No one knows who Aladaars true parents are, he was an orphan.  He was found floating down the river Tarsis.   Floating down the river Tarsis on the Shield of Tears and wrapped in a light smoke-gray cape that was later to be found to actually be Imits Funeral Shroud.   The poor family of fishermen who found him recognized him as something special, and though they already had a large family of their own, they took the babe in and his the shield and cape, deciding that they would tell him of his birthrights when he was old enough.  They name the baby Aladaar after the mythic lost island kingdom of Allada.

     He was a strong and good looking boy.  Popular and of an easy nature.  As with most young boys he played games and dreamed of being a soldier or an adventurer and of doing great things.  He also seemed to develop a penchant for defending the smaller children who couldn't defend themselves.  He was, all in all a happy boy never fully realizing the squalor he was living in.

     When he reached the age of thirteen people started disappearing in the night.  He wanted to join the search parties who went out looking for what was doing it but he was told that he was too young, and he needed to stay home.   But Aladaar was a rambunctious young man and he decided to go anyway.  He searched through his family's' home for a weapon and came across and old sword owned by his adopted grandfather when he was in the army and a gray cloak.

     He took the sword and wrapped himself in the cloak to protect himself from the cold night.  He followed his father and older brother as they went with the scout party into the night.  It wasn't long till everything went wrong.   In the forest the starlight couldn't penetrate the canopy and torches couldn't be used for fear of starting a fire in the dry summer woods, so they relied on a single lantern.  Walking into a small clearing one of the men twisted his ankle on a root and fell.  As the men gathered round to help him loud growling came from the woods.   Men, shocked and scared looked up as a horned bear crashed through the brush sweeping his huge paw to the side knocking a man senseless.  The bear reared up ready to come down on Aladaars brother.

     The horned bears roar ended in an abrupt squelch as a sword tip came out of his throat.  The bear pawed his neck for a bit, trying to comprehend what just happened, and then died, settling slowly to the ground.  As the assembled men regained there senses the noticed Aladaar, still holding the sword into the horned bears back, as if frozen there, eyes opened wide.

     A few months after a wizard came through the small town to see the boy who had slain a horned bear.  The people quickly pointed the wizard to Aladaars home, and were grateful for the gold he gave them.  Upon meeting Aladaar he gave his parents 1000 gold coins for the hide, claws, and horns of the bear and a conversation with Aladaar on what had happened.  The wizard sat down with boy and began talking softly as he removed his red cloak and weather-beaten cap.

     "What is your name?"  the mage asked evenly.  

     "Aladaar"  responded the boy, a bit frightened of the unusual man. 

     "Why did you follow the hunting party?"  the sage asked.

     " I wanted to go.  I wanted to help.  What's your name?"

     "I am the sage Isk.  How did you kill the bear?"

     "I stabbed it."

     "Were you wearing the gray cloak I saw earlier?"

     "Y..y..yes.  I was."  Aladaar looked a little scared.

     "I see.  Did you see him?  The gray man?"

     "Yes."

     "What did he say?"

     "He said to tell you everything.  And to be a good boy."

     "I see.  Thank you."  Isk almost smiled as he stood and walked out of the boys room.  He met up with his parents again and questioned them on how they came to be in possession of Aladaar.  They explained how they had found him on the river and Isk asked to see the shield.  They took him to it and he knelt down and whispered to the shield and listened intently as though he could hear it speak back.  He stood and told them to keep the shield hidden for another few years, until the time was right for Aladaar to have it.  They agreed, and they never saw Isk again.

Page 2