Elbromo Sartarius

I am Elbromo Sartarius a giantman of the Maeramil Wind Runner Clan and cleric in service of Lorminstra,the Lady of Winter and Keybearer of the Ebony Gates.

By my name some will suspect, and rightfully so, that my origins are not typical of a Maeramil Clansman. I was actually raised by an extended family of mixed races, human and elvish mostly.

You see I was left for dead by Krolvin raiders after they slaughtered the family of my birth somewhere in the mountain regions during one of the early Krovin Raids .I was rescued by this group of refugees passing through the devastation,and mistakenly named Elbromo due to a misunderstanding of the giantman tongue that I feverishly babbled during my recovery.

The extended and mixed Sartarius clan raised me as their own and steeped me in their various traditions of worship of the gods and goddesses of Liabo.My adoptive parents were wise enough to know my tribal identity was suppressed by trauma and I needed to reconnect with my Giantman heritage.So when it came time for me to come of age I was sent off to live and be immersed in giantman culture with some passing Maeramil Windrunner nomads.They happily welcomed me, for by no small coincidence, my only surviving possession from my past life was a Wind Runner armband.

Now you would think that a giantman youth raised by humans and mixed elves would not be up to the challenge of the tribal rights of manhood of a full blooded tribe of really BIG people. In fact it turned out that I was actually barely of average height for a giantman. The clans warriors shook their heads and said, 'Too soft..too weak..prolly milks cows.'

What they didnt know was that years ago, Grandpappy Sartarius knew an opportunity when he saw one. As soon as I was big enough..he convinced me that poor 'ol Sukey, the family mule, worked better in harness with a companion beside her.

'You don hafta REALLY pull', says he,' just be there to keep the ol girl company..she'll do all the work..you'll see'.

So. row after row ..day after day..field after field..and eventually...season after season,me an ol Sukey pulled that @##&*#@ plow. Then one spring, ol Sukey died and it was just me..used to harness by now, and pulling that plow alone! In fact I couldn't even tell the difference. In fact it seemed easier, and it was then I realized that for the past year, I had been pullin ol Sukey along with the plow!

'Oh stop yer whinin an complainin', says Gramps.'Ol Sukey never made half as much noise as you, an she ate less too!'

Now about this time, we had a visitor stay with us..Sisterwoman Carrie Ann.. who saw my plight and took pity.

'Tis a shame' she said.' to work like a mule an not be treated even as good as one!'

I liked young sisterwoman Carrie Ann right away, especially after she demonstrated the proper way a mule should be curried after a hard day in harness. Fortunately for me, Ol'Sukey was gone an I was the only 'mule' in the barn! Yup.. I really liked young sisterwoman Carrie Ann though, as luck would have it, Granpappy rudely interrupted what was to be our last grooming session. It was decided right then and there that I was ready for my 'Test of Manhood' with my Giantmen clansmen, because as Granpappy saw it, I was becomming.. 'entirely too troublesome fer a mule'.

So although I couldn't fight.and knew little more of hunting..I quickly gained the respect of the tribal elders when they found five big warriors down in the mud after the tug of war at the clan festival....with only me at the other end of the rope!

Now, this was 'back in da day', so, when ye cant fight but ye sure can drag..you were sent promptly to temple to start your training as a cleric.

And 'back in the day' means back at the time of the first opening of the Icemule Trail..when the Elven Nations was a distant rumor and you got to Rivers Rest with a crystal amulet dropped in an old boot. Back when 'fogging' was practiced only by an experienced few,and the vast majority of the fallen had to dragged to a safe place to be healed and raised. And as adventurers traveled further out on their hunts.. dragging became a craft of sorts in it self...the first occupation of young Giantmen (and women too) as we learned our clerical duties an rose thru the ranks toward becomming Raisers. Back then, there was actual protocols an traditions of how one behaved in crowded rooms making sure not to step on anothers toes trying to help the fallen.

I recall those early days in the 'big city' of Wehnimers Landing, fighting for the right to kill rats in crowded sewers an actually bein murdered over one! I met my first good friends then too... young adventurers now all gone 'cept the Ladies Zusanne and Imraith

The lands were crowded then and competition for learning and treasure was fierce enuf for sneak thieves to steal skins and boxes right out from under your nose in a busy room.

It was during these early and frustrating times that I, along with many others, fell into the temptation of quick advancement through questionable associations with a mysterious guild operating out of the now defunct and infamous Cholgars Bath House.Although not obviously associated with the darker side of things, the old saw 'if its too good to be true it probably is', was definitely coined with these shady operators in mind. At the time Cholgars was so busy it was like a bazaar in and of it self..with folks constantly coming and going ..it makes todays present Adventurers Guild look like a joke by comparison..We youngins needed any edge we could find to survive and this group who shall remain nameless provided it..at a cost of course. Only when you completed your course of training and 'mastered' did you learn the truth.Those of us who aspired to be clerics of Liabo learned to our horror who we really served.. Though many of our seniors tried to warn us as much as they could, it was a lesson we had to learn the hard way.

About this time I wasn't far from learning the Well of Life and it was time for me to get serious about preparing to become a Raiser, it was then I was approached by the old warrior and he immediately sensed my unworthiness for a coveted invitation to Voln. I then decided that what ever advantages this 'nameless' cult offered..it wasn't worth the price.I renounced the cult and embraced the Order of Voln..It wasn't long after my Voln courtyard bath ( in the buff back then, an ye had to guard yer stuff from thieves! ) that the consequences of leaving this 'council' became clear.

It was soon after I raised my first deader. I was coming down Icemule Trail to Wehnimers alone ,.. I thought if I was quick an didnt slip..I wouldn't end up frostie fodder ..(yeah stupid I know, but I was a hotshot young Raiser an da whole world was my votive candle). It was then I heard a distant rumble. I leaned into the mountain side along the path to avoid the avalanche of ice and snow, but it was too late! As I tumbled and fell into frigid darkness I heard that damn Shadow snickering!

This certainly wasn't the first time I died on the trail..and that was why I didnt 'commute' much for sure. But something was wrong..I wasn't dead!..I wasn't really alive, I was practically frozen solid and buried deep. To my terror I realized that I was really screwed and no doubt about it! The freezing blackness numbed even my terror as I slid into a deep, dreamless sleep.

As such sleep is truly timeless, my next memory was of a faint light growing brighter until I could see the silhouette of a tall woman through what looked like heavy frosted glass. With a wave of her hand the glassy ice shattered into a million tiny shards and I Iooked out on what I would come to know as the wintery sanctuary of the goddess Lorminstra ! The Lady was gone with the shattered ice but Her voice sounded in my head, '"You have atoned for your past with much of your future..go now and continue to serve Me through My Lord Voln as you have given oath."

The next I knew I was lying soaking wet and freezing in a rattling mine cart with three of the most irate dwarfs I ever had the displeasure of meeting. "Dambit ye let da giant popcicle thaw, ye clodheads..how we gonna sell him to da freakshow now?" I didnt hang around for the answer as the cart stopped somewhere in a strange dwarven mining settlement. I hobbled off still half frozen and confused.

Over time I learned of what had happened to myself and the world during my long frozen sleep . The road to the Elven Nations had been well established as I learned first hand.I was amazed to hear of distant island nations, and the Barony of Vornavis had opened its gates to outsiders! The accounts of the dazzling temple district in Solhaven was something I vowed to see.

The sleep did indeed take its toll on me as I was quite a bit older in appearance, though not as wise in learning as one would expect from someone of 'advanced years'. I found myself in the Elven Nations inTa'Illstim where I endeavored to return to my cleric studies and Voln duties. It was there I met new friends, and met a young cleric who was to become my best friend and eventually, my wife.

Meeting these young clerics hunting the undead outside Ta'illstims gates helped me get my bearings as far as how the Elvish were trainin their subservient humans. Young Dailathas was shocked when I first shared mana with her!

'What did you just DO to me?" she demanded.

'You NEVER heard of mana share?' I retorted, 'Just wud DO they teach you here anyways?"

It was the beginng of a close friendship that became a marriage a year later in Wehnimer's Landing.. after one of those war time romances during the..' Temple Invasion.'. or was it the 'War of the Floating Thingie in the Sky'? . I never REALLY figured it out..and no one Ive talked to has yet had a cogent explanation of those events ...'.Griffin Sword Play' or somethin? You got me.

But I can tell you about the Great Temple Fire and how it was REALLY extinguished, despite wud a certain senior High Priest wid his fancy robes has reported.

It was a LONG Restday afternoon with the endless triage that comes with a major invasion.Then the gates were finally breached and the clerics and empaths in the town square were either killed or scattered by the savage onslaught. The only effective defenders seemed to be a wandering kitten or a scruffy puppy! (and that Old Warrior wasn't too shabby as a town defender either). The rest of us , who couldn't help or survive the fight, were holed up in places like the Voln Courtyard, or with the Black Wolves on the roof of Firths . Our cheer at hearing of the kitten and puppy tag team defeat of a seemingly undefeatable invader was shattered by an unholy glow over Erebor Square.

We could scarcely believe our eyes, seeing the temple burn, and although it was inconceivable that the holy altars inside could be harmed..the fact was, we couldn't get to them! There was no way to acquire new deeds from our goddess, and the dearly departed, reappeared.. where? We knew not..and most probably in an unsecured spot! This was the beginning of one of the darkest of times for the Landing, our spiritual center was burning with a fire most profane and nothing we did could extinguish it!

The temple burned and burned , fueled certainly not by anything material but by the Evil that assaulted all of Elantha during that war.We took shifts spraying water from blessed aqua wands and holy bolt spells, for only holy waters worked, and those but barely and only fer a bit. For as soon as you thought you had the fire under control... it would erupt again, undimished, if not with even more ferocity! The towns defenders had to travel to Icemule or Solhaven on vulnerable roads for temple services. It seemed that if Wehnimers were to have a chance..this fire had to be extinguished and the temple restored as soon as mortally..or divinely.. possible!

After what had to be at least a week, or so it seemed, of this evil immolation, an alliance of defenders was formed from volunteers from about everywhere (and then some). A brilliant if insane plan was devised to 'take it to em' by the use of a gnomish airship of all things. An actual assault on the unassailable floating 'Keep of Evil' or wudever the Enemy called it. (A giant flying thrak pie in da sky is wud it looked like to me). Anyway, while this epic aerial invasion force was landing on da ' Evil Pie in da Sky' and beginning their daring assault inside.. we were graced by the High Cleric hisself, and he relayed his 'divinely inspired' plan to save the temple! We knew he was the 'High Cleric' cause his title says so and I NEVER saw more resplended attire in all my travels! Still you can guess by my tone I have a lil trouble wid authority figures so enuf wid my thinly veiled contempt.. enuf to say that his plan was for a Mass Prayer of Commune with as many clerics who can muster the spell, be performed on the steps of our burning temple. My spoken doubts were quickly stifled by his spell of silence and with an admonition that 'meditation' was in order for the' inexperienced' in such matters' . (I mean,when was the last time a Giant Floating Evil Castle in da Sky burned down YOUR temple ?)

As I attempted to be devout an holy an Commune wid m'Lady Lorminstra (although I felt then an still do today that such things are pushin' it.. that Id still be a giant popsicle if it weren't fer her direct intervention some time before)..I found my attention wander from my place at the back of the congregation of clerics at Erebor Square.While da resplendent High Cleric lead the holy troop in da Sacred Mumbles, I noticed a small group of rather average looking folk busy about a spigot with buckets. There I met Fartreie who among others had spontaneously decided to form a bucket brigade to fight the temple fire. "Bucket brigade?" I asked, "where in Elanthia did you find buckets?' Fartreie pointed to a spigot where several unattended buckets waited (almost expectantly)!

Call me a visionary..a prophet or just an adopted son of a farmer used to dumb labor, but I KNEW that the BUCKETS were the SIGN we were looking for. I whispered my revelation to the High Cleric who gave me THAT LOOK and shoo'd me away like a pesky bug. I decided then that faith without works required more political savvy than I would ever even want to know about, an joined the bucket brigade.

So while da brave fought high above..and the holy prayed down below..the sweaty an unfashionable toiled in da bucket brigade and beat down the Temple fire that nothing else would put out.Oh the evil fire did restart once or twice but each time was it more feeble than the last. Somethin about THIS fight was quite different than our earlier, futile attempts..was it the spigot water?..Miraculous Buckets from Above? The Allied Aerial Assault on da 'Evil Flying Fortress'? I dont know..but I do know who took credit for it. To hear the High Cleric tell it youd be surprised to see that he wasn't there all by himself at the fires end.

Not long after that night the Enemy (still dont know who or why) musta got bored an returned to the hellish plane they came from.

Me and my fiance Dailathas set up house on Lumnis Way and was wed within three months.

Our marriage survived another minor invasion from another mystery anonymous evil whosis and an additional eight months before it fell apart . Goes to show even two clerics cant keep it together (sigh..... Oh yeah ask me fer relationship advice.)

Nothing else worth mentioning until I came in contact with some folks from Onoir recently. Maybe something suitably epic could happen again.. ye never know. (an never underestimate the power of boredom..I know, I recently joined the Clerics Guild.)

Anyway, any group that welcomes their new members by choppin off their head has GOT to be checked out. Im impressed.

Hope I make da cut.
"For Honor
For Duty
For Loyalty
For Daingneach Onoir"
Elbromo