Melchior Vanz
Description
The ancient sagacity of Melchior Vanz gives the shedu a philosophical air of invulnerability. Of course, that's partly fed by his natural invisibility. When he's seen, however, his dark-brown eyes depict his magical prowess and his winged, equine body defines divine status. His pegasus-like body is about eight and a half feet long, his hide well-groomed and pure white. His flowing mane matches his hide, though his hooves match the color of his eyes. His impressive wingspan of twenty feet is often furled when Melchior is grounded; regardless, the dove-grey beauty of those appendages is hard to ignore. If prepared to seat a companion (often for battle), a fine leather saddle occupies his broad back and mystically-inscribed silver guards his forelegs just above the hooves. The appearance of a pegasus ends at Melchior's head, of course. The shedu's head is not horse-like at all. In fact, it's human in nature and handsome in form. Melchior's expression is mature and wise. His furrowed brow boasts an imbedded, pierced jewel in the center like a third eye: a silver crest of Uná. His attractive features boast a fine trimmed beard as dark-brown as his eyes; his head is bald and smooth. The shedu's face focuses all of that celestial wisdom into a compelling visage that declares one thing: evil shall not be tolerated.
History
Melchior Vanz was brought into this world by two mated shedus in the Cort Mountains of Hale 128 years ago. They barely began to raise the colt when evil befell their small family, even as aloof and hidden as they were. An evil cabal of dark mages slaughtered Melchior's parents and captured him to add to their twisted designs. They took tissue samples from his body and waited the years it would take for him to mature. Then they intended to force Melchior to breed. As time ticked on, Melchior resisted the corrupting influence of this penned-up life among other captured beasts and monsters by keeping to the purity of faith in the goodness of the earth, as his parents instructed.
When the time came for the cabal to force more degrading treatment on the shedu, he rebelled justly. In a flurry of pent-up wrath, Melchior broke past the dark wizards and their monstrous warders. He fled their keep in Verdentia and fled north to Hale, drawn to his homeland by instinct. Melchior flew far until he came across an abandoned temple dedicated to Uná on the highest summit of the Red Cloud Hills. There he settled for a time, meditating and communing until the heavens sent him a vision. Uná herself appeared in his waking dreams, revealing his path. Go to Elan, she commanded, and bring her blessings and guidance to the heroes of the Trachen Woods. So the shedu spread his wings and flew to the east.
Personality
Melchior Vanz is a well-tested shedu. Yet the suffering he's survived has only added to his wisdom, virtue, and relentless drive. Melchior also toughened physically, becoming a tireless warrior for good. His wary and apprehensive behavior is offset by his holy and celestial faith at least. Now he's intent on saving others from being victimized in the same way. While he doesn't seek revenge per se against the cabal that captured him and murdered his parents, Melchior does seek them out, too. After all, they're a known evil that needs to be stopped.
Goals
Melchior is a crusading protector of all things pure and true, especially nature and its beasts. Because of that connection, he will never follow the Paladin class. No, he will be content to follow the Cleric class to mastery (20th level) and then probably take up the Prestige Class of Hierophant.
Character Sheet