Story Primer and Character Sheets

Malarinden was a thriving world. For over a millennium peace had been established and maintained among the races. Borders had been drawn and agreed to, territories observed, and foundational agreements for trade, commerce, and diplomacy held everything together.

King Bartelemi Sueridis, known as “The King of Justice” sat on the throne, ruling the race of humans for 24 years. His family had been in power as the rulers of the human race for nearly 500 years. His Queen, Adelena Gunterec known as “The Queen of Peace” was a fierce negotiator, and ruled beside her husband happily. Their four children were bright, intelligent, and lived lives of great luxury and wealth.

Of course, not all was perfect on Malarinden, but the rulers did the best they could to maintain the way of things. The citizens of all nations and races were able to find their own measures of success and comfort. But one day, the stars fell and everything changed.

During an annual meeting of the Sovereigns, a week of talks with the rulers of all civilized races and cultures, at the Human Capital City of Ravenspire, the sky opened up, and streaks of light began to fall. At first, the fragments evaporated before hitting the ground, and for over an hour a “light show from the gods” placed people in a state of awe. But then, the lights increased, the hiss of falling fire came closer, and finally they began to impact the ground. Small explosions became massive explosions, and then suddenly, the sky went red as blood. A massive comet smashed into the capital city, instantly vaporizing everything for 20 kilometers in all directions. Forests were leveled, rocks melted to puddles, all of Malarinden’s leaders were wiped out in an instant.

This cataclysmic event came to be known as "The Starfall".

A new dawn is emerging on Malarinden. The void of leadership, the sun blocked from view across most of the planet by ash and debris, the magical, societal, and economical articles of agreement were all vaporized in the cataclysm, there are no remaining remnants of the global structure in written form.

The people of the world must now do what is needed to survive.

NAME:  The Raven

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:  Black clad figure that is slender built.  Black leather vest over a black linen shirt with fitted long sleeves and a small hood.  High, black soft boots and soft black leather gloves of elven craftsmanship.  Wide black leather belt with hidden slit like pockets on the inside of the leather.  Always wears a black, silken scarf over the lower part of the face and neck and a light dusting of charcoal on the face to prevent the light skin tone from being noticeable in the dark.  Two black, metal poles measuring one and half feet feet in length and are always worn inside the boots on the outside of the calf.

PERSONALITY: Quiet.  Sneaky.  Doesn’t say much if anything at all.

FLAWS & QUIRKS: Sometimes overconfident.  Takes too many risks for fun.  Likes to play games with guards and patrols.  Loves to try and beat people at their own game.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND: The Raven is a thief who began making a reputation five years before the meteor strike.  No one has ever seen The Raven (that anyone knows) but whenever The Raven strikes, they always leave the calling card of a single Raven’s feather in place of whatever it was that was stolen.  The usual victim is a well to do society member that has precious jewels or a high stakes gambler who has their coin removed from their person.

The Raven has never left a note to say why they do what they do but almost every time after The Raven strikes, there is a substantial benevolent donation to a charity within the city The Raven has visited.

SKILLS & ABILITIES: The Raven is a master at stealth.  The few times the local guards have tangled with The Raven, they have come out on the losing end.  Skilled at hand to hand combat and very proficient with a quarter staff always taken off the guards and two small poles The Raven pulls out of their boots measuring about a foot and a half in length using them as hand weapons.  Good at knife throwing as well but never aims to kill.  Only wound and incapacitate.

NAME: Wynter Larkins

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Wynter Larkins is 23 years of age standing 5’8” tall with coal black hair that gives off a faint bluish color in the sunlight. Green eyes rimmed by thick, dark lashes. Slender built with a full bosom, small waist and athletic legs. Slightly oval shaped face with a petite nose and proportioned chin chin.

PERSONALITY: Confident. Speaks her mind with respect. Does not like to be thought of as a lesser being because she is female. Stubborn. Holds her ground when she is arguing and does not like bullies. Her trust must be earned.

FLAWS & QUIRKS: Can be a bit hot headed at times. Sometimes blinded by her own stubbornness. Has a soft heart for the oppressed. An independent woman who does not like to ask for help and detests accepting charity from others. She wants to earn her right to have what is being offered/given to her.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND: Wynter is the only child to Reeve Elijah Larkins and lives in the city of Burgess. The sister city to Ravenshire. The Great Dingal Sea separates the two cities. Having grown up with just her father since her mother died during childbirth. Her father made sure she was well educated in the world around her as well as the etiquette of a proper Lady. Her father also made sure she was quite capable of taking care of herself in any situation. Rather it be a conversation about mercantile capital or fending herself against an opponent, Wynter was raised to be a very independent woman yet capable of having immense compassion.

Wynter spends her time attending social events with the other ladies in Burgess as well as working in the livery stable tending to the horses or doing one of her favorite past times which is riding the countryside on her favorite filly, Sunflower.

SKILLS & ABILITIES: Wynter can read and write and she is proficient in mathematics. She can even speak a little Elven, but not much. An experienced horsewoman, she is very adept the horses and handling them. Even lively ones. Trained by her father to be able to use a quarter staff, a short sword, a crossbow, knives and her own hands to fight. She prefers the company of the horses above anything else. She does not mind spending time with others but horses don’t judge her for still being single or for the secret dalliance she had.

NAME: Izrya Gunterec-Sueridis

AGE: 18

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Izrya stands 5' 6" tall, has dark brunette hair, deep brown eyes and perfect, tan colored skin. She is the central subject of many Bard's songs, referred to as the most beautiful Princess to live in a thousand-thousand generations. She is slender, shapely, and the epitome of what is considered the standard of beauty in every respect.

PERSONALITY: At her very best, Izrya is the most selfish person on the planet. Having been raised in royalty and luxury, as well as being the youngest of a family of seven, Izrya never lacked for anything. She lives as if everybody owes her whatever it is that will make her happy in the moment.

FLAW & QUIRKS: Izrya's immediate response will always lean towards, 'how will this benefit me the most', 'what do I get out of it', and, 'will it make me happy'. She cares little for the comfort or happiness of others, as long as her needs are being met, that is all that matters.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND: Izrya is the youngest daughter of King Bartelemi and Queen Adelena, and the only known survivor of the Human Royal Family following the Starfall. She was born on the summer solstice, during a year of plenty, everything about her birth suggested that she would never want for anything. On her day of naming, the Sages spoke that her life would be one of luxury and comfort, but at an unspecified moment in her life, a new path would be established, if only the Sages knew the reason why.

SKILLS & ABILITIES: Izyra showed promise and potential as a Wizard from a very early age. Though she was not among the highest of talent, her position in the human royal family granted her admission to the Tower of Brume, the most prestigious Wizarding school on the planet. In addition, Elora Yornell, one of the most prestigious and highly sought after Archmagi on the planet agreed to take Izyra as her apprentice. As a result of this, Izyra believes she is much more talented than she actually is.

NAME: Clacktock Cobbpot

AGE: 80

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Clacktock stands 2’ 8” tall, has brown hair with a green tint, a round button nose, chubby cheeks and dark brown skin. Clacktop is lean and strong and typically wears heavy denim, black overalls that have dozens of pockets to store his tools.

PERSONALITY: Clacktock is a middle-aged Gnome and a highly proficient inventor. While some Gnomes continue to focus on outdated technology such as springs and tension, Clacktock is one of Malarinden’s foremost Steamsmiths. Clacktock is hyper and over-talkative, especially when he hasn’t been working all day, his nervous energy builds up and then escapes through overly verbose tales of his journey to invent the next, whatever.

FLAW & QUIRKS: Clacktock can get overzealous when it comes to his inventions, often deploying them without fully testing them. This bad habit is what got him expelled from the Inventors Guild, a shameful dishonor he has been working for 20 years to correct so he can be readmitted. Clacktock is also known for putting the solution ahead of the problem.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND: Gnomes in general follow their genetic passion for inventing and tinkering. Clacktock is no exception and his family has been known throughout Malarinden for generations thanks to their elegant solutions to common problems that were solved with clever engineering. Clacktock is extremely talented and resourceful, he can find a solution with whatever materials present themselves, but where he really shines is in steam technologies, a new direction the last three decades that has brought with it major advancements in all manners of life.

SKILLS & ABILITIES: Engineering and inventing across most disciplines. His specialization was in spring and tension, but lately he has been focused on steam tech.

NAME: Oliver Kwendith

AGE: 24

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Oliver stands tall and slim at 6'1'', with brown eyes and dusty, curly blonde hair that just covers his ears and part of his eyebrows. He has a thin and slender neck to match the rest of his body, and nimble fingers used for crafting and playing musical instruments. He often wears thick, padded material to compensate for the lack of fat on his bones, and is never seen without wearing a key on a chain wrapped around his neck.

PERSONALITY: Oliver, though often quiet, is intelligent and clever. He's not quick to trust, but is always willing to help the common good. Seeing someone in need is his least favorite thing, and often he will do whatever it takes to help those in need. When talking about something that he is passionate about, whether it be playing a song on a lute or adjusting the gears in a clock.  

FLAW & QUIRKS: Oliver can be naive, especially because he is drawn to helping people he doesn't know. It's easy for Oliver to get wrapped up in danger because of his lack of discretion as to who he is offering to help. "Stranger Danger" holds no value when helping those in need. He would also do anything to protect and help his sister.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND: Oliver and his sister grew up in the outskirts of town, never really having much of a lavish lifestyle. He and his sister used to run off into the woods and fight with sticks as if they were swashbuckling pirates along the flowing rivers of their hometown. Oliver was always gentle with her, never wanting to be too rough, and often would give in and let her win. His mother was a seamstress and his father worked in the fields, giving him lots of opportunities to learn how to work hard as well as little crafty skills needed in his mom's shop, like sewing and jewelry and even playing live music for her customers.

SKILLS & ABILITIES: Oliver is incredibly crafty, and a "jack of all trades". Though he isn't incredibly skilled in any one thing, he has picked up on lots of smaller abilities from working in his mother's tailors shop, like patching clothes or fixing the broken sink. Additionally, from time spent in the fields, Oliver knows how to grow a good crop and what it takes to take advantage of nature. Spending lots of time with music to amuse his younger sister, Lili, he also is apt in playing a musical instrument, but prefers playing his lute.

NAME: Lili Kwendith

AGE: 17

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Lili is moderate height, standing at 5'6'' with wavy strawberry blonde hair that reaches just past her shoulder blades. She is as lean as her brother, if not a little more built, from running around the forest and leaping over streams. She has hazel eyes like her mother's and a beautiful smile, who everyone assumes comes from her father.

PERSONALITY: Lili is outgoing and adventurous and is always looking for the next challenge. She is brave and confident, two traits her brother seems to be lacking in. She has always wanted to be the noble hero in her story. She has a hard time backing down from a challenge, and can be stubborn to a fault.

FLAW & QUIRKS: Lili has a stronghead like her father and sometimes doesn't recognize danger in its purest form. She overestimates her abilities, and sometimes is a little overly confident in her own strength.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND: Lili grew up with her parents and brother, but secretly wanted to get an education and learn. Though she would help her mother sew hems and craft blouses, she has always been passionate about sword fighting. Eventually, fighting with sticks along the stream wasn't hard enough anymore, and Lili sought a better education in sword fighting. She came across a man by the name of Tyroth in the town square, and he offered to help her. Eagerly, Lili agreed, and has been learning how to fight for a few years now. She often quarrels with her brother when he expresses his concern with her lessons, but she continues to go out and learn more about fighting and how to defend herself.

SKILLS & ABILITIES: Due to her many lessons, Lili is proficient in sword fighting and melee combat, and is also decent in throwing daggers and other sharp objects. She can read and very minimally, but is quicker on her feet than the average female.