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I was born in what can only classify as a small village in September 1983. My mother was not much for going to hospitals without any real reason, so she gave birth to me in the very same house where I would spend the first 18 years of my life. Getting back to the part about it being a small village, I can inform that there was about 10 houses in a small cluster, though 2 more have been build since (increasing the number of citizens somewhat). I grew up together with my both my parents and have two half-brothers (though I never really think of them as anything but my brothers) and an older sister. As a child I had the same interests as most living on the country; we played handball and we owned a couple of ponies. As I got older I tried a lot of different hobbies though, and when my sister moved away from my parents, and I was caught up with the life of a teenager, we sold our horses. I still miss riding though, and this is probably one of the reasons I joined the Riddermark when I came to the plaza. This gives me a chance to stay somewhat in touch with the love I have for riding. As I said, my interests have changed many times through my life. When I moved from my parents and to a bigger city I had no idea how I wanted to spend my spare time any longer. Playing computer-games and reading took up most of it, and though I still like both of these, I lacked doing some more socialising activities too. A couple of years ago I was invited to join a group of roleplayers, playing good old dice-based RPG's, and I have done this regularly every week since. I love making characters and play out stories, and I find the way you need to respond to the outcome of the dices quite challenging (though I have a disagreement with my 20-sided dice at the moment - it has killed 3 of my characters lately). In addition to my roleplaying I have joined a group of Viking re-enactors recently. The main focus is on fighting with Viking style weapons (quite close to the rohirric), and we train and fight twice a week. In addition to that we need the historical and safety correct equipment, and for those of us without the money, or just with an interest to do so, it means making it yourself. This has proven somewhat a challenge, but one I readily take up. The satisfaction of making your own things is actually quite big. I am still only on trial in the group though, since you need to prove your commitment as well as being a trustworthy person before you can get a full member. Fighting battles are both fun and hard work. My love for Tolkien I earn to my mother and sister alike. My mother first introduced me to The Hobbit and LotR, and I read them with great joy. My sister is a great Tolkien fan too though, and she has been the one finding sites on the internet to discuss such things. She is not on the plaza, but is a huge resource on Tolkien sites elsewhere, and we can surely spend many hours discussing the works of the Master when we are together. My mother opened my eyes for him, my sister widened my understanding of him and the way to the plaza I found by coincidence... |
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Talaika was born in a small village named Holtbrim in the north-eastern part of the Westfold, close to the forest of Fangorn and the Entwash alike. In many ways, she lived the life of a typical farmer-child, with a father that herded sheep and a mother who took care of the keeping of the household. Her father was no simple farmer though, and as many of the other men, he had served many years in the cavalry. While Talaika's older sister grew up in her mothers image, and moved to Edoras in a young age to marry a man there, Talaika held other dreams for herself. Whenever a traveller came in to their village, she and her childhood friend Tristan would be among the first to approach, begging for stories of Middle-Earth. Both had a desire to know more of the world, and Talaika's father recognised her desire to learn to use weapons too. So despite her mother's wishes, he trained her whenever they were alone; like when he took her out herding the sheep with him. To great grief for the whole family, Talaika's father was killed by a band of raiding orcs while he was outside the village on his own. After this Talaika's mother decided to leave their old home behind and move to Edoras to live with Talaika's sister and her brother-in-law. The house was small and felt crowded when housing four grown up persons, so Talaika spend much time riding outside Edoras to get some time on her own. The dream of following her fathers footsteps and join the cavalry still lived in her though, and after persuading her brother-in-law to train with her for a while, she finally began her training. When she should choose an Eored to join, Talaika decided to try and leave her past behind her and joined the Meduseld Eored in Edoras. This was the start of a new life for her, because the friendship and confidence she found here became a basis for her wider engagement in the daily life in Edoras. The path of a warrior had now been taken by Tal, and this seemed fit for the young woman. Her values of honour, loyalty and proud in her work was met in the cavalry and she takes great pride in her work there. As well as daily training of her weapon skill, Talaika likes to engage in works of the hand. For a while she worked in the crafting guild in Fangorn, learning to decorate and inscribe all sorts of materials. This has lead her to spend much time making armour and weapons, as well as decorations of these. She can still be considered somewhat a loner at times, and often seek out solitude, but she enjoys the company of the friends she has, and is open to meet new people. Seeing the world is also on her agenda. From living most of her life in one place, she has taken the time to explore more of the world she is living in, believing that you can learn much from other people. The Riddermark is the place she always returns to though, and she often refers to herself as a daughter of the Mark. |