Ashton Wood

"You see, to be quite frank, the fabric of the universe is far from perfect. It was a bit of botched job, you see. And that's where I come in."
-Ashton Wood
== History ==
A gnomish time thief, Ashton Wood meddled in powers beyond his understanding, seeking knowledge and a thrill. Taking advantage of the chaos of the Demon Wars, he managed to acquire three time totems with the plan to use them with impunity - there was, after all, no one to stop him. His luck would run out after his recklessness brought him face to face with Tolumvire of Arendur. Having just wrought the destruction of Oranor in a terrible fit of madness, the increasingly unhinged archmage demanded that Ashton hand over the totems or swear undying service to him. Fail to do that, and he would be killed. Not wanting to part with his powers, Ashton agreed to become Tolumvire's apprentice. He would eagerly embrace mechanical augmentation at Tolumvire's suggestion, creating himself a cannon prosthesis. When Tolumvire departed to confront O'Rangus, the increasingly bored Ashton was left behind at the Tower of the Illuminated to learn the rudiments of arcane magic from the wizards there. 
== Personality ==
A thrill-seeker and adventurer through-and-through, Ashton Wood meddled with great power without concern for its implications. He was easily bored, and lacked a sense of consequences. Morality was a concern that simply did not register for him, not if it got in the way of his own personal empowerment. 
== War of the Philosopher-Kings ==
Having joined Tolumvire at Numorea and become his Mortal Sword, Ashton Wood - now better known as Ashwood - performed missions at the demon's lord behest. His presence was little felt, as his work took him to different timelines, but he was spotted fighting for the New Arendurians against the Final Empire, and for Aurum against his own kin against the gnomes of Skycity Alliance. 
== After the War ==
With Tolumvire imprisoned in Toranna's sword, Ashton Wood lost contact with his master. He made it his mission to track it down, and eventually came across Toranna. He tried successively to kill her, steal the weapon, or persuade her to give it up to him, but Toranna the Fateless was unbound by the laws of causality, and there existed no timeline in which she lost possession of the weapon. Though Tolumvire begged his daughter to relay orders to Wood on his behalf, Toranna steadfastly refused. The Fateless informed Wood that he could either go his own way, or pledge himself to her service. Unwilling to let the sword out of his sight, Ashton Wood swore to obey his master's daughter. He has remained with her since, and has found himself of the many followers of Emperor Kuldeep of Shangare. Category:Mages
Category:Illuminated
Category:Numorea
Category:Gnomes
Category:Shield Campaign
Category:Branch of the Word
Category:True Neutral