Tomias the Ernest Devotee of Courage, Marshall of the Fortress

PK Statistics

Role

Chapter 12

Tomias sat amidst the misty ruins in quiet meditation. How quickly the
world had changed. Was it for the better?

He had often worried if he should be less careful in Thera's cities, if
the gain of a defeated foe outweighed the risk of harm to innocents, or
even, the mere display of violence to those citizens. He loathed the
idea of spreading even more fear about. And now, the most despised evil
being in Thera had removed himself as a judge and enforcer of "justice,"
all in the name of a greater power... the lich Tamazin sought to control
the flow of magic itself and resurrect a legendary and long dead cabal in
his name.

Not all agreed with Tomias that this should not happen - even within
the Fortress. It was a different battle than he'd fought before:
persuading, debating, arguing - and he was trying to be careful not to
sew discord in the ranks, but yet when a young squire challenged his old
friend Prixm in front of everyone - he let it play out, because Prixm
was wrong. But at what cost? Prixm was now gone, but he did he leave
distrust in his wake?

And now Odaza was no more. Like a rush of fresh air reaching a
battlefield rotting in carrion, the mummy's ultimate succumbing
instantly lightened the landscape of Thera. Since he joined the
Fortress, all Tomias knew was war. When fires rage, one cannot
pause and worry over choices. But now there was ash, and quiet.
Suddenly the season for survival had past, and the time for strategy
had arrived.

And then there was that other thing... everything... himself. A break
in the storm meant that there was nowhere now for Tomias to hide from the
mystery of his parents. He had the support of his goddess, he had the
support of the Fortress, but did he have the nerve to ask the brigade
to form an expedition to help him find House Vronzdir?

Role

Chapter 11

Since being named Marshall of the Fortress, Tomias has struggled to be a
strong warrior and leader, but with the faith of the light firmly
filling his heart, he is determined to continue.

However, more distractions from his goal of strength await. Foremost, he
has not seen nor heard from his mysterious drow father since being named
Marshall of the Brigade.

Tomias finally wants to learn all he can about the house that hunted him,
House Vronzdir, and wants to know the truth about his discomfiting father.
Perhaps either has something to do with the failures of his mind he
has been experiencing.

But what Tomias does not know is that the man claiming to be his father,
is not.

* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *
- THE STORY TOMIAS WILL TRY TO UNCOVER -

In his quest to finally learn and face the answers he seeks (while
juggling the trials of being a new, not entirely qualified, Marshall)
Tomias may discover that the Matron of House Vronzdir, Mirzaxa, is his
true mother.

Mirzaxa Vronzdir was cursed by an opposing house to be barren to any
other drow, and in an effort to circumvent the curse and produce a
female heir, she seduced a male human. Her house then ritually sacrificed
the man, and to her joy, she successfully became pregnant.

But the baby was a boy. Still, she was not deterred, and dark ideas for
the child began to circulate. Perhaps he would be sacrificed. Perhaps he
could be changed. Perhaps in time he could be... used.

Yet, for some unknown reason, her most trusted consort, a powerful mage
in his own right, stole away with the boy. He brought the boy to his real
father's parents, and helped them hide in the Voralia outskirts. The
shifter then gave himself a new name and found a home as a reaver among
the Outlanders, and curiously, became a member of the goddess Joihe's Cadre.

Tomias went on to live a quiet but fearful upbringing, until the day the
general Ilzaza found his home and the shifter again saved him. Tomias
wanted to be a paladin: to be brave and strong and free himself and
others from fear, but the shapeshifter knew the boy would not make it far
in the guild, and instead bribed the Galadon shapeshifter's guild to
accept and graduate him.

The shapeshifter wanted Tomias to be forgotten, to be safe, but Tomias'
spirit is great... there is perhaps no stopping him from learning that he
is the sole heir to House Vronzdir, much less that he was born with none
of the wits or evil of his mother. The drow essence of his spirit was
barren.

* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -*

Role

Chapter 10

Tomias felt the strength flee from his limbs, and the recently named Marshall
of the Fortress of Light lowered himself to the ground, determined not to
be defeated, but losing his footing all the same.

The chaos of battle was still overwhelming for him. The vigilance required to
always be on watch for his enemies was taxing. The knowledge so many of his
allies shared of Thera was not shared by him. He was not the same as his
brothers in arms. And yet, here he was, leading them.

Tomias felt false... like an impostor. He clutched his head and forcibly
suppressed the urge to sob, but tears still found their way out.
He thought he was done hiding, but it was all he could do now to hide
his ...weakness.

Perhaps his struggles were because of lingering affects of the mummy's
curse of forgetting? Yes. That is why he did not recall the way to the
Pyramid or Trothon, that all others knew.

Or, even, yes, when he let the poisoner arial in his ranks, Djarbez,
experiment on him with neurological taints! Oh, that was most unwise...
There is no telling how much knowledge they eroded from his mind!

Tomias thought of Lady Baerinika, and of purity. He did not understand,
but his spirit was pure, his heart was pure. Pure and sincere as the
Redhorn snow. And he felt such. His mind, Tomias was realizing, no, it
was not pure, perhaps not even whole - but his spirit was great.

"I am brave," he said aloud to himself. "I will be strong. The spirit
of the jaguar walks with me, and with her faith I will be great."

But it would be some time before Tomias would discover why he, a part-
drow, had a spirit so unusually strong with the light, or, why
he was born only half the person other humans were.

Role

Chapter 9

A large, white fox lay still in the snowstorm, ears up, listening, waiting.
The cold snow had become something of a strange comfort to Tomias, and he
couldn't help but smile at the irony of him, Tomias Jensin, hiding in
wait for prey, rather than in safety from it. But any minute they'd be
near, and the peace he found in the wait would be swiftly replaced with
blood, chaos and adrenaline.

"Your arctic fox is a wonderful asset to have, Tomias!"

A large dire wolf stood up out of the snow and grinned happily at Tomias, before
somehow fading underneath the snow again.

"Father?"

"Yes, of course! Who else? Listen, they are going to know you are hiding,
probably right at this one spot. You ought to set up at your Watcher, don't
you think?"

The fox sighed loudly. "I can see what is to come out here, I-," the fox
paused. "You shouldn't be here!!"

The snow-covered wolf seemed to laugh. "I am here to help! They are my
enemies too, after all. We can fight side by side. Me, alongside a Maran!"
The wolf seemed to chortle.

"No!" cried the fox. "You can't be here. You must go. This is my fight, and
you, you are not..."

The wolf raised it's head, and met the fox's eyes. "Not good, like you,
Tomias?"

The fox did not answer.

The wolf rose up again, this time violently shaking its snow off. It
loped over to the fox, and again spoke. "You have done so well for yourself,
Tomias, I always knew you would. A Maran of the Fortress, even before all
your other fellow squires. And despite murdering merely a fraction of the
foes!"

The fox fidgeted uncomfortably.

"But you still hide," added the wolf, quietly. "You know what I mean. There
is so much you need to know, don't you want-"

But the fox was suddenly gone. The wolf scanned his surroundings, then
let out a perturbed huff of air. After flickering into a hummingbird and
flying upward, he saw Tomias behind the Watcher of the Fortress, as
well as a row of Imperials marching up the mountain.

Role

Chapter 8

The pretty nightengale fluttered to a gentle perch atop the gravestone, set
in the shadow of an abandoned farmhouse nearby. The bird glanced at
the ground and thought aloud, his words coming out only as audible chirps.

"Oh mom... I never knew you, but oh how I wish I did. I am going to make
my life worth... your death. I promise. Today was finally, a good day!"

The gravestone listened quietly.

"I fight, mother. I know so little, but am finding so much. Even if each
discovery only reveals how much more there is to figure out. I at least...
I at least have learned I am for certain on the path I wish to be."

The wind rustled some leaves, shook some twigs.

Tomias unshifted to his normal form. He sat down against the gravestone
and gazed up into the clouds, as he did so often as a child. He smiled.

"I was so unsure... all the other squires and scribes seemed to arrive
knowing everything, and me, hardly a thing! But, I traveled to Her again,
even had to fight my way past this horrible beast, and confessed my doubts
to Her. And again, she asserted her faith in me, and she helped me realize-
...well, the light behind my worries. And guess what? My next battle,
against two hateful assassins who were murdering elves, you wouldn't bel-"

Two drow soldiers appeared in an instant, surrounding Tomias.

"What a foolish child, coming back here," sneered one. Tomias stood
up carefully as they drew their weapons and closed in on him.

"Do not kill him," said another, grinning. "Not completely, anyway."

Tomias trembled, and looked back up at the sky. He thought about
being a nightengale again. Instead, he eyed the grinning soldier,
and flickered into a form with four legs and sharp teeth.

Role

Chapter 7

Tomias leaned heavily against the painted wall of the random Galadon shop
and desperately tried to calm his breathing. As he bent over huffing, he
noticed the messy thatch of blood and feathers pressed into the bottom of
his robe. Voices bounced in his head, tracking the slippery orc he'd yet
again let escape. This would only be a short respite.

The squire stood straight and took a long drink from his water skin, then
wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Initiate of the Jaguar," he sighed to
himself. "Do all faithful reward their goddess this little?" How proud he'd
been of himself for having the courage to venture into Veran, to find Her,
to stand before her, and share and listen. But the unceasing warfare he'd
found himself in made that moment feel like a dream. Her words lingered,
but his wounds bled heavily, steadily trying to drain his faith in himself.

It was good that his father never seemed to find him in the cities, he
had not the energy to fight his advice and interest this day. As Tomias
grew less naive, he more and more feared the true nature of the powerful
drow sorceror who apparently fathered him. Tomias wished more and more
distance from him.

But what would his father think of him now? Ready to find Ilzaza and her
army? Hardly. He was a far cry from helpless boy on the farm... But
Tomias knew that his father and everyone else close to him were aware of
how oft he failed. He failed to finish any enemies, he failed to find his
captain when she needed aid, failed to protect his friends, and in some
cases, had gotten himself or his friends killed.

A plain wren flew nearby and pecked at some cracks in the cobblestones. "I
am always a page behind, aren't I?" said Tomias to the bird. The bird
pecked at the stonework. "I have to show them I belong, that their belief
in me isn't wasted." The wren seemed to ignore Tomias.

"He moves, come Tomias!" It was the bold squire Zuhren.

Tomias allowed himself a small smile as he looked at himself, bloodied
and filthy, before hastily taking the form of his hawk. He wasn't afraid of
fighting after all, not when others needed him.

It was just everything else.

Role

Chapter 6

Deep in a virgin forest, a little nightengale fluttered to a perch onto a
small tree limb before singing a short, happy song. In a flicker, Tomias
Jensin then hopped down from the branch and landed onto ground with two
humanoid feet.

Tomias found a nook against a nearby log and sat and rested. Flying was
the most wonderful sensation, but it was very taxing.

Suddenly, a tiny little hummingbird descended from the sunlit treetops,
before flickering into the now-familiar form of Tomias' father. He smiled
broadly at Tomias and approached him.

"Look at you, son!" bellowed the drow, his jewelery and silks glimmering
in the slivers of sunlight. "You are quite the little songbird! Have you
learned any other forms?"

"Just... a turkey," replied Tomias, softly.

His father snickered, then, with a toss of his long silver hair skipped
next to Tomias with swift, elven grace. "Ah, well, worry not, I am sure
your next form will be most marvelous! Now, tell me, how did you get
them to let you into the Fortress of Light?"

"I don't know, I just-"

"I mean, I did see you fall to your death from the sky no less than twice!"

"You saw that??"

"Well, I heard the first one. THUD! But, well, now you know, right?"

"I guess so."

"I am glad you are there, Tomias," said his father. "It is a very safe
place for you. Gods know I've never been able to sneak in. I just wish
you kept the alias we agreed on. What were you thinking??"

Tomias raised his eyes and looked at the drow. "I am going to be a Maran,
father."

The drow's eyes furrowed, then he sighed.

After a moment, his father again spoke: "They will try to make a murderer
out of you, son."

Tomias held his gaze. "Like you?"

The drow scoffed. "Likely worse than me. I am not so bad as you suspect."

Tomias challenged him. "Gramps and Gran always warned me about you."

"I am aware, Tomias."

"Who are you, father? Who tried to take me? Why?"

The drow stood up and glanced upward. "The Matron Mother of House
Vronzdir, Mirzaxa, seeks satisfaction for my so-called crimes against
her. I will give you my name when I believe you are not so foolish as
to share it with your new friends."

"I am not going to hide," replied Tomias. "I am going to become a Master
of Changelings, and I will burn her house to the ground, just like she
did mine."

The drow smirked. "First, it was only the barn. Second, best learn to
fly without dying before you get too excited, hm?" Then, in a flicker
he was a hummingbird again, but this time time, Tomias could understand
his chirps as words. "And please believe me, son - I will always be
here for you. I have been all along."

The hummingbird darted up and above the treetops, then became the
silhouette of two large flapping wings, shrinking away into the distance.

Role

Chapter 5

Tomias enters the ranks of Theran adventurers being:

* Naive. He had an insulated upbringing, what with his grandparents
trying to hide him from a spiteful drowish house and all.

* Eager, but nervous. He is incredibly eager to discover the world
he's missed out on, even if it's scary.

* Lonely. He talked to animals on his family's little farm a lot.
One of them turned out to have been his mysterious shapeshifting
drow father all along!

* Sad. Loneliness, trauma, suspiciously mysterious dad, etc.

* Determined. Despite it all, he is determined to become more
than what he's known, and to no longer live in fear.

* Resentful. He knows first-hand the harm of evil. He wants it
gone forever.

* Conflicted. He wants to be brave and strong, but he is not. He
admires his father, but is very suspicious of him.

* Kind. He feels he can bear more than others, and likewise, feels
he knows the pain in others - he listens, and he is quick to aid.

* Shameful. He's ashamed of his drow side as well as of his
own naivete and timidness.

* Courageous, deep down. Though he is timid and unsure, he is not
afraid of failure, he is not afraid of getting hurt. After all, if
he once was so lonely that he thought about killing himself, why
should he be fearful of mere injury or rejection?

His timidness, ultimately, is born from lack of knowledge and not
knowing what to expect. But if he can find support and some small
successes, he just may become a beautiful swan. Or, at least, a
very useful engine.

Role

Chapter 4

"This isn't Voralia, where are we?" asked the boy.

"Galadon," the shapeshifter answered. "Lad, it was the Voralians who cast
your family out to that wretched farm on the rocky side of the river. I
would not recommend revisiting that city."

"Where is the paladin guild?" The boy scanned his surroundings, and moved
closer to the shapeshifter.

"Right this way. Galadon paladins, of course, can change their shape. A
perfect fit for you!" The shapeshifter smiled happily as he handed a small
bag to the guildguard.

"I'm not too young?"

"You are certainly the youngest 15-yr-old human I've ever met, but no, you
are not. I assure you, they will accept you here gladly."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hummingbird. I didn't want to live in a scary cave."

The shapeshifter nodded. "No, I suppose not. But I will be looking over
you all the same. Remember what I told you?"

"My name is Riks... Riksee-"

"Rixzikt'le X'aktli'iinkrivik. Do not let anyone know who you are. You had an
accident in the mines and-"

"I lost all my memories."

"Good! It was good of me to rescue you, no?"

"Yes, from the dark-elves! Thank you, Mr. Hummingbird!"

"No! From the sewers, Rixzikt'le!"

"Oh, right." The boy frowned.

"You are going to learn to be brave and strong, just like your father.
You will be alright, Rixzikt'le." The shapeshifter glanced about quickly,
then ushered the boy inside. "Now, go on! I promise Mr. Hummingbird will
check on you."

The boy nodded, glanced up at the guildguard, then proceeded in. He saw the
guildguard cast a nervous gaze at his father, who was suddenly glaring at him
intently.

Inside, the guildmaster greeted the boy coldly. "What is your name?"

The boy looked down, paused, and then answered. "Tomias. My name is
Tomias Jensin."

Role

Chapter 3

Tomias stood up weakly, and let the shapeshifter take his arm. They walked
down a a dark tunnel. There was no light, and an uncomfortable odor turned
Tomias' stomach. The boy stopped and pulled back his arm. He shook his head.

"Lad. We are safe here. No one knows of this place. None have ever found me,
none have ever escaped! Come!"

Just then a slight, bony figure emerged into sight. A weak voice mumbled
at them, "...master... you have another."

"My sweet Arianna! This is Tomias. He is most special, and will stay in my
chambers."

"...yes, sir... I will prepare your tools."

"No!" The shapeshifter cried out, then laughed politely. "No need for that.
Do we have anything he can eat? Wait. Don't answer that."

"I don't want to be here." The boy began to sniffle and sob again.

The shapeshifter frowned nervously. "Tomias, in time, you'll love it here!
I can teach you how to shapeshift... you've surely got the magic within
you. I can teach you how to protect yourself from mother and that wench
Ilzaza..."

The boy turned his head, then suddenly sprinted away toward the weak light
back at the entrance. The patter of his footsteps echoed through the
tunnel.

"...another one." Spoke the weak voice. "I will get the tools."

The shapeshifter sighed at her and shook his head. He crossed his arms
and waited.

Moments later, little footsteps pattered back down the tunnel. Slowly,
then more quickly.

Huffing, the boy looked at the shapeshifter and asked, "Can you take
me to Voralia?"

Role

Chapter 2

The dark-elf gently pulled the boy away from the cliffside, then kneeled
down beside him.

He spoke quietly. "It doesn't look like you'll be able to hide after all.
Mother really is a spiteful sort. Come inside, it's cold out here."

Tomias didn't move. He clutched his knees to his chest as tears ran down
his cheeks.

The shapeshifter put his hands on his hips and stared at the boy, sighing.

"Are they dead?" the boy asked, sobbing miserably.

"Who?"

"Gramps and Gran."

"Oh, probably. Maybe taken. But Ilzaza has little patience for the elderly,
so probably dead."

Tomias broke out into a bawling fit.

The shapeshifter groaned, then sat down next to the boy and held him gently.

"You are right about it not being fair. But your grandfather was right, too.
You can accept it, or wallow in it. But neither will change it. But you can
change yourself."

"Are you really my father?" the boy spoke up.

"Oh, yes," replied the dark-elf. "It is a long story, but, we suddenly have
plenty of time."

"Why didn't you... why weren't you-"

"You are most young, most naive, son," interrupted the shapeshifter. "But
you know why, first-hand. Do you want to know what they really did to your
mother?"

"Gramps and Gran?"

"No! The other dark-elves! Most grisly. Hmph. Really, you've no idea how
much I've done for you - given up for you, even. I'm so sorry this
happened. I thought you could live a dumb little human life and be fine.
But you are going to have to grow up now, very fast. Come, I know just the
thing to cheer you up!"

Role

Chapter 1

Tomias Jensin frowned. "Mr. Hummingbird, you are my only friend!"

The tiny hummingbird fluttered about the tall grass, then hovered before
the half-drow boy's frown.

"Everyone hates me. But Lily... well she doesn't even notice me!" The boy
grabbed a small rock and threw it at a nearby tree in frustration.

The tiny hummingbird fluttered downward and landed upon the boy's knee,
and tilted its head.

"It's no fair. Everyone has it so much easier. I'm not allowed to do
anything! And even if I was, no one wants me near them. I wish I looked
more like Gramps and Gran."

The tiny hummingbird returned a sad chirp, then hopped to the boy's other
knee, his dark skin shining light in the sunshine.

"Gran says I'm special. But Gramps says I'm a..."

"Bloody darkbreed!" There was Gramps now. "Best you accept it and get
over it, for the millionth time. Now leave them birds be and come in
for supper. Granny is ready for the bless-"

FOP!

FOP!

Twin arrows were suddenly planted atop the thatch roof of the barn,
flames growing at their base!

FOP! FOP! FOP! Arrow after arrow landed all around.

Gran came rushing out of the house. "What's happening??"

"Go!" Gramps yelled as he swung open the gate and ushered the three
down the path toward the river. But it wasn't very far before they
were greeted by a small company of armored dark-elves. A tall female,
silver hair tied in a band across her left shoulder, sauntered toward
them from the back of the crowd, grinning.

But before she could speak, screams of anguish and terror raised
behind her. A flash of fur and gnashing teeth ravaged through the
company, ripping apart the soldiers one after the other.

"NO!!!" the female screamed, face flush with fury. She quickly
drew a horn to her mouth, and blew out an ominous tone that echoed
through the riverside. She drew her sword, then faced down the terrible
dire wolf that was suddenly prowling before her. The beast swiftly
charged at her, and just as she raised her sword, leapt right past her
and locked eyes with Tomias! Before the boy could scream, the wolf's
form flickered and blurred into a giant condor, and its thick talons
clutched the boy's arms and lifted him up, up, up into the sky. A
wave of arrows followed in futility from below.

Soon the giant bird set the boy down before a cliffside cave. The
condor stood on the edge, spread its wings wide, then magically
flickered into a humanoid form. When it turned to face Tomias, the
boy saw another dark-elf, clad in bleached and cracked leather armor
and adorned with mystical jewels. Long silver hair danced wildly
behind him in the mountainside wind.

"Well, lad," said the drow, "I guess we'll be speaking to each
other properly now."

The boy backed away from him, edging toward the cliffside. "Who are you??"

The drow smiled mischievously. "You know me as Mr. Hummingbird.
But... I know you as my son."

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