A Shimmering Start

Growning up he was a trickster. He was always playing pranks on his friends, family, and occasionaly the random stranger. Bubbly as a youth, his magical aptitude was off the charts. As much as they tried to teach him physical magic, his interest lay in illusions. Even so when he created an illusion you could not tell the difference between illusion and real. The trueness of that statement was made true one day visiting with a neighbor when a tree fell on their home. Being that the tree was also a home, his people did not want to destroy it to move it. Standing there with all his friends the magic swirled around him, and up the house lifted. Up up up, until suddenly it was standing aright again, and down he slumped. When the illusion faded the the damage to his friends house was still there, but the tree was renewed. Upright and healthy with the other home still fine. It was when the change really began however. His people began to fear him, for his magic was just too strong. Illusion real as life? They feared him now, and began to talk in hushed whispers when he was around. It was then that he began to disguise himself with magic. He was someone else every day. It brought new entertainment, and they would never know if it was him or their neighbor... All of that was shattered on one horrible afternoon. They were surface dwelling gnome, but they did stay near the mountains and the caves their cousins preferred, and that was when they came. A group of Drow from their halls of magic. They would looking for slaves, and with them they brought Illithid's to bend the minds of their magical slaves. Seeing them from a distance he warned his friends but it was not enough. As powerful as some of their community the Drow were stronger still. Only he escaped, his illusions too perfect to break. Yet, for days he followed them causing problems and working at saving his friends. One by one, he hunted the Drow and rescued his friends striking when the drow slept, or when they separated. Some were lost along the way, but eventually he was able to save all that were taken. Never again, he told himself. It was then his journey truly began.