BACKGROUND: WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT EACH OTHER. (PC's)
1) Kuros: Kuros was a wizard apprentice that was recruited at a young age (out of school.) He and his mentor, Shendal, lived in a tall, coastal tower that was nearby the port of Sea Bluff. When the port was attacked by the Barbarians, Shendal and Kuros went to help. While they were gone, the invaders ransacked their tower. On the way back, a group of Systai ambushed Kuros and Shendal, and kidnaped Kuros. Although Shendal defeated many, there were too many others to contend with. The last words he spoke to Kuros were: "Kuros, I'll return for you." After that, he disappear off the road...
Kuros' home was Iron Cloud Manor of the Stoward Ice Elves in the Northern Part of Vasquenta. His homeland, the Ellar Peninsula, was formed completely of ice from the Habora Glacier. He often told you of his father, Adropolis, a monk healer; and his mother, Dora, who was a strong but gentle soldier. He spun tales of the rolling hills of snow and their dwellers. For example, you now know the names of seven types of snow: clear ice- Cordal, cloudy ice- Cladal, light dry snow- Lital, heavy wet snow- Lautal, powder- Litale, sleet- claitri, flurries- Litri.
As a wizard, Kuros has not yet advanced beyond Master Apprentice, though he knows several apprentice tricks that could prove useful to the party.
2) Cher: Cher was raised by two ambassadors: Darren, a very big and strong Dwarf, and Katyri, a very bright and quick Fairy. Between the Dwarven Hills of Copper and the Enchanted Forest of Greenbriar, her parents met, disobeyed taboo, and followed their love. Darren and Katyri eventually had to flee to Coppertown along the Sindle River where it meets the sea. Coppertown was ransacked also. Cher was home alone when she was captured by Systai. "They put her in a cage like a bird and made fun of her." Whereabouts of the parents is unknown, but they are thought to be wandering Arveta in search of their daughter.
Cher enjoys telling stories about playing in the forest, and flying from tree to tree chasing birds and squirrels. Kuros thinks she would be an excellent scout for the group because of her flying ability.
3) Rollvag: Rollvag was bred and raised in the coastal city of Vanguard, before it was destroyed by raiders. Rollvag does not like to talk about it. Vanguard used to be at the edge of tall mountainous cliffs and the sea. Rollvag's father was Freeman Ray; a simple, kind and average man; who happened to be an extraordinary locksmith. Rollvag's mother was Freeman Agatha, a house wife and former message runner from inland. Agatha was humorous and lovable. Rollvag was a superior mountaineer at a young age. He tells stories that include cliff climbing and sleeping in travois. An important fact about Vanguard was that it had to have food either carried or floated in.
4) Longsilver: Longsilver is a Tor Elf. The Tor are a truly ancient race found in the forest of Tall Oak, which runs in the valley of the Deepwood River along the coast of the Azure. He knows the forest and is handy with a bow. He was captured out of curiosity more than anything else. Longsilver saw a group of invaders land on the shore to camp for the night; and he climbed a tree in order to watch them. Little did he know that they would camp around his tree! He still would have escaped except the smoke from the Barbarian campfire started him coughing! The Barbarians kept him as a song smith for their entertainment.
Eventually though, they grew tired of him. Longsilver is distraught over the Barbarian lack of appreciation for music.
ALSO
Vasquenta is a united continent under King Avery. However, the awareness of the Vasquentans has slipped into decadence. The inlanders no longer believe that there is anywhere else, much less that invaders are threatening.
GM NOTE
You remember some things:
The inner working of the slave ships. The suffering until almost fainting. Dragged into a line and marched from a Barbarian Sea Town into the mountains of Baldor and the caves within.
I wouldn't tell non-party members where you are from; because most Arvetans believe the world to be flat; and that Vasquenta is a myth; which, of course, would immediately make you suspect of lying. You have no proof, of course. You might say that you were "raised among the Vivar Elves;" for example. (The Vivar Elves are respected by all.)
Back to Arveta Table of Contents
Back to Arveta List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1999 by Abram Paradies.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com