Arden
Losing his parents as a young child before he remembers, Arden was taken in as an apprentice by a Tiefling Warlock by the name of Dakamos. After years of service to the Warlock, he was eventually deemed worthy to begin practicing the dark arts of his mentor.
Arden always had a soft place in his heart for others, and especially empathized with other orphans. However the same experiences also opened a dark corner of his heart, and within that place he harbors resentment for being abandoned, and focuses his dark energies from this hate. This is a constant struggle within himself, Arden does not share this with others.
Just after Arden began to progress through his lessons, and learned some of the basic Warlock magic, Dakamos learned some secret of his past and cast him out, stating only that he could teach him no more. This of course has only fueled the dark fire of betrayal and abandonment that resides in his heart.
Fending for himself most of his life, he has learned to be very observant, even manipulative. He takes great care in his actions, and has the street smarts to plan his actions and the consequences. One cannot survive in a cold world alone, if they play their cards too soon.
Standing almost 6 foot, Arden dresses in unassuming garb of dark colors. He is handsome, with piercing, dark eyes which are not evil, yet seem to be cold if you look deep into them, as if there is anger bubbling just under the surface. He maintains a straight face, or at least a small smile to put others at ease if they seem cautious. He has a scar on the right side of his face, which appears to have started at the ear where he is missing a small slice off the bottom.
Arden’s goal is to pick up where his mentor left him, and continue to study the Warlock arts. As a student he had just glimpsed the dark power that he may one day wield, and after being alone and helpless for most of his life, this power is something that he desires greatly – to the point of obsession.
Belimir
Belimir is a loner. After the loss of his both parents, Belimir has withdrawn to the forest and for a long time, he didn`t talk, even with Vid. He doesn`t trust outsiders, but is not quick to judge persons.
Belimir believes in balance. There must be balance in life, in everything. He doesn`t strive to do good. He doesn`t strive to destroy the ones that do wrong. He has a moral code but it is a bit complex.
He is a protector of nature. He does everything in his power to return to the nature what she gave him. A safe place, understanding and peace. He understands about fulfilling the basic need of every living being, but should he see others harm the balance in nature for personal goals, he will intervene, mostly by shape shifting into an animal and sabotaging the plans, making it too costly to maintain.
White. This is the color which he loves. He loves the winter and delights in snow. He considers it the time of peace and rest. He loves the fact that it`s calm and slow-paced. He also has white hair, and when shape shifting, he chooses that as the colour of his fur.
Speed. He relies on it very much. During his time spent in the woods, he learned that speed doesn`t just kill, it also keeps you alive. This is why he tends to be a swift predator on the battlefield, targeting the backside of enemy ranks.
Brann Longbeard
Born on the holy day for his clan’s greatest healer has given his life a destiny to aspire to. Always wondering whether there was a specific purpose his deity had in mind for him.
Brann was humble as a young dwarf but always felt the pressure of the clan’s elders.
He decided to break away from the clan to experience the world to better understand his place in it.
Brann has set out adventuring against evil and bringing justice to those who deserve it is a fitting calling for him.
He knows his skills are better used by supporting and healing his allies, rather than standing in the front lines battling.
Bronn
Not much is known about the strange Dragonborn Artificer. He became Varro's pet “dragon” early on and unforunately met an early demise at the hands of vicious kobolds along the road to Winterhaven.
Ehud
Ehud was born in and grew up in prison city controlled by gangs, each of which had an occult or divine element attached. Ehud’s own was devoted to the god of revenge.
He grew up learning the esoteric secrets of an Avenger of Hoar, but these accessed an uncorrupted aspect of the diety.
His own gang was betrayed in a power play with a Sharran gang in which Ehud’s illusionist friend, Codren, betrayed them in order to gain a more dominant role over the whole city. During the ensuing conflict, Ehud escaped the city.
Ehud sees life, society, and ethics in terms of revenge. “The only justice worth having is gotten with your own blood soaked hands. There is only one sin and that is weakness. Sin is inevitable but be weak no longer and take up revenge. The purpose of society is to thwart revenge and keep people weak—do not be weak.” These are just a few of the tenets that Ehud adheres to.
Dark haired, dark eyed, and olive skinned, Ehud goes shirtless showing off his many prison tattoos. Covering his entire body from toes to forehead, each has some meaning, is a record of some event or ideal of his gang life. Followers of other gods may see some of them as heretical since they often show the symbols of other gods being crushed, broken or warped by Hoar. He wears black loose pants, with a red belt tied around the waist. He carries a long spear and a few Javelins.
Ehud met an untimely end in the Keep on the Shadowfell. He was eatten by giant rats.
Francis II
Francis II was born into aristocracy, in human-dominated lands. Growing up, those in his (Clan Starkarts) explained how a once-glorious Strongheart Halfling nation was destroyed and how they had a duty to unite the Halflings into creating a new nation as glorious as the previous one.
He was kept strictly in aristocratic circles until his 16th birthday when his father, prompted by a belief that no one can form a lasting nation without being both a great king and a great holy man of Arvoreen, sent Francis to a Halfling paladin named Joseph Cyrlalee.
Francis was apprenticed to Joseph, who determined that Francis had been spoiled in an environment that fed him the delusion that his self-preservation was the only matter worthy of importance. Joseph Cyrlalee then made a long practice of keeping Francis isolated and beating him to induce both self-sufficiency and fear.
Prompted by his learning about poverty and the poor treatment of Halflings by other races, Francis eventually abandoned his abusive master to undergo a search motivated by a concern with the Halfling condition
His search led him deeper and deeper into humanitarian action until he began depriving himself of all material goods, including food, in order to help others. It was in this state that he discovered the unaligned way, a path of moderation between complete self-indulgence (chaotic evil) and complete selflessness (lawful good).
Jiles Two-Shot
Born into a poor family, Jiles spent the majority of his life striving for the “big score”. This mentality led to a life of crime.
After spending a good number of years in a gang of burglars, he was caught trying to steal a priceless magical ruby pendant from a wizard. Instead of turning him in, the wizard decided to teach Jiles a lesson by forcing him to live amongst those most foul – in Luskan.
Jiles spent nearly a year in Luskan, too afraid to venture out and face the wizard. The rotting city trounced what he once thought of as a poor existence, making him realize how ‘good’ his life had been. He had to hit rock bottom though, before he decided to turn his life around. He is a master of the shadow, seemingly disappearing before ones eyes. His clothes help him with that, as he acquired a set of camouflaged clothing and footpads while in Luskan.
After leaving Luskan, he never saw the wizard again. Perhaps it was his life changing experience that the wizard had witnessed, and realized that Jiles would never again turn to a life of crime. Instead, endowed by the skills he had learned, he set out to make money as an adventurer. He vowed to still amass a fortune for himself, but through honest means. I should clarify that he is not against stealing from or hurting the likes of goblins, orcs, or others who he deems evil.
From his criminal life and life in Luskan, Jiles can be a tad abrupt and lacks some of the basic pleasantries that some use in daily conversation. He can also come across as paranoid, watching over his shoulder at night. However, after a few beers, he can be quite relaxed and friendly.
Nuit
Death is a natural part of life and not to be feared, undeath is an abomination unless it serves the Raven Queen's purpose.
Nuit has not spent much time among other fully sentient creatures, will be awkward, speech hesitant.
He is not affiliated with any groups prior to this point.
Nuit was trained in the wilderness by an Angel from the Raven Queen, and was given the name Nuit.
He has no memory of life before wandering in wilderness shortly before meeting the Angel.
Nuit heard the calling of his Goddess, and ventured off alone into the wilderness, never to be heard from again.
Varro Orkenshield
Varro is Loyal to whomever he has a contract with, it doesn't matter if he is barely breaking even or making a mint. If he has a contract, he will honor it to the death.
Varro is a lil rough around the edges, ok, he is downright rude at times, but once you get to know him you realize that he doesn't mean anything by it. It is just the way he is, a bit uncivilized. Maybe that comes from his upbringing in the mines or maybe it is because he really couldn't care less who is insulted by him. Either way it is just the way he is, get used to it.
Varro is shorter than some dwarves and heavier than most but he is as rugged as they come. He is the one you want on your side in a bar fight, and if you go into a bar with him, there is most likely going to be a fight, because Varro is liable to be the one starting it.
Varro smells of old tobacco, older whiskey and a bit of earth thrown in there too.
Not sure where he came from but if the coin is right and the conditions are in his favor he will be going with you where ever you might be headed.
Vigo Dhatway
Vigo's early life was defined by wealth. Raised in an affluent family he developed a slightly skewed view of the world, ignorant of the hardships common to most lives. Just before his fourteenth birthday, war broke-out; his family's not-so-legitimate sources of wealth (which played an integral part in sparking the war) were exposed and most were slain in bloody riots that occurred while the city their primary estates (and his home) were located was under siege. Vigo's uncle managed to save himself and Vigo. The rest of the family perished.
Forced to conceal his family ties, Vigo's uncle taught him to live as a pauper. Shortly after their escape, Vigo began to learn the arcane arts from his uncle, transforming his formal education in the fine arts into a practical means of providing for himself from day to day.
At fifteen, Vigo's uncle took him “away” to... somewhere. This is also the last time he remembers ever interacting with his uncle and he cannot even remember his uncle's name or face. All Vigo remembers for certain is that his previous life was almost entirely erased through a series of arcane rituals. His memories of his earlier life are hazy at best, slipping out of focus, much like that one word you just had on the tip of your tongue but can't remember now. His memories are utterly vague until his twenty-seventh birthday and he cannot account, in any way, for the passage of time between fifteen and twenty-seven. No magic Vigo has since encountered has been able to recall his past to him, nor even produce any information consistent with what little he does remember causing him to wonder if his childhood memories contain any accuracy. Divinations of the highest order he has been exposed to (not that potent, of course, as his means are meager) have not even hinted that his past may be veiled, much less what his history might contain.
Vigo knows his name is a pseudonym, but has no idea what his “real” identity is, other than his hazy memories.
At the age of twenty-nine, Vigo finally let go of retrieving his past and embraced his imposed identity. He started dressing as well as he could afford to and embraced the wealthy mannerisms he remembers as a child, as he is convinced his past is behind him. He carries himself with the slightly haughty poise of a well-bred gentleman, carrying it off better than most who pretend to the role. His limited funds are of little concern to him as his arcane training allows him to maintain his limited wardrobe in perfect condition. For all that, his sense of money's value is entirely true to his pauper's life (one tries to keep-up the “face” of wealth... but one needs to eat to do so).
Wilam
Wilam's primary goal in life has been to know the secrets of the gods. He has spent countless years pouring over books and resources in libraries across the lands.
At this point, he feels he must begin to move beyond the libraries. “Book smarts can only get you so far,” he told a fellow scholar. “I've been wasting my life away in this endless seas of books... Books! They never end! Every time I turn around, there's another stack of them, each one filled with the same useless drivel as the last. It's time I venture into the world and experience the gods first-hand.”
Wilam is convinced that languages—or more specifically, the words of Supernal languages—hold the keys to unraveling the secrets he seeks.
The years of study have left his physical body gaunt and listless. He often depends on his magical prowess to augment his strength and endurance. Since setting out on his exploration adventures, he has gotten noticeably more strength. His nimbleness, however, is still wanting.
Wilam has never married and had only one love interest. The relationship was eventually stifled by his fascination with the secrets of gods and their powers.
He is generally calm and calculating in his personality. He is slow to react and generally has trouble taking to complex situations. His cautious nature will delay important decisions until the last possible second. He is generally socially awkward and prefers solitude. However, thanks to his scholastic background, he is no stranger when it comes to putting on a show for elitist nobles.
