The Sword Mage

It is said that the Sword Mage hails from somewhere in Vosgaard, though when pressed no one can cite why this rumour might have arisen. It is also said that he(?) draws his power from consorting with devils and fiends and other creatures of the infernal plane, and this certainly has more evidence to support it. Though there may or may not be any truth to these rumours, they have thus far been sufficient to keep people guessing about the Sword Mage's true power, and this means his peers have proceeded with extreme caution in any action against him. The Sword Mage is loyal to Gavin Tael, Baron of Ghoere, and has even served as his proxy more than once, but has yet to fall on his knee before the throne of Ghoere.

Clad in a robe that appears to be made entirely of blades, the Sword Mage remains a true mystery, and no one has even been able to guess at the true identity of this enigma. Standing perhaps a touch above average height, the Sword Mage's face is concealed by an aggressively plain basket helm, and his hands are hidden by gauntlets. His voice rasps metallically through the helm, giving no hind to sex or race, though the accent could recall Vos in some small way. His movements are sure, and his keen eyes, hidden in shadow, miss little. Some say that a monstrous awnshegh lurks under the robe, or that the robe is in fact the Sword Mage's skin, so monstrous is he, but those who know say that there is no taint of Azrai about him, and there are no known tendencies to manifest a bloodform in Vorynn's blood.
The Sword Mage is ruthless, he arrived in Ghoere and claimed his source network by destroying all three of the wizards who bickered over Ghoere's depleted magic before him in violent magical duels. Of course, none were privy to these contests, but the blasted and ruined remains of his opponent's towers and homes serve as testament to his cruelty and single minded devotion to his own advancement, as has his eagerness to encroach on the holdings of those mages many times his senior in both age and strength. However the Sword Mage is also quite reasonable. He must realize that he requires resources to increase his hold on the magic of the heartlands, and thus he is open to anyone who can afford his services or council, for a heavy price, and only if it doesn't directly oppose the interests of Ghoere.

All that is known of the Sword Mage begins with his arrival in Ghoere a mere two years before Guilder Kalien would sail in. The Sword Mage slew the three wizards who were warring over Ghoere's sources before him in magical duels one by one, adding their blood to his own as he did, and growing more powerful. However immediately after consolidating his hold on the sources of Ghoere he made an appearance in front of Gavin Tael, swore a binding oath that he was no enemy, and agreed to thus far secret terms upon which he would put his skills and assets in the Baron's service. Since then he has worked tirelessly to cement his grip of Ghoere, and when he achieved that, only a few seasons past, he set his sights on expanding onto Mhoried. Whether this is in Ghoere's interests or his own remains to be seen.