Garudan

Garudin shouldered the burden with a heavy heart. He had an aptitude for illusions that exceeded his father's. And this is no small feat given that Finghath the Fireweaver, as his father was known to the world, was perhaps the most accomplished illusionist in a long line of masters.

The closest Garudin would ever get to exploring the world would be the court circuit in which his father regularly performed. Being his father's apprentice and "stage helper" denied the grander vision Garudin had for his life and he felt it was little more than a self-imposed prison.

Garudin decided to ignore his brooding discontent and make the most of his life. It was his duty, after all. To help keep his mind busy, he devoted much of his magical studies to the schools outside of illusion and was surprised that this helped him progress within the school of illusion as well.

His cousin Hyndghor was an apprentice to the dwarven arms master and Garudin would spend long hours watching his cousin practice his battle forms. Occasionally Garudin would even join them. He was a natural, gaining some esteem with the arms master.

Just prior to his 40th birthday Garudin gained his heart's desire though the key to his freedom was painful and tragic.

It began like any other season, his family traveling the court circuit to the great amusement, and financial expense, of the surrounding kingdoms. But something they had always feared was about to happen. They were attacked. Not by highway men or brigands, but by a by another traveling magician and his henchman.

This was also no chance meeting. The mage was a conjurer who Fireweaver refused to take as an apprentice, because the man's dark nature was plain to see in the Fireweaver's eyes.

Fireweaver felt confident that this magical upstart was no match for his ability and began to dispatch the pup with a few, carefully chosen magicks. But something was wrong, terribly wrong. Fireweaver's illusions and shadow creatures quickly dissipated. The master's magic had failed him. Stunned more by his own failure then by his opponent's mastery, Fireweaver was defenseless against the attacker, who seized his opportunity and ended Fireweaver and his wife's life with a simple lightning bolt.

Garudin watched the deadly scene with horror. He knew he was next. He also knew that there was more too this battle than his father or he realized. How could a master illusionist be overcome so easily? How could the spells that had served him so faithfully fail Fireweaver when he needed them most? What was the ornate amulet around the attacker's neck? "Remember, remember!" Garudin thought. His studies were wider than his father's and he recalled something about that amulet. But he couldn't remember the specifics in the heartbeats before the mage was to turn on him. He knew the amulet must be some powerful form of protection from illusion and possibly all magic.

It was time to act. He pulled out a sword and leaped at the mage, now it was the conjurer's turned to be surprised. Aided by his blend of fighting skill and rudimentary magics Garudin was able to win free and fled blindly deep into the surrounding woods.

The death of his parents was more than he could come to grips with and he wandered without purpose for days. By happenstance he stumbled upon the search party that had come to find his family. They returned to the scene of the attack to find the bodies of his parents gone with the blackened earth and shattered remnants of their wagon and belongings left as the only signs of the attack.

Garudin vowed to avenge the death of his parents and set about acquiring the skills he would need to face his foe. Having learned that magic could not be counted on to answer all threats Garudin apprenticed himself to the Arms master and studied alongside his cousin. He would not be caught as his father had been, defenseless against a foe who had prepared against magical attack. Where magic failed, cold steel would serve to create nightmares for his opponents.

After a few years he grew impatient and left his village and formal training to begin his quest. He knew he was still no match for the conjurer and that he needed to further his magical training and hone his marshal talents. He quickly found camaraderie with a band of adventurers in the city of Garidan. His journeys with them would widen his knowledge of the world and his skills as well as allow him to seek the slayer of his family.

By Nelson Kerr