Appearance:
In his youth, Abe might have been considered handsome. Tall and fit with hawkish, scholarly features... But he hasn't aged quite as well as he might have hoped. For now, his hair- Once black and lush- is long, coarse, and stark white. His beard a tangled mess of the same- His back refuses to hold him as tall as it used to, leaving him often hunched over his staff, barely two thirds of the height he held in his prime.
No longer can he pull of the silken attire of an aspiring young mage, his trim figure reduced to flabby skin and frail bones, leaving him to wear old robes instead. And of course, any semblance of good looks has faded from his features in place of the kindred wrinkles and liver spots of everybody's favorite grandfather.
Name:
Abrellard Crael (Abe)
Age:
Eighty-six
Personality:
Abe is the type of man many might refer to as "Everybody's grandpappy". Once a charming youth, he has taken a much simpler take on life in his old age... By being just the right amount of crazy. He's as prone to bursts of wheezy laughter over a bad pun as he is to long-winded lectures filled with the wisdom of time, and just as likely to whack somebody over the head with his staff for asking a stupid question as he is to answer it seriously. It all depends on the situation- On whether he feels he must deliver wisdom or laughter, whichever is the most necessary at the time.
Above it all, of course, he is a deeply caring old man. To him, everybody is a grandchild. Sometimes they must be scolded and lectured. Sometimes they need to hear his wisdom- To be gently nudged along the proper path. But, most of all, they must grow on their own. And he simply wishes to be there to see the young grow old with pride in his gaze.
Backstory:
To many, Abe's history is a genuine mystery. But, when asked, he offers a simple- If somewhat long winded- tale of his youth. He was born to one of the dozens of nomad tribes to the East, to a pair of mystics. Shaman, witch doctors, mages- All, he says, names he's heard aimed at his bloodline of magic. His early years were spent simply with his family and his tribe, traveling and learning the basics of magic from his parents. When they could teach him no more, he moved on- Traveling West until he reached the great kingdom of Edessa. Years were spent there, and in its brother kingdom Ardel to the North. Years in the library, and among others talented with magic.
Of course, he peppers in tales of adventure and youthful bullheadedness into this simple tale of a scholar- Often of questionable truth. But, the main and most honest point of his life as a whole... Is that it was spent almost entirely reading from dusty old tomes, listening to lectures, mastering magic, and in his middle and elder years, teaching all of the same to the youth of Edessa and Ardel.
In more recent times of war, Abe was of little use- For despite his mastery of all things magic and historical, his age has left him tired and worn, unable to do battle as he once could, as he can handle little more than a handful of battle spells in a day. So, unable to assist in keeping the hordes at bay, it was decided that he should accompany the caravans of youth to the North- To act as a tutor, a source of wisdom, and a guide to the inexperienced... And, in the horrid case that the empires should fall, to ensure they know of their great history and lineage.
Skills and Abilities:
Master Magic- Abe has had a lifetime of experience in spellcraft of all kinds- From the shamanistic practices of his home, the druidic culture of the south, the arcane studies of the grand kingdoms, and all things in between. While his stamina for war-magic has depleted with his old age, there are very, very few that can match his knowledge in magic and capability with it in all its forms.
Master Mentor- From the time of his middle years through the future to come, Abe has lived to teach. He loves to share his knowledge- In magic, in history, and in life. His age and experience in all of these things has made him a prized tutor to many throughout the kingdoms of Edessa and Ardel, and he is more than prepared to teach any who ask for his help.
Accomplished Musician- Everybody has a hobby, even doddering old men with barely the strength to walk. Alongside his magical studies, Abe often practiced with various instruments as a source of relaxation and stress relief. While mainly a player of string instruments- Such as his lute- he can work a tune with just about anything. Of course, his days of singing have long since passed.
Accomplished Storyteller- It comes with teaching, really. Realizing that children were far more interested in history when it was taught in the form of an epic tale, Abe came to appreciate the usefulness of being able to spin a good yarn early on in his mentoring career. Coupled with his instrumental skills and knowledge of history, he's become a fairly well known bard. His performances were often accompanied by basic illusion spells, meant to bedazzle his audiences and embellish his tales.
Journeyman Adventurer- While he didn't spend a lot of time on the road as a young man, Abe was out and about enough to at least have acceptable levels of skill in adventuring. He can ride, he can smack people with a stick in a fight, and he can survive in the wilderness. A cover-all type of talent, he's hardly a masterful hunter or survivor, but he won't be slowing people down by breaking his leg in a ditch... Hopefully. And of course, with magic to assist him in his old age, he's proven surprisingly capable of keeping up with those of a younger endurance.
Novice Staff Skills- Another talent picked up in his brief adventures, Abe understands how to use a staff in basic combat. His lack of true skill, along with his old age, means that this is an absolute last resort- And he'll hardly be much good for anything more than stopping himself from getting cleaved in half. But, he understands it's a necessary skill to have.
Equipment:
Mithril Staff- This staff was a gift from a long-since dead mentor of Abe's. As tall as he himself stood in his youth, the metal staff appears quite simple at a glance- A straight, narrow length of mithril. But, upon closer inspection, the rod can be seen to be engraved with countless lines of magical runes and symbols, and practically hums with arcane energy. This is a tool that Abe makes use of in countless ways- As a walking stick, as a tool to channel his spells, as a weapon for defending himself.... But, most importantly- As a tool to whack bullheaded youth for misbehaving.
Magic Robes- These linen robes don't -look- like all that much. In fact, they are often compared to the garb of an old monk, appearing old, threadbare, and useful for little more than covering himself. In reality, he's spent many years sewing runes and glyphs of power into the fabric, too subtle to be seen without close inspection. They aren't particularly fantastic- But they cover a range of basic things. For instance- He never grows too hot or too cold in these robes, no matter the climate. They are surprisingly tough- Enough so that they've stopped the occasional sword cut, and, possibly most importantly, they offer a boost to his otherwise age-crippled physical health. This lets him keep up with the youth around him and move about -mostly- freely, though he still finds his stamina irritatingly low. The robes include the robes themselves, a pair of boots, some fingerless gloves, and a scarf and hood for colder climates or rainy days- A simple water-proofing enchantment implemented for the last case.
