Description
This gnome seems to be in the prime of his life and full of energy. His
curly brown bangs hang down just about to cover his pale, green eyes. A
mix of wonder and experience dance across his face as he takes in all
around him. He seems a bit portly, but otherwise in good condition.
He is dressed in simple, but elegant robes with a variety of trinkets and
rings on him. The mismatch of styles seems to indicate that he is
dressed for utility rather than augmentation. A magically levitating
chest follows him around, with some pouches hanging from the sides, and
some trinkets visible within it.
Strapped to his back is a quarterstaff which seems to be his main source
of defense as no other weapons are visible.
Role
Balance comes to us all
Added Wed Jan 13 09:03:32 2010 at level 1:
Im told I was born in Hillcrest. Well, more inferred I was born there
as I know my mother lived there once.
Ive travelled with her all my life, moving from town to town. We walked
the roads. We scoured the inns. We lurked in the alleys. All in the name
of balance.
Im not sure when or why my mother became obsessed with keeping the
balance. She would never speak of her past. All that mattered to her
was her lifes work now. Hygiene, manners, even her son and later
apprentice were all secondary. In Balances name she slew villains and
heroes. She turned the organs of paupers and nobles to liquid, usually
while I watched.
When I was but a young gnome of eight she made me stand outside the soup
kitchen in galadon and cry to lure out one elven knight. When he came to
aid me, his bones and muscles betrayed him in bursts of pain and soon he
was dead. He had slain too many foul souls, she said. She always had a
reason.
Balance is ingrained in us gnomes, so Im not sure I ever questioned
this, until the day we met the great grizzly, covered in blood on the
streets of Hamsah Mutazz. He was near the healer, likely recovering
from some epic battle, and before our eyes shifted back into his true
form, a gray haired gnome. As he funneled coins to the healer he cackled
to the fellow mages and gnomes he saw before him. "Two barbarians dead
and a third fleeing like a school girl! You should have seen it!"
I never got to meet many gnomes. I wondered if he was a relative, or
knew more about my homeland. "Actually, we did.", was all my mother
said. With a few words of magic the gnomes form twisted again, not of
his own accord though. Paralyzed and howling in pain his skin split open
and his bones burst faster than even the local healer could tend to.
All my mother said or did when it was over was nod at me and say,
"Balance comes to us all."
When I mastered my first spells approaching my sixtieth year, my mother
was eager for me to take to her side. She had been so animated of late
that I knew she was excited.
When we finally spoke of the Balance and how I would serve it, I told her
I had made my decision. My means of serving the Balance would be to
preserve the sanctuaries of the cities as a safe haven for all. Good or
ill, rich or poor, villain or saint. If a place existed they could all
be safe from murder and vendettas then I would consider true balance
attained.
She was angry at first, or perhaps, hurt. I knew shed take that as an
affront, but then after a minute she looked at me, smiled, and with a
single word, was gone. I doubt Ive seen the last of her. Her work
means too much to her just to give up. I just hope when she does return
I am ready.
In the end, Balance does indeed come to us all.
Reflections on Balance
Added Fri Jan 29 07:41:41 2010 at level 46:
Having been a magistrate for some time, and in each of the four major
cities of Thera gave me ample opportunity to reflect on many things.
Many times they are simple memories. So much has happened in these
cities throughout my life.
On that street in Hamsah did I bring the criminal conjurer to justice,
bludgeoning him to death with my staff.
On the avenue there in Seantryn Modan did I watch my mother shatter the
bones of rogue she claimed was hoarding his wealth and impeding balance
amongst the poor.
By the river in Galadon I battled a rampaging villager trying to nap easy
prey asleep in their guilds.
In a street in Voralian though, I paused for a long time. I could see
the elf there, bleeding out as his organs had burst. So hurt, so scared,
it was clear he was in over his head. Despite that, he had commited his
crimes and this was the price to be paid.
It's just, for as hard as I wrack my brain. I cannot remember if I
killed him or she did.
Perhaps there were two incidents, similar enough that they clash in my
mind, but I'm not so sure. I wonder that despite all my talk of law and
order and her's of balance and retribution, in the end we're just not the
same.
Is this balance? Two people doing the same exact same things to people
but for two entirely different reasons?
Is balance found in the intention, or the action? Do I balance her many
crimes out by enforcing the law, or am I merely another mage destroying
people for my own narrow reasons amplifying her rather than cancelling
her out?
All I know is when I walk the cities on patrol, they seem quieter. The
citizens seem to breathe just a bit easier. Few knew my mother, or even
saw her coming. If they knew of her though, there would be panic, fear
and chaos. If my presence keeps order, and allows everyone to go about
their way equally, fairly, I would call that true balance.
Perhaps in the end, balance depends on your point of view. Maybe one day
I'll understand her viewpoint. I'm not sure if that would bring me
closer to understanding or madness though. Maybe balance has an equal
part of both. Perhaps those two parts don't even have to occur in the
same person. Wouldn't that be amusing?
On failures and names.
Added Tue Feb 2 10:19:53 2010 at level 48:
The guards in Voralian seemed happy to see me back. They had heard, of
course. Everyone had. I was doing battle at the Captain against
Outlanders attempting to take back their twig. One of them was not a
criminal at the time. He committed a criminal act, and I failed to
notice.
Then I chased him into Galadon, my then jurisdiction and assaulted him.
I committed a crime. I failed.
The tribunals, even the guards, kept asking me if I had a good excuse. A
good reason. There's no good reason to do what I did.
The only thing worse than failing to keep order, would be to give up now
though.
Mother always said something I think about now and then. "Sooner or
later, everyone drops their guard and makes a mistake." Then she'd
smile, or chuckle under her breath and follow that with "Just hope when
you do there's not a mage you can't see standing next to you ready to
turn your naughty bits inside out and spread them across the city."
When you say it like that. Things could be worse. Or else she really
was just insane.
I mean, what's with this last name anyway? Balancekeeper? I've been in
Hillcrest a few times now, wondering about my past. No one's ever heard
of a family name like that. Some even snickered. I assume she just made
it up when she left.
I suppose I'm lucky she didn't make up a name like Spellhurler, or
Swordhefter, but did she have to take away my chance for some connection
besides her like that? Maybe she felt she had to for some reason. Maybe
one day I'll find out what it was.
Until then, another day on duty. One day at a time.
PK Wins
Jan 16, 2010|Lv 30|Arial City|Jhaspov vs 2: Irinam (18%), Nhazryk (81%, KB)
Jan 16, 2010|Lv 30|Arial City|Thoneran vs 2: Irinam (11%), Lamayinn (88%, KB)
Jan 17, 2010|Lv 40|The Pass|Twolcam vs 2: Irinam (24%,KB), Nhazryk (75%)
Jan 21, 2010|Lv 44|Voralian City|Toranna vs 1: Irinam (100%,KB)
Jan 23, 2010|Lv 44|Voralian City|Arlovskah vs 1: Irinam (100%,KB)
Jan 30, 2010|Lv 47|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Adalephon vs 2: Lamayinn (55%,KB), Irinam (44%)
Jan 30, 2010|Lv 47|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Gretorlok vs 2: Irinam (20%), Lamayinn (79%, KB)
Jan 31, 2010|Lv 47|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Lylesse vs 3: Brewent (46%,KB), Irinam (38%), Lamayinn (14%)
Feb 3, 2010 |Lv 48|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Heclok vs 3: Moka (11%), Frenkleham (30%, KB), Irinam (57%)
Feb 9, 2010 |Lv 50|Mount Kiadana-Rah|Arlettien vs 3: Irinam (8%), Lamayinn (73%, KB), Brewent (18%)
Feb 9, 2010 |Lv 51|Galadon|Nurok vs 3: Zaknyl (45%,KB), Lamayinn (44%), Irinam (10%)
Feb 10, 2010|Lv 51|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Sophia vs 4: Brewent (12%), Irinam (1%), Frenkleham (19%), Lamayinn (66%, KB)
Feb 17, 2010|Lv 51|The Imperial Lands|Jenella vs 4: Frenkleham (26%), Ewonelyia (23%, KB), Irinam (11%), Lamayinn (39%)
Feb 18, 2010|Lv 51|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Rennec vs 1: Irinam (100%,KB)
Feb 20, 2010|Lv 51|Voralian City|Elowanna vs 2: Irinam (41%,KB), Moka (58%)
Mar 5, 2010 |Lv 51|Voralian City|Kravaden vs 2: Ewonelyia (74%,KB), Irinam (25%)
PK Deaths
Jan 13, 2010|Lv 17|Castle of Akan|vs 2: Tieunuquay (57%,KB), Twolcam (42%)
Jan 20, 2010|Lv 44|Voralian City|vs 1: Toranna (100%,KB)
Jan 21, 2010|Lv 44|Forest of Prosimy|vs 1: Jenella (100%,KB)
Jan 24, 2010|Lv 44|The Outlander Refuge|vs 1: Lylesse (100%,KB)
Jan 28, 2010|Lv 46|Galadon|vs 1: Walyllas (100%,KB)
Jan 30, 2010|Lv 47|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|vs 2: Kaelph (81%,KB), Druvik (18%)
Jan 30, 2010|Lv 47|Galadon|vs 3: Lylesse (2%), Nebodga (3%), Hosi (94%, KB)
Jan 31, 2010|Lv 47|Galadon|vs 1: Isingald (100%,KB)
Feb 13, 2010|Lv 51|Galadon|vs 1: Fwipplethunt (100%,KB)
Feb 13, 2010|Lv 51|Galadon|vs 1: Daegit (100%,KB)
Feb 13, 2010|Lv 51|Galadon|vs 1: Fwipplethunt (100%,KB)
Feb 15, 2010|Lv 51|Galadon|vs 1: Nurok (100%,KB)
Feb 19, 2010|Lv 51|The Wastes of Nonviel|Irinam committed suicide