Devaris Callendrell-The Bloodhound Enforcer

(This is a post dedicated to my character in the re-imagining of the Crimson Circle Chronicle. )

A sickness has plagued all that I have come to know and dedicate myself to. A deep seeded mass of corrosive and vitriolic desire to turn against that which up until now, has sustained those afflicted. I speak not of a physical sickness, but one of the mind. Greed has driven men and women who were once devout. Individuals who once believed in the work they did, and now, their thoughts are clouded. They pursue avenues of interest that are lucrative to their own personal coffers at the cost of the loss of opportunity for those who have given them much. I do not fault them all. Some are simply weak willed, and only do as instructed, yet that does not matter. Their weakness makes us all weak, and I for one cannot sit idly by and let everything fall around me. The clergy is no help, as they are too busy with their plotting and maneuvering to take notice. I am one man amidst a sea of sickness, with no true allies.....yet I do what I must in hopes that my actions are recognized and others will see what I am trying to accomplish. It matters not which aspect of Fayn the clergy worship, what matters is results...and there are few who have what it takes to stand against the others when they should be put in their place. My father disagrees with my choices and my path, but his is the only opinion I value less than any of those that label me as "The Bloodhound" of the Enforcers Guild. They say this in jest, but I can hear it in their words.....the fear that comes from the idea of being discovered. I've been called fanatical, but I disagree. This is the duty I was assigned, and until such time as I am relieved of this duty, I will continue to perform as I have.

The intricacies of power

(This is a character related post for my wizard in one of the two 3,5 campaigns I am participating in. )

The trouble with power, is that it can corrupt you. Not just the soul, or the mind, but the body as well. I have spent much of my time trying to find a way to further my power and climb out from beneath the shadow of my family, and yet, up until now, I have hit a wall. Now, I have no illusions of grandeur, nor do I believe that my power should be used for the enslavement of others, and yet here I am with a new familiar....or should i say assistant, contractually obligated to serve me. Now, I welcome the aid and assistance i have recieved from Endeera thus far, but truth be told I find the entire situation to be....exhausting. My understanding of the arcane is astounding even to me, but when it comes to other people, I cannot seem to grasp the simplest of tasks.....expressing one's thoughts to those who do not understand my way of thinking. For example, take Markus. The man is infuriating, and our differences come from a misunderstanding of each others ways of thinking. He believes that I am wrong for signing the contract with Endeera...not because she is evil...which, despite the mask she wears, she is very much so, but she has an understanding of order despite this. Useful in a very real sense. The problem is that he did not wish to leave her bound where she was, and wanted to release her, but, she did not wish to return home. I cannot say which plane of hell she was from, but that is a sound wish. Who among us would wish to go to hell? He tries again and again to explain why she is wrong for being bound to me, but he refuses to accept the simple fact that it is her choice. If she so wished for me to release her, I would gladly do so, and truthfully, I give her more freedom than he thinks, but to have a devil loose, roaming fetter hill without parameters would be chaos. There would be harm to come to some unfortunate soul, of this I am certain. I did what he could not, and this I think adds to the issue. However, with this latest job, we faced uncertain circumstances, and I made a grievous error. This led to my death, and to be honest, i should not be alive...yet, here I am. The means by which i am here now is for me to know, and for the sake of protecting myself and those around me, I will not so much as put anything in writing in case it is found. It's strange....I have undergone the ritual to bind the mantle of the horned devil to myself, and the power i have recieved, while truly magnificent, will change me in ways I cannot yet determine...and I am quite certain that this will be yet another reason for me to be viewed as an ambitious, evil mastermind by Markus. One day he will understand, but hopefully it will be sooner than later, because I have a feeling that this mistrust will lead to our deaths if it is not resolved. My power will be used to help further my influence so that one day, Greystar and the rest of the world can work together effectively, and be ready to face any challenge that comes our way. Think of the possibilities....Ravenspire with the might of Greystar behind them could very nearly wipe out the threat that looms on their borders, and if not, at the very least, the threat could be greatly lessened for quite some time, thus giving time for the forces of Ravenspire to rally and completely wipe out the threat on their own. The capital city....imagine what could be accomplished if Greystar truly opened it's borders and free sharing of lore and arcane secrets could be shared....the Queen could benefit greatly, as could my people....the possibilities are truly endless. I say this because of the past, and how successful a unified front truly was before the more ambitious of my people found themselves to be too powerful to obey the lawful command of the Queen. As of now, our way of life is....at best...inefficient. People view mine with suspicion and disdain, if only because of their stance. i say, in order to have a truly unified nation could lead to a far more powerful nation in the long run, and there would be nothing to stand against us as a whole...and I would be lying if I said I was not interested to see exactly how I could utilize that knowledge which i am at current, cut off from for one reason or another......one day...the rest of them will see that we could truly be a well funtioning, efficient force to be reckoned with. I have my doubts that i can help achieve this, but my mind is set. This is my purpose. In furthering this endeavor, i also further myself. It is a mutual, beneficial gain.....I shall do my part, but it will be dangerous, and it will require things...that i cannot expect the others to understand, and so for now, I'll do what is necessary, while remaining cautious. No need to push the others away with a misplaced action or word......In time, I'll be gone, but hopefully not before I at least set things in motion.......

The blending of Arcane might and Martial prowess....

Many have often asked me why I chose to follow the path that I have, and the answer is not as complicated or grand and fantastical as one might think. You see, as a child, I found myself entranced by the mysteries of those who honed their magical talents in a way that left them prepared for a number of situations. When one can command the very fabric of reality through arcane methods, what would cause them to hone their skills in the practiced form of a Swordmage? Put simply, it is my belief that this particular practice of the arcane is an intricate dance of physical prowess and mental might, affording the practitioner with a range of options that would otherwise be limited by the focused training of a true mage. My fascination comes from the notion that one's body should be just as refined as one's mind, offering an outward showing of one's dedication as one's words and intellect would afford a glimpse into the mental capacity that they posess. To me, it was a simple choice really, for when I enrolled in the academy, I held on to the notion of training in the fascinating art of the blade, and devoted my studies to that area.

As time went on, I found myself enthralled with my choice of study. Using one's skills to defend, rather than destroy was far more appealing, and though I speak no ill towards those who have studied the arcane in other areas, I will say that it is my opinion that when one spends so much time dedicated to studying books and tomes, one loses the ability to progress in other areas, and I for one would rather have my cake and eat it too as they say. I do not feel that my skill is greater as a whole than other practitioners, I merely feel that I have found a way to harmonize one's skills and talents in such a way that I can achieve a greater balance of power.....we've all taken note of the mistakes of the past, and really, I think there is such a thing as too much power for one's own good as there are things that many should not be privy to when it comes to the mysteries of the arcane..for example, the entities that those who fall in the category of warlocks have made pacts with. Many of those beings should never be sought for the sake of power, as most are undecidely underhanded and conniving....

Now that you understand my viewpoint on my particular choice of study, perhaps I can explain what my purpose is. I am a protector....a guardian if you will. I do not use my abilities to inflict pain and harm on another for the sake of gaining power, I use my abilities to aid those who otherwise would never know the kind of blessed life I have led. I have a family who has supported me through every choice I have made, and I have naturally excelled in everything I have applied myself to. The thought of putting myself between someone in need and those that would challenge that persons right to life just seems....right somehow. Now, I'm not saying I would go so far as to recklessly endanger myself, sword drawn and swinging wild...I'm no brute. But, when it comes to a situation where I can be of aid, I will lend my power in defense of another, and my mind will be as sharp as my blade.....point of fact, there are actually no opportunities for me to further advance my talents here in Greystar. I have heard from my father that there are strange occurences in Valaysia....strange energies at work, and even strange tales ranging from goblins in the area, and even Dragons.....quite an opportunity if I do say so myself.

He and I agree on the fact that it will do me good to experience more of the world, and being the loyalist to the Crown that he is, he even suggested that I travel to Valaysia, if for no other reason than to give myself a test of my own abilities and see what aid I can lend to the locals...though I sense he has his own reasons for pointing me in that direction. Father always was a calculated sort, and powerful as he is in the arts of Magi, I'm quite sure he still seeks to further his own influence....and what better way than to have his son become noticed by someone within the Queen's court?

Forsaken Memories

This is the first time since I lost myself that I have actually taken the time to think about the past and the pain that comes with the memories. I was 16, and my elder brother was 18, having graduated from the arcane academy three years earlier and was already established as a prominent mage and tactician. Our younger sister, Kalara, was 14 and though she was the youngest of us, she seemed to be our caretaker. It was at this time that Dalanor was readying me for my 2 year service with the Ravenspire military, and as excited as I was to hopefully shine for once, I had a strange sense of unease about leaving home for so long. I wrote it off as nothing more than anxiety and left to serve in my duty to my home. Over the two years, I learned the basics, and though I was little more than average, I was still improving in areas enough to earn the respect of my fellows. After the two years of service, I returned home expecting to see things improving for our family, and although everything was in order, there had been no improvements to our estate, and even my sister, glad as she was to see me, seemed worried and a little stressed.

She explained that Dalanor had begun to become more distant, and even colder than he had been before, devoting more of his time to studying night and day, aquiring more books, some of which were recieved from rather shady sources. It had been like this for the last year apparently and had only gotten worse as whatever he had been researching drew him in further. After a few days of being home, I finally saw my brother, and he seemed surprised to see me...and almost a little disappointed, however, he welcomed me home with a smile after his initial shock and spent time listening to me recount my entire experience within my term of service....but after a while, he returned his studies and left me with Kalara.....it was not as though I was disappointed, but it had been a little less than a welcoming feeling he had recieved.

That night, I found myself reflecting on the way things had become with Dalanor in the time I was away and walked through the noble quarter, trying to determine where I was to go from here, and what path I should take to get there. I had decided finally to return home, and as i approached, I saw the night sky alight with a flickering golden haze, and upon swiftly returning to where the estate stood, I saw my home ablaze in a hellish fire. With no regard for myself, I burst in, searching for any sign of my sister and brother, despite the danger presented to my well being. I went from room to room, calling for them both, hoping to rouse them from their slumber, or recieve some sort of response....but when I heard nothing but the roar of flames, fear enveloped my mind, panic forced the adrenaline through my body, and determination ignored the pain of the heat upon my flesh. After some intense effort, and a dislocated shoulder, I forced myself through the heat warped door and stopped short, my blood running cold as before me, I saw my brother, standing over my sister's body, chanting as a red glow enveloped her form.....

With a bellow of rage, fueled by betrayal, confusion, anger, hatred and grief, I lunged at him, drawing my dagger from my belt and thrusting towards his spine, but almost in an instant, I found myself pinned to the wall by a force I could not comprehend as his furious gaze locked on me......I had interrupted him it seemed, and something had gone wrong with the ritual....however, at the time, I was unaware of the fact. All I knew, was that he had murdered my sister, and though I wanted to make him pay....make him face justice.....I was weak. I was far from the level it would take to kill him, and he knew it too. He gestured, and I was thrown into the wall....then, everything went black.

I was a little surprised to find that I was still alive, but when I awoke, I found that the city guard had pulled my unconcious form from the fire. I was now homeless, without kin, and broken...knowing that my life was never going to be the same. I was left to my own devices as i healed, and began venturing through dark places in my mind...I was consumed with vengeance, yearning for nothing more than the blood of my brother to spill by my own hands......

When darkness takes hold....

((This is a long overdue post dedicated to my character Darien, a human Hexblade in the new campaign that started up. Enjoy.....the words in Italics are the thoughts that are brought forth by the source of his power. It's not actually talking, merely influencing the darker side of his personality.....thus making it seem as though it is.....there will be times when it seems his mood is changing, but that is simply his darker side manifesting in response to some sort of stimulus. Not like another personality, think of it more as an irrational irritation....))

I have spent my life up to this point knowing that I was different, knowing that I had something within me that begged to be molded and shaped into something greater, but I never truly guessed what that was exactly. As I reached maturity, it manifested itself in strange ways....causing others to become clumsy, often times helping me to gain the upper hand in spars and training bouts for the town guard which greatly pleased Reswald. I was placed into his and Marella's care when I was but an infant, as my mother, Merlinda had died in childbirth.....and really, it's a shame....I wonder if she had the answers I now seek for what is transpiring?

She was weak..............

I appologize if my thoughts jump around....it is often times so hard to concentrate on my own thoughts....the reason for this? Well, now that leads back to whatever it is that lies within me. I hold a power that is unlike anything I have discovered in my quest to determine the origins of this power, and the fact that I cannot explain it greatly troubles me to no end. I have these thoughts, sometimes very dark and full of anger, other times calming and full of promises....it is not an outside source, but I full they are also not fully my own.....I feel that something is trying to drag me to a darker place....but I resist and can usually dismiss the thoughts without trouble....for now, but I believe it is a small price to pay for the upper hand in combat...though I'm not sure how long i will feel this way, but for now it's useful.

It could be more so...........

To tell you the truth, whatever it's origins, it kept me alive during the attack on East Hill, and i don't mean that in an indirect way....I mean that in quite the literal sense. You see, much like it's early manifestations, I found that I could direct this power towards a single target, causing them to became careless, sloppy, and sometimes, even downright incompetent, allowing me to make my move and best them, however, it was effecting most all of the invading barbarians around me, causing their attacks to miss me, causing them to fumble their weapons, and even on occasion, causing them to injure themselves when they tried attacking me.....quite curious. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining that I'm still alive, though it obviously disappointed Reswald.....but I find it odd. I was forced to retreat from the front lines of battle as I had become far too exhausted to continue and needed to gather myself to be of any true use.....and as I was retreating, I saw another member of the guard being attacked by a group of barbarians, and in the midst of battle, i could not reach him. I saw him take a grievous wound from a barbarians axe that would kill even the strongest man, and i lost sight of him then. The poor fellow.....

You are stronger by far than those who perished.............

Once I had retreated, I found myself unable to rejoin the battle, as i had become far too drained to successfully combat the invaders....was it because of this power? I was sure it had something to do with it.....but I had no clue as to how it would effect me so. And so, after the battle was won, I resigned myself to look into this power again....yet, as always, it was not my mind that drew me towards the arcane emporiom within town.....it was something else.....something foriegn that i could not shake. Every day, i would end my day by visiting the shop, asking questions, reading, and browsing over anything that could help explain things better for me. I have to say, whatever drew me there had not planned for me to stay in east hill for the rest of my life, because it so happens that one of my visits put me in contact with a small group of people that seemed....different...though i was not at first aware of their existence. Only when the shopkeep spoke of a task that offered quite a sum of gold was I interested in the happenings of the others in the store.

People are to be used for gain.........

Normally, I would not bother myself with such things, however, with father acting as he had been lately towards me, i had been in contact with my dear sister Calysta. She urged me to look out for what I wanted rather than what father wanted for me, and finally, i saw my opportunity. Besides, there were too many reminders of what we all lost in town....I needed a change of scenery, if only for a time. So, I volunteered my blade to this apparent courier task......and that was when my surprise got the better of me. One of the men who had volunteered also, he was someone who I could have sworn had died in the battle.....he held many scars and looked worse for wear, but he was alive . I guess the half orc is harder to kill than I gave him credit for. Of course, he referred to me as a coward for my retreat, but the fool knows nothing, and had we been anywhere else, I would have removed his ability to say the word again.......however, i respected the keeper of this shop, and I was going to get paid a high price for a simple task, so i managed to contain myself.....for now.

The beast will drown in it's own blood..........

Accompanying this half dog was a Knight whom I recognized from a local order, and he seemed to be the mutt's master. When the Knight spoke, the dog ceased it's incessant yapping which was amusing to see. He introduced himself as Zander and I could see the pride in his very posture. He is no doubt a good man, but he has an arrogance about him that i dislike.....

Be wary of this fool...............

I also met a young half elf.....clearly he is a thief, but he seems far more personable than the other two. He was also browsing through some of the wares of the shop, for one reason or another. I have no illusion that he was intending to purchase anything, but he surely had his own reasons for being there. I believe his name was Lial, and he seemed eager to volunteer himself at the mention of the gold. I'm sure he will end up with more than jsut the gold offered in payment, so i will have to watch my coinpurse around him....he seems somewhat daft, but it could all be an act......

If the coinpurse goes missing, so do his hands..........

The last to volunteer was an elven gentleman who was very clearly an arcanist, more specifically, a wizard. This was good news....one learned in the ways of the arcane could help me explain my power. If I hadn't been eager to take this job before, I certainly was now. This would be my opportunity to learn from a trained mind, someone disciplined and knowledgable, if not infuriatingly indifferent. He is a fair man however, and appears weak in body, but one can almost see the power that he holds radiating from him.....

Greater power lies within yourself..........

We settled down to a tense meal after we left the shop, and the Knight decided that i did not have a tongue for myself when we were giving proper introductions amongst each other. After seeing the way he reacted to the few men drowning their sorrows in a few mugs of ale, and how obediently Vang, his ever loyal dog obeyed his commands, I realized that this was a character flaw of his...thinking himself of great importance, and when he, a complete stranger, decided it was time to issue a command at me, he seemed surprised when I did not bow my head and whine. Do not get me wrong, I have no issue with the man himself, but his demeanor must change if I am to be able to travel with these people. I will trust Myxa's guidance towards this, as I believe there is a reason this opportunity was placed before me. I must not let my thoughts become clouded as i am sure that before this is over, I will at least have a few answers...whether they are to my current questions, or future ones remains to be seen.....

In Time..........

The shadows converge....

The Weaver of Dreams.....and the first nightmare.

(This is a post dedicated to my new character in werewolf. This about his first change, and after going over his rite of passage with my GM, I will post that here as well.)



I always knew I was different......not like them.....but it always seemed that a part of me wanted so much to belong. I only ever found solace in my books and the studies to which i devoted myself.....at least until she came along......



Her name was Alexandria Montrose, and she was the single most beautiful creature i had ever lain eyes upon. But, that was not all.....she was intelligent, charming, spirited and loving....sharing my thirst for knowledge and also my interest in the supernatural. We met our Junior year of high school, and we hit it off almost immediately. Over the last two years of High School, we started dating and became closer than ever, never seeming to leave each others side.....but something within me seemed.....alien....different. It was not that I was unhappy, but I did become jealous of other guys that spoke to her....and it was a new experience for me, though she and I talked of it. She would laugh and say that I had been walled behind my books for so long that i had merely missed out on many things....jealousy included. It's funny.....she always knew what to say to me, and I always knew that no matter what, she would be there......



After High School, we put of going to college, wanting to enjoy some time away from studying and all of the stress that comes with it, just being content with spending time together. I eventually got the itch to go back to school a year later....having a strong desire to start my education as a paramedic. I found a nice little community college to attend and enrolled in their Paramedic program. Alex was surprised at my choice in study, but she applauded my conviction. Medicine is a great field to get into, but she asked why i would choose to pursue such a career.....



I could not answer....all I knew was that the idea of helping people just seemed right. If I could save just one person's life, it would all be worth it to me. One night, I had to attend my field clinicals, pairing with aliscensed paramedic to operate in the field and get a taste of what my schooling would lead to.....which left Alex alone at home. She would always wait up for me to return home when I was out at my night classes....but this night, when i returned, there were no lights on in the house....and the front door was ajar.....so, carefully and cautiously, I made my way to the door and slipped inside, my heart racing and my thoughts churning. They could still be here....if something had happened to her, I would not be able to continue on. I stalked through the house like a predator, searching for any signs of what could have happened, and I noticed the signs of a struggle all throughout the house. I heard the distinct sound of running water coming from the bathroom, and the smell of blood was unmistakable, making my fear and anger override my need for caution, leaving me scrambling through the house now.....and suddenly, my world was crushed.

There, in a bruised, bloody heap, was Alexandria, in the floor of the bathroom........her breath coming out in short, ragged wheezes. I rushed to her side, pulling her gently into my arms as I sat with my back against the bath tub which was still running and overflowing onto the floor where it mixed with her blood, creating a pinkish pool of liquid, but it did not concern me now.....

"Alex......you're going to be ok....I'm here now......."

I could barely see due to the tears of grief and rage that were forming in my eyes......but I saw the look on her face......it was one of pure pain and fear......she was in shock......and her eyes were blank as she stared ahead, unaware of anything in the room...even me......and all at once, the rise and fall of her chest stopped......the beating of her heart ceased......and I found myself holding her, weeping.....unable to do anything for her. What happened next, came so fast that I can scarcely remember it as more than a dream, but apparently, the culprit was still in the house and had heard me come in. He came into the bathroom, holding the same instrument that he had beaten Alex with, still covered in her blood.......and the smell of sex clung to him. He stood there for a moment, chuckling to himself, and when I looked up, all i knew was that I felt something inside me, screaming for his blood.......and soon, the look of satisfaction on his face changed......and he was screaming......I remember a feeling of utter rage......the most potent hatred and anger I had ever felt.....what came next were mere flashes of memory.....his stomach ripped open as he screamed....the scent of excrement and blood as his innards fell from his body, and the gargling end to his screams as his throat was ripped out.....leaving a scoop of flesh wholly gone from his throat, larger than two fists side by side.....then....darkness.

When next i came to, I was no longer in my house. I was in a dimly lit cabin, and there were three people around me, as if waiting for me to wake. The first that i noticed, was a woman, appearing to be in her mid to late 40's, dabbing the sweat from my brow with a cloth....the other, a man with dark hair, watching me with a look of sadness on his face, and the third......was my mother. She had the stain of tears on her face and had been crying it seemed for some time....but when i awoke, she came to my side.......

"Kaidan......do not be alarmed......you are safe here. A lot has happened, and not all of which was unexpected. There is so much that is to be explained to you my son, so much that until now, I could not speak of. I am sorry to hear about Alexandria....I truly am, but you must not hold hatred in your heart."

She turned to look at the dark haired man with the deep, blue eyes.......then turned to look to me again.......

"You are going to hav e to leave with this man.....he will tell you all that you need to know, and show you what you must see. I know you have many questions, but now is not the time. You have a new life awaiting you.....and you are going to do great things......just remember that I love you, and I will always be here for you........"

I was confused, but I did not have the energy, nor the will to question anything I was told.

------------

I am going to have to stop there for now......as the hour is growing late. Perhaps another time, I will continue my tale in this journal. I have things to attend to on the morrow, and the dredging up of these memories is enough to heavy my heart and open old wounds........perhaps next time, i will continue with the rest of this story, and eventually, i will write of my Rite of passage......and maybe, the rest of my Tribe can remember me for what I have done when my time has passed.....


- Kaidan Weaver-of-Dreams -