Appearance

Runes stands a head taller than most humans, her half-orc heritage evident in her broad shoulders and powerful build. Her skin is a warm, earthy tone, perhaps a light green or a tanned brown, marked with faint tribal tattoos in a swirling pattern that seems to shift and flow with her movements. Her short, spiked hair is a deep, raven black, the individual strands thick and coarse. Piercing green eyes, flecked with gold, seem to constantly assess her surroundings, radiating both intelligence and a hint of wildness. She favors practical, loose-fitting clothing in muted earth tones – perhaps dark browns, greens, and grays – that allows for a full range of motion. A simple leather cord ties back her hair, and she wears a worn wooden pendant carved with a stylized fist around her neck. Scars, both thin and jagged, crisscross her arms and legs, testaments to a life lived actively.

Personality

Runes embodies a fascinating paradox. Beneath her fierce and often intimidating exterior lies a deeply compassionate heart. Her chaotic good alignment manifests not in reckless abandon, but in a fierce defense of individual liberty and a burning desire to protect the vulnerable. She possesses a strong sense of justice, tempered by pragmatism. While she values freedom above all else, she understands the importance of community and will readily put herself in harm's way for those she considers her own. She is fiercely independent and self-reliant, often preferring solitude to company, but she is no hermit. When she does connect with others, she is fiercely loyal and protective. She speaks sparingly, choosing her words carefully, but her actions speak volumes. She has a dry wit that occasionally surfaces, often catching people off guard.

Background

Runes' childhood in the small farming village bordering the sprawling city was a blend of rustic simplicity and the ever-present hum of urban life. While she learned the rhythms of the seasons and the hard work of the land from her parents, the city's edge provided a glimpse of a wider world. She was always drawn to stories of adventure and the tales of wandering monks who occasionally passed through, their movements fluid and their eyes filled with an inner peace she longed to understand. When she reached adulthood, she left the village, not out of dissatisfaction, but out of a deep yearning for something more. She sought out a traveling band of monks, drawn to their philosophy of balance and inner strength. The rigorous training tested her both physically and mentally, pushing her to her limits and revealing a resilience she never knew she possessed. It was during this time that she earned her name, "Runes," not for any magical symbols, but for the intricate network of scars that adorned her body – each one a reminder of a lesson learned, a challenge overcome. Now, she wanders the world, seeking not only enlightenment, but also opportunities to champion the oppressed and uphold her own unique brand of justice.