PCs:Fergus Goodmane
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Fergus Q. Goodmane
Vital Stats
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Race: Human
Gender: Male
Class: Wizard (Evoker)/Fighter
Alignment: Lawful Good
Residence: Visimontium, M'Chek
Affiliations and Titles:
- Archmagus and founder White Order of the Light
- Lecturer: Post-Andrinor History, Academy of Mortal Magic
Former Affiliations
- Senior Magus of Mikona, Ivory Order of the Sun
Research
- Positive and Negative Energy
- Demons, Devils, and Cults
- Divination
- Evocation
- Artificing
- Avlissian History
Appearance
Those who see Fergus the Archmage often remark on the brilliance of his White robes. In his full regalia, he is a spectacle of light, enshrouded in immaculate alabaster robes adorned with polished gold ornaments, shining bright, multicolored light from several luminous artifacts upon his person. He often has censers, chalices, bottles of holy water and other minor holy relics fastened at the ready on his belt and wrists. He is seldom seen without his staff, an ancient-looking length of bleached ash wood with gilded ends that shines with a pulsing, warm light, and has recently taken to carrying an aged sword in a beautiful ruby-runed scabbard.
When he is out of his finery, however, Fergus seems like an average elderly gentleman. He appears to be in his late sixties/early seventies, though he is most likely much older. He often stands slightly hunched, leaning on a staff or cane, and moves rather slowly and stiffly, his thin frame seemingly tested to its limit bearing even his meager weight. His weathered, wrinkled face is framed by platinum-colored hair and a neatly-trimmed silver beard and mustache. Gold-rimmed round spectacles perch upon his face, slightly magnifying his steel-blue eyes.
Personality and Philosophy
Fergus is a patient, thoughtful individual who prefers debate, discussion and reclusive scholasticism to adventuring and combat. He has spent countless hours speaking with people of all races and beliefs, discussing any and all topics of ethics and morality, arcana and history. He is a teacher first and foremost, always ready and willing to share what knowledge he has on any subject.
Fergus believes that good lies within all things. He tries to lead by example, and guide people towards righteousness and truth. He knows that evil is best removed from the world and has lofty ideals about what sort of society he feels would be best for everyone to live in. However, he is not one to go out and wield a sword and spell against any threat that arises (he generally strives to be a pacifist) - rather, he prefers to engage others in debate and share points of view, and challenge their assumptions about what is best for all, and best for themselves.
Most who know Fergus know that he generally has a friendly, lighthearted demeanor, though he will from time to time be grumpy and aloof and is capable of being utterly serious when necessary. He brings up his aches and pains in conversation often, as he has taken to marking time with the coming and going of arthritic flare-ups, back aches, and other maladies of age. When he speaks, it is in a gentle, breathy tenor, with only the slightest traces of a Mikonan accent dancing around the edge of his articulate voice. When he smiles, his eyes shine with compassion and happiness. Fergus is honest almost to a fault, and tends to trust others until they do something to undermine that trust.
History
Origins
Fergus is descended from a long line of Mikonan blacksmiths who became relatively wealthy dealing arms and armor during the early days of the M'Chek-T'Nanshi war. Growing up in comfort and living most of his life in Mikona, he stayed behind while his brother and later his adopted son joined the M'Chek Army to fight for their nation. Few know for certain why he gave up his family's small inheritance and his devout faith in Mikon to begin studying the arcane at such an advanced age, but it is known that he began his second career shortly after the death of his wife around a quarter century ago.
Early Years, Elysia
When he first began his new career, Fergus spent a short while in Mikona, learning the basics of his newfound art and meeting a few of the local heroes (and villains). However, M'Chek was at war, and he grew weary of the tales of bloodshed that continued to come back from the front daily. He saved up enough gold to purchase passage to the then-neutral city state of Elysia. There he happened to meet Jarius Hana, a mage of the Ivory, who taught him about the Orders of the Trust and took him on as an initiate to the Ivory. It was through involvement in the Ivory that Fergus was able to overcome his dislike for elves, the race that fought against his homeland and slew his closest kin. Through working alongside Nanshi of the Ivory, he learned that they, too, were a good, beautiful people with many of the same strengths and weaknesses of any mortal race.
Fergus made several lasting friends in the Ivory, most notably Lafreth Theoalideth, Tralil Breck, Elyl Kae'star and Rith Alow. His formative years as a magus were spent protecting Elysia from Titanian fey assaults at the outset of the second fairy war as well as playing a significant role in the destruction of the escaped pale master Zevarion and mending of the Seal of Ages. As the war to the east escalated, he also played a part in the discovery and dissemination of a secret alliance between M'Chek, Drotid, and the Unseelie court of Titania. Fergus was present at the initial overtly hostile action taken by the Drotid against Elysia, and it was at the casting of the very first firey salvo at this new threat that Fergus received the Mark of Andrinor's Trust upon his shoulder. Elysia's innocence quickly faded with the coming of the Drotid. Fergus saw, again, thoughts turning to war and distrust, as his homeland was cast in the worst light by many. He knew that strife had come to Elysia, and were he to be in residence there, he would find himself at odds with his countrymen. When war was formally declared between Elysia and M'Chek, he again boarded a ship, this time bound for home.
Homecoming, Mikona
It was, perhaps, fortuitous that Fergus returned to M'Chek, for the demiliches Lobera and Ibrasis had rekindled their centuries-old rivalry. The Archmage of the Ivory, D'Anjal Veskander-Rai, succumbed in single battle to Lobera, who then inhabited D'Anjal's body, preventing his return to the mortal world. Lafreth stepped into D'Anjal's place at the order's head, and soon thereafter took on Fergus as an apprentice and appointed him Senior Mage of Mikona for the Ivory. Fergus served as best he could, but because the majority of Ivory's magi lived in the central nations, he rarely saw his brethren. He turned instead to his newfound friends and associates in Mikona.
Shortly after taking on the Senior Mage position, Fergus became embroiled in the plot to destroy Lobera and the Najera Artifacts. He wielded the Hammer of Lithandiel against Lobera, slaying the demi-lich in his lair.
After the destruction of Lobera, Fergus settled into his surroundings and began to work, behind the scenes and with the aid of his mentor Lafreth, towards the refounding of the White Order. The Academy of Mortal Magic accepted him as a lecturer of post-Andrinor history, and he began his career as a teacher. He defended Mikona from assaults by the Black Cult of Xenon, provided aid to Elysia during the plague quarantine, and led a research team responsible for a breakthrough in finding a cure to the M'Chekian strain of the plague. When settlers left for Visimontium, Fergus was part of the Ivory contingent that protected the camps around Finmaegan during the first wave, and escorted the settlers across the border from Bachwood in the second wave.
A New Order of the Trust
Soon, the Ivory Order split, and Fergus took on the mantle of Archmage, refounding the White Order of the Light with Terra Earthkin, Aria Ashby, and Dalabrin Gillivray. Upon founding the Order, he took up residence in Visimontium to be closer to mage politics. Little did he know how close he would get.
Soon after his move, shadowy figures began appearing around Visimontium. It was quickly discovered that these were Angadaran drangonari terrorists, seeking to destroy the new city built in Andrinor's name and leverage more control of the Mortal Magic Vortex. Fergus fought in many battles defending the city against the drangonari raiders, though throughout he vigorously advocated a peaceful resolution to his more battle-minded peers. It was only on the final day of battle, as a Grantiri delegation made its way to Visimontium, that Fergus sought out battle, as wave upon wave of Angadaran combatants descended upon the city and destroyed the homes and lives of many innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. He helped hold the city against the raiders, though his mind was crushed by a powerful psion near the end.
When the flame of war had finally flickered out, Fergus helped organize a spring festival to restore a sense of hope and community to the city and raise funds for rebuilding. He oversaw an auction that raised over four million gold for the restoration of the city.
Recent History
Fergus has been spending a lot of time in M'Chek and T'Nanshi as of late, often seen travelling with his close friend Dame Moira Celyn-Windspar. When Dame Moira ran for a seat in the Common House, Fergus stood alongside her, helping her with her campaign. He continues to lead the White Order and lecture at the AMM. He also has taken up a new faith, converting to Gorethar in an impromptu private ceremony in the Dwarven Halls beneath his hometown. While he continues to work with incredible vigor towards his goals, his health has been on a steady decline in recent years.
Associations
Fergus moves in many circles, through his various facets as M'Chekian citizen, Archmage, fighter of evil, and common man. He has many friends and associates, but few close confidants. He can often be seen with the following people:
Lafreth Theoalideth - Fergus is nearing the end of his apprenticeship under Lafreth, but has developed a lasting friendship.
Moira Celyn-Windspar - Fergus' closest friend, the two of them have worked together on several projects, most recently Dame Moira's bid for the Common House
Rika Vandor - The healer of Cha'Reth who keeps Fergus' arthritic joints from becoming unusable, also one of his close friends
Tralil Breck - They came up in the Ivory ranks together and are now both Archmages of their respective orders, often working together or simply sitting for tea
Elyl Ka'aestar - Fergus' buddy, the two of them joke with each other incessantly when together.
Terra Earthkin - Fergus' right-hand woman in the White Order, Terra is an ever-present bastion of common sense when Fergus goes off on some lofty escapade.
Hert Snyder - A man for whom Fergus has the utmost respect.
Micah Elizabeth Ormane - There are few in the world so diametrically different, yet they have a great deal of respect and admiration for each other. The two of them can sometimes be seen together in Visimontium and northern Deglos, deep in debate.