dance. Alila practiced only in secret, but the vigorous dance kept her strong and agile. She also remembered much of her tribal customs and the wisdom of the elders and her mother. However, Alila knew she was still just a slave. For several years, she labored under this auspice. But Sly Opul went bankrupt with a slew of storms that swept his ship-borne merchandise into the depths.
To help the prominent merchant, the local Temple of Saint Cuthbert agreed to purchase his property, including Alila. The strict but wise clerics realized the young black woman's physical prime. Though she was now free, they encouraged her to join a monastery and put her assets to good personal use. Alila agreed since she knew she had no other future yet. So the teenager traveled north to the mountainous lands of Hale with a quiet and solemn procession of pilgrim monks. Alila was initiated into the Stone Avatar Abbey hidden deep in the southern chain of the Court Mountains. She soon realized how tough her new life became. She trained harder than a mine slave labored everyday. It took years but she progressed, hardening her mind and body into a weapon of peace and justice and her soul into a device that yearned for inner peace but sought it out by accepting life's challenges. As Alila grew into a young adult, she wanted to test her spiritual fortitude in the world abroad. Since that was not at all uncommon for young monks, her elders agreed. So Alila went forth from the mountains to explore Estonen and challenge herself with all the trials the universe could offer.
Personality
Alila is a very quiet woman, whose dark-skinned and exotic appearance raises questions that are never answered. The monk can't help sometimes but wonder about her past. But for the most part, she remains focused on the present. Alila hopes to master herself and rise above all the indignities of common life. To that end, she devotes herself to the harsh training of monkhood above all else. When not traveling and facing the road's challenges, Alila is always drilling and meditating. Though obstacles will clutter and even bar the road, her destined path remains clear.
Goals
Alila will master the Monk class (20th level) and likely never multi-class. She will continue to level up as an epic Monk.
Character Sheet