Arendar

Details:
Arendar is an half-elf of early 20's. Despite his yound age, there is mystery about him. He doesn't talk much and usually prefers to let others try first, why waste his talents and show what he can do if others can do it. Always better to keep secrets and have an ace in the hole. He usually dresses in a red outfit, not a "mage dress" like the popular image people have. He has dark hair and eyes saying he's seen things other would go crazy seeing. He doesn't look very strong physically but is dashing nonetheless and most places he goes, ladies will turn around to get a second look at him.

Arendar always looks cold to other people. He always tries to keep a neutral tone and doesn't get fazed by much. He prefers to think calmly and methodically rather than to rush into action like an animal. He usually considers himself above others, simply because he personally knows what it's like to be under and having lost everything.

Religion isn't high on his list. He does understand the need some people feel for it but he strongly believes that most cult and religions are simply a twisted way to control people and instill the cult/religion own mentality on their followers. In his book, abuse of powers in religions and cults are the worst but he also has little respect in the law for it never brought him good. He prefers the truth and will seldom lie, usually talking about possibilities rather than making up stories. He knows often the reality can be more frightening than lies so why lie in the first place? He is in fact very wary of people who lie and try to hide things.

He knows links are meant to be broken ... but also knows there is always a time for it. Everything has it's usefulness and eventually, it runs out. Links to people, location or anything else are just chains keeping us from freedom, power and truth.

Back Story
Arendar didn't have the terrible past most half-elves were born with. His elven mother fell in love with a human priest or Corellon Larethian. Very few humans are part of that Elven priesthood and Arendar's father always felt more at home with the elves than with his fellow men. Unfortunately, not all elves saw it the same way. Instead of killing them like barbarians, they were simply asked to stay away and not live in the city proper, which suited them just fine. After Arendar and his older brother were born, more trip to the city became necessary and Arendar always felt watched. He was accepted at school because they knew it was the best thing to do, but elven school were no good for someone with a short human life span as elven schools terms are years instead of months like humans are.

One night, the city was attacked, being on the outskirts, Arendar's family house was the first one hit and they had no warning or protection. His parents died fighting, his father sacrificing his life to send him and his brother away. That night, the city was quite damaged. As Arendar's parents were among the first victims, many Elves saw this as their God's disapproval of the relationship and thus, the kids were expelled from the city. They ended up becoming road bandits or caravan escorts, depending when jobs were available and who wanted to hire young half-elves. That's where Arendar developed a taste for reading. He had learned how to read at school and thanks to his Elven traits and his calm attitude at all time, he found it quite simple to ask to read books caravans were carrying or when they were attacking some, getting books in the loot, something no one wanted, after a raid. Arendar was starting to learn that often, the things other don't care much about are often the most valuable. The things he had learned often gave him and his brother the edge in being hired. Some people liked being entertained on long trips with stories, others would enjoy the diversity of skills the brothers offered.

One of those caravan escort didn't go as planned. It was a warlock carrying various chests and weird items. The pay was good and the brothers didn't mind who or what their employer was. The trip was supposed to take a month, and even with 15 people guarding the caravan, the warlock was still nervous about something. As usual, Arendar asked to read books, learning about magic was always interesting. The warlock first refused but after two days of being pestered, agreed reluctantly. He simply told Arendar to only read books in the bookshelf, that those were mostly harmless, despite being shocking maybe. Arendar studied the books every evening when they would rest, he quickly went through a few books are started wondering where the books he was seeing the warlock with at times but never saw in the bookshelf. He used his skills learned hanging out with other disreputable kids and a few from his brother, now a quite agile thief thought him. After a few days of sneaking and trying to follow the warlock (he was very cautious and Arendar almost got caught a few times), he finally found out there was a small secret bookshelf on the inside of one of the caravan which also contained other books.

One night, during the third week of the trip, the warlock went to bed early and Arendar decided he would find out what was in those books. There were only five books he discovered, but they were ancient. He found one about the infernal language, having opened every book, this one seemed like the obvious as a first choice to decipher the others. He used it to slowly read the others, two or three books open at a time, jumping from one to the other. He lost track of time and where he was... he forgot he was supposed to stay quiet and after hours of reading, he was mumbling everything, often speaking to himself at normal voice volume when a passage about demonic lore and history was particularly impressive. This proved to an error he had no idea of knowing. At first, he thought it was only his sleepy mind and dismissed it as impossible, it seemed like some of the words were shifting from one book to the other, it didn't make sense because what he was reading was perfectly intelligible and made sense (as much sense as stories about demons in a language you can barely read do.) He was finding the books more and more easy to read. Then something happened. At first, Arendar didn't notice, but everyone else in the camp did. A strange sound, like thunder, gradually getting louder... but coming from the fire at the center of the camp. When the sound didn't show any sign it would stop, someone woke up the warlock who, jumped to his feet and became white with fear at the sight of the campfire and sound he was hearing. He ran to his caravan but never reached it, from the fire, something invisible started dragging everyone to it, everyone except Arendar who was impervious to the now big commotion outside, consumed by the charms of the books to keep on reading. When Arendar finished reading, he realized how long he had been there and knew he'd be in trouble if discovered. Exiting the cart, something was amiss, weapons were lying on the ground, backpacks and sleeping bags still laid out, but not a soul in view. As he came closer to the fire, a voice spoke to him. He learned he had somehow created a link with the nine-hells, that all the people in the camp served as sacrifice to this devil. Asmodeus found Arendar interesting. He had listened to him reading and probed his mind, his past. He told Arendar that, if he would serve him, his brother would be spared. Having read many books, Arendar had an idea of what that meant but he didn't mind much, his brother would live. To Arendar's surprize, he was not cursed, not brought to hell, Asmodeus granted him power and even freedom of action. He told Arendar to continue on his way, to make sure that like him, no one raised too far above others, no god or demon should be above anyone else in this world. As long as this would be Arendar's quest, so would his brother be alive... somewhere.

Since then Arendar spent his time trying to gain strengh and power. Fighting important religions and cult would be no mean feat. He didn't care if some would be lost for the cause. Research actually made him believe more and more in his quest. According to history, both cults and religions end up abusing power. Both are more often than not, source of destruction for "the greater good" or "in the name of .... ". He swore to make the quest his, on that day, he received his first real powers from Asmodeus, and was told his brother was back, somewhere on the material plane.

Character Goals
Arendar wants power. He wants equality in all things and knows that most systems, branded good or evil are corrupted and only helpful for a few. He seldom says what he really thinks but will most of the time try to manipulate others for his own agenda ... no matter if they are humanoids, devils or gods. He is not stupid however, and knows he lacks power ... but one day ...

For that, knowledge is something he searches for. Evil ... good, doesn't matter; both hide some from each other and few share those secrets with each others. His goals are to discover how to accumulate powers while ridding the world of those who would upset the balance or natural things. Money and privilege are only good to ascertain that goal as it might be necessary to bribe people or simply gain access to some areas (libraries, research facilities ...) with those things.

Magic Items
+1 Ring of Protection

Staff of Henderbeard

Wand of Binding

Wand of Scorching Ray

Wand of enemy detection

Blood Jar