Exuro Totus --- Flashpoint, Then a Dying Flame

[ragnarok1983]

Exuro Totus, the self proclaimed "Fire Soul" marched great distances in his search for power. He poured through tomes, serached deep recesses of Faerun, and even hunted for the rarest items in auctions to sate his appetite for this strength of arms.

The great unsatiated appetite for might brought him from the recesses of Calimsham all the way to Baldur's Gate following leads from various sources. This same mission brought Exuro to the worship of Kossuth, the Eternal Flame. He hoped to receive and embrace the flames from which he was born.

His long march led to several near-death battles, one of which cost him his left eye. He bent the wills of gnolls, orcs, and lizardmen to serve as fodder in battles, and used the distraction to outflank opponents so he may engulf his foes in a devouring blaze... uninterrupted. He sought out allies and though his skills in diplomacy were of want, his ambition grew like a great inferno in a dry forest. This very want led him to embrace the shadow druids even though they proved elusive, and Exuro's lack of cooperation did not garner acceptance.

This desire for raw might was all-consuming... *is* all-consuming.

[ragnarok1983]

A QUEST OF DESIRE

For a time, his experience grew and with it, great power. In time he learned to embrace his elemental nature more and more. With enough effort, the fire genasi could turn himself into a great elemental and burst forth with a firey blade and torched rays from his finger tips. This growth allowed him to fell a great many foes, but soon his power plateaued...

A great rage grew inside him --- a tumor of hatred metastasized in his entire being. Those who met him would exclaim that Exuro was emotionally vacant, level, and flat if you had asked them about his personality, but this had finally changed. Exuro himself was prideful of being emotionally divorced, but he snapped. This... this untimely cessation of growth... this stagnation was more than he could bare!

A sort of desperation set in. The same disparity you would find in a starving man running short of food and living on mere crumbs. What a man is capable of in such times! Engulfed in rage-fueled flames his cinder lips cried out to the heavens in a crackling roar "What must I do!? What must I acquire, what deeds done, what deals must be made so that I may not perish as a lowly man, but ascend to greatness!? TELL ME!!!"

What he did not know... was that someone heard his cries...

[ragnarok1983]

THE FORGING OF A DEAL

Many days passed before the one who heard his cries found Exuro again. After a lengthy battle amongst wyverns and efreeti, a well-dressed and handsome man casually approached Exuro as if approaching a dear and long lost friend.

"My good man, my good man! A word if I may." the man nearly shouted as he approached from a distance.

"What would you have of me, human?" replied Exuro in his typical monotone voice.

The man returned with a broad and genuine smile "Well my good man, word has come to me of a certain plight that you are in. And I am not one to watch a fellow go through life in such a state! I am, after all, a caring man who is simply looking to improve himself by helping others."

Exuro snapped back slightly, though maintaining his expressionless face and flat speech, "I am not here to be mocked by such a being. Be gone. I have no time for such a gibberling."

"Come come now sir, I mean no harm. In fact, you may find my services most helpful! Here, here, my good man, let me show you what I speak of." With that, the man began to rummage through his bag, pulling out all manner of exotic items, many small weapons, numerous scrolls, wands, trinkets, jewelry... some glowing, some runed, come of definitively fine quality. "Now good sir, please have a look. See if anything perks your interest at the very least. And do not worry about price of course! I guarantee if you find something that suites your taste I will give you a price that will satisfy you even more!"

The fire genasi rummages through some of the items haphazardly, but was soon quite perturbed as it appeared every item the man carried was a superior version of something Exuro had in his possession. A fine small shield, rings that granted greater mental capacity, a cloak made of the finest elven silk and woven mithril. Exuro was dumbfounded as to how this seemingly weak human came into possesion of such fine wares. "I would... have them all!" he exclaimed.

"That is good to hear! --- Well sir, I would not be much of a merchant if I did not ask a fair price... 75,000 gold pieces would buy the lot sir... but since I admire your honesty and drive, I shall part with them for a mere 70,000 pieces." While the price was indeed fair, and even low for the lot, Exuro could not cope with it. Here at his finger tips lied many of the items he desired to improve himself, to grow in power, yet the genasi had barely 15,000 sovereigns to his name.

"I would have them all... but I... do not have the gold you seek. Fair price or not, I simply do not have such a ransom." Exuro explained in a straight manner.

The man simply returned a broad smile, "Well my good honest fellow, I have great news! I am... a flexible man, a man willing to make a deal and a man willing to go out on a limb for such an honest gentleman. I tell you this: If you would give me the 15,000 and you should offer certain sentrying services to my person ---nothing not in writting mind you and nothing that means taking an innocent life--- I shall offer these goods to you. I would require you to boost my own protection against the knaves and beasts that would seek to take my goods or life by force. I shall promise you that I would require no more than a single month of your physical presence. In my estimation, it is still a worthy deal and at the end of your contract, the debt shall be considered paid. A mutually beneficial barter if I do say so myself."

Exuro watches the smiling man write up the short contract as he mulls the idea over in his mind. The contract is handed to him and as he reads it over he sees quite clearly that the man wrote just what he said. Exuro looks up slowly and says to the man flatly, "You shall have my services then, human. I cannot deny that this deal is sound as it would take me a year or more to earn such vast amounts of gold otherwise."

"Then it is a deal, sir! If you could simply sign here... and date it there... and I shall sign below here... aaaaand.... that is it sir! And here is your payment, full and in advance." With that, the man pushed the pile of enchanted gear and extended his hand to shake on the deal... before he noticed Exuro's fire-laden hands resulting in a surprisingly quick withdrawal of the gesture.

[ragnarok1983]

Three weeks have passed since the contract was signed...