I grew up on Hunter’s Farm. It’s just south of Hultail in Cormyr. My parents, Raymond and Renee Hunter, raised myself with my older brother, Raymond, and sister, Kirstan, and my two younger brothers, Tren and Rych. It was great being raised on the family farm. Lots of family near by to help out. There’s always lots to do on a farm.

My father would spend lots of time with my older brother. Father had shown all of his children how to hunt. Yet, his oldest son was going to have to continue the family traditions of hunting. So, RJ, Raymond Junior, got to go on special hunting trips with father. My mother spent extra time with my older sister. Kirstan was taught many more things about martial arts from mother then any of us.

With my parents having their favorite children, my grandmother taught me how to cook. She spent a lot of time with me. She was a wise old cat, er, Hunter. I didn’t have to compete for her attention. She liked giving it to me. I miss her.

I did go to town whenever I could. Most of the time, my father didn’t like that I went. Yet, he would always have me work. I would help him with the horses, merchants, or whatever he needed. After a while, he didn’t mind me going to Hultail for supplies with him and the crew. He didn’t like it at all when I would go with the crew without him. Yet, he was out hunting, I had to do something.

Listening to merchants in Hultail, I learned a lot. I learned that people don’t tell their true feelings about someone. Many merchants would charge more to people of races they didn’t like. Most people do not judge someone by their actions, they judge them based upon their appearance. I don’t think that is fair. I don’t like it either. Mostly because, I have a few forms that I appear to be. So, how would someone like that judge me? They would be scared of me, because they don’t try to know me. They judge by appearance.

Goblins are bad. Especially when they are attacking Hunter’s Farm. It was just a few years ago. My Uncle Chris was due back. He traveled with Bartwood’s Circus. He came back to the farm every few years, when the circus came back to town. The whole family worked together to save the farm from the attacking goblins. I was perched above with Trine Riveroak. She taught me how to use a bow. We were firing arrows upon the attacking goblins.

The goblins were very strong. They came in two waves. We were able to stop the first wave. There were only 10 goblins in the first wave. The second wave of goblins had way too many of us to stop them. Everyone was fighting the goblins. Just as it looked that things were going to end for Hunter’s Farm, Trine and I saw him. Uncle Chris fought his way through the goblins. He bore his way to the huge goblin leader. I thought it was a troll, yet it wielded a huge battle-axe. Uncle Chris only had his cl--hands… and feet.

Chris Hunter quickly defeated the huge goblin. After that, the goblin hoard was defeated. They started to run. We helped them leave. The farm was saved. Yet, not everyone survived the battle.

My younger brother, Tren, went out to help against the goblins. He was overrun by the goblins. My grandmother went to help him. She killed many goblins. Yet, it wasn’t enough. They got them before Trine or I knew that they needed our help. I miss my grandmother and brother.

Soon after that, I left with Uncle Chris to help guard the circus troop with him as head of security.

Of course, my grandmother was one. She always had a kind word to say. She paid attention to me even when she didn’t have to. She taught me how to cook. Trine Riveroak is my friend. She taught me many things about the world and how to make a living in it. She taught me how to use a bow. My Uncle Chris made many lasting impressions upon me. He taught me how to adventure and more martial arts than mother knows. He is a very good leader.

It fits me. I’ve never thought about it. I just wanted to learn how to fight. There are many ways to fight. Perhaps, someday, I’ll learn how to cast spells or pray to some god. Right now, I fight with my bow and hands.

Hunter’s Farm does a lot of good for the world. Few people know how many thieves have worked there and changed their lives. They go to Hunter’s Farm, the place of change, to learn how not to be a thief. Yet, very few stay there and continue to be a farmer. I know that I am not a farmer.

There is much more in the world than just one place. Tales about those other places, no matter how good the bard is, isn’t as good as being there. I can’t explain what it’s like to be in the Underdark. Yet, I love being there. The adventure is grand. I know that it is not for everyone. I know that it is for me. So, I adventure. I like helping people.

I was a guard for Bartwood’s Circus Troop from Haranshire. While guarding the troop, I had several little adventures. Fought a few strange creatures and meet some evil bandits. I killed a mage who was hunting unicorns. Uncle Chris led us to capture a few different groups of raiders. While I was guard, there were several side adventures to keep the roads clear for the troop.

I have excellent hearing and vision. My wounds heal quickly. I know how to fight. I can fight hunger by hunting and cooking. I can fight with my hands and use a bow. I can make bows and arrows. With all my time in the Hultail market square, I am familiar with the value of many different goods. I’ve learned how to play with ropes and can do a few tricks with them. Trine has shown me how to defeat locks and dangerous traps. I am familiar with a few strange words to decipher some of what is being told by them. I can move quietly down the street and mostly unseen. I love to climb and I’m very good at it. I am a sharp shooter with my bow. My open hand fighting style is Cat. I am almost a master cat style fighter. Sometimes, magical spells have no effect upon me.

Life is great. Don’t lie. Help others realize that life is great.

Beleg, Bright man, made a huge impression upon me. He sacrificed his life for people he did not know. He cared about people and judged them upon their actions not their appearance. He never looked for reward for his deeds.

Laila saved my life without asking for anything in return. She gives to anyone who asks for help. She could have done anything to me when my mind was mixed up because of the mind flayer. Yet, she healed me and asked for nothing in return.

I know about Beleg’s love for Ariessus. I can not help Beleg, but I can help Ari. Laila doesn’t ask for anything. Yet, I’ve given her gold… well, nobody knows that. You don’t have to tell.

Midnight also saved my life. She didn’t have too. Yet, she did. Again, she didn’t ask for anything in return. Even though I work for her, she didn’t have to save my life. She could have found someone else to replace me. She has done a lot for Jurgenville.

I want to be able to cook as well as my grandmother did. It would be great to fight as well as my Uncle Chris does. I plan to learn how to speak without stumbling over my words. I want to help solve the troubles in Haranshire. I will learn how to defeat any lock. Perhaps, someday, I will get married and have a few kit--children to raise.

Many of the members of Bartwood’s Circus Troop from Haranshire have friends or family that live in Haranshire. (Most of the troop is from Hultail.) When I heard that there were troubles in the peaceful shire, I hoped there was something that I could do to help. Next, I heard about a group of adventurers trying to solve the mysteries behind the troubles. That is when I wanted to join the Truth Seekers, even though I did not know who they were. When I meet Beleg and found out that he was a member of that group, he reinforced my desire to join the Truth Seekers.

Help those in need. Find the truth in any problem. There is always a real reason why something is happening. The Truth Seekers try to solve problems by finding the real problem and not the obvious problem. The obvious problem is only on the surface. One has to go deep to find the truth to a problem.

I haven’t been with the Truth Seekers for very long. When I meet the rest of the group, I wasn’t quite right with my mind. The mindflayer had mixed up my thoughts some how. They were willing to take my to the surface and try to have Laila fix my mind. If they didn’t do that, I would still be with the gnomes with no where to go.

The Underdark is so deadly. In every battle, someone in the group is severally wounded. I thought we were all going to die when we were fighting the grell. Once the group broke out of the grells’ initial attack, we quickly got into a position to defeat them.

Soon after defeating the grells, the group almost lost Sane, Ariessus, and Castinar, to another dangerous monster of the Underdark. The battles are very dangerous. I guess it is part of the reason I continue to adventure. I want to make the place safe for the next person. When we defeat a dangerous and deadly monster, it makes it possible for trade to start up with the deep gnomes, the kenku, and Jurgenville. Something that would be too dangerous with deadly creatures crawling their way around the trade routes.

I will never forget when Armatage removed the Girdle of Lions. I didn’t know that he was wearing a magical item that would effect me. He claims that he didn’t know that it would effect me. He should have known. Somehow, he should have figured it out.

Select one. Hmmm… There is Ariessus, the gentle drow, Castinar, the quiet ranger, Sane, the emotionless leader, Armatage, the foolish goon, Diana, the holier than thou, Nikki, the strange blue one, and Sigurd, the new Bright man. Select one.

I’ve known Ariessus the longest. At least it seems that way. Beleg talked about her a lot. He was in love with this strange dark elf known as a drow. In his homeland, the drow are unknown. In mine, they are feared and hated. When Beleg talked about her, I didn’t realize that she was a drow. She had to tell me that she was a drow. I thought she was some elf with dark skin. She wasn’t as ugly as the tales of drow claim. She didn’t melt in the sun. She did tell me that drow don’t melt in the sun. Yet, that’s no what I had heard. You can learn a lot about a race when you meet a member of that race.

Ariessus is very kind and freely gives of herself. She is a female drow and doesn’t take kindly to orders by men. Yet, she is slowly accepting them from the men of the Truth Seekers. She has a special relationship with her pet cat, K’harn. Of course, she has a special relationship with her god. Something I don’t really understand. Yet, as the Battle of the Red Vale has shown, Ari knows how to fight and heal.

Most important of all, I consider her my friend. I am willing to tell her any thing about myself. More than I am willing to tell you. Ari is a great person and I am happy to have her as my friend.

It would seem the problem is, they have never worked with a good leader. Uncle Chris was a very good leader. He knew how to direct people and pull out their best from them. So, it would seem that it is very hard to be a good leader when you’ve never known someone who is a good leader. Of course, it takes experience and trust. We are a group of completely different people. We trust each other with our lives. Slowly, we are learning to trust each other with commands. So, do the Truth Seekers have a leadership problem? Yes, because of lack of experience not trust. Experience is coming. When that happens, the Truth Seekers will not have a problem with leadership.

After the question is asked, Katrina's face expresses her emotions, from surprise, "What! You know?" To angry, "HOW do you know?" To nervous-worry, "Who else knows?" To blame, "I don't hide it well." Finally, she just looks sad and on the verge of tears.

After an uncomfortable pause, Katrina looks at Kantar and slowly begins, "I did not know you could be so arrogant. Are all single form creatures like you? Well, no, some just hunt us down and kill us for sport. Others hunt us out of fear. Some hunt us because they hate what we can do and they can not.

"Now, you ask me, 'Why?' Why do I try to hide the fact that I am Hengeyokai? You should be asking, why do I not hide it better. I don't like to hide truth. Hiding the truth can hurt you, me, and, everyone else living in this world. So, I'm not good with hiding the truth.

"Instead of waiting for my answer, you made a guess and asked a very rude question. Since you asked such a rude question, I do not know why I should answer anymore of your question." Katrina pauses for a moment, then slowly continues, "I am very happy to be who I am. I do not wish to be a single form creature. I have not known a Hengeyokai who was not proud to be Hengeyokai."

"I don't know enough about lycanthrope. I think lycanthrope are cursed. They sometimes are forced to change forms without any choice. Hengeyokai are not cursed. We can change when we want to change. I can change several times a day. Yet, it takes practice. Not all Hengeyokai can shift several times a day. Also, lycanthrope are dual formed, rarely more. Hengeyokai are trio formed, yet one. Hengeyokai are human, hengeyokai, and animal. We are all and we are one. When I am human, no true seeing spell would see me any other way, for I am in my true form. The same is not true for lycanthrope."

Katrina looks at him. She ponders the question. She wonders how he found out. Yet, how hard would it be to find out? If someone asked, Katrina would have said yes. Yet, no one asked her and she didn't step forward.

"Why what? Why didn't I step forward and shout to the city that I was the one burnt by the red dragon. I was nearly killed when only one missile was released from my bow." She looks at the bard. She thinks about how to answer. Finally, she replies, "The people who want to know, know. No one asked me who was the archer. I don't care if anyone knows. I didn't do it for fame. I did to kill the dragon. It didn't work and I got lucky. The dragon could have burned the city down for my actions. Instead, it left. I'm sure others had more to do with the dragon leaving than I did."

"In a way that very few humanoid creatures understand, I enjoy it. I believe that I do not view the action the same as you do. If you did, you would be asking, how can I do it, not why do you. Also, I have no mate. Even then, very few hengeyokai mate for life. My mother taught my sister and I several things to help us keep a mate for life. Yet, I am not looking for a mate. I am learning how to keep one." Katrina thinks over her reply to his questions.