Ellarian
- The mysterious wood elf ranger who escaped from the Underdark.
Organizations
We are based out of Storm Brook with chapters in Shire Brook and Greyguard.
The Scarlet Wolves- A group of spies and assassins'
Leader of The Scarlet Wolves--Vishous my husband
Major crime syndicates, everything from small-time gambling and bordellos bootleg wine and liquor all the way up to complex spy networks better than the king himself. He has sent many an envoy with gold to know an answer to a question that troubled him. If there is money to be made V has his hands in it somehow... The symbol for our organization is a capital V right side up and an upside down V together. You will have seen this tagged on many a tavern even outside of Storm Brook we have a network that stretches to the farthest reaches of Zin.
He is the leader of a large underground syndicate of spies and criminals, very powerful and we have other syndicates in other cities. I think maybe Strahd's had tried to make a deal with our group to help him do shit in this realm. I think we did do some business for Strahd through the Vasani traders bootleg liquor and wine he paid up front in weird gold but the third time we got a letter he would need to have us buy the goods and we would get 20% on the investment for the inconvenience. As he had paid a quote over the normal rate for these goods we took the deal but our people were ambushed and never heard from. One of these was one of V's younger brothers so its about more than the money. We were a family on the streets and I watched that boy grow into a man and they are the only family I will ever have.
Vishous has a large tattoo over his right eye and on his left hand he wore a lead lined glove as his hand glowed like the sun and can turn anything it touches to ash.
We do not know who his parents are; he remembered his mother all covered in light like his hand but his father must have been a vampire. His brother Phury does not share the cruses he has, but he has his own gifts he is very smart and inventive so he always makes new potions and poisons as well as inventions. A lot of times he is the rational voice that Vishous will listen to when no one else can get through.
He can not leave his seat of power so I was sent to track The Vistani man we had meet with for the wine deals that took Phury V’s brother. This is how I got captured in the underdark as he ran off down there and now I know why it seems there is a passage to Stradh’s lands. Or is it these cursed coins the brought the mist in......
Backstory
I grew up outside the major cities south of Storm Brook. South of the Gaia Tree on the coast almost. I’m a wood elf but people assume what they will. I don’t remember much of my young life other than it was happy. I had a mother a father and lived among rangers and druids. Nature folk good people all mostly elven but we had a few humans who join our community. Oh it was beautiful and green with the smell of the sea from the west. We had this wonderful village in the treetops, bridges and ropes to swing on and bridges to cross to get away without having to touch the ground. Each family built a nest is what I would call it now. This was the happiest time I’ve known. In my 14th year we heard trouble was headed our way, another war party of pirates on the coast might come up our streams. We had hoped they would pass further to the north around the cape but luck was not with us.
There were many rivers and streams near our community. We had a few boats and some wanted to take the women and children downstream in case words or bribes would not solve this conflict. However we were set upon much sooner than the warning for told. I remember my father shaking me and he looked at me with all the love I know he had for me and told me to be strong girl and I have tried father I have tried.
Our village was attacked by horrible raiders from the sea that burned our trees our homes. We had the advantage of the higher ground but the fires just jumped higher and blocked all our exits. My mother, the priestess of our clan, used magic to get us to the ground as my father had hidden a small cannon away from the other ships that were meant to take us all to safety. Once on the ground it was madness, people running, dying, screaming. I looked up and saw my father was upon the burning bridge with his bow as he took down the foes behind us. Watching over my mother’s shoulder as she led us away. I saw him take out the last two behind us but I turned to see more of them headed our way. My mother drew her bow and took out 3 with one shot. She dropped the bow and pulled her scimitar to kill the ones still in our path. Then a loud crack and snap turned my head and the bridge my father was on was gone as the flames engulfed it on all sides. I knew even as a small child of 10 and 4 he would not be joining my mother and I.
My father saved us and just as those thoughts came into my mind my mother went down to one knee and I saw the red tip of the arrow coming out the back of her shoulder. She got up and kept moving as another arrow went into her leg, still she did not stop. She made it to the small river where we fished and skipped stones. There was a weir basket to catch fish and the small canoe my father had prepared. She ordered me in the boat and I pulled at her to get in. She leaned in and kissed me on my head as she covered me in her torn cloak and told me to lay still and to not move or make a sound. As she kissed my head I knew I would need to remember her face as this would be our last moments. She used the last of her strength to shoved the boat off down the shallow river. It wasn’t long before I heard them fall upon her with mocking laughter that haunts my dreams even now.
I floated down the steam until it became a real river and then an even faster river. I must have floated for days using the lures left in the canoe to catch a fish or two it was fresh water for many days so I did not die of thirst. I woke one morning to the sound of women laughing and splashing in the water as they washed clothes. I tried to hid but they saw me and pulled my canoe over to the bank. Gods be good the older human woman yelled as she saw a skinny dirty elven child. They did not know if I was male or female due to my state. At that I said I’m a lady not a man offended even though I looked a fine mess. The older women said this will not do and bathed me right in the river and washed my shift. She did give me some food and a bit of wine from a skin the ladies had been sharing.
Where did you come from dear one the older woman said and I knew we lived on a place south of the town of Storm Brook. She sighed and cursed those radars on the coast again we had word of the Elven strong hold know as tree town was burned to the ground. They did not find one wood elf left alive. I turned away as my eyes filled with tears as I knew I was never going home everyone and everything I loved was gone in one night of fire.
The woman explained I had floated for more than a 10 day maybe longer as this was a small manor house outside the city of Storm Brook. Many leagues from my tree town. She said she would take me to the captain who investigated the event at tree town. She had a coach take us from the house into the city after I had been dressed and feed.
Storm Brook I had only heard of the word city and had no idea what I was about to walk into. Once outside the gates we got out and walked on foot. As we walked I had never seen so many people of all kinds, dark elves from the old crazy elf in the village always with his stories he would scare us at night if we didn’t follow our elders the dark elves would snatch us in the night. There were others too, people I did not know the names of and that was the people. Horses with carts and riders blocked up the gateway into the town proper and I thought tree town was a town. We had 300-500 elves at any one time, sometimes extra human friends trading or the dwarfs with their well crafted weapons. This town was unfathomably large to my child size eyes.
The commander did not have anything to say but shake his head and told me he was sorry. I remember wondering why he was sorry I did not understand he did not burn my village. He was a nice man, large and strong. He told me the one bit of information that I hold on to the people who killed my people had a banner with 3 coins on a field of black. The woman did not know what to do with me because she had no work for me at the manor house. The commander told her to try the tavern; the woman who runs it is an elf like this little one. She took me to the inn and I met my first friend.
I met the mistress of the tavern and inn and she happened to be eleven and we had a wonderful chat. She was sad to hear of the situation. I found myself in her name was Belladonna. She got me a room and a hot meal and a bath. I don’t think I had felt warm since our boat had tipped into the waters. Even at the manor house the shock of it all. She told me of a group of young people too young for adventuring yet, but if you want to go after your family one day these will be the people you’d need to learn from. She could see the revenge in my eyes I think. She told me not all the work was honest but it would keep me fed and secrets sometimes paid more than theft or violence. I told her I was in training to become a ranger but was already quite a good shot with my bow and loved the forest most of all. Those skills will serve you well but you will need to learn spy craft if this band of rogues accepts you. You will owe your loyalty as well how much is revenge worth to you. You're a beautiful elven maiden. I could get you papers and married to an affluent Elven home. Maybe even a noble with that face of yours. Think about it, you could have servants and live in more luxury than you could dream of. You have already been through so much you deserve comfort and a stable life.
She finished by saying if I was a other elf I wouldn’t have told you of these rouges at all but I feel the burning in you and can’t help if I only gave you the marriage option I think I might come to find you gone in the morning. I see a lot of myself in you girl and if I can help you even if it leads you down a sinful path at least I trust the sinners you’ll call family.
She set up the meeting and it was another young elf with a sly smile that reminded me of lies. He acted like he was grown but I could tell he only had a few years on me and in the life of an elf we would still be children until our memory’s became our own. When our true home and past lives faded which is normal. He told me his name was Vishous but to call him V.
My last few 10 days felt longer than my whole life with my family. I couldn’t forget them. I was told these revers take prisoners as slaves so my people could be out there my mother was badly hurt but she had healing magic so there was small chance even as I thought it her dying screams from the river back left me with little hope but vengeance could be had. I could play the long game if I needed too. Years later find that flag and let them know why they must pay with their lives. I know my father would have fought to the death so I would find little hope in my heart that he hasn’t been killed.
This boy Vishous was polite enough when I pressed further he just turned the questions back on me and asked more than I wanted to answer. He had tattoo-like markings over one eye and a metal glove on one hand. His laugh made something in me feel warm and somehow comforting. Even though my brain was telling me I needed to fear this elf my heart could not have felt more opposite. I felt trust and safety. I thought about that for quite some time as to why.
He gave me a test to find out who the city councilman was to marry his daughter to before the engagement was announced. I at this point had maybe 3 friends if you count V, the wonderful Belladonna and a mouse I found in my room the first night I arrived. I named him Sir Fritz and had been carrying him in my bag feeding him bits of food and talking with him when I was lonely. I had learned a few spells from the Druid’s in our village and we became fast friends. I came up with a very Druid plan. I sent Sir Fritz to the councilman‘s home and he was able to bring back the name of the man he wished his daughter to marry. Fritz brought me the first draft of a letter to the groom's father. I went back to V who confirmed my findings and offered me a position in his band of outlaws. He was impressed as he had no idea I had never set foot in the home. The options were clear and soon I had enough coin to build myself a little home up in a tree outside of the city gates.
I met the others in this band Vishous’s had brought together; he was clearly in charge. That is when I met his brother Phury who had to be no more than 6 or 7. He was something other than a Sir Fritz to look after and I always made sure he was washed and had enough food to go into trance without the pains of hunger. The pain I had come to know so often. I buried all my earnings under my favorite tree, the one I slept in. Soon I had to move it as it wasn’t safe to keep it where I lived and I had trunks full at this point. Vishous help me deal with my loot by keeping it safe at his place. I’d had none of it without him and why would he give it to just take it. I trusted him. As it turns out, with a little guidance and a lot of training my ranger skills helps shape my rogue skills.
As the years went by I grew into a cunning and savvy con-woman. I could play any role my looks help just as Belladonna had encouraged me more and more as I got older to use this to my advantage as every advantage counts. It is so easy to distract a large crowd with a pretty face needing assistance every time a brave lad would come to my aid and onlookers would cheer all while things happened they would never know about. I could get into extravagant elite parties to gather information and so much more. That was only my acting talents which I had been blessed with many of the unsavory kind. At least to most. Not to V he was also so proud when I would pull off a great Heist or infiltrate somewhere extremely difficult and extract the exact information we need.
The coin flowed in and we began to make a name for ourselves. Some of the major crime syndicates at the time we’re worried about our successes. It never came to all our war but only because swift action was taken loudly to make a point we were not to be fucked with by anyone.
My ranger skills were always improving with every mission and with V teaching me the way of the rouge. I had talents and started to shine. The years slipped away and I found myself developing feelings for V and I knew he felt the same. I was afraid that if I stopped trying to find my family who I would be as a daughter. Would my family have stopped looking for me. These thoughts weighed so heavily that I didn't think I felt I deserved a life with love and happiness.
Vishous had come up with a fabulous plan most of his were but this one took the cake. We had heard rumors of an evil cult that had to come to our city. They were told to have great riches in magical artifacts and gems. No one wanted these types of evil people lurking in the streets but most of the people could do little. That night we laid our plans and struck 2 hours till dawn. We took out all the evil cultists and stopped them from releasing some demon into the city. We claimed our prizes and burned the rest. The townspeople were not to upset that a house of evil had been burned by the gods. We drank and celebrated into the evening and this is when V came to me after all the party had died down. That is when we became an item such as it were. We were married in the following year.
Many year latter our band of outlaws had become something more we called ourselves the scarlet wolves. V at the head with Phury by his side and I rained as the his queen. We had kings coming to us for favors and information it was the best time of my life. We had love, family everything I had lost had been retuned in some twist of fate. The dresses and jewel V gave me also made me feel we had really made it. Hunger was a thing of the past with all we had we could walk away and live with servants in a lavish home wanting for nothing. However V was ambitious to say the least. He always wanted more influence, power I think be so poor as a child he felt he needed to prove he was better. He still saw himself as the cocky boy thug I met all those years ago but he was so much more.
We were selling wine and liquor to one group of traders called themselves Vistani. We heard rumors they were minions of Strahd. However they paid up front and 3 times more than what we normally ask. They paid in strange coins but it was gold. This would be the forth transaction with this shady Vistani trader who I did not like. His vibe was off but the gold put our wolves at ease. This time he asked us to front the capital for the wine and they would pay upon receiving the goods as he would only be in port one night. They had been paying three times more than anyone and had been strange but not sinister. The thoughts of profits help everyone feel comfortable with the transaction. However V sent his younger brother Phury the boy now grown man I had made sure to feed, had grown strong and skilled it was hard to think back to the times when he was only 5 or 6. When I first was alone and I met Vishous he was barely 17 and me at 15. He will die on the rock that he was 17 when we meet, but I think he was 16 at the most. I let him have his lie. Being older on the streets could only help you. The years pass by so quickly we had all reached adulthood and had built the best spy network in the land. We were a family not by blood but by blood if that makes sense.
Everyone now calls him the Red Wolf, due to his fiery long red hair. It was almost the color of blood. Phury V's younger brother had grown into a beast of fighter. He went to make sure everything went smoothly as this was the largest order yet.
We he did not return V paid anyone for any whisper but they were just gone no blood nothing to show a fight was had occurred just one golden coin with that strange face.... Phury was family to me almost a son at least a brother I loved him my heart was broken and I knew V would not permit me to go alone but he had an empire to run. We were really doing good things for common man as we never forgot where we came from even if everyone else had. We agree I would track this trader who might know where we could find Phury and rerun with his location and we would show out in force.
He got me everything I would need as it was said he fled into the under dark. We knew he couldn’t have gotten far alone in that hell. I did leave a note saying all the things my heart had be holding but my lips could not speak all and more as I needed him to know he was truly loved. As I would hate to see the aftermath of learn his brother and wife were both dead. As I had original planed to come back for the others and stick to the plan, the Drow patrol has other ideas. He would not have allowed me to do this he never wanted me in danger and well I somehow found it more oft then not. This was a family Vendetta but when the words left my mouth I realize is V and his brother Phury we’re more important than my real family. To me than a memory of my real family I would gladly give for my time with those two. I had spent more than 100 year with them. A debt was owed.
On my investigation I found the information about a man using these coins in the underdark fitting the description of the man we had dealt with. I tracked him for miles under the earth and eventually found a pile of clothes and a note inviting all who seek what is lost to come to RavenLoft. Within the pocket with the letter were maybe 30 of those strange gold coins with that same eerie face. I continued into the darkness as thought he must be hiding in the shadow.
After weeks of tracking and many encounters, I was tried, hungry, and frustrated. I let myself become an easy target and was captured by a Drow patrol. I had not meet any real ( lolth loving ) dark elves but spoke under-common for the city Drow I often work with. They spoke the same but at the same time it was different. I caught maybe 5 our of every 10 words. I did not give away that I knew their speech. Hopefully one of them would say something useful. On the way back to their city I was glad not to be alone as they fought off at least 3 beast larger than anything I had seen on the surface or even that I had seen down here. Watching them fight as a unit I knew I would not escape with a fight I was just too weak from the journey. They did feed us well as I was able to understand captives who could fight would be used in the death battles to Lolth made up of criminals and slaves.
Once we got into the city proper it was like nothing I’ve ever seen. We were thrown in a room with crude weapons and armor. Told to grab what we wanted as when we died it just end up back here. I grabbed a longbow arrows and some leather. They left us to rest the night, I explained what I had heard about the arena and if we acted together we might not die. As I heard every now and then there is a group of champions the elite houses will make bets on for entertainment, unfortunately at this point that is the best we can hope for. The two men, not knowing if they could trust me said they were in on the plan. It was around what felt like midday…. As I had no idea of time with our the day cycle. Entering the city was a large pillar attended by mages maybe it’s a time measuring device. Three of us were shoved out and set an a large fighting arena. A fierce dwarf and a confident looking half elven wizard. There must have been thousands of Drow in this underground cavern. The gates rumbled and the crowd went wild as this huge beast with large pincers and a shell so hard my arrows just bounced off came charging in.
Together we bested this monster to the screams of the crowd. Blood in undercommon was all I could make out of the chat that rose above the yells.
Then a horn was blown by a woman at the top of the arena and they sent in their own people, to my shock were these criminals, I had heard stories of them fighting slaves for sport. However, as soon as they did not marshal together as we had and used the home advantage we struck our blows. It made me sad to think about the lives of these Drow. They seem to treat their own people like slaves. What would they do with us? We made fast work of them to the roar of the crowd cheering for more blood. The armed guards returned after the bloodbath ended. They surrounded us and made us drop our weapons and marched us off as they brought out the next spectacle.
We were taken and then imprisoned down in the depths of this Drow city. With help from my new allies the wizards helped to lull the guards into slumber I made quick work of the locks and found the armory we had been brought to before we were sent out to die. We each took a weapon and I found a bow of amazing construction. We escaped Into the twisted caves that gave the underdark its name.
We had some old man from the cell following us. He almost got us all killed when he lit a fire after we warned him we would leave him alone if he stopped again. His reckless fire brought a cave troll most foul down on us. We escaped with our lives but not much else. The troll had bashed a large chuck out of the stone walls and we saw a shaft of light break threw one of the walls the troll had smashed and we all walked out of the darkness to see the land of Barovia in the distance and the coin in my pocket started to hum I knew I was getting close could Phury be alive if not his killer will be spared no mercy.
V would have to understand it was love that drove me and he had given me a life I could only have dreamed of. I was only right if I could not save my real family at least I could try to save the family I had chosen.
Will I find my way back to Vishous with Phury by my side I could only pray to any gods that would hear me....... The joy I would have to finally bring my family home.
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