Description
Aside from the dirt, twigs and other organic matter caked onto this
wood-elf's body, his most remarkable feature is his eyes. They demand
attention: The irises are bright golden discs, and the whites of his eyes are
pink and bloodshot. They're framed by ivory skin stained red and brown, with
dried droplets of old blood trailing down his cheeks. But the sickly
appearance of his eyes is contrasted by a strange look of determination -
almost angry, but calm. Frantic scratches mar what you can see of his back,
marks he earned hunting for prey or lust. His hair, the color of willow bark,
hangs in gleeful tangles down his neck. His lithe, sinewy body bears scars
and a deep tan, even for one of sylvankind.
Role
Chapter Three: A Free Spirit
Added Sat Oct 25 15:43:16 2008 at level 37:
Gravan enjoys the chase.
While his prey scramble over the rough terrain, he glides. He lets it do much
of the work for him.
Then, when they're vulnerable, he pounces, satisfied by a gush of blood.
And when it's all over, he takes some time to think. For his intellect is
natural, and to waste it would be untrue to himself. Intellectualism is
generally thought to be a product of civilization. But Gravan knows such a
line of thought is tainted by its removal from the visceral and the wild.
Intellect is not the absence of the wild being, but the examination of it. A
life unexamined is wasted, but so is a life lived restrained.
And so, as a chosen of the Ancients and a devotee of Baerinika, Gravan aims
to exemplify the strength, wisdom and joy of a life lived pure.
His emotional wounds still run deep, however, and his eyes still leak blood
when he is pained or emotional. And he still feels sick in the pit of his
stomach whenever necromancy is so much as discussed - he remembers the old
betrayal.
But the best revenge he can fathom is to shine so brightly that it drives
away the taint of the civilized - the soft and the malicious.
Chapter Three: Free Spirit, Curious Mind
Chapter Three: Free Spirit, Powerful Mind
Chapter Two: A Priest of Baerinika
Added Mon Oct 13 12:58:36 2008 at level 21:
After briefly courting the nihilism and cynicism of Lyristeon in the wake of
his betrayal, Gravan calmed down. He found a deeper comfort and solace in the
teachings of the Maiden-Huntress Baerinika.
She greeted him with skepticism at first, but hesitantly gave him a chance to
prove his dedication. The goddess made it clear she had not forgotten
Gravan's flirtation with darkness.
But to Gravan, the darkness is not something to shun entirely - it is part of
every being. It is the thrill of the hunt. The reckless joy in devouring the
slain. The smile afforded by watching an enemy burn. But when it is taken to
an extreme, as is allowed by civilization, it becomes extremely dangerous.
The corrupting Scions of the Eternal Night and the soul-enslaving Empire, for
instance, are far more of a threat to the purity of natural spirits than,
say, a paladin of the fortress, even if both tend to suppress natural
instinct and freedom.
But even so, many of the Light carry their own sins. Paladins, for all of
their good intent, take away the personal responsibility of those they help
in many cases. They give charity to the poor and help the sick and weak,
prolonging their lives or laziness when Nature would not tolerate it. In this
way, they also weaken the natural spirit and deny an integral part of it -
the more brutal, moderately indulgent and opportunistic aspects of Natural
desire.
For Gravan, righteousness is not the protection of the weak or the slaying of
the opportunists. It is acting with integrity to uphold a principle greater
than one's self. And by giving himself to his cause, Gravan will embody these
principles, protecting the pure and combating the wicked - a much greater
cross-section of Thera than many would think.
Footnotes: Purity in the Wilds
Added Sat Oct 4 15:22:33 2008 at level 1:
Feyerina, as the Evermoon guards would later tell Gravan, was an Udgaardian
necromancer sent to
spy on the wood-elves' magical studies to see how far along they were
(Darsylon has been sending emissaries to show their wild cousins the wonders
of magic).
Apparently, something went wrong in the process and a struggle ensued, ending
in the deaths of Gravan's grandparents. Feyerina - or whatever her real name
is - intended to give her former lover the crimson scourge as a parting gift
(romantic, no?) but was either called away or felt a tinge of pity for the
poor fool she used (she was probably called away).
But enough of the incantation was said that it did have a minor, but
sustained effect: Gravan cries tears of blood.
This changed Gravan's view of the world: This was the price the Evermoon
wood-elves are paying for their compromise.
The Evermoon wood-elves have traded the purity of their wild nature for
comfort in civilization, and that has made them susceptible to evil.
Civilization is a breeding ground for the wicked that can only distort and
pervert the pure-hearted. Even those who claim righteousness are only puppets
who do more harm than good.
Purity of heart can only come after finding purity of soul. And purity of
soul can only be discovered by living according to one's truest, basest
nature in the wilderness, as the wilderness.
And so, the cursed wood-elf Gravan embarked on a journey to purify his own
soul, seeking out the only one whom he believes can: the Barbaric Maiden Baerinika.
Chapter One: The Dream's End
Added Sat Oct 4 15:11:26 2008 at level 1:
Gravan woke up that night from dreams of true love to a sound he had never
heard before.
A forced, ragged groan.
He raised his head off of the grassy ground and glanced around. Nothing. No
one. An odd silence reigned in Evermoon Hollow.
And where did she go...?
Before another thought could cross his mind, Gravan heard something spatter.
It sounded like someone spilled some thick stew.
But that smell...
* * *
Feyerina always seemed so at-home among the plants, sniffing the flowers and
giggling like a pixie.
She possessed a rugged daintiness, struggling so endearingly as she
gracefully skinned a carcass. The human girl, to Gravan, was pure and
wonderful, and he loved her with all his heart.
And that's not to mention her refined - yet wild - mating habits. The
dark-haired beauty was, Gravan felt, both an exotic treat and a soul mate: A
spirit to run free with.
They rarely needed to speak, their bond was so powerful. She always seemed to
understand his desires. He never had trouble making her smile.
But the wood-elf's grandparents, distrustful of other races, hardly felt the
same way. They warned him about humans. It was easy for them to warn, living
out their wise, old years in the comfort of Evermoon Hollow as advisors to
the King.
But Gravan, whose adventurer parents had long since gone missing, had no
other family and a part of him desperately sought their approval.
So he took Feyerina to Evermoon Hollow so that they might see in her what he
did.
The grandfather was enamored. The grandmother was not.
She gasped when she saw Feyerina, but wouldn't say why. The look in her eye
was not of recognition, but of intuition. But Gravan shrugged it off.
The two were called away to an important meeting with the royal family and
promised to rejoin the young lovers over breakfast the following morning.
* * *
The spattering sound grew louder.
And another groan ripped through the air, like wind across a dead, splintered
stump.
Gravan crept to his feet to investigate. He saw it almost immediately. It was
staggering out of the winding halls of Evermoon. Clumsy. Twisted. Dead.
The shambling remains of his grandmother.
Gravan turned to run and slammed into Feyerina, almost knocking her over. She
giggled like a pixie.
They looked at each other as the abomination slowly approached. They didn't
even need to say a word to one another.
He couldn't fathom what exactly had happened, but he knew he was the fool in
this whole mess. Feyerina began to utter a word at her wide-eyed lover, but
the words trailed off. She seemed distracted.
She rolled her eyes, uttered another phrase and disappeared.
But her initial spell's damage had already been done - in part.
A thin red sheen covered Gravan's flesh, as if he were sweating blood.
Something felt wrong, but it passed.
He ran, then doubled back past the walking remains of his grandmother,
shouting for the help of the guards. They destroyed it and later found the
desecrated remains of his grandfather.
Gravan sat in stunned silence, alone, as they investigated the matter. He
wanted to cry, but couldn't. Too numb.
Finally the tears came. He wiped them from his cheek. They were red on his
hand.
Gravan had woken up that morning from dreams of true love.
PK Wins
Oct 15, 2008|Lv 26|The Ashes of NoWhere|Targok vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Oct 16, 2008|Lv 26|Galadon|Balrazul vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Oct 22, 2008|Lv 34|Voralian City|Rynim vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Oct 23, 2008|Lv 35|The Dranettie Wood|Rynim vs 3: Erowan (52%,KB), Gravan (23%), Malikir (23%)
Oct 25, 2008|Lv 36|The Galadon Sewers|Bwaadn vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Oct 25, 2008|Lv 37|The Aryth Ocean|Melertosiceo vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Oct 28, 2008|Lv 38|The Eastern Road|Synthia vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Oct 29, 2008|Lv 38|Seantryn Modan|Flaire vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 1, 2008 |Lv 43|Hamsah Mu'tazz|Vilopine vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 1, 2008 |Lv 43|The Coastal Plains|Bwaadn vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 3, 2008 |Lv 44|Forest of Prosimy|Grig vs 2: Gravan (42%,KB), Alzinghul (57%)
Nov 4, 2008 |Lv 44|Silverwood|Flaire vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 13, 2008|Lv 50|South Sutherspring Road|Alzinghul vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 13, 2008|Lv 51|Silverwood|Drodu vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 15, 2008|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|Xherves vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 18, 2008|Lv 51|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|Greh vs 3: Gravan (0%), Morkam (32%), Lesikinilt (67%, KB)
Nov 24, 2008|Lv 51|The Seaport of Hamsah Mu'tazz|Duror vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 26, 2008|Lv 51|The Seaport of Hamsah Mu'tazz|Ierl vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Nov 26, 2008|Lv 51|The Ashes of NoWhere|Tlingit vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
Dec 1, 2008 |Lv 51|Forest of Prosimy|Bonthos vs 2: Gravan (16%), Lierieng (83%, KB)
Dec 2, 2008 |Lv 51|High Lord's Keep|Barlaren vs 1: Gravan (100%,KB)
PK Deaths
Oct 16, 2008|Lv 26|Udgaardian Plains|vs 1: Agafon (100%,KB)
Oct 20, 2008|Lv 30|The Eastern Road|vs 1: Izerand (100%,KB)
Oct 21, 2008|Lv 31|Balator|vs 1: Rynim (100%,KB)
Oct 21, 2008|Lv 32|The Grove|vs 2: Cydaen (0%), Earlio (100%, KB)
Oct 28, 2008|Lv 38|The Battlefield|vs 2: Hwuandoan (20%,KB), Flaire (79%)
Nov 1, 2008 |Lv 43|The Spire of the Blood Tribunal|vs 1: Shalsad (100%,KB)
Nov 4, 2008 |Lv 44|Feanwyyn Weald|vs 1: Alzinghul (100%,KB)
Nov 12, 2008|Lv 47|Mount Calandaryl|vs 1: Kjrorh (0%,KB) *Assassinated*
Nov 13, 2008|Lv 50|Mount Calandaryl|vs 2: Kjrorh (74%,KB), Alzinghul (25%)
Nov 13, 2008|Lv 51|Outskirts of Galadon|vs 1: Lesikinilt (100%,KB)
Nov 14, 2008|Lv 51|Forest of Prosimy|vs 1: Shalsad (100%,KB)
Nov 17, 2008|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|vs 2: Daresh (76%,KB), Khratetch (23%)
Nov 18, 2008|Lv 51|The Eastern Road|vs 1: Alzinghul (100%,KB)
Nov 19, 2008|Lv 51|The Aryth Ocean|vs 1: Bwaadn (100%,KB)
Dec 2, 2008 |Lv 51|The Pass|vs 1: Shalsad (100%,KB)
Dec 8, 2008 |Lv 51|The Imperial Lands|vs 2: Ikbe (34%), Ahtieli (65%, KB)