Full Backstory
Ryss is an intensely curious child of Lura, and is easily distracted by anything interesting, whether it be learning something cool or finding a shiny treasure. She’s very active but can quickly shift from an energetic adventurer to a reserved, self-conscious little thing when surrounded by unfamiliar creatures and environments: she’s much more comfortable in the woods like the ones she grew up in. Ryss has an unfortunate habit of being rather forgetful, but she does her best, and she will stick loyally to those who don’t seem to mind her quickly diverted thoughts.
Ryss has always been naturally active, and took easily to the art of combat and hunting. Her loyal and protective nature led her to shine as a hero when she stood alone against a giant owl that attacked their home. After that stunt, she quickly rose to the top as one of the best fighters of the tribe, acting as a key protector as well as a scout and ‘hunter’—anything that would let her explore and move and wander! She began to study the magic of the forest as well, as magic was definitely too fascinating a subject to pass up. Unfortunately, as her skills grew, so did her confidence, and Ryss began to wander further and further.
In an exceptionally long “adventure”, she was just about to turn back home when a sense of magic reached her—something Very Cool was nearby. She ventured out of the clear safety of the moonlit woods and into a place that was dark and heavy and Closed In. It was scary and uncomfortable to feel her wings brush against stone wherever she turned, but the pull of magic drew her on.
It was here that Ryss discovered the Moon sickle, hidden for some reason or another, along with various other knickknacks. This was a kind of adventure like she had never had before! And one that resulted in treasures? How cool!
She can’t remember how it was she blacked out. Perhaps it was something related to the magic item she carelessly grabbed, or the overwhelming feel of the pressure of rock all around her, or perhaps she fell or hit her head; there could be any number of dangers in the place she had wandered to. All she remembers is waking up to Talthea’s voice—someone else had an interest in the sickle.
Ryss took an immediate liking to the new creature. The two negotiated and discussed the item, and luckily it wasn’t something super important, so Talthea was willing to let Ryss keep it. She eagerly rushed home, knowing she had been gone for much too long, and also excited to show off her find. But she didn’t make it in time.
At first, she hesitated, thinking she had somehow taken a wrong turn and gotten lost. But no… this was definitely where home had been. It was deathly quiet; not even the birds sang. It seemed like even the trees were afraid to move, to disrupt the scene of destruction that lay before her. No breeze blew to sweep away the smell of freshly splintered wood, to disrupt the tingle of fear in the air that made her antennae wilt.
Empty. Not a body to be found. Nothing but ruin.
How had she missed this?
With trembling claws, Ryss examined the scene. It appeared to have been some sort of large canines—and it was very unlikely to have been simply a pack of hungry wolves. Dire wolves, perhaps? But where were the bodies? Had it been some sort of cruel hunting party? Many of the outside races posed a threat to the children of Lura, but Talthea, at least, had seemed nice…
Her mind was not as sharp as she wanted it. She felt queasy again—was she going to faint for the second time that day? Better not do that, in case whatever had done this came back. She sunk down to the ground, head spinning but thoughts frozen.
Ryss kept a silent, stunned vigil for her home for two days before Talthea discovered the lepothrae sitting in the open and convinced her to get up, to eat something.
She was nowhere near the only protector in the tribe, and if she hadn’t gotten so distracted she may very well have joined her friends and family in death… or wherever they had gone. But of course, she still blamed herself. And it seems this tragedy has furthered her ability to forget easily—if possible, Ryss is even more scatterbrained than before. She tries very hard not to think about this recent event in her life, though. Instead she busies herself with seeking out her barely-younger brother, who she hasn’t heard from since he left to become a cleric of Lura. Where do you even go to do that? But wherever he is, he’s the only family she has left. And she can usually imagine she’s just on a grand adventure to bring him back to the others... That there is still a home waiting for her and her brother to return to.
-(Spoiler, it was werewolves. And her brother has discovered Science and became a heretic, and was ashamed to tell his family)
-Fears/dislikes being underground
-Extra sensitive to sensory input/esp large crowds