Kaden Al'Rashim
The Exiled Heir Kaden Al'Rashim (a.k.a. Rash; The Charred Calishite)
Character Location
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Amber
Hair
Bright Red that can turn into actual flame
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Light Brown
Height
6'2"
I am Kaden Al'Rashim (Background)
29th Tarsakh 1494
In the lands of Calimshan, in the dunes near Calimport, the manor house of Al'Rashim stands tall and proud amongst the heat and sand. Amongst the houses of nobility, Al'Rashim was never the largest or one with a tradition of administrating a great city, but they stood proud with a reputation of honor and faithful service to their homeland. Generations of Al'Rashim ancestors stretching back to the days of the Djinn fill the sandstone halls with statues and tapestries of brilliant mages, clever warriors, and wise administrators as a badge of honor upon the small, but consistently rising, house. Unfortunately, in the year 1469, this noble house was stricken by a lasting scandal that seems to have changed its fate forever-more.
This scandal, unfortunately, was me. My name is Kaden Al'Rashim, firstborn and heir to the house of Al'Rashim, and offspring of Sir Benshallar and Almeri. From the day that I was taken from my tan, dark-haired mother and my blazing eyes looked up from the matted mane of my burning red hair into the worn visage of our house's physician, I have become the embodiment of a blight upon my house. The very fire burning in my core, the blaze I cannot hide exuding from my eyes and hair, seems to exist solely to illuminate the disgraced reputations of my noble parentage and burn a constant mark of shame upon my family. I am the curse and scandal of my home. I was born of fire, fathered by all-consuming inferno seemingly holding no regard for honor, nobility, or the sanctity of a marriage bed. I was mothered by weakness and disregard. I learned from an early age that I exist to burn my father's hope and love to cinders. My biological father, the gracious being of flame that he must have been to grant so much of his flame to me, seems to be but a secretive rogue whose name I have not yet earned from my mother's lips. She would be forced to acknowledge me in more than casual passing to burden me with such knowledge, of course. Such a sin would simply merit herself pain and disregard from my noble father's reignited disdain. Such things are not done in the noble house of Al'Rashim. 'Better left alone' seemed to be the house motto for my youth.
A childhood of disdain and constant reminders of my being the embodiment of scandal left me with a forged resolve. Love is not given freely or easily in the house of Al'Rashim. Not to the embodiment of the other noble house's mockery, at least. Thus, from a young ember I learned that if love would not be given, it must simply be earned. When my noble father offered me a journey along the Sword Coast far away to a pleasant, small, estate in Elturel amongst the 'barbarians', it merely took the promise of an opportunity to gain my eager acceptance. The expressed intent was that I should better learn the ways of the 'barbarians to the north' to form stronger trade arrangements in the area to strengthen the economic power of my family through trade to replace the damage done to our house's reputation by my mere existence. Though I was forced to surrender the dunes I loved and the crystal clear waters of the Shining Sea which brought me such rare, limited comfort...I knew that opportunity is not lightly refused.
So it was that in the year 1482, at the tender age of 13, I became an independent man of House Al'Rashim. I was charged with gaining knowledge, studying the foreign ways of the barbarians, and managing the newly gained estate in Elturel with only my Tutor, my Au Pair, and my beloved guardian by my side. On the very day we were to depart, I walked the halls of my home one final time (for the foreseeable future). I chose to seek my father on that day to give my final farewells and received a gift of knowledge from my noble sire for my efforts. This gift came in the form of overhearing my noble father reassuring my faithful guardian that should he 'fail' in his task to protect me in the journey to the barbaric lands, the legacy of our house would be well secured by my younger, trueborn sister as the new heir. Father assured my guardian that no blame would be laid upon such a dedicated servant of Al'Rashim should such an accident unfortunately occur. Such assurances, I have since discovered, are simply to be expected to those tasked by my family in my protection. The tears on my cheeks stung for but a moment, but fire must burn such weaknesses away in short order. As I entered and bade my farewells to my father, I first experienced the sensation of my father's wry smile and his direct gaze. My mother was unfortunately not available to be seen that day, as I was so informed.
The travel north was harsh and long, but the lessons gained upon the journey were merely ones of steel and blood. Lessons of the greatest simplicity, assuredly, but lessons well learned all the same. Wit and cleverness merit no survival save when they are backed by steel and reinforced in iron. By the time we arrived in Elturel to meet the steward of my estate, I had already gained a second tutor in the form of my beleaguered guardian. The years passed as I learned the ways of the "barbarians" of the Sword Coast. Though childish paranoia and overheard words held my concern over the blade awaiting me in the darkness by my family's servants, I soon learned of the true nobility of commoners. The nobility of a simple morality where one's actions, not merit of one's birth, determined what actions one must take moving forward. Such a foreign concept at the time. To a person, each potential threat proved themselves to be truly noble and, eventually, true companions. Their affection, freely given away from the scolding and reprimands of my parents, was an odd experience indeed. A welcome experience, though, once I learned to accept it.
Though my lessons were forced to include matters of trade and commerce, I found myself far more drawn into histories and legends, stories of arcana and fire, and tales of blood and steel. I began to learn that in this place, far from our ruined reputation and our ancient nobility, most would view me simply as I appeared, not as the blighted scandal that I was. Should I be strong, seem wise, or appear beautiful or fashionable...these things held a greater value here. The ways of the "barbarians" were far different than of my people, but they were truths that I could master. They were discoveries that granted opportunities to redefine myself and my sense of nobility alike. They were something I could prove myself in and eventually earn. That is a way of being that I could understand.
I grew and my interests grew with me. My lessons continued into the forests and fields, guardian by my side, learning of desperately earned survival and seeking opportunities to forge myself into a true flame. I loved those years, but age will slow all blades in the end. My failure on that day for my guardian is that my inexperience slowed mine as well. I was unable to stop the blow. I was unable to save my guardian...my friend. I could only wipe my blade and look down upon the cold remains of the man that could have been rewarded, likely with lands and a minor house of his own, had his common sense of nobility only failed him once. Had he loved me slightly less, I knew he would be alive in that moment. His lessons were well taught, however, and I also understood that though breath would be in his lungs, he would not be himself. His death, had his nobility failed him, would simply be less obvious. I resolved on that forest path through the sting of burning tears that I would not allow myself a second such failure. I would not allow another failure to protect those that I seek to save. I would not let the cost of love and companionship remain unpaid.
The years since have passed with communication back home growing rarer and rarer (as long as the caravans arrive safely, of course). No new guardian was ever presented or finances for one ever offered. The implication is well understood, thus I have become the guardian of the estate in his stead. My childish hope to be recalled home to my familiar Shining Sea and the dunes of my childhood have since become replaced with dread at ever having to leave my new home. My true home. After a childhood of darkness, it was only under the light of the Companion that I was allowed to truly shine. So it is that I have endeavored to seek out others of my kind in my resolve to protect the home that gave me opportunity, acceptance, and love. The Companion burns above, a kindred fire to protect this beautiful land from the skies above, but it possesses no hands to protect those down below. I may be part fire, I may be part Calishite, but I am in whole Outcast. Thus it is that I now seek companions who know what it is to be Outcast. There are few of my kind, of my true people, but I seek those who have trod a similar path, hated for what they were born as, who seek to protect this place that has offered them the opportunity to become themselves at last. I believe that only they may understand the essence of nobility that was taught to me by my beloved companion all those years ago. Perhaps one day, together we shall burn away any blight that seeks to end this 'barbaric' land of hope.
Comments