Montaron Mountainmagic (Terrorshard, Port Springs)
When he returned from he other planar adventure with the wizards, Montaron found a world that was marvelous. Back in the dwarven kingdom, magic have proven its high position in the world and allies with Iott, they had made the world a better place. Organized with great magic, rules and order had been established. Those that opposed it; from Borkondof to the Shellshe to the evil forces of western Icefia to Nomagrok to Hertoplowis, were in check and weakening. The Grean Republic was an ally, as were the nation of the Destroytian Peninsula and Yellowia. Before the Day of Broken Magic, things were moving in the right direction.
Montaron learned of all this just after he had failed to prevent it from starting to unravel. No one was exactly sure what the stones being broken would mean in the long term, but it couldn't be good. An expert in arcane studies, Montaron took only a little time to see family and friends before beginning to study. The best way forward, to maintain the rule of magic, was to understand this new reality faster and better than their enemies. For years, he spent time in both the temples of Smofarf and the towers of Iott. He was a leading researcher in how divine magic might help to bridge the gap left by the destruction of the stones. The solution came to him and his collogues thankfully before the collapse of the structures Iott and the dwarven kingdom and built. A cult deity of magic allied with them, channeling power from the planes. Kallark's hierarchy was called in to discuss the plan with the leaders of Iott and the kingdom. The plan was agreed upon, Kallark transcended to the planes.
The situation was so dire, Montaron and others looked passed the dangers of the plan. That it worked and the balance was soon restored was evidence enough that it was the right path. After that, Montaron went on to be the Master of Healing Magics for all the Arcane Alliance. There were none other in his class, a cleric of Smofarf Master Healer. He trained casters and was highly lauded by all. He was not the target of the rebels, as he was a healer and considered protected.
When the plagues came, Montaron's notoriety became even greater. Lyla herself spoke and dined with him. The high cleric of Smofarf and the king of the dwarves hosted him. He was even allowed to meet with the high cleric of Quan Yin to discuss healing the sick, a rare time he traveled outside of Iott or the mountains. He never saw any of his old friends, or traveled to Port Springs, or saw any of the people that had gone to the strange world with him. But he was saving the world. He could see those that were healed because of his research, witness the spells that were able to be cast because of his research.
Late in 813, as winter set in around the world, he was enjoying a keg in the mountains. All seemed well. It had taken more than a decade, but the Alliance was nearing the point it had been on the tragic day. Thinking of it always gave Montaron a guilty feeling, he could have stopped it, he could have done more. Something caught his eye down a hallway. A feather? He gave it chase, as fast as any dwarf gives chase. Down several halls and turns he went. He feared nothing in the mountain. Finally, he turned a corner to see familiar face, although dressed very differently. "Daane! By Smofarf its been a long time!" He hugged his old friend.
The moment was brief. "They will be here shortly, I have to get out quickly." Montaron looked puzzled, but quickly surmised, "You not on our side, are you you foolish dwarf. Long shots were more your style." Montaron chuckled. "Hey, that is true...but no, I don't have time. Get your self out of here and see the world. Go to some places you haven't been to and see what's happening. Half of the world is fabulous, some of it is okay, but the rest is suffering and getting worse and if this doesn't end soon..." he paused. "Gotta go, please, as a favor, take a trip." Daane tipped his head and dashed off.
Montaron didn't mention the meeting to anyone. When the new year arrived, he did as his old friend asked and without telling anyone went to Port Springs, to Palumbton, to Northut, to the Clandom, to Port Phiam. He reached out to Pacyr, to Solaris, to those he had gone to the other planet with even though they weren't available. What he found was nothing he wanted to see. It was as Daane has said. His research told him more, that Kallark's existence in the plane's would eventually change the deity.
Returning to the mountains, Montaron was despondent. Again, he had failed when it seemed most important. He went to the basics and traveled to the poorest areas of the kingdom, healing. Every time he would go out, he would be brought back by the powers that be. On his fourth trip to the valleys, he heard voices coming and he again expected to be dragged back to research.
"Ack, darned fool of a cleric, you can't bring me here! If they realize who I am, we're in for it!"
"Quiet down then. I'm the human, I'm the one that's going to be seen."
"But you made yourself look like a dwarf."
"Oh yeah, well we're fine then."
And then the two dwarves were next to him. Montaron knew immediately the sight of the prince of Nomagrok and readied for a fight.
"Oh no, we're not here for that. We're here to talk about a mission and you can help..."
Cleric 13 / Master Healer 10