Parallel hails from a halfling village in the Nymph Woods but he can't go back there for "certain reasons". He had been hanging out in Olinyand, trying to make it on his own. By keeping his ear to the ground and soaking up salacious gossip, he discovered that he had a certain knack for putting the squeeze on anyone in power with a guilty secret to hide (but not anyone too powerful, obviously). He had a certain amount of success gaining social influence, power, and wealth by successfully (and secretly of course) utilizing blackmail and forgery to influence people and events. His shame was that he was considered the black sheep of the family for his chosen avocation, using his energies for illegal purposes and personal gain.
As he learned more about those in power, he discovered a secret held by some that he just didn't know what to do with it. Blackmailing someone who had a dark secret was one thing, but a secret that revealed a person as subversive to the dragon power was something he was reluctant to use for gain. The more he thought about what these people were doing and compared it to his relatively empty life, he found his higher purpose -- what if he used skills to help the common folk and make a better life for all of his people in the Nymph Woods?
He did all he could to be noticed by what he learned was called the Pale Diva -- while walking the treacherous tight rope of not being noticed by the authorities -- so that he could offer his services in the resistance movement.
On a personal note, he has now risen to something of a secret legend in his family. While they outwardly refuse to speak of him because of the "shame" he has brought on their family (as they've always done), this is now only to support his cover. They now, privately, think of Parallel as a real anti-hero, and he takes immense pride in this fact. Making his grandmother and mother proud is the driving force in his life. He worshops the ground they walk on, and holds all of the women of his family, including aunts, cousins, sisters, and nieces, in very high esteem. It never occurred to him to keep his activities secret from them -- they just had to know he was a good guy now. Certainly they can be trusted...
In fact, this is the source of his one great flaw -- he tends to believe anything any female says to him (disadvantage on insight).
After finally making contact with the Pale Deva, he'd performed a few tasks around the region that had really impressed -- helping to divert resources along roads more easily highjacked, influencing the rise of several double agents in the ranks of government -- so much so that he was finally called up to the big time. He boarded a river barge down the Cardy River to the Sea of Stars, then booked passage to Elgar for this meet up.
He sees himself as freedom fighter in his own special, if slightly immoral, idom -- after all, he only takes money from the guilty, and they deserve to pay, don't they?
Religion: Parallel formerly worshipped at the temple of Lenocorácilla, the neutral goddess of trade, in the Nymph Woods. Followers there were required to pray to the south at 6 o'clock every morning, and he still keeps up the habit.
Last edited September 20, 2016 11:55 am
