Growing up on the Isle of Evermeet teaches one to be both self-reliant and appreciative of their rich elvish heritage. Shi’Etel grew up surrounded with art, architecture and arcane arts. While he came to see the beauty in all of it, some things he would never be able to partake in. He was born without the ‘spark’ of magic in him. He had to learn from early on to overcome hardship, and not to depend on magic to survive. Shi’Edel learned these lessons well. While others would spend hours learning centuries old spells, this elf would spend weeks researching more mundane ways to achieve the same effect. He established an alchemical lab and he worked tirelessly in the workshop. He experimented with different components, combining them in a variety of way to develop his own formulas. As he grew older, daylight hours found him experimenting with different alchemical mixtures and tinkering with mechanical objects. The evenings however found him researching in the library. He felt he had to push himself to find and memorize every scrap of information he could find to make up for the fact that he would never cast a spell. These nights became so long that he would leave as the sun was starting to rise. The staff had derided Shi’Edel, mockingly hanging him with the moniker ‘Dawn Hunter’.
Shi’Edel was undeterred. He invested years trying to unlock these hidden mysteries and discover how base elements could duplicate magical effects. Working this way served as a welcome distraction from the difficulties of growing up without his mother. Atorai had left Evermeet decades ago without explanation. Shi’Edel and his father, Delahn, had been alone together since that day, politely shunned by society due to her departure.
Ten years ago, everything changed when Delahn explained on his deathbed the truth behind Atorai’s mysterious exodus. Atorai felt drawn to the Realms of Men, her divinations granting her some sense of impending danger. She had tried to have the Council investigate, but they were unconcerned with the fate of humans. Atorai left Evermeet to find whatever it was her visions were trying to show her.
Shi’Edel was stunned by the news, and enraged that the Council would be so callous. His mother had been gone for decades trying to solve a mystery without any help from those she depended on. With his father’s passing, Shi’Edel had nothing to keep him on the Isle. He decided to travel to the Realms and find his mother. When he arrived in Waterdeep, one of the first people he met was Flarghin Ironstone, a dwarf of some experience.
“Whas’yer name elf?” the ale voiced dwarf asked.
“Shi’Edel”
“Shiada what now? Anybody ever call you nuthin’ else?”
“Some in the Library called me Dawn Hunter, but I think that they--”
“Great” the dwarf cut in, “Shadow the Dawn Hunter it be! Nice to make yer acquaintance. Now drink up.”
In the years since that meeting, Shadow and Flarghin had seen much together, but no clue as to the location of Atorai of her mysterious quest.
