Twilight, Peridan
General Information
- Name: Peridan Durothil (Took the name Twilight)
- Race: Sun Elf
- Age: Approximately 250 years old
- Height: 5 foot 7
- Weight: 145 pounds
- Hair: Close cut, amber
- Eyes: Lost one eye, the other is a deep golden hue that glows faintly with arcane energy in battle.
- Titles: One Eye, Hound of the Legion
- Rank: His rank in the Sundarian Legion is that of a Centurio, and his specialty is under Praetorian
Appearance
This elf, while shorter than most humans in the Sundren Legion, carries himself with an air of authority that makes the difference seem inconsequential. His right eye is covered with a faded eye patch, lost in an event that he talks little about. While an elf, he is somewhat more heavily muscled and walks with a lithe grace marred only by a slight limp in his step that speaks of a severe injury in time past. His hands are covered in scars, as is portions of his chest and neck. On his left shoulder, a brand of the Legion is a faded mark against his skin. A frown is the dominant expression on his face, with only infrequent interventions by a smirk or a smile.
His armor looks to be well kept after, as is the rest of his gear. His armor is made of a silver mithril, and has the symbol of the Legion emblazoned on the top left corner of the breastplate. He wears the red cloak of a senior Legion officer, and frequently has to repair it due to the wear it sees. An exceptionally long katana hangs from his side in a black sheath, topped with a green gem in the hilt. The perfectly balanced and incredibly sharp blade glows when unsheathed, showing immaculate craftsmanship in the sword.
Personality
Peridan is a somber figure for an elf, odd in comparison to his kin who have a reputation for being arrogant and elite. He can frequently be seen smoking a cheap cigar by himself, enjoying the silence and solitude of the wilds or campfires when he is not busy with other matters. When approached in conversation, he will immediately try to learn as much as possible about the person without seeming too obvious. Appearance, dress, body language, he takes it all into account in order to determine the nature of the individual and whether or not they pose a possible threat. Hunted by assassins for much of his career, Peridan has a thick shell of formality and mistrust when meeting people for the first time. However, when he gets to know a person thoroughly, he is able to open up bit by bit to the person, revealing a conflicted and jaded figure in himself.
To say Peridan believes firmly in law and righteousness would be a gargantuan understatement. He lives and breathes the steadfast ideal that the law is created to do the best good for the people of Sundren, and that it is his duty to seek out an eliminate any threat to the well being of the populace. He has seen much in his time in Sundren as a soldier, and has come to accept that while evil exists in almost any circumstance, it is up to the few to continue fighting despite the futility. He has lost friends and lovers in his time in Sundren, but he doggedly continues on doing his job as what his enemies like to call him, "The Hound of the Legion."
Peridan also has a profound faith in the Seldarine, or elven gods. In particular he worships Corellon Larethian, the Father of all elven people. His faith has be tried and tested through the long time he has fought, and remains a bedrock for him to rely on. In fact were it not for his dour attitude, foul language, and in general cussedness, he might have ended up a Champion of Corellon. Peridan values the teachings of Corellon to the utmost. Protection of the people, honor, charity. He considers Corellon's words as dogma of his soul, and is very religious surprisingly. He loves to create things within a smithy, magical or not. The roar of the forge and the sound of the hammer are things that he holds dearly, and when asked to do forge work he will do so if the person is a trustworthy individual and an ally of his. He often speaks of retiring and opening a smithy when all of the wars are over, and living the rest of his days making minor items not used for war.
Background
Peridan comes from the elven isle of Evermeet, a fortress of the elven way of life. He is descended from one of the royal lineages of Sun Elves, considered by many to be the first Sun Elf family to come to Aber Toril. Shedding his name Durothil after certain events, he took up the moniker Twilight after the style of fighting that he employs: that of the Nael' Kerym, or Dusk blades.
Origin
Peridan's original surname was Durothil, one of the most powerful families on the Green Isle of Evermeet. Born and raised there, he displayed absolutely no aptitude for bladesinging, his chosen profession. Fortunately, his trainer called in an acquaintance of hers who taught him the forbidden arts of the Duskblade, or Nael' Kerym.
His name was Teveriel Oussea'lylth, and he was a Moon elf who had been taught by his father, and so forth through the ages back to the original split between the Duskblades and the Bladesingers. He was also a master smith and enchanter, well sought after in the Evermeet noble's courts. Teveriel taught him how to cast spells through his sword, and to wear armor during battle while doing so. However, due to this lost art's potential embarrassment to the Durothil House, Peridan kept it a secret and wore mithril armor to hide his abilities.
His training complete, he traveled Faerun with Teveriel, perfecting his techniques and learning the rudiments of enchantment and smithing from him. It was in this area that Peridan displayed talent, so Teveriel took it upon himself to teach him everything he knew. However, he sadly would never have the chance.
On a trip back to Evermeet, Peridan and Teveriel arrived just before an attack by a fearsome devil and his minions with a grudge against Evermeet. Peridan and Teveriel were stuck outside the defenses just before the initial strike, and so had to fend for themselves.
A group of devils appeared before them, and Teveriel knew that Peridan and he were no match for the powers of the Hells. Even if Teveriel survived, Peridan would not and the master Duskblade made a choice that would haunt Peridan every day of his life. Teveriel cast two spells as soon as the devils appeared. The first was to knock Peridan back a good hundred feet, and the second was a banishing spell to give them some time. Peridan grunted as he soared over the devils, but was caught by one in particular named Fadry'loch.
The devil smiled at Teveriel as he pulled Peridan close and tore his eye out with one gnarled talon. Seeing his disciple screaming in pain, and in range of the banishing spell, Teveriel did the only thing he could: cast a transposition spell between him and Peridan. The two swapped places, and Peridan was safe from the spell while Teveriel and the devils vanished in a flash of light. As more troops landed from both sides, Peridan screamed his frustration and rage as he saw his teacher vanish into the Planes, and took it out of the enemy in a flash of spell and blade. However, a few of the elves on his own side saw him casting in non-mithril armor gained from his journeys into Faerun, and saw the magical effects spill from the tip of his sword.
When the war was over, Peridan stood on the shore, waiting for a ship to leave the Green Isle. Suspicions were aroused about his abilities, and his teacher was no more. Even worse, Kymil was part of his own house, albeit a minor one within the Durothil name. He had decided to continue to travel, and learn more of the passions that drove him to create and protect. His master lost in the planes, most likely dead, his name in tatters, he shrugged it off for the common equivalent of Nael'Kerym: Twilight.
The elf boarded the ship with his new eye patch in place, looking at his home for what he thought was the very last time.
Sundarian History
Arrival
Peridan arrived in Sundren with only the rudimentary smithing skills, and a barely mastered ability to combine sword and spell in battle. He matured under the tutorship of Etria Illithor, an elven smith in the region. Learning to work the steel with spells was a chore, but a joy for him. He fell in love with the roar of the forge, and then with a young moon elf named Elusa Myrn. She was a soul torn asunder, but she and he had a relationship for some time.
He also became friends with a young monk named Alcander Nefezen. As their skills increased, they took on greater challenges together in the valley to test their strength. Unfortunately, unknown to Peridan, Alcander was a secret member of the Black Hand, the Banite organization within the valley. As Alcander tried to redeem himself by offering his life and the names of his allies to the Legion, he was slaughtered by the mysterious figure known only as The Reaper. Distraught, Peridan buried him on a small hilltop outside Sundren City. His murder, along with the words of the Holy Paladin Hano Fetten, spurred a sense of duty and justice in the smith's heart. He took up the banner of the Legion, starting as a smith at Arbiter's Stand and eventually joining the ranks as a soldier.
The Legion
This shift in Peridan alienated Elusa, and she sought comfort in the arms of another elf, a friend of Peridan's name Caelryth Dyner. Confronted by her and Caelryth, Peridan shunted his feelings of betrayal and rage into his work as a Legionnaire, quickly becoming a powerful soldier in the service of Sundren. He dueled with infamous Banite Kolomar Biddle, killing him while desperately wounded. He captured and killed the Banite assassin Syne Jonel, and took back Mirakus Post alongside numerous other allies. He fought and killed the Banite general Gen Deimos, and has been on numerous campaigns in the darkest parts of the valley. His list of enemies goes on, and his deeds made him a notable figure in the Sundren Legion.
The Unbound Blade
Peridan has recently quested for and discovered the blade used by the warrior Snow Hawk. Snow Hawk is considered one of the finest warriors to ever walk Sundren, and was crafted a blade that contained properties given to it by the gods. Peridan was deemed worthy in his fight to protect Sundren, and has been offered the blade of the deceased samurai in order to protect the valley. A blade of unfathomable and godly quality, the blade reacts to the presence of evil and rejects any being of non righteous intent who grasps its hilt. It is a constant reminder to Peridan of his mission, and duty.
Relationships
Osclow WIltenholm: One of Peridan's oldest allies and companions, Osclow and he joined the Legion at the same time. Osclow's attitude was initially reluctant, but at Peridan's prodding he soon developed into his role as a spymaster for the Legion. Osclow is a bit unpredictable for Peridan, but he appreciates the fact that Osclow always has the valley's best interests in mind. Peridan acts as a pseudo uncle for Osclow and Annie's children, and considers the family part of his own. He and Osclow took down the Banite General Gen Deimos, and Osclow is a hero in his own right in slaying Xithis, the demon of Talona. A fearsome warrior, Osclow's bardic magic matches well with Peridan's own in battle, and they make a terrifying combination.
Maia Nanethiel: A longtime friend of Peridan's, this elven ranger has been a good companion to the elf. She has proven herself to him in battle and in diplomacy, earning his trust and friendship. Her bow rarely misses its mark, and she has fought the valley's enemies alongside Peridan and Osclow for a long time. While they previously didn't get along, Peridan and Maia have come to terms with each others personalities. A senior Warden of the Vale, she guards the forest as Peridan fights for the nation of Sundren. He considers her a comrade in arms, despite the fact that they have a quiet romance and his protective instincts cause him to act even more a stubborn ass at times when she places herself in danger.
Hano Fetten: A holy paladin of Torm, this man inspired Peridan to serve a cause greater than himself. His passion for the valley allowed Peridan to recognize his need to protect the valley, and so spurred him to join the Legion as a blacksmith, and eventually a soldier. Peridan holds him in the highest regard, and will sing his praises openly to any who ask.
Dain Tornbrook: Peridan spots quite a bit of himself and other past heroes of the valley in Dain. His drive to extinguish evil and his common sense have made him a stalwart companion for the legionnaire. Not afraid to crack jokes with the paladin at times, Peridan respects him for who he is, and what he does. Recently, with his ascension to the Warden of Wrath, Peridan has kept a cautious eye on the man. His position allows him to ignore Sundren law, something that Peridan is neither comfortable or accepting of. More often than not, Peridan tries to steer him away from the path that the Harbinger wishes him to take, that of unbridled wrath against Sundren's enemies. He believes a good protector has qualities of compassion, and has sought to instill that in Dain when he can.
Malaclypse: Malaclypse and Peridan share many things in common, so much so that the two elves will gladly switch to elven on a regular basis in order to catch up. They are both students of the arcane and blade, and both seek to fight against the evils that plague the valley. their only contention comes from Mal's lack of respect for the law, and his ability to do whatever is necessary in order to complete his aims. Peridan understands the value in this, and so will turn a blind eye now and again to his activities. However, he frequently warns Mal of the consequences of his actions, usually to deaf ears on the Erevan beholden elf.