Anko Nagasei
Dmitri Allomar
Erak'ta Oremah
Elbrand Claeryn'al
Fahr Holtseek
Kaiose Senbou
Rian Gentry
Ridli Holtseek
Shen Aynaryn
Trent Dorian

Shen Aynaryn
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Species: half-human, half-angel
Height: 5' 9"
Hair color: Iridescent silver
Eye color: Deep, vivid turquoise-blue

Appearance: Although he is half angel on his mother's side, Shen is wingless, and to all external appearances fully human. His skin is pale from lack of sunlight, otherwise his would be a somewhat handsome face. He prefers to wear his odd, silvery hair straight and about shoulder-length, although lately it's been growing somewhat longer.

Normally, he wears pants and tunics in dull green or brown, with a grey-green cloak that at times proves useful for camouflage in the wilderness. His shoes are sturdy, brown hiking boots that reach halfway to his knees.

Shen usually carries a small knife on his belt which is more of a tool than a weapon. When traveling, he also carries a quarterstaff, with which he's a decent fighter if necessary. Being a healer, he has little need for anything more than this in terms of weaponry.

The only jewelry he wears is a silver chain necklace his mother gave him, which generally remains tucked out of sight underneath his tunic.

Guild/Rank: None (freelance healer)
Birthdate: Loirym 1
Zodiac sign: Leo
Favorite food: None in particular, although he does have a preference for jerky and other salty foods.
Favorite color: Green
Favorite place: Any forest, but in particular the forests where he grew up, northeast of Echshywor and not far from the banks of the Koir River.
Favorite hobby: Hiking through the forest
Least favorite food: Anything bland
Least favorite place: Anyplace where there is too much of a crowd, such as most parts of Cascadia or the other major cities.

Personality: A quiet and withdrawn young man, with few friends and no living relatives. Although he cares deeply for people and will help anyone in need, he has difficulty understanding (and often, being understood by) other humanoids, and feels more affinity for the creatures of the forest. His preference is to avoid attention whenever possible, and to only speak when he feels it necessary. When he does speak, he likes to keep it short and to the point, and as such often comes across as being rather rude. Shen abhors guilds in general, and especially the Healer's Guild, hence his unusual decision to operate freelance.

Family

Mother: Epy Aynaryn, Healer and counselor, deceased (died of an illness 19 years ago at the age of 30)
Description: A beautiful, kind, and compassionate angel. She lived in Set'tenn Village, the same small woodland settlement where Shen lives, but where she was originally from is unknown. It seems that when she first came to Set'tenn she was running from something or someone. She made herself useful to the village as a healer, employing her limited knowledge of herbs and woodslore to treat the minor injuries that the villagers sustained while hunting or working.
Father: Unknown (deceased?)

Family history: It seems that Epy met Shen's father by chance. He was a knight, who was wounded while on patrol and came to Set'tenn for medical treatment. He fell in love with Epy, and visited her often over the next few months, before mysteriously vanishing. Shen was born later that year. When Shen was just seven, Epy took ill and died. A member of the Healer's Guild was passing near to the village at the time and could have stopped to help her, but was on "important guild business" and did not. As a result, his mother died, and Shen has held a deep resentment for the guild to this day.

Background: After his mother's death, Shen was taken in by another family and raised with two foster brothers, but didn't get along with them and was never really a part of the family. At the age of 14, he began showing signs of magical talent. Ridli Holtseek, Shen's mentor and one of his few friends, tested him and found that he indeed had great Talent, and encouraged him to make use of it. Rather than study to be a mage, Shen instead became the village healer, a task he continues to this day. As soon as he was old enough, he moved out of his foster home and into his own small cabin on the very outskirts of the village. There, he can have the privacy he wants, while remaining within reach of the other villagers in case they need his services.

Friends: Ridli Holtseek, a gnomish druid from Shen's village, has acted as a mentor to him for most of his life and is one of the few people he considers a friend. He also has a childhood friend named Loria, a young elven woman who is now married to one of his foster brothers. In the past few years, he has met others who he might have considered friends, most notably the elemental Elbrand Claeryn'al. However, since he tends to stay hidden away in his home in the woods, he rarely sees anybody, and so has stopped thinking of them in such terms, remembering them only as people he met.

Bond

Bond Type: Kraenon
Bond Name: Adarr
Already Bonded, Common Bond
Sire/Dam: Wild Kraenon

Appearance: Adarr's fur is an almost silvery grey, with whiter patches on his face and underside. Overall, he is a well-built kraenon and fairly strong. He has two visible scars -- a small one on his torn left ear, leftover from a fight with a grizzly bear, and a much larger one at the base of his neck, from a nearly fatal wound he suffered battling a Chaos Knight.

Bond Personality: Playful most of the time but serious when necessary. Just the right combination to take the edge off of Shen's brooding reclusiveness. Extremely loyal to his bondmate, but not afraid to point it out when Shen screws up. Although at times he may act like a big puppy, Adarr is actually quite wise, and is always very alert to his surroundings.

Bond Background: Several years ago, Shen went on a trip to Cascadia to pick up medicinal supplies, and found himself arriving at the time of a land bonding. To his surprise, Shen became one of the first to bond after Ryntan's ascension to the throne. He was dubious at first, but has since grown to love and cherish Adarr as an irreplaceable part of his life.

Ability: Pathfinding - a clairvoyant/intuitive ability to know exactly where they are at all times, and how to get where they want to go.

Ridli Holtseek, owl-named Brighteyes
Age: 970
Gender: Male
Species: Gnome
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Dark brown

Appearance: A short, wiry old gnome whose strength, after centuries of faithful service, has finally begun to fade. For most of his long life, he has seemed all but immune to the ravages of age, but due to recent illness and stress, all those years are catching up to him at last. Under his hooded green cloak, he has short, curly brown hair hanging down over bushy eyebrows and deep brown eyes. His creature name was given to him for the inner light his eyes seem to possess, a light that has begun to fade as age takes its toll on the ancient druid.

Ridli wears green and brown robes, or other garb befitting a druid of Tyrea.

He bears no weapons, relying on his animal forms and his mastery of Land magic for protection. He has taken to carrying a staff for use as a walking stick, but doesn't think of it as a weapon and would be unlikely to use it as such.

Around Ridli's neck hang several necklaces; one is a simple leather cord bearing the maple leaf seal of Tyrea, another is a silver chain with a wolf's tooth, another is a beaded cord with a set of bearclaws, and the last is a gold chain with a jade pendant on the end, inscribed with tiny runic script.

Guild/Rank: Changer Druid under Tyrea; animal forms badger and ferret
Birthdate: Hyrab 26
Favorite food: Any sort of fruits or berries.
Favorite color: Green
Favorite place: The forest (of course)
Favorite hobby: Wandering aimlessly through the forest.
Least favorite food: Eggs
Least favorite place: Anyplace particularly hot - he likes the cool of the forest shade.

Personality: A venerated elder both in his home village of Set'tenn and among the Druids' Guild, Ridli is widely respected for his experience and wisdom. Sadly, the old gnome's mental composure has begun to degrade, due to the combined effects of whisking-away disease and his own advanced age. Because of his frustration at his condition, his temper has also suffered, and he will periodically launch into angry tirades and lectures over things that he once would have calmly tolerated. Still, he's basically warm and friendly, and in his better moments is always very apologetic for his occasional slip-ups. Senility may have begun to set in, but he still remains a wise and reliable advisor for those willing to put up with his lapses.

Family

Mother: Artana Holtseek, tiger-named Flamedancer
(maiden name: Artana Firesight)
Occupation: Changer Druid under Claeryn
Age: Deceased
Description: Ridli's mother was a dynamic, passionate woman, who gave her life trying to save ShadowStar from the Chaotic invasion led by the traitorous King Tairan.
Father: Tam Holtseek, wolf-named Strongheart
Occupation: Changer Druid under Tyrea, former Druid Guildmaster
Age: Deceased
Description: A very old, very wise druid who served as guildmaster for many years, until he was executed during the Chaosian occupation.
Brother: Fahr Holtseek, falcon-named Starjumper
Occupation: Changer Druid under Aeryon
Age: 426
Description: Ridli's impetuous, much-younger brother. Hasn't spoken to him directly in years, but keeps in touch via mail (sent by passenger pigeon).

Background: Ridli is so ancient, and has seen so much, that he has literally forgotten more than most people have ever known. He recalls a time before Chaos took over Shadow Star, when he was a guardian of the woodlands north of Cascadia, and when there seemed little to guard against except the occasional forest fire or foolish hunter who thought he could get away with poaching.

When Chaos took control, he had to defend against the destructive incursions of trolls, orcs, and demons, who cared nothing for the forest or the life it harbored. When the king had him called up on charges for attempting to force the Chaosians out of the woods, he was jailed for a full century. The decades of isolation were difficult to endure, but in the end it made him a much stronger person, and even more sure of the evil of Chaos and the necessity of its defeat. After Ryntan took the throne, Ridli was finally allowed to return to his position as defender of the forest, and has spent the years since trying to undo the damage done by four centuries of Chaotic rule.

About a year ago, Ridli came down with whisking-away disease and disappeared. He has since returned, and while he seems to have overcome the worst of the illness, some of the effects still remain. This, coupled with his age and failing strength, have forced him to go into a sort of retirement. He no longer takes on students or participates in most guild business, but is still available as an advisor if called upon.

Anko Nagasei
Age: 26
Gender: Female
Species: wolf changeling
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: Secret!
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Amber

Appearance: Anko has darkly tanned skin, a muscular build, and a noticeably voluptuous figure. Her short, shaggy black hair is the consistency of a wolf's fur, and her eyes are those of a wolf, round and amber-colored. She moves with a natural grace and with practiced silence born of her years of training. In wolf form, she's a large, strong bitch with jet-black fur.
Clothing: Her clothing of choice consists of a black fur vest and a pair of loose, charcoal-grey pants cinched around her waist with a black leather belt. She also wears forearm bracers and shin guards made of the same fur as her vest. The fur was taken from the pelt of her grandfather, and has been specially treated by clan alchemists to serve as protective armor, nearly as strong as chain mail. Note that she normally keeps her ample bosom tightly wrapped to keep it from getting in the way during combat, but when relaxing among friends, she unwraps it for comfort's sake.
Weapons: Anko prefers to fight barehanded, relying on her own strength and agility rather than on weapons, which can be broken or lost. She does, however, carry several Zuri-tsu (Yamanu throwing blades) in hip compartments on her pants, and can throw them with a fair amount of accuracy and range.

Guild/Rank: None
Favorite food: Venison
Favorite color: Deep purple
Favorite place: The mountains
Favorite hobby: Training and exercise in the mountains
Least favorite food: Green vegetables (unless stewed)
Least favorite chore: Garbage duty
Least favorite place: The ocean

Personality: Anko's very easygoing, always smiling, and laughs easily. Her eyes are always half-closed, making her look even more laid-back. She's basically nice to everyone she meets, and it's easy to gain her friendship. If she has reason to hate someone, she'll hate their guts, but do it in a nice way. If she has reason to deeply despise someone, she probably won't let them live long enough to notice that she's still smiling at them all the same. She's very uninhibited, owing to the simple lifestyle she was raised in, as well as to her carefree attitude. Friends are always welcome in her arms, and she has no qualms about open nudity and sexuality. Anko loves a challenge, and as a result will often bite off more than she can chew. Even repeated failures rarely daunt her, and she'll readily admit that she's just not smart enough to back down when she's been beaten.

Anko does what she feels is right, and will go to great lengths to accomplish anything she sets her mind to. This can often get her in trouble with the authorities, but she doesn't care. She has very little regard for laws and rules outside of the personal code of ethics instilled in her by her clan. One of the basic tenets of her clan's code is that of absolute loyalty to one's family. As such, she is always consciously looking out for the good of her clan. In preparation for her role as a mercenary, she has also been taught to be strictly obedient and loyal to any contracts she signs, in order to build a reputation for reliability. Aside from the temporary loyalty to her employers, she owes no allegiance to any outside authority, be it Unity or Chaos. She also looks out for her friends, insomuch as it doesn't interfere with her other responsibilities. When she gives her word to a friend, she can generally be relied upon, but if she finds herself unable to follow through, she doesn't fret much, expecting her friends to be understanding of the circumstances.

Strengths: Extensive physical training. Top-notch combat and survival skills. She's good at evading and outmaneuvering her foes, and often uses feints and misdirection to expose her opponents' weaknesses. An expert in hand-to-hand combat, she focuses on disarming and disabling her enemies with swift, well-aimed blows.
Weaknesses: Anko can be very stubborn, refusing to accept defeat. Although she's very alert and cunning in battle, she's hardly a genius, and mental challenges can sometimes be too much for her to handle. She also has very little experience with most types of magic, beyond the limited spells used by her clan's craftsmen. In fact, her general ignorance about the world outside her mountain home is probably her greatest weakness, and could easily be exploited by anyone wishing to manipulate her.
Goals: In the short term, Anko seeks to improve herself through constant training, and to enjoy every moment of life. In the long term, her goal is to protect and provide for her family and clan. Interestingly, to Anko and to the others of her clan, these goals are all seen as one and the same. Training serves only as a means to increase their usefulness to the clan. Meanwhile, the greater good of the clan is seen as being embodied in a daily enjoyment of life, in which every member participates. In the minds of the Yamanu, past, present, and future don't have the same meaning as they do to others. Instead, life is seen as a perpetual state of "now," with the past and future being nothing but extensions of the current reality. Therefore, any long-term goals are only extensions of their immediate goals. Not to say that they don't think ahead or plan for the future, but they do so with a distinctly different mindset from most other inhabitants of ShadowStar.

Family

Mother: Mika Nagasei
(maiden name: Mika Seiro)
Occupation: Mother, cook, tailor
Age: 49
Description: A very maternal figure, gentle and loving but capable of being stern if necessary. She does her best to guide her children to the right decisions, but leaves them room to make their own mistakes and learn from them. She's very traditional in her thinking, and like many of the Yamanu, is uncomfortable with the idea of sending members of the clan to be mercenaries. The fact that her eldest (and favorite) daughter is one of the prime candidates certainly doesn't help.
Father: Iruka Nagasei
Occupation: Father, hunter, instructor
Age: 51
Description: One of the clan elders, Iruka is definitely a liberal as far as Kakure's politics are concerned. Unlike others, he's not satisfied with the standards of living in the village, and believes that their way of life should change to better cope with current conditions. He's been one of the most outspoken in favor of sending out mercenaries to help support the village. What he truly hopes for is that someday the Yamanu clan might be able to establish friendly contact with the rest of society, but first he wants to find out more about the current state of affairs in ShadowStar. His most distinctive feature is a large vertical scar along the side of his nose.
Siblings:

Background: Anko and her family are members of the Yamanu, a clan of canine shapeshifters who dwell in the Sierac Mountains. Their village, Kakure, is hidden deep in the mountains, and its location is a carefully guarded secret. While the various races of shapeshifters across ShadowStar have grown scarce, and many have died out, the Yamanu clan has endured by means of secrecy and vigilance. To be able to thrive in the harsh mountain climate, they spend much of their lives training and exercising, and as such have become masters of various combat and survival arts. Anko especially enjoys her days of training on the mountainside, the everyday challenge of just finding enough food and water to get by in her native environment. Recently, though, the clan resources are running dangerously low, and some have suggested that members of their elite ranks begin leaving the mountains, offering their skills as mercenaries in order to help support the village. If this happens, then Anko, as one of the Yamanu's best fighters, will have to leave her home behind and forge her own way in the vast, strange outside world.

Kaiose Senbou
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Species: lynx changeling
Height: 5' 2"
Hair color: Golden-brown with black tips
Eye color: Golden, with red slit pupils

Appearance: Short and wiry, Kaiose is built remarkably tough for someone his size. His skin is lightly tanned, with various tribal marks tattooed on his arms, legs, and back. In lynx form, he's similarly compact and powerful, with unique markings in his fur that match his tattoos.
Clothing: He usually wears a snug, thickly-woven brown tunic that doubles as light combat armor, with hidden metal plates protecting his vital organs.
Weapons: Kaiose wields a pair of small, silver sickles, which carry an enchantment that allows them to pierce weaker forms of magical protection. He also wears a pair of leather bracers with hidden steel claws that can be extended over both hands with a flick of his wrists. Beyond this, he carries numerous Kosatsu charms, basically single-use spells written out on slips of paper which he invokes by saying the name of the spell.
Jewelry: His only piece of jewelry is a simple collar with a round silver amulet hanging from it. The amulet has a single-use teleportation spell embedded in it, which when invoked will return him to his home village in the Sierac Mountains.

Guild/Rank: Thieves' Guild, Assassin
Favorite food: Fresh, bloody meat
Favorite hobby: Hunting for sport
Least favorite food: Cooked meat

Personality: Sly and unforgiving, Kaiose is a remorseless killer who enjoys toying with his prey before finishing them off. He holds all attempts at law and justice in contempt, believing in the axiom that the strong will survive while the weak will die. Kaiose has little interest in what he sees as foolish, idealistic notions of "duty" and "responsibility." He does what he wants to whomever he wants, for his own purposes, and feels no compunction whatsoever about lying, cheating, stealing, killing, or torturing to accomplish his goals. He only grudgingly tolerates the restrictions placed on him by the Thieves' Guild, since he can make use of his affiliation with the guild to further his own schemes. Love, as far as he's concerned, is for weak-minded fools. Romantic involvement only leads to dangerous complications and skewed perspectives. When he wants something, he takes it, with no regard for anyone else.

Strengths: His fighting prowess and ruthless nature.
Weaknesses: Excessive pride, and a total lack of trust for anyone other than himself. He also places too much faith in his magical charms, and would be left at a disadvantage if they were to be lost or nullified.
Short-term goals: Kaiose craves violence and bloodshed, preferably at his own hands. Anyone who crosses his path is a potential target, unless he can use them for his long-term goals.
Long term goals: Bitter and resentful over his harsh childhood, Kaiose secretly plots to assassinate the leaders of his clan, and then to exact vengeance on everyone who ever pushed him around.

Background: Kaiose comes from a secretive clan of feline changelings, worshippers of Chaos and longtime enemies of the Yamanu. They dwell in the hidden village of Hikken, located in a valley in the heart of the Sierac Range. Kaiose grew up an orphan there, fighting and stealing to survive. He has no family, nor would he care to have one. As a youth, he was often pushed around, beaten on, and used by those older and stronger than him. His bitterness drove him to grow into a lethal fighter, and his talents were eventually recognized by the leaders of his clan. The clan chief chose Kaiose to be their spy in Cascadia, charged primarily with gauging the city's defenses, so it may be ascertained how best to make ShadowStar's capital into an offering for the Nameless One. Having come to Cascadia several years ago, Kaiose has slowly worked his way up through the ranks of the Thieves' Guild there, proving himself to be an able assassin. Although he has done his best to keep a low profile, his exotic fighting style and weaponry have caught the attention of many in the guild, earning him the nickname of "Silver Reaper."

Rian Gentry
Age: 117
Gender: Male
Species: Gnome
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Light brown

Appearance: A short, somewhat heavyset, relatively plain-looking boy. His mop of shaggy brown hair hangs down over light brown eyes that always seem to be looking down at his feet. His nose and face are covered in freckles, much to his embarrassment.
Clothing: He used to wear simple, rough clothing, most of it stained beyond any recognition of its original color. After his sudden elevation to Royal status, however, he had to grow accustomed to wearing formal and sometimes gaudy costumes, of the type generally expected of a ruler. The only clothing he brought back with him from his imprisonment on Chaos Isle is a bloodstained white robe.
Weapons: A short staff given him during bond training, which he's still learning to wield properly.

Guild/Rank: Apprentice Bard, Land Prince
Birthdate: Loirym 32
Favorite food: Beef stew
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite place: A small glade in the wilderness near the outskirts of Cascadia, where he will often go with Hysopp to clear his head.
Favorite book: Any book of music
Favorite hobby: Playing music on his flute
Least favorite food: Anything green (most definitely not a veggie-eater).
Least favorite chore: Cleaning his room.
Least favorite place: The healer's guildhall, with its strong medicine smell.

Personality: A friendly boy who always tries to be optimistic and upbeat, regardless of the situation. He still struggles at times with his introverted tendencies, but he's begun to outgrow his basic shyness and is now able to talk with people and spend time around others without getting as nervous and self-conscious as he used to.

Rian can be rather absentminded, and every once in a while needs to be reminded what's going on and what he's supposed to be doing. Although he was Land King for a while, he really prefers to leave the ruling and leading to others. With time, he could grow into a capable ruler, but as of yet he still has a long way to go before he's ready for such responsibility.

Rian believes that people should be able to just do the right thing without getting confused by all sorts of details. He has a very simplistic and shallow understanding of the world, and doesn't realize that there's often a lot more going on behind the scenes. His tendency to take things at face value, however, is part of what has allowed him to cope with the fact that he's actually been dead for most of a year. The fact that he's alive and well now is enough for him, and he doesn't spend much time dwelling on the deeper implications of it all.

Family

Mother: Lan Gentry
(maiden name: Lan Kaylios)
Occupation: Wanderer Artisan
Age: 368
Description: A typical housewife, very doting towards her husband and children. Helps her husband make and sell the pottery that is their business and primary source of income. The sudden, unexplained loss of her eldest son nearly unhinged her, and she spent months shut away in her room before she was able to finish grieving.
Father: Joshua Gentry
Occupation: Master Artisan
Age: 340
Description: Gruff and rather strict. Loves his wife and kids, and would gladly sacrifice anything for any of them. Rian's disappearance struck him almost as hard as it did his wife, but he's forced himself to be strong for his family's sake. As such, he's never really given himself time to mourn for his son.
Siblings:

Background: Born into a poor family, Rian was accustomed to doing without luxuries. He grew up in the city, doing odd jobs to help support his family. Until receiving the mandatory Royal education in the Palace, Rian received little teaching aside from limited guild training, and really had no plans for his future. His only hobby is music, which he is exceptionally good at, particularly with the fine silver flute given to him by his uncle.

After a sudden elevation to the rank of Land King, Rian spent a few tumultuous months as a fairly clueless monarch, before being kidnapped and then killed by Chaosian spies. He has recently been revived through the experiments of the rogue necromancer Ilea, and managed to escape, washing ashore on ShadowStar near the town of Lliomech. Unknown to him, the necromancer's experiments included the implantation of an artificial soul, a second personality that normally remains hidden in his subconscious, but is capable of taking temporary control of the boy for the purpose of carrying out spying missions for Chaos.

Friends: Growing up, Rian's only friends were his siblings and a few other children, but ever since his bonding, he has made many friends among the Palace staff and others who frequent the Council Chambers. However, being gone for so long has kept him isolated from everyone, and he's a bit nervous about how well he will be received by everyone now that he's returned.

Bond

Bond Type: Equine
Bond Name: Hysopp
Already Bonded (Luck Chasers), Royal Bond

Appearance: Although she seems at first black, closer inspection reveals that Hysopp's glossy coat is in fact a deep navy blue. Her eyes are a lighter blue, and her white mane and tail have a blue tint if the light catches them just right. Overall, Hysopp is a graceful, beautiful creature - when properly groomed (something Rian doesn't always remember to take care of).

Bond Personality: Quiet and introspective, always keeping tabs on her absentminded bond. Very exclusive to Rian, generally ignoring everyone else. Prone to arrogance and patronizing when dealing with non-royals, despite Rian's pleas that she learn to be nicer.

When Rian was killed, Hysopp was put into agony, wishing to commit suicide and join him, but prevented from doing so by her Chaosian captors. She has spent most of the past year in this state of torment, until Rian's revival and their escape. Although she is overjoyed to have him back, it might be a long time before she herself recovers from the ordeal.

Ability: Musical divination - By focusing using music, the two can divine almost any information, but for it to be effective, Rian must be concentrating very hard, something he's not particularly good at.

Elbrand Claeryn’al, formerly known as Shalibat “Shal” Esh
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Species: Fire Elemental
Height: 6'
Hair color: Flame red
Eye color: Scarlet

Appearance: In his usual humanoid form, Elbrand is a tall, flame-haired youth with bright red complexion and eyes. He always wears casual clothes in shades of red and orange, and finds druidic robes a bit stuffy and formal for his tastes, but will wear them if he's forced to. A flameblade, forged by his father, is almost always strapped to his back, but apart from that he carries no weapons and little in the way of gear. He also likes to take the forms of various animals or bonds for fun or for usefulness, depending on the situation.

Guild/Rank: Cleri Druid under Claeryn (unofficially, as of yet)
Birthdate: Loyortob 1
Favorite food: Anything and everything hot or spicy.
Favorite color: Red
Favorite place: The open road
Favorite hobby: Telling stories of his many adventures (some of them actually true)
Least favorite food: Zucchini
Least favorite place: Anywhere particularly humid

Personality: Back when he went by his given name of Shalibat Esh, he was a jovial, light-hearted prankster who would do just about anything for a good laugh. He did his best to distance himself from his friends and family, afraid of being hurt if he should get too close to anyone. Because of this, he kept on the move a lot, wandering the island in search of good times and new victims for his practical jokes. However, this all drastically changed when he was caught up in the battle between Cascadia and the Chaotic New Order.

After being saved from near death by Claeryn, Shal chose to take a new name in honor of the fire god, and became Elbrand Claeryn'al. The change in name reflects a major change in his personality. No longer is he an irresponsible, immature prankster. Since the incident he has become much more serious and mature. He still has a sense of humor, but now he puts his duties, and the will of his god, above anything else. He's somewhat uncomfortable with his place in the druid's guild, but accepts it as part of his service to the One who rescued him from the edge of oblivion.

Family

Mother: Inara Esh
(maiden name:) Inara Flerr
Occupation: None
Age: 38
Description: A strict, demanding woman, capable of bending just about anyone over her knee. Her son has been away from home so long that she doesn't even realize anything serious has happened to him.

Father: Dartan Esh
Occupation: Master Blacksmith
Age: 43
Description: A well-known and well-liked blacksmith in Starscape Mountain, esteemed for crafting some of the island's best flameblades. He was always closer to their son than Inara ever was, and has sensed that something has happened to him, but trusts Elbrand to handle it on his own.

Background: Born and raised in StarScape Mountain, Shal chose to leave home during his teens and became a wanderer. The open road became his new home, and he spent most of his days traveling from place to place with little or no purpose other than just to have fun. But this carefree existance was not meant to last. In one of his many wanderings around the island, he got embroiled in a battle near Cascadia Falls, where he dueled the half-elemental Dante, one of the leaders of the Chaotic New Order. He helped win an important victory for ShadowStar, but it nearly cost him his life.

Snatched from the brink of death, the young elemental suddenly found himself face-to-face with Claeryn himself, who offered him a simple choice: death, or a life of service to the god. Less afraid of losing his independence than he was of losing his life, Shal accepted the offer, and afterwards chose to change his name in reflection of his decision. He grudgingly put in for membership with the Druids' Guild, but most of his time was soon taken up with another duty.

Much to his surprise, Dante, the very man who had nearly killed him, had defected to Unity and bonded a royal! Suspicious, Elbrand took it upon himself to keep an eye on the new Fire King's Own, becoming an unofficial bodyguard for Dante and his fiancee, Meirou Nightway. Over time, they earned each other's respect and even friendship, and when Dante went missing Elbrand had no qualms about leaving Cascadia behind to help Meirou hunt him down. But now, after months of searching to no avail, he has begun to feel Claeryn's call for him to return home.

Despite his reluctance to leave her alone, Meirou urged Elbrand to listen to the call on his own heart, and now he has finally returned to Cascadia, where he intends to make his service official by securing a position within the Druid's Guild.

Erak’ta Orema
Age: 612
Gender: Male
Species: City Elf
Hair color: Dark reddish-brown, slowly turning grey
Eye color: Light hazel-brown

Appearance: Erak bears his age well, his weathered face holding fewer lines and wrinkles than one might expect, considering everything he's been through. His hair and beard are still dark with color, although they are gradually fading to the light grey that's more common in elves his age. He's of slightly above-average height, and is still solidly built, capable of holding his own in a fight.
Clothing: His clothes are sturdy, well-worn tunics and pants, over which he wears a variety of robes or jackets, depending on the situation and the weather. He usually travels with hood down and nothing on his head, allowing his long ponytail to trail down behind him.
Weapons: Erak carries no weapon, having sworn off warfare years ago. If he must fight, he only does so defensively, and looks for any way to avoid or escape the battle. He's long past caring about whether people view him as a coward, his goal in any fight is to end it, as quickly as possible, and preferably without anyone coming to serious harm.
Jewelry: A small silver stud adorns Erak's left earlobe, the lone decoration on an otherwise rather plain visage.

Guild/Rank: Master Bard, specialty storytelling

Personality: Erak has two aspects to his personality. The first, outer aspect is that which everyone sees: the easy-going, good-natured bard who wanders the island sharing his stories and songs with any who will listen. He comes across as very kind, but somewhat simple, as though he's a bit naive or innocent, in spite of his age and knowledge. He loves children, and easily brings himself down to their level to understand and be understood by them. To adults, he himself can seem a bit childlike at times, with his seemingly blind optimism and straightforward outlook on life.

But hidden below this simple, cheerful exterior is a man who daily battles deep regret and sorrow for the terrible things he has done. He knows full well how evil and corrupt people can become, because he himself has been down that road. But, he always tries to look for the best in people, always believing that things can get better. It's this belief that keeps him going, that motivates him to keep trying to make a difference, even though his efforts are so often rebuffed or ignored.

Very few people ever get to see the scars hidden beneath this bard's cheerful exterior, and even fewer learn the full story of how he came to be as he is. The clues, however, are laced all throughout his songs and tales. Most of the stories he shares he knows because he took part in the actual events. Given his kindly demeanor, few would ever take him for a former warrior and one-time defector to Chaos, so they tend to miss these hints, and fail to see beyond his simple appearance.

Family

Mother: Elsia Oremah
Occupation: Sharecropper
Age: Deceased
Father: Urejai Oremah
Occupation: Sharecropper
Age: Deceased

Background: Born to a peasant family in Strosam during ShadowStar's feudal era, Erak grew up longing to escape from his menial circumstances, to attain the sort of status and lifestyle his parents could only dream of. At the age of 200, Erak was able to pay his way to Cascadia and buy a small apartment there with the money he had scraped together. He had chosen to become a bard, and performed daily in the bazaar. Unfortunately, his skills as a musician weren't much appreciated, and he was quickly reduced to a life of crime and petty theft in order to get by. Soon, he wound up getting caught and thrown in jail, where he would remain for the next two years.

When Tairan murdered his brother, King Shantor, and usurped the throne, one of his first acts was to pardon many of the inmates in Cascadia's prisons. In exchange for their freedom, he made them members of his brutal enforcer teams, an occupation which many of the criminals relished. Bitter against the government for what he saw as oppression against him and his parents, Erak gladly joined the ranks of Chaos, and learned how to fight, kill, and intimidate. After the subjugation of Cascadia was completed, he became a Chaos Knight and took part in the ongoing battles to snuff out resistance throughout ShadowStar. By the time things had settled down, he was commander of his own unit, and an accomplished warrior in his own right.

Erak decided it was time to settle down and enjoy the life he had earned for himself. He was awarded an estate just outside of Cascadia, and given a respected position among the Chaosian overseers of the city. But gradually, he became more aware of what Chaos was doing to ShadowStar, of how the poor were being oppressed now even worse than under Shantor's rule, and how the demons and trolls were mercilessly ravaging the countryside. Trying not to let such things disturb him, he drowned his conscience in wine, women, and song, until something happened that finally brought him to his senses. A young elf was arrested for stealing from the Chaosian stores, and when brought before Erak, the boy attempted to kill him, saying it was "for the sake of his oppressed people." Erak slew him on the spot, but was haunted by the memory for weeks afterward.

Finally recognizing that he had become just like the oppressive rulers he had once despised, Erak quietly resigned his commission, and began seeking some way to atone for his crimes. The withdrawal from Chaos was long and horribly painful, but even that ordeal did little to appease his guilty conscience. He realized that if he ever wanted to make things right, he would have to risk his life fighting against the very rulership he had helped set in place. It took some work, and a good deal of patience, but finally he was able to make contact with a representative of the underground Unitarian resistance, and spent the next few months earning enough of their trust to be admitted into the ranks. Against his will, he was designated captain of a rebel militia cell, based on his prior experience in the Chaosian military, and assigned to conduct raids on Chaosian supply lines. Although he hated being involved in further violence and bloodshed, he realized that it was necessary if they were ever to overthrow the Chaotic order he had helped to bring about.

For decades, the resistance limited itself to such minor guerilla actions, and Erak spent most of his time either preparing for raids or carrying them out. The weight of his guilt refused to be lifted, though, and he began to fall into a deep depression. Then, one day, word came from the druid Marcan that the king was ill, and would soon die. The leaders of the resistance were advised that they would need to be present in Cascadia for the anticipated coronation of the successor, but exactly what the druid was planning for that day was kept secret. Imagine the surprise among the resistance members when they learned that instead of trying to assassinate the new king, they were being called on to protect him! The next few months were, ironically, among the most chaotic in remembered history, as 400 years of Chaotic oppression were forcefully swept away, to be replaced by a newly-united rule of the four realms under King Ryntan.

While the battles with Chaos continued to rage, Erak found a new sense of peace as he stayed with Marcan, helping to rebuild the long-abandoned druid hall. Studying the ways of the gods, he finally began to understand how he could atone for his crimes. He vowed that he would give up his sword, along with all the wealth he had amassed in his service of Chaos, and would spend the rest of his life traveling the island, helping the poor and needy, and teaching others about their island's history, lest the mistakes of the past be repeated once again. Although he thought to become a druid, it was not to be, as none of the gods called him into their service. Instead he chose to become a bard, finally putting to good use the skills and training he had once abandoned in his youth.

His days of fighting weren't quite over yet, and he was called upon one last time to join Ryntan's forces in the Vengeance War, battling to defend ShadowStar against a resurgent Chaotic threat. The forces of Unity won a costly victory, driving Chaos back but losing their beloved leader in the process, as well as hundreds of others who fell at his side. As he mourned the fallen king, Erak confirmed his resolve to give up warfare forever. Throwing away his sword, he took up the life of a wandering bard, singing tales of the things he has seen and done, the despicable crimes as well as the acts of great heroism that he has witnessed. Now, as he meets people along his journeys, he seeks to help them understand and learn from the past, and to make the most of the present world that they live in. With each person he helps, he feels some of the weight lifting from his burdened soul, and some day he may finally be free of the terrible guilt he carries.

Dmitri “Sparrow” Allomar
Age: 31
Sex: Male
Species: Human

Appearance: Close-cropped brown hair tops a smooth, clean-shaven face, set with dark blue-black eyes. Of medium height and light build, he is neither exceptionally slender nor particularly athletic. Dmitri wears predominantly blues in various shades and tones, sometimes donning a pitch-black cloak for warmth or concealment. He rarely carries any weaponry, and the utility knife on his belt is far more tool than fighting implement. He wears no jewelry or decoration, and is overall rather unimpressive in appearance.

Guild/Rank: Knights' Guild / Master Patroller

Personality: Quiet, observant. Very perceptive and good at reading people, but slow to pass judgment and slower to speak, unless the situation requires it. Thoughtful and deliberate, he chooses his words carefully, and always thinks things through before taking action.

Dmitri is pragmatic without being particularly cynical. He's somewhat of a pacifist at heart, but remains realistic enough to know that fighting cannot always be avoided. As such, he takes time each day to practice katas for Zaderu, an exotic, Judo-like style of martial arts. However, his combat skills are far from spectacular, and he still tries to avoid fighting if possible. If forced to, he will supplement his hand-to-hand skills with a few simple magic spells he knows, mostly consisting of illusions and low-level conjurations.

When talking with others, Dmitri tends to come across as humble and somewhat self-effacing, but very perceptive. In truth, that's pretty much how he is, but he is equally capable of seeming sly, menacing, obsequious, or nearly any other attitude that the situation calls for. His keen skills of perception and persuasion make him excellent at negotiation and information-gathering.

An avid lover of the arts, Dmitri has a modest collection of paintings and sculptures decorating his room. In his free time, he enjoys performances by the bards, and often spends long periods of time studying his favorite pieces of art. He has some artistic talent of his own, but has never really developed it. He would like to, but realizes that it's not a very practical goal for him, and so he contents himself with admiring the works of others.

Family

Mother: Stacia Allomar
Occupation: Farm wife
Age: 51
Father: Vlad Allomar
Occupation: Farm owner
Age: 53
Siblings:

Family History: During ShadowStar's feudal age, the Allomar family were powerful and influential landowners employing hundreds of servants. When the Chaotic occupation came, their land, their power, and their riches were stripped from them. For generations they have lived in poverty and ignominy, and even now they own little more than a small, unimportant farmstead east of StarScape. But they still cling to their pride, and to the memory of their former prestige.

Background: Dmitri has always been the black sheep of his family. Quiet and intellectual, he never got along well with his noisy, rambunctious siblings. He also eschewed the entire notion of familial pride, which his father and brothers seemed so caught up in. Instead of pining for long-lost power and prestige, he pragmatically chose to accept the lot he was dealt and make the most of things in the present.

Looking for a way to escape his uncomfortable home situation, he joined the Knights' Guild, a move which surprised his family, who never thought him much of a fighter. In truth, he wasn't, but he did fairly well anyway, serving as an investigator for judicial matters. He wound up being transferred to the Dralk Miut, the guise under which the Patrol functioned at that time. There, he came to the attention of Rehanin Arrowcinder, the original Patrolmaster, who was impressed by his perceptiveness and verbal skills. Eventually, Rehanin chose to make the young man his personal assistant. As such, Dmitri has been privy to much of the Patrol's inner workings, which few others are aware of.

Seeing the chaos and disarray the Patrol has fallen into since the death of their leader, Dmitri has done his best to help shoulder some of the burdens, while not laying claim to the Patrolmaster's title outright. His respect for, and admiration of, Rehanin is such that he doubts his own ability to live up to the man's memory.

Fahr Holtseek, falcon-named Starjumper
Age: 426
Gender: Male
Species: Gnome
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Blue

Appearance: Taller than most gnomes, he could pass for a short elf if he wanted to. Athletically built, though it's hard to tell underneath his robes. He has a handsome face, framed by short, thick black hair, with a small tail hanging down the back of his neck. His eyes are a strange, almost crystalline light blue, and tend to have a distant, thoughtful look when he's not concentrating on anything in particular.
Clothing: Fahr has long worn the normal sky-blue robes of Aeryon, but recently he's taken to wearing the darker "midnight" robes.
Weapons: Fahr was once a skilled hand with the shortsword, but he no longer carries one, instead preferring to fight unarmed.

Guild/Rank: Changer Druid under Aeryon; animal form peregrine falcon
Birthdate: Llocdaerd 7
Favorite color: Dark blue or black
Favorite place: Anywhere with a good view of the sky
Favorite hobby: Stargazing

Personality: Friendly, playful, often flirtatious, and rarely at a loss for a good laugh. Fahr has earned a reputation for being somewhat impetuous and unpredictable. He refuses to let himself be limited by the expectations or traditions of others, and often acts on impulse, instinct, or emotion.
While he tries to project an air of confidence, Fahr is often plagued by doubts, particularly about his talents as a druid. Sensitive and idealistic, he has a vulnerable side which he tries to hide from all but his closest friends. He can often be found on a roof or hilltop late at night, gazing at the stars and contemplating the world, its deeper truths, and his place in it all.
Losing so many of his family and friends while still very young has had a deep impact on Fahr. He makes friends easily, but has difficulty letting people get truly close, because of an instinctive fear of loss. At the same time, spending so many of his formative years alone and adrift has caused him to become desperate for affection, and he's developed a habit of sleeping around with any woman who will take him.

Family

Mother: Artana Holtseek, tiger-named Flamedancer (maiden name:) Artana Firesight
Occupation: Changer Druid under Claeryn
Age: Deceased
Description: Fahr's mother died when he was an infant, and the few memories he has of her are very precious to him.
Father: Tam Holtseek, wolf-named Strongheart
Occupation: Former Druid Guildmaster
Age: Deceased
Description: A wise old druid, who served as Guildmaster until being executed during the Chaotic occupation of ShadowStar.
Sibling: Ridli Holtseek, owl-named Brighteyes
Occupation: Changer Druid under Tyrea
Age: 975
Description: Fahr's only living relative. The brothers have had more than their fair share of differences and disagreements over the years, but they still love each other dearly and keep in touch as best they can over the distances that usually separate them.

Background: Barely past infancy when the Age of Darkness began, Fahr lost both his parents to the Chaosian invasion. His brother Ridli raised him until he was able to look after himself, then they went their separate ways. Sensing Aeryon's call, and wanting to live up to his parents' legacy, he sought out a mentor to train him as a druid.
His training was conducted in secret, deep in the Sierac Mountains, as with so many other druids who grew up during the Age of Darkness. He eventually completed his first Change, though barely, and still has difficulty controlling his animal form. After becoming a Changer, he left the mountains and began traveling ShadowStar in the guise of a wandering bard, using his abilities to help those he could.
On one occasion, he was visiting the mining town of Theac when one of their tunnels collapsed, trapping a man behind tons of rock with limited oxygen. Though he knew his powers weren't best suited to the situation, he refused to simply stand by and do nothing. He tried using pressurized air to force a way through the rubble, but wound up only causing a further cave-in that killed the miner.
Devastated by his failure, Fahr fled the village, and didn't stop running for several days after. Even then, he still couldn't overcome the guilt of his mistake, and to this day he's haunted by the memory of that miner's death. Ever since, he's been fearful of repeating his mistake, and is wary never to do anything that might result in the loss of another innocent life. Hence his reluctance to use magic, and his preference of hand-to-hand fighting rather than wielding a sword.
In recent years, Fahr has become an adherent of the druidic sect called Nummuc Yow, a somewhat dissident group centered in Kiridia and the nearby villages. Like Fahr, they are dedicated to helping the common man, and eschew the hermetlike life of more traditional druids. Their general avoidance of druidic magic also mirrors his own, though it may be for very different reasons.

NPCs

NPC name: Shayna Tracand, Cleri Druid under Claeryn
Relation: Younger sister of the miner Fahr killed
Location at present: Theac
Brief Description: A slender, pale-skinned elf girl with short brown hair and greenish-hazel eyes. She and her brother, Gaowyn, moved away from home and took up residence in Theac, so as not to be a burden on their impoverished parents. He raised her well, and his generosity and selflessness went a long way toward shaping her current personality. When he died, she was devastated, but never gave in to resentment toward the one responsible, remembering her brother's lessons on the importance of forgiveness. She's done her best to make him proud, living by the morals he instilled in her, trying to help others and to never be a burden on anyone. Since feeling the call of Claeryn, she's spent most of her time training in the Sierac Range with her master, Changer Matrin Cathun. She attained Cleri rank a few years ago and left the mountains to train on her own and begin preparing for her Change. More recently, she has joined the Nummuc Yow, albeit nominally. She agrees with their ideals, and appreciates their efforts toward reforming the Druids' Guild, but still prefers to work on her own, as opposed to the group efforts normally employed by the sect.

Trent Dorian
Age: 46
Gender: Male
Species: Human
Loyalty: Chaos

Appearance: Long, slick black hair hangs to below his shoulders. His eyes are brilliant gold with blood-red pupils that seem to glow with inner power. A scar runs down the right side of his face, above and below his eye. Otherwise, his features are sharp and rather handsome. He wears dark, silken shirts, pants, and tunics, with a long, pitch-black cape of an indeterminate, thick material. The underside of the cape is covered in hidden pockets and small compartments that carry a wide variety of spellstones, scrolls, and daggers.

Guild/Rank: Archmage of Chaos

Personality: Trent believes that all life is chaos, and that those who think otherwise (i.e., the people of ShadowStar) are weak-minded fools. In his mind, a strong person is one who sees the inherent chaos in nature, and learns to tame it, make himself its master, impose his own unity and order upon it. Because of this, Trent has a great deal of contempt for the Council and the Unified Realms of ShadowStar. He believes that he, and he alone, has the strength, the cunning, and the determination to fully bend nature to his will. The first step, in his mind, is to conquer ShadowStar in the name of Chaos, abolish what he sees as the "false unity" the Council has created, and then forge a new order, a new unity, by bringing every living thing completely under his sway.

Family

Father: Edison Dorian - Master Knight (Land) - Deceased
Mother: Helena Lee Dorian - Master Healer

Background: The man known as Trent Dorian was once a Knight of ShadowStar, until he stumbled across a Chaosian temple and was driven mad by its dark emanations. In his madness he turned and slew his comrades, and would likely have ended his own life, had the Nameless One not taken an interest in him. He had a great deal of untapped Talent, and with his mind the shattered wreck it was, it was simple for her to bring him under her influence, soothing his madness and remaking him as she saw fit. Thus, Trent became one of the youngest men ever to master Chaotic magic, and gradually rose to dominance over the other mages and generals of Chaos. His ambitious nature proved to be his undoing, however, as it caused him to fail in several attempts to conquer ShadowStar. The Nameless One soon chose a new favorite servant, the HighDemonLady Kurai Bloodblade, and Trent found himself abruptly out of Her favor. He is not one to give up easily, though, and he has learned to accept his new, subordinate position, while never abandoning his intentions of reclaiming the power he once held.