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KikUSquaNtheNuts 01-25-05, 10:45 AM

Valen Moonwhisper is a chaotic neutral elven ranger/rogue whose father joined and then was killed by the Shadowmasters of Telflammar (Forgotten Realms - Thesk). He stole a book of guild secrets from his father's home and fled the country to avoid being killed. The idea is that he studies the book, learns to fight like the shadowmasters, and then takes the fight to their doorstep sometime in the future. (more in-depth history follows) I'm looking for suggestions for any kind of characterization that will make the character come alive. Any kind of habit, pet peeve, or defining detail will be helpful. Also, critique the background and the narrative for his future. Thanks in advance... PAST Long ago, Troilus Moonwhisper journeyed into human lands because he just didn’t feel at home in the forest. He learned to love the streets of the human cities and remained there for the remainder of his short life. No one is quite sure exactly how he became involved with the Shadowmasters, the mighty thieves’ guild that secretly rules the city of Telflammar. In any case, after some time serving among their ranks he got too ambitious. Those in leadership roles above him feared his ambition and conspired to kill him. They succeeded, but they failed to calculate the wrath of his son, Valen. Only a boy at the time and aging more slowly than the humans, they thought they would be long dead before the boy would ever pose a threat to them. They were wrong. Valen retreated to the Forest of Lethyr, the homeland of his father, with a text detailing the fighting styles and tactics of the Shadowmasters. His goal: to learn their tricks and someday destroy the entire guild, from the inside out if need be. His extended family, who had heard no news of Troilus since he left years ago, welcomed Valen with open arms and helped him as much as they could in his quest, knowing only that the guild had been the cause of Troilus’s death but not that Troilus had been a member of it. PRESENT Ranger 1 / Rogue 1 Valen is arrogant to a fault despite his young age. He knows he is talented and he knows that his father’s book will give him an edge in his future battle with the Shadowmasters. However, he is intelligent enough to hide this secret, knowing that if he allows it to be well known he will be hunted down for stealing guild secrets. Because of this, he makes it a point to appear a quiet and practical adventurer of no real consequence. He doesn’t want to attract any unwanted attention until he feels the time is right. Until then, his goal is to travel far enough away from Thesk that he can gather allies who he can trust have not already been influenced by the guild and the magical might he will need to confront the guild’s leaders. FUTURE Ranger 3 / Rogue 3 / Horizon Walker 6 / Telflammar Shadowlord 5 Wiry in frame but with tightly corded muscles, Valen is easily a stronger elf than many a human has ever seen. His movements are swift as he crawls across the moonlit rooftop. Then suddenly he disappears, only to emerge from the shadows several dozen yards away. None who walk below note his passing. Wearing jet black armor made from the hide of a shadow dragon, he flits from shadow to shadow in utter silence. He peers over the edge of the rooftop, taking quick note of how many of his enemies await him in the alley. Three. He vanishes again. All three are criminals who serve the Shadowmasters by preying on those too weak to defend themselves. The three notice only a faint clink, like a chain being pulled tight, before death erupts in their midst. Then a shadowy storm of spinning chains and blades engulfs them. “Argck!” is the only sound made by one of the men before he begins to fall, Valen’s first victim of this night. Before his body collides with the ground, another beside him makes a muffled cry and staggers away clutching a bleeding sword arm. Valen grins. How easy it will be to attract the attention of the Shadowlords this night. For years he has awaited this return, this chance for vengeance. Ignoring the twitching body on the ground and his wounded comrade retreating as best he can, the third man draws his sword and faces Valen. The two engage in a short trade of attacks and parries before a chain wraps itself around the thief’s leg and relieves him of his precious balance. The thief crawls a few feet, attempting to get up, then manages to stumble his way to a run as the chain falls free. “Run,” Valen says in a steady tone. “Run and tell your masters that the son of Troilus Moonwhisper has returned to Telflammar.”