Karvoth fought on Faydwer for 8 seasons, first helping to eliminate the giant insect swarms that threaten Kelethin's citizens, and later working on pushing back the hated orcs of Crushbone. His range grew wider, with forays into Lesser Faydark and into the realm of the Dwarves in the Butcherblock Mountains. An unholy temple of the undead existed in these mountains, and it was a grim duty Karvoth undertook to stem their tide. It seemed that the very earth would not allow the dwarves buried in it to remain at rest there, and the Dwarf Skeletons rose to attempt to retake those places that they occupied in life. Karvoth cut them down and prayed to Tunare to let their souls rest.
For the most part, Karvoth was happy in and around his homeland. The trees of Kelethin are no difficulty for a native, and he was well regarded there. Not a hero of the realm, by any means, but a favored son of the village, whom all hoped would do well for himself and his homeland.
Sadly, this hope was dashed all too early: Karvoth failed his homeland.
Karvoth had just passed his 9th season, fighting to keep the creatures of Butcherblock from overrunning Greater Faydark, and putting to rest those who evil magics had summoned forth from graves. An orc messenger had just fallen to Karvoth's sword; the result of which might spell the end to a possible orc/bandit alliance that would threaten Kelethin. All in all, a good day's work, Karv thought.
Reveling and basking in his newfound skill and quickly stashing the note, in the hopes of returning it to his guildmaster so that further action against the orcs could be taken with the newfound knowledge, he nearly missed the shouts of terror and warning issuing forth. He did not miss the army cutting a swath towards his homeland.
Tales had been told to him, as a child, of the Dark Elves and their allies: but that was all they were to Karvoth; merely tales. Until that moment, Karvoth had never looked upon true evil. An army, led by a shining Dark Elven General, marched on the Faydark. Hordes of unholy creatures, Elves who had turned from the light and wore their dark souls on their countenances, hideous lumber swamp beasts and giant ogres lumbered through the narrow passage to the Faydark. The invasion of Kelethin had begun.
It took a while to recover from the shock. The army knew no hesitation; knew no distraction. Running after them, Karvoth sought to challenge some of their number. They ignored him as insignificant. Did not even bother to kill him in their rush to ruin his home. Sensing that he could only help by joining his brothers, he went to Kelethin to join the resistance there: to die with honor guarding his home.
Alas, the army of evil even took this away from him. A shield was erected around the Faydark, so that none could enter to help. It remained up throughout the battle. Though the citizens of Kelethin eventually won the day, Karvoth turned from his homeland in shame and dejection, vowing to walk Norrath in search of a way to stop such a thing from happening again. He had failed his people, and no longer deserved to live among them.
Crossing to the continent of Tunaria (later, he found that the arrogant humans insist on calling it Antonica, after one of their foolish kings), he arrived in the maze-like town of Freeport. Disdaining the city, he came to live in the fields of the commonlands, protecting its more peaceable animals, the wolves and bears, from the more vicious ones: the lions. It has often been of concern to Karvoth why the lions regard nature's protectors with the same vicious rancor that they regard everything else. It is possible, he surmises, that they have become infected by the anger and fear the Cazic Thule and Innoruk so freely generate.
Karvoth had many good seasons on the plains of the commonlands, and in the neighboring Kithicor Wood. In those days, the taint of evil had not yet settled on the wood, and many nights were spent in the wood, communing with nature and eliminating some of the insects that threatened to crowd out other species. An old ranger and bowyer taught Karvoth the method of hunting with a bow, and showed him how to fashion his own arrows. Many hours of practice lead him to mastering the making of and the use of arrows in hunting.
Kithicor Woods was comforting to Karvoth: perhaps too comforting. It seemed almost like home for a while. Then one red day, Innoruk took the night from the woods. An army of undead sprang up and took over each night. The seed of evil was planted among the very trees. Though he wanted to protect the wood, he was no match for the new threat. His life would have been in vain, for none could match this new army of the dead alone. It was a sign. If he was not able to stop the evil growing, soon his own Faydark might suffer the same fate. He left the wood and journeyed onward to seek strength and companions.
Settling in North Karana, Karvoth made friends with the outpost guards of Qeynos. Though their emperor dared to defy his goddess Tunare, by renaming Tunaria after himself, the actual people of Qeynos seemed quite pleasant and forthright. The guards, Bartley and Stanard, quickly became his friends. Their assistance saved his life many times, and he dubbed them the Hardest Working Guards in Norrath. He fought here until his 16th season. It was here that he became a member of Tunares Vengence.
The druid, Chops, found Karvoth roaming the Karanas, and saw in him the fire of hope. He invited him to join Tunares Vengence and to fight for the land among his like-minded compatriots. Karvoth, in need of friends, lest his despair over losing both Faydark and Kithicor overwhelm him alone, joined this merry band. They were a neutral guild, and encouraged the exploration of Norrath. Karvoth decided to set himself on a quest, which took many of his guildmates by surprise. "I want to see all of Norrath. Every major city, every plain, and every crevice of a dungeon." Warned of the dangers of some lands, Karvoth set his chin and his determination. Every land in Norrath would bear the footprint of Karvoth. Before he was18 seasons, he had nearly completed his mission. The only land he dared not visit was Kedge Keep. Being unable to breathe underwater, Karvoth decided to save that land for another time. Besides, how could one leave a footprint in a watery realm?
Seeking to increase his skill, something neglected in his traveling days, Karvoth fought Orcs and Gnolls in High Hold Pass. His old hatred of Orcs still burned brightly, and his skill improved greatly. At 20 seasons, he earned the right to bear his family name: Kheebler. Once earning his name, he softened his fire and went into a sort of retirement. Not content to fight evil all his life (it seemed the battle never ended, and two orcs replaced every one slain). Karvoth moved to Freeport. Gritting his teeth and attempting to acclimate himself into the world of the humans, and live in a city, Karvoth began taking up various trades. Finding that he had a strong affinity for non-combative skills, he quickly ascended into mastery of Baking, Pottery, Fishing and Blacksmithing. He also became a master of Fletching. He decided to make a Trueshot longbow, and went back to Kelethin. It was a bittersweet time there. The inhabitants did not blame him, as he blamed himself, for not being there to fight the invaders. The longbow was eventually created and Karvoth left, still not feeling right about his place there. He was a citizen of Tunaria now. The Faydark was no longer his home.
Karvoth spent most of his days learning trades, with occasional forays into the wilderness to keep his skills sharp and to assist his guildmates. Karvoth fought with Tunares Vengence for nearly a year. During that time, Chops was killed, the mantle of leadership fell from Astrala the Druid to Lathania the Warrior, there was a schism in the upper echelons of the guild, resulting in the splinter group Renegades of Norrath and many good friendships were formed. Giants in Rathe Mountain were felled by his guildmates while Karvoth fought on with them. He met Thistlerot Furrynubbin, a wisecracking Halfling, assisted Ragnarl in securing some of his early weaponry and guiding that fast rising star on his way past Karvoth's own much slowed battle prowess. He met and fought with both Braal and Curunir when those two notables were just starting their careers. It was a good time for Karvoth, though life was passing him by.
Then Tunares Vengence dissolved without a word of explanation. Looking back on it, there were problems and personality conflicts, but nothing that the whole guild should have fallen apart over. This troubled Karvoth. He went to his friends Thistlerot, Curunir, Ragnarl and Braal for guidance. Too long had Karvoth spent in the cities of men and away from adventure. Thistlerot took a look at him and claimed that he was far too tall to join his own army of halflings, gnomes and dwarves. Ragnarl looked with disdain to his once giving friend and said that perhaps he could be of use as an armorer in his guild, Ageis Lux; if he were to make fine steel plate for him. Curunir and Braal suggested that he join them in the Hand of Truth. The Hand, so it was explained, existed to fight evil in Norrath. Especially the undead. Shivering with the thoughts of what the undead did to Kithicor, and what might eventually happen to the Faydark if the evil were allowed to continue and spread, Karvoth agreed, and now fights under the flag of the Hand of Truth. Tunare only knows what tomorrow will bring, but Karvoth has rededicated himself to honing his skills, fighting evil where it festers and breeds and assisting all who are in need.
Truth Shall Prevail.
