PLAYED BY: Jacob Veldhuizen
CONTACT INFO: https://www.facebook.com/jacob.veldhuizen
CHARACTER NAME: Elegast
NICKNAMES: “Elegast the Wanderer”, “El”, “Ellie”(childhood)
GENDER: Male
CLASS: Cleric
AGE: 69
RACE: Syndar
HAIR: Blonde
EYES: Blue
KNOWN SKILLS: A skilled draftsman, former teacher, capable soldier, and survivalist
BIRTHPLACE: Born in the City of Seven Gates, The Kingdom of Tielorrien on Faedrun
NOTABLE TRAITS and APPEARANCE: A reserved initial demeanor opening into a thoughtful and curious personality, Elegast is tall with short hair and a beard.
RELATIONSHIPS: Fulwin (best friend, M.I.A)
BIO / BACKGROUND HISTORY:
198-210: Elegast is born to Llwellenar and Faunalyn in the City of Seven Gates in the Kingdom of Tielorrien on the continent of Faedrun. The first of two children, Elegast is raised in the loving care of both parent’s extended families. His Father comes from a farming commune hugging the outside of the city’s large eastern wall while his mother comes from a smaller family living close to the academy building of the Bellath-ah-Dien, also in the eastern quadrant of the city. With both families living close enough to walk to within a day, Elegast is raised in the wealth of life that each community can offer. Elegast is shielded from much of the horror of the undead plague in his early years. He grows up playing with his brother, cousins, and friends in the fields and forests of his paternal family’s lands, growing strong of heart and spirit in the country air. With his maternal family, Elegast is exposed to the beauty and famous culture of the grand City of Seven Gates. Trips through the gates and into the city center spark his intellectual and creative mind.
210-214: The truth of the war against the undead plague slowly builds in Elegast’s mind. No longer a simple game of Knights vs Undead to pretend at with his friends, but a harsh reality when a schoolmate’s father does not come home. Then another student’s mother. A cousin. Neighbors traveling between cities. Soon it becomes all too common to have multiple relatives or acquaintances lose friends and family. A tale of a Tielorrien soldier meeting his undead brother in battle circulates Elegast’s school. Rumor, gossip, truth, or myth Elegast does not know but the story takes hold in his heart. Imagining himself in the place of the knight and coming upon the undead face of his own brother in battle breaks his heart, and he weeps. Elegast promises himself this will not be his fate. He begins in earnest to learn whatever he can about the undead and how to stop them. Whatever golden innocence there is in childhood slowly fades, as Elegast begins to train himself for war.
214-216: Elegast begs his family to let him study with the Galendhidur early. After much initial resistance, they acquiesce in the face of his stubborn desire. Elegast does well in his training and is among those selected to receive further training as an officer candidate. During his time at Galendhidur Elegast meets a fellow officer candidate named Fulwin. The two become fast friends.
216-220: Elegast is finally of age and officially enlists in the Tielorrien military. He joins many of his peers in this fight. Few can remember a time without the threat of undead in the world and they are eager to join. Elegast is commissioned as a second lieutenant in The Grand Alliance under Knight Arryn of Tielorrien. His close friend Fulwin is also sent to serve under Knight Arryn as her first lieutenant in charge of Logistics and Information.
220-224: Elegast returns from leave to his second deployment under Knight Arryn. Knight Arryn has been tasked by the Tielorrien command with testing a new military unit called “Herders”. Small units of mobile skirmishers designed to perform hit and “jog” attacks on undead troops. Performing small hits on targets and then retreating to a position of safety while still being visible to the enemy. Their goal is to “herd” or lure opposition forces into advantageous positions for the larger Alliance forces to engage, as well as ensuring that smaller enemy forces aren’t able to peel off from the main force. Elegast is promoted to first lieutenant and placed in command of the experimental new unit. To his delight, he begins working closely with his best friend Fulwin to organize and optimize the Herders actions.
224-226: At the end of his second deployment Elegast is given a six-month leave. Before his departure from Knight Arryn’s service, he is awarded a commendation for his leadership of The Herders and promoted to Captain. He is informed that he is being given command of the small new Galendhidur Herder Training Academy in his home City of Seven Gates. Leaving the front Elegast is accompanied by Fulwin who has also recently earned a promotion and leave. Elegast is proud but exhausted from the eight years of war. His emotions are mixed during his time away from combat. Thinking the battle against The Undead would have ended before now he is discouraged that no major victory has occurred or seems likely in the coming months if not years. And while his success as a Herder and upcoming teaching position bring him a physical break and new mental challenge he cannot break loose from a growing cloud in his soul. The following two years are tumultuous for Elegast. He finds himself to be a capable instructor and produces several exceptional soldiers. At the same time, he witnesses the significant loss of Tielorrien homeland to The Undead. The letters he receives from Fulwin, now working as a Logistics and Intelligence Liaison to the human militaries, do little to encourage him. The Grand Alliance remains stable but is less able to send aid to the Tielorrien and other Syndar nations with each passing month. Concerned for his family’s safety he moves his parents nearer to the Galendhidur Academies while also requesting his brother’s commission be moved to his training academy as an instructor.
226-232: In the ensuing six years Elegast remains the head instructor for the small Galendhidur Herder Training Academy. His skill as a teacher grow with each passing year, but as the tide continues to swell against the favor of the Tielorrien People, Elegast becomes restless and itches to return to battle.
232-234: His chance arrives all too quickly. Major losses in the Tielorrien homeland have caused the return of the main Tielorrien military force from their positions in The Grand Alliance. Elegast receives word that he is needed on the battlefield. His commission is once again transferred to a now older and visibly worn down Knight Arryn. With her physical capabilities greatly handicapped Elegast often takes Knight Arryn’s place on the battlefield after spending long hours under her consultation. Fulwin, having returned with the main Tielorrien force, also joins Knight Arryn to consult and strategize but his visits are far and few between as his presence is needed across the embattled army. Before long, fighting moves to the walls of the capitol City of Seven Gates, and then, into the streets.
235: For a brief moment time stands still for Elegast. From the center two spires in the middle circle of the capitol, Elegast looks out across the burning city of his birth and feels its death. The May’Kar have turned and betrayed The Grand Alliance and now The Undead march innumerable in the heart of the City of Seven Gates. Snapping back to the task at hand, Elegast resumes his run along the spire parapets. He is coordinating what remains of the fallen Knight Arryn’s command and a handful of civilians in retreating to the main force harbored in boats along the river cutting through the city center. Waiting for him at his appointed barge is Fulwin. Taking their leave with the rest of the Tielorrien military Elegast’s barge passes through the final river gate and into open water. Looking back through the night air, the light of a thousand fires dance across soot-covered faces as the last of the Tielorrien people leave their home.
236-250: The next 14 years evaporate in a cruel loop of long marches and anxious waiting followed by short intense bursts of fighting and running. The refugees of Tielorrien quickly become dispersed across the remaining safe zones of Faedrun. Elegast, Fulwin, and the remaining 20 or so soldiers left from Knight Arryn’s command join what remains of The Grand Alliance and are tasked with guarding refugees as they make their way from war zones to safe havens. On his few days rest Elegast visits his mother, father, and few relatives living in a refugee settlement. They give him momentary respite from a world torn apart and give him what little information they receive of his brother fighting with the Vandregon army.
250-253: The settlement where Elegast’s family lives is raided. None survive. Elegast loses contact with his brother and is unable to get word through military channels as to his state. Elegast and Fulwin are two of now 12 remaining soldiers from their days under command of Knight Arryn. They move to the southern lands of Vandregon, fighting as a small force helping to protect port towns.
253: Elegast is severely wounded in the right leg while fighting outside a port town in southern Vandregon. Against his will, Elegast is forced onto a ship bound for the new world by Fulwin. Tears in his eyes Elegast begs Fulwin to take him back to the fight but Fulwin pushes him onto a bunk in the lower hold and quickly ties his hands to the post. Fulwin holds Elegast’s head in his hands and places his own forehead against Elegast’s. Sweat and tears mix as the two say whispered goodbyes. Slowly, Fulwin rises and walks away from Elegast and off the boat. As the boat begins its journey to a new land Elegast hears audible groans and gasps of terror from above. Furiously fighting to undo his bindings Elegast manages to hobble up the stairs to the main deck and is overcome by what he sees across the water. Making their along the coast is the largest horde of undead Elegast has ever witnessed. In a fit, he tries to climb overboard but is easily overpowered by those standing next to him and restrained. Furious he frees an arm and attempts to strike those who hold him back. His fist meets only air. The loss of blood and brother catching up with him, he passes out. While crossing the ocean Elegast’s leg becomes infected and his journey is spent below deck in the makeshift infirmary. Despondent and in a feverish daze he clings to life. Arriving at Newhope, Elegast is carried off the boat on a stretcher and onto a new world.
254-266: Once fully recovered Elegast spends the next weeks and months pleading with local officials and any arriving ships to return to Faedrun in the hopes that he may find and rejoin his men. Few share his interest in returning and the news that reaches the new world is grim. No ships are sent back.
Elegast builds himself a small hut on the outskirts of Newhope near the shore. He spends his evenings watching for incoming ships in the faint hope of the arrival of his brothers in arms. No such ship comes. Elegast begins to withdraw from the small connections he has made. He continues to pick up small jobs to survive but rarely speaks to anyone more than necessary. Falling into a deep depression Elegast is consumed. Months pass. Seasons creep by. And then his darkness breaks. What’s left, however, is not whole. He has been hallowed out in some sad small way. Elegast kneels into a position he has not taken since his arrival on Mardrun. Meditating for two full days, Elegast rises with the sun on the morning of the third day. Shakily standing from his kneeling position Elegast stumbles to his cupboard and hungrily devours what food and water he has. Resting for a moment, Elegast drags his dusty armor from under his bed and walks out of the hut. Finding a lone tree atop the cliffs, Elegast digs a hole with what strength he can after two full days of meditating. He slowly and silently buries his Tielorrien armor, placing a small pile of rocks over the mound. After saying a small prayer for those he will never see again and those left behind, Elegast returns to his hut. Packing quickly, Elegast places essentials in his pack and everything else in a pile against a wall. The only reminder of his life on Faedrun he keeps is a lightly woven and intricately decorated tunic. Taking his tinderbox, Elegast lights a small flame in the pile of belongings against the wall. As the flames begin to grow Elegast places his pack across his shoulders and walks out as smoke fills the hut. As fire creeps out of the door, Elegast watches for a moment before turning and walking down a path and away from Newhope, a hollowed wanderer.
267: A streak of blue flits across Elegast’s mind. Suddenly a massive wave crests and crashes down smashing Elegast against the rocks. Just as suddenly the water is gone and Elegast stands on dry arid ground. Again the blue streak flits across his vision and behind him. Elegast turns just in time to see the blue streak fly face first into him. With a start, he wakes up. The sun has just begun to peak over the horizon. Collecting his things Elegast stands, pausing for a moment. It has been 12 years since he walked away from the world. Looking back at the retreating night, Elegast turns and begins walking toward the rising dawn.