Kerai (Kehr-eye)was born into the middle-class, not necessarily meek, but he felt very little authority throughout his young life. When he was a child, he adored the stories of heroes fighting monsters, they had so much power that the could fight anything. It sometimes made him sad that he wasn't a hero like them.
He was not a loner, nor was he very popular among the children of his city. He simply worked his parent's shop, as his father was a weaponsmith. He did not go to school, but he read any books that he could find, and once he was old enough, spent many days reading in libraries. While his parents weren't exactly fond of their scrawny son pursuing knowledge, he worked at learning the magic that would give him a way out of the meager life of citizens that died like livestock in the tales of heroes.
While becoming a student in a mage college began his journey, he never felt power like those who ruled the lands. The nobility had simply inherited their authority from their parents, they had never worked for anything. He believed in the concept of nobility and leadership, but he believed that those who could take it through force deserved it that much more.
Though he had been studying magic for many years, and even defeating creatures while working with the guards, he hadn't made much progress towards reaching any sort of political position, nor had his powers fully developed. He studied endlessly, until in a twist of fate, he had found a dark, dusty book that detailed the arts of binding and commanding creatures from other planes of existence.
The book listed every creature, but not the information on them. He quickly learned everything he could about these creatures. Knowing these creatures in detail, he knew just how powerful such spells could be. The weakest of the creatures able to be bound is called a Lemure, and he knew he had to summon this first.
Away from the city, Kerai followed the instructions and began the ritual. In a cloud of brimstone dust and smoke, a horrifying creature appeared. Kerai stood, his heart in his boots, and slowly handed over what he hoped was a "remembrance of indulgences long lost," a warm plate of food.
The spiral began, and Kerai began to feel the authority radiating from him as he commanded beings from other worlds. While he was as nice as he could be, and only used the creatures for acts that they themselves would want, he did not treat others in this way, as they didn't have the ability to kill him anymore. In a rather large fight with his parents, Kerai stomped outside the city gates once again. He will never step foot back in that city, but his home would not be standing if he did.
As the great gates of Alsin close behind you, you hear above you a great sound. When you look up you see the great airship that's been under construction for the last two years flying above you. In front of you lies a rock path stretching into the distance. You know from previous experience that a town lies 2 hours away by foot.
Kerai watches the airship for a few moments before heading down the path. He keeps a watchful eye for anything strange, but is also on the lookout for any shops away from the town. A clockwork soldier clanks behind him, and Kerai himself is using his Sleeves of Many Garments to disguise his clothing as extremely expensive (1000+ GP). His wide brimmed hat sits snugly on his head as the many bags he carries along shake with every step. Kerai had several plans in mind, but first, he would need to find a few things.
As you walk you pass a stall selling food for weary travelers,
Kerai walks over to this stall and looks for any large-sized buckets or cauldrons. If none are present, Kerai will not order anything and will walk away.
The man looks puzzled for a second. Well, I've got one of the big ones left over from a bushel of apples I sold. Would that work?
Kerai looks the bucket over. Either way, he'll buy the bucket.
"Thank you, sir. How much do I owe you?"
He looks at you, attempting to judge you. I can let it go at, 5 gold.
Kerai hands him the five gold and continues down the road with the large bucket being carried by his soldier. He looks around for any bodies of water to note mentally, but does not stop until he reaches the town.
You walk through several acres of farm before getting to the village proper where a caravan is loading up food from the farmers fields.
I walk up to the caravan and ask generally, "'Scuse me. Anywhere in this village I should know about? Where's the nearest city?"
New to the area? Nearest city is Alsin to the east of here
"Yeah, been traveling for a little while now. Are there any shops in this village for weapons and magical items?'
The dwarf looks up to you. The local apothecary or priest might be of help but I'm not from here.
"Alright. Thanks anyway."
The rest of the landscape is heavily european influenced as per a standard pathfinder/D&D game, You're kingdom is one of the first to push into more advanced levels of technology, growing up there you have knowledge other kingdoms might lack. Alsin is one of the bigger cities in the Kingdom of Alric, named after Alric the Conqueror who 10 generations past forged this kingdom from a combination of towns, baronies, and duchies that littered the area from days gone by.
Farther east beyond Alsin lies the great woods, once a deep and nearly primordial forest much of it has been clear cut, but many strange things still happen there. To the west, (the way you're walking) Lies the kingdom of Melrev, Their main export is jewels, stone, and precious minerals mined in the local mountains. Due to the ease of access of stone they've also experienced an influx of artists, with this raised profile they've turned their attention to raising the sophistication of the Capital city of Burkaine by building a massive college. Tey import much of their food. Besides these 2 kingdoms the immediate area is in general peace with many small towns dotting the landscape, many not even within the official borders of either ruling kingdom.
"So where are you headed next? If you're headed towards Melrev would you mind if my servant and I hitch a ride? I could make it worth your time."
I nod. "Alright, your loss." I then look around town to see if I can find a shop for magical items. If none are present, I continue to Melrev, sleeping 2 hours a night and not needing to eat or drink.
We're headed through Burkaine, up towards Indregal, there's a bunch of old heroes up that way setting up a fort to protect the mountain pass from the orcs. But how are you going to make it worth my while? The more food we have the better profit we make, if we take you we lose some room.
I look myself up and down. "How much money would be worth my space on the caravan? I assure you I can pay it."
He looks you over gauging you. We'll see about that. It's a hundred gold. Ye and your metal man will be heavy baggage.
"A hundred gold is nothing to me, but I feel like walking."
I'll keep on walking, and my construct will carry me if my legs begin to tire.
Tis a long journey stranger. Perhaps you'd rather work for your passge?
"I'll pay."
I hand over the hundred gold and get on.
He smiles and tosses the gold into a pouch and then hands it off to another member of the caravan. Go pay Ol' Alric a visit. Get us another cart and a couple of beasts, I'll make the arrangements for some more food. He walks away as the man runs in the other direction down the dirt paths.