Erlendir Ravensong

[Hrafnar]

First Name: Erlendir (Common: Winter Autumn Stone)
Last Name: Ravensong (Elvish: Krabanaera)

Appearance:

Race: Wood Elf
Age: 120
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 140lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: Brown
Facial Hair Style: None

Personality Profile:

General Health: Good
Deity: Solonor Thelandira
Initial Alignment: Chaotic Good
Profession: Ranger/adventurer
Base Class & Proposed Development: Ranger all the way!
Habits/Hobbies: Exploring, cartography, carpentry, bowyering and fletching, zoology, herbalism
Languages: Elf, Common, Animal, Orc*
Weapon of Choice: Longbow

*He has the language but for RP purposes he's not fluent, he only knows a few words and phrases that he picked up from observing them for so long. This has been improving somewhat as he has spoken with half-orcs IG

Favourite sayings:

"A keen eye and sure step are worth a thousand fine words."
"Better weight than wisdom a traveler cannot carry."
"Make your plans carefully for they are difficult to change once put into motion."
"...I'm running low on arrows."

Background:

Erlendir grew up in the High Forest on the border with orcish territory. Every elf was expected to contribute in some way to the fight against the orcs and Erlendir joined a company of rangers when he came of age. It was during this time that he learned not only the ways of the wild but also the ways of the Keen-Eye, Solonor Thelandira. Erlendir's temper was not always in keeping with this measured philosophy however, and he was as likely to rush headlong into combat as he was to bide his time and watch his mark.

Erlendir spent ten years with the rangers, which is a brief time by elven standards but it had a profound effect on him. He could not picture a better life than one spent living from the land, sleeping under the open stars, and keeping folk safe from marauding monsters. His father had different ideas: He arranged a marriage for Erlendir and told him to settle down and become a craftsmen. House Ravensong was an ancient, albeit humble, bloodline and it was not befitting for Erlendir to spend his days roaming the border hunting orcs. It was this dispute that caused Erlendir to leave home. First he traveled west to Waterdeep and from there he traveled the Trade Way until he reached Baldur's Gate.

Goals:

To fight orcs, goblinoids, and monsterous humanoids wherever they may be found. To combat the spread of Malar and Talos-worship. To learn patience, wisdom and to control his temper.

Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:

Having spent most of his life fighting orcs he doesn't trust half-orcs much either. He sees human laws as too rigid and could be prone to break them for a good cause. Like many Wood Elves he is suspicious of arcane magic, seeing it as another form of industry perverting the natural order of things. He refuses to use traps and poison as they are indiscriminate and hurt the environment. He has a lot of respect for druids and he could even convert to one of the Human nature deities given the right circumstances.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - I

I have reached Baldur's Gate and I have decided to remain in the region awhile, for it is greatly troubled. All manner of monsters plague the Trade Way, including goblins. They seem tougher and more organised than those back home and for now they have prevented me from ranging further south.

Humans continue to bewilder me with their strange ways. They till the land until it is exhausted, then complain of food shortages. They live in huge cities virtually on top of one another so that the cities become disease-infested. They then build sewers to remove their waste, which in turn become rat-infested. The rats then spread disease and so on. They cram all of their dead into one cemetery and the dead eventually rise to walk again as mindless, predatory husks (someone really ought to teach them about cremation or tree-burial).

In fact the more I learn of them, the surer I am that the Retreat is a grave mistake. It is the duty of elvenkind to look out for the younger races and show them the proper way, not to turn our backs on them.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - II

While travelling the Trade Way I came upon some Amnish merchants on their way back to Athkatla from the Ten Towns in Icewind Dale to the north, for the ornate scrimshaw produced there is highly prized in the Amnish capitol.

I was about to bid them farewell when I felt an empathic cry full of despair and anger emanating from one of the wagons. I asked the merchant what was in there and he showed me: a tiny cage containing an arctic wolf cub. It was male and could have been no more than six months old. The merchant had purchased it from some barbarians and intended to sell it to a circus or perhaps a noble with a fancy for it. I barely contained my anger and I confess I even had the urge to strike him down. Instead I bought the cub from him.

I carried the cub in my arms and he snapped and snarled at me. I felt his confusion and hatred like an icy gale. I took him to the shrine of Silvanus, knowing it to have a peaceful affect on forest creatures, and fed him some venison strips and water from the nearby stream. Eventually he fell asleep in my arms and I began to feel his dreams faintly; dreams of frost and winter, of a mother and siblings, of glacial white stretching out as far as the eye can see.

I shall name him Lossiri - Frostwalker.

OOC: I had been playing him as a winter wolf, but someone pointed out to me that winter wolves are evil, magical creatures whereas arctic wolves are neutral, natural creatures. I was therefore left with the problem of how I came across him on the Sword Coast and therefore decided to rewrite his origin story.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - II - addendum

People keep mispronouncing my name. I think I will shorten it to Erlend from now on.

[DM Bembel]

Reviewed, Approved and rewarded.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - III

Today I journeyed inland. I followed the river called Chionthar eastward and then turned north. Along the way I passed a military encampment of some kind. I did not let them see me for I knew not what sort of folk these were, but they did not seem like the type to waylay travelers. I think I recognised their banners as belonging to one of the human gods of justice. It would explain why the land thereabouts was so peaceful.

The same could not be said of the northern Trade Way however. Along the road I was attacked by the largest, most vicious wolves I have ever seen. I managed to slay one but decided stealth was the better option until I reached the village of Soubar. Thankfully the Keen-Eye has seen fit to bless me with some magic and I was able to conceal myself with ease. Poor Lossiri almost died trying to defend me. He is brave but I should keep him from harm's way until he is more mature.

Soubar itself is a sorry little village, full of unsavory characters. I do not think I shall stay here long. I shall journey further north in the morning after I've rested and resupplied.

[Hrafnar]

A letter addressed to Erlendir arrives at the caravan stop east of Baldur’s Gate. It is written in delicate Espruar on fine papyrus, although it is a little worse for wear from the journey. It is dated from over two months ago.

My son,

I’m sending this with my cousin who is travelling to Waterdeep tomorrow. I have no idea if it will even reach you. Stop this nonsense and come home. The Simamne family has been very understanding and they’re willing to postpone your marriage to Lamana until you return. If it is truly not your heart’s desire to be wed however then so be it. I know you want to be like some Old Kingdom hero but trust me when I say that that is not the way of the world. Just come home.

Eandur

Eventually a reply makes its way back to the High Forest.

Father,

I received your letter. I am currently in the region of Baldur’s Gate and expect to be here for some time. I am trusting this message to the care of a Halfling druid who is travelling north. He seems an honest sort of fellow. You can send future correspondence to the Eflsong Tavern as I will check in there from time to time.

It is not the marriage, father, but the life it represents. I am not made to live peacefully, always in one place, at least not yet. You are wrong about the world. Everything I have seen confirms my belief that my place lies here, beyond our borders. Our land does not lie separate from the world around it; what happens in one part affects the integrity of the whole. As a craftsman, you must appreciate that. Send my love to mother.

Erlendir

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - IV

I came across one of the ar'tel'kessir earlier - those the humans call sun elves. She is a ranger of Solonor Thelandira, like myself. Meeting her sparked a memory of my lessons with the First Ranger back home. I realise how in many ways I've gone wide of the mark. The Keen-Eye counsels patience, forethought and consideration for the far-reaching consequences of one's own actions, yet here I am running away from my home and my duty to my family. I understand now why they used to tease me that I was half sy'tel.

This is true of my approach to battle as well, for although I am a fair enough marksman I favour the blade and sometimes I feel a blood-lust come upon me which is not befitting. This is something I shall have to either overcome or accept.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - V

As I move through human lands I see the occasional half-orc and I confess to no small amount of prejudice against them. I size them up almost the moment I see them and consider how best to take them down, as if I'm expecting them to attack at any moment. Ever since I can remember, orcs have been the enemy. My kind speak well of dwarves, humans and halflings, though we see few enough of them. I don't remember ever discussing gnomes. The fact remains that those with orc blood in them are still part human and are normally raised among humans. Are we so tied to our nature that we cannot overcome it?

I write this because the other night I came upon an orc blood ranger praying to Silvanus, though I could not see his heritage until I was close. I observed him quietly for some time but he had keen senses and spotted (or possibly scented?) me. At first I thought he was there to desecrate the shrine, until I saw that he had a boar with him. I could almost feel the bond between them and that gave me pause. We exchanged a few words and went our separate ways. He seemed as wary of me as I was of him. I shall have to contemplate this if I wish to make my home outside of the High Forest.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - VI

Today I spent six hours standing still. I suppose you could call it a reverie of sorts, but rather than searching within the point is to search without. To pay total and utter attention to everything around you; to expand your circle of awareness to the widest possible area, taking in every rustle of the branches, every stirring of the grass, every sound of every animal until you are in perfect harmony with your surroundings.

It is a practice I learned from the First Ranger. I was supposed to stay there for twelve hours, but I got bored. Humans must be rubbing off on me.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - VII

I am experiencing hiraeth for the first time in my life. It translates to the common speech as something like: wistful earnest yearning sadness, but Humans call it simply 'homesickness.' Acting on the advice of one of the teu'tel'kessir I met recently I have decided to travel to the Wood of Sharp Teeth, in old times called the Glimmerwood, where more of my kin may be found.

Addendum

I have ranged through the outskirts of the woods and discovered none of the People, but plenty of orcs! They seem to have a base situated here. I have slain two of their sentries but these are a tough breed and for now I shall try to stay hidden. I have discovered a peaceful glade in which to spend the night and I pen this by Sehanine's silvery light. I feel uncomfortable however, for I have had the feeling of being watched for some time. Lossiri is restless as well and paces to and fro, growling softly. Whenever I try to enter reverie I see predatory shapes in the shadows at the corners of my vision. Occasionally I hear an unnatural, far-off howl. Solonor preserve me if I have strayed into the realm of those of the Black Blood.

Addendum II

It was an unpleasant night but I emerged unscathed and by the light of day I feel somewhat foolish. I have made my way south-east and found a more ancient part of the wood intersected by what I believe to be a tributary of the Chionthar. It appears to be completely absent of orc kind. There is great serenity here, but also great sadness. I have found evidence of logging and blight, and some wreckage from a past encampment. I feel as if much blood has been spilled here at some point in the past. I came upon a great oak where I've decided to stay awhile. Various woodland animals seem drawn to it and they have no fear of me. I was tempted to reach for my bow and take one of the older stags but I had a strong inclination that this would be wrong so I broke my fast on roots and berries (again). This was for the best because I have begun to feel watched once more, but not maliciously as I was last night, more curiously. I believe this to be a good sign.

Addendum III

I have found what I sought.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - VIII

I have spent the last few days at Doron Amar and feel an inner calm I have not felt for some time. Today I shall set out for Gullykin, the village of the halfling folk, who call themselves the Hin, for I have been curious about them for some time and I am told that they aided my kin during the last conflict with the orcs.

I have renewed my vows to Solonor Thelandira as well for I felt myself straying from the path. From now on I shall focus on my archery and avoid closing with my foes. I shall pick my mark carefully and bide my time. An ill-considered action can have a long-reaching impact; the consequences of which, like an arrow in flight, are difficult to arrest once put into motion. How much more so when one is in the thick of battle, so close to one's opponent that one can smell their breath, and operating only on the most basic of instincts? That is not to say I shall neglect my swordplay entirely but I must remember who I am and what I stand for.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - VIII - addendum

Today I was caught unawares by a huge brown bear, much to my shame. I pierced its flesh with an arrow before it closed with me and then Lossiri, leaping to my defense, let out a baleful snarl and unleashed a blast of magical ice upon the creature, slaying it! I praised him and gave him some dried rabbit.

[Hrafnar]

Hammer 1353 - IX

I emerged from reverie this morning full of bleak thoughts; I am convinced that the elven race is doomed, that orcs will one day overrun this fair land we call Faerûn and that Humans are the last hope of preventing this. It is a meandering river of thought that led me to this conclusion, which begins with cold arithmetic.

An elven couple may have two children a century, some may only have one. While these children reach physical maturity in a couple of decades, they do not mature emotionally or pursue a craft until much later. In this time Human dynasties will rise and fall. My human peers tell stories of the exploits of their grandparents who were born at the same time as me. If a Human nation loses the bulk of its armies in a great war, it takes that nation a decade or so to replenish them. By contrast it would take an elven nation more than five. I believe this is why we favour the way of stealth and the bow, or the weave; for every elf slain we must make the Enemy pay with a score of their own for they are as numerous as the stars and we are few, and much closer to our own extinction than we would like to admit.

The orc has all of the advantages of the human - in fact they breed even faster and are stronger. They are more intelligent and organised than other humanoids and they physically outclass goblins. They have language, culture, gods and wield magic. The worst enemy of the orc is not the elf but the orc. Their very nature has prevented them from uniting. The intense competition which has made them so strong also holds them back from the cooperation necessary for true conquest. Yet all it would take is the right circumstances for this to come to pass - if the bonds between human, elf and dwarf falter entirely, if we make war on each other and the delicate systems that keep the realm running break down, if a particularly cunning and charismatic chief were to unite the orc clans - then I believe they would shatter all that is fair and free and usher in a new age of darkness.

I believe that humans are the only race with the numbers, the qualities and the will to prevent this. The human is a changeable thing however - they can be as fair as an elf or as brutal as an orc, as clever as a gnome or as steadfast as a dwarf. They are the true blank canvas of nature, which is why I once again deem the Retreat to be a mistake. The role of elvenkind now must be to guide and tutor the younger races, lest they make the same mistakes as our ancestors and fall to their arrogance.

[Hrafnar]

Alturiak 1353 - I

My lapse into brooding has passed and I emerge into a new month with a healthier outlook. Not wanting to be in one place for too long I have decided to explore the part of the Trade Way commonly called the Lion's Way.

I came upon a gnoll encampment as well as a tribe of ogres. The gnolls are vicious and highly territorial so I contented myself with some small skirmishes on the outskirts of their base. The ogres on the other hand roam apparently at random (there was one standing on the bridge!) but they offer little resistance to a decent marksman. They are very top heavy creatures and are weak at the knees. Other than that I discovered two species of large, predatory insect.

The most fruitful find of my ranging today has been a sacred grove I believe to be in use by a druid sect nearby where I sit now penning this entry. Of all the human deities the House of Nature are the only ones my people hold dear and I should like to meet these druids one day. My next destination will be the famous library-fortress of Candlekeep. Long have I heard talk of this place and I should like to see inside and, if possible, discover more about the history of my own people; for the or'tel'kessir do not like to dwell much on our ancient past and as a result I feel somewhat ignorant. It will be enlightening to gain an outside perspective on this.