Plans for James

**Synopsis:** Windstorm family history

* Alexander Windstorm was a conjuration wizard who lived in Torkel (City) and worked as a historian at The University of Torkel. He became particularly interested in researching other planes and compiling information of what influence they had on the Material Plane. His focus on the Abyss, Fire Plane, and Dragon Eyrie in particular made him the foremost expert in not just The Land of Eternal War, but in the surrounding regions as well.
* Around the age of 35, he decided to gather a group of travelers and journey across the continent in search of lost knowledge. He left behind a teenage son and wife as well as some siblings and cousins, but he was dedicated to this cause and didn't want to risk growing too old to complete the journey. He often used sending to speak with his wife and son, but was never able to return physically until he was nearly 80.
* For nearly 40 years he journeyed across the world, gathering artifacts and occasionally shipping them back to Torkel with some of his party who decided to return home. The most important artifact he was able to obtain was the Incandescent Eye, a small gem that would protect him from creatures originating in the Fire Plane and keep him safe in extremely high temperatures. It was finding this artifact that made him actually consider going to another plane.
* In the distant region of La Olum, he learned much of the Draconic deities who he previously thought never interfered with the Material Plane. He discovered that they fought over that land much like the other gods and demon lords fight over Orevar.
* By this time, most of his original party had returned home, and a lot of his companions were much younger adventurers from exotic lands who joined him along the way.
* The most powerful group of adventurers he met were on the island of Labyrinth, which he determined to be a place of strong connection to the outer planes and went alone. He helped them navigate the shifting, nearly sentient maze in their journey to the Feywild and in return they helped him in his journey to the Fire Plane. The end of the maze was a ritual room that could be used for extraplanar travel. After the adventurers left, Alexander stayed a while to study the room, and eventually used it to travel to the Elemental Plane of Fire.
* He spent about a month in the plane, primarily using the magnificent mansion spell for food and lodging. It was very unpleasant, but the Incandescent Eye kept him safe.
* Along his journey to the City of Brass, he encountered a giant bird of flame who took an interest in him, as he was a very peculiar sight in the Fire Plane. They spoke at length, exchanging knowledge of their two planes. As they spoke, the Phoenix was attacked by a Pyrolisk. It attempted to attack Alexander as well, but the Eye prevented it from harming him. The Phoenix was caught by surprise and badly injured, but with Alexander's help they defeated the Pyrolisk. In return for saving his life, the Phoenix promised a blessing upon his blood and granted him the power of the Phoenix. A thick, black cloak emerged from the Incandescent Eye, itself becoming the clasp of the cloak. This cloak, the Mantle of the Phoenix, gave Alexander great power along with the protections the Eye.
* Bolstered with the power of the Mantle of the Phoenix, he gathered a larger following as he traveled across the world, taking a very leisurely route back to Orevar while gathering more artifacts and knowledge.
* Once he returned to Torkel in his late 70s, he was regarded as a legend. The artifacts and knowledge he sent back while he was gone had advanced knowledge of the world and other planes considerably, causing The University of Torkel to expand from a small college for gifted mages to a massive institution in the region. He briefly served as the University President before retiring to enjoy his last years in peace.
* When he returned, he had a grandson old enough to be expecting a child. When the child was about 10 years old, it became apparent that he was extraordinarily gifted with innate magic, particularly fire magic. He understood this to be the blessing of the Phoenix. He passed away shortly after.

**Synopsis:** James Windstorm's backstory

* James' parents, Nicholas and Silvia Windstorm, are wealthy socialites in Corden who are prominent members of The Wizards' Guild. They are both well-educated wizards who have little respect for other ways of attaining magic power, especially sorcery (due to the Windstorm family being "cursed" with phoenix magic).
* James and his younger sister Eliza were taught wizardry from a young age, but Eliza picked it up much easier than James, but once while watching his parents cast a fire spell during a lesson, James was able to cast a fire spell himself. While his parents were at first amazed, they realized that he had cast it innately, not with his knowledge of the spell as a wizard would. They tried to hide this from James and continue teaching him wizardry, but he wasn't able to pick it up although he did enjoy reading and learning about magic.
* James continued to believe that the spells he was able to cast were because of his study, and he was excited to attend The University of Torkel's Mage's College when his parents said it was time.
* Since he had not spent much time outside his parents' estate, he was uncomfortable leaving the campus and exploring the rest of Torkel (City). He spent two years at the university, mostly learning wizardry but took classes on medicine, monsters, and sorcery against his parents' wishes.
* In his study on sorcery in his second year, he discovered that his power comes from sorcery, not wizardry.
* James' parents decide that when Eliza goes to The University of Torkel, they're going to sell their estate and move to Torkel (City). When his parents tell him this in a letter, he panics and knows he can't face his parents knowing that he is a sorcerer and will never be a wizard, so he drops out of the university and runs away.
* With the knowledge that his innate magic gives him a strong affinity for fire, and stories/mythology about a phoenix and a volcano in The Val Mountains, he leaves to go to Valhurst (City).
* He manages to hitchhike his way there (Torkel -> Wynne -> Burrova -> Valhurst), but he's denied entrance to the city. He joins a group of travelers leaving Valhurst towards Shellyn, but the small group is ambushed by a gang of ogres. He manages to escape, but the ogres chase him a short way down the road where he meets the party on their way to Valhurst.

Campaign events:

* Kiaransalee shows James the Phoenix in Valhurst. The Phoenix asks him to gather the pieces of The Staff of Power for him.
* James was not involved with the party's fight with the Redwyn soldiers, but is implicated as an accomplice by aligning with the party.

**Tie-ins:**

* Nicholas and Silvia Windstorm are professors at The University of Torkel. Eliza Windstorm is a student.
* Eliza will be in her freshman year at the university and will be one of the top of her class. She'll be extremely cocky and dismissive of James' proficiency in sorcery, parroting their parents' belief that forms of magic other than wizardry are not worthy of respect. [Needs story where James saves them or something and they realize sorcery good or whatever]

**Future Plans:**

* The Phoenix in The Val Mountains

**Magic Item:** The Mantle of the Phoenix

Found among Alexander Windstorm's possessions at the Wizards' Guild in Torkel (City) as the Incandescent Eye, a small black gem. When James approaches it, it will start to shimmer like a fire and shake slightly. If James touches it, it will float up to his chest and a thick, black cloak will emerge from it on his shoulders with the Eye becoming the clasp.

A thick, black cloak with a round gem that shimmers like fire as a clasp. It's soft as silk and noticeably cool to the touch. The cloak can be retracted back into the gem with just a thought from the wearer.

* **Dormant:**
	+ +1 to spell attacks and DC.
	+ Resistance to fire damage.
	+ Once per LR as a bonus action, you can choose a creature within 60ft and give them vulnerability to fire damage for 1 minute. If the creature is already resistant to fire damage, it loses its resistance instead of becoming vulnerable.
	+ While using the Mantle of Flame feature, the cloak starts to glow like smoldering coal and you gain a +1 bonus to AC and all saving throws against spells.
	+ Creatures originating from the Elemental Plane of Fire must pass a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw when knowingly attempting to do anything that would harm you. On a fail, the creature cannot intentionally harm you this turn.
* **Awakened:**
	+ **+2** to spell attacks and DC.
	+ Resistance to fire damage.
	+ Once per LR as a bonus action, you can choose a creature within 60ft and give them vulnerability to fire damage for 1 minute. If the creature is already resistant to fire damage, it loses its resistance instead of becoming vulnerable.
	+ While using the Mantle of Flame feature, the cloak starts to glow like smoldering coal and you gain a **+2** bonus to AC and all saving throws against spells.
	+ Creatures originating from the Elemental Plane of Fire must pass a DC **17** Wisdom saving throw when knowingly attempting to do anything that would harm the wearer. On a fail, the creature cannot intentionally harm the wearer this turn.
	+ [idea: a sliver of Alexander's soul was imprinted on the gem, and it awakens and can communicate with the wearer]
* **Exalted:**
	+ **+3** to spell attacks and DC.
	+ Resistance to fire damage.
	+ **Three times** per LR as a bonus action, you can choose a creature within 60ft and give them vulnerability to fire damage for 1 minute. If the creature is already resistant to fire damage, it loses its resistance instead of becoming vulnerable. **You can use this on the same creature a maximum of two times, giving it a 4x weakness to fire damage.**
	+ While using the Mantle of Flame feature, the cloak starts to glow like smoldering coal and you gain a **+3** bonus to AC and all saving throws against spells.
	+ **Once per day as an action, you can make the cloak burst into flames and become a pair of Phoenix wings. You gain a flying speed equal to your movement speed for 1 minute. If you have the Form of the Phoenix class feature, this flying speed is permanent and becomes 80ft while using Mantle of Flame.**
	+ Creatures originating from the Elemental Plane of Fire must pass a DC **20** Wisdom saving throw when knowingly attempting to do anything that would harm the wearer. On a fail, the creature cannot intentionally harm the wearer this turn.
	+ [somethin else cool]