Vendan Iskrune
Physical Description:
Vendan is a human male of smaller than average stature. He has long black hair and a clean shaven face. He dresses in sashes and robes, and has mystical tattoos adorning his body.
Background:
Vendan Iskrune’s father was a skilled wizard, chosen to take part in a raid into the Temple of Elemental Evil. Vendan remembers his father Volom as a brave wizard and adventurer.
To Volom's joy, Vendan inherited his father’s intelligence and ability for wizardry, and showed much more promise than his other children. Young Vendan would watch his father practicing his magic, and was often allowed to study with him in his library and laboratories. Volom tutored Vendan in the ways of magic, spellcraft, and what it meant to be a wizard. Vendan studied with passion and zeal, and learned quickly.
Volom would regale young Vendan with stories of his adventures, of his battles with fierce creatures and how they were brought down by his magic and the swords of his companions. For years young Vendan felt his father was invincible, as he went on adventure after adventure, always coming back stronger and wealthier than before. Vendan dreamed that when he was ready he would accompany his father on adventures, wading into battle, feeling its intoxicating rush. But he also knew of its dangers.
It was a beautiful clear day when Volom left, to a small town called Hommlet, to make a raid on the Temple. It was the last time Vendan saw his father. Vendan imagined his father and his band must have delved deep into the Temple, defeating many fell creatures. Moving deeper and deeper, they must have been finally overwhelmed by a swarm of monsters, or perhaps a evil elementals, or even a powerful demon. Whatever it was, Vendan imaginged his father and his companions went down in an orgy of flesh and blood, swords and spears, magic and counter-magic. None of Volom's party returned, or were ever found. It was a small consolation to Vendan when he heard the Temple finally fell a couple months later. No doubt the Temple had been weakened by Volom's raid, allowing the final 'heroes' to be victorious.
With the loss of his father, the family's wealth slowly whittled away. It was quite a lesson to learn how, without the presence of his powerful father, thieves, extortionists and swindlers could reduce a wealthy family to nothing. Then, one night, Iskrune's tower was invaded. His brothers Tundin and Gilmore, and his sisters Binti and Trina, and his mother Kira, all fairly accomplished warriors or priests, fell quickly. Vendan was coming back from the village at the time, and heard the clamor of battle and the screams of his siblings as he ran to the burning tower.
Not knowing if his family was alive or dead, he gripped his staff and rushed in, meeting the human and gnoll raiders. After a fierce battle, killing near a dozen raiders with his magic and the power of some of his father's items, Vendan was the only one left standing.
Now without a family, without a father and a teacher, Vendan gathered up whatever items he could manage from the burning tower and fled. He could see the campfires of other raiders nearby, and knew he had to flee. Thus Vendan started his travels, meeting others along the way and having some adventures of his own. Until one day he realized he was not far from Hommlet, the place where his father met his end. He felt drawn there, hoping to honor the life and death of his father, Volom Iskrune.