The Curse of Immortality

No one knows where Payne Valkor came from—not even Payne himself. His earliest memory is of fire. He remembers flames consuming everything around him, unbearable pain, and then darkness. When he awoke amidst the ruins of a destroyed village, half of his face had been horrifically burned. Yet somehow he survived. As he watched in horror, the ruined flesh began repairing itself, slowly stitching itself back together as though it were alive. Over time, Payne discovered that he could not truly die. Blades, disease, fire, and even mortal wounds could destroy his body, but sooner or later his flesh would regenerate and restore him. He has no idea where this power came from or why he possesses it. The fire took more than his face. It shattered nearly all memory of his past. He remembers no family, no home, and no life before the flames. Only scattered fragments remain—brief images and feelings that never form a complete picture. To conceal his scars, Payne wears a porcelain mask over the burned side of his face. Over the years it has become part of his identity. With no past to return to and no loved ones to guide him, Payne wanders the world as a mercenary, monster hunter, and adventurer. He searches ancient ruins, forgotten libraries, and dangerous lands for any clue about who he once was. His greatest goal is to recover his lost memories—or, failing that, build a new life worth remembering. Payne is willing to do whatever is necessary to uncover the truth. Whether it means serving kings, hunting monsters, exploring cursed ruins, or spilling blood, he refuses to stop searching. After all, if he cannot remember who he was, then he must decide who he will become.