Stormdance

"May the Sun ever gently caress your skin and burn your enemies to ashes."

A Shoanti Warrior that has a harsh time adapting to the city life of Absalom. Through his work as a teacher in the Pathfinder Lodge of Absalom, he finds himself helping the community the best way he knows how: teaching young adventurers how to protect themselves and those they love.

## History

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### A story of Ashes

Though the Sklar-Quah are among the most insular and hostile tribe of the Shoanti of Varisia, certain exceptional oustiders can prove themselves worthy of being called kinsmen and join their ranks. Such is the case of Stormdance's father, a halfling merchant full of ambition and goodwill. He fell in love with the daughter of a Sun Priest, and soon came the birth of Stormdance in Flameford, the Sklar-Quah settlement in the Cinderlands.

From the youngest age, he was trained as an able warrior, joining the tribe on many hunts, even if his physical meekness was somewhat evident: he had inherited of his father's muscles in that department. Living a nomadic life, he learned survival in harsh conditions, braving the Ash storms and the creatures that lurked in the sands.

His unusual birth, halfling and humans rarely producing offsprings despite urban legends especially common in Cheliax, made him a son of two worlds, and he was an adept shapeshifter from a young age, able to assume a more Halfling-like shape or Human-like shape at will. As a result, his tribal tattoos are imbued with the spirit of freedom and wind, somewhat unusual for a Sklar-Quah but not unheard of.

Soon he would learn to master some basic Shoanti rituals to help him channel his magical prowess, and though they are rather limited in some aspects, he can use them to enhance his combat prowess with great effect. He was content being a warrior of the tribe, but his dreams kept calling to him, a nagging feeling that he had to expand his horizons.

Through his father's contacts, he managed to do just that, gaining his place among the students of the Pathfinder society.

### Finding your path

The training of the Pathfinder Society can be a grueling process, especially for those of martial aptitudes. It was a twofold challenge for the Shoanti boy: getting used to the big city when he used to live in the desert, and merely surviving his practical exams, pitting him against the strangest creatures of the realm or other such situations. Not only that, but his rough, stoic side was a detriment when it came time to make friends. Though he has gradually became softer and gentler, in stressful situations he reverts to his warrior pride and can be unusually stubborn, to the risk of his own life at times.

Nonetheless, his training went relatively well, thanks to his discipline and dedication to the cause. His foreign practices caused him some issue, however: due to his ritualistic tradition and 'primitive' worship of the Gods (for a lack of a better word), Divine magic has the strange habit of causing havok around him, and as a result, he was never much popular among the Divine casters of the society. His graduation involved the clearing of a cave in Andoran that was recently taken over by demonic cultists, a task him and his allies managed to brilliantly succeed, earning him his Wayfinder.

### Those who can, do, those who can't, teach

Yet Stormdance wasn't entirely satisfied by his graduation, as this meant he had nowhere to go from there on: Absalom was still strange and foreign to him, and the Sklar-Quah would likely not allow him back among them so easily, even if he is one of their own. A Venture-Captain quickly found a solution: let him stay in an appartment of the Lodge, and in exchange he could teach martial techniques to new prospect members of the Society. Stormdance accepted the proposal, as it allowed him to stay in a familiar environment while still giving him a chance to explore the world at large.

These days, the young man is often found in the foreign quarter, mingling with strangers as best (and awkwardly) as he can, looking for exotic ingredients for his spellcasting rituals.

## Other Information

### Personality

Though he tries to come off as naturally and friendly as he can, he is not particularly shy about voicing his opinions or displeasure at a situation. He is a stoic man that enjoys getting straight to the point, intrigue and sarcasm are a bit of a foreign concept to him. He has his whims, but once he has given his word on a matter, it is a question of honor to see the matter through.

### Physique

Tall and tanned, his body prominently features Shoanti runes and tattoos which aid him in empowering his spells. He lacks the sharp muscular definition of many Shoanti warrior, having gained instead the lean traits of his Halfling father. Unlike many Shoanti, who often are bald as a question of tradition, he also keeps surprisingly long hair. However, he is an adept Shifter, and is known to change his traits slightly over time for whatever reason.

### Contacts

* The Pathfinder Society: Stormdance has earned his Wayfinder and is now teaching martial techniques to new prospects of the Society. He resides in an appartment of the Lodge.
* The Sklar-Quah: He has not cut all contacts with his homeland, and keeps in touch with them. Though he hardly sees himself returning to the Cinderlands any time soon, he is still a Sklar-Quah at heart.