Sunhawk

Sunhawk
Agali of the Dappled Arrow

Elder of the Canotili
Hunter of the Occluded Paths
Delsin Ona of the Meshkwahkihaki

Description

Mortal form: ~The poplar towers and Sunhawk's humble stature praises the tallest tree on the prairie. Sunhawk's lightly bronzed skin is taut and firm around tested muscles and strong bones. Thick black hair is kept swept back from the brow, allowed to hang down past his shoulder blades. The soft jingles of tiny bells woven into his hair answers the call of the wind. Early wrinkles crease the Indian's serious, mature features, placing his age anywhere from 27 to 37. Sunhawk's earth-brown eyes lazily examine his surroundings and an unhurried, silent stride crosses the grass. Moccasin-booted feet make no noise. But several wooden medallions that dozens of painted beads accompany are strung on leather cords, clanking rattling together with every step. The medallions all have various designs and symbols etched onto the cottonwood pieces and they remain visible around his neck. The light-brown, sleeveless deerskin vest he wears exposes the medallions on his sturdy chest. Wide slits are sliced through the back of vest, in line with his broad shoulder blades. Pantaloons of matching material are worn as well. A snakeskin belt boasts a number of carried parcels. In the very back, a twelve inch bone-white hand rattle is crossed through the belt. The beans apparently inside the rattle’s head shake with every step. On his left side, a rawhide, woven pouch is tied to the hip of his belt. Sewn into the pouch's flap is a colorful design of a buffalo. On the right, a hoop with a leather strap exists and it is sometimes host to suspending a weapon -- typically a terrifyingly real tomahawk. In addition to this, he may often have two other antiquated (but lethal) weapons carried openly. One is a greenwood long bow, the string loosened enough so that the bow remains crossed over his chest and rested on his back. The other would be a brown thatch-woven quiver with a dozen black-fletched arrows, dual straps securing it behind his right shoulder.~

OOC: Appearance 2

Fae mien: ~As the human seeming falls away, Sunhawk actually grows shorter. Dropping from 5'11" to 5'3", the man seems to lose none of his sturdy build. Indeed, a close examination reveals that his musculature and bones are more defined, suggesting powerful density in his physical composition. His so-called voile matches what he wears in human seeming, for the canotili stay close to their roots. The only difference is that every noise-maker on his person, from the bells in his hair to the rattle at his belt, make more noise. They seem to match every wisk of the wind in perfect but chilly harmony. There is a sense of aging wisdom in his steady gaze and great courage in his fearless stare. Sunhawk's nose and chin seem more pointy and defined. His fingers are oddly long, yet very prehensile in their lazy, spidery motions. His keen eyes seem to have a glassy sheen to them, and in the shadows literally glow. But the most astonishing addition to his true form are the massive wings held folded upon his back. Those great wings are softly feathered in rich, dark browns and whites, speckled with black -- much like a great hawk's span. Indeed, when he stretches those wings out, they extend easily twelve feet. The only other adornment to manifest along with his true form is a quiver of twelve arrows, slung over his right shoulder.~

OOC: Appearance 2

"If you would hunt, hunt well, or you may become the hunted. Listen to the drum: it is the rhythm of the chase, the whistle of an arrow. Hunt true or suffer the curse of the spirits."

History

Youth

Many Native Americans relocated to Oklahoma and Nebraska. The Ona family of the Fox left Michigan over a century ago. Near Ponca City, Oklahoma, Kaga and Imala had a single child, a strapping boy whom they named Delsin. Delsin's parents were descended from a long line of Fox and Sauk Indians, and they carried the blood of Nunnehi in their veins. Their ancient culture thrived in their daily lives and Delsin was exposed to it all. His father taught him much of the old-fashioned tribal methods of trapping and hunting. Delsin also learned about the ancient ways of survival, including shooting and fighting hand-to-hand.

And Delsin lived solely in their reservation homestead, a range of homes and lands. He did not attend public school and wasn’t even accounted for on the U.S. Censor. He was home-schooled in traditional culture with few modern conveniences. Delsin also kept very active in various athletic activities, such as climbing and swimming, and an ancient game similar to soccer. He also competed in tribal gatherings, especially in the wrestling matches and hunting challenges. His family and most of the reservation were true throwbacks to the recalcitrant Native American lifestyles.

Though Delsin practiced trapping and hunting even from a young age, but only squirrels, rabbits, and porcupines. He didn’t score his first real hunt until the age of ten. He landed a big buck of a deer using only a traditional greenwood bow. His proud father complimented his boy’s budding maturity, and had him paint his face in the deer’s blood. Together, they made prayers to the Great Spirit, thankful for the beast’s sacrifice, meat, and hide, and how it honored Delsin as his first kill.

Curiously, as the Fox youth grew older, he began to withdraw more and more from his family and people. Delsin spent more time in the forest and prairie fields alone. He took these years to hone his wood-craft, survival, and hunting skills. It seemed as though Delsin was already a Canotili at heart, though it was not until he was an older adolescent that his first vision came.

Chrysalis & Tutelage

Delsin spent a lot of time in the trees near his home. He dangled from branches and pondered the world and nature and the purpose of he, his people, and the Great Spirit. And so, one spring day in his fifteenth year, he was lazing about on a high, thick branch of a maple. He gazed out into the wide sky above, and it was perfectly clear. Only the radiant sun accompanied the blue sky. As hours dwindled by and he enjoyed the warmth, he observed only one thing in the sky - a hawk flew by overhead. Moments after, Delsin drifted off into a long nap. It seemed to only be a minute, during which he dreamed of soaring through the skies as a detached, free spirit. He started awake when it seemed like his flight was over and he was plummeting to the earth. And now it was close to dusk. Delsin forced himself to look up into the intimidatingly vast sky despite the subliminal fear of falling. And the hawk soared by again. Delsin blinked, and he knew he had had a vision. Tears slipped down his cheeks at the beauty of it, of the freedom his soul was experiencing. There he lay, just gazing up as the sky darkened, feeling content in the misty midst of his Chrysalis.

Meanwhile, the spirits guided an Elder Canotili named Cloudy Arrow to the awakening of a new Nunnehi hunter. As night fell, Cloudy Arrow found Delsin. He called the new Brave down from the trees and took him in. Cloudy Arrow explained to the Delsin what he became. He immediately began a several month-long tutelage involving the weirding ways of the Nunnehi and Canotili. Delsin spread the unusual falconian wings with which he was gifted. Cloudy Arrow told him that they were a mark of favor from the great bird spirits and that he must take care of them, to fly whenever possible, but to always stay close to the forests.

Early Years

Then to an autumn gathering several months later, Cloudy Arrow brought Delsin. He entered into various Canotili competitions, challenging fellow Braves. Over the course of this week-long convention, Delsin made a name for himself as a strong and dedicated youth. He proved to be a fierce and even bloody warrior when it came to battling hostile chimera and other challenges of the fey and spirit worlds. It was as if he was a natural warrior of the plains, embracing the bloodiness of battle without hesitation. He was accorded the name “Bloody Feather” in ritual ceremony awarding his place on the tribal council of all Canotili. For when competitive weapon hunts and combats ended, he was usually covered in blood - and his wings spattered with it, too. Indeed, he would even paint tribal symbols on his face and arms and chest in his enemy’s spilled blood.

So over the next five years, Bloody Feather studied the Songs of Power intently. He learned how to adapt the spirit-magics to his hunting, skills that he also honed further. He began to travel across Midwestern prairies and woodlands with a very loose, informal band of fellow Canotili Braves. He befriended a few, but mostly felt camaraderie for all and little more. He was a true canotina, preferring the solitude life of a lone hunter. Slowly, their walking voyage directed the band north to Omaha.

And along the way, Bloody Feather experienced his first encounters with the Kithain. Unfortunately, they were brutal clashes with Unseelie. Indeed, just south of Wichita, Bloody Feather killed a man for the first time at the age of eighteen. The Canotili came across a gang of Redcaps sent down a forest trail to explore, apparently to seek out Dross or more. They ambushed the Unseelie, then crossed steel. A couple Nunnehi fell, but they were ultimately victorious. Indeed, engaged with a brutish, blue-dyed mohawk, multi-pierced freak of a Redcap, Bloody Feather shattered the Unseelie’s kneecap with a club. A quick spin let the Canotili bury his tomahawk in the Redcap’s spine before he could lunge with those hungry jaws. Even with his spinal cord severed, the tough bastard still twitched, trying to claw and bite at the Nunnehi. Overwhelmed with the terrifying battle madness that earned him his name, Bloody Feather smashed and hacked at his foe til he made mincemeat of the Redcap.

Apparently, it enraged the Unseelie lord to whom these thugs were in service. Soon more Thallain thugs and vicious chimera were sent to harry and attack the Canotili. The lord hoped to drive the Nunnehi out and on from those woods. But sensing the greed of a European changeling, the Canotili instead dug in and fought to protect that wooded territory. For months, the fighting continued and grew more intense and regular. Then it abruptly stopped. While waiting in anticipation of a new wave of violence, an envoy flying the flag of truce arrived. He explained he was from the Seelie Court and he thanked the Canotili for their aid in thwarting what was apparently a horrible plot involving the Shadow Court and Fomorians. Not particularly pleased at being left out of the loop and used in that fashion, the Canotili up and left on their way, leaving the woods unguarded in spite.

The canotina group settled in and spread out independantly in the Omaha region. This doubled the Nunnehi population in the area (which was mostly Tunghat and Canotili). Bloody Feather adopted a piece of the forest with good game and treks. He lived fairly peacefully for the next few years. He came to understand the area well, and found that as Canotili he was often “testing” careless white hunters more than Native Americans. But nonetheless, he staked claim to it as his people’s territory. He often met with fellow Braves, many of whom were from the old party that traveled north from Oklahoma. They competed in both personal skills and in comparing the skills of the few mortals they could sponsor. Most of the Indians the Canotili worked with were actually Uktena Kinfolk. The Nunnehi had fair relations with the Pure Land Garou of the area. Run-ins with Kithain became uncommon as Bloody Feather settled here. However, the few occasions were upsetting enough that all the local Nunnehi were becoming more unhappy.

Twelve Arrows Dream

So a council of the central (as opposed to northern and southern) Canotili took place. Though divided on the issue, many Braves voted to do something about the ever-encroaching Europeans. Thus was the Twelve Arrows Dream born. Twelve Canotili Braves, including Bloody Feather who recently turned twenty-one, agreed to become the relentless and ferocious protectors of the Nunnehi’s territories. They performed the ancient Sun Dance to seal their attentions and reaffirm their traditional place. This was also geared to gain Cottonwood’s guidance and strength for the trials ahead.

This Winter Camp-aligned war party rained hell on any Western changeling foolish enough to venture into the woods and fields beyond their established fiefdoms and cities (namely Omaha). The Twelve Arrows Dream would always give the intruders subtle warnings to frighten them off. But many bold Kithain are only intrigued or challenged by “scary woods” instead of properly terrified of what awaited… Though never so wicked to butcher childlings, this war society did not differentiate between Seelie or Unseelie. All were harried and attacked, and many intruders were killed. When Kithain sheriffs or heroes tried to put an end to the “savages”, the Canotili would strike back with vicious counter-offensives, raiding any freehold not well-defended enough against their stealthy, brutal tactics. Over the course of several years, the Twelve Arrows Dream became a thorn in the Dougal-run Kingdom’s side. As time went on, battles inevitably claimed the lives of some of the members. And yet, it only served to enrage Bloody Feather and his comrades further. They never stooped to child murder, nor to cold iron, but never hesitated to strike mercilessly and lethally.

However, by the fourth year, the society’s fortune went bad. The local Seelie lord, the cunning Count Beryl, arranged a deadly ambush for Bloody Feather and his friends. Several different Kith and different brands of magic were employed to deceive and overbear the Nunnehi war band. Taken by complete surprise, several of the ambushers actually fled the terror-inducing pheromones. But the Count himself was present, and he gave his warriors the strength to fight. In the ensuing chaos and battle, four of the remaining seven Canotili fell. The last three, Bloody Feather and his blood-brothers Hunts Bark and Bobcat Joe, fought til they were overpowered. They grudgingly surrendered and were taken back to the Count’s castle and dungeon.

Soon after, the three survivors were brought before Count Beryl for judgment. Demonstrating a Seelie ruler’s merciful beneficience, the murderous Nunnehi were banished, not executed. All three were forced to accept Sovereign-enforced Bans, forever excommunicating them from Lord Beryl’s Platte Countydom. With the death of the Twelve Arrows Dream, and a painful defeat, the three Canotili Braves all slipped into Elder seemings. Dampened by Banality and sorrow, the survivors split up and parted ways. Bobcat Joe went back south and Hunts Bark went north. Bloody Feather remained in the central regions of the Midwest. They all would lead out quiet lives now, living to spread the tale of the end of another Nunnehi dream, so that the younger Braves could learn lessons from their mistakes and choices.

Recent Years

So Bloody Feather changed his name to Sunhawk, in honor of the Sun Dance he performed for Cottonwood years before. Indeed, he was still bound and loyally serving this great arboreal totem. Sunhawk, banished from Omaha and that region, retreated some to the south. He took up not far from the Kansas City area. The next couple of years, Sunhawk slowly adjusted to the new region and new life. He avoided contact with everyone, even other Nunnehi, not even to bitterly speak of his bloody past.

Though still a fairly young Elder, Sunhawk already bore the wrinkles of age and Banality. He began to wonder if his wrinkles should contain some modicum of wisdom instead of anger. But still hateful, Sunhawk pondered equally whether he should just accept the life he always lived, and go out with a bloody finish and blaze of glory. Spending most of his time in a small heel of the Smithville Woods, and in the canopy of the forest particularly, Sunhawk realized he now had plenty of time to consider what it might take to return to the Higher Hunting Grounds.

Vision

Sunhawk was once more concerned with learning how to hunt well in this Middle World. He had little interest in seeing to the Happy Hunting Grounds. But now he begins to consider otherwise, and spends a great deal of time alone. In solitude, he ponders the ancient ways, trying to break through to older memories still. Only when he concentrates hard and long can he remember anything. But he hopes that it’s like an old muscle -- the more he practices with it, the stronger and more clear his Vision will become.

Totem

Cottonwood

Description: Sunhawk bound himself to Cottonwood along with the rest of the Twelve Arrows Dream ten years ago. He has served the Totem well since, and even his banishment from the Tall Tree Range has not changed his relationship. The relationship began when he, with the Twelve Arrows Dream, performed the Sun Dance to honor the seasons and spirits, and to help pave the way for their society’s purpose. During the ceremony, each Nunnehi involved (mostly Canotili) had a vision. Sunhawk’s vision was thus: a vast forest of trees surrounded a single, taller tree still. While others may have envisioned themselves having to climb this mighty tree, Sunhawk was already there - this was perhaps due to his ancient hawk-blood, and able-bodied wings. But there on the top of the branches he stood, arms folded -- a guardian.

Traits: +2 Gremayre, +2 Crafts (Bowyering/Fletchery); +1 Stamina

Taboos: Use wood frugally, replacing cut trees with seedlings. Use deadfalls whenever possible. Never fail to honor the spirits.

Chimera

Black Arrows
Level: 3
Origin: This chimera manifested with Sunhawk when he first underwent his Chrysalis.
Description: Sunhawk carries a black-beaded, thatched quiver of a dozen arrows with him at all times. The shafts are carved from poplar wood and fletched with the feathers of ravens, and the heads are cut from natural flint. Borne of the patron bird’s keen sight, they are able to strike any target and pierce deep.
Effects: Using these arrows adds +3 Accuracy dice to the attack roll. They can be fired from a real bow although unless the wielder is Wyrded, they do only chimerical damage. The arrows may be replenished by taking the time to carve and fletch new ones. The chimerical resources can be hard to find sometimes. Sunhawk has always had this chimera -- they are a part of him -- and so, as long as he can find the materials and has the time, he can replenish the quiver fully.
Medicine Costs: none
Activation: As soon as one of these arrows is nocked on a bow, chimerical or real, it's ready to go.

Bunk Styles

Style: Counting Coup
Examples: Run whooping circles around enemy, break an arrow, inflict only superficial injuries on enemy, drink a cup of own blood

Significant Other

Nunnehi often gravitate to each other due to their dying culture and families. Even when they are not of the same breed, it’s likely that they will befriend one another. Sunhawk crept from his woods to watch Ketewa Tsali craft her jewelry in 2004. He finally acquainted the attractive woman, then befriended her. Then the pair were seeing each other daily. And finally, the two began to make love. It seems that these two Nunnehi just hit it off clean. Perhaps they can help their people live again, too: Ketewa gave birth to their ("Kinain") son, Etu, on April 5th of 2005.

Though their son bequeathed the promise of joy, Sunhawk’s continuing bitterness and indolence was a shiv in the heart of their love. Finally, Ketewa felt pushed away. She took Etu and left in 2010 for her tribal reservation in Oklahoma to raise the boy in better company. Heartbroken, Sunhawk sought her out, and their small family reconciled, much to the young child's joy and well-being.

Ketewa

Weakness
Insult to Injury

Sunhawk was banished from his people's lands. From his people's point-of-view, he didn't really deserve the exile and his outrage is understandably just. But it may cloud his thinking and possibly cause him to make fatal mistakes.

Likelihood of Corruption

Average.

Like most canotina, Sunhawk stays true to the people's ways and traditions. However, he has suffered great injustice. He is already leaning heavily into the Winter Camp and has for some time. He risks becoming like Magua from The Last of the Mohicans. He may lean forever in that direction, abuse his Medicine for selfish purposes, and become truly imbalanced.

Links

Character Stats

Character Profiles

Grassland Games

E-mail me!

Main Character Hub

Back to Game Hub