"Rejected Idea 4: The Man of Legend"

  A.k.a., the mysterious man.  This is the original concept for him.  One thing to note is that originally, opening a portal for even a few seconds was a very taxing experience to the point that it could not be done more than one time per day.

  Another character, that will join the story much later, is one I have yet to name.

  He was born longer ago than anyone in that realm tends to live.  He was orphaned at a young age.  I have not decided if I will have him have a brother that he lost contact with before being orphaned.

  I was toying with the idea of having the main bad guy be his brother, but it is a little cliché.  Not sure how I'll work that.

  Anyway, after being orphaned, he (not the brother, if there is one) lives for just a little while as a street urchin, stealing his food, and picking a pocket or two, though not with the greatest of skill.

  One day he tries to pick the pocket of a person who just happens to be, essentially, a martial arts master and a master of weapons.  He's a good man, and takes the boy in.  The boy learns for many years, until the master is either killed, or dies from old age.

  The character then leaves town in search for a new master.  He decided to learn all he can.  Over the many years, he joins many different people, learning physical and mental skills.  He eventually acquires enough mental skill, and has the right mental attitude, so that his age doesn't show.

  It didn't suddenly disappear, but his thinking young, or perhaps more accurately, just not think of himself as getting older, he did not take on the usual appearances of others his own age.

  For reasons I've not yet decided, he eventually moved to live alone in forest that very few people ever come to.  The man is a legend, though.  Many say he is dead, many say he's a demigod, and there would be other beliefs about him.  Some people have also tried to find him, but no one ever has.

  He lives alone in the forest, and spends a lot of his time meditating and increasing his mental abilities.  This man has become something incredible.

  Some examples of the extent of his abilities.  He can open a portal, and keep it open for many minutes, and just be a little tired afterward.  He could open a portal twice in one day, and need only a serious night's sleep to recover.

  He's mastered physical control over his body.  He's highly skilled with weapons, and he's very quick and agile.  With one sword, he could quickly go through 20 enemies without even breaking a sweat.

  Understand, though, he is a person of peace.  He does not kill if he can help it.  How he comes into play, in the story, is that my character and the group will come in search of him to ask his help.

  Sensha, being an intelligent, intuitive, creature of nature, as well as hearing all the legends about him, manages to figure out where to find him.

  They will arrive at the edge of the clearing, where his house is, and they will find him sitting on the ground, meditating.  He will be able to sense their presence, but will ignore them.  Sensha, understanding a lot about what kind of person he is, tells everyone to stay while she approaches him further.

  She walks up quietly, and kneels down about ten feet from him, lowers her head, and just waits.  She has a tremendous respect for this man.  He soon finishes his meditation, and looks at her, admiring the respect she has given.

  She somehow senses that he is ready to hear her, so she looks up and begins her explanation and request.  He will non-verbally agree to join them.

  Through the whole story, he may speak all of three or four sentences.  During any small sword fights the group may encounter, he will remain veritably unseen in the background, in his hooded cloak, and not get involved in any of the fights, unless he is actually needed, and he is good at quickly sizing people up, so he will know ahead of time if he will actually need to get involved.