Serk, Great Hawk of the Heavens

Serk is a bard and adventurer.
Serk began as a bard in the Carrion Kingdoms, with dreams of fame. But instead she found hardship, travelling through desert villages for survival. Fate led Serk to an ancient temple, where discovery of a forgotten song of the old faith changed her fortune. Performing it in a tavern garners unexpected support from adherents of the old ways, but also attracts the ire of the empire's enforcers, resulting in Serk's exile. Now, Serk travels in search of deeper knowledge about old gods and lost religions.
== History ==
=== Background ===
In the vast expanses of the Carrion Kingdoms, where the desert sands whisper ancient secrets and the relentless sun guards the realm of forgotten gods, there lived an aspiring bard named Serk. Serk harboured ambitions of fame and fortune, quite a common desire for Carrionites. Yet, reality proved far less accommodating, relegating Serk to wander the fringes of society, traversing the land's minor villages where survival was a day-to-day struggle.
One day, fate led Serk to an ancient subterranean temple, a relic of a bygone era hidden beneath the desert's scorched surface. In a twist of fortune - or perhaps misfortune - Serk tumbled through the weakened ground and into the complex. Driven by a desperate hope to unearth gold enough for sustenance, he ventured further inside. Instead of wealth, Serk discovered the echoes of the Carrionite old faith: carvings etched into the temple's walls, a mysterious flute-spear artefact, and a scroll carrying the notes of a religious hymm. This religion, Serk knew, had been all but forgotten by much of contemporary Carrionite society.
Compelled by curiosity and a natural desire to eat, Serk brought the song to life in a tavern of a nearby town, hoping merely to earn a meal. Yet, the performance did more than fill an empty stomach; it resonated with the souls of those present. Unbeknownst to Serk, among the audience were older Carrionites and secret adherents of the ancient faith, who saw in Serk a celebrator of their silenced heritage. These individuals began supporting Serk, leaving him bewildered by their unexpected generosity.
However, such a disruption to the established order could not go unnoticed. Priests and warriors loyal to the Carrion kings, vigilant protectors of the status quo, swiftly apprehended Serk. They recognised the threat Serk represented - not through force, but as a symbol that could galvanise those yearning for the resurgence of the old ways. Executing Serk would only martyr her, strengthening the cause they sought to suppress. Thus, they chose exile over execution, casting Serk out into the wider world.
Now, stripped of a clear path and driven by a newfound purpose, Serk wanders the lands beyond her homeland. With the strange flute-spear as a constant reminder, Serk seeks to uncover the forgotten lore of Magnula's old ways, hoping to understand the powers that once shaped the world. It was this journey, this search, that brought Serk to the village of Week...
== Characteristics and Personality ==
== Notable Possessions ==
=== Equipment ===
* Ornate Flute-Spear - an ancient weapon and musical instrument found within an old and ruined Carrionite temple. Serk knows basically nothing about it apart from that it is extremely old.