Greetings, traveler, I hope you have had a safe journey. I am Thorne
 Darkstrider, the Baron ofThornebriar, and you are welcome to my home.
 Tempus has verified your credentials and you are who you claim, so sit
 and I will tell you what you have asked to learn about. Me. (chuckle.)
   
   Baroness Rosalind of Marentha says I often tell others my life story 
 when I am asked (or blamed)about anything. She is funny like that.
 Nevertheless, here is my story minus the personal bits and the things 
 that would not interest you. 
 
   I was born to Marduk and Nakaska Darkstrider nigh upon seventy-four
 years ago in the Falcon Forest in Quentari. Shortly after my birth, my
 brother Alexander followed me into the world of Tyrra. Huh? Yes, my 
 seneschal, Lord Alexander is the brother that I speak of...but how 
 he became such is much later in the story. Now I won't bore you with 
 our early childhood, for those were happy times spent in the care of 
 my mother, nothing more and nothing less. But as we wolven reach our 
 tenth year we are tested for aptitude in various professions and arts. 
 Both Alexander and I tested high in the aptitudes for healing. 
 Alexander began study in the healing ways but my father was determined 
 that I should follow in his footsteps. As he is the Alpha, the ruler 
 or leader of our people in the Falcon Forest, he got his way. I was 
 taken to learn the arts of leadership, diplomacy and politics. And I 
 hated it for my training began even before it was customary for young 
 wolven to be trained in their trades. Most of us begin in our 
 fourteenth year. I had four years of happiness taken from me. At the
 age of ten, I was forced to sit in boring council meetings and listen 
 to father settle trade agreements with visiting merchants and lords. 
 
   This continued until I was thirty and went through the rite of 
 passage into adulthood. What? No, wolven don't reach maturity until 
 age thirty. Anyway, I had "had enough", I was an adult, and I wasn't 
 going to grow up to be a politician. So I stole my father's longsword 
 and ran away. I didn't stop running until I hit the city of Mistport. 
 Cold and hungry, as my money had run out, I took to petty thievery to 
 survive. Why the look of suprise? You must obviously be new to the 
 County of Tyrangel. There is always someone there who has far worse to 
 say about me...but that's later in the story too. Anyway, not to brag 
 but I was pretty good at stealing food and coins. Good enough to 
 attract some other people's attention. The Thieves Guild, or so I
 thought, came to me and demanded I join and pay guild dues. In return 
 they would see to my further training. Refuse and I would be killed as 
 a rogue competitor. I accepted, of course. I was trained as what is 
 commonly known in the underworld as a "spotter." Someone who studies 
 a marks habits and patterns for a week or so and then reports to the 
 Guild the best times to rob him or burglarize his home. Again, I 
 became quite good at detailing people and picking up on their 
 weaknesses. Until I discovered that I wasn't working for the Thieves
 Guild, I was working for the Assassins Guild and the people I was 
 "spotting" were slated for death. When I found that out, I tried to 
 get out and warn the last fellow I had "spotted" for a fellow named
 Julian. I got there to late...I think...My memory is jumbled about 
 it...The next thing I am certain of is that I was found by the guard 
 crumpled over the fellow's body and that my sword, (ahem) my father's 
 sword was gone. I had been framed for the murder. I was taken to await 
 trial and was much suprised to find my father's men awaiting me at the 
 jail. After a talk with the magistrate and a hefty fine (which my 
 father's men paid without batting an eye.) I was taken back to the 
 forest to face my father...and I'm not sharing that meeting. Suffice 
 to say he got his sword back. 
 
   After that...excursion into the world outside the Falcon Forest, I 
 guess my spirit for adventure was sorely bent if not broken. I studied 
 the arts my father wanted me to learn and like my less savory talents 
 became quite good at them. My father began sending me to various 
 courts and cities as a diplomat or trader. When he learned of
 Evendarr's reclamation of Tyrangel on his southern border, I was sent 
 on a different mission. I was to lead the way for my people to claim 
 some of the lands as the Falcon Forest was growing crowded. I was to 
 spy upon the leaders of Tyrangel and eliminate any who were 
 untrustworty or fools...No, I think he meant politicly, not 
 physically, but sometimes I wonder. 
 
   I arrived in Tyrangel and quickly became a part of the newly 
 established town guard. I quickly worked my way up to Lieutenant and
 due to what I thought was my exemplary service, I was squired by the 
 then Baron Daleron. I can't say I was his best choice at the time 
 because I had grown hard and had little qualms about getting things my
 way. At that time, I had almost pegged Daleron as a fool, because he 
 appeared to miss some...in my eyes...overt criminals and clear threats 
 to his person. I was at one of the crossroads of my life which defines 
 the person I am now. I began gathering supporters and manipulating 
 favors to gain a better standing. I was brought before Daleron and 
 outed for conspiracy. He stripped me of my squirehood and forbade me 
 to wear his colors until I prove myself worthy of them. Then he took 
 me aside and spoke to me some words that changed me...for the better, 
 I think and as I left his hall, I finally had a driving purpose. To
 become what he said he had seen in me. I began treading a path both 
 straight and narrow. I could see the eyes of others watching me, 
 waiting for me to fail. And I almost gave in to them. I almost became 
 what they was sure I was, evil. But I had reached another crossroads 
 in my life. 
 
   I met a...woman, but more than that I met someone who taught me an 
 important lesson. Lady Alexis was her name and in a time when no one 
 else seemed to believe in me, she healed my hearts wounds and showed 
 me that chaos can be put in order. Huh? No. Not necromancy...okay, 
 here is the lesson. (Thorne takes a bag of marbles and drops five of 
 them on the floor. They land in a random pattern.) This is chaos, 
 randomness if you will. Most people try to destroy chaos when they
 encounter it ( Thorne crushes one of the marbles with his silver 
 fist.) But instead, what should happen is that chaos should be 
 ordered. (Thorne takes the marbles and places them in a row.) This
 theory applies to necromancers and undead as well. It is far better 
 to show a necromancer the error of his ways and turn them to goodness 
 than to destroy them utterly. Now if they are unrepentant, they must 
 be destroyed for the greater good of all...Back to the story, ah, Lady
 Alexis. She was a teacher and someone who saw the potential for 
 goodness even in me. 
 
   To skip ahead a bit, I regained my squirehood and was elevated later 
 to the status of Lord Justice due to my devotion to law and order. 
 During this time, I wrote the Laws of Tyrangel and brought a few known 
 criminals to Justice. And this may suprise some people but I had never 
 killed a townsperson until I had to execute a fellow named Shane Dar 
 for necromancy. I met Shane on the road a few days ago. He's reformed 
 and a fine fellow these days. (chuckle) 
 
   Again, I became disillusioned with who I was and began to wonder if
 I was doing the right thing, then I had...well...an intensely personal 
 experience where I realized that I was trying to be many things, what 
 my father wanted me to be, what Count Daleron wanted me to be, What my
 pack wanted me to be, and what my duties demanded I be. I went a 
 little insane...and I decided what I wanted to be. I looked into 
 myself and picked all the qualities I enjoyed and all the 
 responsibilities I could handle and became Thorne Darkstrider. For the 
 first time, I didn't require someone else to believe in me because I 
 could believe in myself. And here I am today. (Yawn) It's getting 
 late, you may stay in the guest suites if you like. But I must get 
 some rest now. 
 
   Huh? So what did I decide that I am. Well, I am a hunter, a builder 
 and a provider. I hunt truth, justice, peace, and a better tomorrow 
 for Tyrangel. I provide food, homes, and perhaps a little wisdom. I am 
 building a family, a barony and a future that I can see in my dreams. 
 That's who I am. Goodnight. 
 
 Thorne Darkstrider
 Baron of Thornebriar