Reading Pheonix's character history reminded me that we used to have a thread dedicated to character histories in my previous (now defunct) guild. Good for RP purposes as it helps you keep "who" you are supposed to be in mind.

So I figured I'll just jot Rhyddin's down here (be warned, it's really really long - this is a 7 year old character almost)

Rhyddin Drax
Rhyddin was born Ryadhim ul'Drach (pronounced Riad'heem ul'Drak) in Nujel'm some 38 years ago he led a fairly normal childhood for someone from that isle, 2 parents, no siblings, subjects of the sultan... although his family was reasonably wealthy there was nothing else exceptional about them.

At the age of 11 he was apprenticed to an alchemist to begin training for what passes as civil service in the Sultanate. He was taught to read and write, some basic scribing and the rudiments of alchemy and, being a bright quick-witted child, the fundamentals of spellcasting.

His training progressed and the young Ryadhim was found to have a particular talent for toxicology, particuarly the refinement and application of poisons - there are actually a surprising number of common plants (such as foxglove and henbane) which, when properly refined, can have interesting and often fatal consequences for the imbiber.

His master, an aging alchemist by the name of Ibrahim, placed Ryadhim into tutelage with shadowy Hashashim - famed for the use of recreational herbs, but also single-minded professional assassins. Here he flourished learning better the application and refinement of toxins, as well as how to fight with small bladed weapons and to use shadows for concealment. His final indoctrination came when he had to fake his own demise and forgoe ever using his name again - to the outside world, his friends and family, Ryadhim was dead.

Over the years Ryadhim became an accomplished assassin, removing "those inconvenient to the continued wellbeing of the Sultanate" but over time, his use, or abuse, of the relaxing drugs and tonics that were a sideline of his trade, increased and eventually led to his downfall.

At the age of 27 he was assigned the mission to "remove" one of the Sutan's concubines, Shadhira, who was believed to be a spy for the throne of Britannia. With wits dulled by one especially powerful beverage, not unlike the grog downed by sailors the world over, Ryadhim was outwitted by Shadhira who lured him to her bed knowing that her maid had espied them and would alert the guard. The delay was all she needed.

The palace guard, in the way of guards everywhere, burst into the room with all the subtlety of a raging bull elephant, catching the young assassin "in flagrante" - it was only his highly trained reflexes that saved him.

Rolling off the bed and quickly grasping the poisoned blade from amongst his clothes on the floor, Ryadhim slashed at his attackers catching Shadhira across the calf, a minor cut, but because of his skill with poisons one that would prove fatal to the attractive young concubine.

A duck and a roll under a hastily swung halberd saw Ryadhim across the room and to the balcony window. His only hope of survival lay in escape so he threw himself off the balcony into the street below, his intoxicated state saving his life as he was unable to feel much of the pain from his impact with the cobbled street. Ryadhim fled.

The theft of a fishermans dhow saw the assassin out to sea before daybreak. Ryadhim knew he could never openly return to Nujel'm, the botched assassination meant the Sultan would, to maintain the facade of his innocence in the affair, declare him outlaw and post a bounty for his head... or worse, employ his Hashashim, Ryadhim's own "brothers and sisters" to hunt him down. And they would, the loyalty of the Hashashim was always for sale.

The next few days saw Ryadhim pass in and out of conciousness drifting on the tides in his stolen dhow, sailing was not one of the skills he'd been taught for his life in the shadows. Finally a storm blew him up on the Britannian coastline a short way north of Trinsic. The next two years of his life were a living nightmare which saw him eek out an existence as a serf (yes I was one of the original members of Srf), peddling minor potions, selling meat and occasionally murdering to gain enough coin to survive - whilst having to give most of what he "earned" in taxes to his Lords in Trinsic (and all too much to the local tavern keepers).

His relatively "priviged" upbringing had not prepared Ryadhim for this life, the ignorant peasants couldn't even pronounce his name correctly, "Rhyddin Drax" (pronounced Rith'in Draks - "dd" as "th" as with the Welsh language) indeed!

After enough begging, stealing and scrounging to buy passage with a caravan heading north, Rhyddin fled Trinsic, embittered and destitute but at least drunk. Finally he arrived in Vesper.

The so called "city of freedom" was, at that time, rebelling against the crown attempting to gain recognition as a free city-state in it's own right. The meritocracy and mercantile nature of Vesper meant there were many opporunities for the, now 30 year old, former assassin. There was piracy and trading and any number of people who wanted quiet "jobs" accomplising - this was a thriving city of profit and corruption and it wasn't too long before he caught the eye of one Melv of Kha.

The Knights and Mages of Kha had had a turbulent past of their own, they were rough and ready fighters, often fond of drink not overly blessed with discipline - although "he with no name" tried to instill order within the ranks. The Knights and Mages of Kha had recently changed sides in the Vesperian War of Independance and were now allied with Vesper in an attempt to instill their own brand of Freedom throughout northern Sosaria. Rhyddin was an eager recruit, he was also undisciplined, fond of his drink and more than happy to fight against Trinsic - freeing Vesper was not even really a concern.

Years passed and Rhyddin was happy with his new "family", he trained under the tutelage of Melv, Owil and a Fat man and became an accomplished mage is his own right, whilst still retaining his knowledge of blades and poisons. Many years passed, many battles were fought alongside his compatriots of Kha, against Trinsic, the Judgement City Judges and god alone knows who else but all good things must come to an end and eventually, with freedom finally instilled in the North, the forces of Kha withered away - their role accomplished. Many left for other lands, new battles and continued their fight against slavery and serfdom - Rhyddin remained, eventually joining the forces of those battling to retain their hard-earned freedom, the townsfolk come militia army in Vesper... there was still work to do, and a bloody good tavern worth fighting for in Vesper.

There is -V- !

ESCAFLOWNE

Escaflowne was Born and Bred in his hometown of Delucia, located in the lost lands. This foreign town explains Escaflowne's unsual but wonderful name.
Escaflowne grew up with his father Carroll, the animal trainer of Delucia who taught him the skills needed to begin his journy of becoming a Beastmaster: Escaflowne never knew his mother as she dissapeared after an assault on Delucia from the undead of the nearby city of the
dead.

The lost lands being a wild land full of nature and mysterious creatures gave Escaflowne his special bond he has with animals and beasts alike as he spent most of his time in the thick forests talking and studying the glorious creatures that roamed the land.
Escaflowne was raised a free-man with Delucia being the free town it is away from the clutches of the king. This made Escaflowne wild at heart and prepared to fight for his freedom against those prepared to take it away which would explain his hatred towards the loyalists. He was however taught to be noble,kind and respectful by the local paladins that had settled within Delucia.

At the age of 17, Escaflowne had learnt all his father could teach him about creature handling, so he left Delucia and headed out for the local Savage camp determined to fufil his dream of becoming a legendary Beastmaster. The Savage tribe were superb Beastmasters and Escaflowne knew he could further his skills with them, so he settled at the camp for the next 3 years. The Savages taught him much about handling beasts but they also taught him the Way of Nature. Escaflowne spent the years learning about this Way of Nature which is the path he follows and worships today, he also fought the wicked city of the dead which he had lost his mother to, as they were a threat to the savages aswell as Delucia.

When Escaflowne was 20 his training was nearly complete, but the last stage could not be taught to him through others, he had to obtain it himself through self experience. His time amongst the Savages had come to an end, he said his goodbyes and left upon his Epic journey. For 4 years Escaflowne travelled all over Sosaria, through the thickest forests, reaching the highest moutains and venturing into the deepest dungeons. Part of his adventure took him to Ice Island where he found a Powerful White Wyrm, Aryn the Frostweaver. This was the last stage in his Journy, the taming of this Mighty Beast would be the completion of his Art. After months had gone by and a forever lasting struggle so it seemed, the beast was finnaly tamed and Escaflowne's dream was fufilled. He had become a noble beastmaster after his long quest and a wealthy one at that, but his life journey didn't end here, oh no.

At the age of 24, Escaflowne travelled to the City of Bridges, Vesper, one of the only Free Towns standing. He joined the Great Vesper Militia to fight for the good and freedom of Sosaria using his Beasts to help him along the way. Escaflowne is now 27 and has served the Militia for 3 years who are now his family; He is easily recognisable by the bear mask he wears upon his head which is never removed as it is an ancient family heirloom and a sign of his beliefs, his profession and lastly his accomplishments.

Hanse Davion

Actually not a Vesparian, Hanse was born a Minocan in the towns early years. His known family are his mother - who died some years ago in the explosion of Mt Kendall, his father Arenhurr Davion who was the Mayor before the Crown of Thorn campaign devastated the north (he died some time later during the Judgment Wars) and his brother and sister, Hasek and Larissa Davion who were sent to Magincia after Minoc fell in the Crown of Thorns. Some Davion's have returned since, the next generation of the family bloodline. Lyonya Davion, daughter of Larissa Davion - and Draxen Davion, son to Hasek Davion.

At the beginning of the Crown of Thorns, Hanse fought for the Kingdom against what the propaganda of the time claimed to be dangerous and barbaric rebels bent on destroying the Kingdom out of spite (albeit this is not far from the reality today, at the time it was only to free Vesper), however a series of events led to Hanse changing sides, and joining the Free Vesper Militia under the then Captain Slow. It was at this point he sent his family away from Minoc, so that he could fight without fear of dishonorable retribution for his betrayal.

Hanse has been involved in Vesper's affairs one way or another ever since. Over the decades having tried to start up, prop up or be involved in new rebellions around Britannia while clawing his way up the ranks to become both the Militia's head honcho and possibly the longest surviving and serving Militiaman in Vesper history, outlasting just about every man and lineage in Vesper bar the remains of the Twothumb family. He has fought personally in what appears to be every campaign Vesper has fought since the Crown of Thorns, and is reputed to be able to wield just about any tool or magic which can bring death to a man in many different combinations of fire, steel, light and darkness.

Phlebas

Phlebas, the sole issue of a reasonably affluent merchant couple whose family name he has long since stopped using. After an uneventful childhood in Minoc, he was sent to study magic at Spirtwood University, where he was a capable if unremarkable student. After graduation, and the death of his parents of natural causes, Phlebas found himself with no clear direction to take. Travelling around Sosaria as a bard killed some time until he eventually found himself in Trinsic, where the Britannia Guards were stationed at the time.

He joined up, for lack of a better thing to do. Several years of service and many, many battles shaped him into a reasonable mage, and after the departure of his tutors, Noxin and Wildcat, Phlebas decided to take an extended leave of absence.

Now a skilled battlemage, Phlebas decided to now concentrate on the studious side of magic, and joined the Darkcloaks to do so. A year of service to them saw him unearth secrets and decode mysteries, some which were better off underground and encoded. Work here gave him the taste for the daemonic, and he departed the service of the Master on reasonably good terms to continue his private research in seclusion.

Phlebas recently re-emerged into the public eye when his studies of deamons saw him come into conflict with the Royal Marksman Regiment, who took objection to his work and how he went about it. Aftering stiring up the sanctamonious hornet's nest that was Trinsic and escaping from the jail, held there on false charges, Vesper seemed like a good refuge. Hoping that they would forgive or forget all the times that he had fought against them, Phlebas sought a position in the Vesper Militia.

Gnomy

One day a unknown god needed a offspring, this unknown god snapped his fingers - Gnomy appeared - This unknown god looked at Gnomy and said: You shall walk this world and bring peace and laughter. So be it. I give you my power.

Gnomy set off into his new home without an idea of what to do, how to do it or where to do it? What should Gnomy do again....?

Soo maneh questions... Gnomy muss find a way.

Ooooooooh K - any more for any more?

Moarrrr damn it, you lazy sots.

Draxen Davion



Born in Magincia 18 years ago, Draxen is the 'black sheep' son of Hasek Davion. In his early years he, for unknown reasons, became detatched from his family and most parts of society. His father still had a fair sway with the guards of the town, which prevented young Draxen from escaping; both the port, the beach, and moongate area were patroled regularly by guards, who were more than a match for an eleven year old.

As time passed, Draxen became more restless. He felt an unknown passion within him that seemed to be difficult to channel. The brutal sport of Bagball used to be enough to quell it, but over the years it had become more fierce. Draxen sought release, and release he found; Some weeks after his fifteenth birthday, Draxen spotted on the beach of Magincia an unfamilar face. A disheveled, scraggly looking older man wielding an unusually large sword. Draxens curiosity got the better of him, and, intruiged, engaged the man with questions. Fast-foreward two days, and Draxen, on the sneak from his parents, began private tutiledge in the ways of Bushido from Shoji, master Samurai and Exilee from Tokuno.

Two years later, and Draxen is 17. Not yet a fully-fledged Samurai, but his skill with swords and combat has grown exponentially. Hearing word his cousin, Lyonya, has left to join the Vesperian militia, Draxen sees this as his chance to indulge himself in his fantasy of warfare. He makes his way to the docks, where, upon the order of his father, he is stopped by guards, preventing access to a ship waiting to take him to Vesper. In the ensuing confrontation, Draxen injures one of the guards, and kills another, then flees via ship to the mainland. At age 17 and a half, Draxen arrives in Vesper as a soldier, a nephew, a cousin, patriot, and a murderer.

Davey Shadowfang


Davey Shadowfang was borned in the small city of Buccaner's Den.
He never knew his parrents and was raised by his brother Adam.
Allthough they spend most of their times in Buc's Den they didn't
socialise with the pirates and other criminals. As far as Davey
remembers his parents dissapeard at his age of five years.

Davey and Adam were as twins. Couldn't be seperated from
eachother and they were outstanding working together as a team.
Allthough they wasn't decent citzens but Adam was a man of the
wild woods. He prefferd to stay out there for days and months and
after a while Davey was able to come along to be teached a thing
or two.

Adam told Davey that the skill of be able to blend in the the suroundings
are as important as be able to track animals for hides and meat.
Adam told Davey everthing he knew. Everything from wielding a
hunting spear to blend in the the inviroment and how to move
around un-detected.

At the age of Fourteen Davey lost his brother. Adam was charged
for comitting a murdery of a captain in the Royal Fleet,
Davey has allways claimed that this was a conspiracy.
And the truth will never to come
forth as the truth died with Adam as he got hanged for the crime they
say he commited.

Davey was furious, he joind the crew on a smuggling fleet heading
for the main capital. He seeked up a local library and seeked up a
book on toxicology and started to study for himself at the docks.
Looking out over the ocean and wonders if this is the right thing
to do, however he knew that his brother will look after him.

After finished a few books on Toxicology he seeked up the judge
that sentenced his brother's death with a blink of an eye.
He poisoned the man's water at his home and waited up in a tree
for the judge to return home, he saw the judge drink of the water
and fell down a few seconds later at the front porch. Curious as
he is the jumped down from the tree and stepped forth the judge
and looked at him for a few seconds.

Then suddenly three guards appeard behind him and asked him what
was going on. They saw the dead judge and the hunt was started.
He ran into the city and ran to the docks to in hope find a ship that
would sail away really quick. But all the crews was either sleeping
or drunk and rummage around.

Davey jumped into the water and started to dive under the surface
in hope to escape. The guards, fortunatly never got the hand over
him but the alarm was clear, and the heralds of Britain shouted the
news the following days.

Davey swimmed to shore and fled out the woods where he lived from
age of fifteen until now, the age of thirty five. He lived of the nature
and from robbing travelers on the road. Now he wandered around and
reached a long bridge.
He crossed in and saw a Sign where it said "Vesper". He smiled to himself,
as he had heard that this city was like no other.

Here people were free, no king that was commanding them or a
guardforce harrassing them. He applied for a citizenship and perhaps
who knows? He might even sign up for the Vesperian Militia some day.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth were born and raised in a logcabin north of the Hedge Maze, together with her older brother Ragna and her younger sister Juliette.

Her Mother (Who Elizabeth is named after) worked as a Tailor and her Father Samael worked under the cover of beeing a lumberjack (His 'real' business, were afraid of daylight).

Elizabeth's memories of her Mother are fadeing, as the Mother passed away shortly after Juliette's birth.

Even though she lost her Mother in a early age, she still have some treasured memories about her and her childhood were fairly happy. The family wasn't rich, but they managed.

Beth have always been very close to her siblings - Specially Jules, as Beth call her younger Sister.

Beth have been down diffrent paths in her past and one of them, her Sister still follows.
It began with Jules spending time near Beaufort, which are the headquarters for the Knight Templars. A Order of Knights, following the Virtues.

Even though, theire Father did some dirty work, he raised all his three children to trust and follow the Virtues.

It felt natural for both of them and Beth were in her early teens, when she joined the Templars.

The following years were happy, She reached Paladin rank, got many friends there, - And Some of them, she still have contact with.

Beth found her first and only husband within the Order.
They were married for some years and were blessed with two children - First a daugther, who were named Morgana and then later on a son, who unfortonally passed away before he were baptised.

After loosing a child, the relationship with her Husband started to go down hill.
This stood on for several of months, untill the day two close friends came to her villa in Felucca and told her that her husband had been killed by Brigands.

A few months after her Husband had passed away, her daugther Morgana got sick and Beth went back and forth to the Healers with her, watched them try several of cures and such.
Morgana died in the age of 4 of an infection in her lungs.

Her Family did theire best to support Beth, but Beth were angry, bitter and turned cold.
In her frustrations, Beth turned her back to the Virtues and the Knights and seeked out theire Enemies - the Judges of Judgement City.

She burried her sorrows, with studying the LAW - A religion, that forced unbelieveble things down over peoples heads. Beth even attacked her old friends. The only one, she never shot an arrow after or took a swing with the axe were her sister Jules.

She became a strong follower and rarely showed mercy for anyone breaking the Laws, she so strongly believed in.

The Judges held taxnights, demanding several of crowns from people. And the taxing, always ended in large fights and battles.

A fatal evening, the taxing went wrong. Beth and her new friends, suffered large losses. Several of Judges were slayed in Trinsie, Vesper and other Cities around Sosaria.

In the end, the few Judges that managed to escape splitted up and the Judges dissapeared. Now and then, there have been rumours about the Judges riseing again. Beth never found any prove of it though.

Beth flee's to her House outside Vesper, Felucca and keept a very low profile.
Her brother Ragna, who also were living in Felucca picked up contact with her.

They met, and then the raids started.
They waited for victims outside the diffrent dungeons in Felucca.
When they came outside, Ragna throw the spells and Beth attacked with her axe. They picked up gold, herbs and then left and began to wait for the next victim.

After years with this lifestyle, Beth and Ragna had a argument. Ragna wanted Beth to come with him, but Beth refused.
Ragna went alone and didn't return. Beth assume he is either dead or held captured somewhere in Felucca.

Beeing all alone again, Beth started to miss Trammel.
She never turned herself over to the guards and after some time.
Beth returned to Trammel. Rumours had reached her, that her sister were liveing in Yew and Beth went to visit her.

Beth grew fond of Yew and after a while, she inlisted to the Yewish Militia. Serveing it for a little over 6 years.

News about her sister dissapearing, made Beth leave Yew and the Militia behind her. Juliette is missing and so far Beth haven't found her.

Due her past, Beth suffers from guilt-trips.
Her weight goes up and down.
In her good periodes, she is smileing and friendly.On the bad days, Beth tends to sneer and avoid people.

She don't mind telling stories about her past with the Templars, but the rest of it, she keeps to herself.
She wears her old weddingban in a letherstring around her neck and is sometimes found fiddling with it, with a thoughtful look on her face..