[Dragon Snack]

Another character background, this one my current Wild Elf Cleric (I'm not stuck on Clerics, it's just what these groups needed) of Shevarash. Also set in the Forgotten Realms, this one is more straight forward but if you need setting info I'll elaborate.

I planned on continuing his story, but the campaign and some of the other party members seem rather flat. I may eventually just hit the highlights. He's 4th level now, I'll post his stats if anyone wants.

[Dragon Snack]

Dark, unsmiling eyes…

But then, why should they be any different?

Watching your entire family, no, your entire tribe, slaughtered around you while powerless to do anything can do that to a person.

They came in the night, vile black-skinned demons. The fact that they were apparently Elves and they weren’t much darker than his brown skin doesn’t change anything. They seemed to emerge from nowhere, surrounding the encampment, killing without mercy, with what could be described as sheer joy…

Never having been trained in the way of weapons, he awkwardly picked up a Quarterstaff and tried to help. He did manage to knock one of the beasts from his sister, but not in time to save her.

Then She showed up, it was as if the battle around them faded away and only the two of them were standing there. She was out of the reach of his staff, giving her enough time to cast a spell. Suddenly his muscles went tense, binding him in place. He screamed, as much in terror as anger although he is embarrassed to admit it, as she drew a nasty blade from its sheath.

“Don’t move. This is for your own good,” She hissed as she sliced into his body. He went limp from the pain although it was more like a punch than a blade ripping his flesh…

When he awoke, the scene was horrifying. The entire village was destroyed, the stench of death hung in the air around him.

“For my own good?” What kind of sadistic trick was that? The absolute gall. Leaving him alone to take care of what was left of the village and fend for himself. And it’s for his good? Sure, he was old enough to survive, but where did he have to go?

The task at hand was enormous, at least three times that day the animals attacked, not counting the ones that got away with bodies that he never saw. Vicious opportunists, this was a consequence he had never contemplated as he had started training to be an ambassador of Rillifane the Leaflord. Elves could be nourishment for the animals? How distasteful.

After two days of cleaning and fighting off the scavengers, they appeared. Talindra and Khemed, back to announce their engagement. Well, welcome home…

Half Elves were an odd sort. I guess their short lives lend themselves to sharing with others. Most who left the village to become “adventurers” never returned, even if the Bards sang of them actually surviving their escapades. This was the third time Talindra had returned. Apparently she was some distant relation to Aravik, although exactly how he was unsure, since nobody talked openly of coupling with humans. Either way, he was happy to see them and happy to have a place to go.

The trip to Waterdeep was a rough one, almost 2 tendays counting all the stops from his village in the High Forrest. The sites were amazing, people actually lived out in the open! Where were all the trees!? And their attitudes, how rude! No wonder they were expelled from their villages. But yet that was nothing…

Waterdeep. What was going on? Who were all these people? What manner of tribe was this? They could be as rude as the vagrants they met on the road, yet they were still allowed inside the gate of this odd village…

How quickly his attitude changed. Talindra introduced Aravik to the local Elven enclave, who quickly took him under their wing. He learned all about the evil Drow and the ways of this larger world. While his nimbleness and the fact that most of Talindra’s friends were of the more sneaky variety lead him to be courted by various Thieves Guilds, his wisdom and his desire for revenge against these “Drow” held him back from their ranks. He did study with a few teachers from the more open guilds, learning to flip and roll with grace. He just wanted more than personal gain. He wanted to do something greater than himself.

Then he met Mourn. At least that was the name he gave. Mourn was not like your typical Elf, even your typical Wild Elf (Aravik hated that name for his race). There was no joy in this mans life, but there was the one thing that drew Aravik to him. He hated Drow. He studied Drow. He hunted Drow. His life was dedicated to the destruction of the Drow and their gods. This was the man that Aravik would learn from.

Mourn was a skilled bowman and Aravik took quickly to the use of a bow. Mourn drilled his skill with the bow into Aravik as he practiced day and night until he was falling over from exhaustion. The day that Mourn gave Aravik the gift of his exquisite old bow was the happiest day of his life, but Mourn didn’t crack a smile. Instead he told him of Shevarash, the Black Archer.

Araviks mission was now clear. He would embrace the way of Shevarash and follow Mourn.

Only Mourn didn’t see it that way. It seemed that Mourn knew of Araviks zeal, but never invited him on the missions with the rest of his small group of friends. Aravik strived to show Mourn he was ready, it wasn’t fair that he should be left behind. He needed to quench his thirst for vengeance.

And then it happened again. A Drow Assassin snuck into the Temple and dispatched Mourn. He didn’t escape unscathed, being noticed while trying to sneak out, but his skill was phenomenal. Dodging, weaving, and then slipping in that killing blow. This disgusting creature was deadly. Araviks arrows seemed to do no damage to him, when they hit at all. Now he understood the reasons why Mourn held him back.

It was clear to Aravik, he must improve his skills and use them to destroy the Drow.

For his family, for his teacher, for his god, and for himself…

The shouts of vengeance were loud that Midwinter Night.

And Aravik no longer smiles…

[Death Angel]

Ohhhhhhhh COOL!
I love your writeing style, that is just so cool, I want more!!!! LOL

[Dragon Snack]

There was a light drizzle falling that morning. In hindsight it was prophetic.

Aravik was uneasy about the journey home. It weighed heavy on his mind that his compatriots had used him as bait for the Dragon. If they were going to have second thoughts when going after a Dragon, they shouldn’t have them once they were in its lair…

They had handled it easy enough, but the Dragon had escaped. Was it running or was it just going for reinforcements? Only time would tell. At least that’s what he thought.

They weren’t far from the abandoned Dwarven stronghold when they showed up. Far too close for Araviks comfort, but the rain had hampered their vision enough that they hadn’t seen the Giants until they were close. Aravik dismounted with his bow at the ready, but held back from attacking in case they wanted to parley.

No such luck. One of the brutes ran forward and tossed a rock towards Aravik, which he easy avoided while loosing an arrow into his attacker. It seemed to have little effect.

The others quickly dismounted, since none of the group was very proficient while riding. Instead of summoning one of his minions, the Wizard cast a defensive spell on the pugilist Crane. “Odd” thought Aravik, but he had no problem with the Wizard helping out the fighter. Crane and Leilani moved up and took defensive positions to avoid the boulders the others would likely throw. They were good at that. Unfortunately these Giants were better and both took shots from the incoming hail.

Oh yes, as the mist parted the full contingent became visible. 5 of them in total, but that didn’t concern Aravik much. The Wizard specialized in summoning his “army”, so the odds would soon be tipped in their favor. Only the Wizard cast his new pet spell, some type of Strength draining fog that didn’t seem to work very well despite the Wizards protests. It didn’t work this time either.

This group wanted some up close and personal action though and they had the speed to close the gap quickly. The aggressive one was on Aravik before he could get another arrow into him. Aravik tried to slam him with his gauntlet, but he didn’t have the skill with a gauntlet that he had with his bow and his spikes met the thick hide of the Giant without drawing any blood. Ducking and weaving he moved back to take another shot.

And missed. Clean. Aravik never missed.

The Giant smiled a toothy grin and charged in again, catching Aravik with his club. His ears rang from the blast, but he spun away from the blow to keep it from taking his head completely off. These things had power and liked to use it. Aravik was going to have to use his wits as well as his bow.

A quick look around and he saw Crane and Leilani having problems with the 4 on them, but he couldn’t see the Wizard, or his minions, at all. A quick spin moved him away from the Giant on him; Aravik retreated to the horses and sent another arrow into it. It didn’t seem to faze the Giant at all and it charged at Aravik again, but swung wildly and Aravik continued to duck away behind a horse. Instead of moving around the horse the Giant broke its back with a swing of his club, sending the other horses scattering. Aravik didn’t want that to happen, but he continued to pepper the Giant with more arrows.

The Wizards “army” finally began appearing, but they were no match for the Giants who dispatched them quickly. Leilani and Crane were in full retreat at this point. Both seemed battered and yelled for Aravik to heal them, only Aravik had few spells left to help. His Giant was finished with the horses as well and charged in to attack Aravik with renewed vigor. Suddenly the other Giants were around Aravik while his companions continued their retreat.

The ground began to erupt in flailing tentacles as the Wizard reappeared across from where he had been. But the Wizards aim was not true and left one of the fresh Giants free to pursue Aravik. He dodged away to fire more arrows at the new Giant and Crane made a weak attempt to distract it, but he was out for Aravik and charged in landing another wicked blow to Araviks shoulder.

As he heard his bones cracking Aravik turned to run, the only way he could escape the pummeling. But before he could make his escape the Giant landed a fatal blow and Aravik fell to the ground…

[Dragon Snack]

Death Angel, on Apr 29 2004, 05:41 AM, said:

Ohhhhhhhh COOL!
I love your writeing style, that is just so cool, I want more!!!! LOL

Thanks for the compliment. Sorry I'm late replying, I wasn't posting here back then (due to the politics thing)...

Alas, as you can tell, there will be no more tales of Aravik for the time being. His body was rescued by the Wizard (for some reason), so he could be Raised. Only (if you can't tell) I don't really feel that this party worked well together and they hung Aravik out to dry. There's no reason for him to continue to adventure and put his life on the line (again) with this group, so I was going to bring in another character.

Only the DM and another player (Leilani's player) agreed that the party doesn't work together, so they want to start up a new game that I will be DMing...

My players HAVE to work together or they don't survive long.