Race: Fire Genasi (Unknown) Class: Barbarian Subclass: D&D Beyond Link
Backstory
- Come on! It’s only the last stage left!
- I can’t jump across that ravine, Quairos, my leg is broken!
- Now that’s a fine excuse. So the “steadfast” Yethas won’t follow his commander?
- The crippled Yathas can’t follow his commander. And sure, I’m not very keen on continuing since what we already have faced has killed the rest of our team. And, that temple is sacred. Why would we anger the gods? How do you know that what you’re seeking is even in there? Your gambling with lives based on a rumour.
- It’s our best chance to win this war, and I for one won’t gamble with our victory because of superstition. You can thank me once I’ve returned. Find something to splint your “broken” leg with. I won’t slow down the march back for you.
With that Quairos leaped across the ravine and started walking toward the gates that hung more or less on their hinges. He slowly pushed the right one open, keeping the sword in his hand ready to be drawn against whatever would come against him. The corridor stretching some twenty feet ahead that now lay before his eyes seemed completely empty however. That didn’t comfort him. -Reckless beasts, fine, deafening silence, who knows what’s hiding?- He continued slowly through the dimly lit corridor and finally found himself in a large cave-like room, still without hearing a sound from any living breath. The room was practically empty and slightly less lit than the corridor. Almost at the far end of the room on the right hand side a red glow caught Quairos eyes. If it was a creature of some kind it would probably already have seen him, but it didn’t seem to move. After a few moments he started walking closer. Still no sign of any hostility towards this temple defiler. Well there he discovered that the glow was coming from a glass orb, lying in a shallow hollow in the wall. Inside the orb a fire raged like a ferocious whirl of flames trying to break the walls of its prison. Quarios slowly reached out his hands, the orb was perfectly cool. -What is this? Some kind of energy source? It doesn’t look like anything that House Cannith has ever produced… As he studied the contained inferno while wiping the dust that lay like a fine flour on the glass, he suddenly heard a small crack. The next moment he was blinded by a great light and fell back to the ground as the orb suddenly burst into a thousand pieces.
- The wait has been long. Who is this liberator of mine? It took a few moments for Quairos to regain his vision. As the blind spots started to lessen, he found himself looking up at a great fiery Djinn.
- I’m Commander Quairos of Karrnath, he said standing up, trying his best to muster up a prideful voice.
- And I’ve come to find help in an honourable war. The djinn studied him carefully.
- Honourable you say, I’ve rarely seen honour displayed in the last thousand years of wars. But it is my law to give you what you ask for, at least thrice. What are your wishes?
- Honor is rare, yes, but it can be gained by a great man of war. Although a man of war myself, I don’t have too many years to claim that honour. Therefore, I wish that you would give me an offspring that will be the most fierce warrior this world has ever seen, endowed with the powers of your fire.
- To give birth to a child endowed with my powers is not for any creature to endure.
- My wife is strong, and she would give her life for the honour of winning the war as readily as I would.
- Very well, your wish is granted. Your wife is now pregnant.
- What?! It was supposed to be my offspring! Not some twisted mixture of man and a haughty genie! You were supposed to enable me to bring that forth!
- You didn’t specify that, I’m afraid. Quairos took a leap towards the djinn, preparing a great swipe with his sword. He stopped mid air and fell to the ground.
- How can you defend yourself against your master?
- You’re not my master, you just rubbed some dust off of my prison and I’m not obliged to let you hurt me, just not to hurt you. Hate burned in the eyes of Quairos as he looked up at the djinn and with an insidious voice said:
- My second wish is that you chain yourself with bonds so strong, nobody less powerful than you can break them. My third wish is that you never make any attempt to find or contact MY heir.
- From the moment I was released, I perceived your grimness. Your wishes will be granted, and a great warrior will come from your wife, but it won’t be the warrior you hope for.
- I will make him into precisely the warrior I desire. With that Quairos turned around and left the sanctuary and the once again bound djinn behind him.
- “Him”, the djinn said quietly to himself as he watched the heartless commander walk away.
Every joint was aching with pain, her muscles were devoid of strength and blood was dripping from her nose and other cuts in her face.
- I need to rest, father, I’m spent.
- In training I’m your commander and your commander tells you to get up! Quairos hit Elrath with the flat of his sword across her back.
- And you should learn to wear armour. The blow made her lose balance and fall to her knees.
- I said I’m spent!
- You’re finished when I say so, for you will be a great warrior or nothing at all! A second blow made Elrath fall flat on the ground.
- Why are you torturing me? The war is soon over, nobody wants to risk the same destiny as Cyre.
- I see you’re especially insubordinate today. There is still a war to be won for the one who takes hold of the opportunity. I will teach you again to listen to my command, it’s time for another tattoo. Elraths back and arms were already full of inartistic carvings, made by the sword of Quairos. But before he had time to put his sword to her back Elrath felt a sudden heat erupt in her heart. She spun around striking the sword away from her with her bare hands.
- Finally you liste… Quairos was cut short by Elrath hurling herself against him. The next moment she had him pinned to the ground sitting on top of the great commander. She grabbed him by the throat which made Quairos give up a loud cry that soon faded over into a satisfied laughter. He looked at her with a mixture of fear and content.
- Finally you have become what I wished for, he said in a strained voice. Elrath noticed that his skin seemed to get burned under her hands and in his eyes she saw her reflection, a terrifying vision to behold.
- And what am I, father?!
- You are the fulfilment of my wishes.
- I said: WHAT AM I?! All my life you have treated me like some warforged, but I’m clearly not one of those and I can see now that I’m definitely not a mere human. You said mother died giving birth to me, so what is it about me that made her die? WHO, AM, I?! Quairos kept silent and started to struggle against her. Elrath tightened her grip around his neck and felt a sudden snap. At once he stopped struggling and his limbs became completely lame. Elrath gasped and released her grip and saw that under her hands, his flesh was completely burned. Quairos started breathing quickly and shallowly and spoke again in a hushed voice.
- Finish.. Me… El..rath…. And go… and win that… war for… me. Elrath stood up and looked down upon her crippled father.
- You said I’m already the fulfilment of your wishes, but I won’t fulfil any more of them. I will never be like you, father, except in that you will never hurt anyone again. With that Elrath turned away and went out of the training arena and on into exile. Crippling your commander wouldn’t go unpunished…