Background

Our mother always said, “You two were either scrap’n or fight’n, even back in the womb...that is till Ilias wanted out.” Ilias was born nearly a month early and survived by some miracle. He was certainly born first, and he just seemed and acted like the older one. We were inseparable and had our ways. Sure, I’d get us into trouble, but I’d be talking us out. That would have always worked if he’d let it, but Ilias had to ‘save’ people...primarily by starting fights. Anyway, one minute and thirty-two seconds; give or take. That’s how long it takes Ilias to throw the first punch once the posturing starts, regular like the tides. Well, we’d scrap our way through it from there. A strangely satisfying life; free on the River.
 
But then I had ah, a disagreement, let’s call it, with a disagreeable ass named Izen Seferno. It didn’t go well for him. Seems daft now, but we, Ilias and I, well we figured I should lay low for a few. He’d let me know how things panned out, and when it was safe to head back. No one seemed to miss ole’ Izen, or tie me to his death, so Ilias sent out a message pretty quick. Tragically, the messenger never got to me, or back home. The reasons don’t figure in here, even if they were sorted enough to be a tale of their own. It wouldn't have mattered. I was a lone Rhennee kid; I'd been beaten near to death and chased off to ten different places by then. I was on the edge of the wild with no idea where I had gotten to and so injured I could barley move. Worst of all, I was sure I had been cast out by the Folk. The result was my unintentional, self-imposed exile from everything I had ever known.
 
I ended up homeless in the outskirts of Greyhawk for years, hiding my heritage to survive and generally failing to stay out of trouble. I had to turn to crime, but honest crime never much bothered me. Stealing for its own sake don't hold a thrill, but a man has to eat, and that’s no crime at all. It was surely nothing compared to what I witnessed. Everywhere I looked the strong were drinking the blood and sweat of the weak. Whether by the sword or in guile; everyone was out for themselves, and it was the opposite of the life I had known on the River. I was naïve, constantly starving, and perpetually dodging the guild and the guard. Towards the end, I had cobbled together a small group of other orphans and vagabonds, but it was shattered by betrayal.
 
I was losing faith and patience with civility; my thoughts mired in ash and grey, when I notice this this elf, standing on a balcony far down the road. He got a crazed look as soon as he saw me. I tense up and try to remember if I had robbed him. Suddenly, impossibly, he’s right there. I’m startled and rear back to strike, but he's unfazed, and that calms me down.
 
“You’re the Maelstrom Blade.” He points at me.
 
Now I’m rattled, searching way, way back for some memory of this elf; ‘The Maelstrom.’ That was my nick name as a kid. Ilias was the Tide...heck he still is, but mine never stuck. Even Ilias wouldn’t remember that name.
 
“How do you know?” I ask as cool as I can muster.
 
“Oh not yet, but you will be. Seek the path of the Maelstrom Blade. Seek it in Tome, and Bone; seek it in Synapse and Sinew. Seek its lessons in every fight you lose, every victory you savor. Most of all, seek in yourself and nowhere else. Every Blade is unique, made by his own hand, by his own deed...his own personal alchemy. You will be the Maelstrom Rogue...become the Maelstrom Rogue: become the Blade.”
 
Though he had been steady and calm, he took on a sudden urgency, “My name is Dorian Keldimir; your predecessor. We will never meet again.” Then he turned and disappeared...and I mean he really disappeared: like poof.
 
I was colliding with destiny, and as if on cue, the Tide rolled in. Of all the people I didn’t expect to see at that very moment; my brother walks up, clasps me on the shoulder with a heartfelt grin, and gives me a shake. I’m not sure how, or why then, but he came through, as he always had.
 
He didn’t know Keldimir, and there weren't much to tell him about that. Turns out my brother had been searching nearly the whole time and having a few adventures along the way. Anyway, it didn’t take long for us to get back to our ways. And each time we did, I made sure to learn a lesson.