Need a character background written up?

[Tawmis]

Hello, I've got two real live characters for a campaign that I will be playing alongside my other half. Would it be possible to write backgrounds for them and maybe also incorporate how they met and became friends? It's a bit town mouse and country mouse!

Tana Daergel
Race: Forest gnome
Gender: Female
Class: Ranger
Background: Outlander

Personality: Driven by wanderlust; watches over friends like a litter of newborn pups
Ideal: It is each person's responsibility to make the most happiness for the group
Bond: Her family is the most important thing to her, even if they are far away
Flaw: Slow to trust members of other races and societies

Notes: Grew up in an isolated village of forest gnomes, and acted as a hunter and guide to the wilder parts of the forest. Loves animals. Enjoys company, but can be very shy amongst larger races until she gets to know them.

Questions: She would have been torn between her desire to see the world and her love of her family - what happened to set her free to wander?

First one done!
Because you went with a Forest Gnome, I took the opportunity to yet again - tie the Tawmis-Verse together.
Not only did it work out to tie the Tawmis-Verse together; this particular thing gave me the justification your character needed to leave.
Her origin ties into Tolfan Folkor.
(It's a small world, full of small people!)
As always, I'd love to hear feedback! Will start on the next one ASAP!
Enjoy!
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The Forest of Lethyr had always been home for Tana.

She loved the woods and the animals who found sanctuary in the Forest of Lethyr. She loved her family dearly, they were perhaps one of the most important things in her life; but at the same time, many of the animals in Lethyr did not have the means to defend themselves against poaches who raided the forest knowing it was abundant with not only animal life; but often times, many more exotic animals were spotted taking refuge in Lethyr, such as Hippogriffs and Griffons. Their manes were prized in the trading markets, and if they were taking refuge in Lethyr they were either already hurt and seeking shelter or exhausted from some form of long travel, like migration. Either way, it made them highly susceptible to poachers.

The poachers, which Tana admitted to herself, were always humans, were relentless in their pursuit. They constant attacks and attempts to murder for profit had driven a wedge in Tana’s heart that caused her to generally dislike humans – or tall creatures in general. If it wasn’t human poachers, it was the Red Eye Orcs and their constant attacks on the woods; either rushing in to kill anything and everything in sight, or sometimes just trying to burn the forest down.

Tana Daergel spent her years growing up defending the animals, just as much as she spent defending her family and friends. She learned from several of the other Rangers how to track down poachers that had penetrated the woods, as well as how to read the footprints of an animal that might be wounded, based on the depth of the footprints left behind.

One of her closest friends was Tolfan Folkor, a fellow forest gnome. In their later years however, the two began to grow apart. Where Tana had continued her passion for animals and defending the woods, Tolfan’s interest became an obsession with magic. Still, the two would talk and share brief stories, explaining what they had been up to and what their plans were.

“I plan on joining the Greenhaven Alliance,” she explained. The Greenhaven Alliance had been a partnership between several Rangers who would pass information to one another as they entered unfamiliar woods, signaling other members of the Greenhaven Alliance with a sequence of animal sounds to let them know they were there. Members of the Greenhaven Alliance were treated like family; brought inside, fed, and shared news of the world outside what they’d seen. Passing this information and news kept everyone appraised as to what was going on and what to expect. This included keeping tabs on Kings and Queens who would rise or fall from power; as that may result in someone going to war.

Tolfan smiled back at his friend, “I am not going to join any organization. I plan on becoming the most powerful wizard in all the land!” He wiggled his fingers as if casting a spell.

“Study,” came a creaking voice which Tana recognized as the Treant, Stonebark. Stonebark and Tolfan had developed a stronger relationship over the years. In their youth, Tolfan, Tana and Stonebark were inseparable.

When Tana had asked Stonebark what happened, the ancient Treant seemed to smile (as much as a Treant can smile) and assured her, “You no longer need me to watch over you. Tolfan,” he shook his upper branches, as if thinking of some odd thought, “he still needs me to watch over him, guide him. You are both the same age, but he acts so brashly.”

“He’s always been an impetuous gnome,” Tana laughed, recalling some memories of how he had gotten them both in trouble, despite her protests to try and stop him.

One day, it had nearly been a week since she’d seen Tolfan. She sought out Stonebark who explained that Tolfan was camping out near the Druid’s Circle.

“Why would he camp out there?” Tana asked, quizzically.

“I am not sure,” Stonebark creaked, “but it cannot be for a good reason. He’s never expressed an interest in Druids before.”

Being a Ranger, Tana was very aware of the Druid Circle. The Rangers and Druids often shared information with one another as well, to keep both sides that defended nature, apprised of what was going on.

Tana made her way to the Druid Circle and quickly picked up Tolfan’s tracks, despite the fact it’d been nearly a week. As she approached, he seemed to be hiding in the bushes. “What in the root are you doing?”

Tolfan yelped and nearly jumped out of his skin. “Don’t sneak up me like that!”

“Well, I wouldn’t have, if you were somewhere obvious. But you’re hiding in a bush just outside the Druid Circle,” Tana said, her hands on her hips. “That’s weird, even for you.”

“Listen, I am just watching the Druids to see how they perform magic,” Tolfan lied. (1)

“You know they use Nature,” Tana replied. “I could have told you that. And you know I could have told you that. What are you really up to?”

“I can’t have you involved,” Tolfan replied.

“Can’t or won’t,” Tana snapped back.

“By the root, that’s where I got it,” Tolfan moaned, realizing that had been something Tana always said. “Listen, if what I am doing works, I will tell you about it. But for now, please, just go.”

Tana instinctively wanted to tell the Druids that Tolfan was watching them; but then she thought, what harm could come of it? He wasn’t going to be able to cast any Druid spells. And telling the Druids would drive a wedge further between her and Tolfan.

When three weeks passed and she’d not heard from Tolfan she returned to his hiding spot and found it had been abandoned about a week ago. Evidence showed he headed for the Druid Circle and then his tracks simply disappeared.

Several more days had gone by, and still she had not heard from her friend.

She had begun asking around, even going as far as asking the Greenhaven Alliance to keep an eye out for him, in and outside of the woods.

Another week gone by, and still no news.

She began packing her bags as her mother, old as she was entered the room. “You’re going to go look for him, aren’t you?”

“I have to mother,” Tana’s eyes were pleading with her mother not to stop her; because it would only take asking her not to go and her will might break.

Her mother smiled broadly, “I am surprised you waited this long.”

“I will ensure you’re taken care of,” Tana began.

“Oh, you stop that! You have two younger sisters who dote on me nonstop,” her mother hit her softly with her cane. “Now go out there and find your missing friend.”

Tana hugged her mother.

“I will be back,” she sobbed wildly, “even if I have to drag Toflan by his big toe!”

“I know you will,” her mother smiled, pulling back and wiping Tana’s tear. “And I will be here waiting.”