Baelaria Tareis
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Born to a wandering family of bardic Moon Elves, Baelaria grew up as much on the trail as in town, since they never stayed settled for more than a few years before moving on. He learned many things along the way such as song and dance, though his creative talents were a bit lacking in poetry and such, which was something of a disappointment to his relatives. That may have been part of why he never truly felt at home with them, and often wandered off on his own for a few seasons at a time as he matured.
Ambushed one day while picking flowers on such a venture, Baelaria was challenged by a half-elven bandit named Rin Masyrn to a duel, with the loser giving up their purse's contents. Little did they know what was truly at stake that day, however, for though they battled until the stars appeared, neither could overcome the other. At last, all their energy spent, Baelaria and Rin fell to the ground in exhaustion, where the good-natured rogue made a suggestion between gasps for air, that they would continue their match in two weeks. Baelaria agreed to this proposition, for the charming, witty fellow had made quite an impression upon the elf.
Soon enough, they met once more in the flower-laden field in the fading warmth of twilight, and though each had struggled and trained with nary a pause, still their match remained unfinished once again. When their light-hearted jibes and twirling weapons finally finished, they agreed to meet under the light of the full moon for their third bout, vowing that until it was finished, neither could move on.
When next the moon shone bright as it climbed into the endless starlit sky, they came together once again under its watchful gaze on this holy night to do battle. Before they began the night's activites, however, Baelaria suggested that perhaps raising the stakes would inspire them both to fight to their limits and beyond, and offered that the winner should have a single wish granted to the best of the other's ability. The rogue agreed with great delight, for Baelaria had impressed him as well with his smiling retorts and martial cunning.
And so it was that their final battle commenced as the stars bore witness to their heated exchange. Long they fought, though this time without the banter that had marked their former battles, their conflict seeming more a dance than a fight by this point as they weaved and dodged, struck and parried. In the deepest hours of night, as exhaustion began to claim them once more, Rin inadvertantly stumbled into a rabbit hole, and though Baelaria allowed the opening to pass without striking, Rin was slowed by the injury, which eventually allowed the other to smite him greatly and strike him to the ground.
Heaving great lungfuls of air as he knelt beside the half-elf he had fought so hard against, he confirmed their bargains, and confessed his blossoming love to Rin, along with his wish for a chance to win Masyrn's heart. Great was his delight at the smiling rogue's response, for the bandit said that it was already his, and had been since they fought under the stars for the second time. Thanking whatever Powers had brought them together, Baelaria collapsed beside him then, and they lay like satisfied lovers as the night faded, until the day arrived and saw them head for home.
Together they built a new life, and settled for years at a time in various communities. While Rin still spent much of his time gambling for purses with passerby when not keeping house with his beloved, Baelaria got involved with the Paramours of Hanali, for he had come to the opinion that love conquers all, and that he was indeed blessed to be so fortunate as to have found love. So it was that he took tutoring at the hands of the clerics, and learned the ways of Lady Goldheart, that more of the world may know the joys of love and the beauty found within and around it.
But as is the way of things, age caught up to the half-elf, and Rin grew too old for his gambling games. Their lives quieted down for a while, and Baelaria slowly became more of a caretaker than a lover, until finally his beloved Masyrn passed away into the realms of the Seldarine. The loss hit Baelaria hard, but the slow decline and Celanil's teachings had helped him prepare himself, and he recovered fairly quickly, though his thoughts turned often to those cherished days and always shall. After spending several years polishing his understanding of Hanali and her ways, he left a final bouquet of flowers upon Rin Masyrn's resting place beneath the eaves, and went forth into the world at large once more to help others find their own happiness in love.
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PC: Baelaria Tareis
IGN: By the Sea and Stars
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Reviewed, XP Pending!
