Aurevald

Basic Details

• Race:
  • Goliath
• Age: 30, born 890 PD.
• Class:
  • Paladin
  • Warlock
    • Great Elder One
• Height:
  • 7’8”
• Skin Tone:
  • Dark tanned skin
    • Marked with runic symbols up and down
• Hair Colour:
  • Dark brown reddy hair
• Eye Colour:
  • Bright Yellow
• Voice: Deep, Gruff, Serious, Friendly
• Accent: Norwegian/British mix

Backstory

Tribal Origins

In the cold, harsh lands to the North of the continent of Otheria, lived a nomadic tribal community of Goliaths. They lived off the land and were unconcerned with the Gods that the rest of the world followed - instead believing in a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The spirits of the natural world guided their every movement from clearing to clearing as they avoided what they could of the ever-changing conditions, and bore what they could not.

It was in this tribe that Aurevald was born to two parents he doesn’t remember the names of. For the first 15-or-so years of his life, he was raised to revere the natural world; accepting it’s raw and unaltered beauty, and truly came to appreciate the peace and solace that the Northern Mountains provided.

Separation

However, on one unfortunate day in his mid-teens, Aurevald was separated from his tribe during a once-in-a-decade blizzard. He survived the worst of it by killing a wolf before wearing it’s pelt to keep warm. It was during this storm that he witnessed the markings around his wrists glow for the very first time - a event he could not explain.

The storm passed but Aurevald had gotten lost; unable to hear the natural spirits guiding him. He approached two men in armour and asked for directions - before realising they spoke a language he didn’t understand. The two men took Aurevald by surprise and overpowered him; although they seemed to struggle more than they’d expected to, where they bound the adolescent Goliath by the wrists and ankles before blindfolding him. This is the furthest back event that Aurevald can remember in clear detail - everything before this is hazy at best.

An age seemed to pass in the back of the cart he’d been thrown into; with the only stops being sustenance during the middle of the night.

Bound in Irons

The smell of salt on the air shocked Aurevald as he learned just how far from home he had been taken. The cart stopped and he was allowed to see daylight for the first time in forever; blinding him as his weary eyes adjusted to the harsh rays of the coastal Country (that he would later learn is called The Paradisian Coast.) This Country was noisy and he felt uneasy without the presence of the natural spirits to guide him.

Aurevald was bound in chains and taken from ship-to-ship by a different face each time as he found himself face-to-face with a Half-Orc male; the Captain of a decently large shipping vessel. He was taught by the Captain and by a Gnome woman; Tana Timbers, how to communicate and read in Common, and how to use the Stars to navigate the boat across it’s course. During his lessons; Tana Timbers gave Aurevald the nickname of “Aury” as part of her Gnomeish tradition.

Aurevald really enjoyed his time on this vessel; specifically because of the Captain and Tana Timbers, but the other shipmates picked on him for his markings and lack of education. This angered him a lot and one night he slept atop the deck of the ship. He felt a familiar presence return as a fog quickly set in from the North and for the first time in what felt like years, Aurevald could hear the natural spirits again. He called to the them for freedom - a chance to return home; and rapidly a torrential storm began to crash through from the cloud cover. Aurevald tried to help the Captain get the ship and crew back to shore safely but a giant wave caught them all off guard and threw the everyone into the depths below. The only thing Aurevald remembered after that was a familiar glow and a voice whispering in his mind.

“…find the tree… the tree…”
- The Voice to Aurevald

Aurevald awoke to the sound of thicker chains being clamped around his wrists as one of the Slavers; whose hands he’d exchanged through years ago, beat him for answers. A number of people from the Port city had seen the wreckage of the ship Aurevald was on and accused him of Mutiny or worse. Word spread that Aurevald himself was the cause of that torrential storm and he was officially kept landlocked from now on. A wave of guilt overtook him as he came to realise that no one else on the ship survived the storm.

Aurevald; now a fully mature Goliath was grown and strong enough to work as a physical labourer and protection for the other families in Port Gilmark; one of the cities within The Paradisian Coast of Otheria. He was sold to a Detestable Slaver who used Aurevald for target-practice as much as; if not more than, he used him for labour work. He was regularly beaten or overworked to the point of absolute collapse.

Saviour and Teacher

One day; when the Slaver was in a particularly foul mood, Aurevald was bearing the brunt of another beating when he heard an unfamiliar voice chide the Slaver for his actions. The Masked Human that stood by his owner spoke eloquently and directly, before exchanging a large pile of coins with the Slaver.

“Now, be careful of this one ‘ere. Keep ‘im away from water or ‘e’ll sink your boat for sure. Done it once already I’m told…”
- The Slaver to The Masked Human about the Aurevald

Aurevald was shocked when The Masked Human unlocked his chains and told him that he was now free; introducing themselves as Morgyn. Aurevald felt a wave of confusion over the concept; having come to accept Slavery as a way of life. Aurevald would introduce himself and offered to help pay back his debts to Morgyn by working with him - noticing that Morgyn seemed to struggle to reach items on the high shelves and with lifting heavy boxes.

Morgyn taught Aurevald more about the world; it’s history, politics, language, and science. Aurevald quickly learned that Morgyn was proficient in Alchemy and noticed his wrists glowing faintly at the Arcane equipment in their laboratory.

GM’s NOTE: You can tell me this if this is too prescriptive and guide me on how you’d want this scene to play out.

Aurevald was surprised to see Morgyn’s physical appearance change a handful of times during their early days together and eventually he asked about it during one of his lessons. Morgyn explained that his physical appearance; sex and all, randomly changes every morning because of a long-term side-affect of a potion they’d made years ago. Aurevald from that point on would refer to Morgyn as “The Young Master”. Morgyn liked that title and called him “Aury” - nearly bringing a tear to the Goliath’s eyes.

Bridge to Campaign

One night; after doing a late delivery, the streets began to fill with familiar fog and suddenly Aurevald’s mind was overwhelmed with dozens of voices whispering

“…find the tree… the tree…”
- The Voices to Aurevald

Overwhelmed and confused - Aurevald decided it was time to head back North to find members of his tribe and ask them for answers about the voices in his head. In an attempt to not scare or worry Morgyn, he told the Human Alchemist that they should head North in order to earn more money. Morgyn was oddly quite resistant to the idea before rushing to bed saying:

“You can go North but I’m staying right here… There’s plenty of money to be earned here…”
- Morgyn to Aurevald about going North

Aurevald spent most of that night awake, tossing and turning because he wasn’t ready to leave his only friend behind, but could clearly see Morgyn wasn’t ready to explain why he wouldn’t or couldn’t go North. The Goliath decided he would ask Morgyn again in a week - trying to give his friend some space.

Aurevald was surprised however when Morgyn approached him in the early morning holding an open letter and saying that there was business to attend to in a town called Rookwell; a former agricultural town turned tourist spot and drinking town, in the neighbouring country of Terick.

“Mornin’ Aury,

I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to shut you out like that friend.

Funny coincidence though; turns out I have some business to attend to in Rookwell. A bit different than our usual work - we’re going to help them clear up a small raider problem and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
- Morgyn to Aurevald

Aurevald was pleased to see Morgyn had changed their mind and was eager to travel the continent with his new friend as they both seemed to find answers for their pasts.

Relationships

The Fated Eight - Party Members

Aurevald is a devoutly loyal to his friends and wants to protect all of them. He cares deeply for all of them and believes each of them embodies are part of himself. Axton = his eyes Graxious = his heart Jin = his legs Lady = his arms Morgyn = his brain SHAI = his ears Scabb = his soul

Tana Timbers - First teacher/friend

Tana Timbers taught Aurevald about the world and the basics of communication and navigation. She also helped him realise a love of the stars and the sky. She was the first person to give him the nickname of “Aury”. He was very ashamed and a bit guilty after learning she; alongside the rest of the crew, hadn’t survived the sinking of their ship.

Morgyn - Saviour, turned Business Partner, turned Friend

Morgyn paid for and freed Aurevald all before knowing the Goliaths name. Whilst confusing to the despaired Aurevald, that inspired him to pay back Morgyn however he could. The pair worked well as a duo and quickly became friends whilst selling Morgyn’s latest concoctions. Neither party prods too deeply into the other’s business; both seem to understand that they each have things they’d rather stayed secret for the time being.