Rhistel Liadon was the son of a wood elf priest of Rillifane and a female Ranger of Silvanus (though Rhistel himself believed his father and mother both to wosrhip the same being, simply calling it a different name). His parents and the larger community placed an emphasis many forms of learning: cultural, natural and scholarly. These academic things intrigued Rhistel far more than lugging weapons and packs filled with supplies on the long woodland hikes favored by his parents. Indeed, Rhistel himself was endowed with no great physique, though he has becmoe hardy due to the long days spent living amidst the elements of nature.
The small settlement of rangers and wood elves, tucked away in a secluded portion of the forests of the Dalelands, was presided over by a powerful druid. Rhistel often marvelled at the feats of his father and the druids, particularly their skill in calling creatures to their aid. As he matured faster than the elves who were his "age," Rhistel was often lonely; his mother wondered often if her son's interest in the druidic animal friendship spells was due to the solitude brought on by his mixed parentage. Whatever the truth, Rhistel's desire was the skill to do what the druids did--summon the aid of the animals of the woods, or cause vines to spontaneously grow and entangle foes. His devout father and mother told him that "prayer was the path to that wisdom." They even permitted him to forego the typical martial training of his people--much to the dismay of his mother, who was a lover of archery--if he would follow in his father's clerical footsteps.
He read the sacred texts, sung the songs, and learned the prayers. And yet, when he knelt to Silvanus, he felt nothing. A tenday passed, and a third, and still Rhistel felt much the same as before. Soon, Rhistel himself realized that he lacked whatever faith necessary to achieve such things he desired--such wonders as he saw the druid working--and resented the fickle deities who demaded worship and obeisance before deigning to bless their followers. Thus, he began searching for other avenues to pursue his goals: arcane avenues. Though a few of his father's kin had dabbled in wizardry, he soon realized he would have to leave to find the teachers a true student required. But where to go? Aglarond, suggested his well-traveled mother, where half-elves had built a kingdom.
Rhistel had only spent a few months in Aglarond when his studies brought him into contact with Dallian, another half-elf. Dallain was an Evoker, but humored Rhistel's druid-inspired interest in the summoning sphere by teaching him one of the few conjuring spells in his spellbook: an acid splash cantrip. This simple conjuration--the ability to create something out of nothing--had a tremendous effect on the fledgling wizard Rhistel. He made a decision then to devote all of his efforts into mastering the college of Conjuration. Rhistel's near single-minded emphasis on scholarship often comes at the expense of other aspects of his life, including personal grooming (his beard and cloaks are typically disheveveld) and simple organization (his pack is consistenlty stuffed with wrinkled, crumpled parchments and random, scattered notes, and his handwriting is rushed and sometimes difficult to read).
He has since left Aglarond (due in large part to that land's preoccupation with what Rhistel deems "lesser" colleges of wizardry) and relentlessly pursued any and all knowledge in what he calls "The Exquisite College of Conjuration." For Rhistel Liadon, the pursuit of knowledge is the ultimate aim of life on Toril. Though he has come to the Vast, he will only stay as long as it proves to be a place beneficial to his academic interests.
Rhistel has an enthusiastic personality, particularly when his research is progressing. While his attitude rarely leads him to conflict, he is often perturbed by those who finds some forms of knowledge "dangerous" or to be kept hidden. He vigorously disagrees with that mindset. He has little interest in martial matters, and is often bored with discussions of swords and tactics--unless he sees in them an avenue to increase his arcane lore. Though he harbors no ill-will towards men and women of faith, he sometimes speaks with pity or condescension to divine spellcasters for their neverending reliance on the gods.
Rhistel Liadon, Conjurer
Moderator: Vast Dungeon Masters