Cale

Cale Grimaldi, Half-elf Warlord

Cale was born in Numinas to Mara Kessler, a human scholar, and Keolus Taligari, an elven noble. The parents didn't want Cale to grow up with the stigma of being a half-breed in an elven noble house (especially since he would have none of the rights that come with noblility), so they agreed he should be brought up elsewhere. Mara took him to Menegroth, the capital of Nargothrond, thinking the metropolitan area could give him all of the opportunities that his noble parentage could not.

After settling down in Menegroth, Mara married a human smith named Adler Grimaldi, and the two raised Cale to the best of their abilities. There are very few humans in the elven nation, so they were always seen as outsiders. There was some distrust from their neighbors, but the Grimaldis were morally fair and had good ethics, so most people didn't bother them.

Cale grew up strong and healthy, and wished to join the Ivy Knights, the military of Nargothrond, but he couldn't due to his parentage. Instead, he studied at a martial academy (Adler pulled some strings), and received top marks thanks to his dedication to the art of war and strategy. It was in this time that he met Bregna, an elven maiden also at the academy, and tried to woo her. She had none of the same feelings for him, though, and eventually refused to even be seen in public with him.

At this point Cale realized that he would never be fully accepted into elven society, so he decided to head to human lands and try his luck in Aspenwood. He left with his mother's blessing, and his stepfather's armor and sword.

Cale is something of a romantic, having heard many ancient tales of heroic knight-captains and chivalrous chieftains from his mother. In battle, he tries to inspire those around him to greatness, pointing out the weaknesses of his enemies and how to best exploit them. He is not afraid to get in the thick of combat, standing on the front line to harass his foes and smash them with his sword and shield.