#madrial

APPEARANCE

HAIR: Dark red. Shining. Long enough to be pulled back, but often worn loose.

EYES: Dark grey

SKIN: Tanned. Could probably use a good moisturizer…

HEIGHT: 6ft 4in

WEIGHT: well-muscled.

OTHER: Burn scars that cover his right side from the back of his hand up to his shoulder, over his ribs and the right side of his chest.

RELATIONSHIPS

SIBLINGS: Nataena Aristarian, younger sister, deceased

PARENTS:  Daras Aristarian, father; Livea Aristarian née Brightvale, mother. Both deceased.

OTHER RELATIVES: Unknown

ACQUAINTANCES/FRIENDS: Several. Amoung them Andraste Pashar, a half elf cleric who tended the injuries he sustained in the dragons’ attack on Silverfall, and a Kenku ‘named’ Beep.

ENEMIES/RIVALS: Do dragons count?

ANY PETS?: yes [] || no [] || [x] not anymore unless Beep counts

ATTRIBUTES

Strength – Excellent. He has received years of training with all manner of weapons, armor, and shields.

Dexterity – Slightly above-average. The burn scars on his right hand limit the use of that hand, and his armor and shield put him at a disadvantage for stealth. However, he has good balance, and is moderately flexible. Constitution -  Good stamina. Able to stay up for days running on self-imposed guard duties, and stupid enough to do it.

Intellect – Average. He had pretty good schooling, but it wasn’t nearly as interesting as weapons training.

Wisdom – Fairly good. Insightful, and trained to judge people’s intentions quickly and accurately. Jaded enough not to be too naïve, but still looks for the best in people. Sometimes it goes poorly.

Charisma –  High. He’s skilled at talking down people and de-escalating situations. Working for a wealthy merchant’s house, he knows how to play the game of politics very well

TRAITS

—— POSITIVE ——

Trusting and Forgiving. Madrial genuinely looks for, and expects, the best in people. He tries himself to live up to his own expectations of others. He believes not just in second chances, for friends, but in third and fourth chances as well.

Self-sacrificing. Will help others regardless of how much it inconveniences him, because it is the right thing to do. Gives freely to charity.

Courteous and (generally) honest. People, regardless of station, are deserving of respect until they show themselves unworthy of it. He is capable of lying, but seldom does. Lies beget more lies, until you’re wrapped up in so many untruths that it’s hard to remember where you started. Lies destroy trust.

Loyal and Dependable. He gives friendship easily. Once gained, that friendship is for life, and he would drop anything to help a friend in need.

Persistent. He will not stop, and does not give up.  On people, on tasks, on his beliefs.

Courageous. Refuses to let fear stop him.

—— NEGATIVE ——

At times naïve; too trusting and selfless. It makes him an easy mark.

Stubborn and hard headed, especially when it comes to What Is Right. Or what he thinks Is Right.

Self-destructive, self-critical. Suffers from survivor’s guilt, and reacts poorly companions get attacked.

Bottles Everything Up

—— LIKES ——

COLORS: Most shades of green, as long as they aren’t too bright.

SMELLS: Aromatic wood?

FOOD: Anything that he doesn’t have to cook himself

FRUITS: Nothing in particular

DRINKS: Nothing in particular

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES?: yes [X] || no [] || should not partake of [XXXXX]

—— DISLIKES ——

COLORS: Anything overly bright

SMELLS: Blood. Fire.

FOOD: Anything excessively fancy

FRUITS: N/A

DRINKS: N/A

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: N/A

—— OTHER DETAILS ——

SMOKES? yes [] || no [X]

DRUGS?: yes [] || no [X]

EVER BEEN ARRESTED?: yes [] || no [X]

HISTORY

BACKGROUND

While not technically noble themselves, the Aristarians served the merchant family, Silverfall, since its beginnings. More friends than guard and employer, Madrial’s father Daras often traveled with the Silverfall family, and enjoyed their company. His mother, Livea, a jewelsmith who worked closely with the Silverfall family, grew close to Daras during his visits to Iriaebor. She eventually married him and followed him back to the Silverfall Manor, never mentioning her Celestial heritage.

Madrial and his sister, Nataena, were raised practically as part of the Silverfall family. Nataena, especially, came to enjoy all of the privileges of the nobles’ schooling, though Madrial spent much of his time studying the martial arts, and less time studying accounting and history.

It was understood that, in time, Madrial would take over his father’s position as captain of the guard. He trained as such, traveling with his father and the caravans. He learned to watch for signs of bandits and how to read people quickly and accurately. Though he practiced primarily with a sword and shield, he trained extensively with all manner of weapons, becoming skilled with the majority.

As he grew older, people were drawn to him for his good looks and his open, friendly demeanor. He befriended all sorts along the caravan paths and in the cities, eschewing the normal rift between nobility and commoners. He learned from these friends skills that, while questionable, can also be quite useful.

THE CALLING

During his 20th year, Madrial begin having dreams, visions. An unearthly creature, a being of brilliant light, visited him in his dreams, instructing him fervently that he must take the path of righteousness. After much reflection, he decided that he must follow this instruction. He told his parents of the visions, and his intentions to travel to Elturel and take up the mantle of a Paladin. His father disagreed, stating that his place was with his family, serving the Silverfall Estate. They would have argued, but his mother intervened, siding with Madrial: Daras was young yet, and whatever path Madrial followed, it would surely bring him back in time to serve the house as he should.

Madrial was given several gifts before he left, amoung them a set of fine chain from the Silverfalls, a shield bearing Torm’s symbol  from his father, and a book of poetry in an unfamiliar script from his mother. When he asked about the book, she simply replied cryptically that he would understand, in time. One of his more questionable associates also gifted him a set of lockpicks, “just in case.”

He kept the gifts, even the lockpicks, close to him during his studies and travels. He missed his family and his old life fervently, and clung to them as reminders. Though his martial skills were more than acceptable, he found himself instructed to study the history he’d avoided in his youth, as well as the rites and rituals that are as much a part of a Paladin’s duties. Madrial found himself surprised with the ease with which the Divine powers came to him, though he struggled with control and the focus necessary to tend to the injured and ill.

But he persevered, and in time was called upon to take his final Oath of service. He begged the chance to return to his home before taking the Oath, swearing that he would return. The leave was granted, and Madrial made his way back to Silverfall Estate.

TRAGEDY

In the intervening years, he had been visited only sparsely by the mysterious dream vision, though it continued to urge him to follow his destiny. And though he studied the book from cover to cover, the contents never became any clearer than they had at the beginning. He intended to corner his mother for answers, but word of his return was sent ahead, and an outdoor feast planned in celebration.  Feeling the subject too private to broach at the dinner, Madrial held his tongue and bided his time, waiting for the opportunity to speak with his mother about it.

He never got the chance. Drawn perhaps by the gaiety, or the flash and sparkle of torches and - Triad help him - fireworks, dragons appeared out of the night, breathing fire and destruction.

There were few survivors. The attack was so sudden, so unexpected, and utterly devastating. The estate and fields were set ablaze, and many of those that survived the initial attack succumbed to the flames that lingered. Madrial himself barely survived. Word spread, and aid came from Asbravn, from Iriaebor, but many of the injured were beyond saving, and charity put an end to their suffering.