ALBERICH: HISTORY
Alberich was born into an extensive clan of cut-throat thieves, who valued treasure, gold, and frivolous living above all else. They lived in a cavernous expanse, adorned with mountainous piles of stolen gold, and would feast and celebrate on a frequent basis. The clan was dictated by Alberich's mother; a fierce and violent woman who took over once her husband died. From birth, Alberich and his brother Alaric were subjected to the expectations and crude culture of the clan, and Alberich accompanied the others on a plundering expedition as a bystander at age 5. With his brother already a prodigy in the area of solo-burglary, Alberich was appointed as a scout by his mother. His duty was to enter the human site before the expedition and analyse the location.
Even from this age, his mother made it clear to him that Alberich was living in his brother's shadow. Feeling displaced in his own home, he took a habit of lingering in the abodes of humans whenever it was safe. The culture gap fascinated Alberich, and once he learned to read (with the assistance of his brother), he was captivated by human creations. Fiction novels and the human obsession with make-believe worlds and ideas were particularly enthralling to him. Over time, Alberich withdrew more from his kin, and spent more time alone-- surrounding himself as much as possible in whatever similar content he could find. Over time he stole and collected enough goods to be more than respected as a thief, but since none of them even contained precious substances, it mattered little to his family. Much of this he did in secret, due to the mockery and belittlement it would bring upon him, in addition to the scorn he already received from his mother on a frequent basis.
By the time Alberich hit young adulthood, he'd already decided that he would never feel or be considered successful in his clan. He would forever be held in contempt by his mother, and would forever be in the shadow of his brother. He felt no connection to his kin, and his interests rested in a completely different realm than what he'd been born into. After his next uncelebrated birthday, Alberich performed a final grand heist-- stealing a quarter of the clan's entire collection of treasures, and relocating them back to various locations scattered across earth before being noticed.
From there, Alberich intended to use the precious valuables to fund his own whims, and at last engage on an adventure of his own design. He knew it was only a time before the outraged and bloodthirsty members of his kin would find and kill him. He had come to the conclusion that before he met his end, he would take someone --a human-- on an inexplicable journey. Preferably, someone as obsessed with notions of fantastical escapades as he was, so he could then fuel and bring the envisioned fantasy into creation with his own abilities.
After a few months, he came across a teenage girl who fit the bill-- one who was socially withdrawn and had encased herself in a fictitious world. Alberich approached her after observing her for a time, and being so ready to accept the existence of anything fabled, she eased right into the role. Weeks dragged on, with Alberich appearing to her only at night time to take her on flights of fancy topped with the use of his own magic. Though the girl's shell remained in place, the two got along better with each day. But Alberich's thoughts had become unfocused due to his new regime, and his guard had been significantly dropped. Members of the clan found him and his companion, and throughout the fight, the girl became a fatality. Alberich was forced to flee and draw them off, successfully escaping but thoroughly frustrated by the consequences of what had happened. Unsure of how to handle the death that was now on his hands, he left the girl's body be.
Alberich laid low for as long as reasonable thereafter, ensuring that his trail had been completely lost. Though the girl's death had been a negative experience, it left him with little remorse-- for Alberich and his family, human life had always been considered lesser, and not ultimately of much consequence. After he came out of hiding, he then began the search for replacement companion, not willing to give up on his death wish yet.
Even from this age, his mother made it clear to him that Alberich was living in his brother's shadow. Feeling displaced in his own home, he took a habit of lingering in the abodes of humans whenever it was safe. The culture gap fascinated Alberich, and once he learned to read (with the assistance of his brother), he was captivated by human creations. Fiction novels and the human obsession with make-believe worlds and ideas were particularly enthralling to him. Over time, Alberich withdrew more from his kin, and spent more time alone-- surrounding himself as much as possible in whatever similar content he could find. Over time he stole and collected enough goods to be more than respected as a thief, but since none of them even contained precious substances, it mattered little to his family. Much of this he did in secret, due to the mockery and belittlement it would bring upon him, in addition to the scorn he already received from his mother on a frequent basis.
By the time Alberich hit young adulthood, he'd already decided that he would never feel or be considered successful in his clan. He would forever be held in contempt by his mother, and would forever be in the shadow of his brother. He felt no connection to his kin, and his interests rested in a completely different realm than what he'd been born into. After his next uncelebrated birthday, Alberich performed a final grand heist-- stealing a quarter of the clan's entire collection of treasures, and relocating them back to various locations scattered across earth before being noticed.
From there, Alberich intended to use the precious valuables to fund his own whims, and at last engage on an adventure of his own design. He knew it was only a time before the outraged and bloodthirsty members of his kin would find and kill him. He had come to the conclusion that before he met his end, he would take someone --a human-- on an inexplicable journey. Preferably, someone as obsessed with notions of fantastical escapades as he was, so he could then fuel and bring the envisioned fantasy into creation with his own abilities.
After a few months, he came across a teenage girl who fit the bill-- one who was socially withdrawn and had encased herself in a fictitious world. Alberich approached her after observing her for a time, and being so ready to accept the existence of anything fabled, she eased right into the role. Weeks dragged on, with Alberich appearing to her only at night time to take her on flights of fancy topped with the use of his own magic. Though the girl's shell remained in place, the two got along better with each day. But Alberich's thoughts had become unfocused due to his new regime, and his guard had been significantly dropped. Members of the clan found him and his companion, and throughout the fight, the girl became a fatality. Alberich was forced to flee and draw them off, successfully escaping but thoroughly frustrated by the consequences of what had happened. Unsure of how to handle the death that was now on his hands, he left the girl's body be.
Alberich laid low for as long as reasonable thereafter, ensuring that his trail had been completely lost. Though the girl's death had been a negative experience, it left him with little remorse-- for Alberich and his family, human life had always been considered lesser, and not ultimately of much consequence. After he came out of hiding, he then began the search for replacement companion, not willing to give up on his death wish yet.