Role

Chapter 4

Gjeryxa, or "Ryxa," as she introduced herself to everyone, never did
determine who her parents were or what her true last name was. Rather than
repeatedly explain, "The G is silent," and be forced to have what she
considered a male's name, she styled herself Ryxa and found she enjoyed being
called that.

By 19, she was strong-willed and independent, often leaving her home for
weeks at a time, and was allowed to do so. She almost joined a company of
friendly individuals who cherished the forests and hated the cities. After a
coincidental meeting in a nearby cave, she followed one to their camp,
listening to the leader's talk, and was spellbound by his words.
His bright, fiery eyes, his aggressive gestures, and his knowledge and
presence were inspiring. She went so far as to pledge herself to the Tree
itself, forsaking civilization entirely, in a grand gesture meant to convince
herself of her decisiveness. But just hours later, when the fires had died,
and the talk was still, and the trees swayed in the breeze, she thought on
her actions and regretted them and realized she had been foolish, and not
wise at all.

For she sought not just knowledge, but wisdom, and no matter how she turned
the issue in her mind this way and that, she could not justify destroying
those who sought only to create, maintain, and live fairly happy lives. After
all, while her family was not perfect, they lived in a civilized village,
were not part of these wilds, and had no hand in trying to destroy it. The
problem was not in the wilds versus civilization, but what was in everyone's
hearts.

To create or encourage, rather than destroy or smother, that was the key to
happiness. That was the key to awakening true change in Thera, and it lay in
many creatures' hearts and minds, if only they could relax and think.

An epiphany. Ryxa determined to seek out Lord Whiysdan as well as the
Heralds, and dedicate herself to being a fundamental part of this change.

She had briefly traveled with a Paladin called Thontin, who asked her what
the most important thing in the world was, and asked if she would hire a
scribe to send a missive to himself and Lord Whiysdan. She did. She then
sought out Lord Whiysdan himself, and they drank, and laughed, and talked of
many things.

How different than the conversations with the charismatic, yet deeply flawed
men and women she had shared a campfire with in the past. There was true
wisdom and passion here, and Ryxa instantly knew her courage and independence
belonged in this fold.

Ryxa continued to explore the lands, traveling alone mostly, and was happy.
She sent a missive to her Lord detailing her Thirteen favorite things to do,
and she joined the family of Heralds. No longer was her true last name of
such import to her. In fact, in addition to dropping the beginning of her
first name, she began telling others her last name was literally, "None."