Here's my backstory for me, Ishmai al'Saigan. I hope you guys enjoy it.
______________________________________
Ishmai was orphaned at the very tender age of 3 when his parents were killed in a merchant train. His parents had been merchants in Murandy. During one of their seasonal caravans from Murandy to Tar Valon, their train was attacked by the bandits that had made a home in the further reaches of the Braem Woods. Nearly every in the caravan was killed, including young Ishmai’s parents. While the al’Saigans had been moderately wealthy, and their riches had been distributed about the different relatives, none of them wanted to take him in, preferring to gamble and drink their money away and waste their lives.
Ishmai was sent to a distant relative in Two Rivers. He stayed with his aunt, Charise, his uncle, Cole, and his cousin, Ciedrien, who was very close in age. Charise and Cole raised Ishmai as their own, never letting on that he wasn’t truly their son. Ishmai and Ciedrien grew up very close, closer than brothers even. Wherever Ishmai went, Ciedrien was sure to follow, and vice versa.
The two were thick as thieves until early adolescence when their interests began to differ. Ciedrien expressed an interest in blacksmithing, whereas Ishmai began spending a lot more time alone, wandering the forests, hunting game and reading various books he’d borrowed from other townspeople. He learned much about how to survive on your own and during travel, about politics and even found a little bit of text on the Old Tongue.
Concerned about how much time Ishmai had been spending alone, Charise and Cole resolved to tell him the truth about where he came from and who his parents were. A few days after the Beltine celebrations, they took Ishmai into their room and told him the story. He was horrified, almost in denial that there were people in this world that would actually do something like that. His horror turned to anger. Anger at the lowlifes that had taken his family, anger at Charise and Cole for keeping this from him for so long, as he had just turned seventeen. His anger soon turned to sorrow. Realizing that they were his only family that he truly had.
After learning what had happened to his real family, he realized that he had never quite fit into the quiet life in Two Rivers. It had always tickled at the back of his mind, like an itch that even when you think you’ve gotten it; it comes back just as strong. His cousin, Ciedrien, who was well into his apprenticeship with the blacksmith, understood Ishmai’s pain and tried to empathize with him, but didn’t quite comprehend Ishmai’s need to leave. Charise and Cole were able to gift him with a decent horse and some provisions for his journey northwards, towards home, hopefully towards answers.
Ishmai traveled north, through Devon Ride, up to Baerlon. The whole trek, he was thinking, trying to decide what he truly felt in his heart. Was it just the deep sorrow that his parents were gone, even though it was so long ago? Was there a desire for revenge mixed in there? Anger at the culprits that had completely changed his life when it had scarcely begun? These thoughts roiled around until he resolved to find those bandits and remove them from this world just as they had removed his family along with the dozens of other people that were in that caravan. The only question was how?
When he reached Baerlon, he found his answer. He’d only been there a couple days before there was a scuffle in the town square. A couple of thieves had though to rob a house while the owner was away on business, only to be surprised by his early return. Their only recourse as to kill him. Unfortunately for the scum, they made too much noise and attracted the guards on patrol a couple of streets away. Upon the guards’ attempt to arrest, the thieves resisted and tried to flee through the town square. A couple of more guards spotted the two and moved to intercept. Instead of just surrendering, like an intelligent person, they continue resist even attacking the guards. The guards struck them down in clear self-defense. Ishmai witnessed the event from the window of his inn room. He realized that if joined the Guards, he would be able to receive the training he would so desperately needed to bring his parents’ murderers to justice.
He quickly packed his bag, paid his tab and retrieved his horse from the stable. He almost galloped through the streets on his dash to the east gates. After passing through, he settled to a trot and began the long trek to Caemlyn and his future…
Ishmai al'Saigan
Moderator: Builders