Biography:

Although he was known as Wistan of Clearbrook in his youth, that name has long ago faded into a past that is little-remembered, for now he is known far and wide as Wistan the Wanderer. The name evokes gasps of wonder and wide eyes from young and old alike. Some call him "wizard," some "sage," some "fool" and some whisper "demon-spawn" and cross themselves to ward off evil at his passing.

Wistan was born to a cloistered nun at the small town of Clearbrook 46 winters ago. No man was ever discovered or suspected of siring him, and his mother perished in birthing him, so the sisters were left with a mysterious orphan to raise. As their order, that of St. Alara the Kind, preached charity, they could scarcely turn him out into the street. His unusual birth caused rumors to spread among the folk of Clearbrook, however.

Wistan grew among the Sisters of St. Alara and the monks that shared the opposite wing of the Abbey, the Brothers of St. Esteban the Wise, throughout his childhood. The monks, though in awe of his uncanny ability to predict the weather, taught him religion and letters, and expected him to become a brother of the order himself when he came of age.

One evening a stormy night brought a bedraggled traveler to the monastery in search of sanctuary against the torrent. In exchange for a warm bed of straw and a meal, the traveler, one Alaric Rosetongue, told stories of the world beyond the monastery walls, beyond Clearbrook, beyond anything Wistan had ever heard before.

So it came to pass that 12-year old Wistan of Clearbrook, head filled with Rosetongue's tales, left Clearbrook Abbey to seek his fate in the world. Needless to say, a 12-year old naive boy alone in the world did not have an easy time of it. He lived on the streets of Stonegate as best he could, begging, stealing, and competing with the other urchins. Miraculously he survived. When he was 15, a stranger on the street paid him a shilling to deliver a letter and a box to a certain house in the town. The house happened to belong to Loremaster Brevin Quill, and Wistan happened to impress Quill by reading the address written on the letter.

Wistan became Quill's apprentice, and served in such a capacity until he was 26, mainly copying texts and maps. He read everything he could get his hands on, and learned much during this time. Quill found him to be an eager, if stubborn and outspoken, pupil. It was also during this period that he developed a taste for gambling, more often than not losing his 2 shillings a week allowance within an hour of receiving it.

When Quill died, a nephew inherited the estate, and Quill was left at odd ends with only a horse and Quill's knobby-ended staff as inheritence. He has pursued many jobs since, as a scribe, a cartographer, a guide, a tutor, and an actor. During his stint in the latter profession, Quill learned that he had a real talent for altering his appearance. His average, clean-shaven looks combined with the talents of the makeup artist to allow him to play parts ranging from beautiful women to gruff warriors, from nobles to tradesmen to merchants to peasants.

But Wistan felt the old longing of his youth calling him, and he left Stonegate to travel. During his travels he kept meticulous journals, a habit he maintains to this day.

It was on one of these travels that he learned of a plot to assassinate a local princeling, Jastin of Karth. Disguising himself as a nobleman, he infiltrated Karth's court and managed to stop the assassination. When he revealed himself to Jastin, the prince was so impressed by his disguise and grateful to be alive that he appointed Wistan his Royal Advisor. The incident infuriated the prince's uncle Duke Modrag, who was the force behind the assassination plot.

As Jastin's advisor, Wistan had more power and authority to seek out texts and knowledge hidden around the countryside. He kept the position for six years. It was during this time that he gained the appelation "the Wanderer" and his reputation grew immensely as bards ferreted out the details of his birth from the Clearbrook rumors.

Unfortunately, Modrag hatched another plot, this one while Wistan was out of the area on one of his quests. Wistan arrived back just in time to see flames gouting from the windows of Jastin's castle and Modrag leading his men out the gate. They saw him and gave chase, wounding him with an arrowshot to the head just as he turned to look back. His left eye was destroyed, but he managed to escape back to the Clearbrook Abbey, where the nuns and monks nursed him back to health.

Modrag's men tracked him to the monastery, and he was barely able to escape with his life as the villains slew the holy orders and desecrated the sanctuary.

Now Wistan has sworn a vow to repay Modrag with death, and is setting out to seek his revenge.

Personality Description:

Wistan's prime motivation (usually) is the collection and preservation of written texts, paintings, maps, tapestries, etc. from around the continent. Right now, his mind is more on his vow of revenge against Modrag, and he has begun to plot how he might accomplish that task. He is stubborn, singlemindedly pursuing a task to its completion, although he has a weakness for gambling that he can't seem to shake. He also loves smoking a pipe, and gets very cranky if he can't enjoy a good pipe after a meal. Wistan has a point of speaking plainly (some say tactlessly) to pauper and prince alike, although he has an annoying habit of muttering arcane sayings and assuming people are as well-educated as himself. On the other hand, Wistan can be very pleasant when he decides to "turn on the charm." He loves being dramatic and mysterious.

Physical Description:

Wistan is an old man with grayish hair, moustache and short beard. His left eye is covered by a black patch, and his right twinkles a knowing light blue-green. He is a stooped 5'6" tall and wears a dark robe, brown boots and a dark blue cloak and hood. At least two pouches dangle from his belt. He carries a 6' long, knobby ended staff in one hand.