Atlas

Atlas [Fullname: Atlas "Jorah" Brandteis] is a monk human for DnD and similar Tabletops RPG's. He values harmony and often balances out his teammates behaviour. He often tries to handle things non violently, but sometimes he cannot say no to a fight, the adrenaline kick being just too sweet.

Birth and early childhood (0 - ~2 y/o)
Atlas was born in a city close to Barovia to his half-elven mother and Vistani father. Since his mother was an adventurer and held dangerous jobs his parents decided he would be safer with his father, who returned to Barovia. He lifed away from the other Vistani since he decided his partner to be someone outside of their circle. While it was mostly safe where he decided to settle down, he was still murdered in a hateful attack by Van Richden, who wanted to avenge his murdered son. Facing Atllas, who slept through the attack, he did not have the heart to hurt him and instead brought him to another group of Vistani, who took care of him for the time being.

They decided to bring him back to the city his father was last met with his mother, to search for her. A young Vistani called Stanimir volunteered to search for her and brought Atlas outside of Barovia.

The City faced a huge problem of kids going missing at the time, unknown to Stanimirs and in a moment of absence Atlas fell victim to one of the groups in question. Stanimir had no chance of finding him again and reatreated back to his family, heartbroken.

Being stolen adopted (~2 - ~8y/o)
His adoptive soon to be adoptive parents where in the city at the time as well, on the search for new jobs and lodging. While scouting the area they found Atlas in a room with suspicious looking adults and decided to keep an eye on them. When they saw the care- and loveles behaviour towards him they decided to kidnap him, unaware of the fact they were already kidnapers. They didn't have a plan so at first they took him with them on their jobs but they soon realized taking a tiny kid with them wasnt a good idea. They then proceed to settle down in the woods, not to faar away from a small village.

Atlas does not remember any of the prior incidents and fro then on lived a relatively happy life with his two dads. They taught him to be cautious, but he never really took it too much to heart. He played with the other village kids, who often thought he might be a fairy that would try to lure them into the woods or somethign similar. He always made sure to not lead anyone to his house, but he was never really aware why. He felt loved and both dad made sure to keep it that way, and to keep him safe. After all, he was the reason they settled down and took on less dangerous jobs they did prior.

All was well until one day while playing Atlas sensed a stong smell in the air. The wood he lived in was on fire and it was spreading fast. In panic he tried to get back to his house but the fire cut of the way there and cornerig him, strting to give him burns on hands and feet. He ran throught the forest and jumped into the nerby river, which safed his life but also left him unconcious

His Time at the Temple (~8 until late teens)
When he came back to conciousness he woke up to a small group of young monks. The teacher of the group saved him out of the fire and nursed him while he was asleep, treating his wounds and making sure he was okay. He asked Atlas for his name and where he came from. Atlas just answered with his name, but for his home he just took a frantic look around. The group had withdrawn to a mountain and Atlas coud look where the woods he grew up in have been once. Everything had burned down. The teacher introduced himself as monk Liao and offered him to take him along. Atlas took that offer in the assuption that is dads would not have survived the fire and spend the journey back to the temple mourning. In this time he also made friends with a tiefling his age called Aysun and a Triton named Tahoe who was a couple years ahead of them. Tahoe was very motivated in the ways of the monks, while Atlas and Aysun where both joineing the temple in a time of need. Atlas looked up to him but also realised very sun after they got back to the temple, that Tahoes goals seemed to be very diffrent than his own.

Atlas struggled in the Temple alot. While his mentor He Liao was very patient with him and encouraged Atlas all he could, alot of the teachers in Temple - where more old fashioned. Everytime Atlas did not listen or he did something wrong he was punished. THis often included copying scriptures over and over, which made him even less intressted in lessons than he already was. Even the practical classes that thought the kids martial arts were hart for him, since the classes where so incredibly big. And with Atlas soon entering his teens it didn't get much better. He got more and more distracted by other male classmates, making him realise he was gay.

In between punishments and classes he hang around with his mentor alot. He tought Atlas privately and alone, which worked alot better and made him catch up to the other monks, at least in the martial art department. Reading and learning scruptires still wasn't his thing and he got punished regularly for it.

The older he got, the more he caught himself staring into the distance from his room, wishing to not be chained to the temple. Tahoe watched that behaviour with worried eyes but did not say anything, while Aysun seemed to have an understanding of that.

Another thing that bothered Atlas was the way his puberty went. He was aware of his gender very early and everyone around him was acceptant of him, but that didn't stop Dyphoria from creeping up. One Day he went out to the fields that nourished the inhibbitants of the temple and he attempted to do surgery on himself. Obviously this went wrong and he almost bled out there. Luckily Aysun realised he was missing in time and found him getting help. At the time they had a paladin with extraordinary healing powers and surgical knowledge, she saved his life, even though it was close and was even able to safe the right side of his chest. The left side was heavily damaged and she didher best to patch it up, but it left some heavy scaring. Atlas is very insecure about it, thinking it makes him ugly and consequently unlovable. He in general has alot of thoughts in that direction regarding his trans-ness, even though he never admits this.

Aysun tried to support him even more after this incident with Atlas being visibly traumatised. Tahoe tried to get them both back on track and be more of flagship-monks, while also showing them kindness opposed to many of their elders. While Atlas wasn't offically outracised or bullied alot of the older Monks and Clerics in the temple werent very happy with his identety, way of living and attitude. They preached that the most important thing is devotion to their scriptures, principles and god. Atlas not beliving in any deity, even rightout claiming he believed there were no such thing as gods didn't help his case either.

While Aysun and Atlas bonded more and more over their growing dislike for their current home they got closer. After all they were in their late teens and wanted to try out things. It started with soft kisses they both enjoyed. While it wasn't outright forbidden to have sex both of them knew it wouldn't be accepted by their surrounding. Not to mention the thin walls and shared rooms. So they snuk around the temple at night to have some piece and quiet while making out. They only tried it a few times when they were caught, in the sanctuary of the temple. Atlas knew they would expell both of them if they just said the truth, which Atlas wanted to prevent. While Aysun felt like leaving the monestary he always said how scared he was of being expelled, since he had to live with alot of discrimination prior his integration into the temple. Atlas then claimed to have seduced and pressured him into this situation which lead to him be expelled alone the next day.

Seclusion & New Friends (late teens until Adventure of Barovia)
After being expelled Atlas decided to live alone from the produce of the woods. He wandered around, searching for good places too live, and eventually went to villages to search for work in exchange for food.

On one occasion he ended up in a magical forest. He was trying to find a place to set up his camp as portals opened up around him. through the first one came a orange, sparkly looking dog. They both exchanged looks, mostly in confusion until they were interrupted by more portals opening up, from which a bunch of diffrent aggravated mobs came through. They both fought until safe enough and ran away before more portals turning up. Atlas thanked the dog for helping and said he would go his way. The dog however wouldn't stop following him, so Atlas joked around that then he would have to give him a name. The dog promptly started wagging its tail. Surprised by how intelligent the dog was, Atlas was dumbfounded. He went through some names and settles with Ravi, which the dog seemed to like. Since then they developed a strong relationship, Ravi works essentially as a support dog when Atlas get anxious or his traumas get triggered.