Scion Character: Jane Running Deer, Scion of Maudjee-Kawiss

 "My father never did anything for me, except land me in a world of hurt."

Background: Jane has only ever known adversity. She has no memories of her early life, or of her mother. Instead, she was plunged into a Potemkin World early in her life by Madjee-Kawiss. Growing up in a world that would train her to be a perfect warrior. Tests were so commonplace they lost any meaning, and there was little to no kindness. 

Jane strived to meet her father's expectations, fighting with the other children he gathered or forming alliances. Looking back, and with some knowledge of the World's media, she would describe it as living in a real-life Battle Royale or Hunger Games. She lost friends in the "war games" Maudjee-Kawiss pitted his many children into and though she mourned, she didn't stop. The only way to win, she knew, was to convince her father that she was worthy of his attention and love. 

She failed. 

One day, after a fierce day of combat, she was summarily ejected from the world she'd grown up in. It wasn't dramatic, there was no clash of thunder, no fanfare; not even a significant gust of wind. The world she knew just... faded away and she found herself standing on the bank of the Mississippi River. She collapsed and fell into a deep sleep. When she woke, she found a woman bending over her, checking her for injuries. The woman - Billie Gregoire - explained that Jane had been found on the riverbank and brought to her for medical care. She explained where the young woman was, telling her about the Houma people and their land on the eastern bank of the Mississippi. She offered her food, water, and as much time as she needed to heal. 

Jane was confused, this was the first time anyone had ever offered to help her, not without a hefty price attached. Struck dumb, she found herself unable to speak. Deep down she was convinced it was a trap and Billie intended her harm. So deep was her conviction she tried to escape that night - collapsing as she reached the door of Billie's clinic. There were many other attempts to escape in the next few months, but none of them succeeded, not because of tight security but because Jane's body had taken so much punishment, it almost couldn't function. 

It took over a year for her to recover, and she learned to trust the elder. She learned about the Houma and recounted a little of her own story, taken aback by the look of utter disgust that crossed Billie's face. Something about the way she reacted unlocked a deep sorrow in Jane, not connected to the shame of failing her father but to the fact she'd been deprived of a childhood.  The older woman caught her up in a hug and held her as she explained that what had been done to her would be seen as abuse by the World's authorities. She was welcome to stay with the Houma community for as long as she needed to, and they'd do whatever they could to help her find her mother. 

Slowly, Jane began to get back on her feet and started practising the skills she'd been taught again. Partly she had nothing else to do. She'd become acclimatised to the World (or at least the part of it she was in) and wanted to repay the kindness Billie's people had shown her. Partly, she was bored and needed a purpose, and picking up her old tools felt easy, somehow. She began to shoot and started to train the young men and women who were also interested in that and other forms of fighting. Slowly, she built a small group that would help her, and when an alligator of unusual size appeared in the nearby swamp, she led them out on patrol. 

During one of these patrols, her past intruded on her present. One of her old comrades from the Potemkin World - a man called John Bearclaw - appeared in front of her patrolling group, exiled in the same way she had been. While it took some time, the two slowly bonded over their experiences as he learned to trust again. The key difference between them was that while Jane had taken up the warrior's path again John only sought peace. He gave her his weapons and settled down with one of the Houma's women. Soon afterwards, a Thunderbird chose to seek her out, acting as a guide. At its urging, she travelled to New Orleans to seek better weapons.

Jane joined the Band that operates out of New Orleans when she travelled downriver to the city in search of new weapons - having fought the Nemean alligator many times without victory. While she was in the city, she encountered the others and they offered to help. Unfortunately, other business got in the way, but Jane was sure the five Scions would hunt the alligator together and end its menace. Of all the Scions, she is closest to Angela - sensing a deep affinity with the Created woman

Appearance: A tall, muscular woman, Jane, wears her long hair in thick plaits that fall to her waist. She has a large number of scars. Most of the time, her brown eyes are hard and flinty - it takes a lot for her to trust. Only when she does let her guard down that you can see her vulnerability within them, and how emotive they actually are. 

As usual, this is a free character. You can download her character sheet for free here. Enjoy playing her.