Hope Stillwell was born Falula Kinn, the third child and only daughter born to proprietors of a general store. Her parents noticed at an early age that she was artistically inclined, so they fostered this by interning her with a master musician. Her entire youth was devoted to arts of all kinds: dancing, writing and playing music, singing, carving, embroidery. There was no art she disliked, though her greatest passion was dancing.

Though her youth was full of joy, art, laughter, and music, her young adult years were plagued with tragedy. Within five years she lost her entire family. One brother succumbed to blood poisoning, the other died when a wagon fell on him. Her parents both died from a robbery attempt. Falula sold the store and began working at a local tavern as a cook. It was there she met her husband, and she soon became pregnant. Her tragedy followed her when her husband died in a farming accident, and her grief left her unable to eat, and she lost her child as a result.

Her grief was unbearable, she went to the river to kill herself. There, camped on the riverbanks were a group of joydancers, Lliira’s priests. They played such joyous music, and their dancing was so full of passion and love. They saw Falula in her depression and took her in. For two years she traveled with them, not speaking, but aiding them by cooking, sewing, and cleaning. At the end of her year of mourning, she named herself Hope Stillwell, as a reminder that hope is not lost, and that she was still well. She joined Lliira, and as a novice, she took to heart the calling that Lliira gave: “Exult in life and find joy in all things. Out of grief and despair, wrest joy, and join in the dance. Celebrate and honor deaths and the dead—the best mourning is laughing remembrance.” There was no greater grief or despair, and Hope truly had to wrest joy. She rediscovered her laugh and her dance.

Hope is never far from her grief and knows that joy is a constant battle and choice. She seeks to help bestow that joy in others, knowing how it saved her. She does what she can to remind people that although there is sadness, joy can be found, much as the shadow cannot exist without light. When there is darkness, the light is even brighter. She seeks to brighten the path for others with dance, music, smiles, and laughter.