Difference between revisions of "Teron Ashfiend"

Inception

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Appearance

Teron Ashfiend (or The Ashfiend as he is often called) stands between six and seven feet tall. He is easily identified by both his height and his armor, the latter being an ancient, scarred and blackened suit of heavy plate. The countless scratches and burns almost hide the symbol decorating the breastplate - a vertical sword crossed at the hilt by a pair of weeping, wilting roses - a symbol that has earned him the sobriquet "The Knight of the Wilted Rose." Ancient, black gloves and boots hide away both hands and feet. A tattered cloak, hemmed in faded gold thread, hangs past armored knees. A faded gray scarf masks the lower half of his visage while a low hood seals it within a shadow from which flare his brilliant, unblinking eyes alive with a livid crimson flame. His presence is occasionally felt before he is seen as a great chill follows him about that leeches the warmth from all living things; a chill that becomes quite unbearable should one venture to touch, or have the misfortune of being touched, by him.

Sobriquets

The Wilted Rose, Arak's Ruin

History

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Khalika Quiller and Glenn Burnie a great deal is becoming more widely known concerning the Ashfiend although still at a slow rate. After all not many have the heart to question too deeply regarding such a powerful, evil creature.

It is said that, long ago, the Ashfiend was a mortal warrior for the cause of peace and justice, under service to the god of a defunct religion known simply as Cedrick the White. His armor, and personal symbol, was that of a sword crossed at the hilt by a pair of weeping, wilting roses and it is the armor he yet wears to this day. The same symbol earned him the name "The Wilted Rose," in reference to both his armor and his fallen stature from mortal hero to undead scourge. While the stories concerning The Wilted Rose are indeed ancient enough to be considered, if at all, as only legend and myth, there is no denying that such a figure was a hero to the defenseless and defender of justice.

One such tale, the most popular concerning the memory of the Wilted Rose, concerns his fighting an ancient demon named Valkadadesh in the belly of a live volcano for three days and three nights. At the end of that conflict he defeated the demon and took from him an item referred to only as "the Signet Ring." Ancient history being the mist-shrouded thing that it is, there is a small gap in the time line before the Wilted Rose watches his home, betrothed, and people all die in a terrible battle also waged against demons.

Quiller's and Burnie's research has also revealed that the Wilted Rose was slain soon thereafter. And somehow, though no knowledge has been forthcoming to clear up the confusion, he indeed perished twice before finding himself enslaved to someone that the Ashfiend identifies as Sin'Vraal. In his alleged service to Vraal, the Ashfiend led armies out of dark nightmares to lay waste to kingdoms and wipe empires from the memory of mankind. One such man was named Arak, a powerful Demigod whom the Ashfiend forged a special weapon to slay known as Arak's Ruin - a moniker that has been applied to him as well.

Current Sketch

Since his arrival, Teron has done little but wreak destruction and make enemies of the people of Myrken Wood. He is known to be responsible for the disappearances of a librarian at the Library of Mudd as well as Teddi, a serving girl at the Broken Dagger Tavern. He is said by some to strike against enemies with a confidence that borders on arrogance though such overweening pride is not entirely without some merit. He has demonstrated a great, tireless strength as well as an alleged immunity to either heat or cold. He is also a known practitioner of sorcery, specifically necromancy, as a great deal of his sorcerous power deals with inflicting pain, robbing people of their strength and raising undead to serve him.

The serving girl Teddi, employed by the Broken Dagger Inn, has recently been rescued from Teron's clutches by a brave force of Shepherd Knights, Constables, and volunteer civilians who fought against the Ashfiend and his undead minions resulting in many casualties. Still the Ashfiend was driven from the Priory of Snowstill, his army broken, and his whereabouts unknown.

As for what he plans for the future few can say. He makes no secret of one goal: that of hunting down and destroying Sin'Vraal who has also appeared in Myrken Wood. The second is vague, betraying to Khalika Quiller that he also came to Myrken Wood for "Elysia" whatever that might mean. The third is some goal concerning Heath and its rulership as his servant Valinor, a wraith bound by an ancient chain, already rides throughout that land seeking out lords ready for military action.