Solaris Silverleaf

**Solaris Silverleaf** is a drow mercenary and the twin brother of Stellaluna Silverleaf. He met Stellaluna and her companions Liluth Chaemaer and Fate in Saltshore and subsequently followed them to Deep Harbor and Barovia. In Barovia, he began a romantic relationship with Fate.

## Early Life

Solaris and Stellaluna were born in 475 AC to Luxanna Silverleaf. A few months prior to their birth, Luxanna and her husband Noctaris were traveling near the Faewood when they were attacked by Kithvoni slavers. Noctaris was injured, while Luxanna was taken captive and sold to a human family.

Seven months pregnant and intending to flee back to the Faewood, Luxanna escaped. However, the twins came earlier than she anticipated. Knowing that she would be recaptured and that her captors would look for one child, but not for two, Luxanna hid Stellaluna in a basket on a riverbank, and Luxanna and Solaris were recaptured.

Solaris thus spent the first eight years of his life as a slave. During this time, Luxanna would tell him stories about his sister and a fictionalized life that Stellaluna was leading. While Luxanna herself did not believe these stories, Solaris claims that he always knew that Stellaluna had survived.

Luxanna spent years planning their next escape, and in 483 AC they fled to Kainen's Hollow. For two years, Solaris and Luxanna lived there while Luxanna worked as a laundress.

In 485 AC, a sickness swept the city, leaving thousands dead, including Luxanna. Turned out of his home, Solaris lived on the streets of Kainen's Hollow for the next five years, picking pockets and stealing food in order to survive. He made several close friends during this time, including a human girl named Rinna who taught him to cheat at cards and was his first kiss and first love. When Rinna was caught stealing food for Solaris, Solaris blamed himself and ended their relationship.

Solaris made several other friends during his time in Kainen's Hollow, including a girl named Narissa and a boy named Tom. He also found and raised a kitten whom he named Gwaith.

## Mercenary Career

In 490 AC, Solaris stole the purse of an elven mercenary captain named Coradrin Thallion who chased him down and cornered him in an alley. Solaris expected Coradrin to beat him and take back his gold, but, to his surprise, Coradrin instead offered him a job with the Kestrels. Joining the Kestrels, Solaris left Kainen's Hollow and began to train as a mercenary. Although he was primarily an archer, Solaris also trained with sword, spear, and knives.

Over the course of his time with the Kestrels, Solaris also began an intimate relationship with Coradrin. While the two carried on a relationship for several years and Solaris cared deeply for the captain, he also never felt that his feelings were truly reciprocated.

Describing the Kestrels, Solaris has said that, "mercenaries was the most generous term" for them. While they were hired for traditional mercenary work, the Kestrels also worked as assassins and as hired muscle for criminal organizations. When there was no other work to be found, they would become bandits. Solaris has admitted that he did terrible things during his time with the Kestrels.

In 498 AC, Solaris was abandoned by the Kestrels for unknown reasons. He then traveled to the Faewood, where he found Mallara's grove, and began to study druidic magic with the drow there. Solaris briefly stayed with Lorindol and Valeria Selurine, who had raised Noctaris, and subsequently lived on his own. After Solaris had been there about six months, Coradrin came to the Faewood and convinced him to leave. Leaving Gwaith behind in the Faewood, Solaris left with Coradrin.

Shortly afterwards, Solaris again found himself on his own. At this point, he decided to seek out Stellaluna. While searching for her, he heard a trader complaining about the drow woman who had won a crate of spices off of him in a card game, and Solaris knew that it had to be Stellaluna. From there, he tracked her to Saltshore, where he met her and her companions.

## Travels With the Party

Solaris met the party shortly after their encounter with Eolise Belmont. While Nylax was horrified with the decision to execute Eolise, Solaris was unbothered. He mentioned that he was also traveling to Deep Harbor, and proposed to accompany the party there. While on board the Fiend's Daughter, sailing to Deep Harbor, he also agreed to help the party in their attempt to infiltrate and take down the Consortium of Shadows.

In Deep Harbor, Stellaluna realized that a prophecy she had received from Liar warned her that Solaris was deceiving her. Under Lilluth's Zone of Truth, Solaris revealed that he was Stellaluna's twin brother, and reaffirmed his desire to help take down the Consortium.

Solaris accompanied the party into Barovia as part of their initiation into the Consortium. In Barovia, he traveled to Vallaki and the town of Barovia and then to Castle Ravenloft with the party. In Castle Ravenloft, Solaris seduced the vampire Escher at Fate's suggestion, allowing Fate to explore the castle unimpeded.

After escaping the castle and then narrowly escaping another encounter with the vampire lord Strahd von Zarovich, Solaris confessed to Fate that he had begun to develop feelings for her. She revealed that these feelings were reciprocated, and they shared a kiss. Solaris also began to open up to the party, revealing his tragic past, his relationship with Coradrin, and his own belief that he was an irredeemably bad person.

Solaris has proven to be a valuable asset in conflict, providing valuable support in the fights against the Old Bonegrinder hag coven, the Yester Hill druids and Wintersplinter, and Baba Lysaga.

## Trivia

* His favorite color is purple.
* He loves music, although he doesn't play any instruments. He often sings softly to himself in Elvish.
* Despite having a low tolerance from the cold after growing up in the warm climates of Kainen's Hollow, he loves snow.
* His favorite food is a garlic and vegetable flatbread made in Kainen's Hollow. He also loves all fresh bread. He isn't overly fond of sweets, but enjoys sweet fruit brandy.
* He cannot swim.