Sef

Sef Withak (a.k.a. Sef)

Born in the Imperial colony on Aerister, one of the outer islands in the Pirate Isles and the only one under the control of the Elven Empire of Fallen Stars, there was one occurrence which became quite common: pirates. They would regularly sail to the island, some with good intentions of selling goods (not always acquired through good means), and those with bad intentions. Being one of the larger islands and with a large trading port, our island had strong defences and well trained soldiers – Imperial Legionnaires. Pirate attacks would often end in absolute failure, with the colony defending from land and from sea. Because of the safety the military provided, the colonists didn't need to run and hide from attacks.
Sef stayed with his aunt and cousin Kasandra in Aerister and their days there were peaceful, attacks would be dealt with quickly and Kasandra and Sef would usually go to watch the battles from one of the hill tops. They would watch how the legionnaires fought, and would train with each other in the way that they saw. Kasandra was a couple years older and she would win slightly more often than Sef in their training fights.
When they could, they aimed to join the military, use what they had learned to defend their home. But Sef realised that the military had no challenge. They had never lost. The soldiers rarely had to fight as they were so prepared.
It was when a pirate ship called Night’s Teacher came to port to sell goods and their captain came to the tavern for a drink that it happened. Sef remembered him from when he was a child, as a crew member on another pirate ship: he was a scared Tabaxi, and not the best fighter, the soldiers’ presence alone could intimidate the pirates to not make trouble. And now here he stood, scarred from battles and with an aura that kept the guards on edge – he was known only as Burns, and he was dangerous.
He told tales in the tavern about past battles and Sef realised immediately what he wanted. Not just to fight, but to be challenged, like his fights with Kasandra. Before they set sail, Sef petitioned to join. He showed Captain Burns the skills he had learned from training, and they took him aboard.
Sef tried to get Kasandra to come with him, but she had different goals. She wanted to become the strongest so she could protect, so other colonists in Aerister wouldn't need to fight. Sef wanted to become stronger so he could fight stronger opponents. She didn't understand why he wanted to leave, but Sef had to go, he couldn’t waste this opportunity.
He learned how to sail under their flag and held his own in battle, being the only Mer-Elf aboard, he became accustomed to being the first to board enemies ships from the sea. He soon became slightly known amongst some of the smaller islands as he was always first to battle, and usually sought out the captain of the ship to fight first. This would start to demoralise the enemy as the crew then boarded them, and the captain was usually their best fighter.
As they were preparing to leave Port from the main docks in Vellam, Sef was approached by a cloaked man, who offered him a lot of gold, gold to kill someone in their destination. The Cloaked Man had heard of Sef’s stealth and abilities to kill strong fighters, and told him about the target and how many people the target had killed. He had slain many innocents in battle, and one of his victim’s family wanted vengeance. Sef should have thought it over longer, but the sound of the fight intrigued him.
When he reached port, Sef used the contacts the Cloaked Man had provided to find them. Sef had never fought without the crew and inland so far, the last time he had fought like this was against Kasandra. He found the target, alone and unarmed after a night in the local brothel. Sef used the skills acquired from his time boarding ships to finish it in one stroke to the throat. He had killed many enemies in his time aboard the Night’s Teacher, but this time it felt wrong. This was not why Sef fought; not why he left his island and joined Captain Burns.
When he returned to the main port of Vellam, the Cloaked Man had already heard of the death. Sef was paid for the kill and offered a new contract, but he turned it down. The Cloaked Man told him of how skilful this target was, and even Sef had heard of his strength from talks amongst the crew. But he still turned the contract down, as he didn't want to kill people like that first contract.
When the ship reached the port the target had last been seen in, Sef searched for him alone. When he found him, the only time he was alone was when he was staying in town. He felt safe there and was unarmed. Sef wanted to fight him, but couldn't bring himself to kill him like the first contract. He went into his room and when the target saw Sef, he knew he was dead. Rather than kill him unarmed, Sef threw him one of his daggers. He immediately took the dagger and fought, it was just like when Sef battled Kasandra as children. But in this fight they were fighting for their lives, and it was the toughest fight of Sef’s life. Afterwards, he stood near death over the target’s body, and relished the fight; this was what Sef wanted, fighting the strongest people he could find, and getting stronger.
The ship returned to Vellam and news of the death spread. The Cloaked Man knew Sef had completed it without the contract and offered him more work, in exchange for more gold and the promise that, should Sef continue on this path, his actions would be rewarded in ways other than coin, including membership into a powerful and influential guild – one who’s reach extended across the Manylands. Sef gladly accepted, that last fight had finally provided the challenge he wanted. He told Captain Burns of this, and he had no issue with it – for a cut of the gold, of course.
And that's how it continued, the ship voyaged, battled shios, and Sef killed targets in fair fights. He never again killed someone without giving them a chance. Whenever Sef found his target, he waited until they were alone, and gave them a dagger. If they had a weapon, Sef would keep any dagger they used as both a trophy and a weapon for the next target. He never accepted contracts against those who were weak or good people. The guild realised Sef’s way of battle, and offered him only contracts of strong people who had done wrong, either to the guild, or those willing to pay for justice.
Sef found the same problem occurring as he had feared would happen if he stayed in Aerister. As he got better, it became harder to find people that provided the challenge he sought. Fighting ships. Fighting one to one. The challenge had gone.
Drinking in a tavern in Ioth, the capital of Isk, and thinking of what was next, Sef overheard the drunken boasts of some members of the Red Sons, Isk’s mercenary guild. Talking about armour from monsters which were near indestructible. Blades with poison from creatures unknown which could kill you with the smallest cut. Sef wondered "if these are so powerful, who killed them?”
He spoke with the guild about it, and they directed him to The Great Library of Ioth. Sef found the library and asked the librarian for information on monsters. She provided him with a book about common creatures and their weaknesses. Sef read it within the day and she was surprised when he returned for more. He read every book the Great Library had on their known monsters. The Cloaked Man returned, this time offering an assassination contract on a beast killing people in the town of Kepesk, further inland.
It took days to find, and once he did, Sef didn't recognise it from any book; and as he fought it, Sef felt his first defeat since battling Kasandra years ago. He was sure death was inevitable, until blinding lights hit the beast, and Sef watched the battle unfold. Cracks of lightning and fire, hitting it and doing more damage than he could imagine. When the dust settled, Sef thanked his saviours, mysterious and old spellcasters in red cloaks, who told him that they had also come to slay the monster. They made sure Sef was safe to return to Ioth alone and made their way back South, towards Kothar. They had taken valuable parts of the monster, but Sef stayed and examined every part of it. He started writing it in a blank notebook the librarian had gifted him and noted everything possible about the battle he had seen, and everything he now knew of the creature. He returned to ship and went back to the Cloaked Man in Ioth. He was impressed with Sef’s notes and the story of why he had gone in search of it. They came to a new arrangement: Sef would send the Cloaked Man all of the spoils of monsters he fought, and he would sell them or turn them into something Sef can use against the creatures he battled. He lent Sef a book on magic and resistances about monsters. Sef’s blades did nothing but that magic obliterated it. It was in this meeting that Sef got a look at the man’s face beneath the cloak, but all he saw was a dark mask.
Sef felt he was close to his peak with the blade, and after witnessing a battle with magic, he realised his strength was never truly anything out of the ordinary. Sef had a new goal to get stronger, learning the secrets of magic, and using them to find new ways to grow.
He spoke to Captain Burns and came to an arrangement. He would leave his spoils in port, and Burns would take them to the guild in Ioth for trading. Burns knew if he ever needed him for battle, Sef would be there, and Sef left his spoils from their past voyages as payment for future services. Sef had no need for gold; all he needed was his next target and a way to kill it.
Sef’s goals have led him to the border between the Republic of Burakrin and the Dragonborn Kingdom of Rachir, where it is rumoured many ancient and powerful creatures inhabit the mountains. Departing Night’s Teacher near Ilurbarak, Captain Burns has agreed to leave a contact in Calass, a little-known hang out of pirates, thieves and cutthroats on the South-Eastern edge of Burakrin.
Sef knows his own shortcomings when it comes to fighting inland and against monsters. His first defeat has shown him how far he still needs to go. He knows he can't fight alone as he has done for his contracts – he needs a new crew to fight against these monster with. His first priority in this new adventure? Finding people he can trust, as he has on the Night’s Teacher for so many years.

Physical Description

Facial Features

A large scar on his forehead - self-inflicted by a dagger whilst trying to remove a smothering Darkmantle

Apparel & Accessories

Black Tricorn Hat - his most proud possession, Red Scarf - usually worn to hide identity, Long Naval-style Duster

Mental characteristics

Employment

Sailing Master - Night's Teacher, Bounty Hunter - The Cloaked Man's Guild?

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

To fight stronger opponents to, in turn, get stronger

Likes & Dislikes

Dislikes dogs due to bitter experience

Personality Quirks

Refuses to fight unarmed opponents, instead offering them a dagger to fight with

Social

Family Ties

Kasandra - cousin, Aerister

Religious Views

Agrafall - God of the Struggle

Alignment

Chaotic Neutral

Species

Mer-Elf

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Sailing Master of the Night's Teacher, "Houndbane"

Birthplace

Aerister, The Pirate Isles (Colony of The Empire of Fallen Stars)

Hair

Dark, short

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Grey

Quotes & Catchphrases

"I'm gonna kill him" - to himself, about any character he irks him

Known Languages

Common, Elvish, Pirate's Code