Here's my character with story so far
[spoiler]
[SIZE=5][COLOR=#000060][SIZE=2]Name: [/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][COLOR=#000060]Tomas [Toe - maas’][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Age: [/COLOR][COLOR=#000060]52 but strong and fit[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Skin: Suntanned[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Hair: Brown[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060] with a full mustache and beard[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060].[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060] White at the temples and interspersed in the beard and hair.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Race: Human[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000060]Tomas noticed Wolfs' hackles raise, as a low, almost silent growl escaped his snarling lips. With a word to Wolf and careful to make no movement that might attract attention, Tomas' eyes scanned the horizon. There - off toward the Northern Forest ... movement.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Tomas sighed. He knew his solitude would not last, but had hoped for more time. After his conversion to serving The One True God, he had entered the mountains to commune with his God and live alone. Now this. None lived in the Northern Forest due to the wildness and even savagery of the country. So if Tomas saw movement, it cried for investigation.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Sure enough - after days of searching, Tomas found the cause of the movement he had seen. A black knight - quite formidable looking, had set up camp and had underlings building an encampment. But why here of all places, thought Tomas, it was so remote as to be completely removed from any of the local population ... but wait! of course, Tomas mused, this smacks of an initial invasion force.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Just as Tomas turned to leave this hopeful invader to his machinations, another surprise caught his eye. Why had Wolf not sounded upon her approach? Thru the forest an elven girl soundlessly, but awkwardly, stalked the black knight as well. Tomas was amazed at her ability for silence - she almost seemed to fall at every third step. Wolf just watched with interest - no warning growl - no desire to attack. Curious. And what was that purple movement at her feet. Not discernable at this distance - it bode further investigation.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]As Tomas watched, the black knight packed up with a few of his attendants and left, his main force staying behind to expand the encampment. After the departure of the black knight, the elven girl left as well - the purple movement about her feet leaving with her.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Knowing a change was coming, Tomas turned, following the girl.[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000060]The girl finally reached her camp. This looks like a permanent camp, brooded Tomas. Hmmm ... I would have sworn noone lived in the Northern Forest - and yet here's the girl, he thought to himself. Newfound respect for this young elf rose in his mind. Tomas was jarred back to paying attention upon hearing "Shell - snack time!!" her voice had a lilting quality to it - almost as if she sang it. But before he could process this new perspective of the elven girl he watched - up scrambled a purple crab to her lap! "Does Shell love Meri?" she sang. Meri - that must be her name. But what in the name of The One True God was that thing doing on her lap? The girl fed bits of something to the purple thing as she gently cooed at it. This girl was definately strange. Living alone in the Northern Forest with a purple crab - curious.[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000060]It had been hours since the girl, Meri, had gone to sleep. Even the strange purple crab had ceased movement. Tomas decided it was time to leave. With a nod to Wolf, he stood and silently strode off into the night.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Back in the mountains,in his own camp, Tomas finally unwound. Wolfs' head under his hand as the lobo lay beside him, he pondered all he had witnessed in the last few days. Sure that the covert arrival of the black knight had the broodings of war, Tomas steeled himself for the decision that must come. Run or fight. And Tomas never was much of a runner. After quietly praying to The One True God, Tomas slowly drifted off to a wary, fitful sleep, visions of ominous black knights and one clumsy elven girl disturbing his rest. [/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000060]Wolf raised his head. It had been weeks since their excursion and Tomas was preparing to head to the capital, to try to warn the government of this hidden force in the remote Northern Forest. He watched Wolf and even though his companion's attentions were directed at the base of the mountain, the lobos’ easy manner confused him. Usually when Wolf sensed someone or something his hackles went up and a low throaty growl would inadvertently escape his drawn back lips.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]All of a sudden, it became apparent for Wolfs' strange behavior. "Shells, it's snack time!" lilted gently up from the rocky paths below. A wry grin creased Tomas' face - why i think Wolf is smitten with that girl!, he thought to himself. Shouldering his pack - they made their way down the mountainside, where they knew they'd find a small elven girl with a purple crab.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]There she was. Tomas quietly materialized inside her camp perimeter and waited. The girl looked up and stared, as if she wasn't sure she was seeing correctly. It finally registered that there WAS a tall enigmatic man with a very large lobo wolf by his side right there in front of her! She tumbled backward falling all over herself, yet eerily silent in her clumsy bid to get away! She had drawn an old samari sword quite quickly and held it tremblingly out in front of her, the crab cowering behind her legs with bits of food still hanging from it's mouth.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]"Wait." Tomas held his hands out. "I'm not going to hurt you Meri - it is Meri, right?"[/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000060]"Who are you?" Meri blurted at Tomas. "How do you know me?" Her sword trembled and then lowered after some silent communication between Wolf and her. Tomas noticed the sword was still held at ready, though lowered, as she waited for his answer.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Tomas spent the next few hours explaining about the black knight (I saw him too! Meri exclaimed), his study of her in her camp and his subsequent trip back home. He continued with his plan to head for the capitol (I am too! Meri blurted out) to warn them of the impending invasion. And finally how he had heard her use her own name while cooing at the strange purple crab. Meri blushed and stumbled for words.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]After agreeing to travel together (at least for now) they made camp. [/COLOR]
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[COLOR=#000060]As Tomas watched Meri sleep, he thought on his past. Meri reminded him so much of Melina.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]It was twenty years ago that Tomas had been converted to his faith in The One True God. After a particularly gruesome campaign of conquest, when trolling the battlefield for living friends or enemies, one to save and the other to end, he came upon a child. The orphan sat with one dead warriors' head on her lap.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]"What are you doing here girl?" Tomas growled. "Saying goodbye to my father, Sir," she replied. Tomas stopped in his tracks. Robbing the bodies, he expected to hear, but not that. Now he noticed the tears on her cheeks and the gravity of her situation hit home. "You don't belong here." Tomas half choked, half rumbled at her. "Run along!"[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]"I forgive you," she replied. Tomas stopped again in shock. "What?" he roared. "I said I forgive you" she meekly responded. What was she talking about - forgiving him? Tomas thought for a moment and then told her "I didn't kill your father." [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]"I believe you, Sir, but you are part of the invading force from the islands in the sky, are you not?" she asked. Not waiting for an answer, she continued. "Then you are just as responsible for every death here. My father had been doing research on a very old religion from the Time Before Time and found a book telling of The One True God. God says in there that I must forgive you."[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Tomas's heart was pierced through with these words. "What is your name, girl?" Tomas asked. "Melina, Sir" she replied. "Tell me more of this One True God." he responded. With that he scooped her up in his arms and left the invading force[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060], with Melina as his new daughter[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060]. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]Fifteen years later, a young woman now, she died in his arms[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060], ravaged by the sickness that had hit the village[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060]. All he had left of her was the ancient Bible she had given him and the faith she had trained him in of The One True God. Leaving the small town where they had lived as father and daughter, Tomas headed for the high mountains. It was there he had found Wolf, an abandonded pup. Tomas raised Wolf as his companion in the wilderness[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060], but the animal had retained much of his wild nature[/COLOR][COLOR=#000060].[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000060]And now this. It looked like someone on the floating islands was bent on conquest on the Lost Continent, Tomas’ new home.[/COLOR][SIZE=5][COLOR=#000060][SIZE=2]He would not hide in the mountains while this took place. Yes he was just one man, but Tomas knew The One True God’s power to effect whatever change He wished in this world.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE=5][COLOR=#000060][SIZE=2]Tomas looked over at Meri - brought back to the present with his musings. And this clumsy elf girl - what of her? Had she lived alone in the Northern Forest for many years? What of her parents? And why did Wolf behave almost as a tame pup around her? Did she have some power over animals? Did she have magic?[/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE=5][SIZE=2][COLOR=#000060]His questions would have to wait, he thought, as sleep finally claimed him. Tomas trusted Wolf to wake him should there be any need or if an intuder showed up.[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[/SIZE][/spoiler]
i'm writing in the third person perspective and i'm wondering if i should shift to the first person. anybody have any recommendations, ideas, demands for me?
thanx for the suggestion to open all the spoilers, Meri - that worked great and i put it all in a text file. no need for yours.