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......
