After the Fey War, Olly was not even thought of by Weylyn and Jentess Duer. The two were a young couple, and had many adventures after the war that made their names well known in houses from the cities of the port to the tiny mountain villages scattered along the high rocky passages.
Eventually though, as what happens with most marriages, Jen found herself with child. They had stopped near the mountainside near the Spine of the World, making friends with the people of Icewind Dale.
There as Jen's body changed and grew, the storm of the century crossed over the Spine in the middle of the night. A dark cloud began cascading through the bones of the mountain, the wind picking up and bellowing in beyond the peaks.
Mists from the mountainside sprayed into the cities and villages below. A light rain started, giving nobody a warning that something so deadly was about to be unleashed.
Cattle livestock ran inside as beasts of the forests took refuge wherever their instincts took them. But men inside their buildings looked out their windows in wonder, ignoring that twisting knot in their stomachs that told them something was not right.
Lightning, bright like the gods themselves were slashing against the clouds, piercing the air like a fantastic display of power. The feeling of awe and fear at the unknown made their eyes keep gazing above. The light show was seen by many, for it was no ordinary lighting anyone had seen before. Hues of different cracks of light danced around the sky, a technicolor flashing that left many stupefied before the actual danger started.
Large round rumbles could be heard above, and the wind seemed to suck in towards the mountains of the the Spine, the gusts blowing within as if taking a great inhale before it was about to be let loose upon the world.
And so began the Screaming Storm.
Communities were nearly demolished by the winds themselves, like dark devils let loose from the Nine Hell's.
Trees bent like reeds until they snapped completely from the roots, the hail from the clouds killing some who dared go out during it's torrential pour. Many found themselves in peril that night from the cascade of wind and snow.
That once beautiful lightning now struck the ground in fury, setting fires to even the strongest of structures. Castles found their walls vulnerable as the lightning hit, sending fires within the stone.
The rains flooded the mountains, causing landslides that sent hill giants fleeing from their mountainside dens, the beasts of the world trying desperately to outrun the storm or survive it.
Weylyn and Jen had taken refuge inside a cabin fortress, Jen's body getting ready to bring their first child into the world. Weylyn had sealed the fortress as best as he could, the wood old, but strong against the weather outside. He had felt the storm coming, his skin prickling with the danger and the scent of doom in the air.
He prayed to his gods, the ones he had met at least, and drew tunes across the wood so the magic would hopefully bind them. Jen felt the wind trying to get the fortress to yield outside, her hands trembling as she feared that their child would not make it into this world alive if their cabin decided to collapse. She did not know if only Weylyn's magic would hold their shelter, but she needed all her strength tonight for her child.
She continued to bring their child to them, her breaths hard and even as Weylyn sat behind her, placing pressure where he needed to as Atticus began his journey into our world. Weylyn didn't know in that moment if he had made the right choice by bringing Jen to the fortress when his heart heart stopped as he heard her scream out as loud as the wind outside.
Some speculate the reason the storm even started was because Jen and Weylyn were so close to the Spine of the World.
The edge of their known world with mountains so high few had even dared come close to their peaks, was known as an enigma to the people of Faerun.
The Spine's were known to be the end of the line, the end of journey. Very few had crossed over the peaks and seen what lay before them, it was said the beginnings of the world were up there. The secrets to life and all the magic one could possess. Ancient and unsympathetic, the mountains towered above the evergreens, the storm cascading down its peaks to the bottom of the world below.
The Spine knew that the first child of the Duer's was about to come into the Material Plane, and it had started screaming at his arrival.
When Jen finally let out her final cry though, the wind quiet suddenly stopped, for it was too late. The inevitable had happened as Atticus Duer took his first breathe of life into the Forgotten Realms.
They had emerged from the fortress and saw that the Screaming Storm had stopped, leaving devastation in it's retreat, but as it was always promised, the sun came out after a grueling three days. Light poured over the lands and the Spines once again quieted their opinion. Weylyn and Jen could not explain what had happened those nights, and did not think much of it at first as they traveled away from the mountains. Plenty of strange things had happened to them before, but they had a baby now. The world around them grew again with life,returning to normal as the infant boy began to grow.
Atticus grew strong and quick, his little body adjusted to the temperature quickly. It was only when Jentess and Weylyn realized their son was "blessed", was when the infant opened his eyes to reveal two glowing orbs staring back at them. The whites of his eyes appeared cloudy and gray, like the storms themselves, while the iris and pupil were nothing but pure white light.
At first, the two despaired, thinking that something had happened to their child, maybe he was blinded or the storm had cast a wicked spell on him, but as the two consulted ancient sages in the grand libraries of Candlekeep did they realize Jen had given birth to the first Aasimar in over two hundred years.
As the sages told the Duers, an Aasimar was a divine mortal, blessed with celestial powers. They were rare, one born every couple hundred of years, and those were the ones known of. They were secretive beings of good, known to have powers that could alter the world around them if they so chose. It was said they could talk to their patron angels, high celestial beings like Planetar's and Deva's. Beings so powerful that devils themselves quaked when the names of the angels were mentioned.
The news was not met with sadness from the ranger and the druid. They had lived such lives that when Weylyn was told of his son's race, he held the child closer to him. Weylyn accepted that their son was different, but did not treat him as if he was at fault. He knew what growing up and being treated differently felt like, being the supposed son of a demi-god. He would treat his boy the way he wanted to be treated growing up. It was his solemn vow to himself as he looked at his infant son.
Atticus looked like him, same jaw and serious stare even as a baby. Soon, his son started to grow, his eyes turning a stormy white, and his hair growing long and dark blue like his mother's. A faint sprinkle of freckles lined his face from left to right eye, his brow always seeming to be in a permanent wrinkle. He found solace in his silence, rarely speaking unless it was necessary, hating introductions and noble parties his parents had to attend occasionally.
He took great pride in his swordsmanship, practicing with anyone that would oblige him, even going as far as accidentally challenging an orc chieftain to a match at the age of six, his parents absolutely in fear as the young boy went head to head with the chief. His powers even then were something to behold, his wiry frame quick and fast as the chieftain had slammed his hammer down in the battle arena, a circle made of stones and bones from previous fights. Atticus had flipped over the chief, his gray angelic wings sprouting out for a second to give him an extra lift over the orc, and held his sword out, slashing it quick as lighting in the air before landing behind the chief. It was only when the chief's trouser's fell and his tribesman could not hold back their laughter did the chief himself start laughing, a grand row of orcs that all patted the young boy on the back. Weylyn remembered that sigh of relief, him and Jen being held back by the tribe from interfering, and holding Atticus so close to him he thought he would break the lad.
"You don't have to worry about me so much" Atticus was known to say "I can take care of myself."
And that he did as Weylyn and Jen continued to travel with Atticus in tow, always stopping to help others even with a young child joining them in their risky adventures. As the boy grew a bit older though, it wasn't long until Weylyn began training his own son in the ways of a Ranger. The life of a Ranger was one of service, of exploration, and of discipline. A good ranger was usually tasked to help a local village, or to help keep a city safe from the wilds of the world. Weylyn helped many people, not always with violence though. He practiced diplomacy when it was available, choosing to be merciful rather than slay every beast that came his way. The way of Malar the Beast God was a brutal way of living, and Weylyn had seen enough bloodshed to last him a lifetime living the way of the Beast Lord.
It wasn't though but two years until Jen was with child once again. This time though, in the beautiful forests of the High Moor a daughter was born to the Duer's.
Jen named her Brienne, and her first born daughter was blessed with natural beauty, her earthy eyes with hints of golden amber captured every heart that laid eyes on her. Her rosy pink smile made the coldest hearts melt even as a baby, that dark indigo hair in perfect little curls that fell in soft tresses.
The elves had called dubbed her "Brienne Amakiir" Brienne the Gem of the Flowers.
The elves of High Moor had sponsored Weylyn and Jen in their forest city while Weylyn helped them migrate a herd of Pegasus for their livestock. They doted upon Atticus, but the boy's resolve was a bit too rough for them, instead they treated Brienne and Jen like one of their own, the girl being taught secrets of the forest even as a babe. When Brienne could finally walk and stand on her own did Jen and Weylyn see flowers spring in all her steps, a sign of a druid to come with natural wild magic like that. The first born daughter was beautiful on the outside, and thankfully just as beautiful on the inside. Brienne would often be seen helping her mother in preparing for rituals, her little hands working fast with magic spells, and found delight in making things grow around the villages and towns they would visit.
Kirwin was born shortly after Brienne, almost a twin to her despite them being a year apart. His hair spiked up in all directions of blue, and Jen had a hard time controlling it when he was younger. His eyes had the same hints of brown and amber, only Atticus showing signs of being an Aasimar in the Duer clan.
Kirwin was known for going on his own into the forests to connect better with nature, finding peace in the ancient trees and the wisdom of the animals of the grove.
Jen would often think he wasn't actually their son at all, but a Firebolg changeling that had swapped cribs with Kirwin as a babe. She would joke that just like the Firbolg tribes, Kirwin hated anyone interfering with the forests, liking nature to be left to nature, the order of things as it were. He would have been an excellent priest of Mielikki the forest goddess, but Kirwin wanted to be a druid instead. Weylyn loved taking his boys on missions, but Kirwin soon found he did not have the stomach to kill another creature, evil or not. Instead, he practiced druid magic like his mother, and found his natural talent at a young age.
With three children in tow, the Duers still continued to adventure around the Sword Coast, the children growing and learning their skills while Jen and Weylyn tried to help others in their journeys.
While Atticus remained the only divine one of the group, it wasn't until eight years later that Jen and Weylyn were asked to travel to the Cold Lands of the East, not knowing what kind of trouble they were actually in. There was a rumor going around of the Warlock Knights of Vassa were back together, and planning on resurrecting their evil Eldritch god upon Faerun. Atop a lonely volcano, the Warlocks had a near impregnable fortress of bedrock and lava stone, but Jen and Weylyn had befriended a kitsune thief named Thalia that guided them on their treacherous journey. Thalia was a beautiful red fox kitsune, Brienne often would recall the Rouge's fluffy tail with a tip of white when talking about the adventure. When traveling, Thalia reveled to Jen that she was pregnant once again, but the child had a certain presence. Jen didn't know what that meant, but knew that they had to continue on the journey despite the news. The Warlock Knights had almost caused another sundering of the world last time they had met, and now having to bring another child into the world, did not want it to end. Months passed traveling to the Cold Lands till they reached the Bloodstain Pass, it's red stained snow covering the passage between the mountains that led to the black fortress of the Warlock Knights.
Weylyn had asked Jen to stay with the children while he scouted ahead, but as he tried to go up against the Warlock Knights alone, he was captured.
Having no other choice, Jen went after Weylyn nearly nine months due, facing the fortress of warlocks to at least try and rescue Weylyn.
he leader of the Knights named Erebus, a tall man with piercing red eyes, went head to head with Jentess of the the Moonshae Isles in a epic duel of magic. Thalia and the children snuck into the fortress, making their way to the dungeons and released Weylyn. As Jen and Erebus fought, Jen had felt the earth beneath her tremble, a surge of magical energy escaping from the mountain. The volcano erupted in a fiery blast, interrupting their fight, large cascading fireworks of lava shooting through the air, the cloud of dust from the eruption blacking out the sky completely. The heat was the thing Jen remembered the most, the surging blast of fire that had made her very body start to tremble. Erebus, caught off guard by the blast, and watching his beautiful fortress start to take damage from the volcano, was killed by Jen with a last ditch effort of magic. Not knowing though soon the druid was trapped by the collapsing building, the lava of the explosion covering the mountainside quickly. Jen only began to panic when she felt the cool liquid of her water breaking running down her leg, her child coming into the world at the worst of times.
Jen ran as fast as she could between the earth shattering pain within herself and the rocking of the earth beneath her. Jen became lost, delirious from the pain of labor in the chaos and found herself alone on the crag of a rock tower while the burning lava pooled around her. Huddled against the lava rock of the mountain, Jen screamed to the gods as her child forced her way into the world of fire.
The air was burning around her, the fortress now completely engulfed in flames and lava. Weylyn watched in despair from the other side of the mountain where Thalia had led them to safety, his heart breaking knowing Jen was in that mess. He would not lose her like this, he would not just stand there and watch everything he loved burn up around him. He had prayed to Meilikki first hand, a thing Rangers Do Not Do, for the goddess was wild and extremely powerful. From the stories though, as Weylyn looked upon the rubble and prayed to his gods, a bright light formed from the clouds of smoke above. Dust from the eruption began to lighten, a soft golden glow shattering through the darkness below.
It was a Couatl. The mythical long feathered serpent with its scales shimmering in all the colors of the rainbow, had a breeze of cool air following it as it sailed through the sky towards the group. It was sign of from the gods themselves as it dived into the ashen world below, grabbing Weylyn like lighting and rocketing off into the rubble of the ruined fortress. Weylyn remembered how it had felt under him, his hands gripping it's silken body, feeling it's muscles under his thighs, knowing it was real. He had grabbed it and reined it towards the fortress, it's intent pure just like his own.
Atop the erupting volcano, Jen gave birth to her newborn daughter, wrapping the infant in what material she had on her, trying her best to shield her from their fate of burning fire.
Her daughter had not fought coming into the world like Atticus had, it was as if the world itself could not wait for her to come and breathe it's air.A child born of fire and brimstone was what legends would say when the story was sung.
Jen looked up to the sky and saw the Couatl, the beautiful creature that seemed to purify the air around it, and Weylyn was riding it straight for her. For a moment, the druid thought that she and her child had died in the fire and the Eartmother had finally come to take them in the form of her beloved. Weylyn's outstretched hand though became a lifeline in the darkness, her hand grabbing his and taking off into the air away from the danger. The Couatl took the family away, it's beautiful serpent body whipping into the air faster than they realized as the tower below them gave way and finally collapsed into the lava.
As they flew away from the destruction, the volcano's explosion still rocketing the air, it was then that Jen realized she had given birth to another Aasimar, her daughters glowing white eyes staring up at her as they rode to safety in the clouds.
"Allana" her mother whispered her name into the fiery air. Olly proved to be just a fiery as her birth, often seen running around whatever village they came across, talking to whoever would chirp back at her as a babe.
She was lively, vibrant, and the color of her mother and father's world.
Olly took after her mother as her face grew in, her freckled face dotted along from her cheeks and across her nose. But her hair soon started to fade into a greyish blue, not dark and bold like her siblings, and Jen had worried her youngest was sick for some time. She also feared why she had given birth to two Aasimar's, seeing as how they were so rare.
The Duer's traveled to Silverymoon for answers, seeing the majestic city for the first time. Beautiful white marbled buildings popped up between lush green trees, the likes of which even Weylyn had rarely seen. It was called the Gem of the North, a place of known peace between all races, it's soaring towers and structures built into the trees housing schools of music and magic. Olly could remember the ride into Silverymoon, seeing groups of elves laugh with one another while a drow and a dwarf conversed openly in the daylight, a tiefling singing to a crowd wasn't feared when she reached out and gave the children a copper coin to have. How strange it was that nobody was staring at the family coming into the city.
It was known for it's great libraries and the ancient temples to the gods themselves, Brienne begging to visit some of them and see the secrets they may hold. But it was the sight of the Moonbridge that made the children gasp as they came upon the city. A great arch of silver that spanned against the glittering waters that connected the forests to the city of Silverymoon. It was named after the unicorn goddess Lurue, who was rumored to dance underneath the bridge on the water when no one else was watching. Olly would remember looking out her window at night and looking for the unicorn, but only watching as the glittering lake water sparkled underneath the great arched bridge.
Weylyn and Jen found Silverymoon to be peaceful and restful, their questions being researched by the High Mage's council themselves, happy to have the famous Duer's in their city of splendor. It was there though that Jen was told she was once again with child, and Weylyn found himself almost exhausted at the fact. Now he would have five children to take along on their adventures, and the thought made his hair turn even whiter.
Jen though, was more worried, fearing another harsh birth that she had just went through with Olly. She begged Weylyn that they stay in Silverymoon, at least until their next child was born. Weylyn agreed, not wanting any harm to come to his wife and his children, knowing they needed the rest and the stability after adventuring for years.
The High Mage of Silverymoon at the time was Lady Alustriel, and welcomed the family of monster hunter's with warm arms. After speaking with Weylyn and Jen, the High Mage gave them a beautiful villa that was part of an old keep, it's white stone walls high as it overlooked the Moonbridge itself. The High Mage hoped the Duer's would be enticed with the keep, hoping that Weylyn would teach a future generation of rangers, fighters, and soldiers for Silverymoon and the Lord's Alliance. She also hoped that Jen would join her council, a powerful druid herself would be most welcomed and appreciated for the rituals that their temples must do. The Duer's thought that all their good deeds through the years had made them worthy of such a opportunity, and seeing that their children could do with a real home, took the High Mage's offer and put themselves in her service should trouble arise.
When the time came, Jen gave birth to another daughter, named Mari. As her eyes opened though, Jen was met with curls of cerulean blue hair and amber eyes instead of glowing ones, another beautiful child, but not a Aasimar.
But Mari would prove to be just as much trouble as her older sister Olly, Mari often using her charm on others to get her way, manipulating her instructors and the servants
of the household for just a tad more of whatever the others were getting. One more biscuit, one more sip of mother's wine, one more swing around the tree... All the girl had to do was bat her long eyelashes at whoever was her victim and they would fall for those pouty lips and freckled face.
The Duer's it seemed had finally found a home to settle in. Arrowmoor Keep was what Weylyn had named it, his training program bringing in many young adventurer's and warriors to learn and train from the famous Ranger.
But it would only be for a season that he would take on recruits, the other half of the season being spent doing what he loved most, training Atticus and Olly. Weylyn loved his other children, but their talent was more of their mother's field. His blessed children though, they were the ones that showed promise. They could move faster, see things closer, hear things that Weylyn himself sometimes could not even catch. He knew that whatever powers the two had, they would be harnessed and polished, and hopefully if he raised them right they would be used for good instead of evil. Seasons that he would take his children out they would do what he had been trained as a Ranger to do, seek out new lands, hunt evil monsters, help those that were in need.
Atticus trained right alongside his younger sister, teaching her archery and practicing her sword skill daily the day she could hold one. Olly loved those moments with just her father and brother, the way they worked as a team, trusted one another. She was not treated as a baby when they went out for a season, her father expected her to do the things that he and Atticus did. If she did not put the effort into her training, she would be threatened to spend the rest of the season at home in Silverymoon. Olly hated staying in when she could be out, so she dedicated herself to the way of the Ranger growing up.
Olly's temperament was different than Atticus's. While the young boy would be quiet, kept to himself, a "brooding little thing" as some dwarf noblewomen has said, his sister was like music. Olly was always moving, always talking, asking questions, absorbing the world around her, and getting into things she shouldn't. Jen would sometimes catch her youngest and oldest, the two celestials spending time alone with one another often enough she could find them in the same place, the temple gardens of the keep. Beautiful lush trees squared off the temple space, a beautiful pool of water surrounding the walkway into the temple, lotus flowers blooming overnight that made the air smell soft and sweet. There Atticus would sit outside, his sister tagging along beside him like a shadow. Their mother often wondered how the two could be around each other so often, Atticus sometimes sitting so still that he often reminded her of a statue, and then there was Olly, somersaulting around the outside of the temple, doing a spin and singing, her body flailing wildly in circles. Only when her brother would say "Allana" in such a flat tone did she calm. Jen would watch her little one scoot close to her oldest brother and then try to sit as still as him, taking deep breaths to calm herself, twitching every now and then to adjust. The meditation part was what tickled Jen the most, watching Olly try so hard to make her brother proud, the little smile he would give her and how her daughter's face would light up knowing she was doing well.
But, like all younger siblings, Olly would often test Atticus's patience too much, and the young girl would be reprimanded worse than by her own father if she swung a sword wrong, or punched when she should have dodged. Olly never grew mad at her brother though, only finding her younger sister Mari the challenger to most sibling squabbles. The two girls were like fire and air, blowing each other up with every remark or retaliation. Although the children had their disagreements, they still loved each other imensly, the family bond strong among themselves. Peace though, was soon disrupted eight years later when the High Mage came to Arrowmoor Keep to ask Weylyn to assist her in a problem in the Cloud Peaks. Weylyn agreed, having been in the High Mage's service now for years, but Jen wanted to come as well. The Kingmaker disagreed, only taking Atticus with him for this journey, or so he thought until Jen and Olly threw a fit, demanding to go along.
Weylyn, knowing the fury of his wife and his daughter, caved in letting them come along, but only if Brienne and the other children were safe at home. Jen summoned a member of her druid circle Camilla to watch over the children, not knowing that when she would leave she would also be carrying her last child inside of her.
The Duer's knew they would be gone for months when leaving for the Cloud Peaks. There, an ancient temple was housing a water elemental the priests had tried to tame. Water elementals being temperamental as is, did not appreciate the priest's attempts, and in doing so had trapped the temple and surrounding village in a watery imprisonment. When they had arrived, Jen had grown in size with child, and stayed back with Olly and Atticus to protect the villagers within the temple. Weylyn had gone to handle the Water Elemental, and in their fight started to rage against the village, large waves crashing into the buildings, the ground flooding below their feet. Jen had used her druid magic to make trees grow tall against the temple, letting the villagers climb them high to the roof for safety. But Jen herself mistakenly trapped herself inside the temple, her children above watching as the water began rising around their mother.
Weylyn was losing the fight with the Water Elemental, Atticus telling Olly to stay with their mother while he tried to help their father. Olly watched as the water down below in the temple rose with each breath she took, her mother soon crying out in pain, her unborn sibling starting to come into the world. Olly could remember the fear, the racing of her heart as she listened to her mother's screams, her hands raised in the air, outstretched to keep the magic holding so that the others around her would be safe. She couldn't have just stayed there, her mother needed help...
It was when Olly heard the cries of her newborn baby brother did she move. Looking down, her mother held the baby up in the air, the water flooded high enough that Jen was treading it, but wouldn't last long. Olly saw the two and then moved without thinking, her muscles pulling herself up, her stance wobbly on the stone roof. She could feel the light inside of her grow, a burning beautiful feeling that filled her up, spreading through her chest to her limbs and feet, her neck tight as it touched her lips and ears, filling up her cheeks into her eyeballs till they burned with radiant light. Witnesses would see the tiny girl, only eight years old rise on the temple roof, her body glowing brightly as two angelic wings bursted forth from her back. They would watch stunned as the little body began to stretch and then fling herself into the air, diving down into the flooded temple like a swan diving into a pool of water. Her wings stretched forth though as she snatched the baby from her mother's arms, giving Jen some relief to will the water out of the temple, her magic depleted greatly from the ordeal.
Weylyn and Atticus stopped the Water Elemental, sending it back to it's own Plane of existence. After they found the temple intact, the villagers safe, and a new addition to the Duer family. When Weylyn held his newborn son he stood still for a moment, staring down at the baby boy, watching his eyes blink open to reveal to glowing orbs instead of amber ones.
"Jen" he said in almost a whine "we were blessed again it seems."
That day, Nole Duer was born from the flood, just as his sister was born from the fire, and his oldest brother from the storm. That day, the Duer family became complete.