Darlingverse/Kael

Kael: The Steadfast Protector

Before Darling: Kael was a strong, earnest boy of about twelve, living with his parents near the docks of Waterdeep. He loved to spend his days watching the ships, dreaming of far-off lands and the strong, dependable dockworkers who moved mountains of cargo. He wasn't grizzled, but he was always the first to offer a hand, a natural protector of smaller children, and possessed a quiet resilience that belied his age. He took immense pride in any small chore or task, wanting to prove his capability.

Captured by Papa: One evening, after helping a local merchant stack crates late into the dusk, Kael found himself alone in a quiet alley. A sudden, cloying sweetness filled the air, and then a heavy sack was thrown over his head. He remembered struggling fiercely, the muffled sound of unfamiliar voices, and the terrifying sensation of being dragged into a dark, suffocating space.

Papa's Basement and the Void: His next fragmented memory was of waking in a cold, stone basement, dimly lit by a flickering light. He saw other children, frightened and huddled in cages. The air was thick with a metallic tang and a faint, sickly sweet scent. He recalled the terror of watching a large, shadowed figure—Papa—approach one of the smaller cages. He heard a soft whimper, saw a flash of movement, and then his vision blurred into an overwhelming, formless horror. The memory always fades to black after that, a chilling void where the true terror lies.

Life in the Darlingscape: The First Builder of Walls: When Kael awoke inside "The Golem's Canvas," he had no clear memory of what had come before. This vast, shifting city felt like a strange purgatory, a fragmented world that needed tending. He remembered his childhood impulse to protect and build. His core belief that "a strong wall makes a strong home" guided his actions.

   With Borin: Kael quickly found a kindred spirit in Borin, the quiet, disciplined dwarf. Together, they channeled their shared instinct for structure and defense, literally helping to build the most secure parts of the Mnemonic Veins and setting up rudimentary barricades against the encroaching Shadow-Haunted Wilds. They often patrol the outer boundaries of the safer districts, shoring up weak points.

   With Grut and Roric: He relies on Grut's raw power and Roric's efficiency to push back the more aggressive aberrations spawned from the Wilds, seeing them as the blunt instruments necessary for defense.

   With Pip and Jinx: Kael struggles to understand Pip's whimsical chaos and Jinx's theatrical distractions. He sees them as liabilities that erode the much-needed order and stability, though he sometimes grudgingly admits their antics can divert larger threats. He often tries to impose rules on them, to little avail.

From Kael's perspective, he's just trying to keep this strange, fragile world from falling apart, doing what he does best: protecting what he cares about, one wall at a time.