'Captain' Yali Surefoot

'The guards of hell have stood in our way, and we still stand. Let that be a warning to ye!' - Yali Surefoot taunt to a fleet of Frostrun raiders

An unusual sight even amongst the diverse nation of Nemir, the Tabaxi Yali struggled to find her place in early life after a series of misfortunes, she was eventually rescued in a raid by 'The Mad Twins'. They took her aboard the legendary ship 'The Gallivanting Otter' and she soon found a new family, coming to grips with the nuances of each crew member and their role in such a big family. It was here she learnt to live, and went on to command a ship of her own in the spirit of exploration, becoming a figure told of around campfires for her heroic deeds and swashbuckling adventures.

Early Life

Born within the Alleys of Noren, her parents were simple entertainers with a penchant for sewing and knitting. By day they would sit around making costumes, and by night they would entertain the taverns and bars of the seedier parts of Noren bringing young Yali along. Though upon such a day, when Yali was twelve, a goblin by the name of Tak Vilshiv took a dislike to them bending their hats in his direction, asking for coin upon a completed performance, and saw fit to teach them a lesson. The goblin was a particularly cruel leader of a growing gang in the area and had little like for tabaxi. He accused them of thievery before the taverns patrons, and when none objected, afraid to voice an objection, Tak made an example of them and staked them to the table within the very tavern.

By the time anyone thought to call the guardsmen, it was all over, and with it being far into Mudwallow, there was little investigation into the event, just another among hundreds. Yali witnessed the whole thing, held still by one of the cackling henchmen as Tak made her watch. What followed was a blur of heartbreak and tragedy, with the loss of their house and all she owned, bar a jade amulet of a cat her parents had gifted her.

At twelve years old she was out on a the streets, shunned by most for what she was, alone. Though a single thought kept her going and it burned hot, for she wished for Tak Vilshiv to suffer the same fate he had inflicted upon her parents and nothing would stop her.

The Fires of Vengeance

It wasn't long before she tracked down the gang of Tak Vilshiv, their growing presence was hard to miss within the outer city. Yali took to stalking their members at night and stealing for sustenance by daylight, becoming familiar to The Watch of the lower city for her petite crimes, she managed to avoid capture on multiple occasions, her cat-like agility giving her an advantage along the thin alleys and angled rooftops.

A year on and her shadowing soon provided her with an opportunity. She followed a lone, drunken member of Tak's crew down a darkened alley, and attacked. The brawl was loud and chaotic, she wasn't strong or skilled in combat, and it was only through her lightning speed she managed to survive. Though as she stepped from the darkened alley, caked in dirt and blood, her quarry lay dead behind her, and for the first time in a year she felt a sense of pride.

The shock of what she'd done came later, but with it came the desire for more as her revenge pushed her on. From there the dam burst. She began training herself with daggers, and bows as best she could during the day, and continued to stalk members of the gang by night, jumping on any opportunity she could to put another of them in the ground. Her confidence grew with each kill, until it took her out of her too far.

She trailed the man that had held her during the murder of her parents to his house and struck while he slept. The kill was swift, but in the haze of the moment she killed the wrong person, the man's son. He broke into the room and they fought. Yali saw a mirror of the pain she'd felt in his eyes, and felt satisfaction and horror. As she dealt the killing blow and the haze of vengeance lifted, she knew she'd become what she had hated. Her hands trembled and her knives fell from numb fingers. The Watch burst into the room and seized her, for she had failed to notice the man's wife. She stood in the door and screamed at sight of the carnage within the room. Something in Yali broke as they dragged her from the room, and the wails of tragedy followed her.

Spared Captivity

It was months before Yali saw anything but the inside of a prison cell. Largely ignored and fed on occasion, she managed to acquire food through some of the contacts she had made working the streets, but spent much of the time in thought. Part of her seethed that she had been apprehended before she could claim ultimate vengeance, though the rest of her was afraid of what she had become. So she stayed, and waited.

The first time she saw air again it was raining, and the guards hustled her towards the docks in the early morning mist. They told her nothing as they loaded her onto a longboat with a dozen others and set out against the tide. Her destination was the brig of a ship bound for Rimegate, a prison island south of Rednan. She knew of it, as all did. A place to be forgotten, where none ever returned. And as she was, she knew no-one would come for her. She was alone, again.

Though as the ship bucked and rocked, and hours became days, and days weeks, and all trace of time vanished to the thrashing of the ship in stormy waters. A calamity roused her from her dozing and with it came battle. Some within the cell cried, others cowered, but not Yali, alive for the first time in months, as storm spray rained down on her through cracks in the wood and the smell of gunpowder and salt tickled her nose. She was being rescued.

The Voyages of the Mad Twins

Kalista Icesteel, captain of 'The Gallivanting Otter' a legendary ship took a liking to Yali, unbowed even in prison, and during their raid on the prison ship freed her into a life of piracy. Yali minded not, for anywhere was better than rotting away on Rimegate. Atop the stormy waves of the seas and oceans she felt at home, for the first time in many years. None gave her a second glance for what she was and the crew became her family, each adventure tying them closer together. She became adept in combat, her speed and grace a deciding factor in many a battle, and her adventurous spirit shone through as the 'Otter' sailed across the seas of Venya, battling strange creatures, seeing distant cultures and searching for treasure.

The tale of 'Aiwone's Discovery' where the Mad Twins sailed to the sunken continent and found a thriving civilisation in which they traded with the races there and plundered the twisted temple, slaying the evil sea dragon that had made it its lair is legendary and was the last great adventure Yali was involved in as a member of the crew. When they returned the fame accredited with such a discovery in tandem with the money from the expedition allowed her to acquire her own ship from the greatest ship-builders on Venya, the 'Tol'dawae of Calindor.' With her own ship and her own crew to fill, her old captains gifted her with a second name, 'Surefoot' for in all their exploits she'd never fallen from the masts, or overboard, and their adventurers had taken them to all manner of places.

The Adventures of Captain Yali Surefoot

With the blessing of the Mad Twins and all that had come before Captain Yali set out, to explore new lands and oceans, to delve and experience all she could. Though it has only been ten years since she took her own ship 'The Silver Breeze', her legend has grown to incredible proportions and the silvery hull of her ship is recognisable across Venya. She has climbed the peaks atop the world in Frostrun, plundered tombs upon the Dead Isles, walked the bridges of the Giantlands and tamed the beasts of Calindor. There is not a place she has not been and if there is, she is set to find it. Many say she will never be happy till she has found the place of her birth, a place lost with her parents, and the amulet she holds the only lead.


Whatever the true reason, Yali Surefoot still has many years yet to scour the seas and lands of Venya. To discover all she can and to push the boundaries of mortal discovery. Every now and then her voyages tease the rim of the Maelstrom, and some say one day she will take the plunge no-one has ever returned from. One such route led her back to the fate of 'The Gallivanting Otter' and her old crew members, resulting in the founding of Allsend Landing.

The Mad Twins

Originally hailing from Frostrun in the north the pair of Iron Gnomes, Kalista & Trench Icesteel fled long ago. They found their way to Paruga and aligned themselves with the 'Black Powder' tribe. They took the burning mark to show their allegiance to the family and fought for them for many years. When they gained their own captaincy they set out into the world, Kalista eager to explore and gather treasure, while Trench her twin brother, cared only for tinkering and technology. The pair make a perfect team and co-captain together, though each in their own way. The creative weaponry, combat and genius of the pair have since made a name for themselves as their exploits have taken them across Venya. They became honorary members of the 'Stormrider's Guild' and even their last voyage became a legend in itself as the founding of Allsend Landing.

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Date of Birth

35th Arivor

Year of Birth

2464 AC 37 Years old

Birthplace

Noren, Nemir

Current Residence

'The Silver Breeze'

Sex

Female

Eyes

Silver Glow

Height

180 cm