[color=violet]6 years ago...[/color]

Liara had been skulking around a bakery shop for the past week, stealing bits and scraps for food, and hiding about in the cellar when she was tired enough to sleep. Dirt covered nearly every bit of her pale skin, her features quite sunken in and frail. A small hand reached out from the shadows to grab the stale end of some discarded bread. "ulgh" her eyes narrowed at the piece of bread as she forced it down. She used to love the idea of dinner, of food in general. Food unfortunately, was becoming a bit scarce these days. She was tired of the bakery though, and would have to leave it soon anyway. It wasn't because she started to hate the food, or because the store owner had started to catch on that someone was skulking and stealing ... she usually only stayed someplace for about 5-7 days. This wasn't the safest place to be, and she didn't want to get attached, or caught...really, it helped her keep track of time if nothing else. Today was her eighteenth birthday. What a way to celebrate - a piece of stale bread. At least it was the end of the loaf. She loved the way the dough bunched up at the ends, all gooey and moist. Stale bread though, well, usually the only good thing it served for was a weapon against her uncle when he would tease her. 

She stared at the krusty, grey object that tried to pass itself off as something edible. It's been two years since she had anything resembling a family. This was supposed to be a joyous day, her mother would go on for hours talking about the ceremony that would be held. And now, she'd travel alone to the temple. 

She gobbled down what was left of the bread that she could stomach, patted down the pair of dull brown trousers she wore, and tried to smooth out her appearance as best as she could. Her long and luxurious ebony locks had become knotted and mangled, but she figured an updo of some sort would hide the sloppy appearance of a hobo. She wiped the dirt from her face and took a long hard stare in the make-shift mirror she hung in the corner of the cellar. "Well ... I suppose this will just have to do. Don't worry mamma, if the gods don't like me, I'll just give em' hell" she smirked ... a joke of course, but it was something her mother and uncle used to say. They always encouraged her to be her own person. And today, no matter what the water had decided for her, she knew her path. She had nothing left to lose. 

If you actually paid attention to the homeless wonder, you would notice how she walked down the streets this day. Her head held high, her steps confident and firm. She marched right up the stairs, into the temple and to the table where her destiny awaited. 

There were so many goblets! Her eyes passed over each slowly. Some were dull, some looked fancy but then ... there was one off to the side of the table that stuck out to her. She gazed over it thoughtfully, her hand idly reaching to a locket that dangled from a simple chain she wore around her neck. Interestingly enough, the goblet was quite simple. Brushed in a soft brown paint with a design etched into the ceramic surface. The design was nearly identical to the one on her locket. Her breath held for a moment in her chest as she extended her hand out towards the goblet. Hesitantly. She heard rumors of the reckoning, the rules, the options, traditions. She didn't realize how unsettling it would all be though. "No... I will be my own person, no matter what" she bit down on her lower lip gently and shook off the ominous tones of the whole operation. With determination, she walked with the goblet to the pool of water and dipped it in. A smile spread, uncontrollably across her face, widening as it became clear. The water turned red. A [color=darkred]Mercenary[/color]. The fates agreed, this was truly her destiny.
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[color=violet]Present Day[/color]

She had completed her training for the day and had been lingering in the woods all afternoon with Arlan. It was one of her favorite past times. A cool breeze brush over her cheek and she smiled. That was enough day dreaming for one day. She whistled loudly into the trees beyond her. An odd barking grunt came in response and suddenly a large beast came barreling towards her. Liara let out a laugh in response. “Playing ‘chicken’ are we?”. She wore half plate armor, it wasn’t the greatest defense for a front liner, but it allowed a bit more maneuverability.  Enough at least to slide right past Arlan as he dove head first into her. “Ha!” she gloated, walking smugly over to the large bear. “Come on, they’ll probably be looking for us soon”