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The History of Kilron
 Of
Kilron's early years, little but rumor is known. Some say the blood
that flows through his veins is the same that thundered through
the heart of Rone Wehnimer himself. Others claim that he is a river
Captain, long retired and living comfortably off of the reclaimed
krolvin treasures he collected over the years. Still others believe
that he is a cunning smuggler, laundering his wares and his silver
through the decrepit shop he runs on Taarna Road. One thing is certain,
though. The mystery that shrouds Kilron's past, present, and future
is one that he both encourages and thrives within.
In the earliest days of Wehnimer's Landing, life was hard. Putting
food on one's table and a roof over one's head ranked highest among
most people's priorities. An enterprising young warrior named Dernick
began bartering food and clothing for items of aesthetic value.
In exchange for those things necessary for life, Dernick amassed
a remarkable collection of miscellaneous art and literature, weapons
and armor, and even powerful items of magic. As the years slowly
passed and life became less difficult, demand once again rose for
items of luxury. With the money he made from reselling the wares
he had acquired over the years, Dernick purchased a small warehouse
on the eastern end of town and converted it into a little shop.
The shop prospered and grew in both size and reputation. Dernick
purchased all manner of gear from adventurers who no longer needed
it and resold it when the demand was higher. The rich old warrior
grew richer as he aged. One fine summer day, Dernick set out on
a trip to the southern city of River's Rest, endeavoring to open
a much-needed and highly promising trade route between the exotic
city and the Landing.
Months passed while the merchant was away. Rumors began that he
had abandoned his shop in the Landing for the Rest's warmer climate.
Other rumors, more quietly spoken but more widely believed (for
the prosperous merchant was not the sort to abandon such a profitable
business as his), claimed that he had fallen to pirates far to the
south.
With the coming of fall, a tall man with dark skin and darker hair
arrived at the Landing's Gates. Introducing himself to the guards
as Kilron, he carried with him the keys and deed to Dernick's shop.
Saying nothing of what befell the shop's former owner, Kilron hired
craftsmen from the surrounding neighborhoods to build an addition
onto the small former
warehouse. Within a week, on the third day of Jastatos in the year
5095, Kilron opened his new store for business.
The town's citizens at first avoided Kilron's new store, fearing
that foul play might have played some role in Kilron's acquisition
of their beloved Dernick's business. Eventually, the need for the
goods Kilron provided overruled any fears the citizens still harbored
and Kilron's business began to grow. Paying pure silver for anything
from useless wands to items of the most powerful magic, Kilron began
to establish a reputation among the townspeople as a fair man. The
back room of his shop, set up to sell those items that he chose
not to keep for himself, fast became a popular hangout for the rogues
and aspiring merchants of the town. Large crowds would gather, an
eye to the tables, trying to be the first to see the items that
went on display. To pass the time, people would bring containers
of their own goods and recite what wares they had for sale. Kilron's
shop quickly became the place to be for those who wished to buy,
sell and trade material commodities of any type.
With so many gathering in his shop and so many silvers passing
between hands, theft quickly became a problem. Kilron wished to
be viewed as an honest merchant and the reputation that his store
developed as a successful target for pick-pocketing did little to
further this goal. In seeking out a remedy to this problem, Kilron
sought out the archmage Pherantyr. Rumored to be among the most
powerful mages in the lands, Pherantyr was easily tracked down in
his own shop in the northeastern corner of town. The exact details
of the deal the two struck are unknown, but their results were readily
apparent. Kilron closed his store for several days, telling folks
that he was taking a few days off. Pherantyr cast a powerful spell
on Kilron's shop. The spell not only prevented pickpockets from
plying their trade, but also prevented spells of teleportation from
targeting the back room of the store. Pherantyr was not powerful
enough to block all such spells, but minor ones such as that cast
by the Navigators' golden rings were easily thwarted. This aspect
of the spell was completely Pherantyr's idea and it pleasantly
surprised Kilron. Now no one but the most powerful spell casters
could enter his shop at all without his leave. What Kilron gave
Pherantyr in return for his spells, no one knows for sure. However,
small crates and chests could be seen taken by the town's runners
from Kilron's to Pherantyr's on a regular basis.
The years between then and the present have passed all too swiftly,
some would say. Kilron's business has continued to slowly grow and
expand. Due to the luck and wisdom of the opportunistic Kilron,
the pawn shop has survived and even thrived through disasters, invasions,
fires, and more. As for the true mystery of Kilron's life, the years
prior to his arrival at the gates of Wehnimer's Landing, little
is still known. While Kilron
himself adamantly refuses to comment on his past, some information
was obtained from his son. While his answers were vague at best,
Jolai did confirm his father's origin as River's Rest. Of Kilron's
wife, Jolai's mother, all Jolai would say is that she was taken
into Lorminstra's loving arms long, long ago. Jolai hopes that some
day his father will decide to open his heart and share whatever
secrets he may be hiding about his past -- that the people of the
town, Jolai included, may better understand what makes this most
mysterious man tick.
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