Kaelen has walked the shadowed roads longer than most caravans have lasted. He knows the safe trails through the wilds, the rivers that rise without warning, and the places where no sane man lingers. His caution is not cowardice—it is survival. He has seen what the Cursed Roots do: how they spread like veins beneath the earth, rotting the soil and corrupting all who dare linger too close.

Knowledge of the Roots:
The roots are no simple blight. They breathe a foulness into the ground and whisper to the unwary. Those who touch them or take what grows near them become… less themselves. Kaelen knows the landmarks that mark their spread: blackened trees, sunken earth, and stones that weep pitch. He knows the signs and keeps others away, though many mistake his warnings for superstition.

Personality & Traits:

• Cautious, always scouting ahead, never reckless.

• Speaks plainly, sometimes with a gruff edge, but not unkind.

• Trust is slow-earned, but once given, unshakable.

• Keeps maps—detailed and hand-marked with routes others fear to tread.

• Carries tokens of those he could not save, as a reminder of the dangers ignored.

Role in a Party / Story:

• Guide: He ensures safe passage, knows hidden paths, and steers travelers clear of danger.

• Warning Voice: The first to sense when danger is near, often clashing with reckless companions.

• Moral Weight: His knowledge of the cursed roots makes him a natural adviser against greed and hubris.

Example Dialogue Hooks:

• “The road ahead is shorter, aye—but the ground there is hollow. You’ll hear it groan beneath your boots before it swallows you whole.”

• “I’ve seen the roots take a man. His skin blistered, his eyes turned black, and he smiled… gods help me, he smiled as it consumed him.”

• “Follow my steps. Not beside them, not ahead of them. My way keeps you alive. Yours gets you buried.”