Aemareth Character Sheet

Aerameth's origin is not known, he has only been hinted that he may have come from Akavir.
He grew up in a small orphanage a short distance from Mournhelm. There he and the other children found
themselves contracted out to various groups needing cheap labor. The lucky ones would only be rented out
as relatively short term workers, many were sold outright as slaves. While the "lucky" ones were spared slavery,
they suffered harsh lives at the orphanage. Beatings to the point of near-death, cruel punishments for the
smallest infraction, and at times, "The Cave." An opening into the ground where the children that were caught
withholding money, food, or more serious infractions were sent to inhabit for two days and two nights.
Though this place would occasionally become a permanent resting place for a poor soul that could not last the
full term of the sentence. Venomous spiders, poisonous flora was a constant threat to any who entered, and for
some became a convenient place to end their suffering. How many purposefully took their lives is unknown.

Aemareth visited this cave once, after he refused to be forced to work with a gang of bandits and tried to run
away. He was captured, and sent to the cave for four days, long enough to be contained until the bandits
would arrive and pick up their nearest look-out. To the surprise of the bandits, Aemareth had a particular
talent for moving around quickly and quietly. He knew how to go unnoticed, to blend in with a crowd,
or even with the wilderness along trails. This made him invaluable as a scout, particularly on ambush raids.
He grew to like these bandits, they treated him well, like an equal. They saved what would have been his pay
had he been a regular part of the crew and planned to buy his freedom from the orphanage.

A month before he would have found freedom, a group of strange cultists offered to pay a higher price for
Aemareth. Discovering that they planned to feed him to their leader, he again made an escape attempt.
He was once again captured, and sent to the cave, where he developed a plan to not only gain freedom,
but to end the orphanage's cruel grip it had on the other children.

Two days before he was to be sold to the cultists, with the help of the gang of bandits, Aemareth set
fire to the main office, and blocking off the exit as the headmaster and the rest of the staff lay in their beds. He
wedged their doors closed, and then alerted the children. While Aemareth and the bandits continued to set fire
to the orphanage, the children grabbed all they could and then ran off down the path leading away from the
orphanage, and towards their new lives. Aemareth and the bandits stood outside and watched the building burn.
Motionless, staring at the towering inferno, Aemareth was approached by Dhular, holding his new leather armor
and two curved daggers, an initiation gift for finally becoming a full fledged member of the Black Eye Ravens.

And so he set off with them, plundering goods and gold from those they deemed undeserving of vast
wealth, and gave a large percentage of the profit to impoverished communities. Aemareth lived this life for
several years, developing a strong bond with Dhular, becoming close friends, spending their cut drinking in
taverns, and spending their time enjoying a free life. They were stealing from those they saw as reprehensible,
and giving to those that were desperate to stay alive. They never drew blood, life was good. That all changed in
a nameless village, when Mordane, the leader of the thieves was caught stealing from a tavern's coin-box.
Instead of returning the stolen coin, and risking being caught, he stabbed the tavern owner in cold-blood.
Mordane ordered the crew to vacate the village, and tried to justify his murder by claiming the tavern owner was
over charging the working class of the town for drinks. Perturbed, but fearing what would come if he were to
object, Aemareth silently gave his conscent, trying to erase the event from his mind. Quickly the robin-hood like
band of thieves became less and less different from any other gang of bandits. Targets were chosen not for
their character, but for the value of their goods. Temples, honest merchants, none were spared from having
their possesions stolen. Aemareth grew cold, and uncaring. He towed the line and was consumed with
a dreadful view of the world. He was sure that the entire world was rotten to the core anyways.

After awhile, the group became more and more of a target for the authorities. It was becoming
common that they were nearly apprehended, or killed. A string of murders tends to draw that sort of attention.
Coming to the conclusion that their welcome in Morrowind was wearing thin, they began scheming for one final
raid, before going their seperate ways. A rich town of merchants, nobles and more importantly: the town bank that they stored priceless goods and
relics, guarded by seasoned warriors, now guards of the community. They moved into the woods nearby,
frequenting the town and it's taverns, scoping it out, looking for opportunities. At this time Aemareth met
Mairalyn, working at the tavern. At the busier times of the night, she tended to patrons, serving drinks and food.
But early in the morning she would sing while she swept and cleaned the floor. They never spoke, until the day
he fought with the son of the bank owner. He had made a comment about Aemareth's obvious lack of affluence,
noting he "had the mannerisms of a peasant." A small quip about the uselessness of the offspring of the rich,
and the son of the bank owner attacked Aemareth. Near the end of the scuffle, after his opponent had
surrendered, Aemareth cruelly snapped the man's arm backwards, and crushed his fingers. Guards made their
way towards the source of commotion. Aemareth fled towards the woods, shedding his hood, his shirt and
finally his trousers, snatching a robe off of a nearby line. After stashing his previous outfit, he donned the robe,
and continued walking back towards his comrades' camp in the forest. Before he could escape, a guard
grabbed his arm, twisting it to his back. From around the corner, Mairalyn came running, shouting at the guard
for accosting her "brother." After a short exchange, and a few blatant lies, the guard reluctantly released
Aemareth, telling him to "stay out of trouble."

Aemareth came to befriend the girl, who helped Aemareth see the good in people. That his distrust of
everyone outside of his band of bandits was unjustified. And he realized that she was right. He made friends,
and had a great time spending time with the locals. Aemareth's heart had began to soften. Meanwhile Mordane's
plan had come together, and they were ready. Mordane kept the details hidden from everyone, telling them
that it was to ensure the plan's success.

The day of the raid, Aemareth confessed why Mairalyn why he had come to the town, and what he
was to take part in. Surprising him, her reaction was not one of anger but of sadness. She didn't want him to
leave. She couldn't get him to abandon his comrades, but managed to get a promise out of him: he would
consider it. And he did. He toyed with the thought of a life as a barkeep. Being part of a community,
not constantly on the run from authorities, earning pay by providing a service rather than taking it from
people who had done so. But his greed, wanderlust, and fear of consequence got the better of him, and he
met with the Black Eyed Ravens. Mordane organized them into teams of three, telling one from each group
what to tell their subordinates what to do when the time was right.

The plan turned out to be pretty simple: in various locations throughout the town, they would commit
petty theft as conspicuously as they could. The guards would ring a nearby bell, signalling others to assist. Bells
all over town would ring in the night, and in the confusion of the guards scrambling, no one would notice Aemareth
sneaking into the marketplace. He was told to set a fire at each of the merchants' stands. Aemareth was hesistant,
worrying about innocents being caught in the fire. But the marketplace was mostly stone, and any residences fairly
far, so relectantly, he touched a lit torch to the stalls. The entire marketplace was in a blaze, and the guards turned
their attention to the now massive inferno. Aemareth, to his horror, then realized that the other groups had also set
fire to various locations around town. Including residential areas. Aemareth rushed to Mairalyn's home, where
he found the place already half-consumed by fire. Mairalyn screamed that her siblings were still inside,
Aemareth running into the building to find them. Rescuing her little sister, and then returning inside for the little
brother. During his frantic search, a support beam collapsed, landing on Aemareth's waist, rendering him unconcious.

During the raid, Dhular refused to set fire to a home, and was abandoned by his comrades. He had
come to realize that the plan had failed, and after arriving where Mordane had said to meet, he realized no-one
else managed to come back, including Aemareth. Dhular went searching for his friend, finding Mairalyn and
her little sister clutching to her side by her burning home. She told Dhular that he was still inside, with her brother.
He went inside and saved Aemareth, and saw the little boy's arm protruding from beneath a pile of smoldering
lumber and stone. Realizing there was nothing he could do, Dhular carried an unconscious Aemareth outside,
breaking to Mairalyn that her little brother had perrished. In a state of shock, she broke free from her little sister
and ran inside, trying to unbury her brother. Her robe caught fire, and Dhular forced her back outside, and
snuffed the flaming clothing. Hearing guards coming, and knowing that the two girls were relatively safe, Dhular
ran with Aemareth over his shoulders away from town, to a nearby cave.

A week later Aemareth awoke, staring at the damp ceiling of a cave, the water droplets falling from
the stalagtites smacking against his forehead at a steady rhythm. Beside him, he found Dhular, who expressed
his relief at his friend's survival. Dhular explained that the plan was a disaster, finding a couple of their clan dead
in the street, and that the fires had taken many lives. He did not know where Mordane was or what had happened
to the rest. After a few hours of wallowing in shame and guilt at what they took part in, Aemareth remembered
Mairalyn. Dhular told him what had happened, and despite Dhular's protests, Aemareth set off to find her.

Aemareth found her on the hill that they had often talked at length, where she lashed out at him,
blaming him for her brother's demise, showing him the deep burns she suffered on the left side of her torso,
giving her skin the illusion that it consisted of shallow pits and bubbles made of flesh.
Aemareth expressed his remorse for what he had done, apologizing profusely, telling her how ashamed he was.
Consumed in grief and rage, she rejected his apology, rejected him. She told him to leave and never
come back. She walked off, but not before wounding Aemareth with the last thing he would ever hear from her:
"You are the monster that I resemble."

Aemareth became a shambling corpse, drifting through the land emotionless with Dhular.
The thought of gold was dropped by their mind, replaced with an unquenchable thirst for numbing drinks
and narcotics. Traveling from village to village, they came across yet another tavern in which to plague with
their melancholy, but instead of the sound of people murmering and the usual song of the drinking hole, this
tavern was filled with beautiful music, created by a pack of musicians. For the first time since the raid, Aemareth
felt something. With the first song they played, he wept. With the following song he sat in almost a trance, occupied
by the sweet sound of music. When the musicians began to pack up for the night, he caught the attention of the
blind maomer woman who led the group. She told him she felt the weight he has on his soul. He wouldn't give
up what burdened him, but hinted that he had caused much harm to others. She revealed that she felt the same,
previously being an assassin. She told him her life's story, how she preferred poison to weapons, and the death
of a young boy that had witnessed a murder committed by an intoxicated noble. In her guilt, she swore to kill just
once more, consuming the very poison she used in her trade. However, after years of handling the poison, she
grew a tolerance to it. Instead of killing her, it rendered her blind, and her soft voice hoarse and distorted. She
became a beggar, and was discovered by a haughty Nord bard, who gave her a home. Taking advantage of her
proud and stubborn nature, he mocked her into learning how to talk again, and regaining her angelic voice.
He taught her how to play the lute, and after awhile, she set off to be a musician.

In her travels she met other bards, a drummer, a flute player, and formed the traveling musical group
that ended up playing in the tavern Aemareth found himself in. She urged him to join them, assisting them with
carrying their gear and doing charity work for communities across Morrowind. In return they would teach him
to play and to sing. Aemareth, and after a bit of convincing Dhular, agreed to join them. Aemareth learned to
play in the group, becoming a talented lutist. He also became a proficient cook, carpenter, and even discovered
he had a natural talent in the magical arts. He used his pay to purchase a collection of books, teaching himself
how to cast spells, the nature of alchemy, and indulging in other subjects.

In time Aemareth had made progress in changing himself, becoming a person dedicated to helping
others, and seeking internal peace and happiness. Soon the day came that Aemareth and Dhular decided that it
was time to go off on their own once again, now with an almost renewed spirit. They split off, continuing their
search for happiness and purpose.

After another night of reveling with locals in another nameless village, Dhular and Aemareth were
heading off to the next town when they heard yelling, and then a bell. And then another. And another.
A chorus of bells soon filled the previously dead night. And then the familiar glow of fire appeared across
the town. It was no coincedence. The Black Ravens had descended onto the village.

Aemareth and Dhular raced back to the village, finding bandits destroying the town, killing and
pillaging aimlessly. The scene was familiar, but this time the chaos was particularly brutal. The pair slayed
a number of the bandits, and made their way to the village's temple, where they found Mordane, stripping an
altar of a Dibella statue. Mordane was shocked to see the duo alive, thinking they died with the rest of the
old crew that night. Aemareth beseeched Mordane to explain what had happened that night, to tell him why
they were told to commit atrocities. Mordane laughed at him, smugly revealing that Mordane had made
a deal with the bank owner, to split everyone's valuables stored in the bank fifty-fifty so long as the bank owner
was guranteed escape with Mordane, and that any loose ends were dealt with. Mordane betrayed the crew,
leaving them and countless others to die, all for a bigger payoff. Aemareth and Dhular, burnign with rage,
destroyed the bandits assisting Mordane, and then with Dhular distracting him, Aemareth slit Mordane's heels,
rendering him immobile. Mordane pleaded with the two to spare him, promised them unimagineable riches
to let him go. But Aemareth grabbed him by his leg, and dragged him back into the town.

Dhular repeatedly suggested they leave him for the guards to apprehend, but Aemareth,
unspeaking, dragged Mordane into a desolate, abandoned home at the edge of town. He dropped Mordane
at the center of the building, and ignoring Mordane's pleas, walked outside and closed the door. Dhular asked
Aemareth over and over, what he intended to do, but suddenly his questions were answered, and Dhular was
silenced, an expression of concern and fear on his face. Aemareth had acquired a burning piece of splintered
lumber, and began walking towards the building holding Mordane. Dhuluth asked once more, if burning him
alive was the right action to take. Aemareth, breaking his silence, answered "He will know what his victims felt."
Aemareth tossed the piece of lumber into the second floor window, and the lumber's flame had begun to
consume the room, and in short time the entire house. The two stood outside watching the house burn, until
Mordane's screams were finished. With Mordane dead, and the Black Eye Ravens finally ended, the two
walked away from the town, Dhular repeatedly looking over his shoulder, staring at the complete destruction of
what was a peaceful village not a few hours before.

In the days following, Aemareth had struggled with his vengeful act. He questioned whether he was
an unsalveagable monster. Dhular reassured him, that the things Mordane had done demanded a harsh
punishment, but admitted that seeing Aemareth that way makes him worry if he's addressing his demons.
Aemareth said he ws trying, but that he feels he still has a very long way to go. Dhular put a hand on Aemareth's
shoulder, smiled and told him as far as he can see he's going the right direction, and that he considers him a
soul.

The dark reminder weeks behind them, the two discover that there is a harbor nearby, housing ships
that are set to sail to far away lands. Enticed by the thought of a brand new start, they head to the docks, and settle
in for the night at an inn. Sleepless, the two realize they want to travel in different direction, and are seeking
seperate livelihoods. Dhular, wanting to settle down in one location for the first time in his life, decides to travel
to his homeland of Elswyr, Aemareth, still afflicted by a wanderlust, decides to make his way to the Summerset
Isles. In the morning, the two exchange farewells, promising to send letters to stay in contact. They board their
seperate vessels, and set off for their destinations.

After a long voyage at sea, staring out at the infinite ocean, Aemareth arrives at a port in the
Summerset Isles. When he disembarks, he is stopped by a Bosmer messenger, informing him
that a package was stashed away on the same ship Aemareth was on. Aemareth is presented with a beautiful
staff, adorned by a half crescent, a robe, and a letter. It is from Dhular. He writes that he wanted the staff to be a parting gift,
and felt it would be fitting that Aemareth carried a staff rather than the daggers he was used to, and Aemareth agreed.
This staff symbolized a new chapter in his life, and the daggers he kept at his hips served as depressing
reminders of his past, with the engraved ravens in the handles. Aemareth thanked the messenger, and walked
along the dock and onto the beach. Without realizing he had wandered a fair distance from the new town, it
barely visible in the distance. Aemareth unfastened his belt, held it with his old daggers dangling in front of him.

A mudcrab skittered by over Aemareth's feet, and looking back up with a smile on his face, he tossed his
belt as far as he could over the ocean, the sheathed daggers dragging the belt down with them, disappearing
into the water. Aemareth sprinted into the water, disrobing as he went deeper into the water. He lost his ability
to touch the sand and began to wade in the water. He dipped down for a moment, and then resurfaced, his
leather armor now completely gone, now sinking into the deep. He laid flat in the water, half submerged,
his back in the cold blue, his front basking in the sun. Looking back to see his staff upright in the sand,
his new robe wrapped around the base with the letter resting in the sand, Aemareth for a moment, felt
at peace, wondering what this new land has to offer, where he might go, and what lies ahead.