Background Story - Toddrick Silversmith

How ya doin'. The name's Toddrick Silversmith. Hey, I'm usually pretty quiet, but this good cup of Dwarvish Wheat Sout has got me feeling funny, *hic*. Did you put something in this?

I come from a long line of Silversmiths in Ironrun Mountain. Growing up in the mountain was tiresome mining work, and my family had a legacy to keep. We had healthy quota of smelting every week, and having only one other brother meant us kids were forced to work around the clock. Being so busy meant I'd hardly ever get to go outside, and as a kid I'd dream of bright summer days and cool falls where I could spend a whole day in the sunlight. My strict schedule and rebellious spirit didn't keep me inside for long.

Once I earned my family's respect, they finally trusted me to scale the mines myself each morning. Instead, I took this as an opportunity to wake up early and sneak out of the mountain to scavenge for a few hours in a nearby Gnomish town. One day I'd stumbled down a ledge leading to a wooded area. Past several thickets of bushes I could make out a stray cabin. I approached it, and what I saw changed me forever. Through the window I saw an old human inside concentrating, speaking to himself. He lifted his hands slowly, and they began to glow blindingly. The light shined through the window, and became so bright I could barely see. By the time I could regain my focus, I saw him looking directly at me. I quickly ran back to the mine, tripping over rocks the whole way.

The sight of such a thing was so miraculous and interesting, I'd never seen anything like it. I couldn't stop thinking about it during my mining work. I was so afraid to return, but after a week I went to inspect again. This time there was nobody in the window, but instead a note. The node read simply: "The Arcana surrounds you. Look in the compost bin." Behind his house I saw the compost bin, and under several pounds of freshly stowed potatoes I found my first text: "History of Arcana by Example", an excellent beginners book on Arcane magic and introductory wizardry. I'd go on to read this book every night under candlelight for five years, and I *never* missed a night. I've since found out that this very book is a standard beginner's book at any wizard's college. Eventually I also learned the man was a powerful wizard named Horamros, and we became acquaintances after meeting several more times. He would teach me early and let me borrow more books - but I'll save that story for another day.

If my parents ever knew how much I'd stayed up reading they'd be so horribly disappointed in me and our family's legacy. I don't know if they ever found out. Twenty years after beginning my work as a wizard the draft began for the Order of Ithys. Not long after was when the guards came to escort able-bodied men, and bulky miners like myself were highly sought after. I demanded not to go, and told  my family I'd go under no circumstances. The morning they came, I hid the only place I knew I could feel safe: in Horamros's cabin. The village searched for me, and apparently my secret of arcane study wasn't well kept - only a few hours later they found me.

Once the guards encroached the cabin, a powerful unknown magic kept Horamros from intervening with the guards. They instructed me that I'd serve, or they would kill my parents. I finally relented, only on the condition that I could say goodbye to Horamros and my family. Horamros gave me a trinket that I still have to this day, and left me a piece of wisdom that I'll never forget. The guards escorted me to the mountain to say goodbye to my town. Before me I saw my parents, tied up near our forge. I screamed, and told them to let them go as I'd agreed to their demands. They told me I'd pay for ever disrespecting the Order of Ithys, and that I'd disrespected them by causing them to search for me everywhere. Another man said I was acting like a Tiefling, which at the time I found a strange comment - it wasn't long until I understood what he meant. Moments after, they threw them into my own forge.

Even today when I think back to the mines, I no longer imagine the sound of hammers and scent of coal and iron, but sound and smell of my own parents burning. I became complacent and scared to disobey, I served until my time was up - and not a moment longer. I did things I'll always regret in the name Ithys, and I never intend to do such harmful things again. I'll do anything to bring justice to the Silversmith name, but I'm no brute. I wont do it by fighting, not at first - I've learned to keep the status quo to learn more about the Order. When the time is right, and not a moment sooner, I will destroy it from within. Until then, I've sworn to keep my disdain for the order at a modest level, no more than an average commoner.