Epic character submission for Michaelis Draego
Michaelis Draego – submitted for approval
October 2004 – so it’s been well past a year.
Level – 20
Current Age – about 40
Experience to Next Level – about 900,000ish to 21
This character has participated in numerous quests, plot or otherwise (listed later on). He has lead many quests (or at least lent his thoughts – he did not just stand by silently participating for example, but his involvement was quite active - which I hope the DM’s who ran them, can attest to). A few non-DM mediated player calendar events, particularly those dealing with the church of Toran he has overseen or ran. It is difficult to remember every quest he’s done given the length of time I’ve played him and the fact that RL intervened many times meaning me quitting for a period of time. I feel Michaelis is a deeply developed character – his forum character development writings may not be the longest nor the most articulate, but he’s the only paladin that I’m aware of, that has fallen from grace and redeemed himself as evidenced by the fighter levels he took in the intermittent time before his CDQ was run in October (by Milo) to earn his paladin status back.
Among other contributions to the world, Michaelis is currently working on raising funds for the building of a courthouse in Pranzis. This has currently been put off due to the war with Bloodstone. If the community wins this war – and life returns to at least semi-normality for the PC’s then he’ll resume raising these funds, which will total 750,000 coins.
The story below begins with Michaelis’s origins – this has been updated and altered from his original submission to be more in detail and to fit the world better. (Note that I’ve RP’d the bio of Michaelis written below (as opposed to the original submitted origins of his family) relatively early on – as early as lvl 2).
Original Character Submission (October 18, 2004) minus bio
Physical Description: Michaelis is a dashing yet very powerfully built man. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 225 pounds, his deep blue eyes admit a piercing intense gaze as if he's watching you constantly.
Personality: A strong follower of Toran, Michaelis's primary duty is lawful service while following a strict moral code of conduct. Duty, honor, and chivalry are his primary focus. He serves to protect the realms and rout injustice wherever he finds them, raise up the weak and empower them, so that they might see the strength of Toran, and finally to seek out the servants of evil, most notably those who follow Corath and Pyrtechon, and bring them to justice. Despite his strict code of conduct, Michaelis exhibits a very compassionate sympathetic view of the weak, oppressed, and any who are wrongfully accused of various injustices. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "To die fighting for one's beliefs or to fall protecting the innocent, the weak, the helpless is perhaps the greatest honor imaginable. Remember, it is the soul that is judged, not the body" - Nathaniel (See bio below)
Expanded Updated Bio – Early Years (Pre-Paladin)
Michaelis Nathaniel Draego was born in Lorindar in the year 1348, son of Matthias Draego and Kitiara Montiego. The house of Draego was a merchant house, particularly dealing with fishing and other cargo of the sea. They were sailors making an honest living and became quite wealthy doing it. Michaelis was an only child, coming from a family that loved him so. His fathers dream was to see Michaelis take over his family business.
Family Tree [img]../photos/get-photo.asp?photoid=5479[/img]
They owned a fishing ship called Draego, named after their family heritage. While they owned a home in Lorindar, much of their time was spend on the sea. Young Michaelis began doingsmall tasks, helping his mother as early as 6 years old. He had his father’s looks in regards to facial appearance, but his mothers blond hair and deep blue eyes. He was beloved by his family though he had a habit of getting into mischief. In fact he was quite a practical joker and often got into trouble because of it. Another issue that troubled his parents, while they saw good in his eyes, he often skipped out from work to go hang out with a few friends, who weren’t the best company. Jared Brockheimer, a shady fellow and Thomas Faleigh even more so – were some of these friends. They were rogues and practical jokers and such. A few times Matthias had to pay for his son’s mischief – which he scolded Michaelis severely for.
By the time Michaelis was about 17 years old he was hoisting sails by day and continuing his “Xeen-like” escapades by night – Michaelis was very handsome…the ladies saw that and with the money that was sometimes given to him to save by his family, he would often spend frivolously on wine and food in a rather gluttonous way.
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Yet, there was always a sense of honor in him, something even his mischief loving friends admired. He had, ironically a “lawful” quality about him, in the sense that his word was his bond. He was very trustworthy, despite his debaucherous ways. Still, this bothered his parents. Despite their sea faring ways in a sea faring city they often spent time traveling to Pranzis to visit some family friends. Now despite their love of the sea the Draego family worshipped Toran not Mist as one would think. They believed in what he stood for. Therefore, now you can sea why his parents were bothered by Michaelis’s actions. He would come with them to temple services reluctantly yet found the rigid manner of the Toranites boring and well…rigid. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe or disbelieve in the teaching of Toran, it was just that his mind was too preoccupied with parties, and balls, and other such activities.
One morning at dawn Michaelis, his mother, father, and a few ship hands were to set out at sea as the waters were supposedly filled with fish - the tide was good. They would spend the day hoisting nets into the water, pulling in (hopefully) a lot of fish to sell at the market. Well, his father waited for a good amount of time for Michaelis – as he never showed. It seems Thomas’s birthday was the night before and Michaelis, along with all his other friends spent the night up and about celebrating. Matthias became quite angry as no doubt Michaelis was sound asleep somewhere, only Toran knows where, completely forgetting his obligation to his family. He left for his ship frustrated at his son and sailed off out of the harbor. Then a storm arose…
I’m sure you can predict this storm, a particularly nasty one tossed their ship around and you’d be right. Unfortunately this one, so violent it was tore at the mast and eventually capsized the large vessel. None in the family that were aboard that boat survived the day. Meanwhile, Michaelis awoke to sounds of thunder and lightening and rain pounding the roof of the inn where he had slept on a table. It really wasn’t the thunder that woke him up so much as it was a bottle of wine the lay next to him – which made a rather large
crash when Michaelis in his sleep knocked it off the table where he laid. Anyway…he arose and seeing the storm looked out the window toward the sea. He began to worry. “” he said as he realized it was well past dawn and no doubt his family would be upset as he completely overslept. But the fear of his father’s anger in his heart was replaced by worry for reasons he could not explain. Well…actually he could…he saw the waves crashing on the dock. “Even a large sea faring ship would have trouble in this storm” he thought. He grabbed an overcoat, hopped over a few people who were passed out on the inn floor, including Jared and Thomas, ran outside into the rain and the howling winds to find Simon, an old man who oversaw the docks near where the Draego’s ship is usually docked. He was a friend of the family who knew Michaelis well. The ship had left six hours or so ago. Now normally that wouldn’t be cause for concern but in this storm Matthias would have had the sense enough to turn back to port and wait it out. The wait had become excruciating. For the first time Michaelis began to pray, pray to Toran.
The body of his mother and father were found the following morning. Michaelis mourned deeply for their loss. In fact, it changed him rather dramatically. If he were on that vessel like he was supposed to he might have been able to make a difference he thought. Though deep down he knew, he would have died also. Still, he felt intense feelings of guilt. In a way he hated himself, hated who he was. He had wished he never let his father down.Michaelis spent the period following the death of his parents in constant prayer to Toran in his temple in Pranzis. His friends didn’t recognize him anymore. Where was this carefree fellow that they could have all sorts of fun together Jared would say. They soon left him, as they really were not true friends. They liked to travel with Michaelis only because he was a charismatic fellow, good with the ladies, and had some coin to spend. Michaelis realized this among the many other thoughts he had. Through his constant prayer his anger began to diminish slightly. A paladin named Nathaniel took a liking to young Michaelis. He saw how much he prayed and through much effort, molded the teenager into a disciplined man. It took some work but by the time Michaelis was in his early twenties he was rather poised and gentlemen-like - a far cry from his youth.
Michaelis became filled with fervor regarding the teachings of Toran as time went by. He felt among other things that this was a suitable way to honor his family – to be the man, responsible man his father had always envisioned him as. Nathaniel taught him some basic melee and through sometime Michaelis was able through constant prayer – to heal minor wounds. Nathaniel saw potential in the now young man and through his own prayers to Toran took Michaelis to the King’s yard in front of the castle where a rather splendid ceremony seemed to be taking place. The crowds were out, the trumpets blaring as Michaelis looked about the area. He saw seven men, wearing ceremonial garbs barring the ankh. They wore necklaces bearing the symbol as well. Fallon Took from North Point, Xandor Loriland of Port Hampshire, Steven Farleigh of Tibum, Karen Mensieu of Fort Llast, Jonathan Fava, Timothy Gravin, and Christopher Patrick each from Pranzis were the seven he saw. Nathaniel explained to them that these men and woman were about to take an oath to Toran to be his paladins. Michaelis was the eighth.
Following the taking of the oath Michaelis began to have dreams of being called west to a town called Hlint. In his dreams a dragon appears to him speaking of Sinthar Bloodstone – a being that many believed was just a legend or myth. After many nights of these dreams he spoke with Nathaniel, which he saw fit to assign Michaelis with the task of looking into these dreams further. So off he went, west to Mistone, his first task as apaladin of Toran.
Life After the Dream
Michaelis arrived in Mistone at the age of 26. He became familiar with the territory and began helping the neighboring folk with menial tasks in the town of Hlint. Delivering messages, helping with the undead menace in the crypts, retrieving tax records were all some of these tasks. Eventually he began to travel with a rather diverse group of friends, elves, men, and dwarves mostly as these tasks he was required to do became more and more dangerous. Some tasks were of utmost importance such as the help he provided the Mistone Alliance – a secret organization dedicated to the protection of Mistone. Other tasks included helping civilians here or there, retrieving stolen artifacts from dangerous crypts and dungeons, to braving the harsh cold of the mountains for the sake of lending support to a town at siege by giants or orcs.
One time, a dark time in particular however needs to be pointed out. Michaelis met many folk, of different ideals and philosophies. Some were rather obvious in where they stood in terms of Deity, order, or quality of heart. Some however were rather deceitful and their true ways hidden. Michaelis hasn’t always been perfect. In fact sometimes his better judgment has been blinded by ignorance. In his rather unwavering efforts to help those who appeared to need it, the young paladin did not have the sense enough to discriminate between need and unfair want. A small group of adventurers requested the help of Michaelis to aid them in ridding the Giant menace of the Silent Watch Mountains. After all, Fort Hope is on the outskirts of these mountains and Toran forbid, these giants attack the town. So Michaelis agreed without realizing these men were deceitful and dark in nature – they had other plans. They only wished to kill for the sake of killing. Most of these men (those that worshipped any deity) were Corathanites. Summoning zombies to do their will, the demeanor in which they acted coupled with the concealing dark and red colored clothing should have all “tipped” Michaelis off to thedark natureof their characters. But young Michaelis was too blind to see it. So he aided them in their dark desires. They traveled the mountains for many weeks hunting these giants down, killing without a thought. Toran was not pleased at all. Out of nowhere it seemed as if every giant in the mountain one fateful morning attacked them while they camped. Most of the party was killed immediately and Michaelis’s prayers to Toran were not answered. They fled for their lives, much chaos to be had and while young Michaelis tried to protect them they seemed not to return the favor. In fact any opportunity they had to lead the giants on Michaelis they did so to save their own hides. These men cared little and thoughts of Jared and Thomas returned to Michaelis.He was all alone and the giants bearing down in him, then mountains began to shake in a thunderous boom. The giants looked to the sky, gave Michaelis a horrid glare and simply walked away. Night fell and his heart was cold. A whisper became like thunder in his head. “My Paladin! You help them and you are My Paladin!?” In Toran’s anger he spoke to Michaelis, that until Michaelis was found worthy in his eyes he would not consider him his paladin any longer. He would grant him no power, he would aid him no more.
Fallen from Grace – Years of Meditation
This part of Michaelis’s life corresponds to the period where I took about 5-6 months off between December 2004 and May 2005. During this period Michaelis cast away his iron armor, his blade, his shield for a period of time, donned robes and a ragged old walking stick – complete humility here – and journeyed to the mountains for many years. He did not fight, he only meditated, read through the teachings of Toran, and prayed on what he did.
[img]../photos/get-photo.asp?photoid=5477[/img]
How much of a fool he was! Eventually Michaelis returned west where he sought to rectify these mistakes he had made. At first he was rather amazed at how the lands have changed. Many new heroes had emerged and regarding those he knew of old, some unfortunately had fallen long ago and others had become quite powerful. It is here where he began to write, collecting his thoughts in a journal of sorts (Link below goes to character developement page):
http://layonaraonline.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=12914&posts=15&mid=75388&highlight=Mi chaelis&highlightmode=1&action=search#M75388
Michaelis spent his entire time either in the temple in Llast or Pranzis or helping those worthy of the aid. He shed himself of the innocent idealist he once was and over a long period of time became the man he was destined to be. Battle hardened and rigid. Toran, a god who remained silent to him, granted him no powers and seemingly remained far off from his grasps, yet he prayed. He prayed toa god who he began to not just show unwavering faith in, but came to respect the honor he stands for. He did what he could and carried out Toran’s will in the absence of the only one that meant anything to him…Toran himself.
Redemption
The church of Toran, well aware that Michaelis had lost favor with the all-watching came to admire the efforts he put out in attempting to redeem himself. Despite the fact that he was not as strong as the paladins of the order, he cared little for strength, only for honor and justice did he consider worthy of attention. He began to live as if he were a paladin, yet that lingering pain remained in his heart. The pain of sin. The pain of disappointment. The pain of failure. If he knew how soon the church and Toran himself would call him, the burden in his soul would perhaps have been easier for him to carry.
The call came, for there was trouble in the church of Toran. A paladin by the name of Christophel was sent to investigate a series of deadly and violent raids taking place near the area of North Point on Dregar. This paladin never returned from this investigation, and worse yet, a lone villager had mentioned that a man wearing the ankh of Toran was leading these raids. The church assigned Michaelis to investigate and while Michaelis accepted the task without hesitation he was inclined to ask…why him? The answer both shocked him and brought him hope. He felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time…joy. The healer of the temple in Pranzis had a vision. The healer was about to assign this task to another paladin, Armaous when Toran spoke to the healer “Do not send this man, send another. Send Michaelis!”
So Michaelis gathered a few hearty folk he knew and trusted for the task. Gloin, cleric of Vorax. Rurik the halfling who’s scouting ability was well known. Quantum, another trusted Toranite and Michaelis’s personal friend. And finally Dorax Windsmith, hearty dwarf, and another good friend. They set off on a journey that took a week encountering resistance as they approached within twenty miles or so of North Point. Orcs and elementals, golems and wizards, were the foes they encountered. The battles were fierce but Michaelis’s party worked well together and prevailed every time.
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Through these battles his faith was tested many times. Not just through fighting and such, but also off the battlefield. When stopping through towns, Michaelis, wearing the ankh (which he never stopped wearing) was frequently the center of attention. Eventually they reached North Point where they were about to proceed just north of town to investigate these raids. They stopped to rest and reequip themselves. Children seemed to flock to Michaelis. There was something odd about one particular boy who was seemingly spellbound by Michaelis. He would constantly ask Michaelis what it was like to be a paladin, to wield a sword. “I want to be a paladin all day so I can wield a sword just like yours," the boy would say. Michaelis of course would tell him that the sword doesn’t make the paladin, but the heart, the mind, the soul does. He spoke to this boy, his name John, about the oath he took, that he swore he’d keep. The boy kept asking about things like the shiny armorhe wore and how come old robes covered it. He asked about the reputation he gets to have for being a hero, questions like that. Michaelis would often respond with the same answer he had given. The boy would question him – “What if sir a dragon was about to swallow my brother or sister and you knew you’d be dead if you tried to save him?” “Could I still save your brother or sister?” Replied Michaelis “Well maybe, but what if you knew you were going to die?” the boy replied. “Then I would die, because I would do all that I had the power to do to save your brother or sister. That is my sworn duty but it is also my privilege.” The boy seemed to smile at “privilege” but then persisted. “What if there was no way to save him? Would you still attempt to save him knowing you were to die?” Michaelis looked the boy right in the eyes “yes I would. And there is always a way boy. Never lose faith in that”. “I bet you’re a great paladin,” the boy said. Michaelis replied, “I am no paladin, I’m just a man of faith.” “What’s the difference, you speak like a paladin, you act like one,” said the boy. “Whether I am a paladin or not is up to him who I am for. Let Toran make that decision,” Michaelis said. “I think he already has” he smiled warmly looking at Michaelis with a piercing glaze. “Please stop these raids,” the boy said then ran off.
That boy haunted Michaelis for a while after, but he soon changed his thoughts to these raids that were taking place. His men were rested and ready and so they set off. After encountering heavy resistance through the nearby forests and into a cave where they, after gathering information, were lead to believe the leader of these raids resided, they met Christophel. Dressed in his full plate armor, the ankh they saw was lying recklessly on the ground. The man sneered at the site of Michaelis and his party. “So the church has sent you have they. I thought they would have sent a paladin...hmph,” he said. “Christophel you are behind these raids after all! How could you abandon the oath? You’ve killed and murdered for the sake of Treasure!” Well after some harsh exchange of words it was clear that Christophel, who was quite powerful wished to silence them. Lured like many into greed and power Christophel abandoned his ways and turned to the dark side. And so Michaelis’s group fought him and his evil hoard of beasts. Dorax fell as did Quantum. Gloin and Rurik were fighting for their lives – a losing battle. Michaelis was facing off against the fallen paladin and it was clear Christophel was the stronger. When Michaelis, badly wounded was seemingly about to fall he remembered the conversation he had with the boy and he began to pray aloud. “Toran I know I am not worthy but my friends, the townspeople, those childrenare. Please protect them. They are worthy of it.” Just then Michaelis began to feel something he had never felt…divine power. It appears for the first time in countless years Toran had heard his prayer and for a brief fraction of a second, it felt as if Toran was there with him, next to him. With this renewed strength Michaelis fought off Christophel and defeated him. He tore off the battered robes, pulled off the hood he had worn for so long to reveal his platinum armor underneath. The fallen paladin’s hoards ran for their lives when their leader was dispatched. The raid was over.
Michaelis returned to Pranzis with his comrades, after Gloin resurrected Dorax and Quantum, and explained the whole ordeal. But he did not go immediately to Pranzis. He of course stopped by North Point to give the news to the town’s people, which they took most gladly. He asked where the child John was as he had a desire to tell him the good news personally. They replied that there was no child in this town ever by that name and as Michaelis glanced about he saw no trace of him. When in Pranzis, speaking one last time to the healer, the healer mentioned there was more to the vision and that he was not to tell Michaelis until he returned. “As the doves speak to their young so do I in the form of a child. Blessed are they that uphold my laws and understand why these laws are what they are.” Perhaps John was more then just a boy.
The War
The war with Bloodstone and his generals have been Michaelis’s primary concern as of late. The sacking of Tibum, the take-over of the town of Stone have all enhanced his vigor in this war effort. He’s made a conscious effort to join and sometimes lead expeditions against Bloodstone. He’s met with the Queen of Mistone Allurial and King Waylend of Dregar to discuss strategy, he’s done what he could, given what he could to finance the Mistone Alliance and making sure they are well equipped. He's played a round in mobilizing Waylends forces on Dregar. This is all in addition to his usual paladin duties (which included non-plot quest stuff and non-quest general RP stuff).
Other Things
I cannot count the various quests he’s participated in. Here are as many as I can recall from a month-by-month standpoint. Also, note that through the player calendar in the past few months you’ll find that he’s organized a few meetings for Toranites bringing up many in game issues. I don’t believe there’s another Toranite paladin currently playing in Layonara that has been as involved as Michaelis has been in the church, trying to unify paladins of Toran,etc…
QUESTS BETWEEN OCTOBER 2004-DECEMBER 2004
Of Knights and Chivalry: AContest of the Heart (Pankoki)
Leave her to Heaven (Milo)
Siege on Hlint (Nuzatch)
Helped defend Hlint from Drow attacks
The Trial of Durr (Rhizome)
All the Mistone Alliance Quests (Milo)
The Epic Adventures of a Misguided Tomato (Pankoki)
Twin Sisters: The Legacy of Lotus (Mixafix)
MAY
Knight Sky – Twilight (Sakura)
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Decisions and Assistance (Leanthar)
I - Evolution (Milo)
Earths Seeking (Plot Quest) (Pankoki)
Airs Seeking (Plot Quest) (Milo)
JUNE
Heart of Air, Earth (Sakura)
II – Clashing
III – Resolution
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Keykeeper
Relic Hunters (Sakura)
"What lay in the caverns of old. Must we move on and find what it is that haunts us?" - Matt L'asting.
The Never-ending Storm (Juste)
Michaelis led a skilled group of adventurers in protecting the great blue dragon Long-Storm. Long-storm was being hunted down by Bloodstone’s forces. The group sought out Long-Storm by traveling directly into his lair. Of course stubborn dragon that he was – and arrogant – Long-Storm thought he needed no help. He was wrong and conceded that (viciously conceded it) and so the group managed to help the fiendish dragon by aiding in the battle against Bloodstone.
Trenton Wetteel CDQ (Sakura)
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Bridges (Leanthar)
JULY
Heart of Water, Life (Sakura)
Relic Hunters (Sakura)
Annual Meeting of the Greatest Gnomish Adventurers (Idii)
AUGUST
What is life (Sakura)
Heart of Death (Sakura)
Michaelis Draego CDQ (Milo)
SEPTEMBER
What is Death (Sakura)
OCTOBER
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Darkness and Shadows (Leanthar)
Mistone Alliance PR day (Milo)
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Discovery of Ancients (Leanthar)
Soul of a Lost Ancient – One (Leanthar)
NOVEMBER
Mistone Alliance – War Effort Collection
Basically donated as much as I could to the Mistone Alliance even when it meant I couldn’t buy that nice item I wanted for Michaelis – doing the same thing with the temple donations now.
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Important Decisions (Leanthar)
Quantum CDQ (Milo)
What Lingers (Sakura)
DECEMBER
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Sisters (Leanthar)
Dusk (Idii)
What Dreams (Sakura)
JANURARY
From the Depths (Ne’er)
Soul of a Lost Ancient – Soul Necklace and Xandrial (Leanthar)
If this ECDQ request is approved I have a certain direction I wish him to head. Michaelis has taken Champion of Toran levels but he has never done the CDQ for it. He was “grand-fathered” I suppose as he took these levels in fall 2004 when a CDQ was encouraged, but not mandatory. Therefore I’d like my CDQ for champion to be my ECDQ.
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Michaelis Draego 
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