My people, the wolfkind, live deep in the wilds of the world, far from civilization and avoiding other people as much as possible. I grew up with an eye on the horizon, always eager to find out what was just over the next hill, never afraid to take risks if it meant a new and exciting adventure. My elder brother, Varco, was much the same way, but that had more to do with the fact that he didn't get along with other people very well, our father especially. I could see that he was torn between wanting to strike out on his own and staying loyal to the clan.  One night, as I was sitting on a hill, gazing at the stars, I saw Varco's form slip away from the village and into the night. Curious, I followed him. When I caught up to him and asked him where he was going, he said that he couldn't take life at the ass-end of the world with our father, so he was heading out to find other people and other ways of living. He saw how much the idea of exploring the world outside our territory thrilled me, and he invited me to come along. The thought of leaving everything behind made me hesitate, but the pull of the unknown couldn't be denied. We left our home, our clan, and everything that was familiar without even a goodbye.

        After weeks of travel, we eventually reached a city, which seemed huge to my naive eyes, but was really just a small crossroads city. Varco said we needed to earn money if we wanted to survive, but most people we asked about employment gave us suspicious side-glances and sent us on our way. Eventually we found work as security in a gambling den, where Varco got to work out his frustrations on cheaters and crooks, while I discovered that I had a knack for making the right bets. After a short time, Varco was invited to join the local gang, a group calling themselves the Zhentarim, and I got drug along for the ride. They liked his fearlessness in a fight, as well as my gambling skills. We started making more money, and moved into a nicer home, but it worried me that Varco often took jobs he wouldn't tell me about, and more than once came home looking like he'd been in a nasty fight. Life continued on like this for some time.

        After a few years, I began to get that familiar itch again, that call to see what was over the next horizon. I told Varco we should move on, keep exploring the world, but he didn't seem interested. He said he had found what he wanted, and I should be happy as well. Besides, the Zhents wouldn't take kindly to a money-maker like me just up and leaving. I told him that this was not the life I wanted, and after enough prodding from me, he relented. He said he would see what he could do. A few nights later, I was awoken by the sound of Varco barging into my room, shouting at me to get up, that we had to leave immediately. He was holding an odd wooden case, which he said was some prototype weapon the Zhents had killed several people for, along with papers detailing how to make the ammunition for it. Apparently the gang wasn't happy when Varco said that we were leaving, and a fight broke out. Varco saw this case and remembered hearing rumors about it, so in the middle of the fight he grabbed it and ran, knocking down a support beam and bringing the building down behind him. We only had a short time before they regrouped, so we had to leave that instant. I threw as much as I could into a bag, and we headed out.

        As we ran, I noticed Varco lagging behind. I stopped to see what was wrong, and it was only then, in the moonlight, that I noticed the ragged slash across his midsection, and the blood seeping through his shirt. He collapsed against a wall, telling me to go, that he would catch up. Varco apologized for dragging me away from home and getting his little brother mixed up in all of this, but now I'd be free to live my own life, seek out my own adventures. Shouts echoed from a nearby street, and Varco pushed me away, telling me to run. He said he was sorry one more time, then his eyes closed and he slumped to the cobblestones. I stood there for a few moments in stunned silence, then the sound of the shouts drawing nearer spurred me into action. I grabbed my bag and the wooden case, gave one more sorrowful look at my brother, then turned and disappeared into the night.

        I traveled for weeks, avoiding people when I could, gambling to make some extra coin if I needed to, and generally being miserable. I learned that what was in the case was a powerful weapon, that shot small metal projectiles with deadly force. The papers detailed how to make more ammunition, and I even learned a little magic to give the bullets an extra kick. No wonder the Zhents wanted it so bad. One day I came over a rise and saw a huge city in front of me, many times bigger than the one I had run away from. The gleaming towers shone in the sun, and the wide variety of races streaming in and out of the gates dazzled me. With my gambling skills and my ace in the hole on my hip, I knew that this was the place where I would find all the adventure I had ever wanted.

Xavier Blackwood, son of Lord Emory of Edgemoor and his wife Lady Elissa. Following Xavier's service in the Royal Army, his father sent him on a quest to retrieve the long lost ancestral sword of their house, The Silverlight Shard. Legend says that the sword was lost by an ancestor in the Bonewake Islands, though after so long no one can be truly sure of that. More than just finding their ancestral weapon, Lord Emory wanted his son to travel and experience the world before being anchored to Edgemoor for the rest of his life. He provided his son with no more than he could carry for his travels.  

     Xavier Blackwood, son of Lord Emory Blackwood and Lady Elissa Blackwood. Heir to his father's land and titles, firstborn son of House Blackwood. A longstanding tradition of House Blackwood is service to the people. At the age of 15, all children of House Blackwood are sworn into the service of their city, Edgemoor. The choice of how they serve is left to them, though firstborn sons are required to serve in the city guard. At 20, children of House Blackwood may leave the service of Edgemoor and expand upon their experiences. Whether they join the Royal Army, join a Guild, attend a Wizarding Academy, the choice is theirs and theirs alone. This tradition was started by Lord Braiden Blackwood, after he witnessed his elder brother, Lord Amos Blackwood, nearly run the House into the grave. Braiden usurped his brother and re-established House Blackwood to it's former prestige. 

     Following this tradition, as the first born son Xavier joined the city guard at 15. He was not given special rank or posting, he was simply a patrolman. For a year, he patrolled the outer limits of Edgemoor. During his time patrolling the city limits, Xavier and his partners successfully rooted out a band of smugglers and brought them before his father for judgement. After this, the Captain of the Guard saw fit to transfer Xavier's squad to the Market District. Xavier's partner Luca was promoted to Squad Leader, as he was the one who oversaw the investigation into the smugglers. His time assigned to the Market District was fairly quiet, mostly arresting those who stole from the shops and stands that comprised the district. Following this, Xavier tried out for the Special Services Unit of the City Guard. Though his attempt was admirable, he did not meet the standards of the unit and was not selected to join them. He spent the remainder of his time with the City Guard as a patrolman assigned to the Logging District, home to many of the city's workers and the famed Ebon Arena. 

On his 20th birthday, Xavier enlisted in the Royal Army. His adoptive Dragonborn brother, Caluzhan, also enlisted at this time. Previously, Caluzhan has served Edgemoor in the Smith's Guild. Xavier and Caluzhan were sent south to the military capitol of Bladegarden for training. Upon completion of their training, they were both posted in the western city of Nykomi, adjacent to the Romlier Mountains and one of two chief ports on Avongon Bay. They spent 6 years assigned to the garrison in Nykomi, though most of that time was actually spent in the mountains fighting off the barbarians and bandits that called the mountain range home. It was during this time that Xavier began to show some limited capacity for magic. As well, Xavier nearly lost an eye in single combat with the Chief of the Twin Skull Clan, leaving a horizontal scar just above his right eye. After this battle, Xavier was promoted to Lieutenant and placed in charge of the Garrison's Scouts. 

     Just after Xavier's 26th birthday, the northern Kingdom of Uclana attacked Othilian and House Blackwood soldiers garrisoned in the Irobolt Forest. Xavier, Caluzhan and many more soldiers were reassigned to the Edgemoor Garrison in response to the attack as the Empire prepared for war. Still leading the Nykomi Scouts, Xavier and his men were charged with crossing the Bromrams and scouting enemy forces. After a short time on the northern side of the mountains, Xavier reported back to his superior officers. Uclana had truly mobilized for war. He reported enemy camps in excess of 15,000 soldiers, a rough total of 60,000 troops.  King Bertrand Othil called his banners, assembling a host in excess of 100,000 Othilian soldiers and fighting men. 

     Xavier was sent back across the Bromrams, though with a different mission. He was instructed to harass the Uclanan forces using hit and run attacks. His forces were bolstered to 500 men total. He requested his brothers, Caluzhan and Alec, be assigned to him and he request was granted. Previously, Alec had served in the Edgemoor chapter of the Ranger's Guild and served 4 years in the Royal Army prior to the war. Alec reported to the King alongside their father when Lord Emory presented his forces. Together, the Brothers Blackwood successfully harassed the Uclanans. They disrupted supply lines, fought in small skirmishes and overall were a major nuisance to the Uclanans as they made their final preparations to march south. 

     At the Break of the Bromrams, the two nations met in glorious battle. Xavier's host, now increased to 7000 men, served as a flanking element. King Bertrand and his assembled Great Lords, including Lord Emory, led the main host. Upon signal from the main host, Xavier's element and another flanking element crashed upon the Uclanan Army, trapping the Northern Beasts within the fist of the Empire. The Othilans had not prepared, however, to be flanked from the south. They had thought it impossible for the Uclanans to sneak past the mountains. In actuality, they had sailed around them and marched from the coast. The southern Uclanan force broke upon the Othilians and drove a wedge into their formation. Not long after, King Bertrand ordered a general retreat. 

     The Royal Army and assembled Noble forces regrouped at Edgemoor and prepared for an onslaught. They were right; the Uclanans chased them to the city and met them on the shores of Lake Draynor. The Battle of Lake Draynor was fierce and long, though this time the Othilains proved the better warriors and drove the Uclanans from the shores of the great lake. King Bertrand ordered Xavier and his men to follow the Uclanans and repeat what he had done before, harass them and disrupt their supplies. The regrouped Othilians marched north and met the Uclanans in The Second Battle of the Break. Supplemented by the late arrival of Wizards from the Arcane Brotherhood, the Othilians bullrushed the Uclanans back into their own territory.

     The Othilians chased them all the way to their capitol city of Naguk and led a three month long siege before King Botolph agreed to parlay. Peace terms were agreed upon by the two regents and full ownership of the Bromram Mountains was handed over to the Empire. King Bertrand gifted the mountains to House Blackwood. The King believed it was Lord Emory's leadership and knowledge of the land coupled with his son's many victories on the field were instrumental in defeating their northern rivals. This earned House Blackwood the title of Defender of the Bromrams. 

     Following the war, Xavier began tutelage under his sister Fiona, quite an accomplished Mage for her age and member in good standing of the Arcane Brotherhood, and bolstered his magical abilities. He found that he preferred spells that would make him more effective in combat and she provided such knowledge to her eldest brother. 

     4 years after the war, around the time of Xavier's 30th birthday, Lord Emory passed away from an illness incurred on a trip south to the capitol. Following the customary month of mourning, Xavier was named Lord of Edgemoor in a ceremony that dates to the founding of House Blackwood. Knelt on the shore of Lake Draynor, a crown of eponymous blackwood was placed upon him as he swore a vow to protect and lead his people to the best of his abilities. At this time, he also inherited the Belt of Blackwood Lords, a magical artefact bestowed upon the House by a Goddess to ensure every Lord Blackwood has the strength, fortitude, and wisdom necessary of a true leader. Following his crowning as Lord, Xavier called on his siblings to join him. Rebranding the City Guard, he named Caluzhan the rank of Captain of the Blackwood Guard. For Alec, he named his younger brother the Captain of the Blackwood Rangers, the personal detachment of Rangers in service of House Blackwood. For Fiona, he named her his Chief Advisor on all matters.

     Xavier's reign as Lord of Edgemoor proved quite successful. The addition of the Bromrams to House Blackwood's territory opened new industry in Edgemoor. Whereas before there was but one smith's guild in Edgemoor, in the decade following the war several other smith's guilds opened chapters in the city. As well, mining guilds opened chapters in Edgemoor and purchased rights to mine the mountains. Only a few years after succeeding his father, Edgemoor had grown into a reputation of making the finest weapons in all of the Empire, if not all of Jicrone. The Dwarves of Kolgron disregard those claims, however, as one would expect. 

     Xavier eventually found love in the arms Arianna of Tribow, daughter of Lord Christoph, Defender of the Bay of Blades. They had three children together, a boy, Braiden, and two girls, Eleynora and Adelin. He passed away at the age of 62, having reigned as Lord of Edgemoor, Defender of the Bromrams for 32 prosperous years. He was succeeded by his son Braiden. 

As a lonely and quiet only child, Liarieth has always had a love of the written word. Although she appreciates the beauty and power of the spoken word - particularly as a wizard - the sight of Elven script on a sheet of parchment delights her like nothing else can. She has been known to read warning signs or posted notices, even when she already knows the information they contain, just for the pleasure of reading. Many of her peers considered her behavior odd, and she didn't make friends easily. She contended that books were her best friends anyway, and studied and read endlessly. It was this habit that caused her mentor Belinthrar to first take notice of her. Belinthrar was a Selu'taar, one of the sun elf high wizards, so an apprenticeship with him was a high honor. Thus, she began studying Arselu'Tel'Quess - the Art - under his expert tutelage.

Liarieth is originally from Myth Drannor, and she was there on the day of its destruction. Her father Arannis was an adviser to the coronal, and he was with Liarieth when the evacuation started. Belinthrar handed her a tome, told her to keep it safe, and spirited her and her father away with teleportation magic when the shade city of Thultanthar was on a collision course. The spell worked, but carried them to separate locations. She is now convinced that it was divine intervention that saved her, as Arannis wasn't so fortunate. She speculated that Corellon Larethian, the elven god of magic, saved her because of the tome she carried and her master's final task for her - to keep it protected.

She searched in vain for her father, and they never reunited, as he was eaten by a rampaging owlbear during the escape. Liarieth was devastated by the loss of her parents, and fled to Semberholme, while her mother Leshanna was entombed in the ruins and her father was never recovered. After their loss, Liarieth redoubled her efforts in mastering the conjuration magic that her mentor used to save their lives that fateful day. She never saw Belinthrar again after that, and assumes that he perished with the city. She kept a letter containing his research notes from the tome he gave her right before sending her away.

With no surviving parents, and nearly old enough to survive on her own anyway, Liarieth moved around a lot. She met a sun elf scoundrel named Varis who got her involved with a counterfeiting scheme. He and Liarieth were married during the course of this scheme and had a thrilling time for a while. She and her husband made quite a fortune from the scheme, but unfortunately she was caught and convicted. Varis escaped and vowed to her that he would not leave her to rot in prison. She faced trial alone, but was buoyed by the knowledge that he would help her escape.

Soon after her sentence was carried out, Varis arranged for a prison break with Sigurd, a human barbarian friend of his. Sigurd was brave and fierce, just who was needed to create a diversion while Liarieth used a scroll he had smuggled in to get both of them out. Varis spared no expense in his rescue plan, and spent most of the coin they had made on the scroll. The scroll teleported them to a safe house, where they found a stash of coin and healing potions. The two of them set out to reunite with Varis, but were waylaid by Mijira, a black dragonborn sorceress. Mijira challenged Liarieth to a duel and injured her greatly. Sigurd got enraged and charged but to no avail, as Mijira used her magic to escape. How Mijira had found them, or what she ultimately wanted remained a mystery. Sigurd used one of the healing potions to bring Liarieth back to consciousness and they continued on. This experience escaping together cemented an otherwise unlikely friendship.

After reuniting with Varis, life became more quiet for Liarieth. They had two children, Cael and Rael. She was not satisfied with the criminal life anymore, so Liarieth returned to research. She made a good living for the family, but Varis was not ready to retire and started his schemes once again, hoping to reclaim the fortune they had made after they were married. Rather than becoming involved, Liarieth left the dirty work to him this time, rightly convinced that he could do it without her. In her spare time, Liarieth returned to researching the tome her mentor had thrust into her hands on that fateful day. With some of the money she made researching, Liarieth purchased a book of drow lore written in Undercommon, hoping to use it to gain insight into the mysterious tome's contents. So far, neither it nor the letter have helped, but Liarieth loves a good mystery, so she is not discouraged.