The Silver Scrolls Archive

FENMAR SILVERFLAME

Backstory

Fenmar was born the second son of the proud Silverflame line, a family revered for their valor, leadership, and centuries-old tradition of defending Ember Hollow. His brother, Kael, was the embodiment of this legacy—stoic, noble, dutiful. The future of the Silverflames, many believed, was secure with Kael at the helm.
Where Kael followed tradition, Fenmar asked why. Where Kael stood in the light, Fenmar wandered the shadows. He was clever, nimble, and utterly disinterested in ceremony or rank. To the village, Fenmar was the rogue Silverflame—a charming but unreliable second son. To Kael, he was a disappointment, an insult to their family’s name.
And yet… Elder Haruna saw promise in him.

Haruna, leader of Ember Hollow and a mystic of profound insight, had long since abandoned judging Kitsunae by surface appearances. She saw in Fenmar a restless mind and a soul attuned to the spirit world. She took him under her wing—not openly, but quietly, offering him tasks others didn’t understand: seeking lost stories, communing with ancestral shrines, deciphering symbols from before the Hollow was founded.
Fenmar flourished under her guidance. For the first time, he wasn’t “Kael’s lesser”—he was something else. Something new.
Kael, however, grew resentful. He trained harder, led more hunts, and gained followers of his own. In his eyes, Haruna had chosen wrong.

In secret, Haruna entrusted Fenmar with a mission: investigate strange spiritual disturbances in the forest’s northern glade—where no birds flew, and the wind itself felt wrong.
What she didn’t know was that Fenmar had already found something there—a sealed monolith, covered in forgotten glyphs. The whispers that came from it were ancient, seductive… and clever.
Fenmar believed this was the answer to Ember Hollow’s growing unease. That releasing the dormant magic within might restore balance.
But he was wrong.
The monolith was a prison, and the thing bound within—the Shadow Man—was not yet free, but no longer fully asleep.

The changes were subtle at first: creatures twisting in form, old trees blackening from within, dreams full of whispering eyes. Fenmar returned to the Hollow shaken. He confessed only to Haruna—tearfully, sincerely.But Haruna knew what he had done. She understood the signs.
The changes were subtle at first: creatures twisting in form, old trees blackening from within, dreams full of whispering eyes. Fenmar returned to the Hollow shaken. He confessed only to Haruna—tearfully, sincerely.But Haruna knew what he had done. She understood the signs.
“You have unbalanced the veil between this world and what lies beyond it.”
Though her heart ached, she called a gathering of the council.Kael stood silent, jaw clenched. Some expected him to demand his brother’s exile. But he did not speak. He didn’t need to.
It was Haruna herself who passed judgment.
“Fenmar Silverflame, you are no longer welcome in Ember Hollow.”
“Until the balance is restored, you walk the world as an exile. Not in hate… but in consequence.”
She gave him no escort. No chains. Just a blade, a cloak, and the cold wind of the wilds.
Now, Fenmar lives on the edge of civilization, tracking the slow growth of the corruption he caused. He studies it, learns from it, and vows to undo what he’s done.
He still dreams of home.
He still wonders if Kael ever speaks his name.
And he still hears, faint and cold, the whispers of the Shadow Man… waiting. But Fenmar was different.

KAEL SILVERFLAME

STAT BLOCK

Medium humanoid (kitsunae), Lawful Neutral (shadow-tainted)
CR: 5 XP: 1,800
Race: Kitsunae
Class: Fighter (Battle Master) 4 / Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) 2
Role: Mid-Boss (Martial/Arcane Hybrid)

Armor Class 18 (Half Plate + Defensive Style)
Hit Points 63 (4d10 + 2d6 + 24)
Speed 30 ft.

STR 16 (+3)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 16 (+3)
INT 12 (+1)
WIS 11 (+0)
CHA 16 (+3)

Saving Throws Str +6, Con +6, Cha +6
Skills: Intimidation +6, Insight +3, Athletics +6, Persuasion +6
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Sylvan, Feylan

Traits

Second Wind (1/Short Rest): Regain 1d10 + 4 HP as a bonus action.
Action Surge (1/Short Rest): Take an extra action.
Combat Superiority (3d8): Can use maneuvers: Menacing Attack, Riposte, Precision Attack.
Strength of the Grave (1/Long Rest): Make a DC 8 Cha save when reduced to 0 HP. On a success, drop to 1 HP instead.
Shadow Affinity (Recharge 4–6): As a bonus action in dim light/darkness, teleport 15 ft. to an unoccupied space he can see.

Spellcasting (Sorcerer 2, Charisma-based)

Spell Save DC 14 Spell Attack Bonus +6
Cantrips (at will): Minor Illusion, Shadow Blade, Prestidigitation
1st level (3 slots): Shield, Mage Armor, Absorb Elements

Actions

Silverflame Blade
Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target
Hit: 8 (1d8 + 3) slashing + 4 (1d8) necrotic if in dim light or darkness.

Shadow Arc (Recharge 5–6)
Kael channels dark energy in a 15-ft. cone. Each creature must make a DC 14 Dex save.
Fail: 18 (4d8) necrotic damage + blinded until end of Kael’s next turn.
Success: Half damage, no blindness.

Bonus Actions

Shadow Affinity (Recharge 4–6): Teleport 15 ft. in dim light or darkness.
Cast Shadow Blade (counts as Bonus Action).

Reactions

Riposte (Maneuver): If a creature misses him, Kael can use his reaction to attack back and add a superiority die to damage.
Shield (1st-level Spell): +5 AC until start of next turn when hit.

Optional Triggered Trait

Dark Awakening (1/Day)
When reduced below 20 HP, Kael gains resistance to radiant and necrotic damage and deals an extra 1d6 necrotic damage with weapon attacks for 1 minute. His eyes glow violet, and shadows writhe from his back.

Combat Tactics

Turn 1: Cast Shadow Blade, use Action Surge to attack twice with it.
Turn 2: Engage in melee, use Riposte and Menacing Attack to control enemies.
Low HP: Use Shield, teleport with Shadow Affinity, and trigger Dark Awakening if needed.


"Power is not granted to the meek. I claimed mine... and now, I will take what's owed."-Kael silverflame.

Quick Backstory & Setting Description

Kael Silverflame is the elder son of the Silverflame family, a proud warrior and noble Kitsunae who believes deeply in order, tradition, and protecting Ember Hollow. Though capable and strong, Kael struggles under the weight of responsibility and feels overshadowed by his younger brother Fenmar’s natural charisma and growing reputation.

Currently, Elder Haruna remains the respected and legitimate leader of Ember Hollow, revered for her wisdom and connection to the old ways. Kael believes the village needs a stronger, more decisive hand to face growing threats—but Haruna’s coma-induced frailty prevents her from ruling effectively.

Kael feels frustrated and powerless, believing that he should be in charge to protect his people but is trapped by tradition and political respect for Haruna’s authority. This simmering bitterness and desperation open him to darker influences.

Scene: Kael’s Dark Bargain in the Study

Setting:

Kael’s study—a dim, cluttered room filled with tomes, battle relics, and faintly glowing runes etched in silver on the walls. The only light comes from a flickering candle and the muted glow of a small hearth. Rain taps softly against the windows. Outside, Ember Hollow is quiet, but Kael’s heart is heavy.

Scene Description:

Kael sits alone at his ancient wooden desk, hands clenched tightly on a weathered map of Ember Hollow. The village outside is restless; tensions rising between factions, the elders’ voices growing faint, and Fenmar’s shadow looms larger in the people’s minds.

His gaze falls to a cracked silver medallion—the family crest—cold in his palm.The door creaks open slowly, but no one enters.

A chilling breeze coils around the room as darkness thickens. From the deepest shadows, the Shadow Man materializes—his presence both whisper and weight.

Dialogue:

Shadow Man:

“The burden is heavy, Kael Silverflame. You sit beneath the weight of a crown you have not yet claimed.”

Kael:

(Bitterly)
“Elder Haruna still breathes, still commands the village. But she is no longer strong. I should be the one to lead Ember Hollow—not a fading old woman bound by past fears.”

Shadow Man:

“And yet, you wait. Waiting is a luxury for those without ambition. You are a wolf with a blade dulled by hesitation.”

Kael:

(Voice rising)
“I have fought beside Haruna for years, served her. But this weakness… it endangers us all. I am stronger, smarter. The village needs a leader who will not falter.”

Shadow Man:

“Strength beyond flesh and steel awaits you. Power to break chains, to silence your rivals, to rule without question. All I ask is for your loyalty—your shadow.”

Kael:

(Eyes darkening)
“And what price do you demand?”

Shadow Man:

“Only what you are willing to give. A spark of your soul, a whisper in your mind. In return, you shall rise. The village will bow, your enemies will fall, and your brother... will know his place.”

Kael:

(After a long pause, voice low and resolute)
“Very well. Show me this power.”