Exander Havenshade

Exander Havenshade was a Half-Dwarf Wizard hired by Nelenet to explore the continent of Ahlus. He is the owner of Exander's Exotics, the first magic shop in Viridell.

## Personality

Like most adventurers in Ahlus, Exander has qualities many would admire. Exander is a strong-willed and dutiful person. A childhood of pain and poverty in a lawless town was the crucible for the astute, valedictorian wizard that now resides in Ahlus. He is also adept and creating and enforcing order. During his time at the Mithril Academy he was the founder of Featherthought, a group of writers he assembled to share and document their findings with each other to ensure their academic findings were accurate and as strong as they could be. Exander is also an honest and direct adventurer. A life of hardship leaves little time for word games in lieu of a relentless personal goal of climbing to the top.

Exander, like most adventurers in Ahlus, also has traits many would label as misfortunes. He is a judgmental adventurer. When you've worked as hard as he has had to, you learn to sometimes make the best decision for everyone involved, whether they like it or not. Exander is also a stubborn individual. Most of his last year in the Mithril Academy was spent secluded, researching the ancient Dwarven branch of Geomancy and taking little to no outside help to establish his findings. He is also a person that is always by the book. Regret still churns within him for what he had to do to survive in Blacklaw, and after his graduation he vowed to create laws rather than break them.

## Backstory

Born to a prostitute as the sire of some wandering adventurer, a young half-dwarf named Ez was cast out into the streets of a coastal Faerûn town called Blacklaw, where crime syndicates rules in place of lawful establishments. Ez fought for everything he owned, and eventually stole himself a book containing instructions to perform the 'firebolt' cantrip, which he used to roast what food he could get his hands on, and defend from other urchins crawling through the grime and muck of Blacklaw's alleyways. Realizing that magic was his escape from Blacklaw and his pathway to greatness, Ez scrounged every copper piece he could make or steal, eventually earning enough for an entry fee to the Mithral Academy, a school of wizards specializing in transmutation. Ez entered for review as Exander Havenshade, fashioning himself a name that would suit the atmosphere the school demanded, and impressed the board of directors so much during his review that they allowed him entry on scholarship. Exander quickly learned the secrets of a specific branch of transmutation, geomancy, from the dusty tomes and shelves of the Mithril Academy's library, and after graduating as valedictorian of his four year program, Exander took a research grant from the Mithril Academy and boarded the first ship to Ahlus, knowing that greatness and opportunity waited for him in the new world.

## Havenshade's Histories

*5WD, Carrast-Highreign*

Journeying to the island of Morass, I encountered harsh, marshland terrain as my party ventured towards the shoreline of the island. We discovered an offering site to a black dragon, and based on previous encounters by Nelenet's guild, I suspect this to have once been used by Vitrizkraan, a wyrm I've yet only heard about in writing. We moved towards Kindling Bay on our second day, encountering a Fomorian and its 'pets', gigantic crocodiles. I sustained a potent curse that lasted for three days afterward, but was able to resist it after days of study when we finally returned to Viridell.

*5WD, Ardor-Highreign*

Journeying to the Remnant Hills, my party and I came under the hospitality of the drow peoples of Castle Jalzazhuss, an old dwarven fortress of times long since passed. There were discrepancies of our purpose for journeying to this castle, as some wished to insight war, while others wished for peace. Unfortunately, our party fractured in the central chamber. Morennel and Zran were banished to the outer planes, though Zareyl escaped as the rest of us tried for peace between the drow and the settlements of Nelenet's hired adventurers.

*5WD, Loghelt-Highreign*

The town of Viridell was attacked shortly after the completion of my newest store Exander's Exotics, as well as the tavern recently built. I was able to defend the town with Noah Raymond, my employed, as well as the fighting populace of Viridell and Whittengrove. I managed to uncover a Mind Flayer in disguise during the battle, not long before my allies vanquished the foe. On his person were various texts from the Underdark, and I mean to examine them further now that the battle is over so that I may learn more of the Underdark and the Far Realm; perhaps the secrets of Geomancy lie in the realm entirely beneath the ground, or the realm beyond our reach.

## Trivia

* Exander's familiar is named William, and prefers the shape of a baby mountain goat.
* Exander has only ever read one fictional book, named The Quilted Corsair.