A Rare Eye in the Sky

Before my wings could set me to the skies, my earliest memory is of one without theirs. I did not come into this world as a citizen of Liberty, as so many of my people do. My family comes from a clan of wandering Avians, who have nothing but their clothes and the clouds to call their own. When I was still young, my clan had set up a temporary camp near Lake Crystalmir to teach me our ways and practice my flight. One of my clan-sisters, who was often left un-checked and unaccounted for, was found to be wanted by the guards of Timaran. She was keen on mingling with land-walkers, and was often founds in places of entertainment such as bars and taverns. According to the stories my people heard, she murdered a man in cold blood for a knife he had supposedly stolen from her. To be in possession of something valuable was enough of an atrocity to our people, for our valuables in life are things that cannot be owned by anyone. However, she had crossed a line by claiming the life of another humanoid, and not for the purpose of food. She cried and claimed that this item was rare, and there were none other like it in all of Thera, but this made no matter to my clan. To prevent her from taking to the skies with our people ever again, she was taken in front of all the young ones to see and her wings were severed from her back. To this day, her cries of terror still haunt me. And though they were small at the time, I have never hugged my wings so tightly as I slept. As years progressed, my wings grew stronger. First I could glide, then hover for a time, then finally fly with full strength towards the heavens. The feeling was invigorating, and I felt at last as if my whole being were ignited like the Sun itself. As time continued onward, however, I was not content with the lifestyle that my people provided for me. Although I felt wary of the cities of land-walkers, due to what happened to my former clan-sister, I was nonetheless curious of what these cities had to offer that intrigued her so much. In my clan, gaining the ability to fly gives one the status of a clan-member, and they are free to do as they wish so long as they contribute to the health and well-being of the clan. I decided to expand my knowledge of the Land, and travel the cities of Thera. Though dangers were indeed present, my parents had taught me well in a variety of weaponry, for both the purpose of hunting and keeping myself alive. Where I could not fight, I could flee. Where I could not flee, I often could talk my way out of danger. But the times that I was not able to do so, I promise you, almost always involved some item of extreme power. I have come across them a few times in my youth, and never have I seen friends become enemies or enemies turn amiable so quickly as in the presence of these artifacts. All of the constructs of society and righteousness crumbled before the wielder of these tools of domination. Whether their purpose was for good or for evil, the end-result was always the same. Death for Dominance. At the age of sixteen, I grew weary of the ways of the Land-Walkers, and returned to my family in hopes to find some peace and clarity of mind. However this life of peace was simply not enough for me to be satisfied. With a heavy heart, I left my parents with the knowledge that I would strive to achieve something greater in life. I would never forget the song of the wind, or the tears of the cloud, for they would be with me wherever I went. But for the friends I'd gained and lost, I needed to find some way to bring balance to the Land of Thera. After resting in Timaran, I heard through idle conversation of the guild of Keepers: an elite group of driven individuals who seek to balance power in Thera through the moderation of rare artifacts of power. Just as I felt invigorated in my youth as I first took flight, my elation couldn't be told in words. I felt as though my purpose in life was at last clear, that there were others who felt the same as I did. I've since picked up the sword and shield, the whip and dagger, and trained myself every moment I can, without a days rest, so that I may be deemed worthy in the eyes of the Keepers to join their noble cause.