Ruby (Away)

Gender - Female
Race - Changeling
Class - Sorcerer (MC Paladin)
Paragon Path - Arcane Wellspring
Epic Destiny - Deadly Trickster
Alignment - Good

Background - A head loomed out of the mists, over the edge of her cradle. It looked friendly at first but soon turned to fear.
"Monsters! Oh god, kill them!"
Her pale, nearly white hand reached out to her parents.
They had no faces but she could feel they were her parents and that they were angry at her.

The scene changed to a shadowy tree and a mass of black faces. They were cheering at two people under the branches. A final cheer, a spasm, stillness. Stillness and a deep sence of sorrow. One of the black faces turned around and picked her up, laughing he did. A coughing, nearly hissing laugh. Count Noliss' laugh.

The scene swirled again around silver and green; a ring unrolling into a horned serpent snapping at her. A parrot intervened just as it was about to strike. When the serpent bit the parrot instead, she woke up, screaming.

Her mother, rather; fostermother, ran into her room. She found Ruby staring at a ring, crested with a boar and a single red ruby, and sat next to her. She took a blanket and draped it over the little girl's shoulders.
"You...had another nightmare?". Ruby nodded. "About your parents?"
"Hun, I've told you a million times. You're not to blame in any of this. They loved eachother and they loved you. They knew they were in a hostile court. They knew what having you might mean and were still glad to do it."

Ruby stared at her, seeking comfort in her big, white eyes. There was no reason to appear human here and she had to admit she found her true form more comforting for the little girl.

* * *

Ruby’s mother was a trader in the Von Denn lands. Her purses full and on a fancy cart.
In the paranoid environment of the City of Twin Serpents, changelings have an edge on the competition. So, both respected and feared, a tribe chieftain comes to her and bids her to use her gift for more noble goals. He must have left an impression because two weeks later, she’s moving into the city and playing the game of politics like no other, easing laws on the tribes and pocketing some money whilst at it.

A second changeling joined her, sent by the tribes. This went well for many years untill something nobody could have foreseen happened…they fell in love. Now, a changeling baby is incapable of staying in any assumed shape for long so they could hardly show it around without giving it away.
However, word somehow got out that they’d had a baby girl. When the nobles of the town came to present their blessings, the very worst came to be. Ruby’s parents were tortured and hung for being monsters and traitors whilst the little girl was taken away by one of the faithfull household servants. The count himself oversaw the hanging.

Nightmarish laughter haunted her dreams long after adulthood. All grown up, she had a heart filled with guilt and revenge. She enlisted as the count’s spy to get closer to him. After years of fruitfull working for the man she hates; she had finally received message that after one last mission in the underdark, she’d speak to the count himself.

Over the years, she gathered Bediss’ fabled ring. This ring held great arcane powers which, according to legend would present themselves only if its wearer was genuinely fit to rule.
Whilst it may be used to unite the clans as one, she has not used it yet seeing as it hasn’t activated yet and she feels the clans are not ready to be unified either.

Whilst before, she had spent every waking hour dreaming of revenge, lately, something new has stolen into her heart. If asked, she’d blame it on friends. She no longer has a desire for murder. She feels it is below her and instead seeks for a way to unseat the count and guide her people into an age of unity and prosperity. Simply…because she can.

* * *

First Death - The last drop of her blood sucked by Zirithian, Vampire servant of Orcus, in Hordethrone. Resurrected.

Away - After the massacre of Windrock, Ruby has decided to fully immerse herself in her Count Noliss persona, to better manipulate upcoming events.

Druss (Dead)

Gender - Male
Race - Human
Class - Swordmage
Paragon Path - Coronal Guard
Alignment - Good

Background - Once an Arcane Guardian for the Mages fo Saruun, a mystical organization ruling the Seven-Pillared Hall deep undground, Druss decided to explore the world above after helping in the rescue of the other heroes from the clutches of the renegade mage Paldemar.
Our heroes meet him again as Captain of the Imperial Guards of Aduria.

Retired - After a long and dangerous voyage into the Shadowfell, and after seeing too many of his fellow adventurers die, Druss has lost his heart for deceptions and death, and decides to abandon the party to forge a path of his own.

1st Death - Our heroes never forgave him the theft of Desert Wind, and, when they meet him again during the attack on Windrock, Zakonik crushes his skull with a mighty blow of his hammer.

Fermin Alderoqui (Retired)

Gender - Male
Race - Human
Class -Rogue
Paragon Path - Daggermaster
Alignment - Unaligned

Background - Fermin is was a citizen of the City of Ilarosa, and spent his youth on the streets of the great city as a cutpurse. He joined the Black Masks guild very young, but was sold into slavery to a traveling Carnival by his own father.

He escaped the carnival as an adult, and traveled the Darklands till he joined the Free Army of the Red Gauntlet.

1st Death - Killed by the deadly song of a Wailing Ghost in the Pyramid of Shadows - Resurrected

Retired - He settled down in Ilarosa, the Capital of the Republic of Norvosa, as one of the leaders of the re-formed Black Masks.

Galen (Dead)

Gender - Male
Race - Eladrin
Class - Warlord
Paragon Path - Infernal Strategist
Alignment - Unaligned


Background - Joined a Mercenary unit at a young (relatively ofcourse) age because he felt a wanderlust, wanted to see the world outside of his small protected town and he had an idolized view on a mercenary's life.

So he quickly joined a passing warband, Dogs of War (random name). After their first few fights, an officer noticed that galen had a bright mind and put him in charge of a few even newer people, to help them stay alive.He quickly got a reality check after their first sound defeat. Their commander got killed and his replacement didnt have a lot of ethics.

The contracts they got grew increasingly worse in nature, ambushes on rival lords' holdings, occupying a nearby town.Galen deserted after their commander got a contract toslaughter a whole peasant village, because their lord was bored with it.

As aloof and neutral Galen was towards other people, this is where he and others drew the line. Half the company left and instead of attacking the village, they took up its defence. He and a the few other officers that had deserted knew the invading forces well, so they improvised on an idea.The ambush was sprung as the still 'loyal' Dogs of War entered the village.

Most of the veteran troops however had remained in the mercenary company, so either side had an advantage. The bloodshed in the village was high, few survivors of either side remained. They scattered arround the Darklands of Tyrrah, some taking up their profession again, some retiring.
Galen decided that he hadn't seen enough of the world yet and that the mercenary life suited him.He had heard about the Red Gauntlet company, who were said to only take on missions of protection or weeding out monsters. Having decided that this might be something for him, he went out to look for them.

***

1st Death - Killed by Duergars in the Horned Hold - Resurrected

2nd Death - Killed by the wicked blades of a four-armed Guardian Skeleton in the Pyramid of Shadows - Resurrected

3rd Death - Killed by a Drow Blademaster while retaking the occupied town of Shineglade.

Dizantar (Dead)

Male Elf Ranger, Unaligned

Background: Before Dizantar was born his mother was driven from her Elven community because of her “mental” instability. She was a beautiful Elven woman by the name Eloria.
Dizantar father, a fair, strong, hardworking Elf by the name Thalatantios, whos rank and background is unknown to Dizantar.

Eloria was cast out from her Elven clan because she was uncontrollable, evil, and selfish and had an instable mental health. While she traveled though the world she meets Thalatantios. They quickly fell in love, he by her beauty and she with his understanding of how to handle her. This meant a good beating when insanity took over.

Thalatantios left all he knew behind to start a life with his new wife.
Together they built up a small tavern where later little Dizantar would see the light.

At the age of 12 an event happened that would change Dizantar’s life forever.

A normal evening 3 Imperial knights came to overnight at the tavern.
One of the Knights wore a beautiful medallion that Eloria fell in love with.
Obsessed with the medallion Eloria second personality started plotting how to get her hands on this medallion. Poison was her preferred method.

The Knights ordered food that Eloria was so kind to bring after she had added a little extra spice. Sure enough ½ hour later the Imperial knight started making funny faces and soon after rose and left the table.
Behind the tavern out of sight from unwanted eyes, the knight found a good place to puke his guts out. Eloria knew that soon the 2nd part of the poison would kick in. Dizziness
That’s when she planned to “take” the lovely medallion.

But nothing went unnoticed for Thalatantios and his instinct quickly told him something was not right. He quickly followed his wife outside.

At the back of the tavern, he saw the elegant grace of his wife, like a cat moving for its prey. What he didn’t see was young Diz hiding in his favorite spot with a perfect view of the action soon to come. He knew his dad was a good man.

Thalatantios grabbed Eloria by her arm, jerked her around and looked her into her beautify eyes. One look was enough to see the insanity. Nothing but a beating would get her out of this state of mind, if he didn’t, everyone was a foe until she has reached her goal.

With a strong move he slapped her hard in the hope it would knock her out.
But this time it didn’t the need for the medallion was stronger.
The second slap dropped her to her knees, the poison bottle dropped from her purse and shattered on the hard stamped ground.
When Thalatantios saw the bottle he sneered at Eloria. “So you did poison the knight!
I will have to take care of you before I take care of the Knight...

At that moment the sick Knight appeared. He had heard what Thalatantios said but only the last sentence. To the sick Knight it was clear. The inn keeper had poisoned his food and the beautiful Elven woman had tried to warn him and been caught.

The events went very wrong from here. The knight quickly cut down Thalatantios. When Eloria saw her husband fall to the ground she suddenly realized what had happened and in a fury she attacked the surprised knight. She almost killed the knight but a last swing from the knight’s sword took her head of clean.

With a wrath of his own. Dizantar took his little bow and shot the bloodied knight.
3 arrows hit its mark, one giving the knight a permanent scar across his face, the knight stumbled back into the tavern out of reach from Dizantar’s arrows. Little Diz had to fled the scene.

23 Years later. Diz had lived his life traveling, earning his living from what work he could get with one goal. Find the Knight that took his world.

* * *

1st Death: Sacrificed to Vecna by the evil mage Paldemar in the Tower of Secrets, his soul utterly consumed.

Torch (Retired)

Male Tiefling Paladin, Good

Appearance: Large horns extend from his forehead towards the back, curving slightly down. A thick non prehensile tail extends from his waist. His golden eyes, deep red skin and fiery red hair hair, might remind one of a sinister flame. His unusually sharp teeth and nails do not help to ease the minds of little children.

Background: Found as an orphan, he was raised in a temple of The supreme Church of light in a small town. As he grew up, He was confronted often enough with the bad reputation Tieflings like him had. The more he grew aware of the fact, the more grateful he was to the church for taking him in.

He started urging the clergy for training so that he might help others just like he had been helped. His restless nature quickly made the clergy aware that being a simple healer was not the right path for him.Although The Supreme Church of light is about friendship and peace, it is also about protection, so they guided him onto the path of the Paladin.

He excelled in the training, but his trainer were confronted with the fact that although, he tried, he failed to grasp some of the ideals of the church. So he was sent into the world, with the mission, "Try and make the world a good place, as you know best" So he left with this vague mission.

His feelings were hurt somewhat since he got the impression that he was being thrown out in some kind of way. This has caused him to slide a bit more to the neutral side of ways and thus became a mercenary, doing good and protection people when he was paid for it.

His name Torch was given to him when he rushed inside a burning building to save 2 children, his demonic heritage actually helped him that day but when he came out he was covered in sooth and ashes, only his eyes and hair werent black. Someone made joke about it and it stuck around.

When he finished his training, as was custom sometimes, he took the name Torch as his real one, leaving his childhood name Eramos behind. He hopes to someday be a beacon of Light to others, just like the Church was for him in his childhood and just like a Torch can be in Darkness.

***

Retired - After witnessing internal strife and murder in the group, Torch decides to turn t a life of peace and meditation.

Thyghor (Dead)

Male Dragonborn Fighter, Good

There is something that comes before anything. Honour.

Thyghor’s clan named the Venomtree has always been fighting against the black clan of the Mudfang. Cruel fights have been spilling the blood of thousands of Dragonborns, since the war has begun. There has been always one rule: live or die but honour yourself and you enemy.

So many battles have been fought since his major age, during which several friends has been lost forever. In the darkness of our world there is no time for hesitations. No time to think on the battlefield when you are surrounded by several hostiles, whose only scope is to break your spirit and your body forever.

Nevertheless he felt sorrow at the end of any fight, cleaning the blade of his Axe. “Trust no one but your strength”, said once his father before leaving for a battle that never saw him coming back. There was no trace of his body however, but many said that during the battle he became a feral spirit cutting the enemies just with his gaze.

We fought always for our masters: the ancient beings, the creators of our own lands: the Dragons. But never had we seen any of them taking place in the conflict. Never until that day…

The field was full of corpses scattered all around but still there was no sign of supremacy from one of the two clans. The destiny is a tiny balance made by the courage of brave men. Suddenly the shadow became alive and a dragon appeared. Immediately after, the black clan was yelling like mad animals and their looks become flaming fires. Black flames rained from the sky as the dragon passed by. Dust was made by flesh, while the crazy Mudfangs started to feed on those who survived; astonished by the surroundings that suddenly became a nightmare. Not only bodies but souls were yelling as imprisoned by flaming chains.

Riding the dragon, a strange figure was looking on the battlefield wearing a mask made of horror. After the battlefield was destroyed he led the dragon on the settlement where Thyghor’s clan had only women and children waiting for the returns of their warriors. The dark sky turned into a shiny red from the blood of all those who died under the black flames.

Thyghor’s look was petrified. It was the end, but he wanted to end it with honour. Screaming he raised his Weapon to the sky, while tears were falling on his face, leaving the deepest wounds that he never faced during his entire life. But someone stopped him. A hand firmly grasped his shoulder has he found himself as petrified. Few seconds later he felt a whisper that starting from his mind moved down, deep, and that almost stopped his hearth from the rumbling beating that drummed the passing time. “There is no Honour in this death. You will be doomed forever”.

And suddenly silence came…

Three days later the red Gauntlet passed by. He was the only survivor, at least that was what he thought.
So the journey started, but his hearth will never sleep until the masked man will fall…

***

1st Death - Killed by Tootak, a group member, for attacking a fellow dwarf, in the Thunderspire Labyrinth - Resurrected

2nd Death - Killed by Duergars in the Horned Hold - Resurrected

3rd Death - Petrified by a Medusa, and then crushed by an Ogre while petrified, in the Pyramid of Shadows

Neristhanalas "Neri" (Dead)

Gender - Female
Race - Half-elf
Class - Warlock (MC Wizard)
Paragon Path - Blood Mage
Alignment - Good

Background - I still remember that day...I was only twelve. Our family lived in the mountainous region known as Spinerock.It wasn't a big town but I lived a happy youth there.

Atleast...for a while, and found myself capable of a few measly cantrips to pass the time.We regularly had to deal with orcish attacks, usually a band of mindless pillagers looking for an easy target. They'd see the stone walls and leave again.

But this was different...we..hardly knew what hit us till there were boulders flying, orcs pillaging. Amidst this chaos, our family stayed indoors whilst my father was out fighting and by all likelyhood allready dead.

Orcs burst through the door, sending splinters flying and grabbed my mother and sisters by the neck. I...don't remember exactly...I think I was pinned down or something. The next few minutes were a haze...I hardly remember anything but the feeling of pure anger inside my heart and it...somehow...strenghtening me.

Like I said, I don't remember what happened, but when I got back to my senses...there was nobody left breathing in that room and my hands were a bloody mess.I know now that I sold my soul that night...there's nothing I can do to undo that.

I'm afraid of what lies before me. I'm afraid of what will happen to me. I'm afraid of what will happen to those around me if I can't contain this. I'm...not sure I'd want to know. But I do know that I don't have a choice. I'll take this curse and bear it with grim determination. I'm Neristhanalas and I'm...a warlock.

***

1st Death - Killed by Duergars in the Horned Hold - Resurrected

2nd Death - Killed by a Drow Blademaster while retaking the occupied town of Shineglade - Resurrected
3rd Death - Crushed by an Undead Hook Horror, and ripped apart by a Vrock Demon in Phaervorul, a dark elves' enclave.

Tootak (Retired)

Male Dwarf Cleric, Lawful Good

***

Retired - After feeling compelled to kill Thyghor, he decides to leave the party and join a mining clan in the Seven Pillared Hall, the Deepgem.