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Luke Painter
Half-Elf Cleric of Shelyn 1 CG
HP 8 / 8 Speed ft Init -1
AC 9 Fort 3 Ref 0 Will 6
CMB +2 BAB 0

Str 15 (2) Dex 8 (-1) Con 10 (0) Wis 16 (3) Int 14 (2) Cha 14 (2)

Luke is a mess of a man. Shoulder length platinum blond hair is often speckled with paint, framing elven facial features such as high cheekbones, a strong nose, and a prominent brow furrowed with worry lines. He would be considered traditionally handsome if it weren't for his eyes. Cold blue eyes dart back and forth, as if catching something that no one else can. Anybody with even a lick of empathy can see the madness that lies in those eyes. His strong frame doesn't do him any favors, easily knocking down items when he isn't paying attention. When relaxing he prefers to wear vibrant colors, mostly purples and yellows, although all of his clothes have been used to wipe paintbrushes clean; even his priest's cassock has a few streaks in easily seen places.

Luke Painter was born Calazar Fredrickson to a human father, Fredrick Harrison, and an elven mother Shalendra Daegella out of wedlock. As soon as the half-elf was born, his mother, both disgusted and shamed by the union, left to return to her elven home. The boy was left in Egorian, Cheliax to be raised by his father, a distant man who saw too much of his mother in him.

Calazar's fascination with artwork started early. His father was a collector of pieces, often throwing together large collections of local artwork to help up and comers get their names out. As a child, Calazar would try to gain his father's approval with artwork of his own. The results were hit and miss, although Calazar could never figure out what pieces appealed to his father in which way.

Everything changed one fateful day as his father threw a small invitation-only gala on the top floor of their family home. Calazar had long since learned that he was not allowed up above, as that was where his father kept his most prized artwork. As an adventurous young painter, this sadly meant that the child would stop at nothing to see the artwork that would be on display. He hatched a scheme to get the key from his father and see the exhibit before anyone else could.

The horrors that child witnessed that day were enough to break his mind. The gala was invitation only as it held the artwork of a devil gone mad in Hell. His work was largely inspired by demon-born atrocities, and were to be sold by Fredrick to Chelaxian nobles for a pretty platinum. The sights were enough to break even a weak willed adult, let alone an impressionable young child.

Afterwards, Calazar became more despondent. His paintings slowly became more and more complex, the pain of his madness acting as a muse the likes of Cheliax had not seen in many ages. Realizing that something had happened to his son, Fredrick became more and more wary of his child, often claiming to take his paintings to sell only to destroy them when he thought Calazar was not looking.

As if by divine providence another collector came to Fredrick's home some years later. An aging Shelynite who called himself Lucius Vereit. As he toured the collections, looking to buy some of the pieces, he saw Calazar painting in the garden through a window. Something struck him. There was a pain in this child that struck a chord with his goddess, Shelyn. Excusing himself from Fredrick's company, he approached the young Calazar.

It did not take Calazar long to warm up to this stranger, who acted kindly to him in a place where kindness was only for personal gain. This man didn't seem to have any ulterior motive, and over several visits he would return with new paints or a violin to play as he watched Calazar work. Over time his paintings became more tame, although on some days his madness and pain was still clear.

After figuring out all he could about Calazar's situation, Lucius offered to take him to the church of Shelyn. The boy, now a teenager, relished the opportunity. It soon became his favorite place, often covered in flowers, beautiful paintings, and songbirds; he would go without Lucius on days the elderly man couldn't make it. Calazar felt a special peace there. His madness would quiet to a dim roar.

Seeing how his son was improving, Fredrick took the opportunity to let Lucius take him to the church of Shelyn for good. Those who would come for exhibits and galas had begun talking about Fredrick's strange son and his stranger, disturbing paintings. Lucius took the boy as though he were his own son.

Calazar Fredrickson took the name Luke Painter shortly after Lucius passed after a decade of teaching, grateful for how the man saved him from what was now obviously an abusive relationship with his biological father. The madness remained, as did the pain, and not even the temple of Shelyn could stop his nightmares. It returned with an intensity he had not felt since he was a child upon Lucius' death. He was, however, intent on doing good for the world, and took up the cassock of the clergy of Shelyn. He learned of Shelyn and the other deities.

Upon hearing of the new cathedral in Sandpoint, Luke decided to make a pilgrimage of sorts to see if they would need anyone to come up with artwork for the shrines there. With Shelyn at his side wherever he went and a purpose he could latch on to, he was beginning to feel better about the canvas fate had given him to paint his life on.

"Beauty that comes from within is good, and good is what I strive to be."

Luke is constantly at war with himself. He understands the teachings that Shelyn embodies, and does his best to live up to her expectation. However, when he is not relaxed, Luke often fights against the madness in his mind. The type of madness where, upon seeing blood and gore, makes him want to reach out and begin painting with broad strokes. Thanks to his master, this is very rarely the case.

"The muse of madness speaks to me, whispers as I stare at the blank slate, but Shelyn guides my brush."

Although he may babble to himself at times and cover himself with paint without realizing it, Luke has an eye for detail and for people. Years of living in Cheliax had taught him the importance of finding out what a person needs from you. He does try his best to not use his keen eyes to look out for his best interest, instead focusing on what he can do to help others.

"So much beauty in the world, and so much of it blighted; it's so tragic I could weep!"

Even as a cleric of Shelyn, Luke is new to the idea of Love. It was only recently, at the deathbed of his mentor, that Luke had been able to say he truly loved someone out loud. His heart weighs heavily upon his soul, his loss still fresh. Luke would be the first to admit that he doesn't feel much for people; whether it's some stranger on the street, his own father, or his long lost mother, they hold no special meaning to him. Despite this, he tries to be good. Tries to be beautiful.

"For when one is truly good, they have attained the highest beauty..."