Veteran Apprentice Wizard
Alfan Silverwillow, for why yes, he does prefer to render his name thusly in the common tongue, is a scholar, perhaps a bit of a dreamer, but he is most assuredly a magic enthusiast. He loves magic, loves to study it, loves to cast spells, loves to discover mystic secrets! He just doesn't want to have to make it into an actual career. Careers mean work, and work means research is neglected, and then one stops learning about magic, and the next thing ones knows, one has ended up atop a tower sending pesky adventurers on errands to fetch magical artifacts or disturb perfectly self-respecting dire rodents. Well, no thank you! Alfan prefers to remain as he is, a decorated wizard's apprentice with nothing but research to do. Except, he keeps finding himself in the middle of adventures. Scandalous!
Background
Born Alfaniel Celeb'salquë to a fine elven family in Sylvania, he was always destined for greatness. At least, that's what his parents always said. Then again, they also named him "Alfaniel," a name that would traditionally be reserved for a girl. Not caring for this, from a young age he chose to drop the feminine suffix, preferring to simply be called "Alfan." It was the most rebellious part of his young life, but he was quite firm on that point. His mother might have coddled him into uselessness despite his naturally gifted mind, but happily he was apprenticed to a very no-nonsense wizard.
Under the wizard's guidance, Alfan proceeded to learn quite a lot of interesting magic and arcane theory. As the years wore on, he dedicated himself to study, taking a post at the Wrosthorne magic school, and only occasionally let himself be dragged into some untidy adventure or another. Sometimes, though, there was something just too interesting pass up! It was during one such a foray that he met Zelf, and the two became quite close. Zelf is Alfan's dearest friend and frequent lover, even though Alfan does worry that the energetic frost elf seems destined to forever be a trouble magnet.
SIGNATURE ABILITY
Metamagic
While Alfan has not mastered any particular kind of magic, he can still reach great feats of magic when called to, but it takes a lot out of him. When sufficiently rested, Alfan can cast a single spell beyond his normal limitations, allowing him to perform a feat of magic of a far enhanced level, vastly increased potency, expanded scale, or otherwise more powerful, advanced version than he would normally be able to use. This can be quite powerful, but afterwards he is quite exhausted and will be limited to only Basic-level spells until he has thoroughly rested and recovered from the exertion.
SKILLS
Alchemy - Competent Level
Mainly a hobbyist and dabbler, Alfan prefers the more elegant, "higher" art of spellcasting.
Athletics - Novice Level
While naturally agile and limber, Alfan has done little to explicitly develop this skill.
Magic - Expert Level
Accomplished spellcaster and practitioner of the arcane arts.
Medicine - Novice Level
Practitioner of first aid and basic remedies.
Melee Combat - Novice Level
As an apprentice wizard, he knows how to handle a staff reasonably well.
Perception - Competent Level
Fairly alert and attentive, very good at focused attention to detail.
Rapport - Competent Level
Charismatic, insightful, charming in an aloof sort of way.
Scholarship - Expert Level
Literate, good with maps, basic understanding of the world, multi-lingual.
Survival - Novice Level
Basically capable enough to survive for a while, especially with supplies.
ABILITIES
Innate: Awareness - Enhanced Level
Alfan's senses are all of Enhanced level, and he is generally quite alert and usually attentive to his surroundings, though his particular aptitude tends to lean more toward mystical rather than physical awareness.
Innate: Dexterity - Enhanced Level
As one of elven blood, Alfan's natural dexterity and agility are fairly strong. While he has not especially refined his natural gifts, he is still generally very nimble and swift, sure of his footing and in particular very graceful. He might likely be even more so, but he prefers the quiet life of a scholar to one of running about and getting dirty.
Elf Heritage
Alfan's elven blood ensures that he does not age past physical maturity, that he is immune to disease, and that he is highly resistant to supernatural forms of darkness and corruption. He enjoys the various benefits of an elven bloodline, particularly of the more magic-inclined and less supremely nimble sort.
Innate: Mind - Supreme Level
Born with an exceptionally keen intellect and a naturally strong will, Alfan has only refined these qualities over time. His studies and the practice of magic have made him a paragon of the mental virtues, highly capable of working out complex theoretical problems or resisting powers that might dominate a lesser mind.
Magic: Spellcasting - Enhanced Level
Alfan is an accomplished magical practitioner. He has eschewed great expertise in any one area, instead doing his best to be well-rounded and to learn all he can about every branch of magic. As a result, while he has few gaps in his magical ability, neither does he have any specific area where he rises to great prominence. He can readily cast a wide array of utility spells, defensive, conjuration, and divination spells designed to help in his work. With a bit of preparation, he can also ready himself to cast evocation, transmutation, illusion, and so on. He has even dabbled in necromancy, but mostly in theoretical terms.
Innate: Vitality - Enhanced Level
Alfan is quite vital and his health quite robust due to his elvish heritage, making him more resistant to toxins, harsh conditions, and so forth.
ADVANTAGES
Equipment
Alfan usually carries a reasonable supply of gear, from a stylish wizard's hat he almost never wears to a staff he seldom bothers to use to various books, scrolls, and alchemical supplies. He keeps a variety of minor magic trinkets, mainly designed to make his life as a scholar easier and more comfortable. He would certainly never, say, run out his front door without a pocket handkerchief, to say nothing of clean underwear! His most notable piece of gear is a very expensive, embarrassingly revealing "wizard's robe" that his dear friend and frequent lover, Zelf, had made for him. It's enchanted to be durable, ensorceled to be forever clean, and includes a number of small magical pockets, each akin to a very tiny "bag of holding," allowing him to carry a great number of small items at a time without dealing with their weight or bulk.
Resources
Alfan has a modest personal fortune provided by his wealthy family. It's not so much that he can live a life of luxury, but he can get by in his quiet way, living the life of a scholar with a comfortable bed, nice clothes, and fine food with the occasional indulgence of an expensive rare book or fancy bauble. Happily, he has absolutely no intention of ever trying to pay for some outlandish tower with a gaudy name and, he assumes, a leaky roof that will constantly need replacing.
Wrosthorne
Alfan has been an apprentice wizard for decades. He has staunchly refused to have anything to do with joining a professional magical organization like the Emberwing Order, since they would no doubt expect him to actually "complete" his studies. Instead, he has cultivated a place at the Wrosthorne school of magic, not technically a member there but serving as a kind of adjunct faculty member or graduate student apprentice. Whatever one calls it, Alfan has ties there, and he can use their library and magic labs without having to pay for them.
WEAKNESSES
Arrogant
Alfan generally intends to be a kind, caring, and reasonably polite person. Unfortunately, he also tends to have strong opinions and, without entirely meaning to, can look down on those whom he feels are not as wise or knowledgeable as he is. When he realizes he's doing so he tends to be embarrassed and apologetic, but it's hard for him to avoid assuming that he's the most intelligent person in the room. After all, he often really is.
Lazy
Alfan is passionate about his work, his research, and really anything that captures his interest. Unfortunately, he really cannot be bothered with much else. To that end, if he decided there was a scrap of arcane lore he wanted, he might brave the greatest of perils or confront ancient evils to find it, but if not for his extensive command of household spells of convenience, he would struggle to even be bothered to wash his own teacup, much less do something as tedious and lowbrow as laundry.
Obsessive
When Alfan develops an interest, it tends to become a consuming obsession rather than a casual fancy or even a healthy curiosity. He can be extremely single-minded, such that he would go to extreme lengths to satisfy his interest in even a minor subject, but he struggles to feign interest in anything that he considers boring or, not that he would ever put it in such openly rude terms, something that's generally just beneath his dignity.
