| Character
History
As far as high elves go, Len is quite typical
- pale golden-tinted hair, slanted blue-gray eyes, and angular,
finely chisled features. No visible scars mark his body, nor is
he ailed by anything apparent. He fashions the simple dress of a
woodsman, preferring the colors of green and brown. Len carries
himself proudly and gracefully, and with his hand never too far
from one of his blades.
Lhenath Jorali, or Len for short, grew up in a tiny elvish hamlet
in a forest known as Emory Wood. Probably the most important person
in his life growing up was his father, a ranger and the village's
protector. He taught Len the mechanics of swordplay, archery, and
woodcraft at an early age, for the day when Len would take over
as the hamlet's defender. Unfortunately, he would find this amiable
life cut short when a dark elf, along with a band of human warriors,
found the hamlet as they traversed through the woods and attacked
it with intent to loot it. Len got to watch his father in action
for the very first time that day, and marvelled at how he cut down
the invaders.. but just as it seemed that the day would be won,
the dark elf challenged him to a duel.. and Len bore witness something
no child should ever have to see: his father slain before his eyes.
As he fell, Len's mother rushed to his side, but fell before she
was able to reach him.. a throwing dagger in her chest. With that
one obstacle cast aside, the dark elf and his band sacked the hamlet,
and killed whatever fearful elves that got in thier way. Len managed
to escape the carnage by running far into the woods, but not before
he heard the dark elf's name, spoken by one of the human warriors:
'Zacronos'.
Len was found by a friend of his father's, a fellow ranger named
Rory, who had been on the trail of Zacronos and his band and had
come to investigate the sounds he'd heard in the night. Upon finding
Len, he didn't have the heart to leave the elf child to wander the
woods by himself.. and instead took him under his wing. Slowed down
by Len, Rory wasn't able to keep up with Zacronos' trail, and had
to abandon the hunt. Instead, he took Len to his own home deep in
the forest. The effects of Zacronos' actions had had thier effect
on Len, and he bade Rory to continue the teachings his father had
given him before he had passed on. Rory, knowing that Len had most
likely already vowed vengeance in his heart and would someday meet
Zacronos again, agreed. Through that teaching, Len and Rory's relationship
became that of best friends as well as teacher and pupil.
Years later.. Rory determined during his scoutings that the dark
elf had once again entered Emory Wood to stir up trouble. Deeming
this time that Zac was alone, he set out to find him, but didn't
tell Len that he was intending to do so - instead, he mentioned
that an orc raiding party was afoot in the woods, and that Len should
stay where it was safe. However, Len's curiosity got the better
of him, and he began to trail Rory.. using everything he'd been
taught to stay quiet and out of sight. Rory did indeed catch up
with Zacronos.. and Len arrived just in time to see Rory defeated,
not by sword blow.. but by a lightning bolt. Unable to contain himself
any longer, Len leapt at Zacronos.. but the dark elf tore into him
easily and left him for dead. It took all of Len's woodland knowledge
to keep himself alive and nurse himself back to full health. All
alone now, he saw himself as Emory Wood's lone defender.
A few years later, Len discovered once again that a party was making
its way through the woods. This time, it was being led by one Gunther
Rushmore. After trailing the party for some time and determining
that they were not hostile, Len approached them and inquired as
to what thier reason for being in the forest was. Gunther's answer
was simple - they were trying to track down a malevolent dark elf
by the name of Zacronos. His interest piqued, Len invited himself
along for the ride, and has been hanging with Gunther's party ever
since.
Despite the tragedies in his life.. Len is a truly kind-hearted
person, an elf of strong righteous beliefs and ideals. He is spirited
and energetic, and loves a challenge of any sort.. especially those
that put his fighting skill to the test. In fact.. if ever Len had
a failing, it would be his love of trying to defeat those stronger
than himself. Len's optimism and 'never-say-die' attitude towards
life is remarkable.. even when everything seems hopeless, Len will
continue looking for a better situation. Some would call him naive,
and perhaps with some truth to thier words; but the fact remains
that he would continue where others would quit.. always, anytime,
and every time.
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