Alver Zemlemple
Origins
Alver was born into a modest family of cobblers in the capital of the Empire: Valdor. Alver's parents, Cerille Zelemple and Xalidapus Zemlemple soon discovered that their eldest son Alver was going to be different.
From an early age, Alver showed a keen and insatiable intelligence - very much like his uncle, Malver Zemlemple (who, incidentally, he was named after). Malver was a distinguished professor at - Valdor's most prestigious university - and had died in mysterious circumstances just two years before Alver was born. Alver's parents used the money Malver had bequeathed his nephew to tutor the young gnome in all manners of arts and science.
The young gnome sponged up all the knowledge he could muster and developed an uncanny ability for illusion. When aged 20, he entered the University of the Champs Arcanes and graduated with flying colours after just a few years.
Backstory
Alver's thirst for knowledge was great, and he decided to continue his research into illusions and the arcane at the same university where he trained. Alver dedicated his life to improving his powers and training his gifted students.
However, his passion for ancient grimoires was to give him a different and unwelcome taste of magic. Aged 43, he bought a new grimoire, and in his impatience, opened up the volume without noticing the dark spells attached to it - through the grimoire, Alver is now a servant of Marwoleath, the god of death.
Alver is drawn to ghosts and other undead spirits and has caused a few deaths of his own because of his new untested powers. Alver is now looking to free himself from the grimoire's hold and is searching for the knowledge he needs to do so.
A few months ago, Alver received a letter from an esteemed colleague residing in the pleasant and fashionable town of Castellac. This old friend, Lady Marigold Delange, might have found something of note in the jungle forests lying not too far away from the town. Alver is to travel to Castellac and stay in Lady Delange's mansion until he can uncover the possible cure to the evil that besets him.
Powers and Personality
Alver used to be a jolly and affable gnome in his younger years. Since being 'cursed' by the grimoire, his personality underwent a progressive change. First, his magic has become erratic and his illusions more frightening than before.
The people who know him, blame it on old age: he is not as patient with his students and often gives in to sarcastic jibes. He is a lot more withdrawn, shunning company. He also stresses and frets a lot more than he used to, and he is easily frightened - hearing sounds and jumping at shadows.
Marwoleath
Caught in the webs I thread in the dark corners of the mind, you trash and flail to no avail. Embrace the soft cocoon of death and, I promise, your brain shall never go hungry.
Story Leads
- Alver would set out into the jungle to find out more about the grimoire and how to undo its curse
- Alver might want to set up a party to look into the grimoire's doing and help him fight the curse that's holding him
Spookoctober Cue 7: Incorporeal
For Spookoctober this year, I decided to create 27 characters for my DnD world of Frencal.
They all have something in common: they all are servants in some form or another of the Janus-like God of Death: Marwoleath and his twin sister Morilupe.
All are deadly, cursed and black of heart and mind.
Alver Zemlemple
Species: Gnome
Class: School of Illusion Wizard
Background: cloistered scholar
Location: Valdor (University of the Champs Arcane), Castellac
Character Sheet Link:
Alver Zemlemple
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