Kieran Dawncaller

Name	Kieran Dawncaller
Race	Half-elf
Age	35
Class	Paladin
Background	Holy Entertainer
Hometown	Kolinet
Relatives	Lorariel Elmcrown

Kieran was born as the first and only child of Lorariel Elmcrown and Leigh Dawncaller. His mother, Lorariel, was an elven healer who lived in Gallean, a small settlement in the Western parts of  Fir Lanear, near the borders with Otteun and The Godfall. Gallean was located just over a days travel from one of the main roads leading to Martell and Midtal. Not many visitors came to the town, except some caravan for trade and the occasional small bands of travelers who were looking for some safe refuge as the larger cities were too far away. It also functions as one of the last stops the Elven merchants make with their goods before heading to the cities of Martell or Midtal. Lorariel was a beautiful young elf who served at the local temple of Ehlonna as a novice. She was a skilled healer and herbalist. She tended the sick and needy with love and devotion.

Gallean had one small inn, The Autumn Leaf. It was here that Lorariel met Leigh Dawncaller, a traveling human bard. Leigh was very charismatic (for a human) and had a golden voice with which he could entrance his audience. So too with Lorariel, who was quite smitten with him. But as it goes with bards, Leigh traveled on, and Lorariel soon forgot about the handsome young human. But many month later, Leigh returned to Gallean. He too had felt more when their eyes had met several times during his songs at The Autumn Leaf. This time he decided to stay for a few days, as a winter storm was approaching from the North and Leigh did not feel like traveling the roads with the risk of being caught by the storm without shelter nearby. Lorariel’s heart jumped a little with joy when she heard that the handsome human bard had returned to the village and she rushed off to The Autumn Leaf as soon as she was done at the temple. Finally that night Lorariel and Leigh spoke fort he first time and both their hearts were lifted when they looked each other in the eyes. As winter was coming in hard that year, Leigh decided to stay the season at the inn and was given a room and meals, provided he would perform at the inn every night. He and Lorariel feel deeply in love that winter and shared many meals, stories and many nights together. Of course, this was frowned upon by the locals, as it was beneath an elf to have such intimate relations with a mere human. When Spring started to announce itself Lorariel was faced with a difficult choice. Would she leave her town and join Leigh in a life of traveling, or would she stay loyal to her friends and family, and her temple? But nature had decided to make that choice somewhat easier for her. Lorariel found out she was pregnant. She knew that staying in Gallean as a single mother to a bastard half breed, would make her an outcast in the small town, no matter her skills as a healer. And her child would be considered an abomination, especially in such a small community. So, as Spring eventually arrived, Lorariel decided to join Leigh on the road and leave her town behind. When Summer passed and it was time for Lorariel to give birth, she and Leigh found a little town with a small temple of Ehlonna where they could stay safely until the baby was born and during the winter months after. On a beautiful Autumn morning Lorariel gave birth to a baby boy they named Kieran. Leigh could work in the local inn to provide for his wife and baby, as long as he would perform every night. When Spring arrived once again the small family went back on the road again, and so their traveling life as a family started. The young Kieran grew up free as a bird, traveling with is parents, learning to sing and play the lute from his father, learning about nature and plants and herbs from his mother, and mostly learning about the value and beauty of nature. He was also brought up with the values of being Good: be kind to others, help where and when you can, value all life and trust in Ehlonna.

Unfortunately, when Kieran was 10 their happy family life took a devastating turn. Leigh became seriously ill and the family found shelter in the Forestview temple of Ehlonna in Kolinet. Lorariel cared for her husband day and night, while the young Kieran helped out in the temple as much as he could. Even though Lorariel was a skilled healer, Leigh did not get better and his condition worsened as the weeks progressed. In spite of all her talent and prayers, Leigh perished after 3 months of care. The young family was heartbroken in grief. And without Leigh traveling around the world as a family felt as much useless as it was practically impossible without Leigh to provide fort hem. Luckily, the priestess at the Forestview temple, Gayrlana Morim, was as loving as she was pragmatic. She had been impressed by Lorariel’s dedication and her skills in medicine and the young Kieran had touched her soul. The boy and his mother were allowed to stay at the temple. Lorariel would take care of the sick and wounded that would visit the temple and would help out by foraging herbs and other useful natural resources from the forest. Meanwhile Kieran would help out with chores in the temple, run errands into town for the priestess. In return he would be trained as an acolyte. Kieran worked hard and studied hard. But every bit of free time he would spent learning to play his father’s lute and write and sing songs. He grew up to be a very charismatic young man, who would touch the hearts and souls of many visitors who would pass by the temple. Kieran also liked to be outside as much as he could, wandering of in the forest or the open fields, enjoying the weather and bring his lute to find a peaceful, quiet place somewhere and write and make music. His most favourite place of all was the Kolinet Temple complex. He loved climbing to the top and enjoy the stunning view. Kieran could sit there for hours, playing his lute or just taking in the amazing view and enjoying the beauty of it all. Being high up there somehow also made him feel closer to his father and his best music and songs came when he was sitting there at the top, as if he could feel his father’s presence inspire him.

Kieran also liked to roam inside the temple. He would often sneak into the cordoned off sections of the massive building, exploring the many rooms and corridors of the temple. Luckily Kieran had a very good sense of direction, otherwise he might have lost his way many times. Of course there were days he did lose the way, but luckily enough he always managed to find his way back again. In the temple there was one place he did not always dare to go, and that was the Hall of the Ancients. He always felt overwhelmed whenever he entered the place or had to cross the colossal room to get to other places inside.

One day, when Kieran was in his early 20s, he had been writing songs and playing music all day at the top of the temple. The sun was setting, when Kieran descended from the top to go home. For reasons unknown to him at the moment, instead of going all the way down, Kieran’s feet led him inside the temple complex, straight to the Hall of the Ancients. Upon entering the Hall, Kieran was overwhelmed with a Divine sensation, forcing him to fall onto his knees and close his eyes. He felt a warmth embrace him, as if someone wrapped a huge heated blanket around him. Then he heard a beautiful, soothing voice echo in his head: “Kindle the Light, Shelter the Light, Preserve your Light, BE THE LIGHT!”. The words were repeated again and again. Then he heard his father’s voice: “Open your eyes, my son. Look up!”. Kieran open his eyes and slowly looked up. The entire Hall of the Ancients was bathed in a bright, warm glowing light. A short distance away from Kieran was a bright glowing silhouette of a woman, towering over him, even though she was not right in front of him. He could not make out her facial features, but he felt she was kindly smiling at him. Kieran wasn’t totally sure whether it was his brain playing tricks or that the shining figure was indeed as big as she was, but the Hall of the Ancients felt a lot less big with her presence filling the Hall. And again the same words were spoken ““Kindle the Light, Shelter the Light, Preserve your Light, BE THE LIGHT!”. Kieran’s spirit felt light, his heart warm and then the image disappeared and the Hall went dark again. Kieran hurried outside, the sun had fully set by now, and as quick as his feet would carry him, he ran back home. Once home he immediately told his mother and Gayrlana what had happened inside the temple hall. The old priestess looked at him and smiled. “you have been called, my sweet boy. Those ore the words of the Ancient Paladins. You have a new path ahead of you!”. She then went on to explain both Kieran and his mother about the Paladins and their Oath of the Ancients. And how Kieran now had a choice of answering this call. Fortunately Gayrlana knew of a Paladin  who would sometimes visit the temple when his travels would lead him to Kolinet. His name was Erin Featherheart, and Gayrlana thought that she could convince him to take Kieran under his wings and train him in the ways of the Paladins, until the young boy was ready to walk this path alone. Until that time, she suggested that Kieran would do whatever he could to train himself physically, cause the life of a paladin was not for the weak. Kieran was lucky to have been blessed with a strong body and a healthy constitution already, so he took up this task without too much hardship. He spent hours upon hours a day working out, chopping wood, carrying have loads whenever and wherever he could, tried to do every chore or errand as fast as he could to train his stamina and was seen practicing with a sword behind the temple during every free moment he had. On many days, Gayrlana had to call him in to remind him that he also had to take some rest and practice his music, because that too was a way of preserving the Light.

Almost a year passed until Erin Featherheart visited the temple. Upon hearing the story of what Kieran had experienced inside the Hall of the Ancients, and after speaking with Kieran for a long time, Erin agreed upon taking the young man under his guidance and train him as a Paladin. So Kieran’s first steps on the Path of the Paladin were taken. Kieran and Erin traveled around to bring help and kindness into the world. Kieran was an eager pupil and learned quickly. While on their travels, he surprised his mentor with his musical talent, and the old paladin fully understood why this young man was chosen to be called. After a few years of traveling around, rigorous training and many, many lessons and conversations about what it truly means to be a paladin and the Oath of the Ancients, Kieran was finally deemed worthy to become a full Paladin. Together with his former mentor they now traveled around, not as apprentice and master, but as equals. A year later, upon visiting an Order of the Ancients in the Grand Imperial City of Mifora, Kieran pledge his Oath of the Ancients. It was also there that Erin and Kieran decided to split ways. Erin wanted to settle down more in the city and Kieran wanted to see more of the world, spreading love and laughter to the places he will be visiting, helping those in need and living true to the tennets of his Oath.

So Kieran’s journey alone began. Over the years he has been to many places, sang and played in many an inn, bedded many women and letting the light of his joy and courage shine forth in his deeds. However, his good and helpful nature also knew a downside, along with his weakness for pretty ladies. On more than one occasion Kieran found himself in trouble after helping a ‘victim’ of a robbery, trying to help a ‘poor child’ , or after sharing a bed with an innocent looking young lady. He either ended up quite a few coins lighter, missing some valuables, or ending up on the wrong side of a sharpened blade of some tugs. When the latter was the case, the tugs however soon regretted their choice of target, as they underestimated Kieran’s fighting skills. When it was money or valuables, Kieran would usually shrug his shoulders, try to laugh about his naivety and move on. Until recently he had never been in real trouble. That was until a year and a half ago. Kieran was in Midtal for a short stop on his travels. Even though he did not really enjoy the major cities, the many taverns and inns could help him replenish some of the lost coin of the past months. Also sleeping in comfortable beds, preferably not alone, and having some decent meals for a few days, would sustain him well enough for some longer periods of travel. On of the nights in one of the cities many taverns Kieran was performing in, one particular attractive young maiden was eyeing him intensely during his performance. This on its own, was nothing special to Kieran, who was by now quite familiar with the reactions his looks and performance could have with the ladies in the audience. After performing (and collecting his coin from the tavern guests), the young lady approached Kieran as he was enjoying a nice pewter of beer and a good bowl of stew. She introduced herself as Marian, and she seemed quite smitten by Kieran. Kieran, being the kind soul he always was, offered her a drink and the two seemed to hit it off fairly well and Marian was very flirtatious. It did not take long till the two were making out in a more quiet corner of the tavern. When it was getting late, she was hinting at Kieran about wanting to spend the night with him. However, she said that she could not stay away from home. Her father, a wealthy merchant, would expect her home, and if she would stay away for the night there would be trouble. But, she suggested, Kieran could come with her and spend the night with her father’s house. They could sneak into her bedroom through the kitchen window and then go to her room. Her father would probably not notice anyway, as his room was on the other side of the mansion. And IF her father would wake up she would at least feel safe with Kieran there to protect her against her father’s anger. The prospect of spending more time and sharing a bed with this sweet looking girl, who also was clearly in need of protection against a possibly abusive father, was enough for Kieran to accept the girls proposal. So the two of them left the tavern and moved through the city as a young pair of lovers, holding hands all the time. Marian led Kieran through the streets of Midtal to the richer part of the city until they arrived at a big house. It was clear Marian had not lied about the mansion and her father being a wealthy man. Only a rich man could afford a house like this. Marian whispered to Kieran that the kitchen was at the back of the house, and that the best way their was to climb the wall that surrounded the garden of the house at the back, so that the guard dogs would not start barking and wake her father. So, that’s what they did. Just as Marian had told him, when they climbed the garden wall, they could see the kitchen window being slightly opened. Both Marian and Kieran snuck through the garden to the kitchen, and quietly Marian slid the window up. Skillfully and graciously Marian climbed inside through the window and helped Kieran inside. Quietly the snuck through the house and when they entered the hallway, Kieran expected them to move up the stairs. He was a bit surprised when Marian walked quietly towards a pair of double doors instead. He looked at her with a surprised expression on his face, silently mouthing “what are you doing”. As is it was the most logical thing, Marian looked back at him and whispered: “just a second, I only have to grab something from here. You will not regret it, I promise!” and with that she winked provocatively. Kieran went along with it, but was quite puzzled when Marian started to pick to lock on the door. “What…? “ he whispered as quiet as he could “why are you doing that?”. Marian gave him a mischievous smile and whispered in his ear “this was my mother’s room and her “special nightwear” is still in her closet her. After she died my father locked these doors and forbid me to ever enter it. Of course I did not listen, and now I come her sometimes to spend some time during the night when my father is asleep, so I can be alone and think about my mother.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she softly spoke. Kieran’s heart immediately melted and all he wanted to do was hold the girl and comfort her. He knew too well how hard it can be to have to miss one of your parents and how comforting it can be to have a place where you can be alone with your thoughts and thinking about that person. But before he could say anything, Marian whispered in his ear: “I also found out my mother had quite a tasteful selection of naughty undergarments, so I want to bring some for when we are alone in my room. Like I said: you won’t regret it.” And she gave Kieran a quick kiss and felt him up, just enough to have him question anything the girl told him. Marian then quickly picked the lock, opened the door and slipped inside. “I’ll be back in a sec,” she softly whispered before disappearing through the door. Just a sec took longer than Kieran had thought, but he expected that the girl was probably changing into the said undergarments to surprise him with once they were alone. When after some time, Marian still had not returned, Kieran grew a bit more anxious as he thought he heard someone in the house at the other end of the corridor. As quiet as possible Kieran tiptoed to the door and whispered “Marian, what is taking you so long? You have to hurry, I think I hear your father!”. Nervously Kieran waited for Marian to answer or for the girl to reappear, but it remained awfully quiet. “Marian!,” Kieran whispered again, but still no response. Kieran heart was pounding loudly in his chest. He could now definitely hear footsteps from somewhere in the house. Quickly Kieran opened the door to the room Marian went into, but to his surprise Marian was nowhere to be seen. The room also did not look like anything Marian had described. It was more of an office than a bedroom. Puzzled Kieran looked around the room. What he saw was a big desk, several book cases and a few chests, all opened. On the desk it looked like someone had left a big stash of papers, but all messed up. Also the drawers of the chest seemed to have been left opened. And in the corner of the room a big window was left open and Kieran could feel the cool night breeze blowing through the opened window. It was at that point the truth started to sink in with Kieran. It was also at that moment Kieran heard the dogs outside bark loudly. Then he noticed the footsteps in the corridor running towards him. Before Kieran could react he heard a man’s voice behind him shout:”STOP THERE, YOU FILTHY THIEF, OR I WILL FEED YOU TO THE DOGS!” Slowly Kieran turned around and he saw an older man, wearing elegant night robes and holding a big crossbow in his hands. It was then that Kieran realised he was played for a fool. “I guess you are not Marian’s father?”, Kieran asked with a slightly trembling voice. “Shut up, thief, before I empty my crossbow on you. I have no children, and I will make sure neither will you, as I will see you rot in jail. Then another man, dressed in pyjamas came walking down the stairs. “Are you all right, Sir?” The grey man was carrying a small candle. “I am fine, Arthur,” the man replied,”I only just caught this man in the act of robbing my house. So, do what you are paid for and lit the candles and then tie this man up, so he can’t run away anymore. After that go out, and alert the authorities I have apprehended this criminal.” The elderly man, who was clearly the merchant’s servant. Did as was requested and Kieran was tied thoroughly, while the merchant kept his crossbow aimed at him all the time. Kieran knew he was in trouble, but also realized that by resisting or trying to escape he would not only endanger his life, but it would also make him look very guilty. So he decided to cooperate and pray that he could explain the terrible misunderstanding the next day. Soon after, Kieran was taken into custody and locked up in a small prison cell in one of the local city guard stations.

The next day Kieran was interrogated thoroughly. As Kieran had nothing to hide he cooperated and told his story. At first there was a lot of doubt, but somehow the officers conducting the interview found themselves feeling for the young man. When even under the influence of a zone of truth spell Kieran’s story remained unchanged, it was clear the young paladin was speaking the truth. However, the fact remained that he entered the house without permission, the office was broken into and valuables were stolen. Whether intended or not, Kieran was an accomplish to the crime. He would have to face charges in court. When the judge heard the story, he also felt sorry for Kieran, but he still had to uphold the law. Kieran was sentenced to serve 18 months in a Class M penal camp. The next day Kieran was loaded into a wagon and transported to Penal Camp Mid-Level Security 3. Upon arrival at Peca M3, Kieran is assigned to Barrack 6. His Barrack Elder, upon hearing Kieran’s skill and voice, adds him to the camp orchestra and theater company. Kieran sees his time at Peca M3 as a change to learn to be humble, help the weak and appreciate the freedom he always had. The 18 months have been tough, but Kieran is certain it has made him a better man in the end. Not because of penance, but more due to having been able to experience what a tougher life can be like for the less fortunate. He also values to new people he got to meet. Normally the contact with people he met while being on the road was superficial. Sometimes it went a bit deeper and more meaningful, but there was never much time to really get to know people. In Peca M3 time was never an issue, so Kieran finally got the chance to really connect with some of the other inmates. Now that he is free again, he will try to seek some of them out. Well, at least the ones who were released before him, a few of the others are still serving their time and for a few of them it will be a long time before Kieran will be able to talk to them again.