Name: Elric
Nickname: The Archivist, Black Mage
Age: 42
Race: Human/ Brancian
Nation of Origin: Originally Brance but Espladar is his home.

Appearance

Elric is a tall, middle-aged man. His thick wool cloak and wide brimmed hat were best suited for the rainy mountains of Espladar. If he removed his hat he would reveal messy brown and grey hair. Underneath his favorite blue cloak he wore a white cotton shirt with black pants and thick black boots. He also wore a thin grey scarf, which he kept for luck. (see image)

Role

Elric is an Archivist. He collects magical tomes and artifacts, usually for his own personal collection but occasionally sells them to the highest bidder. He enjoys delving into ancient ruins in search of discovering new spells and knowledge of historical events.

Magical Abilities: He is a type of wizard known as a Black Mage, meaning he specializes in Elemental Magic. He can convert energy into any element and manipulate it, usually preferring to use a staff to focus his own energy. He is best at using fire but can use any element and even combine elements. An example of a combination spell would be to combine earth and water to form mud or quicksand. His power level is about average for a wizard. Some examples of power level might be; blasting a door off its hinges with a fireball, creating an earthen shield approximately 10' by 10' and 6'' thick, or using air to push an opponent back 3 yards. 

Due to his extensive knowledge of the arcane arts he also has control over low level illusion and time magic. He suspects he may have fae ancestry as illusion comes easily to him. He can create a silent image of any person or object he can imagine including a mirror image of himself. He can throw his voice. He can create an obscuring fog. He can create a burst of color intended to cause nausea and temporarily blind an opponent. He can charm or confuse a person as well as attempt to induce sleep.  As far as time magic he can only use the spells slow and disintegrate armor.

He is physically weak but occasionally uses his staff to block or parry physical attacks at close range. His staff is also used to focus his energy. He doesn't have a lot of stamina but can typically cast around five spells before he is exhausted. 

Personality

“He much preferred the company of books to actual people. Books were easier to read, and far more dependable.” 

Elric doesn't trust people. He has simply been betrayed and abandoned too many times. He will occasionally make friends if he finds it convenient but be wary as Elric almost always values his own life above all others. 
In battle and in life he often plays it smart opting to run away rather than fight hopelessly.

He was a late bloomer when it came to magic. He grew up poor and powerless in the Kingdom of Brance. He learned to read despite the odds and became a reading tutor. Knowledge was empowering and even now teaching excites him. Perhaps the only person he truly cares about now is his student Aireaz.

He is a bit roguish for a mage, preferring to live in Espladar among Bandits and Drow. He plays the role of antihero as he often does good things for the wrong reasons and bad things for the right ones. He isn't afraid to sacrifice lives for the greater good. Aside from that he has a good sense of humor.

History

Elric was a wizard and archivist, originally from the Kingdom of Brance. He grew up poor in the overcrowded city. He was raised by his mother who was illiterate and when he was ten he taught himself to read, in order to help her. He soon realized that knowledge was empowering and began teaching other peasants to read, in exchange for food and other necessities. His mother became very ill when he was twenty one and he took a job as an English tutor for some rich noble's children. His social standing rose when it was unexpectedly discovered he possessed Fire Magic at the age of 25. He resented the nobles of Brance because they were clearly using him. He disagreed with some of their hypocritical ways and didn't want to fight for Brance in the war. His mother passed away a year later.

He met a noble woman named Selene at a party. He knew her father would never allow them to marry, but he fell in love anyway. They became secret lovers, but she made it clear she wouldn't be giving up her social status and inheritance for him. He trained with the mages in Brance, making use of their fantastic library. He didn’t exactly fit in as he was older than most of the other pupils but the headmaster at the time, Varin Moore, took him under his wing. After witnessing the terrible devastation caused by the Brancian Army and their Divine might in his first battle with the Mallastonians, he realized he was not suited to be a battle mage. He deserted from the army and fled to Espladar 15 years ago, leaving everything behind, including Selene.

Elric lived in the abandoned ruins of a castle in the Deadfall Mountains for many years. Occasionally visiting other ruins to search for new spell books. He befriended an elven mage by the name of Keira, but when her coven fell ill the Bandit King asked him to leave Espladar in search of the EnStone, an ancient relic said to bring health & prosperity to those who claim it. He met a mercenary named Zaan Baako in the Sandspire and they traveled together in search of ancient tomes and magical artifacts. However, at the Temple of Elements he found a mysterious staff which he stole. The Staff of Takeshi granted him power but at the terrible price of slowly eating at his soul and making him temporarily insane. A mysterious voice confirmed his fears that he could only rely on himself and promised him revenge on the nobles of Brance.

He returned to his homeland to make use of their library but was captured and forced to fight in the coliseum. He escaped using whatever means necessary, setting the bleachers of the coliseum on fire. As he was leaving he freed an elf thief from a prison cell. Aireaz, a natural aquamancer expressed her desire to learn more magic and he agreed to train her. They fled to the Bluemist mountains where they fought a mage who used metallic butterflies as poisonous weapons. They defeated the woman and knowing they would be followed Aireaz and Elric silently agreed to end her life.

After they had been traveling together for some time the elven thief revealed that she knew the location of the EnStone. They traveled by airship back up north to the Skyfell Mountains but were distracted by a large event happening in Brance. It turned out that his former lover Selene was marrying into Brance Royalty. The staff of Takeshi caused him to be overcome with emotion and he made his way to the front of the crowd. He was recognized by his former mentor, Varin Moore, and in the ensuing battle he lost both the staff and his right hand. He was able to escape with the aide of his friends but his powers were greatly diminished.

When they arrived in the Skyfell they found the elves ensnared by a powerful ice elemental. They fought to get the EnStone and free the elves without harming them but others in their party were not so considerate. Many elves died including Aireaz’s own brother. With the ice elemental defeated Zaan and a group of Rhaegorans took off with the EnStone. Elric was forced to make a choice and it didn't take long to realize he needed to stay with his student and attempt to resurrect the elves by battling a phoenix. The two mages emerged victorious but Elric was forced to return to Espladar empty handed.

When they arrived Keira was dead. In his grief he pushed Aireaz away. Soon he heard of a rebellion in Brance. He hatched a scheme to help the rebels and paid a visit to the Bandit King. He begged him to attack Rhaegora who had stolen the EnStone, this distraction would temporarily cut off supplies to the Army of Brance. Elric rushed to join the rebels but they were overwhelmed by the Royal Army’s numbers. The antihero died alone on the fields of his homeland.

Writing Sample

Elric looked back at Selene who had been looking at him and was now being led away by her new husband. He looked back at Moore and saw a strange sight. Moore had opened a small portal and he was now holding Elric’s staff. However, he could still feel the rough wood in his right hand and upon looking closer noticed his own hand protruding from the portal. He looked just to his right and there was a similar portal enveloping his outstretched arm. It looked like a small pool of thick tar and when he tried to pull the staff back through it caused ripples along the surface.

He glared at the High Magister but he didn’t let go. Varin met Elric’s eyes, silently pleading for his former student to give up and let go of the staff. The portal began to fluctuate in and out of existence as if it were becoming unstable. Elric reached out for Aireaz with his left hand. He knew what would happen when the portal collapsed but he couldn’t let go of the staff. It was as much a part of him now as his own hand. He gave one last desperate tug and the portal closed with a snap.

He stared in shock at the empty space where the portal had just been. The High Magister still held his staff and Elric’s right arm ended in a bloody stump just above the wrist. He didn’t even have the sense to cradle his arm. He just stood there with his arm outstretched wondering how he could have been so arrogant. He felt weak, and it wasn’t from the blood loss. Now that the staff was gone he was defenseless. He fell to his knees defeated.

Elric opened his eyes and stared up at the wooden ceiling of his cabin aboard the airship. The last thing he remembered was Aireaz grabbing him, pulling him back through the crowd. He reached up to rub his eyes and remembered that his dominant hand was missing. He lowered it quickly, hoping no one had noticed his mistake.

He knew that Aireaz and Rodgin would be angry with him and that they deserved answers. However, the thought of Selene witnessing his embarrassing defeat was painful beyond words. He had lost his hope, his power, and his hand all in one go. He was shaking with anger as he remembered the look of pity on Varin Moore’s face. Then the thought occurred to him that Selene probably didn't recognize him after all this time and even if she had she probably thought he had come to kill her.

He began laughing hysterically, unable to control his emotions. He would have to learn everything again. Without his hand even the simple things like unbuttoning his shirt or straightening his hat would feel strange and awkward. His laughter turned quickly to sobs as hot tears rolled down his face. He wished his friends would leave, but he didn't have the strength to move or speak.

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