Kallisti
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Who?
The Origin of a Rabbit Shaman
Shadowpine lies nestled into one end of a valley in the midst of Autumnhold Forest. The elven city is built into the enormous oak and pine trees. Deceptively delicate architecture prevails, every dwelling, every building, is linked to others with graceful bridges. In the valley below live those who prefer firm ground to swaying branches. Though mostly populated by elves Shadowpine is also home to those of other races. Lizardfolk nod in friendly greeting to a minotaur in shaman’s robes as they go about their business while rabbitfolk and the occasional human hawk their wares in the market.
Like most rabbit families, Kallisti’s is large. Their warren is located on the southwest shore of Lake Keiran not far north of Shadowpine. While still only an adolescent, the cinnamon-brown doe proved adept at protecting her siblings when a fox invaded the tunnels one moonless night.
Months later on a black night while she was on patrol the rabbit was tracked and hunted by an animal like none she had ever seen. Quick and nearly silent despite its misshapen, hunched form, it chased her for hours; no amount of crossing and re-crossing her trail, leaving false trails, not even taking to the streams shook the pursuit. Eventually, she went to ground. That is how it caught her.
As extensive as the dummy warren was, it was as if the twisted brute could smell her through the earth itself. Knowing that she would sell her life dearly she was ready to fight to her last breath, but she did not know that the only job that animal had was to exhaust her, corner her, and dig her out if necessary.
Kallisti pelted down the warren tunnels, the route memorized from years of running decoy drills. The soft thud of large furred feet on packed soil seemed loud to her, or maybe it was her pounding heart that filled her ears as she ran, either way, the rabbit squeaked in surprise as she rounded a corner and slammed into a recent tunnel collapse. Blue eyes wide in the dimness she thought back on her route and her heart sank as she realized that there was no way to get to the last branch in the path in time.
Putting her back to the tumbled earth, Kallisti tossed her head in a habitual effort to keep her long ears out of the way. She straightened then settled into a comfortable stance with her practice staff held lightly in her paws. The young rabbit clenched her teeth and her lip rose in a snarl. The foul stench of her pursuer struck her sensitive nose and though she tried to ignore it, the reek made her knees tremble.
The snorting, snuffling beast slowed as it came into view and realized that the rabbit was trapped. It drew closer, sickly yellow eyes glowing in the dimness of the little-used warren. Drool dangled and splattered from its toothy maw as it licked its chops in anticipation. Gnarled hands that seemed more like claws reached as the creature lunged for her and then Kallisti was lifted bodily from the floor of the tunnel and her arms flew wide as her spine arched and her head whipped back.
The rabbit watched the events as if spectating from behind her own eyes. Pure power surged through her, roaring up from the ground and into her small, furred frame. A scream that sounded disturbingly like that of a human child split the still air and then vines were tearing up from the ground and growing thick and strong in the brilliant green glow that poured from Kallisti’s eyes and mouth as she hung in mid-air.
“BACK TO YOUR LAIR, BEAST!” the unearthly howl vibrated the very air and dirt sifted down from the ceiling. The vines twisted and rolled dragging the shrieking creature down to the floor. The wet snapping sounds of breaking bones were sickeningly clear as the thorn-covered creepers began to pull the offensive creature into the roiling soil. Eternity passed in a moment of crystal clear simplicity that only the gods themselves seem to have and in a blink, it was gone, with it the vines, the beast, and the wild, untamable presence that had so briefly filled her.
Now alone in the passage but for the stink of the blood that marked the only remains of the twisted form that had chased her, Kallisti panted quietly and sank to her haunches as she began to tremble with the last of her adrenaline. It would be years yet before the Wild One would make her presence known to the rabbit again.
In the intervening time, Kallisti seeks teachers among Gwenevere’s devoted druids to learn the ways of nature and the magic that called to her. For several years she has patrolled Autumnhold from Elfhedge to Mallowlake and back again. Small, well-hidden burrows mark the rabbit’s route through the untamed, magic saturated wilderness that was grown to protect Elrinia from the corruption that spreads from Shadowlyn. The dens are dry and contain a small stash of wood along with a few odds and ends that routinely prove useful. From time to time Kallisti has had to ask animals who have found her burrows quite comfortable to leave for a time. More than once she slept content in the rain while a vixen and her kits or a bear and her cubs stayed warm and dry in the burrow she had planned to use that night.
All that remains of that brilliant epiphany is the need to be traveling, to be immersed in the wilds. Spend too long in one place and Kallisti becomes fidgety and short tempered. Muttered curses become profanity-filled tirades and she paces endlessly, unable to release the excess energy that builds if she is confined.
An adult in her own right now she actively works to protect Autumnhold and all who dwell within it. Until her Lady calls upon her, Kallisti is a willing servant to the land.
