Aerandis is about 100 years old, just starting out in the world.  His family once lived in the cities 1000 years ago, but took up residence in the wilds on the edge of the region when humans encroached.  The family maintains an ancestral shrine within the city, making trips every so often (years, decades) to pay tribute and also pay the family of gnome care-takers who have watched the shrine over the years.  Aerandis is making his first post-adolescent trip, transporting wages (in a locked container) and non-monetary tribute to the shrine.  He visited once as a child, and the 10 year old gnome he became friends with -- Hobnobbin -- would be about 60 years old at this point.  He carries his bow for hunting and few other supplies, having joined with the caravan once he approached the city so he could pick up on some news of the world before he arrived.  With his family he had been somewhat sheltered, and he is excited to be able to travel and learn about the world outside of his woods and glen.

(Posted from pm -Leigh)

Modifications after browsing the campaign source material:

Aerandis is from the city of Eytherash'ana (The Forests of the Bow-Makers), in a large expanse of woods roughly between the cities of Hilderbrand and Wyverndale.  The city is woven into the living canopy of trees, and due to its organic nature it could be easily overlooked by a wandering human (if one was unfortunate enough as to wander into an elven city!) As the name of the city implies, a good proportion of the residents are trained as bowyers in addition to other necessary crafts.

As a child Aerandis was taught to make and use a bow.  His mother gave him the child's name of Nailith'ah (crafty oak child) due to his amusing decorative carving.  He carries the curved carving knife that she gave him at all times. 

As he grew up he learned to track and hunt beasts of progressive difficulty for food and defense of the city.  His keen eye brought him to the point where he gained archery skills surpassing that of most of his peers (injuring a few egos in the process, in that competitive way of youth).  However, the relative safety of his home woods to the larger world has caused him to somewhat underestimate the ease with which unknown beasts may be dispatched.

For the last several years Aerandis has been restless, looking to explore more of the world outside of his expanse of woods.  Due to that, his elders decided to give him a few tasks.  The first one is to travel to a specific grove dedicated to Obad-Hai, which is located near the Fey Fields.  There he is to offer up his services for several years to the druids who guard the area, in particular a druid named Nerisella, who is a friend of the family.  When his period of service is over, he is to return with some of the fine arrow-wood that the region is known for.



Well, I'm all idea'd out for the moment.  Hopefully some folks are inspired for their own characters!

Aerandis travels with all haste to the grove north of the Fey Feilds. Nerisella is as always eager for visitors. Though Aerandis looks worn from the road no mention of it is made of it until he has had a meal of roast squash flavored with forest orchid petals.  As Aerandis relates the tale of his travels to the grove, Nerisella calmly takes in every detail showing no emotion or hint of surprise.  "Vast packs of wolves often gather when dark servants awake. Wolves aren't evil themselves though they have few defenses against the dark servant's power.  As long as the phylactery is destroyed that dark one should not be able to dominate another fool. The mage you met seems to have the matter well in hand, he knew better than to touch the evil blade. I must meet with the circle elders and discuss this, if one of these servants is back then others may be able to follow. "

For three days Aerandis enjoys the comforts of the Feyfeilds. Nerisella seems distracted though. On the third evening she speaks "We have heard of a massing of ravens near Brix. That is where your friends have traveled to...correct?" She proceeds knowing the answer in advance. "Ravens themselves are no cause for alarm though they often serve to hide.....other things. I imagine your friends haven't destroyed that blade yet. I hope they do so quickly it serves not only as a focus for the evil wizard but also as a reserve of power for..." Her voice trails off.
" I, we must ask a task of you and you may do well to find your former companions and request their help. Tell them what you will of this task. An ancient shrine to 'The Bringer of Darkness' appears to have found a new priest near where you encountered the risen dark servant. Otherwise the lich would not have had enough strength to dominate the Ogre. While the coven is probably not strong yet, from the gathering wolves it appears they have a foothold at least. We are thankful they did not know to find the blade least the situation would be dire, still we need you to discover the alter to Nerul and destroy it. Here.."

Nerisella gives Aerandis a small pouch of powder silver and what appears to be a golden acorn inscribed with runes. "Go to the Scrying pool you found it has some taint to Nerul which we can use to our advantage. Inscribe a prayer to Obad-hai in silver powder around the edge of the pool and make sure the silver completes a full circle. Then toss this talisman into the water and invoke Obad-hai. A gate will open which will allow you to pass to the shrine you seek.  End whatever dark ritual is powering the coven and the Druidic circle will be most grateful."

However, as Aerendis nears the edge of the grove, Nerisella is there to greet him.

She says, "I know you are confident with your bow, but be wary.  The powers at work here are far stronger than a single elf.  You would be wise to gather aid before attempting your task."

Aerendis replies, "Perhaps I've only been lucky in the past, but I will take your advice.  I will see if my companions from before will support me in this task.  In any case, it's a long road and I should be going."

He thanks Nerisella again, and sets off again with an altered course towards Brix.  It will be a few days before Aerandis can arrive, so he hopes his companions don't get into too much trouble with the locals, as they did in the last village.

Seeing that there is nothing to be done at the caravan, Aerandis gathers himself and continues on the road while considering the situation.

Aerandis has become increasingly troubled by the unnatural behavior of these wolves, combined with past events.  He hopes that his companions are still alive and uncorrupted by any association with the dagger they were carrying, as it seems that he is going to need the aid of everyone to eliminate the coven.

From the looks of things breaking up the cultists at the shrine had no effect on the wolves. Still it seems more than a coincidence that the exit from the shadowfall placed you on a hill top above the caravan route in time for you to witness another attack.

Aerandis will travel to the Fey Feilds to meet with Nerisella and contemplate how to pursue his task of restoring the balance of nature to the region (this may involve Nerisella being at a loss and directing him to take a several day fast and vision search to find out what the spirits of the land know about what the source of the troubles, as well as learning how to communicate with the spirits of the dead to maybe find the origin of the dead spy bird [Spirit Talker feat]).   I will return to Brix in about 1 and a half weeks (unsure of exact distance) to rejoin the party.

Aerandis finds his thoughts rambling onto the subject of Zarb Zarba, who he has heard the party talk about.  He has the suspicious feeling that this unfortunate man was waylaid by evil forces.  He sounded as if he was a man of some will but also with a great desire for revenge.  As is the way with some magical types, he may have been offered the power to obtain this revenge in exchange for aligning his soul with dark powers.  Even gods need physical vessels on earth with which to work their dark ways.