![[DALL·E 2025-02-22 15.47.18 - A dignified elven man with long silver hair and piercing violet eyes, wearing dark, well-fitted robes adorned with subtle arcane runes. His expression.webp]] ### **Basic Information** - **Name:** Valtherion Nightshade - **Race/Species:** Elf - **Class/Profession:** Retired Adventurer & Arcane Duelist - **Alignment/Morality:** Lawful Neutral - **Age:** 540 years old - **Gender & Pronouns:** Male (He/Him) - **Appearance:** Once a strikingly imposing figure, Valtherion has aged with dignity, his once jet-black hair now silver, worn loose over his shoulders. His piercing violet eyes, a hallmark of the Nightshade bloodline, remain as sharp as ever, reflecting the wisdom of centuries. Though no longer in his prime, he still carries himself with the poise of a warrior, dressed in dark, well-fitted robes reinforced with subtle arcane enchantments. He wields a finely crafted dueling sword, **Verdict**, an heirloom imbued with ancestral magic, though these days, it is more a symbol than a weapon. --- ### **Personality & Traits** - **Personality Summary:** Valtherion is a man of discipline, tradition, and unshakable will. He values control—both over oneself and one's environment—and has little patience for those who act recklessly or without honor. Though once a firebrand warrior in his youth, he has mellowed with age, though only slightly. He takes great pride in his family’s legacy and has worked tirelessly to uphold the Nightshade name, sometimes at the cost of personal relationships. While he is not openly warm, his guidance is always given with intent, and his approval—though hard to earn—is deeply meaningful. - **Strengths & Skills:** - **Master Duelist** – A veteran of magical duels and blade combat, blending swordplay with precise spellcasting. - **Tactical Mind** – A keen strategist who understands battlefield positioning, both in war and politics. - **Keeper of Nightshade Traditions** – The family’s unofficial historian, ensuring their customs and honor remain intact. - **Respected Mentor** – Demands excellence but will forge those he teaches into greatness. - **Weaknesses & Flaws:** - **Rigid & Unforgiving** – Holds grudges and does not easily forget slights. - **Burdened by the Past** – Haunted by mistakes and losses from his adventuring days. - **Struggles with Change** – While wise, he finds it difficult to accept the evolving nature of magic and family dynamics. - **Mannerisms & Speech Patterns:** - Speaks with deliberate weight, ensuring his words carry impact. - Often closes his eyes before speaking, considering his words carefully. - Carries himself with an air of quiet authority, never raising his voice but always commanding attention. - Taps the hilt of **Verdict** when deep in thought, a habit from his dueling days. --- ### **Background & Story Role** - **Backstory Summary:** Valtherion was once a renowned arcane duelist, known for his mastery of swordplay and combat magic. In his youth, he was a champion of magical tournaments and a respected warrior, defending elven lands and competing in high-stakes duels that often shaped political outcomes. However, time and loss tempered his ambition. The weight of responsibility—both as a father and as a steward of the Nightshade name—eventually took precedence over his personal glory. As he aged, Valtherion withdrew from public battles and took on the role of a family patriarch. He believed in maintaining the **purity and prestige of the Nightshade bloodline**, ensuring that the family remained a beacon of arcane excellence. This belief led to conflict when his daughter, **[[Veyna Duskbane]]**, chose to marry a human. Though he did not outright disown her, he did not defend her either, allowing the elders to exile her. It is one of his greatest regrets. Now, in his later years, he serves as a mentor and silent observer, watching how the younger generation—including **[[Borion Nightshade]]**—will shape the future of the family. While he does not admit it openly, he wonders if he was wrong to hold so tightly to tradition. - **Current Motivations:** - Ensuring that the Nightshade family does not lose its prestige in this new age. - Observing **[[Borion Nightshade]]** to see if he is worthy of carrying the family’s name forward. - Grappling with whether or not to reconcile with **[[Veyna Duskbane]]** before it is too late. - Preserving magical dueling traditions and training a new generation of duelists. - **Connections & Relationships:** - **[[Elandra Nightshade]] (Wife)** – A stark contrast to him; where he is rigid, she is cryptic. Though he respects her visions, he often finds them frustratingly vague. - **[[Sylveris Nightshade]] (Son)** – Proud of Sylveris’ discipline and intellect, though he sometimes sees his son’s cold demeanor as a flaw rather than a strength. - **[[Veyna Duskbane]] (Daughter)** – His greatest regret. While he did not fight for her exile, he also did not fight against it. He is unsure if he can ever truly mend the wound. - **[[Borion Nightshade]] (Grandson)** – Watches Borion with interest, uncertain if he will uphold or challenge Nightshade traditions. - **[[Liriel Nightshade]] (Daughter-in-Law)** – Respects her magical knowledge but believes she is too lenient in her teachings. - **The Aldori Swordlords** – Once fought alongside them; still holds some favor among their ranks. - **Factions or Allegiances:** - **The Nightshade Family (Traditionalist Wing)** – A defender of the family’s honor and legacy. - **The Duelist’s Circle** – An elite group of magical duelists, now mostly ceremonial. - **Elven Highborn Circles** – Maintains connections with old elven noble families. - **Notable Items or Equipment:** - **Verdict (Dueling Sword)** – A magically enhanced blade that once made him a champion duelist. It hums faintly in anticipation whenever drawn. - **The Nightshade Codex** – A personal journal detailing magical dueling techniques and past victories. - **Mage’s Signet Ring** – A family heirloom that grants minor protective enchantments. --- ### **Additional Notes** - **Recurring Themes:** - **Tradition vs. Progress** – Caught between upholding the past and accepting the future. - **The Weight of Regret** – Struggles with the choices he made, particularly regarding **[[Veyna Duskbane]]**. - **The Warrior Past His Prime** – No longer fights, but his presence still carries authority. - **Player/GM Notes:** - Could serve as a mentor or antagonist, depending on how Borion embraces or challenges Nightshade traditions. - May push Borion into a formal duel at some point, as a test of skill and ideology. - If convinced, could be an advocate for bridging the gap between old and new within the Nightshade family.