Quickstats
Male human ranger 2
NG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +2;
Senses Listen +8, Spot +8
Defense
AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor, +2 Dex, +1 shield)
hp 20 (2d8+4)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2
Offense
Spd 30 ft.
Melee Longsword +6 (1d8+3, 19-20/x2)
Ranged Longbow +6 (1d8+2, 20/x3)
Special Attacks Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot
Background
Erian El'ranelen is the only son of Sevren El'ranelen, a cartographer of no small reputation due to his extensive work to map out the Known World. Sevren traveled the length and breadth of Rutania for decades (with more time to do so than his human companions, thanks to the elven blood flowing through his veins), exploring from the heights of the Skyward Mountains and Kagen's Range to sailing the Voyager's Ocean. Sevren was the lead cartographer on the mission that discovered the Camdara Islands. Close to two decades past, Erian came into the explorer's life. None knew of the boy's mother, though considering the child obvious human traits it was easily speculated she was likewise human, and Sevren spoke not at all about her, but the boy became inseparable from the man in all his journeys. While many might say putting a child into such a life was cruel, Erian would vociferously argue differently. His classroom became the world, his teachers the places and people met during his father's work.
Erian grew up learning the ways of the cartographer from his father--carefully studying the lay of the land, crafting maps of both beauty and function, and learning how the terrain itself gave hints as to what lay over the horizon. However, his time was not spent just in surveys and drawing. Erian loved to watch his father's guard in their drills, and on coming of age enough to lift a sword he began training with them as well. He also spent time with the huntsman, tracking prey for the night's meal, learning the way of the bow and how to move without being seen or heard. From both guards and hunter he learned of their most hated foe--he Walking Devils of legend now commonly called goblins. Erian picked up the language of this enemy, learned of their culture and mannerisms, and most of all learned how to detect and combat them. He even gained a scar across the bridge of his nose after foolishly engaging a goblin, overconfident in his knowledge and lacking in true experience. However, in all this his father always cautioned, "Not all creatures of a race should be judged based on the actions of their kin. If this were not true, the elves would surely have wiped humans from Rutania before Kagen Ru ever walked this land..."
In Erian's 14th year, Sevren determined to send his soon to Aiden's Wall for a "proper" education. Erian took to his studies in the classroom as readily as he did exploring, though it was no secret that no matter how great the building he preferred the open lands to being inside. Erian learned the basics of history, of things arcane and divine, but he never took to any so much as he did his studies in cartography and exploration. While he could not hone his skills through experiential learning, Erian did avail himself of every book on nature, geography, and exploration to be found in the great libraries of the city. On nearing the beginning of his 4th year of study, news came of his father's latest exploration--Sevren was commissioned to travel into the tangled jungle known simply as "The Vines" and learn its dark secrets in order to finally produce a proper map of this region. Erian longed to go with his father, but Sevren argued that it was time for the boy to become a man, to finish his studies and begin his own explorations. And so Erian stayed as his father left for the south, leaving behind his heirloom sword and trusted armor. His father left these gifts with these words, "Know that this sword will not fail a man that wields it with strong heart and noble purpose. Use it only when you must, favoring tongue and pen over steel."
On turning 18, Erian graduated from his studies at Cein and looked to his maps for inspiration on where to take his life. Perhaps beyond Kagen's Range, to see from what land the fabled Kagen Ru came, or across the Voyager's Ocean...But then something caught his eye--Erian's Glen. He had visited the community a few times with his father, each time hearing a different tale about why Sevren named his son after the community. As his studies had included current news of the country, Erian knew the community was up-and-coming as a lumber center, but also troubled by goblins. Perhaps a trip to his namesake city--yes, that would be the start of his explorations...
As his father's expedition to "The Vines" was based out of Erian's Glen, the young man hopes to hear news of his father's success. It has been over a year since Sevren's departure and Erian is privately growing concerned that the explorer has sent no comunication of the mission's actions and whereabouts.
