Samuel Ward
Sam Ward
Samuel Ward is a scholar and researcher that serves under King Marcus of Selene. He is a Champion that possesses the power of Alchemy that allows him to change the chemical make up of objects. The Alchemy power can change the composition of a material to another material, as well as potentially reduce physical matter to its base form. In essence, water can be changed to wine, cloth can be changed to metal, and glass can be transmuted into sand. Because of his unique power, this led to him becoming the Royal Alchemist for Selene. In addition to this, Sam acts a researcher and is one of the foremost authorities on Champion powers.
CHARACTERIZATION
Sam grew up with a full and healthy upbringing with a father, mother and sister. While he would eventually be forced to leave his family, his warm and caring early life led to him having a well rounded and charismatic personality. Sam is very bright, with a curiosity for understanding that has led him to be quick witted and humorous. With the manifestation of his powers, he began his pursuit of knowledge which led to his interest in science and the alchemical arts. He would quickly learn to use his powers in an effort to help others.
When he was young, Sam gave his trust easily to authority figures. Furthermore, he was kind-hearted and eager to please. For this reason, people that he trusted, or those with power, tended to use him for personal gain. He was often seen as more of tool or a means to further the ends of those that would use him. Sam would eventually come to this realization after an incident that kills his mentor and leaves his hand badly burned. After this, Sam was much more cautious with using his powers and he made a vow to never use them for personal gain. He also grew to
He wishes to serve his lord but only through his own means.
While his desire to help others did not waver, he continued to use is powers for the discovery of knowledge and would hope to better the world. However, these noble aspirations manifest through Sam in unintended ways.
Sam had always sought to do things for the sake of others but because of this, he began to gauge his self worth solely by what he could offer. He would find fulfillment in contribution but would also fall into depression if he did not considered himself useful. He has trouble dealing with small setbacks if they are not furthering his own ends or the ends of others.
It is for this reason that Sam will second guesses himself and
will seek to understand the intentions of others.
BACKSTORY
Samuel Ward discovered his powers at an early age when he attempted to reproduce medicine for his ailing father, Keaton. His family came from a line of farmers in Istoria and his father worked in the fields tending crops. When his father became ill, his mother Sharon, used what little money they had to purchase medicine that would help with the symptoms. The money and the medicine did not last long and the family was struggling further from taxes enacted by the local Lord. Sam took it upon himself to create a potion of similar ingredients to the medicine. He stole a book from the town apothecary despite not knowing how to read. He worked to try and understand the chemical composition through the drawings and pictures but this only got him so far. The last two ingredients were not something he could understand and Sam was frustrated by his lack of knowledge and literacy.
However, in Sam’s increasing desperation to save his father he instead wished that they simply had enough money to buy more medicine. He did this while holding his failed potion and suddenly it turned into gold. Fascinated and bewildered by his discovery, he attempted to learn more of what his “wishes” could do. He soon realized that he could change a wooden spatula into a silver spoon. Soon after, Sam sold the expensive creations that he fashioned for money to afford the medicine that his father needed. It saved his father’s life but word of Sam’s talents began spread. This was well before Champions were a known entity and his parent’s feared persecution of their son.
The Kingdom of Veiland was soon swept over by a mysterious plague and Miridian was currently in disarray from the fall of the Sanguine Empire. Despite this, Sam was no longer safe in Istoria. He was then taken under the care of his uncle, Byron Ward and was sent away toward Miridian.
The people of the central kingdom were experiencing many hardships because of the disarray following the Empress’s death, and subsequent takeover of the Emerald King. Byron Ward was the owner of a failing tavern in Aglaea and struggled to put food on the table for himself and his wife Greta. However, they still welcomed Sam into their home. Sam would work diligently in the tavern to pull his weight. Greta also worked in the tavern and helped Byron with finances and ledgers.
Soon after, a man named Heron Daima visited the tavern on his travels toward Veiland. Sam became interested in the man due to a book he carried that detailed the science of alchemy. Heron Daima was a scholar that apparently studied the discipline. After this, Sam became much more interested in learning about his powers and was drawn more to the science. It was during this time that Greta found him several books to help Sam learn to read. In addition, Sam still had with him the book of medicine that he stole from the apothecary in Istoria, which he also studied.
Byron initially knew nothing of why Sam was sent to live with him but eventually discovered Sam’s abilities when the young man confided in his aunt and turned a bronze Rune to a Silver coin. Byron was taken aback by this but saw it as an opportunity. His nephew could help remove the tavern from debt.
Sam was initially hesitant, simply wanting to help his uncle and repay him for taking him in. Despite Greta’s protests, Sam once more would to alter the metal of received coins and the tavern began to thrive. However, Byron would soon grow further and further into debt as the tavern began to pick up. It also drew the attention of a great many unsavory folk.
COLLECTOR OF Miridian
One day, a man that worked for the Magistrate of Aglaea, came to the tavern and demanded payment on Byron’s debt. The Debt Collector was a strange man that seemed to relish in his collection duties. However, it was even more curious in that he seemed to have a reputation for knowing what people were thinking. The man came in and had a drink of ale before calling Byron for his debt. The Collector somehow knew that there was not enough, as well as the exact sum of money that Byron had. The Collector then asked Sam where the money was. Sam feigned ignorance but all of a sudden had the urge to tell the man where it was. It almost felt like a voice in his own head that justified revealing the location of the money. For some reason, he saw an image in his head, of the man stabbing Byron. Sam then revealed where the coins were.
The Collector found the money and was satisfied. Although it was not enough, he made it known that he would return within the next week to collect the rest or he would take the Tavern. On his way out, Sam saw the man twirl a small knife in his hand, the same knife that Sam saw in his brief vision.
Sam apologized to Byron about revealing the location of the Rune but Byron was not angry with him. He knew that it was not his fault, that the Collector somehow knew things that he couldn’t. Sam noted that something compelled him to speak. He had suddenly felt compelled to reveal the location of the money, believing that the man would hurt his uncle.
Byron asked for Sam to change more coins into silver Rune to pay the debt before weeks end, lest they take the tavern. Sam was unsure about transmuting such a large amount seeing as how it only furthered his uncle’s debts. Byron would remind his nephew that he took him in when he had no one else but Sam still refused to change the coins into a higher denomination. Byron grew angry and would then tell Sam that he was no longer welcome in his home if he would not alter the coins. Greta consoled Sam and told him that he needs to follow what he believes is right. She would speak with Byron to try and persuade him from sending Sam away.
Sam for his part would take this time to research more about the Collector and would deduce that he seemed to have a power that would allow him to almost read the minds of others. In addition to this, those around him would claim to be prone to suggestion, as if an idea came into their heads on their own. It appeared the Collector was similar to Sam in regards to a mysterious abilities they possessed. Furthermore, there were whispers of others with supernatural abilities, such as a young man in Veiland that could lift a bull over his head. This was both frightening and exciting to Sam, who up until this point had not known of anyone like him. Sam reviewed his apothecary book and found what he needed to help his uncle.
The day came when the Collector returned. Byron offered him what money he had but the Collector was disinterested in it now. He stated that he knew it would not be enough and was there to take the tavern to cover the debt. Byron pleaded with the man who only asked for a pint of ale. Greta poured the ale but Sam took it from her. He then used his power to change the ale into a concoction of arsenic trioxide and antihecticum poterri, which he learned from his book. This caused the Collector to immediately begin to hallucinate upon drinking the liquid. The Collector began to make a scene and pulled his knife out attempting to defend himself from nothing in particular. Others looked on as the Collector created such commotion that he had to be subdued by the locals. He was then taken by the sheriff to the Magistrate to answer for his behavior. Due to his episode and continued mental state, the Collector was subsequently stripped of his duties and titles thereafter.
After this, Sam had decided to leave of his own accord. He left Aglaea without saying goodbye to his aunt or uncle, with only a letter that thanked them for all they had done. The next day, Byron found that his bronze coins from his Rune chest were all gold, a last gift from Sam to cover the debt on the tavern.
Sam was 17 when he set out on his own to seek further knowledge of his powers as well as those of others like him. A term that was now gaining popularity among people like himself was Champions and he eventually heard more of the newly appointed High Champion of Selene and he knew where to go to find his answers as well as where he could do the most good. Sam would travel for nearly two years, researching and seeking knowledge before making his way toward Veiland to find Heron Daima and request tutelage from him.
ALCHEMICAL APPRENTICE
Samuel Ward came under the employ of the crown of Veiland two years after the inception of Champions and the induction of Michael Mithose as the first High Champion. He initially came to Selene to better understand Champions like himself and wished to become the apprentice of Heron Daima. Heron Daima would be very reluctant to take on an apprentice initially. It was not until Sam showed him his powers of Alchemy that Daima knew that the young man could prove useful in his own research. Sam began his tutelage under the Royal Alchemist Heron Daima who saw Sam as a tool for his own means.
Daima had long sought the creation of what was considered the Panacea, the Elixer of Life that could heal all wounds. This involved using rare and uncommon materials in the creation of the Elixer. However, Daima was frustrated by failure, being unable to reliably find an abundance of the necessary materials or actually synthesize the Panacea. This was until Sam came to him and was able to create the necessary ingredients with his power. Daima took Sam under his wing and the young man was eager to learn all that he could, an opportunity to learn more about himself. Sam began to learn everything he could from the aging alchemist.
Sam was 19 when he met Aletheia, the young princess of Selene and the two became very close. Sam had always had a great interest in understanding the practicalities of powers and would work extensively with Aletheia and the newly appointed High Champion, Michael Mithose. Over the years, the trio grew closer as they studied the benefits and limitations to their powers. Sam found that there are drawbacks and limitations to using powers successively over time, including his own. It was Sam that helped Michael find the limits of his powers as well as the deterioration of his joints. It was also Sam and Aletheia that discovered the differing outcomes of the princess’s power that changed with who she touched. Aletheia, for her part, saw Sam and Michael as the two older brothers that she never had and this greatly helped with her positive outlook on life.
Although Sam and Daima worked extensively with the new High Champion to discover his potential, it was not long after that Daima would soon become engrossed in his own work. Due to the plague called White Eye that had spread throughout Veiland, Heron Daima grew even more obsessed with creating an Elixer of Life. Through a mysterious manuscript that he had obtained years ago, the Alchemist began to see that replication of Champion powers seemed to hold the secret to creating the Panacea.
Eventually it came to the point where Sam was being used more and more in the service of Heron Daima, despite his power’s limitations on the body. Successive use of Sam’s power was detrimental to his health. Furthermore, Daima was becoming increasing desperate in his concoctions. This would lead to an accident that killed Heron Daima and severely burned Sam’s left hand.
It was not long after the incident, that Sam discovered that his mentor was following the notes left in a book called the Shakti Manuscript. He recognized the manuscript as the same book he had seen Daima with at the tavern several years prior. In it, were detailed notes and drawings from Daima that transcribed his search of the Panacea, which used something called the Prima Materia. The Prima Materia is apparently the blood of a human being which contains the chemical composition of the first vessels of humanity. It was not the only ingredient but was one of the main components in supposedly creating the Panacea. Unknown to both Sam or Daima, at the time, was that it was this discovery of the Prima Materia that allowed for the creation of what was known to be called a Resonating Artifact by Simon Perish.
The Shakti Manuscript’s last pages indicated that the work on the Artifact was never completed by the author but Daima had come close. Sam abandoned the Panacea and instead opted to continue the work to create the Resonating Artifact and replicate the powers of Champions.
STOLEN MOON
During the next few weeks, Aletheia and John Noble grow closer while he is the head of security at The Crescent Keep. John also becomes friends with Sam and the three of them spend their days together. Sam researches Champions and has become an authority on Powers. He is also a Champion in that his power can alter the chemical and elemental makeup of material which he has termed as Alchemy. Sam helped Aletheia with much of her understanding of her own powers which is how she was able to turn the Black Jester to Diamond.
The story of their escape is something Sam is very interested in and is fond of hearing of John's journey so far. It is here that Sam shows John his creation of Empowered Artifacts that allow others to use the powers derived from Champions. Most of his research on Artifacts is continued from the Shakti Manuscript that he had obtained after the fall of the Sanguine Empire. Most of these notes were written by someone named Arka Mitra.
Sam furthered his research and created several Artifacts derived from his own Alchemy power. He demonstrates it by allowing John to use one to change water into wine. John also notices that he has notes on the chemical makeup of several things including an explosive.
As soon as John becomes accustomed to his role as Head of the Princess Guard, word comes to Veiland that the Southern Nation of Visperad has come under attack. The Sultan had been taken prisoner by a Champion known as the Djinn. They have asked for Veiland's help to send the Lunar Guard. The King is compelled to help Veiland's ally but is troubled that Veiland has no High Champion yet. He fears the nation would be seen as weak if they don't send a High Champion to assist them.
Furthermore, John Noble insists that since the Princess's abduction, Selene's security should be a higher priority. He volunteers to go to help as an emissary for the King. He will go and learn more about the situation first with a small regiment of soldiers while Veiland's forces are assembled but stay in Selene. He will send word if they will be needed. Sam also sees this as an opportunity to learn more about Champions from the South and elects to accompany John on his journey. Princess Aletheia sees John Noble and Sam off the next day. She hugs both of them as they leave with the small company of Veiland soldiers.
Aletheia immediately goes to the Archives to search for the Veiland Compendium that Abigail had mentioned. She is unable to locate it at first but finds that the Veiland Compendium had been checked out but never returned by the Royal Alchemist. The Alchemist is Sam's mentor who died several years ago in an alchemical accident that killed him and almost killed Sam who was burned severely on his right hand. She finds the compendium in his lab after investigating some of Sam's latest experiments.