Reede Aldori

In the land of Brevoy, Rostland to be exact, there lies a town known for a particular group of people.  The Aldori Swordlords hail from the town, actually a large city, of Restev.  There they train their particular style of fighting, or dueling.  It’s normally quite hard to get accepted into the order’s sanctuary much less be trained by them.  Unless of course, one was an infant dropped off at their doorstep.  One winter day that is just what happened.  One of the Swordlords heard a baby’s cry coming from outside the door.  Upon checking he found a bassinet covered in a thick blanket.  Inside was a child, no more than a baby, shivering from the cold.  A note attached to the bassinet said,

“This is Reede.  Please take care of him like I cannot.”

When the man looked back at the child he noticed something strange.  Two small horns were growing from the boy’s forehead.  This child was a teifling.  A difficult situation to be in as most teiflings were often looked upon with suspicion and distrust.  Showing signs of the curse this early meant that the boy would have a tough life.

The Swordlord took the child inside the sanctuary and met with the hall’s leaders.  For hours after the elders debated what should be done with the child.  Half wanted to give him to the local orphanage.  Half wanted to try raising him to be a Swordlord from birth.  The debate reigned until the morning hours when it was finally settled the only way it could have been.  By a duel.

Fast forward ten years.  The boy had been receiving training not only in wielding a sword but also his letters and mathematics.  Today was going to be a special day.  Today he was going to be allowed to choose which style of fighting he would adopt.  You see, there is no one way to be a Swordlord.  Some focus only on the blade, attempting to truly make it a part of their body.  Others used mobility to strike from where one would least expect it.  Still others combined magic and swordsmanship to create a unique fighting style all their own.  There were other paths available as well, and all these were offered to the boy.  Smiling, the boy made a choice that wasn’t a choice at all.  He would focus on combining magic to augment his own abilities and wielding his blade with speed and precision.  He would become what is known as, a Magus.

Something to mention about the boy.  He was in excellent shape.  While learning the sword the disciples of the order also had him train his body.  While not a monk, he was able to defend himself without a weapon in his hands.  Besides learning magic and swordsmanship he would also continue to train his body.

Fast forward again another ten years.  The boy has now become a man, standing taller than average, his horns were proudly evident on his head, reaching up to the sky and curving backwards.  These horns were the only evidence of the boy’s fiendish heritage.  Reede had been training these past ten years.  He was fast and agile with a quick wit and compassion for others.  He was not the strongest of the Swordlords but he was healthy.  Today was another special day.  Today he would take the test and officially become a Swordlord.  There was only one way to fully become one.  No amount of training would qualify.  No, to become a full fledged Swordlord you must defeat a Swordlord in a duel.
The fighting was fast and furious.  Slash met parry which met strike which met block.  The two combatants went back and forth, blades flashing in the winter sun.  Reede primarily used his magic to augment his own abilities.  He did not often use any spells for attack, preferring to use his blade for combat purposes.  The duel lasted for an hour when, noticing a misplaced foot from his opponent, the boy struck.  Knocking the other Swordlord off balance, he stepped forward and pushed the man to the ground.  Holding the tip of his blade at the man’s throat, Reede claimed victory.  He was now known as Reede Aldori, a full Swordlord.

He spent the next four years at the sanctuary, practicing his style and learning what he could.  Finally it was time for the man to leave the only home he had ever known.  The elders told him his style would never grow staying in one place.  He should travel, learn what he could of the outside world, and never stop practicing.  Swearing again to uphold the Swordlord oaths, Reede packed up his belongings and set out.  First he would explore Brevoy before heading to the River Kingdoms.  

It was on this sojourn that Reede met a peculiar individual in an alleyway.