There are many great and noble houses of Serin. Some bloodlines end,
while others hold strong throughout many generations. One of the old,
noble, elven houses is that of Windbreeze. Heavily tied to the city of
Valour and the Knights of Valour, the Windbreeze line has persisted through
many centuries. It has persisted through great turmoil and calamity by
relying on one of the cornerstone traits of a Windbreeze: patience. While
the lesser races are like a spark, lasting briefly and flaring brightly, the
elves of the Windbreeze line are more akin to a perpetual flame. Content
for many centuries to carry about their business, watching the realms from
afar, there will every so often be one of their ilk that are sent forth into
the world - a bright flame in the darkness.
For some reason no Windbreeze has ever had a daughter. Each known
Windbreeze has only produced one son. It is unknown to outsiders if this is
intentional or controllable. Most men of the household have pursued mastery
of the Art. Many have been exceptionally skilled illusionists. Kalest is
the only Windbreeze that is known to have taken a different path - that of
the paladin, after hearing the call of Aberdour at a young age. The
Windbreeze men are known to be trustworthy, loyal, brave, intelligent,
dashingly handsome, and quite charming.
Records would show that the lineage of the Windbreeze line is as follows:
Kalist Windbreeze, Knight of Valour (squire of Sir Yilhet) - Deceased
Koril Windbreeze, Executor of Valour - Deceased
Kalist Windbreeze II, Citizen of Valour - Deceased
Koril Windbreeze II, Citizen of Valour - Deceased
Kalest Windbreeze, Knight of Valour - Alive, retired, Noble of Valour
Kalist Windbreeze III, Citizen of Valour - Deceased
Kali Windbreeze, Citizen of Valour - Alive and well
Kalist Windbreeze, the First
Written records begin with Kalist Windbreeze, the first. Little is
written about his family or upbringing, but it is known, however, that he
was raised in Valour and trained in the ways of magic. As most Valourians,
he idolized the Knights of Valour, galloping about on their pristine mounts,
with shining armor, waving pennants, and flocks of admirers. When he was
only a young mage, he sent forth a scroll, asking to be given a chance to
show his worth as a squire.
After much waiting and many vicious fights as a fledgling mageling, Sir
Yilhet took him on as a squire. Kalist advanced in his craft and learned a
great deal from Sir Yilhet in terms of the lay of the land and battle
tactics. He also advanced with, and fought alongside, Phostan Mistupsio.
As fellow Knights of Valour they were a force to be reckoned with. Between
Phostans tenacity and Kalists powerful magic, foes fell before them by the
dozens.
Kalist served formidably and honourably as a Knight of Valour. After
joining, he fought viciously nearly every day of his life. Despite living
such a dangerous life, he eventually fell in love with a beautiful elven
illusionist named Aelin. Eventually she became with child. Upon learning
this, Kalist immediately stepped down from his position as a Knight of
Valour. He could not reconcile going off to battle every day with the
possibility of leaving his child without a father.
Kalist and Aelin wed and settled in Valour, using their combined savings to
purchase a small, comfortable home in a respectable district. The birth of
their son, Koril, was one of the happiest days of their lives. Kalist had
found such love and fulfillment that he did not regret his decision to step
down from the Knights of Valour a single bit. At least, that is what he
told people.
Koril Windbreeze, the First
It was quite apparent that Koril was naturally gifted in the Art from a
young age. He began casting minor cantrips around the same time he started
to speak. Under the tutelage of his two loving parents, he quickly
accelerated in his studies. His magical abilities far outstripped those of
the other children his age, and many of those quite a bit older. From the
time he was a young boy, all he could think of was living up to the high
standard set by his father - joining the Knights of Valour and riding into
fierce battle on the back of a gleaming stallion.
Kalist and Aelin never pushed young Koril toward battle. Through their love
and support they tried to empower him and challenge him so that he might
choose his own path, and find fulfillment as they had. It was their hope
that he would use his magical talents for goodly, peaceful purposes. They
hoped he would find love, a safe vocation, and start a family of his own.
They did not know, however, how it felt to grow up living in the shadow of
one's famous father.
Driven by a desire to make his father proud and create a legacy of his own,
he sent forth a scroll to the Knights of Valour when he was but a young man,
as his father had. Given his family name and his father's service, Koril
was immediately accepted as a squire. He quickly advanced in his guild and
impressed the other Knights with his mastery of the Art, his cunning, and
his resilience. Once he was accepted as a Knight of Valour, he drove
himself even harder.
Foes fell before Koril by the dozens. His mastery of the Art was
unparalleled and he could use it equally effectively either to overwhelm a
foe or escape from certain doom. He quickly climbed the ranks, reaching the
rank of Executor and far outstripping the accomplishments of his famous
father. His ascension ushered in a time of peace and prosperity for Valour.
Under his guidance, the Knights of Valour grew strong and were able to keep
the forces of darkness at bay. During this period of calm, Koril fell in
love with a fellow Knight - an elven healer named Anri.
Koril and Anri wed, and she became with child. Rather than follow the path
of his father, and retire to a quiet life, Koril and Anri decided to soldier
on as Knights of Valour. Together, Kalist, Aelin, Koril, and Anri lived in
the constantly expanding Windbreeze Manor in Valour. Anri gave birth to a
healthy boy, and she and Koril decided to name him Kalist II, out of respect
for Koril's father. For a time, all was well. Valour prospered, the
Knights of Valour flourished, and Koril and Anri continued their duties
whilst Kalist and Aelin would spend the days watching and teaching young
Kalist II. They could not have known what was to come.
The great pendulum of Serin was about to swing. While the Valourians were
enjoying the peace, the dark army was silently growing in strength. The
night of Kalist II's second birthday was particularly cold, dark, and
ominous. Clouds obscured the moonlight and the shadows were deep and dark.
Dark, silent forms slipped past the gate guards and made their way not
toward the castle, but rather toward Windbreeze Manor. They began their
overwhelming assault in silence. As they entered the grounds of the manor,
silent wards triggered and alerted Koril, Anri, Kalist, and Aelin to the
intrusion. Immediately they assembled and, through use of magic, sent word
to the Knights of Valour - summoning them to fend off the attack.
The Legion swarmed the manor, outnumbering each elf three to one. Brilliant
flashes of colour broke the darkness as battle broke out. In the first
volley of magic, no fewer than five Legion ended up laying sprawled,
lifeless on the ground. The numbers were too many, however, and they
advanced steadily. All four elves fought brilliantly, using their mastery
of the Art, divine healing, and various magical items to full effect. They
simply could not hold out against the vast number of Legion, however, and
were eventually overwhelmed.
They made their final stand outside the bedroom of Kalist II. As his loved
ones fell around him, Koril limped into the chamber, covered with blood and
gravely wounded. Never had he felt such despair and utter helplessness. As
he heard his father's agonized death cry, Koril looked his son in the eye
and used the very last of his energy to open a gate beside his son. He told
Kalist II to enter the gate, and when he saw his son standing motionless, he
screamed at him to obey. Kalist II stepped through the gate only a breath
before a spear pierced Koril's back and burst out through his chest.
The Knights of Valour finally arrived at the manor and drove off the Legion,
but it was far too late. The price had been paid and the day had been lost.
The gate that Koril opened took his son to the heart of the castle in
Valour, the safest place he could think of in that last, desperate moment.
He was quickly found by attendants but no amount of soothing could calm the
child. Hysterical with despair, he wept for many hours until he collapsed
from exhaustion.
Thus ended one of the darkest days of Valour's history, and an era of peace
and prosperity with it.
Kalist II
Kalist II was distraught over the death of his entire family, as can be
imagined. He was never the same after that fateful night. Night terrors
were frequent for the poor elf, and he was wrought with melancholy and
carried the weight of despair upon his small shoulders. He was the head of
the household, though he was naught but a boy. Without his family to raise
him, he was left to the care of attendants, tutors, and advisers. Through
their caring, attentiveness, and wisdom, the young elf was well nurtured.
Unlike his father and grandfather, he did not pursue mastery of the Arcane.
At a very young age he was simply uninterested. Overcome daily with
despair, he could not muster the motivation to be attentive to his studies,
despite having the best mages at his disposal to teach him. As he grew
older, he came to the belief that it was his family's mastery of the Art
that led to their downfall. Their abilities and battle prowess had led to
overconfidence. He would not follow this path or allow it to happen again.
Rather than focus upon the Art or swordcraft, he sought to increase the
wealth, standing, power, and fortifications of his household.
Having made this decision at a relatively young age allowed him to focus his
studies on those subjects he felt would help him in his goal - history,
economics, politics, networking and court etiquette. Gifted with the
stunningly good looks and charm of his forefathers, he was very popular at
court. His razor sharp mind and natural charisma served him well in his
endeavours. By the time he had reached only his thirtieth birthday, he had
increased the wealth, influence, and prestige of his house nearly five-fold.
Alas, the banquets, the courting, and dazzling smile were all a facade. The
deep pit of despair that had been his constant companion since a young age
lay scant inches below the surface of his warm and welcoming exterior.
Though he was popular with many ladies of the court, Kalist II was focused
on the standing of his house, and thus was most interested in marrying a
woman from a house of equal or higher standing. To this end, he wooed and
wed Elaewyn Al'Naeth, a fair elven maiden of a powerful house. Together
they had one son, Koril II. Unfortunately the love of his wife and son were
unable to overcome the black pit of despair that was forged in Kalist II's
childhood. Though he was a supportive and attentive father and husband, it
was clear that he was unable to reciprocate the warmth and love that they
showed him.
Koril II
Growing up with a distant and unloving father is difficult for a young
boy. While his father was physically present, and never abusive, Koril II
was bereft of the close, loving relationship that is so often seen between
father and son. Elaewyn was a wonderful mother, however, and she nurtured
and cared for her son without reservation. Koril II thus grew up loving his
mother and resenting his father. He was tutored in the subjects his father
deemed important: history, economics, politics, networking, and etiquette.
He was groomed from a young age to take over as the head of the house one
day in the far distant future.
Possibly out of the resentment for his father, Koril II was not overly
interested in his dictated path in life. He would attend his lessons, and
please his tutors and his parents, but he would slip out of the manor and
Valour at every opportunity - seeking thrills and visceral pleasures. Koril
II was well known amongst the taverns throughout the realm far and wide. If
he were not to be found in Valour proper, he could be found easily roaming
the taverns in Seringale.
He could not keep such proclivities a secret from his father, however, and
the rift between them only grew over time. Kalist II saw his son squander
the opportunities afforded to him by his noble house. He could forgive his
son if it was merely coin that was lost in pursuit of hedonistic pleasures,
but what really aggravated him was the harm his son was causing to the
prestige of the house. Stories of Koril II's antics would be shared at
court in hushed whispers - often followed by blushing and quiet giggles. It
was common for Kalist II's rivals to openly comment on his son's
misadventures with lightly veiled disdain.
Kalist II finally decided to confront his son once and for all, and offer an
ultimatum: he could be a contributing member of his noble house, or he could
be disowned and live life as a houseless vagabond. The very day he came
upon this decision, he learned that his son had been sighted in a Darkhaven
brothel. Furious with rage, he set out for Darkhaven on horseback.
Normally a trip to Darkhaven would require a full retinue of guards, but
Kalist II was driven by his anger and set out alone. Seeing him race off,
Elaewyn quickly saddled a mare and raced to catch up to him.
Elaewyn caught up with her husband as he approached Darkhaven and begged him
to alter his course. She knew in her heart that her son would refuse his
father's ultimatum, and the house would be torn asunder. Kalist II was
firm, despite her pleas. It was a moot point, however, for as they entered
Darkhaven and were focused on arguing with each other, they were beset by a
group of assassins.
Leaping from the shadows, with envenomed blades drawn, there was no warning
given and no quarter offered. Kalist II and Elaewyn fell there on the dark
streets of Darkhaven - scant yards away from the entrance to the brothel
where their son was within, completely unawares. Their task complete, the
assassins slinked back into the shadows.
A short time later, Koril II stepped out of the dim light of the brothel
into the street. He happened upon a scene almost too traumatic to
comprehend. Strewn upon the cobbles were his parents and their steeds,
covered in blood. Street children had assembled and were rifling through
pockets and saddlebags, seeking loot. An anguished scream escaped his lungs
and he stumbled forward. As the street urchins fled, he collapsed by his
mother's side, taking her rapidly cooling hands in his, and wept openly.
Initially he blamed the gods. Then he blamed others, for it must have been
enemies of his house that had orchestrated this catastrophe. Eventually he
realized that the fault was his own. It was his rebellious ways that had
put his parents in jeopardy and ultimately led to their untimely demise. He
resolved to change his ways. He matured a great deal in the following
years. He began by applying himself in earnest - learning all of the things
that his father had tried to teach him in his earlier years. He
strengthened ties with allies of his house, he negotiated arrangements with
rivals, and commissioned the finest sculptors in the land to carve statues
in Windbreeze Manor depicting his ancestors.
Despite growing up with a distant father, and having his actions directly
causing the death of his parents, his heart eventually softened just enough
that he learned to smile again. Eventually he met a beautiful elven woman,
whom he then wed and had a child with. He vowed upon his son's birth that
he would not be like his father. He would love, nurture, and support his
son. He would do right by Kalest, and be by his side for all of his
successes and all of his failures in life.
Kalest Windbreeze
Kalest was brought into life under terrible circumstances. His mother
died during childbirth - leaving him alone in the world with his father,
Koril II. Despite wishing to be a caring and loving father, this tragedy
was too much for him to handle. Memories of his involvement in the death of
his parents came to the forefront of his mind to add to the dark shroud
forming about his spirit. After the death of his wife, Koril II was never
the same. He quickly turned to the drink and blamed Kalest for her loss.
Spurned by his father and shown not the slightest hint of affection, Kalest
looked outward to find belonging.
Despite the lack of his father's affection, Kalest was not neglected. The
noble family was still very wealthy and within a high standing in Valour and
as such he had the luxury of having the very best tutors. As a boy he
learned to read, write, and dance. He learned of history, philosophy,
economics and culture. Unlike those before him, however, he sought to learn
the ways of combat. He had always carried a burning anger within him -
likely created through his father's lack of affection and the early loss of
his mother. He blamed himself for her loss, and carried within him a deep
anger toward the world and toward himself. He was able to channel his anger
into his martial training and his skills quickly progressed to the point of
being a very capable warrior by the time he was the young age of sixteen.
On the night of Kalest's sixteenth birthday he had a dream. The Lord
Aberdour came to him in his slumber and spoke to him. He warned of a great
evil rising and the need for the House of Windbreeze to rejoin the struggle
against the darkness. He instructed Kalest to make haste to his temple and
submit himself, to offer himself to the cause and to transform his inner
anger into a zeal for slaying any who would side with the darkness. When
Kalest arose, he gathered what he would need for travel and made his way to
Aberdour's temple post-haste. His father protested against this 'act of
futility' but Kalest was resolute. It was not long after Kalest's departure
that his father, Koril II, was slain in a duel. He had foolishly challenged
a swordsman to a duel at a banquet after a perceived offense. He barely
knew which end was up on his sword when he attempted to plunge it into his
foe, quickly finding himself outmatched and mortally wounded by a quick
riposte.
Kalest was a very devote follower of Aberdour, rising rapidly in the order
and becoming quite a formidable paladin. His early and strong relationship
with Aberdour helped to soften his heart, and in time he regained the easy
smile and quick laugh of his ancestors. He eventually joined the Knights of
Valour, restoring the honor to his family that had been lost in the prior
two generations. He battled mighty foes, fighting admirably and with
dignity. His only wish in life was to serve his Lord Aberdour, serve the
Knights of Valour, and slay those that worship the dark gods. As oft
happens in life, however, love intervened. He fell deeply in love with a
beautiful elf priestess, named Aesandriil Essaentraen and she became with
child. Noticing that Kalest was fighting less recklessly than normal, and
seeming constantly distracted, the Executor offered him the gift of
retirement into the nobility. It was a tough decision but Kalest decided
the best course forward for him and his young family would be to retire from
active duty and seek a safer life in Valour.
Initially he found it difficult to step away from the front lines of battle,
but he quickly realized that the Exeuctor was right - his heart and his
thoughts had been focused upon Aesandriil and their unborn child for quite
some time. He quickly adapted to his new role as a noble and the head of
his household. Kalest and Aesandriil were married forthwith, and devoted
their energy toward the duties and responsibilities expected of nobles, and
preparing for their coming child. Kalest never completely cut off his ties
with the Knights of Valour, however, and was often asked for advice,
donations, and political support. All were freely given, and it was never
an uncommon sight to see one or more Knights within Windbreeze Manor, either
meeting for business or leisure.
Kalist III
Kalist III was truly blessed. He was born into a noble household with
very loving and adoring parents. He was tested at a very young age and
found to be adept at spellcraft. Though his father was inwardly hoping that
his son would follow his path as a paladin, he knew that he must embrace his
son's gift and do everything he could to see him thrive. Thus he was
trained in the Art, as his ancestors had been. Kalist III was a very apt
pupil and quickly grasped concepts and mastered spells. Raised with tales
of glorious battles and wondrous deeds, he decided at a young age that he
would follow in his father's footsteps and join the Knights of Valour.
From a young age he was consumed with the desire to prove himself to his
father, and become a mage of great renown. He pressed his studies harder
than his peers, he went out of his way to show bravery, and idolized the
Knights of Valour. Kalest encouraged him in all of his pursuits, knowing
himself how proud he was during his time of active service. While he left
spellcraft to the tutors, he was able to teach his son in battle tactics and
of honour and bravery. Time passed quickly, and by the time Kalist III was
of the young age of twenty, he was seeking to make a name for himself. He
knew the path to become a Knight of Valour was long, and difficult, and
there was no guarantee at squireship - even given his family name. He
decided that he would have the best chance of success if he were able to
prove his battle capabilities beforehand.
Kalist III joined an adventuring band, "The Shining Diamond", comprised of
fellow elves also seeking to bolster their reputations. They sought danger
and glory, caring little for coin or reward other than helping those in need
and proving themselves in battle. Blessed with the handsome features and
charisma of his forefathers, it was not long before Kalist III fell in love
with the resident invoker of the band, one certain Maelyrra Mae'fiel. Her
beauty was matched by her uncanny wit and fierce determination.
Kalist III was no older than a very young twenty two years when Maelyrra
became with child. With their whole lives ahead of them, and their
ambitions strong, they refused to give up adventuring. Kalest disapproved
this course of action, but felt there was little he could do to dissuade his
son and his love. They finally took brief respite late in the pregnancy,
and spent many happy days in Windbreeze Manor leading up to the birth of
their son, a strong babe with his father's piercing blue eyes and his
mother's nose. They lovingly named him Kali, breaking once more with the
naming tradition of the Windbreeze line.
While Kalist III and Maelyrra loved their son very much, they were eager to
return to adventuring with the intent of becoming squires of the Knights of
Valour. After much arguing and begging, they finally convinced Kalest and
Aesandriil to raise young Kali temporarily, with the understanding that they
would return at every possible opportunity and at least once per Celestial.
The agreement secured, they kissed their young son and set out on the road
when he was a mere three months old.
Little did they know that they would never see Kali, Kalest, or Aesandriil
again. Not even a fortnight later, they were back with the Shining Diamond,
and found themselves tasked with venturing into the Malevolent Mansion to
retrieve a Knight artifact that was rumored to be hidden deep within. The
party blasted down the doors and easily battled through the main level,
slaying the undead with ease, yet expending some of their spells and
healing. Their plans were dashed soon after descending into the basement of
that forsaken place. They were prepared to face the hounds and trolls that
were rumored to dwell within but they had not anticipated an encounter with
Vlad himself. They party attempted a hasty retreat but they could not
outrun Vlad. They were slaughtered mercilessly.
When Kalest and Aesandriil learned of the catastrophe that had occurred,
they were overwhelmed with grief. Aesandriil let out a great wail and
collapsed upon hearing the news, swiftly losing consciousness. Kalest
called upon Aberdour to heal her, and he felt the familiar glow of his
Lord's light, but she did not rise. Clerics were summoned but she had
passed before they arrived. Upon examination they informed Kalest that she
had died from a broken heart.
Despite the tragic losses he suffered, Kalest did not fall into despair, and
his faith in Aberdour held strong. He had to be strong, and maintain his
wits about him, as the task of raising young Kali landed squarely on his
shoulders. He vowed that he would not make the same mistakes with Kali that
he had with his son.
Kali Windbreeze
Kali never had the opportunity to get to know his parents. Since they
fell when he was but a babe, he was raised for his whole life by his
grandfather, Kalest Windbreeze. Though they were grandfather and grandson,
their relationship was barely discernable from that between father and son.
Kali was loved, nurtured, and provided with a strong male role model.
Kalest could be stern, strict, and protective at times, but he always had
Kali's best interests in mind.
As with all children of the Windbreeze line, Kali was tested at a very young
age. Like his father, he was found to be naturally adept at spellcraft.
Kalest was torn. He desperately wanted to avoid the mistakes of the past.
He wished nothing more than to keep Kali safe and to see him live a long and
happy life. If he were to have Kali tutored in the Art, would he become a
powerful mage and be led to ruin, like his father before him? Ultimately
Kalest decided that it would be wrong to deny Kali the opportunity to
explore his natural talents. He hired the same tutor that had taught his
father, and Kali eagerly devoured each lesson and quickly excelled. As was
the tradition, he was also tutored in subjects of history, economics,
politics, networking and court etiquette - though he was not an overly
attentive pupil.
As Kali aged, his grandfather could see that he possessed many qualities of
his parents. He had his father's remarkably handsome looks, with piercing
blue eyes, a strong jaw, and flowing blond hair. He had his mother's nose,
sharp wit, and fierce determination. The thing that really worried Kalest
though, was that Kali seemed to possess the same recklessness as his father.
He would take unnecessary risks, seek challenges beyond his capabilities,
and displayed a questionable lack of wisdom and self-perseverance.
Kali learned about the Knights of Valour at a young age, and was instantly
smitten with the tales of heroic Knights battling evil, righting wrongs, and
protecting the weak. He begged his grandfather to regale him with tales
from his time as a Knight, but Kalest adamantly refused. Furthermore, he
forbade Kali from ever seeking to become a squire- at least until he was
well and grown. Kalest knew that if he refused this path to Kali outright,
it would only push him toward it. Rather than abjectly refuse him, Kalest
preached the wisdom of patience. Kali reluctantly agreed not to set his
sights on becoming a squire until he was at least the age of fifty - still
quite young for an elf.
By the age of seventeen, Kali had grown into quite a handsome, strapping
young man. He was a little slow to mature in regards to his interactions
with the fairer sex. He knew that for at least a couple of years prior, a
few of his female friends had borne romantic interests in him but he lacked
the wherewithal to engage them. As with all things in life, when he sought
advice he turned to his grandfather. Lucky for him that he did, for his
grandfather's sage advice was exactly what he needed to inspire confidence
and set him on the right path.
"Kali my boy, you are handsome, brave, kind, and you have a good heart.
Many have dalliances but few will find love. I have no question that you
shall be one of those lucky few. Do not fret if it does not come quickly,
and focus not upon it. These things tend to happen on their own, you know.
When you do find a lover, Kali, you make sure to treat her well. Stand by
her and support her. It is easy to speak flowery words and procure sweet
wine, but it shall be your actions that truly count."
Adept in the Art, strong in mind, body and soul, Kali set out from Valour to
find his way and make his mark on the world. He was determined to make his
grandfather proud and bravely represent the noble line of Windbreeze. He
would certainly face adversity and fight great foes and against great odds
but he would always be brave.
The Turbulent Life of Kali Windbreeze
Herein lays the tale of the life and death of Kali Windbreeze - the
youngest and the heir of the House of Windbreeze.
It is a tale of great highs and perilous lows - recorded for posterity'
sake.
It is comprised of the following sections:
1. The Beginning
2. Love and Peace
3. The Time of Turbulence
4. Damnation
5. Unflinching Resolve
6. Unconditional Support
7. The Path of Water
8. The Trial of Kali Windbreeze
9. A Quiet Wedding
10. A Wonderful Reception
11. The Time of Peace
12. A Terrible Tragedy
13. The End of the Line
The Beginning
While he set out with great ambitions, young Kali was in no particular
hurry. He spent a great deal of time simply meandering and enjoying life.
He slowly gained stature in his guild but it was not until he met an elven
paladin by the name of Crirawyn that he would begin ascending in earnest.
The two elves hit it off remarkably well. From the moment they met it was
as if they had known each other for their whole lives. They shared the same
sense of humor, respect of Aberdour, knowledge of the lands, and neither
took life too seriously (though Kali was the more reckless of the two).
Together they gained power in their respective guilds at a rapid pace,
traveling the lands and seeking increasingly more difficult monsters to
slay.
Their first venture to Shadun Dalghul would change Kali's life forever.
This pivotal moment did not involve a near-death experience, divine
inspiration, grand treasure or some great epiphany. It was a meeting. It
was the first time he met his future wife, Ilromie Illistarre. She was the
most beautiful woman that he had ever seen. Kali was confident, reckless
and bold enough to flash her a smile and tell her so. Rather than rebuke
him for his advances she offered an amused smile and allowed the flattery to
continue as they slaughtered countless watchers. Kali and Crirawyn quickly
attained their pinnacles but Kali barely noticed.
Love and Peace
Kali and Ilromie's friendship quickly blossomed into love. They were
inseparable. Whether they were helping others to gain in their guilds,
adventuring with comrades, pursuing scholarly works, or just enjoying the
simple pleasures of life, they did it all together. Kali took his
grandfather's words to heart and always held Ilromie's interests, wellbeing
and safety above his own. Kali's devotion permeated to his core and would
be a defining characteristic of the young elf and lead to his downfall into
darkness.
The Time of Turbulence
Neither Kali nor Ilromie were pacifists. In fact, they were far from
being pacifists. Ilromie was harshly principled, wise, passionate, and an
incredibly powerful sage. Kali was imbued with the impetuousness,
recklessness and courage of his family name. Neither would back down from
any challenge - no matter the cost. This led to endless battles and
countless deaths. Corrupt Justices, wicked Legion, marauding Warlords, and
countless shadow walkers would seek elven blood.
Individually the elves were powerful, brave and fearless. Their might
combined, however, was spectacular. Foes shuddered in fear that the elves
might bring such power to bare upon them. As powerful as they were, they
were not invincible. On multiple occasions Kali's recklessness was their
downfall. His devotion also urged him to throw himself at impossible odds
any time Ilromie fell. The ground was soaked with elven blood as much as it
was with the blood of their foes.
Damnation
There were two beings that held great animosity toward Kali throughout
his life. Solmundi, the leader of Justice and Davairus, the Great
Tormentor. In the end it would be a conflict with the former that would
give the latter great pleasure in damning Kali and casting him into
darkness.
Solmundi, Ilromie and Kali had a long and complicated history. Ilromie and
Solmundi were at odds when the elves first met. Ever a devout partner, Kali
sided with Ilromie completely from the moment he met her. Ilromie's
investigations discovered a deep seated corruption in Justice, emanating
from Solmundi himself. The triangle of their relationship was always
strained, with Solmundi and Ilromie at odds - with Kali siding with Ilromie.
Things only worsened when a drow by the name of Chul joined by Solmundi's
side. Kali and Ilromie found themselves constantly at odds with the
Justices and more often than not they found themselves screaming in pain
upon the breaking wheel.
Relations were strained and eventually Solmundi struck Ilromie and Kali when
neither were criminals. They fought, fled and barely escaped with their
lives. They sent forth a scroll to the knights to inform them of his deeds.
Words were passed but little else transpired.
Things remained tense between the elves and Solmundi. They settled on a
strained peace for quite some time until simmering coals raged into an
inferno. Wylsin, Ilromie and Kali had just slain the five dragons and were
pondering over their treasure in Solace. Solmundi walked into the room and
sacrificed their treasures without a word and without hesitation. Words
were had between the parties and Ilromie ended up fighting Solmundi in a
duel in the arena. The terms were to the stun, but Solmundi's stallion
stomped Ilromie to death whilst she laid helpless. Rather than show remorse
or offer apology, Solmundi acted as if that were the outcome he desired.
Kali could not let that stand. He knew he had no chance of slaying the
jotun but he had to show the fallen paladin that he could not slay an elf in
cold blood and get away with it. He threw himself at the paladin and
inflicted minor wounds, before retreating. Rather than send a scroll to the
Knights of Valour, Solmundi sent a scroll detailing Kali's actions to the
Gods.
Retribution was swift. Davairus had always had a keen interest in Kali's
life for some reason. He had always been waiting for a moment to crush him
under his boot. Presented with such an opportunity, he wasted no time. The
Blood God summoned Kali into the ether and delivered punishment with no room
for negotiation. Kali was outcast from the light and named as Kali
Windbreeze, the Rebuked Chimera. With a wicked laugh, Davairus returned
Kali to Serin and left him to his fate.
Unflinching Resolve
Rather than give in to depression and despair, Kali puffed out his chest
and clenched his jaw. He looked up to the heavens and immediately took a
vow to make use of no tainted gear and seek no wicked duplicates. He knew
his power would be greatly diminished by such a vow but he was adamant to
continue to live his life, in the light, to the best of his ability. The
words had barely escaped his lips when a death tarot, earlier placed by
Resatimm, took its effect and killed him. He awoke in the temple naked,
outcast, and with a mission in his heart - to begin his first step along the
long path to redemption.
Unconditional Support
From the very moment that Kali was outcast from the light, Ilromie was by
his side and offering her support. She knew the truth of Kali's soul - he
was kind. He was passionate. He was generous. He was not evil. Likewise,
Kali's good friend Wylsin was confident that he would find his way back to
the light. Together, the three companions sought to forge the circlet of
security and try to help Kali make his way back to the light.
Despite forging the circlet, learning the many lessons, and seeking the help
of the goodly Ceridwel, Kali was denied any progress towards redemption.
Kali then sought to build support with the other goodly peoples of Serin,
asking for support from paladins and healers that knew him well. They were
happy to write letters in support of Kali's character, but again Davairus
was completely unmoved. He made it very clear that Kali was destined to
live out his days as an outcast and that there was little he could do to
save his soul.
The Path of Water
Ever a close friend to Kali, Doyenne Serra, the Paradigm of Water, sought
to find a path to save Kali's soul. She patiently instructed him and sought
to help him gain an understanding of the ebb and flow of water, life,
emotion and spirit.
Kali was not the most dutiful student. He was not an overly spiritual
person in nature, but he did focus his attention on her teachings. Kedaleam
graciously accepted Kali as a follower and encouraged him to learn under
Serra's tutelage.
The Trial of Kali Windbreeze
For reasons unknown to Kali, the gnome sage Valindra was bestowed a wig
of judge hair and gavel by the Gods and was eager to use them. She
beseeched the Gods to allow her to preside over a trial - the trial of Kali
Windbreeze.
Davairus was amused by such a proposition and allowed it to proceed.
Valindra Skitterwit assembled a jury, witnesses, a prosecutor, a defendant,
and his attorney. The entire spectacle was quite a farce, as Valindra
anticipated it might be. In the end, Solmundi the prosecutor failed against
the valiant defence raised by Ilromie.
The jury unanimously found Kali not guilty on all charges. He was not quite
free to go, though. Davairus restored Kali to the path of light but
demanded that he take up another name. Kali Windbreeze entered the trial,
but he would not leave. He easily settled upon a given name of Kaelric, and
his love, Ilromie, offered the surname of Illistarre. Thus Kaelric
Illistarre was born.
A Quiet Wedding
Shortly after the trial, a very small ceremony was held. Kaelric and
Ilromie were wed by Villidan the bard. The joining of two elves of noble
birth would typically have held a much larger celebration but buoyed by
their victory, they could not wait for proper arrangements to be made.
A Wonderful Reception
After the small ceremony, the noble elves thought it fit to hold a
wonderful reception. All were invited to attend. There was a great variety
of food, music, and dancing. Wylsin used a pair of stilts to dance with
Tearea and Djenniva showed off her skills.
The Time of Peace
For quite a time after the wedding, all was peaceful. The elves
adventured together and with their friends. Shadow walkers stayed far away,
in fear of the power the elves had at their fingertips. With Kaelric
restored to the light, all was once again as it should be.
A Terrible Tragedy
Quite suddenly, the venerable Kalest Windbreeze succumbed to a
respiratory infection. It had been circulating through Valour and had a
particularly severe effect upon the elderly. The clerics did everything in
their power to try to cure him but their spells did little to improve his
situation. He progressed so rapidly that he did not even have a chance to
write a scroll of farewell or pass on any last words of wisdom to the
Knights of Valour, whom he had offered guidance to throughout his long life.
Description:
The elf before you is tall and lean, yet well-muscled. His fair skin is
smooth and perfectly unblemished. His handsome face is perfectly
symmetrical with a thin jaw line and a delicate nose. His lips are neither
thin, nor lush, and are set in an easy smile. His face is completely
hairless, other than his delicate eyebrows that rest above his eyes. Long,
smooth, blonde hair runs majestically past his neck and shoulder blades.
His clear blue eyes have a mischievous sparkle to them. He has a joyful
look upon his face, as if some great weight has recently been lifted from
his strong shoulders.
Despite plenty of hours between us, I was surprised how our paths didn't cross very much. It's a shame....lots of fun and RP waiting to be had!
Good luck with the next character(or one of the many in your roster lol)!
Kalist19
0 , 0 , 0 .
I felt the same - we were both on a lot but our paths rarely crossed.
Oh there isn’t a deep roster anymore. I’ve deleted over 10 50s recently and only have a few characters left. Still trying to figure out what I’d like to play/what AR needs.
Thank you for being there for me. Having you in my life enriched everything that we did. In fact, I could have asked for no greater epic tale of love and tragedy.
It was a wild ride! Those were some crazy times with Chul and Dogran. The evil/redemption thing was only a success due to the support of Ilromie, Wylsin and Serra. It could have gone a lot differently. It was a ton of fun.
I do not regret any of the kamikaze attacks or full loots. It was liberating to stick to the principles of the character and not care about life or gear.
Thank you for the epic journey.
Ozaru
0 , 0 , 2 .
I was willing to leave well enough alone but since you mentioned my character that you purposefully screwed over with no rp at all ill bite. Your characters are shit because you purposefully allow people to know who you play with obvious names so you get the benefit of ooc teams. Kali was trash and only received the benefit of longevity with 0 contribution to the game. Your entire existence has and was OOC assistance to who ever asked for it. Your legion character was trash because you don't like being in positions where you and your friends can't work together since they had good aligned characters. 115 hours with Aeldric vs 412 hours on a char with friends. What a shock trash character all the way around. Bronze cup for what? Friday night surges and Herald/scholar ganks with an OOC cheater that was banned fucking bullshit
Davairus
1 , 0 , 0 .
that seems a bit unnecessarily brutal, you are causing sympathy with all that ozaru
Ozaru
0 , 0 , 0 .
makers made me do it
Dogran
0 , 0 , 0 .
In the case of Chul, Kali, and Dogran I do not know why you expected a different result. No one is going to side with the evil justice hunting them with a special guard, and leet justice skills. It just isn't going to happen ever. Did it suck for you? Sure, and realistically if you hadn't of killed Ilromie half a dozen times prior to that (Only person who killed Ilromie more than me) he probably wouldn't of turned and went for you, instead paying off his fine.
Ozaru
0 , 0 , 0 .
Kalest doesn't need you to defend him or his actions, nothing I said was untrue or an exaggeration of what has been going on for years. I certainly don't need or want your interpretation of the events that took place and why he was justified in his actions because I can speculate that he knew the player behind Dogran and the player behind Chul and made a judgement call based on that. Again my speculation, credible or not I don't give a shit.
Kalist19
0 , 0 , 0 .
What Dogran said.
Ozaru I've helped you level SO many characters that were obviously you. I've never screwed over a character just because it's you. I've even afk kept a guy on simply to help you level in the 30s/40s because I knew you'd had trouble advancing. I've always tried to help and befriend your characters (when appropriate) and Linisan spoke to Hituri a lot and approved his justice application pretty quickly (I assumed it was you but like I said I would never treat a character in a certain way due to the player).
I didn't mean for this to ever be a big thing but since you bring up the name, I'll tell you the story. Mordrac came into discord to say 'hey guys!' to everyone. He made a paladin named Mordy and just for a laugh I made an elf ill named Kali (mordrac and kalist were friends way back). It was just for a giggle. It wasn't made with evil designs for ooc or to troll anyone or anything. It was just a joke. Then I somehow ended up leveling it up with no specific intentions for anything. Then he wound up making friends along the way and the char ended up being a main and role playing, adventuring, fighting and helping dozens of goods/neuts level up to 50.
I'm sorry that the char broke immersion because people knew it was me. It seems to be pretty easy to find out who I'm playing though. I've made chars without telling a soul and people tell me 'I know that's you' after fighting me a couple times.
I'm not sure why you're bringing up Aelaldric. I made an evil legion to go kill Ilromie, other scholars, goods, keepers, warlords, etc. I played him with no allies for 99% of the time and did not coordinate with anyone OOC for leveling or pking. What makes you mad about that? How would that suggest that I chronically play characters that use OOC assistance?
I didn't mention Chul above with any negative tone or anything. That really was a crazy time and there were some awesome fights. I'll never forget when you found me in the mansion and attempted an assassinate and I worded with like 40hp.
Friday nights were not full of OOC ganks. This character didn't fight a single person that I can recall after Dogran was immed. Not a single fight while Kali/Kaelric was evil and not a single fight after he was good again. For the last few months he wasn't even using any rares (didn't want to hold them since he clearly wasn't using them for fighting).
Stephen2Aus
4 , 0 , 0 .
Wouldn't worry about it Kalist.
Some people will project stuff they're ashamed of onto others, assuming others do it. Still others are just paranoid and bitter, will accuse everyone around them.
You don't have to defend or justify any character, AR is extremely lucky to have you around.
Mogu
2 , 0 , 0 .
I'll add that you are a huge asset to the AR community.
Aelaldric was one of my fav chars. I only interacted with you a few times but each one was a pleasure.
I really like your thoughtful story arcs with different chars. You add to my immersion in the game. Thank you.
Davairus
1 , 0 , 1 .
Its not really paranoid to accuse somebody of OOC ganking when they quite literally made a forum thread to get people to login and be OOC ganked by their organized groovy-bot party that is allowed to occupy a cabal for some reason.
Of course that is water under the bridge, my point is shut up and take your lumps
Kalist19
1 , 0 , 1 .
Eh. That was an attempt to replicate the huge pk battle (mayhem log) that happened the previous week. I didn’t play kali in the mayhem fight and I didn’t play kali in the battle that I was hoping for from that forum thread. The idea there wasn’t to have people coordinate with buddies. The idea was that if you saw 3 evils and 2 goods were signed up and you were undecided, hopefully you’d log a good or neutral to even the field. I mean, that was pretty clearly stated in the thread. Not sure if you actually read anything in there.
It was a bad idea and I admitted as much in the thread.
[reply to Mogu]
[reply to Valindra]
Good luck with the next character(or one of the many in your roster lol)!
Kalist19 
0 , 0 , 0 . I felt the same - we were both on a lot but our paths rarely crossed.
[reply to Rhoa]Oh there isn’t a deep roster anymore. I’ve deleted over 10 50s recently and only have a few characters left. Still trying to figure out what I’d like to play/what AR needs.
[reply to twerpalina]
Kaelric 0 , 0 , 0 . It was a wild ride! Those were some crazy times with Chul and Dogran. The evil/redemption thing was only a success due to the support of Ilromie, Wylsin and Serra. It could have gone a lot differently. It was a ton of fun.
Ozaru 
0 , 0 , 2 . I was willing to leave well enough alone but since you mentioned my character that you purposefully screwed over with no rp at all ill bite. Your characters are shit because you purposefully allow people to know who you play with obvious names so you get the benefit of ooc teams. Kali was trash and only received the benefit of longevity with 0 contribution to the game. Your entire existence has and was OOC assistance to who ever asked for it. Your legion character was trash because you don't like being in positions where you and your friends can't work together since they had good aligned characters. 115 hours with Aeldric vs 412 hours on a char with friends. What a shock trash character all the way around. Bronze cup for what? Friday night surges and Herald/scholar ganks with an OOC cheater that was banned fucking bullshit Davairus 1 , 0 , 0 . that seems a bit unnecessarily brutal, you are causing sympathy with all that ozaru Ozaru 
0 , 0 , 0 . makers made me do it Dogran 
0 , 0 , 0 . In the case of Chul, Kali, and Dogran I do not know why you expected a different result. No one is going to side with the evil justice hunting them with a special guard, and leet justice skills. It just isn't going to happen ever. Did it suck for you? Sure, and realistically if you hadn't of killed Ilromie half a dozen times prior to that (Only person who killed Ilromie more than me) he probably wouldn't of turned and went for you, instead paying off his fine. Ozaru 
0 , 0 , 0 . Kalest doesn't need you to defend him or his actions, nothing I said was untrue or an exaggeration of what has been going on for years. I certainly don't need or want your interpretation of the events that took place and why he was justified in his actions because I can speculate that he knew the player behind Dogran and the player behind Chul and made a judgement call based on that. Again my speculation, credible or not I don't give a shit. Kalist19 
0 , 0 , 0 . What Dogran said.
Stephen2Aus 
4 , 0 , 0 . Wouldn't worry about it Kalist.
Mogu 
2 , 0 , 0 . I'll add that you are a huge asset to the AR community.
Davairus 1 , 0 , 1 . Its not really paranoid to accuse somebody of OOC ganking when they quite literally made a forum thread to get people to login and be OOC ganked by their organized groovy-bot party that is allowed to occupy a cabal for some reason.
Davairus 0 , 0 , 0 . Of course that is water under the bridge, my point is shut up and take your lumps Kalist19 
1 , 0 , 1 . Eh. That was an attempt to replicate the huge pk battle (mayhem log) that happened the previous week. I didn’t play kali in the mayhem fight and I didn’t play kali in the battle that I was hoping for from that forum thread. The idea there wasn’t to have people coordinate with buddies. The idea was that if you saw 3 evils and 2 goods were signed up and you were undecided, hopefully you’d log a good or neutral to even the field. I mean, that was pretty clearly stated in the thread. Not sure if you actually read anything in there.
[reply to Ilromie]I do not regret any of the kamikaze attacks or full loots. It was liberating to stick to the principles of the character and not care about life or gear.
Thank you for the epic journey.
Ozaru I've helped you level SO many characters that were obviously you. I've never screwed over a character just because it's you. I've even afk kept a guy on simply to help you level in the 30s/40s because I knew you'd had trouble advancing. I've always tried to help and befriend your characters (when appropriate) and Linisan spoke to Hituri a lot and approved his justice application pretty quickly (I assumed it was you but like I said I would never treat a character in a certain way due to the player).
I didn't mean for this to ever be a big thing but since you bring up the name, I'll tell you the story. Mordrac came into discord to say 'hey guys!' to everyone. He made a paladin named Mordy and just for a laugh I made an elf ill named Kali (mordrac and kalist were friends way back). It was just for a giggle. It wasn't made with evil designs for ooc or to troll anyone or anything. It was just a joke. Then I somehow ended up leveling it up with no specific intentions for anything. Then he wound up making friends along the way and the char ended up being a main and role playing, adventuring, fighting and helping dozens of goods/neuts level up to 50.
I'm sorry that the char broke immersion because people knew it was me. It seems to be pretty easy to find out who I'm playing though. I've made chars without telling a soul and people tell me 'I know that's you' after fighting me a couple times.
I'm not sure why you're bringing up Aelaldric. I made an evil legion to go kill Ilromie, other scholars, goods, keepers, warlords, etc. I played him with no allies for 99% of the time and did not coordinate with anyone OOC for leveling or pking. What makes you mad about that? How would that suggest that I chronically play characters that use OOC assistance?
I didn't mention Chul above with any negative tone or anything. That really was a crazy time and there were some awesome fights. I'll never forget when you found me in the mansion and attempted an assassinate and I worded with like 40hp.
Friday nights were not full of OOC ganks. This character didn't fight a single person that I can recall after Dogran was immed. Not a single fight while Kali/Kaelric was evil and not a single fight after he was good again. For the last few months he wasn't even using any rares (didn't want to hold them since he clearly wasn't using them for fighting).
Some people will project stuff they're ashamed of onto others, assuming others do it. Still others are just paranoid and bitter, will accuse everyone around them.
You don't have to defend or justify any character, AR is extremely lucky to have you around.
Aelaldric was one of my fav chars. I only interacted with you a few times but each one was a pleasure.
I really like your thoughtful story arcs with different chars. You add to my immersion in the game. Thank you.
https://abandonedrealms.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13084
It was a bad idea and I admitted as much in the thread.
Kalist19 
0 , 0 , 0 . I was Heinrildt. That battle was soooo much fun. Solmundi 100% deserved the mvp. I cannot believe you survived that.
[reply to Solmundi]