Legends of Belariath

Iori Velle

She was raised as an elf, within the human city of Aragor. Her Father's House was called Nethal as was her true family name. Mother was a human and they had met during a marriage ceremony of the ruler's prince that was given. A few dances and they had known that infatuation had sparked from that first time spun out on the floor. Her Father, Avaren was a diplomat who lived within the city and attended to smoothing out relations between the Sylvan community very near and the humans here. The mating had seemed like a good match politically as well. They were soon blessed with the daughter they named Iori.

Iori was taught magic from when she was quite young. Mother was of the elemental persuasion and Father was proficient with magic of nature. Though a tutor was provided for the most part. Now and then she would overhear raised voices from the offices or sitting room and when she could she would listen in. They did not like to concern her with the affairs though it was becoming more apparent during her late teens when there was talk of raids even back and forth. Rules were being broken, treaties ignored and she could see it wearing on her father as actions of others were making his job harder to keep the peace that seemed tenous and at one point it was even spoken to her that they may move suddenly and out of the city if it came down to it. Mother's family was from Aragor yet her Father was not political but a well off merchant and had nothing in the political arena past supporting the ruler through taxes and support. One night we actually were packing as Father had a visitor and a second came knocking and the bag I had stuffed full in haste was told we could unpack three hours later. Things seemed to settle and their leaving would have been taken as a bad sign and break any hope of the treaty taking affect. It was easy to see the strain this put on the household that was on tenderhooks for the next few weeks until things finally died down and the disagreement had over a newly discovered mine that was producing silver veins. It was on the boundry between the two and a begrudging mutally beneficial deal had been struck which gave the control of the mining to the humans yet the purchase at a discount over to the elves at first pick. It was tenuous the veins were deep and at first with money to be made and raw material to be manipulated it worked for a few years.

Eventually everything has to come to a close and so did the agreement as one side would try and change the treaty or cheat the other side. Politically her father strived to assauge both sides but, unfortunately the greed of some had reached such a level both would not budge.

It was during the last summer of my 24th year when the situation escalated faster than we could see coming. Father's house lost favor with the region's residing Queen and spies had infiltrated the cabinets. There was no warning when the humans had turned, not this time it had not been a logical conclusion to give up on the treaty proposed of changes it was an emotional decision and we were marked for death to show the final breaking of the treaty as the ruler was going sending her troops out to bolster around the mind.

The Black Hand were sent out just an hour before her troops had been gathered to to to the mine. The assassin group consisted of moriels completely had been under contract with the Queen for a few years. Father was struck down first, the upcry through the house had gone out though with the clash of magic that had begun to stir. He had gotten some spell off that made the hairs rise on her arms even in another part of the house. It had not been enough to save him though not with the surprise attack nearing the witching hour of the evening. It gave enough of an outcry and a scuffle that Mother had enough warning to send me out. Only just enough though, the secret panel had barely come to rest in it's seat, before I heard the sizzle stream out and spells were coursing through the room. She had held off the rest with a blaze of fire spells that had started the house to burning. The passage took her downwards and spiraled around to an exit only a few in the House knew about. She felt it the moment they had slain her mother, as well.

Too scared to let the tears fall, heart racing adrenalin pumping she was grabbing a black cloak from a peg here on the wall in the darkness and putting it on, raising her hood. They had a stash of items in a bag ready there from the years before but, it was lightly packed. Meant for an emergency only, a do or die, type of thing. A time just like this. A few pieces of clothing, dark cloak, a few pieces of jewelry and some coin that was small and easily tradeable had been wrapped through the bundle. She had donned a black cloak over herself from a peg hanging there and the pack placed under it and had bolted out into the night and she moved with a haste to her steps for a few houses then fell into the normal step of those traveling the streets, as her tears fell under the shadow of her hood. Her heart beat at a rapid pace. She had sold many of the items over the next day and through different towns until she had enough for passage and food off the continent.

She had gotten away and was alone in the world, but she was free. The boat she had bought passage on took her to the shores of Thallis, a port city. She had chosen it more from the sound of the name and the distance than any knowledge of the area at all. Needing to be far away and this had fit those qualtities. She had hoped there would be none of the Black Hand here, though she had already seen the race some called Moriel or dark elves blighting the land here.

A new leaf turned and she made a few potions and sold them for trade to get food or small items as she could. She is making her way on this soil, meeting races she didn't even know existed as she gets her feet under her and a clearer path set.

She is extroverted, a bookworm, enjoys exploring unatmed areas. She finds drinking, reveling, and gambling enjoyable. She likes to study and learn if given the chance.

She has little tolerance for cruelty and a distrust towards the Dark elves.

Her last name is really Nethal but, it would be many years to be sure there was none of the Black Hand that whispered about or through this countryside if ever before it would come out or she would use it. So for now her given name was Velle.

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