Walter – The Warlock – Lands of Pol

I am not from this place, this land or even possibly this world.

I am the spawn to the joining of two Tieflings, my mother “Kaylentic” a powerful Warlock and my father “Herkil Blightvale” a great Sorcerer! Both devotees of Taimat.

My mother, Kaylentic, was a powerful warlock, taught me the ways of the arcane, but she was always distant and mysterious. She would tell me stories of her own pact-making and the powerful entities she had made deals with. However, as I grew older, I began to realize that my mother’s ambition and thirst for power were dangerous.

One night, I guess I was maybe 9 yrs. old, I awoke to find myself gagged and being magically carried into my mother’s private ritual chamber. There tied to the wall, my eyes magically held I was forced to witness her sacrificing Father to Tiamat in the expectation of gaining more power. I remember quite vividly a powerful voice reverberating in the chamber, “It is done as promised and so a promise is kept!”. Then using the same ritual dagger covered with father’s blood, she carved the symbol of Tiamat into my left forearm. I watched it all and felt nothing. Even as the dagger dragged through my flesh, I felt no pain. (but afterwards such anguish and pain I cannot begin to explain). As my Mother completed the patterns, I felt something in me snap and from then felt a pull towards the dark and forbidden.

The event left me traumatized, and I swore to never let ambition and thirst for power consume me like it did to my mother. My Left arm I kept covered and showed no one.

I could see what this “Tiamat” was expecting of mother and more importantly what mother would do to achieve her ambitions. I had no trust in divine beings and didn’t believe in their power or their ability to help me achieve my goals.

Some 5 or 6 years later Mothers ambitions failed her, she was defeated at “The Well of Dragons” and forced to return to our home. I saw madness in her eyes, she grabbed me with her power and exclaimed “I was promised and so it will be”.

With that she dragged me to her ritual chamber threw me onto that damned block that father was sacrificed on and began her chants.

“No No No” I cried, I again heard that same powerful voice call to me, Tiamat was demanding my soul, “No! No!” Somehow, I found the power to break my mother’s hold, I found her ritual blade in my hand and I plunged it into her eye and brain!

It happened so fast, but by then I had by then no love for my mother.

The Voice was close, I looked up and the vision of Tiamat swam before me, the multi headed dragon pulled at me. She called me by name, and claimed I was hers! She claimed a pact had been made and now I had completed it. I was to do her bidding.

I repudiated her, “I put no trust in divine beings. I don’t run from evil. Evil runs from me. I have no pact with you!”

I expected oblivion, yet Tiamat, seemed amused by my answer, and did not destroy me as I both expected and wanted at that moment.

“It’s too late, my child,” she said. “I ordered your conception, and you were mine from the moment you were born. Now that you completed the ritual, the powers Kaylentic had will eventually transfer to you. In addition to the powers you inherited from your father. Surely you felt it!! You ARE the pact I had with them,” she continued “and you will remain mine to use.”

I don’t know how but I stood firm.

Did I truly amuse Tiamat, I guess I may never know but she laughed saying “You will serve me one way or the other! “Then in almost a whisper said “enjoy your banishment.”

I have no idea what happened then, my right forearm burned I looked and there the same 5 pointed image mother had cut into me. It glowed red and the pain began anew on the left, my clothes burned off me and I was pushed through nothingness to land naked in a swamp in this place.

Naked yes but from that moment on, I was able to wield powerful magic and control the elements. I don’t pretend to know her game but Tiamat I fear is not finished with me.

I became very acquainted with that swamp and the creatures came to fear me as should you!

For a week I plodded in circles in that swamp, my new found power distracting me from my torment. I enjoyed this surge, this ecstasy I felt each time I felled a creature to sustain me.

Eventually a pair of necromancers found me (or possibly sought me out). It seems they had watched me, uncertain what I was. Decided I would make a good slave. As it turned out I did not, but I did enjoy their clothing, kitchen and library. When I had enough of their demands I took my vengeance, maybe I was excessive, but fire is my friend. I think one of them was reanimated I believe I’ve seen its chard remains wandering the swamp still, with it’s burnt out eyes it’s an amusing site.

My time with them was useful, I learned of their community and of their stupid beliefs. Honestly when you have felt the force of Tiamat, their beliefs are idiotic.

I know I developed a reputation withing their necromantic community. Many feared me, telling my captors that I was an abomination to be destroyed. I must find that one someday.

Free of the necromancers I decided it was time to show myself, to enter the local town and find my future.

As a Tiefling I know and expect to be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: But what I did not expect were the screams of abject terror, the calls to gods unknown to me, to be called demon. To face the might of the temple in attempts to return me to the hell they felt I was spawned from.

I immediately knew these people knew not of my race, that I was something new to them. (Much of the guarded comments of the necromancers now fell into place ).

Instead of lashing out I played on their compassion.

Help me I cried, see what the necromancers of the swamps have done to me! I am cursed please, please remove my curse. I have been forced to view unfathomable horrors in someone’s desperate attempts at power, my father sacrificed on an altar of evil, my mother killed in front of my eyes. Necromancers enslaving me forced to do their unthinkable bidding.

I kneeled in front of these cleric, gambling on their compassion!

One cast a spell to discern truth, they believed my lies for with in there was truth.

I was taken in, cleaned, helped, clothed. Over many days they tried their spells to remove my curse, they tried over and over in many variations. Until they admitted defeat, this was something outside their abilities.

So finally I could show my true feelings toward these deities, to show distain, the clerics taking it as my reaction to their failures.

Still I could not fault the people of the temple, and though I show them distain, repudiate their beliefs I will help them where I can. For they showed me compassion and did what they could to help me. The clerics explained my predicament to the local people, who although often look upon me in fear, are mostly kind and a few have even befriended me.

So, with the funds I took from the necromancers and the help of the temple and some kind-hearted locals was able to repair a deserted humble cottage and call it mine.

Now accepted by the community I needed a profession, and I learned a few locals were starting an adventurers group, I realised it was about only the thing I could do. I can use these powers, learn my limitations and see where it leaves.

An adventurer I have become, but what I will truly become we will see. These Worshipers of Maelar are Ok I suppose a little of their instruction and I who many call monster find myself hunting such.

If Tiamat calls to me, I still do not know how I will react.

Walters background notes

BACKGROUND

Haunted One

Feature: Heart of Darkness

Those who look into your eyes can see that you have faced unimaginable horror and that you are no stranger to darkness. Though they might fear you, commoners will extend you every courtesy and do their utmost to help you. Unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them, they will even take up arms to fight alongside you, should you find yourself facing an enemy alone.