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** Note that this character and her half-brother Whitefern were originally created for a Wolf-Riding holt taking place quite a long while before Bald Mountain would have arisen, and any info regarding that era is loosely based on the Elfquest books
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Image Credits: Lethe |
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Name Sage Bonded to: . From: Dawn Watch Hope Court? Age: 35 Born in: Newgreen season Riding: Her typical Wolfrider skills are varied in use – she prefers to walk more than ride Stickerbrush, because … well it's easier to dodge things on foot rather than try and convince that wolf to go the right direction. She rides pretty well, given that he often runs off when she least expects him to. Hunting: Her preference is to hunt or trap small prey, rather than big animals and thus she often refrains from joining a big hunt unless it's necessary that everyone participate. She doesn't feel confident enough in her group skill to be very comfortable, though she does enjoy using clever traps and nooses. Weapons: though she has a number of javelins and a short wooden, crystal-tipped spear, she more often will use numerous small traps and nets, prepared while there is time to work. She has always wanted a good sharp knife similar to the crystal head of her spear, but makes due with a bone knife to cut herbs or gut kills. Woodwise, Cooking: Because she was raised and trained by a tree-shaper, Sage knows plenty about the woods and knows what to do with nearly any plant that she's already familiar with. She will balk at experimentation with strange plants, preferring to observe animals and see whether they eat it or not, before trying it herself for either food or healing. Because her mother was a big supporter of growing plants for the tribe, she often ran afoul of Two Spear's anger, and has learned how to slide veggies into meals like stew without even telling anyone. Without Two Spear around, she's learning that this is not necessary, and is taking more risks with spices and herbs, and preservative mixtures for cached kills. Healing: though she has no power to heal with magic, Sage knows the best ways to reduce fevers, heal cuts and wounds, purify and speed healing on infections, and to a more limited extent how to fix broken bones or sew up cuts. She has no fear of bloody injuries, isn't grossed out by pus or gore, but would prefer not to have to see such wounds on her tribemates! Thus, the quicker she goes into action, the better! Herbalism/Magical: Since she also doesn't have true tree-shaping she doesn't really have a magical ability to shape the plants she uses, but does seem to show a bit of affinity to them: it's more than just training or gut instinct, but not to be relied upon just by “magically testing” the area for special herbs. Her ability is far more skill than magic, in any case. Unless something dramatic happens to her in the meantime, Sage will only ever have ‘a feeling' for the plants around her, and not be able to actually mold them to her will. |
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History: ^ (A bit about her soul) When Downsoft died giving birth to Whitefern, Sage was off helping Willowgreen with gathering. Together, she and Sage's mother Vinewalk would help feed the tribe when things were lean, or while Two Spear was out hunting (whether he came back with meat – or whether he came back *at all*). Sage enjoyed a closeness with the healer and was clearly similar in her desire to help the tribe with plants and gathered foods. When both Sage and Vinewalk received a bizarre ‘sending' from Downsoft, only Vinewalk knew the meaning of it: she'd died, bearing her child! Though they tried to arrive in time, there was nothing that Willowgreen could do to help the woman. Vinewalk adopted little Whitefern, while both she and Coolwater grieved. Years later, as Willowgreen and she were collecting more roots for the night's stew, Sage watched their mighty chief Two Spear as he stormed back to their holt with a massive scoop-horn carcass. Two Spear was hardly impressed by the armful of carrots and beets that Sage had, scattering them to the ground and refusing her a cut of their kill. Willowgreen would try to intervene, but as always, that would merely lead to an argument and her crying. Sage bolted away, hungry and shamed, into the woods. The woods were always her comfort, even at the age of only three hands, Sage could list all the trees properties, which mosses grew on what branches and what they were good for. Of course – what they were good for, wasn't what their chief wanted. Feeling horrible and alone, Sage set about picking more food plants. After all she was still hungry and whether or not Two Spear wanted it, she liked greens. She'd tried defending the idea when she was quite young, but that only meant that the chief guffawed at her and made Willowgreen wince. Vinewalk would not interfere with this process, but she never withheld any love, comfort or advice. Sage was out of sending range by the time Vinewalk realized she'd gone running off. It was growing colder, the bite in the air was of an early Whitecold. And suddenly as they would – a bitter ice storm dropped a sheet of wetness over the whole area. Cut off from her tribe by the fact that she could hardly walk through two miles of hip-deep ice and sleet, Sage remained where she was, in the hollow of a tree, with her herbs and a large turnip for company. When she'd been younger and felt Downsoft's spirit touch her as she died, Sage didn't understand the content of the elfess' contact. But now, oddly, she felt that Downsoft was with her. The comforting presence of her mother's lovemate brought hot tears to Sage's eyes. But it also brought a strange sound… the whisper of her true name, zli… her soul name. Whether it was Downsoft's spirit delivering her from the fear and pain of the icy night, or her own spirit finding its strength, Sage didn't really know or care. Now she was whole. In the morning, she prowled back to the tribe's encampment with her armful of newly gathered roots – to the sky with Two Spear and his crazy talk. Carrots were good for you. |
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