Foli

Once, the Dark Elves considered themselves philosophers and revolutionaries; they alone were willing to test the ancient traditions of Aravia, and delve into that which was forbidden by their more timid kin. Much has changed since then. The idealism of the past has given way to a brutal pragmatism that many Dark Elves view as necessary for their survival in the aftermath of the civil war and the split between what would become High Elf and Dark Elf societies. But some among them still hold fast to the ideals of the past. The enigmatic warrior known as Foli is one. He was among the first to be visited in his dreams by the spirit known as the Dreamwalker, and also among the first to learn the secrets of shadow magic. Unfortunately for Foli, he was also among the first to be exiled for what the greater Elven society of Aravia saw as a dangerous obsession. Forced to leave his kith and kin behind, he fled Aravia for Ireth, seeking sanctuary with his cousin, Ovelis, before the advent of Bad-el-Kazar and Ireth’s fall to darkness. Foli continued his studies in Ireth with a zeal that bordered on fanaticism, until even the mages and sorcerers of that city became alarmed, none more so than Ovelis. He retracted his offer of sanctuary and demanded that Foli depart. Foli did so, but not before having made his first breakthrough in learning to fully manipulate shadow-stuff. Through study and discipline, Foli honed his magic into something unique; rather than using it to attack his foes or hide, he instead used it to protect himself, turning his own shadow into a suit of armor unlike any other. A living carapace of ever-shifting shadow-substance, it provided Foli with exceptional protection and an unnatural vitality. It could resist crushing blows that should have shattered bone and pulverized flesh and any wounds he suffered healed almost instantly. Nor did Foli need weapons, for the armor could produce a sliver of darkness that would take the form of any sort of blade or bludgeon he might require. Indeed, after so many years within the armor, it was debatable that Foli was even an Elf anymore. Rather, he had become a strange, symbiotic entity – a thing of flesh and shadow. But even this wonder wasn’t enough for Foli. He needed to learn more. He traveled across Teleria, seeking out places of forbidden knowledge and ancient magics. He delved into forgotten places, and learned more than any mortal being about the true nature of the Darkness and the Light. As he did so, his perception of the circumstances of his exile changed. At first, Foli had been as resentful as any of his fellow exiles. After all, though he’d broken Aravian law, what harm had he truly done? In Ireth, he nurtured dreams of revenge, of returning to Aravia in triumph, his mastery of shadow magic undeniable and irresistible. But as Foli learned more about the magic he had devoted his life to, and watched his people tear themselves apart in the internecine conflict that became known as the War of the Elves, he had an epiphany. Perhaps it came to him in a dream; or maybe some spirit whispered it to him during his quest. Regardless, he realized that his ire was aimed in the wrong direction. His troubles were not the result of political rivals, fearful administrators or those who feared the corrupting nature of shadow magic, but rather had originated from a single source – the Dreamwalker. The Dreamwalker was the source of all Foli’s ills, and by extension, the ills of Elvenkind. And so, Foli determined the Dreamwalker would be made to pay. In the decades that followed, Foli sought out a means to accomplish his goal. Eventually, his quest attracted the attention of the Arbiter, who visited him one night as he hovered between wakefulness and sleep. She revealed the Dreamwalker’s true identity as Siroth, and explained how he had manipulated the Elves into tearing their own society apart. Foli had little hesitation in believing her, for much of what she said confirmed his findings in his own investigation. But what could Foli do against such a being? The Arbiter understood his concern, but saw in Foli’s need for vengeance a chance to hamper Siroth’s designs. She spoke to him of others who shared his desire to stop Siroth, and how together they might be able to prevent the Darkness from consuming Teleria. The two spoke long into the night, and when morning dawned, the Arbiter was gone and Foli was ready to begin his guerrilla campaign to uproot the servants of Darkness and upend Siroth’s schemes wherever he could.