Helen's Bio and Background

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Helen
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 5:03 pm

Helen's Bio and Background

Post by Helen » Thu Nov 04, 2021 1:56 pm

Details
Name: Helen Pallas
Age: Early 20's
Place of Birth: Maerone, Cairhien

Description:
Silver-haired and grey eyed, Helen is built like a tentpole, all skin and bones. She is tall for a Cairhienin, standing head and shoulders above her own father and many others. She carries with her an air of levity - very little seems capable of breaking her smile or stopping her endless parade of puns and jokes. She wears the banded dress of an Accepted and uses a cane to get around, lighting rapping it ahead of her while she walks around. Despite her obvious blindness, she seems quite aware of her surroundings...

Biography


Maerone is known for being one of the most important port cities in Cairhien. And while important trade flows through it, many of its residents would say it was quite unremarkable. Ever since the Aiel War, poverty has struck the region and times are hard, especially for those who are not merchants. Those who cannot farm try to make their living off the River Erinin, hoping to make some coin off a passing merchant.

For many in Maerone, the 19th of Adar in the year XXXX was unremarkable. But for Odine and Melony Pallas, it would be one of the most remarkable days of their life: the day they gave birth to their daughter Helen.

The day's joy mixed with sorrow, however, when they found out their child was blind. The local reader informed them that there was nothing that could be done, as she was born without sight not even an Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah could heal it. Knowing that she was going to have a more difficult life, the couple resolved to give her the best that they could. Odine plied his trade as an angler and occasionally took jobs working a boat along the river while Melony assisted the reader and worked in several lords and lady's manors.

Helen grew up a happy child and she and her family found ways to help her navigate life. Many in Maerone grew accustomed to the presence of the effervescent girl and she spent much of her days hanging around at places like the tavern, docks, and the reader's house. When it got late, she would find her way back home to spend time with her parents: her father would teach her to play Stones and her mother would read books or tell her stories.

When Helen was seven, sickness spread across Maerone, and fever claimed her mother's life. Suddenly the girl lost her vivacity, and though she still maintained a presence within Maerone, she kept herself in the background, hardly interacting with people.

Her depression lasted many years, despite the best effort of her father and locals. It was not until just before her 14th birthday that things changed. In the days leading up to her birthday she grew increasingly frustrated and bitter over her lack of sight and the loss of her mother. Her irritability was palpable and frequently did her father beseech friends to forgive her attitude (though they would have even if he had not asked). One day she grew so particularly frustrated that she stormed off without paying any mind to where she was going and ended up completely loss. As time passed her anger turned to fear and fear turned to despair as she worried whether she would ever find home...before something else found her.

As her emotions peaked, she was struck with the ability to sense the world around her. She could feel the life within the plants and the trees and could get a sense of the distance between her and nearby objects. Without the use of her eyes, she found a sort of sight. When she focused, she found herself able to feel the direction of Maerone, she even felt like she could pinpoint her father's location. And with this newfound sight she found her way home and into the arms of her worried father. As he laid her to bed, she recounted the day's events and how she returned, much to his incredulity.

A few days Helen was struck with fever and chills. Worried that he may lose his daughter like he lost his wife, Odine sought the reader. After some questioning, he revealed what Helen had told him a few days prior and the reader understood that Helen had touched the One Power, she herself having gone to the Tower when she was young (though never making it past Accepted). Once Helen had recovered, she and her father left for Tar Valon where Helen was put in the care of the Aes Sedai...