Salix

Home plane: Sloane
Birthplace: Invenas, The Heartwood

Born to a single mother, Uma, Salix lived in tune with nature and the arcane alike. During their early years and into puberty, they developed two unique qualities: the ability to change their outer presentation of themselves (choosing to sit somewhere in the middle of masculine and feminine), and their innate Shadow magic. While revered for the former (known as the Blessed of the Protector), the latter caused trouble with a growing religious sect within the city of Invenas. But this wouldn’t come to pass until they blossomed into adulthood. Salix was adventurous in many things during their youth, including their love life. They found happiness in their relationship with twin Dragonborn; however, like most things in their life, this happiness wouldn’t last.

With this sect, the Web of Fate, growing in influence and power within the city, Salix decided upon self-imposed exile instead of incarceration and sacrifice to the Web’s god. Leaving their mother and friends to live in the forests surrounding the Shattered Mountain Range, they hid amongst the cryptids and aberrations that roamed these areas. With time to themselves and relative safety, they honed their Shadow magic and began to learn natural magic as well. This Druidic magic enabled them to hide from their pursuers even better than before, and they found peace for the first time since their childhood. On occasion, meeting someone who wandered through their patch of forest with the same interest and love for the strange and natural.

Nearly two centuries later, they received a vision from an entity known as the Daughter of the Void, who warned them of an impending doom and to seek out a group of individuals set on stopping it. This would be a full circle moment for Salix, as they remembered the stories told to them by their mother about the Daughters. Taking this as a sign, they reluctantly set out from their hermitage in search of the waypoint detailed in their vision. Only a few days later, closer to the mountains of the Shattered Range, did they find a building made of timber and stone in the middle of a clearing. This was when we would meet.

The beginning of their journey with the party was tumultuous to say the least. Traveling to an abandoned gnomish village in the mountains to the Goliath Tribes of the Ridge, only for the group to be attacked by Galahad’s mentor and his Drulcas companion. Things only got worse from there, as they were finally captured by the Web of Fate and brought back to Sloane and the city of Invenas to be sacrificed. To make matters worse, while they were being held captive, the Constable joined the fray and inserted an alternate version of the Druid/Sorcerer. Eventually leading to the party’s revelation of alternate versions of themselves being employed by the Constable.

With the help of the rebellion and the party, Salix was able to survive the sacrifice, unlocking their Void abilities, and stop the Web of Fate. All the while, they became moral support and a hype person for their fellow adventurers. It was also their connection to the Daughter of the Void that led the party to the “lost” city of Drose. They were able to commune with the Daughter and the ancient Void Dragon Gerviss and receive their boon in time to stop the invasion of the city. Beyond all of this, Salix is a true friend and ally to those in their party, and while they may be a bit out of pocket on occasion, it seems that it’s always warranted.

Blessing of the Void

Touched by the mysterious Daughter of the Void, Salix can bend space as easily as they breathe. This blessing allows them to teleport themselves and one ally up to 60 feet to any unoccupied space they can see. Within the city of Drose, this ability expanded dramatically, allowing them to shift through the streets like living starlight.