Aelar Duskor

Growing up in the shadow-haunted corridors of a Drow city, Aelar learned to listen first and strike second. House diplomacy, betrayal, and the endless games of power taught him a cautious pragmatism. When the temple of a distant surface deity opened its doors to travelers from all races, Aelar’s curiosity was piqued by the priests who treated their visitors with dignity rather than fear. During a desert crossing, a caravan was assaulted by bandits, and a kindly cleric who had once sheltered a few weary drow refugees stepped in to protect the caravan. Aelar, then a teenager with a blade and no sacred oath, fought at the cleric’s side and saved many lives. The cleric’s mercy and willingness to see the good in people, regardless of origin, left a lasting mark. The cleric later became a mentor, guiding Aelar toward divine service and explaining the paladin’s oath: to embody the best parts of law and faith, to shield the innocent, and to act with courage when fear would dictate retreat.

The decision to pursue the paladin’s oath was not simple for Aelar. It required breaking with some family expectations and challenging the status quo of his city’s power structures. Yet his mentor’s stories of bright dawns breaking through the long night of oppression gave him purpose beyond vengeance. He took holy vows not to erase who he is, but to refine it—making his judgements tempered by mercy and his strength a shield for others. His current quest is both a personal pilgrimage and a mission to bring aid to those persecuted for their ancestry or beliefs. He travels with a loyal companion—a consecrated relic and a stubborn fire in his eyes—that reminds him of the fragile line between justice and vengeance. He has learned to speak softly and act decisively, to admit when he is wrong, and to let mercy guide his blade. Aelar’s journey is one of light breaking through shadow—one life at a time.