Rori Willowroot was born in his childhood home, high above the ground in the lush jungle of his homeland.  His parents were attentive and caring, and their tribe by extension was very close.  The first 12 years of Rori's life were of care-free and child-like behaviors.  Racing through the trees with the other kids in his tribe, looting the hanging fruit orchards, and generally getting into just the appropriate amount of trouble for a young Vanaran his age.

Several moons past his 10th year, there were whispers among the tribe about a group of outsiders spotted by one of the adults.  These were people unlike Vanarans and the tribe decided as one that they must stay away.  Rori was unable to quench his curiosity.
Rori spent the next several days venturing out looking for this group of outsiders.  The adults were careful not to offer any specifics to the curious youngsters.  On his 4th day, he found something wondrous.  It appeared to be a huge floating village Rori had never seen a ship), with huge sheets drying in the sun, hung from tall spires shooting straight up from the middle.  In his shock at this site, he didnt take the due care to hide himself and was noticed by one of the humans on the ship and quickly darted away.

He visited the grounded ship often over the next several days, and had even exhanged words with a few of the crew using the language of some of the other Vanaran tribes they communicated with.  The ship, it seemed, was in need of repair after being set upon by some nasty beings known as pirates.  He found himself visiting more often, and was washed away in the stories these humans would tell him, especially the one known as Blake.  Blake seemed to be a friendly one, and Rori took to his storytelling readily.  Rori would come to the ship late in the afternoon, sit in a comfortable spot in the trees, and listen to Blake's stories of far away lands, unimaginable creatures, and incredible adventures.  Rori would never leave the safety of the trees, but would pick a spot up in the brances to speak and listen to the words of these men.

As he lie there one day listening to Blake's tales, he noticed a vine on the trunk next to him moving in an odd fashion.  He raised his head for a better look and before he knew it, was falling out of the tree and towards the ground, firmly ensnared in a trap set in his favorite perch.  As he hit the ground, he heard a loud screech from above.  His Mother had chosen to follow him that afternoon and upon seeing her child ensnared, leaped from concealment.  In a flurry of furry rage, she loosed herself upon Blake who was holding the other end of the vine-trap.  However, she was not the fighter Blake was, and he was soon standing over her with a small blade in his hand, the sand beneath her motionless body turning a crimson red in color.  Blake cursed to himself, muttering about how having two would be better than one.  Rori was frozen in place, paralayzed in the wake of his mothers violent death.  He didn't even notice Blake approach, nor did he see the club coming down from above to steal consciousness from his body.

When Rori awoke, the ground moved queerly.  He was lying on the cut-wood of the ship, tied at his wrists and ankles.  Many of the men looked upon him with sorrow in their eyes, as he struggled
to sit upright.  Blake was present shortly, and picked up Rori in one hand, showing him the view over the railing.  The ship was no longer grounded.  The repairs were finished and they were on thier way.  His jungle was gone, along with his tribe and his dead mother.  He saw water everywhere he looked.  He was lost.

The next 3 years of Rori's life were hard.  He worked hard all day at the command of Blake, who was first mate on the Whale's Tit, the ship he was on.  When he didnt work as hard as he should, he was whipped. When he worked very hard, he was whipped.  When he worked so hard he could barely eat his meager supper, he was whipped.  The rest of the crew treated Rori kindly and seemed to be afraid of Blake, even the captain.  Through it all, Rori began to love the sea despite the conditions that brought him here.  He excelled at many of the duties he was assigned.  He could climb and navigate the sails and riggings like noone else could. 

The second major turning point in his life happened 5 years after his capture.  As was customary, Rori would be put in irons each time the ship would dock as to prevent any attempt of escape.  Rori had not stepped foot on dry land since he was taken from his homeland.  On this occasion, however, Blake took the chains in his hands and took Rori to shore with him.  The crew all bid him farewell, as they seemed to know something he did not.  Led through this city (Rori had now seen many cities from aboard the ship), he drew stares from many people as he was pulled by his chains.

They ended up within a residence, it seemed very posh and comfortable, the likes of which Rori had never seen before.  He listened as Blake began to negotiate for the sale of Rori.  Yes, Blake was trying to sell him!  After some back and forth, they agreed on a price and money changed hands. The man who bought him removed Rori's shackles, and told him it would be best to behave, as he had ways to deal with disobedience.  With a laugh, Blake dropped his whip on the counter and said, "Just shake this if he misbehaves".

This part of the story might have ended there, had Blake just walked out of the shop.  Instead, he pulled what appeared to be a small blanket from his pack and showed it to the man.  "Would this interest you?", he asked?  The man reached out his hands to receive the bundle, and Blake continued, "Genuine Vanaran skin, this one's mother, to be exact".

The words echoed in Rori's ears as the color red rolled up across his vision.  Grabbing the closest item he could find, one of his discarded shakles, he launched himself on Blake attacking wildly and without concern of his own well being. It was only when the other man pulled him off, did he regain some semblance of mind.  He grabbed his mother's pelt and bolted for the door.  Within seconds, he was out in the street and lost in the crowd.

Outside the walls of the city, he found some trees vaguely reminiscent of the home of his youth.  He buried his mother's pelt beneath one of the trees and spent some time in hiding before being brave enough to venture back into the city.  He eventually made his way down to the docks and was releived to see the Whale's Tit was nowhere to be found.  He hired on as a crew member for a supply ship and left that very day. 

Over the last 3 years, he has devoted his life to the ways of the ocean. He has learned all areas of the ship and were it physically possible, he could sail her himself.  He has sailed on many ships and been a member of many crews.  He has sailed now on merchant and pirate ships alike, taking whatever job he offered him more knowledge and training.  He had also picked up the art of the blade, learning to fight from whomever would teach him.  He was quickly becoming proficient, and was a welcomed and valuable crew member on any ship he signed on to.

He occasionally hears word of Blake, now known as One-Eyed Blake, after having the corner of a shackle buried in his eye socket by a Vanaran wild with grief and pain.  He was sure him and Blake would cross paths again, and when it happened he would be ready to finish what Blake started, all those years ago in the Jungle.

...

Rori is the first character I ever created for a Pathfinder game.  The campaign path we were playing was Skulls and Shackles, a pirate based adventure, and it helped if all of the characters had sailing experience.  Vanarans are a monkey-like race, with prehensile tails, making Rori an excellent candidate for rigging and sail work.  I later used him in another iteration as a Hunter, with a wolf animal companion.

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