| Thieves | Bandits | Assassins | Watchers |
Semarin Di'Urtha was born into the streets of Var Bandor. From an early age, the young nefortu Semarin could be found running in the streets with the other urchins. With uncaring parents, and no real means to support himself, Semarin soon fell in with the Thieves Guild. He quickly made a name for himself as an agile thief, always ready to take a dare or challenge. His wings gave him a special ability to walk the Thieves Highway of rooftops, and disappear quickly when the guards chased. At the tender age of nine, Semarin was apprenticed with an old thief who was no longer agile, but still crafty in the ways of the dagger. The training he received under this old man would prove crucial later in his life. For he learned to react with both agility and skill, and to be able to strike even when surprised. So Semarin's childhood was spent in petty thefts, break-ins, and knife fights. He became a cynical thief, one whom looked sneering down at the pitiful people whom he stole from. He realized that he could easily instill fear and terror into others, and that this gave him a great advantage. On his fourteenth birthday fate or coincidence forever changed Semarin's life. That night Semarin witnessed a Void Scholar summoning the might of the great Demon Lord Sothmogga. Lurking in the shadows, Semarin was curious enough to watch the events that unfolded. The shuddeni scholar was probably mad with visions of power, crazy enough to attempt such a suicidal task. The scholar was mighty enough to break past the many wards and protections of the Astral Prison, and bring Sothmogga back to this realm. The scholar, however, was woefully unprepared to face the 30' mass of writhing tentacles, flailing eyestalks, and noxious slime, that is the Demon Lord Sothmogga. With the greatest of ease, and contempt, Sothmogga devoured the little Void Scholar. But the Titans were not ready to relinquish their prisoner that easy as Anirim channeled the combined might of the Titan Court into pulling the demon back into its cell. As Sothmogga was being brought back by the might of the Titans it saw Semarin lurking in the shadows. And in a second that seemed like hours it communed with the thief. Semarin was shown the history of Sothmogga, construct of the Archmage Vilda. He knew that Sothmogga was ever hungry for chaos and darkness to reign in the realms of Avendar, and that it would stop at nothing to be free once more. In the end the two struck a deal, Sothmogga would grant Semarin powers unparalleled in his Guild, if Semarin pledged to follow the paths of darkness. Sothmogga wished to have an agent in the realms, an agent that could spread his influence, and bring the attentions of the Dark Gods. Semarin, ever greedy for wealth and power, was quick to agree. In that moment Semarin's feet was firmly planted on the pathof damnation. As the pledge was sealed Sothmogga revealed the final clause. Semarin had to take a vow of unholy silence, a silence that would prove his dedications to the dark powers. With a quick slice of his dagger, Semarin completed the deal. His own blood sealed the pact. Though Semarin previously had taken a light view to oaths and vows, he knew deep in his heart that if he broke this one, he would not live to see another day. He would be forever silent to any mortal, until the day that Sothmogga was free again. So at the age of fourteen Semarin left the streets of Var Bandor looking for adventures in the rest of Avendar. He knew that being a thief of Var Bandor could never bring the power of notice that his patron Sothmogga would be satisfied with. Semarin remembered the last words of advice that the demon had given. He knew that his goal was to become one of the Raiders of Twilight, and amass enough wealth and power to free Sothmogga from his cell. Silent as the night, Semarin left with only darkness in his heart.
By the end of his life, Semarin, had accomplished much, but not all, of his goals. He was one of the Raiders of Twilight at the height of their new rise to power. On the back of his bird of prey, Semarin would swoop into the cities of Var Bandor, Earendam, and Krilin, and send the forces of chaos loose upon the people. Though silent himself, the screams from Semarin's victims as he made his pillaging attacks were more than enough to carry into the Heavens. Hated and hunted by many of the other Houses and factions, Semarin escaped many times by only the smallest margins. It was his ability to master the shadows that allowed him to dance circles around his many foes. Whenever he saw his chance, he would quickly waylay an unsuspecting victim for their wealth and possessions. Semarin finally amassed a wealth of 2.3 million gold coins, but by the clossure of his life he still could not conceive a way to free Sothmogga. In the end, even his shadow mastery could not protect him from the wrath of the Demon Lord.
An old lady greets you at the door of her humble house and beckons you inside.
"Ah, welcome traveler, come in, put your coat over there. Yes yes, I hear you've come a long way to speak with me. 'A Journal of Past Adventurers', you called it, yes? Well, my story is quite old, some of the details are fuzzy to even me. What did you say your name was again? Abseline? Bard of Var Bandor? Yes, of course. Well sit down and I'll fix you some tea."
Maelise pours you a small cup of tea and you both sit down to drink together.
"The second Hero Assassin of Avendar. Not quite the title I sought, but a student of mine, Jhinru, stole the glory from me. Unfortunate though, he sought higher things, and left the physical plane quite soon after. How I would love to see him again..."
The old Shuddeni woman's eyes glaze over briefly as she sips her tea once again and continues.
"Killing people... yes, killing people. A strange art it is, to stand over someone's lifeless corpse. I never enjoyed it, but I didn't hate it either. Anger as a youth, they say. In the early years of the Assassin's Guild the art was new and unrefined. It took much courage and technique to bring down anyone, especially in the Dark Palace of Gogoth. How I remember those days."
Maelise gets up from her chair and goes to the kitchen briefly to fix herself another cup of tea. She returns a moment later and resumes her speech.
"Kurjak you ask of? Indeed, I travelled with him here and there. Mostly there. We had our differences of course. I was a paid Assassin after all. He is the only person I ever refused to slay. I still speak to him, though we're both retired of course. He still owns a homestead north of here."
Maelise watches as you take the last sip of your tea, then she grabs the cup and takes it to the kitchen.
"All these questions, but I indeed have a question to ask of you too, Abseline. I've been working on a new recipe, solvent in water it is. I just have yet to test the time of onset."
Your world begins to darken as your eyelids begin to weigh heavily. Just before you collapse into unconsciousness you glimpse the old Shuddeni woman peeling back the layers of her disguise to reveal a much younger, nimble, Shuddeni woman. All you hear amidst the final beats of your heart...
"The Whisper lives on, young one, and that's all this world needs to know..."
Endaeru Dalidra was an assassin, originally trained in the high courts of Ilodaiya. As the third son of his father, he trained in the culture and manners of the court, but also trained in the ways of the blade. Lacking a family assassin, his father spared no expense in his training. A position of honor in aelin society, Endaeru looked forward to the post of assassin for his family, as he would face those who sought to harm his family, and would have the opportunity to bring honor to his house.
When he immersed himself in the life of the court, he discovered that the idealized version of noble life he had envisioned was far from the all too sordid reality. In a sea of shifting alliances and broken pledges, Endaeru found no place for what others viewed as his antiquated notions of honor and integrity. With his father's death, Endaeru's brother assumed control of the family, and Endaeru found himself providing over a house given over to a standard decadent even by aelin standards.
Commanded to murder his second oldest brother by the eldest to satisfy a political vendetta, Endaeru gave up his position in his house, and left what he viewed as a society given over to a craven lack of honor. He still carried with him his noble heritage, however, and brought his courtly manner and love of honor to those he met.
In his adventures, he traveled with such notables as the Lady Sance, and did battle with the wicked Asihara and Avshar. In time, his love of honor lead to his devotion to the god Marlax, who granted him his mark. Endaeru fought many great battles in Marlax's name, and even aided in one of the trips to Xiginath, staying with his company till all fell in a den of fire salamanders.
With the passing of time, Endaeru retreated from the more settled parts of Avendar, traveling further south to unknown lands, and passing out of the annals of history.
I have a foggy memory of my birth, though I believe I was raised within a small, remote city. I was devastated by its destruction as Raiders pillaged through one eve, as they left nothing standing. I gathered what I could find as they left, and headed off to the catacombs, where I lived in filth and learned to thieve from others.
I was caught by a watcher one day, who gave me the choice to either repent and learn the laws well with him, or be thrown in jail to have my judgment carried out by Guardians. I screamed violently, but regained my thoughts and finally agreed to his offer. I was taken to Var Bandor, where I learned some arts of the watchers. I learned little and was not interested, and the watcher was about to give up before introducing me to one of his friends. The soldier took a look at me, and said my thin body and nimble reactions may deal better as an assassin, and thus I learned its practice.
As such, I remembered my relatives and the devastation left behind as pillagers ran through Var Bandor one night. They were fended off by Bromrin, who I decided to become like. I eventually learned of the House of Guardians from the soldier and Bromrin, who recommended me as Haloth nodded in satisfaction. Raekith interviewed me, and I easily passed, becoming a Guardian of Law.
Iandir smiled upon me as numerous criminals were apprehended and the House's name was defended, and I was granted the choice of my title. I did well with close friend Ivian, though I eventually retired to the city of Krilin, to live out my later years.
I start this summary of my Life, while sitting in my room in the Journey's End. Shall we begin from the start? I was born to two fairly poor parents in a small house in Var Bandor. My play area was the streets and alleyways. At that time my life had no direction, but I knew that I wished to better the world, in some way or another. I saw that msot were ignorant of the world, and I wished to change this fact.
One day, I met a young aelin who went by the name of Ganes. We quickly became fast friends, despite our differint stations in life, and his family adopted me as a noble member of their family. I was very proud of this fact. Gane's family had ties to the Assassin's guild, and thought it would suit me well. My acceptance as a member of their family paved the way for them to pay my tuition to the Guild.
Ganes and I travelled often together, with a young thief usually, though I do not remember his name. We gained ranks in our Guilds as quickly as possible, many times in Rahh-Neforr or in Gogoth. While we travelled we discussed many different issues. Though Ganes did not have a commoner's views like myself, I still gained much from these chats. I decided on a concept of what innocence was, and decided that by protecting this innocence, and explaining to others what it was to be innocent, I would be doing good.
A few years later, after many speakings with Jolinn, I applied and became a Champion of Avendar, with hopes of becoming a Son of Jolinn as well. I then started practicing the skills I had learned from my guild on the enemies of the Light. Many a battle I fought against Zyal, both with weapons and with words, desperately attempting to convince him that there was value to be found in the Light. Many times I also fought alongside most of the Champions of the time.
During these times, I also took part in three quests. Two were to the temple of Xiginath and one was in the releasing of Serachel. Slaying many that followed the Dark ways started to desensitize me, and I started to question what I was battling for. It seemed that I cared much more then even many Champions about the lives of innocent people. Still I continued in doing what I had in the past. My last quest, a shrine conquest, came up and a fine group of adventurers were present. More then had gone on past attempts, I think. Hours of travelling, and battling, and exploring, under great leadership by Kiriya led us deep into the Shrine.
We reached a portal on one of the final levels, but it closed before we could enter. Serachel appeared and offered aid. Though none of us accepted at that time, I kept the thought in mind. Opening the gate yet again, we explored and plundered Xiginath's Shrine. Expecting Xiginath himself to appear, we were disappointed to find nothing. After a great deal of time, I decided that other business had to be attended to, and that I would need a way out. I called upon the Darklord's aid, and after being ignored by my own Lord Jolinn, Eintras, Meera, and I took Serachel's gate out, in hopes that we could gain the Stones of Power back from the Raiders as well as attend to some other business.
What we receieved was far different then we had expected. We were all cast out of the Champion house. I could not understand why I had been thrown out, for I had used the Darkness to further my goals, in essense I had turned the Darkness against itself. Arguing this, I was told that I was not what a Champion was made of, and that a true Champion bases his actions on ideals rather then practicality. Thus I was known a Pragmatist by all citizens of Avendar. Realizing that I had been pushed away from what I had fought so much for and aided with all that I could, I started to open my eyes, to throw away the naivety I held so close. Never could there be true goodness in all. There would always be that one overly greedy man, or a power hungry and uncaring king who cruely rules over his subjects. To even try to do away with this was futile.
Realizing that I was growing older, and had done nothing useful with my life, I decided I would indulge. Indulge in women, in drink, and even in the joy of killing, for if there could be no total goodness in the world, what would a few more actions of malignity do. From the Shrine I had gathered a Totem, a powerful magical artifact. Serachel then came to me, and told me of it's uses, to an extent. Still confused, I was left alone, and I was only told to hold onto the Totem. While journeying in Gogoth one night, I was attacked by a void scholar by the name of Euithyin, who happily slayed me while I was battling a lich, and stole what items he could, one being the totem. After much time and deception, I was able to gain the totem back from him, for he received threatening notes from the Demonic Avatar of Xignanth, and feared for his life.
Finding great allies in the raiders, I used their resources to further my enjoyment and pleasure, and aided them as much as possible. Days later, Serachel again appeared and gave me further instructions upon the use of the Totem. It would aid me in battle if I said certain words, and wore it around my neck. Not truly understanding, I activated it and wore it. That evening a fine swordmaster by the name of Rascyc asked me to aid him in ridding himself of a cursed blade. Stepping from the shadows I pressed into one of his nerve points, intending for him to drop his blade as weakness shot through him. The result was far different. A round of combat was fought, and then tendrils of darkness caressed Rascyc, tearing his soul from his body, and draining myself of stamina as well. Apologizing for this, I left to ponder this newly found, godlike power. With this, I could do anything that I wanted, but what did I want? Killing with it was not interesting in the least, nor was draining myself very appealing.
I decided to use it only in self-defense, but when I wanted to kill someone I would do it with my own hands. But, I did owe one person a favor, it seemed like, and so I spoke to him. The favor he asked was the death of Sance, she who refused His offerings of aid, and she who wed the fool who offended Him. And so it was sought, the death of Sance. Long did I search for her, when finally she appeared. Being summoned into a room by a friendly void scholar, I slayed her quickly and quietly, with my own hands. In recognition of this deed, and knowing that my current views of self-enjoyment were similar to that of his subjects, he accepted me as a follower.
I still had not accomplished what I promised myself I would, so I decided that I would begin preaching, as I had once done with the Light, that which I now believed. One should enjoy life, and have what good times he can before it is over. Leaving a mark is also a good thing, but not required. Also, I preached that which I had learnt about the Light, and promised myself I would reach at least one pure heart, and make it realize the naivety that it held so dearly. Preach I did, as much as possible. It led to battles with Mirimis, and Meera, as well as others, gaining a reward upon my head. A day or two later I was enjoying my time slaying merchants for the gold they held, when Haloth appeared, seeking to punish me for my crimes. A battle instilled and for some time we ran across Avendar, gaining and losing the upper hand time and time again.
In the middle of one such fight the Demonic Avatar of Xiginath appeared, and it was over. I returned the Totem to him, and turned myself in. Not needing my items any further, as I was only going to speak my views from this day on, I let Haloth keep them, and retired to the room where I now sit, writing this. I shall preach my views against the naivety of Light, and in recommending self-indulgence for as long as my heart continues pumping.