Tarsk Mimola, Exiled Scholar

A person known as the Last Warrior went from city to city warning the people and setting up protective wards around the cities. When the demons and soulless Nomads were loose upon the world, everywhere was desolation, except the cities. The Last Warrior told the people to protect knowledge for a day when all would be free.

Since the city is a close environment, strict population control is practiced. Only enough land exists within the protective circle to feed 1000 adults. If births exceed deaths in a year, then a certain number of 18-year-olds are drawn by lottery in the spring and exiled outside of the city. It's a dangerous place out there, and most are assumed to be dead. There is a loophole to permanent exile, kind of a "trial by ordeal": anyone who returns with the True Name of the Warrior is permitted back and made an Elder.

This city knows of no other cities surviving. The holocaust occurred about a thousand years ago. Steel is rare; mostly bronze weapons are used. Magic is unknown, but the legends say that one must be Mageborn to use it.

Tarsk Mimola is a bookworm. There are few things he loves more than curling up with a good book. One of Tarsk's loves is the tales of yore. He loves a good story, and he loves telling a good story. The Bard skill is really a hobby, more than anything. Because of his desire to preserve knowledge, he even spent a couple years serving in the city guard, so as to do his part in defending the city, the last bastion of knowledge as far as anyone knows.

Tarsk was born into a middle class merchant family. His father is a shrewd businessman with a eye for art. Tarsk's father was somewhat disappointed when his son's interests did not include taking up his father's trade. But he was glad to see that he was able to teach his son the value of money, and how to get the most out of it. Tarsk haggles for everything, and tries to get the best price possible. And he often gets it too.

Tarsk was chosen in this year's lottery.