Appearance

Mentality

Personal history

Aleskey was born the second son of Koseff & Netri (nee Stefka) Dotsk. The two lived in the capital city of Helgabal. Koseff and Nitiri worked for most of the tenday as field hands in the surrounding countryside, bring home grains and other small harvests along with a decent pay. On off days, as devout followers of Ilmater, they offered help to the Temple of St. Sollars the Enduring and the nearby healers college named End’s Rest. They were taught herbalism and the ability to spot medicinal plants in the fields and served as lay foragers to provide the temple and college materials for crafting healing spells and potions. When the family expanded to include the two boys Fodel and Aleskey, when they became old enough, they joined their parents with the foraging.
When Fodel reached the age of 18, he met Marra Velky. Within a year, the two married. Fodel, always of a strong and independent mind, felt stunted by the opportunities in Helgabal [and driven out be oppressive regime] and decided to travel west to the Moonsea. This was much to their parents’ chagrin. A childhood friend, Ekov Dulik, had gone to the free city of Phlan and found good work as a carpenter there. He had shared the news with his hometown friends and Fodel was curious to check it out. Fodel, with his knowledge of foraging and medicinal plants from his years helping his parents with their lay work for the church, quickly found work at the apothecary there, after Ekov had connected him with the owner, the rock gnome Fillistrum Wunderknudle, while doing repair work. Fillistrum was so impressed with Fodel’s foraging skills that within five years he made Fodel a partner in the store. Needless to say, Fodel settled in Phlan and Marra and he bought a home of Maiden Avenue. They had a son whom they named Pavel, after the cleric, Pavel Shemov, https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Pavel_Shemov, who had helped Gareth Dragonsbane defeat the Witch King from Vaaasa who had attempted to invade Damara.
 
Aleskey, just as independent as headstrong as his older brother, took a different track. Koseff and Netri recognized quite early that their quiet and reclusive son was blessed with a high intelligence. It made them quite proud. Some of the local sages took note as well seeing in the young boy an aptitude for recognizing patterns and the emerging and under appreciated field of mathematics. They saw the boy when they visited End’s Rest while his parents were out foraging, and he was playing with the sisters and brothers watching over the nursery. The sage Rhowan Quinson approached and offered to sponsor Aleksey for initiation of one of the scholarly cloisters of Helgabal. A proud Koseff said yes. The Dotsk family had been almost exclusively farmers and laborers throughout their existence and Kossuth was hopeful the family name could possibly gain prominence throughout Damara through his second born. Aleskey entered the cloisters of Helgabal and began his studies. He excelled and seemed on track on a comfortable life as a scholar and possibly an adviser to one of the Damaran courts.
 
However, Aleksey was “gifted” in another way. Starting around the age of 13, he started experiencing feelings of déjà vu when random inconsequential events seemed like that they had happened in a dream the boy had in months or weeks prior. By time he reached 16, those “feelings” evolved into vivid dreams with remarkable acuity for clear and specific details that often felt real. Several of the events of those dreams started to come to pass in the waking world. [some were dreams involving minor events with his family and friends. One time…] One dream in particular, suggested that the Dragonsbane royal lineage would cease to be at the year’s end and the unity of the Bloodstone Kingdom would dissolve and Vaasa would become a threat to Damara again. However, when Aleksey tried to share these dreams with his family and tutors, they dismissed them as the fantasies of a young teenage kid with a suppressed, wild imagination wanting to break away from his books. Aleksey knew better and began to experience a condition some diviners have dubbed “Savras’ Burden”, where one can see the future but is powerless to prevent it from coming to pass. Others began to label him as eccentric, at best, and other names he would rather not repeat. The young scholar withdrew even more into himself.
 
Aleskey started to take an interest in the arcane, hoping to find a way to channel those abilities and show the everyone he was not “crazy.” His avarice in reading magical texts was noted by his tutors and, when he turned 18, Rhowan Quinson arranged to have him apprentice under one of the wizards that was in the council of the Duke of Morov. He was sent to tutelage of Rhael Devachuk, a vain and haughty enchanter who was ever paranoid about training a potential rival. Aleksey spent most of his time under the wizard tracking down tomes, reading, taking notes and performing menial housekeeping tasks. While Aleskey enjoyed reading and soaking up lore and knowledge, Aleksey quickly caught on that his “master,” as he insisted to be called, saw him no more as an underling and his only utility to the half-elf was as a clerk. Proud and independent, Aleksey privately fumed at this, but as is the Damaran way, he did his duty and endured on for several years hoping everyday a new opportunity might present itself. That opportunity presented itself when Rhowan Quinson paid an unexpected visit and was curious about the progress his former protégée was making. The young man recounted to the older scholar in matter-of-fact terms the tasks that were regularly asked of him. Rhowan keenly read between the lines and, in the even and detached tone common to scholars, as the young Dotsk what spells he had learned. Aleksey could not offer much and the septuagenarian grew quiet
 
The old scholar held back the feelings of shame he had about putting Aleksey under the care of such a vain and pretentious individual that Rhael reveled to be. The old tutor took his leave. A week later, a letter came from another wing in the manor that Aleksey was to report to the Damaran Gate in the Bloodstone Pass to apprentice under Arvo Kaschak, an abjurer that had spent a year apprenticing under Dreveth the Gray of Hillsfar, a diviner of some reputation. Arvo was stationed there to attend to the maintenance of the warding spells that augmented the massive gate.
 
It was an uncertain and uneasy time in Damara as Queen Brianne Dragonsbane died four years prior, just as his dreams told Aleksey, ending the Houses royal lineage. Political chaos ensued and tensions began to rise between Vaasa and Damara threatening to dissolve their union under the Bloodstone Kingdom. A new, relatively unknown noble, albeit one of the wealthiest in all of Damara, named Yarin Frostmantle was seated as the new ruler of the kingdom. Rumors began to spread of a ruthless order of warlock knights seizing control over vast areas of Vaasa and marshaling an ever expanding army.
 
Arvo, while stoic and somewhat detached in his demeanor, proved to be a more generous and skilled mentor to the aspiring young Aleksey. Aleskey began to master a few cantrips and was given the tools to learn the ability to summon a familiar, a sign of stature among mages. Arvo encouraged his young apprentice’s love of lore and reading as it helped the older arcane master gain new insights and stratagems for many of the spells he had in his register. Aleksey was initially frustrated at the slow pace his mentor proceeded with his studies, but Aleksey came to realize the purpose of that. Arvo was not trying to just teach the spells to the young Damaran, but have him understand the understand the underlying elements of the material plane and the “weave” that came together to inform those magics. Aleksey appreciated the respect the veteran mage was showing him by giving him the means of perfecting his art well beyond his training.
 
Alesky also found subtle ways to put use of his visions while serving at the Damaran Gate. He often ventured into the surrounding mountainsides and valleys and assisted farmers and miners alike in their day-to-day efforts. Farmers came to trust in his forecasts of weather, planting at the right time to yield the maximum harvest and at other times when to prepare for coming drought. Miners listened to his “insight” on the best time to ship out the precious bloodstone that avoided raids from orcs and bandits. It wasn’t going to rock the world but the farmers and miners were nonetheless grateful for it.
 
Despite the ever present tension that pervaded while living within a border fortress, Aleksey was content and feeling like he was finally coming into his own. He was excited to find that the castle that anchored one side of the gate had housed a respectably sized library. Many of the records stored there were of the mundane variety, mostly being daily records of inventories and coming and going of travelers at the gate. Despite the dry, unadorned accounting those documents contained, Alesky still enjoyed perusing over them in his free time. Patterns emerged from those logs and Aleskey was able to glean broader stories from them. Such was the case when came upon the logs from the year 1373 DR. It was dubbed “the Year of Rogue Dragons” with astute foresight. Aleskey discovered an attempt that year by the notorious lich Sammaster and his Cult of the Dragon to invade Damara that was thwarted by the first king of Bloodstone Gareth Dragonsbane and other adventures that joined him, including Pavel Shemov, for which his nephew in Phlan was named. After his training and duties with Arvo wrapped up, he would secret up to the library to learn about the next sequence of events that happened over those days in 1373. One such night, while he was reading the log book that had recounted the vast horde of monsters from Vaasa that stood outside the gates, fate intervened and set Aleksey on a coarse he seemed to be destined to since first discovering his gifts as a child. Although he was alone in the room, which he was sure of as he had locked the door when he came in, Alesky heard a voice, clear, measured and evenly toned as if someone was standing right next to him. “Aleskey Dotsk?” Aleskey looked up from the book but not a soul was to be found.
 
“Aleskey Dotsk, I need your help.” Confused, Aleskey looked around again. “You are alone. The voice you hear is from me, Savras. I was once venerated as the god of divination and I need your help. I know of your “gifts” and have watched you for many years. I choose to reach out to you because of your “gifts” and you possess the intellect and learning to know what I say is true. I need your help. Faerûn has dark times ahead, Damara, the Cold North and the Moonsea in particular. The Cult of the Dragon has found a new purpose under a new leader and stirs again. The evil queen of the chromatic dragons seeks to return to Toril and the Cult is working to aid her. Much destruction awaits Faerûn as they prepare for her arrival. I was trapped for many years and just recently returned to this world. My followers are few and all my temples and shrines on this continent have been abandoned. The other deities have chosen to remain silent but I cannot. I need your help Aleskey Dotsk. Will you help me?” Aleksey took a few moments to collect his thoughts. It was disorienting but it felt true. The young mage had read about Savras in his studies. The appearance of the god that had been recorded in many texts was consistent with what just happened. A voice spoke with unfettered clarity imparting knowledge to benefit the greater well being of the world. “Yes,” Aleksey responded, “What do you ask of me?” “Just believe in me and I can help guide you in the talents that others have ignored for much of your life. Devout yourself to what I know, to what I understand and impart that knowledge when you must. Take as a symbol of the divine power I would like to channel to you one of the bloodstone minerals mined from the surrounding mountainsides and have it polished into an orb. Incise eyes in the flecks of red that dot its surface. Use it as an orb or have a shield fashioned around it for protection.
 
It will serve as a symbol of your devotion to my cause as well as to your Damaran lineage. Take this with you to the royal court in Bloodstone City. Warn the king danger is inevitable and he must prepare. If he does not listen, travel to each of the vassal courts and make your case there. Enough of them will force the king to act. Take care, Aleskey. I will return again when fate call for it.”
 
With that, Aleskey felt the presence leave the room. He returned the book to the shelf and went to back to his chambers to contemplate.
When morning broke, Aleskey went to Arvo and asked to travel up to the mines. The apprentice made no mention of the encounter of the night before. Arvo granted the request on the condition that Aleskey carry a message and bags of gold and gems for the dwarven clans that worked and resided near the mines. Reports were coming in of a large army approaching the Bloodstone Pass within Vaasa and the fortress needed to beef up its armory. He then asked Alesky to make haste in getting back as they need to join in with the defensive preparations.
 
Aleskey arrived at the mines by mid-day. He delivered the message and bags of gems and gold to the dwarven clans as asked. Through the years at the gate, Aleskey was able to save a decent amount of gold. Since much was provided for at the military installation, it was rare for the apprentice to have spend any coin. He gave part of his savings to a purchase a fist size of recently mined bloodstone. He then took the stone and commissioned a dwarf stonecutter to polish the rock and incise the eyes in the red flecks. He offered some gold for a recommendation for a blacksmith. The dwarf said he had a working relationship with one, and when Aleksey explained to him his plans, the stonecutter agreed to drop off the finished stone with the blacksmith. Alesky then paid a visit to the blacksmith and gave the dwarf his remaining savings to craft a gilded shield around the polished stone. The blacksmith informed him it would take a month to complete but should arrive with the other arms and armor commissioned by the fortress. Aleskey made haste to return back to the gates as he was instructed.
 
A month passed. Aleksey continued with studies and chores with Arvo with no mention of the visitation from Savras. It seemed awkward and did not seem the time was right until the shield arrived. Plus, the defensive preparations and daily reports tracking the forces moving through Vaasa preoccupied most of everyone’s thoughts. The shield did eventually arrive as promised with the arms and armor from the dwarven forges. A note from the blacksmith quarters was sent to Aleskey’s and the young Damaran promptly picked up the item. As expected, the shield was crafted with utmost precision. The bloodstone was a flawless polished sphere, with finely incised tiny eyes and the red and gold gilding of the shield shimmered with a high brilliance. Aleskey knew Arvo had a keen eye to notice these types of things, so, out of respect, he knew now was the time to tell his mentor.
Aleskey reported to his morning studies and told Arvo of his visitation from Savras a month ago. At first, Arvo was not pleased. In calm measured words, he expressed his disapproval of an apprentice leaving their training this close to being done and when so much time and resources had been invested into them. Plus, there was the issue that his help would be needed to defend the gates. Reports had the army in Vaasa now within days of the pass. With a long pause, Arvo then calmly resumed stating that he believed his apprentice was visited by the deity. His path was no longer with the arcane but with the divine. It had been decades since any one had reported any contact with any of the deities of Faerûn and agreed his ward had been tasked with a higher responsibility. He praised Alesky for his dutifulness and adeptness in comprehending the fundamental underpinnings of the weave. He was a bright student and wished Aleskey well. He made call to the castellan to have Aleskey be accompanied by a small band of guards for protection for a few miles as he headed east to the royal court. Aleskey thanked his mentor and promised to also request the king to send more forces to garrison at the gates.
 
It took Aleksey less than a half-day’s travel to reach Bloodstone City. It was late in the afternoon when he arrived at the Palace Dragonsbane. He went to offices of the Lord Steward to arrange an audience with the king. The clerks asked Aleskey his name, rank and profession and the young cleric to be quickly surmised that it did not portend a good meeting. Despite stressing to the clerks that he came from his station at the Damaran Gate and was Arvo Kaschak’s [former] apprentice, Alesky had to lobby hard to convince them to schedule a distinct time with the king and not be a part of the general audience from the public. They instructed the former apprentice that he would be given 10 minutes to present his request to the Royal Court immediately after the affairs of the general audience.
 
Aleksey arrived back at the palace the next day. He presented first the request of his former mentor to the court. “Yes, yes, I get the daily reports… This is not new….” The new king, Yarin Frostmantle, sat hunched forward in his throne and stared at the cleric with beady rat-like eyes. Aleksey pressed on “Yes, your grace. I was recently visited by the god Savras and he asked of me…” “Steward, which of your incompetent excuses for clerks granted this delusional simpleton to waste our time!” the king belched out in a raspy voice. Aleskey was undeterred. “Wait! There is great danger for Damara and all of Faerûn. The Cult…” “GUARDS. Drag this wretch out of my site.” Aleskey continued even as the guards put their gauntlets around his upper arms and began to drag. “The Cult of Dragon is stirring again and preparing for… Get off me!… Naaauugh!… preparing for Tiamat’s return to Toril!” The king scoffed “Hmph. Again, nothing new there. They are always up to some hair brained scheme that comes to nothing but dead cultists. GET OUTTA HERE! You are a waste of our time, you deranged zealot!” The guards dragged Aleskey out of the chamber and to the palace entrance. Frustrated, Aleskey descended the steps and returned to the inn. He spent the night mapping out his journey to each of the courts of each of the duchies and baronies of Damara as Savras prescribed. He also collected his notes about Sammaster’s attempt from close to a century ago. While the lich had long since passed, it was evidence of the threat the Cult posed whenever it has a central purpose and become organized.
 
Aleskey spent the next year and a half making his way to each of the courts of the Dukes and Barons of Damara. The result was much the same albeit he was shown more dignity in many of those courts than he did on the day in Bloodstone City. It also came to pass that in the month following his visit to the king, the Vaasan Gate was breached by the Warlock Knights and they raised much of the Bloodstone Pass, including the royal capital. The Bloodstone Kingdom dissolved. King Frostmantle and the court managed to escape and established the Damaran capital in Alesky’s hometown of Helgabal. The forces held strong at the Damaran Gate keeping the rampaging knights for finding any entry into Damara itself. And that is where things stayed for the following decade. Life in Damara became tense with the constant threat of war sitting at their doorstep in Vaasa and the increasingly authoritarian rule of Yarin Frostmantle.
 
Touching on his upbringing in a devout Ilmatari family, Aleskey spent the decade and a half making his way around the lands of Damara and offering his gifts to the regular working people of his home nation. Much as he did when he was stationed, he helped them plan crops, prepare for floods or draughts, find auspicious time to conduct business, time to take up defenses and others of the like. He even offered the odd card, palm and the leaf reading for a little fun and coin. While it might have been described as minor by some, the people were highly appreciative none the less. They freely offered donations to the cleric. Not only did it help provide Alesky enough to cover his daily living expenses, but he was able to save up a modest sum to purchase scale mail in a few years time.
 
When a city or outpost offered a library, he sought what information he could on his patron deity and records of past activities of the Cult of the Dragon to glean what he could about their practices. He also learned that his nephew’s namesake had sacrificed himself to destroy Sammaster for once and all in the battles of that followed the ones at the Damaran Gate.
 
Since Aleksey was the only cleric of Savras that he was aware of, he also conferred with the clerics and clergy of Ilmater about their daily and regular rituals. He adopted and adapted those practices that seem to be in line with the duties of a god of knowledge and divination and devised a few rites of his own. Having not heard from Savras after that fateful night, he took it upon his mission to hone his visions and make sure truth and knowledge was always brought to light, even if the sometimes did not fall on willing ears.
 
That being said, the years passed without the Cult doing much to draw any much attention. There were the odd plots every few years by an isolated cell here and there but they were easily foiled by the town guards or some aspiring adventuring group. Nothing on the scale or organization that Savras seemed in his visitation all those years. Aleksey knew from his own visions that sometimes the “truths” hinted at in divination could take some time pass and often surprised one if they gave up on them. However, the now middle aged and wisened cleric began to wonder if the god had imparted truths from a much distant future and would he remember what to look for if they started to come to pass. Despite the daily meditations and review of his journals, the details started to become fuzzy. He encountered a few individuals tied with the Harper’s network and they shared there were rumors that a new leader had emerged within its ranks. The philosophy of the new leader was gaining traction among the younger followers of the order and causing a rift in the order from those who were loyal to the traditional ways. They also had heard word of increased activity among cells along the Sword Coast and the Moonsea region, the latter of which of just to the west of them. However, it still nothing on the scale that Savras seem to imply, so Aleksey was content to simply watch and gather more information.
 
In his forty second year, Aleksey received word from his brother Fodel that Pavel had taken up studies in the clergy of the faith of Ilmater. He informed Aleskey that Pavel was initiated as a monk in the Order of the Broken Ones and was traveling with his mentor to End’s Rest in Helgabal. Pavel was to continue his studies there. Aleskey sent a message to his nephew and traveled back to his hometown to visit him. Pavel was happy to see his wayward uncle, remembering him mostly from the odd visits during the celebrations of Highharvestide, and was surprised to see his arcane obsessed relative dressed in the vestments. Kossuf and Natri had passed of natural causes some many years ago, but long family friends welcomed the two into their homes. Aleskey asked his nephew about his progress in the ways of his order and was pleased to hear that he had a kind and generous mentor that imparted a lot of wisdom on the young Dotsk. He also was commended on his skills at foraging and crafting healing remedies, a family skill that served them all well. Aleskey also shared with his nephew what he had learned of his name sake and that he saw a path to a similar renown in his nephew future. They parted ways. Pavel needed to return to his studies and Aleksey wanted to continue his research among the vast collections of libraries and colleges that were unique to a royal capital.
 
Aleksey wanted to continue his research among the vast collections of libraries and colleges that were unique to a royal capital. As he headed from the library for his evening meal break, he bumped shoulders with a large, solid muscular man that almost spun him to the ground. The individual was adorned in the hide dress that suggested he belonged to one of the barbarian tribes of the Far North. The man was joined by two roguish looking halflings, a male and female. When he looked into the eyes of the towering barbarian to apologize, a sense washed over him that the man was not who he seemed. A long past lay hidden in the man’s soul that his youthful appearance disguised. The same was true of the male curly haired halfling and a sense of fate seemed to emanate off the two that he had never encounter in any humanoid before or since. The barbarian was quick to smile and offer his own apologies to the cleric and continued walking towards whatever their destination was. All throughout his meal and for the rest of the night, Aleksey’s mind kept returning to the aura of those two and something momentous was about to come to pass in the city.
 
His suspicions were confirmed later that night as prepared for bed and went over a final review of his notes from the day. That clear, even toned voice that he had heard back in that fortress library almost two decades spoke once again. “Alesky, I must come to you again. I know it has been many, many years since we last spoke. My powers as a god are still limited and I am still working to get a greater foothold in this realm. Thank for never wavering in your belief and continuing your service on my behalf to spread knowledge in this realm. I need to share information of great importance for Faerûn once again. Also, in honor of years in devotion to our cause, I have news of personal import to your family. The events I spoke to you all those past are set to start coming to pass. Events are lining up as I have foreseen. Soon, the tyrant king of this nation will see his paranoid and avaricious nature turn against him. His impatience has already set in motion powerful individuals to come to the aide of his recent bride. The young Aglarondan noble from Delthune will sit soon as the sole ruler of Damara as Frostmantle’s gestures to blame her for his infertility and set in motion her execution will instead encounter his own as some of the greatest mortals of this realm will come to the young woman’s aide. You will know this to be true when the draw ranger of legend arrives at the Monastery of the Yellow Rose with others of his kind. The barbarian and the halfling rogues you saw today have already set that path in motion. [Events in the Hero Novel by RA Salvatore] Damara will come into a better age under her rule if she can endure the early years of manipulation and coercion from the other noble houses of Damara. She will need sage advice. However, that is not the fate that is required of you.
 
You will need to continue with your quest in discovering more about the Cult of the Dragon and will have agency to act against them in my name. To set that path of fate in motion, you will need to travel west to city of your brother, Phlan. There, too, the city’s arrogant current ruler will soon meet his end and put the Zhentilar claim to power there in question. The city will be in state of upheaval in the following years, giving the cult the cover they need to covertly put their plans into motions. Many of their kind have already taken up residence in the city. The Moonsea is abundant with dragons and dragon artifacts that will serve their cause. If not interrupted, I fear the Tiamat could walk again on Toril and make the homes of all but dragons burn in her vindictive wake.” Aleskey listened patiently and waited for Savras to speak again. “You spoke of news of import to me and my family. Is that something you can share?” “Yes, Aleskey. Your brother is a noble good hearted man but also one that is very headstrong. That has made enemies of some those seeking power in the city and they are in the midst of making plans against him. They seek to burn his home with him in it because knowledge he refuses to impart stands in the way of much wealth for them. They will be able to hide themselves from any blame.”
 
The voice took a long pause. “I am very sorry, Aleskey. You are a dedicated man and I am glad entrusted in you in helping bring knowledge to Faerûn. Even Azuth, the patron of wizards and one I promised fealty to, has also seen his influence decline and has too just emerged trap that usurped his powers. Please know, I am limited in what I can say before my words risk the danger of interfering with fate itself. You are Damaran are an honest, noble people always willing to sacrifice yourselves to serve a greater good. Your future leads down many roads, but wherever they may take you keep in mind, sometimes tragedies can serve a greater purpose and put things on course for the betterment of it, even though it may not seem like it at the time. I share this with you out of the loyalty you have shown me and so you can do right by your family. That is all I can share, Aleksey. Know that I have limits on my powers too but I am here to provide you with what guidance I can. Fate is indebted to you and your family's efforts.”
 
As he drew near to where the cave to be, here heard goblin war horns give out a cry. In the distant brush ahead of him, he picked up the faint sounds of goblin and humanoid cries and arrows striking their targets. A skirmish seemed to be ahead and he took cover in the brush. After the sounds subsided and a brief silence was broken by non-goblin voices conversing with another, he decided to creep forward to investigate. He saw a group of what look to be six adventures recovering from an encounter with goblins. One of the figures was clad in the gray robes and red ropes of the Ilmati order his nephew belong to. He decided approach carefully and attempt to introduce himself…..

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