Khazaan Colquhoun

Khazaan Colquhoun

I was born, the son of a prominent merchant, in another realm much like Elanthia. I grew up learning the merchant trade under my father as well as perfecting my rangerly studies. When I was old enough to venture out into the wilds, I went into the shop, grabbed the finest equipment we had for sale, and went out into the wilds that surrounded the well fortified walls of the town. Knowing that when my father found that I had taken all of the finest wares, he would be none too pleased, I would need to make my father proud by being the best ranger there was.

At first, it was difficult to deal with the loneliness of the wilds, but I grew to more knowledgeable and more in tune with myself and the surrounding wilderness. I decided then, that I would not return to the town until I had more than fulfilled my fathers expectations of me as a ranger. The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months and the months into years.

One day, I was sitting at my campfire, gazing into the crackling flames and remembering my past, when I saw an arm come across my shoulder and in its fist was a small scroll. I took the scroll and turned around to thank the messenger but he had vanished before I could speak. That was odd, I thought to myself, they usually wait for a reply, or at least a thank you. Scratching my beard, I unrolled the scroll and began to read it. It was a scroll from the elders, back in town, saying that I was urgently needed. I had become one&127; of the the best and most well respected ranger in the lands, and the townspeople needed me. I packed up my things and started the long journey home.

The closer I got to town, the more things didn't seem right. Where there was once beautiful meadows and forests was now barren wasteland. As I approached the town gates, I expected to see the guards, most of whom I had grown up with as a child, but the gates were open and unguarded. I walked through the gates to see the most horrific scene of my entire life. Where once there was an immense town center, was now a pile of smoldering rubble. I dropped my belongings and ran down the street to the home I grew up in. As I approached it, I knew there was something wrong. The flowers and trees that once lined the pathway to the shop, were all wilted and blackened with ash. As I opened the door to the shop, it almost fell off its hinges. I stopped and slowly pushed the door open with my foot and began to look around a the dark destruction that was once a prominent merchants shop. I fell to my knees and screamed into the heavens, asking what had been done to the town that was once so perfect.

The more I searched, the more death and destruction I found. I dragged every dead body I could find into the nearest shelter. When I could not find anymore bodies, I closed the door to the shelter and prayed for their souls. I raised my fist in defiance and yelled that I would get not forget what had happened and would do everything I could, to stop it from happening again. I went back to the gate, picked up my belongings and closed the gate as I went through it. As I walked away from the gate, I turning back to wave, as I always had done in the past. But it was not the same. I walked until my feet could not take me any farther and I collapsed in a heap.

When I awoke, I found myself stripped of most of my valuables and wearing only a ragged olde tunic. The magic I once knew, did not work anymore. This place I was in was new to me, yet felt like home. There were more people than I had ever seen before in my life and some of them were very nice. People kept trying to give me things. Someone handed me a sword, another handed me a shield and a backpack. I found my way to the temple of Lorminstra and fell to my knees at the altar and prayed for my townsfolk's souls again. It was at that point that I decided that I, as one of the remaining townsfolk of my village, would do my best to help everyone who needed it in this new town called Wehnimers Landing. I wandered the streets of the Landing for what seemed like years. Learning as much as I possibly could from everyone I met.

One day as I approached the temple, I met a group of people who would changed my life forever. To the best of my memory, the group that I met was made up of Aonghus, Elana, Krackenstar, Maruko, Kali, Kodos, Ruriko, and a few others. I don't know if they were there as a group or just happened to be wandering past the temple at the time. But, as I looked up at them all, I gawked in amazement. Never before had I seen such beautiful and extravagant things. I bowed to them and asked them if they could help me. I explained who I was, where I was from and asked them if there was anything they could tell me that might make me a more well rounded person. I can't remember exactly what anyone had told me, but they all basically told me to keep my nose clean and make sure I had enough deeds. I remember Maruko and Kali told me some things about what rangers were like in Elanthia, Elana took a wound that I had, and some of them cast some spells at me to help me survive.

Years went by quickly, and each time I felt I needed to learn more, I set out to see an elder warrior in hopes of learning more. One day, I met up with an elder warrior, whom I had met around town a few times. I explained to him what my training regiment had been over the past years and asked him if he had any more advice. He told me that he wanted me to follow him and he took me to the shrine of Lord Kai and showed me the 8 talismans that stood there. The talismans, as I read them, became part of my day to day life. They described everything a warrior is and does and would shape my life from then on.

One afternoon, as I was on my way back to town after a long morning of hunting hill trolls, I met Aonghus once again. I approached him and asked him if he had any more advice for me. A young warrior can never get too much advice from elders. As he was talking to me, I noticed that he was wearing a most distinguished bracer on his arm. It was a black enameled bracer with a silver gryphon set in a ruby circle and I asked him why he wore it and what it meant. He rubbed his bracer, smiling proudly and told me of a chivalric order of warriors where honor and chivalry meant more than anything, even power and might. I was very interested, to say the least, and asked him if I could join. He laughed and explained that there was much that I needed to learn about before I could be involved. He then explained that it was open to only a dozen of the most honorable warriors in the realm. I told him that I would strive to become the best and most honored warrior possible and would someday become a member in the Silver Gryphons. He smiled and told me that I had potential but to keep working at it.

One day while hunting dark orcs and marmots at the Hanging Inn, I made the fatal mistake of chasing a marmot up the stairs and into the waiting arms of a wraith. Needless to say, I was not prepared and I didn't know what hit me until I found myself being dragged back down the stairs by Hemperous and into a small office at the front of the inn. I was healed and eventually brought back to life by Taamlyn. As I sat, collecting my many belongings, I began to get to know this wonderful woman. I had not felt the compassion and love of anyone like that, since I was back in the village where I grew up.

As I grew older, I met this woman over and over again. Unfortunately it was because I had been killed and needed to be brought back to life. After one of these times, I grabbed her by the hand and took her to a table at the Wayside inn and we talked for what seemed like days. She had troubles with her marriage and needed someone to hold her tightly at times. I felt closer to her than I had ever felt to anyone in my entire life, with the exception of my mother, and told her so. She had watched over me, every time I had perished. We spent long days together after that, rejoicing with each other in good times and leaning on each other when times got bad.

One August afternoon, after a long day of hunting, I went to my locker and pulled out a small fur lined pouch that I had brought with me from my village. It was the only thing I had left from my home and I valued it more than anything. Inside the pouch I had 3 rings that my mother had worn. One was a friendship ring, the second a intricately carved engagement ring, and the third was a band uniquely forged from silver and gold. All rings that my father had given to her over the years of their relationship. It was time for me to give the woman I loved a piece of me that would last forever.

I found Taamlyn at the temple, where she was doing her some quiet meditation and took her by the hand. As I gazed deeply into her eyes, I saw that she was deeply hurt emotionally and needed someone to help her through this time in her life. She told me that she needed to take some time to sort out her life and that she was going to go over to Teras Isle for a short time. I nodded and asked her if she needed anything before she went. She said that she was all set to go, and she was glad she got to see me before she went. I reached into my sporan, pulled out the fur lined pouch and handed it to her. I told her what she meant to me and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. She took the pouch, opened it up and looked up at me with a tear in her eye. She gave me a hug and a kiss and handed the pouch back to me. She told me that she would return in a short while and would find me as soon as she got back. What happened next is best summed up by the poem that she composed a short while after she returned from the Isle......

Taamlyn's Poem

I walked the Isle of fire and fearsome creatures,
Exotic poisons and sandstorms, lava flowing bright,
Seeking futilely an escape from my heartache,
Evading the empty black void left in my life.

My husband, my love, no longer looked on me,
As his beloved companion, his dearest wife,
So many happy hours were now a memory,
Hotly had blazed his love, now coldness resided.

No peace could be found in those deadly distractions,
Loneliness abounded in that uncrowded land,
My skills as a warrior too weak for such critters,
On Teras, few needed blessing from my hands.

The Star sailed me over, the Star brought me back,
To the Landing, my homeland, it's crowds, paths and inns,
Where I rushed about busy, helping young ones and friends,
Close family comfort and counsel helped my healing begin.

One held his hand out, offering comfort and love,
My mind whispered caution, my heart beat with hope,
For a giantman warrior, brave, gracious and kind,
Would have me as his dearest ladylove, if I so chose.

But I hardly knew him! yelled that voice in my head,
And then I remembered some points to his fame,
Recalling kindness, generosity, his help dragging the dead,
All loudly spoke for his big true heart and good name.

Khazaan Colquhoun, with red braids and dark eyes,
This handsome warrior in clan kilt attired,
Gracious manners, strength tempered with kindness,
This man might be very well all I desired.

So I questioned him further, were his values like mine?
Would my life of good service with his find a blend?
For often other's needs would take me away,
His answers given gladly put my fears to an end.

In his big arms I rested, I had found a dear man,
We danced to soft music and our hearts they did sing,
A song of love lasting, strong bonded and true,
He offered me then a choice of three rings.

Three rings? Three the degrees of bonding,
I looked, surprised, at the choices from his hand,
A ring of friendship, and one to pledge my promise,
Could this third one really be a wedding band?

My heart pounding and mind spinning,
I puzzled, in wonder, what did this mean?
Was he so certain of his love, he'd offer marriage?
His sureness like a beacon bright called to me.

How I wanted to accept this love surely given,
I looked up in his eyes, I looked down at my hand,
Dismay overtook me as the glitter of diamonds,
Sparkled like tears on my own wedding band.

I sent off a message to my husband, far distant,
And waited, impatient, for his answering note,
Would he set me free, was our marriage really over?
I waited, pain and sadness mingled with hope.

While waiting we hunted, Khazaan's Lordship near,
I came to know him better as together we walked,
And my love grew stronger with each sweet encounter,
With his loving ways, our sharing, and our talks.

At last answer came, tears mixed with joy,
At once, running to my dear Khazaan I went,
My marriage was truly over, I told him,
My freedom the answer his message had sent.

Before him I slid the band from my finger,
He offered again to me, the choice of the three,
Smiling, I selected then the circle of friendship,
Knowing the engagement ring next it would be.

We married in a private ceremony in September, prior to me going away for a few months. When I returned I was greeted by my lovely wife Taamlyn and was presented with a baby daughter, Tierna MacNeiss Colquhoun. Not soon afterwards my sister Rubydesire perished, leaving me as the guardian of her 2 sons Balaczar and Fezic to go with our other adopted son Burzath.

Aonghus had spoken many times of the Brotherhood of Voln and I had been interested for many years in joining it, but had not takent the time. One day, just after my 22nd training, I decided that I would finally join. Jakaesa and Taamlyn held my things as I entered the pool to cleanse myself before entering the Brotherhood. I rose very quickly through the first 15 steps and have since attained the 22nd step. It is not an easy task to master all 26 steps when you use the abilities that you learn all the time.

Just after my 32nd training, my sister Kiora had offered to take me as an apprentice in the Order of the Silver Gryphons. I accepted, and so began an apprenticeship that lasted almost an entire calendar year. Soon after my apprenticeship under Kiora started, it became evident that she had other things in her life that were much more important. I asked her to give me to another member, so that she could pursue her life without worrying about my apprenticeship. She agreed and offered me to anyone who could spend the time with me. Glarb took me as an apprentice and enlisted Wanton to help, when he was unable to be around. There was a falling out between Glarb and another Gryphon member, which resulted in Glarb leaving the order, therefore leaving Wanton as my sponsor. Many long months of work under Wanton resulted in finally getting accepted as a full member.

Recently, having moved to Teras Isle, I was initiated into the Terasian Imperial Guard by Emperor
Starsnuffer. The guard is sword to protect Teras Isle, the town of Kharam-Dzu and its residents from any harm. Just as the Gryphons are sworn to protect Elanthia and the town of Wehnimers Landing.

...... TO BE CONTINUED