Flow of the River

Monk

Female

56

5'6"

122 pounds

Snow Leopard

November 24th, 1404

River was born in relatively unremarkable circumstances, but as soon as she took her first breaths the elders of her clan knew there was something different about her. They gifted her the name Flow of the River and gave her parents a warning; the name meant more than just a name, after all. Just as a river flooded with storm water or ice melt could flow over its banks and threaten anyone living along its shores, the young tabaxi had the potential to have great power but without knowing how to harness it could potentially threaten the lives of everyone around her when that power went out of control.

In accordance with this her parents made arrangements for River to join The Order of the Crimson Shadow, hoping that training as a monk would teach her the control she needed. When she turned four River was shipped from her small home town out to The Zenith, and she would not see her parents again until she was in her early 20's and had finished her training. She had long since stopped hating them, learning to let go as part of her teachings and understanding that they had given her up for her own safety, but the reunion was still somewhat of a stiff one. River really felt that she had no place with her family, not after everything she had been through, but she had a strong drive to do good in the world so she took off and joined the Moonlight Guard as swiftly as she could.

However, River never made it far. The combination of a commander who sent the Juniors to do the job and stayed behind because he was lazy, River's utter confidence that the job was easily done and they could all handle it without calling for backup, and the bad luck that it wasn't just what they had been told it was but also several bigger, nastier creatures left River as the only survivor of the hunt. She crawled back barely alive, and while her commander took the blame and was executed for his oversight she still felt she was to blame for not standing up and insisting a senior come with them. The blood was on her hands as far as she was concerned, so she turned in her badge and left. Now she simply travels, trying to guard smaller caravans and doing what she can for the world as much as she can. In a way it's easier than being with the Guard because she's free to go where she wants and do as she pleases instead of being given orders all the time, though she does get paid less and often has trouble finding work because most of it goes to others with far more reputation. But there are always those who cannot afford better aid and will turn to other sources, so River often ended up working with them for very little money if anything beyond gratitude, food, and a place to sleep for a few days.

During one particular incident, River ended up working a job that led to the realm of a demon prince. He offered her great power in exchange for her service, and she agreed to his terms. Sadly it was not quite what she expected and in order to set up the contract properly the demon prince violated her before sending her on her way, keeping an eye on his prize and constantly guiding her to be his avatar in the material plane. Eventually River knew she was having a negative impact on the world by following his orders, and worse yet she was pregnant with his child, so she made her way back to where the portal to his realm was open and returned to him in order to have the child.

A daughter, named Veil of a Mask in the traditional tabaxi style even if she was only half tabaxi. River stayed to raise the girl, ensuring she was treated like the princess she rightfully was and received the best education and anything else she could ever want. The demon prince was not happy to lose his prized avatar, but he couldn't deny River the chance to see her child grow well and ensured she and his daughter were looked after.

--