My parents were part of an Elven guard in charge of protecting the borders of Qualinesti. My mother was a ranger of great skill and my father was in line for Archmage with the Elven Magic Council. They had gone to the borders after reports of a Red Dragon attacking several outposts had solicited a response from the Elven Council. My mother and father were chosen to lead the squad of 200 elves, but because of the high risk and danger involved, all members were required to have at least 5 years of experience. I had named myself an adult and had entered the Guard just the previous year and felt with my parents' high status, I should be allowed to come along. The Council did not agree even after I explained I was top of my class in not only magic proficiency, but I was the reigning champion for the longbow for which I had beat out my own mother whom was leading the expedition. I was also top notch in Alchemical studies. None of this mattered to the Council and the plans were made to leave that following day. I could have left it at that if not for one of the Council members making a snide remark and using my child name when making his exit. This was more than I could stand for. I would show them. My parents would not be back to the house as they would be busy finalizing plans and making preparations. I went back to my home and began making plans of my own. I knew the route they would take so I would I would just go ahead of them and wait. I could scout ahead and have the information for them when they got there. I packed up my bags and my longbow and headed out. When I first got to where the report of the last attack was, there was no sign of anything alive. I had never seen such destruction. Everything was burned to the ground. Bodies lay charred in the rubble. Men, women, children. All dead. I could not move. I don't know how long I sat on the edge of the clearing, but my mother came up and placed her hand on my shoulder and told me to come with her. I could see my father with the rest of the squad and I could tell he was not pleased. My mother just told me that the aftermath of battle can sometimes be worse than the battle itself. I would learn the true meaning of those words before the night ended. Scouts were sent ahead to look for any signs of where the Dragon may have come from or where it was headed. Scouts came back reporting it had gone South and so now with one extra member, the troop moved South. At about mid day a scout came riding in saying they had tracked the Dragon to another outpost where it was currently in the middle of burning it to the ground. Elven cavalry and casters charged into battle like heroes of old. I was sent with a small group to help any survivors escape. It was soon apparent that the Dragon was winning and a full retreat was ordered. In the midst of the retreat I saw a little human girl that had become trapped under a piece of burning debris. I used a spell to push the debris off of her and attempted to help her up. The Dragon either sensed the magic or just chose that moment to get really angry, but it stopped mid charge and turned on me and the little girl. My mother saw this and shot arrows at it trying to distract it. My father let loose with lightning from both hands, but it barely slowed it down. I was able to avoid the first charge, but it came back around a second time and I knew I was not gonna make it. My father appeared in front of me along with my mother by means of a teleport spell. They both looked at me and I knew what they were going to do. My mother gave me her longbow and last arrow, drew her longsword, and charged headlong into the dragon. My father loosed another lighting storm, only this time directed through my mother's sword and it went straight into the Dragon's chest. He let out a scream that sounded like 1000 demons trying to escape the deepest pits of hell. Both my parents disappeared in a wall of flame and I myself was burned badly from just the intensity of the heat. I noticed as the fire went down that though my parents were dead, they had gravely wounded the Dragon as well and had exposed his heart. I grabbed my mother's longbow and arrow and let loose with all my fury and rage and loosed it straight into the Dragon's heart. It screamed even louder than it had the time before and reared up on it's hind legs as if to take flight. It instead shuddered and collapsed right onto me. One of the claws struck me in the chest and pierced my heart. So, we both lay there, in a deepening pool of blood. I should have by rights died, but something else happened instead. Usually only made possible through rites and ceremony and spells, our blood began to mix. I hear a voice that sounds ancient in my head and it says, "I have never seen such bravery from an Elf that you would risk ur immortality for the sake of a petty human. I give to you the gift of my magic and life force. May the Goddess Mystra protect you and guide you." I woke up several weeks later in the infirmary. Barely any of Elves who left returned. The little girl was sitting next to my bed as she would throw an unholy tantrum if anyone tried to remove her. They brought her food and a change of clothes when she needed it, but otherwise she would just sit and talk or sing to me. She had also made me a necklace from the claw that was embedded in my heart. The Healers had never seen anything like it. During my sleep, I was in constant turmoil. I kept seeing my parents' faces as they died, their bodies burnt husks of the beautiful versions they used to be. Also, during this time I began to feel a change coming over me. I felt as if I were getting stronger, not just physically, but magically. I knew things about magic now that I didn't before. There were also the dreams. I kept getting flashes of some major catastrophe and even though I didn't know if they had already happened or were going to happen, I knew they were happening to real people. Upon awakening, I was called before the Eleven Council and given full honors for my heroic deeds in slaying the Dragon, but I barely heard any of it. Grief and guilt were all I knew. If I had never tried to go, then my parents would have retreated with everyone else and would have come back alive and safe. I understood what my mother had meant now about after the battle being worse than the battle itself. How was I going to go on? It turns out the little human girl was the best medicine. She had lost her whole family int he attack as well and was alone in the world. I petitioned the Council to allow me take her in as a my own. They agreed, though many voiced concerns with having a human live among them. We brought looks and snickers wherever we went, but after a while we didn't care. I began to train her in the ways of the Elves and she showed remarkable talents for tracking, stealth, and Alchemy. She has now been with me for 15 years and has herself become Elven in mind and heart. She is constantly giving the younger Elven men fits of jealousy and longing, but is never one to pay attention to such things. I feel she see's me as a father figure, but wants it to be more. I feel this is going to be more of an issue as she further matures and becomes more assertive in her feelings. After much debate over whether she should be allowed to join the Elven Guard, it has been decided that she cannot join due to her human lineage. This has caused me a lot of distress as I feel she has proven herself more than capable. It is on this basis that we decide to leave Qualinesti and try to find a place for ourselves. I am not sure how she would figure into any campiagns or anything. She is seen by most as some sort of servant or slave, though should anyone outwardly express that idea, she is quick to correct them. I carry on my person the dragon claw necklace she made for me and it feels warm to the touch still after all these years. In fact, if I take it off, I tend to go into seizures and fits. Not sure if this is a sign of something deeper or just my mind playing tricks. I also carry my mother's longbow and my father's robes. There does not have to be any special effects or actions attached to them, but maybe a small bonus to hit or armor would be nice. I tend to be very protective over these item's and will not hesitate to take appropriate action when they are threatened. Since the attack where my parents died, I have continued to take on more of a draconic appearance. I have scales over most of my body now, though few would notice under my robes. I tend to heal faster than normal and can lift more than my stature would indicate. I'm not sure if these are traits that the DM will allow, but I'm adding them for better playability. My spells also tend to be more potent than spells of similar level and magnitude. They are also more wild and tend to have more unexpected side effects. I show a higher immunity to Fire attacks due to the Red Dragon blood coursing in me. Once, again not sure if the DM would allow these to have actual in game benefits, but better back story. I would like to play this to become a DragonSoul Heir at some point, but I will leave that up to the group and DM. My background is Sage and though I don't have the years of study, the bond of the Dragon gives me insight. This gives me proficiencies in Arcana and History as well as 2 additional languages. I also get the researcher benefit which even I don't know a specific piece of lore, I know where to find out or whom might know it. I also have the Specialty being an Alchemical researcher, so potions are easier and cheaper to make. I am awkward in social situations due to the changes brought on from the Dragon's blood. I feel emotion should never cloud logic. My greatest bond is with the human girl Katie and with my parents belongings. I tend to speak before I think and tend to create conflict without meaning to. I am more interested in facts than opinions and become impatient rather quickly when people avoid an answer to my questions or refuse to listen to my ideas. Though I don't tell even Katie, I can still hear the voice in my head from time to time. It has been my unseen guide since that first day. It only speaks when it feels the need, but always insists I listen and do as I'm told. I know it is a God or Goddess of some sort, but they have yet to reveal themselves openly. Therefore, Religion is kind of a no-go zone with me, cause I have a God living in my head. I just avoid the issue and prefer to remain silent unless forced to and even then I prefer people to make their own choice and state as much. Or I could just be wackbat crazy and am one conversation away from a straight jacket. I tend to be more reserved in social settings, but if you can find a good Elven wine, I have been known to get a little rowdy. I always have a positive attitude and am not big on naysayers or just negative people. I tend to show more sympathy and understanding towards humans than a typical Elf due to my relationship with Katie. Oh and I'm High Elf! My name means the Bloodstained Immortal. As far as me goes, well that's an even longer book...lol I am 35 years old and a father of 7. I am disabled due to a degenerative spine disorder. Before that I was doing sales and service on PC's. Prior to that I was in restaurant management. Because of my disability, I have a pretty wide open schedule and am always looking for ways to fill it. Though with 7 kids, time can sometimes be a precious commodity. They are all over 6 except the newest little guy so they are pretty low maintenance at this point. Food, water, and a sprinkler work great. I love to do gardening and can lose days in a good book. I love anything fantasy and most sci-fi. DRAGONS!!! I LOVE DRAGONS!! Sorry, I got excited there for a sec. I have read most anything D7D related and really love R.A. Salvatore. I also like Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. My favorite D&D series would have to be Drizz't Du'Urden, but anything Dragonlance or Forgotten Realms suits me fine. I am also a big David Eddings and Terry Brooks fan. My all time favorite book is The Last Herald-Mage which is actually 3 books by Mercedes Lackey. I have a signed first edition I love it that much!!! I have been a gamer since Atari and Nintendo so. . . yeah. I played my first D&D campaign at the age of 14 and was instantly hooked. I have played over the years with some friends here and there, but schedules were always an issue for regular play. Am actually working on getting the kids into it and so I have joined in hopes of getting back into it. I do however play DDO and Neverwinter. DDO not so much, but I am a level 60 Sorcerer in Neverwinter. Haven't played since the lvl update, but I will get those 5 levels eventually. I also play Star Trek Online quite a bit and have a lifetime subscription. I think that's about it. If you need anything else, please let me know. I can do video, voice, smoke signals, HAM radio, whatever. Would be happy to join you guys on a campaign or adventure. I am available anytime, any day basically. Good journeys and bottomless mugs!! Agarwaen Ilfirin
