Arash's page

Six Important Things about the Character
1. Arash was raised in secret by one of the bishops of Mitra’s clergy, Bishop Buram Landrhew. Bishop Buram had him raised as a secret “inquisitor”, whose goal was to strike at evil in the very heart of the country without raising suspicion. Arash’s seclusion allowed Buram to tightly control Arash’s development as a person and to easily manipulate Arash’s worldview.
2. The tales of Arash’s parentage are that he was born to a devil-worshipping mother and a cambion father who had aided the hidden cell of Asmodean worshippers. He was taken by the Bishop when he was but a child and secreted away from the inquisitors so that he might have a chance at redemption.
3. Arash was trained by Moran, an archer with an unorthodox approach, but one that worked well. As Arash was trained in the bow, Moran also provided lessons in stealth, traps, and more esoteric ways of killing and manipulating others. He took to the lessons well, but the more spiritual pieces have evaded him for the time being.
4. After being confined for so long, Arash longed for the outdoors. He kept to himself outside, but occasionally had close calls with others. On a few instances, he was spotted by hunters, trappers, and others that travelled in the wilds. He ambushed them, determined to keep his existence a secret and praying that Mitra would forgive this as all other things would eventually be.
5. Arash wanted to know more about his past, so that he could hunt down his father, who had supposedly escaped. He investigated it from time to time, but during the reports he read over for another mission, he came across something overlooked in the archives. One of the inquisitors had looked into a report of a mother who had given birth to a fiendish child, but the child had disappeared before the inquisitor could arrive. This occurred in the town that Bishop Buram, then just a Father, served and the vague reports of the baby seemed similar to that of Arash. He was intrigued, but thought nothing of it until recently.
6. He truly believed that what he was doing was striking down opponents of the faith, but in reality it was those that prevented Bishop Buram’s rise in the ranks of the clergy. Even when pursuing the king, he had been convinced that the king was corrupted, much like Markadian III had been.
7. This came crashing down around him when he was taken. He’s spent the time since going over the events of his life again and again. Everything has been a lie. The salvation he sought has been ripped from his grasp, his own actions taking it further from him. In this state, he’ll probably lash out at things that remind him of what was done to him, but eventually he’ll stabilize and channel that hatred and rage into a new goal.

Four Goals:
1. Short Term: Arash wants to see Bishop Buram, Moran, and the others in Buram’s employ die slowly for what they did to him
2. Long Term: Arash will want to find a new purpose, particularly salvation through something. That salvation doesn’t need to be a removal of his “sins” but rather a justification of his life and actions. It is likely that the Church of Asmodeus will provide that for him, but another faith, such as Norgorber or even a cause may lend him that.
3. Long Term: Find out the truth surrounding his mother and father. The seed of doubt was sown long ago, but now it has taken root and he wishes to find out more about his parentage.
4. Long Term: Arash wants a last name. He long ago thought about using Bishop Buram’s, but that was too dangerous. Now, it is a reviled thing to him. He wants a last name that shows his purpose and carries meaning. It is important that he earn it rather than simply decide on one.

Two Secrets, One Known and One Unknown:
1. Arash deeply believed in the power of Mitra and salvation brought by faith in him. He followed the twisted doctrine that Bishop Buram taught him. This now shames him that he believed in such a lie.
2. Although his father was indeed a cambion, his mother was far from a devil-worshipper. She was a faithful Mitran and young woman, Lucasta Torvine, who was seduced by a passing dark stranger, the cambion Theribus Vordeth. Theribus had been working as a mercenary at the time in Talingarde, using magic to keep his identity secret.

Five People that are tied to Arash, Three Friends and Two Enemies:
1. Rana Edelvin: A young human girl that worked in the church that Arash was kept at. She was Arash’s handler and surrogate mother. He wants to hate her for everything, but can’t bring himself to. Little known to him and to Bishop Buram, she is a follower of Asmodeus who has been whispering in the bishop’s ear and provoking him to further atrocities.
2. Tunivel Sorish: Tunivel is a scoundrel and information broker that has helped Arash in the past in accomplishing the missions that were given to him. He seems to be only interested in coin, but seems to have taken a liking to the naïve tiefling.
3. Theribus Vordeth: A cambion who fathered Arash and then left. Whether or not he knows about Arash, he seems to have little interest in the tiefling he created.
4. Cardinal Buram Landrhew: The bishop that raised Arash, used him as a tool to rise in power, and then discarded him when it was convenient. His activities were close to being discovered, but in a twist of fate and a cunning maneuver, Bishop Buram managed to elevate himself and implicate a few of his opponents by sacrificing a pawn and forging some documents.
5. Moran: The harsh instructor of Arash. The tiefling has little love for the man, but seeks to apply his lessons as best he can. Arash suspects he had a hand to play in all of it beyond molding the tiefling as a tool, but Arash is not sure how much of one.

Five Mannerisms:
1. Arash is extremely uncomfortable being away from his weapon. It holds significance to him, including a feeling of safety and power, but also, he feels incomplete when he is separated from his bow. The weapon he wielded previously reminds him too much of the shattered delusions he believed in before, so he will seek to find a new one.
2. Arash stares at people in a manner that leaves them feeling a bit uncomfortable. If asked, most people say that it reminds them of being watched by a predator.
3. He hates the indoors and will often seek to be outside rather than stay inside. Nature appeals to him and outside lets him feel free. These feelings will deepen after he escapes.
4. Arash has had to lie numerous times about unusual things about him, even though he tries to avoid social encounters with others. This has led him to embracing the well-known silver-tongue of tieflings. He does this mostly to avoid problems and to try and compensate for his utter lack of socialization otherwise.
5. Arash has a keen mind that lends itself well to reading. His stunted upbringing combined with his training as an assassin have given him a great deal of book knowledge on esoteric topics, but relatively little practical know-how.

"The bow and you are one. Think not of it as a tool, but as an extension of yourself." Moran examined Arash’s form, nodding slightly and mumbling to himself all while adjusting Arash’s posture with slight pushes and slaps.

"What does that mean, teacher? I don’t understand it." Arash asked, careful to keep his eyes straight, focused on the target. Avoiding a beating was almost as important as learning the lessons taught. His volatile teacher ensured that he learned quickly or earned a new scar to remind the boy.

"You will, Arash, or you will suffer, but this is a lesson best grasped over time." He looked once more at the boy, giving a final examination. “Perfect form… Now release. Let the arrow take flight and follow it. Never let it leave your sight.”

The arrow flew straight, striking the target perfectly, nearly a hundred feet from where student and teacher stood. He followed the arrow the entire time in its flight, letting his arms sink as the arrow flew. Yes, Arash thought, that’s sure to please. He turned to look at his master, but found Moran staring at the target, a frown on his face.

Moran lashed out at Arash, striking the boy in the face. "When did I say let your weapon fall?! Always be ready for the next shot! Learning new lessons is no excuse to forget the old!" Moran sighed and shook his head, "You may never be ready to receive the grace of Mitra, Arash, so foolish are you. Your heritage will never be forgiven." Moran smirked slightly, just out of sight of his young pupil.

Arash righted himself and with grim determination he nocked another arrow. I am a faithful believer. I will one day be worthy. Focus. Concentrate. Follow the arrow. Remember your lessons. I will be ready. I will serve. My place in the light will be secured.

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The king sat in this throne surrounded by shining kinghts. The palace itself was a testament to the glory of Mitra, and the opulence of the aristocracy. Arash kept his eyes low, not out of shame, but a distaste for the décor around him. It reminded him so of his tainted heritage. His tail lashed back and forth wildly, his frustration evident. How was I caught? Arash asked himself. I followed the plan outlined by Moran. The king stood up from his throne and stepped forward a couple of steps.

"Did you think you could take my family and I here in the palace, devil spawn?" Markadian shook his head. "Fortunately, I was forewarned about your plan."

Forewarned? Arash raised his head to meet the boots of the king. Who? Moran, Tunivel, Rana, and maybe a few others knew the plan, but... He kept his eyes low as he swept his gaze about the room. "Looking for your co-conspirators? They’re being rounded up as we speak." Arash lowered his eyes to the floor again, confused and searching for possibilities. It was all he had now. He had failed and the tainted king had him. He would never see Mitra’s glory.

Markadian’s boots appeared in front of him. "Lift him up. I wish to look him in the eye as I tell him his fate." Arash felt the cold, sharp metal of the knights’ gauntlets as they roughly lifted him to his feet. I will at least deny him this. He kept his gaze at the king’s feet. "Lift his head! Make him look at me!" More metal, enclosing grasping fingers, was on his head and his face now. They forced him to look the king in the face.

"There, spawn of evil. You now know the face of the man who orders your execution. You will die for your sins, for they are many. Extortion, kidnapping, and murder, but the most recent is high treason. You will die for all of these, and I wish that you had multiple lives so that I could take them all, but for the charge of high treason you will be drawn and quartered. May the pain give you clarity of the magnitude of your damnation as you die." The king gestured to the guards, looking away from Arash. "Take him away. I wish him to taint this room no longer."

The only clarity that I need is th- The thought died in his head as the guards spun him about and he saw Bishop Buram. Why is father here? The guards pulled him on, taking the bishop and the king out of his sight. The king spoke as Arash was being dragged from the chamber. "Bishop Buram Landrhew, I thank you for your aid in this matter. It was fortunate that your men discovered this plot in time."

The world became muted for Arash. Assistance? But father was the one that I aided. I... He... We... destroyed evil. He set me on the road to redemption... right? I...

The bishop’s words broke through his malign reverie, "Of course, my king. I am only too glad to serve. It was through the guidance of Mitra that I and my men were able to discover that foul creature’s plans before they could come any closer to fruition. His punishment is just."

Pain flooded Arash’s world, drowning out everything else. The palace was filled his screams, unholy rage given voice for moments before the knights dragging him gagged the tiefling. He raged and sobbed as he was thrown in the wagon. Death. Death to them all. It was all he had left.