| Gladiators | Fighters | Swordmasters | Barbarians |
Jaerin was a man of few words, save for when his religion was in question. He followed the ways Tessolos had set forth and was the driving fist in the Knights of Enaerai.
Spending his life battling for Balance in one form or another, toward the end of his life he developed a sweet taste and addiction to battle. When he had lost touch of the High Lord Tessolos, He knew not what to do. He was sure that he, the Lord of the Ilthar Body, could not control the whole of the Knights, and so became more int one with his carnal needs. Remarkably handsome, the patrons of the Nymph's Tear came flocking to the General, and so went his life for the next decade or so.
He grew disturbed with his unfilled craving for blood in battle and sought out to again hold the balance. He had heard of a house that held the same morality in essence as the Knights of Enaerai. Though the Lords of Conquest did not direct their battles toward one cause, It was a militant force bent on domination, As the Knights of Enaerai had been in their most glorious days. The Lords of Conquest gladly accepted Jaerin, and he gladly accepted the role of battling imbalance as the one truly active Knight.
Jaerin made several attempts to pass his learnings on to those that wished to learn of the True Balance. However, none of his Initiates would suffice and he fell an unhappy, unsatisfied soul.
Joktan was an altharaya fighter who gloried in battle. He would charge into any fray, seeking the thrill of battle, and the satisfaction standing over the corpses of powerful foes. In his younger years, he was very impatient with any who slowed the rate of battles, and even slew groupmates for wasting precious battle time.
In his later years, and time as a hero, he strove to defeat the greatest creatures in the land, often with the aid of a water scholar ally, Belerin. With Belerin, Joktan defeated the amber dragon at the 40th rank, and many demons, including all those but Xthijch (Xiganath was not yet discovered at that time). A memorable experience is when Anirim, Lord of the Titans, tricked Joktan into defeating one of imprisoned greater demons, for which he said would give Joktan Anirim's own spear. Anirim renegged on the bargain, after Joktan and allies defeated the demon.
During his latter years, he joined the Lords of Conquest, and was one of the few Conquerors to walk the land then. The greatest battle of Joktan's mortal life was to lead several allies to victory against the then-undefeated lich king Gogoth.
He was taken up by the immortals to join their ranks, for a time. As an immortal, he assisted Marlax in finding new members of the Lords of Conquest. He eventually departed the heavens, finding that with immortality, the glory of battle had lost its thrill.
I was an Alatharya fighter, and an excellent warrior at that. In my time, I bested every other warrior in combat, except perhaps my ally Drigus. I lived during the terrifying Dyrck and Sligura era, and my greatest wish was to join the Guardians. I was not lawful in ethos at first, but was granted a 'quest' by Iandir and eventually changed to follow the laws. In such, I was interviewed but failed twice since I didn't know the laws well.
I got frustrated, since there wasn't a response for a while so I just went off with old allies and roamed the world a bit. In our adventuring, we even raided the House of Guardians. A fatal mistake, as I was branded with the title the 'Enemy of Law', but luckily I was spared from the Sigil of Wrath. From then on, I continued to follow the law, though I became neutral of ethos once again.
I went on most of the quests, the first and third trip to Xiginath's shrine with Kiriya, the defending of Earendam from a Srryn invasion, and the journey into the dream realms of Serachel. I eventually retired myself, and headed back towards the ancient valleys north of Earendam.
Saying: Fist and Faith!
I was born in an Ethron Clanhouse, deep in the Qilarn forest. My parents were both skilled hunters. On the eve of my seventh naming day I received an ironwood sword. That was the beginning of my training. For many years I would practice with this sword, under sunlight, under moonlight, and under the stars. I would travel throughout Qilarn looking for teachers, or ones whom I could test my skill against. As my skills progressed I gained mastery of the dual wield. It was at that time that I journeyed out of Qilarn. I arrived in Var Bandor, and began my training of swordmaster forms. I also developed a philosophy of life. It could be summed up in one word, Cut. It meant that you must cut at your foes, with every weapon available to you. Even as he cuts you, you must cut back. You must be prepared to cut, it is the Flame and the Void. As long as you follow this philosophy you will never be caught by surprise, and you will be ever ready for battle. You will be able to flow in and out of forms in a blink of an eye, and your sword will become just an extension of your being.
With this philosophy I was able to defeat many challengers. It was after my fight with Tarkis, a Lord of Conquest, that I first considered joining that noble House. So I was interviewed by Khajran and was admitted. With that came a new chapter of my life. We as Lords shook Avendar. But as time went on, my comrades-at-arms disappeared one by one. First Rannock ascended into the Heavens, and then Sakuleth too went beyond. I preserved long enough to see a new generation of Lords. I was fortunate enough to lock swords with heroes like Ardanwen and Raekith, and prevail. In fact the only person that I could not defeat was the Khal himself, Sakuleth. I became the first among my race to attain the rank of Swordmaster Hero. I was also fortunate enough to be the first to defeat the Master of the Golden Flames, and like a true Lord, by myself. But as time went one I began to become curious about what lay beyond the Ocean. So on the eve of my 50th naming day I left my House and journeyed beyond...
Lyston was the son of Dratel, who was another Kankoran swordmaster hero. He never knew his parents, as he was left to fend for himself at an early age. He started off his life set on becoming one of the greatest swordsman to ever walk the realms. He was quite bloodthirsty in his younger years, and not much less in his old ones. He became a Saurian, but soon regretted his action when Sitheus fled the realms of his own cowardess. Next he joined the Raiders of Twilight, determined to acquire wealth, and vanquish all that was good as a hobby. He felt neither joy nor sorrow in those years.
In his conquests, he met a young human woman named Meera, who at first despised everything about him. He was awed by her beauty, and thus opened his mind to her view of life. In time, he saw that his selfish ways were unjust and cruel, and turned to the light, abandoning his long gone and almost forgotten Lord, and the Raiders of Twilight as well. Had he stayed, he may have avoided his end, and become the mortal leader of his house. He was branded with the Sigil of the Wrath of the Gods, and hunted by Saurian and Raider alike. The woman he loved never admitted that she returned the feeling, and Jolinn's promises of full conversion to the light never came.
In the end, he felt worthless and lonely, and so he gave up his life to his own sword. The only friend he found true in his last hours was Sylvanne, a templar of the spirit.
Machia, a kankoran swordmaster, had a short and bitter life. Raised by aelins, he was highly educated and very arrogant, for one who followed the light. His 'thee's and 'thou's often annoyed those who he traveled with. His was irrationally zealous in battling those of evil and their allies.
He became a very proficient swordmaster, mastering many of his forms, and crossed blades with many of the evil adventurers in the land. He also ventured with a large party into Xiganath, and saw sights of horror that he could never forget. In Yithoul and Gogoth, he spend a great deal of time, honing the art of the sword to perfection--but it may be that too much time in such dark places affected him, and he lost hope in life and the greater power of light, affected by an odd form of dimentia. Towards the end of his life, he took up residence with the mad peoples of Shendaer, and did nothing but perfect his swordplay, until he finally wasted away.
I was born of noble blood, in a valley far north of the Titan Palace. As a child, I was treated to all sorts of manors that noble children have. But most discovered that I had a rare talent for swordmastery. I thought it little, but this art of the Blade would shape my life for years to come. After having my 14th birthday, I ventured from my home, and stopped in Kor Thrandir. Exploring the nice city, and seeing the guards, holding their swords in respect, I made this place my second home, taking up a small residence there for a few years. But then I hit the ripe age or 16, and it was time to enroll in the well-known School of Heroes.
My adventures went well, as I met friends that would be for life. My dear girl Belikan, the only thief I've met that had a decent cause to her stealing, we met lady Rystaia together, Sidaleth, the dear earth scholar, the first I saw with the mark of the Sapphire Spear upon his arm, and Malika, a swordmaster like myself, I do believe we had a lot in common. It would also be the first time I ran into Lyston. I truly despised the kankoran at first, and hated him even more when I sat the Saurian tooth deep under his fur. Unfortunately, these times were short lived, as a messenger came and said that my dear father was ill, and I had to return to take care of him.
It was a good 4 years until he recuperated. When I finally returned to Avendar, I found that my dear arch-mage had risen into the heavens to be with his god, and my other friends were nowhere to be found. For the first time, I truly felt alone. I rose in rank decently, and met others. It was the first time I saw my dear cousin on my mother's side, Sylvanne, the pioneer of the templars of spirit, and met others as well. It was a transition for myself, as I finally put to pen my application for the Champions. Eintras, the leader at the time, quickly sent for me to do my interview, and I passed. Those times, in my 30s, were some of the best in my life. The truce with the Guardians was strong, and the house had bonded like a family. I soon recruited Mirimis, that loveable furry bandit, into the house. He was the first to charm me, and would not be the last. He would also be the first to be branded with the sweet-smelling rose of Aeolis. I always thought of him as a cutie, but that would be digressing. We had our problems with Conquest, but they were slight and few, and easily talkable, especially when it came to the Raiders. Zyal was still one of their highest leaders, I personally only met him twice, both times we left with our lives.
After that, I soon became a heroine in the lands, and looked up to. I reaquianted with Belikan, and helped others achieve their hero statusas well. One day, Sylvanne, who would be the second with the rose, Inquinox, that dear druid with the green tint, and myself were chatting by the marble fountain of Var Bandor when we discovered that Lord Marlax had shown himself to mortal view. It was Inquinox's idea, that we challenge him to a simple duel. We each took our respective turns, with me as the last one. With the defensive form of the reed, I lasted longer than the others, and he was impressed with my skills. I decided to go at it again, this time, using the well-known form of the wasp. When I got the thrusts in right, and was pretty hurt, I fled, and when I came back, I was surprised to see him moan. So was he. Thus, Marlax gave me the name "Sting of the Wasp." I did many things in my years as a Champion. Helping Jer, a conquestor, Eintras, Marlandra, an up-and-coming water scholar, and Alynrae, a well-known spirit scholar slay Sothmogga, the demon in the Titan Palace, to gain the Flaming Javelin from the King. I knew it would be put to good use in the hands of the house leader. I saw many young swordmasters come up, including Rascyc. He would become a Raider, but I believed that he was more honorable than the others. Then came the unexpected death of Zyal. It was more a shock than of joy, he was a master of the void if I had ever met one.
Then came the fateful day, the time to venture into the Shrine of Xiganath. The new Raider High Lord, Shiyul suprised us all, with his powerful fireballs. Although a bit suprised, the determination of the group was not frayed. Led by Kriyia, the leading spirit scholar, she had been to the shrine previously. The first parts were simple, but as the group progressed the tasks became harder and harder. Then, the vile Serachel showed up, offering help of all things! We declined, of course but the portal closed before we could act. He asked again. I was thinking no, but was overruled by Eintras, and Taezel, an assassin of the house. I sealed my fate when stepping into that portal. When we returned to the Tower of Aramril, Jolinn was there waiting for us. He had told us of Taezel, asking Serachel for help. Entiras and I were in shock. Taezel was labelled a pragmatist and cast out of the house. As for the two left, He stripped us of the house rights and left us in the temple. I prayed for days at his altar only to be slaughtered by an alatharyan Raider. I never forgave myself, and cried the day Eintras took his own life. It would also be the last day I wore any major armor.
As the time of sadness came and went, I found myself seeing Lyston more and more. It looked as if he was trying to charm me. But I could only see him as the Servant and Raider he was. Once he severed all ties to thepast, I had a new outlook of him. In fact, I believe I was falling for him. Oh, Mirimis, the ever-protective, despised his kankoran counterpart, but there was something in Lyston that reminded me of myself. Both outcasts of their former glory, both truly alone. But there was something, maybe human stubbornness, that just wouldn't let me love him. By the time I did come to realize my feelings, he was dead. I hated myself even more. My motives were now toward peace and humility, as I tried to show, by wearing only the simplest items. It also showed, that armor was not everything, as it is the skills of the person that truly count.
Haloth...what can I say about him? He was a cleaver guardian, determined to regain my status in the house, even if I wasn't. After Raekith's death, he was inducted as the house leader. Always buying me trinkets and items, and the shock on his face when I gave them away. I think he had a things for me as well, but my human pride got in the way again an I never admitted love again. I haven't seen him in months. Maybe I was meant to be an old maid. Only the gods know.
My motives for peace led to near suicide as the two houses I respected most were being torn apart. The Champions, with their new leader Sirrindiln, were wanted by the guardians by attacking a shuddeni. I had to do something, to hold the truce I respected for years. I went up to those cliffs of the griffins, and proclaimed that I would commit suicide if the fight would stop and the Champions would turn themselves in. It took a lot of will, but eventually, it worked. They turned themselves in, and the truce was still held. I don't know what would happen if I stood and did nothing.
Well, as you can see, my life has been one full of twists and turns. So, I decided I needed to retire. And as of my 65th birthday, I no longer fight in the fray that is Avendar. Come by the Cliffs of the Griffins, and say hello. I'm always ready to listen to problems, and maybe give some lessons of life, love, and swordmastery.