Eladrin Elf Fighter of the Eladrin Home Guard and Wizard of the Spellslingers
Born to a highly traditional family in the Fey wilds, quite wealthy and powerful among the realm, other Eladrin look warmly on the Winterfell family name. For my first 30 seasons, I lived and learned, becoming a scholar and training with weapons. For the next 15 seasons, I took higher education, and began a love affair with the arcane. Now, this did not sit well with my parents, as every patron in our family for the past 5 generations, took up the mantle of the Eladrin Home Guard, none failing to attain the rank of General. Dutifully, on my 45 season, I too joined the Home Guard, and excelled, becoming a Corporal of the Grove Crew, a specialist group tasked with being outriders, trackers, and swordsmen.
I longed to learn wizard craft. Any time I had spare between training and missions, I spent in the enclave of the Spellslingers, the Eladrin Guard spell casting regiment. I loved lying in the grass, taking notes on how the somatics were spoken, which arcane symbols were used for which spells, and dreaming of becoming a powerful wizard. My hero was the High Keeper of the Spellslingers, her name was Feylune. She has the grace and poise of a queen, but her power was unmatched in the wizarding arts. Did I have a crush on her? Maybe. But it was not solely due to her fey beauty. She was so mighty in the mystical arts, I was jealous. She was everything I wished I could become. But alas, I was doomed to the soldiering life.
After several weeks of studying at the enclave, I was laying in my usual spot, on a small hill just high enough to watch the training of the initiates, a shadow fell over my journal. “What have we here, a soldier spying on my enclave?” the voice lilted gently. “What brings a Corporal of the Grove Crew into my section?” she asked quietly.
I quickly snapped close my journal and stood up, dusting off my britches and looking up into the inquisitive eyes of none other than Feylune, the High Keeper. I was floored. I stammered “I’m not spying milady, I am just enjoying the spell casting and arcane jousting!” I could see a faint smile appear on her lips, which vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. “Okay then, what can I do for you? I have noticed you here for quite a few weeks, and am curious.” She spoke with a dulcet tone that I was not quite sure of, was she playing a game of some kind, gauging my reaction or comfort level? I let the matter slide and simply stated “I’ve always wanted to be a spell caster, wizard in particular. But I am a great soldier and my unit loves me, and know I can never hope to become a Spellslinger.” I said woefully.
“And why not?” she asked, as though I had not asked myself this same question a million times; “There is no hard and fast rule that says you cannot, if you are proficient enough.” My jaw went slack. I did not know of any soldier, who had managed to join the Spellslingers. Was it actually possible? “Milady, I know of no such methods to join both sections, or to switch from one unit to another. Can you tell me if there is such a way to do this?” I was aghast, this had never occurred to me. Soldier and Spellslinger? Would I make the proficiency tests? My mind was awash in possibility and hope.
“Of course it’s possible, it’s just not something that is advertised openly. The hierarchy would rather not offer options in case the options are abused. Let me see that journal, if you don’t mind?” she proffered her hand, waiting for the book. “Umm, well I just use it for doodles and notes, thoughts and dreams; it’s probably not worth you looking at, really.” Why was I being so cagey? She sounded like she wanted to help me, didn’t she? I slowly lifted the journal and set it into her outstretched hand.
She thumbed thru the tome, I could see her eyes darting from one side to the other quickly, a smile appearing at times, and once a light laugh, which made me blush, although I am not sure why.
“This shows promise, you take very detailed notes, and some of my current initiates could learn a thing or two from you.” she said. “I was merely curious before, now I am interested. I tell you what, I will pull some strings and speak with a few friends, and if you can pass the proficiency exams, I will get you transferred into my tutelage. I must warn you, the exams are not easy, and becoming a Spellslinger is not an automatic process, it takes talent and dedication, but from what I can see in both your journal and your rank in the Grove Crew, I don’t think that will be an issue for you.”
My heart flip flopped in my chest. Did I just hear that Feylune, the High Keeper of the Spellslingers, was going to recommend me to join?! Was this actually happening? I pinched myself on the arm, just to check. “Ow!” I exclaimed, rubbing my arm. Yep, I was awake. She didn’t vanish from my sight. “I, I don’t know what to say! I would be honored to take the exams, whenever you think I am ready!” I gushed.
“Okay go back to your unit, I will send for you once I take care of the necessary paperwork.” She hands me back my journal. “Keep studying, and keep rising in the ranks, it will make it easier to grease the proper wheels.”
I did so, thanking her as I turned to leave. I had such pep in my step on the way back to the Grove Crew quarters, I was so excited and determined to do even better and attain more ranks. After about 2 months I was doing some martial sword training and my Captain called me over to the side, holding a letter with a very important looking seal on it. “C’mere Sergeant Major Pixar, I’ve got a letter telling me to send you over to the Spellslingers camp for some sort of test. I’ve not heard of a Crewman going over there before, mind telling me what’s going on?” he asked me, with a puzzled look on his face.
Knowing that any information I passed on to my Captain would invariably get back to my parents, I merely feigned confusion, though I was inwardly hopping up and down with excitement. “No, sorry Sir, not sure what they want with me. Do I need to go?” His eyes visibly widened, “Hell yes you need to go, this is the seal of the High Marshal himself!” he exclaimed, “You don’t ignore this kind of thing. Unless you enjoy spending time being strung up in some dank dungeon by your ears!” he told me, seemingly exasperated.
I took the letter and arrived at the Spellslinger enclave, and was greeted by none other than Feylune herself. “Have you been studying and preparing for the exams?” she asked somberly. “Of course, milady.” I replied without hesitation; “I feel I am ready.” I took and passed the exams, was accepted into the Spellslingers, but still maintained my rank in the Crew, alternating once a year to study with them and then returning to the Spellslingers to continue my arcane studies. My parents discovered this, of course, it was difficult to hide such a thing. But they were supportive, marveling at my dedication to both the sword and the spell. I spent a total of 3 years with the Grove Crew, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. Many who served in the Eladrin Home Guard know me, and hold me in high esteem.
The rest of my years are to be spent learning the arcane ways of the Spellslingers, tutored by the High Keeper herself. I have longed to return and continue my studies, but I need to ‘’Learn the way of the world” I was told, as I was sent off to distant lands to learn new cultures and study the other races and classes that abound in the land of man. On my final day in study, Feylune gave me a gift, a deep red crystal about 5 inches long, to use as a spell focus for my magic. I have it inlaid in my shield, to act as focus for my spells. I cherish that gift. It reminds me of all the possibilities magic can bring. Fin.
Pixar Winterfell
Eladrin Elf Fighter of the Eladrin Home Guard and Wizard of the Spellslingers
Born to a highly traditional family in the Fey wilds, quite wealthy and powerful among the realm, other Eladrin look warmly on the Winterfell family name. For my first 30 seasons, I lived and learned, becoming a scholar and training with weapons. For the next 15 seasons, I took higher education, and began a love affair with the arcane. Now, this did not sit well with my parents, as every patron in our family for the past 5 generations, took up the mantle of the Eladrin Home Guard, none failing to attain the rank of General. Dutifully, on my 45 season, I too joined the Home Guard, and excelled, becoming a Corporal of the Grove Crew, a specialist group tasked with being outriders, trackers, and swordsmen.
I longed to learn wizard craft. Any time I had spare between training and missions, I spent in the enclave of the Spellslingers, the Eladrin Guard spell casting regiment. I loved lying in the grass, taking notes on how the somatics were spoken, which arcane symbols were used for which spells, and dreaming of becoming a powerful wizard. My hero was the High Keeper of the Spellslingers, her name was Feylune. She has the grace and poise of a queen, but her power was unmatched in the wizarding arts. Did I have a crush on her? Maybe. But it was not solely due to her fey beauty. She was so mighty in the mystical arts, I was jealous. She was everything I wished I could become. But alas, I was doomed to the soldiering life.
After several weeks of studying at the enclave, I was laying in my usual spot, on a small hill just high enough to watch the training of the initiates, a shadow fell over my journal. “What have we here, a soldier spying on my enclave?” the voice lilted gently. “What brings a Corporal of the Grove Crew into my section?” she asked quietly.
I quickly snapped close my journal and stood up, dusting off my britches and looking up into the inquisitive eyes of none other than Feylune, the High Keeper. I was floored. I stammered “I’m not spying milady, I am just enjoying the spell casting and arcane jousting!” I could see a faint smile appear on her lips, which vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. “Okay then, what can I do for you? I have noticed you here for quite a few weeks, and am curious.” She spoke with a dulcet tone that I was not quite sure of, was she playing a game of some kind, gauging my reaction or comfort level? I let the matter slide and simply stated “I’ve always wanted to be a spell caster, wizard in particular. But I am a great soldier and my unit loves me, and know I can never hope to become a Spellslinger.” I said woefully.
“And why not?” she asked, as though I had not asked myself this same question a million times; “There is no hard and fast rule that says you cannot, if you are proficient enough.” My jaw went slack. I did not know of any soldier, who had managed to join the Spellslingers. Was it actually possible? “Milady, I know of no such methods to join both sections, or to switch from one unit to another. Can you tell me if there is such a way to do this?” I was aghast, this had never occurred to me. Soldier and Spellslinger? Would I make the proficiency tests? My mind was awash in possibility and hope.
“Of course it’s possible, it’s just not something that is advertised openly. The hierarchy would rather not offer options in case the options are abused. Let me see that journal, if you don’t mind?” she proffered her hand, waiting for the book. “Umm, well I just use it for doodles and notes, thoughts and dreams; it’s probably not worth you looking at, really.” Why was I being so cagey? She sounded like she wanted to help me, didn’t she? I slowly lifted the journal and set it into her outstretched hand.
She thumbed thru the tome, I could see her eyes darting from one side to the other quickly, a smile appearing at times, and once a light laugh, which made me blush, although I am not sure why.
“This shows promise, you take very detailed notes, and some of my current initiates could learn a thing or two from you.” she said. “I was merely curious before, now I am interested. I tell you what, I will pull some strings and speak with a few friends, and if you can pass the proficiency exams, I will get you transferred into my tutelage. I must warn you, the exams are not easy, and becoming a Spellslinger is not an automatic process, it takes talent and dedication, but from what I can see in both your journal and your rank in the Grove Crew, I don’t think that will be an issue for you.”
My heart flip flopped in my chest. Did I just hear that Feylune, the High Keeper of the Spellslingers, was going to recommend me to join?! Was this actually happening? I pinched myself on the arm, just to check. “Ow!” I exclaimed, rubbing my arm. Yep, I was awake. She didn’t vanish from my sight. “I, I don’t know what to say! I would be honored to take the exams, whenever you think I am ready!” I gushed.
“Okay go back to your unit, I will send for you once I take care of the necessary paperwork.” She hands me back my journal. “Keep studying, and keep rising in the ranks, it will make it easier to grease the proper wheels.”
I did so, thanking her as I turned to leave. I had such pep in my step on the way back to the Grove Crew quarters, I was so excited and determined to do even better and attain more ranks. After about 2 months I was doing some martial sword training and my Captain called me over to the side, holding a letter with a very important looking seal on it. “C’mere Sergeant Major Pixar, I’ve got a letter telling me to send you over to the Spellslingers camp for some sort of test. I’ve not heard of a Crewman going over there before, mind telling me what’s going on?” he asked me, with a puzzled look on his face.
Knowing that any information I passed on to my Captain would invariably get back to my parents, I merely feigned confusion, though I was inwardly hopping up and down with excitement. “No, sorry Sir, not sure what they want with me. Do I need to go?” His eyes visibly widened, “Hell yes you need to go, this is the seal of the High Marshal himself!” he exclaimed, “You don’t ignore this kind of thing. Unless you enjoy spending time being strung up in some dank dungeon by your ears!” he told me, seemingly exasperated.
I took the letter and arrived at the Spellslinger enclave, and was greeted by none other than Feylune herself. “Have you been studying and preparing for the exams?” she asked somberly. “Of course, milady.” I replied without hesitation; “I feel I am ready.” I took and passed the exams, was accepted into the Spellslingers, but still maintained my rank in the Crew, alternating once a year to study with them and then returning to the Spellslingers to continue my arcane studies. My parents discovered this, of course, it was difficult to hide such a thing. But they were supportive, marveling at my dedication to both the sword and the spell. I spent a total of 3 years with the Grove Crew, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. Many who served in the Eladrin Home Guard know me, and hold me in high esteem.
The rest of my years are to be spent learning the arcane ways of the Spellslingers, tutored by the High Keeper herself. I have longed to return and continue my studies, but I need to ‘’Learn the way of the world” I was told, as I was sent off to distant lands to learn new cultures and study the other races and classes that abound in the land of man. On my final day in study, Feylune gave me a gift, a deep red crystal about 5 inches long, to use as a spell focus for my magic. I have it inlaid in my shield, to act as focus for my spells. I cherish that gift. It reminds me of all the possibilities magic can bring. Fin.
I love it, thanks for sharing!
Cheers for that ! :)