Medium brown skin, shaggy brown hair (kept cut short), grey eyes, stocky build. Third son of Count Werig Relg and Hild Dantor (Barbarian descent). Name derived from one of the old Barbarian tongues, with Ar' designating “third”. Parents unaware of potential misunderstandings (“arson”) until after naming.

County Relg lies outside of Hillfal, stretching along the last of plains and hills N and NE into Sentinel Mountains. Along with usual truck farming and livestock, the county produces glass (two foundries) and some semi-precious stones. The surrounding country is moderately prosperous and generally peaceful, with main road leading SSW from Hillfal to Gulfport.

The Counts of Relg quietly claim direct descent from the Knights of Solamnia.

Ar'son received an education befitting minor nobility, along with some informal instruction in Solamnic language. A generalist, he was a good study at most topics, but not overly-gifted in any of them, mostly due to lack of interest. In life he is good-natured and easy-going, but not particularly ambitious, seemingly content with his role as an extra son and to enjoy a mostly comfortable, responsibility-reduced life.

At age 15, he began training as a solider with the County Guard. Aside from weapons proficiency and small-unit tactics, he also received some instruction in true military arts from a retired Legion Commander that had taken up residence in the County. The County Guard more closely resembled a militia or police force than a true organized army.

At age 21, he was assigned the task of learning the glass and mineral trade, becoming modestly skilled in the glass-making process.

At age 30, he was promoted to Captain of the County Guard, more due to his birthright than performance or experience, although he was adequate to the title and showed some promise in the military arts. There were hints that Ar'son had been mulling the idea of creating a for-hire mercenary force, a notion that his father would've flatly forbidden were to discover it.

As often with minor nobility, Ar'son remained unmarried, although he had long shared his country house with Ahanna, the barren daughter of Glass Master Ohanna.

Goals:
Ar'son is somewhat divided in his life philosophy. On one hand, he knows that he could live a comfortable and largely stress-free life. On the other, he has had various dreams of becoming an adventurer or a soldier-for-hire or even leading a Legion in battle. Bottom line: He is restless, but not stupid enough to leave his life without good reason.

Contact with Ispin Greenshield
Around ten years ago, Ar'son was on a mineral-hunting expedition with a small group in the Sentinel Mountains and came across Ispin, who had broken his leg in a fall and was in serious danger of death. Ar'son had the injured adventurer brought to his house, where he recuperated through the winter. During that time, they established a comfortable learner/mentor relationship. At Ispin's departure, Ar'son extended an invitation to settle in County Relg when he tired of his adventures or if his fortunes turned and needed a place to live in quiet anonymity. In return for saving his life, Ispin stated that should Ar'son's fortunes change for the worse, he (Ispin) would be grant whatever shelter or assistance available.

Present:
To the ever-practical Ar'son, receipt of the funeral invitation seemed like a gods-sent legitimate excuse to live his adventure fantasies, while giving him the opportunity to return to his life of ease should things not work out. He sets out for the gathering with his family's blessing and an admonishment to represent himself and the County with dignity and honor.