Twilight of Empires

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{{:wiki:erlich.jpg?200 |}}Name: Erlich\\ 
Age: 68\\ 
Race: Human\\ 
Residence: Newhaven Manor

Erlich "the Sly", first lord of [[Blackstone Freeholding]], the Black Sapphire, hero of the battle of Calypso Bay, wanted for the murder of the heir of Foppalotte (7 silver, 5 copper).  Erlich grew up as a cut-purse and burglar in the port city of Shrieksport in the Asterian Empire.  He was considered quite good by his peers, and more important, lucky.

Erlich's adventuring career began the night he disguised his way into the count's manor to case it for an upcoming robbery.  That plan fell through when he encountered [[Lavinia]], daughter of the baron of Black Diamond, who was fundamentally being auctioned off as marriage material to the local nobility.  He fell for her, and she for him, resulting in an exciting escape and an "//I Will Show You The World//" montage around the city.  The next morning, when both youths were more sober, they decided to do just that, and began their lives of adventure.

For the next twenty years, Erlich traveled the world, seeking adventure and excitement, almost always in the company of Lavinia, and much of it as leader of the Blackstone Company.  Finally in 1231, the Company completed __The Big Quest__, and came away with enough riches to retire to a life of indolence and ease.

That lasted about three weeks.

Once the hangovers cleared, the Company put their heads together, and decided what they wanted was a place of their own, but one they would have to work for.  (Also, one that would require __less__ work as they entered their senior years).  So they split up briefly, seeking out friends and contacts across the known world who might be looking for a fresh start, or a fresh environment in which to live.  And in the spring of 1232, the expedition set forth from Rikkor, south along the Lazuli River along the [[Fallow Marches]] Old Trade Road.  And by summer, they reached what would become the [[Blackstone Freeholding]].

Erlich has two children by Lavinia: [[Colb]], and [[Mavi]]. Colb ran off one night ten years ago with a selection of gear his father had carefully left out for this purpose.  He sends messages back home from time to time: he and his kunochi adventuring companion are currently in the Southern isles, and promise to visit in "Midsummer".  Mavi already has three children, and is expected to take over the title when Erlich steps down.

As an adventurer, Erlich was the tactical and "big picture" leader of the group.  His skill and instincts as a "former" thief served him well.  He prefers a speed-based, two-weapon fighting style that depends on his agility to avoid damage than on his durability to withstand it.  He never developed magical skills of his own, but was quite innovative with the collection of magical tools and widgets he almost obsessively collected.  This extends to his swords, which of course, do not remotely match:
  *Windreaver: a gorgeous sea-elf crafted cutlass, forged during the second Ocean Masters War roughly 900 years ago. Windreaver was enchanted to allow its wielder to fight forces “beyond mortal perception”.  Known enchantments include: speed, lightness, see invisible, affect intangible, and spell breaking.  On good days, Erlich can parry spells with it.
  *Choppa: a five kilo utilitarian short sword of some dull charcoal gray adamatite alloy.  It has a square tipped, three edged blade 15” x 3” x 1”, and an inch of bolster above the guard.  Choppa does not polish, does not tarnish, does not stick to anything, and cuts through //everything// as if it were soft leather.  Flesh, bone, wood, stone, bronze, steel, silk, parchment, the Cursed Emerald of Kazim, and the mithril alloy chainmail shirt of Lord Foppalotte's heir: it's all the same.

Choppa has an inscription, apparently **gouged** into the blade after it was forged, in some dead Divine Era language.  At the victory party of one of his late adventures, Erlich bet the Living Saint of the God of Scholarship that she couldn't translate it.  It is a testament to her stubbornness and her inebriation that she went so far as to invoke a //Miracle// to do so: "<expletive><expletive><original name of the Dragon God>, chop off your <expletive>".