Qal Fortistanatu, 

 

Born the son of a court Bard, Qal grew up as friends with many of the Aristrocrat's children (including his good friend and nobleman Sarkessian Erekose) on the Island of Arrendra in the village of Serova, South of Badherra. 

 

His father Sammo Fortistanatu had always figured on Qal becoming a Bard like himself, so his training in the bardic craft began at age 12.  Qal progressed quickly as a Bard, his intelligence easily handling the simple gestures of Bardic magic.  Natural Talent for singing and dancing were evident early on and Qal excelled as a Bard under his fathers tutolage. 

 

 

 

He completed his aprenticeship at age 15, but feeling as though there was too much to learn to begin working as a bard, chose to live at home and study the old tomes and scrolls in the local mage Nicholas’s library.  One day he came across a passage describing the ancient art of Spelldancing whereby a mage of power could enhance his spells beyond imagine simply by dancing "the ancient dance to the stars" prior to casting.  Qal made it his life’s ambition to learn "the ancient dance to the stars", and become a powerful mage.

The young bard often acted like this, often reverting to the inner quiet that is a passion for study.  Qal could be seen at any given moment doing one of two things, quietly reading, or loudly partying and gallivanting; enjoying life. 

 

Sometimes, usually around 9:45 at night, it seemed as if a bell had rung in Qal’s mind.  His eyes glaze over, and it’s as though he is lost in his thoughts, a prisoner to the chime-like calling of his study.  It was about that time each day, that Qal’s friends knew to leave him alone…  for minutes later Qal would always make some excuse, and wander off leaving the party behind.

 

 

 

At the age of 15, having shown a propensity for learning and an aptitude for magic, his father paid half the very large fee (nearly his life savings), so that his son might attend the Mage School in Gevedra.  Leyhir Erekose, Qal’s fathers benefactor, now Qal's as well, put up the other half, but in exchange for Qal's first year of service as court Mage.  At Longlore College on Gevedra (run by the Crimson Magi of Gevedra), Qal was apprenticed to a sage and scholar (Nestar Isac) who taught him the secret lore of magic, as well as many secrets of the planar cosmology (his master’s area of study).  Qal graduated and completed his apprenticeship with honors in a very fast time, though Qal was never considered to become anything great, Qal all too often partied and played when he could have been studying.  Althought this didn’t effect his studies, it looked bad to have such charismatic wizards.  At age 17 Qal left the college, feeling as though he was a failure even though his training had been complete.  Adepts in the Art are always asked to stay at the college and study and teach, Qal recieved no such offer. 

 

Qal returned to his father and his duty to Leyhir Erekose and continued his study of tomes, while serving as a court mage.   He spent his year both traveling on cargo ships as protection, and performing at court magical bardic dancing performances for his Lordship and parties.  His old friend Sarkessian often accompanied him, and they discussed grand dreams and plans for the future.  While traveling on those cargo ships, he met and befriended a mercenary sailor named Black Tom, who Qal later discovered was Sarkessian’s half-brother (although not yet).  A particular pirtate captain, Captain Johannus Salmus, was foiled twice by Qal, Black Tom, and Sarkessian attempting to capture their ships.    Qal never did get his sea legs though, and spent most of his time below decks studying.

“Qal why the sad face?” Sarkessian asked one star-bright evening.

 

“Just daydreaming Sarkessian, one day I will be the most powerful mage in Arrendra!” Qal replied.

 

“Ah, yes, but will you still be so happy and outgoing?” Sarkessian half teased.

 

“Well, my teachers say that my love for life and play is too fey-like, too fickle, that a person with such attitudes could never become powerful… but I believe it is the love of life that gives us each purpose.” Qal said seriously, a rare occurance of serious speech coming from his lips.  Qal’s somber attitude being rarely witnessed, since it usually only happed after he had reached his own quarters and begun studying his books in private.  Normally, Qal would be making jokes, teasing everyone around him even at the expense of a fight or two, drinking, feasting, and always chasing some lovely maiden or another.

 

“And nothing makes a great mage better than a great purpose!” Qal finished, realizing that he was really being too somber and too open, even to his best of friends.

 

Spinning from the decks banister, Qal laughed and ran off, climbing the crows nest, only to come tumbling down the rigging and landing with a soft thud on the deck.   “Hey guys, where’s the keg?  I’ve got some catching up to do!” Qal said as he landed right by the small group of sailors huddled around a fire pit slowly drinking ale on a cold night.

 

“Hey Qal!”  “Allright!”  “Off duty now eh?”  “Sing us another one about the red-headed beauty that ruled the world”   “Tell us one’a them storys Qal”  “Yah”, the men who were only talking about the weather before, obviously perked up at Qal’s display of acrobatics and Qal’s infectious smile and lightheartedness.

 

 

 

On one merchant voyage, Qal's ship was attacked by 2 ships of pirates (both led by the Pirate Captain Johannus Salmus), and Qal was left stranded with the other passengers (including Black Tom and Sarkessian) on the wrong side of the Island of Naeben.  Lyssiah Stormwhisper, leading a small class of apprentices, discovered the group and led them back to the only port city on Naeben, Britannia.  Qal being enamored with the Naeben’s beauty and nature, befriended a small toad later named Inconstance (Qal's Familiar).   . There, a cleric of the Green Man, Jonric Wildwatcher, was given the duty of supervising their recovery. As ship's passage is infrequent to the Isle of the Fey, both Jonric and Lyssiah help Sarkessian, Qal and Thomys find transport back to their homeland of Arrendra. Since Farlen, the mentor of both Lyssiah and Jonric, had travelled to Arrendra, an elven druid from the woods near Britannia, Kelivar Windbringer, sent Jonric to travel with the group bearing a missive to be delivered to Farlen, and asked Lyssiah to accompany the young cleric.

 

While performing at court, Qal became a closer friend to the local elderly mage named Nicholas who crafts magical devices to the highest bidder (whom he deems worthy).

“Young Qal, you must learn patience and the importance of quite”, said Nicholas on rainy afternoon.  “Above all things a great mage must be respected, and who could respect a dancing singing, banjoli playing, fop?”

 

Qal’s happy expression suddenly turned sour, feeling as though he were back in Longlore being lectured for one thing or another.  Qal had just showed up to present Nicholas with the grand news that Qal was invited to perform at the “Grand Ball”.  Apparently his use of magic interspersed with performance had caught on as a fad.  Secretly he had hoped Nicholas would be as excited for him as he was, but he also knew that Nicholas was a classically trained Mage.

 

“Yes master Nicholas,” Qal teased, shaking off the incredible insult, “whatever you say master Nicholas,” Qal continued.

 

 

 

Also at court, he made an enemy of note, while performing a "dance of the dead", he accidentally offended the Merchant house Thakkos by ending the dance at the feat of the Merchant Lord.  Lord Thakkos took this to mean a prophecy that he would be the next to die, and immediatly asked that Qal be put to death for bringing him this bad omen.  Qal was pardoned by Leyhir Erekos, but Qal decided to leave his post anyways since his year was up and The Thakkos merchants have it out for him.  Qal starts his adventure here, trying to evade Lord Thakkos and his minions while also trying to make a living as a bardic mage of no importance, and always yearning to learn "the ancient dance to the stars", and prove his mentors wrong!

Qal’s list of powerful friends and enemys (NPC’s only):

 

Friends:

1.)    Nicholas the Mage: A respected mage and scholar who lives in a tower near Serova.  Character Level=Unknown, but he is defiantly a very powerful wizard. (based on his magic items, librarys, laboratory, and HUGE magically locked spellbook.)

2.)    Nestar Isac: Mage and mentor, his teacher at Longlore college.  Qal apprenticed with him, and learned many secrets of the Plains from him.  Character Level=7^th Level Wizard

3.)    Sammo Fortistanatu: Qal’s Father. Character Level: (5^th Level Bard, 1^st Level Aristrocrat)

4.)    Leyhir Erekose (house Sapphire): Sarkessians Father, Qal’s first mage employer, and Lord  of noble house Erekose.  Character Level: Unknown

 

Enemies:

1.)    Johannus Salmus: Pirate Captain.  Character Level: (3^rd Level Fighter, 3^rd Level Rogue, 1^st Level Pirate Captain  ~  or thereabouts).

2.)    Merchant Lord, Lord Thakkos: Merchant House Lord.  One of the houses vying for a seat on the council (and nobility).  Character Level: Unknown, but powerful enough and rich enough to hire up to 5^th Level Adventurers.

3.)    Lord Corbeth (House Emerald): The Lord and the house in general.  For his part in the death of Nikol Emerald.  Character Level: Unknown, but more powerful than Merchant house Thakkos.