Randsford (prime)
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Appearance
You see Randsford the Paladin of Oleani of Icemule Trace. He appears to be a Giantman of the Maeramil Clan. He appears to have come of age. He has bright crystal green eyes and fair skin. He has short, thick dark brown hair with lighter streaks. He has a clean-shaven face and broad shoulders. He has a circular blue tribal tattoo on his neck. He is in good shape. He is wearing an eonake banded knight's helm, a luminous gold Oleani pendant, an elegant white knight's cape, some spiked eonake gauntlets, a silver shield insignia, a white eonake knight's aegis bound by shimmering silver and imbedded with emeralds that form the symbol of the goddess Oleani, a white eonake-studded pack, some pure white rolaren platemail imbedded with a symbol of Oleani, an arctic blue armband with crossed ivory tusks, a gleaming white warg pelt sheath inlaid with rune-swept auroral emeralds, a silver threaded silk satchel, a woven grapevine ankle-cuff, and some slim white boots.
Prologue
Deep in the secluded forests surrounding Icemule Trace lay hidden an Enchanted Glade that is only accessible by the deeply devote and sworn loyal to Oleani. The heart-shaped clearing is home to a makeshift camp consisting of a simple firepit that is surrounded by tents. Within the recess of the heart resides a frozen altar that seems unnatural compared to the rest of the environment. Upon closer inspection, the altar is flash frozen, encased in ice, and comprised of fauna that would wither in the cold; the altar is comprised of the remains of a reddish tree with a hollowed out heart-shaped opening, within the opening grows a single budding flower.
Like most evenings, the camp is alive with foot traffic from adventurers coming and going, the firepit glows faintly inviting respite. Within a tent lays a figure all clad in white resting lazily. A blackened plated dwarf warrior stands guard by the entrance and grunts as two others leave the sanctuary. A pair of gnome wizards argue amongst themselves as they weave essence at a magical barrier surrounding the glade. Lastly, a half crazed elvish priest sits in prayer before the altar.
The general stillness is interrupted as the figure stumbles out of his tent and exits the clearing offering a sharp nod to the warrior guarding the entrance. The younger of the gnomes catches a glimpse of the figure and slowly shuffles from his responsibilities and meekly approaches the priest. The gnome hiccups quietly next to the priest and asks, "Er uh, umm, sir, can I...could you, I mean if its not too much trouble..."
The priest twitches and trembles in annoyance as he glances at the gnome and sneers, "What?! You disturbed the blessing so out with it already!" The gnome stifles his hiccups and offers a low bow as he backs up slowly and takes a seat next to the fire and responds, "Your holy one! The big one be a mystery to me still, I know you shared his tale when I first took the oath but no others have since. Would you, could you, um....if it would honor..."
The remaining adventurers glance over and cringe slightly awaiting the coming scolding, they avoid making any direct eye contact with the crazed one. The elf, sensing his anger, offers a crocked look to the gnome before replying, "Very well, you have attended to your duties and I don't think he will be back anytime soon to offer his protest. Just try to control yourself this time?"
The young gnome hiccups excitedly as he gestures at the others to join him by the fire where he sits waiting not so patiently. The elf shakes his head and plops himself by the fire and is soon accompanied by the rest. He begins, "This is a tale of a fool, a fool in love, a fool willing to do anything to protect those within his care. A miraculous fool whom would be blessed in unexplainable ways. Be warned there are no happy endings here, merely lessons to be learned, interpret what you will from any of this for any judgement mean not, there is only one that can ever truly judge him."
The elf pauses and gestures at the frozen altar before continuing, "This story begins and ends with love, Her love, perhaps, and flames but not Her flames." He closes his eyes and twitches as he continues in a trembling voice, "War...an orphan of war. A lone child, a sapling, raised by the Maeramil clan. A son to parents that would preach kindness to other clans, clans that would have nothing to do with kindness." He shakes his head slowly as he speaks, "Flames, the flames, cleanse the world they can but not always the filth, flames too will burn the just for they are indiscriminate in their destruction! The non-believers raided his village, subdued any defenders, defiled...unspeakable acts. The flames would spread and consume all inhabitants except for one, the sapling, spared he was, perhaps it was Her, perhaps it was fate...", his voice trails offs.
The group sits silently staring at the slow flickering flame, the silence interrupted by a meek hiccup causing the elf to twitch and continue, "Half starved he wandered aimlessly in the snowy hinterlands seeking shelter. Spared by foul beasts, ghost wolves, surrounding the region. By a miracle he stumbled his way into Icemule not knowing what fate would bestow. It was kindness that spared him for back then the hearts of Icemule were warm and welcoming." He shakes his head sadly and continues, "Kindness such as that of the kilted one, Roelon, whom would become a life long friend and the closest thing he has to kin. Warmth would spread to his heart and lead him to his love, Jaddzia, whom he would wed; she showed him the ways of Oleani and set him on his path. Their love continued to grow and soon it bloomed into their daughter, Shassadee, and completed the family of clerics."
The young gnome pulls out a stuffed wolf and snuggles it tightly as the story continues, "This sapling though, remember, was a fool. He feared the dangers that encircled Icemule and sought power to defend. His heart and soul were blessed by Her love, the love of those around him, he thought it would be enough to spare him. You see, he walked in the light but chose to bath in the darkness..." The elves eyes dim slightly causing the gnomes to look at each other and nod slowly, the warrior stares in confusion at the others as the elf resumes, "His power would grow, he gained strength but darkness had pierced his heart. His loved ones protested but their love would overcome to form a covenant to bind his heart from darkness."
Stopping and pointing off into the distance the crazed one carries on, "Power would lead him on adventures and earn his stature within Icemule. The sapling would wield his trusted shield in defense of those around him when Icemule would need all its heroes most. It was around this time the trail to Pinefar was found and the darkness at the edge would haunt Icemule. The vvrael had come to Icemule to spread their darkness and he would be a bulwark in their way. His friends, family, and acquaintances of the time would honor him and his good deeds; his darkness seemed at bay, that is until love proved to no longer be enough."
The elf exhales a deep sigh as he continues, "Life has a way to cause the unexpected, his heart would shatter into pieces as the love of his life would set him free. It would be her sister, Itiara, that would be there to mend his heart but she too would leave him an empty void. Darkness consumed him, losing love made him hollow and he would leave a path of broken hearts in his wake. Eventually all joy left him and he vanished into the void that had produced the very threats he had feared. Nobody truly knows what happened except him; he spoke to me once of unimaginable things he had seen and experienced, he had seen himself succumb to darkness and light in a vicious cycle. Lost he was, a lifetime would pass before any would see or hear from him again."
The group remains quiet with only the young gnome offering a faint whimper as they all hang onto every word, "However, out of the darkness the light would emerge once more. The sapling was spit out by the void, no longer a cleric and now blessed by Oleani as a paladin; the sapling had grown even more formidable, his heart mended and encased in Her thorns. He wandered aimlessly in a daze trying to remember his ways until he would stumble upon his Enchanted Glade, his new home, this glade would become the center of his life where he would rebuild anew. He found all of us, showed us Her way and welcomed us into his home. All of us would be sworn into Her service and pledge our loyalty in return for the kindness he granted us. Secrecy is what keeps his heart safe, all sworn loyal strengthen the binds of the covenant from long ago. For the truth of it all is there is only one, two perhaps, the prime sisters that could ever truly set him free."
The elf lowers his head as the story concludes and offers only silence, silence that is interrupted by sobbing hiccups coming from the young gnome. The gnome begins to sob loudly as he speaks, "But but...that's soooooo sad! Why would she leave him?! What did he do?! Surely he had to do something! The binding must be sealed to save him!" The crazed one raises his head and scowls at the gnome, "Silence! You're supposed to be controlling yourself! Remember your oath! We are not to speak of any of this..." His voice stops suddenly and his eyes grow large as he stares behind the group to see the figure all clad in white staring back at him.
The figure approaches the group, snorts loudly, and wanders over to his tent where he flings himself down ignoring what had just transpired. The devout group lightly walk away in silence as they all return back to their duties in service and protection of the Enchanted Glade. The figure looks back at the group, grumbles to himself, and rolls over to resume his lazy slumber.
Vignettes
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Icemule's Lost Protector Returns
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: The Lazy, Cold Watch
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: A Feral Humiliation
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Leashed
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Voices Better Left Unheard
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Innocence Destroyed
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Love Continues
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Call to Arms
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Love's Reunion
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Unintended Lesson
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: A Threat Hides in Plain Sight
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: The Flames Parlay
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Dark Mark
- Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Sins Must be Paid
Treasured Items
- a luminous gold Oleani pendant
- This pendant has been carefully crafted with the utmost precision and detailing in honor of the dear Goddess. Solid gold and a single large red ruby has been carved into a heart shape and molded into one piece. In the center of the ruby you see a delicate etching of a small budding flower that is inlaid with violet sapphires for the petals and emeralds for the leaves. Engraved around the symbols edges in pure silver are the words, "Love One and All."
- an eonake banded knight's helm
- Originally silver, the eonake has been tempered to the helm for added strength and resistance against any deadly blow to the head. The pure eonake is detailed to resemble a wolf's head as it coats the helm. The wolf has a malevolent glare to oppose any enemy, its ears stand up straight as if ready for an oncoming attack, while its mouth clearly shows every fang in a display of power, the sides of the helm have been made slightly rigid to show fur being blown in the heat of battle.
- an elegant white knight's cape
- You see a long cape made of finely woven spidersilk that reaches down to the ground. Along the bottom of the cape are small eonake spikes that trail barely above the ground. The front the cape is fastened with an eonake symbol of Oleani. Embroidered on the front of the cape is an image of a lush green forest, a full moon can be seen in the background while in front rests a pure white wolf standing proud with its eyes shining an emerald green with intelligence and wisdom.
- a white eonake knight's aegis bound by shimmering silver and imbedded with emeralds that form the symbol of the goddess Oleani