Varil

[Kerien]

Spellsword:

First Name: Varil
Last Name: Rau

Appearance:
Average build, usually seen dressed into a mithral cahinshirt with a greatsword strapped on his back. Under his chainshirt you can see a red robe.
Race: Human
Age: Varil seems to be in his early thirties
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Eyes: Deep green eyes
Hair: Blond
Facial Hair Style: Clean shaven.

Personality Profile: Generally friendly, helps other people when it helps him. Offer him enough money and he can get the job done.
General Health: Healthy, extensive training and traveling helps him keep up his shape.
Deity: Shaundakul, though not really religious, sometimes Varil may spend a word to his Deity.
Initial Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Profession: Sell-sword
Base Class & Proposed Development: Warrior/Sorceress -> EK & arcane scholar
Habits/Hobbies: When angry or frustrated, known to dwelve into a dungeon or deep a forest to release his powers safely and vent it out. Other hobbies include fishing, looking for wealth, adventures, anything that might have riches in it.
Languages: Common
Weapon of Choice: Greatsword, even since first joining the militia, the greatswords have had Varil's attention.

Background:
Varil was born into a good family as the only child. His father Jack and mother Eva owned a piece of land and were simple farmers in Cormyr, living a simple life. Things were mostly quiet and Varil's childhood was just as normal as it can get. He was quick to make friends and was social and friendly to everyone around him even as there was some talk about his grandmother living in seclusion few miles away, who didn't have an husband - and yet had given birth to his mother. The talks were soon forgotten as Varil's grandmother died though from old age. Nothing was out of ordinary in his life, and as a child he thought he'd end up just as his father - living simple life and marrying a beautiful wife..

When Varil was around 13, came the local militia riding through the field to the house. Pike's and armor's gleaming in the sun on horseback. Jack, who had just arrived from the fields sent Varil inside and headed out to meet the captain of the guard, wielding a huge sword on his back.

The bandits had never shown themself to Jack, or his family and the soldiers soon moved on.

After that, Varil decided that's what he wants to do. To be a knight in a shining armor. Varils father, Jack didn't like this - and he tried to talk Varil out of it. However, by the age of 16 Jack gave Varil permission to head out to the garrison nearby.

The first week was easy. It was still a week until the next group of recruits training would start. Varil had already befriended most of the staff in the fort in that time, and once the real training started Varils life looked to go by all his plans.

By the end of the month, Varil was starting to wonder if this was really his thing. Varil and his squad was on a forced march, wearing chain-mail and greatsword strapped on his back, that had seen so fancy when he first saw them, now it was cumbersome, heavy and hot in the summer sun. It had been almost a day since they had last slept, and the whole day had been full of physical exercise. Varil was on the edge of his physical stamina.

It took seconds for Varil to fall asleep after hitting the bedroll.
Varil woke up with someone on his shoulders - still half asleep and tired - Varil said something.

Next thing, his sergeant was in fire and screaming for his life. Scared Varil tried to put out the fire with a blanket, and managed in it. Taking off the blanket the sergeants face was badly burned. It took only moments for everyone to realize what had happened. And after few moments Varil found out to be questioned by the captain.

"Who thought you spells" Asked the captain.
"No-one, sir." Answered Varil.
"Why are you lying to me?" The captain replied.
"I am not, sir! I can barely read, much less know anything about magic! It wasn't me" Varil tried to explain.
The captain rummaged his pocket, and gave Varil a sheet of paper. "Read this" he said.
Varil picked up the scroll, first the letters seemed to swirl a bit, but somehow he managed to read the first word, and after that it was easy - like he had done it his whole life. Varil read the paper to the captain. Next thing a burst of fire erupted from him, setting the whole tent in fire. The captain and Varil both bolted out the tent. Captain, Varil and nearby soldiers screaming. Captain from pain, Varil from shock, and the soldiers "fire!".

Everyone else was running towards the burning tent, carrying buckets of water. Varil ran the other way.

The following years, Varil was traveling alone. Mainly camping outside and trying to fish and hunt. Not daring to go near settlements for the fear he might cause destruction again. With nightmares from his sergeants burned face reminding him almost every night, he didn't dare to return home. As the time passed, Varil realized he has some innate power he couldn't understand. When it was dark, he could call forth light, just as he had heard wizards do. But wizards spend their whole life's studying spells, he didn't.

Varil was walking next to a small river in the Kingswood, when he was suddenly jumped upon. By reflex, Varil pulled out his sword and said a word. Once again- flames erupted.

The man who jumped Varil, didn't seem to be touched by the flames at all, and he easily evaded Varil's blade. Feint, kick to Varils guts, and suddenly Varil was on his back on the sand, with the attacker's blade on his throat. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" asked the attacker.
"No-one, im just passing by" Varil tried to explain.
"Right. And im the Elminster himself." Said the attacker.
Varil was silent for a moment. He had heard stories of the man. Yet, this one was way too young. And with a blade on his neck.
"You cant be! But why you didn't get burn? And who are you really?"

The attacker looked around, seeming to be looking for some danger, when nothing seemed to be around, he pulled up and gave his hand to Varil. "Name is Kerien Naver. And who I am is no business of yours." The attacker said. "As for that puny spell you said, even without this necklace i doubt it would have been able to pass my wards."

"Now, explain me what you are doing in here, or I will kill you." Kerien said in a calm voice.
Varil, looking around and finding no other escape, told the truth.

"Oh, I see.. So, you are a sorcerer. And of the worst kind. One who has no control over his power. So, I think your parents, or grandparents have some explaining to do." Kerien said.

Varil explained, the best he could about his grandmother, and tried to convince that he was just a normal man, and would soon be on his way.

"Right, until what? You set the whole forest on fire and burn my hut in the process, or even worse, get some would be adventurers here to search for the rampaging sorcerer? Most people cant tell the difference between a wizard and a sorcerer and i don't want anyone in here. I will teach you some control for your power." Kerien said.

"You what? Why?" asked Varil.

"Are you listening? I just stated why. And who knows, you might be of some use for me. Now pick up your things and follow me. My cabin ain't far away" said Kerien

The best part of that year, Kerien thought Varil how to concentrate and focus his magic. Mornings were set for physical training. Kerien was surprisingly good with his blade for a wizard. The day's were full of concentration training, mainly reading scrolls of power. Kerien told Varil that he cannot teach him any spells, they would come by them-self when they would, he did however teach several spells, and how to identify and counter them. By sunset, the pair headed out for some fishing.

After some time, Varil learned a lot about this new friend. He had some family, a sister and a brother around Baldurs Gate. Equipment hidden in multiple stashes around the forest, and a kings ransom of gold somewhere. Kerien never explained why he had attacked him, and who he was escaping from. When Varil tried to ask about Kerien just told him to stay low, and should he notice someone moving in the area, come to him at once and not do anything rash.

At the edge of spring, Varil woke up at his small hut they had build together, a bit over a mile from Kerien's cabin. There was a strange acid smell in the air. Walking outside, Varil thought he heard something from the direction of Kerien's cabin. Varil started running.

The view was outlandish.

Ground was covered by craters, and blood was everywhere. Several bodies lay around, some cut, some burned, pierced, exploded..and in the middle of them all, was Kerien's body.

Varil looked around, everything seemed quiet now. What ever had survived this ordeal had already gone. Varil realized how stupid he had been, running into the open. What ever had done this would make short work of him. Varil tried to find out what had happened, but he was unable to figure much. All the attackers were humans, dark clothing of cloth or leather and no markings at all.

Varil buried his friend, and left the others for the wildlife.

Whispering a prayer, Varil set our for the closest of the equipment stashes and geared up. Most of these items had seen use by Kerien when he had been adventuring. Varil took as much as he could carry, and sealed the cave again.

Now, not afraid anymore of hurting other people, and scared on what ever had happened to his friend, Varil traveled fast to the south. He stopped only at night to sleep. Getting close to home, he had not seen since almost a 8 years ago, he headed up the hill.

The house was empty, and two graves were near the building. Varil spend the night, crying for the first time since childhood.

The morning, Varil headed towards east. Baldurs gate is just as good as any other. Besides, he should bring the bad news to Kerien's family.

Goals:
Meet the rest of the Navers and bring on the bad news.
Explore and gain wealth, good as any goal. Varil is a bit of wanderer with no way of returning to his old simple life.
Gain better control and understanding of his power. (Learn more and maybe join the Scholars in Candlekeep)

Possible Plot-Hook Ideas and Misc Facts:
Something killed Kerien, and they might have seen Varil around. Did they find out what they were looking at Kerien's hut? Who were they?
Kierran Naver is going to be really pissed to learn his brother is dead.
Varil read an old post about an auction selling a Eldricht Knight chainshirt, and Varil wants it or one like it.
Varil met a wizard of kandlekeep on the fields of the dead while exploring the area, and heard that the candlekeep scholars might have som use for one with his skillset.
((Varil is angry that he picked up the acid reserve feat instead the fire one, since the fire would have been so much better for this character sheet/bio))