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Mel'drin was born into chains, a life of forced labor in the Eternal Empire.
No, not chains. The masters of the Empire used rope instead. One of the many "kindnesses" they thought to extend to those they saw as property. They never seemed to have the idea to free them though. They would pat themselves on the back at how civilized they were, but a slave is a slave all the same and Mel'drin had the scars to prove it.
Mel'drin learned to play their game. Look meek, keep your head down. But they never really broke him.
The gods did deign to give him some blessings: his family, and his community. They looked after one another, and were fiercely loyal. They were instrumental in giving him the chance to find his familiar
(See Full Familiar Story Below). So he settled into a sort of peace. Tools get broken here or there, something foul makes its way into the masters' food, but nothing too blatant or frequent. It was best for everyone this way.
But peace is such a fleeting thing. One day, a stranger arrived at the fields in the middle of the night, seeking shelter with the slaves there. They took him in, mostly to hear news of the outside world. His name was Lodur, and he set about staying with them for a time. As he worked alongside Mel'drin and the other slaves, this newcomer spoke of freedom and the possibility of escaping the Empire's grasp. Mel'drin, who had always felt a burning desire to be free, was hopeful about the idea. However, the other slaves were either afraid or broken. Too disillusioned to believe in something so brazen as freedom.
Mel'drin believed. Lodur took a special interest in him, recognizing the passion behind the young mans eyes. Lodur revealed to Mel'drin that he possessed a rare gift, the magic of Attunement and Transmutation. Lodur had learned these skills during his time in the Empire, and he offered to teach them to Mel'drin. The young slave was eager to learn. This could be his ticket to freedom, a way to make his own destiny. He seized on it.
The first step; however, would require a ritual. One for every magic attached to his soul. Lodur explained the process would be dangerous, but Mel'drin continued, unperturbed. Attunement would be first. The magic of listening with ones soul. In order to be initiated, he would need to understand a strange melody. Lodur took them to a secluded area, insisting that they be undisturbed. Alone, Lodur sang the melody, one that Mel'drin can now sparsely remember. He did however, remember the sensation. As the melody became clear in his mind, his whole being was suddenly changed. It was ecstasy, and it was pain. Once it was done, he was a mage.
The new mage was given time to recover and train before the next initiation was attempted. This is where the real danger lied. Lodur explained to process fully before they began, but it did little to prepare the Sev'ryn. With a final confirmation from Mel'drin, Lodur launched a powerful blast of ether at he fledgling mage, piercing into his soul. Then came the pain. His body was being violently pulled away from the world, and he had to do everything he could to retain his form. It was an agonizing process, but he managed to fuse with the spark that had been injected into him.
Finally, the day came when Lodur and Mel'drin attempted to put their plans into action. They decided to kill their masters' family and flee. However, their plan went awry, and Mel'drin found himself faced with a difficult decision. He could either stay and fight, possibly dying in the process, or he could run away and leave everyone else behind. In the end, he chose the latter, knowing that he would never find true freedom if he was dead.
Though racked with guilt and on the run, Mel'drin is ready to start his journey. This time, on his own terms.
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