Iorthir was born twenty five years ago to a elven warrioress Elestra Icesong, Elestra had been raped by human soldiers whom she had fought in battle in a border dispute. She had been captured and raped over and over again but she remained unbroken, then she was rescued by her comrades from the slave camp and brought back home to the north but she was deeply in pregnancy and there was no way safely stop the pregnancy so she had to carry through it. However her harsh treatment along with pregancy made her body weak and she caught sickness which weakened her body further with fever and she died while giving birth to Iorthir.
Now, Elestra's family saw the half-breed nothing more than disgusting reminder of Elestra's treatment and not part of their tribe. So following customs of their people how they treat infants which are born with defects is just carry child into wilds and placed there to die during the winter and devoured by whatever happens come across the newborn child. However quirk of fate pack of wolves moved into area and heard cries of newborn baby, in the pack there was female wolf which had lost all pups recently on disease which had infested on their earlier den and mother instincts kicked in and the female wolf then started take care of the half-elf baby and nurse it.
Ten years later a local aged elf ranger Jalik 'Strider' Frostbranch heard rumors about a 'wolfman' in the woods, spotted by some local herders running with pack of wolves. Suspecting a werewolf Jalik started track the wolf pack and seek slay the werewolf before further trouble arises from such. However he was surprised as he tracked the pack and got closer look on the wolfman to see it was a half-elf child....living and communing with wolves like one pack members and hunting alongside with them! Jalik had to make hard decision and decided he has to capture the wolfman, as a half-elf child's natural place is not in the wolfpack. Albeit it's weird miracle itself but he knows this is not natural as child was different species than the wolves around it.
So, Jalik hunted the child but now different purpose, he manages lure child onto trap after a day and then drag child on his cabin and start a very long process taming the child. He himself dislike the term but that very much was it; as child was feral and completely like a wolf. So it took good two years of patience and daily interaction before child was anyway presentable shape to talk, use tools, wear clothes and understand most concepts like other humanoids do than animals. Jalik named child as Iorthir, which is for elven 'wolf born'. However he also asked around had anyone lost half-elven children around the community and so far none came up.....expect until he came across Icesong tribe who told one their own had given birth of one but they had thrown the child into forest....which to Jalik was monstrous deed for innocent child but tribe was adamant on their judgement. Also tribe elders were shocked to learn the child which they had thought dead long gone along with mother had actually survived!
This caused uproar especially amongst Eleste's close family, especially on her brother who swore to kill the bastard but elders forbid it; as laws are clear if child survived on it's own without aid of the tribe in the woods as newborn (even if taken care by wolves), the child is considered part of the tribe by sheer act of preservence and sign of nature spirits to accept the child in. So Jalik introduced Iorthir to his relatives....and overall things did not go very well at all as he lived amongst them. As Iorthir was bullied, mistreated and called 'half-born' daily basis. Iorthir was unhappy and wanted live with Jalik than with his people (or back in wolf pack). However Jalik was firm in keeping Iorthir on the tribe where he truly belonged but he promised visit Iorthir regularly to check up on him and take him on hunting trips.
Thanks being bullied Iorthir made no friends from the tribe, only elders were neutral but even they viewed him as 'lesser' than pureblood members of the tribe. So not much was expected from him. Iorthir listened and heard about tribal warriors and he sought mentor for himself but all potential candidates laughed on him and dismissed him. However warriors gained recogniction in the culture despite what their race or origin were, naturally tribe's own warriors were highly praised but they gave praises for select few non-elven warriors as well and given honorifics.....so Iorthir saw becoming a warrior only way to gain acceptance!
So, without mentor he started to train and work hard, just himself. He stole wooden toy sword and started hammer in the forest, recall how he had hunt with the pack and started adopt their tactics and methods for his movements and attacks which carry a ferocious power. This lasted for several years until he reached age of seventeen, a age where he could undertake rites of adulthood and considered as adult by tribes standards. However his request was denied, as he had no parents then only his closest male relative, his uncle, would be able vouch for him to get approval. But as uncle still hated the half-breed, hated what humans had done to his precious sister, he spitefully denied Iorthir no chance to get recognized adult and planned him always considered as a child. A worthless child at that.
This angered Iorthir and he ran off, stealing armor and weapons from tribe's armory he then set out from the tribe and started travel in the world. To prove he is something worth to talk about and recognized fully as adult by tribe's standards! Since then he has recklesly ran into conflicts as a hired sword, learning along way from more experienced warriors the tricks of the trade, short brush up and update his skills. He grew into a fearsome warrior in battle and although he got little to no acceptance from his own people he found more than plenty acceptance from other races who appreciated his skills with the blade and shield. Along his travels he rescued a dwarven priest of Moradin who was also gifted smith, as reward saving his life he forged
Skyfire, a excellent bastard sword which steely surface shines like northern skyfires during coldest of nights in his homeland. A blade worthy of a legend or good story.
One most peculiar case during his years was that he fell in love for a jeweler, a half-elf called
Janessa. Iorthir and Janessa came different backgrounds, Janessa was born to half-elf parents and had lived cities most of her life while Iorthir came from a fearsome northern elf raider tribes from middle of frozen wilderness and raised by wolves. But despite differences they connected and she helped him great deal to get accept that him to try become part of a tribe which hates him is not a good idea or that tribe was not worthy of him. She was also one who tempted Iorthir to settle down, live in city with her and become a weaponsmith. Iorthir at first dismissed this thought but over three years dating her, sharing nights of passion and her charm started gnaw the heart of the warrior to consider put down his sword
Skyfire on fireplace decoration and become a weaponsmith. As he after all knew what good weapon and blade feels in his arms after all.
But seems fate will not have his road go that way, instead after coming from tavern meeting local friends he gets to home where Janessa was living in...her shop broken in and her lay bloodied in floor as whatever broke in had slaugthered her like a sheep with a clawed hands! Iorthir went mad with sadness and mourning and he attended her funeral along with her family, even if not married to her yet he was counted already part of the family by her side. He investigated the crime scene and only thing stolen was peculiar bracelet which she had purchased from shady traveler and he tracked down where traveler had went to; he had got clues where the seller of the bracer had went to and he is tracking him down to beat some answers out from him.....what hell exact for Janessa died!
Topic: PF-erized Expedition to Castle Ravenloft (Read 11628 times)