Originator of Character: Margaret R. Dean
Name: Tentmaker
Soul Name: Rikeh
Race: Elf
Gender: Female
Birthdate/Approximate Age: 600+
Origins: Plainsrunner, currently traveling with the Rovers
Household: Visitor; blood ties with Trailingstar
Hair Length/Color/Style: Light red-brown, straight; falls to mid-back when loose, but is usually braided and bound up under a hat or kerchief
Eyes: Gray-green
Skin: Tanned, weathered
Height: 4' 2"
Build: Rangy, angular
Voice Quality & Speech Mannerisms: Alto voice, slightly rough. Speaks with a distinct Plainsrunner drawl.
Other Physical Attributes: Has a lame foot, walks with a slight limp that becomes more pronounced when stressed. Heavy burn scars on back and left side of face; usually conceals the latter with a face veil that attaches to hat or kerchief, leaving only her eyes visible.
Parents: n/d
Siblings: Far-Tree, brother (D)
Other Relatives: Longshanks, nephew; Rain, Jublo, great-nephews
Current Mate: Working on something between her and Silvercloud
Recognized?: Yes, once
Previous Mates: Was Recognized in her old tribe, mate is long dead
Children: Had offspring in old tribe, all perished in the fire
Closest Friends: Rain, Gibbee; others TBD
Special Talents: None save sending Skills: Tanning, leatherwork, dyeing, sewing; various crafts and general survival skills; wide variety of practical knowledge
Hobbies: Decorative forms of the above, fine leatherwork in particular; storytelling
Weapons Used: Dagger; still pretty accurate with the bolas though she has not been able to hunt actively for many years.
Bondbeast: None
Jewelry Worn: None
Clothing: Favors Plainsrunner-style leather tunic or jacket and breeches, soft, low boots. Has picked up a few Rover items; will sometimes wear a woven shirt and vest with breeches. Habitually wears either a kerchief over her hair or a flat-crowned, wide-brimmed hat, to which is attached the face veil mentioned above (kind of a combination of gaucho and Bedouin). Usually wears earth tones, reds and browns, with the occasional dash of color on special occasions.
Other Special Possessions: None known
Personal Info: Tentmaker is the elder sister of Far-Tree, Longshanks' father, who came to live with her brother's family after her lifemate died. Due to a foot injury that healed improperly, she is slightly lame; she has no trouble walking, but the old injury will not stand up to prolonged running or other strenuous activity. While still with her birth-tribe she acted as a clan elder, loremistress, and firekeeper, as well as performing more homely tasks such as tanning and leatherworking.
When a prairie fire wiped out most of her tribe, Tentmaker was able to rescue her great-nephew Rain and herself by lying flat in a narrow gully while the flames swept over them. Tentmaker, lying on top of the younger elf to shield him, was badly burned on the back and left side. (Preoccupied with tending the fevered and delirious elder afterwards, Rain never knew that his uncle had also survived the fire and was searching for his clansfolk.) Once Tentmaker recovered enough to travel, the two of them took up a wandering existence. They met the occasional tribe of elves in their travels; because of this, Tentmaker took to wearing a face veil in deference to the usual elfin aversion to physical disfigurement. She rarely removes it in the presence of other elves unless she feels very comfortable with them.
Eventually the two Plainsrunners fell in with the re-forming Rover band, where they were welcomed by Stormcloud. They have been traveling with the Rovers for several years when New Hope is encountered and they are reunited (to everyone's astonishment) with Longshanks.
Tentmaker is a survivor: tough, pragmatic, generally unsentimental, with a practical knowledge of the world and the people in it gained from long years of experience. She has not come through life unscathed, either physically or emotionally, but it hasn't whipped her yet. Living with the Rovers has helped her shake off some of the grimness left over from the fire, and allowed her sense of humor to resurface. Tent maker gets along well with younger elves; she is able to pass on the wisdom she has learned through tales that teach subtly while being entertaining at the same time. She bears no particular ill will toward any other race, though she is cautious in her dealings with non-elves.