Elban Rose
Elban Rose's most notable feature is his pastel pink hair, very outlandish compared to most people. His rimless glasses sit before his bright green eyes, and a single silver earring to compliment the glasses on his elven ear. He has fair, olive skin and he is overall squeaky clean.
His clothes don't exactly scream "bard" considering they are mostly just the colours of the Emerald Hounds. His overall gear and equipment don't exactly match his look. But judging by his expression whenever he glances at his outfit he seems to be ready to adopt a new, more fashionable set of clothes and armour within a heartbeat.
My name is Elban Rose, son of my elven mother, and my human father. My mother's side of the family arrange marriages for their children with those they personally select to produce children with magical prowess. And so, strangely enough, my father took my mothers name so that I may be born with the family name. My mother loved me dearly and wanted to encourage my love for music. The elders did not interfere considering many bards can harness great magical feats from their music and inspiration.
My father, on the other hand, wanted me to "entertain" his friends after I had gained some fame within the local community. I found out later that night that he was using me as a distraction as he emptied their coinpurses into his own. I also found out the reason he started doing this rather rather than just using the coin from our family coffers: He wasn't happy with the fact that some of our money was going towards my music lessons, leaving him with less than he usually could spend.
This behaviour continued until he was caught red-handed. And when he was publicly shamed, and he brought shame upon our family. Once my grandparents heard of this they cut us off from their coin and disowned us, too embarrassed to face their own mistake with the arrangement they had made before my conception.
My mother used whatever money we had left to leave our home and father behind to start off somewhere else with a clean slate. She worked as a maid for a noble family, known as the Bidrusons, that took us in and generously gave us shelter. I would play my songs around town to earn some extra money, but mostly to give my mother some luxury and comfort she used to have, even if it was only a fraction of it.
After a few years of trying to rebuild our lives I had regained some amount of fame and familiarity in our new home town. I had even gained some admirers who would swoon over me at each of my performances.
One night the Bidrusons asked me to play at one of their parties. I was ecstatic! This could be our chance to build relationships with more members of nobility, and another step towards our old life, so of course I said yes!
I played my most beautiful scores, played every note with elegance and pride, imbuing them with my magical essence to enrich the atmosphere. I put my soul into only my music that night, nothing else around me existed. But that spell was broken once I heard a familiar voice. That damned, crooked, rotten voice
...it was my father. I dont know how--but he managed to worm his way into the favours of one of the guests and somehow got himself invited here. To OUR home. In OUR haven. I tried to keep myself composed to at least finish this last song. It hurt. The notes were off, the tempo was rushed, it was...disgusting. I cannot help but think that was because I was staring at the very definition of scum. The one who tainted my blood, the one who tainted our reputation and ruined our lives. As soon as I had finished I immediately stormed over to him. He turned to me, smiling--grinning. Those damn teeth encasing that rotten tongue !
My boy! It has been so long! Look at how big youve grown! He opened his arms to welcome and embrace me.
Thats it. Thats what broke me. He didnt even acknowledge the fact that my mother was dressed as a servant--I dont even think he even knew she was there. He didnt even know what he had put us through. What we had gone through to survive here. It boiled my blood and all I could see was red. I was holding my instrument so tightly I was lucky it wasnt even damaged. I opened my mouth and...he started bleeding. His nose was bleeding--it was like a small crimson waterfall coming straight out of his nostril! Did...did I do that? I dont even know how I did it, was it something I said? Did I cast something on him?
Everyone else started to take notice. He started to panic, and of course he fled. All eyes were on me now. I didnt want to put my mother through more shame, so I just left.
I was so embarrassed...that I would spill blood at a prestigious gathering like a thug. Not even my father would do that...
After some thinking, I decided to venture out into the world, away from here. And earn more wealth to send back to my mother, so that she wont be stuck fending for herself and have to face the shame I had brought upon myself.
I decided to become a mercenary. Id seen what my magic can do, and I had also seen that they can inflict harm as well. I thought about joining the Crimson Taurus, but theyre already on top with a lot of notable figures. Id be buried under them, nothing more than just a grunt.
But then I noticed one group, one of the competitors almost down and out, struggling to fill their coffers
...The Emerald Hounds.
Fitting in with the Emerald Hounds proved to be somewhat difficult. But I managed to earn a bit of respect with my fellow privates after some successful missions as the team's diplomat. I would ensure the bounties would be carried out smoothely, speaking to the guards and locals to allow my team more freedom to do their jobs. Of course having a silver tongue alone would not carry me as far as I would like. So I have decided to dedicate some of my time towards the way of the sword so I can fight alongside my team instead of cowering in the back.
My reputation is growing, albeit slowly. Until the latest announcement from Nyos Stormbottem. The Emerald Hounds want to liberate Barovia. A suicide mission...
Perfect.