[sblock]Backstory for Cryas Elegail
Named after his grandfather on his father's side, who was a politically powerful member of the clergy (as yet undecided which one), Cryas Elegail was a quiet child, so much so that he was nearly totally inhibited from blossoming socailly. This innate calmness continued throughout adolescence until the age of 12, when his father, Fierdas, disappeared, leaving Cryas and his mother, Naebla, to fend for themselves in an already relatively dire financial situation. This started to force him to open up to be there for his mother emotionally.
According to the authorities, Fierdas had racked up some gambling debts with the local (mafia/thieves guild or whatever is appropriate) that he unfortunately could not pay off. Though the authorities expected no foul play for some reason, Cryas always did. Due to his suspicions and needing a way to help financially, Cryas went to the church that his grandfather once belonged to and, using his name, acquired a position doing manual labor and odd jobs. After working for 2 years, he began to learn more about the clerical aspects of the place he did such menial tasks in, and eventually came to know more duties than what he used to do when he first arrived.
Cryas began to investigate his father's disappearance, but for so long he turned up only dead ends. After another year, jsut as Cryas was about to step into adulthood, he was approached by a nameless man, seemingly a member of the clergy whom Cryas had never seen. The man warned him to stay out of the business he seemed so intent on digging into. Needless-to-say, this did not deter Cryas in the slightest, and he continued to press until...
Cryas was meeting his mother at a local grocery, and upon approaching, saw the building that she was in collapse. Adrenaline pumping, Cryas rushed to help, using his magic and augmented strength to clear away the rubble. Unfortunately, his mother was dead by the time he reached her. In a fit of depression, Cryas left the church, and gave up on the mystery of his father's disappearance.
Not wanting to give up his relatively recent faith in the gods, he battled with his loss of trust that they would watch over him and the people he cared about. He quickly returned to the quietness of his childhood, and turned inward, finding solace and strength within himself. He gave up continuing to progress his clerical abilites, instead choosing to further develop his physical form that began with his manual labor with the church so long ago. He supported himself doing various odd jobs in different neighborhoods until one day when he helped a local family change their residence.
Moving all their items reminded him of when he attempted to clear the rubble to save his mother, and had an epiphany about a better way to make a living that would also help him improve on his physical abilities. He went back to work demolishing buildings and removing rubble using his magic, natural weapons, and very careful planning, all the while charging the same amount as he did for odd jobs just prior, as this was also an alternate way to focus his energy into himself. He also stayed in the practice of spellcasting, as he used spells like Bull's Strength, Shatter, and Augury to help him (and to make sure that the fate that befell his mother did not befall him).
Now in his 5th year of adulthood, he has gained a small but notable reputation, and his name continues to spread to a few important people in Metropolis. He may have given up his search for his father, but his heart still burns to unravel that mystery, and though he no longer seeks, he still remembers...[/sblock]
