Zhangri’if was discovered as an
infant by the half-elf Belrind Duskwood near a menhir circle in the Sunglade in
the center of the Yuirwood, Aglarond, Faerun. Belrind immediately sensed that there was something special
about the child, who seemed completely undisturbed by his solitary surroundings
as the sun glinted off his coppery hair and sparkled in his golden eyes. Belrind
brought the child to his home near the edge of the Yuirwood and spent the next
few weeks inquiring about the child’s likely appearance and origins with other
locals. Failing to discover the
origins of the mysterious and strangely charismatic child, Belrind and his wife
Reliza agreed that they should watch him until the child’s rightful family
could be found. Intially they
called the child “Goldeneye” as a nickname (assuming someone would eventually
come looking for the child) due to the unusual color of the child’s eyes. The infant found a natural playmate in
the half-elven couple’s own son Jhered, who appeared to be a similar age. The family was sympathetic to his
plight and quickly became smitten with “Goldeneye,” eventually deciding to
raise him as their own. They gave
him the permanent name of Zhangri’if.
Zhangri’if grew up with his
adoptive family living a simple existence of hunting game, gathering what the
Yuirwood provided and farming a small plot on the outskirts of the Yuirwood. Zhangri’if and Jhered became
inseparable, growing and maturing together as adoptive brothers. Zhangri’if’s half-elven parents,
initially assumed Zhangri’if must be a late bloomer as the two children grew at
almost an identical pace.
Over the years, it became a rather obvious oddity that an apparently
human child was developing at an almost identical pace to that of a half-elf,
but no new information came to light about Zhangri’if’s origin. His parents suspected that perhaps
Zhangri’if could be half-elf after all with few outward elven features but had
nothing on which to base this suspicion other than the boy’s developmental
pace.
As they grew into adolescence, Zhangri’if and his brother
Jhered spent as much time as possible in the Yuirwood, hunting and scouting the
wood and paying occasional visits to the Yuirwood’s other friendly inhabitants.
Both became excellent
archers and woodsmen, and Zhangri’if particularly became intrigued by the
ancient elven ruins in the Yuirwood and the mysteries of their magical
secrets. He eventually began
spending time with a Star Elf cleric of the Seldarine (elven pantheon) named
Mourel Starwind.
Mourel Starwind knew a bit about
Zhangri’if from Belrind (and rumors around the Yuirwood) and was drawn to the
boy’s natural and easy charm and insatiable curiousity regarding all things
natural, elven, and magical.
Zhangri’if eventually asked his father to begin study toward becoming an
acolyte of the Seldarine.
Completely unsurprised at the development, Belrind agreed that it might
be a good path for young Zhangri’if after speaking with Mourel Starwind.
Zhangri’if’s apprenticeship with
Mourel Starwind brought new discoveries at a rapid rate – he and his mentor
discovered that he had quite a natural knack for arcane magic in addition to
his clerical studies and devotion to the Seldarine, particularly Solonor
Thelandira. It was during this
time that Mourel Starwind began to suspect the truth about Zhangri’if’s background,
though he never voiced such to his pupil.
After spending several years under Mourel Starwind’s tutelage and
accompanying him in various clerical duties and quests, Zhangri’if became a
full-fledged acolyte of the Seldarine.
Following his ordination into the clergy, Zhangri’if’s mentor gave him
two gifts: a beautiful composite longbow…and the truth of his likely racial
background as an Aasimar.
The discovery was both elating and
terrifying to Zhangri’if and seemingly brought more questions than
answers. Mourel Starwind further explained
that it was the decision of the local clergy that he should begin his first
mission: leave the Yuirwood, follow his heart to discover more about his own
background while following the will of the Seldarine along the way. Mourel Starwind bade him to do well by
doing good and return when he feels that it is time to do so.
Due to his upbringing, Zhangri’if has
a love for nature, elves and half-elves as well as the might and mystery of
magic, both devine and arcane. He
has an even-tempered disposition, a natural charm and calm laid-back confidence
that almost radiates from his physical person. He strongly believes in the dogma of the Seldarine
generally, and Solonor Thelandira in particular. He believes in a natural balance to all things in the
multiverse: life/death, war/peace, chaos/order, wilderness/civilization, etc.
Physically, Zhangri’if is of
average human (or Aasimar) height although humans often mistake him for a
half-elf due to the vestments of Solonor Thelindra, and dress/grooming customs
borrowed from his half-elven family.
He has an average to muscular build, long red hair partially braided in
elven fashion, and intense golden eyes that appear to glow slightly when
reflecting sunlight or firelight.
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