Fiver Cirths - Rune Knight - Harengon

Well, there - I've only gone through over 20 different character combinations and half that many backstories to come up with a character that suits the way that I want to play in this campaign. With the death of my previous character, I needed to figure that out. During this process I learned that I'm not really interested in playing a caster and preferred one of the martial classes and finally it came down to Kensei Monk, Eldritch Knight or Rune Knight and you can see what I picked. A bit different than my typical Elven character, and I've thought about a Rune Knight before, but didn't. So I will now introduce you to Fiver Cirths - Rune Knight of the Realm of Crannog.

Name meaning

Fiver is a fictional rabbit and one of the main characters in Watership Down by Richard Adams. Fiver is a runt rabbit who was born in a warren at Sandleford and is the younger brother of Hazel.

Fiver Cirths
Microsoft AI Image Creator - 2024

A Tale of Origins

In the tapestry of my origins, a peculiar thread weaves through the tale, as recounted by my foster father, Yaran Cirths. In the cradle of the Mountains of Golem Pass, he stumbled upon my unconscious form, a mere 8 or 9 winters, yes a Harengon, found somehow in a realm untouched in anyone’s memory by that race. Clad in the veils of the Archfey, I bore a parchment adorned with an enigmatic Rede. That he didn’t share with anyone until many years later.

Upon awakening, I had no memory of who I was, or how I came to this place.

Yaran, as I fondly came to call him, found himself perplexed by the cryptic nature of the Rede, a puzzle with pieces that refused to align. Yet, the fates whispered their truths, indicating that I, the dormant vessel, and he, the Runic Knight, were entwined in destiny's dance.

Despite the shroud of mystery enveloping the Rede, Yaran, with a determined spirit, elected to rear me as his foster child. To Yaran, I seemed to have been deeply touched by the Feywild. All we could figure out was one of the Archfey had “seen” a need to protect their realm and both of us were pieces in that puzzle.

His dual role as both a nurturing guardian and a Professor at the Inverness Magic Academy also cast me into the role of an unwitting experiment. A Harengon child, transplanted into the unfamiliar soil of a different realm, a curious alchemy set into motion.

Amidst the diverse tapestry of races that adorned the institution, my Harengon heritage found acceptance, blending seamlessly into the mosaic of the children of the staff there. Those were the golden years, filled with laughter and games, yes a bit of learning as well. A brief respite before the turning tides of destiny nudging me toward a more solemn path.

Quandrix College

The catalyst for change emerged when Yaran, my guiding hand, deemed it fitting to tether me to the structured realm of education. Quandrix College at the Academy became my abode.

In the sanctum of the Quandrix College, Yaran's approval fueled my journey toward the mantle of a Rune Caster and eventually a Rune Knight. Under his watchful eye, the foundations were laid, and the path of my destiny unfurled like a sacred scroll. Time fluttered by in the halls of academia, marked by occasional skirmishes over my heritage and spirited dalliances that ended with The Headmaster taking to task those of us who visited his office involuntarily — on more than one occasion.

However, I do believe that I made many of the doubters think again, of a Harengon’s ability to be more than some of our so-called stereotypical behaviors. I excelled in most classes and upon graduation in a class of several hundred students scattered throughout all of the Colleges at the Inverness Magic Academy, I placed in the top ten overall. Quite an accomplishment for anyone. I know that Yaran was quite proud of my accomplishments and dare I say my secret confidant as well — The Headmaster.

Yaran’s Sabbatical and Me Becoming a Rune Knight

In the wake of my graduation from the embrace of academia, Yaran, my steadfast mentor, embarked upon a two-year sabbatical. To both show me more of Crannog and help to increase my Rune Knight abilities. Together, we roamed the craggy expanse of the Mountains of Golem Pass where I was found and all too often issues arose from, to vex King Garland’s reign from that desolate chain of mountains. Under his watchful guidance, my journey as a Rune Knight unfolded, each step etched with the wisdom he generously imparted.

As the sun dipped low in the sky, signaling the culmination of our mountainous odyssey, we stumbled upon a Dwarven enclave hitherto unseen by Yaran. The villagers, grappling with the uninvited specters from an ancient crypt, that they had unknowingly established their settlement amidst those restless spirits. In the crucible of a challenging adventure, we confronted the ethereal unrest, with me clashing against a formidable Skeleton Knight in a dance of life and death. The echoes of that confrontation lingered, and after tending my wounds, Yaran bestowed upon me the Longsword of Certain Death and a suit of adamantine plate mail worn by the undead Knight from a time when its life was one of brightness and hope. I still wonder if he might have known that ancient Knight before he was laid to rest in that crypt so long ago. He has lived for over seven centuries and has seen and I believe been a part of the histories we now call ancient.

After the end of the two years, our footsteps retraced the path to the Academy, where Yaran resumed his role as a beacon of knowledge. Yet, the quiet halls of academia failed to captivate my restless spirit. A month passed as a dutiful assistant, but the siren call of the mountains tugged at my core. Yearning for the rugged terrain and the challenges it held, I approached Yaran with a plea to return to the mountains that had become my home.

Returning to the Mountains

In the tapestry of time, the decision to return to the mountains unfolded like a chapter veiled in mist. Yaran and I engaged in a week-long conversation, contemplating the yearning of my spirit to once again be cradled by the rugged peaks. In his wisdom, Yaran decided to invoke the aid of a friend, Misty, a Moon elf Rune Knight of considerable repute.

A month elapsed, and I found myself standing amidst the familiar Dwarven Village, where Misty, with the grace of a seasoned Knight, began her efforts in the task of continuing to teach me the mysteries of runes and its knighthood. For centuries, she had been one of the silent guardians of the mountains, defending its denizens and hunting down the remnants of Behenny's monstrous legacy. In the rhythm of our training, Yaran would make periodic appearances, a harmonious convergence of mentorship and camaraderie that spanned almost five years.

The bond between Misty and I deepened, sealed in the crucible of shared adventures. On one such quest, the Fire Giants sought her aid in dispelling an undead menace beyond their reach. The crypt's secrets were guarded by a maze that somehow I mastered and then defeated the guardian protecting the chalice, while others slept. A calling in the dark that I followed regardless of the danger involved.

Yes, I am a bit impetuous, though not stupid, and as I emerged triumphant with the chalice that had been missing for too many centuries from their temple. The Fire Giant Chieftain, in a gesture of gratitude and ceremony before his enclave, bestowed upon me a belt of Fire Giant strength, christening me "giant friend." We were allowed to remain for a few weeks within his realm and delved deeper into the art of rune carving that we hadn’t had access to previously.

Little did I fathom that the calm preceding the storm would last only a fleeting week before...

The Quest

The tapestry of destiny unfurls once more, its threads weaving a tale that beckons me back into the dance of shadows. Tonight, an unexpected visitor arrived at our campus abode – none other than The Headmaster, bearing a sealed letter from our King. The missive bore the weight of a quest, a charge to be delivered after a clandestine meeting with Minwa's chosen champions with the Headmaster. Yaran, summoned earlier to that mysterious gathering, spoke of its oddity to me afterwards, yet saw potential in the capabilities of Varrin, Lirael, and Landriss.

As the parchment's secrets were unveiled, Yaran beckoned The Headmaster and me to gather around the table. He left us for a moment, fumbling around inside his room and from the depths of his belongings, he produced a weathered piece of parchment, its edges kissed by the passage of time. The words, spoken with resonance, echoed through the room:

"In the annals of Crannog's fate, whispers weave the tale of a Feywild Touched Harengon veiled in mystery, destined to dance with destiny's threads. Born in the Feywild, this rune adept shall tread mountains and paths unseen, while another, a Runic Knight, holds a torch in the light until his time comes. A harbinger against the looming darkness, embodied in poison and ambition, an ancient force awakening, desiring the rule of worlds beyond just that of Crannog. His steps, swift as bright as the noon sun, shall light the way to unravel the enigma, become a key to the realm's harmony. In the dance of light and dark, the runic guardian holds the power to mend the fractures and stand against the encroaching abyss."

A solemn sigh escaped The Headmaster's lips, a tacit acknowledgment of the gravity carried by those words.

Yaran then placed the King's letter upon the table, a tangible seal to the unfolding quest. Together, The Headmaster and I leaned in, our eyes reading the lines of the royal decree. The journey begins anew, and the shadows stir with anticipation.

In the delicate dance of destiny, it seems that someone close to the King had glimpsed the tapestry of events unfolding today, preparing with a keen foresight.

Threads of Fate Unravel

A sad smile danced upon The Headmaster's beak as he delved into the intricacies of the message from the King. The journey ahead for us all, he confessed, bore the weight of many possible destinies, beginning and hinging on the arrival of that trio of adventurers today.

"If not for their timely appearance this morning," he shared, "our conversation tonight would have taken a different turn, and a sealed letter that met its fate in the flames, unopened, would have been delivered to you this night. Divinations, it seems, were split on which thread of fate would weave the tale."

His narrative continued, revealing the directives that accompanied the King's missive. The Headmaster and Yaran, entrusted with aiding the band of adventurers. Duty also beckoned him to attune a crystal to Lirael and the others. In the sanctum of his office, the crystal's energies resonated with the adventurer as directed. With Lirael's crystal now in Yaran’s possession, he would be endowed with the ability to track Lirael's current whereabouts.

The revelation came with a sobering realization. Unvail loomed on the horizon as the likely destination for Lirael. Should Lirael meet an untimely demise, the crystal would act as a conduit, whisking Yaran to a relatively safe location near his lifeless form—no perilous lava pits or submerged caves.

We made plans for me to advise the Headmaster and then most likely prepare to journey to Seasonal as soon as possible if Yaran was teleported due to Lirael’s death. The Headmaster had given us Sending stones with five charges to facilitate meeting up again, because both the Headmaster and Yaran felt that I still had a part to play in this.

We made plans, requisitioned things that we believed would aid Yaran if he was called. Then I took over teaching many of his classes or was there with him if it was one that I couldn’t. Basically, I became his shadow. I think the worst part was the waiting and not really knowing what was going on.