Shinrin-Yoku, Cleric/Ranger

[HappyMedium]

Name: Shinrin-Yoku

Race: Standard (Moon) Elf with a Wild Elf Grandparent for RP reasons (no subrace bonuses of course)

Age: 225

Class: Cleric (approx. 75%) / Ranger (approx. 25%) (at least 5 Ranger levels of course)

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Diety: Kithairien

Domains: Animal and Trickery



Shinrin's father was a typical Moon Elf of Voltrex and another in a long line of rangers who followed Folian S'pae and tended to the many forests of the elven continent. His mother's background was much more unconventional; her mother was a performer and "traveller" (sort of a gypsy) and her father was a wild elf of whom Shinrin's mother knew nothing.

Shinrin's mother was very ashamed of her upbringing and cut ties with her own mother as soon as she was able. She married Shinrin's father and settled in with his community, always doing her best to be one of them. When Shinrin was born they had high hopes that he would be a respected ranger just like his father. Much to their disdain as he grew it became apparent that he inherited the traits of his "wild" grandparent, from his dark skin and hair and wild elven features (which seemed to skip a generation, his mother looked very much a Moon Elf) to a very uncivilized disposition. He never fit in growing up, and the other elves considered him to be a lesser being and even kind of barbaric. He was both troubled and a troublemaker and tended to live up to their prejudices.

At his father's direction he started ranger training at the appropriate age with the followers of Folian. While Shinrin learned quickly an was quite capable of certain aspects of the profession (particularly the skills required to hunt and survive in nature) he found himself completely at odds with their mission and the religion itself. The rangers were appalled that he fought like a wild animal himself... He did not want to be a protector of nature, he wanted to be part of it, living wild and free.

(//bringing it to basic alignment terms, he was "chaotic good" versus their "neutral good")

Shinrin's rejection of Folian was the final straw. The rangers wanted him out, and his father did not disagree. Shinrin cut all ties with the community and left Voltrex never to return.

He spent a year wandering the wilds, unsure of what to do next. When winter came he holed up in a remote cave and spent most of his hours meditating. A recurring vision appeared in these times of a falcon in the stars. As winter thawed to spring he realized what the vision was leading to, the Great Falcon's constellation which revealed itself as the winter thawed. For nine months, from spring to autumn, he followed the Falcon's direction as it moved across the sky hoping it would lead to... something.

His intuition turned out to be correct as he was led to a small tribe of Wild Elves who knew of his grandfather.

And so they met. Shinrin's grandfather was a respected hunter and cleric of Kithairien . He was surprised, to say the least, that this young man had found them but upon hearing the story knew it was The Runner's will. His fellow tribesmen were not too keen to accept an outsider, but his grandfather was sufficiently respected to allow him a chance. He took part in all of the necessary rituals, and proved himself to be an able hunter, a quick learner and quite in line with their society.

And of course, Shinrin's grandfather taught him about The Runner. The religion was a revelation to him and he knew, now, what the purpose of his life was to be.

Shinrin spent a hundred years among them. He learned quickly and became very strong in his faith. Things were not perfect, however. While he had a few friends and a few more allies, particularly among the devout, there were still many who considered him an outsider and an "impure" mixed elf. While the civilized Moon Elves considered him too "wild", the Wild Elves found him too civilized (as much as he tried, he simply can't shake a hundred and twenty five years of living in civilization.) He could hunt with the best of them, learned their ways and rituals and eventually followed them perfectly and to an outside observer he would have been just another wild elf, but among the tribe he was clearly seen as different. What may have been the most damning of all was that Shinrin has a consciense. For example while they would think nothing of leaving a lost human alone to die in the woods, Shinrin would stop to help.

(//as above this is where he is "chaotic good" versus their "chaotic neutral")

His grandfather himself had rivals within the tribe, and after a violent power struggle the most powerful of them became the leader. This elf was cruel and killed several who opposed his leadership style or who he simply had grudges against. Shinrin's grandfather told warned him to run, that he was no longer safe among them, and run Shinrin did. It is very likely that his grandfather was killed soon after.

Which brings us to the present. As his adventuring career begins Shinrin is truly alone, wandering the wilds as a self-sufficient hunter surviving on solely on faith. Perhaps to make up for what he feels is his greatest flaw, that he was not born a true wild elf, Shinrin strives to attain perfection in the eyes of his diety. As such he is an imperfect vessel (again you can't erase over a century of living in civilization) but perhaps having that hurdle to overcome will make him even stronger.


1. I read the info. about Kithairien and will play a cleric to the best of my ability

2. Shinrin seeks to live as one of the wild. While familiar with and perfectly capable of existing in civilization he chooses not to and preaches self-reliance to those who would listen. He hates greed, materialism and excess. He is opposed to destruction of nature and will actively oppose it where possible. He will not tolerate needless waste and slaughter of animals or any other natural resource. Being "Chaotic" and "Good" he does not support the rule of law and believes in absolute personal freedom but also personal responsibility.. the "do unto others" rule, in other words.

3. Shinrin will wear light armor of cloth and hide in natural camoflage-type colors, also displaying the blue and white of the open sky as appropriate. He will use a spear and I assume (and hope) that as this is the Wild Elven hunter diety the longbow is also an accepted weapon.

[lonnarin]

[approve]

Very good explaination of his faith and family.