20200101 Jesse's Ancient History

Jesse was raised by an elderly alchemist in Athkatla, Amn. (Maybe change that to Dublinshire?) From his earliest memories, he quaffed potions and practiced exercises and nutritional diets to make him grow up big and strong, knowledge of which came from an ancient book his alleged father said contained wisdom of the druids. Apparently it worked, for he grew up to have strength and vitality rivaling any men he knew. With his boundless youthful energy springing up from within, he longed for the beautiful and vibrant wild lands spoken of in the druidic tome. But the plants and animals of which he read could be only childhood imaginary friends, for his father embodied the exact opposite.The bespectacled elderly alchemist sought a dry intellectual life more fitting his own frail form, resulting in great magical prowess. And, the power-monger expected his boy to follow in his footsteps, combining the perfect intellect with the perfect body. Yet, sadly, the childhood playfulness and friendships from which most of the joy of life springs were not considered to be a necessary ingredient in this recipe. Instead, arcane study and spell casting and chemical brewing were meant to be his work and his play. What his father expected him to become, he was never told and never asked. In fact to this day he is uncertain whether he cares, for the two fought more and more through his teenage years, until finally he left, and set out to make a life of his own in those fascinating yet peaceful wild lands which seem to goon forever. Only years later, after learning more of nature, did he wonder why he had no memories of a mother, why his alleged father had never spoken of a wife, marriage, nor family. But that mystery may remain unsolved, for he has no intention of returning to the big city and the life he left behind. In his travels, he tried all the ways he had read to detect which lands were protected by druids and rangers, and when the trees of Haranshire told him of Oleanne, he realized that she could teach him much, and might be willing to do so. 
 
 
Holiday in Aquitaine; The Swallowtail Butterfly Festival
Initially, when Jesse wandered into the Mosswood and Tickwood forest areas, he met a bugbear Ranger named Bruthazmus who welcomed the help, although neither of them knew yet whether Jesse was just passing through or would take some responsibility for tending the area. Bruthazmus told Jesse of the Falconer, Shalelu Adosana and what the rangers use to signal a call for assistance, just in case they might need all hands on deck some day. Bruthazmus also pointed out some of the local kobold tribes and the big city of Aquitaine.
 
Jesse blessed a few farmers’ crops around Aquitaine this year. If the autumn harvest is better, his services might be in demand next year. But Jesse needed some cash in time for the festival if he were going to be able to buy some permanent ironwood from a merchant.  (He still doesn’t have enough clout with the Drionian Circle (who make the stuff) to score some.) So, he got himself a good bow and arrows and has been posing as a ranger guide-for-hire to help travelers safely arrive at Aquitaine. Jesse is coming to the Swallowtail Festival to buy a piece of permanently enchanted ironwood. It doesn't matter what shape it is in. Jesse can use the Druid Shape Wood spell to permanently form it into a utility knife that will never rust.
 
Near Aquitaine but not too near, Jessehas befriended a hive of bees a safe distance from town, learned
how to avoid angering them, and learned to communicate with them. He is
touched by their simple spiritual lifestyle and their sadly short lifespan. They
guard this friendly giant's town clothing, and share their honey in exchange for
his protection and his occasional providence of transplanted rare flora which
they all enjoy. Only a few would be willing to die for him, but many appreciate his
tales of the distant outside world far from their parochial compound. Only the
queen remembers life before his arrival.