[sblock=Rough Draft Background]
Born on the rolling plains of the Valley of Light, Tagren was given to the monastary (known as the Hand of Light) as a young child. His memory of his parents faded through the years, and family was soon replaced by brothers.
Tagren began his training in the strict disciplines of the church when he was still new to the place. At first his training frustrated him, he was eager (as is any child) and wanted to learn the combat side of the art. Instead, Master Batow concentrated on Tagren's mind. He taught him how to meditate, how to control his body to such a degree as many people could only dream, and he made him read. His master told him that "As all life is a cycle, so is the past. Many parts of our history have shown the future. Those who forget the past, are not prepared for the future." Master Batow showed him some of the repeating facts of history; most notably the wars.
He remembered his first true training session. He simply sat there, legs crossed and hands pressed together near his chest. The minutes crept by, then the hours. Tagren couldn't stand it anymore, his legs had fallen asleep and he was hungry. He began to rise and felt a rough, strong hand grab his shoulder. Master Batow had been sitting behind him the entire time. The hand pushed Tagren back to the ground. Tagren sat there for the entire night and was near noon when his master's voice told him to rise. He could remember turning and seeing his master sitting there with his eyes closed, such a peaceful look upon his face. Master Batow explained to him that patience and concentration were the most important skills he would learn, without them his body would falter.
Tagren's training never stopped. It started when he woke up and continued on until the moment he fell asleep. He saw his first "foreigner" a couple of years into his training. The government had given the monastary the means to survive for the next 2 years for the simple act of training the Auerlites a small portion of hand to hand combat. The men amazed his young mind. They marched into the holy place, shoulder to shoulder and stepping together. Their armor shone reflected light, making it seem as if the sun itself was coming into his home.
Tagren was charged with teaching these men the extreme basics of the art. He found them clumsy at best, but seemed to be quick learners. They had soon became bored with basic stances and strikes, and were then placed under the more advanced schooling of brother Loenil. He was only a year or two ahead of Tagren, but that was enough to throughly confound the warriors. The monks were disheartened at the lack of effort given by the "warriors." They were constantly being discovered outside the gates, sparring with their longswords.
A particularly stressful moment occurred when a member of the army drew his blade on Master Batow. Tagren watched in amazement as his master showed his martial skill against one of the elite soldiers in the region. The man was no novice, but he was not a master. Master Batow managed to stay just out of the soldier's reach, until the soldier cast some sort of magic at him. A small fireball flew at Master Batow, who dodged it easily although many spectators did not. The injured bystanders must of been enough for the master to decide to end it, for his finishing strike followed quickly after. He struck the man's armor, actually piercing it then in a flash, kicked the man squarely in the face.
The soldiers were expelled from the monastary that very night. Tagren still looked upon most soldiers with distrust, but tolerated them as long as they kept their place. The government had kept its word and kept it's side of the bargain, providing supplies for the Hand of Light. According to an emmissary, the soldiers were punished somehow although Tagren knew they most likely weren't even spoken to about their actions.
Tagren was 17 when he finally came of age to become a brother instead of a student. He went with Master Batow outside the gates and found a whole new world. People were busy and almost rude most of the time. It seemed as though everyone was in a hurry, though no one knew why they were rushing about the place.
It has been 2 years since his first journey into the main areas of town. Since then he had joined Master Batow in meetings with the nobles of the land, most of the time he stayed silent. When he spoke, it was with wisdom that should exactly how great of a teacher Master Batow had been. Tagren, although young and not as progressed as many of the Hand of Light, was revered by many. The Brothers saw potential in the young man, a potential to become one of the greatest martial masters of the time. Tagren knew what they thought of him and knew the danger of it. Such words can build a false confidence, which is as deadly as any poison. Tagren decided that he would simply do as he had done. Learn from whatever he can and train his body as hard as he can. If he prospered, then it was from the grace of the gods. All honor and glory to them. [/sblock]
)
