OOC
In reply to The Mists (msg # 7):
Try this on for size? I'm fine with changes.
Edwin Milner
Edwin Milner, human wizard, was considered a prodigy in his village when he was discovered reading behind the wood shed at the age of four, rather than doing chores. His parents, seeing that he had a chance at a better life, did they only thing they thought they could and abandoned him at a monastery that had, a few years prior, taken in another orphan in much worse shape.
At the monastery, Edwin received his education and, with some help from an elderly monk who had traveled abroad for some time before retiring, discovered that he had a talent for magic. Edwin's interest in magic was driven by the depiction of wizards in adventure novels that had less to do with the arcane and more to do with the ambitions of boyhood. He was known to get into trouble with his friend, Imondo Vonse, for playing "adventure" which primarily consisted of Edwin pretending to shoot flames at Imondo and Imondo acrobatically avoiding the blasts. Occasionally, Edwin would hit Imondo and, while Imondo always forgave Edwin, Edwin would be wracked with guilt for days.
Imondo Vonse
Imondo Vonse was the orphan adopted by the monastery prior to Edwin. Imondo had been abandoned by his parents due to his disfigurement. Imondo was born with a deformed face and crooked body. The monks took pity on the boy and raised him as best they could. Eventually it was discovered that the boys ailments were physical and cosmetic, but he had a fine mind for learning. The monks made a project of Imondo. By applying the techniques they use to train their own bodies, the monastery was able--with effort--to help Imondo to walk, albeit with a limp and a slouch, by the age of 2.
The boy was delighted, and would only suffer his lessons on reading, writing, and the trades if his ability to physically train with the monks was held back as a reward. Finally, one of the monks suggested that they stop pretending Imondo had a place he would love outside the monastery, and they initiated him to the order. Over time, Imondo's passion for improving his body and abilities led to the limp fading until it was gone, and Imondo became one of the more naturally agile monks within his order.
It would have been a lonely existence if it were not for Edwin, which made Edwin's decision to leave with Ritin Durko all the more terrifying. Only Edwin and the monks had been able to see Imondo through his deformity. Townsfolk, despite knowing Imondo for years, still found it easy and comforting to pick on Imondo for his looks and (undeservedly) for his intellect. When the monks found Imondo's bed empty a few days after Ritin Durko and Edwin had left, they were saddened, but not surprised.
Ritin Durko
Ritin Durko arrived at the monastery by chance, but Ritin didn't believe in chance. Ritin believed he arrived at the monastery because the hand of fate wanted him to be at the monastery. In reality, Ritin arrived at the monastery in the middle of the night because he and Sen (of Nybul) both thought the other was leading the way as they walked through the countryside well into the night. Sen wasn't much for conversation, so Ritin had stopped trying to converse and they had just walked in mutually acceptable silence--This kind of thing happened occasionally.
Ritin was happy to do as the hand of fate saw fit, but only in the service of the light. He wanted to be a hero, and all the heroes worth reading about were dedicated to the service of the light. He told the monks this and he seemed so earnest that they allowed him to stay the evening, where he met Edwin and Imondo. Edwin was so enamored to meet a real adventurer that he didn't see that the only difference between he and Ritin was that Ritin had taken that first step on the road. After seeing Edwin perform some magic, Ritin pointed that out. Edwin packed his bag that night and set off with Ritin and Sen before sunrise.
Sen of Nybul
Ritin had med Sen in Nybul. Sen was the clergyman assigned to Nybul to administer last rites and generally tend to the business of the dying. What would have been an uneventful meeting changed when Ritin asked about purchasing holy water. Sen didn't keep holy water on hand -- He had long since dispensed with any of the nuisances that require holy water for the city of Nybul and was enjoying his semi-retired life. Sen, never much for conversation, simply asked (in a gravelly voice): "What for?" to which Ritin replied that he had heard that there was a place called Ravenloft that needed the light. Sen simply looked at Ritin and said "The light doesn't shine in Ravenloft." Ritin was able to get no more from him, but when Ritin was leaving his lodging the next morning, Sen was waiting outside for him in full gear.
The townsfolk of Nybul had long whispered that Sen had a troubled past. He had never taken a wife, never showed interest in any festivals, and had no friends. When Sen's replacement arrived in Nybul, he brought one additional rumor about Sen: That Sen had been assigned to Nybul for his own safety. Something about a tragedy as a younger man.
The people of Nybul were briefly intrigued, but quickly forgot about Sen -- He was an unhappy, unpleasant man that they were not sorry to see leave.
