# Saeros ######

*[sair - ross]*

#### Watcher Scourge #### Former Pirate of the Krenko #### Former Class 2 Imperial Test Subject

\page # Seperated By Birthright Born on a foggy morning in spring. Where the leaves dripped life's nectar onto the forest floor. An Elf was born under the pretense of an apocalypse. Young Sai ran amongst the wilds like his parents and their parents before him. The Crishtari Elves, otherwise known as Wood Elves carried the burden of life and freedom. Caring for it like a precious flower carried far from its home. The gifts they received from nature were always returned, and Melora's wells always brought the sustenance they required. The elders of the Crishtari had forseen a grave disturbance in the wilds, and dryads had fled south at the scent of man's folly. Upon the birthplace of Sai, ashes fell. War had been brought amongst the Elves. While the glorious armies of Aserath battled the relentless onslaught of the Imperium Sai grew up in a world where change was on the horizon. Every day he spent with the Dryads the elders knew that he and the other children would soon be spending their days in malcomfort. Sai's interest peaked at the first sight of soldiers. A pincer maneuver on the city of Aserath would fail, but not without the Wood Elves coming into serious danger. The Crishtari clan along with the other clans would fend off the assault on their birthlands, but not without young Sai caught out in the open for the taking. After being saved in a traumatic standoff between the savage Imperials and Sai's father, Warleader of the Crishtari Clan. Sai's father was killed in the conflict. Bleeding out while holding his son in his arms Sai had cried for the first time. The imprint of dread created by the Imperial soldiers was forever marked into Sai's memory with the face of the man who took his father's life. That face made more physical in his efforts to repent his anger. Sai's life was saved on that day, but what he had not known was that his clan, and all the other's, would have to flee from their birthright. Their homes. Sai and his mother traveled in tears and agony. Stretched for many days across the woods they called home, to the city of Aserath where most of the Elves had chosen to stay. They would ultimately be eliminated by Imperium forces. The elders didn't know what to think and Sai couldn't fathom, but the general consensus that he saw from the others was one of sadness and shyness in the face of those who chosen to stay in the forests. He could not understand nor fathom the consequences of their actions. Not even the elders could understand the motives and intensity of the Imperium's actions, for no collective of creatures under man had ever been so vile. The sadness of the Crishtari changed Sai's attitude, he was one of hesitation but longing for the truth and real emotions of his people. They found great happiness in spending time with the young boy, and though he couldn't understand their plight, he had the connection and awareness to know that something was off, something wasn't right. By the age of 6, Sai had yet to adapt to his new home in Aserath. Despite being the homeland of the High Elves, he felt estranged from the wilds. Having yet to forget birthright, his memory consciousness had nearly doubled since that time. The new experiences he had were those that would scar him no matter what they were. The positive experiences that he found among his people were a constant reminder that he was out of his own element, and his connection to nature from the awakening of his consciousness would be the down bringing of his own childhood. The culture of the High Elves differed greatly from that of the Crishtari, and even the Wood Elves at that. He made many friends from attending a primary school, but he struggled to make sense of the things he was learning. Thankfully, he was able to learn basic common and simple arithmetic mathematics. The first friends Sai made were that among the neighboring tribes of Wood Elves that were pooled into a refugee ghetto that he would then call home for many years. A young lad, the same age as Sai named Faen had become good friends with Sai. Faen was from a Wood Elf village north of Aserath called Tormath. Faen and his family had migrated sometime before Sai and Faen. Faen was quick-witted and an outgoing player. His time with Sai was spent on finding things to do around town. Causing bits of trouble and mayhem were never out of the question for the young Wood Elves. Sai found himself at home again with a common people, and his personality grew with the experiences he sought with Faen. By the time Sai was old enough to attend secondary school. He had made a few other friends, one of which was a Human named Abraham. His family fled the Imperium because of his father's work. It was understood that Abraham's father was a smart man who disagreed with what they were using his work for, so they were forced to leave under threats from the establishment. Abraham and Sai didn't get along at first, while Faen felt confident on the two enjoying each other's company one they spent more time together, and time they did. Faen was a total rebel without a doubt, while Abraham was more reserved. Together the 3 entered their first stages of adolescence and seemed to forget where they had come from. Sai was not content that he was severed, and nor was his people. They were devout followers of Melora and still held strong feelings for tradition and worship where most clans had given up on their homes for good. >#### Connection to the wilds Saeros' connection to Melora and the wilds causes a heavy amount of stress and may even enact his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Due to his severed connection by the hands of the Imperium, Saeros' emotions run rampant at prominent Wood Elven sites such as altars, villages, and ruins. The visions of his past are the most clear at these sites. \page # Happy Daze Wood Elven culture has one ascend into adulthood only once they have proven themselves worthy, and each clan's uniqueness for test, skill, and success is not well tied to one distinct location. Aged like a fine wine, both genders of the Crishtari Elves are tried once they find love. Their rite of passage is one of marriage, and the beauty of youth brings ripe young individuals into the height of their culture through the understanding of responsibility with the backing of the community. At the age of 15 Sai had yet to become a man while Faen had already secured himself a place within the people of his tribe. Having to go on a hunting expedition with his father in order to prove his worth as an individual. Sai's determination for finding an individual for sharing his life and tribe with was unending. The Crishtari clan, while still very tightly knit, was now much more separate than Sai could remember. If Sai were to ever receive his true name, he would have to find someone still tied to his clan. About around the same time, the war had taken a turn for the worse, as the Imperium grew ever closer to Aserath, Sai had decided that he would do everything he could to contribute to the war effort. Faen had decided to become a soldier in the Aserathi Military and his success was seen as a powerful motivator for Sai. Meanwhile, Abraham started working under his father. Sai found himself a job as a blacksmith under a Human named Jarvis Fennelspout. Sai was a shoddy blacksmith, but he complimented Jarvis well. Sai reminded Jarvis of his wife Enna who was a Wood Elf from the Nailo tribe to the southwest and she had a Half-elf daughter named Zizi. Sai didn't even know that Jarvis had a daughter until having worked in Jarvis' shop for 3 weeks. Zizi came to visit her father and had the chance to see Sai for the first time. The young Elf was shot with fear. He had never seen someone so beautiful in his life, and especially for one such as a half-breed. His goals were set for Zizi at first sight, and he was not to tell his village, not even his close friends. The expectation for him to marry an Elf was crucial in his culture. Those who had done it before were forced to leave the village. They were regarded as scum of the village despite still being one of there own. With the reality set in front of him, the shame of the girl he knew he loved not being the one his family and culture would accept made him stave his path without regard for her. Zizi also felt feelings for Sai, and despite having made some attempts such as becoming friends with him and getting to know him, he was still quite distant. Between rise and fall, the two were driven closer and closer like starcrossed lovers in twilight. >#### Amulet of Melora Saeros' mother gave the young Sai her amulet to Melora just before they were separated. It is possible that an Elven amulet to Melora can open the tombs of the Wood Elven-kings who led their people to prosperity. The souls still lie within giving back to the life they were allowed to live. After having spent 15 years of his life in Aserath, Sai had made many friends and found many people who loved him. Sai found his inner community in the refugee ghetto he now called home. Nearly forgetting his roots, his mind was all but focussed on Zizi. At 20 years of age, he had finally gathered the courage to ask Zizi for her hand in marriage and confront his clan about taking his rite of passage in order to gain his real name as an Elf. Zizi was ready to take the next step and with much surprise, the village elders would allow such an arrangement to be made. The elders explained that change had followed Sai's life for some time, and the reality was that it was inevitable that with such a large variety of people, that there is no reason that tradition should get in the way of love, not anymore. All the preparations would be set according to a traditional Crishtari festival, and the bride was a Half-Elf. The exception was Sai's mother, a devout follower of Melora. Having lost her husband in the conflict with the Imperium, she felt that it was in Sai's best interest to find a girl within their clan. A real Crishtari Elf. She had no intention of explaining why this was the case to Sai because it was too difficult of a conversation to tell to such a young individual. His mind was run by infatuation and a lust for freedom that could only be sated by the acceptance of her people. After having a heart-to-heart with her son she was forced to comply with his wishes. The tears that were shed for her family seemed to outnumber her attempts at change and adjustment to her home. She still remembered the trees and the smells that had been there all her life. It was apart of her and she was determined to let it go. She felt that Sai's ease of change was riddled with hidden feels and longing for home, but they didn't share the same ideals, nor the same feelings. This day was forever vetted into Saeros' mind. The day the walls fell and the streets were flooded with nothing but cold iron and terror. The day Aserath fell to the might of the Imperium. Before young Saeros could ever receive his true name, his real name. Before he could ever see Zizi as his wife, his true love incarnate. With their souls intertwined with the sun high above them, the walls fells and the city invaded. The High Elven council voted for peace, but it was the militia who still stood strong. As people were being round up, Sai in tears that Zizi would be taken away forever. He still clutched his mother in his arms. With his final moments with her, she gave him her Amulet of Melora. Folding each others' hands around the amulet they began saying a prayer together. While her eyes closed they were found by the Imperial guards and she was dragged away. His final moments with her Sai was in tears and screaming in pure agony as he was dragged away. His last sight was of twilight. He had missed his chance. He stopped struggling and was thrown into darkness. The world around him drowned by chaos and dread. His mind would be permanently scarred by the faces of his friends, family, and people screaming and crying in terror at the hands of the Imperium. The setting began to dim as change may have already occurred to him despite such a short time spent, and before he could've ever known what was going to happen it all fell apart, and would never be the same again. \page # Felt Tip Dharma He felt tired. Defeated and out of adrenaline. The young man who had lost his home was thrown into darkness. It is said that the races who possess darkvision were gifted it by the gods to ascend past fear and preserve their heritage by seeing even in the dark. It was young Sai who could not see, for the darkness that consumed him was the first of its kind. The fear that ran rampant through him began to numb his exterior. The one thing that he was able to parse the world with and make sense of everything around him was gone. Sight was his most powerful sense and from what he could feel, he was far from home. The world around him at first began to heat up, and he craved water. After some time he had never been more thirsty in his entire life. The arid atmosphere made him imagine that he was in a desert. He could feel the light from the outside world hitting his skin, but it did not feel like the sun. Everything around him was artificial, made to contain his spirit. Sai couldn't parse the very nature what was happening to him because his instinct had taken over in full force for survival. He must've gone for days without water and not until his body was drained down to his heart was he given a warm drink. The water was so obviously tainted with chemicals and scum, but it didn't matter to Sai, it was for his survival that he lapped up every last drop of it. Sai had felt the presence of his captors ever since he had gotten the sustenance his body required. The food he ate and the water he drank changed his mood, he was defeated on the inside and the outside. He felt like moving was a waste of energy and the need for escape was meaningless without sight. He felt that the cage he was placed in was a chamber designed to drain him of life itself, and it was working fast. He couldn't tell what time of day it was, nor could he tell where he was due to the ever-changing atmosphere around him. After they drained him of all the liquids inside of him the world around him became more and more humid. He went from craving water to desiring water for the sake of equilibrium with the atmosphere around him. Soon he couldn't think straight and all he wanted to do was hit his head against a wall to stop the faces in his head from bringing him to tears. The wet warm air around him made him uneasy, and he would occasionally pass out from exhaustion. His lifestyle was inefficient due to what he was given, his stressful expense of movement around his cell caused him to use more and more energy than necessary and he passed in and out of consciousness rapidly. He had fully lost his sense of time and kept seeing the people he loved flash into his mind trying and causing a rapid change in emotions. There were whole days where he would expend all of his energy crying and screaming outward until he was forced to drink water, only to calm down and seethe in the corner of his cell. He became quite accustomed to his environment, having knowledge of where all the food and water was. Eventually, he was stripped of his being. They took him out of his cell on occasion to do experiments on him, of which he did not remember. He just remembers a flash of light and then fading to black, only to awaken back into the same cell. Over time he forgot his own name. He was no longer an Elf, but a husk of a body for experimentation and testing, one whose every day was an exhausting fight to the bitter end, a fight that would always result in fatigue and anger. What felt like months later, he began hearing a voice in his cell. His head filled with machinations of the voice springing to life all around him. The voice wasn't talking to him though, he was disregarded like he was an object. The voice talked about reawakening him. With talk of Advancing stages and making use of prior plans. There was too much to think about, and the world around him turned to mush in the eyes of new stimulus. He began hearing degrading pitches around him, a constant dull tone in the back of his mind, piercing his thoughts and ideas. He was being displaced from his own intuition. His instinct was broken back into an animalistic complex only seen by the lowest forms of life. It was at this time that they began experimenting on him more often, he was being referred to as class 2. It meant nothing to him. The pain that he began to experience in the following experiments was absolutely traumatic, he began having flashbacks of people in pain. His mother, Zizi, Faen, Abraham, and the people of his village all being killed or dragged away. He only saw their faces in the background as he screamed. He no longer knew these people, but he had an intense emotional connection to them. This occurred for an unending amount of time it seemed, and as he sat in his chambers looking for ways to end it all, he could only wait for the next time he would be dragged back into that chair and prodded again for whatever they were looking for. His hope was lost and all he had left to give was the scream of agony before the torturers finally gave up on him. He was more exhausted than ever and was still malnourished. His cell began to get colder and colder. Expecting his heart to give out and him to freeze to death in his cell. The experiments ranged from acid to fire with all of the expectation that he would produce something more than a scream and foam at the mouth. Teeth missing, bones broken, skin burned in more ways than one. His body destroyed and malformed back together with the intent of him continuing on was the end of him. His skin was calloused from constant contact with a stone floor having not had touched something softer than molten leather in some time. He had thought they had gone through every creative form of pain-inducing trauma possible before they made a breakthrough. \page # Outrunning Himself The birth of radiance regards one who is protected by the gods, but when the knowledge of said gods is forgotten and left unforgiven, it makes one wonder what the purpose of these deities are. Having been prodded every which way, he had not felt the touch of the necrotic. Feeling the last bits of his soul drained from him, it struck a nerve. Like a fiery inferno, energy erupted from him. With the screams of his captors all around him, he could only see blinding light. After the light had subsided some he was left with red flames all around him and the dead bodies of the Imperial Humans that had been torturing him for what seemed like an eternity. In the corner of the room was a hazy figure, masked by smoke a shaken Dark Elf watched the figure rise from the blackened stone bed. He only managed to mutter a few words before the ceiling would collapse on him, those words were: *"A ne volo Saeros".* Those words in Undercommon translate to: *"Forgive the Devils."* and with that, Saeros was born. His body weak from the blast, his instinct began to kick into overdrive as the dulling tones and smells began to wear off. The chemicals in the food and water he had eaten had passed and all he could think to do was run. Immolated in fire he ran wildly around the complex searching for an exit. His mind and body had no time to collide, so his body just went. He fled with a trail of burning footsteps behind him. Bursting out of the complex he was met with more resistance than he could parse. It looked like an army was waiting for him outside, and they all wore the same armor as the one who took his father's life. Right then and there he had a flashback to that moment. His wild magic surged and he began to scream, only when he screamed, fire burst from his mouth like that of a Dragon's breath. The soldiers were incinerated as he ran from the complex into the woods. His speed was unmatchable and he escaped his pursuers for the time being. Saeros traveled on the road for some time. Narrowly evading Imperial patrols he found shelter in the homes of locals until he found his way to the ocean. Along the way, Saeros witnessed the atrocities that the Imperium had committed. The world that he now lived in was one in rubble and constant running. His body didn't feel lethargic or limited despite his over-use of energy constantly. He felt more alive than ever in the free world. The destruction and sadness that surrounded him didn't bother him and if anything made him more immune to their effects. Among the rubble of a war zone, Saeros found a small object about the size of a hand-crossbow. This object was a pistol. After taking refuge with a local tinkerer he got it repaired and in full working condition. Just a week later, he found a local marksman just off the road who managed to show him how to use the weapon and trained him the basics of the weapon. Saeros became quite skilled with the pistol, but never really had the chance to use it for more than an intimidation tactic. His travels led him into new regions where he met new people that taught him new and interesting skills. Because of Saeros' circumstances, he had to relearn nearly everything he was taught as a child. He was doing things wrong but was open to correction by the right people. He eventually learned enough to get by and most of his survival depended on stuff he didn't even know he knew. His connection to nature may have been severed, but he still retained some of the skills that he had done for many years, like riding a bike all over again. With his travels leading him towards whatever destiny awaited him, being led on by whatever had pushed him in that direction to begin with. He didn't wonder what had brought him to it, and why he didn't just turn around. Saeros was a man bent on doing rather than thinking. It worked so well for him in the past. The whispers of mist in his head brought some amount of contemplation, but he mostly didn't try to think about it. The mist kept him from getting too close to people, because it made him disagree with his methods. Those methods, which had already worked so well where he didn't want to squander his chances. There were several occasions where he could've just stayed with the family of a girl who fell in love with him while he was passing through, but his intentions were to continue moving no matter what. He kept seeing the face of the girl he used to know and it drove him mad. The world surrounding Saeros was not his own. He couldn't remember anything similar to it, as he was forced to forget everything regarding it. The magical residue left behind from the battlefields he visited were the most familiar. Could it be that the torture that he received was used for weapons testing and ultimately used in the heat of battle? He didn't try to think about it too much because the thought of his indirect contribution hurt his inner-soul. Someone who was already torn to shreds over everything and everyone had no presence of mind, just matter. Zizi called out to Saeros in his dreams and the closer he got to the ocean the more he felt her presence. Like a bad dream, he walked around wondering whether or not he really was alive. By the time he reached the coast he found the rocky shores amusing enough to explore. Saeros traveled along the coast for an entire day before he found a small cave in on the outward facing side of a cove. Inside this cave, he found a man on his deathbed, washed up from a shipwreck and slowly starving to death. The man described his life story in detail where he lived as a sailor who had been attacked by pirates and left to die after attempting to flee. He was merely a bystander in a conflict regarding a trade of little importance to the empire from what the man described. The world that this man began to describe was much different than what the others had described to Saeros in his travels. \page # A Pirate's Call Outside of the dead man's cove, Saeros continued mulling about the rocks. A nearby frigate was anchored nearby, and the symbol on the flag was a Goblin Jolly Roger. The pirates hailed Saeros and the whole crew appeared to be present. Their strength appeared to overwhelm Saeros, but he knew that he would be among one of the stronger contenders they have seen. "Doth ye know a man by the name of Barbaros 'er akin?" The pirates spoke unclean common, but Saeros didn't falter. "Barbaros is dead, I watched him die." The look of surprise on the pirates' faces showed a clear misunderstanding, but Saeros wasn't one to correct another's folly. They greeted him with open arms and asked him to join their crew, Saeros would accept and fly with a ship the world knew infamously as the Krenko. The Captain of the Krenko was a woman known as Red. Her wardrobe matched that of a pirate in every way, she had crimson hair that held back by her tri-cornered hat. An eyepatch completed her presentation and her demeanor could only compare to that of a Ratel. Despite the general hearty nature of everyone aboard the Krenko, Saeros took particular interest in the crew's medic. A Halfling priest of Avandra named Jillian. Jillian was the shyest member aboard and her curiosity for Saeros was painfully obvious. Saeros knew not what she saw in him, but his overall confusion had finally peaked his interest. He found a way to talk to her casually and asked her about herself. It was the first time that Saeros had ever asked about another person for his own personal gain. She responded and told him that she too was an individual plagued by the Imperium, but not all forms of resistance to the Imperium are good either. Her description of how she was basically forced to come work for the Krenko or die otherwise troubled Saeros, it was her lack of care for her predicament that told Saeros why she was interested in him. Saeros wasn't here to make friends or just be on a pirate ship, he very obviously had a mission. The life of a pirate is brutal when being sent to sea for so long. Saeros spent a year aboard that boat as a natural ship-hand but also coming in handy in fights. His initiative was truly inspiring, and it showed no greater than in the battle against the last of the Imperial Navy. In their last raid, an offensive against the ports of Dannenberg. The Krenko and a fellow pirate ship called Squee's revenge broke their way against the odds of 4 fully armed warships. Saeros immediately jumped aboard the enemy's lead ship and did battle with the Captain. Despite having backup, Saeros became overwhelmed by the combination of the number of sailors aboard with the sheer might of the Captain commanding them. In a fight to near death with all but two of the sailors remaining on the Captain's side, Saeros took a blow to the shoulder and was sent to the ground. Being pulled up by under his arms the Captain quickly slashed Saeros' right eye, leaving him nearly blind and in terrible pain. In that time he saw a flashback and went berserk. The ship sank from a massive tremor created by Saeros, and it was Jillian who would help bring him back, keeping him from death. Saeros was given a glass eye that nearly matched the one on his left, but in doing so he was cursed to see the visions of the past that were left behind. His world was once again a dream, and filled with the seething anger he once felt, he was off to finish what he started. \page

Approximate Page Count 22 | ~5600 Words

# Unfinished Business Zizi smiled and rested her cheek on his shoulder, her chuckle emanating through his mind with the scene of flowers and sunlight painted in the background of a warm summers day in the forest. "Are you ready? Come on let's go!" Her voice echoed through his mind like a bass drum. The tones he heard became dissonant as they overlapped each other from intense reverb and he awoke back into his dream. Saeros was in a war zone in no-man's land. Scattered among his allies his daydream found him resting against the ruins of a fallen building. As the last remnants of the Imperium fought with undying strength, the resistance was uncanny. Saeros had joined the Watchers to get revenge on the Imperium for all they had done, his hatred flowed hotter than any fire they ever ignited. The world still needed those who would fight to stop the Imperium no matter the cause, no matter the backing. Regardless of the rhyme or reason, Saeros was on the job. Saeros would take the life of every Imperium soul who dared to walk this earth, who dared to wear their sigil in honor, and not fear. "The world needs more heroes" the Watchers would say in orientation, but what Saeros heard was: "In order to find what you're looking for, you gotta take it like it's all you got." And he carried that. >#### Actual Chaotic Neutral Saeros is a good example of a character who falls into the Chaotic Neutral area. **A Pirate's Call** ties heavily into him not being a good person, and how he is also not a particularly bad person. On the other hand, **Outrunning Himself** plays into his chaotic side, and how when Saeros has a feeling, he goes with it. This also shows how Saeros isn't bound to anyone, and since **Felt Tip Dharma**, he has felt less and less for other people's problems. >#### The Next Step While Saeros has lost his need to learn from what's around him, he still has a lot to understand about the Imperium. If Saeros had to guess, it would be the Pathfinder Coalition who could allow him to get what he needs in order to finish the job.

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