Shanric the Sorcerer

Shanric the Sorcerer

I am known as Shanric, the Sorcerer. Shanric was the name given to me by father. I never knew him, but my mother told me that he left the name with her when he went to fight in the war. I was still a baby in my mother's arms when news reached us that he had fallen.
Life was difficult growing up without a father, but we are gnomes, and gnomes care for one another. One friend of my parents, or another, was always around. My mother raised me, yes. But, she did not do so alone. She let it be known that any priest, magi, wizard, or witch who was traveling nearby was welcome to spend the night in our home in exchange for a lesson for her son, and there were many who took her up on the offer.
I was never taught how to fight with a sword, or bow. I think mother was too afraid that I would be called off to the war and end up in a grave alongside my father without ever having a chance to experience the wonders that the world had to offer. Instead, knowledge became my weapon. I received the finest education in religion, astrology, alchemy, divination, transmutation, evocation, witchcraft, the occult, and all manner of esoteric knowledge from those who were practitioners of the arts. I believe I carry the gift for such art myself, even if it has yet to show itself. One of the many lessons I learned from my tutors was to believe in myself. I know what I want from this life, and I know that if I see myself achieving my goals, and I hold that vision firmly in my mind it will come to pass. That is why I named myself the Sorcerer. I have taken the first steps of my journey, and nothing will turn me from the path I have chosen.
But, what else would you know of me? I have already told you that I am a gnome. I stand just over three feet tall and weigh less than fifty pounds when I am soaking wet. My hair is red in color, and perpetually unkempt. My skin is fair for a gnome, perhaps because I have spent my youth inside, reading whatever books my mother and her friends were able to find and bring to me.
I have friends, too, to be sure, but none of them are what you could call peers. My mother's friends are my friends, too. Gnomes are long lived and don't procreate as prolifically as humans. I am the only one of my generation, or at least the only one in this part of the world. Still, I get along well with others, probably because of the diversity I encountered in the many people who accepted my mother's offer of hospitality.
My mother, too, has passed now. She stayed long enough to see me reach manhood before leaving though, and I am glad that she did. I am also thankful that she can rest now. She has earned it.
The time has come for me to take my place in the world now, and I am taking my knowledge, my vision, and an open mind with me. I will continue to learn, and I will search for the spark, the gift that I know I carry inside of me. For I am Shanric, the Sorcerer, and I will be the next Ruler of Kings,.