Name: Ryker Thorer
Age: 17
Nationality: Arafel
Height: 6’4
Weight: 249 pounds
Hair: Fiery Red that hangs below his shoulders in two braids.
Eye color: Green
Personality: Ryker has always been the kind of guy that puts up with nothing. He will stand up to anyone if he thinks his honour has been insulted, as well as if he thinks a woman needs defending. He is cold to those he doesn’t know but once someone gains his friendship he warms up quiet a bit.

Gaidin Path:
Specializes in the Sword

History:
Ryker was born in Shol Arbela during one of the worst winters on history. The wind rattled windows out of the wall, slung tiles away from the roofs along with the men who tried to fix them. When the snow came it fell until men had to tunnel from their homes. The cold was so intense that it split tree trunks in half. Ryker was born on the coldest day the day the worst storm came, men died on that day. Trolloc invasions increased to a point not seen in years taking advantage of the cold.

When Ryker was finally born his mother was in rough shape and ended up passing away days after he was born. She never woke from unconsciousness so she never saw her son. As Ryker grew up his father took him out to the country quite a bit he preferred the quiet of the hills and forests to the noise of the cities. He taught his son everything he knew, how to shoot a bow, build a fire, snare and trap animals. How to survive in the wild, it came naturally to Ryker.

As he grew older Ryker grew larger and larger by the time he was ten he was at his fathers shoulder. Living in the wild was a hard way of life eating only what you could catch or find. Ryker never knew an ounce of fat. His body was lean and muscular. To kill the nights beside the fire his father taught him what he knew of fighting sword and hand. Ryker was good but having no real need for the skill in the woods he barely used it out side of practice with his father at night. He never carried a sword either, his father was the one who knew how to use it so he kept the sword strapped to his back. He always told Ryker that one day the sword would belong to him, but Ryker never believed it would happen, not until he was old like his father.

But one day on Rykers 12 year he received the sword that had been promised to him. He and his father had been stalking a deer through the forests and had finally made the kill. As they went to work cleaning the animal they heard a rustling behind them. Turning they saw a large bear approaching them slowly. Roaring the bear charged suddenly, Ryker took a step back but his father stood his ground. He had told Ryker that if he ever saw a bear in the wild not to run to stand your ground or back up slowly. The bear though took this as a threat and hunger forced it onwards. Lifting a huge paw it his Rykers father on the chest carving it where claw met flesh. His father lunged away from the beer landing near the deer carcass. He picked up the large belt knife from the ground and turned in time to have the bear once again lunge for him. Stepping towards the bear his father stabbed with all his might driving the long knife through the beers ribs and into its chest cavity. The bear roaring now from pain instead of anger lifted up onto its hind legs and drove its front paws down onto his fathers chest. Ryker stood there fear planting his feet deeply into the ground watched and heard as his fathers chest was crushed. The bear fell onto the ground knife driving deeper into its chest. It stood again and ran the way it had come into the woods leaving the young boy with his dead father.


When the bear had gone Ryker made his way to his fathers side. Tears welled up in his eyes and slowly fell down his cheeks. Touching his fathers face Ryker could already feel the chill of death covering him. Taking his fathers sword from his back he started to dig with the small shovel they always carried. When the whole was deeper than Ryker was tall he edged his father toward it. Before Ryker buried his father he checked his pockets for anything that might be in there. Pulling out a small chain he looked down at the pendant, opening it i stared. It was a picture of his mother. Holding the chain close he looked at his father. Saying a small prayer he pushed his father into the grave and covered him with dirt. Picking up the sword Ryker started to walk.

The only place he knew other than the woods he and his father had called there home was Shol Arbela. He knew that it was a two day hike north of where he was. His father had taken him there once or twice a year to visit with his Aunt, his mothers sister Karela. She was an older woman plumb with graying hair she kept well below her shoulders. It took Ryker three days to reach the city and it took him another half a day to find his Aunts home. When he reached it he stood and looked at it for a moment before walking up to the door. Knocking softly he waited for her to come to the door.

She took him in and made him part of her family. She taught him letters and numbers and the ways of civilized life. He was bored though and often after his lessons went out into the streets and played with the older boys. One day one of the teens suggested he go see a man named Gregor. Not seeing any harm in it Ryker and Hurald went to the man. Gregor was a thief, a king of thief's you could say he ran a guild that controlled the south of the city. Ryker had found something to kill his boredom at last. At first Gregor wasn't to sure about Ryker because Ryker had grown into a man at 15 he was bigger and stronger than most other men and due to his size Gregor didn't think he could be stealthy. But life in the woods had taught Ryker how to be quiet. He soon found himself one of Gregors best. He often climbed over walls to pluck expensive bits and peaces out of lords palaces and merchants large houses. He collected his share from everything and bought himself a second sword as well as lessons from an old soldier. He was good at the sword but didn't spend as much time as he could have at it he had other things to do.

One day Gregor had called him to his home. He had a mission for Ryker listening to his instructions Ryker smiled a mischievous smile and left. Finding the Palace wasn't hard. Pulling the rough map Gregor had given him from his pocket Ryker tried to memorize as much of it as he could as he watched the palace walls. When darkness fell Ryker went up to the wall and climbed it easily, jumping down into a small garden he made his way into the palace and soon found himself in a small storeroom well below the building. It took him only moments to find what Gregor was looking for and having found it he swiftly pushed it into a canvas sack and turned to go. As he turned the back smacked against a stand sending a crystal vase crashing to the ground. The sound of broken glass echoed down the hall in either direction. Cursing Ryker threw himself into a run but before he got to the end of the hall he was confronted by a dozen guards. Raising his hands he let the bag fall to the ground with a loud thunk.

He soon found himself being escorted to a large room. The lord was waiting for him. A silent prayer found its way into Rykers thoughts as he looked up at the grim lord. Lord Vincent was a well known leader of soldiers. It was Rykers luck to have the man return from the blight the day before he was to be robbed.

"So you are the thief." He said calmly looking down at the large boy of 16. "You don't look the type, and i have hung my share of riffraff." Ryker staid quiet not wanting to cause to much trouble.

"I do not enjoy sending boys to the gallows, Perhaps you could do something for me." Standing Vincent walked down to look at Ryker. "Yes, yes you'll do fine. Will you do my favor or do you wish the gallows? Answer me now boy I have no patients for your type."

Ryker dropped to his knees in front of the lord and swore the only oath he knew. Drawing his sword he looked up at Vincent "By my mother's name, I will draw as you say 'draw' and sheathe as you say "sheathe' by my mother's name, I will come as you say 'come' and go as you say 'go.'" He kissed the blade and continued to look at the lord. The shock on the lords face was evident. "that is ancient," He muttered, "But it will do. Follow me and put that away."

Sheathing his sword he followed the man into a small room with a desk and high backed chair. "This i need you to deliver for me, it is urgent and do not dally. You will leave immediately supplies will be given to you as well as instructions. Do you have a horse? No? I didn't think so I will give you one go to the stables you will be met there shortly."

Ryker left the office following a graying old man in Vincents livery. At the stables he was given a tall black horse, war trained he noted. Smiling he asked the horses name and it was given as "Caba' Donde" and was told that meant "A horse to ride" He was given a pack horse with all the supplies he would need and two letters a black enveloped and a white. He stared at the man telling him he was to go to Tarvalon and deliver them to the Aes Sedai and Asha'man. He knew he was sworn to obay but it was not what he expected.

The journey went by fast for he was told to make it in all haste. When he got to the island of Tarvalon he made his way to the center. The Black and White Towers stood high in the sky blocking out the sun. When he got to the tower grounds he looked for someone, looking lost a white clad woman approached and asked what he was looking for. She told him the Garrison was to the east of the compound if he was looking to become a Gaidin. The idea struck him between the eyes he smiled and thought on the legend he could become. Shaking his head he looked at the woman, the girl he noted and said.

"I am to deliver these letters." He produced them from his pouch. "One is for the Amrylin Seat the other is for the M'heal." His voice shook at that. "where may I see to delivery?" he finished and the girl lead him toward the ivory tower. After he had handed the letters to an Aes Sedai he left the massive building and headed east towards where the girl said the Garrison would be. He would be the legend he thought and smiled again at the idea.

Very good, interesting story.Run it through a spell check (there are several errors), and reread it (there are several real words used in the wrong way). And Tar Valon it two words. :P

Other than that it's good, so I'll say approved, provided you do that. :)

I like it. This is going to be an interesting character to interact with.

Thats pretty cool, I like the woodsy type character you have. And I wanna know what those letters say.... approvedddddd