| Character
Description and HistoryJanson was
born the son of an elven ranger, and a human mage. His mother had begun a promising career
as a wizard, but gave that up when she married his father. The Bedfellows settled down in
the little town of Essembra, where they had two sons; Janson was the oldest. His father
began training Janson at an early age to be a ranger, and Janson enjoyed it immensely.
When Janson was in his early twenties, he was hunting in the woods near his house, when he
heard a noise behind him. He quietly waited for it to get closer, then let loose with two
arrows, assuming it to be a deer. Unfortunately, it was his younger brother, who had been
trailing Janson, as younger brothers tend to do. Janson killed him, and soon left home
(his parents did not blame him, but it was best for all concerned for Janson to get some
space for awhile. Years later, Janson would return, and have a very good relationship with
his parents again.).
Janson decided that he would eschew the ways of the ranger, and swore
that he would never use a bow again. He purchased some armor (forgoing his ranger
abilities), and fought using only one weapon; a trident. While traveling in this way, he
came upon the Riders of the Elvenflow (then the Company of the Iron Circle), who were
attempting to remove the azure bonds from their arms, and free themselves from the control
of an evil group. They had just lost half of their party in a disastrous battle at Zhentil
Keep, and needed new members. Janson joined, and helped them remove the bonds. When the
Riders changed their name, and took over the town of Elven Flow, Janson remained with the
group.
After quite a few adventures with the Riders, Janson was captured by the
Prime Magistrate of Zhentil Keep (a long time foe of the Riders). Janson and some other
Riders were taken to Zhentil Keep, and told that they could either recant and join the
Zhentarim, or be slain. Janson refused to join such an evil group, and was scheduled for a
public execution, along with his fellow Rider prisoners. The remaining Riders arrived to
interrupt the execution, but were a little late. Janson was the last Rider freed, and had
a wall dropped on him by the Zhentarim. He managed to move somewhat out of the way, but
his legs were crushed.
Janson returned to Elven Flow, where his legs were regenerated. However,
it was a lengthy process, and Janson was forced to spend many months in bed. While in bed,
he began to think about his fate. After healing, he journeyed to Essembra, and spent some
time with his parents. He finally came to grips with his brother's death, and decided to
become a true ranger once again.
Shortly after, the Riders founded a second town, not a day's ride from
Elven Flow. They called in Sundyr, and Janson was chosen to act as its mayor. He moved his
residence to Sundyr, and went into a sort of semi-retirement. He married, and had a son,
Shakespeare. While he would still adventure with the other Riders when needed, he tended
to spend his time caring for the town of Sundyr.
When Shruppak of Unther destroyed Elven Flow, Janson was there for the
battle. Most of the Riders were thrown into suspended animation, but Janson escaped. The
Riders again became a nomadic group, traveling the Realms to find a way to free their
comrades from their suspension. Janson was an integral part of the group during this time,
many times acting as their leader. While battling a red dragon, Janson realized that the
party was in deep trouble. He leapt into the dragon's mouth, and then turned his Rod of
Lordly Might into a climbing pole inside the dragon's mouth. The dragon breathed on
Janson, but he valiantly hacked at the inside of the dragon's mouth with his Frostbrand,
while the other Riders attcked the distracted dragon from the outside. They finally killed
it, but not before the dragon snapped the Rod of Lordly Might, and swallowed Janson. His
remains were found inside the dragon's stomach, but they were too far gone to be
resurrected. His wife and son and are staying with Janson's parents in Essembra, where his
son trains to be a ranger.
Janson was very tall for a 1/2 elf, and very well muscled. He did not
look as muscled as he was. He had virtually no fat on his body, being very lean. He
dressed in forest greens and browns, but was never concerned with fashion. Janson always
seemed out of place in the Riders; he was very serious, and disliked many of his
teammates, whom he considered to be brash jokers. He only remained with the group, because
he realized the great good they could do. he had a very strict code of honor that he held
himself to. One of the more interesting aspects of this code was that he refused to carry
much in the way of magical items. He felt that many Riders had grown dependant on their
magic. Although he had several opportunities to obtain some very powerful magics,
including many strength enhancing items, he always refused, instead preferring to rely on
his own personal strength. He loved his wife and son dearly, and became very attached to
Sundyr and its people. Although ridiculed often when he was alive, the party began to
realize after his death just how important to the group Janson had been. |
