Caleb Cradlehorn

Origins:

Born in the academic city of Haven Caleb never precisely fit in. His parents modest home in the southern quarter of the city was attached to their family-run bakery and they used their modest arcane talents to produce some of the finest pastries and works of confectionery in haven, perhaps on the continent. Unlike his parents and fellow children Caleb lacked both the talent and the inclination for arcane study which forced him to get by on charm, wit, and occasionally idle larceny.

Shortly after his fourteenth birthday Caleb's uncle Samuel took him under his wing, hiring him as a stock-boy and general helper for his warehouse of arcane goods. However, he made clear that this job was meant to keep Caleb out of mischief, and to prevent him from embarrassing his family with his lack of magical ability. This task, however unwelcome, provided Caleb with his first venture into the Arcanist's Society, a network of merchants spread across the continent specializing in the trade of magical goods and knowledge. Though his uncle never came to respect him, Caleb quickly became a useful member of Samuel's operation. Through managing the stock of goods kept by his uncle Caleb learned how to price, evaluate, and store many arcane items, and the personality traits that had made him such a nuisance to his parents made him an adept negotiator, if an undervalued one.

This would have been Caleb's life, an ill treated if valuable family employee, had it not been for a little luck.

One day, while his uncle was away selling his trinkets Caleb was left behind to clean and inventory the stock they had left behind. As he was sorting through a particularly dusty corner of the stockroom Caleb felt a sudden chill in the air. Investigating, he found what looked to be a crystalline coffer containing something his uncle's business partners called "frost essence". Upon closer examination however, Caleb noticed the the wall of the coffer had become cracked, and cold air seemed to be seeping through.

In response to his touch a small wave of frost radiated outwards from the coffer, and Caleb heard a voice that seemed to be calling out for something. Listening carefully Caleb determined that it was coming from the crack in the coffer. Putting his ear close he could hear a faint female voice saying "I can help you. Please let me out."

The voice introduced herself as Zoe, and explained that she was trapped there after being attracted to the magical energy of the frost essence the coffer was intended to contain. It was a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, something Caleb could easily identify with. Zoe had rationed the energy of the frost essence to survive for years inside the coffer, but it had now run out. When she heard movement outside desperation had caused her to expend nearly all her remaining essence to make a tiny crack through which she could reach whoever was outside.

Inside the coffer she could perceive some of the outside world, and had been aware of Caleb's lack of arcane talent, and of the chill it had brought to his family life. In return for her freedom she offered to form an arcane pact with Caleb, offering her now meager power in exchange for freedom, and the creation of a link between their two beings in the hope that Caleb exercising her powers would allow her strength to return and empower them both.

Upbringing:

Caleb's childhood was happy, his parents cared for, him loved him dearly, and owned a bakery. What more could a child want? However, as he progressed into adolescence things steadily became worse. While his parents love never dimmed he felt that his lack of arcane power distanced him from them, a sensation that only grew worse as they put him into his uncle's care to learn his trade.

While Caleb took to his uncle's trade quickly and skillfully he never felt respected. His uncle's staff viewed him as a charity case, no matter what he could bring to the table. The fact that he knew their stock, their business partners, and the back-and-forth of the trading table better than everyone save his uncle, probably didn't help his case with them. But it was his lack of magical aptitude that held him back, a citizen of Haven without magic, no matter how loved or skilled, could never be more than a charity case.

After forging his pact with Zoe Caleb purchased and destroyed the container of frost essence which had imprisoned her, as a sign of good faith. However, rather than making him more valued in the eyes of his co-workers, and easing his relationship with his family Caleb's new found powers simply created another wedge. Caleb's family worried at the sudden appearance of his magical abilities, and when they began to ask questions they swiftly realized that he had bartered with a fey entity for power. Such shortcuts, especially in a person with no previous magical abilities, are frowned upon in Haven. Similarly, his uncle's other staff began to view him as a risk; only fools make pacts for the sake of power.

As a result Caleb has grown colder and more distant from his family, despite his continued cheery demeanor. When his uncle approached him and offered him a "promotion" to field agent in an effort to ease tensions among his staff Caleb was all too happy to accept. That his cooling feelings towards his home and family are a result of Zoe's influence has not even occurred to Caleb, he sees his uncle's offer as a chance to have an adventure, and he has no qualms about leaving Haven. Perhaps time away will help him make peace with his own contradictions.

Current day:

For the last few months Caleb has been traveling the trade routes negotiating the exchange of arcane merchandise, seeking out arcane relics and novelties, and generally been getting up to mischief. However, he has been turning a handsome profit for his uncle, which keeps him well in favour back home, even though he seldom visits.

Character Stats

STR 10

CON 12

DEX 18

INT 12

WIS 8

CHA 18

Feats:

Rod Expertise

At wills:

Icy Skewer

Eldritch Bolt

Encounters:

Piercing Shard

Daily:

Hellfire Blast

Trained Skills:

Bluff +9 Diplomacy +9 Streetwise +9 Thievery +10

Magic Item Wish List

TBA