Applethorn was born in the Cyrengreen Forest, at the base of Cyrios mountains to nomadic Bright
Ember elf tribe. Applethorn received his name after being born in an apple tree, under the rare phenomenon of a full Catha and Ruidius moon, an ancient sign of greatness to come after much strife. These circumstances caused the elder Village leader, Ryo Jolana to prophecy, by Ruidius’s light, that Applethorn would suffer great loss in his life, which would set him on a course to greatness. He would become immoveable force for good, “a thorn in the enemies side”, and banish the darkness back to the depths.

Applethorn has lived his life looking for opportunities to fulfill the prophecy, even though he spent his days hunting in the thicket to provide for his tribe. Applethorn enjoys his time in nature, communing with the animals and the foliage of the forest. In the last 50 years, the growth of the Dwendalian Empire has caused them to begin deforesting the forest for their expansion of territories and war machines, forcing Applethorn to hunt further outside the forest and causing more and more disruptions to the monstrous denizen’s of the forest and forcing the various tribes and villages to gather closer together in the center of the forest.

Due to their new proximity, leadership of the Forest has become more finite and Applethorn was asked to take on more leadership duties in the tribe. Ryo believes that the loss of the thicket is the great loss that was prophesied and that his leading the tribe will take him to greatness. However, even when a possibility of fulfilling the prophecy is put in front of him, it doesn’t feel right. Applethorn and his family agree that something greater is waiting for him. His parents encourage Applethorn to leave the Forest, searching for his purpose and ensuring the prophecy doesn’t go unfulfilled. As a parting gift, his father gave him the longsword that he used in combat against the Durig’s Armies in the war for Tal’Dorei centuries ago, the twin to Applethorn’s own blade.

In the time since leaving, Applethorn has explored the Eastern edge of the Menagerie coast, through the Cyrios Forest, Wuyun Gorge, and Quoraska Jungle, assisting forest villages, trading and hunting with them, or taking on odd jobs for money or supplies, all while looking for the prophecy. The closest thing that came to prophecy relation was when Applethorn was guiding a caravan through the Quoraska Jungle and passed a large ruin of undetermined origin: three large black obelisks stood together in a triangle with rusted chains crossing between them. This site seemed to call to Applethorn as he passed, pulling at something deep and old inside of him that seemed to echo darkness. Unfortunately, the caravan was not interested in stopping by a creepy ruin and Applethorn moved on.

When they arrived at their destination, a village on the edge of the jungle, Applethorn was conscripted to assist the high priest of the Moon Weaver in recovering a holy item of their temple that was stolen by a pirate, Renar halfling, in a recent raid. They absconded on a ship out of Nicodranas, but have not returned in a fortnight. Without this relic, the clergy’s healing abilities are severely limited. However, they are able to track the relic and show that it has been brought back to Wildemount and is currently in Port Dimali. Unfortunately, this means that he is likely looking to trade it and if it makes it into the hands of a Tal’Dorei or Marquet collector, their village will not be able to protect itself from illness. In exchange for returning it, the clerics offer to enchant Applethorns bow and swords so that they cannot be damaged or broken non-magically; the swords won’t chip or go dull, and the bow’s shaft and string can’t snap.

The priest gives Applethorn a scroll that will allow him to cast locate object when he arrives in Port Dimali and he sets off, chartering a small vessel out of Nicodranas to Port Dimali, along with a quiet Owlin clutching a medallion.