Post by Lobstrosity on Jun 3, 2007 21:01:31 GMT -5
Character Name: Ki'Ru Kethavain (a.k.a. Ki'Ruir Firavain)
Level: Shadowcaster 6 (edited by Azan)
Race: Gray Elf
Age: 150 (24 human equivalent mental maturity)
Abilities at lvl 6 + magic items:
-Str: 6
-Dex: 14
-Con: 8
-Int: 16
-Wis: 8
-Cha: 21 (with cloak)
Alignment: NG (neutral good)
Ki'Ru is not an obviously kind person, but tends towards good rather than evil. He does not look and plan to do good things, or wait for good opportunities, but prefers to do them at his own pace.
Religion: Corellon Larethian
Ki'Ru does worship Corellon, god of the elves. He does not bring up religion to others and will not use Corellon's teachings to sway anyone, because he knows not everyone follows this path.
Traits: Detached
Personality:
Although a good leader in any situation, Ki'Ru rarely takes advantage of this ability, choosing to instead view the situation and his allies from behind the scenes, offering guidance and info only when needed. Ki'Ru appreciates all others, and protects anyone he considers a friend.
Flaw:
Non-combatant
Bonus Minor Feat:
Toughness
Story Item:
- Story Item: Cloak of Charisma +2
- Story Item Cost: 4000 gp
- Explanation: A birthday gift from Ki'Ru's parents 20 years before joining the Citadel Guard, to enhance his natural leadership talent.
Player Tie Ins:
Ambrose died in a skirmish with my squad.
Amallae's father (then younger) pointed me out as the murderer.
Cause of Death:
Killed by a shadow of my former arcane power.
Back Story:
My character is a gray elf, born in a secluded mountain citadel. His family name is Kethavain, which means wind spirit in elven. From an early age, he rarely spoke, but when he did, he was extremely insightful and intelligent. Thus his parents named him Ki'Ru, which means "silent dreamer." Thus his full name is Ki'Ru Kethavain. For his whole childhood, Ki'Ru disdained weapons of all kinds in favor of magic, which is also a perfectly acceptable calling for elves. So when he skipped out on swordplay lessons to study his spells, which he often did, no one bothered to tell him off.
As Ki'Ru grew older, he sharpened his magic skills, but remained unused to physical conflict. He was welcomed into the citadel guard as a mage, at the age of 120 (about 20 human equivalent).
Due to his great skill in dealing with people, he quickly rose in rank to become his squad leader. His magic skill also improved quickly.
When Ki'Ru was 150 (24 human equivalent), strange creatures of darkness and evil began appearing on the roads leading to the citidel, and attacking travelers and elves alike. Ki'Ru and his squad were assigned to investigate and end this threat. After days of searching the mountain paths, a new cave was discovered, which led down into the mountains. After searching the cave, Ki'Ru learned that this was the source of the shadow creatures. His party fended off several off them. They continued down into the darkness, where even Ki'Ru's light spells seemed weakened.
The darkness grew stronger, and the party's morale grew weaker. Constant shadow monster attacks had claimed the lives of 2 of their best elves, and wounded many more. The wounds they left were difficult to heal, and seemed to injure one's very soul as well. Ki'Ru knew they were nearing the source of the problem, and they pressed onward. There then came of wave of cold and darkness which swept over the group. Torches flickered and went out. Almost all light spells were dispelled. Only Ki'Ru's lighted staff remained active, shedding it's dim globe of illumination weakly. Something moved in the darkness just beyond it. Something horrible. Then the sound of footsteps could be heard. A group of humanoids and fiends emerged ((one of which is eli's character)) all armored and bearing weapons. They had the light of battle in their eyes, but a touch of darkness in their souls. Fighting commenced without delay, and the well trained Gray Elf squad under Ki'Ru's command showed no mercy. The battle was going smoothly, and Ki'Ru himself dropped a couple of the attackers with his spells. His light kept wearing off, and he had to keep recasting it faster than normal. Just as the battle seemed all but won, Ki'Ru and the others felt that horrid presence manifest itself behind them. A hideous abomination of indescribable shadow seethed forth into the globe of light, which instantly fell weaker and went out. Ki'Ru used his last light spell on his staff, unveiling the havoc the new threat caused in his ranks. All but a few of the weaker enemies had already perished, but the shadow was still killing his warriors one by one. They fought bravely, longsword slashing, arrows flying, spells blazing. But the shadow was too much. After every blow it recoiled, only to surge forward, like an amorphous being of pure shadow, assuming physical shape beside it's attacker instantly and striking him down with brutal cuts by shadowy appendages which formed and reformed. Sometimes it assumed an entire physical shape: that of a shadowy human with nearly undefinable characteristics. Ki'Ru saw his last elf cut down, and the creature turned it's head towards him. It came towards him, eyes, nose, hair, arms, legs, all hazy and blurred. But the mouth was clearly there, hanging open with fangs protruding, as if to swallow all light whole. Then it was gone, coalescing into a vaporous mass which came forth, cutting into Ki'Ru as it passed. Ki'Ru fell to the ground. Darkness clouded his eyes, and he couldn't tell if his light spell was fading or he was just dying, if not both. Straining to see what form the being that felled him now assumed, he was surprised by what he saw. It was still a shadowy, hazy image, but now what stood before him was not a ghoulish creature, but an undeniably beautiful woman. A breeze through the cave seemed to blow her hair, and the incorporeal vapors of her body trailed off into the surrounding shade. She smiled in a nonchalant sort of way at him, as though she knew what he was about to do and didn't care to stop him. He raised his hand and uttered some incantations, launching his last spell, a scorching ray, at her. The beam of fire, which struck her directly, seemed to ignite the very darkness she was made of. Her figure burned away, devouring her entire being. The last thing Ki'Ru saw was a faint glimpse of her smile, before he passed out.
When he awoke, darkness surrounded him, Ki'Ru felt a piercing pain at his mid-section. A terrible slash ran from his left upper thigh up to the left side of his stomach. He felt cold and his spirit seemed to falter somewhat, as though shadow were creeping into him through the wound in his side. Nevertheless, Ki'Ru picked himself up and using the wall for support and guidance, he continued down the tunnel.
He knew he should go back, but he felt more by compulsion than by courage or loyalty that he should move on. After many hours of limping on like that, he encountered a larger cavern, illuminated by a pool of water, which seemed to give off a dim, bioluminescent light. Beyond the pool stood a large portal of swirling darkness. Ki'Ru knnew it for what it was: a portal to the plane of shadow, the source of the creatures of darkness. By the light of the pool, he practiced and prepared a spell he knew from his book, a spell to close and lock this gate. when he had rested some and drank from the pool, he prepared to cast his spell on the portal. Standing before it, he waved his hands and with the right words, caused a rift of energy to coincide with the gate, which began to shrink. However at the same time, tendrils of foggy darkness surged forth, wrapping around Ki'Ru, restraining him, and dragging him into the closing portal.
Ki'Ru stood in the middle of a vast gray field. The ground seemed to be made of packed dirt, but had the color of ash and dust. All around the darkness prevailed, the sky was black, giving the impression of eternal night. Something stirred in Ki'Ru's heart, and he knew the only way out of the darkness was to give in to it.
He didn't know exactly how long he stayed in that eternal prison of darkness, a few weeks he figured. Never once did he feel hungry or thirsty, nor did he feel tired. His wound even gradually healed, but it left a wicked scar. For all those days he did nothing but focus his mind on the shadow, willing himself to learn it's secrets, to use it's power. He became quickly accustomed to it's uses, but at the same time, he felt his old magics draining from memory. All of his spell energy seemed to be siphoned away over time, as if into another source he couldn't comprehend, being absorbed into the shadow like a sponge soaking water. Every day he found that he had forgotten more and more of the symbols and runes in his own spellbook, until at last he knew nothing at all of magic as he once knew it. Replacing this power he felt an ability to wield the mysteries of shadow. Using their power, he forced the shadow prison plane to release him.
He fell back out into the material plane, at the same pool of water he had left. The portal was gone, and he sensed no more shadow there in the tunnels. No more shadow which wasn't his own. Except he felt a familiar prescence. A familiar energy and something else which didn't belong. He felt it nearby, and then it was gone, moving back up the passage. Ki'Ru followed suit.
Once back at the citadel, he was welcomed by his friends and family. Everyone regarded him as a hero: he who stopped the shadow monsters. They marveled at the scar he had received. And everyone mourned the loss of the other elves.
Life continued as normal, then, for a few weeks time. Save one thing: Everyone acknowledged that there was something different about their hero. They sensed a darkness, and impending doom about him. Some had even taken to calling him Ki'Ruir, which means Dusk of the Silent Dreamer.
Finally, and the evening of the 17th day after his return, a cry rose up from the citadel streets. Elves emerged from their homes to find two youngsters, about 9 years old returning from play out on the trails ((one of them is Kagome's character's father, later)). They were standing over the corpse of a slain elf, the elder citadel priest, crying. As Ki'Ru approached the growing crowd of elves, one of the youngsters recoiled and cried out in horror, pointing at him and shouting "Murderer! Ki'Ruir is a murderer!" Ki'Ru denied this accusation, claiming to have been in his home all day, but more elves came forward, admitting they saw from their windows that Ki'Ru had commited the crime. Ki'Ru, former hero of the citidel, was chained and brought before a tribal council. They sentenced him to exile, and the last thing they said before he was released the next afternoon and sent forth from the citidel was this: "May Corellon's justice be swift and merciless on you, Ki'Ruir Firavain (which means dark spirit)."
9 hours later, Ki'Ru was killed.
On the path late that night, he saw a shadowy figure approaching. The figure moved silently, and he felt a familiar energy bound to it again. Although it approached him, it never grew any less shadowy, and by the time it met him and raised it's face to him, he realized it was a shadow. A shadow of himself. A mirror reflection. And it raised his hands and muttered the words he could barely remember as those for scorching ray. Ki'Ru had only time to make the connections in his head. "Well how about that. . ." He smiled as he said this. "I am the murderer."
Level: Shadowcaster 6 (edited by Azan)
Race: Gray Elf
Age: 150 (24 human equivalent mental maturity)
Abilities at lvl 6 + magic items:
-Str: 6
-Dex: 14
-Con: 8
-Int: 16
-Wis: 8
-Cha: 21 (with cloak)
Alignment: NG (neutral good)
Ki'Ru is not an obviously kind person, but tends towards good rather than evil. He does not look and plan to do good things, or wait for good opportunities, but prefers to do them at his own pace.
Religion: Corellon Larethian
Ki'Ru does worship Corellon, god of the elves. He does not bring up religion to others and will not use Corellon's teachings to sway anyone, because he knows not everyone follows this path.
Traits: Detached
Personality:
Although a good leader in any situation, Ki'Ru rarely takes advantage of this ability, choosing to instead view the situation and his allies from behind the scenes, offering guidance and info only when needed. Ki'Ru appreciates all others, and protects anyone he considers a friend.
Flaw:
Non-combatant
Bonus Minor Feat:
Toughness
Story Item:
- Story Item: Cloak of Charisma +2
- Story Item Cost: 4000 gp
- Explanation: A birthday gift from Ki'Ru's parents 20 years before joining the Citadel Guard, to enhance his natural leadership talent.
Player Tie Ins:
Ambrose died in a skirmish with my squad.
Amallae's father (then younger) pointed me out as the murderer.
Cause of Death:
Killed by a shadow of my former arcane power.
Back Story:
My character is a gray elf, born in a secluded mountain citadel. His family name is Kethavain, which means wind spirit in elven. From an early age, he rarely spoke, but when he did, he was extremely insightful and intelligent. Thus his parents named him Ki'Ru, which means "silent dreamer." Thus his full name is Ki'Ru Kethavain. For his whole childhood, Ki'Ru disdained weapons of all kinds in favor of magic, which is also a perfectly acceptable calling for elves. So when he skipped out on swordplay lessons to study his spells, which he often did, no one bothered to tell him off.
As Ki'Ru grew older, he sharpened his magic skills, but remained unused to physical conflict. He was welcomed into the citadel guard as a mage, at the age of 120 (about 20 human equivalent).
Due to his great skill in dealing with people, he quickly rose in rank to become his squad leader. His magic skill also improved quickly.
When Ki'Ru was 150 (24 human equivalent), strange creatures of darkness and evil began appearing on the roads leading to the citidel, and attacking travelers and elves alike. Ki'Ru and his squad were assigned to investigate and end this threat. After days of searching the mountain paths, a new cave was discovered, which led down into the mountains. After searching the cave, Ki'Ru learned that this was the source of the shadow creatures. His party fended off several off them. They continued down into the darkness, where even Ki'Ru's light spells seemed weakened.
The darkness grew stronger, and the party's morale grew weaker. Constant shadow monster attacks had claimed the lives of 2 of their best elves, and wounded many more. The wounds they left were difficult to heal, and seemed to injure one's very soul as well. Ki'Ru knew they were nearing the source of the problem, and they pressed onward. There then came of wave of cold and darkness which swept over the group. Torches flickered and went out. Almost all light spells were dispelled. Only Ki'Ru's lighted staff remained active, shedding it's dim globe of illumination weakly. Something moved in the darkness just beyond it. Something horrible. Then the sound of footsteps could be heard. A group of humanoids and fiends emerged ((one of which is eli's character)) all armored and bearing weapons. They had the light of battle in their eyes, but a touch of darkness in their souls. Fighting commenced without delay, and the well trained Gray Elf squad under Ki'Ru's command showed no mercy. The battle was going smoothly, and Ki'Ru himself dropped a couple of the attackers with his spells. His light kept wearing off, and he had to keep recasting it faster than normal. Just as the battle seemed all but won, Ki'Ru and the others felt that horrid presence manifest itself behind them. A hideous abomination of indescribable shadow seethed forth into the globe of light, which instantly fell weaker and went out. Ki'Ru used his last light spell on his staff, unveiling the havoc the new threat caused in his ranks. All but a few of the weaker enemies had already perished, but the shadow was still killing his warriors one by one. They fought bravely, longsword slashing, arrows flying, spells blazing. But the shadow was too much. After every blow it recoiled, only to surge forward, like an amorphous being of pure shadow, assuming physical shape beside it's attacker instantly and striking him down with brutal cuts by shadowy appendages which formed and reformed. Sometimes it assumed an entire physical shape: that of a shadowy human with nearly undefinable characteristics. Ki'Ru saw his last elf cut down, and the creature turned it's head towards him. It came towards him, eyes, nose, hair, arms, legs, all hazy and blurred. But the mouth was clearly there, hanging open with fangs protruding, as if to swallow all light whole. Then it was gone, coalescing into a vaporous mass which came forth, cutting into Ki'Ru as it passed. Ki'Ru fell to the ground. Darkness clouded his eyes, and he couldn't tell if his light spell was fading or he was just dying, if not both. Straining to see what form the being that felled him now assumed, he was surprised by what he saw. It was still a shadowy, hazy image, but now what stood before him was not a ghoulish creature, but an undeniably beautiful woman. A breeze through the cave seemed to blow her hair, and the incorporeal vapors of her body trailed off into the surrounding shade. She smiled in a nonchalant sort of way at him, as though she knew what he was about to do and didn't care to stop him. He raised his hand and uttered some incantations, launching his last spell, a scorching ray, at her. The beam of fire, which struck her directly, seemed to ignite the very darkness she was made of. Her figure burned away, devouring her entire being. The last thing Ki'Ru saw was a faint glimpse of her smile, before he passed out.
When he awoke, darkness surrounded him, Ki'Ru felt a piercing pain at his mid-section. A terrible slash ran from his left upper thigh up to the left side of his stomach. He felt cold and his spirit seemed to falter somewhat, as though shadow were creeping into him through the wound in his side. Nevertheless, Ki'Ru picked himself up and using the wall for support and guidance, he continued down the tunnel.
He knew he should go back, but he felt more by compulsion than by courage or loyalty that he should move on. After many hours of limping on like that, he encountered a larger cavern, illuminated by a pool of water, which seemed to give off a dim, bioluminescent light. Beyond the pool stood a large portal of swirling darkness. Ki'Ru knnew it for what it was: a portal to the plane of shadow, the source of the creatures of darkness. By the light of the pool, he practiced and prepared a spell he knew from his book, a spell to close and lock this gate. when he had rested some and drank from the pool, he prepared to cast his spell on the portal. Standing before it, he waved his hands and with the right words, caused a rift of energy to coincide with the gate, which began to shrink. However at the same time, tendrils of foggy darkness surged forth, wrapping around Ki'Ru, restraining him, and dragging him into the closing portal.
Ki'Ru stood in the middle of a vast gray field. The ground seemed to be made of packed dirt, but had the color of ash and dust. All around the darkness prevailed, the sky was black, giving the impression of eternal night. Something stirred in Ki'Ru's heart, and he knew the only way out of the darkness was to give in to it.
He didn't know exactly how long he stayed in that eternal prison of darkness, a few weeks he figured. Never once did he feel hungry or thirsty, nor did he feel tired. His wound even gradually healed, but it left a wicked scar. For all those days he did nothing but focus his mind on the shadow, willing himself to learn it's secrets, to use it's power. He became quickly accustomed to it's uses, but at the same time, he felt his old magics draining from memory. All of his spell energy seemed to be siphoned away over time, as if into another source he couldn't comprehend, being absorbed into the shadow like a sponge soaking water. Every day he found that he had forgotten more and more of the symbols and runes in his own spellbook, until at last he knew nothing at all of magic as he once knew it. Replacing this power he felt an ability to wield the mysteries of shadow. Using their power, he forced the shadow prison plane to release him.
He fell back out into the material plane, at the same pool of water he had left. The portal was gone, and he sensed no more shadow there in the tunnels. No more shadow which wasn't his own. Except he felt a familiar prescence. A familiar energy and something else which didn't belong. He felt it nearby, and then it was gone, moving back up the passage. Ki'Ru followed suit.
Once back at the citadel, he was welcomed by his friends and family. Everyone regarded him as a hero: he who stopped the shadow monsters. They marveled at the scar he had received. And everyone mourned the loss of the other elves.
Life continued as normal, then, for a few weeks time. Save one thing: Everyone acknowledged that there was something different about their hero. They sensed a darkness, and impending doom about him. Some had even taken to calling him Ki'Ruir, which means Dusk of the Silent Dreamer.
Finally, and the evening of the 17th day after his return, a cry rose up from the citadel streets. Elves emerged from their homes to find two youngsters, about 9 years old returning from play out on the trails ((one of them is Kagome's character's father, later)). They were standing over the corpse of a slain elf, the elder citadel priest, crying. As Ki'Ru approached the growing crowd of elves, one of the youngsters recoiled and cried out in horror, pointing at him and shouting "Murderer! Ki'Ruir is a murderer!" Ki'Ru denied this accusation, claiming to have been in his home all day, but more elves came forward, admitting they saw from their windows that Ki'Ru had commited the crime. Ki'Ru, former hero of the citidel, was chained and brought before a tribal council. They sentenced him to exile, and the last thing they said before he was released the next afternoon and sent forth from the citidel was this: "May Corellon's justice be swift and merciless on you, Ki'Ruir Firavain (which means dark spirit)."
9 hours later, Ki'Ru was killed.
On the path late that night, he saw a shadowy figure approaching. The figure moved silently, and he felt a familiar energy bound to it again. Although it approached him, it never grew any less shadowy, and by the time it met him and raised it's face to him, he realized it was a shadow. A shadow of himself. A mirror reflection. And it raised his hands and muttered the words he could barely remember as those for scorching ray. Ki'Ru had only time to make the connections in his head. "Well how about that. . ." He smiled as he said this. "I am the murderer."