Valas is just generally odd.

Even though the mechanics show him to be a multiclass - Mage/Cleric - he's really more of just a Spellcaster. The player has come up with an interesting interpretation of magic which is rather shamanistic in view. Thus, it doesn't matter if one is a mage or a priest, magic is magic and it all works the same with different ends. Hmmm... how to explain this? Well, for Valas, magic is actually a series of semi-intelligent creatures known as Motes. Magical Spells are cast by mages speaking to the motes and convincing them to perform some kind of action. Valas can cast spells with any component other than Verbal because he is aware of the Motes and speaks their "pure" language, rather than the "pig-latin" of all other spellcasters.

Also, as more and more Motes gather together (as for the higher-level spells), the also gain in intelligence and complexity. The character actually worships Magic itself as a sentient, if very alien, being. "The Great Meta-Pattern" is how this character's "god" is referred to. Of course, I use the quotes since the character is an Athar. I have decided that this Meta-Pattern (a living, sentient, inifinitely huge fractal) is the Great Unknown of that Faction. Plus, this Power's home realm is the as-yet undiscovered Ordial Plane (see Jon's Mimir); which can be visited via the crude representation known in legends as "The Isle of Black Trees".

Now, as if this unique, home-brew class wasn't enough, Valas' race is also rather unusual. He is a Magmadrow; which is supposed to be a nastier version of normal Drow. The Magmadrow were created by Lolth herself in an effort to increase her power status by having more followers. These Drow were created to live in the incredibly harsh environs of a planet's molten core. Unfortunately, her plans backfired. (See Valas' In-Character text and Prelude for more information.) Thus, the character is on the run from Lolth and practically all Drow in existence.

The initial plots for this character involved this Hunted status. Only three Magmadrow survived: Valas, his fellow student Sabrar, and thier mentor Gelroos. Sabrar and Gelroos were captured by two other Drow gods in hopes that their knowledge could be used to defeat Lolth. Of course, Lolth also wanted these escapees to complete her revenge. Thus, she has turned all of the other Magmadrow into Undead Driders and sent them out to find the three missing ones and kill them. While this sounds neat, Planecape makes this plot all too real and very disrupting. So, we've decided to remove the problem - but in a manner fitting Planescape. (I can't really post the summary of this plot just yet. We're about to start playing it real soon now.) Once the problem is removed, the character will be a little simplier and a bit more fun to play.

At present, the only other plot I have in the mix for Valas involves the character's long-term goal - to become a Proxy of Magic. I think this is a worthy, if a extravagent, goal for a character to have. So, I'm going to let it happen. Naturally, it will be after many years' of testing and service and the like. (Come on, while I may run high-level and vast plot games, I don't skimp on anything. This will be a quest worthy of the goal and the setting.)