“All life has tragedy,” Father Tobyn was wont to say, “but Faith is shown clearest when times are darkest.”
Wesh the Cooper’s son has had tragedy in his life but, guided by the kindly priest, he resolved at an early age to have faith in even greater abundance. When Wesh was six, his parents died. A winter illness fell upon the family and of five, only young Wesh live to see the spring. He was taken into the Turandarok Academy with the other orphaned or abandoned youths and most of his earliest memories are of that place. Where others might have grown dark and cold, Wesh struggled to focus on the positive, throwing himself into his studies.
Master Gandethus quickly noted the boy’s quick intellect and encouraged him in many academic fields: languages new and old, history and even magical theory. But it was another citizen of Sandpoint, Father Tobyn, who was to play a larger role in shaping the boy. Without fail Wesh was at every Sunday service. His answers were the quickest in Tobyn’s classes and it was Wesh who always had the most questions. Though Master Gandethus had high hopes for Wesh becoming a mage, he quickly realized the boy’s faith was compelling him in a different direction. When Wesh was twelve, Gandethus allowed the young man to begin training as an Acolyte under the village priest.
The next two years were some of the happiest of Wesh’s life. He had found a new family. It was perhaps natural that Wesh, who had lost his true flesh and blood family, would so easily gravitate to the veneration of Erastil, not in the god’s role as a hunter, but in his role as protector of the home. Wesh made many friends amongst the other Acolytes, looking up to all the older ones, especially Brother Zantus, who Tobyn was grooming as his replacement even then. It was Zantus who encouraged the young man to learn all he could of the community around him.
The bliss was not to last forever. Tragedy struck again when the fire claimed the old chapel, Father Tobyn, his young daughter Nualia, and some of the other acolytes. Greatly grieved, Wesh went through a period of intensive mourning, even changing his name to Kinmorn. He resolved eventually, guided greatly by both Master Gandethus, whom he still respected, and the newly elevated Father Zantus, to allow his faith to continue to grow.
A year ago, Wesh Kinmorn adopted a new name, Erastilson, when he was officially ordained into the clergy. He has worked as hard as anyone to build the new Cathedral and has vowed to do whatever necessary to strengthen the town that has nurtured him and given him a home and an education.
Wesh Kinmorn Erastilson is today a strong young man of nineteen with auburn hair and dark brown eyes. His birthday falls on Abadius 21st. The illness that almost killed him as a child left him with some musculature difficulties. For a long time, he had tremendous problems with balance and manual dexterity. Constant physical training has helped him to overcome the worst of these, though he still occasionally stumbles. Well liked by those that know him, Kinmorn has worked hard to be a part of the growing community of Sandpoint, endeavoring to learn the names of all its citizens and to help with all of their difficulties. Though he has striven to master the bow as a part of his faith, his teachers despair of him ever becoming a true marksman. His talents instead seem to lie with helping and understanding others, man and beasts alike.
