Recently I was asked to construct a backstory for a new 1st level Eladrin Swordmage. I showed it to him and he said he liked but I needed to adjust a few things to make it fit the world better. Below is that backstory. Like all my writings, it could always use a little more polish but I think it's worth at least a quick browse.


Captain Leafrunner walked towards the blacksmiths area. He was looking to speak with Aronat. Despite the fact that he made no real effort to be silent, Aronat didn't notice his appoarch. All of his focus was on some drawings of a sword.

"Ahem" the Captain coughed.
Aronat looked up and finally noticed that he had a visitor. He was embrassed that he didn't even notice him. He sprang up and began to speak.
"Greetings, Sir! I apologize for not noticing you before! Would you like me to fetch the master blacksmith for you? If you need simple fixes for a weapon, I would be more then happy to do them myself. Do you need your blade sharpened? A new hilt? Have some sratches you need smoothed out? Or perhaps you'd be intrested in some maintiance? You know, regular maintaince keeps a weapon in top shape as well as prolong its lifespan!"
"What I really need is a place to sit for a while."
"Oh!" Aronaut cleared some stuff off a chair and offered it to the elder elf.
"Oh, that's much better," the captain said as he sat down. "So tell me, Aronat, how are you?"

"Busy as always. In a land of constant war, weapon smiths are always in demand."
"That is how it has always been," Leafrunner stated.
"If there was no war, this would be quite a different world we live in. I, for one, would be unable to make a living doing something I enjoy so much." Aronat paused for a moment. "It is wrong of me to benefit from the wars that ended so many of our brothers and sisters?"
"If we weren't fighting the Gnolls, we would most likely be fighting another enemey. Even if we weren't, I imagine someone of your talent could easily find another profession."
"Honestly, weapon crafting is the only profession I want to persue."
"Have you ever considered joining the army?" Leafrunner asked ironically.
Aronat stared blankly at the captain.

"Did you or did you not pass the Swordmage qualification tests?" he asked.
"There's more to being a Swordmage then passing the qualification tests." Aronat retorted.
"True; but you would have never passed those tests unless you had some talent for it."
"True as well. You just won't let this go."
"That's because Swordmages are needed more then blacksmiths right now."

"Funny how life works out." Aronat mused to himself. "When I came here, I was like every other recuit. I was eager for a chance to do my part in the never ending battle agianst the Gnolls. I ending up in the Blacksmith's shops creating weapons for others to use. And it turned out I was quite happy to do so. On a lark, I decided to take a few Swordmage training courses to try them out. To my suprise, I passed then, and all the other courses that followed. A few months ago, I became an acutal Swordmage even though it was never my orginal goal. It's amazing that I acheived such a grand feat even though I never really wanted it. Life can produce quite unexpected results, doesn't it? However, I'm sure you came here for a reason besides hearing me talk about myself?"

"Yes, and my reason for coming here is to request that you go on a mission."
Aronat stared blanky at the Captain again.
"You really have to stop doing that."
"You really have to stop asking me to do things I shouldn't be doing." Aronat retorted.
"You really have to stop acting like you can't fight even though you can."
"That's because I'm not that great of a fighter."
"Yet you win as often as not when you spar with the others."
"That is merely testing their weapons in practice combat."
"Don't sell yourself so short. You are skilled in combat."
"No I'm not!"
"Why do you have so little faith in your own power?"

"It's because I never feel like's it me fighting. Strange, isn't it? Whenever I fight, I never feel like I'm the one fighting. It's as if I'm watching myself fight from a distance. It's almost as if Ichigo weilds me instead of the other way around."
"Ichigo?" the Captain asks.
"My sword." Aronaut answered. A second later, Ichigo flew from where it was to Aronaut's hand. "Ichigo; the blade that never breaks; the passion that never dies."

"I am correct to believe that you do not fight because you fear your enemies..."
"but because I fear myself." Aronaut finished.
"And you will never overcome your fear as long as you are here. That is one more reason why I need you for this mission."
"Normally I would say no to such a thing; but I get the feeling that saying no won't work now, will it?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Well then please explain what you require of me."

"Please be at the town square at noon today. All will be made clear then..."

MichaelSomething