Alric Kota

Alric Kota is a human baelnorn wizard, with a specific research interest in the planes. He is an ally of The Folly, and currently resides on Aris with Master Sorrell.  

Early Life

Alric Kota was born in Phalema, the capital city of Avelin in 765OE. Both his parents were successful fabric merchants, and his upbringing was comfortable. He had two younger sisters, Ericka and Amelia.   Aged 18 he began attending the College for Transmutative Studies, where he excelled academically, and soon developed an interest in planar studies, a relatively niche area of research due to the broad lack of available information and barriers to practical research.   He was popular socially, known for his gregarious nature and deadpan sense of humour. He frequently hosted dinner parties in the rooms he rented near the College, and had a series of light romantic entanglements with both men and women.   He was acquaintances with Fala Sumaire, who was also studying at the College at this time, though they had differing interests and social circles.   He graduated to Professor at the College in 791OE, where he officially researched and taught Alchemy, but privately continued his research into the planes. During this time he developed the first of several planar maps and made his first trip to The Astral Sea via astral projection.   When he was 32 years old, the earliest cases of Phalemic Plague were identified in the city. The plague quickly spread, with many peers, colleagues, his parents and both sisters succumbing over the next three years. His sister Amelia, with whom he was closest, finally passed in 800OE.   Shortly afterwards he resigned his post at the College and left Avelin, travelling briefly to Holmir to access The Grand Letter for research, before drifting across the continent paying his way by offering minor magical solutions to problems in whichever town he was staying in.   He was 37 years old, and staying in Obane, when he realised he had developed Phalemic Plague. He continued to travel, managing the symptoms, for a further three years, until finally they became overwhelming and he sought convalescence at the Temple of Lathe in Cannis City.  

Undeath

Having not had a particularly religious upbringing, and developing no real interest in the gods beyond their connection to the Outer Planes, Alric had only broad knowledge of Lathe: primarily that their domain was death, and their larger temples doubled as sanctuaries for those on the cusp of it.   He was accepted into the temple, and given palliative care by the clerics for six days before he finally lost consciousness. Moments after his death, he was resurrected by Lathe as a baelnorn.   The clerics were unable to give him any explanation for this turn of events, other than that it meant Lathe had a purpose for him, which could be revealed at any time. Confused and distressed, he initially attempted to learn and devote himself to the rituals of the deity which had chosen him, but he found himself ultimately uncomfortable with the teachings of the temple. He left after a year to continue his travelling and research as before his death.  

Relationship with Ingram Sorrell

My dear Alric,
Pondered the issue we discussed all through the night - my teaching has suffered today, but think I may have stumbled upon a solution.
I attach part of the calculation for your perusal - could not send the whole for obvious reasons.
Please come and see me as soon as you return to town. A message in advance would be appreciated, so I can rearrange other appointments.
Yours as ever,
Ingram

Letter from Master Sorrell, found in Alric's home in Thain by The Folly

  In late 818OE Alric Kota travelled to Ulna, having heard that the Master of the College of Arcana based there was teaching planar studies. He sought an introduction, and the two quickly bonded over their shared interest, each intrigued and impressed by the other's theories.   Alric Kota soon found permanent rooms in Morsa, and after just a few months was mentoring advanced students, as arranged by Sorrell. They spent most days together, frequently working together on their research late into the night.   While some academics at the College were cool towards him - unhappy with his unofficial mentoring role, and the amount of time he was taking Sorrell away from the duties of his role - he was well liked by the students he interacted with, and developed a good friendship with some professors at the nearby College of History, and the College of Magical Research in Cannis City.   One late night in 821OE, Alric Kota decided to reveal his undeath to Sorrell. However, being unfamiliar with baelnorns, Sorrell misinterpreted the confession and believed Alric to be a lich: not only a moral taboo, but illegal within most of northern Tanera. They argued, and when Sorrell stated his intention to report Alric to the authorities, Alric panicked, knocking him unconscious with a sleep spell before fleeing with his book of research and a ring of memory on which Sorrell had recorded the planar map they had been developing.   He contacted Orla Garrib, a friend at the College of Magical Research, who agreed to help him use the Colleges' adjoining teleportation circles to escape to the mainland without detection (an act that would ultimately lose her her job). He took refuge briefly at the Temple of Lathe, arranged with a contact in Lady San's Network to have his research notes hidden in her vault, then left the city.   He lived for a time in Annbrook, then settled in Thain, until he was discovered by The Folly in 829OE.  

Relationship with The Folly

After stealing his research notes from Lady San's on Tolsta, The Folly were employed by Master Sorrell to find its owner, which they duly did.    

Residence at the Sumaire Mansion

He later aided The Folly in their defeat of Fala Sumaire.