As told to Valnis Almavir by Barelisser himself.

  Brother Barelisser of the Andarian temple at Wisternis is now, in the year 8484 of the Elven Standard, over 793 years old and in excellent health. He complains of weakness and occasional pain in his legs but otherwise faithfully performs his duties managing the gardens at the temple.

  Barelisser was born in Eithior, near the Talas Mountains, to Hanor and Telbrine Luennariel. His parents were respected elders of Eithior from their mid-life onwards and he was the second of their four children. His sister Paratil followed in their parents' footsteps, helping to govern the city. One of his younger brothers, Hanilmar, journeyed to Ilgamir and became an officer in the city guard. The other, Tamilis, had academic talent and eventually joined the school of Ummur in Ilgamir, to study laws and governments.

  Barelisser chose to travel in his young days, ranging as far as the city of Immannis and even the coastal city of Talfest, where he lived for several decades enjoying its carefree and sometimes chaotic atmosphere. He worked in the famed taverns and inns of the city during that time. When the family that ruled Talfest failed to produce an heir the city entered a period of upheaval, and Barelisser decided it was time to leave.

  While traveling through the Dalamere Forest Barelisser met Rosemay Grenfell, a quiet half-elven woman who kept a tavern on the road. He could not keep her out of his mind and after three days away, walked back to the inn to court her. They married and had a son together, named Daniel, and Barelisser and Rosemay ran the tavern until her death some eighty years later. Daniel had strong elven features and magical abilities and went to live in the city of Jarish as a crafter of magical items. Barelisser keeps in his pocket a gemstone enchanted by Daniel that will project an image of the family in their tavern upon command.

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  Barelisser outlived Daniel, a fact that still saddens him. He is grateful he could care for Daniel during his last days in Jarish. After that Barelisser came back to The Wild, but felt he was not worthy to return to his youthful home, having rejected service for adventure. Instead he walked The Wild's length seeking respite from his grief. He eventually decided to visit the Yotnirine, thinking travel within the foreign, dangerous lands of the giants would be the easiest way to jolt himself out of misery.

  It was the temple garden in Wisternis that stopped him. He arrived during a brutal, windy rainstorm, slept, and awoke to a clear, sunny day. The garden was full of downed branches, and he helped to clear it before he departed. Then he saw the damage to the raniscus plants. The yellow raniscus were Rosemay's favorite flowers and he could never pass one without thinking of her. In happier times he had planted them every year at the tavern so Rosemay could enjoy them.

  And so it came to be that Barelisser, some two hundred years ago, ended his travels in Wisternis and became a brother of the temple. He explained the temple gardener accepted his help without question. After three months the High Priest invited him to join the order, even though he had never been a soldier or even a follower of Andar the Protector. And so, he stayed and began to feel better about his place in the world. Now he believes he is living up to his family's reputation for service and honor. He has since learned his youngest brother Tamilis still lives in Ilgamir and they send each other letters regularly, as both are now too frail to journey to see each other.