Elias Bent

Name: Elias Bent

Born: 10th of Sunkiss, 15 A.W.

Died: Unknown

Gender: Male

Occupation: Mage, Sage, Companion to Garonius Yev

Marital Status: Unknown

Religious Views: None

Political Views: None

Heredity: Kelselorian

Elias Bent was born in the province of Prosau, on the election of the new High King of Humanity, a Kelselorian, on the eve the three moons of Ainran in their fullest, one stained with red. The 10th of Sunkiss in the year 15 was a historical moment, not just for Kelselor and humanity, but for the astronological magi who believed that the event gave rise to the returning power of the elemental runeword fields - earth, fire, water, and air.

Elias took a keen interest in magic, and by the age of nine his practically prodigal progress in the field allowed him to be swiftly accepted into any school of his choosing in Kelselor. Perpetually feeling wanderlust, Elias moved from school to school, gathering what he could learn, sharing what he learned through his own research, starting a journal to document all he found and his movements, and then he left back for Prosau, where he met Garonius Yev. They became friends, sharing their desire to never laze. Garonius aided Elias numerous times as he ventured into dangerous lands surrounding the province, both ruins of the Old War and geological dangers, as he pursued his study of earth runewords. Eventually, he helped Garonius aboard the Dastardbreaker navigate a treacherous seatrap known as the Shallow Dregs - a collection of undersea islands that are just tall enough to crash ships, but the water in the area is too thick to see them. Using earth magic, he brought Garonius to his target by allowing him to maneuver around the sunken islands. Setting shore on an island in the Shallow Dregs, Garonius hunted his bounty target, and they both discovered treasures. Elias found, too, in his interest, rather rare stones and gems. Whether they were dwarven or made from the sea, he couldn't tell. He kept them with him, taking them as his reward.

When they returned to Prosau, Garonius was hailed as a hero, and the Lord's sage in Prosau offered Elias a place to work with him and eventualy succeed him. He refused, however, stating he *"yearned to leave what was known and move toward what is unknown."* Garonius and Elias decided they would venture north to discover more land for Kelselor, and they went to Kelselor to recruit. After attracting a large following, they went north to discover a region that became known as Zacet Forest, and over which Garonius declared himself Lord. They established the town of Winleigh, which prospered with its lumber exports sent southward.

Winleigh's growth, like all good things, came to a halt as "uncivilized men" as Elias put it, but others theorize they were Wilders, started attacking their town, kidnapping women, destroying supply caravans, and weakening the town's morale. Elias went to the woods, believing in the tales his father told him of old warriors who became trees. While he never found a Tree, nor did he hear or become impressed with anything, he did write in his belief that Winleigh expanded too far, and that they touched something in the forest they should not have. What it was, he did not know, and though he desired to know, his now Lord Garonius ordered him with him to make contact with the enemy. The first round of diplomacy did not go well, causing Garonius to return beaten as a message, as though Garonius did not reveal himself as Lord of the region. Angry, or perhaps refusing to allow any more attacks to continue, Garonius discussed with Elias the propsect of the possibility ot using magic to destroy them. Elias was apprehensive, given that he was concerned over the damage Winleigh probably did upon forces in the forest they didn't know. Yet, he knew that the people in Winleigh would not have their troubles resolved and that more people would suffer if they idled. He agreed, instructing Garonius to plant his reagants he kept from the Shallow Dregs around the settlement the wild men held. He prepared a large ritual, his eyes looking upon the moons. He waited until the day they were all full before he cast his spell, tearing a hole in the ground miles long, completely massacring the entire settlement within minutes. He then recounted that two of the moons turned *"a deep crimson, as if they knew how much blood I spilt. I swore that night I'd never put any innocents in harm again."*

His ritual area scorched the ground, and later its mark would be the foundation for the town of Faydale. After the victory, as Garonius termed it, the giddy Lord decided to build a fortress for his family, as he had fallen fancy for a woman named Heather. Elias felt a strange aura that he came to distrust from Heather, and though he attempted to confer this to Garonius, believing that despite her intelligence, she was a fool, Garonius would hear none of it. Elias turned from Garonius, feeling wanderlust again and wanting to get away from Heather's presence. He left behind his books and records, taking only his clothes and stave, heading west into the forest. No known historical account holds the return of Elias, and he is presumed dead, but no date is known for it, and no grave was ever marked in his name. Fort Heathersage was named in latter half in his memory by Garonius, but his namesake otherwise vanished from the world.