Halkarndax Mer'wen the Grand Master of Changelings

Role

Chapter 5

.Several of the guards stared at him blankly, seemingly dumbfounded by the,
skin and bones, beaten, broken, deathly gnome before them. Hovering just
above the cusp of conscience, he began to speak. Weakly and still gasping
for breath, broken words flowed like summers wine, although they did not
have the reaction he was hoping for. His pleas for help, were met with jeers
and criticism from the masses. His reluctance to give up bore little fruit, as
the more effort and enthusiasm were placed upon his speech, the greater
and stronger the laughter erupted. It rose as a symphony to a great
crescendo, some guards were holding a stitch to their side as others wept
with utter bemusement.

.Through countless years he was beaten, bruised and bloodied, forced to
change shape without proper healing, and injuries never treated with the
care which they required. The innumerable assaults and facial trauma
forever warped his jaw, changing his speech to the point to where it was
near unrecognizable. His mannerisms deteriorated, body language and
emotion overran his rational form of communication and in his efforts to
proclaim his family rites diminished to nil. After the laughter had calmed and
tears dried, he stood nobly and bayed with his best effort for them to allow
him within the city walls. Finally with only a few more giggles and prodding,
he was allowed to pass and shortly arrived before his family home.

.Before him was a sparsely populated dwelling, lacking of nearly all frills.
Rapping at the door, no one answered, not a single relative remained, no
one from his bloodline at all. Arriving, a passerby who saw his efforts closed
in and called to him, seemingly curious of his endeavor. They explained that
the creators of the Great Seal, no longer called Hillcrest their home. The
story was told that over ten years ago they moved after having been robbed,
and choose a more quiet lifestyle within some mansion deep beyond the
mountains. When asked of their son, the passerby replied, with some great
reverence. He was a glorious gnome, paramount, at the apex of all he
encountered, and from time to time he came to visit the city, enjoy the wine
and women. After hearing this story, Halkarndax wept uncontrollably, until
like a bolt from the blue, his keystone arrived, dropping all his views and
ideas into place. He stood proudly once again, now the son of Mer'wen.

Role

Chapter 4

. More than half a century has past since Halkarndax attempted to return to
his ancestral home. He still recalls those events, as vividly as ever, nearly as
if they happened less than a day's time ago. On approach to the mighty city
of Hillcrest he was relieved, the trail was a little more grown, some new
foliage had erupted from over the mountain, and a few new guards stood
before the imposing gates. Upon his arrival, standing and speaking before
his kinsmen, everything began to change. Soon he would understand the
true nature of the beast that is vanity, again come to know the bewitching
weavings of fate, and display what it truly means to be noble.

.Before his cousins he nearly collapsed due to his excessively rough and
lengthy imprisonment. His exhaustion began compiling just after the raid on
his captor's castle. Once the bloodshed had lightened, he slithered on his
belly until he found his master Mer'wen and together they concocted a plan
to utilize a local portal as transport to lands more known. Slyly and with
utmost haste they made the jaunt to a rather intriguing portal known only by
his master. The portal was invisible to the naked eye and was hidden within
the dark recesses of the slave-holding cells, covered by a section of magic
crafted basalt it awaited our arrival. Master Mer'wen proceeded to enhance
the musculature of their mangled bodies with all incantations he knew, they
then forced an opening behind the basalt and they passed through to safety,
pulling it closed behind.

.The days passed slowly as they wondered the countryside but it wasn't long
until they came upon more familiar territory. Small cabins, seldom populated
farmhouses, and rolling fields and hills were abundant as far as the eye
could see. At last, Halkarndax knew where he was after recalling tales of his
servants homes and numerous treks for goods. It was at this time that he and
Mer'wen set up a small camp and his journey back to his glorious former
residence began. He followed the piedmont of the mountains, toward
Udgaard pass, then up the trails past the fields full of Onehearts, raced with
all his might down the mountain, and finally arrived before Hillcrest once
more.

Role

Chapter 3

.Interactions with the outside world often bring about a multitude of effects,
some good, some bad, and some in-between. Lately Halkarndax has had a
few interactions that may have lead his life in or to a great change. Few
things change a man more than the people he meets, and inside the Inn of
Eternal Star, he has become privy to many unique individuals. His favorite
is Uial, who seems to have a more exuberant personality than his own and
enjoys the simple pleasures in life. Being around such people seem to be
lightening his attitude and livening his normally shy demeanor.

.The foremost time in the life of a shape-changer is when they gain their new
shapes to take form. This enticing event isn't lost to Mer'wen, who has come
to thoroughly enjoy his time in form, even more than his gnomish shape at
times. His first endeavor was that of an Araile lizard, followed ever so quickly
by the sly Opossum, the swift flying Goshawk, the cunning and muscular
Bobcat, and finally the wizened and tricky, Burrowing Owl. Each of these
offer new sensations and a different experience which contribute to the
electrifying energy coursing throughout his body.

.As far as introductions go, coming to know and understand the bond with the
members of the Nexus is nearly overwhelming. Such power and strength,
each person overcoming the weakness of their partner. Oh such a thing,
must be true beauty. Twas at this time that Mer'wen and his curiosity burst
forth and was nearly unstoppable. An exploration of this ability and the
kinship of being a part of another being in battle, in travel, in thought, and
feeling can not be easily overlooked. For certain, the vanguard of balance
was a great boon but twas the bond that created the opportunity for his more
primal mind to interact on a whole new level.

Role

Chapter 2

.The evolution of wher speech evolved from his many years in
captivity and the numerous beatings, scoldings, and scaldings he received
from his masters torment. On occasion he has been known to stutter, or have
brief pauses, and even repetition. He is in a constant state of reassurance
and says "Yep" often to reassure himself that he is saying what he needs to
say.

.His attitude toward people has changed greatly after his freedom he
returned without a family, and without a name to call his own. He then took
on the surname of his wizardly teacher, Mer'wen. During this time of
realization of self and understanding how he would never again be noble, he
deeply contemplated vengeance. But as if by chance he had an epiphany,
consciously deciding that it was not vengeance that was needed or the cycle
would begin again.

.Revelation brought about by his indomitable spirit brings Halkarndax to
seek the Nexus Island and fuels his desire to become an upholder of
balance. He harbors no ill will nor great reverence for anyone aside from
those of like mind, lest they too be overstepping. This desire to uphold the
balance lead him to further study the paths of defense and flight within the
shapeshifters guild. These forms serve to allow him ease of movement and
strength to defend when necessary.

Skill List

Role

Chapter 1

.Stature, ones position in life, used to mean everything to me when I
was a child. At a young age I knew greatness. My family were of noble
blood and I, their heir, was to inherit that wondrous fame and notoriety.
Through my lineage we were known as creators of the great seal, and did
enjoy any pleasure that we choose, from coin and valuables, to servants,
and even maidens. Stature however, comes with a price and nearly a
bounty. At the wee age of fifty three I was captured and taken hostage during
a simple burglary by some orcish lowlives. As fate is as devious wench and
seldom kind, I was sold into slavery. For the next ten years my life would
never be the same.

.The slave quarters were minuscule little hovels which barely kept one
out of the elements from the scorching summer sun, to the frigid and biting
winter chill. Strewn with piles of debris and refuse, they stank. Small keyless
cages locked all of us in within the evening hours less one of us was being
used for our masters pleasure. Personally, I was taken and forced under a
old blind mage. Once he had been a great scholar, however now broken
and bound he, as I, was for amusement. He taught me the finer points of
shape changing so that my masters could be amused by an armored wee
gnome, or a fang toothed half serpent. They would often gawk and cheer,
delighted by their pets, yet so easily bored. For a decade this occurred until
that wicked wench once again showed her ugly head.

.The eve in which my freedom happen to pass my way, was just as
any other. It began with morning entertainment as I was delivering my quick
witted display from gator skin, to gazelle hooves. A viscous band of warriors
stormed through the castle, laying waste to all in their path. They crushed
everyone and collected many heads. As they left, however as I had fainted
within the first moments of the battle, I was overlooked, taken for dead, and
ignored. Ooh, it is so nice to be so small sometimes I thought, eagerly
leaving my confines to rejoin the world once more.

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