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The Mid-Sea Isle Campaign Index PC Profiles |
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This is what we know about Elberrin after spending a few months with him:
Elberrin Plays the lap harp at ANY opportunity. The tune usually suits the mood of the day. If the conversation is of loved ones back home, it's a rueful, but not quite sad tune. If the drink is flowing and the folks are laughing, it's a upbeat dance. His specialty is of course Elvish music, but he's got a decent repertoire. He's never afraid to try to pick up a new song. (Given his personality, which I will further define as this email grows, he would have made - or tried to make - friends with anyone else who plays music.)
His father was killed after suffering vicious wounds in an ogre battle. This loss was very recent, and when he is alone, he is usually staring off into space (usually in the direction back to Rieuwood) playing a sad and sullen tune on his harp. He doesn't bring it up, but isn't afraid to talk about it, though it usually brings a tear to his eye. Also, as a result, he can't say the word "ogre" without shuddering.
His mother died due to child-birthing complications, which he seems to blame himself, at least in part for.
He is borderline nieve, thinking the best of everyone and everything (with the exception of Ogres). He sees the world through the eyes of a child, always searching for the good in people.
A very good judge of character would notices that he's got a lot of views that he only seems to half believe, as if they were the beliefs of someone he cared a great deal for.
He's unobtrusive almost to a fault, but he knows his duties, and he will adhere to them.
Doesn't drink in excess; he doesn't like to not be in control of his motor skills.
His loves his throwing knives. In the rare occasion that he's not plucking at his harp, he's shapening or flipping a throwing knife.
He doesn't like it when people are pessimistic. He's always trying to get others to see the good in this, that, or the other thing.
He keeps a journal
His quarters are usually in order, but mainly because he's never in them for long. If he can't see the horizon, he tends to get a little queasy.
Very personable.
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Erinalia is a quiet and withdrawn half-elf woman. She has a very slight and petite build and stands only 4'7" tall. She has curly and entangled dark auburn hair (dark brown with a rustic-reddish tint) with several thin beaded braids. Her brown eyes are almond shaped and she has short pointed ears. Her lips are full and she has a wide easy-going smile, but blushes easily due to her shy nature. Erinalia wears light leather armor, which is strapped together in sections over her small body. Each section is designed with intricate vine and leaf patterns carved into the surface of the hardened leather. Even when unarmored she will frequently wear the shoulder and forearm sections, allowing her bird compainion, Aeith, to occasionally perch on her shoulder or arm while being properly protected from his deadly talons. She prefers to travel barefoot when outdoors during warmer seasons and weather. Her arms, hands and feet are usually painted with brownish-red entwining vine and leaf patterns, although these patterns fade with time and must be occasionally reapplied. She carries a stout oaken quarterstaff which is also carved from end to end with the familiar vine and leaf pattern. |
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Garbhán (pronounced "GAHR-van") is a hard-looking man. He has a weathered, brooding face with hard features. He is soft-spoken, tending to taciturnity, and when he does speak, he uses plain and direct words with the accent of the northern plainsmen. His black hair is short and closely cropped to his head, save for a short ponytail centered at the back of his head. His large, black mustache covers his mouth. His eyes are clear and sharp, and his glaring stare has been known to intimidate and unnerve opponents. He is serious and humorless, often ignoring jokes and other displays of levity. As a horseman, Garbhán prefers to spend his time with horses, and most of his spare time is occupied with these animals. As an animal handler, he is watchful of these horses, searching for any potential problems with the animals' ability to preform work. He tends to be distrustful on the words of others when it comes to horses: if he is told that a horse is shoed properly, he will want to see each foot of that horse for himself. |
Mel is a black - I mean, an African American - hobbit who is currently in the employ of the IBEW - the Intra-Borough Entrepreneurial Worker's guild, which is a guild that operates in Dullstrand providing assistance in a wide variety of ways; our members include shippers, bankers, couriers, mercenaries, train drivers...multitudes of aptitudes, as we say.
I've been assigned this opportunity because of my experience with shipping, having worked on and off in that industry over the last few years; attention to detail, ability to tie a tight knot, and manning the booms (I climb a mast like nobody's business) all lend to this journey. Because of this, as well as my frequent tardiness, irascible personality, and my penchant for mumbling to myself frequently, my employer has sent me far, far away. Additionally, Halflings make pretty good scouts, which will likely be highly regarded on "the other side".
I bring with me good cheer in the name of a reasonably good recorder and stories to awe and inspire. Or at least make you laugh. This, along with a short sword can go a long way...
I've been living in Dullstrand for almost four seasons; before that I had lived my life in the villages and thorps in the surrounding countryside, doing - er - nothing...nothing at all.
Things that have been revealed about Mel during the voyage to Brennan Isle:
He's a story teller and a musician (recorder, although he claims to play the pennywhistle as well)
Hard to tell if his stories are true or not, although he usually precedes them with an appropriate disclaimer; perhaps he exaggerates. He will at times reiterate a "classic" that you've all heard before.
He's short (3-Foot 3-Inches)
He's worked in a variety of industries over the last 2 or 3 seasons that he's been in Dullstrand, and he currently works for an agency that is tantamount to a temp agency (that's the IBEW)
He was born to a weed farmer (pipe smoking weed) in the countryside; he talks about several brothers and sisters and it often seems like he's not sure how many he has, or he has an endless supply of them
He has spent a fair amount of time in the vast territories surrounding Dullstrand, as far as the Rieuwood and everywhere in between
He has a broad range of discussion topics, having evidenced interests in archery, woodlands, astronomy, astrology, philosophy, and a seemingly endless supply of fields, some of which he knows better than others, all of which he seems to know less than the person to whom he's speaking
Good listener
He'll talk to just about anybody about just about anything
He mumbles - a lot. Often when he's composing a new story and trying to fit musical accompaniment for sound effects, but also when he's just sitting quietly, when he's working, eating, bathing, drinking, hacking up a lung...
He is not a drinker, although sometimes he'll have one or two
He'll eat just about anything
He is buoyant and optimistic
His living quarters are a mess (even if it's just his bunk). Not *dirty*, but disorganized.
You've seen him carrying: Light Crossbow, Dagger (which he claims is a tool), Short sword, and a number of darts (4, if you care to count)
He shaves his head every so often; probably done twice on the boat
He's tried to grow a beard, but while you haven't seen him shave, he hasn't gotten any facial hair either (or chest hair, or leg hairÉ)
Given to the occasional practical joke
Flirts
Not exactly a candidate for Mr. Universe
T' Riad Shy'Eve is an elf of average build. He has long raven black hair and piercing forest green eyes. He usually has a calm and even look on his face although it isn't void of emotion.
Everything he encounters he sees as a challenge to be overcome or at the very least understood... after all, that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. He is fervently devoted to his monk order "The Order of the Eight" and seeks only to come to greater enlightenment by maintaining the universal balance. He wears a signet ring of his order on his ring finger.
His clothes are typical of his order but are also signature to him. He wears a hunter green leather gladiator style kilt that is embroidered with gold thread. His shirt is loose fitting and light brown. Occasionally he wears a hunter green kerchief on his head with gold embroidered symbol of "The Order of the Eight".
T' Riad enjoys playing the pan pipes to calm his sometimes troubled mind. He also likes to makes others feel good by playing them. He juggles to help keep his reflexes sharp and ready and stays fit by running every morning as the sun rises.
The Story of T' Riad Shy'Eve
Beginnings are times of critical fragility. Our fates act upon us instantly and forces of which we have no control over set us onto the path of what we will be. In the life of one such child I am but one of many forces. To understand an action for which I will speak of, you must understand what moves me. There is a universal justice of which we are a part of. We move, grow, and live within it. The justice for which I speak is unwavering in its motions of balance. There are eight chapters that as a whole make the harmony and law that my order strives to be at one with. The five elements and the three philosophies weave together as one to make the law of nature. Sometimes it gives and sometimes it takes, as does my order, as do I. The child that I speak of will later take the name of T'Riad Shy'Eve. At this time in his life that I speak of he was simply floating on the forces that moved him-like a leaf in a breeze. He was not the moon dancer that he would become. His evolution was in its' beginning.
Ahead on the path I could hear the heavy footfalls of exhausted running. Instantly, I took flight to the trees that grew deep in Rieuwood Forest. Stumbling down the path was an elven man and elven woman. The elven woman was clutching a bundle of green cloth. Not far behind them was a hunting party of ogres. Ogres are not of the sharpest wit but a hunting party is still very cunning and skilled at searching out even the most elusive of creatures. The elves had no chance of surviving this I knew. Short of breath, the man gave the woman a last kiss and told her to run on down the path. With tears watering up in her eyes she fled the scene. The ogres came upon him as he drew his sword. The frenzy of the fight lasted long enough for her to get far enough ahead to make it around a slight bend in the path. It lasted long enough for her to hide the bundle at the trunk of the tree that I was perched in. The bundle was an infant who started to cry at being put down and covered with brush. The mother gave the child one last soothing touch to still his upheaveled spirit. She made her way back to the path but within only a few steps down the path the ogres were upon her. With my martial prowess I could have easily stopped the ogres from harming the woman. I didn't feel that it was my place to interfere with the harshness of nature at this point. It didn't take long for the ogres to bring her down. Satisfied that they had their fun, the ogres continued down the trail unaware that there was a witness and a child left in their wake.
I slipped out of my hiding spot in the tree to investigate the hidden child. The fine green cloth was embroidered with gold thread. The threaded picture was that of a griffon and along the hem of the cloth was an elven prayer for protection. Slowly, I unfolded the cloth to reveal a newborn face of innocence. He had raven black hair and deep blue eyes. They were the eyes of absolute trust. I knew already that he was to become a student of mine. "Falion Du'Gren shall be your name", I whispered. In the common tongue of the races the words mean "griffon of gold" or "gold griffon". I knew that he would come to see me in many roles in his life: father, mother, master, friend, and enemy. I saw him as a student, a son, a companion, and a test. I let his parents be taken from him and now it was time for me to give back. Such is the way of universal justice. Such is the way of balance.
Over the years Falion Du'Gren, endured many trials and tribulations. He was always filled with questions and had some troubles quieting his mind and soul. His thirst for knowledge was difficult to quench. He was always eager to learn about more of the world.
The toughest obstacle he had to overcome was in trying to understand why I let his parents die. The night I told him was on an anniversary day of when I found him. Sadness, rage and a sense of betrayal filled him. I remember him pleading for me to tell him why I let it happen. All I said was that he is the one to tell me. He did not understand my motives. With tears of unbridled, naked emotion he fled from the monastery. Although I worried as a father and mother, I did not seek him out. This was a demon that he now had to face. Ironically, this was also a test for me. It was a test of moral standing. I began to second-guess if my decision was in his best interest or mine. I came to realize that understanding oneself is perhaps one of the greatest challenges in life.
On the fifth night after his flight I was ill with my own troubled mind and unable to sleep. I went to my balcony to meditate and reflect on the angry and bothered "son" of mine. As I approached the door an eerie, silver light crept through the bottom crack of the door. I opened the door and in the distance I could hear the wolves cry a wild song and the whistle of musical pipes being played by a brother monk. In front of me I could see the silhouette of the tree tops against the gigantic sterling moon. The light of the moon leaked through the branches and autumn leaves to illuminate the ground in crooked patterns. The ingredients of brisk air and smell of fading leaves weaving together with the sights and sounds of the world created a night of perfect harmony. I looked over to my right to a hill clear of trees and saw a sight of perfection and purity. At the top of the hill was Falion Du'Gren practicing his motions of discipline. He moved in perfect timing and grace with the echoing pipes as if he was dancing. I could see that he had achieved unity of mind, spirit, and nature. I knew that he had at last understood and so did I. I shut the door and went back to my bed and slept peacefully.
That morning he returned for the sunrise breakfast and drank only the apple tinted tea that was served with the nut stew and venison strips. He neither speak nor looked about. The other students and masters asked him nothing knowing that it was not them he had come to see. Breakfast finished and everyone except Falion and me left the dining hall. We sat there in silence for some time drinking tea. At last he spoke and said, "I understand your actions master. My spirit is no longer angry but it is not peaceful either. There must be more." We sat again in silence drinking tea and I let his words flow through my mind. I came to see that he passed into a new stage in his life and would no longer be the sheltered and fragile innocent that I had found years ago. He was ready to move on to next plateau. Last night I saw the final stages of his evolution into becoming who he is now. I came to the realization that he must progress beyond the security of the monastery and me, his master. Finally I spoke, "I saw you on the hill last night. You reached a point of purity where your true self was at one with all around you. You have achieved a moment of perfection in balance that has opened a new path for you. No longer are you the child of impatience but a brother of discipline. You have grown from being Falion Du'Gren to T'riad Shy'Eve- Moondancer. The outside world will be your teacher now. Remember, no matter how far you travel you will always have a place here with your brothers and sisters."
The following morning was much like any other except there was both a sadness and joy in my heart. A sadness at seeing my son leave but a joy in knowing that I had passed a test brought on by myself. It seemed not long ago that I picked up that bundle from the ground. I asked him where he was going to go. He said that he would go to the eastern shore so that he could see the vastness of the ocean for the first time. Before he left he asked me for any words of wisdom. I told him, "Stay true to yourself. Without that you'll live a life of lies and have nothing." I gave to him the signature ring of the "Order of the Eight". Quickly he put it on his left hand ring finger. He then handed me the cloth that I had found him in. At that he turned and started down the trail and never looked back. I tightly gripped the cloth and in my mind, look back was all I could do.
