Last Name: De'annar
Appearance:
Valen stands an inch above the average human, though with his physical build he appears slightly fragile. Though despite his fragile appearance he is quite resilient and tough. His hair is always unkempt and appears rather bushy and chaotic. He has a very wild look to him, as his gaze switches direction quite often, as if he is anticipating someone to ambush him at any moment. His dark blue eyes seem to lack focus, and combined with his body language it makes him appear very unpredictable.
As a spellcaster Valen is dressed in what he calls a battle robe, being far more fitting in size than the typical wizards robe. His robe is also covered in strange Draconic markings.
Race: Human
Age: Mid twenties
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Eyes: Dark blue
Hair: Mid lenght, dark brown hair.
Facial Hair Style: None
Personality Profile:
Valen is a very chaotic person, relying on his instincts and gut feeling. He has a tendency to let his feelings get the best of him, especially in combat. And when such happens he comes across as a wildly chaotic, and dangerous person. He shows no care for those around him, and only focuses on dealing with the threat ahead.
Due to his past, he is incredibly wary, to the point where it borders of paranoia. And it is due to this that when he is combat he unleashes all his spells at full force, not stopping before every threat is gone. He is a survivalist and believes that as long as a person has willpower they can accomplish anything, whether they are talented in something or not. Viewing those who does not stand up for themselves or their cause to be weak.
He is quick to judge on situations and acts almost immediately according to what his instincts tell him. And because of this he has done deeds that can almost be considered evil by many. Very rarely does he appear relaxed, as it would take tremendous circumstances for him to feel safe. Because of this, other spellcasters can sense small sparks off magic coming off him quite often. To them it might look as he is about to cast a spell all the time.
When in rare cases he is relaxed, he appears as a kind but very wary person.
General Health:
Physical wise Valen is in excellent condition, as mentioned he is quite resilient despite his fragile appearance. Though he can appear sleep deprived often with heavy rings under his eyes.
Deity: None
Initial Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (Borders on Evil)
Profession: Adventurer and Mercenary for hire on occation
Base Class & Proposed Development: Sorcerer, Frost mage
Habits/Hobbies: Furthering his studies into runes and cursed marks.
Languages: Common, Elven, Draconic
Weapon of Choice: He relies solely on his spellcasting abilities.
Background:
Valen comes from a small village north of Icewind Dale. He is the youngest of 4 siblings. Despite growing up in poor conditions, his father being a blacksmith and his mother a servant to a local family. Valen felt he had everything he needed, food on the table and clothes to wear. Three of his brothers joined the militia, one of them went a bit further and travelled to Icewind dale and joined a mercenary group there. His older sister, who was only a few years older than him, joined the local church dedicated to Mystra. She was considered the prodigy of the family, having strong opinions and beliefs and clear goals in her life. And later it proved to be favored by her goddess aswell.
His mother and father were workers, they took pride in their job and did it to the best of their abilities. Valen, being neither very strong nor talented in anything became very shy and depressed in his teens as he did not feel he had any natural talent in anything. And feeling pretty much useless, as he had tried both blacksmithing and even being a servant assistant to his mother. Varkan, his father told him that everyone has a talent, but it just takes longer for it to emerge in some. And in his words "It is usually in those that the talent is the strongest".
When Valen reached his late teens, and had switched between assisting his father at the smithy and helping his mother whenever needed. He heard the news of his oldest brothers disappearance. He had apparently hired himself out as a escort to a wealthy family in Icewind Dale. And apparently the caravan had been attacked by raiders, some had survived while most had been killed. Valens brother had simply vanished, no corpse had been found. But some of the other guards had seen him attacking one of the raiders that had attacked them.
A year later his older sister had become a Priestess in the service of Mystra, and was highly recognized in the village as a talented cleric. Easily mastering every spell she was granted and excelling in her other duties. And it was because of this that one day as she was eating dinner with her whole family, excluding her oldest brother who was missing. That she spotted something in Valen. During the dinner, he had been mocked by his brothers and other family members for his difficulty in finding his trade in life. That his Sister (Arianna) saw something rising in Valen, she could feel energy radiating from his body. And with every minute the mocking got worse it kept on increasing to the point where she feared he would unleash something that could seriously do harm. To stop this from happening she finished eating quickly and took her brother for a walk. Not wanting to tell her brother of what she had felt, she instead offered him a place at the temple. As an assistant to the clerics, it was a respectable position with decent pay. And it also let her keep an eye on him, and see where it would end up.
Two years later, Valen had just finished up cleaning the temple after a ceremony. When a strange cloaked figure entered the temple to pray. Thinking nothing of it, Valen merely continued in his duties, ignoring the stranger. After what appeared to be a rather long prayer the stranger walked up next to Valen and said in a calm and relaxed voice.
"Take this, as a gift from me to you."
The stranger touched the side of his neck, and suddenly Valen fell to his knees in pain. His neck was sizzling, and he could smell his own flesh having been scorched. Soon after he passed out from the pain.
Two days later he awoke in his bed at the temple, with a novice sitting next to him. His first reaction was to touch the branded area with his hand, but oddly he did not feel any scarring.
" Your sister healed your wound, and treated it before it got infected. But.....we are still researching the mark "
Before Valen had a chance to go and have a look at the mark in a mirror, he suddenly felt his emotions getting the better of him. All his frustration he had felt over the years came bubbling to the surface, memories that hat plagued him flooded his mind to the point where he could not even her the novice talking to him, attempting to soothe him.And then suddenly his emotions reached a climax and unleashed itself, manifesting as a wave of fire that centered around Valen and extended to every corner of the room. Followed by an explosion as the spell had finished spreading its wings. The last thing he saw before he passed out from all the spell that drained him completely was the novice as she was incinirated.
Some time afterwards Valen woke up again in the same room, but this time it looked heavily damaged. Even the brick walls had been burned and some had simply turned to dust from the heat. His sister was sitting next to him now, a sad and compassionate look on her face.
"I am sorry Valen, but she did not make it. I was too late in recognizing the mark. But don't worry, by the help of a powerful cleric from Icewind dale. We dispelled the mark"
Valen lay there still, not finding the right words to hand back."I have been talking to a mage from Icewind dale, who is willing to take you in. And help you control your powers"
Valen stood up from the bed, not uttering a word. Not even letting out a groan as his legs ached from having collapsed to the floor when the spell was cast. He gave his sister a nod and proceeded to put on his clothes and head out. Saying he needed to take a walk to collect his thoughts. He knew the second he headed out there door, that this was the last time he would see his family in a long time.Over the course of the last few years, Valen has spent them travelling the road. Learning to control his powers to some degree, though the cursed mark is dispelled. His emotions still run rampant and takes control of him sometimes. Offering his services as a mercenary to the wealthy or joining other mercenary groups and assist them in any job they take.
He has also studied Draconic, to fully learn and understand the meaning behind his now dispelled (dormant) mark. But all his has managed to learn is that it translates to "Chaos".
The only god he believes cares about mortals is Mystra, but considering his past history. She does not want him in her flock.
Goals: Advance his powers, and learning the truth about his mark. Returning to his family when he feels he has done something that will allow his conscience to do so. Avenge the death of the novice by finding the stranger that branded him that night.
Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
- Make use of the Wizard that branded him (Encounter him again, leave some clues about his whereabouts. His history etc)
- News regarding the fate of his oldest brother? (Did he die? Did he join the raiders perhaps? or...)
- Anything family related, lots of information to take from.
Valen can go several ways when it comes to alignment, as it is now. He is Chaotic Neutral but has done things that borders on Evil. He can either be redeemed or turn completely chaotic.