The Future

Azral, there are some things you are not aware of namely because you were dead. Whisper was ready to take your head and body as payment for your failure it your personal combat. I didn't want to loose you and asked for help to keep you from them a shadow answered me by stealing your body before whisper could take you. I have made a vow and can say no more than I have. I beg you do not force this any further. My goals have not changed i am still me and yes I am aware vaguely of what happened after killing my father and am eternally greatful.

Thats cool Kal that your still you, just remember we are your friends.

Now can you remember what trading costa it was and where they were going? *Kats eyes glow gently like the settled embers of the camp fire*

"Who is Taron? My name, Dwarf, is Taren of Waterdeep, son of Waltren the Armourer. My father was a simple man who made fine weapons and armour with the skill of his hands and the strength of his back. I am my father's son and I have his skill . Though I may not breathe fire, disappear in the shadows, fire magical bolts or use the power of earth and stone as other members of this rag-tag group can do. I offer my strength and my skill to the adventures of this group"

"I carry a sword which has a history greater than mine. I wear armour which has seen many wearers. I am of a race that I know little about. I am young and naive in the ways of the world."

"Everything I am, Azral Earthenshield, is standing before you."

Peace Taren, before your mouth runs wild and causes offense. I doubt Azral meant any disrespect, a simple slip of the tongue. As for "Rag Tag" *Raises and eyebrow* we may not fit into the common mold of every other fighting unit or adventurers groups round here, but it is our uniqueness and the acceptance of different peoples and ideals that gives us a portion of our strength. Where you have travelled and the animosity you have felt is not brought to this camp fire, here we are comrades on the road and in some cases good friends *looking over to Kal and Azral*. Maybe in time you can find the same

Raising a bushy and little singed eyebrow at Taren's response. Azral turns to him.

"Ai lad, slip of the tongue. You may not have noticed but my speech isn't accompanied by crackles, pops and snaps. So trying to get my tongue around ya name some times eludes me. Plus your like the third one I've met and I must admit I never once did bother asking how they spelt it.

As for this Rag-tag group!

I my not always seem eye to eye with Kalatec but I have been there for her as she has me. I have helped her heart after seeing it broken by family as well as friends. I have picked up her body, mended it, bathed it and put it back together after she has had it broken more times than I can count.

Katalina is a close, if some what strange companion of mine that has done much for this old dwarfs heart. Out of all of those here she is the only one that has been blessed as a Dwarf Friend by Moradin himself in the once lost temples of Gottenhall no less.

I have only resently met yourself and the others. Am I not supposed to inquire as to the talent of those I travel with? Yes, Yes I have heard all about your fathers skill with the forge. I want to know about your skills? You know something of the forge yourself, I get that. I have seen you use both shield, and two weapons at the same time. I know you have a fancy blade that can blind people. Thats pretty much it..

For those of you that don't know I'm Azral 'Rockheart' of clan Earthernshield. I've spent many of my years living in Iltkazar building my family and tending to the temple duties of Dumathoin, Helping the Omlars with their sacred tasks. Maybe its the blessing of my blood or the knowledge that Dumathoin keeps hidden under the mountain but as I grew into my middle years I wanted more and more to reclaim what was taken and lost to my brothers so long ago.

I left my home in search of those lost places, on the way I found my companions I travel with now and I also found some of what was lost. Since then I have travelled with these two and done what I could to help them as they also have done for me.

We found Corin Lyrefast's lost palace with its hidden vaults of lore. I have become a Paragon of the Moridinsamman. We have survived many attempts on our life's buy the Red Wizards, Blooded Banner Barbarians,  The undead of Drake's Peak, Dragon's, Dragon-spawn, strange Fey creatures with no mouth!. Thats not including the bastard that raped Kalatac while she was in the prisons of Athkatla. The demon curses that followed the Crimson Shadows children, and more.

Things I want to do in my time that I still have left include:
*securing my soul from Whisper and that cretting Gargarodos cleric.
*I wish to find the bones of the Great Drake and return them to Drake's Peak.
*I wish to find and reclaim the Wyrmskull throne including the Ruling Scepters of Shanatar.
*I want to find and destroy The Crucible, so those of the Underdark can not use it.
*I intend to get stronger so as to face the Balor that has claimed 312 souls of my fallen ancient brothers.
*I also wish to one day see Katalina rejoice as she beholds Bahamats temple beyond the Spine of the World.

I'm ok with all simple and martial type weaponry, but I prefer either axe and shield as I have learnt the ways to cast my blessings while shielding myself from my attackers or I use the Greatsword Flamebolt that I claimed from ancient lost dwarven places. I have the blessings of the Moridinsamman to call upon. I have an affinity with the earth and if I concentrate I can get a rough sense of those within a short distance.  My ancestry grants me bits of knowledge about many things and I am adept at recognising creatures we face. I rarely fatigue and never tire but these old bones do some times ache.

I have some knowledge of how to work Stone and Gems, I have studied how to find hidden messages in text, I have great knowledge of matters within Religion, I have learnt the basic's of the body and how to heal it without my blessings, I have learnt the ways on conversing with others outside of this group both to convince and deceive if need be, and I have learnt how to watch others and gauge their true intent.

That! That my boy, That is who I am!"

Azral proudly thumps his chest then realises that he was now standing, and once again his pipe was back on the floor. Picking it up he sits down and relights it.

"My apologies. I may claim to have learned the patience of the forge but sometimes my emotions get the better of me. I must admit to feeling honoured to be in the company of such experienced adventurers. I mean no offense when I say "Rag-tag""

"As for my skills, besides years of practice with swords, they are limited because of my sheltered childhood within the walls of my father's forge. Because of my nature it was hard for me to make friends as a child. In time I became used to the stares and comments and even to this day I have no patience for it. In truth I have little patience for many things. I only feel at peace when swords are in my hands or I am working the hours away at a forge making weapons or armour."

"I have some skill with animals and despite recent mishaps on the road, I have some skill at riding. When I was with the Waterdeep Militia I learned some knowledge of  the world and beyond. I am also good at climbing and jumping. On my travels since leaving home I have managed to learn some information about my eventual destination, Calimsham, the home of the Mother I never knew"

"I left Waterdeep to find out more about my people, the genasi. All I know is I as a fire genasi have some affinity with fire, but I am not immune to it. I can make flames brighten or diminish within a few feet of me. Perhaps it is fitting that somebody who is drawn to fire and can control flames should grow up in a forge. I have met another genasi, an Earth type, but she was shy and I never learned anything of her abilities or what others of our race can do.  I made a promise to find other genasi, but in truth that falls in line with my own wishes."

"Beyond that my goals are simple. I wish to master the sword, to become a true swordsman if you will. I wish to find knowledge of my people the genasi, to find the unknown history of my past. And I wish to find my place in this world, be it Swordsman or Gondsman"