Chimalli

**Chimalli the Scorched** is a human sorcerer/druid played by Alexis.

## Character Sketch

Chimalli was born in the village of Yancuitlan in the Austrulanian mountains. His mother was murdered by the priests of Yancuitlan and he has no knowledge of his father (see the events of the story 'Rule of One').

After leaving Yancuitlan (see the events of the story 'Fire Walk With Me') he studied with the Yexacan fire druids for three years. Once his training was complete he headed north, wishing both to see the bright lights of the Crusader Lands and leave the horrors of his upbringing in Yancuitlan behind him.

Coming from an isolated tribe of an isolated people he has little knowledge of the history and wider politics of the Crusader Lands. Though the couple of years he has spent in the North so far have well acquainted him with taverns, bars and other houses of disrepute that one finds in large towns.

Chimalli speaks little of his past and childhood, though the memories still haunt him often. His training with the Circle of Wildfire taught him the value of the cleansing flame and the fresh growth it brings. Publicly he professes that the fire has burnt away his younger self. But privately he fears that he is not yet free of the ghosts of Yancuitlan.

## Biography

### The Rule of One (A tale of the birth of our hero Chimalli)

The old priest watched as his young apprentice prepared ointments, perfumes, candles and robes for the sacrificial ritual. None of it strictly necessary if he were to be honest, but the pageantry was important for the stature and position of himself as more than the heathen fire druids popular amongst the less ‘sophisticated’ tribes. The contract his predecessors had made demanded a single soul for a year's freedom from the mountain's fire for the village of Yancuitlan. The unguents and other trappings were merely theatre.

The younger priest, Ometecuhtli, was dragging the process out as long as he could. This wasn’t the first time he had prepared for the sacrifice, but this year was different. The fires had driven the surrounding tribes further away than normal and scouts had not returned with any captives from hostile neighbours. So his mentor had rolled the oracles and to Ometecuhtli’s horror the stones had named his (unrequited) sweetheart, Anacaona! The ritual was scheduled to occur at midday tomorrow.

Sleep, when it came to Ometecuhtli, was fitful and sporadic. He was awoken by hammering on the temple door sometime before dawn. It was the village nightwatchman, Itzli, an uncle of his beloved Anacaona. With him he hurriedly led a young woman, a stranger whom Ometecuhtli did not recognise.

“A gift from the stars” said Itzli quietly, and then louder “Most holy father this woman comes seeking refuge, she has travelled far and appears most unwell. Can you treat her?” Itzli’s eyes implored the young priest to understand his unstated meaning.

“Not… sick, I’m with…” said the woman before collapsing through the door and into the temple.

“Quick help me with her” said Ometecuhtli as he gestured towards the ritual chamber.

The night after the ritual was equally bereft of sleep for Ometecuhtli. Whilst his actions had spared the life of his beloved, they left him not without guilt. This time he was awoken not by hammering on the temple door, by the cries of a baby. Hurrying quickly from his bed he found upon the temple steps a baby swaddled in what appeared to be scorched and burnt cloth. He quickly reached down to comfort the child.

“THE CONTRACT DEMANDS EXACTLY A SINGLE SOUL” boomed the voice in his head the moment he picked up the tiny child. “YOU WILL RAISE AND PROTECT THIS CHILD AS RECOMPENSE FOR THE BREACH IN OUR AGREEMENT.”

### Fire Walk With Me (A tale of the escape of our hero Chimalli)

“Boy!” yelled Anacaona. “Where are you, you useless layabout?”

Slowly making his way to the kitchen, Chimalli contemplated how her husband’s imminent elevation to head priest had transformed the older woman into a domestic tyrant of the temple. In all his 15 years she had never been kind to him, but of late even the pretence of civility was fading.

“Finally!” said Anacaona as he entered the kitchen. “Here, take this porridge up to the old man for his breakfast and mind you don’t spill any, you clumsy oaf. It’s ritual day so assist the old man to prepare himself once he’s finished.”

Knowing that answering back would just lead to beatings later, Chimalli silently took the bowl of thin gruel and made his way up the backstairs of the temple. In truth he did not much mind the task, the old priest was the only member of the temple to ever offer him any kindness. Reaching the priest's chambers, Chimalli knocked softly and waited.

“Ah my dear child, is that my breakfast? Come in, come in” said the old priest “Porridge again, is it? Just put it down over there, that’s a good lad.”

Placing the bowl on a small table, Chimalli withdrew to a corner whilst the priest ate. As the old man finished, Chimalli moved forward again to remind the priest of his duties for the day.

“Ah Ometecuhtli, just the man” said the old priest, clearly confusing Chimalli with the priest who would soon replace him. The old man had often been less than lucid recently, particularly after meals. “We must discuss that ward of yours, the boy Chimalli.”

Intrigued, Chimalli remained silent, maintaining the deception of being the younger priest. He listened with increasing rage as the old priest described the circumstances that had brought him to Yancuitlan, the death of his mother and his subsequent bondage to the temple. It all made sense now, the bullying and insults from other kids, his bondage to the temple, and why he was different to the rest of the village. Finally, he had heard enough.

“You’re monsters!” he exploded, pushing past the old man.

“Oh, uh, Chimalli, I thought you were… oh quite, um… now my boy, what you have to understand is… “

But Chimalli had heard enough, spinning around he lashed out and struck the old man violently on the side of the head, seeing him crumple backwards in a heap. Rushing downstairs, he burst through the kitchen, ignoring the cries of alarm and made his way hurriedly to the temple outbuildings. Quickly locating the building, he was looking for, he burst in to find the prisoner, bound, gagged and ready for the annual sacrifice later that day.

Meanwhile in the ritual chamber, Ometecuhtli busied himself with sharpening the ritual dagger. He spun around as the door to the chamber burst open.

"What is the meaning of this! Explain yourself boy!" demanded Ometecuhtli.

"You, you liar!" spat Chimalli, through gritted teeth "Murderer! I'll kill you!"

"I don't have time for your tantrums today boy. The ritual must commence very shortly. Begone!" said Ometecuhtli dismissively. And raising his free hand struck at Chimalli.

The blow never landed. An invisible *Shield* blocked his hand from making contact.

"No it won't" said Chimalli with a cold certainty. "Your intended victim is gone, I've freed her. And I'm going to ensure this whole foul charade burns!"

As Chimalli spoke he felt heat gathering in his clenched fist. Raising his hand towards Ometecuhtli a white-hot *Firebolt* leapt from his hand, striking the priest square in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Snatching up the curved ritual dagger he drove it into Ometecuhtli's chest. As the dagger pierced the priest's heart it emitted a deafening *Boom* and almost immediately after the ground began to shudder with the tremendous force of long suppressed seismic force.

He finally stopped running at the top of a hill and paused to look back at the destruction his actions had wrought. His flight from the temple was a blur, he had seemed able to *Control the Flames* and clear a path through the devastating blazes.

"DO NOT TURN BACK NOW FIRECHILD. I WILL NOT SPARE YOU A SECOND TIME" thundered a voice in his head "YANCUITLAN FACES A LONG OVERDUE CLEANSING FIRE. SEEK THE GUIDANCE OF THE DRUIDS."

### Joining the Iron Stoves

Chimalli came to the Crusader Lands, meeting X'Celsiah Mia of L'Trel, to whom he offered his services. She in turn tasked to deliver a message to her compatriot, Soranna Anitah in Drelin's Ferry, joining the Iron Stoves in carrying out this mission.

Drelin's Ferry was suffering from Orschan raids, and Soranna tasked the Iron Stoves with a mission to find the source of them. They headed north from the town, gaining the assistance of the hunter Jorr Natherson to guide them through the Witchwood. They reached the supposedly haunted Vraath Keep only to discover it occupied by an advance scout of the Red Hand led by Wyrmlord Koth. After a harrowing battle they defeated him and discovered that a huge army controlled by the Red Hand was mustering at Cinder Hill, and due to march south over Skull Gorge in the next few days.

They arrived at the bridge, finding it heavily defended, with hobgoblins, hell hounds and a green dragon standing watch. Chimalli transformed into a giant badger, and burrowed underneath the bridge, weakening it significantly until a large section of it broke off and fell into the river. They engaged some of the now stranded forces and retreated, their goal of delaying the army achieved. They headed south back to Vraath Keep and then on to Drelin's Ferry, staying ahead of the horde until they were forced to engage at the town, hoping to buy enough time for the remaining civilians to evacuate.

### Mission to the Ruins of Rhest

With Drelin's Ferry successfully evacuated, the Iron Stoves went behind enemy line, investigating rumours of roadblocks in the north of the Elsir Vale. Here they met the Tiri Kitor elves who told them of a Red Hand leader named Saarvith who had set up a lair in the sunken ruins of Rhest. They travelled to the ruins, fought their way through the forces of the Red Hand, facing Saarvith and his black dragon ally Regirax. In the ensuing battle they barely emerged victorious, with the party cleric Venfi Bronzeboots dead, thanks to the dragon's acid breath.

Another party member, Tygon, bereft at the loss of his ward, gathered up Venfi's remains and silently departed, leaving the battered and bruised Iron Stoves with only four remaining members.

### New Allies

Recuperating at Vraath Keep, the Iron Stoves were joined by two new members, both already enemies of the Red Hand - the bounty hunter Franky Scallion and the mysterious bard Alluin Trisfiel. With their assistance, the party was able to locate the Ghostlord's lair in the Thornwaste. Unfortunately, a harrowing a near fatal battle with a behir shook the group's confidence. Four members departed - Franky and Alluin, in addition to Lochlan Yllawynn and Odiara Burnthorne - leaving Kurrik and Chimalli alone. Fortunately, a chance encounter with Stom Keller and Buhemond, two refugees fleeing the Red Hand - boosted the Iron Stoves' numbers and allowed them to continue their mission. Together the Iron Stoves succeed in returning the Ghostlord his phylactery, breaking his alliance with the Red Hand, and defeating Wyrmlord Ulwai Stormcaller. Escaping from his lair, the group then encountered a ruined wagon, with payment intended for the Shining Axes mercenary group from the Hammerfist Holds. They travelled to the holds, delivered the payment, and secured the mercenaries for the defence of Brindol.

### The Battle of Brindol

The Iron Stoves were met with the hastily assembled war council, chaired by Kerden Jarmaath, and assisted in the plans for the city's defence. The assault began with hordes of hill giants hurling boulders at the walls in an attempt to break through. The Iron Stoves stopped one group, but another breach was opened on the other side of the city. As they raced to stop the horde pouring through the gap, the Iron Stoves were ambushed by the red dragon Abithriax as he swooped down to destroy the city through his fiery breath. After the defeated him, the Iron Stoves rushed to help the defenders of the marketplace against waves of attackers, before making their way to Cathedral Square for a final stand.

Through magic and valour in arms, the Iron Stoves were victorious, defeating Wyrmlord Kharn and saving the city.

### Fall of the Red Hand

A week after the battle, the Iron Stoves became aware that the Red Hand's leader, High Wyrmlord Azarr Kul, was still at large, and what was worse, had retreated to his fortress, the Fane of Wyrmissa, and begun the process of opening a gate to the Underworld. Here he hoped to bring in fiendish reinforcements to renew the invasion. The Iron Stoves hurried to the Fane, infiltrating it, and facing the last of the Red Hand's minions before coming face to face with Azarr Kul himself. In a closely fought contest, they prevailed over the High Wyrmlord and ended the threat of the Red Hand.

### Loose Ends

With peace brought to the Elsir Vale, the Iron Stoves returned to Brindol, where they received news from Kerdan Jarmaath that survivors of the Red Hand had been seen fleeing in different directions. To the north, the hobgoblin B'Kruss led survivors to the safety of Wyrmissa, while to the east travelled a small group led by Zuleikha al'Orscha, her lieutenant Enoch Sloan and Buhemond's son, Hakuna. The Iron Stoves went off in pursuit, arriving in the small village of Hallowfeld. Here they discovered that a famous playwright, Sophia Lasilaran had joined up with Enoch and two other bards and had performed a twisted play she wrote called the *King in Yellow* that opened a gate to a place called Carcosa and brought the madness of the Far Realm upon the mortal world. Wasting no time they followed the trail, passing through the devastated settlements of Lamid and Fort Blackcrown, both destroyed by the madness Carcosa had inflicted. They finally caught up with Sophia and her compatriots in L'Trel, where they interrupted her latest performance and killed her, and dealt with the temporary gate that her powers opened.

After the death of Sophia, the Iron Stoves were met by their old patron, X'Celsiah Mia, who invited them back to her estate to discuss the recent events. For the next week the group remained in L'Trel, enjoying Lady Mia's hospitality. During one of their trips into the city, a man named Migos Fehr approached one of their party members, Leshanna Dyernina, saying he recognized her but wasn't sure where he'd seen them. His hair billowed in a non-existent breeze. He offered to buy her dinner, but she politely declined. A few days later an anonymous courier dropped off a letter for Leshanna, containing a mysterious prophecy and some anonymous notes saying that the prophecy referred to "us".

### The Search for Hakuna

Buhemond's son was still missing, and a single clue on the corpse of Enoch Sloan implied that he was being held at Fort Blackheart. The Iron Stoves set off as quickly as they could, and arrived at the fortress to discover it in ruins, and teeming with undead. After defeating these unquiet spirits they found an entrance to the chambers below, where they found Hakuna, Zuleika and a number of dragonspawn minions.

They defeated Zuleikha, and incapacitated Hakuna, hoping to find a cure for his condition. They took him north, to Port Jiang, hoping to gain information from the thaumaturges of Graymalkin Academy. Along the way the Iron Stoves met with Leshanna's claimed relatives at Kel's Rise, who promised to contact her again. Eventually they arrived at Port Jiang, only to discover that the Graymalkin Academy had been attacked by unknown forces and was encased in magical ice. They found a way to enter, but Hakuna is left in a secured and guarded warehouse for his own safety.

They penetrated the fortress, rescuing the surviving wizards and defeating the invaders: Aldevain, Vaxis and Shivusk. They learned that another wizard, Estela Flintheart, may have the answer to Hakuna's dilemma and travelled to San Citlan to find her. Travelling by sea on the *Vaka* they helped solve the mystery of that ship's curse: a hungry shadow, before landing safely at Uskarn and heading inland to San Citlan.

Local sources informed them the best way to find Estela was through her sister, Paloma Flintheart, who was known to frequent the village of Milpazul. There they discovered Paloma to be a wanted woman, but after fighting off the assassins sent to find her, they secured her assistance. In return for contacting her sister, the Iron Stoves would uncover the source of the diseased wind plaguing the area. It turned out to be from Serapio, a local noblewoman's son labouring under an ancestral fiendish curse. Despite the interference of Hastur cultists led by Don Itzmin del Prado, they tracked down Serapio, freeing him from his curse. True to her word, Paloma allowed them to speak to her sister. She instructed the Iron Stoves to seek out the wisdom of the Chimagua, in distant Atagua. They undertook the perilous journey on foot, travelling through the treacherous jungles of Austrulania. Along the way, Chimalli came across the ruins of Yancuitlan, now nothing but smoking ruins.

Once the Iron Stoves arrived in Atagua, an ancient Yexacan spirit named Yarana implored them to come to the Ghost Orchid Tepui and meet with the Chimagua in his extra-planar realm. Once there, the Iron Stoves discovered that the Chimagua had entered a deep slumber, his mind troubled by the attention of an entity of the Far Realm known as the Drought Elder. This entity had broken the Sleeping Stone, allowing it to affect the dreams of people in the mortal realm. Knowing they needed to travel to the Far Realm to recover the stone fragment, the Iron Stoves followed clues to an artifact known as the Hammock of Worlds. With this artifact, and the help of the Green Doctors, the Iron Stoves travelled to confront the Drought Elder. In the alient environment of the Far Realm there were dangers aplenty, and a lurking beholder killed Chimalli. This tragedy was followed by the strange arrival of a floating figure who offered a way to resurrect the druid. Kurrik accepted this offer, and Chimalli was restored to life, but both he and Kurrik now had the Yellow Sign on their foreheads, with no ability to remove it.

The Iron Stoves pressed on, recovered the sleeping stone fragment, and restored Chimagua, ending the Far Realm's influence on Atagua. Restored to his rightful place, Chimagua gave the means for Buhemond to restore his son, and also some crucial information: Leshanna's mother was alive, and a great evil was about to trouble the north. The party made haste to Port Jiang, where Hakuna was restored, and then brought Buhemond's son back to his family in the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. Despite his mission being at an end, Buhemond chose to remain with the Iron Stoves, to repay the others the debt he owed for the safety of his child.

### The Path of the Yellow Sign

Returning to Vraath Keep, the Iron Stoves were met with Jorr Natherson, who informed them that their old allies the Tiri Kitor had been enchanted into a magical sleep by an unknown witch. Seeking assistance from the Tiri Kitor's old mage ally, Kamalotus, they journeyed to his tower, only to discover it destroyed and infested with wraiths. They next headed to Brindol, following leads on the unnamed witch. Finding that there was an individual called Octavia who was wanted for fraud, they tracked her to the Castle of the Blind Sun in the Giantshield Mountains. The castle was the residence of the famous bard Gangwolf, and Octavia had murdered him and taken over his castle. The Iron Stoves defeated her and her ally Bruno, they recovered the Tiri Kitor instruments and freed them from the enchantment.

Waiting for them at Vraath Keep was a duo of dwarves, who were interested in re-opening the nearby platinum mines. The mines were near the abandoned village of Vermeillon, which had suffered a mysterious disaster decades ago. With a new ally, a shadar-kai named Ogel Grim, the Iron Stoves journeyed to the village to investigate and discovered the source of the haunting: a nest of meenlocks. They defeated them, raised the curse of the village and reopened the mines.

Soon after matters came to their attention in Terrelton, Stom's hometown. The Baron of Elsircross, Hargil Trask, had designs on the settlement and was attempting to claim it with some of his own men. Indignant at this land-grab, the Iron Stoves accompanied Stom to Brindol, where he demanded justice in front of the council. Unfortunately, the matter was deemed contested, and a full seating of the council was needed to resolve the issue in a month's time. In the interim, the Iron Stoves journeyed to L'Trel, hoping to find passage to Port Cano, where clues about the fate Leshanna's mother led them.

After arriving in the city, they respond to a letter from their old patron, X'Celsiah Miah. Arriving at her home, they are confronted by a horrible, tentacled creature. After defeating it, the Iron Stoves learned that monster emerged from a magical painting delivered earlier in the day. 1t also slaughtered Lady Miah. The Iron Stoves set off on the trail of the mysterious courier, known as the "Well-Dressed Gentleman".