Roll Slayers

Valimir Galenson, Savior of the Woodland Realm:

Valimir was born to an unknown elf couple 65 years ago. He never met his true parents. As a baby, he was left on the doorstep newlywed human couple, Galen and Claudia, with nothing but a piece of parchment with his name on it, and a crest, shaped like a star with two arrows through it. Together, they owned a farm, selling crops to a nearby village. When young Valimir was found on their doorstep, they did not hesitate to take him in and raise him as their own.

 

While being loved and constantly cared for by Galen and Claudia, his childhood was not without pain. Other children looked at him as an outcast, and he was never invited to join in with the rest of them. Additionally, his elvish blood caused him to stand out, both physically, and mentally. He was faster and smarter than every other child in the village. As a result of the bullying from the human children, he began wearing a hood to hide his elfish features. Not wanting him to be totally removed from his true heritage, Claudia went out of her way to make sure Valimir learned Elvish, so that he could one day return to his kinfolk. Valimir constantly pondered over his true parentage, and why he was left on the doorstep of two humans.

 

Galen and Claudia had one additional child, Jon, about 2 years after adopting Valimir. Jon always looked up to his older brother, and was Valimir’s best friend throughout childhood. The small family of 3 humans and one wood elf were happy. They did, however, always have in the back of their minds the fact that one day, they would all be dead, and Valimir would not even by a quarter of the way through his life span.

 

While an elf by blood, he follows human culture. He is considered to be a full grown man among his village, but if he were immersed in elven culture, would only be a child. He never married, and simply stayed at the farm, helping his family as he could. Jon had married almost 20 years prior and moved to be with his wife’s family almost 100 miles away. They visited with him from time to time.

At the age of 45, Valimir was heartbroken when his father passed away from a heart attack while tending to the crops. He became much more serious natured after that. His mother moved away from the farm to a small cottage, where she spent her time gardening. She is still very dear to him. Not long after his father’s death, Valimir’s mother called him to her bedroom. She immediately presented him with the crest that was found with him as a baby. He knew at that point his time had come. It was time for him to leave his human family behind, and to explore the world, and perhaps one day find his true parents. He would need skills to be able to survive the journey. His mother gave him her blessing, and he left with nothing but a sleeping bag and a fresh tunic to wear for the road. He promised his mother that he would return one day. He donned his signature hood, and left the only home he had ever known.

 

To acquire the skills he would need to survive, he went to a local paladin, Breomer, to seek out combat training. She immediately began training him in the use of broadswords and heavy armor. He lasted 3 days before realizing his elfish nature was not in power, but speed and agility. He once heard a story about a Ranger called Arnor, a half elf, who lived in the mountains not far from his home. He began travel once again until he reached Arnor’s home. Arnor, although stubborn at first, soon realized Valimir’s drive was much the same as his own, and began his training. Together, Valimir and Arnor trained for 8 long years, honing in on his craft. They practiced use of longbows, shortbows, swords, stealth, and even magic. Valimir completed in 8 years what would take a man 20 years to learn. His weapon of choice became a long bow, which he crafted himself from a nearby oak tree. Upon completion of his training, Arnor presented Valimir with a new cloak, and two short-swords crafted of pure steel.

 

Now, at the age of 54, Valimir was equipped with combat skills with no equal. He was ready to continue his journey. He continued travel Westward, where the majority of Wood Elves dwell. One day, while traveling down the road, he heard a shout from the forest alongside the road. Valimir, ever the protector, quickly drew his bow and ran into the woods. He came across a group of 6 men, soldiers by the look of their armor. As they quickly sprinted past him, with fear in the looks of their eyes, they said one word. Giant. Valimir had heard of the Great War that the raged in the North, but had never heard of it coming so far south. His first true test as a ranger had come. He looked forward with his keen elven senses and saw a massive black silhouette roughly 50 yards away in the woods. He knew his best chances would be to remain within the woods, using the trees as cover. He stood his ground, nocked an arrow, and released it. Although it took a direct hit, the giant continued sprinting towards him. Valimir no longer heard the clanging of metal from the soldier's armor behind him. He rolled sideways, and released another arrow, but this time, it missed, and the Giant had reached him. It swung a 15 foot tree it had ripped out of the ground at him. Valimir continued to dodge his attacks. After of roughly 10 minutes of simply dodging and defending, Valimir found his opening. The giant was tired. It’s swings began to slow. Valimir, with the precision of an elf, and ranger, took another shot at the giant, and placed an arrow directly in it’s eye. The giant instantly roared, and began stumbling around, until it crumpled over, lifeless.

 

At this point, interested by the roar of the giant, the soldiers returned. They found the giant on the ground, with Valimir laying starting a campfire next to it. In awe of one person taking down a raging giant, they invited him to their nearby camp. Although he much preferred being alone, he accepted their invitation. After arriving at the “small” camp, which consisted of over 500 troops, he was given a meal to eat. The soldiers told him of the war in which they were losing, against foreign invaders who fought alongside giants. They were in desperate need of help. They needed more “men”. At this point, Valimir realized that they the men of this army (which was comprised almost entirely of men) did not realize he was an elf, due to the hood he was wearing. After a bit more talk, Valimir retired to his tent, just 50 feet along with border of the camp. All night, he pondered what his father would do. Galen had always taught him to help those in need, but this was a completely different thing. This was war. Regardless, he found someone in need, and decided to do something about it. He joined the Army of Men the following morning.

 

Over the next 40 years, he gained a 2nd family. His fellow soldiers would become his brothers. He gained a fierce tenacity in battle, and gained a new respect for the soldiers who fought in these wars. Fighting in a battle was much different than a duel or hunting prey in the woods. He was offered promotions many times, but stopped accepting them after reaching Lieutenant, as he much preferred hands on work, rather than being a high ranking officer who rarely saw battle. His abilities in the battle eventually earned him the title of “Savior of the Woodland Realm”. The Great War had ended 5 prior, thus allowing him to retire, as his mission was complete. Overall, the Great War had lasted almost 50 years, and ended in the defeat of the foreign invaders, who were never allowed to return to this land.

 

Valimir had all but forgotten of the search for his family, as he had a new drive: the protection of this realm. He wasn’t even a close to halfway through his lifespan, and knew he had only lived but one life, and had many more to go. He spends most of his days traveling from town to town, and hunting in the woods, until his next adventure presented itself.