Argent's Biography

[Argent]

Argent Biography:

The woman calling herself Argent was born in the year 549 in the city of Crossroads. Her true name is known only to a few people. Argent's parents are shopkeepers. Crossroads was a major caravan city laying along the main trade routes of the entire kingdom. Argent's parents would buy goods from the traveling caravans to sell in their stores. When she was old enough, Argent worked in the store, as would her younger brother and sister when they were of age.

Argent was a very bright girl. She was able to read and write better than most adults by the time she was six years old. Young Argent tended to the business books and was even involved in purchasing goods. The years rolled past and as time went on, teenage Argent wanted more than just running a general store.

At one point, Argent considered joining the priesthood of the Goddess of Magic, Mystra, but didn't meet up to their standards. So she sought to learn magic instead. Using her natural good looks to her advantage, Argent went through several tutors, but most of them where unable to really teach her much about magic. She was able to make use of cantrips, minor magicks that were more for show than purpose.

When Argent was twenty years old, she finally decided to seek out proper mage training. Late in the year of 569, the City of Gateway had been reclaimed by a force led by Sir Alon Teramar. Involved in this task was Lord Sharadin Sculley, the Archmage of Gateway. Crossroads was close to Gateway, so Argent secured a ride on a caravan taking supplies to there in December.

Argent arrived in Gateway and made her way to Lord Sharadin's residence in the reclaimed city. At his bare bones manor house, Argent was stunned to meet his daughters, the identical twins Sherry and Terry. The twins dressed alike and even finished each other sentences. Lord Sharadin flatly turned down Argent's application, but changed his mind upon seeing her cast a cantrip in anger of being denied. Instead of sending Argent away, Lord Sharadin invited her to spend the night and had her do some tests. There, Argent meet Burant, one of Lord Sharadin's apprentices.

The next day, Lord Sharadin informed Argent that she had been accepted as an apprentice, but not by him. Lord Sharadin trained boy mages, while his distant niece, Lady Jallarzi Sallavarian trained girls. Lady Sallavarian had accepted Argent as an apprentice, provided that she would past another test. That test was to travel across the kingdom where Lady Sallavarian lived: the distant western city of Elcadan.

Argent rode with another caravan, this time going back to Crossroads. But once back in her home town, Argent decided to avoid seeing anyone she knew in fear of being talked out of her quest and stayed at an inn that was used by those traveling for Lady Sallavarian. In this room, Argent meet Lyra Stinson, another apprentice of Lady Sallavarian. The two shared a meal and talked most of the evening before Lyra had to leave on her own mission for her mistress.

Next morning Argent became sick from drinking too much wine and fell ill. Unknown to Argent at the time, Lyra Stinson was really Lady Sallavarian using a magic item to disguise herself. Jallarzi used Lyra to get to know Argent better and see if she wanted to take her on as an apprentice. Concerned over Argent's illness, Jallarzi went back to Elcadan and returned with a friend of hers: Elspeth of Azrella.

The priestess made short work of Argent's illness. Upon recovering, Argent met Elspeth down in the common room along with a Lady Anastasia Ashbrook, an elderly woman. Argent enjoyed a meal with the two and then was invited to ride in Lady Ashbrook's carriage to the next town. Argent agreed.

[Argent]

Next day, they set out in the carriage to Nemiston, the next town along on the way to Elcadan. The carriage was driven by a Lady Ashbrook's driver, a man named Sherrod. The trip passed uneventfully and the group arrived in Nemiston. Lady Ashbrook and Elspeth were dropped off first. On the way to Argent's inn, she noticed that Lady Ashbrook and lost her bracelet. It look very valuable, but Argent just gave it to the driver to be returned.

Unknown to Argent, Lady Ashbrook was another guise of Jallarzi. She used this identity to help Argent recover from her illness and the bracelet was a test of her honesty. Sherrod was actually Jallarzi's cousin Sherwood.

After parting company with Lady Ashbrook, Argent continued her journey west along the High Road. The days slowly went past but finally Argent reached the City of Elcadan over a week later. The High Road Inn was Argent's destination there. Once inside, she was reunited with Lyra and the two shared dinner. It was night by the time they were ready to ride back to the Sallavarian Estate. While deciding on a method to get back to the estate, a group of thugs accosted the two. Lyra put them asleep with a Sleep spell. Annoyed at this turn of events, Lyra just teleported them to the Sallavarian Estate. Once there, Lyra revealed that she was actually Jallarzi Sallavarian. Argent was understandably shocked at first, but came to understand her reasoning.

From there the pair went on towards the estate. Along the way, Argent met Edwina, Jallarzi's familiar for the first time. Inside, a group of adventurers were waiting for Jallarzi led by Sherwood. Among the adventurers was Shaunil, who was Jallarzi's first apprentice. Shaunil later told Argent that Sherwood was leaving on a great quest to find an ancient elfin mage called Thiondar Nightstar.

Argent also meet Kharyna, Jallarzi's other apprentice. Her room was across the hall from Argent's. The two would become friends and with Kharyna's aid Argent would learn the Alphatian language.

Next day, Jallarzi gave Argent a grand tour of the estate. Argent was nearly run over by Farthon, Jallarzi's griffon instilling in her a great dislike of the animal. At the mage training tower, the tomes Argent would need to learn magic were given to her. The first real test of becoming a mage was learning how to read the magical script that spells are written in. This first step was one only Argent could take. This was a test from Mystra to weed out those not intelligent enough to comprehend magic.

While trying to learn the magical script, Argent settled into her role here at the estate. In the mornings she would work in the kitchen and then train in the afternoons. She started out by peeling potatoes, a task she found to be menial. Her hands were cut and sore after her first morning at work because she was unfamiliar with that sort of labor. Between that and her inability to pass Mystra's test, Argent started to get frustrated and was on the verge of leaving when Jallarzi suggested that everything here was just another test and that she was letting her emotions get the best of her. She just needed to step back, take a deep breath and think.

On her way back to her room, Argent passed the outside patio area. It was a cold night and it was snowing. Kharyna was outside without a coat on and just wearing her priestess robes, seemingly just enjoying the snow fall on her. Puzzled and amazed by this, Argent grabbed her coat and joined her fellow apprentice outside.

The two chatted for a long time and Kharyna revealed her story to Argent. How she grew up in the land of Everwinter and came to become a Priestess of Auril, the Goddess of Cold. In time, Kharyna realized the evil she was serving and destroyed the artifact the Cold Maiden was using to lock Everwinter into a cold state. After that, Kharyna was accepted into Mystra's priesthood and upon doing so restored her ability to not feel the cold. The snow reminded Kharyna of home and the cold never bothered her. The two grew closer after the long talk and would eventually become close friends.

[Argent]

Kharyna's tale allowed Argent to forget about her own troubles for a time. It allowed her to step back, as Jallarzi had suggested, and few things from a fresh perspective. When she returned to her room, the magical text seemed to make some measure of sense to her. Argent guessed that she was trying to hard to learn it instead of letting just come naturally to her.

Starting the next day, Argent took a new approach to her training and started to look for solutions to her problems instead of being frustrated by them. Instead of using a paring knife to peel potatoes, she used a cantrip that allowed her to peel just by using her hands. That solution worked very well and that humbling task was never again a big inconvenience. In time Argent started to appreciate working in the kitchen and started to learn how to properly cook.

Jallarzi would lecture Argent in the afternoons on a wide variety of subjects. In time, Jallarzi revealed that learning how to cook was part of her approach to training. While not identical, there were similar procedures between the two. So learning one would help with the other. Not long after this, the method of reading magic came into sharp focus in Argent's mind. Realizing that she know had the ability to read spells, Argent recorded her very first spell into her book: Read Magic.

Relieved that this first test had been past, Jallarzi decided to celebrate. In her guise as Lyra Stinson, she took both Argent and Kharyna out for evening in Elcadan. It allowed Argent to relax and blow off some steam.

Things started to get easier from there. Argent did well with her studies, both in the kitchen and with things magical. As her cooking skill increase Miriam, the head of Jallarzi's kitchen staff allowed Argent to cook more demanding dishes. Argent made friends among the staff and felt at home at the Sallavarian Estate.

There was one dark stain during this time. Lord Sherwood returned from his great quest and was in possession of a marvelous sword he called Lifeshield. But this weapon was gained at great price. Shaunil, Jallarzi's first apprentice, had been killed. This sadden Jallarzi for several weeks and Lord Sherwood stayed away.

Argent continued to work and study while Jallarzi was working through her grief. Having learned how to cast Read Magic, Argent began working on the beginners spellbook she had been given and feels that she is close to understanding them. At the same time she was reading many of the history books in Jallarzi's library and learning the Alphatian language with Kharyna‘s help. The weeks rolled past and Argent happily learned all she could.

Lord Sherwood returned from his long exile from the estate, but he was not alone. Be brought with him a half-elf girl by the name of Kylie Lanthorn. Jallarzi announced that the new arrival is yet another apprentice and that Argent and Kharyna should try to help her out. Kylie had lead a rough life, but Jallarzi doesn't specify much beyond that.

Kylie started her mage training right away in the same manner as Argent did. They worked in the kitchen together and then were both trained in the afternoons. The young girl was quiet at first, as if unsure what she was getting herself into. But Argent was nice to her and in time she learned Kylie's story,

Kylie had grown up on the rough streets in the slums of Elcadan. Her mother, an elf by the name of Allurien Feador, left when Kylie was a child. There something about her getting sick and having to leave. Kylie fell into a bad crowd and learned the art of 'finding' from a halfling known as 'Rat', a so called Master Finder.

Kylie had learned of a mysterious tower protected by a seemingly magical fog. She broke into the tower only to find that it was Sherwood's tower! Realizing that this intruder had some magical talents to have made it inside tower, Sherwood brought her to Jallarzi for training. Kylie was understandably cautious at first, but in time became comfortable in her new surroundings. She wasn't a bad girl, but rather had fallen into a bad situation.

[Argent]

Not long after Kylie's arrival, Argent learned her next magic spell: Magic Missile. The invoker immediately fell in love with this spell and practiced it all the time. Having learned this new spell, and with Kylie having learned how to cast Read Magic, Jallarzi took all her apprentices out for a night on the town. It was during this gathering that Kharyna announced that she was going to be leaving. Her personal training was now complete and it was time for her to continue to adventure with her companions.

Argent was greatly sadden by her friend moving on and made the best of what time they had left together. With Kharyna's help, Argent finished her studies of the Alphatian language and could read and write it fluently. Another celebration was had when Kharyna finally did leave in the late spring.

With Kharyna gone, Jallarzi move Argent's schedule to now have morning studies and work in the afternoons. By this time, Argent didn't mind at all. When not working in the kitchen or practicing new spells, Argent was typically found in the library devouring all the knowledge that she could.

The months rolled past and Argent was very happy with her life. Winter rolled around and the end of the year was at hand. Jallarzi suggested that Argent go home for the holidays, but declined. This dismayed Jallarzi, but she wouldn't reveal why at this point. Lord Sharadin and his daughters, along with Lord Sherwood did come to the estate for the holidays and the new year and Argent joined them, learning all she could from these powerful people. Argent was disappointed that Burant wasn't with Lord Sharadin, but then she learned that Burant had completed his training and was now out in the field. By this time, Argent had been at the Sallavarian Estate for a year.

Come the spring, Jallarzi suggested that Argent go out adventuring. She had really learned all that Jallarzi could teach her at this point and need to cast her spells in the field to become stronger and more experienced. Again, Argent declined and was content to study and learn more.

This all ended in early fall when Jallarzi put her foot down and insisted that Argent start adventuring. Lord Sharadin was gathering a group of adventurers for a specific mission over in Gateway. Argent gathered what she would need for this mission and was ready to go. Jallarzi teleported her right to Lord Sharadin's estate in Gateway.

At the estate Argent meet a Lord Armon Flamehilt, a distant relative of the Kelvin family line. Lord Flamehilt was a warrior who had been among the force the liberated Gateway. At that time he was a squire for a Sir Justin Moore, a famous and powerful knight. Lord Flamehilt would be the leader of this group and over adventurers would be arriving at the manor over the next few days. Also on hand was a Priestess of Azrella named Schar. Argent was familiar with this sect from her exposure to Jallarzi's friend Elspeth.

Over dinner that evening, Lord Sharadin informed Argent, Lord Flamehilt and Schar the nature of their quest. He had learned of Karn's Keep, a fortress to the far west and north. Karn himself was a lord in the old Keln Imperium, the nation Cynalon had been at war with over fifty years ago. Lord Karn used this ancient keep as his base and was rumored to be in the possession of a great weapon called the 'Sword of Doom'. It was said that Karn did many great deeds with the Sword of Doom and in turn received many great rewards. Rumor had it that the Hextorites were interested in the weapon as well, so keeping it out of their evil hands was vital.

Lord Sharadin simply didn't have the time to investigate this on his own. So, he was putting a group of adventurers together to handle the task. Argent by now knew that Lord Sharadin, Lord Sherwood, and Lady Sallavarian made heavy use of adventurers to handle minor tasks that needed to be done. They used these tasks as tests to see who was skilled in these adventures and could be counted on for more important tasks. Yet another test to be passed.

[Argent]

Argent was very nervous to be going out into the field like this, but knew she would have to at some point. Her small, frail stature meant that without her spells, she'd be a liability to any group. The fate of Jallarzi's first apprentice was still strong in her mind. However, with her intellect there were other ways to contribute. Lord Flamehilt instructed Argent to study all he material Lord Sharadin had concerning the Sword of Doom for future reference. Argent found Lord Flamehilt to be an interesting man and he did seem interested in her, but nothing every came from it.

Over the next few days more of the adventurers arrived at Lord Sharadin's Manor House. These included Arathnasis a elfin man who mixed sword play and sorcery. The warriors Belrek, Drakkor, Eliza, and Merri. Jonathon, a mage much like Argent and several half-elves. These included Perrel who was a Priest of Tymora, the Goddess of Luck. Tristan, who was a follower of Ehlonna, the Lady of the Forests and Selarin, who was also a Priest of Tymora.

After spending some time getting to know each other, the group gathered supplies. Several names for the group was suggested, but the one they ultimately decided upon was a suggestion from Argent: The Company of the Sword. The mages in the group decided to share their spell books and Argent was able to learn a few new magics this way. She was surprised to learn that Jonathon was a Necromancer, but he explained that his home village had been plagued by undead created by a man called the Zombie Master and he took up Necromancy in order to fight them. Argent wasn't sure what to make of that, but Jon did seem a nice enough man to not make an issue of it.

It was decided to head out in the morning towards Karn's Keep and not worry about setting up the mansion in Gateway the group had been given. The Keep itself was many days travel away and some of it would be through uncontrolled lands. The group's first destination would be Gerald's Fort, an outpost some two days ride north of Gateway.

Lord Flamehilt decided to have the Company accompany a caravan heading out to Gerald's Fort. The caravan master was Trevor, whom Argent had met in her earlier time in Gateway. Lord Flamehilt felt it prudent to have an experienced guide leading them into this unknown area and their aid in guarding the supplies from raiders. Lord Flamehilt's fears were realized when a band of hobgoblins attacked the caravan a few days later.

This was the first battle that Argent had ever been in. Following Lord Flamehilt's instructions, Argent cast her first Magic Missile in a real combat situation. It struck a hobgoblin archer up in a tree. The spell didn't kill him, but the fall from the tree did. The main attack force was easily defeated, but a rear unit had sneaked in and made off with several wagons. While the others were giving chase Argent was assigned the task of making sure the downed hobgoblins were really defeated. The task was revolting for her, but she complied and whacked them with her staff while having her eyes closed.

The rest of the hobgoblins were defeated and the wagons returned. Jonathon interrogated one of the captured hobgoblins and learned this its tribe worked for the Zombie Master and that his lair was along the Company's path. Jon related that his own village had been attacked by the forces of the Zombie Master and he had sworn vengeance.

More to come...