Darion Varrs
Darion Galanodel (a.k.a. Darion Varrs, The Silver Fang)
Early Years
The images shift to a midnight voyage where the moon on the water glistened the same as the crystal road. His memories solidify more after those fragments in the shape of Kynsham, the sprawling capital of Yemisyrl.
Growing up in the primarily human city of Kynsham was not easy, though the love of his parents held him safe. He had an uneventful childhood at this time.
His parents maintained very modest means with a loft apartment over their self-run store on the outskirts of the market. It seemed that they were the only elves in the massive city at times. That number would dwindle, Darion went to market and returned to find his home burning. His parents’ remains were found in the rubble. He had lost everything.
The deaths of his parents at an early age left him fending for himself on the streets of Kynsham. He befriended a fellow urchin, a halfling named Varrs Copperkettle. They were inseparable and depended on each other for survival until Varrs was killed by soldiers in the street after he attempted to lift a pouch of 15 cp from a soldier’s belt in a tavern.
With no real connections to elf folk since his parents’ death, he took his friend’s name to honor him as family, becoming Darion Varrs. Since that day, when Darion found himself in a tavern and the opportunity allowed it, he would lift coins from a mark (typically a boastful soldier that reminded him of the one that killed his friend) and buy himself and Varrs a drink with the money. Darion would also make it a habit of having a pouch of 15 coins on his belt as a way of inviting his friend to join him.
The Young Thief
One day, Margok Benvik, the leader of a rising thieves guild called Fate's Fortune, took Darion under his wing. Margok saw great promise in the young elf as a thief. He trained Darion for a few seasons. Darion became one of the city’s finest thieves. While procuring various gems as a thief, Darion found that he was drawn to stones that reminded him of the one he touched as a child... as if constantly searching for that singular stone.
After a falling out between Margok’s Thieves’ Guild and an allied Assassin’s Guild called The Dark Thorn, Margok had Darion attempt to procure a ledger from the Dark Thorn. Upon grabbing the ledger, Darion discovered that his parents had been murdered via contract taken out by Margok all those years ago. Shaken by this news, he was caught by the Dark Thorn. He was then propositioned to join their ranks and offered the opportunity for revenge against Margok. The Dark Thorn wanted him to destroy Margok’s guild.
The Young Assassin
Darion was secretly trained in the ways of the assassins and joined The Dark Thorn. In his service to the guild, they named him The Silver Fang. He served as an assassin while also maintaining his duties in Fate's Fortune.
Eventually, Darion razed Margok’s guild and was ordered to kill his former mentor. Margok was shocked by Darion's betrayal, but understood upon Darion revealing the Elvish name of his parents. Margok spoke that in dark circles it was known that he was a point of contact for the Dark Thorn, and he was approached by an elf with an unique marking on his wrist requesting the hit on Darion's family. The reward was too great to warrant further questions as it ended up funding the beginning of Margok's guild.
Ultimately, Margok yielded to Darion, but Darion chose not to kill his old mentor. Darion’s rage from learning the truth about his parents had run its course and he was done killing in the name of the Dark Thorn. The Dark Thorn immediately killed Margok once Darion made his choice. Darion narrowly escaped the city with his life as the Dark Thorn does not take kindly to those that reject them.
Prather Rise & Fall
For a number of years, Darion wandered from town to town, never staying in one place for very long. After a while, he found himself in Prather, a seedy port city at the entrance of Bariston Bay. It didn’t take long for him to carve out a niche for himself with his skills. He formed his own thieves’ guild in the district of Fate's End. The Fate's End Theives quickly became the best in the city.
During his time in Prather, Darion crossed paths with a secret underworld information network called The Unseen Hand. They proved to be a great ally in providing valuable information for his guild's many tasks. His on-hand contact to The Unseen Hand was a female dym named Symphony, who was one of the top lieutenants in the organization. While their exploits often coincided and were typically mutually beneficial, the mysterious organization made it clear that they would always remain at a distance from Darion in order to maintain their secrecy.
He enjoyed success for a few years, but eventually someone crossed the port revealing his old identity as The Silver Fang. It didn’t take long for the Dark Thorn to have the news reach them across the world. Darion naively believed enough time and distance had separated him from the Dark Thorn. With his identity revealed, he chose to remain entrenched at his port city. The Dark Thorn arrived and a bloody war erupted in the shadows of the city.
Fate's End was destroyed, only Darion survived... he, and his name... The Silver Fang. His deathly moniker received credit or blame for almost every ghastly murder in the port for years after his evacuation. The lore of The Silver Fang was carried to various ports and throughout the land. Fortunately for Darion, with so many tales echoing about, the Dark Thorn found it difficult to ascertain the authenticity of sightings and began to slightly wane on their search for him.
Elvish Reconnection
Darion found safety at different Elvish encampments, towns, and cities. In wanting to get in touch with his Elvish heritage, he came into good graces with a few Elvish settlements by putting his talents to good use by acquiring hard to obtain items, treasure hunting, dealing with unwanteds, and adventuring. Although most Elvish settlements were untouchable by the Dark Thorn, Darion used his family name of Galanodel during his time spent among the Elves. However, even on his new path, he knew that one day he would have to face his past or continue to wander aimlessly for all of his days.
He learned the ways of his Elvish kinfolk while living among them, though his roots as a scoundrel would usually present themselves. For a time he remained in the Northeast of Aethos in the Nethaar Wilds. The Duke of Nethaar wasn’t fond of The Silver Fang’s lore, but was wise in knowing that there was more to this Moon Elf. However, Darion bested the Duke in a game of cards among his top lieutenants, winning the Duke’s magic ring, a cherished heirloom. The Duke told him he had to move on from their forest, that he had overstayed his welcome.
Love of Elfhaven
Eventually, Darion found himself in the North at Elfhaven on the great lakes. Adventuring and defending the lands around Elfhaven endeared him to an Elf girl, Kiris Cithreth. The two fell in love. Her father Arannis Cithreth did not approve. He was the leader of the elves at Elfhaven, commissioned by the Elven High Council.
Arannis seemed to recognize the name Galanodel, but Kiris couldn't get any information from Arannis about the name. In intimate conversation with Kiris, Darion discovered that he didn't experience early age reveries during his trances the same way most elves did. He couldn't remember or see certain things from points of his childhood. The memory seemed distant as if pulled away from him.
He told Kiris of his childhood images. She believed he was describing the Moonstone Palace and the Elven Road of Souls in the Elven Kingdom on the island of Evermore. She had never been, but her father was one of the few elves that was born there and had left its shores.
Darion confronted Arannis about his heritage, but Arannis rebuffed him and told him he had to leave Elfhaven and his daughter. Kiris suggested Darion to go to Elvenkeep, the oldest Elven City in Elithisyer to find answers as it was near impossible to reach Evermore unless you were an elf of advanced years or were born there.
The Dark Thorn tried to carry out an assassination of Arannis, unaware of Darion being present. Darion thwarted the deed by using his amnesty spell scroll, which only one was granted to each Dark Thorn member. This ensured her father's contract was null & void. In doing so, he revealed a part of his dark past to the Cithreths.
Worried his presence would bring harm to Kiris, Darion chose to leave Elfhaven on a journey to one day find his way to Elvenkeep to learn more about his family. He promised his return and his love to Kiris.
His Mission
Darion maintained many connections with various Thieves Guilds and on the streets. He continued his good relationship with The Unseen Hand while on the move as well. The Unseen Hand know his history from his early beginnings in Kynsham to Prather and beyond, but they have misgivings about The Dark Thorn, so they keep his whereabouts a secret from the assassins. His criminal contact in The Unseen Hand has remained Symphony, who continues to check in on him from time to time.
He still has yet to discover where his family was from and the true reason why they were killed. The images of his childhood haunt him and fuel his curiosity. Darion knows that before he can return to Kiris, he must deal with his ties to The Dark Thorn while relying on his quick wit and relationship with The Unseen Hand.
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