Skugal Silverhair (Grass Runs Dry, Rain Falls with the Promise of Pain)
In the city of Gloomhold in the Shadowfell, the Silverhair family was well known for their
tasteful and medicinal wine, their devotedness to the Raven Queen and the Shadar-Kai dogma, and
the guardians of the Court of Crows (=Keepers of Knowledge in the Counsil of Shadar Kai) .
Imethra Silverhair, born to Halkara (Archpriestess to the Raven Queen) and Marech (Lorekeeper)
became the custodian and caretaker of the family vineyard on an early age (100 years old). As her
parents, she became a loyal servant to the will of the Raven Queen. It didn’t take long for Imethra to
become a trusted, and political figure in Gloomhold, and at the age of 140, she became a Guardian to
the Court of Crows, as her niece, cousins, and grandfather was before her.
25 years later, Imethra met a handsome shadar-kai, Lushek, from a distant city, Ikemmu. Imethra, by
the dogma of Shadar Kai in Gloomhold tried her best to not fall in love, but the same could not be said
for Lushek.
Lushek tried to woo the Guardian, and decided to stay in Gloomhold, rather than returning to Ikemmu,
to do so. After 5 difficult and harsh years, Lushek seemed to have gotten through to Imethra (or so he
believed at least). They married a few years after, and immediately Imethra became pregnant with a
girl, Thelke.
Thelke was everything Imethra wished for her children to be, strong, self-centered, assertive, and loyal
to the Dogma. Lushek, however wasn’t satisfied, and yearned for a son.
3 months after the 1st birthday of Thelke, Imethra became pregnant once more. Skugal, however, was
everything Imethra despised in Shadar-Kai. Lushek tried to protect his son as much as he could against
the temper and anger of his wife, and Skugal’s mother. But not even he could save Skugal from the
tyranny, and disappointment Imethra felt towards Skugal. Trying to fill the lack of care, and fruitful
tuition, Lushek never was able to fill the gap Skugal missed in his upraising.
To preserve himself from breaking down, Skugal’s thoughts no longer resulted into actions, and he
faked following the Dogma out of loyalty and need. Instead, secretly yearning and searching for
knowledge outside of this “prison”.
At an early age, Skugal was forced by his mother into tutoring of the magical arts, forced to study for
hours and hours every day. Trying to make her son, into a better version to maybe become a Guardian
after all.
On his 200th birthday, Skugal met a wandering Wood Elf, Elda, in Gloomhold. He instantly fell in love
with her charismatic beauty. But, due to his upraising and social awkwardness, wasn’t able to properly
talk to her. Instead he used his magical abilities to craft her a gift. It wasn’t successful however, and
on top of it, Skugal found out later that evening, that his father, Lushek had died. No longer under the
comfort of his father’s talks, Skugal became indoctrinated by a new tutor, chosen by his mother to
“make up for the lost time”. Not having another choice, and with the hope of another life fading away,
Skugal focused himself on learning more of the Arcane, while trying to fake loyalty to the Dogma.
12 years later, Elda, returned to Gloomhold. By this time, Skugal had become an apprentice in the
Court of Crows, in service of the Guardians and his mother. Skugal didn’t age very well, but Elda was
more beautiful than ever. In a final attempt, Skugal risked it one more time, and stole his mother’s
necklace to give to Elda as a gift.
A few months later, Elda and Skugal became lovers, and it didn’t last long before she got pregnant,
with twins: Igli and Rani.
At the age of 215 (4 years later), Skugal made a choice to leave Gloomhold with Elda and their children.
However, his mother and the Guardians found out he was leaving before he could, and after a trial
before the Court of Shadows, he was going to be sacrificed to the Ravens, as a sentiment of example.
However, with the help of Elda, he could escape from Gloomhold, and the Court of Crows’ judgement.
When Skugal and Elda left, the last view Skugal saw of the city, is the look of his mother’s face… utter
disappointment and anger.
Now hunted by the Court of Crows, to save the lives of Elda, Igli and Rani, Skugal decided to leave
them and travel alone. Hoping that this way, the Soul Monger, and Gloom Weavers sent by the Court
will track him down eventually, but the lives of his beloved will be spared.
(Elda = Shadow Dancer)
Gloomhold
~12000 population (mostly shadar-kai, but also shadovar humans and many shadow
creatures)
Ruler: Court of Crows (7 Guardians, 4 Soul Mongers (= assassins/spies), and 1 lord)
Lord Kayrdai = supreme judge
Imethra SIlverhair (mother Skugal) = Guardian
!!!! Due to study and tutelage, Skugal (and the Court of Crows) is aware that Gloomhold is
actually ruled by Cyrduss, The Fierce (Shadow Dragon; DM’s choice for age and color)
.