Aethis Galmoren

Born of both elven and human blood, Aethis came into the world straddling the line between worlds. Rejected by his elven mother, he was left to be raised by his human father, historian Winston Galmoren, a nobleman whose social status afforded Aethis a measure of security in a nation that despised elven blood.

By virtue of his father's considerable wealth, Aethis received a formal, private education, during which time he showed a natural proficiency for literature and developed his first true love - science. Above all other fields of academia, Aethis excelled in both mathematics and science, but his elven blood would not be denied, and over time he developed an inherent knack for the art of magic.

Largely self-taught, Aethis used his vast resources to fashion himself into a formidable mage, one whose talents bestowed upon him equal parts fame and infamy among his peers, from whom he received the occasional coin in exchange for charms and potions. All under the table, of course, because no self-respecting human would be caught doing business with an elven mage.

In Aethis's fortieth year - though he looked not a day over 25 - his father passed, leaving him with the man's wealth and holdings. While the presence of his father had tempered outside prejudice, his death left the half-elf wide open to scrutiny, particularly where his inherited wealth is concerned. For this, however, Aethis cares not a whit, choosing instead to carry himself with his head high and pride intact.

Though he inherited elven longevity, which has ensured him a long life, Aethis is also burdened with a host of physical ailments. The most prominent of these is a progressively worsening spinal disease, which causes chronic back pain. To lessen the discomfort and minimize the wear on his spine, he makes use of a back brace, which he wears nearly around the clock.

Another strike against his physical well-being is an idiopathic weakness in his left leg, which has forced upon him the use of a cane to maintain balance and an even, less painful stride. He keeps an assortment of custom, elaborate canes to pair with his fine clothing, preferring a bit of flash to lessen the stigma of his disability.

If the deterioration of his back and leg was not enough, Aethis also contends with poor vision. Though he often wears tinted spectacles to minimize glare and brighten the room, he struggles to observe details from anything more than an arm's length away. His eyesight grows progressively worse by the day, and physicians have warned him that at some point, his vision will leave him altogether. This is perhaps the Aethis's worst fear, for while he can cope with most of his body's limitations, he can scarcely bear the thought of losing his ability to read, as learning is the only pastime that brings him joy.