Backstory
Note that I used the "Build Your Story" option from Heroes of the Feywild to jump start this (indeed, this was the character that I made when I first tried that chapter out!). The link to that post is here. Below is a somewhat abbreviated (and yet, expanded) version.
- Keyleth was orphaned at a young age, and grew up in the city of Shinaelestra in the Feywild where her foster parents moved after fleeing the Gnoll force that destroyed their village. They made a meager living as farmhands at one of the local vineyards, and when Keyleth was old enough she was hired by an apothecary to collect rare herbs (in the Feywild, and in the Mortal Realm after Shinaelestra's nightly worldfall).
- After learning that her parents were actually respected members of the Druidic Circle of Shelter and had left her in order to pursue a dangerous mission in search of a necromancer (Decius Derakh), she departed on a quest to learn what may have become of them. She suffered a mishap in the goblin-controlled Murkroot swamp, and was sold into Fomorian slavery for a time before escaping into Brokenstone Vale, the Valley of the Lycanthropes. There she befriended a werebear tribal elder, who advised her to seek out the Citadel Arcanum in Mithrendain. She was captured by the guards, but not before discovering records showing that Decius had attempted to get through the Maze of Fathaghn to steal a branch from the Mother Tree for some dark ritual. He was no match for the Dryad Queen that resided there, but perhaps she could be of help to Keyleth in locating him now.
- On her way to the Maze the Primal Spirits began whispering to her, starting her on the Druidic path. The Dryad Queen was sympathetic, pointing her to where she had banished Decius into the Mortal World (and giving her a magical fire box that showed his face in its smoke). She advised Keyleth to seek out members of her parents' Circle.
- Despite the Dryad Queen's warning, upon entering the Mortal Realm Keyleth became singularly obsessed with hunting down Decius. Though she slowly developed a mastery of Primal magics, they began to manifest her wild recklessness. After developing an unpleasant reputation, an elderly member of the Circle of Shelter (Bryce Calanor) sought her out and presented her with a task; he would train her in the ways of the Beastwalker Circle, and then she was to go on a personal quest. She was to remain in beast form with no outside contact “until her reflection acknowledged her.” This was the path to Wisdom.
- Unable to make sense of her end goal, she alternated between many different animal forms for nearly a year. Most other creatures were wary around her, and avoided her despite her guise. Then one evening, while foraging through the forest in the form of a black bear, Keyleth heard the mournful howl of a wolf. For no reason that she could explain, with a swift leap she took wolf form and bounded toward the sound. She encountered a litter of yearling pups that had struck out on their own, and they greeted her enthusiastically. She traveled with them for several days, hunting and lounging and frolicking. She let her concerns about Decius and her quest melt away. Then, one of the young wolves approached her, sat down, and turned into Bryce! By opening her mind to the influence of the Primal Beast she had learned to view the world from a new perspective, and to shed away her dangerous single-mindedness.
- Though he had no information about Decius or Keyleth's parents, Bryce advised Keyleth to live her life and to see the world, seeking out a variety of experiences and perspectives. The Dryad Queen's fire box would alert her when an opportunity to seek Decius arose. In the meantime, he pointed her to a treasure-seeking mercenary group that he had helped co-found years ago, the Red Frogs...
In her elven form Keyleth's moss green
eyes slowly scan the room, with a focused patience behind them. With
just a momentary wolf-like glance, you can sense her connection with
the Primal Beast. Her dark brown hair (which shows flecks of
autumn-gold in the sunlight) is long but tame; a braid on each side
corrals it in place down her back as they weave through to beautiful
but practical effect. An elven technique, to be sure. Every
movement of her lithe-but-field-tested limbs portrays a calculated
grace, as if she is at home in any environment, which the slight
semi-permanent curve of her mouth confirms, conveying a relaxed
joviality. And yet her gear reveals that she's not to be
underestimated. Worn over her finely-spun woolen tunic are plates of
reinforced animal hide – the thick but supple tanned armor of
woodland bison which bears the evidence of averted injury. Around
her left forearm is tied a short length of wood adorned with various
protective wards, including carved runes and talismans of bone and
gemstone. In her right hand she carries a full-length staff carved
with the shapes of sinuous vipers and wrapped in a snakeskin grip.
Light, thinly padded moccasins and the sure footing of a mountain
goat allow her to travel with speed across any terrain. Her favored beast forms are the black bear, wolf, and dog (wolfhound mix, mostly for civilized areas), though her forms vary based on her mood.
Character Sheet
Elf, Circle of Shelter Protector
Trained Skills: Athletics, Insight, Nature, Stealth
Languages: Common, Elven, Goblin
Primal Attunements: Air Spirit, Senses of the Wild, Call the Spirits
Feats: Superior Implement Training (Accurate Staff), Beastwalker Circle, Staff Expertise, Cunning Stalker
Powers:
A-W: Grasping Claws, Magic Stones
E: Gust of Wind, Predator's Flurry, Charm Beast
D: Summon Natural Ally, Vine Serpents
U: Sudden Bite, Camouflage Cloak
Equipment: Staff of the Serpent +2, Aversion Staff +1 (reflavored), Pouncing Beast Armor +2, Claw Gloves, Lesser Badge of the Berserker +1, Siberys Shard of the Mage, Hamanu's Terrible Roar (boon), standard adventurer's kit (with extra rope), Dryad Queen's fire box (story item)
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