Biographies, Pt. 3: Rae Maodar

"I'm not sure you're following me."
Rae Maodar, from the Reveries

Most of Maodar's life has been dedicated to the tomes of various shapes and origins, through which he quietly channels his unquenchable need for information of all sorts. The grounds of knowledge of the Reveries are like no others, and many Skyborn like himself are prone to losing themselves - and, more often than not, their minds - in the study of all things past, present and future, half-hidden and half-suggested by the Clouds.

In one of his intellectual wanderings, however, Maodar came in touch with a mysterious, shrouded entity that invited him over his realm and showed him everything he had yet to learn. Of course, only if he allowed himself to surrender to the immense promise of power that laid on the other side.

Disturbed and disquieted, Maodar sought the advice of his elders but to no avail: Elves from the Reveries were never the kind to reply to any question directly, but only through hints and mildly suggested intonations that implied rather than explained.

Usually skilled in such exchanges, as a born and bred citizen of the Reveries, he found it exasperating not to have a clear solution to his dilemma. And when he found himself again somewhere beyond the astral realms, his answer came as quickly as it came unexpectedly: "Yes, lead me through."

Ubbub, the Outlander, grew inside him in a fraction of his galactic presence and bestowed upon him a force and energy he had never felt before. Over the spam of a few weeks he became taller, bulkier,  with figments of arcane energy obeying his every thought and whim; and still, there was room for improvement, for greatness.

For knowledge.

The gift, as usual, had not been given freely.

"There is something I need", echoed Ubbub, swimming among his thoughts.

Maodar's mind was sharp, crystalline, like never before. He never hesitated.

"You need only say what."

Biographies, Pt. 3: Nikelas Ilanthiel

"Wrong things tend to grow when the garden is tended by the wrong hands."
Itamor, head of the Children of the Tree

Ever since Nikelas was found by Boris and the others in the ruins of the ancient coliseum she felt a growing restlesness pulling her thoughts back to somewhere far beyond her mind. The concern of her occult patron became sharper with alarm and anxiety, and she knew she was both coming closer to her (their) objectives and to a will as powerful as Qellerion's own, and as deeply concerned with the fate of the artifact she now had in possession.

Or, that they now had in possession. For, as unfortunate as it was, her party had also come across another Elf, a cousin of her own people among those who left Feyland millennia ago, and that now resided in the highest abodes among all peoples, far beyond the tallest mountains. She saw Maodar at first with suspicion, and little by little she wrapped her head around what he was and what he was doing. Now, she was sure he suffered from the same demands she was burdened with, but the entity he answered to was not at all clear.

Now, after experiencing an extract of the petty wars waged by less clever folks, she pursued her goal with doubled eagerness. The unleashing of her swift eldritch explosions had become as easy as breathing in the course of each battle, and she knew her potential was unlimited.

He reassured her so every step of the way. With amusement, she recalled the look in the eyes of the half-orc when she came over her in the heat of the skirmish with the Black Orcs and invoked the pure essence of the Fey itself to strike her foe in her vile, undeserving heart. Victory is all the taste she has need for, and she wants more.

She knows she has to be careful from now on. Very careful. Whatever her patron is looking for, it is close and, when the time comes, a very difficult decision will have to be made.

But Nikelas, she is not afraid of the cost.

Biographies, Pt. 2: Nikelas Ilanthiel

"For now you are reborn, treechild. Become the excellence you are meant to be." 

Qellerion, the Green Hand

Nikelas was born one-hundred and two springs ago, near the Queenstree, the holiest of elvengrounds. She possessed a talent for capturing the attention and interest of others, not only with words, but with her mere presence and gracious movements. As a part of her acolyte training, she was sent on a pilgrimage with others young acolytes to the few remaining elven sanctuaries scattered across Feyland.

Despite her constant joy and spontaneity along the pilgrimage, she took it very seriously. She dismissed all other matters throughout her path - even the matters of the heart. Some acquaintances would say she was a little obsessed about her training in the Faith.

Nikelas' life changed forever ten years ago when she was at the farthermost elven sanctuary of Qëllaren, near the boundaries of the Feylands. A numerous group of human mercenaries attacked and destroyed the elven compound at daylight, killing almost every elf.

Almost, for Nikelas survived. Despair and grief took over, and she screamed the pain of a hundred souls.

And she was heard. Qellerion, the Green Hand, had reached for her. An ancient being of fey power, he made her an offer and she took it with both hands. Grasping the weapons from the dead, she exacted retribution to the villains soon afterwards. 

The acolyte finally returned home and told what happened to the elders. However, they would have none of it and mistrusted her words, thinking she was an envoy of spirits afoul. Once wrongly banished, she spent years observing the habits, lifestyle, and culture of the people outside the Feylands, now yearning for companions to save the world together under her guidance.

Biographies, Pt. 2: Boris

"Lost again, Boris!?" 

Stebanelos Carbuncle, Master of the Blackstone, Section IV of the Northern Steadfast Republic

Boris is a member of an order called the Blackstone, a druidic organization aiming to preserve and research the wildlife and environment in the Underground. They have several facilities around the continent and usually serve as the best guides and experts for hire regarding everything below the surface.

As a guide, Boris is supposed to know the best ways under earth, but he would rather stay with his books and has much trouble interacting with other people. Nevertheless, he thinks highly of himself and believes he was born to discover the greatest mysteries of the Underground.

Coincidentally, a few months prior he came across hidden clay tablets from old Tiefenland ruins. Inadvertently, however,  Boris invoked the presence of an ancient devil. It presented itself to him in the shape of a bright-eyed, dark-skinned gnome, and offered to unlock his potential to the maximum so he could learn more than any other living Blackstone. The price: Boris' soul.

Since then, for many times has Boris regretted his choice. But he knows that, if he goes deep into the mysteries of the earth, he will find a way to bargain with the ancient devil again and win his precious soul back once and for all.

Previous appearances: Book I: Unhinged, Chapter One.

Biographies, Pt. 2: Ideal

"You shall do as you're bid, tiefling. You're mine."

Disaster, Son of Ullach

Ideal was a rebellious teenager, ever discontent with the tiefling society and with his family. He eventually enlisted in the army, and by not having the necessary prowess to be a warrior he became a war medic after seeing how little were they and how needed they had been in the recovering of the fallen. In that way, he found himself in the trust of his company.

It was in the opposite side of the battlefield when he first noticed the like-hearted Lordani, with which he forged a bond of mutual respect in the day she did not kill him when he was aiding a fellow soldier. It was his battalion, however, that then defeated Lordani's.

Yet, soon afterwards, his own company was devastated. He witnessed the massacre by overwhelming forces, and amid despair he made an agreement with an ancient devil to save his skin. He wanted to live, and Tiefeland was not a place he could endure any longer. All hope was lost to his kind, and he went to the Surface and never looked back.

Disaster, Son of Ullach, chants its devilish designs everyday in the mind of Ideal. He thinks he is using the powers he were given to do what is good and just, but ultimately he knows he will have to pay the ultimate price.

Previous appearances: Book I: Unhinged, Chapter One.

Biographies, Pt. 2: Raibeart Mac an Tàilleir, the Survivor

"Are ye troubles?" 

Raibeart Mac an Tàilleir, the Survivor, last of the Drabembur

Raibeart lived with his dwarven folk for many years, prospering somewhere in the Northern highlands and living off the trade of iron and copper. One day, however, the tribe was raided by an alliance of giants and orcs, which led the Drabembur to extinction. Raibeart barely escaped, at the cost of everything else.

What Raibeart saw of his people has followed him ever since in the shape of vengeance. Though honored in his own way, the highland dwarf is quick to resort to violent solutions to the simplest of problems. He found on the road -- and in a few unlikely friends -- the medicine to his maladies.

After another wrongful turn of fate, however, he lost yet that newly found family in the cursed Mines of Lowlo, in the Steadfast Republic. Just like last time: the enemy stroke, everyone around him fell, and he... He survived.

Everyone was gone, but he still remembers all.

There would be no mercy for the wicked.

Previous appearances: Book I: Unhinged, Chapter One.

Biographies: Raibeart Mac an Tàilleir

"Darn, where's ma pipe?" (Raibeart Mac an Tàilleir, last of the Drabembur)

Raibeart lived with his dwarven folk for many years, prospering somewhere in the Northern highlands and living off the trade of iron and copper. His kind excelled in the hunting of giants and was one of the only peoples in the known territories to still hone such skills.

One day, however, the tribe was raided by white orcs, and bloodshed followed. The dwarves resisted and survived, but only a few months later another attack overwhelmed them, this time with an alliance of giants and orcs.

The Drabembur were obliterated, and Raibeart barely escaped. His land, his folks, his life: embedded in the crimson colors of death.

What Raibeart saw of his people has followed him ever since in the shape of vengeance. Though honored in his own way, the highland dwarf is quick to resort to violent solutions to the simplest of problems. He found in the road the medicine to his maladies and discovered in the hunting of orcs and giants alike the cure to the poison of his vendetta.

His kin is gone, but he remembers all.

And most of all, he remembers them.

Appearances: Book I: Unhinged, Chapter One.

Biographies: Faye Highleaf

"Faye, oh my goodness, will you ever make your family proud?" (Feffa Highleaf, Councilwoman from the Northern Steadfast Republic)

Faye was born in a craddle of gold at the heart of one of the wealthiest families in the Northern Steadfast Republic, land of the small people. Snobbish and bold, the young halfling always put herself in trouble by disobeying the authorities and, mostly, her mother, to the dismay of the eccentric Feffa Highleaf.

In order to follow her rebellious instincts, she became quite proficient in burglary after discovering what a thrill it was to invade politicians homes and relieve them of precious belongings. The look of distress on their faces!

But more than that, she took pleasure in tarnishing the Highleaf lineage. Not that she was found very often, but the few times that happened her mother would use her name's influence to leverage the quietest of solutions. 

Faye was taken as vapid and foolhardy by the other noble persons of the distinguished small people society, but never failed to impress them all in their silly balls and ceremonies. Her laugh was one of the finest in the Capital for many years.

Appearances: Book I: Unhinged, Chapter One.

Biographies: Lordani

"You were born from a woman who believed suffering was good for the soul -- and thus, you suffered." (Sister Eltani, Healer from the Order of the Scarlet Heart)

Lordani was born within a mercenary company founded by tieflings, the Blackhorns. She never met her father.

After quitting from the Blackhorns, her mother sought safety beyond the Ephemeral Kingdoms, Tiefenland. She was raised in isolation, hardship and discipline. Her mother wished her to return to the company and honor their names, employing both lecture and beating to make her a fearsome warrior. However, little Lordani would not yield from her own self, and many times disobeyed an often flustered and always ready to hit mother.

One day, a messenger arrived carrying news from the Blackhorns: half the company was massacred in battle. The survivors had disappeared. Her mother did not yell at her, nor beated her, nor sent her to her chores. "Go to the woods for a while. I need time to think", she said. By the evening, Lordani found her hanging from the ceiling.

After the shock, she grasped the little strength she managed to gather and went for the scattered Blackhorns. The remnants had lost all pride they had, and fought cheaply for anyone. Still, she honored her family and decided to make the Blackhorns great once more. Lordani joined them as a scout, and tried to discover the fate of her long absent father, with no success.

Yet, again tragedy struck at her doors, for one morning she returned from a scouting mission and found the camp drowning in blood and fire. 

Eventually, a paladin from the Order of the Scarlet Heart discovered Lordani awash in grief amid the carnage and took her away. She introduced the young tiefling to the Order and thus Lordani too found in herself the resilience and goodwill to be paladin in the eyes of the Lady Serene, patron goddess of the Order.

Appearances: Book I: Unhinged, Chapter One.