Combat (Prepared):
0: Daze, Ray of Frost, Detect Magic (cast). Trans: Mage Hand x2, Message.
1: Burning Hands, Sleep. Trans: Reduce Person, Enlarge Person x2 (one cast).
Spellbook:
0: All but Abjuration, Conjuration, and Necromancy. 16 Spells, 8 pages.
1: Color Spray, Comprehend Languages, Sleep, Burning Hands. Trans: Enlarge Person, Animate Rope, Feather Fall, Reduce Person. 8 Spells, 8 Pages.
Blank Pages: 84.
Gear:
Spoiler:
Backpack (2), Belt Pouch (.5), Bedroll (5), Flint and Steel, 2 Sunrods (2), 3 Rations (3), Waterskin (4), Spellbook (3), Scroll Case (.5), 5 sheets of Parchment, Inkpen, Black Ink, Flask of Alchemist's Fire (1), Rapier (2), Shortbow (2), 20 Arrows (3), Dark Green Wide-brimmed Hat.
Total: 28 lbs -> Light Load.
Treasure 4 GP, 4 SP (-1 SP from hat)
Familiar: None
Backstory
Spoiler:
(I used the Hero Builder's Guidebook for the basics and then ran with it.)
Talacyst Aravar was born in the Elven city of Crying Leaf, near the Velashu Uplands. The Aravars were quite prosperous and very well-respected in the city, and made their fortune by creating magical items. The Aravars are well-known in the area for their fine magical arms and armor, which are of excellent quality and often contain an inscripiton to Sarenrae upon them. The parents, Lorrim and Karasin, ran the business with the help of their sons for many years. The eldest of their two sons, Aradis, became well-accustomed to the coniditons of their workshop, and worked hard despite the smoke and magical fluxes and such.
Talacyst had a different experience. About fifteen years younger than Aradis, Talacyst was initially brought up in the same way his brother was - a thorough grounding in the teachings of Sarenrae, to be followed by an introduction to the ways of crafting before home-schooling him in magic. Though Talacyst was an unusally frail child (even for an elf), it was expected that he would turn out very much like Aradis. During his religious studies, however, Talacyst developed a disabling condition due to his environment; whether it was due to the smoke or the heat or any number of other things is unknown. Talacysts lungs were badly damaged in any case, and for several weeks he could only lie in bed coughing and wheezing.
His parents kept him away from the workshop after that, and Talacyst spent much of his time in his family's house. As he was unable to travel much, he studied under several tutors once he recovered somewhat, learning about a number of topics, including economics and advanced mathematics. Talacyst's parents still hoped he would become a contributor to the family's business, and hoped that he would be able to handle their paperwork and such. His two younger siblings both were much like Aradis, and they did not share Talacyst's condition.
Though he excelled in all his studies, Talacyst most enjoyed his magical theory teacher. His teacher expanded his studies, and Talacyst soon had a basic understanding of magic. After a time, Talacyst requested that his parents would allow him to travel to the Tower of the Stars in the depths of Mierani Forest. In an unusal exchange, Lorrim made it quite clear that Talacyst was expected to stay in the family and make his own contribution to their tradition of item manufacturing. Talacyst was angered by this decision. After some time of thought, he came to the conclusion that he would be unsatified working with the business and with the books for the rest of his life.
Talacyst fled his house during the night a few months later, taking with him stolen weapons and supplies. Although his poor health slowed him and taxed his strength to the limits, he journeyed to the Tower of Stars. He sought refuge there, and was taken in as an apprentice.
Now, after many decades spent learning the ways of magic (in the thorough and lengthy style of the elves), Talacyst has left the Tower and gone into the world in hopes of bettering it. During his training, Talacyst found that spells that changed or manipulated objects came easily to him, and he focused his studies in those areas. Talacyst had additional reason to study these spells; being a frail elf, he initially wished to be able to discover a spell that would restore his ruined health. Talacyst was hampered even now by his weak body - the school's tradition of inscribing a magical Varisian tattoo on his body before graduation had to be done in stages, as his body couldn't take the strain of the full operation. He was thus delayed in leaving hte Tower to travel and further expand upon his abilities. Despite the continued limitations it causes, he has come to a measure of acceptance with his condition. Now he strives to use his abilities to assist the weak and down-trodden, knowing what it is like to be that way - seeking such a spell remains a goal of his, however.
Talacyst took a ship south across the Varisian Gulf to a town called Sandpoint. Talacyst had heard scattered tales of the place, and it seemed as good a place as any to travel to. He arrived only a short while ago, and, feeling remarkably hale around the salt air, began strolling the marketplace...
Personality:
Spoiler:
An unusually thin and pale elf, Talacyst seems even older than his body would imply due to his silver hair. He is alert and wary though, and eyes the world around him with a sense of curiosity that is held in check by his experiences. Intricate glyphs and runes run up the left side of his face and appear on his left arm, marking him as a graduate of the Tower of the Stars. Talacyst is pleasant and enjoyable to be with, though he coughs slightly after every few breaths. He looks kindly upon the poor and weak, as he knows their conditions better than they might think.
