The Kelpie Guard Commander

Origins

Sometime in the distant past....

Porter Bludgeoner, former warrior of the non-magic using Duck Alliance, was banished from the Duck Alliance HQ and lands due to his interest in learning how to harness magic into physical combat weapons like hammers and swords. He had been discussing his ideas with wizards outside of Duck Alliance HQ and they even shunned his attempts at developing these types of weapons as they believed it would be a stain on the world of magic.

So Porter left Duck Alliance HQ and the lands of the far North and began heading south towards what he only knew was a coastline. It was not easy making his way through the lands of the Runiverse on his own. Not capable of wielding magic, Porter did his best to maneuver The Wild and avoid unfriendly magic users a long the way.

On his several week long journey, Porter eventually found his way to Alessar's Keep, a major nexus of trade for the entirety of the Runiverse. The coastline was bustling with traders, merchants, and sailors all fighting to make a profit. While there he overheard a group of sailors ranting over how their latest shipments were lost to the Salt Kelpie which had kicked holes into the hulls of their ships. Porter, already having a hard time trusting people, approached this group of sailors to ask about these Kelpie.

The sailors turned to Porter and studied him for a long moment, the way men do when sizing up a stranger not by his words, but by the callouses on his hands, the weight of his steps, and the silence between his breaths. One of the sailors stepped up to him and asked what a traveler like him is doing with that massive hammer on his back, something that had not been used in years since before magic became the heart of everything. Porter was stunned by the question and gave a cold glare to these sailors who had magic staffs on hand.

Porter inquired about speaking to a powerful wizard regarding mixing magic with physical weapons. The sailors busted out in laughter at the question Porter asked. The whole group of sailors all approached Porter and started telling him to get lost and that there would be not a lot of warm welcomes for a non magic user asking ridiculous questions like that in the powerful wizard Allesar's port. The sailors started reaching for their magic staffs and in an instance Porter undid his great hammers straps and took a hefty swing at one of the sailors. The sailors then casted electricity spells that sent Porter flying backwards stunned. He pulled himself back up with his hammer and in a weak, cold and stoic manner, departed Alessar's Keep.

Heading East down the coastline severely scarred and burnt from the electric spells used against him, he slowly made his way down the coastline. Porter is in the weakest and most vulnerable state of his journey so far and needed somewhere to rest. A young female wizard was coming down the path and noticed Porter. She approached Porter noticing that he was in pretty rough condition, however, Porter having his trust issues with anyone magic related took up his hammer and told her off. She did just that leaving Porter to his misery. Porter eventually found a waterside cave to rest in after wandering through the thick fog that had rolled off the bay.

Upon entering the cave Porter was attacked by a massive bear that had obviously made the cave home. Porter trying to garner what he had left of his strength lifted his great hammer to a fighting position. After one swing of the arm, the bear threw Porter across the cave and slammed him into the wall. Severely injured, Porter had accepted his fate, he believed this was his end.

Then suddenly out of the corner of his eye, a massive and bright blue beam came surging into the cave and hitting the massive bear and sending it running away deeper into the cave. Porter barely able to move and scared for his life tried to retrieve his hammer to defend himself against this wizard that had saved his life, but before he could reach his hammer a tall hooded man appeared to him through the fog. The wizard stated that the young female wizard that Porter ran into earlier alerted him of Porter's presence. The wizard offered his hand to Porter and simply stated "come with me".

Porter, chest heaving and wounds charred from lightning, stared at the hooded wizard’s outstretched hand. The cave echoed with the distant growls of the bear, still lurking somewhere deeper inside. The mist from the bay clung to his skin, cold and heavy. His fingers, bloody and cracked, inched closer to the handle of his hammer—but he didn’t grasp it. Not yet.

The wizard did not move. He waited, patient as a mountain, the blue glow of his staff casting strange shadows across the jagged walls. “You’ve come far,” the wizard said quietly. “And nearly died for your convictions. That is not weakness. That is strength with no place to go.” Porter coughed, the effort bringing up blood. “You know nothing about me.” The Wizard then knelt down and said "then you can tell me, consider me...a friend." Porter reached out and took the wizards hand and was yanked up to his feet. The blue glow of the staff flickered, casting an eerie light over the bear's massive silhouette now visible at the cave's entrance. Porter’s heart pounded as he steadied himself, his gaze shifting between the wizard and the beast.

“We don’t have much time,” the wizard muttered, his voice low but steady. “Whatever happens next, you’ll have to decide if you trust me.” Porter quickly responded, "trust has not been easy to come by, especially with you magic users, but you have left me no choice." The wizard casted a spell temporarily distracting the bear as they both escaped.

Once they reached safety, the wizard introduced himself, the Head Scholar of the Kelpie Academy on the Coast, Magus Amir of the Ether. Magus Amir then turned and looked out on the bay and quietly stated to Porter "I have an opportunity in mind for you, I see your grit and determination, I can sense it in your eyes. Let's take advantage of that grit and determination together, and we can explore what can be done regarding your inquiry into combining physical weapons and magic." Porter shocked that Magus Amir knew of his ambitions was taken aback, but after further thought, Porter knew this was his chance at a new beginning.

Entered by: 0xce35…DD24