Brayden Bradley

Brayden of the Four Seasons, The North Forger, The Colum Crusader

Art Credit Yongjae Choi, artist for the Magic: The Gathering card Jodah, Archmage Eternal, copyright Wizards of the Coast

Physical Description

Physical quirks

Brayden involves himself in combat whenever it is necessary, but even still he is rarely in danger. Sometimes he will become excited in the heat of battle, a chance to demonstrate his arcane mastery, illuminating his eyes with a golden shine of magical potency.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Originally from Huvora, Brayden is a prodigy unlike any other seen in his time. Before the age of 10, he was an adept spell slinger, completing his education well ahead of time and securing a large scholarship to attend school in Colum. As he waited for his travel caravan to arrive, he became a tutor for his older classmates, learning the value of helping and providing guidance.
When Colum did arrive for him, he used half of his scholarship money to attend a smaller, less luxurious school called Terisirae Technical College--Terisirae Tech or TT for short. With the remaining half, he bought his classmates the finest magical equipment and spell components money could buy, proving to those around him and especially to the crown that all it takes for the motivated to succeed are proper tools.
After graduating, he went on to intern with several prominent guilds in Colum, all of whom were eager to sign him into exorbitantly lucrative contracts. He was displeased with these propositions, suspicious that he was being propositioned as a celebrity to build status and reputation for the guild, not to advance an important goal or develop his skills. To accomplish his ends, Brayden set his eyes on 7 Staves. The guild was well known enough when he was old enough to apply, but it was far from the most respected. With a primary focus of research and magical inquiry instead of combat and monster slaying, 7 Staves was not on the top of any would be adventurer’s list of guilds to apply for membership in. Combined with its incredibly high standards for entry, only the most devoted magicians could gain entry into its hallowed halls.
The requirements were so high in fact, that Brayden was denied twice, in 1074 and 1075. This only further motivated him to attain membership no matter the cost. He spent the next 5 years developing his own magic and published the Terisirae Compendium, a manual of magic that was so popular it became a staple of adventurer’s guilds all over Terisirae. Within the tome are spells specifically designed to target the weak points of foul creatures of The Impetus. Though many of its spells are combat oriented, many are also dedicated to the capture and restraining of creatures so that they may be studied. It was through this method that he devised the compendium’s most powerful entries.
With this book, Brayden reapplied in 1081 and was accepted as a Scholar of 7 Staves under Fourth Staff Master Ikar Unbeur. Brayden pledged 30% of all royalties from his compendium to the guild, allowing Unbeur to continue research into dozens of projects that had been shelved due to a lack of resources. With these advances and several others, 7 Staves earned a distinguished honor in 1093 that no other guild has since replicated: they were handpicked by Queen Cassandra to become the first of the “High Powers”.
At the time, nobody understood what this achievement meant, even the members of 7 Staves and Brayden himself. His guild was recognized as being capable enough to accept missions from the crown and royal guard, quests that required the strongest individuals and produced the most sought after rewards. Huge sums of money, rare magic ores and items, lost knowledge and lore, all this and more was available exclusively to High Powers, and for years 7 Staves was the only guild who could accept the call. This served to advance Brayden Bradley’s reputation as a powerful mage even more than his compendium, and now, in addition to being a renown wizard, he is known as a world-class adventurer. After 10 years with the guild and the retirement of Staff Master Unbeur, he was the clear successor.
Now it is common knowledge what a High Power is and who is recognized in this highest echelon of adventure acumen. But to the public, it will always be 7 Staves and Brayden Bradley who are recognized as the most powerful among the most powerful.

Education

Graduated Terisirae Tech--Go Hippogriffs!

Failures & Embarrassments

It is a widely known fact that, while attending Terisirae Tech, Brayden had a fling with a professor that ended with a scorned romance and a polymorph spell that turned him into a moth.
He reverted quickly, though now Brayden has a strange oral fixation for cloth products and can be observed chewing on the collars of his shirts.

Intellectual Characteristics

Brayden's mind is an encyclopedia of data and knowledge, he has told many he has a near-perfect recall and seldom overlooks even the smallest of details.
Brayden also operates on a one-track basis, never able to pull away from a task he has already committed himself to and always intent to stick it out till the end.

Morality & Philosophy

Brayden’s most cherished belief is in education. As a beneficiary of a substantial scholarship, he believes that education is essential to the development of talented individuals all over the world. Although he believes that only a few are capable of rising to the level of himself and his peers, he sees education as a necessary action to provide everyone the opportunity to prove themselves.
Although greatness is rare, it can come from anywhere, according to Brayden.

Year of Birth

1062 Y.E. 80 Years old

Birthplace

Huvora

Gender

Male

Eyes

Honey Golden

Hair

Long and reddish brown

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale and opalescent

Height

5'10"

Weight

147 pounds

Quotes & Catchphrases

"I mean...if nobody goes back in time to stop me...how bad of a plan could it be?"
"Math sometimes fails me but magic never has,"

Aligned Organization

7 Staves