August

A skilled cook, fluent in multiple languages, and a former soldier turned monk, though he has a delicate appearance and short stature. August was born with albinism among the Mapach tribe, located in the Emerald Isle. Even from a young age, his albinism made him strikingly different within the community. While this caused him to stand out, his parents were his steadfast protectors and the only true sources of unconditional love within the tribe. They cherished August for who he was, his albinism never diminishing their affection. However, when August was still young, his parents mysteriously went missing. The tribe offered no clear explanation for their disappearance, leaving a void in August's life and fueling his sense of isolation. Without their loving presence, he retreated into himself, becoming a loner. His parents had instilled in him a strong sense of fairness, teaching him to treat others with kindness unless they were deliberately rude or unkind. This principle continues to guide his interactions. Deep down, August harbors a persistent hope that he will one day discover what happened to his parents and perhaps even find them. This underlying yearning for family and belonging fuels his quiet determination as he navigates the world. It was during his time with the Mapach, likely influenced by his parents' care and perhaps their own skills, that his early interest in cooking began to blossom. Ultimately, the double loss – the feeling of being an outsider and the unexplained disappearance of his beloved parents – propelled August to leave the tribe in search of a place where he truly belonged and perhaps, answers about his past.   Leaving the familiar, yet isolating, environment of his tribe, August ventured out into the wider world. It was during this period of exploration that he became acutely aware of how his unique appearance drew the gazes of others. He often received compliments on his striking looks, a stark contrast to the internal feeling of being an outsider that had defined his youth. In the Emerald Isle, the lilting melodies of Elvish and the earthy rhythms of Druidic were deeply ingrained in the land and its people. For August, these languages were more than mere tools for communication; they were integral to his early understanding of the world. From his childhood, these ancient tongues filled his ears, unlocking the lore of the land, the secrets whispered by the wind through the trees, and the traditions passed down through generations. He absorbed them fluently, not just the words themselves, but the subtle nuances and cultural weight they carried. This early mastery of language would prove to be an invaluable asset as he navigated the diverse and often challenging paths of his life.   Driven by a desire to prove himself, he joined the military at a young age. His time as a soldier was formative, teaching him discipline and combat skills, but also exposing him to the harsh realities of war. It was during his military service that he encountered a scholar among the prisoners of war they had captured. This scholar, hailing from a Cervan-speaking region, became intrigued by August's albinism and his Mapach heritage. Out of curiosity and perhaps a need to occupy his mind, the scholar began to teach August the Cervan language. August, eager to learn and understand the world around him, proved to be a dedicated student, forming an unlikely connection with his captive tutor.   The brutal battle that ultimately led to August's departure from the military left more than just emotional scars. During a chaotic clash, as steel met steel and the air filled with the cries of the fallen, a shard of shrapnel, propelled by a nearby explosion, tore through the air. It struck August with sudden, searing pain, slicing across his face and directly over his eye. For a terrifying moment, darkness engulfed his vision on that side, and the searing agony threatened to overwhelm him. Though miraculously his eye remained intact, the jagged scar that now traced a permanent line across it served as a constant, visceral reminder of that near-fatal instant. Every glance in a mirror, every flicker of sensation around his eye, brought back the deafening roar, the flash of light, and the sheer terror of that brutal battle. The scar became a tangible link not only to the physical dangers of war but also to the overwhelming sense of chaos and loss he experienced, fueling his disillusionment with military life and ultimately setting him on a different path.   The brutal realities of war left August deeply scarred, both physically and emotionally. The chaos and violence he witnessed stood in stark contrast to the quiet solitude he craved after the loss of his parents. Finding himself alone and struggling to reconcile his experiences, August sought a path of inner discipline and control. He began to explore forms of unarmed combat and meditation, driven by a need to find peace within himself and to develop a sense of self-reliance in a world that had offered him little stability. The scholar he befriended during his time as a prisoner of war, though not a martial artist himself, had a profound influence on August's journey. Through their conversations, the scholar shared philosophies of self-mastery, the importance of a disciplined mind, and perhaps even tales of monastic traditions from their homeland. These ideas resonated deeply with August, providing a framework for his own burgeoning practices. He dedicated himself to rigorous physical training, channeling his pent-up emotions into honing his body as a weapon and a tool for self-discovery. Through solitary practice and unwavering discipline, August gradually developed the skills and mindset of a monk, finding a sense of purpose and control that had eluded him in the military and in his earlier life.   After leaving the military and embarking on his solitary path to becoming a monk, August's search for inner peace and meaning led him beyond the traditional beliefs of his homeland, the Emerald Isle. He found himself drawn to deities from a neighboring region: Luna, the Neutral Good goddess of the Moon, Night, Dusk, Warmth, Love, and Paradise. In the quiet solitude of the night and the soft embrace of dusk, August found a sense of comfort that had often eluded him. Furthermore, Luna's association with warmth and love resonated deeply with the cherished memories of his parents, their affection being a guiding light in his often-lonely life. And Faerin, the Neutral Good god of ambition, diligence, generosity, and honesty. The tenets of Faerin resonated deeply with August, reminding him of the values his parents instilled in him – the importance of hard work, fairness, and above all, generosity towards others, even when faced with unkindness. Perhaps in Faerin, August saw a reflection of his parents' loving and honest nature. And Rhimes, the Chaotic Good god of creation, science, art, inventions, medicine, and alchemy. August's natural talent for tinkering, a trait inherent to his Mapach heritage that allowed him to create functional items from his surroundings, resonated deeply with Rhimes's domain of creation and invention. He saw in Rhimes a divine patron of ingenuity and the ability to shape the world around oneself, mirroring his own innate skills. Among these was also Dykenta, the Chaotic Neutral goddess of love, lust, pleasure, fertility, birth, and death. Having experienced profound loss and a pervasive sense of loneliness throughout his life – from the disappearance of his parents to his alienation within his tribe – August harbored a deep yearning for love and genuine connection. He found himself drawn to Dykenta because her domain explicitly included love, not just in a sentimental sense, but as a fundamental aspect of life alongside its inevitable counterparts. In his solitude, August perhaps found solace in the idea of a deity who embraced the need for love and connection, a stark contrast to the isolation he had often felt. His reverence for Dykenta became intertwined with a quiet hope that he might one day find the love and belonging that had long eluded him, a belief that perhaps this goddess of love might guide him toward it or grant him the strength to seek it out. This unconventional choice of deities, particularly since Luna, Faerin, and Rhimes were not widely worshipped in the Emerald Isle, often led to friction with locals he encountered. Their adherence to different gods and traditions made August's beliefs seem strange or even heretical, contributing to his continued sense of being an outsider even as he sought inner peace.   After his departure from the military, August found himself drawn to the lively atmosphere of a bustling tavern. There, he discovered an opportunity to utilize his natural talent for cooking, quickly becoming known for his flavorful and comforting meals. The aromas and energy of the kitchen provided a stark contrast to the grim realities of war, and he found a sense of purpose in nourishing the diverse clientele. In the evenings, when his kitchen duties allowed, August could sometimes be found at one of the tables, participating in games of cards, particularly poker. He possesses a quiet proficiency at these games, his delicate appearance often leading others to underestimate his sharp mind and his ability to read their tells. While it provides a welcome distraction and a chance to observe and interact with the tavern's patrons, August is keenly aware of his limitations when communicating with those who only speak the common tongue. Because of this, he has a growing desire to learn the common language, either verbally or through sign language, hoping to bridge this communication gap and connect more fully with the wider world around him. Despite finding a degree of peace in his culinary work and the occasional game of cards, the memories of his time as a soldier continue to haunt him, and he grapples with reconciling his past with his present, all while holding onto the hope of one day finding out what happened to his parents and perhaps finding the love and belonging he so deeply desires.