Valandar the Red of the Empty Tankard is my persona in Amtgard, a 
not-for-profit group, oriented towards safe, foam-padded, medeival
fun. It is a LARP, or Live Action Role Play game. It is also a social
organization, where we have a lot of fun.
   Anyway, Valandar the Red is the son of a Thief of the Guild, a
corrupt High Elf, and a Wood Elven slave of the Guild, who was used as
a plaything by the Guild. When she discovered she was pregnant, she
ran away, knowing that they would demand she kill the child.
Eventually, she bore Valandar, and, to save him, left him on the steps
of what she thought was a temple, then ran away into the snow.
   This 'Temple' turned out to be the Manor house of the Baron of 
Leidon, who gave the child to his head maid, whose own child had died
weeks before. The child, Valandar, grew up in the Manor house, a
commoner who was accepted in noble society; in fact, the Baroness
considered herself his adopted aunt. He was educated by the Seneschal,
and trained in battle by the Huntsmaster; he excelled in both. In
fact, the only field he outright failed in was tracking. He even 
mistook a wolverines tracks for those of a rabbit !
   He eventually went to Castleton, capital of the land of Meridan,
his homeland. There, he became a soldier. One day, in a battle
against enemy forces, he found himself in between the enemy lich and
the allied mage. The combination of magicks ripped reality asunder,
and Valandar woke up to find himself in Amtgard. Here, he seeks to
prove himself in all pursuits, and perhaps, one day, to return 
home.