Eric wanted to be a barkeep, like his father. He wanted only to run the inn and enjoy the small slice of life that he had. He didn't dream of adventure or power, his dreams were much smaller and humble.

Those dreams were never to be, as the bastard son of Lord EarthScorn, he had a Knack and that meant he would have to be trained as a wizard for the council. He would have to defend the kingdom from the evils of the outer world. Magic came with benefits; power, long life, money. But Eric didn't want any of that. His time in the magical academy only reinforced his views of magic and the kingdom. He didn't want to fight for old men who had lived far longer then they should have. He didn't want to be relegated to far-flung outposts where he would protect those same men. But the alternative was potentially worse, fleeing from the wars, fleeing from his home, and escaping through the most dangerous place in the kingdom.

The Underdark. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]