Illinois

Illinois is a Reborn Witch from the settlement of refugees that fled the Empire of Eskarya. He is a traveling companion of Myrtle, having been discovered by the Bard as an allegedly lifeless corpse on the side the road before spontaneously returning to life before his eyes.

## Biography

It all happened at once. The pain of the pecking, the endless pecking at his chest. He shooed the bird away and turned to find life restored to him. But this world seems so unfamiliar. It’s nothing like the world in his memories.

Luckily, his new friend was nearby - Lucillien, or Myrtle to many others. They’ve been traveling together ever since.

### Adventure Hook

Armed with a book they can’t read and a map of a land they don’t recognize, Illinois searches for answers to where his few worldly possessions came from.

### Settling in a Location

Illinois and Myrtle eventually settled down in a fledging town known as Freehearth. It was discovered that certain people in the town often go foraging on adventures with mercenary work. Myrtle was the first of the duo to take up the work, though now they both go out rather inconsistently.

Illinois does not hide his nature (or lack of) from those he travels with, oft informing them that he is a walking, talking corpse with no recollection of their passed life.

### Great Beginnings & Goats of Terror

During Illinois' first outting with a foraging party, the group responded to calls of distress from a village nearby Freehearth. On their travels, the group came across another. This group were worshippers of Zitus. Illinois sat and spoke with a member of this group named Brida, sharing with them his own Religion in the worship of Morrígan. Illinois was given a charm of Zitus by one of the zealots and the group parted ways.

At the village, Illinois determined that the attack would come at Sundown. Ilinois used his superior vision and high ground to give call outs of danger during the battle, but was eventually cornered by a demonic goat creature and beaten into unconsciousness, but lived through the battle. His unconscious form was brought back to Freehearth by Ered.

### Riddles of a Second Outing

Illinois would not venture from Freehearth again for several months, taking time to heal his wounds. When he did, the group encountered a strange man guarding a bridge, speaking in riddles and demanding tribute. Illinois offered coin and a poem, resulting in the man grabbing Illinois. Illinois used his Spyglass to discover the man is truly undead. Ana was able to set the old man's soul to rest and he disappeared in the night.

Later, the party arrived to a village, finding it settle by Zitus worshippers. Illinois managed to use his previous encounter with Brida and the token of Zitus he had been given by her to parley entry into the village for the party. They discover that the Church of Zitus has split, with a more radical band crusading to the North. These crusaders arrive shortly after and the party engaged them in combat, with Illinois providing support without doing much damage. The party holds the line and the crusaders retreat

### The North Lands

The very next month, Illinois set out on a scouting mission to find out what lay to the North of their settlement. Seemingly far more dangerous than anything they had encountered before, the party was quickly set upon by a woman looking to seemingly kill the spell casters of their party. The battle did not go their way until Killian stepped up and used his connection to this woman to stop the fighting. Though he spared the party, Illinois and the others became wary of Killian for the rest of the trip.

As the group continued on, they increasingly found themselves avoiding combat encounters seemingly too tough for the party to handle. Resting for the night, Illinois offered to help Alzara speak with Killian about the events of the day, but was rebuffed. After a second day of travel, during which Illinois lead the party for most of it, Illinois was approached by Cecilia. The Savant was curious about Illinois' innate abilities to lead people through vast territories and the duo spoke for sometime on the matter. This conversation eventually turned personal, with Illinois discussing his lack of a past, finding a kindred spirit in Cecilia. Illinois showed the girl his book of unknown words, with Cecilia informing Illinois that it is written in a form of Druidic, but she cannot read it. Illinois is amused at the thought of being a skinchanger in a former life.

Continuing on for a third day, Illinois was briefly taken by a strange trance, but the party broke him out. They eventually came across a massive mobile home built upon a large mollusk. Illinois and the party investigated, discovering the aftermath of a brutal attack. Rescuing a cocooned woman identifying herself as Molly, the party cut their losses and decided to retreat back to Freehearth, finding the North too dangerous for them at this time.

### Bridges, Boulders & Birds

Illinois joined a group travelling to defeat a Hydra-Eagle some local peasents had raised an alarm on. This party consisted of some of his close friends such as Pickle, Alzara, and Cecilia. They came across a Halfling man who was concerned with the dangers of bridges, scaring the Witch boy quite a bit. He mostly spent the journey conversing with Cecilia as Alzara and Raisuboi lead the party. They were stopped at a pass by Vulture-riders. Illinois convinced the party to double back and find another way up the mountain. They eventually parted ways with the Halfling after a battle and found a strange man calling himself a God at the summit. Pickle engaged the false God in single combat, slaying the man. However, he was reborn almost instantly and the rest of the party had to engage with Pickle to defeat him. Illinois did fierce combat with a vulture-creature following, felling the man with the assistance of Raven III. He watched in awe and cheered for Pickle after defeating Trechend again. Illinois claimed a magical item known as the Carrion Shroud, enabling the corpse boy to fly.

## Friends

### Myrtle

The High Elf Bard Myrtle is Illinois' oldest friend and traveling companion. Myrtle found Illinois' body laying perfectly still underneath a tree on the edge of a wood with a crow picking at his chest. Myrtle sang the corpse a song, seemingly to rouse the body as Illinois sprung to life when he finished his lament for the boy. Despite the horror of the sight before him, Myrtle found Illinois to be a soft and nice companion, and the duo began to travel together.

### Cecilia

The Half-Elf Savant Cecilia became one of Illinois' closest friends during the travels from Freehearth. Illinois appreciates Cecila's own lack of a past, feeling a closeness to her because of it. He appreciates that she seeks his knowledge, as he does not consider himself quite intelligent due to his background. He has promised Cecilia his help in uncovering her own past in exchange for help uncovering his. During the expedition to find and kill a Hydra-Eagle, Illinois and Cecilia teamed up often in combat, looking out for one another and covering and recovering each other. They were often overwhelmed by stronger enemies, but got survived the battle. They also kept each other company during the more calm moments of the journey and were usually next to each other during group discussions.

### Pickle

The Kobold Warlock Pickle has been one of Illinois' most steadfast companions during his stay in Freehearth. Pickle and Illinois often have the most intelligent of conversations, discussing current events at Freehearth and discoveries made on the road. Illinois also tries to help Pickle overcome his own insecurities and presumptions about others, including those about worshippers of Zitus, whom Illinois has become close with. Illinois often corrals Pickle during their adventures together, trying to keep the wide eyed Kobold from causing too much trouble. He did later cheer when Pickle felled the alleged God Ellén Trechend.

### Alzara

Alzara and Illinois often work together to make decisions for the party. The duo were de facto leaders of the North Ranging of the adventurers. Illinois' wisdom often yields in opinion to Alzara's intelligence, though they are rarely divided on the matter. Illinois trusts Alzara's judgement greatly. During their mission to defeat the Hydra-Vulture, Illinois and Alzara once again corralled their group up the mountainside. Alzara saved Illinois' live, transferring the essence of a gargantuan eagle into the corpse boy to stabilize him in combat.

## Trivia

* Illinois uses a custom class called "Witch". Gwyneth from Realms of Ahlus also uses this class
	+ Illinois uses the Coven of Night subclass whilst Gwyneth is a Coven of Two Spirits
* Illinois' memory loss and lack of a backstory stems from his character creation. His player, Mudd, spent so long researching the custom class that when it came time to post character creations, he had not considered a backstory.
* Illinois has a Familiar named Raven, though it is actually a Crow.
	+ Mechanically, it has a Raven statblock
	+ Illinois adds a tally to the name every time his Familiar is killed. He is currently on Raven III
* Illinois posses the ability to read, but seemingly not to write
* Illinois' name comes from Myrtle, who arbitrarily picked it upon meeting the corpse boy
* Illinois only breathes when he is smoking pipe weed