About Shahbaz al-BashirShahbaz' backstory:
The sun just crept over the largest dune to the east of Katheer. Dawn has arrived and so did Shahbaz. Being devout followers of The Everlight Sarenrae, his parents saw it as a divine portent that their first child was born with the first dawn light. This interpretation was ever so deepened when they discovered Shabaz’ hair color. He had bright red hair; “kissed by the fiery sun”, was all his mother’s astonished midwife could mumble as she put the screaming baby into her arms. A son of Sarenrae had arrived, and word spread quickly.
Shahbaz was and to this day has never been sure if the circumstances of his birth have been a blessing, a curse or sheer happenstance. Regardless, they sure did shape his life. As devout Sarenites his parents gave their son into the custody of Katheer’s former High Priest of Sarenrae, hoping Shahbaz would fulfill the burden of his birthmark easier under the guidance of the clergy itself. It was much later that Shahbaz discovered that the High Priest was blackmailing his parents into giving up the child. During his years in the temple he became a pious man himself, dedicating his life to serve the Dawnflower, ever so curious if he was touched by his goddess and chosen for greater deeds. Shahbaz grew up to become a polite, good-hearted and curious adolescent that believed in the good in people and that everyone deserves a second chance. A large part of his temple duties were tending to the old, sick and wounded, and Shahbaz excelled at this task. Fate intervened as one of the bed-ridden man he was attending to one day, was a scholar from the Veniccan College of Medicaments and Chiurgery in Katheer that saw his potential and offered him a rare spot amongst the students should he survive. He did. Shahbaz' years at the College were some of the nicest he lived so far. He was relieved from the duties of the temple and could solely focus on his studies. While he did learn very well how to treat wounds, amputate limps that couldn't be saved or set bones in extremities that could be salvaged in the conventional way, he excelled when he combined his knowledge with the bright and fiery divine energy of the Dawnflower that was flowing through his hands to heal. As it is quite common, the Qadiran military tends to recruit medics and healers from the Veniccan College and Shahbaz was no exception. After he finished his education he was drafted into the Qadiran military and stationed at the northern border close to Taldor. The border disputes with the Taldans were not as vicious as they have been in the past and consisted mostly of small skirmishes and espionage missions. Due to his large healing capacities, Shahbaz was often deployed with small groups on reconnaisance missions since he could patch his fellow soldiers up if need be, but also hold his ground when praying to Sarenrae to grant him the more violent bits of her powers. The years passed as slow as honey dripping through an hour glass, and even though Shahbaz felt a strong camaraderie among his corps, it was not satisfying. As a pious man, he put his faith into the hands of the Dawnflower and asked for a sign. And a sign she sent. After his evening prayers to Sarenrae, Shahbaz lit a candle as traditions commands. That day has been a long day full of hikes and climbs up to a rocky plateu that offered a deep view into Taldan territory. Shahbaz was tired and fell asleep, moreover, he didn't realize that the candle was still burning and his small tent caught fire. He only woke up from the shouts of his fellow soldiers that smelled the smoke and investigated. Shahbaz was miraculously untouched from the fire and when he opened his eyes, he saw it.
It was the next week that Shahbaz traveled to Absalom to the Grand Lodge and started his training as a Pathfinder. PATHFINDER SOCIETY
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