LongestRoad Sil Childhood and Training
Her heritage
Silian Xiroscient was hatched in the fireplace of her father’s study early one morning. Her father, Ethan Xiroscient, was a devoted cleric of Nirsi. Her mother had been, by all appearances, a good elven woman named Silara. She had come to the village as a refugee, an injured ranger who did not volunteer details of her journey. Ethan was her healer and host. She had only intended to stay a short time. Then the weeks grew into months, and years. Silara and Ethan found themselves together much of the time. They were married by the head priest of Nirsi on the summer solstice. Even still, Silara warned that she would someday have to leave him. Ethan always had the response: I’ll be sad to see you go.
Within a few years of their marriage, Silara became pregnant. The tight-knit village was overjoyed for the couple, but Silara was withdrawing from all those around her. She frequently gazed at Ethan as if there was something caught in her throat, some secret to tell him. She was also often found on rooftops, gazing at the skies.
She went into labor after only another year. The house was in a panic over it. The other clerics tried to get her to let them magically delay the birth, but she refused. They reasoned with her that a baby born so early would have no chance, and that she might die as well. She shoed them away, keeping only her husband with her. She asked him to prepare a fire—something that would burn as hot as possible for as long as possible. He did as she asked, and she lay beside it for days. After excruciating effort, she gave birth to an egg. She confided in Ethan as she put it in the fire, remarking that humanoid bodies were not made for this.
Ethan stayed with her while she slept afterwards, watching the glowing gold egg in the fire. He left for a moment to disperse to the crowd waiting outside the door. When he returned, she had vanished. He was sad to see her go.
Her childhood
Sil was always a rowdy child. She was small when she hatched, but grew like a weed. She ended up being bigger and tougher than all the children her age, and rarely had patience for their complicated games.
When she was 30, the village took in a human mother and her baby boy, Jace. Soon the baby grew to be a child, and for a while Sil had a partner in her adventures. Eventually, Jace grew to be a man, and outpaced Sil in how fast he learned things. Bored with the pace of life around him, he left the village to seek his fortune. Sil helped care for his mother in her later years, and Jace returned before she died. He had become a fearsome warrior, and while Sil was just entering her gawky adolescent decades.
Jace brought his wife with him to the village, and her sister, a human monk named Song. After his mother was buried, Jace and his wife prepared to leave. Song chose to remain behind, as she felt the peaceful village was good for her soul. Sil was inspired by the very elven qualities monkhood had brought about in this human. Song taught Sil how to meditate, and took her on as an apprentice. After ten years of study, Song asked to take Sil to her monastery to complete her education. Ethan reluctantly agreed, and Sil left her village for the first time.
Her training
(Aka: Stop. Monastery time.)
Sil’s life in the monastery marked the beginning of strict discipline and a rigid daily schedule. The elven village had been very carefree—meals that lasted hours and games that lasted days. Sil thrived in this new structure. She was punctual and enthusiastic about their tasks. She excelled at physical tasks, whether it was mastering the fine movements of a throw or sanding down the wood for a new deck. The mental aspects took more time, but gradually she acquired the foresight to anticipate her opponent’s attacks, and the presence of mind to remain silent and listen to the world.
Eventually she was recognized as a full monk in the order, and her duties changed. She was given a class of young children to teach, and she found herself with more free time on her hands. She spent much of it in the library, finding every book on dragons and absorbing the information within it. She came to realize how little she knew about herself, and how much she wanted to learn.
Song was an old woman by this point, and Sil was nearly of age. Sil talked to her master, asking for guidance. Song suggested that she give herself a quest, leave the monastery, and find her own path. Sil considered this for a time, and decided it was the right course. She asked Song how to start such a quest.
Song told her a story about her early life. When she was a young woman, she took a similar quest upon her before leaving the monastery. She took a vow to live her life with some restriction until her quest was done. Then she packed her bag and started walking.
Sil agreed that this was a good place to start, and asked what kind of vow she should take. Song detailed the common ones: poverty, pacifism, obedience, sobriety. Sil made hilarious faces at each of these, which amused Song. She suggested that, for a young woman with all of Sil’s gifts, perhaps chastity would be appropriate. Sil expressed her doubts—a vow is supposed to be a challenge, after all. Song was sure that, once she was out in the world, Sil would find the challenge in this.
Before leaving, Sil hesitated. She asked Song if she ever finished her quest. Song smiled a little, and nodded. With that encouragement, Sil started off on her quest to find her mother.
