Heidi

Half-Elf / Barbarian

Submitted character story

Defining moment:
All she wanted was to see more of the world and smash through any obstacle. So, Heidi joined a tribe of Barbarians and Fighters. There were instances she questioned the pursuits of her tribe mates. Like the time they all raided a small caravan of traders, and the times they destroyed small farmsteads just because they could. Heidi participated in each attack. Her reasoning was; “no ones getting hurt, there is no real harm in what they were doing.” Until the tribe went to far…
Heidi’s tribe invaded and attacked a small village isolated out farther out into the countryside than the other villages. They smashed through trader carts, purged small businesses of their money and items that could be sold for a decent profit on the black market. But this time, the tribe pushed their attack further than robbing and raiding. Heidi watched in horror as she watched her tribe mates start slaughtering the villagers. The ones that fought back only enticed them more. Men, women, old and young, were being ripped from their homes and butchered on the streets. Heidi had never been more terrified. Her tribe mates noticed her hesitation and demanded she participate because that was their way. Be useful or die. Heidi brushed this off. She had gotten close with some of the members. There’s no way any of them would cross the line to murder, right? She couldn’t, she wouldn’t stoop to the murdering of innocents for some coin. So, before any of the tribe could confront her, Heidi bolted out of the village. She could hear the tribe call out to her, their threats slowly fading the farther Heidi got. She was a wood-elf and sprinting through tough terrain was not a challenge at all. Heidi ran and ran until she could no longer hear the screams or feel the spatter of blood hitting her skin. Finally, she slowed down. Her breath shaking. She kept reliving the attack in her nightmares and in her waking mind. She could’ve stopped some of the attack or help villagers escape. Instead, Heidi froze. And then she ran. Like a coward. Now, she knew what her tribe was capable of. She knew they’d never stop trying to hunt her down. No one leaves the tribe and lives, or so she was told. Heidi thought it was the usual barbarian trash talk. She never thought the people she’d grown close to over the past year had this thirst for blood hidden within them. Heidi continued to travel. Never staying in one place for more than a day or two. And when she did, Heidi spent most of the time in the taverns. Desperately trying to drown her guilt with alcohol. Desperately trying to silence the screaming.

Archetype: You're the The Line Held Too Late. She runs forward now, because she knows what it costs to freeze.

Personality: Running from something