Lehland O'Neld's page

Hails from Absalom (Which is a story unto itself.)

The O'Neld clan is ascending. Moving up through society. It was a proud day when the clan's patriarch, Astarax O'Neld (Lehland's father's oldest brother and a Wizard of no small repute) announced that the family was moving from Coins up to Flowers. "It is a sign," he said, "that all of our hard work and efforts, both here and abroad, are panning out for us."

But the "panning out" was not for everyone. Lehland's father, Rexerion, was a fine Wizard. An adventurer who after traveling far and wide brought home a sizable treasure (sizable enough for him to have a say in how the family was run) and a wife.

Now, on adventure, having a bard around, and Rexerion's wife Anna a bard, is as handy as can be. But in a household, an up and coming household which is based on and centered around wizardry, there a bard can be disruptive. Not a smoothly turning cog in the machine that Astarax imagined the O'Neld household being. No, not at all. Very disruptive. So much so that Rexerion and Anna were encouraged to establish a home away from the family’s primary compound. Not too far, mind. Not so far that people would ask about whether there was some falling out at the O’Neld home. But far enough to allow for some easing of tensions.

Time passes and Rexerion and Anna are blessed by the arrival of offspring. The children gravitate toward the family profession (wizardry) and excel at the lessons given by the various family members. All is well until the arrival of their 5th child (3rd son), Lehland.

Well, not Lehland’s arrival, so much as the start of his schooling. Lehland (or “Lee” as his mother called him) turns out to be exceptional at his lessons. A prodigy, perhaps. He is able to cast and cast, showing the kind of arcane stamina that some older mages would have enjoyed in their youth. But as the lessons become more varied, it was quickly apparent that Lee is not on the same program as the other students. It was possible for him to cast and cast, but his repertoire lacks variety.

One milestone, the conjuring(?) of a familiar (Muffin) put some of the family suspicions to rest (Because only a real wizard can conjure a familiar.). But finally one suspicious tutor decides to examine Lehland’s spellbook and finds nothing there. It’s not like it is blank, but it just isn’t magical.

When questioned (extensively), Lehland admits that his method for learning spells was mainly by observing the older students and kind of ‘feeling’ what they were doing.

Needless to say, some elements of the O’Neld household (the extended family) are gruesomely displeased by this revelation. They find Lehland’s lack of forthrightness about the nature of his casting to be somewhat off-putting, in fact. A defiant Lehland, explaining in detail that the way he performed magic was like ‘swimming’ in it while the wizards’ method of spellcasting was more like ‘riding in a boat’ actually seals his fate.

In order to keep peace with the households (both his and his extended family’s), father Rexerion O’Neld decides that now (right now) is the time to start Lee on his adventuring career. “It’s the way the family does things,” explains father to son. “They don’t understand you and fear you a little. But don’t let that throw you off. Go out into the world, and be successful. Success solves a lot of problems.”

And with that, Rexerion calls in a few favors and finds a ship, a good ship, for his son to join. Prior to leaving there is a significant amount of fussing and tears but eventually it is agreed that adventurers adventure and the boy is trained and ready. Life aboard ship is a great way to expand horizons. Leaving the family (and its petty squabbles behind) will even help young Lee gain the kind of perspective that it will take to coexist with his uncles.

So, Lee, Muffin and his parents head to the docks and meet Golly Fleetfoot, captain and master of the good ship Aurora’s Kiss. The captain speaks briefly with Lee’s parents in private (leaving Lee to wonder if they are acquainted from his parents’ adventuring days because they seemed to be of similar age), then speaks to Lee, asking him a few questions, some of which are quite straightforward (Can he tie a knot (Maybe? The captain seemed unimpressed with his first effort but with a few seconds of instruction seemed satisfied.)? Can he repeat back a series of numbers (Yes.)? Can he really cast spells (A few cantrips put that question to rest.)?) and a few are more ambiguous (If shipwrecked what two things do you need to survive (The answer is ‘fire’ and ‘water’, it seems.)? What is the difference between a pirate and privateer (Which seems to be some kind of paperwork thing but as far as their activity goes they seem to be indistinguishable.)?). That plus the fact Muffin and Golly get along immediately, with the big tom resting next to the captain, but not on him, and purring contentedly as the captain idly scratches his ears.

Satisfied with Lee and the cat (During their time on ship, the captain never uses Muffin’s name because, “Cats never come when you call them. And I’d think he was a suck-up if he did.”), Lee is on the crew.

> What drew you to the life of a sailor/mariner/privateer/pirate?
It was a change of pace from home life. More freedom. And a chance to make one’s mark in the world.

> What job did you perform on the crew of the Aurora’s Kiss?
Being schooled and having some skills at writing and math, Lee immediately got everything from map copying to the scut work associated with navigation (all the calculations), to inventorying ship’s stores, to even assisting the paymaster.

> What was your favorite thing about serving on the Aurora’s Kiss?
Just everything. The relationships on ship were easy to sort out, not like the subtle contests that were continually being played out at the O’Neld compound. You knew your boss. You knew your job. And times between watches. You would spend your watch working like a dog (Because if you didn’t have any specific duty there was always cleaning. The Aurora’s Kiss looked spotless but the captain was never quite satisfied with how she looked.) and then when it was over, your time was your own. You could sit (out of the way) on deck and watch foreign shores slide past or just enjoy the blue sky and salt air.

> What are your goals as a sailor/mariner/privateer/pirate?
The life of a mariner is an avenue to adventure. Right now it is very enjoyable and things will come as they may.