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stevekenson“Red” Rowan Feyless, 1st level “human” rogue/warlock (you’ll see why the quotes in a second). He’s my new character for our upcoming D&D 4e game set in Fallcrest (the default setting in the Dungeon Master’s Guide).
Rowan’s mother Anara had an affair with an elf from the Woodsinger Clan of the Harken Forest and fell pregnant by him. Cast out by her family when they learned of this, she took work as a servant in a wealthy home in Hightown. She passed away from a fever when Rowan was ten, having done her best to raise him on her own.
He ended up on the streets of Lowtown, where he learned to sneak and steal to survive. He picked up the taunting surname “Feyless” because his insisted his elven heritage was noble (as his mother told him) but he was clearly abandoned. He ran with the River Rats, and their leader taught him his first thieving skills, saying Rowan was one of his best students.
Ressilmae Starlight, High Priest of the Moonsong Temple, was kind to Rowan, telling him stories about his elven heritage, teaching him elvish, and hinting that Sehanine had a special blessing for him.
As Rowan was reaching adulthood, a stranger came into the Lucky Gnome (the hangout of the River Rats) looking for him, a proud elf named Graymandir, who turned out to be Rowan’s uncle. Graymandir’s brother Illindel recently perished, ambushed by goblins in the Harken Forest. On his deathbed, he told his brother of the woman he knew in Fallcrest, and of the child he never acknowledged. Graymandir offered to bring Rowan back with him to the Harken Forest to live with the Woodsinger Clan. He accepted, and they left Fallcrest behind.
Living with the elves was both joyous and difficult for Rowan. On the one hand, he no longer had to steal and scrape for his next meal, and his uncle began tutoring him in the arcane arts. On the other hand, he was still a bastard half-breed, lacking in culture and speaking elvish with an odd accent, and some considered him an outsider, unworthy to join the clan, even if he was kin. When times were difficult, Rowan found solace in the quiet and shadows of the Grove of Sehanine.
Eventually, his uncle Graymandir told Rowan he was ready to move on to the next stage of his studies. They traveled deep into the forest, where Graymandir shocked his nephew by drugging him and attempting to use him in a ritual to forge a pact with the Feywild, sacrificing his elven nature to the dark and vicious forces of the Autumn Court. The ritual was nearly complete when Rowan managed to escape his bonds and upset the powerful forces unleashed. Graymandir was dragged screaming into the darkness, pleading for aid, and Rowan fled blindly from that place.
The forest seemed darker and stranger than ever before and he passed out a short distance from the stronghold of the Woodsinger Clan. When he awakened, Rowan faced a new revelation: Graymandir’s ritual tore away his elven heritage, leaving him with human features, and turning his formerly chestnut brown hair fiery red, like a leaf in autumn. He was now truly “Feyless” like his childhood nickname was a curse.
Some believed Rowan’s incredible tale but others could not ascribe such crimes to Graymandir. Accusations that Rowan was an imposter or an assassin arose, along with questions about whether or human could continue to dwell with them. Rowan chose to leave the Harken Forest and make his way back to Fallcrest. He disdained working with the River Rats, preferring to go it on his own, and he fancies himself an “adventuring scholar” more than a sneak-thief, although he’s still not above relieving a fat merchant of some coin when need be.
In Fallcrest, Rowan also discovered that his experience in the Feywild marked him in more ways than one; he possesses a touch of wild fey magic which he is just learning to control, and he aims to begin putting his knowledge to work by gathering some arcane rituals he can study and master.
I’m looking forward to our first game!
Rowan’s mother Anara had an affair with an elf from the Woodsinger Clan of the Harken Forest and fell pregnant by him. Cast out by her family when they learned of this, she took work as a servant in a wealthy home in Hightown. She passed away from a fever when Rowan was ten, having done her best to raise him on her own.
He ended up on the streets of Lowtown, where he learned to sneak and steal to survive. He picked up the taunting surname “Feyless” because his insisted his elven heritage was noble (as his mother told him) but he was clearly abandoned. He ran with the River Rats, and their leader taught him his first thieving skills, saying Rowan was one of his best students.
Ressilmae Starlight, High Priest of the Moonsong Temple, was kind to Rowan, telling him stories about his elven heritage, teaching him elvish, and hinting that Sehanine had a special blessing for him.
As Rowan was reaching adulthood, a stranger came into the Lucky Gnome (the hangout of the River Rats) looking for him, a proud elf named Graymandir, who turned out to be Rowan’s uncle. Graymandir’s brother Illindel recently perished, ambushed by goblins in the Harken Forest. On his deathbed, he told his brother of the woman he knew in Fallcrest, and of the child he never acknowledged. Graymandir offered to bring Rowan back with him to the Harken Forest to live with the Woodsinger Clan. He accepted, and they left Fallcrest behind.
Living with the elves was both joyous and difficult for Rowan. On the one hand, he no longer had to steal and scrape for his next meal, and his uncle began tutoring him in the arcane arts. On the other hand, he was still a bastard half-breed, lacking in culture and speaking elvish with an odd accent, and some considered him an outsider, unworthy to join the clan, even if he was kin. When times were difficult, Rowan found solace in the quiet and shadows of the Grove of Sehanine.
Eventually, his uncle Graymandir told Rowan he was ready to move on to the next stage of his studies. They traveled deep into the forest, where Graymandir shocked his nephew by drugging him and attempting to use him in a ritual to forge a pact with the Feywild, sacrificing his elven nature to the dark and vicious forces of the Autumn Court. The ritual was nearly complete when Rowan managed to escape his bonds and upset the powerful forces unleashed. Graymandir was dragged screaming into the darkness, pleading for aid, and Rowan fled blindly from that place.
The forest seemed darker and stranger than ever before and he passed out a short distance from the stronghold of the Woodsinger Clan. When he awakened, Rowan faced a new revelation: Graymandir’s ritual tore away his elven heritage, leaving him with human features, and turning his formerly chestnut brown hair fiery red, like a leaf in autumn. He was now truly “Feyless” like his childhood nickname was a curse.
Some believed Rowan’s incredible tale but others could not ascribe such crimes to Graymandir. Accusations that Rowan was an imposter or an assassin arose, along with questions about whether or human could continue to dwell with them. Rowan chose to leave the Harken Forest and make his way back to Fallcrest. He disdained working with the River Rats, preferring to go it on his own, and he fancies himself an “adventuring scholar” more than a sneak-thief, although he’s still not above relieving a fat merchant of some coin when need be.
In Fallcrest, Rowan also discovered that his experience in the Feywild marked him in more ways than one; he possesses a touch of wild fey magic which he is just learning to control, and he aims to begin putting his knowledge to work by gathering some arcane rituals he can study and master.
I’m looking forward to our first game!
