Kalira

I was born in the Ilithi city of Shard. My father was an empath and my mother a bard. I barely remember Shard in my childhood. I was still a toddler when my parents fled the city after it was discovered my father had blood ties to the elven Lord Teiro, who was alternately hated or revered depending on the person. My parents settled in the elven city of Leth Deriel in relative anonymity. My father healed the citizens and visitors of Leth as he encountered them. Many were the wounds he took from those who ventured into the Murky Woods in search of treasure and fame. My mother was often struck by the wanderlust that takes bards. Her wanderings led her to many places. Often she would earn a night's rest simply from singing the tales of yore.

With my mother gone mostly and my father busy healing, I found a friend in the High Priest of Leth Deriel. He told me wondrous stories of the Immortals and the battle of the World Dragon. I spent many days meditating at the altar in the temple there. Other days I would explore along the Bosque Deriel or chase nyads and dryads to see what pretty stones they carried.

One day as I was exploring in the groves near Leth Deriel, a young monk found me and told me the High Priest was looking for me. We went back to the City and in the temple, I found the High Priest performing Elven death rites over my father's limp body. The world slowed to a stand still for me. I remember hearing the High Priest telling me my father had recently used his last favor when he died trying to keep someone alive. Before I could say anything my father's body decayed into the ground and a comet lit the sky as his soul was forever bound on the Starry Path. I became hysterical calling for my mother. I was told that a messenger had been dispatched for her. One of the other healers my father worked with slipped me a potion that quickly lulled me into a dreamless sleep.

When I awoke my mother was there. She had had a premonition several days earlier that something was wrong and had returned to Leth Deriel from Queen Morganae's court where she had been performing, but she had left there before the messenger could find her. Mother was unusually calm for a woman who had lost her husband. In hindsight, I realize my mother had already made a decision and was approaching it with the stoicism that all the women in her family had. She led me home and told me what I had not heard the Elven warder tell her. It had been discovered again that my father was blood kin to one Teiro. While gathering healing herbs, Father had been ambushed by those who still had a grudge against Teiro. He refused to defend himself, remaining true to the credo that empaths are never to harm another only heal. He had been mortally wounded in several places. His magic was barely enough to keep him clinging to life. Bleeding he tried to return to the city in search of another healer to help him. However, my father's body gave out and his magic failed him before he could find aid. The High Priest of Leth Deriel had never quested for the resurrection ability. His responsibilities in Leth Deriel had always prevented him from making the long journey. At father's last request he had begun the death rites, that would ease his journey onto the Starry Road.

My mother and I spent the day putting my father's affairs in order: passing along his papers on healing to his apprentices, finding someone to take on his students, and going through his personal effects. Often I would burst into tears, but Mother would pat me on the shoulder and tell me to be strong. By dusk, I was so tired I dropped into my bed, my tears spent and my body exhausted. I fell into another one of those dreamless sleeps. When I awoke the next morning, I went to break my fast and found a note from my mother. I collapsed screaming as I read the note. My mother had gone to the Forest of Night. She was committing the elven suicide ritual known as Fading. Many people believe that when elves are ready to die they fade back into the forest. It's actually just a gentler way of saying they are committing suicide. My hysteria brought the neighbors, who summoned the High Priest and a healer friend of my father's.

My father's friend fed me another potion but this one simply calmed me down. He gently explained to me that the bond between my parents took precedence over everything. Without my father, my mother had half a soul. The loneliness and sadness in her heart was more than she could bear. I didn't understand what he meant, never having had much interest in boys at that time. My studies at the University and the wanderings I made kept me too busy for that. It wouldn't be until many years later I would understand my mother's feelings.

The High Priest took it upon himself to finish my education and look after me. He and my father had been good friends and it had been decided between the two of them that if anything ever happened to my parents he would take responsibility for me. I spent much time in the temple trying to sort out my emotions. In time, I came to have a desire to see more of the province. I imagine my restlessness stemmed from my mother's wanderlust. I asked the High Priest what he thought I should do. He suggested I journey to the Crossings, the capital of the Zoluren province and joined a guild. I asked him what guild I should join. He replied that was a choice only I could make. I thought about it and decided to make the trip. He asked me to take a message to his friend Tallis, the cleric guild mistress for the province.

As I made the journey, I thought of my parents. I discounted joining the empath guild. I enjoyed the hunt too much and couldn't see giving that up for a life of healing. Although I enjoyed playing the simple instruments my mother kept around the house for practice, I wasn't very good at it. I thought of the traders that I had seen leading the caravans to and from Leth Deriel. That life didn't appeal to me. I knew even less of the other professions. All I knew of paladins was that they seemed imposing figures in their heavy suits of armor. The moon mages that lived in the city of trees were always at the observatory gazing at the stars. The occasional fingers in my pockets hinted at a secret brotherhood. The fierce barbarian warriors intimidated me. Although I liked to hunt, I wasn't one for a life of honing my skills by the blade. Sometimes I would meet a ranger in my travels, but the solitary life in the wilderness didn't appeal to me either. The warrior mage guild was a possibility with their controls of the elemental forces. As I stepped off the ferry, my thoughts turned to the cleric guild and the message I needed to bring to Tallis. I toyed with the idea of joining the cleric guild but didn't think the holy life was what I wanted either. I wandered through the city frequently lost. As evening approached, I checked into an Inn and had dinner. I decided to take a stroll before I made my bed for the evening. Strolling along Truffenyi Place, I stumbled onto the cleric guild hall.

I entered the guild, just intending to take a quick look and then return tomorrow. A woman in the simple robes of a cleric smiled warmly at me and asked if she could help me. I told her I was carrying a message for the guild mistress here from the High Priest of Leth Deriel. She introduced herself as Tallis, the same person I was looking for. She took me into her study and she took the message from me and gave it a cursory glance. She offered me tea and asked me what had brought me here. I told her of my journey to perhaps join a guild and the thoughts I had on them. She asked me what I thought of the clerical life and I told her honestly I didn't think that was the life for me. She nodded at me and asked me about my life in Leth Deriel.

Our talk soon turned to my studies in the University and my wanderings through the Bosque Deriel and the Forest of Night. The conversation turned to the tutoring the priest in Leth Deriel had give me. Tallis began to tell me of the life of a cleric, the studying, the honing of battle skills to defend against the undead and cursed creatures, the magicks that come with the life. As intriguing as it sounded, it didn't sound like the life for me. Nevertheless, Tallis suggested I try it and after all if I didn't like it, I could always try another guild. I agreed and Tallis proceeded to induct me into the life of a cleric. I half listened to her instructions because I was half-asleep.

The next morning I joined the classes that went on in the chapel. I quickly grew bored with the endless lessons in magic and decided to go hunting. While hunting near the desolate city of Dirge, I became friends with a young ranger. We spent many a day hunting madmen and later nyads and dryads in Leth. Occasionally I would sneak into the cleric guild to make up a few lessons in magic but I hated sitting around. Occasionally Tallis would see fit to promote me. But because I didn't study magic as much as she thought I should, I didn't get promoted as fast as some of my peers. Tallis just nodded tolerantly at me, telling me to keep studying, never berating me for my lack of commitment.

Eventually, Tallis sent me on a task to ask the god Kertigen for his blessing. Although I had been on other tasks, this one affected me differently than the others. As the welkin told me of the special qualities Kertigen's bless would imbue in a weapon, a realization hit me. I saw then the purpose of the cleric and realized that this would the path I had been destined to take. I began to spend more studying in guild and talking to other clerics.

Eventually my ranger friend and I parted. His life as a ranger meant his life was in the woods and glens of the lands. My new found zeal in my profession kept me in the city more and more. After a time, we parted company. Occasionally other men would enter my life. Eventually, I quested for the ability to raise the dead. When I returned to the Crossings to tell Tallis of my success, she smiled and handed me a faded parchment. Upon it was written the words, give this to Kalira when you feel she is ready to see it. Further down I read the words that the priest had written there: I am as proud of your as your parents would have been proud of you and the path you chose. May Hodierna and Truffenyi guide you in the years to come. Tears ran down my cheeks as I read those words. A few days later, I entered seclusion in a religious house far to the north. I had come upon a point my life where I needed to meditate upon a direction for my life.

When I returned to the secular world, I found many things had changed. I quickly adapted and began a wandering of the lands. Hunting, helping the fallen, and studying magic were the things in my life. I learned new spells, explored and led the life of a wanderer. A brief marriage settled me down for a short while. But again as with the other men in my life we parteds. Then the unthinkable happened, the holy places of the lands came under attack from foul creatures. I became enmeshed in the battles and investigations as to why, how and who.

At this time my faith in the Gods was also challenged. Unlike many of my peers, I had never felt the desire to serve a particular god. I had always been happy honoring them all. But what I didn't know is that the dark aspects of the Gods I served were hungry for my soul. I was slowly heading for the chaos in the dark shadows of my soul. The dark Lords were intent on using me as a vessel for their work. I can still hear Kerrenhappuch's mad laughter, Asketi's triumphant shouts, and Trothfang's bloodthirsty screams as their work was accomplished. The death, destruction and turmoil that resulted from my actions is something I still grieve over to this day.

However a voice, whispered upon the wind in a shadowy grove and led me away from the shadowed path and back towards the light. That night I dedicated my service to Damaris, lord of dreams and the last resort for those whom the other Gods have abandoned. And to Berengaria, the immortal who brings the first light of the dawn to chase away the darkness of night that Damaris rules over and Faenella, for the warnings given when the foul undead threatened the holy places. I still honor all the Immortals, but it is these three who I venerate for bringing me back from the darkness that almost consumed my soul and allowing me to help restore that which I helped destroy. I know that sometimes the work I do in the name of the Gods is for the dark aspects even if it is not my will. I respect all the Immortals always, even the dark aspects.

Even after I sought the balance again, Be'ort and Idon worked their will through me. A child born of sorrow and desire was brought into being. The dark Immortals even now still demand a piece of my soul through that child. A child following in the footsteps of a father long gone, his spirit in the care of the Starry Path.

There was one shining moment during the dark times of my life. I met an elven ranger who follows Hodierna. At first we were just friends, mostly as I worked my magic over his dead body. But then as I began to spend more time with him, I found in him the qualities I had always sought in a husband. He helps when I tend to the dead and I hunt by his side when he scouts the wilderness. We became constant companions and eventually romantically involved. He waited for me outside the path to the garden of Glythtide when I quested for the ability to make bonding and severing roses. I watched as he befriended his first wolf. Together we adventured from Therengaria to Ilithi. I finally understood the love my parents shared. Then one day, in the temple alcove of the God of love, I offered him a kiss rose and we joined our souls as one. My friend and sister, Ravenquest then joined us in marriage in Shard, scant footsteps from where I had been born. I had come full circle in my life.

Today we make our home in the islands. Mostly upon Eluned's blessed island of Aesry Surlaneis where I have a home. But occasionally we simply roam and where wander to wherever the winds take us. But one thing I do know: my home and heart are where he is.

With Damaris' Darkness, Hodierna's Light shines.