New Eberron story (The Cast)

Kaelan (last name TBD):

Kaelan was born and raised in Northern Aerinal. He accompanied his mother and her warclan to Khorvaire, where he fought in the war with them as mercenary forces. When the war was over and Valenar declared its sovereignty from both Cyre and Aerinal, he left the warclan and took command of a group of bandits operating around the deserts. Pickings were ripe for bandits in the chaos after the war, and he made a very good living as a predator.

As time passed he became more violent and uncaring about his victims, stripping them of everything they owned and leaving them with a skin of water and a couple days food to get out of the desert with (he’d have sold them into slavery….but I’m pretty sure I read that elves are not big on slavery in general….). One day he raided a passing caravan and took everything of theirs, only to have the elder return to his camp that night. They shook their head sadly and lamented at how far he’d fallen. They called him by another name and said that it was high time he woke up. Kaelan walked up and made to grab the old one’s collar and drag them back to their caravan personally, but they had a blade at his throat before he could blink. They told him to remain calm, considered it for a moment and said, almost to themselves, that it’d probably go easier if he was unconscious for the ritual. One apologetic look later and a comment that he would doubtless take some form of amusing revenge next time the tables were turned, Kaelan was blasted back by an explosion of flames. He tried to get up but he was instantly kicked again and lifted off of the ground with the force. Before darkness took him he saw the old man’s fist descending towards his face.

Then he woke up. He was back in his bedroll and unharmed with one exception….a very stylized and beautiful green phoenix was now tattooed across his shoulderblades and back. He resolved to chalk this up to something he’d never tell anyone about, and continued on his way. But something was…different. He started gaining abilities in both spellcasting and martial pursuits. He started having dreams of other time periods, other lives. In these dreams he’d live and die, love and kill, he was a father, a mother, he was every race on Eberron he had ever heard of. A thousand lifetimes assailed him every night in his sleep, but they all had two things in common….that tattoo, and the path of morality he walked.

He left the desert soon after and came to Sharn. He made his living there selling his services to the highest bidder. It still wasn’t MORAL work, but it was better than being a bandit. Most of the time he denied the tendencies and dreams by sinking into hedonist tendencies, drinking and womanizing, but all of it…even the adventuring….seems like he’s just biding his time. He knows something will have to give eventually, but he’s not sure what he can do to make it all stop, or try to find some way to live with it before it all drives him insane.

Physical appearance is a lithe but muscular elf with long, unkempt dark blonde hair and the green eyes of his race. He wears more modern attire than most of his people, with a double-buttoned blue shirt, red sash-like belt and sand-colored tan leggings, cape and head covering and a set of goggles and a bandanna hanging around his neck. At his back is a cradle with a double-scimitar in it and he has smaller throwing blades shaped much like the double scimitar at his belt.

Rork:

Once a rival treasure hunter, he and Kaelan have been inseparable since the two of them escaped from the trap in UnderSharn. Rork is a bit unusual looking for a dwarf, hairless beyond a fire-red goatee that comes to a point under his chin and looks like an inverted candle flame. Rork, like most of us, will not share too much of his past…just that he has a rather defensive nature when dragons are mentioned in a bad light. Rork has the stubbornness and plain spoken manner of most dwarves, but he is easygoing and sociable. He and Kaelan make frequent trips to Sharn’s red light district in order to drink and take in the other entertainments. Rork is the more level headed of their partnership, and is a good counterpoint to Kaelan’s daring but occasionally foolhardy nature.

Tianna:

Three years ago, rumors hit Kaelan and Rork of a woman fighting in gladiatorial arenas in Droam. This was of interest, but not enough to make the trip…until some of the moves she used were described to Kaelan and hit a memory. She seemed to use the same type of blade magic he used. So he and Rork talked it over and decided it was time to bring on additional talent. They took the trip and talked to her. She seemed very closed off about any information about her abilities or herself in general, but seemed VERY interested in the money promise. The three of them had to battle their way out past the gladiator arena owner who wasn’t happy about her departure, but they got out and back to Sharn and she joined the Four Winds.

Tianna doesn’t share much about her personal history (none of us do), but she will talk at length about her family, most notably her brother, who is going to school (and probably being put through it by her earnings). Beyond that she acts like the big sister of the group (even though she’s by FAR the youngest), reigning in the boys when it’s needed. She and Kaelan fight almost constantly….mainly because they adore taking each other down a notch so much.

Onyx:

Onyx is a psiforged the Winds discovered while investigating a string of thefts in lower Dura. He was living in a hovel made of tarps and junk and had all the stolen pieces arrayed out and was examining them. Onyx is a Psiforged and a psion of some power, so we took him with us and he joined up. He’s too curious and too willing to talk to strangers (especially ones we are trying to pull one over on), but his insights are amusing and occasionally surprisingly valuable.

Draven:

Draven is a Sovereign Speaker…a priest of the entire Host. He is a thin young man with unkempt black hair who perpetually wears robes that cover his entire body. He’d be decent looking if he ever bothered to look up, but the robes hide his “friends” from view, and any admirer who sees THEM is surely to reconsider. Draven possesses three Daelkyr symbiotes, who hide inside his robes. Thus far the group hasn’t asked him why he has them….as people with secrets respect others’ as well. The secret Draven hasn’t told them is that he is a Daelkry halfblood. He is as much an aberration as the symbiotes he wears. Abandoned by his mother at a Host temple, he was raised by a kindly priest, who never let him too far from his sight. His surrogate father was overprotective enough that Draven was save his entire childhood, but never got to meet anyone. But his father taught him the ways of the Host, and to his surprise they seemed to accept him. With a mind constantly at war with itself, the rotes and repetitions of worship were like a balm to him…allowing him to focus on something and come to some sort of peace.

Two years ago his father died and he was forced to reveal himself to the temple. He was not outright attacked, but he could see the distrust on their faces and he quickly gathered his things and left. He has since been traveling Khorvaire, trying to live up to the memory of his father. He traveled from town to town helping people, but his presence always brought mistrust and eventually hostility whether they knew what he was or not. He met the Winds when he happened upon them. One of their number was grievously hurt and he healed them and helped them finish their quest. A discussion was had and the fact that we lacked a priest was evident, so the offer was extended for membership. Draven said no initially, but reconsidered after a time. He can travel a wider distance with their help, and can go to lands that barely know of the Daelkyrs’ presence. He takes any prejudice with a sad shaking of his head. It obviously bothers him a great deal and can cause him to go into a brooding phase for days after, but he never strikes out at an oppressor unless in defense of someone else who is being persecuted. The one time that happened and escalated was the one person Draven has killed while with the Winds.

He has taken some comfort in the presence of Onyx, who knows nothing of what his symbiotes are. He and Onyx have become something approaching friends and Draven will discuss philosophy and religion at length with him. As for the others, he knows they will either find out his secret or sour to his presence soon enough…the human woman is already very tense around him…but until then he finds it both fascinating and enjoyable to watch their interactions and not be glared at constantly. He’ll often sit and read in the same room as they are all interacting just to be present and watch them. So he’s taking advantage of the time he has.

New blood (Harmony):

In Xen’drik we found a Binder named Harmony…a dark skinned human girl being hunted by witch hunters of the Silver Flame. In a bid to save the damsel, Kaelin ruined a perfectly good evening for the Winds and ended up with her in tow in an ancient giant graveyard. One hour, two giant wraiths, and one more confrontation with the witch hunters later, the decision was made to keep her with us until we can get her to the anonymity of Sharn.