Background for Sondirra:

Sondirra Burrows, son of Cakitro Burrows, the fighting legend of Behuir, was born into a community of halflings, way down south in Luiren, the land of the Halflings. As a young halfling, he found he had an overdeveloped sense of mischief, which meant that he got into even more trouble than most other young halflings. His father, having used the fame of killing a pair of hill giants in his youth, now ran several inns - and thus was a very properous halfling. This mean that Sondirra found himself in a position of privilage as halflings go - this meant less work - more time to get into trouble!

As he came of age, he took it upon himself, or at least was highly pressured, to go on "walk-about" - a traditional move for a fair number of third son halflings who found themselves at a loose end and bored of the sedate life. Brac Bristletoes, a halfling adventurer who was forever travelling the realms, had been passing through, and agreed to allow Sondirra to tag along on his next trip.

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Moving west, the two halflings travelled together, through the Azhal Pass in the Muaraghal range of mountains - the eastern range of the Mountains of Halruaa, and at last into the land of the wizards. Here, their eyes bulged as they saw how almost every other person seemed to be a wizard - magic was used here for everything - from street lighting, to heating water for baths and cooking. The halflings did not however find themselves particularly welcome in Halruaa however, and were generally viewed with suspicion - people always seemed to hold onto their pouches a little tighter when the two halflings came into sight.

They did however find some people who were interested in them - a few mages looking for someone to find spell components for them, and during the months that they were there, they completed a number of adventures - some voluntarily, and some under duress, blackmailed or ensorcelled to do some mage's bidding.

The pair were eventually brought in front of Zalathorm, the Wizard-King of Halruaa. A skilled diviner, Zalathorm had predicted the presence of the two halflings, and knew that they would be extremely helpful to the land of Wizards in the future and had thus sought them out. Provided with some magical assistance in their mission, the pair were sent on their way - to deliver a package to the temple of Waukeen in Sheirtalar. Not really understanding the reasons behind this, the two somewhat reluctantly, and with a strong desire to forget wizards and their manipulations for a while, moved northwards, passing out the north-west side of Halruaa, crossing the bandit wastes and through the Misty Vale, to finally arrive, a couple of months later, at the city of Sheirtalar, capital of Lapaliiya.

The Shining City - a massive metropolis sloping down to the head of the Sheir Bay - was beautiful, and the two halflings were amazed at the visible wealth of the city, for the rooves of almost every building were domed and leafed in silver and gold. A huge trading port, with a major temple to Waukeen, the two travellers felt that there would be plenty of opportunity for them - and fewer pesky wizards meddling with them. With a light heart, they sauntered through the streets of the city to complete their Halruaan delivery.

But things never go smoothly, and in performing their mission, the pair almost literally stumbled across a plot by a secret organisation of Sarrukh and Yuan-ti to bring down the city's ruler, Shaliim Wyrmslayer the Overking of Lapaliiya. Teaming up with a human sorcerer from the Sword coast named Malick, a fighter/priest of Waukeen named Halvern, a half-orc fighter named Keld, and a priestess of Tymora called Vaslin, the group followed clues and discovered the Lost Temple of the World Serpent in a swamp in the Mhair Jungles and prevented the Sarrukh getting hold of a legendary weapon known as "the Serpents Fang". In the process however, Halvern died, his body disintegrated by a wizard's ancient spell.

Returning to Sheirtalar, the group were lauded as heroes by the Overking, and gifted magic items as a reward. Working well as a team, the group, now calling themselves "the Twisters" (from an unfortunate and somewhat amusing encounter with a greater air elemental) - journeyed northwards, spending time in each of the villages and towns on their route - simply enjoying the world they passed through. Occasionally they found adventure, the locals looking to them for assistance in jobs that "normal" people couldn't do, and almost without exception the group would take on the task. A combination of adrenaline buzz and great rightousness came over them as they started to make names for themselves - stories of the Twister's exploits started to grow.

It was a sad day however when the Twisters finally came "unwound". The day happened when the group answered the plea for help from a vagabond in the village of Nun in Chondath, the southern coast of the Vilhon Reach. It was a trap, and their old enemies the Yuan-ti were behind it, transporting all of the Twisters through a gate to the Abyss. It was only through the self-sacrifice of Vaslin that Sondirra managed to return to the Realms, finding himself suddenly in the frozen lands of Icewind Dale. With Keld and Vaslin dead, Brac and Malick missing, Sondirra no longer had the heart to call himself part of the Twisters, and slogged his way into the Ten Towns, where he spent the winter. Come the spring, he travelled with a trade caravan and made it to Lashan. He found Lashan a twisted town, with hard bitten people, and too soon decided to leave, heading south along the coast road, finally arriving at Neverwinter. Here, he heard about the wonderous city of Silverymoon, and decided to take a visit, travelling east, through Conyberry, Triboar, along the Everlund road south of the Trollmoors, and then through the mountain pass down into the Jewel of the North.

Silverymoon was a beautiful city, with a low crime rate due to the magical mythal there. Whilst there, Sondirra happened to witness a rarity - a human priest of Mystra being pickpocketed by a young boy. Sondirra had interrupted the theft, and gained the thanks of the priest, whose name was Galro Haldane. He was visiting Silverymoon with an elf named Ilwayth E'Kavanok, having travelled from Raven's Bluff. Curious, Sondirra asked about the city, finding it an even more tolerant city than Silverymoon, with races of all types accepted there.

Deciding to one day visit the city, Sondirra eventually left Silverymoon, and started his own journey, east across the Silverymoon Pass with a trade caravan, to Sundabar, then south along the banks of the River Rauvin to the dour town ot Jalanthar. Here, he picked up a half-elven guide, who took him through the fringes of the High Forest, to The Citiadel of the Mists - where he met with the druids who looked after this part of the High Forest. They were still dealing with the fall-out from Hellgate Keep, but were hospitable enough to Sondirra. Eventually, Sondirra lost his guide, and found himself following the river Delimbyr southwards. At an ancient ruined riverside town that, according to his roughly drawn map, was probably called Elven Port, he was ambushed by a group of bandits. The ambush was thwarted however, by the sudden appearance of an unlikely duo. A human scout and a kobold druid.

The pair introduced themselves as Gareth Devson and Jee'tik. Gareth was originally from Raven's Bluff, whilst Jee'tik had been born in the Underdark and had managed to break free from the stereotype of his race, and take to Nature. Hearing of Raven's Bluff again, Sondirra suggested that they all go visit this amazing city he had heard so much about.

A few months later, after a somewhat interesting journey, the three made it to the fabled city, passing on route past Tilverton, through Shadowdale, up to Hillsfar, across the Moonsea to Mulmaster, where they did their best to avoid the slaving caravans of the Red Wizards on the first leg of their journey east from Zhentil Keep. They then travelled south, through Masker's Eye, Kurth, Blanaer, Thindilar, Hlintar, the city of Tantras, and then by boat again down the coast a short way to Raven's Bluff.

Once there, Sondirra looked up Galro, who had returned himself by a more expedicious method. In turn, he made a number of new acquaintances, and soon found himself welcome in a large group of friends, finding adventure in the city.