Heya!
Here is the updated version. only the last 7 paragraphs or so are different. I can understand why you wanted the revision. I had not thought all the way through the consequences of her actions. I was merely trying to show how impassioned she is, and set the stage for her to be a slight bit more militant than even her other Sisters. You did not have to worry about her killing in the name of Aeridin, however, or even shouting "Blood makes the grass grow!" as I heard in one voice set
Anyway, thanks for making me think a little bit and for giving me the chance to fix a part of the story I was not satisfied with. Mainly I wanted some of the bandits to survive, and now they did.
Enough rambling here is the fixed bio:
Azaionna looked about her with a proud smile upon her face. She saw the same smile reflected on the faces of the four Sisters going with her. The five of them had been chosen to make the trip to Leringard, to lend what aid they could. News of the dragon attack, and the pleas for aid had reached even their secluded temple. That help should be given was without question, one of the dictates of Aeridin was to provide aid whenever asked. All of the Sisters were dedicated to Life, able to heal sickness and wounds, and provide comfort when patients were ready to leave their current life, and be Reborn into their next.
Azaionna and the other Sisters chosen were to complete the voyage as the last stage of their training. The masters leading the expedition showed every confidence in their charges. Once aid had been provided in Leringard the new Sisters would be free to roam the lands healing and providing aid, or return back to the temple to help others there. Azaionna was pretty sure she would not be returning. She thought of the night thirty years ago when she had left home for the temple to learn the ways of Aeridin.
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The sound of the slamming door echoed down the hallway as she left her room for the last time. She stormed out of the hallway and through the living room. Her father stood in her path, blocking the door that led to the night air and freedom. In one hand he held her bow, the bow he had created for her with his own hands. In his other hand he held her short sword, it had cost many furs and bundles of arrows to procure. His face was a thunderhead. Eyebrows drawn down, dark eyes afire, he literally shook with rage as he grasped her weapons in a white knuckled grip. He held both weapons up and before him, as if offering them up for some kind of sacrifice, and then he spoke, his voice aquiver with emotion.
"You would give up these, your means of livelihood, your honor, your family, all to chase the dream of a foolish child? These weapons are YOUR weapons, bought with blood and sweat and tears. You wish to throw all that aside for sake of a fancy that entered your head not a fortnight ago?!"
Her own voice quivered as she made her response. "A fancy? Less than a fortnight?! You are the foolish one! You are pig headed, stubborn, unyielding, and unlistening! I have been telling you my whole life that the connection I felt with the forest was not the connection you felt. You see the forest and you calculate what can be taken, what should be left, how the balance can best be maintained. I look at the forest and I see that it brims with life, even when death is present, it opens the door for more life. I have spent my life looking for something not knowing what it was, until the Aeridinites came. Areonna explained that feeling. She explained that Aeridin is the Life Giver. I have been feeling His presence in every living thing, including myself. I AM leaving with them, father, enjoy your walks with the Longstrider!"
"Hmmph! You should be walking with the Longstrider, not following this ridiculous whim. Know this, Ashlynn, Step past me to the door and there is no coming back, I will have a daughter no longer. With your mulishness and sharp tongue they will throw you out before Ausir rises full again. Then you can wander alone for all I care!"
Amber eyes blazing, she had stepped past her father, yanking the door open defiantly. She glared back at her father s she stepped through. It pained her more than she thought it would to see him throw her bow into the fire. She turned and fled down the walkway, doing her best to ignore the tears that blurred her vision.
She showed up at camp a short while later and presented herself to Areonna, saying she would travel with them in the morning. Areonna agreed and they began the journey deeper into the forest. During the journey Areonna explained the beliefs of the Sisterhood of Rebirth in greater detail, and began training the new acolyte. Eventually they arrived at the temple and Areonna presented the newest member to the head of the temple.
"Welcome to our temple, young one, here you will find hard work, challenges, successes, and failures. You will also find fulfillment, and of course, Sisters." She said with a smile. "What is your name?"
Ashlynn hesitated for a second, and then she said, "I wish to leave my old life behind. Please call me Azaionna." Then she giggled slightly and exclaimed, "Young one? Perhaps to one as old as you, but I was old enough to seek out Aeridin's wisdom after all." She did not notice the uncomfortable looks that passed among the Sisters.
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Her father would not have been surprised to learn how close he was to being right. The first several months were very hard on Azaionna, and on the other Sisters as well. It showed a measure of their patience that they allowed her time to grow in maturity and the wisdom of Aeridin. It was not that she was malicious; Azaionna simply lacked social graces and had a tendency to speak any and everything that popped into her head. She found the discipline required hard to get used to, but eventually she did grow until discipline became second nature. She learned to master her mind and her body. Her tongue, however, remained its own mistress. And so, even though it took longer than most she found herself here, saying goodbye and taking the first steps into the wider world, to work Aeridin's will.
The journey to the ship was long, but largely uneventful. Their time could have been shortened, but the Sisters stopped whenever their aid was requested. Sometimes it was to help a birthing cow or sheep. Other times they helped raise a barn, or tend a sick person. Once they defended a farmer and his family from a small group of bandits. The Sisters were quite used to doing these things, such tasks were required to remain in the temple. For a time, during the period of Darkness, they made frequent trips, doing all in their power to help those that were near the temple. Those early trips strengthened the Sisters, allowing them to practice and hone all the necessary skills. They also fueled a fire in Azaionna, that the weak should be cared for, and that life should prosper no matter the environment.
The ship voyage was also uneventful, at least until they neared the coast of Mistone. As the voyage neared its end, a huge storm welled up. The captain announced that he was going to have to try and make for hidden port that he knew of in order to wait out the storm. The storm moved too quickly, and though the captain made it to his safe harbor, the ship was damaged and in need of repair. The Sisters got directions from the captain, and headed inland. They believed the roads would be quicker than waiting for the repairs to be finished.
They had been on the road for less than a week when the bandits attacked. The Sisters were outnumbered, but they were disciplined and held their own for the brunt of the attack, then the bandits redoubled their efforts and the battle went back and forth. At the end of the fight all that were left were Areonna, Azaionna, and what appeared to be the leader of the bandits.
The leader lunged for Areonna, his saber held high. Azaionna flung herself in front of her mentor, her staff blocking the saber. With a growl the leader shoved Azaionna out of his way, throwing her to the ground. The move was costly for the leader however; as Areonna hit him full on with a kick to the knee. With a groan he fell to one knee and began to rise. Areonna advanced, planting her weight for a final kick. Suddenly her look of determination changed to shock as the point of a saber protruded, then retreated from her chest. Recovering quickly, she pivoted and used the last of her strength to backfist her assailant. Her fist hit his temple with great force and teh two of them fell to the ground, almost as one.
Azaionna let out a high pitched wail and heedless of the bandit leader, who was stumbling to his feet, she raced to her mentor's side. She listened as Areonna's ragged breathing slowed, almost stopping. Suddenly Areonna took in a deep breath and whispered, "Do not worry. All things are reborn." Then the light left her eyes and she seemed to stare sightlessly at the leader of the bandits.
He was now standing at full height, holding his saber casually, taking in the scene. His eyes passed briefly over his dead comrades and settled on the two Sisters, one living and one dead. Chillingly, he began to laugh. "Reborn indeed. Flee while you can. I will kill you if you do not."
Azaionna stood slowly, shock and grief replaced by anger. Her mentor lay dead, and this man in front of her was mocking everything tha she had learned and believed. Areonna's last words echoed in her head. Areonna's death gaze remained locked on the bandit leader. Suddenly a thought occurred to Azaionna. All things are reborn, even this man in front of her, taunting her and mocking all she believed in. Today he would get the chance to be reborn
With speed that startled even her, Azaionna leapt forward. The bandit leader was caught off gaurd and before he could parry with his saber, her staff cracked his head open. Then she brought the staff down on his injured knee. As he fell to the ground she slammed his unprotected ribs with her staff. The man fell to the ground and began flailing about in an attempt to rise. Azaionna brought her staff down with all her might, hitting his neck where it joined the back of his head. There was a sickening crunch and he lay still.
Azaionna leaned heavily on her staff, taking in deep breaths. Then she slowly sank to the ground and began centering herself. Her eyes fell upon the end of her staff. The blood was in sharp contrast to the light wood the staff was made of. Her eyes jerked to the body of the bandit leader. It lay still and lifeless. The horror of what she had done hit her like a physical blow. Her stomach roiled and she frantically looked elsewhere, her eyes fell on Areonna. Her old master seemed to be looking at her with reproach. Oh, Sweet Aeridin, how could she atone for what she had done? She was as bad as those that had attacked them. Quickly she shifted her eyes again and they landed once more upon her bloodied staff. With a grunt that was filled with self contempt she flung her staff away.
There was a solid thunk, followed by a groan. Azaionna was startled out of her brooding. She looked up to see one of the bandits staggering to his feet. The bandits eyes darted between her and his leader. He tried to dash away, but his legs got tangled in her staff and he landed on the ground once more. Azaionna ran over to help him to his feet. The man frantically tried to crawl out of her reach. Azaionna sighed as tears fell down her cheeks. Once they started flowing, she could not stop them. She was crying for her Sisters, for herself, even for the bandits. The world became lost in a wave of tears, she buried her face in her hands, not caring if the bandit killed her or not. She was not sure how long she cried, but when she wiped her eyes and looked up she saw a curious sight.
The bandit was rifling through his leaders body, looking for gold and who knew what else. Azaionna stared in disbelief. The bandit gave her a sheepish look and with a shrug he grabbed his leaders saber and sprinted out of sight. Azaionna just sat there. As the shock and anguish wore off, Azaionna began to pay attention to what her senses were telling her. The underbrush around her was rustling as several more men found consiousness.
A thought occurred to Azaionna. She could not bring back the life she had taken, but if she aided her enemies, and brought them back to health, perhaps in some small way that would be the beginning of penance. She knew one thing for certain, never again would she attack in anger. Should the occasion arise where she had to fight, she would fight Centered, or not at all.
With her course of action chosen Azaionna acted quickly. She spent several days applying poultices, brewing teas and otherwise nursing the survivors back to a semblance of health. While the men rested, she dug graves for her sisters, and on the other side of the road, graves for their assailants as well. The finishing touch on each grave was a single seed planted near the heart of the occupant. She left her staff at the head of the bandit leaders grave. Once she set if firmly in the dirt, she turned and walked away without looking back.
At first the men did not know what to make of Azaionna, but they were so wounded that they had little say in the matter. By the time they were well enough to take action, they could not bring themselves to do anything but slink away why she was deep in meditation.
And so it was that all of them slipped away, one by one, until only one was left. It became apparent to Azaionna that some of his injuries were beyond her ability to heal. She had over heard the men talking about a large city nearby, Port Hempstead she thought it was called. She would ensure that he recieved aid there before continuing on to Leringard.
New Character Submission - Azaionna 
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