07-14-2018, 04:29 PM
BRIEF HISTORY: She was only seven when the world crumbled into a state of destruction, desperation, desolation, and disrepair. She was confused, hurt, orphaned, with nobody but Cain to latch onto when Aspen didn't want to wake up anymore. Talia refused to leave his side as he refused to leave hers, and they stuck together for the better part of their childhood - a stream of arms wrapped around thinning waists, bug-bitten and bruised ankles, Talia huddling under her brother's arm as the nuclear fallout rained radiation around the wasteland.
Alongside her brother, she was taken in under the service of the Crown. She learned how to fight, to defend, to survive under the choking heat of the sun. She didn't particularly mind, she was happy enough to take her mind off of her past, to grow up in a place surrounded by older people that could defend her should push ever come to shove. She had a cot to sleep in, she had food to eat, she had her brother to work alongside - it wasn't bad, and so over the course of several years, she followed the Crown's stiff, restrictive guidelines, acting as a compliant soldier until Cain's abrupt release from service when she was 15.
It was from then on that Talia began to grow into her voice, seeking information about her brother's whereabouts and the terms of his discharge, both of which were understandably kept tight under lock and key. She started asking questions, too many questions, started getting angry when they refused to answer her. She was deaf to all their threats of facing the same fate. Each lashing, each disciplinary action was taken, received, and taken again until her inquiries got louder, until her dissension grew bigger, until her dissatisfaction grew stronger. Nobody would tell her where her brother went or why he had to leave, and she believed she had every right to know.
By age 18, the Crown saw her as a liability, more trouble than she's worth, and decided to apprehend her for charges of blasphemy, sympathizing with the enemy, and conspiracy to the Crown. Not wanting to be convicted for seeking the truth, Talia ran from the city proper alongside a fellow soldier, Alena Aesir, whose father had also been discharged for the same reasons. Together, they escaped from the clutches of the guards and lived off the land, slowly beginning the search for their respective families.
Eventually, the pair were recruited into the Valkyrie, a small sellsword group posing as traveling merchants. Because the Valkyrie were composed of highly-skilled individuals, they were the best means of protection to the young duo and quickly fell in line. They spent some three years with them, doing odd jobs just to get by, until, one night, a commotion in the center of their parked caravans revealed a half-naked Alena Aesir with mutations running all along her back, weaving between thick, raised burn scars. The Valkyrie were quick to move but Talia got to Alena first, dragging the young woman through the treeline as arrows rained down on them.
Things only got worse from there on. Because of Alena's mutating, her health began to rapidly decline, making her extremely vulnerable to the elements. Eventually, the pain grew too much and she begged her young lover to end her life - Alena was only dragging Talia down and, with her rapidly degenerating condition, there wasn't a chance that she could ever bounce back, or even live a normal life. In the end, after nights spent huddled together, listening to choked breaths and empty promises, Talia ran a knife through Alena's throat.
Alone once again, Talia decided to keep to the forest and try to survive on her own. For the next two years, Talia was nothing short of a lone wolf hunting in the wilderness, occasionally talking to passing travelers and sending them on their way to civilization. Unfortunately for her, the Crown caught wind of a 'familiar presence' living in the forest, and were quick to send out two disguised soldiers to seek her out. None the wiser, Talia was quick to come to their aid when she found their caravan overturned, however, managed to catch on before she could fully turn her back on them.
The following fight was horrendous and long, but in the end the young woman came out victorious. She gathered the supplies that they carried with them and scurried off to safety - but not before attracting the attention of the Pack. Wounded and alone for far, far too long, Talia recognized that she badly needed safety, comfort, and company. Talia joined the Pack and committed to them her life and loyalty.
Alongside her brother, she was taken in under the service of the Crown. She learned how to fight, to defend, to survive under the choking heat of the sun. She didn't particularly mind, she was happy enough to take her mind off of her past, to grow up in a place surrounded by older people that could defend her should push ever come to shove. She had a cot to sleep in, she had food to eat, she had her brother to work alongside - it wasn't bad, and so over the course of several years, she followed the Crown's stiff, restrictive guidelines, acting as a compliant soldier until Cain's abrupt release from service when she was 15.
It was from then on that Talia began to grow into her voice, seeking information about her brother's whereabouts and the terms of his discharge, both of which were understandably kept tight under lock and key. She started asking questions, too many questions, started getting angry when they refused to answer her. She was deaf to all their threats of facing the same fate. Each lashing, each disciplinary action was taken, received, and taken again until her inquiries got louder, until her dissension grew bigger, until her dissatisfaction grew stronger. Nobody would tell her where her brother went or why he had to leave, and she believed she had every right to know.
By age 18, the Crown saw her as a liability, more trouble than she's worth, and decided to apprehend her for charges of blasphemy, sympathizing with the enemy, and conspiracy to the Crown. Not wanting to be convicted for seeking the truth, Talia ran from the city proper alongside a fellow soldier, Alena Aesir, whose father had also been discharged for the same reasons. Together, they escaped from the clutches of the guards and lived off the land, slowly beginning the search for their respective families.
Eventually, the pair were recruited into the Valkyrie, a small sellsword group posing as traveling merchants. Because the Valkyrie were composed of highly-skilled individuals, they were the best means of protection to the young duo and quickly fell in line. They spent some three years with them, doing odd jobs just to get by, until, one night, a commotion in the center of their parked caravans revealed a half-naked Alena Aesir with mutations running all along her back, weaving between thick, raised burn scars. The Valkyrie were quick to move but Talia got to Alena first, dragging the young woman through the treeline as arrows rained down on them.
Things only got worse from there on. Because of Alena's mutating, her health began to rapidly decline, making her extremely vulnerable to the elements. Eventually, the pain grew too much and she begged her young lover to end her life - Alena was only dragging Talia down and, with her rapidly degenerating condition, there wasn't a chance that she could ever bounce back, or even live a normal life. In the end, after nights spent huddled together, listening to choked breaths and empty promises, Talia ran a knife through Alena's throat.
Alone once again, Talia decided to keep to the forest and try to survive on her own. For the next two years, Talia was nothing short of a lone wolf hunting in the wilderness, occasionally talking to passing travelers and sending them on their way to civilization. Unfortunately for her, the Crown caught wind of a 'familiar presence' living in the forest, and were quick to send out two disguised soldiers to seek her out. None the wiser, Talia was quick to come to their aid when she found their caravan overturned, however, managed to catch on before she could fully turn her back on them.
The following fight was horrendous and long, but in the end the young woman came out victorious. She gathered the supplies that they carried with them and scurried off to safety - but not before attracting the attention of the Pack. Wounded and alone for far, far too long, Talia recognized that she badly needed safety, comfort, and company. Talia joined the Pack and committed to them her life and loyalty.
THE POP AND FIZZ HITS YOU LIKE A HAMMER
LEXA • SHE / HER • PREMADES ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆