Keris

[Keris]

Name: Keris

Age: 16

Race: Human

Physical Description: Keris is a girl who is quickly blossoming into a young woman. She has long, nut-brown hair and round, soft brown eyes. Her skin is lightly tanned from hours in the sun. She is slender, yet toned from working on her adoptive parents’ farm. Keris usually has a smile, and an open, innocent expression on her face.

Possessions: Keris’ only personal possession is a thin necklace with a small, teardrop-shaped pendant that appears to be made of silver with the word “Keris” engraved on it. She was told by her adoptive parents that she was wearing it when they found her.

Powers/Strengths: Keris has the ability to heal, but it is a very under-developed and sporadically effective skill. She discovered her ability when she was seven – one of the cats that roamed the farm had captured a small bird. Keris rescued the bird, but it was severely injured. She wept, her little heart pained for the loss of life, but when she held her hand over the bird it shuddered, chirped, then struggled and flew away. For hours afterwards Keris was exhausted, without knowing why. Her adoptive mother insisted that the bird must not have really been that hurt – and forbid Keris to speak of the incident. Since that day, she has healed other small animals in a similar manner, but she does it secretly so as not to anger her adoptive parents. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not, but when it does the act always leaves Keris feeling drained and tired.

Weaknesses/Flaws: Keris is somewhat naïve, living a sheltered life on her adoptive parents’ farm in Shim. She has no concept of betrayal, and her trusting nature could allow an unscrupulous person to take advantage of her generous and caring spirit.

History: The weather had turned dark quickly, and it was early in the year for a Spring storm. Rain and hail pelted the farmer as he hurried back towards his home, where he knew supper and a warm fire awaited him. He paused, however, when a strange noise pierced through the rumbling thunder. Hearing it a second time, the man decided to investigate. At the edge of his farm was a swift-flowing river, and it was on the bank hidden by reeds that he found the child.

A baby girl, wailing as the cold rain drenched her tiny body. She was wrapped in a ragged, dirty sheet and wearing only a strange necklace. Seeing her pitiful situation, the childless farmer’s heart was touched. He lifted the child from the mire, wrapped her in his coat, and carried her to his wife, who also immediately felt love and pity for the orphan child.

When she turned ten years old, Keris’ adoptive mother told her the story of how she was found, and returned to her the necklace they had found on her. Keris was pained to learn that her mother and father were not her real parents – but she did not love them less.

For sixteen years the girl lived as a simple farmer’s daughter, working on the farm and in the home. She is happy enough, though curious as to why she was abandoned as an infant. Keris’ heart is tender, doing whatever she can to help people or animals she finds in need or in pain. She hates to see or hear of suffering. With small animals, Keris discovered she can heal them sometimes – though it drains her strength. She has not tried to heal people, and does not really believe she could.