Application Status Completed .
Application Information
"Who am I? Well, darling, I am your best friend . Or your worst enemy . But frankly... that all comes down to you .
Or maybe I have already decided , and you are just waiting to discover the answer ."
Name : Fenmaer Thandreve
Race : High Elf
Background : Charlatan
Class : Rogue (Arcane Trickster)
Alignment : Chaotic Neutral
Personality
Fenmaer is, firstly, selfish and secondly filled with ambition. He is a skilled liar and trickster, one who has fixated for most of his life on material wealth and gain. To him, gold is interchangeable with happiness, and his pursuit of that ideal has been a driving factor for many of his decisions and life choices. Even when a situation might involve a loved one, or at least a close friend, there remains a risk that Fenmaer will take the side of personal gain.This can cause those that know him best to harbor a confusing measure of attachment and distrust, and this mostly comes down to the elf's ability to be persuasive to (appear to) maintain that emotional connection.
In truth, Fenmaer is a conman confidence man . And he is very good at it, in his humble opinion. Not only is Fenmaer charming, unpredictable, cunning, gifted and extremely intelligent, but he also has boundless patience and a very Machiavellian mind. To say that Fenmaer is a schemer would be an understatement, especially as he is unscrupulous in both emotion and moral, when it suits him. His need to achieve his goals, no matter how convoluted and impossible they might seem, means that Fenmaer channels his overwhelming ambition to refuse surrender. As such, he is more than happy to speak and engage with anyone, no matter who they are, and will try to find ways to insinuate himself into people's lives to prey on their weaknesses and manipulate for his own ends.
Unironically, Fenmaer's mother has said it wouldn't be surprising if her son was part schemes within schemes within schemes Drow .
However, Fenmaer's clear narcissism, greed and self-confidence is a byproduct of a broken home and tough childhood, among other things. His life was in squalor from birth, he was born a he has no knowledge of his father to this day bastard , and all he ever knew was an endless struggle to survive. His mother, try as she might, was only able to provide so much, and this caused Fenmaer to mature quickly. He grew up in the shadow of large family houses, castles and richly rulers; and all the while had a deep longing to have that, to possess that lavish lifestyle and existence, to hold all that wealth in his hands. In some ways, that innate and unreasonable desire was the beginning of the end for Fenmaer, as it utterly consumed him.
Fenmaer's truth, deep down, is that his actions and devious acts are ultimately to hide what he sees as weakness within himself; his life, his abandonment by a father, his inability to connect with others honestly and lovingly; and while he knows this, but won't admit it, there remains the need to create the illusion that he is in control - and he does this by making long speeches, performing extravagant entrances and showing off his hard-earned wealth. And after so many years of reinforcement of those beliefs, Fenmaer has (perhaps erroneously) developed a fantasy about his goals in life leading to riches or a throne, never quite realizing that his pursuits could just as easily lead to suffering and death. But, to Fenmaer, the risk is worth the reward, and he will not stop until his dreams have been realized... though, sadly, his act has become his existence, for better or worse.
Still, all that isn't to say Fenmaer is without moments of pity or consideration for others.
Those moments are just rare.
Description
Fenmaer Thandreve is a lean, physically active individual, who stands just over six feet tall and weighs in considerably lighter than his build might suggest. Visually, the Elf looks in his early-to-mid 20s, still quite young even by his race's standards, with smooth and faintly pale skin, unblemished and all natural. He has very distinct characteristics of an Elf; he has a narrow face, high cheekbones, a narrow chin, a sculpted nose and eyebrows that frame his eyes just right in shaped curves. And speaking of his eyes, Fenmaer's are bright blue, with a hint of green, almost like the ocean; for those that get close enough, there are flecks of golden colorization throughout the iris, which can catch the light 'just so'.
From a glance, Fenmaer walks with an obvious confidence, with no attempt at being diminutive or unnoticed. His steps are lithe, his footfalls quiet, and he isn't afraid to draw the attention of a room. However, the Elf is also very, very capable of doing exactly the opposite; in fact, when he elects to remain unseen or unheard, is when Fenmaer is at his most dangerous, and he turns from an outgoing socializer to that of a stalking shade. When Fenmaer seeks to remain hidden, he is able to move silently and leaves only the faintest whisper.
Fenmaer is clearly not frugal. He wears the latest fashion, spends copious amounts of gold on his clothing, boots and personal items, and is thoroughly invested in his personal appearance. His outfits are immaculate, just as his hair is long. And speaking of, Fenmaer's hair is naturally that color, his genes being of the more dark and handsome variety of his race. He makes an attempt to keep his long locks in a state of casual perfection, and it is a rare sight to see Fenmaer disheveled or looking put out.
As such, the Elf always seems to be smiling. Sometimes that smile is entirely pleasant, and has caused a number of young maidens to fluster in small towns along his journey. Yet, at other times, Fenmaer's smile can be downright devious, like a cheshire cat that grins but the expression doesn't reach his eyes... and in those moments, some unscrupulous plot has likely unfolded, and it's already too late.
History
Fenmaer Thandreve doesn't like to talk about his past. It reminds him of times when he was poor, his single mother struggling to keep the family fed, and living on muddy streets in the shadows of manors and the rich. Or how, after years and years of witnessing the lavish world of the rich, he became obsessed and greedy to the core. For his own mystique, and ability to perform his occupation, he doesn't speak about joining local gangs in his city, of his lessons in theft and manipulation. He especially doesn't talk about why he can never return to his birthplace, not after the swindling of a rich merchant noblewoman, and the large amount of coin and jewelry he had taken when being pursued by her retinue of personal guards. And he doesn't talk about how he began the lifestyle of a conman, working his way along the continent, manipulating and conning and stealing and leaving behind numerous identities...
No, Fenmaer doesn't mention his past before a certain point, those are important secrets to keep... professional propriety and all.
Instead, Fenmaer presents as a charming, pleasant and relatable elf traveler. He is quick to converse, has many things in common with a lot of folk, and is willing to take low wage jobs to help make his way on the road. By being useful, being invaluable after a time, Fenmaer can make the most of opportunities presented to him - and playing the long game often works very well in his favor. Granted, sometimes a solid plan has backfired, but for the most part the cunning elf has made away with a good portion of acquired loot.
His profession also brought acquaintances; some that helped, some that hindered, but playing such a dangerous game usually resulted in a spread on both sides. Along the way, Fenmaer adopted many identities, forged many documents, and sold any number of works to bidders - some original, some copied, some completely fake. Fenmaer used fences, mainly, but every so often got his own hands dirty with customers. And by the time anyone was the wiser, and a forgery was discovered, the elf was - usually - well on his way four villages over, under a new name and purpose for travel.
Yet, for the last six months, there had been a change. It was odd, as though Fenmaer's very luck had soured, and no matter what job or con he tried to start, it always fell to pieces. Perhaps someone had cursed him, or maybe it was some kind of spiritual or karmic balance that had finally tipped too far one way. Nothing of import worked, he was barely able to scrape by, and ultimately Fenmaer had found himself struggling. And he didn't like to struggle, it reminded him of his past, and he hated his past.
So it was that the elf found himself in some trade town, with a name he could barely recall - Nottle-something - while considerably down on his luck, running low on coin and feeling that familiar grumble of the stomach. He checked into one of the local taverns, not the most expensive, but it would pay to stretch the gold as long as possible until the next job. And while seated at the bar, drinking watered down ale, an individual of a particular enterprise caught Fenmaer's eye. All alone the stranger sat, as he nursed a cup of ale at a corner table, and absently spoke to himself while doing notations on scrolls. And, just like that, an opportunity presented itself...
And the mark?
Undin Firebane .
Undin was a human wizard, of middling power and influence, who happened to be quite new to town himself, having arrived mere months prior. The older human was right in the sweet spot that Fenmaer tended to target, with just enough wealth and clout gained locally to make it worth the long con, but not so famous that Undin had any reason to be suspicious of attention or intentions of those who approached him. Or, at least, that was the hope!
For the next three days, Fenmaer circulated around the stranger's activities. The elf made sure to be at the tavern bar when the stranger arrived, dressed in his long robes with his white goatee, and observed behavior and patterns. Turned out the elderly wizard was relatively friendly, he didn't turn away locals who spoke to him, but seemed to be given a wide berth by the villagers, possibly due to being an outsider - just like Fenmaer, who found the same with Nottle-something .
On the fourth day, Fenmaer made his play. He went directly to Undin's shop, which was basically front part store, back part home, and entered. The place was a complete and utter mess, a mass of scrolls and books and paper all over. It seemed the wizard was also wizened, and prone to functioning in organized chaos, if it could be believed as organized. Fenmaer introduced himself, Undin apologized for the mess, and the elf proceeded to weave a small tale about journeying, taking notations and observations, and learning about new lands for his archivist employer. However, Fenmaer also mentioned how he was low on coin, and had experience with assistant administration... to which Undin took the bait, and offered a temporary position, to help bring the store back into some order!
And that was that, Fenmaer's next "job" had begun. The elf went to work on every piece of material he could find, as he sorted and assessed, before organizing the store into neat sections and areas. Undin was pleased, offered a fair wage, and even suggested the elf stay on for a while longer until the wizard was used to the system. Fenmaer agreed. Coin was coin, after all, but he had another purpose for remaining: he had started copying, and forging, much of the more rare and expensive scrolls. The time required was extensive, and accuracy was needed, but the belief was that Fenmaer would be able to leave the village in several weeks with a pricey collection of swapped out originals-for-imitations.
It was perfect, exceedingly so.
The first month went by in a blur. Fenmaer worked during the day, then when the wizard went to bed, the elf would continue "working" in the store. A good deal of scrolls had been switched out by that point, the forgeries quite impressive with the old man none-the-wiser, and the originals packed away securely for Fenmaer's eventual departure. During that time, Undin opened up a little about his current work, and study of, a group known as the Oriq. Needless to say, Fenmaer had no idea who or what that was, but the wizard expressed that such knowledge was... unconventional... and that it was extensively rare, even among wizard communities. But all Fenmaer heard was gold; rare, forbidden and secretive, those combined meant payday.
Fenmaer's stay in Nottle-something became extended.
Over the next month, Undin began to share more and more, small tidbits but intriguing ones. Trust had started to develop, Fenmaer even began to show some of his magic use, for small tasks. Then, one evening while he cleaned the store, Fenmaer came across a hand-written letter addressed to the wizard. It was stated as from a place known as Strixhaven University, and on reading the contents, Fenmaer learned it was an inquiry about a sponsorship for an apprentice or proposed candidate, and positions were very limited. Additionally, it mentioned an invitation token, though that wasn't to be found.
The next day, Fenmaer asked the wizard about Strixhaven. Undin was mildly surprised, but then admitted he must have forgotten to get back to the correspondence, as he didn't have a student in mind. Which, Undin claimed, was a true shame because the sheer amount of archived knowledge, all special and ancient and largely unknown to the world, would be mind opening... and again, Fenmaer began to see gold, masses of gold, as he considered the possibility of acquiring such tomes and books and artifacts.
Fenmaer suggested himself.
Undin chuckled, but then saw Fenmaer's seriousness and reconsidered, and eventually admitted that it wasn't a completely foreign notion. After all, the elf had been very helpful over the last several months, and even helped with some of the smaller magical tasks, so the aptitude was there for admission. The elf didn't push the topic, and simply said only if Undin was comfortable with the sponsorship, would he agree. And for the next four days, no more was said on the subject; not until one morning, when Undin walked out of his room, and held a token in his palm presented to Fenmaer:
"Your invitation token, my boy. I'll sponsor you. Make me proud."
The elf smiled deeply, elated, as he accepted the small object and replied:
"I'll do that, and more , master Undin, so much more."
The long con had shifted, Fenmaer's luck had completely turned and sweetened suddenly; it was perfect, and despite the risks being even higher, there was no denying the rewards were also infinitely greater...
Character Build [Rolls] Starting Stats: STR 9 (-1) | DEX 14 (+2) | CON 10 (+0) | INT 17 (+3) | WIS 12 (+1) | CHA 15 (+2)
Level Source Feature 1 High Elf Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. Darkvision 1 High Elf You have proficiency in the Perception skill. Keen Senses 1 High Elf You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep. Fey Ancestry 1 High Elf Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. Trance 1 High Elf Ability Score Increases: +2 Dex, +1 Int 1 High Elf Elf Weapon Training: Longsword, shortsword, shortbow and longbow 1 High Elf Cantrip: Prestidigitation 1 High Elf Speed: 30' 1 High Elf Language: Common, Elvish, Draconic 1 Charlatan Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of Hand 1 Charlatan Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, forgery kit 1 Charlatan Equipment : A set of fine clothes, a disguise kit, ten stoppered bottles filled with colored liquid and a pouch containing 15gp 1 Charlatan Feature: Favorite Schemes (I shave coins or forge documents) 1 Charlatan Feature: You have created a second identity that includes documentation, established acquaintances, and disguises that allow you to assume that persona. Additionally, you can forge documents including official papers and personal letters, as long as you have seen an example of the kind of document or the handwriting you are trying to copy. False Identity 1 Rogue Hit Points: 8 HP (max) + Con Mod (0) 1 Rogue Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor 1 Rogue Weapon Proficiencies: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords 1 Rogue Tool Proficiencies: Thieves' tools 1 Rogue Saves: Dexterity, Intelligence 1 Rogue Skills: Investigation, Insight, Persuasion and Stealth 1 Rogue Equipment : Rapier, shortbow and quiver of 20 arrows, Backpack, ball bearing (100), string, candle (5), crowbar, hammer, piton (5), hooded lantern, flask of oil (2), rations (5), tinderbox, waterskin, hempen rope burglar's pack , leather armor, two daggers, and thieves' tools 1 Rogue Features: Expertise (Deception, Sleight of Hand) 1 Rogue Features: Sneak Attack (+1d6) 1 Rogue Features: Thieves Cant
Last edited by Humble Hero; Jan 11th, 2022 at 05:57 AM .