Trogdor Backstory

Long Backstory:

Raise in Realluna, a small village in the shadow of (Enter Princess Kenny's Hometown), the only child of a modest high elven family. This village was known for its diverse, clever populus and ancient texts from bygone millennia. Trogdor's mother (Ladera) was the ruling leader of local guild alliances. She was known throughout the realm as wise and politically savvy that had somehow persuaded some of the most powerful rules in 1000 miles to maintain their peaceful coexistence. Tall and proud, she was the perfect archetype of the political ruling class of the High Elven courts. Her light grey skin and sharp features could have been chiseled from stone. His village focused on the powers of the mind and avoided the sword and bow. The young was constantly surrounded by older and wiser leaders from around the realm. From an early age, his mother taught him the rules of courtly manner, political cunning and of those that use deception for ill-gotten gains.

His father (Trajen), an unassuming member of the blacksmithing guild, was as wildly different from Ladera and the prototypical High Elf as two could be. He stood a full head shorter than his wife, with darker hair and less severe features. He could nearly pass for human is his stark white hair, pointed ears and iridescent eyes didn’t betray his Elven lineage. Trajen may not have been half the politician and intellectual that Ladera was, but what he lacked in tack, he made up for in charisma and physical talents. Publicly taught him how to use his mind, and his tongue to best his opponents. In private, Trajen taught his son to use the tools and weapons of his trade.

As a young boy of 12, Trogdor's village was attacked by a great golden dragon that was controlled by an evil group of Dragonborn. In the destruction of his village, he lost his parents, and was the only one he knew of to survive the attack. In the days that followed, the newly orphaned boy wandered from burned out home to burned out home instinctively gathering any and all belongings and valuables he came across. After several weeks of scavenging, and processing the fact that his entire family, and all those he had ever know were now dead, he made his way to the large city  of (Enter Princess Kenny's Hometown). He traversed the terrain, avoiding the main roads not knowing what dangers awaited him there.

Something had fractured off the violence, the smell of blood and burning flesh, and tucked it into a hidden place within the deepest corners of his mind. He realized that the darkest days and destruction of his village and family were rapidly disappearing from his memory. The only clear memory before stumbling across the charred bodies of his family, and the ashes of what used to be his town was the name he heard screamed before the attack. The Dragonborn pointed to the sky from the cliff above his village and chanted "Fire and Flame!". In the moments that followed a dragon the size of 3 horse carts crested the top of the cliff and descended on the town with billowing bursts of flames.

At the outskirts (Enter Princess Kenny's Hometown), carrying what would be considered an unusual amount of gold, silver and weapons for a young boy, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a pond. Instead of the typically stoic and impassive face he had always seen on the High Elven people, what he saw staring back at him was a half-crazed wildling. Muddy from the journey, he washed away months of grime and changed into one of the nicer sets of clothes he had found in a chest that had not seen the worst of the fire. As he looked closely at his reflection, a sudden torrent and horrible memories flooded his mind, and he passed out on the side of the road, neither asleep, nor awake.
 
 As he awoke in the back cart being pulled by 4 large horses, he startled and looked around frantically for the silver, gold, weapons and books he had collected before leaving the husk of a village that used to be his homeland. To his surprise, he was being escorted by what appeared to be the king’s guard. They must have found him blacked out on the side of the road. He quickly realized how lucky he was to have not been robbed, or worse. As the horses came to a stopped, the wheels of the cart squealed to a halt. The largest of the guards made his way back to the cart to recover the mysterious boy and his numerous belongings
 
 Shortly after his arrival at the castle of King (Enter Princess Kenny's dads name), he found himself being questioned in the great hall be the head of the kings guard. His mind spun at the sudden inquisition be the imposing figure that was nearly twice his size. But he never got a chance to respond. Instead that guards began postulating that this young boy was a noble son of a high-born Elven family the king had been expecting. This was an easy assumption to make based on the books, fine weapons and coins he carried. Trogdor never said he was this boy, but he certainly was not going to convince them otherwise. He correctly assumed that being considered the child of a wealthy foreign family was a better introduction to the city than an orphan who had pilfered everything in his possession, including the shift on his back. Shortly after the questioning ended, a guard hurried off, and just as quickly returned with the king. As they walked through the great hall, Trogdor had a strange feeling. Had he seen this man before?  How could that be possible?
 
 The King shook Trogdor's hand and wrapped his other arm around the young boy. He guided him into the kings meeting chamber. His brain still had this strange sensation that he had met this man before, but could not for the life of him figure out how or when. He was pulled back in to focus when the King snapped out a demand "What is your name, boy?". Having not spoken to anyone in months, he simply shrugged. He was certain he had a name before his world was destroyed, but he could not find even the faintest memory of it. 
 
 King ______ gave him an inquisitive look, and quickly decided that he would have rooms prepared, and give Trogdor the chance to rest, after what he assumed was a long journey. Suddenly, Trogdor found himself in the nicest bedchamber he had ever seen, let alone stayed in personally. The fear of being cast out or discovered had subsided and he fell into a deep meditative state. This was not the overwhelmed blackout that had taken him, this was a focused, centered feeling.
 
 Trogdor was ripped out of his bed by the same guards that had showed him so much respect in the presence of the King only a few hours prior. When he was finally thrown into a chair in the dungeon at the base of the castle, the king seethed with fury. What Trogdor didn’t know was that Treylor, the young noble the king had been expecting, had just arrived with his letter of introduction. The king, realizing he was duped by Trogdor, and ordered his guard to bring him to heel at once.
 
 When the King came face to face with Trogdor, he barked out a sharp cracking "EXPLAIN YOURSELF". Trogdor straightened himself immediately and began his tale. How far he had come, why was he found with rare books, gold and weapons. The fact that his village, a village under the King’s protection has been burnt down to embers. The King waived his hand dismissively for the young boy to stop. The king had been told there were no survivors of the dragon attack, and knew young boys were prone to lies and stories of fantasy.

Trogdor dropped his head and caught the briefest reflection in a small patch of murky liquid that had pooled near his feat. He noticed his mouth was moving in a repetitive pattern, though no sound escaped his lips. He squeezed his eyes shut, and looked again, he could finally make out the words he his mouth so desperately wanted to say…… Trogdor! Suddenly the name that had been eluding him for weeks and months escaped his lips. "I am Trogdor, Son of Trajen and Ladera the magistrate of the guilds of Realluna"

The king who had been pacing and seething was suddenly shocked into stillness, as if frozen in place. Slowing raising his head to meet the eyes of the young boy in front of him, the king spoke slowly, almost chewing on each word that left his mouth. "What…. Name…. Did…. You….. say?" In the hours that followed, the King confessed that not only did he know Ladera, but that they were once in love. Prior to becoming king, he and Ladera had a dalliance, and that she had told him that she was pregnant with his child but would not leave her husband.

His world was spinning again. Could it be true? Had his mother been seduced by the king? Was Trogdor the bastard son of the man that sat in front of him now? The king explained that he would not be able to formally claim him, as a bastard son would be looked down on by the Council of Elders. Instead, King __________ pledged to provide Trogdor with an room, an education, and his help (in secret).

The King raised Trogdor quietly, and from a distance, as an outside member of the court.  Trogdor received tutors in numerous disciplines, trained him with weapons instructors, and kept him up to date with all of the courtly gossip. It did not take long before Trogdor was using his new found skills and wisdom on the streets of the city. More than once the King had to intercede on his behalf, when he had been caught stealing or causing trouble. One the day of his 18th birthday, the king asked him use all of his knowledge and strengths for a previously unknow purpose. His daughter, Princess Kenny (Trogdor's half-sister) would be venturing out into the world, and would need protection.

Trogdor swore to protect Princess Kenny, and to never tell her who hey truly was. The king would introduce Trogdor to the court and to Princess Kenny as a young noble who has agreed to travel with the Princess on her upcoming journey.