Description
A stoic felar stands before you, his white fur bristling with
a palpable energy. Traces of soft orange fur surround his
eyes and ears, contrasting with his deep green eyes. A loose
mantle is draped over his wide shoulders, falling down to
his hindpaws. His tail juts out from under the mantle, short and
wide it shifts from side to side keeping him in perfect balance.
Two strong forepaws grip onto a shining spear made of energy. Its
white tip radiates a blinding white light though it does not seem
to distract his confident gaze. Stitched into his pale red mantle is a
great white albatross, its white wings fully spread and its piercing
black eyes wide open.
Role
An aging Gryshilniar.
Added Wed Jan 25 04:15:23 2006 at level 51:
Years have gone by, and Gryshilniar has served the light
as the Marshall of the Fortress. It has been years since he has seen or
heard of the Albatross, and he sometimes finds himself looking to the skies
unconsciously. He knows the Albatross still watches over him, but he believes
the Albatross has trusted him to make his own decisions, and forge his own path
within the Albatross's tenents.
He sometimes struggles between the responsibilities of leadership and
defending his own pride and honor. He knows that he must keep the best
interests of the Fortress and light in mind always, and he walks a fine line in doing
so.
Shielding his will against the empire.
Added Tue Dec 20 12:03:49 2005 at level 51:
Bloody fur flying, Gryshilniar made his stand at the Watcher. His companions
having fallen already to the siege, he looked within himself for inspiration.
Flying above, the albatross eyed his follower closely.
Suddenly Gryshilniar raises his spear to the air and as the Emperor and his
minions struck at him, his will was suddenly as hard as whitesteel. Unbending and
unwavering, he deflected the dishonorable oaths of the wicked as a
Fortress of the Spirit of the albatross arose within him.
The tattoo of two conjoined silver hoops.
Added Thu Dec 8 06:06:56 2005 at level 45:
The tattoo is the mark of the Albatross, one hoop symbolizing honor, and the other
pride. Being interlocking and conjoined, it symbolizes the constant link between
self pride and honor in ones endeavors towards an inner peace.
The Mark of the Albatross and Riddle of Resilience.
Added Thu Dec 8 05:52:48 2005 at level 45:
As Gryshilniar fell facing a horde of the wicked Scions, a great white
bird swooped overhead. As Gryshilniar returned to his lifeless corpse...his eyes
filled with a controlled fury. A resilience formed about him as he eyed the skies
carefully. Sure enough, from the clouds came down the Albatross, brilliant and majestic
as it landed smoothly next to the felar. It peered intently at Gryshilniar, eyeing him
with a new gaze...not condescending, not judging...but as the Albatross would view an equal.
Suddenly, the Albatross aimed its beak at Gryshilniar's shoulder, and took a great
bite out of the fur upon it...
The Albatross continued doing so, much to the pain of Gryshilniar, though he tried not to
show it. Finally, the Albatross, took a step back, his beak full of white fur, but its
eyes ablaze with excitement. Gryshilniar looked down on his arm and saw two interlocking
rings carved into his shoulder, searing pink from the rawness of his skin.
Gryshilniar looked to the Albatross...and understood.
Short summary.
Added Fri Nov 18 15:14:37 2005 at level 22:
Gryshilniar hunts and journeys alone. He has led a solitary life until now, and will
continue to do so until he feels he has proven he is worthy to bear the mark of the albatross.
He is still very much ashamed of the self pity and despair he displayed in the frigid south, now years
ago. He knows he must harden his mind and body if he is to be a proud and honorable warrior.
Gryshilniar will seek out the Maran, as his nature is goodly, and the very presence of the
treacherous and deceitful enrage him. He will hunt evil, alone unless it is a situation
where the life of an innocent soul is at risk. In such a case, he will defend the life of
those he pledges to protect.
Gryshilniar and the Albatross
Added Fri Nov 18 14:57:07 2005 at level 22:
Gryshilniar has no knowledge of a father, and none of a mother. In fact, he has no
recollection of anything pertaining to how he came to Thera. His earliest
memories are from running free in the frigid south, a barren place for the most part and
a solitary existence. All alone, young and without guidance Gryshilniar struggled to survive.
One day Gryshilniar, usually deft and graceful as he trekked through the wastelands
slipped and broke his leg. In intense pain, Gryshilniar tried to trudge on, to reach shelter
before nightfall. But the pain was too intense and night came too quickly. Soon he
found himself stuck in the midst of a windstorm in the dead of night, unable to move.
He lay there all night, whimpering, feeling sorry for himself. And as morning came,
he made no attempt to move. He lay there, in utter despair, resigned to what he
feared was his end. For another day he lay there, utterly alone, and slowly losing the will
to even raises his head from between his paws. Finallly, he did raise his head. A loud shriek
was heard from the skies, and it even caught the interest of this dying felar.
A large bird, white against the blue sky flew above him, a picture of serenity and
pride. The bird slowly started to circle lower and lower, and finally came to rest next to Gryshilniar
who was now in awe that a bird would dare come so close to a felar. The albatross
lowered its beak, eyeing Gryshilniar warily. Gryshilniar said nothing, and lay rigid under his
piercing gaze. For what seemed like an eternity the albatross stared at him, until he abruptly
flew off. Gryshilniar watched him fly off, and returned to his state of despair and self pity.
For another day Gryshilniar lay there, now beginning to die of starvation and thirst.
But yet again he heard a shriek from the skies, and down came the Albatross. In the birds mouth
was a small gray mouse, recently killed. It lay the mouse roughly five paces in front
of Gryshilniar and took back to the skies. Gryshilniar, doubting that he could even
stride the few paces to get to the mouse, lifted himself and took a first step.
He winced, but took another....and another....two more and he came to the mouse and devoured
it. High above, he heard the shriek of the albatross.
Invigorated, Gryshilniar looked about him. He thought he saw a drop in a snowy bank..and
made his way to it. Sure enough, behind the bank was a cool stream that had made its
way down from a nearby mountain. The felar drank, and again he heard the piercing cry of the Albatross.
In the following days, Gryshilniar learned to walk so as to avoid placing too much pressure on
his broken leg, and soon became near as adept at running and moving as before.
The albatross was not always above him, but he felt that it was always near, guiding him.
Sometimes it would let out its cry, and Gryshilniar would simply look up and nod. Other times
times it would come down to him, and for long moments they would stare into each others eyes.
They were silent, but an unseen communication passed between the two.
One day, a full year from the time he had lay desparate in the snow, Gryshilniar
set out from the frigid south to the northlands, an odd gleam in his eye, and a firm
grip on his staff. A great white albatross circled overhead
The Brilliant White Albatross
Added Thu Nov 17 20:25:13 2005 at level 20:
The White Albatross is a very rare bird found only in the coldest of climates,
and known only to be seen in the frigid southern regions of Thera.
It can travel for hours and hours without needing to rest as it makes zigzag paths in the sky.
Allowing its wide wings to glide on the wisps of the frigid winds instead of struggling
against the flows of the winds it can stay airborne effortlessly.
Just as the albatross follows the channels of the wind, those who bear the mark of the
Brilliant White Albatross follow their hearts towards whatever goal they feel
beckons them. They are known to be free spirits, loyal above all else to the moral standards
they have set before themselves. Stoic, and uncorruptable, their own pride and sense of honor
drives them in all of their actions. Known to be natural leaders, they lead by action more than
by word. They care little for bickering or taunting as they believe it lowers themselves to
a standard unbecoming of the rare bird. Followers of the White Albatross know in their
hearts that if they are true to themselves and hold fast to their sense of integrity, they will
discover an inner peace that is often sought after, but rarely found....just like the bird itself.