Malcer ---- update
bio and info
well. here it is. long and winded but hopefully it will give you a full backstory.
thanks for being willing to play with me
Malcer Angalstrand, biography:
Diety: ex- Shar
Race: Human
Class/lvl: Rogue 4/Cleric 5/Shadowdancer 1
Neutral- Evil
Backstory:
Malcer Angalstrand was 11 years old when he killed his first man. Actually, the person he killed was a youth no more than two years older than Malcer himself.
The day had started much like any other for Malcer. The only unwanted son of a streetwalking whore, who at least had the good enough fortune to have her miserable life come to and end from the bloodfever when her son was 3, Malcer awakened in the worst neighbor in Luskan next to his aunt Kulsa on the thin palette they shared in small room next to a decrepit blacksmith’s shop. It was Kulsa who had seen Malcer this far, making her best effort to feed and clothe the lad while she herself barely subsisted as a domestic for the blacksmith’s family. It was also Kulsa that kept Malcer from being entirely alone on the face of Faerun.
It had been eleven years of hard existence. Although Malcer, now over 30, had killed many more men in the time that had passed since that day in 1359, he could still recall vividly the details of his first murder.
The wind howled along the dirty pier and pushed up a spray of bitterly cold sea water into the air. Soon there would be hardly any ships coming in and out of the port of Luskan as the long winter started in. The young boy, rail thin and dirty, gathered with the urchins at the dock, awaiting the newly moored galley to disembark its passengers. Each desperate lad hoped for alms or an easy pocket to pick.
Malcer saw the man first. A strange sight, this foppish noble dressed all in purple trying not to soil his soft leather boots as he walked the thin planks onto the pier. Malcer knew this one might be a good mark and rushed to be the first to close on the dainty fellow. He was within two paces when he heard the man chuckle dismissively and mutter something about rats while reaching into his pocket. From it the noble pulled a small gem and tossed it behind him into the oncoming group of children, the glint of red catching some light and making Malcer’s eyes go wide. It came right toward him. His pulsed raced as the gem lofted through the air as he knew that this boon could feed himself and his aunt for most of the winter. Perhaps they might even afford some extra coal for the small stove that fueled their meager home…….He caught the red gem, enclosing it in his small hands. He hurried to the end of the pier with the plan of immediately heading for home. He crossed into a small alley that many of the urchin children used that connected to Brotherhood Ride, main thoroughfare into Luskan.
Suddenly, into his path stepped Fulin Chelsea, a stocky, pock-faced orphan who at age 13 was already the leader of a small group of young thugs. Two other boys stood behind Fulin. The youth must have witnessed the events on the pier because older boy fell upon Malcer immediately, striking him with a piece of hefty wooden plank. After a few moments, one of the blows landed on hard on his face, drawing a flow of blood and knocking Malcer to the ground. As he fell, his grip on the gem failed. Malcer could hear the coarse chuckle of Fulin Chelsea as he took the red stone. Malcer’s eyes were tearing but filled with hate as one more blow landed across his back, pushing the wind from his lungs and landing him face down in a mix of garbage and slush. As Fulin walked off laughing he couldn’t have know he was about to have his last night of life………
As night fell over the Sword Coast port city, Malcer Angalstrand returned home. He entered the adjacent blacksmith shop and took a heavy mallett hammer from the table. He spent that night out in the chill of the little alleyway, the cold wind biting through his thin coat. Just as dawn came, Fulin walked into the alley on his way to the docks. As the boy passed by, Malcer stepped up from behind and landed a blow with the hammer squarely onto his head. There was a sickening crack of bone as the older boy fell to the ground. He was likely dead from the first blow, but Malcer Angalstrand, eyes wide with hate, landed some twenty more strikes that beat Fulin Chelsea’s face into an unrecognizable mess of blood and fragmented bone.
Malcer looked at boy for the just a moment before rifling his pockets and retrieving the gem. It took all the strength he had to drag the dead lad unnoticed to the end of the pier and toss him into the violent waters never to be seen again.
So it was done. Malcer and his aunt had solid foods that winter and a warm home. As he grew older he found thieving and thuggery easily justified. Although a small young man, he relished in brawling. Often times he would win, others not, but he grew harder and more tenacious as time went on.
Near the age of 17 Malcer had another encounter that would change the path of his life forever. Malcer was involved in a fight outside a notrorious tavern in the city. Two men assaulted him for his coin purse. It was in this fight that a blow to the left side of his cheek would leave him with a permanent disfigurement, partially paralyzing his face. The two men landed blow after blow, yet Malcer would not yield. Unknown to him, as he fought he was coincidentally noticed by Palker Harrintin, head of one of the most brutal gangs of organized criminals in the land with ties to the Shadow Thieves. Harrintin, unknown even to his closest confidants, was also a worshipper of Shar. As Malcer finally lost consciousness he was being studied by more than just the two thugs.
The crime boss was amused at the ferocity, even in the face of obvious defeat, of Malcer Angalstrand. As he looked at the young man he saw a moldable resource. He immediately decided to bring Malcer into the fold of Shar………..but it would take time.
Malcer was still recovering his wounds from the savage beating when a sealed envelope came to his home, making an offer of employment, lucrative and secret. His face still swollen and bandaged he made the appointment at the deserted warehouse where he met Palker Harrintin for the first time.
The two were quickly a good match in personality. Malcer made good coin and learned a more subtle way to ply his trade. It was Harrintin that taught Malcer to use the shadows to strike, to run numbers, and to extort monies. In but a few years time Malcer had earned the respect of the boss and was one of his chief lieutenants. Harrintin also had designs on Malcer beyond his crime schemes. He wanted his for service to The Lady of Loss.
During this time Malcer made sure that Kulsa, who had now grown infirm, had a nice home and good food at all times. He rationalized the crimes and killings as justified and necessary for their survival. Things were going well.
It was then that his mentor, Palker Harrintin, sought to draw Malcer into the fold. He noted that the young man had only one true emotional connection…. to his aunt. Harrintin knew that it would take a huge loss to drive Malcer into the arms of the Dark Goddess. Palker secretly contracted with a rival gang to murder Malcer’s aunt Kulsa in brutal fashion.
When Malcer came home to find the only person who he had ever truly cared for decapitated in her bed, he was devastated. When he approached Harrintin with news, the boss was sympathetic, holding the young man as he broke to tears over the loss. Harrintin, always appearing to be a mentor and supporter to Malcer, made arrangements for him to be attended to by clergy of Shar at no charge, of course. Over the months of meeting with the clerics Malcer became absorbed in the loss of his Aunt. He was slowly indoctrinated into the ways of the Sharrans.
He was finally brought fully into the fold with a show of power and aid in revenge. The priest of Shar located Kulsa’s killers. On a dark, moonless night they offered blessings to Malcer and bade him to go forth and destroy the men. With the strength of three men and skin hardened like stone, Malcer entered the dirty safehouse where the men were sleeping. Two awakened as Malcer beat them with a club, but their blows were futile against the spells of the Sharran priests. Without even a scratch Malcer was able to kill all three of the men. The memories of his aunt Kulsa filled his mind as continued to club the corpses long after the life had been extinguished from them. As the spells waned and fatigue set in, Malcer looked around the room. The floor was thick with blood and fragments of bone stuck to the wall in a gruesome display. Simultaneously sickened and fascinated by the awesome powers bestowed upon him by the clerics of Shar, Malcer Angalstrand vowed to learn all he could of this mysterious goddess.
In a few weeks time he was boarding a ship down the Sword Coast to Waterdeep at the behest of the Sharran clerics of Yartar. There they said he would find others who would foster him in the faith.
BEGIN GAME:
On his very first day in Waterdeep, Malcer made it to the plinth and sought the small shrine of Shar. It could not have been easier. As he introduced himself to the priestess in the plinth, the woman scrutinized him. She then cast some spell of power that somehow allowed her to determine that Malcer was truly meant for service to the Mistress of the Night, although he still knew little of her rites. He was brought secretly to a gathering in hidden spot in the city of Waterdeep, where followers of Shar had gathered from across Faerun. He made preliminary connections and was instructed on the importance of having their faith hidden to the common eye.
Having some experience with business, Malcer hence decided to take on the persona of a traveling tabac merchant. He would find some place ripe for the work of his Dark Goddess and await further instruction from the clergy…………………
IN GAME DEVELOPMENT:
10-12/2005:
Malcer has become active in the Sharran church in Waterdeep.
2/2006:
He recently was hugely successful in his 48 hour "Trial of Meditation" and became an acolyte of Shar. During this time he actually was directely contacted by the goddess and given encouragement ( rolled a 00 ! whoo hoo! )
He has begun to frequently speak and ask questions about Waukeen, realizing that he may not be able to keep his divine powers hidden forever. The cover of a convert to the clergy of Waukeen seems plausible given the fact that malcer is known to be constantly working business deals.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar (leading the Sharran Church in WD) has given him intructions to watch closely the activities of the other churches, particularly in relation to attempts to return the God Myrkul to life.
3/2006:
Idle Hands tabac shop opened near Westbridge. This provides both a stream of income and an excellent “cover story” for Malcer as a salesman.
4/2006:
The Sharran church of Waterdeep begins to crumble. Members have begun to die or disappear. Others are suspected of losing faith or betraying the Church. It is a time of suspicions and innuendo.
5/2006:
On the run (part one): On Malcer’s first trek South of Waterdeep to Daggerford he is attacked. Fyevarra along with her accomplice, Stan Arndt. Somehow they have been informed that Malcer is Sharran.
The next months are spent in hiding and trying to find the source of the leak. Leading suspects include Esschen before his death as well as Triel. Vanrak has instructed Malcer to keep a close eye upon Triel the priestess and to report any suspicious behavior. Other possible threats include Amyier W. and Ashele D’vreise
6/2006:
The betrayal of Triel: Malcer is called to the Sharran Temple in Waterdeep for an audience with Lord Vanrak Moonstar. Triel/Nawen has left the sharran church and is no longer considered faithful. She is to be brought back to the Temple in Waterdeep immediately. Malcer encourages anyone he can to pursue the renegade Triel/Nawen by naming spreading word of a Waterdhavian bounty and warrant for her arrest, as well as stressing Triel’s drow bloodline.
7/2006:
Triel is killed by the elves of TLR using some mind control magic. Before her death it is rumored that she revealed the names of all the members of the Sharran Church in the region as well as the location of important meeting places and shrines.
With Moristan Scarlet recently departed for the underdark, Kail and Malcer begin to think of means to survive, and possibly even thrive, under the new conditions of open exposure……………………………..
8-9/2006:
Kail Onifet is dead. Gone. The last of surface agents of the Nightmaiden has simply disappeared, leaving Malcer a wanted man alone. Malcer consults with the church of Shar and a desperate plan is contrived. Malcer will slowly begin to send messages to those around him that he has plans to leave the Church of Shar and return to Waukeen again. Taking advantage of Kail’s disappearance and pieces of conversation Malcer had with the blackguard before his absence, Malcer begins to spread a lie as follows:
Malcer Angalstrand is not sharran by choice. After falling in battle, his corpse was taken Kail Onifet to a Church of Shar and, through profane magic, he was given a choice to return to life only if he would serve the Nightmaiden. This servitude would be enforced by ripping off a portion of his soul and storing it in an obsidian gem. Should he fail in his assigned tasks, there would be harsh repercussions. (Malcer commissions n amulet to improve his ability to lie fluidly).
Malcer lets it be known he has left Shar. He begins to be attacked by supposed agents of Shar in order to bolster his claims of exile. He pretends to longer have access to divine spells, as the Nightmaiden has cut him off from her “blessings”. He tells friends that he plans a long absence, hinting that he needs to retrieve his soul (he is actually on a extended assignment into the sword mountains to recover Kail’s sword, an important artifact to the sharran church).
Malcer discovers that his obsidian gem is held in a special enclave past a portal to the plane of shadow. Risking all, he infiltrates the shadowly hold and steals back the gem that holds his soul. Destroying the gem, Malcer finally frees himself from service to Shar. The passage through the portal, however, has affected his spirit, and fused him in some odd way to the Shadowrealm. (The ability to Dance the Shadows is actually a great blessing given by the clergy of the Church of Shar for dedicated service)
Finally free, Malcer is however, distraught to learn that Waukeen no longer blesses him and denies him spells. He seeks to redeem himself to the Merchant goddess and again receive her blessings.
10/2006 --12/2006
Malcer has little else tying him to Triboar or Waterdeep. He needs to find a new place to serve the Dark Mistress…… a place where his reputation is not sullied. His new cover will remain that of a traveling merchant to those that do not know his sharran “past”. If pressed he will tell the story of his salvation from Shar and try to convince those doubtful of him that he is a new man.
This time, Malcer Angalstrand will not hesitate to take steps to quickly eliminate those that threaten his ability to do the lady’s bidding.
12/2006 addendum: While traveling through the village of Daggerford, Malcer meets a halfling peddling a pouch full of keys, supposedly recovered from the body of a beautiful woman found dead on the road. Always interested in a bargain, Malcer looks over the wares and notices one name engraved on a number of the keys…….Ash. Asheley D’vrise. This was the women that many of the sharrans had said was responsilble for disintegrating the Waterdhavian cell. He buys the keys from the halfling and that night sets North again for Waterdeep. ……… using the keys he has found, Malcer hunts for days for a sewer entrance near the Yawning Portal that leads to some underground lair which he had once heard was the secret underground hideout of The Forsaken,a group with whom Ash had been affiliated. Malcer soots his face, casts as many enchantments as he can and enters the secret lair. He kills everyone there and quickly rummages a chest and a bulletin board of important records, sneaking off again into the shadows.
1/2007 to 2/2007:
Arrival in the Dalelands. Some of Malcer’s old foes who know a bit too much about his past seem to have ventured East as well. His hopes of quietly settling into a place of shadow using the merchant cover will be more difficult than expected.
3/2007
4/2007
5/2007
6/2007
7/2007
8/2007
Sept-Oct 2007: Disillusionment
Malcer has become increasing dissatisfied over the last year with his life and his role within the Sharran Church. Since departing the west, there has been little interaction with any members of the faith. Those interactions he has had both in the Dales and in Selgaunt has been dismissive or belittling to Malcer’s view of his own rightful rank in the Church of Nightmaiden.
In Selgaunt, his initial introduction to the sect was cool at best, being told that he would “be summoned when his services were required”. This is a far cry from the promises he was given as an acolyte when he heard the Nightmaiden’s true voice in his ear, confirming to him that he would be made to be of the most favored of Her Church.
In the Dales, it seemed to Malcer that he was being sidelined from the important activities of the Church, forcing him to marginal status. Again, this led to his further dissatisfaction with the Sharran cell.
With the death of the only non-undead Faithful of Shar he had met on a year’s time Malcer finally came to the notion that perhaps he was no longer among Her most favored Father Nights or worse, perhaps the power of the Church of the Nightmaiden had waned severely. Malcer Angalstrand had been faithful for nearly a decade, working faithfully and diligently to ascend in the ranks of the Church, acting as he was directed, doing what he was told................................in his mind he began to entertain the notion that it had all been for naught.
November 2007: Faithless
It burst out of him like a damn. The years of disappointment and rage that had been directed at the outside world now turned inward on the Nightmaiden and on himself. Almost without warning Malcer renounced the Shar in angry prayer, turning his back in one great gesture, destroying his room furnishings in the Old Skull Inn.
Since that night, Malcer has not even attempted to pray for spells. He knows in his soul they shall not be granted. His sleep is limited, with fitful visions of Vanrak Moonstar and various incorporeal shades filling his dreams. The lack of sleep has left him listless, dull, and physically weakened.
He has abandoned the ruse of being Waukeenar, giving up his vestments and holy symbol. He merely wanders without goals, figuring it meaningless to plan for the future now in any way…..death will likely soon come.
. 
