"Most men are sheep.  Some are wolves.  Both fear their nightmares...and that's where I come in."







APPEARANCE

Xaeros is tall with a lean, though muscular, build and carries himself with a quiet confidence.  He sits and stands with an erect, controlled posture and walks with a slow, sure gait...as if he is master of all that he sees and could destroy any who would oppose him with nary a thought about it.  His long hair is a glossy black and his dark eyes seem to have both a menacing and haunted look to them in equal measure.  He seems to miss very little with those gold-speckled eyes.

Xaeros dresses in nearly all black garb though he does accent it with some red and deep purple trim.  His clothing is almost always made from the finest fabrics and is expertly tailored to his frame.  He tends to move with a very fluid (and very quiet) grace, often startling those he comes upon.  His pale skin indicates that he is either unused to the sunlight or uncomfortable in it.  Despite his pale complexion, Xaeros is very handsome...though most might describe him as beautiful instead.

His voice is a medium tenor (neither too high nor too low) though he tends to speak in a soft low voice (almost a whisper) when he chooses to speak at all, which is not much.  Xaeros tends to stare for long periods of time.  Often he is deep in thought but, at times, he sits and stares at an individual for a most uncomfortable amount of time.  Why he does this he will not say, but it has lead to more than one altercation.


PERSONALITY

General
Xaeros seems to be a humorless man unable to make meaningful connections with other people.  This is not entirely true, but it is difficult for him to feel a kinship with others.  He sees the world in very fatalistic terms, sometimes describing it as a dark, brutal, and worthless place where the weak are trampled under the boots of the mighty.  However, he does not see this as either right or wrong, only as a truism of life...and he intends to be among the mighty.

Xaeros neither seeks to nor enjoys inflicting harm on others (though there are some he will take some pleasure in harming, see below).  He simply sees it as unavoidable in the grand scheme of things and he will take every precaution not to be on the wrong side of the equation.  He views the life of the 'savage' as more pure than that of civilization.  Civilization, he believes, attempts to mask the truth from itself in some sort of delusional lie.

Because of his dark (if not evil) nature, Xaeros holds life in little regard.  He will attempt to spare those that he can, but when left with little option he will not hesitate to sacrifice others for his own survival or in the succeeding of his personal goals.  He does, however, take every precaution to avoid wanton killing and loss of both life and property.  He sees no benefit in the wasteful destruction of property or the killing of innocents.

What Pleases Him
Unsurprisingly, not much.  Xaeros takes little real pleasure in life the way most others do.  He does make use of others for relieving sexual tension, though his inability to connect with others on an emotional level leaves him somewhat empty afterwards.  He enjoys drinking (and other liesure substances) for the sense of pleasure they bring, but his distaste for losing his self-control makes those moments very infrequent.

His one true pleasure lies in the furthering of his knowledge about any subject, especially magic.  In this regard he knows true pleasure and, when it comes to learning more about magic, he will stop at almost nothing to acquire it.  Though he would much rather pay or trade for it, he is quite willing to raid and kill for more magic if he believes he can get away with it.  It may very well be this weakness that sees him slip wholly into evil (though part of this weakness stems from his desire for vengeance).

What Angers Him
Xaeros does not care for the mistreatment of slaves, though saying that this angers him is something of a misnomer (he is largely indifferent to the suffering of others).  Given his own experiences, he tends to protect those who aren't in a position of power...even if he is at the same time disdainful of those who will not fight for themselves for fear of death.  To his way of thinking, if one does not care for the way they are treated they should change the circumstances of their life...after all Death comes for everyone in the end.  Still, Xaeros knows the power of fear all too well and will often move to stop the wanton abuse of others.

Personal Relationships
As already noted, Xaeros has difficulty forging true friendships let alone falling in love.  He IS capable of both, however, but such relationships would take a great deal of time for him and he may not recognize the feelings he possesses at first (they are somewhat alien to him).  Because of this, he does not desire love and friendship the way others do.

Grune (CN 1/2 Ogre): A new companion who in many ways is Xaeros' polar opposite, Grune and he have somehow managed to find common ground and even the seeds of a lasting friendship.  Xaeros does not really trust him as yet, but he is fond of him in a strange way.  It doesn't hurt that Grune looks more human than ogre.

His Family: The true reason behind Xaeros' inability to trust and experience the normal range of emotions lies with his family.  To a one, they are twisted, dark hearted, and touched by madness.  His own father, deeming his son a supreme disappointment for no obvious reason, sold him into slavery.  Some of the things Xaeros witenessed are better left unsaid.


BACKGROUND

Legacy of Sorrow

Date: 6 Kythorn, 1336 DR (Year of the Highmantle)

It was raining and the afternoon was growing late.  Already the sun was riding low in the sky, though no one could see it on such an overcast day with the rain pouring like some great ocean in the sky had come falling.  The dark haired man was in a foul mood.  If only the half-elven harlot he'd chosen to marry would spit the damn thing out already he could be off to the Pits for a bit of bloodsport.  Not that anything was keeping the black-clad nobleman here.  He just wanted to know whether or not she would birth him a boy.

To look at him was to see a man in his prime years.  He wasn't a youth anymore, of course, but he'd still only seen 33 winters thus far.  He was hale and fit, and kept himself in good form.  Dressed in expertly tailored clothing he cut a darkly handsome figure and many a lady had fallen to his charms.  Well, they used to before his reputation began to precede him.  But even then, his family ruled this city and he took what he wanted.  They were reviled to be sure, but more importantly they were feared.

Then the day had come when he spied a half-elven slave in the market.  The city of Luthcheq was not kind to her ilk but he'd been smitten with her and 'saved' her from the pyre.  She'd been grateful for quite some time after that little escapade.  Father didn't approve but what did he know, or care for that matter.  He was always holed up in his temple studying and praying.  Thankfully he had doted on his son and catered to his whims.  Father had thought this would be a passing fancy but it wasn't.  No he would keep this one for a while longer yet.

He went over to the mantle as she let out another scream from her birthing room.  He picked up the decanter of brandy along the way and drank deeply as he stared into the fire.  If she gave birth to a girl she would be punished severely.  But, if she gave him a son she would be rewarded...though these days she didn't seem to care for his 'rewards' anymore.  No matter, he'd have her tonight and get her with child again if he was of a mood.  She was his property and would yield to his will or suffer, and she hated to suffer at his hands.

Another scream, another long drink.  So it went for another hour and then two.  Now it was really dark, though a touch of light had broken through the clouds just as the sun was about to disappear beyond the horizon.  Then another long, anguished scream followed by a crying infant.  Good, time to see what we have, he thought.  He strode into the room and took the child from the midwife.  She simply bowed her head and remained silent like a good slave as he stripped the swaddling clothes from the infant.

It was a boy.

A feral smile crept over his face as he looked at the child.  He appeared healthy.  Not puny and he gave a good cry...though it was not as strong as the boy's older brother's had been at birth.  But still a strong cry.  Yes he would do nicely.  He showed the child to Merisiel.  "You have given me a son and have bought yourself more time my love."  That wicked smile flashed, the one she hated the most.  "You will be richly rewarded tonight."  He handed the infant back to the midwife.  "His name is Xaeros.  Now leave us."  The midwife went to leave but then, "On second thought stay.  And strip."

Date: 31 Marpenoth 1351 DR (Year of the Crown)

Today had been a bad day.  And that was saying something in a long line of bad days.  What passed for a good day in the Karanok family was disturbing and horrific to others.  A bad day in this home was a nightmare.  Xaeros didn't know what was going on but his father was beyond angry today and Merisiel, his poor mother, had suffered all night for it.  And now it was well into the day and still she suffered his beatings.  It was a wonder she was still alive.  Had she tried to take her life again?  She had tried many times but the magical collar she wore always healed her wounds.

No.  This was different.  Father was so angry that even Grandfather had tried to stop him...and Grandfather made people's blood run chill in their veins with just a look.  The doors were so thick Xaeros could barely hear anything but had he just said something about sleeping with the new stableboy?  Mother would never do such a thing.  NEVER.  Or would she?  Realization began to dawn on the bright boy.  She had longed for death for years and had been kept alive by Father...perhaps now she would finally get her wish.

Xaeros hadn't cried in years but he began to cry now and then to sob.  Harsh experience had taught him to choke his tears back and show nothing of his emotions in this house.  The teasing and bullying visited upon him by his older brother and sister paled in comparison to the torments Father would put him through.  Not to mention the tasks Grandfather would set for him when he showed weakness.  But he couldn't help it now.  He knew in the deepest part of his heart that Mother would die now.  To lose her would be to lose the only bright spot in this wretched place.

And she wouldn't be allowed to die quickly either.

He continued to cry for a time until he finally managed to fight them back.  He cleaned himself up and then realized that the house had gone quiet.  Somehow the silence was more deafening than his father's rage.  Had mother been killed already?  Had she been enspelled?  He fought back another bout of tears, determined not to be weak again.  His father could come in at any moment and it wouldn't go well for him if he were seen sobbing like a weakling.  He had to find out what was going on.  Steeling himself, he emerged from his room into the quiet of the hall.

Looking both ways he slowly crept to the balcony overlooking the grand foyer.  Nothing.  He began searching the 'palace' as they called it.  It was a grand affair to be true, but it wasn't on par with a true palace and Xaeros knew it.  Regardless, there were many rooms to search...but a loathsome dread was creeping into his stomach.  He knew where she would be, but still he searched everywhere else first.  The bedrooms, the parlor, the kitchen, even the garden out back.  Until he found himself heading to the last place he wanted to go.

The basement level housed many things best left unspoken of by civilized men.  Here the Karanoks conducted foul experiments, practiced their foul and bizarre religion to the black sphere they called Entropy.  And here they tortured those who had displeased them...and it didn't take much to displease this family.  He stood at the top of the stairs trying to will himself to walk downward but terror gripped his heart and he could not move.  Then the push came from behind him and he fell.  Landing at the bottom he looked up to see his siblings gloating over him.

"We were sent to fetch you," Naeros, his brother said.  "You made us look for you."  This one, his sister Saestra.  The boy steeled himself for what was to come.  He'd not show weakness to these two.  They stalked down to him as he stood and faced them.  The raven-haired pair sported cruel smiles as they descended, their black eyes promising menace.  When they reached him Saestra said, "Your mother's going to die tonight puny boy.  It's naught but what the whore deserves, what with fucking the stable boy behind Father's back."

They both laughed and then Naeros added "I hear Father is going to bring the horses in to rape her since she likes the stables so much."  He then treated his sister roughly (and lewdly) in a crude pantomime of what would happen to Merisiel.  She didn't seem to like that much but bore the treatment stoicly.  Then she just reached out and slapped Xaeros hard across the face.  The boy knew the source of that slap.  Naeros, being older and much larger than either of them had just humiliated her and there was nothing she could do but to lash out at the her younger brother.

Naeros just laughed at the spectacle as he grabbed his little brother hard around the arm and dragged him to the torture chamber.  He burst through the door and announced their presence to their Father Jaeros.  He turned and looked at them with cold disdain though he did favor Naeros with a quick smile.  "Stay here, all of you."  He then left the room for a couple of hours.  While he was gone Xaeros was subjected to the torments of his siblings as they made fun of his naked mother on the Rack.  She ignored them and only shed a few tears when Xaeros was first brought in the room.

When their Father returned he had over a score of dockhands, sailors, drunkards, and other lowly sorts in tow.  The humiliations that followed were some of the hardest that Xaeros had ever been forced to witness.  Through it all he kept his calm despite the burning rage that was building in him.  He had only to look at his mother to realize that she was already dead inside and in a strange way could hardly feel the pain and humiliation anymore.  He drew strength from her, until their Father ordered he and his siblings to join in the 'festivities.'

Naeros took to the task eagerly. Saestra was somewhat less eager but quickly warmed to her role in the woman's torments.  Inwardly Xaeros began to break down but managed to hide it.  But when his Father ordered him to mount her the boy found himself rooted to the floor once again.  He could not, would not, do that to her!  She hadn't always been kind to him but she had been his one solace in an otherwise dark world.  And he had understood that the times when she lashed out at him had been because of the pain she constantly felt.

He began to cry.

And Xaeros himself was ready to die at his Father's will for he could not see how to go on from here.  He broke inside and there was no fixing it.  Jaeros railed against his son, beat him senseless and still he would not comply.  Throughout his life that followed, Xaeros never spoke of the things that happened after the beating stopped.  But he would always remember how his mother had began to weep for the torments visited upon her son.  He would always remember how she begged her son to do as he was told to make it all stop.  But Xaeros would not comply.

When it was all over his mother was dead.  Her body and her will had finally given out and she simply died from the trauma.  Xaeros was left weak and barely able to move.  But he was also left with a burning hatred in his heart for his family.  They left him manacled to the wall, and in the darkness he began to pray to any god that would hear his call.  In a croaked voice he said, "Gods give me vengeance."  He drifted in and out of sleep for hours.  But when he slept he dreamed of a vast dark expanse from which a voice echoed:

"You will have your vengeance."

Date: 7 Uktar 1351 DR (Year of the Crown)

Xaeros didn't know how much time had passed.  He knew it to be only a few days and he tried to keep time by the visits from his siblings and when the slaves brought him his meals.  He didn't know which was worse, the torments Naeros and Saestra visited upon him or the food he was forced to eat.  Naeros had commented that Father had tasked him with tending to his brother.  The putrid food he was brought caused him to vomit repeatedly.  And the water wasn't water at all.  Naeros took particular delight in forcing him to drink that down.  Somehow he'd remained alive despite the starving and dehydration.

But the truly bad thing about it all was not knowing how long he would be kept down here or when they would kill him.  Or when they would deign to torture him as they did his mother.  Xaeros had almost purposely wept those first three nights in his cell.  After his dream (though he thought it was merely a delusion) he'd resolved to rid himself of all his tears and deny any of them the satisfaction of seeing him break down again.  But when his Father had come in with Naeros, Saestra and a stranger in tow he once again knew fear.  This is it, he thought, they are going to start the torments...

Naeros was ordered to hoist his naked brother up so the fat, stinking man could get a good look at him.  The bastard looked him over with an appraising eye and then started fondling him.  Xaeros looked at the man with hatred.  A fact that only made him chuckle.  Naeros and Saestra laughed as well though Father just looked on impatiently.  "Do you want him or not?" he asked.  "Bring him," the fat man said, "you'll have your asking price."  Naeros unlocked his brother's manacles and grabbed him painfully by both arms.  He was marched outside where he was placed in a caged wagon.

An hour or so later the fat man came outside licking his fingers.  His slaves helped him into an opulent carriage and they were on their way.  No one came out to watch them leave, not that he had wanted them too...he just expected Naeros (at the very least) to come out and gloat over his enslavement.  He looked up at his (now) former home and was suddenly filled with happiness.  He didn't know what slavery had in store for him but it couldn't be any worse than what he'd endured at the hands of his own family.  He did note, perhaps for the first time, that their home was beautiful.  But good riddance.

Date: 18 Hammer, 1352 DR (Year of the Dragon):

The boy had had quite enough of that!  The fat merchant from Pandrick wasn't going to 'enjoy' his slave again if he could help it.  This particular session with Cautir had been intense...and Xaeros wasn't really of the mind to enjoy this sort of thing.  Still, the Sembian merchant had grown to trust the boy and had given him the run of the house in only two months time.  A mistake that was soon going to cost the man his life.  He'd been branded with that peculiar 'X' symbol Cautir used (his last name was Xarbros), of course, and the boy had spent weeks ingratiating himself to the man for 'rescuing' him from his family.

The man's tastes were odd, to say the least, preferring youngish boys willing to submit to him (as opposed to breaking their will) and Xaeros had readily complied with his wishes...up until now.  He'd learned the house thoroughly and could trace his steps blind if necessary.  He knew where Cautir kept his money, equipment and even some magic.  And though he wasn't despised by the other slaves, he wasn't liked either.  They would stay out of his way at the very least and perhaps one or two of them would run with him for a time.  But he had to act now, while Cautir was snoring and blissfully unaware that death was coming for him.

After his nights with Cautir the boy was required to quietly clean things up and then sleep on the floor.  Xaeros had other plans this night, however.  He'd already fetched a dagger from the storage closet and retrieved it now.  He stood over the fat man and looked down on him in disgust.  He raised the dagger and then just stood there, rooted to the spot and unable to bring himself to plunge the dagger into the man's chest.  His throat went dry and he began to shake.  His courage was failing him!  Panic began to well up in the boy and he fought desperately to master his fear.

For perhaps the hundredth time Xaeros wondered what was he doing.  Cautir would have to be killed and then the guards (lest they be alerted in the morning and give chase).  Then he'd need to talk to the slaves and try to convince them to leave with him.  Again for the hundredth time he thought it would never work.  Then he began to think on his nights with Cautir.  On the things he'd been forced to do for him.  Of how his Father had allowed others to similarly torment him the night he killed Mother.  Suddenly rage welled up inside him and before he realized it the dagger had plunged into the man's throat.

Once, twice, thrice.  Many more times the dagger seemed to stab downward into the fat throat of the merchant from Sembia.  Blood was everywhere but the boy didn't seem to notice.  He was calm now, lucid.  He discarded the dagger and went to the towels that were kept nearby and began cleaning himself in the water basin.  Soon he would go to the room he shared with Maroun and retrieve a fresh set of clothes.  Thankfully, Cautir liked to dress his boys in clothing fit for a nobleman so he wouldn't stand out as a slave when he left.  That and the fact that he spoke as a noble would rather than one of the commonfolk.

But there were things that needed tending too.  First, he needed to take some of Cautir's money for the road.  He retrieved the merchant's keys and went to a small coffer on the man's desk.  He knew it was trapped but had learned by observation how to turn it off.  He put his fingers just beneath the coffer and pressed until he heard the small 'click' of the mechanism disconnecting.  Then he unlocked the box and opened it.  Inside were two pouches filled with gold and silver coins and another one with a few semi-precious stones within.  He took them all and closed the coffer.

Secondly, he had to tidy up the bed in the hopes of ensuring that the man's death wouldn't be discovered too soon if the boy's other plans didn't go as expected.  He covered him in a fresh blanket, wiped down the ornate headboard and threw down some 'discarded' linen to cover the blood on the floor.  Then he closed the canopy to hide any more evidence of the murder.  He stepped back and retrieved the lantern to inspect his handiwork.  It would do for now.  Cautir often slept in late and only took appointments in the afternoons and evenings.  He wouldn't be discovered for some time.

Finally, he had to deal with the guards.  There were four of them.  Two would be sleeping on the other side of the manor while the others were downstairs on duty.  Luckily, they were quite lax in their duties, often sleeping during their shifts and almost always deep in their cups.  Xaeros would take care of the sleeping guards first.  It was to Cautir's credit that he demanded a spotless house, which included that all doors be greased as soon as they began to squeak.  He also chose to have no locks on any door in the house save those that went outside or that lead to his private areas.

Getting to the sleeping guards would be easy.

The boy crept quietly through the house until he arrived at the door.  He listened intently to determine if anyone was about inside.  He couldn't hear anything but rhythmic snoring within.  Slowly and ever so gently the boy turned the knob and pushed the door open.  Not a sound.  Slowly he walked inside and then stood between the two beds.  He decided to kill the snoring guard last in the hopes that his own noise would mask any he made killing his comrade.  He stood above the bed.  This time the murder was much easier.  In one swift motion he clamped his hand on the man's mouth and stabbed him several times in the throat.

The other one died just as easily.  These men had been cruel to the slaves when Cautir wasn't around (who would brook no abuse to his boys save by his own hand unless it were absolutely necessary).  They had still managed some cruelties upon the boys and Xaeros felt little sympathy for them now (though he supposed he owed the new guard [Akor] for at least trying to put a stop to it).  That one had caught Cautir's eye despite being too 'old' for the merchant.  But Akor had made it quite evident that he wasn't interested in such things.  He remained because unlike the others, he was more prone to doing the job he was hired for.

Now came the most dangerous part of his plan.  Xaeros had to walk downstairs to get to the guard post just beyond the stairway door.  He had no way of knowing if one or both of them would be there as they made their rounds randomly (if they did them at all, though Akor certainly would).  What was worse, some of the stairs creaked, though the boy knew which ones were to be avoided and over-stepped.  So he made his way to the tower and started his careful descent.  His noise was only minor as he went down and stopped before the door.  He looked through the keyhole and saw only one guard.  Akor was making his rounds.

What he saw was a man nodding off in his chair with a jug of cheap wine sitting next to him.  The boy licked his lips as he went over his next plan in his head.  He would have to be quick as the man didn't appear to be sound asleep.  Mouth going completely dry again he took several long, slow breaths to steady himself as the shakes came upon him again.  Slowly he opened the door just a crack and peered within.  So far so good.  Then mentally he counted, one, two...three!  He rushed in and swiped the man's neck twice with his dagger.  He jumped up and drew his sword clumsily as he staggered back...and fell to the floor quite dead.

Success!  And now the next phase:  Waiting for Akor to return and ambushing him upon entering the room.  Akor would be awake and alerted instantly upon opening the door.  Even if Xaeros moved the body there was blood all over the place.  So the boy left the body in place and actually faced it toward the door.  He hoped that the shock of seeing his dead partner would buy him enough time to attack the last man between him and freedom.  He did not look forward to this encounter, however.  He knew Akor could best him in a fight.  But more than that, the man had shown kindness to the boys.

He'd thought at length about asking the man for assistance in his escape and he believed the man would desire to help.  But he also knew he was a firm believer in fulfilling one's duty.  No, Akor would not help him or the others.  Xaeros would have to kill him or die in the attempt.  So he waited for what seemed like forever until he heard the the knob turn.  Instantly the boy was up next to the door and watched as the door opened.  "What in the Nine Hells!?"  The boy pounced on the man as he quickly backed away from the door and drew his sword.  It seemed he'd kept his wits about him after all.

"You did this!?"  the man asked (though he knew the answer).  The boy advanced.  "I'm sorry.  I can't be a slave anymore."  The short battle that ensued saw the boy flat on his back with a sword blade at his own throat this time.  Somehow Akor had disarmed and then tripped him."I should kill you, you know.  No doubt everyone else is dead."  He kept his sword at the boy's throat as he considered him for a moment.  "What will you do with me then?  I just want to be free!" the boy pleaded.  The man just stood there looking at him for a long while and then:

"Justice must be served," he said.  "Cautir may have owned you but he showed you far more kindness than he had too.  And slavery is just the way of things in Chessenta.  On your stomach and place your hands in the small of your back.  Now!"  Once again the boy was bound against his will and searched for anything on his person.  "I won't kill you," the man said, "but I won't set you free either.  I'll sell you myself and leave this damn country."  Xaeros heard the man had been a mercenary for many years, but one with certain principles.  The boy spat on him.

The man's idea of 'justice' was garbage.

Date: 15 Flamerule, 1352 DR (Year of the Dragon)

Akor had sold him into slavery (again) and now the boy was somewhere in the Riders of the Sky mountains working the mines.  It was blisteringly hot, but a year here had made him as hard as the iron he helped extract from the ground.  The long hours he worked were grueling, they were underfed, and they were mistreated regularly.  He'd seen a few minors die already, some had even stopped working and eating, wanting only do die so as to be released from their misery.  But they didn't know what real misery was.  He'd known real misery all his life and the mines, harsh as they were, weren't so bad as life in the Karanok household.

And he'd made a friend.  Kyriakos had been brought in only a few weeks after he'd arrived.  The bald man was lean but strong with eyes as dark as his own.  He was a grim sort, and the other slaves soon realized one did not cross him.  Kyr had kept silent when a slave murdered one of the others for his food.  He had even kept silent when the same man took his.  But the look in his eyes had been unmistakable, he had murder in them that would not be denied.  Kyr again remained silent when a guard whipped him mercilessly for sheer sport, but again he had that same murderous look.

Not long thereafter the guard and the bully-slave came into contact with one another and an altercation ensued.  Xaeros was amazed at how easily Kyr had orchestrated their 'misunderstanding' over a missing dagger.  The bully was severely beaten for his alleged theft and almost died from the whipping he received.  A few weeks later the guard was dead, at Kyr's hands, strangled with his own whip...a whip that was found under a sleeping bully by guards only an hour after the murder.  The man was whipped again.  And when the guard was discovered with evidence of murder by strangulation he'd been hanged.

Everyone knew it was Kyr who orchestrated the entire thing.

No one abused Kyr after that incident and he'd chosen to befriend Xaeros one day.  It wasn't long before the boy learned that Kyr was a lay-priest of Hoar the Doombringer and god of vengeance.  Kyr spoke at length about Hoar's teachings and the boy absorbed the lessons readily.  He had a great deal of revenge to serve upon those who had wronged him and the lay-priest found a capable pupil in Xaeros.  Though the boy was perhaps a bit more soft-hearted than one would expect, Kyr taught him everything he knew of Hoar and of how to apply retribution in order to honor their god.

For his part, Xaeros once again resolved to escape his enslavement telling his mentor that he would mete out just punishments to those deserving of it.  In his mind such punishments would fit the crime while erring on the harsh end (otherwise the lesson may not be learned and the example set to others ignored).  Of course, he had ulterior motives for accepting Hoar as his patron deity...he wanted revenge on those who had wronged him.  Namely, the guard Akor and, most importantly, his entire family.  He resolved to see this done, but first he decided that the slaves needed better working conditions.

He knew that someone from the Blackmoon Trading Coster was coming to inspect the mines and set about manipulating a meeting with them.  And so it was that when the dark haired beauty who walked along side their overmaster came by he choked out one of the weaker slaves.  When the man fell he cried out for water.  The guards came intent on exacting punishment but he defended the slave with arguments both logical and passionate.  He then called for the overseer's attention who felt obligated given his superior's presence.  "I know we are but slaves, but a man works better when properly nourished."

He said many other things that day and was called before Overseer Kharne and the woman who introduced herself only as Aduul.  Perhaps it was the fire of his new found purpose in life combined with his own intense wit and noble mien, but Xaeros managed to secure better working conditions for the slaves that day as he convinced his audience of two that men would work harder if only they felt they had some say in their lives.  Allowing them to bargain for better conditions gave them a rudimentary sense of accomplishment and their work became a sense of purpose.

Of course, this had to be balanced out by harsh punishments for failure to maintain proper respect and a continued output.  The end result was a substantial increase in yield despite increased costs for food and shelter.  Soon thereafter, Xaeros was brought into the overseer's direct supervision as a personal servant.  The man marvelled at his slave's intellect and wondered many times if he shouldn't just kill him before it was too late.  But before he could reach a decision he was told that Herodian, owner of the Blackmoon Trading Coster, was coming for a visit.

Date: 24 Nightal, 1352 DR (Year of the Dragon)

The overseer needed Xaeros' knack for perfectionism in this meeting.  And so it was that Herodian, a man Kharne feared enough to stammer when he walked in the door, came to the mines for the first time.  Xaeros served them diligently and Herodian made small talk with the overseer.  The boy noted that he was pleasant and disarming but could tell it was out of practiced habit...there was an edge of menace beneath the surface that could be seen if one watched his eyes and the placement of his lips.  But he offered no threats as he praised Kharne on the increased output of the mines.

The overseer being slightly more at ease accepted the praise humbly but directed his attention to the youth serving them. "This is truly the one responsible for the output," he said.  It seemed Kharne was wise enough not to take credit for something that was not truly his doing.  Herodian placed the interlocking puzzles he was toying with on the table and looked at the boy in mock surprise.  "Is this true?" he asked him.  Xaeros kept his eyes lowered (though Herodian had long realized that the boy was watching him intently) and said: "I only pointed out that men work harder when given a purpose," he said.

The wizard pretended not to be much more interested than that and went on speaking with the overseer until he finally noticed the furtive boy was eyeing the drow-crafted puzzle rings.  He looked at the boy, "I see your curious about the puzzles.  I tell you what, I'll reward you if you can solve any of them.  The more you solve the greater the reward."  Now that DID get the boy's attention.  He studied the man's face intently and realized that he was sincere.  Kharne didn't know what to make of it.  The boy picked up one of the puzzles and began working it.

Two minutes later he was done with all six of them.  The wizard looked at the boy with a raised eyebrow, "You'll be coming with me," he said.

Date: 30 Uktar 1355 DR (Year of the Harp):

Xaeros had spent two years apprenticed to his new Master and it had been a good two years.  Herodian's lessons had been difficult and the man accepted nothing short of absolute perfection.  Failure was met with harsh, but fair, discipline.  And the boy had risen to the challenge as he became a young man in his own right.  There was a balance to his Master's lessons.  He drilled him mercilessly in his studies and when Herodian deemed his work perfect, he rewarded him.  Often this was simply time to himself (at which times he usually studied anyway).  But at other times he was allowed to go into the open city alone.

Cimbar was an amazing place.  A bustling port with philosophers roaming the streets and demagogues as well, the boy had come to love this city.  It was so different from his home city of Luthcheq with it's trials against anyone suspected of practicing magic and the almost weekly burnings of those found guilty (who were very often innocent of the charges).  He often found it ironic that he had become what his family hated most...a wizard of some skill who would most certainly become a powerful archmage one day.  He had become a man in this city (and his Master had rewarded him more than once with the touch of a woman).

As time had gone by the harsh discipline had given way to more rewards as Xaeros continued to excel in his studies and surpass even his Master's high expectations.  He was richly dressed as a nobleman should be and had earned the respect of many a philosopher and demagogue in the city as he consistently held his own in his debates with such astute individuals.  He had been accorded ever more freedom as well until he practically had his freedom.  He wasn't free, of course, as he knew Herodian kept tabs on him both through magic and mundane means, but he believed it was forthcoming.

Yes, it had been a good two years...until now.

Now he was in some dark recess of his mind.  Logically he knew he was lying in his bed and that his Master was hovering over him as the two were locked in some high form of magic.  But the young wizard was living a nightmare in his mind as Herodian constantly tested his resolve to resist the lure of Shar's touch.  "You have only to accept Shar into your soul and I will grant you your freedom my son."  The voice echoed softly throughout his lucid dream.  The shadows were constantly cutting and biting at him and the pain went so much deeper than mere flesh.  His mind and his soul were suffering as well.

The young man cast his mind about in search of the Voice.  "You would enslave me for eternity to her.  She will only free me in death...and that may not come for millennia."  He had to find the Voice.  The young man had deduced that the Voice was the secret to his freedom from this nightmare.  It seemed as if centuries had gone by in this shadowy nightmare.  But he knew better.  It was more likely that only a few hours had passed.  "You will learn."  A roiling sea of shadows assaulted the apprentice and he fought desperately to ward them off.

"Will you fade away now?  In this place?  Your vengeance left unfulfilled?  Shar will give you your revenge."  He was tempted, gods but he was so tempted.  He was weakening he realized.  Shar was a powerful entity and she could certainly help him seek his vengeance.  But no.  She was the Lady of Loss.  "No.  She would dangle it as a reward like a carrot before the mule.  Only to deny me in the end.  She would have me lose my revenge."  Again the roiling shadows.  Again the assaults, so much worse than anything he'd ever experienced or even imagined (and he had imagined much).

"SHAR WILL NOT BE DENIED!" the Voice screamed.  Had the Voice just cracked?  Had it lost focus?  Lost power?  Yes!  Yes it had.  So the Voice is weakening as well.  No.  Not the Voice.  His Master!  How had he forgotten who the Voice was?  What was the Voice's name?  Who was..was it a he?  a she?  His MASTER.  The Voice was a he and his name, his name was...He spent centuries trying to puzzle it out.  How had he lost the name?  He couldn't remember much anymore.  Too much time had passed and we was so tired.  He had to focus harder, had to remember.  The Voice was a he.  Somehow that seemed helpful.  A he...a he...

"HERODIAN!"

The shadows were gone.  Only a black landscape with an overcast grey sky remained.  A bleak picture indeed accented only by a handsome man in dark clothing.  Herodian, his Master, was standing before him in his dreamscape, though he needed the assistance of his staff to remain upright.  Master and apprentice stared at each other for a long while.  It was the apprentice who broke the silence.  "Is this where you kill me now my Master?"  Herodian regarded him severely now though Xaeros could see the admiration in his eyes.  "Shar still wants you," he said.

"She can't have me," he said flatly.  His master's response: "I told you she won't be denied.  She will have you whether you see it or no.  Serve her!  Worship her!  And you will be rewarded.  It is our way."  Or else you die here today was the unspoken promise.  Xaeros did not want to die though he was willing to if need be.  But he had scores to settle.  "I will...assist her," he said.  "But I will not follow her."  His Master regarded the young man with keen interest at that and Xaeros almost thought he saw triumph in them.  "That will do...for now.  You will be inducted on the morrow."

As the dreamscape faded the apprentice thought he heard the Voice chuckle.

It had been a feminine laugh though...

GOALS

Xaeros has only two goals.  First, to acquire magic and power.  Second, as a direct result of his first goal, to kill his family and takeover all of their collective holdings.  He plans to take vengeance for all of the wrongs they did to him and his mother and to place himself in a position of power so that no other will ever be able to harm him again.