Alibastar's Story

Alibastar Marchant was raised very happily in Athkatla, the capital of Amn, a wealthy nation on the west coast of Faerun. His father, Azemar, was a beloved elven tailor, who married a human woman, Marie, who after raising their only son learned the trade with her husband. They were successful in their business, and they, as well as their clothing, were treasured locally.
Azemar never shared with Alibastar, or anyone other than Marie for that matter, why he no longer lives with the elves. He wasn’t exiled or banished, and that’s the extent of his disclosure. “It was time to write my own story,” is his father’s cliche.
Marie wasn’t as secretive, but didn’t openly share her upbringing, often sidestepping conversations when details were attempted to be pried into the open. Her story, as well as Azemar’s, started on the day of their marriage 29 years ago.

Alibastar was never unhappy with his life. His parents often encouraged him to pursue whatever he desired. Picking up skills here and there though his childhood and teen years, the abilities that stuck were his musical talents and storytelling, both of which were taught to him by their neighbor, Angelo Meursault, who was an adventurer for decades prior to marrying and settling with an old companion, Tamsyn, who taught him how to properly use a rapier. The two were married when Alibastar was only 2, and never had a child of their own. Becoming best friends of the Marchant's, they offered to care for Alibastar whenever they required, and their house became his second home.
While his parents were hard at work, Alibastar listened to Angelo and Tamsyn’s many stories, a majority of which were centered around their aid to The Brotherhood of the Horsewhale, the company that they worked with for the final 13 years of their career. Alibastar was always inspired by this era of their lives.
Occasionally, members of The Brotherhood would come by and visit them, and Marchants were always invited over for drinks and music and tales of quests and conflicts. It was with this group that Alibastar drank his first ale, gave his first performances--fictional adventures were always his forte, and even met his first love, Talis, the daughter of Angelo’s oldest friend, Monroe. Although they have made their own paths, Talis and Alibastar still remained close, sending each other letters of their travels, and would occasionally be reunited back home at the Meursaults. Among Alibastar’s jewelry collection is a ring always worn on his left pinky, forged from a silver piece Talis gave him on their first reunion after her first quest with The Brotherhood. She always told him that he inspired her to adventure, and she promised to share her first loot with him.

The Marchants were followers of Waukeen as far back as Alibastar can remember, but they weren’t so spiritual as much as they enjoyed the community. They would pray to the gods in times of hardship, and it gave them something to look to. He wasn’t really sure what to believe, but his parent’s religion never impressed on him, so he never felt forced to believe in the gods. Just like everything else, they were open to him making his own choices, which he did.

Not long after Alibastar turned 18, Alibastar was at a tavern with his parents and the Meursaults when a three bards entered. These bards stood out from the typical performers seen, and to be original in a city like Athkatla was a feat. They all were very tan, all with long, tied back hair. The clothing they wore was very light and loose fitting, not far off from how clothing fit religious monks. They were unified in the use of cool colors and white, and they all had pan flutes, all painted white with a blue symbol.
As they performed, they captivated every patron in the room, mixing fantastic stories or travel with music of a style Alibastar had never heard before. They all played the pan flute, one played the lute, all played scales and progressions that quickly became associated with their images in his head. He had to know who they were.

They finished their performance, receiving great praise. The Meursaults and Marchants finished their drinks and food, and headed home, Alibastar sticking around to speak with the night’s performers. They were happy to talk with him and share who they were: Stargazers.

The Stargazers are based around the Moonshae Isles. Originally followers of Milil, the first were musicians who decided to start working as a troupe about a century ago. The name came from the habit they started of, the nights after they performed, they would drink a special spirit (known as gaze), lie in a circle and look to the stars. This tradition began to form a type of spiritualism, believing that the stars are spirits of past bards, giving the ultimate group performance of illuminating the night sky. All these performer draw their inspiration from the stars, and stories are based loosely on their travels, centered on one vague character that they now refer to as The Stargazer. As they base their stories around this character, they also introduce themselves by The Stargazer as an alias, a show of their unity.
This group has no official base or temple or church, but is more of just a network. These bards will travel, typically in groups of 3-5 for at least the first several years of their tenure with the group. Some choose to stay with groups after this apprenticeship, while some will adventure on their own. During this period, they are given clothing in the style of the group, their own flask for gaze, and a pan flute, painted white with their symbol in blue. These items are how they identify one another when their paths cross. Some stay in contact, but it can be hard, as they typically live nomadic lives, travelling from place to place for inspiration, to meet new Stargazers and, for inspired performers like Alibastar, teach them the way.

The three Stargazers Alibastar met apprenticed him. They shared the ritual with him that night, and asked if he wanted to travel with them. His parents were thrilled that an opportunity like this arose and were proud to send him off into the world. Angelo was especially proud about his musical teachings.

After 8 years with those three, Alibastar decided that he wanted to travel on his own for a while. He was offered the best wishes of his companions, and he set off. His first stop was back home to Amn, where he spent several days with his parents and the Meursaults.
Unfortunately, this reunion was spoiled by news that Monroe had passed. Talis travelled to Amn to break the news to Angelo in person. His will asked that his funeral be held in Greenest, a city that he always had a connection with. It always gave him peace in his travels, and his favorite place to stay when he finished his journeying. Talis, joined by Alibastar, his parents and the Meursaults gathered their things, loaded into a carriage and headed on the road northbound.

OOC: Aeryn has been renamed Talis for my own (possibly nefarious) purposes.

OOC: Ahh shit, I forgot to adjust that part of the story.

I don't know why we're doing OOC since this is an OOC forum... Whoops.

Just going with the flow. Edited.