Siegfried
02-04-14, 04:05 PM
Basics
Name: Siegfried Alfheim
Age: 227 Elven (Appears 32 in Human)
Race: High Elf
Hair Color: Long Black with natural Turquoise Highlights
Eye Color: Vibrant Hazel
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 185 lbs
Occupation: Bladesinger & Skyknight
Personality:
Determined, confident, and wrought with the horrors of Xem'Zund's wrath. His outward appearance is composed and steady, but the spiraling memories within create a fragile framework. Siegfried knows compassion but also believes in the lessons of hardship. He is dedicated, driven, and passionate. He has few vices, such as the fine wines of his homeland and the yearning for the affections of a lover. His instability beneath the robust facade has driven away all prior attempts at the latter.
Appearance:
Siegfried possesses poise from the nobility in which he hails. His roles in various branches of the Raiaeran military are also worn upon his posture and movements. Physically, his unique black and turquoise hair signify the traits of his family's origins and high elf purity. It is straight and falls between his shoulder blades. His skin has seen the daily sun of long patrols and marches. It is now a lush caramel color and has contradicted the public expectation of the typical High Elven porcelain. His body has seen the vigor of combat, the trials of survival, and the scars of loss. He is toned and hails a form envied by humans and elven alike, though nothing excessive to suite the fancy of orcs and dwarves. His amber eyes command attention with their array of colors mixed in the overall hue. They have an aura of unending determination to revive his homeland to its former glory and expunge the evils that taint it.
Skills
Way of the Sword:
Siegfried is an expert with the blade. He has seen training from various military branches of Raiaera: Bladesingers & Skyknights. His skills elude to a hidden potential yet to surface.
Way of the Spear:
Siegfried has intermediate knowledge of pole arms. He has been taught by the forces of the Skyknights. His training eludes to hidden potential, but this has yet to see the light of day.
Way of the Bow:
Siegfried has intermediate knowledge of archery. He has been taught by the forces of the Bladesingers. His training eludes to hidden potential, but this has yet to see the light of day.
Hand to Hand:
He is moderately skilled in unarmed combat. Raiaeran military teaches a judo style technique primarily focusing on returning a foe's attacks through manipulation of momentum. It is a tactic used to disable and disarm a foe so that a weapon or upper hand can be reestablished.
Language:
Siegfried speaks fluent tradespeak, but is also versed in all elven dialects including Dark Elf and Drow. He is also well versed in feral, a language used by keepers of the forests and certain forms of wildlife.
Enchanting:
Before the fall of Eluriand, Siegfried's family taught him some basic methods of enchanting. These enchantments are weak and can only be used limited times or for short durations. Further training will be needed to master permanent enchantments of any type. These enchantments are inlaid through direct conduit of the Tap through the ancient art of song magic and do not require traditional catalysts.
Survivalism:
During the chaos caused by Zem'Zund, Siegfried has been subjected to the elements on his own multiple times. Through trails and tribulations, he has taught himself basic herbalism, trap making, skinning, foraging, first aid, and tracking.
Fletching:
Siegfried has been taught the basics of bow and arrow crafting. He is able to construct basic longbows and recurves from oak, yew, and birch using animal sinew strings. This also applies to arrow crafting, and due to the simpler construction of the arrows, can work in all woods with the exception of liviols.
Musical Disposition:
Siegfried is an acolyte to the Song Magic of old. Though it has beneficial traits in battle, he is also inclined in various instruments for entertainment purposes. He is also a man of a unique and robust singing voice. These musical traits are rarely performed by him as they summon memories of a time lost to the atrocities of Zem'Zund. He can easily be compelled and drawn to excellent music so long as he is not participating. A woman that knows the ways of song and dance could easily become his kryptonite. Thus, if he seeks the paid company of the flesh, he leans towards gypsies and dancers.
Abilities
Megillion's Hum:
Song Magic: Channeling raw Tap through his body like a conduit, Siegfried enchants any weapon he touches with the ability to vibrate at a high speed. These weapons must remain in contact with him to maintain the enchantment. With blades, this ability allows lesser metals to cleave more easily. The skill renders bone with little effort and possesses enough strength to cleave iron and gouge steel. With Bows, the arrow is subject to the vibration and forces the air around the projectile to thin to a near vacuum. This increases velocity and range by double as the vibrations begin to dissipate from release. Since the arrows leave his grasp, they do not possess the same penetrating power as a spear or sword. They act as normal arrows in that regard. With pole arms, the piercing capability is increased to the same factor as blades. For hammers or bludgeons, the ability is primarily useless, only allowing the weapon to hum and deliver a clatter upon impact. This skill is draining on his body and he can only maintain the hum for 5 minutes. He must wait for 15 minutes or rest, without exertion, for 5 minutes before he can muster the ability again. This skill is also noticeably active during use, literally causing blades to sing, arrows to scream, and other weapons to hum.
Aurient's Percussion:
Song Magic: Channeling raw Tap through his body like a conduit, Siegfried can expel a large amount of force from a vambrace or shield. This is similar to a knock-back and will push air, and repel light projectiles. It lasts for bust a millisecond and if in close vicinity to the defensive object, it will deal the damage equivalent to a strong punch. This can be used 3 times in a battle with a cool down of 3 minutes per usage (meaning if used at the beginning of battle, then used again two minutes in, the remaining usage will be one until another minute has passed. Then this will become two and begin to count towards the next refresh). This skill is audible upon activation, causing a large boom or pop equivalent to a massive drum.
Galatirion's Rest:
Song Magic: This is a complicated ability that does not work in the cacophony of battle. Using the gift of the Eternal Tap, Siegfried begins to channel its direct energy into a being or object. This must also be combined with a musical song in High Elven. Combined together, the object being influenced will begin to purify. If said object or being is comprised of incorruptible darkness or evil it will begin to dissipate from existence. This ability is comprised of the most unstable school of Song Magic: Entropic Magic. By purifying an object, Siegfried is susceptible to dark influence and can lose his own soul to evil. His is aware of this taint upon his body and can purify its touch over time. To erase a being, he risks complete corruption. Recovery from which will be years. If Siegfried is corrupt, his Song Magic will be locked and unable to be used until he is purified himself by another. If the evils are too strong to contain within his mortal vessel, Siegfried will take it to the grave as a corpse. The purification is complete when the song is over (roughly 5 minutes) and Siegfried is rooted while underway. When this is successful without complete corruption, it is known to bring a complete silence and serenity to the world around him even if for a brief moment.
Equipment
Armour:
Ivory Linen & Silk Raiaeran Uniform of the Bladesingers trimmed in gold and silver.
Ivory Leather boots
Ivory Leather Vambraces inlaid with silver and gold highlights
Elven Iron Chainmail worn underneath the uniform.
Ivory Leather Belt to adorn his equipment
Weapons:
High-Elven Iron Longsword (http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/204/c/b/sword_4_split_blade_by_jdbagley-d58b56z.jpg) which is formed similar to a sword breaker or tuning fork and is an un-enchanted catalyst to his Song Magic
Miscellaneous:
Locket containing memories of his mother, father, and two sisters.
A gold key belonging to his family's razed home.
Legal Documentation of Rank in both the Bladesingers and Skyknights.
A spare obsidian uniform to memorialize those lost to Xem'Zund's armies
History
Siegfried was born into the nobility of the High Elves, specifically to one of the families haling from the small council of the High Bard Council. His father, Kahliel Alfheim, was the adviser to the higher council, specifically Lady General Nalith Celiniel. His mother, Ellyerial Alfheim, was a renowned seamstress and well known figure of pure High Elf heritage. In his early years, he and his family were raised in the great city of Eluriand. This flourishing pinnacle of elven ingenuity also saw his two younger sisters, Annaheim and Thisearia, into the world. As the family grew together, the children grew into their roles as nobility. They were taught etiquette, the history of their people, politics, economics, and morality. Kahliel took a special interest in his only son and together, when his political sway was not needed, they would venture to Timbrethinil (silver birch tree forest). There, he taught his young heir the skills of the hunt, the joys of fishing, the discipline of the blade, and carved numerous memories the boy would later hold dear. Barely the equivalent of twelve in human stature, darkness touched Raiaera.
The corpses of the dead began to walk the streets of Eluriand and all of Raiaera. The necromancer Xem,Zund began his onslaught which later was entertained as a "war", The Corpse War. Plague befell the elves, dropping the living into early graves only to rise with twisted magics and murder their loved ones. The horrors grew day by day and only because of the High Bard Council and their mythical Song Magics, were the Alfheim's saved from disease. Exponentially, the numbers of the walking dead grew, and no longer could the Swordsingers maintain control of the situation. Eluriand was the first to fall. Building were razed, people slaughtered to rise again, and as the Corpse Horde amassed, the entirety of the High Bard Council was forced to act. They staved off a relentless onslaught to allow the surviving people to flee to refuge. This chaos burned so vividly in Siegfried's young mind.
He remembers shouting, screaming, and sounds of battle. His father's shadow loomed above him while his mother tried to coral him and his sisters with the other refugees. His father donned the finest armor one could afford and bore the family crest. His shouts were drowned out by the cacophony of guttural roars from the hoard. Siegfried remembers his father's final songs, the manifestation of ancient magics used to hold off the slaughter as long as possible. As the distance grew between the boy and his father, he watched the bodies wash over him like a tsunami, and the beauty that was his Song Magic gave its final notes. This image burned into his mind, and Siegfried would find himself forever haunted.
Thanks to his father's heroics and the loss of most of the High Bard Council, the Alfheims fled to Eluceliniel, a villa fortified beyond a military barracks. Many refugees were crammed into unsuitable living situations. The elves, once a proud people with rooms fully lit by the sun and decorated with the gifts of nature, were now forced to live in cold walls with hardly enough room to lay. During these poor conditions, his mother took ill, namely from the loss of her beloved. In the dire conditions, Siegfried stepped up for his sisters and became their beacon of hope in the darkness. Their sanctum was soon plagued by the same forced that razed his home and the relentless assaults continued for days. The fortress held much longer that Eluriand, but it was no match for the ever growing number of Zem'Zund's army. The more men that felled in battle defending the living, the stronger the undead armies grew.
Their final night in Eluceliniel stirred the haunting images of his father's death and the corpses of friends turned demon. The horde breached the great walls that housed the tired people of Raiaera's capitol. The remaining Swordsingers and Skyknights held fast to provide the civilians yet another opportunity to flee. The memories were haunting, the sounds the same, and the images of the dead washing over the living like a wave would be the root of many sleepless nights for the boy and his family. Unfortunately, this scramble to safety claimed another of his kin. In the confusion and deteriorated health of his mother, Annaheim, the older of his sisters, was swept into the stampede of fleeing people. They made out with their lives, but once safe from the chaos, his sister was no where to be found.
After days of weary travel on foot, where the skills his father taught him helped keep his family fed, they arrived in Anebrilith. The scene was even more desperate than Eluceliniel and even the sky was thick with the smoke and ash of Zem'Zund's onslaught. The Corpse War touched all corners of Raiaera and the port city, known for its grand library, had become a cesspool of disease, hunger, and sorrow. Unable to force his way into the given shelters, and his mother falling apart at the seams, the Alfheims were forced to live in alleys. They used trash and scraps to stave off the ash-mixed rains and ward off the cold. The Corpse Horde would not rest, and only one month after their arrival, Anebrilith was under siege. As the dead began to walk the streets, the weary family was forced upon their feet. One member did not rise. Ellyerial, his mother, lay in the filth they were living in, shuddering with terror. She was immobilized by loss and paralyzed by inevitability. Try as he could, Siegfried's youthful frame was not able to move his mother. She lay there in tears as the madness grew around them. Siegfried cursed his weakness, but he would not let the dead claim his youngest sister, Thisearia. He fled from the chaos, only able to escape through his cunning, small stature, and limited skill in the blade. This venture caused great wounds to the boy, but he did emerge with his life.
One of the merchant refugee families discovered the pair during their own struggle to escape. Siegfried wounded and the girl gripped in horror, the merchant couple took them upon their cart and began an expedition northeast to Mirdan Timbreth. The boy fell to the cusp of death by the time they arrived, and was given to the limited medical staff on site. This, unfortunately, was the last time he would see his sister, Thisearia. He does not know if the merchants took the girl and continued their journey from Raiaera or if they were lost to the war. He may never know. This city, in the same poor conditions as the others that housed the remains of his people, stood fast. Untainted, the city knew not the wrath of Xem'Zund and the rumor of victory began to flutter in the air. The Forgotten one had been felled by the hands of the Anti-Firmament and the continued slaughter was over. The boy was a shell of his former self. What was once a proud member of nobility was a broken, scared, and alone.
He recovered, and so did Mirdan Timbreth. The remaining military, still fighting off the remains of the Corpse Horde, descended upon the city. They fortified it, helped build shelter for the regugees, and began training the willing in the ways of combat. Siegfried remembers watching the militia troops train from his infirmary window. Each day they trained and each day the scared, broken men of his people grew into proud soldiers. He saw their luster returned, and his nightmares, fears, and sorrows sought to know this reprieve. As soon as the boy was able, he enlisted.
His training lasted years, and he fought through the trauma of his losses. His struggles were greater than most, and his heritage was unknown to all. His skills lacked finesse and were fueled by rage. His mentor gave him special attention, realizing his potential to be greater than the boy realized. He taught Siegfried to close his mind to the past. He taught him discipline, reform, and to channel one's emotions carefully. His progress improved dramatically, and Siegfried was relocated to Beinost to continue his training. At this point, Beinost was only beginning to take shape and his skills in the militia were used to defend the workers from the stragglers of the Corpse Horde. During his stay, he caught the eye of Lady General Nalith Celiniel, leader of the people and General of the Swordsingers. She extended him the offer of training under her as one of her ranks, and Siegfried was more than willing.
This carried him to Winyaurient, the largest surviving city of his people. There, he trained under the guard as a Swordsinger. He was introduced to Song Magic and took to it exceedingly well. It was even noted that Siefried was exceptionally gifted. His songs, music, and magic overflowed with passion and emotion. His hidden anguish, torment, and memories of better times flowed through his notes and ultimately in his magic. Here, he became familiar with the High Elven Longsword in the shape of a swordbreaker. This tool was not only a blade, but a musical artifact, working much like a tuning fork. Siegfried built upon this concept and began to master a type of enchanting revolving around Song Magic. The tuning fork blade became a singing sword and its edge became known to cleave wood with minimal effort. The attention grew around Siegfried and he became a figure of respect and admiration. As his talents grew, so did his rank, until he too walked beside Lady General Nalith Celiniel.
Nalith and he took many ventures together. They grew to know one another, and Nalith soon found out that he was of Elven nobility. She remembered the Alfheim family, and their bond only grew stronger. As they ventured to the ruins of their lands to seek survivors, Siegfried was stricken with flashbacks. He became unstable as he visited the locations he once lived, and remembered the atrocities that occurred. Their lands were razed, his own home reduced to ash. The forest his father and he built memories in had been reduced to blackened sticks. From the rubble, he did acquire a single memento, the golden key to his family's estate. This object held strong meaning and to this day, the avenger carries it with him. After their rounds, Lady General Nalith Celinie suggested that Siegfried help her rebuild their nation. Without needing to be voiced, Siegfried had already committed to avenging his people and to purify the lands. Content is his resolve, Nalith commanded him to join the ranks of the Skynights for further training.
Siegfried journeyed to an outpost just outside the fallen Carnelost. The Skyknights trained here, making excursions to Rîn Ugarth (The Black Desert) to test their mettle against the remnant horde. During his training here, Siegfried harnessed the ways of the spear and bow. He was taught the proud elven art of boy crafting and fletching. His military skills were tested and refined. Using the training to harden his body, he also used it to strengthen his connection to the Tap. Although he hid his true abilities as a Swordsinger, he did advance and adapt the skills to all corners of his training. He made arrows sing through the air and strike targets no other could. He struck out with lance and spear so true it could pierce stone, and his blade, the most admired of all, could cleave armor as though it were clothes. In sparring, those that landed a blow were met with unprecedented force and repelled. Arrows could not hit him, and the boy had grown into a man of respect and admiration. His ranks within the Skyknights climbed and eventually earned him the title of Captain.
Now in command of his own troops, Siegfried took a brief leave to pursue his own soul searching. He left to look for any remains or hints of his family. This journey lasted several years, and he only emerged with a locked purchased off the merchants that saved his life all those years ago. They had told him of his sister being somewhere in Corone to which he has now taken residence. He searches for her while also continuing his search for strength to one day purify the blight from Raiaera.
Name: Siegfried Alfheim
Age: 227 Elven (Appears 32 in Human)
Race: High Elf
Hair Color: Long Black with natural Turquoise Highlights
Eye Color: Vibrant Hazel
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 185 lbs
Occupation: Bladesinger & Skyknight
Personality:
Determined, confident, and wrought with the horrors of Xem'Zund's wrath. His outward appearance is composed and steady, but the spiraling memories within create a fragile framework. Siegfried knows compassion but also believes in the lessons of hardship. He is dedicated, driven, and passionate. He has few vices, such as the fine wines of his homeland and the yearning for the affections of a lover. His instability beneath the robust facade has driven away all prior attempts at the latter.
Appearance:
Siegfried possesses poise from the nobility in which he hails. His roles in various branches of the Raiaeran military are also worn upon his posture and movements. Physically, his unique black and turquoise hair signify the traits of his family's origins and high elf purity. It is straight and falls between his shoulder blades. His skin has seen the daily sun of long patrols and marches. It is now a lush caramel color and has contradicted the public expectation of the typical High Elven porcelain. His body has seen the vigor of combat, the trials of survival, and the scars of loss. He is toned and hails a form envied by humans and elven alike, though nothing excessive to suite the fancy of orcs and dwarves. His amber eyes command attention with their array of colors mixed in the overall hue. They have an aura of unending determination to revive his homeland to its former glory and expunge the evils that taint it.
Skills
Way of the Sword:
Siegfried is an expert with the blade. He has seen training from various military branches of Raiaera: Bladesingers & Skyknights. His skills elude to a hidden potential yet to surface.
Way of the Spear:
Siegfried has intermediate knowledge of pole arms. He has been taught by the forces of the Skyknights. His training eludes to hidden potential, but this has yet to see the light of day.
Way of the Bow:
Siegfried has intermediate knowledge of archery. He has been taught by the forces of the Bladesingers. His training eludes to hidden potential, but this has yet to see the light of day.
Hand to Hand:
He is moderately skilled in unarmed combat. Raiaeran military teaches a judo style technique primarily focusing on returning a foe's attacks through manipulation of momentum. It is a tactic used to disable and disarm a foe so that a weapon or upper hand can be reestablished.
Language:
Siegfried speaks fluent tradespeak, but is also versed in all elven dialects including Dark Elf and Drow. He is also well versed in feral, a language used by keepers of the forests and certain forms of wildlife.
Enchanting:
Before the fall of Eluriand, Siegfried's family taught him some basic methods of enchanting. These enchantments are weak and can only be used limited times or for short durations. Further training will be needed to master permanent enchantments of any type. These enchantments are inlaid through direct conduit of the Tap through the ancient art of song magic and do not require traditional catalysts.
Survivalism:
During the chaos caused by Zem'Zund, Siegfried has been subjected to the elements on his own multiple times. Through trails and tribulations, he has taught himself basic herbalism, trap making, skinning, foraging, first aid, and tracking.
Fletching:
Siegfried has been taught the basics of bow and arrow crafting. He is able to construct basic longbows and recurves from oak, yew, and birch using animal sinew strings. This also applies to arrow crafting, and due to the simpler construction of the arrows, can work in all woods with the exception of liviols.
Musical Disposition:
Siegfried is an acolyte to the Song Magic of old. Though it has beneficial traits in battle, he is also inclined in various instruments for entertainment purposes. He is also a man of a unique and robust singing voice. These musical traits are rarely performed by him as they summon memories of a time lost to the atrocities of Zem'Zund. He can easily be compelled and drawn to excellent music so long as he is not participating. A woman that knows the ways of song and dance could easily become his kryptonite. Thus, if he seeks the paid company of the flesh, he leans towards gypsies and dancers.
Abilities
Megillion's Hum:
Song Magic: Channeling raw Tap through his body like a conduit, Siegfried enchants any weapon he touches with the ability to vibrate at a high speed. These weapons must remain in contact with him to maintain the enchantment. With blades, this ability allows lesser metals to cleave more easily. The skill renders bone with little effort and possesses enough strength to cleave iron and gouge steel. With Bows, the arrow is subject to the vibration and forces the air around the projectile to thin to a near vacuum. This increases velocity and range by double as the vibrations begin to dissipate from release. Since the arrows leave his grasp, they do not possess the same penetrating power as a spear or sword. They act as normal arrows in that regard. With pole arms, the piercing capability is increased to the same factor as blades. For hammers or bludgeons, the ability is primarily useless, only allowing the weapon to hum and deliver a clatter upon impact. This skill is draining on his body and he can only maintain the hum for 5 minutes. He must wait for 15 minutes or rest, without exertion, for 5 minutes before he can muster the ability again. This skill is also noticeably active during use, literally causing blades to sing, arrows to scream, and other weapons to hum.
Aurient's Percussion:
Song Magic: Channeling raw Tap through his body like a conduit, Siegfried can expel a large amount of force from a vambrace or shield. This is similar to a knock-back and will push air, and repel light projectiles. It lasts for bust a millisecond and if in close vicinity to the defensive object, it will deal the damage equivalent to a strong punch. This can be used 3 times in a battle with a cool down of 3 minutes per usage (meaning if used at the beginning of battle, then used again two minutes in, the remaining usage will be one until another minute has passed. Then this will become two and begin to count towards the next refresh). This skill is audible upon activation, causing a large boom or pop equivalent to a massive drum.
Galatirion's Rest:
Song Magic: This is a complicated ability that does not work in the cacophony of battle. Using the gift of the Eternal Tap, Siegfried begins to channel its direct energy into a being or object. This must also be combined with a musical song in High Elven. Combined together, the object being influenced will begin to purify. If said object or being is comprised of incorruptible darkness or evil it will begin to dissipate from existence. This ability is comprised of the most unstable school of Song Magic: Entropic Magic. By purifying an object, Siegfried is susceptible to dark influence and can lose his own soul to evil. His is aware of this taint upon his body and can purify its touch over time. To erase a being, he risks complete corruption. Recovery from which will be years. If Siegfried is corrupt, his Song Magic will be locked and unable to be used until he is purified himself by another. If the evils are too strong to contain within his mortal vessel, Siegfried will take it to the grave as a corpse. The purification is complete when the song is over (roughly 5 minutes) and Siegfried is rooted while underway. When this is successful without complete corruption, it is known to bring a complete silence and serenity to the world around him even if for a brief moment.
Equipment
Armour:
Ivory Linen & Silk Raiaeran Uniform of the Bladesingers trimmed in gold and silver.
Ivory Leather boots
Ivory Leather Vambraces inlaid with silver and gold highlights
Elven Iron Chainmail worn underneath the uniform.
Ivory Leather Belt to adorn his equipment
Weapons:
High-Elven Iron Longsword (http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/204/c/b/sword_4_split_blade_by_jdbagley-d58b56z.jpg) which is formed similar to a sword breaker or tuning fork and is an un-enchanted catalyst to his Song Magic
Miscellaneous:
Locket containing memories of his mother, father, and two sisters.
A gold key belonging to his family's razed home.
Legal Documentation of Rank in both the Bladesingers and Skyknights.
A spare obsidian uniform to memorialize those lost to Xem'Zund's armies
History
Siegfried was born into the nobility of the High Elves, specifically to one of the families haling from the small council of the High Bard Council. His father, Kahliel Alfheim, was the adviser to the higher council, specifically Lady General Nalith Celiniel. His mother, Ellyerial Alfheim, was a renowned seamstress and well known figure of pure High Elf heritage. In his early years, he and his family were raised in the great city of Eluriand. This flourishing pinnacle of elven ingenuity also saw his two younger sisters, Annaheim and Thisearia, into the world. As the family grew together, the children grew into their roles as nobility. They were taught etiquette, the history of their people, politics, economics, and morality. Kahliel took a special interest in his only son and together, when his political sway was not needed, they would venture to Timbrethinil (silver birch tree forest). There, he taught his young heir the skills of the hunt, the joys of fishing, the discipline of the blade, and carved numerous memories the boy would later hold dear. Barely the equivalent of twelve in human stature, darkness touched Raiaera.
The corpses of the dead began to walk the streets of Eluriand and all of Raiaera. The necromancer Xem,Zund began his onslaught which later was entertained as a "war", The Corpse War. Plague befell the elves, dropping the living into early graves only to rise with twisted magics and murder their loved ones. The horrors grew day by day and only because of the High Bard Council and their mythical Song Magics, were the Alfheim's saved from disease. Exponentially, the numbers of the walking dead grew, and no longer could the Swordsingers maintain control of the situation. Eluriand was the first to fall. Building were razed, people slaughtered to rise again, and as the Corpse Horde amassed, the entirety of the High Bard Council was forced to act. They staved off a relentless onslaught to allow the surviving people to flee to refuge. This chaos burned so vividly in Siegfried's young mind.
He remembers shouting, screaming, and sounds of battle. His father's shadow loomed above him while his mother tried to coral him and his sisters with the other refugees. His father donned the finest armor one could afford and bore the family crest. His shouts were drowned out by the cacophony of guttural roars from the hoard. Siegfried remembers his father's final songs, the manifestation of ancient magics used to hold off the slaughter as long as possible. As the distance grew between the boy and his father, he watched the bodies wash over him like a tsunami, and the beauty that was his Song Magic gave its final notes. This image burned into his mind, and Siegfried would find himself forever haunted.
Thanks to his father's heroics and the loss of most of the High Bard Council, the Alfheims fled to Eluceliniel, a villa fortified beyond a military barracks. Many refugees were crammed into unsuitable living situations. The elves, once a proud people with rooms fully lit by the sun and decorated with the gifts of nature, were now forced to live in cold walls with hardly enough room to lay. During these poor conditions, his mother took ill, namely from the loss of her beloved. In the dire conditions, Siegfried stepped up for his sisters and became their beacon of hope in the darkness. Their sanctum was soon plagued by the same forced that razed his home and the relentless assaults continued for days. The fortress held much longer that Eluriand, but it was no match for the ever growing number of Zem'Zund's army. The more men that felled in battle defending the living, the stronger the undead armies grew.
Their final night in Eluceliniel stirred the haunting images of his father's death and the corpses of friends turned demon. The horde breached the great walls that housed the tired people of Raiaera's capitol. The remaining Swordsingers and Skyknights held fast to provide the civilians yet another opportunity to flee. The memories were haunting, the sounds the same, and the images of the dead washing over the living like a wave would be the root of many sleepless nights for the boy and his family. Unfortunately, this scramble to safety claimed another of his kin. In the confusion and deteriorated health of his mother, Annaheim, the older of his sisters, was swept into the stampede of fleeing people. They made out with their lives, but once safe from the chaos, his sister was no where to be found.
After days of weary travel on foot, where the skills his father taught him helped keep his family fed, they arrived in Anebrilith. The scene was even more desperate than Eluceliniel and even the sky was thick with the smoke and ash of Zem'Zund's onslaught. The Corpse War touched all corners of Raiaera and the port city, known for its grand library, had become a cesspool of disease, hunger, and sorrow. Unable to force his way into the given shelters, and his mother falling apart at the seams, the Alfheims were forced to live in alleys. They used trash and scraps to stave off the ash-mixed rains and ward off the cold. The Corpse Horde would not rest, and only one month after their arrival, Anebrilith was under siege. As the dead began to walk the streets, the weary family was forced upon their feet. One member did not rise. Ellyerial, his mother, lay in the filth they were living in, shuddering with terror. She was immobilized by loss and paralyzed by inevitability. Try as he could, Siegfried's youthful frame was not able to move his mother. She lay there in tears as the madness grew around them. Siegfried cursed his weakness, but he would not let the dead claim his youngest sister, Thisearia. He fled from the chaos, only able to escape through his cunning, small stature, and limited skill in the blade. This venture caused great wounds to the boy, but he did emerge with his life.
One of the merchant refugee families discovered the pair during their own struggle to escape. Siegfried wounded and the girl gripped in horror, the merchant couple took them upon their cart and began an expedition northeast to Mirdan Timbreth. The boy fell to the cusp of death by the time they arrived, and was given to the limited medical staff on site. This, unfortunately, was the last time he would see his sister, Thisearia. He does not know if the merchants took the girl and continued their journey from Raiaera or if they were lost to the war. He may never know. This city, in the same poor conditions as the others that housed the remains of his people, stood fast. Untainted, the city knew not the wrath of Xem'Zund and the rumor of victory began to flutter in the air. The Forgotten one had been felled by the hands of the Anti-Firmament and the continued slaughter was over. The boy was a shell of his former self. What was once a proud member of nobility was a broken, scared, and alone.
He recovered, and so did Mirdan Timbreth. The remaining military, still fighting off the remains of the Corpse Horde, descended upon the city. They fortified it, helped build shelter for the regugees, and began training the willing in the ways of combat. Siegfried remembers watching the militia troops train from his infirmary window. Each day they trained and each day the scared, broken men of his people grew into proud soldiers. He saw their luster returned, and his nightmares, fears, and sorrows sought to know this reprieve. As soon as the boy was able, he enlisted.
His training lasted years, and he fought through the trauma of his losses. His struggles were greater than most, and his heritage was unknown to all. His skills lacked finesse and were fueled by rage. His mentor gave him special attention, realizing his potential to be greater than the boy realized. He taught Siegfried to close his mind to the past. He taught him discipline, reform, and to channel one's emotions carefully. His progress improved dramatically, and Siegfried was relocated to Beinost to continue his training. At this point, Beinost was only beginning to take shape and his skills in the militia were used to defend the workers from the stragglers of the Corpse Horde. During his stay, he caught the eye of Lady General Nalith Celiniel, leader of the people and General of the Swordsingers. She extended him the offer of training under her as one of her ranks, and Siegfried was more than willing.
This carried him to Winyaurient, the largest surviving city of his people. There, he trained under the guard as a Swordsinger. He was introduced to Song Magic and took to it exceedingly well. It was even noted that Siefried was exceptionally gifted. His songs, music, and magic overflowed with passion and emotion. His hidden anguish, torment, and memories of better times flowed through his notes and ultimately in his magic. Here, he became familiar with the High Elven Longsword in the shape of a swordbreaker. This tool was not only a blade, but a musical artifact, working much like a tuning fork. Siegfried built upon this concept and began to master a type of enchanting revolving around Song Magic. The tuning fork blade became a singing sword and its edge became known to cleave wood with minimal effort. The attention grew around Siegfried and he became a figure of respect and admiration. As his talents grew, so did his rank, until he too walked beside Lady General Nalith Celiniel.
Nalith and he took many ventures together. They grew to know one another, and Nalith soon found out that he was of Elven nobility. She remembered the Alfheim family, and their bond only grew stronger. As they ventured to the ruins of their lands to seek survivors, Siegfried was stricken with flashbacks. He became unstable as he visited the locations he once lived, and remembered the atrocities that occurred. Their lands were razed, his own home reduced to ash. The forest his father and he built memories in had been reduced to blackened sticks. From the rubble, he did acquire a single memento, the golden key to his family's estate. This object held strong meaning and to this day, the avenger carries it with him. After their rounds, Lady General Nalith Celinie suggested that Siegfried help her rebuild their nation. Without needing to be voiced, Siegfried had already committed to avenging his people and to purify the lands. Content is his resolve, Nalith commanded him to join the ranks of the Skynights for further training.
Siegfried journeyed to an outpost just outside the fallen Carnelost. The Skyknights trained here, making excursions to Rîn Ugarth (The Black Desert) to test their mettle against the remnant horde. During his training here, Siegfried harnessed the ways of the spear and bow. He was taught the proud elven art of boy crafting and fletching. His military skills were tested and refined. Using the training to harden his body, he also used it to strengthen his connection to the Tap. Although he hid his true abilities as a Swordsinger, he did advance and adapt the skills to all corners of his training. He made arrows sing through the air and strike targets no other could. He struck out with lance and spear so true it could pierce stone, and his blade, the most admired of all, could cleave armor as though it were clothes. In sparring, those that landed a blow were met with unprecedented force and repelled. Arrows could not hit him, and the boy had grown into a man of respect and admiration. His ranks within the Skyknights climbed and eventually earned him the title of Captain.
Now in command of his own troops, Siegfried took a brief leave to pursue his own soul searching. He left to look for any remains or hints of his family. This journey lasted several years, and he only emerged with a locked purchased off the merchants that saved his life all those years ago. They had told him of his sister being somewhere in Corone to which he has now taken residence. He searches for her while also continuing his search for strength to one day purify the blight from Raiaera.