Editing Venadir Empire (section)

== '''Our Heroes ''' ==
'''Armistead Burwell''' <''Arr-Mah-Sted Burr-well''> (Nick)

[[File:Armistead.jpg|200px|thumb|left|alt text]]     
Armistead is a human cleric of Sarenrae.  He was born in a small
village outside of Westmarch to a tavern owner’s daughter named Avania
Burwell, who later inherited her father’s business, and a sell sword
named Jerramin Rainbolt, whom everyone called Rainbolt.  Her pregnancy
with Armistead was shameful for the family, but she was a strong
willed woman who made her family put up with her unpopular choice of
special company.  The mercenary had a strong devotion to Cayden
Cailin, God of travel which may have been why he often left home to do
his “trade” and perhaps why one day he never returned.    He last left
when Armistead was 5.  Armistead heard that, when he was 7, his father
had come back but his mother denied it.  While in the tavern he
overheard two men talking about his father.  The only important words
he could make out through their slurred speech were “Rainbolt” and
“Palderton”.  He tried asking where his father was but they denied
even knowing him and ignored Armistead.   Less than a year later from
this last possible appearance, his mother suddenly sold everything and
moved them west across the land to a small city east of Waterbridge
and west of the mountains.  She settled them in a secluded edge of the
town.  As he grew up, he eventually asked about his father.  All she
ever told him was that he had kind eyes and did terrible things.


Life was lonely but comfortable until an unexpected day that led
Armistead to commit a horrible crime. He knew his only hope was to
throw himself at the mercy of a temple.  What better deity than
Sarenrae, Goddess of redemption?  The clerics did not turn Armistead
in but were not easy on him.  He went through years of trials and
brutal work for repentance before he was deemed fit to begin training
as a cleric.  He made the extra effort to prove his worth by
volunteering for the undesirable posting at Waterbridge, located at
the edge of danger, the goblin horde.   He had only recently arrived a
couple months earlier before the attack happened.  Armistead was
suppose to stay behind the safety of the walls but the battle turned
worse than expected and even his untested skills were needed.  He
frantically healed the injured he came across but suddenly found the
battlefront had moved to his location.  He thanked Sarenrae that he
had prepared an attack spell as goblins burst through their lines.  He
cast burning hands against them which at least slowed down the goblins
enough for the soldiers to close up and deal with them.


<br>

'''Syriah Amelieis''' <''Sah-rye-ah Ah-ma-lee-us''> (played by THE Wonderful Christine)

[[File:syriah.jpg|200px|thumb|left|alt text]]

All she knew was the woods.


When Syriah was just beginning to walk and explore her surroundings, her parents were taken from her. Only her uncle knew what truly happened to them and Syriah's memories were and still are very vague -- The smell of lavender perfume from the nape of her mother's neck, the scruff sandpaper feel of her father's beard, and the touch of both of their hands on her cheek is all the memory she carries with her. She didn't even know their names and she didn't find reason to bring it up. Her uncle was the only person in her life that mattered and he made sure of it by forcing her to forget the past and only look to him for the future. For all she knew, her parents could still be alive somewhere and think Syriah is the one dead. But, it's too late to question her uncle because he is now dead. Dead by Syriah's own hand.  


Syriah loved her Uncle Branyt very much. She called him papa for many years, until she learned to called him Branyt in front of strangers. They spent most of thier time alone in the woods --. practicing archery, hunting animals, and fending off intruders. They were in their own little world, and although Syriah loved her uncle very much, she learned to hate him at the tender age of 11. At the time, she began to turn from a young bud into a beautiful rose. Syriah was quite attractive and with puberty, she began to become a true woman. This is when her uncle's desires started taking a keen eye to Syriah. After each encounter, Branyt would tell Syriah how beautiful she was, but she would be forever scared with her father's dagger. He then took the dagger that once belonged to her father and brushed it against her cheek. By the age of 16, Syriah was touched by her uncle one too many times and what once could heal, had turned into a jagged looking scar upon her right cheek.


Only a few months ago, Syriah brought her father's dagger to her uncle, just like she had done for over 5 years. But, this time Syriah had vengeance and pain in her eyes. Hatred for a man she once loved. He stole her innocence and she never wanted to be touched again. She came to her uncle and held back her tears just once more. He laid a hand on her, with loving eyes and embraced her. At that moment, Syriah took the dagger and thrust it into her uncle's heart. She looked into her uncle's eyes and as he fell to ground, she spit on him. She then took her mother's opal necklace, her dagger, her bow, and fled through the woods never looking back. She could never trust a soul, nor did she wish to. She was numb to the world and just wanted to get her pain out. She vowed to never get close to anyone ever again and that she would fight who got in her way... No remorse. 


Hiding her scar, she is never seen without her cloak. All she knew was the woods, but she wants to know so much more...

<br>

'''Lankin''' 

Lankin was chief librarian for the Library of Irori subbranch in Waterbridge.  It wasn't a particularly prestigious position, but he took pride in his responsibilities.  The job also gave him plenty of privacy to further his own studies into the Arcane arts.

When word of the goblinoid horde reached him, he knew he must act quickly to save what works he could.  Bending wand and spell towards a martial side of the Arcane that he never thought he'd need, he whispered a prayer the Inevitable, and did what needed to be done to preserve the more precious works under his care.

<br>

'''Yennan''' 

Yennan is the product of a one-night stand between his mother and an elven adventurer. He was raised by his mother who was a bar maid, until she met the wrong end of a blade. When Yennan’s mother was alive he spent a lot of time on the streets of Waterbridge, so after her death four years ago he continued his path toward a life of crime. Yennan spends a lot of time on the roofs of the buildings of Waterbridge, he knows the rooftops better than the streets. That is his chosen route of escape from danger and his chosen place to observe his potential marks.

<br>

'''Elderest Tithe''' 

Elderest Tithe hails from the gypsy halfling camps that wander the highlands outside of Waterbridge.  They have been hit particularly hard by the goblin raiding parties as they are less defensible away from the city.  One of the halfling scouts heard about the attack on Waterbridge and the impending abandonment of the city and reported back.  As the halfling gypsies rely on Waterbridge for trade and, to some degree, protection... they are very concerned about the fate of the humans.  To ensure that their needs were considered by Venadir, they sent an emissary of their tribe.  Elderest Tithe is their best... their bravest... but not their brightest.

He is a bit of a zealot in his belief that the "little people" of the world need defending and word is spreading of X... The Protector... and Elderest is a holy warrior in X's army.  He is brave, strong, and competent in martial warfare.  He is also attractive and extremely charming and has gotten by most of his life on these virtues.  As such, he never developed much aptitude for learning, preferring to talk or fight his way out of most dilemmas.  As a devout worshipper of X, he is also not particularly open to other faiths as he feels that they have left the halflings out of their protection.  He is known for his unique (and ridiculous) battle cries and his half-witted musings about justice.  As such, most of his halfling peers (especially the sages) don't take him very seriously.  He believes he is destined for greatness and was blessed with charm and strength to get him there.  He isn't really aware of his intellectual shortcomings and feels the need to add his say into most every conversation.

<br>

<br>
'''Kineld Daryum'''
Kineld was born to a couple that most people thought were apothecaries, with her father travelling to many cities to sell and acquire some of the rarer herbs. What she found out when she was 10 was that her father was actually a very skilled and somewhat infamous assassin. He only took jobs outside of his own province so none in his life were likely to find out his true trade. When Kineld found his equipment, he explained the truth to her. He had no remorse over how he had led his life, or those that he had taken - until he saw the horror in his daughter’s eyes as he calmly explained how his knowledge of herbs made mixing poison that much easier. Then he left enough money to support Kineld and her mother, and left in the middle of the night. Kineld still does not know if it was shame from his actions or fear that she would tell her mother that made him leave. She didn’t care. Her heart froze towards him that day.
 <br>
At 13, she joined the Church of Iomedae seeking guidance to truly understand what was good and what was evil, what was right and what was wrong. She also trained in fighting, enjoying the strength she gained. When her mother caught a winter fever and died when she was 16, Kineld made the decision to devote her life to the church and share its message of good and righteousness. It gave her a home and gave her life purpose. When Waterbridge was attacked, she and several other members of her order were sent to defend and protect the city. The evil of the goblins must not be allowed to spill into the good land of Venadir.
<br>
'''Srdjan Trgo (pronounced Sir-jen Turr-go)'''
The son of poor immigrant farmers Vlod and Illya Trgo, Srdjan was no stranger to hard work. He hated his lot in life... always on the plow, a hoe, with a pitchfork, or picking what little harvest his family could afford, and despite his disdain for the cards fate had dealt him, he had an average and simple life. His father Vlod treated him well and taught him the values of a "good man", and his mother Illya loved him dearly, reminding him to always be fair to everyone no matter where they came from. 
It's not that Srdjan didn't love his parents in return, he just felt that he was destined for something greater and when he came of age he decided that he needed to make a mark upon the world. His wanderlust and yearning for adventure led him to join a militia, where he was given simple training as a pikeman. To this he took well, for his 17 years of hard farming had made him strong and given him a certain comfort with the pike and similar weapons. 
He fought with the militia for a few years and eventually began to desire for something different. After 5 years he resigned and began to wander again. 
<br>
<br>