Xaphira Xaphira was born and raised in a small town on the edge of the forest. Her parents were not members of any House, though her father nearly joined the House of the Silk Strings (he decided against it before paying the entrance fee). Her father was (and still is) a tradesman, and her mother, a Ranger. It was perhaps because both of her parents were so active in supporting the family, her father working in the front room of their small home and her mother spending days at a time out hunting for the family's meals, that Xaphira learned to entertain and teach herself. She is the older of two daughters; her sister is an Empath currently living in River Crossings. There was also a young Elven girl in the family, the child of close friends of Xaphira's mother, but raised by them after the death of the girl's parents in a marauder raid (the story of which Xaphira has recounted in a recently written tale). When Xaphira reached the age of fifteen, she felt her mother's wanderlust pulling at her. It was at this time, however, that her mother died while on a hunting expedition. This left Xaphira to care for her sister and their Elven "cousin," as the elder of the two was only ten years old. For five more years, then, she stayed home, writing songs to amuse her young charges, as well as to vent her own frustration over her inability to leave. Gradually, she came to accept the circumstances, even taking pleasure in teaching the youngsters how to take care of the house and of themselves. She learned to hunt small game, and through the coin she earned from the skins, she bought her first lyre. Finally, when Xaphira was twenty, her sister and cousin were old enough to watch themselves, and she felt free to leave. By this time, though, she felt an attachment to them, and to the village; further, she had come to appreciate the pleasures of security, family, and community. Still, the pull returned, and she finally set out for the nearest city she had heard about--River Crossings. She took only enough provisions for the day, and little more worth mentioning, except her lyre. Along her route, she would sing for her meals, her lodging, and for sheer enjoyment. She arrived in Crossings and soon realized how lost she felt in such a large city. Xaphira nearly turned back for home, but was hungry, and decided she could at least find something to eat. She walked through the streets and over a bridge, heading toward an inn someone mentioned. And then, she heard it--music--coming from a small building. She was immediately reminded of one of the reasons she left home: there was nobody there who could really help her perfect her art. Xaphira forgot her hunger for food, feeling a deeper longing inside, and entered the building, never to look back. |
Last Revised: 6/5/01 |