OOC Minecraft Username: yulemoon Are you at least 18 years old?: Yes Have you read the rules? (Link): Yes In-Character Read the following prompt: The rhythmic lull of hoofbeats are a marching drum to the small group of pioneers and variety of folk you have found yourself amongst, packed into a wobbling wagon. The rolling plains of the Southern Reach and a clear sky stretch out all around you, the buzz of excited chatter a dull wash in your ears as your mind strays to your former life and what has led you here to new lands. “Nervous?” You blink, returning to the present moment. A kindly older woman sat near you is smiling warmly with a crinkle to her eyes. “I can tell it’s your first time. Still remember mine,” she flashes a grin and leans in. “Tell me my dear, why have you come to the Reach?” How do you respond (in character)? (150 words minimum - please make sure to include at least three references to our lore in your response, with two coming from different pages in the Compendium.) — Lani is a little taken aback by the woman’s willingness to speak with her despite her rugged, unkempt appearance. For the most part, she had been stuck within her own thoughts after leaving her village, her father’s protests against her “absurd proposition” of letting her leave home still in her head. "The protection of the Fire Dragon will only carry you so far, Lani! It's blessing is a privilege, do not be so conceited as to believe it will make an exception for such a foolish ordeal!" Those words echoed in her mind. She understood why he had opposed such an idea, not wanting to lose yet another of his children to their ignorant fantasies, oblivious of the beasts that awaited them as soon as they stepped outside of the town’s confines, or at least so he thought. In the end though, it was her friend Olaf who she had known since childhood that gave her the boost she needed to break free of the chains her father had cast her in. Then again though, Olaf was always more brawn than brains, letting his raw strength as a Greatling do the talking in many situations. Maybe she should've thought things through a bit more instead of taking that musclebrain at his word that she could withstand anything the Reach threw at her after all. She mindlessly scratches one of the patches of scales on her arm, before accidentally catching her finger on a particularly sore one, causing her to snap out of her daze. She sighs, setting those thoughts aside. Brooding over things that were in the past never suited her anyway. Falling back into her much more enthusiastic, outgoing self, she turns to the woman.   “Ah, sorry miss! Didn’t mean to ignore ya! Just got a lot goin’ on, y’know?” she says, giving her a toothy grin. “Ya wanna know why I came to the Reach? Simple! These fists of mine ‘ere ran outta punchin’ bags back home! My own hellhound even stopped hangin’ out with me in fear of ‘em!” Lani responds, letting out a hearty laugh.   The old woman chuckles, before speaking once more. “Back home? Why, going off of those hands of yours, you cannot mean the Fireborne of the Ashlands?” she asks, slightly taken aback to find Lani so far from home. It had never occurred to Lani previously that she might be seen as a bit of an oddity in the Reach, being such a distance from her people.   “Oh yeah… guess my sort ain’t common ‘round these parts, huh? Guess it means I’ll just have an easier time makin’ a name for myself, aye?” she exclaims, the excitement now evident in her voice causing any of her previous doubts her father had caused her to disperse. After all, what better way to prove herself to her father than returning a fighter whose name is known across the land? The wagon soon screeches to a halt, causing her train of thought of heroics and the beasts she is yet to fight to follow suit shortly after. Lani curiously pokes her head out the back of the wagon, before deciding this is as good a place as any to start her journey. Leaping out of the wagon, she hears the crunch of the gravelly road underneath her boots as she lands, before the wheels of the wagon soon start to turn once more.   “The names Lani, miss! And ya better not forget it!” — Character Name: Lani Character Race: Volcanic Fey-Touched Character Age: 19 Brief Physical Description: Lani is of relatively average stature at around 5’6. Her eyes are entirely a deep crimson, which along with the patches of black scales present on her body and her hands make her heritage as a Volcanic Fey quite blatant. Her hair is a dark red, being messy and unkempt, reaching down to her waist in terms of length. Her teeth also have a slight sharpness to them.