Alekiai

Alekiai was a proud member of the Nurmendemar and former member of the Winter’s Hand. He spent most of his life away from the Nurmendmar with his parents and in Tarabrenth. But after the Palm was overthrown he returned with his wife, Larin. They had two children, Ellenor and Henry. He was one of the people chosen to go on the trip to retrieve the Shield of Sandamar. On the way to Tarabrenth he helped fight two White Badgers. He was instrumental in the theft of the shield from the king. Alekiai and Willa became friends and the two took down the Chief Knight of Carufell. For this he had to hide in Mordehall. Alekiai was a strong warrior, wielding an ancient hammer, and a capable earth sorcerer.

In Mordehall he moved to Port Thresthelm. Alekiai and Willa were recruited by J’Kar Burin, to help assassinate Gavin Bellest. Alekiai helped burn down Gavin’s workshop, stealing notes on Carufell and shipbuilding. He then fought Gavin’s militia in the streets and defeated Gavin, claiming the noble’s enchanted knife.

Early Life
Alekia was born in Ley-Hilla, a town near the home of the Nurmendemar. As he grew up he wanted to learn how to fight and the history of his people. However this was forbidden by the Order of the Burning Palm. His parents sensed his disappointment, and wanting a better life of their own, they moved to a town on the edge of Kerriisk when he was six. His parents brought with them their ancestral weapons including a great war hammer whose handle was inlaid with deep stone for magic casting, and a set of plate armor. They also smuggled out a few books on incantry, given to them by Morgar the Lorekeeper. In this new town his parents started a farm and acted as the unofficial town guards. Meanwhile they taught Alekiai how to fight and how to cast earth magic. By the time he was sixteen, he had surpassed them in skill. Encouraging him to learn more and to see the world, they sent him off to Tarabrenth where Alekiai joined the Winter’s Hand. He brought with him his mother’s hammer and the incantry books. Alekiai and his hammer built up a large reputation. To expand upon it, Alekiai gave himself  green incantry tattoos on his chin and on the left side of his head he tattooed the elder rune of Resolve. Alekiai flourished in the Hand. In his first few years he went on several critical missions. This drew the eyes of the higher-ups. He was transferred to the company of Captain Ritaak. She became a mentor to him, teaching him more about incantry, command, and how to fight with other weapons. In that company he also met Larin, the quartermaster. Alekiai and Larin were quite fond of each other. After several years in the company, Alekiai married her. Also in this time, he met Thèandìl, the exiled leader of the Nurmendemar.

For the next seven years Alekiai lived with Larin in Tarabrenth. Though they both eventually planned on settling down and retiring from the Hand, they never found the opportunity. That was until the summer of AeP 441 when Thèandìl and her allies overthrew the Burning Palm. Alekiai had always wanted to return to the Nurmendemar Territories, but while the Palm reigned, he would not. With his clan free, he returned home with Larin. They finally settled down near Agnoor and started a family. Their first child was born in AeP 443, a daughter named Ellenor after one of the people who had helped topple the Palm. Their second child was born a year later and named Henry after Larin’s grandfather. In the time there, both Alekiai and Larin learned more about Nurmendamr traditions and lore. Alekiai helped teach people the ways of the hammer, and Larin helped Thèandìl manage the Nurmendemar treasury.

Of Shields, Stories, and Hammers
It wasn’t until late AeP 446 that Alekiai would put his life in danger again. Thèandìl and Morgar convinced him and Aspen to jointly lead a trip to Tarabrenth to steal back a Nurmendamar relic. The Shield of their former king had been stolen by the Palm and sold to the King of Carufell. Alekiai was needed for his connections in the Hand and his knowledge of the city. The leaders of the Nurmendemar also recruited Willa, Calvin, and Valera to join the expedition. Two travelling Poi’Mareath, Tiihbid and Staavin, also joined them. The seven met in the Longhouse of Agnoor. Alekiai was happy to see them all. He had met Aspen previously. They were a hunter who was also a member of the clan. He had also seen Calvin, Willa, and Valera around. After greetings and lunch, the seven went to see Morgar nearby. He gave them more details on the shield and who to speak to in Tarabrenth. The trip was going to take up to three weeks. Usually the path was faster but the winter of AeP 447 was the worst in recent memory. The snow would slow them down. At nights Alekiai, Willa, and Valera would secure their campsite while Aspen set up the camp itself. Three days into the trip the winds started picking up. They made camp in an abandoned tower centuries old. Though it gave them shelter from the winds it also gave Alekiai an uneasy feeling. He was glad to leave in the morning. But that day brought a blizzard. Despite the harsh storm, Alekiai felt safe. He saw the storm as a blessing from Rallia. Nearly a week later the group was trying to cross the Emerin River. The cold had caused it to freeze over. When about half of them were across, Aspen and their ferret realized something was wrong. Alekiai understood. He quoted from the Books of the Moth about monsters in winter. Almost on queue two White Badgers of Nezeril emerged from the snow. In the fight that followed, Alekiai killed one by breaking the ice below it with his hammer.

A week and a half later, Aspen and Alekiai had led the group to Tarabrenth. Outside the city they met their spy Luka. He got them into the city to lodgings with a friend of his and explained his plan. To make it into the castle they had to first secure a few things. Alekiai and Willa went to Mercenary Town. On the way their they talked about why Willa was here. She told Alekiai about her illness and how the cure was beyond Morgar. But the lorekeeper knew that there was a cure. She was hoping to find it in Tarabrenth. However the city was not known for its medicine. Alekiai and Willa could not find anything to help her. But they did meet up with Ritaak. Alekiai and Ritaak greeted each other warmly. As a favor to him and for some money she gave him a key to the secret castle door in the tunnels. Ritaak also asked Willa and Alekiai to go easy on the Winter’s Hand gaurds. She wanted it to seem like the incursion was a failure on the King’s soldiers and not the mercenaries. She would clear the Hand away but any that were left were to be spared. Alekiai and Willa were happy to oblige. The next day after a walk through the tunnels led by Luka, they reached the secret door. Valera got the guards to walk to a bend in the tunnel. Alekiai took one out without killing him. He was distressed when Tiihbid killed a guard. He insisted that the other three who were now unconscious, weren’t to be killed. In the castle the Winter’s Hand let them through. Tiihbid killed another of the King’s soldiers. Alekiai and Willa went to hide the body. While doing so they encountered Quinta Yon-Suk, the Chief Knight of Carufell. They tried to trick her into thinking they were Winter’s Hand but she led them to the treasure room which was broken. When she further questioned them, Willa and Alekiai attacked. They took out the two guards with Quinta and knocked her to the ground. Though she was an excellent fighter, so were Alekiai and Willa. Willa had also consumed Berserker's Brew. She took out the knight’s ankles and the two Nurmendamr ran. They escaped successfully to the tunnels and brought the shield back to Agnoor.

One Crime at a Time
Alekiai, Willa, Aspen, and Calvin returned the shield to the Nurmendemar. Though the mission had been a success, there was an uproar in the capital. News returned to the Nurmendemar that the Crown was looking for people of Alekiai’s and Willa’s descriptions, only days after the group got home. Fearing that he was recognized, and wanting to help Willa find a cure, Alekiai decided to go to Mordehall. After a long conversation with Larin, she agreed it was for the best. At the end of Cainus, Alekiai, Larin, Ellenor, Henry, and Willa, set sail for Port Thresthelm. It was all of their first time leaving Carufell. When they arrived in the city, they headed to the small Carufellan section. Alekiai and his family found an apartment, using money saved from their mercenary days. They also took advantage of their time in Mordehall, to hire their children a tutor from the University. While Larin, got the family in order, and took a job as a quartermaster/bouncer at a local Carufellan tavern, Alekiai searched the city for information on a cure for Willa, and a job. It was less than two weeks after he arrived that he got a letter from a “Stellars Jay” requesting his and Willa’s help.

Alekiai and Willa followed the instructions of the letter and went to the address given, they met Jorso outside and together they found their way in. Inside they met Jay, Waxwing, and Ricard. Jay informed them he wanted their help with a job and would pay them well. Alekiai agreed and he, Willa, Jorso, and Ricard were given a test task, to swap a letter with a courier of the count. Alekiai and Willa went with Ricard to Hilltop to try and find the name of the courier. The Carufellans posed as Ricard’s bodyguard. Initially, Alekiai teased Ricard until he judged the other man competent. Afterward he gave Ricard a healthy respect. After finding the name of the courier, the three met Jorso for lunch. Ricard took them to a Toallan restaurant where Alekiai got a cured meat sandwich. He saved half to give to his kids later. They then went to the site of the swap. However, a rival gang to Ricard’s found them and tried to attack Alekiai. He knocked two out before getting hit with a mace. In anger he smashed the attackers head with his hammer, and beat the last one unconscious. The others arrived in time to help Alekiai hide the bodies. After that the swap went as planned. Alekiai knocked over the courier which allowed Ricard and Jorso to do the swap. He then ran to Willa who was acting as backup, in case she needed help.

With the letter in hand, the mission was over. Alekiai went home. He returned to the Liar the next day, meeting all the others there. After Alekiai arrived, Jay revealed the true purpose of they were here. He wanted them to kill Gavin Bellest, Shipmaster of the Kaiser’s yards. The four took to this task with enthusiasm. First they went to scout the yards. Alekiai and Jorso posted up at a bar the dock workers frequented. Alekiai took a seat in a place he could watch the main gate and listened while Jorso chatted with the workers. After a few hours they met with Ricard and Willa to try and enter the yards. As they got in line, they found Bellest, his bodyguard, and a militia contingent, behind them. Alekiai chatted with a militia member about their kid’s knife skills. They entered without issue. The next day, they met with a former subordinate of Ricard, who now worked in the yards. He gave them information about the yard, but then tried to run. Alekiai caught him with his hammer and dragged him into the alley behind the bar. The day after they tried to set up an ambush for Bellest. Alekiai, his kids, and Willa, went to the weaponsmith who made arms for Gavin’s militia. Alekiai distracted the smith by buying a knife for Ellenor, while Willa sabotaged the arrows that were to be shipped to Gavin.

The day after they sprung their trap. That night, they went to the Shipyards and broke in. Alekiai and Willa helped take care of the guards and the group of four entered Gavin’s workshop. There they found maps of Carufell, enchantment diagrams for ships, and schematics for how to use Northern Pine. Alekiai grabbed as much as he could, with the intention of sending it north to the Nurmendemar. Then they burned down the workshop. They confronted Gavin on the main boulevard as the Shipmaster tried to get to his workshop. Alekiai helped take out his militia guard, trying not to kill them and instead render them helpless. However as he and Willa moved on Mobius, the bodyguard, Willa was struck with an episode of Blinding Blight. Stopping the attack, Alekiai picked her up and tried to wake her. He succeeded in whipping her into a berserk rage, which she used to kill Mobius. Alekiai caught Gavin as he ran. He dragged Gavin back to Ricard, who then executed the noble. Alekiai took Gavin’s Tidal Dagger. Alekiai carried the unconscious Willa back to the Lair, where he made sure she was alright and took his payment. At home he gave the dagger to Larin to look after, until Ellenor was old enough to wield it. He spoke with Willa the next day. She planned on going south to Dorlon with Ricard to find her cure. Alekiai decided to stay in Port Thresthelmn with his family, but bought her a cup of juice as she left.

Appearance
Alekiai was a bulky man just under six feet tall. His long grey fur coat hid his muscles somewhat, but his strength was still obvious. The left side of his head was clean shaven but the top of his head had a mess of curly brown hair. On the left side of his chin he had the geometric markings of sorcery. On the left side of his head was the elder rune of resolve. Both the rune and the markings were deep green, as were his eyes. He also carried a massive steel warhammer. One one side was a flat surface carved with two swords, on the other was a hook. The handle was made of steel and deep stone and had wrappings and green ribbons. In Mordehall he wore leather armor beneath his coat, having left his father’s plate behind.

Relations
Larin was Alekiai’s wife. The two met in the Winter’s Hand and had been married for thirteen years before they left for Mordehall. They had two children, Ellenor who was born in AeP 443, and Henry who was born in 444. Larin and Alekiai were raising their children to be warriors.

Ritaak was a mentor of Alekiai when he was in the Winter’s Hand. When they met again in AeP 447 she was happy to see him. Ritaak believed that if he had stayed he would have made captain by then Alekiai saw himself as a mentor to Willa. Both were of the Nurmendemar and both were fierce warriors. After their fight in the castle with Quinta Yon-Suk, both felt a new respect for the other. Alekiai wanted to help Willa find a cure for her sickness.

Aspen and Alekiai shared leadership of the trip to get back the shield of Sandamar. The two were friends and each had their own area of expertise. They worked well together. Alekiai met them a few times before the mission and they had gotten along. But the trip was their first time working together. Both felt it was a success and appreciated the skills of the other.

Though he only knew Ricard and Jorso for a few days, he had a growing affection for both of them. Though Alekiai found them lacking in some areas, he was impressed by Ricard’s drive and network of contacts. He found Jorso to be fun and useful even if he had his head in the clouds. By the completion of the assassination, Alekiai knew he could count on both of them and that Ricard would look after Willa, on their trip to Dorlon.

Powers
Alekiai was known to wield a massive warhammer. He had the strength to use it. He also was a capable sorcerer. The hammer served as both his weapon and his magical implement. Alekiai liked to blend earth magic and martial power when he fought. He was a skilled incanter and was able to trap extra magic from earth stones.

Trivia
Alekiai was the first NPC character to become a Player Character.

List of Appearances
Campaigns
 * 1) Of Shields, Stories, and Hammers (As NPC)
 * 2) One Crime at a Time Session One: A Storm is Coming
 * 3) One Crime at a Time Session Two: Revelations
 * 4) One Crime at a Time Session Three: Honor Among Thieves
 * 5) One Crime at a Time Session Four: Rat in the Trap

Supplemental
 * 1) OcaaT Auxiliary: Alekiai’s Reflections- Night One
 * 2) OcaaT Auxiliary: Alekiai’s Reflections- The Tavern with the Blue Door (Mentioned Only)