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Selevite is a young elf at age 35. He was the last elf born in his kaer
before the doors opened when he was fifteen years old. However, from
the time he could first walk, he wanted to explore the world, never
content to stay in one place. He knew that life had so much to offer,
and he didn't know whether he'd have enough time to explore it all
during his lifetime, as long as elves live. He had a family of 6,
mother, father, and three older sisters. Although none of his family
was a Nethermancer, or even a spellcaster for that matter, he is not
the only adept in his family. His father is a Beastmaster of the 5th
circle who cared for the livestock inside their kaer. One of his
sisters, a fraternal twin, is a first circle Troubadour who would help
entertain the kaer dwellers and keep their spirits up until the Scourge
ended. His mother and remaining two sisters are not adepts.
While in the kaer, he spent time at the alchemist's lab learning
rudimentary alchemy. His real goal, although he never said so, was to
learn how to brew a potion of eternal life. No one realized this, even
though he wanted it in order to save his mother's life. She suffered
from a debilitating disease that was slowly killing her. She contracted
it through an injury suffered from giving birth to her last two
children.
However, he was content to learn any form of healing or beneficial
potion. He figured that in the end, he would be able to find something
to help his mother. He also learned how to not make poisons. He learned
to respect all life, and that preserving life was the foremost duty of
any namegiver from his alchemy teacher. For this reason, he is never to
make a poison, but to create as many antidotes and healing potions as
he can.
He also learned the basics of natural healing from the alchemist,
who was also the town healer. He studied hard, always with the ultimate
goal of finding the cure for his mother.
Sadly, before the kaer doors opened, Selevite's mother died.
However, Selevite knew there was something more to his mother's life,
because death couldn't be the end. Like walking down a path in the
woods, like he read in the Book of Tomorrow, death is just turning a
corner. Your friend is still there in front of you, you just can't see
him anymore.
When he was 15, the kaer opened its doors and he saw the outside for
the first time, and he hated sleeping in the kaer. He quickly learned
to volunteer for fishing duty because then he could spend all day
outside while working to get food for the village. He also spent these
years learning basic healing techniques while waiting around for a bite
while fishing.
19 years after leaving the kaer, as the village was doing quite well
for itself in the world above ground, a party of adepts came by the
village. The party had a Dwarven Investigator named Standish
Goldburrow, Elven Thief named Tarin Fe'grad, Human Thief name Shurukai,
Dwarven Weaponsmith named Girk, and a Human Nethermancer named Mors
Bolas. This group provided the manner for Selevite to explore the world
and its experiences, and the Nethermancer, Mors, was the adept with
whom Selevite identified the most. This group stayed in the village for
a few days helping to repair those tools that had worn with age during
the Scourge as well as teaching some basics of skills necessary in such
a world. The village, in return, gave them a bed for the night and
allowed them to eat food the village had grown.
No one expected the town hall to collapse that first night. Luckily,
the only people inside were the visiting adepts and the village
headman. Unluckily, the village headman was frail of body due to age.
Luckily, the villagers were quick to act during this disaster and they
removed the debris enough to get at the headman, who was breathing his
last, or so it seemed. Selevite used what he knew of alchemy to bring
the necessary potions, and his physician skills, to help the headman.
However, it was not enough. Mors, knowing the ways of the Nethermancer,
cast a quick spell of Last Chance saving the headman. None of the
villagers saw what Mors did, only the results of the action. They all
thought he had used a Last Chance Salve to bring the headman back to
life. Word spread throughout the village of this act like wildfire, and
Selevite finally saw death for what it was, just another step: or a
door. Like any door, one can go either way through it.
Although everyone knew the adepts had nothing to do with the hall
collapsing, the adepts decided they would help rebuild it. As such,
they stayed in the village for a few weeks until the townhall was
rebuilt.
Selevite spent his time with the adepts as much as his chores would
allow learning about them. The adepts realized he had a spark of magic
in him and a heart for adventuring. Mors realized he had the same love
of life, and acceptance of death, that he had. Mors was not a typical
Nethermancer, and his clothing reflected this. Due to his clothing, the
villagers thought Mors to be a Troubadour, even Selevite was fooled.
Mors realized that Selevite could become a Nethermancer. As they worked
together, it became apparent that the two got along quite well.
On the final night the party was in the village, Selevite was
invited by Mors to join the party and train as a Nethermancer. This was
the first time that Selevite realized that Mors was in fact a
Nethermancer. All Selevite had to know about Nethermancers previously
was second-hand reports and rumors. This man in front of him was
nothing like the stories, and Selevite realized that Nethermancers were
just as concerned with life as they were with death. He made the
decision to join this group with or without his family's blessing.
He asked permission of his father first, whom he thought would
understand best being an adept himself, who answered that if the party
would have him, he could go. His father didn't realize that Mors wasn't
a Troubadour as he appeared. His sisters were of mixed opinions, but
they would not let him know that they had reservations about him
leaving. His twin sister was outwardly supportive, because she knew
that if Selevite knew she didn't want him to leave, he might not go. He
could never be happy that way. However, she resolved that she would
begin to travel as a Troubadour with another group of adventurers at
the first opportunity in the hopes that she can help her brother.
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The group agreed that they would allow him to train with them, and
Mors agreed to train him on the condition that he would provide the
food necessary for Mors. While adventuring and learning the discipline
of Nethermancer, he also learned the Talent of how to Speak Languages
from Standish. He also continued learning alchemy with the group as
both Mors and Standish planned on becoming alchemists. Mors would also
teach him of Horrors, who bring the wrong sort of death. Furthermore,
his training contained more natural healing because Mors was skilled in
both natural and supernatural healing. Finally, the party taught
Selevite the basics of making a deal because they recognized how
important that is for an adept.
It took 1 year of adventuring with the party to become a first
circle Nethermancer. He adventured with the party, but the party itself
was quite full, and he realized that he was just a duplicate, a weaker
version, of what the party already had.Selevite wondered if it wouldn't
be better for him to be with another group, one that did not already
have his specialized skills. The party recognized the wisdom in what he
was thinking, and they said that the first time he found another party
that would be able to utilize his skills and Talents, they would bid
him farewell and wish him and the new party luck. He encountered this
party, by chance, in a city far from his home village, in Travar. This
group was an Elven Swordmaster, a K'stulaami Horror Stalker, and an
Obsidiman Purifier.
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Selevite began this adventure as he ended his adventures with his
previous party. The fellowship of the Rose, his mentor's party, agreed
that he would not do as much good with them as he would with another
group. As such, they entered the nearest city of note to see if any
group of adepts could use his talents. Naturally, the guard directed
them to a specific inn, The Drowning Dwarf. Usually, they would go to a
different inn than the one the guard recommends, paying guards to
advertise a specific location tends to raise the costs of that
location. However, when looking for a group of adepts that could use
help, 'tis better to go where the other adepts would go.
They sat down and ordered dinner. Mors agreed to use his astral
sight to watch those entering to see who is and isn't an adept.
Although some non-adepts came in, Mors did notice a T'skrang who sat
next to an elf: both adepts. He also saw an Obsidiman who went by
himself to the bar. Selevite took the opportunity to speak to the
Obsidiman. Perhaps he could be an ally. However, upon entering, the
Obsidiman overheard the T'skrang was a horror stalker, intriguing him.
The bartender, however, was displeased the Obsidiman was taking up so
much bar space, so had a table emptied for him. Selevite followed the
Obsidiman to the table.
The Obsidiman passed a drink on towards the Elf and T'skrang with an
invitation to join him and Selevite. Now, the other two decided to join
at table to learn what the Obsidiman wanted. The T'skrang's name is
X'ragash. The Obsidiman introduced himself as Koanarlinet. The Elf is
Aladorai. Koan described why he had come to town.
He was seeking friends who could travel with him to help open a
kaer. His liferock had a connection to the kaer, and he was sent to
open it in order that those inside would no longer be forced to stay
inside. Selevite recognized some similarities between this and his
mentor's first adventure. However, he also saw that this was not
exactly the same. He hoped what little trust he was granting was not in
vain. However, he was working to appear trustful because that also
shows trustworthiness. Koan offered an initial payment of 1 Earth coin
with the promise of additional payment upon a successful completion.
After discussing the details of how to get to the kaer, which was well
over a month's journey, he decided to go to bed.
He thought they agreed to meet at the same table in the morning, but
apparently the plans changed after he had gone to bed. The bartender
informed him they were to meet at the gates. He went to the gates along
with Aladorai, who also had not known they were meeting at the gates.
Upon arriving at the games, Selevite asked if anyone would carry his
fishing kit for it made his pack weight just a bit too much for him to
comfortably handle. Thankfully, Koan usually travels light and agreed
to take it.
The journey to the kaer had properly began. Selevite asked Koan to
tell what he could of the kaer in order that everyone could be better
prepared. Also, to see if the kaer was real or if Koan was really
taking a group of green adepts for an ambush. Sure, the earth coin
sends a message of trust, but if there's an ambush, it would have been
returned when Selevite was dead. Time will tell.
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We set out on Gahmil 21, 1435TH. Each morning and night, I fished to
provide food for the journey. We were following the river towards
Farram. The first night, I caught 8 fish. The next morning, for
breakfast, I caught 4 fish, apparently, morning fishing is as good on
this river. That evening, once again, I caught 4 fish. The fresh food
is nicer than the trail rations, though. If any young adventurer reads
this, take note: find a way to provide fresh food on your journeys
beyond trail rations. You will thank yourself.
On the third day, though, something of note happened. After fishing
in the morning, as was my custom and bringing back another 4 fish, we
set out. After travelling half the day, we smelt something horrid. As
we went forth, the smell became stronger and we saw some vultures.
Knowing that death brings with it insects, which are an annoyance when
studying something, I quickly reattuned my spell matrix with the spell
Insect Repellant. My first attempt at weaving failed, but my second
succeeded, and I successfully cast the spell. As I approached the
corpse, the insects present all left away from me.
It turns out it was a dead dyre that had died of poison. I took a
sample of its flesh in order to study the poison better. The Horror
Stalker we had in the group said he couldn't detect the taint of any
horror, so I felt this was a safe thing to do, provided I keep this
sample separate from our food supply. Furthermore, we couldn't simply
leave it as it is because it was killing the carrion feeders by
poisoning them as well. Thus, we decided the best choice was to burn
it. I know that dry things burn better than wet, and we didn't have
wood gathered, so I took my time to reattune my Spell Matrix yet again,
but this time with Dry & Wet. It took me two attempts to weave the
spell once reattuned, but I did successfully weave it and cast it. I
dried out a bit of the dyre, as well.
Koan knew it wouldn't be wise to burn the poisoned bit, which
amounted to about 7 pounds of flesh, so he cut that area off the rest.
It was about this time that I realized we didn't need to burn the whole
thing, just the outside to keep wild animals from eating it. Most
people, however, wouldn't eat something like this without being really
hungry, so we wouldn't have to worry about that. Thus, We built a
bonfire around it and set the fire. When the fire had burned out a bit,
we didn't worry about ensuring the entire beast had been consumed by
the flames.
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