Nathan was an apprentice mason and carpenter for a small town. His master was an older dwarf, Gregor Stonebridge, who had retired to the small town after a life of varied occupations, including adventurer.

One night a stranger came into town. The stranger seemed mad with fear and exhaustion, babbling about having to keep moving or the dark rider would find him. The stranger refused any offers of hospitality, stumbling through town and disappearing down an ally, down the side of Gregor's workshop, before finally finding his way through the town and off into the dark of night.

In the morning, while moving some leftover scrap out into the ally behind the workshop, Nathan discovered something shiny in the mud. It was a ring, made of gold and set with a cut blue gemstone that barley fit the ring. Wiping the mud from the ring caused the gem to spring open, on a previously unnoticed hinge. Sand and dust billowed out of the opening, filling the ally with a swirling storm. As the sand and dust settled, a large humanoid, with strange cloths and exotic features, stood before Nathan.

"Free me from his prison mortal, I will not be bound any longer!"

Nathan stood, mouth agape, dumbfounded.

"Ah...sure ok, what do you want me to do?"

The large man, finally taking stock of his surroundings and the young man standing before him, asked,

"This is not the dark tower and you are not a wizard. Who are you and how did you come by my ring?"

Nathan replied,

"I am Nathan Goodharbour, I found the ring in the mud."

The large man considered Nathan before continuing,

"What do you desire Nathan Goodharbour?"

Nathan replied,

"Well, I wouldn't mind a little more excitement in my life. The stories master Gregor tell of adventure and magic are always so exciting, but my life is mostly just the same boring thing, over and over."

The large man remained silent for a moment before continuing,

"Repeat these words, Nathan Goodharbour: I wish for Zabran The Wealthy, Lord of the Eastern Caverns and adviser to the Great Khan, to be free of his bond."

Nathan nodded and repeated the words the large man had given. At once a storm of sand and dust again filled the alleyway and Nathan lost consciousness in the growing darkness.

Nathan awoke in a richly appointed chamber, with rugs and cushions covering the floors and tapestries adorning the walls. Above, the roof of the chamber was a dome, made of blue crystal. Nathan looked around finding a small low table with a note and a glass filled with water. The note read,

"You have done me a great service mortal and asked nothing in return. I have imparted to you knowledge of some magic, to make your life a little more 'exciting'."

Nathan stop reading, realising that he did in fact now know how to perform some magic. Realising the glass of water was left for him to try out his new magic, Nathan cast his first ever spell and caused the water to animate out of the glass into the air. Nathan spent almost an hour playing with his new magical gift before remembering that he had not finished the note.

"If you find this magic to your liking, I have an offer for you. If you will agree to the contract and sign it, I will impart to you more magic and give you my ring to make use of."

As Nathan read the part about signing a contract, the contract and a quill and inkwell materialised on the table.

"If you decide you don't want to enter into the contract with me, you may tear it in half and you will be returned to your home, free to go about your mundane life."

Nathan placed the note down and picked up the contract to read through. Finding nothing objectionable and much to be desired, in the contract, Nathan decided to sign it. As the last flick of the quill completed his signature, the room was filled with the now familiar dust and sand storm and Nathan passed out once more.

This time when Nathan regained consciousness, he found himself back in the alleyway with the strange ring upon his finger. Thinking about what had happened caused Nathan to realise that other new knowledge had been imparted to him, more magic and knowledge of the ring and how to use it. It was at this moment that master Gregor found him.

"Boy, where have you been! I thought you may have gotten into trouble with that damned marauder. Best if we stay out of his way, hopefully he will leave without violence."

Nathan looked at his master in confusion.

"What marauder?"

Master Gregor cuffed the back of Nathan head.

"Where have you been all morning? A dangerous horseman entered town and demanded that we turn over some fugitive to him. He's been sitting on his horse in the middle of town for almost an hour."

"Someone told him that we don't know who he is talking about, but he just repeated his request and added that he would burn down the whole town if he needed to."

Nathan decided then and there that he would seize the opportunity and change his life forever. Striding out of the alleyway and onto the main street, Nathan confronted the dark horseman.

"Leave our town now."

The dark horseman turned to regard Nathan.

"I will burn this town to the ground and display the bodies of the dead as a warning to others. No one defies the Dark Master."

Nathan held his hand up, aiming at the rider and with a word and a gesture unleashed a beam of magical energy. The beam struck the rider, but failed to dismount him. The rider kicked his horse into action and started to charge towards Nathan, unsheathing his sword as the horse galloped closer. With barely a thought, Nathan cast another spell, causing the dirt in the path of the horse to excavate up and towards Nathan, leaving a hole on the other side, just as the horse reached it. The horse fell into the hole throwing its rider into the mound of dirt. Before the rider could recover, Nathan approached and unleashed another beam of magical energy into the prone rider, followed by more beams, over and over until the rider stopped moving. Out of breath and shaking with adrenaline, Nathan collapsed to the ground, staring at the now dead rider. The town folk came running out from the surrounding buildings, cheering for Nathan, celebrating his victory.

In the following days, it was decided by the town elders and master Gregor, that Nathan should leave town and head to one of the nearby large cities in case anyone came looking for him. Master Gregor gave Nathan some of his old equipment from his days as an adventurer and suggested Nathan change his last name to Fairhaven. Master Gregor also gave Nathan the name of an old contact he should seek out, who would help him find work as an adventurer.

Personality Traits: I'm easy going, bordering on lazy. I like to show off my magic.
Ideals: I won't go back to a boring life. There is so much more to do and experience, why waste time with a "normal" life.
Bonds: I owe my former master a great debt for forging me into the person I am today.
Flaws: Not a great fan of physical labour and now that I have magic, I'd rather use that when I can.

Kelvin Rabbitfoot: This halfling has been called many things, but never honest. He'd always had a knack for coin and luck, but a a fateful meeting with an eccentric wizard showed him luck isn't always random, but can be influenced.

Grishkar Darkmoor: If power corrupts, then absolute power corrupts absolutely. Grishkar was both blessed and cursed to experience a wink of power beyond measure, but it shattered all inhibitions and set him on a path to conquer and dominate everyone and everything he crosses. Many know his scarred visage, but few know (or dare to know) the extent of his machinations.

Corrithar Xanos: A tiefling is seldom welcome or trusted in society, but a winged one is doubly-scorned. Corrithar's upbringing was dotted with just enough small kindness to show him the weak are worth fighting for, but the world will fight just as hard against them.

Zip Hinklefritz: For true artists of a craft, guilds serve only to smother passion with politics. Zip has broken away from the fraternity of tinkers' guilds to forge his own paths. After all, where's the pride of creation when you have to beg permission first?