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Hawk was born twenty two years ago in the Free Kingdoms, in the nomadic tribe of the "Free People", as they called themselves. Hawk's tribe migrates from season to season, following the large game as they migrate over the plains and deserts of their land.
Since he was a child, Hawk was raised among animals. He's always had a kinship with them, from being able to tame wild ponys and calm them with a soothing touch, to being able to pass the angry mother panther defending her cubs. Hawk often spent time alone with animals on the plains. He learned their ways, how to follow the snake's trail to a small brook, and how to tell the time on a cloudy day by watching bird's behavior. Hawk was able to listen to animal's calls, and use his hearing as well as his vision to follow game. One of Hawk's favorite pastimes would be to hunt a deer, often for days on end, until he caught it and brought it back for food and skin to the tribe. The deer was much much swifter than Hawk, but Hawk would patiently and tirelessly follow it. Through plains and through forest, he would follow the deer day in and day out. The deer, while swift, did not have the endurance to run for days on end. Eventually, Hawk would find it in a clearing, out of breath and lying down on the grass, resigned to its fate. Hawk only hunted for food and for the deer's skin, he never killed for sport. He would sometimes hunt a deer like this, only to walk up to it and touch it at the very end, and then let it go. He wanted to simply know that he was able to hunt the animal.
When Hawk was twelve, he began learning how to fight from the People's weapon master, Jark. Jark taught all the boys and men of the tribe the way of the Bow, the Sword, the Staff, the Axe, and the Fist. Hawk was clearly at home with the Greatsword, and trained often and well. It was clear to him that his destiny as a man was with the warriors, not of the shamen of the tribe. Hawk was quite bright, and seemed to have aptitude for the mystic arts, but his love of the wilderness and aptitude in combat made him a natural warrior.
Along with his warrior training, Hawk learned to ride horses. He found he enjoyed their company, and he was able to use his affinity with animals to create a special bond between him and the horse. A horse he spent time with would understand what Hawk wanted to do intuitively, and the pair would run together as one.
Hawk also enjoyed climbing and bouldering. He would often climb up to high mesas, from where he would look over the plains of his land and thank the spirits that he was born with the free people.
Among the other young men of the tribe, Hawk enjoyed most the company of Quill. Quill and Hawk were the same age, but where Hawk fought with the greatsword, Quill used the shortsword. Where Hawk would hunt for days and enjoy the company of animals, Quill moved as silently as a cat, and hid so well that even Hawk could not find him. The two were great friends, and Quill often tried to teach Hawk the more subtle arts. Once, when Quill and Hawk were hunting together, Quill pulled a silver key from his tunic. "Here, take this friend", said Quill. "What is this?", replied Hawk. "One day, I will tell you. For now keep with you always", replied Quill. Hawk shrugged and tied the key around his neck with a loop of twine.
Eventually, Hawk came upon his name day, when he was twenty years old. On this day, he was his own man, and no longer bound to the word of the tribe elders. The elders told him of the wide world beyond the plains and forests of the Free People. They told him about the wars south, between Thelis and other people. Hawk decided that he would go see these lands, and learn what was out there for himself. The elders agreed, and wished him well, and gave him his sword and the tunic he wore. He would have to earn any coins himself, as the Free People had no use for the coins of the southern lands.
After travelling on his own for several weeks, sustaining himself on the land, Hawk came upon a fur Trader named Mitchell. Mitchell knew the long road ahead to Thelis was a perlious one. Seeing a young illerate barbarian with a good heart, Mitchell offered the young man several gold to accompany him and protect him on the road from bandits. Not knowing the value of money and not understanding that he was being used for almost nothing, Hawk accepted. At the end of the journey, the normally greedy and penny-pinching Mitchell was so impressed with Hawk's valor that he offered him his pick of the goods in his caravan. Thus, Hawk began to make his way towards exploring Thelenia.
