Role

Chapter 7

And so the guardians of the Tul'vharun, those who still worshipped at the old altar
despite the unanswered prayers and sacrifices, kept track of the stars. And under
the constellation of Purity was born a felar. The first to be born under such since
Izholuk, who was his grandfather, several generations removed.

The significance of Azhelak's birth and lineage was not lost on the Guardians. They
raised the boy in secret and taught him from a young age to act like a servant of the
Light, and not to give in to the inner savagery that the Curse demanded deep within
his soul. As he grew it became obvious to the Guardians that he was their best hope
to redeem the Clan. His skills in combat were impressive despite a few physical
abnormalities. Azhelak was horribly disfigured, especially in the face. His nose was
almost missing, as was one ear entirely. His eyes were slightly offset and his mouth
was wide, as though someone had cut the corners of his mouth. It was obvious to the
Guardians that the Curse was getting worse and the carnal inbreeding was fuel to that
fire.

Azhelak was a good student. He was also eager to accept what the Guardians considered
to be his destiny. As an adolescent the carnal urges would ravage his body worse than
most, perhaps because it sensed the inherent Purity of his soul. Gripped with rage much
like his Grandfather had experienced when ripping apart Draclivis' slave he would have
to restrain himself at night to keep from doing horrible acts. Once the urge to spill
blood was so severe that he ran endlessly through the woods, well past the borders of
their swamp simply because he feared he would hurt one of his own.

It was in these fields that he encountered his first outsiders. A Drow slavetrader who
was leading a wagon of captured men of various races who were staring directly into a
short, brutal life of slavery. Sensing the evil in the man Azhelak let his rage go and
ambushed him with a righteous fury. The Drow was so horrified by the disfigured ranger
that he did little to resist and was slain easily. Without a word Azhelak freed those
in the wagon and returned to the woods. When he returned home he found peace for days
from the urges. The Guardians informed him that destroying evil and strengthening the
"good" end of the balance must work against the curse. And from then on Azhelak hunted
far and wise. Exploring the neighouring lands for those with a red aura.