Toughas Nails character history

Toughas was raised in a fiefdom in north wild lands. (in the future, the place known as the Empire) He apprenticed under Dar’Nor, learning chainmaille. He wasn’t exactly clumsy but nor was he particularly good. Dar’Nor was passionate and accurate and highly skilled in his

craft and encouraged Toughas with a heavy hand. Still though, Toughas longed for adventure and to see the world. Anytime adventurers would come through town he would badger them, following them around town asking questions. He was quite fascinated by the stories of elves, humans and dwarves.

An adventurer trogger named Monar decided to take up retirement in the fife when Toughas was a young teen. He wielded a sword that Toughas had never seen before. The rapier. Toughas begged Monar to please teach him how to fight with the rapier. Reluctantly Monar agreed and trained Toughas in the evenings after his shift in the armory. He practiced hard, and found he was quite good with the light weapon. After training Monar would tell stories about his adventures.

Toughas found magic most interesting but perplexing and confusing. He had the most basic of understanding of magic but anything beyond simple breakers just made no sense. His sessions with Monar evolved into a mentorship and branched out into other skills beyond rapier. Fist fighting, sneaking, agility and trap setting/disarming were especially interesting and exciting.

One day Toughas went to visit Monar. Monar brought Toughas in for tea and spoke about a rapier that had been hidden. Monar wanted to send Toughas on his first adventure to recover this rapier and bring it back home. Toughas could barely contain his enthusiasm as he embarked westward to find the rapier. He had the gear that Monar lent him. He found the cemetery that the rapier was supposedly in. He got cocky because of how easy the location was to find, and almost lost his life to some plants that sprung to life. After a few days of searching, and looking more closely he finally found it! He was so elated! He hurried back to Monar to show him his success!

He enjoyed himself so much on his adventure that he knew he needed to find a group, or at least an adventuring partner like Monar had talked about so many times. He put in his resignation with Dar’Nor (not that it was exactly accepted….) and he set off south. Monar let him keep some of the gear, and the rest he cobbled together from the local store.

Adventure!!

Lucien of the blue robes ~Character history

Lucian means light. I was my parents first son. I was going to bring so much light to their lives, so they named me Lucian. That backfired on them.

Being “painfully honest” with people had gotten me into a lot of predicaments throughout my life. My parents didn't like that I didn't placate them or their friends. They didn't like the fact that I taught myself some of the basics of Magick. They were embarrassed because of it.  “Humans didn't want that for themselves.”  The final straw for them, was when my father found out about a couple of side businesses that I had for myself. I can't help that people like to be altered. I’m not the one who was addicted to the faerie dust and Dwarven tobacco. But I can and will offer supply if they demand it and people did. But father was gnarled and in order to not to continue to bring shame upon our family,  he gave me 2 choices: military detail or the wizard college. The stipulation with going to the military was that father would keep all the money I made and use it how he saw fit. Or with wizard college, that money would be spent for my tuition, with me not having access to it. Guess which one I picked? Another stipulation came that I would keep quiet with where I was from if I went to the wizard college, cause you know, the scandal!  So at 17, off I went to wizard college.

The staff were surprised about my natural ability and often thought that the secrecy behind my story was that I was a banished halfling. I didn't confirm nor deny. I just went about my studies,  learning and getting better. I didn’t give two shits what the staff thought about me; I was just happy to be away from my family.  Another thing that happened at wizard college:  some mages will pay you better for FD and DT, than the general public. I actually made acquaintances.

As all of my skill levels grew, I gained the attention of the Blue Order. They didn’t care that I lack tact.  They didn’t care what my background could be (because even after six years at the college, no one knew).  They cared only about what I my abilities were and that I could see people for who they were and called them on it. So I was initiated.  I also gained the attention of the Keepers. I was very good with the dead, but not their families. So luckily, I don't have to deal with the grieving part of it.

Shortly after that, the college decided that they would send me to a royal court to utilize my abilities for the Lady Denzmeal. Have I mentioned or at least hinted at the fact that I’m painfully honest and can’t help it? Also, that I have a problem with people who remind me of my father? Or that I hate social class and conformity to a specific social class? So when said Lady expected me to keep her dirty secrets because she was a “lady”, why was she shocked that I spilled all of her dirty secrets after she reminded me of my father? Maybe she was shocked that I spilled said secrets in front of her people at a party. The people at the party didn’t know that the lady wasn’t so much a lady on the inside. Especially when it came to her carnal indiscretions. Again, not my fault she likes some very weird things. She banished me and swore if she saw me again,  she’d have my head on a pike. The college, they weren’t pleased, but they decided to expedite my graduation. There were more staff that were impressed that someone stood up to her, so at least I didn't get kicked out.  The college is one of the few places that I like,  so I'm pleased with myself that I didn't get kicked.

For the last four years, I've been traveling.  I go back to the college to learn.  I practice.  I have a handful of friends.  I have secret “crops” to help fund my travels. I have loyal clients who know that my crops are some of the best. I have to keep it simple and private. I like it. I really like the money. I seem unassuming, and I like that people think that. It means that I can surprise them later.  It means I know more than people think. Kinda like the Lady… rumor has it she doesn't make that mistake anymore.  

Nettle the wyldling elf Character history

Nettle was raised in a traditional Wyldling fashion. He was raised within the Alfar forest in a tribe that was very tight knit and family focused. After the war the tribe feared ruin and death. So marriage and child bearing was of extreme focus. Nettle hear about his (and truly, everyone’s) need to find a mate and have children; from a very young age.

This never did set so well with Nettle. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but it rubbed him all wrong. Whilt he wasn’t against marriage, and would like to settle down with the right person…he wanted to do so with the right person. Not just the first person.

As he grew and aged it drew closer to the time when marriage would be expected- 22. In his tribe, all people should be married by 22. Any later and you are strongly looked down upon. Nettle has blue hair in a tribe of mostly green haired wildlings so many of the women of the tribe would bat their eyes and try to chat him up…he felt like he was nothing more than a trophy to these women and he didn’t care for that feeling at all.

In the night a few days before Nettle’s 22nd birthday he packed a few things into his knapsack and ran away. He could no longer take the pressure, and wouldn’t marry just anyone. He wanted to seek knowledge, find out more about the world, and perhaps…find the person who he was meant to be with.

Nettle left a note for his kin and he set out in a southward direction. (Alfar forest being in the NE corner of the continent of Daroka) He’d hoped to see other tribes of Wyldlings and perhaps find out more about their behaviors and traditions. He also had really hoped to learn more magick. He knew a few spells and delighted in all the potential of magick. Caught up in his own thoughts he tripped over something and fell flat on his face! The thing he tripped on yelped and scurried away…but as Nettle rolled over to rub his knee and nose he’d banged; this thing came up and licked his face! It was a dog. A skinny dog…he was cute…maybe Nettle could keep this dog. A companion would be nice. Yes. He’d keep this dog. Now what should his name be? Buttercup would be a fine name. Nettle had read about how many of the great magicians had familiars and perhaps Buttercup would be willing to be his familiar.

The next morning Nettle and Buttercup came across another tribe of Wyldlings. Nettle went to one of the elders and presented him with a few items and a few finding from Nettle’s wandering. Nettle asked this Elder for the magick that’s required to bond Buttercup to Nettle; the Familiar bond. This Elder was willing, and taught Nettle. The connection between Buttercup and Nettle became very strong, though not necessarily as strong as someone who might have started with a baby animal.

Nettle thanked the tribe and continued south. The more he traveled, the more he enjoyed adventuring. He sought out more magick and more adventure. The further away from Alfar forest he got, the less he thought about his tribe.

He came across the first (human) city he’d seen in his young life. He’d heard from the Elders that elves in the cities cover their hair for some reason….Nettle, being an elf (and a young elf at that!)…didn’t find it all that important, and didn’t listen very closely. He stopped before he got too close the gates and wrapped a length of cloth around his head, covering his hair. He thought his plan quite ingenious.

As he approached the city gates the guards’ men looked at him with a most peculiar expression. Nettle thought to himself “Ah. They must be impressed by my hair covering!” and walked all the taller and prouder. As he walked through the main street he’d never seen or smelled such a place. Everyone was looking at Nettle. Some were even whispering to each other and pointing at him. He was starting to think that perhaps they’d never seen an elf before. He’d just have to hide his disdain for the city a little better and be the best example of Elf-kind he could be.

Almost immediately upon thinking this thought he almost tripped into two glorious and very finely dressed elves. He gazed up at their ornate hair coverings and it quickly dawned on him why everyone had been looking at him with such gawking stares. City elves don’t just cover their hair, they do so with highly involved methods. A lesson Nettle learned that day. Needless to say…he left the city as quickly as possible.

~Character history submitted by Sevan B.