Qaru
Qaru, the 124-year-old mage of surreal illusions, hails from a lineage of scholars and sages. Born amid the crackling energy of ancient scrolls and the brittle scent of age-old lore, he was sternly nurtured under the towering bookshelves. The secrets that his family bore were bound within these dusty tomes, hidden in a cryptic language only understood by Qaru and his forebears.
His childhood home was a stone-cottage endowed with the enchanting air of a quaint, scholarly sanctuary. He grew up in an era of magic's prime, swaddled in an atmosphere of wonder and entrancement. As he advanced in age, he found solace in imbibing the wisdom of his elders, and slowly but surely, began to absorb their power.
Over the years, he evolved, adapting his scholarly heritage and molding his destiny as a mage. In the present day, Qaru is widely known for his power of illusion—an extraordinary skill that delves deeper than wizards dare to tread. His speciality spells of multiplication and phantom creation bewilder enemies, leaving them confounded both in mind and senses.
His best friend is another golden-hat mage, a woman named Vena who shares his fascination with multi-faced illusions and animated dreams. While Qaru leans towards the academic, Vena's instincts heighten during duels, making them an invincible pair in magic arts.
Nevertheless, storms often follow tranquil seas. While learning his craft, Qaru discovered he had an enemy. A vindictive sorcerer, Malichore, with a power to shatter illusions. Behind his downfall, there always lurks the fear of Malichore breaking his defenses and unmasking him.
His life's credo is penned in the words of his ancestors, “The essence of magic is not to deceive but to invigorate the senses.” With this motto, he advances magic's intention, not as a political entity, but as a realm of possibility.
Qaru's life-defining event came when he was required to place his learned skills of illusion against the wrath of a dragon—nearly losing his life in the attempt but managing a breathtaking victory. The incident transcribed his name in the folklore as "Qaru the Dragonbane," a title he carries with a grain of pride and a gallon of humility.
Yet, he is a mage flawed with an overdependence on his illusions. Accused of bewitching innocent villagers, Qaru carries the stigma of a crime cast without thoughtful judgment. Being a pacifist at heart, his choice of defensive magic often gets misunderstood—his favourite weapon, the Staff of Indra, stigmatized as an instrument of mind-control.
Qaru, with his quirks such as preferring to sleep hanging upside-down like a bat or drinking tea stirred with a twig, makes him a mage to remember. His long white beard often serves as a handy place to keep his magical baubles.
Against adversities and misjudgments, the mage remains unshaken. He utters his famous quote with a smile, "In a world where reality is often harsh, isn’t it a blessing to experience an illusion?"
human
mage
scholar
