Dokefaes was tired. He needed a rest. Four days out here in the wilderness of Antonica hunting gnolls, had left him exhausted. His arms and legs were hurting, and numerous cuts and bruises caused him to flinch in pain, whenever he moved. He had pushed on for several days, eager to convince the people of Qeynos that he had truly forsaken the city of Freeport and deserved a place in their fair city. Now he simply could not raise his rapier anymore, and slumped down by the lake-side, deciding that the bed he had dreamed of sleeping in ever since he left Freeport, had to wait. He would sleep right here, out in the wilderness. He gathered some leaves and twigs, and made a small shelter, that would hopefully hide him from the monsters of the regions. When he had found a way to lie down, that didnt hurt too much, he started to think of the actions that had brought this little ratonga to Antonica, so far from home... Home..that word had a strange meaning to Dokefaes. He had never actually had a place, he really considered his home. He had 13 elder brothers and sisters, and had grown up with them and 4 other ratonga-families on a small island out on the ocean somewhere. Being the smallest was never easy, especially in a ratonga-family, but the fact that Dokefaes didnt like violence, and preferred to sing and dance instead, didn't make it any easier. For as long as he remembered, he had felt nothing for his famliy. They were always picking on him and telling him he was a nobody, and he had always dreamt of living another place. So his joy was great, when suddenly a small ship showed up on the horizon. As far as he could tell, it would not pass close by the island, so he promptly took action. He packed his few belongings and started to swim, without ever looking back or saying goodbye to his family. When he arrived at the ship, the humans on board reacted with amusement. It seemed they had been watching him swim the long distance, and decided that his effort should be awarded with a spot on the ship. They joked that rats were known to abandon ships when they were in danger, so this here ship must be blessed since the rats swam long distances to get aboard. The ship dropped him of at a place called Isle of Refugees, and there Dokefaes saw all the other races that he had always been told was the enemies. He mostly liked them. Some were rude, but that he has gotten used to from his home-island. After some time on this island, Dokefaes got a pass to enter Freeport. Freeport was a huge city, and he was told that there was a whole neighbourhood for ratonga's to live in. He couldn't wait to get there and start his new life. It turned out that the neighbourhood for ratonga's, was only an excuse to get them out of the sight of the 'superior' races, that also lived in the city. It seemed everyone else could agree on one thing, and that was that ratonga's was worthless as a race, and no better than ordinary rats. And in Temple Street, as it was called, Dokefaes quickly became the laughing stock of the other ratonga's. They really couldn't take his happy demeanor and kind feelings for others, and soon he felt as estranged here as he has done on the small island. It was clear that he still had not found his home. He spent more and more time in the outlying areas, and soon heard of another city. A city where everyone was equal and where people cared for each other. It was called Qeynos. When he heard that, Dokefaes got a new goal. He wanted to live in Qeynos. After a long and dangerous journey, he finally arrived at Antonica, only to find that they wouldn't let him into the town, unless he proved himself first. They seemed to think all ratonga's were evil, and wanted him to prove otherwise. That was why he now had hunted gnolls for four days and needed his rest. And with these thoughts, he slowly started to drift into sleep. His last thought before his dreams took over was: "Would he ever find a place he could call home?" **OOC: this is just the background story for my character on the Lucan DLere server. It felt good to write it down as it helps me form the character better than just having it in my head. And now that it was written, I thought I might as well share it with you. Dokefaes Ratonga Bard of Qeynos Lucan Dlere server
