Description
Four and a half feet tall and almost that wide is this hairy muscular man,
though it takes a moment to be sure of his gender, peering through his beard.
And getting past that beard is no small task, long and thick as any you've
seen. Curling down around his thick leather belt, it tickles his leggings,
which like most of the rest of his clothing are patched and worn, but lacking
too much color or ornament. The same can be said for the weapons strapped
and hanging from his back and waist: sharp and strong, but without seeking
unnecessary attention. A quick look at him is enough to tell you that
Role
Being a Veteran
Added Sun Oct 22 22:55:12 2006 at level 51:
The lords named him a Veteran and it started him on thinking about his life, and what
the future holds. Until now there have been specific goals. Yes, all within the greater
goal of getting rid of magic, but still, each provided something to do each day. At first
it was proving himself to the villagers, so they would know in him a brother.
Then it was the race to stop the magic veil and nexites, which he worked hard for, but
ultimately lost. Now, he begins to wonder if every day will be the same, wake up, walk around
a bit and try to find someone who will fight a fair fight, and kill them. Or try to
stay alive from the many who join to kill him. It's important work, and he does it, but
somehow it seems... less. Less than what it once was. Is there something more for
him to do? He must ponder this. As he regularly visits his Lord's house, hoping to earn
his final approval, he takes that time to think upon such things, and on life in general.
He will see where it leads him.
The horn is sounded
Added Mon Oct 16 20:39:53 2006 at level 51:
After years of hunting and working and generally focusing strongly on
working to prevent the growth of the veil and magic, and going through all the trials and
tribulations associated with it, finding Fenan's blood, seeking the monk, all of it, the
horn was finally found and, in the end, Azilaph failed. He was devastated. Close to suicide.
For the first time in his now rather long life, he lost his zeal his passion, and
wandered listless. For the first few days he did nothing but drink. More ale than he
or anyone could imagine. Being drunk was the only way he could stand existence.
Eventually though, his innate passion, his rage, his sense of self returned, perhaps
even stronger than before. His anger at the fools in the fortress roused him as well. How
many times does it take even for a fool to learn? Over and over they made the same mistakes,
each time doing the wrong thing, each time choosing the side of assisting the slaving magic
mongers. Idiots they are! But their betrayal did not go unnoticed, and though Azilaph
now has literally no friends but his brothers, he would rather that brutal honesty and
let the chips fall as chaos dictates, rather than live the lie of pretending friendship
or trust or even respect. They deserve none.
He has rededicated himself to the war, and to end ALL who has stood by magic's foul ways.
The dream
Added Mon Oct 9 18:15:41 2006 at level 51:
A dream came to Azilaph while he rested from fighting the viscious wolverine. A dream
of a simply dressed man blowing the horn, figure it's the horn of fate, and he
had a circular tattoo on his shoulder. Days he went looking for this man in a foggy place,
as the dream showed, but without success and instead finding death. Still, undeterred,
Azilaph spoke with all his brothers and it was believed to be a dream of one of the
Macalla monks, the teachers of the old ways of fighting. Azilaph continued, and continues,
to try to find this man to learn the whereabouts of the horn, and speaks to any he can imagine
might be able to help.
the Veil
Added Thu Oct 5 22:20:30 2006 at level 51:
Also, the recent expansions and contractions of the Veil have caused great personal
pain to Azilaph, and he is devoting more and more time to trying to finding the solution.
Having spoken to the Avatar of Vassagon, and then asking Lord Kastellyn, he has sought Thrym's
assistance, but to no avail. He is very concerned and will spend as much time as possible
to find the recipe of the original spellbane and the horn, so he or one of his brothers
can sound it in the Veil, and close it
Guild height
Added Thu Oct 5 22:18:37 2006 at level 51:
Attaining the pinnacle of the guild felt good. But sadly it was also the same day
that came the first real problem, a stupid argument with rektath, who is so full of
himself that a pin might make him pop like a balloon. It's possible I might have to
challenge him for his position, as he grows more and more like a slaver, and less like
a leader, trying to force others to his beliefs and be bloody damned what might be
right or wrong or within the good life. We'll see. But his comeuppance seems likely.
A greater picture
Added Sun Sep 24 19:04:00 2006 at level 40:
Events of the last weeks have had a great impact on Azilaph, both emotionally and
spiritually. The rising of the eldritch consortium and the events surrounding the
crystal creature showed him how even those who would appear to be free and friendly are
often addled in their heads and greedy for power like the mages. He watched as the fortress
helped create the very problem they later tried to help destroy. Their foolishness, in his eyes,
spurred by their greed for power and control, caused them to do exactly the opposite of what
they should have, meddling in things they didn't understand, and creating havoc, bringing
the magic to thera through the cracked hole dug in the sea of despair.
He already had the drive to join in and be at the front of all that occurred, but
Azilaph also spoke with Arvam, who gave even greater impetus to that desire. Since
their talk he has wandered much of the lands, spoken with some and joined the fray in
many places, against many foes. Sometimes watching others fight. And listening, always
listening, if he can safely do so. He sees things are so much worse than he
had ever thought, sadly, with but pockets of betterment. All over the lands therans
are enslaved not only in the obvious manner of the mages or empire and tribunals,
but through their own daily lives. They do not question the things that go on around
them, or seek to change for the better, to bring freedom for themselves and others.
Something of a mind expanding time for Azilaph, and one he would not trade.
Changes
Added Fri Sep 8 18:31:20 2006 at level 33:
Living here with these mainland therans has had an affect on Azilaph, both in word and
deed. He notices he is picking up some of the accent and phrasing of his kin, excited as
he is to find others of his kind. He has taken a real shine to the ale - much much much better
than anything he'd had at the old master mage's household. Real dwarven ale, this. And
he's pretty damn close to addicted.
Finding of faith
Added Sat Sep 2 15:09:46 2006 at level 25:
As his days in the new lands pass and he comes to know them, and their people more,
Azilaph finds the teachings of one sect of religious men more and more appealing.
He had never heard of the names of the gods they worship here until he arrived, but as
the years here go by, the name of Arvam sounds in his ears more and more.
The fire inside Azilaph, the passion for freedom and life, seems to resonate with
what he knows of the God. He will try and learn more and perhaps find favor with him,
if he's lucky.
Empire
Added Thu Aug 31 23:55:53 2006 at level 20:
Azilaph hates the empire almost as much as he hates mages and magic.
The empire's goal is to enslave and rule in an evil tyrrany, something of
particular badness for Azilaph. Because of this, he is glad that the village is almost
always at war with the Empire, and he will likely do anything he can to keep
that war going and to prevent any cease fire or peace, perhaps sometimes going
beyond the "strict rules" one might think of a rager. Probably never really obviously
out of bounds, but definitely stretching the boundaries to keep empire an enemy, or
to kill a few citizens.
Conduct with mages
Added Wed Aug 30 21:59:18 2006 at level 18:
The first step to enslavement, to giving a mage power, is words. That is the heart of
their power. Make them unable to speak, and they cannot do their tricks. But even worse,
their tongues give them power even when no magic is used. They like to talk cleverly.
So, no talking to mages. Ever. Kill them. Do what you must, and move on. No chance for
future enslavement, ever, no matter what. Plenty of perfectly fine warriors and fighters and priests
and farmers and bakers for that matter to talk to.
The beginnings
Added Sat Aug 26 19:13:28 2006 at level 1:
Long ago, very very very long ago, one of the original Order Mages, Silvirinili,
argued with his colleagues, and after saying things that could not be unsaid, gathered
all of his household, all of his material and magical belongings, and sought the furthest
possible lands from the others. So far indeed did he go that he was entirely forgotten
by the other tools of the Order Lord and the Forsaken One. The tumult and catastrophe of the
Order wars, the great battles and demons and shadows passed him and his household by, far
away and unseen, unheard. Over time he chose an apprentice, who in turn maintained the
lands and belongings that Silvirinili had laid claim to, and continued his magical studies.
This continued for millenium, new apprentice serving new master, each ruling the same
household and its descendants. Part of this household, of course, were servants, guards,
pets and slaves. Azilaph's ancestors were just such creations, two stolen dwarves, two
dwarves kidnapped from their homes as part of the early experimentation. Two kin to
Boltthrower, he who was to become the dwarven captain. Generation after generation new such
dwarves were born and bred as servants and stock for experimentation. Bred to know nothing
but loyalty and adulation for the mage master, and trained to be a guard against mortal
enemies, Azilaph and his father and his father's father and so on were for centuries the very
pinnacle of steadfast endurance standing a post, protecting the mage.
Until.
Until, recently, explorers, far from the known trails of the usual Theran lands, stumbled upon
the lands Silvirinili had taken, millenia ago. Unlike past visitors who were born and raised
nearby, these travelers told tales of afar, of great cities and lands with people of amazing
powers and talents. The master, quick to understand that after all this time they had been found
by the descendants of Silvirinili's colleagues and people, struck quickly, and painfully.
Most of the explorers were killed. But not all. A few survived, and Azilaph was there.
As they lay, hurt and dying, they told him of the world, of the truth that had been
denied him. And of the potential for freedom. Freedom! The very word sent explosions
through his mind, his heart, his soul. As though the world blurred and then re-focused, he
would never be the same again. Never again would he stand by and watch as mages worked their
insidious bands around others, allow any such power to be used to enslave or enshroud in darkness.
They would pay. And they would pay in blood.