Vincent prefers to go by "Rex". He lives with both his parents. His mother,
Felice Zander, is a baker and his father,
Anig Zander, is a wizard who is a geology researcher. The overall research is to investigate one of the many theories about The Mourning. Rex helps the company of researchers by going on excursions near The Mournland with a company that can fend off some of the danger whilst they work.
Rex enjoys digging around the various sites and making records per the direction of
Anig Zander. He brings any special ore or trinkets found on the site to the actual researchers on the field to see if the company would have interest in them. Sometimes they are not and Rex keeps them as trophies at home. The latest one was a torn leather choker with a small lizard medallion. He asked
Anig Zander to mend it and he tried it on: a routine event of Rex wearing the object for a few weeks or until he found a new one.
The intent for Rex was to follow in the same business as his father. Be trained as a wizard and be an official researcher. However, strange things happened. One was that the choker would not come off. It was stuck on him and caused him pain when he tried to pull it off. Then the nightmares began to start. Fire all around in the middle of a open battleground between armies.
Then came the magic. Rex knew wizard's magic was a lot of intense studying and learning core concepts of Arcana. It's technical enough that formal schooling is necessary to learn to cast spells properly. But Rex couldn't explain how the clay cup that laid broken on the floor fixed itself. He was going to put it on the counter for his father. Maybe he was thinking things and he broke it again. It was fixed when Rex wished it so. And a third time.
He told his father a few weeks later after realizing that the effects were not going away. That maybe The Mournlands did something this time. And the nightmares became worse. Rex was afraid of falling asleep.
The researchers in the company, father included, tried various angles of why this was happening. Rex stated it was around the time of the choker but his father insisted that there was no magic found on it prior to giving it back to Rex. A few other minor spells were discovered for Rex along the way.
It was a few weeks of going back to the lab almost daily as they tried to figure it out. It became boring to him but he knew that his father would fix this. He fixes everything. He heard an argument, not uncommon in research, but his name came up...
"Rex is becoming more unstable by the day." A researcher said.
"I know but this isn't right. There is another way." A voice that was his father.
Another researcher, "I understand you care for him but this way is the best way to care. Think of what would happen if Rex really hurt someone by accident."
Anig Zander, "I refuse."
Woman voice, "Did you tell Rex about the sleep walking? About how he was using his magic without knowing? How he slung fire around? Thankfully no one was hurt and you came before the guards."
Anig Zander, "...no"
Silence.
Eldrin, "I think it's decided then. Rex should remain in our care until we can make a full investigation..."
Rex ran. Eldrin is the head researcher in the whole city. An elf that helped make the very founding of the research committee and greatly influences the funding and direction of the company.
The voice in his dreams whispered to him. He never heard it while awake but it was so familiar to him. Rex wasn't fully trusting of the voice and questioned his own sanity of it all.
"Go to the Rabbit Hole"
Rex was openly talking to the voice now, "The tavern? I guess a few drinks might help. Maybe I can talk with them."
The voice went mute for a while. Rex ate some food and mead to keep the edge off. He still felt uneasy. Going home was not an option. He was late in getting there so father probably went home to check on him by now.
Across the tavern, Rex overheard a boisterous group. They were talking about being heroes. A common site. Even big problems can get handled with experienced heroes.
"Go with them." The voice murmured.
"I'm not a hero. Heroes get killed."
The Voice, "Only the weak ones. Before we met, you were weak. My gifts grant you strength and even greater strength still. Or will you allow an endless shackling until the earth finally takes you back?"
"This is a curse. Not a gift. I didn't ask for any of this. At least tell me your name?"
The voice, "In due time. In freedom or in madness."
Rex sat in silence for a while. Ordered another mug of mead. And decided.
A cheery smile. Act like you belong.
"Hi. I overheard you talking about going on an adventure. Do you have room for one more?"
Social
Birthplace
Aruldusk (Thrane)
Current Residence
Aruldusk (Thrane)
Family Ties
Mom and dad that are still living.