In a valley far to the south, there lay a village.
   From the outside, it look quite simple, but when
   one looked at the inside of it, they learned
   of a rich family history that this village held.
   It was run by one family. That family swore to
   protect all that lived within their walls. The way
   that they determined who would lead the village was
   by a simple birth. The first born son of the current
   head took procession of the village on their 17th
   birthday. If they did not have one, then it would
   be left up to a battle.

   My story is quiet simple..

   I was the first born daughter of the current head of
   the family. But because I was born as a daughter
   and not a son, I was tossed aside. By the time I had
   turn 5, I had two younger sisters, one that was a year
   younger then me , the other that was four years younger
   then me. My father was dissappointed in this deeply. He 
   ache for a son, one to carry on the name Kriaza. 

   One day shortly before my 6th birthday, my father
   decided that if my family was not going to carry on
   the Eldership of the tribe, he was going to make sure
   our fighting sytle was to carry on. He started to teach me
   swordsmanship, but my mother pleaded with him to not do 
   so. She wanted to teach me the poetic arts as she has
   been doing with my younger sisters. I did not want that
   one bit, and fought back. Finally my mother gave in and
   let me learn swordsmanship from my father. 

   I trained hard for many moons. The days turned into weeks, 
   weeks turned into months and months turned into years.
   I was now the age of 11. It has been nearly 5 years since
   I first picked up my sword. Many of the men in the village
   did not enjoy the fact that I, a female, was learning
   swordsmanship at all, so a few of them decided to challenge
   me to a fight. My father agreed to allow this to happen.
   After we made the arrangements for the fight, he turned 
   to me and told me "Even though you are my first born
   daughter, you are truely my first born son. You are stronger
   then these moronic fools. Remember what I taught you and you
   will do just fine." 
 
   The day of the battles came, and I did as my father had
   told me, and just like he had said, I came out just fine.
   I won every battle. This caused many more to happen over
   many moons. By the time I was 14 years old, I had defeated
   even the tribe's mightest champions. By the next year, 
   I was even able to defeat my father in battle. By this time,
   the tribe had aknowledged me as the rightful next Elder.
 
   On my 17th birthday, as tradiation, there was a mighty
   feast to celebrate me on taking Eldership over the tribe.
   But we were attacked during the middle of it. My father 
   knew that we were not going to be able to survive, and
   even though I protested to stay to help fight, he told me
   that I needed to protect my younger sisters. He forced
   me out of the back door into the woods. Tears flowing
   down my face, I ran till I could not run any more.

   When day break broke, I knew all was lost.. So I took
   my sisters and searched for a new place to call home.

   After many moons I have arrived within this relam,
   many things had happened to me. I lost everything dear
   to me including my two younger sisters. I was the only one 
   left of the Kriaza family. A family that is strong in bond.
   One that will do everything to protect their kin. One
   that will always be there though thick and thin. We are
   also known to love to spar. Fighting runs though the veins
   within our bodies. That is who we are, but it was no more..
   I was the only one left.

   By this time I am of age 24, I roam the streets by myself
   going from traven to traven to find something stronger
   to drink. Picking fights when I can, in hopes I
   can win money off of them. I have truely hit rock bottom.
   Turning from my true ways of being full of pride.

  One day as I was exiting a traven, I was jumped by a
   band of thieves. I fought them off as best as I could, 
   but one managed to get behind me and stab me in the back.
   This caused me to enter a blind rage, and I released all
   the emotions I held pent up inside me. The fact that I am
   all alone, that something important was missing
   from my life. I quickly started to fight them off when
   I heard a scream.. Something that I had never heard
   before when I black out. It brought me somewhat
   back to this world, and I noticed a beauitful young
   maiden with beautiful long blonde hair, being attacked
   by the thieves. I quickly went to her resuce and defeated
   them all off of her completely. After that.. I do not know
   what happened.

   Apparently I awoke serveral days later. The first thing 
   I noticed was that I was not in my usual spot, the second
   thing I notice was that my light armor and weapon where
   removed from me, and I was wrap in bandages. When I sat up,
   I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my side. I let out a low
   moan of pain. 

   I notice in the conor of my eye a woman standing there.
   "You're the one from that night.. are you not?"
   She simply smiled at me. I had never seen such a loving
   smile.. She placed her hand on my shoulder and softly 
   pushed me back down on my back. "You need to get your
   rest. Do not worry, you are safe here. This is the least
   I can do for you for saving me from those bandits. My 
   name is DarTanis, but all of my friends call me Tani. "
   I smiley faintly and closed me eyes. "Thank you... Tani.."
   
   Over the next few moons, Tani took care of me and nursed
   me back to health. She would wash me.. feed me.. and
   change my bandages on a daily basis. And over this time,
   I felt my heart race at the simplest touch. Just her
   looking at me and smiling, I knew that my face were turning
   bright red. 

   The time finally came when I was healed and I disappeared
   within the night. I did not want to bring such a wonderful
   person harm. I felt that if I stayed any longer than I 
   needed to that it would bring her harm. So I left
   to protect her.
  
   Day in and day out all I could think of was her. I could
   not stand being away from her. I missed the way her
   hair blew in the wind. The taste of her cooking.. the
   touch of her hand against my skin. I tried to shake her
   from my mind, but I could not do so no matter how hard 
   that I try. 
  
   I sat at my camp fire cooking my days' catch for dinner.
   I rememeber looking up at the night sky and staring at
   the stars. 

   "The stars remind me of how brightly her eyes shine.."

   I sigh deeply and went on to finish my dinner. While
   I was eating I heard a sound in the bushes around me.
   Out of natural instinct I grabbed my sword and stood
   my ground.

   "Who's there?! Show yourself!" I yelled.

   A frigure came though the bushes. I stared at it for a 
   second, and suddenly I saw the shadows clear. I dropped my
   sword to the ground as a tear rolled down my face 
   "Tani.."
 
   "Why did you leave me..I didn't want you to leave"

   "I didn't want to bring harm to you.. Your such a
    sweet and wonderful person.. I couldn't bare causing
    you any more harm."

   "If I am with you... I wouldn't mind it. I took you in
    because of the fact you protected me.. but over time..
    something changed. Even though I don't know much about
    you.. I still.. I.. I.."

   I walked up to her and placed my finger on her lips
   hushing her..

   "I know.. I love you too Tani.."





   And this is the history on my family.. how I was raise..
   and how I met my wife.

    
   Kriaza Charlene
   Last of the Kriaza family
   Wife of DarTanis