Syphon "Carden" Grimgor's Bio

[GlassRain]

This was and is my most beloved character ever played in ALFA. Retired in peace after nearly being hung in WD. Anyway.. his bio:


Early life for Syphon Grimgor was full of comings and goings. From the turning wheel of the next caravan to the occasional thug who blew in from Waterdeep Syphon's home, Daggerford, was just a dam along a raging river. Even his brother was swept away with the tides of trade when he set off with a caravan to Neverwinter. A great city in which he would persue his dreams and be accepted as a Paladin of Tyr early in his years. All this though was before Syphon's time.

Going back a few years we find Kip Grimgor in good health and of the age of nineteen. Though young he was skilled with a hammer in the shop and a sword on the field. Only love would prove Kip's greatest enemy. Meeting his wife, Dersha, in earlier years they had their first child before Kip could turn twenty. Over joyed by their sons birth they went to great lengths and Kip worked hard in his forge to give Tymon the best quality of life they could offer. Their hard work was rewarded, as Tymon was a very promising young boy with hopes and dreams and the motivation to reach for them.

Tymon left home with a caravan when he was only 17. Seeking to become a priest of Tyr in Neverwinters aid. His parents were over-joyed when they heard of his success and his acceptance as a Paladin. All happening so soon in the boy's life merely being nineteen he was under constant pressure to uphold the words of Tyr. He returned to his home of Daggerford very seldom and it began to defeat his parents. They were still young and full of life to give and to teach. Their natures soon caught up with them when a second child was born.

At a terrible cost Syphon was brought into the world. Kip would not let his son know of the tragedy surrounding his birth(Syphon's Mother died before the child could be pulled from her. He was born from a corpse). Most in the town saw it as a bad omen and kept their own children a good distance from Syphon. Instead the child was always by his fathers side whether it was in the forge crafting steel and helping as he could or watching his father practice with his bastard sword from a tree stump a few yards away. Kip loved his child and there was no hiding it. When Tymon blew into town on those few occasions Syphon was in company of a perfect family. His older brother held nothing but love for his younger and showed it fully. It was in these rare times when the three were together that Syphon was at peace.

By age nine the young boy began to see a change in his fathers attitude. The town's superstition about his child had now caught up with his work. He was losing customers as few would buy his "Tainted" steel. Kip fell into a depressed state though he did not show his pain to the boy it loomed in the air surrounding him. Kip was losing the battle of keeping his business but before all hope would fade a man came to their doorstep. Syphon was told to stay in the back room while Kip spoke with him. Though he could see his father and the misery he got from the letter the man handed him, he still saw the handshake. Kip didn't speak of the man though he came several times after always cloaked and by cover of night. Work in Kip's forge was overwhelming now as he sought to fill some unknown order. This wouldn't have been so strange but now Syphon was not allowed in the workshop and rather he was to stay in the house as his father worked. They still of course spent time together when his father's blade would cut the air. Though instead of childish things his father now spoke of virtues. He told Syphon that there was nothing without control and that control was nothing without chaos to apply it to. These words he burned into Syphon's mind for two years until that final week.

Tymon returned again but there would be no smiles this time. Syphon again was shoved away from the matters and he could only look on to his two idols fighting word versus word. Fear ripped through his heart when we watched Tymon pull his sword and hold the tip of it to his own father. He shouted words about law and justice, words Syphon didn't understand but that came as harsh truth to him soon after. His father was put to death by the words of Tymon. He said that Kip had been providing weapons for the Church of Bane and that he had been doing so for some number of years. Tymon allowed his younger brother of only eleven to watch his father die under the axe. The words he said then made Syphon's heart turn cold, "This, my young brother, is Justice." Hate was born.

As the execution came to an end and all folk returned to their daily lives Tymon beckoned Syphon to come with him but he did not move. Hate held tight to the boy's body not releasing him from his spot. His brother disappeared among the crowd shouting back for Syphon. The voice reached him and echoed in his head like a magical prayer... but this voice wasn't Tymon's. The boy threw back a glance as the shadowed figure spoke looking on through the crowd toward the paladin, "You hate him don't you? Yes I can see it in your eyes child." The figure turn to Syphon now the alleyway keeping him hidden from all that would look on. "I have been following you for some time now Syphon son of Kip." The shadows mouth smiled and stepped forward tossing back the cloak the boy had come to know. "Do you recognize me boy?" He was young his early twenties but Syphon knew him, maybe not by his face but the way he carried himself. All he could do is nod now as hate clenched at his very heart. "Most tragic about your father," the man turned to look at the corpse now being dragged off the post, "I do hate losing business partners that way." The mans voice cold and uncaring and he smiled again whipping his head back to glare at Syphon who stepped back once. "Your brother is going to try and change you now child.. is that what you want? Do you want to be like him?" Syphon shook his head and stepped forward as the man motioned for him to. "Good, you will make a fine replacement for your father no doubt. You have his rage inside you." Syphon looked confused. "Ah, you don't understand what I mean? Do you not feel it? The chaos pulling at you even now making you want to lose control. Does someone else not step in when you have been pushed to your limit? When the the worthless children of your home pestered you?" he seemed to get angry even remembering the children. "I will help you Syphon Grimgor but you must not allow your brother to know. You must endure his worthless chatter but gain his battle training. He is nearly as skilled as his father with that sword. I will come to you again child of Bane, there is much you must learn." And with this he drifted back into the shadows from which he had came.

A hand slapped down on Syphon's shoulder and he turned quickly to meet his brothers smiling face. "Come on then Syphon, I have duties to perform. There is much you must learn." Syphon began to smile at the irony of the paladin's comment but stopped merely to nod and follow in step.

The days were long and wrought with spouting of Tyr from Tymon's lips. He spoke on and on of Justice and Law but Syphon cared not for listening as his ears may have been captured his mind was free to ignore all. In the evenings his brother would teach Syphon to fight. The one time he could stomach the holy warriors banter. Syphon knew much of the grace of the fight. Watching his father all those years gave him an edge allowing him to quickly pick up the basics. Too much of Tymon's Surprise he learned how to fight rather well in an incredibly short amount of time. Though the days events belonged to his brothers tutoring the night just after sword lessons was Syphon's own. It is in this time the man came to him. Always the same entrance from the dark shadows he would emerge and into the shadows they would retreat. The man taught Syphon uncountable things about Bane the true god for his worship. The boy's hatred for his only living blood drove him to devour the knowledge that Carden Faolán showed him. His mind was easy to accept the perverted religion and the dark cleric sought nothing more to allow Syphon into his ranks. For six long years this went on and for six long years Tymon knew nothing of Syphon's secret agenda instead pouring combat knowledge into a being of pure hatred and rage.

The day after Syphon turned the age of seventeen he confronted his brother and asked that he have leave Neverwinters in search of his own meaning. The paladin could do nothing to stop the determined young man and in the end of a long debate he agreed. Syphon was to leave with a caravan heading to Baldur's Gate. The group left at night and in the doorstep of the brother's home they stared at one another for a while without a word Before Tymon extended his hand. "Good luck Syphon. Bring Justice to those in your travels." He smiled in the way that brought Syphon torment and he could only manage a smirk before stepping out into the rain-drenched street.

Syphon made his way to the city gates where the Caravan was almost prepared and Carden Faolán was there waiting. He bowed his head to Syphon as he grew near and handed him a small item wrapped in cloth. The boy opened it under cover of his bowed head and stared in awe at the small pendant of Bane, quickly realizing he covered it again to glance at Carden's neck. Indeed it was true and the Cleric gave a wry grin as the boy held his own holy symbol. They boarded one of the wagons together and set off on the long venture back down past Syphon's hometown and onto Baldur's Gate.

After their rough journey they departed from the caravan after a coin exchange between Syphon's tutor and the caravan driver. Quickly making residence within the walls of the great city Carden set about with the continuation of the boy's studies. He was a man that believed strength came with ones mind as well as ones sword arm. His words were true though and Syphon cared for nothing more than to learn more. They began with book works and literature of the black lord along with sparring lessons and the like. The boy was a perfect student and soon became more of a bodyguard for Carden than a pupil. After 3 years living with the lower end of Baldur's gate the cleric allowed Syphon his first of several tests. A test of conscience, A test of willpower.

The teacher brought his student to a house of which the boy had never seen before. The night air was cold though Syphon did not shiver as his mentor opened the door and stepped inside the rain had just begun to fall. Carden stopped Syphon though before he could enter and told him to wait in the alleyway to the side of the building...and to wait for a man to come out the door. He nodded and took his place in the alley. His eyes lashed back and forth from the door to the street not far from him but the bustle of the city and the drumming of the rain onto the cobble made it impossible to separate a dogs barking from a mans screaming. The door flung open and a man toppled out falling at Syphon's feet and he struggled to stand. Carden Stood in the doorway and stepped forth letting the door close behind him, "restrain him boy!" His voice commanding and loud over the sounds of Baldur's Gate. Syphon did as he was told reaching forward he Grasping the mans neck.

"Move and I will squeeze." Syphon's tongue lashed back into his mouth after he spoke and the man stopped fighting his grasp.

"How does that make you feel boy to hold such power over this man? See the fear in his eyes Syphon? See the weakness? How does that make you feel?" Carden glared at Syphon though the young mans eyes were locked on the pathetic life form gripped in his steel gauntlet, "Does it make you hate?" The teachers voice began to fade back as if to make a point. "Or does it make you want to kill?" He smiled as Syphon drew his blade.

"I do not feel anything master Faolán, I only wish this creatures life ended." he began speaking in Abyssal, hate filling his tone it translated: "you sir have been charged with being too weak for this world. You and those like you will come to know the word of Bane through pain and Fear. For this is the judgement I have made." He pulled the mans face closer to his speaking directly into his eyes. Speaking again in common "This is Justice." Syphon's sword came to the mans throat and he pushed it through letting the man bleed out over his gauntlet he gasped for air trying to scream only to receive his own blood pouring from his lips as his life faded away in Syphon's grip. He stared at the man plainly as his body went lifeless supported only by the students hold. Releasing the body he felt the hate begin to take control like so many times before he began to shout at the cleric again in the tongue of demons. It trasnlated as: "He was nothing, he was weak. I deserve more! I am stronger than this!" He was inches from his teacher's face when he began to regain control. His teacher only smirked and nodded.

These vicious teaching went on for another 2 years though Carden Faolán only allowed Syphon to distribute death rarely, it fed the boys hate. After the 5 years in Baldur's Gate they departed this time heading to Waterdeep to fill some unknown plan of his master, Syphon followed without question. Syphon's stay there was short though as something happened to him. Syphon took leave of Waterdeep not soon after he had the dream with little arguement from Carden though he remained to finish his business in Waterdeep. Syphon's destination, Baldur's Gate...