Akkarin Algondar

[Karris]

First Name: Akkarin
Last Name: Algondar

Appearance: Tall and thin, at first glance he looks frail, but at a second look it's evident that he has some hidden strength in him.
Race: Human, with a touch of an unknown planar outsider.
Age: 29
Height 1.89m
Weight: 71 kg
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Raven-black
Facial Hair Style: Usually shaved, although in periods of travel and deep study he lets a full beard grow.

Strength: Below Average.
Dexterity: Above Average.
Constitution: Exceptional.
Intelligence: Unique.
Wisdom: Above Average.
Charisma: Average.

Personality Profile: Serene and well-spoken, quiet and contemplating. Methodical and precise, he respects people with a quick mind and feels pity for those who cannot think for themselves. Behind his pale, blue eyes lies a razor-sharp mind with a dry and sarcastic wit.
General Health: Due to his exposure to a hard life on the road, he has grown tough and thus he rarely, if ever get sick.
Deity: Jergal, Mystra, Oghma, Azuth.
Initial Alignment: Chaotic Good
Profession: Scholar. Moonlights as a mage hunter, tracking down and destroying blood mages.
Base Class & Proposed Development: Wizard 5/Blood Mage 10/Arcane Scholar 7/Archmage 8
Habits/Hobbies: Research into scientific theory, development of new magic.
Languages: Common, Undercommon, Infernal, Abyssal, Elven, Orcish, Netherese, Draconic, Arcane, Mulhorand.
Weapon of Choice: Uses a staff for walking support, and a ritual dagger for when the blood news to flow.

Background:
Growing up as the son and assistant to a Groundskeeper in the Dalelands, Akkarin spent his early childhood attending sermons and burials within the church. A tough, but honest life, Akkarin performed his duties to the letter. As he grew though, it quickly became evident that he was destined to walk a different path than his father. Through his home-schooling, Akkarin had always been quick of wit and and thus a quick learner. With a keen mind and a curious soul, Akkarin came upon many different things within the belongings to the dead, and it was not long before he happened a spellbook belonging to an old Hedge Wizard of the city that had died of natural courses.

His curiosity getting the better of him, he 'borrowed' the book and found that he had indeed a talent, easily deciphering the strange language in the spellbook. Within weeks he had begun dabbling in magic after the sun had gone down, using what spare time he had to uncover the mysteries of the arcane.

His father was not a stupid man, however, and he was not fooled as the young man's work ethic began to wane slightly, due to weariness - nor was he a malicious man. In his heart, he always knew that the young Akkarin would never be content with the life of a Graveyard Keeper. He confronted his son about the situation, and when looking into the eyes of his father, Akkarin could not lie. At first his father felt somewhat betrayed that Akkarin had stolen from the dead and practiced simple magic without supervision, but after a few days of fasting as punishment, the spellbook returned and a rather sour young man, he began to see what needed to happen.

Contacting an old friend who happened to be a mage, his father set up a meeting for the young boy to become an apprentice, using his keen intellect as a selling point. This was when Akkarin's destiny truly began to unfold itself, betrayed by his darker side. The fateful night that the father told his son of his decision, their little home was assaulted by unknown assailants, brutally murdering father, mother and son for seemingly no reason.

Whatever dark entity existing in his blood, however, brought the young man back to life, only this time changed, somehow. Crossing back from the brink of true death, Akkarin quickly discovered that what he knew of magic had somehow changed, and that instead of using traditional methods, he could instead channel one of the most ancient and powerful, but also vividly dangerous forms of magic - Blood Magic. This was the 'gift' of his ancestry - a blessing and a curse, a powerful weapon to use to sow chaos and destruction throughout the realms. At least, that was the intention of whatever dark entity had granted him this power.

Alone in the world, the young man buried his parents, and secretly harbored a desire for revenge as his life had been torn away from him. He sought out the mage his father had spoken of, and went into tutelage for many years. Finishing his apprenticeship, he had grown into a capable mage, utilizing his magic in new and innovative ways. His master, having never truly heard of blood magic, never really knew the secret to the powerful magic of his apprentice.

As the young mage took his first steps into adult life, he set out with the plan to use his magic to stop senseless evil, such as that which had taken his parents from him. Unbeknownst to him, everything that had happened had been set in motion by his ancestry - granting the power of blood in the hopes that it would lead him down a path of corruption and evil. Akkarin's ethics and morals was stronger than that though, and instead of misusing his magic, he became an accomplished wizard, who travelled amongst many different groups of adventurers, helping and solving problems wherever they went.

One turning point was when they were hunting a particularly malicious sorcerer - Akkarin could sense his power, and it quickly became evident that this man also wielded the power of blood. As they defeated him, he took control of his blood, and saw his memories through the imprints in his flesh. Seeing the evil and corruption, the senseless violence, the sacrifice, Akkarin was horrified. Through his own study he had thought Blood Magic as a noble art, one of the primal and original forms of magic that could serve to reach goals normal magic could never achieve. But as with any powerful weapon, in the wrong hands it could be devastating.

Having learned of the corruption and easy power for which his art could be misused, Akkarin set out in life to find others who had taken the low road - he honed his skills of divination to locate any manipulation of blood he may found himself in the vicinity. As a pracitioner of blood magic himself, this gave him a unique advantage over the more traditional mage-hunters.

Now firmly walking a different path than what had been intended for him when he was granted the power of blood, it remains to be seen whether or not his noble intentions shall remain in place. For they do say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions...

Goals:
- He desires revenge for those who murdered his parents. At the current time he is without a clue as to their identities other than a hazy memory.
- Become awowed within Candlekeep, and seek their knowledge on Blood Magic. If non-existing, he will write his own experiences down and contribute it to the Great Library, that others after his death may continue his fight to destroy those who misuse it.
- Find others who share his vision.

Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
- The outsider that he is descended from remains unknown, other than it is most likely a being of raw evil - more in line with the PnP Blood Magus, Akkarin was brought back from death by this creature, and gave him the power of blood magic. He walks a path of good, though - will it be satisfied?
- He can sense other users of blood magic, but they can most likely also sense him.
- Used to keep a journal on his discoveries and findings within the field of blood magic before he learned of the percieved danger. This was stolen, though. Will it catch up to him?

Note: I am posting this publically so people (that means you) might get to understand the character a bit better. Please do not metagame! Also subconsciously. We all know it happens. I will only very rarely, if ever, actually use visible blood magic, and never in public, so please don't claim to have seen it unless you've spoken with me first. I am not averse to having a discovery plotline, but gods know I want it to be deeper than 'lol I epic paladin wtfpwned noob!'

[DM_Absolution]

Reviewed, XP awarded.