Daniel Ravenborn
THE DEFINING MOMENT
Black smoke obstructed an empty sky; flames bit back the chill of dawn. A lad named Daniel lay charred and wheezing, having dragged the corpse of his mother from the blazing rubble that used to be their home. Meanwhile, the Molthuni raiders who had ravaged the village departed, moving out to a new target. Collateral damage was of little concern to them, for their mission was clear: Nirmathas had to be brought to heel. And the only thing its stubborn populace seemed to understand was violence! As Daniel lay scorched and dying, with tears of despair streaking his face, a winged reptilian beast strode from the smoke. Lithe and tawny, the creature’s eyes blazed with fury as it took in the carnage and destruction. Upon seeing Daniel’s plight, its expression softened with compassion. The imposing being prowled up to the stricken youth, looming over him. Now beyond fear, Daniel was surprised when it spoke. Its voice was young, sonorous, and tinged with regret. “She is gone. But you may yet honor her. Choose to live.” With his life ebbing, Daniel could not answer. His eyes slipped shut. He felt his rage and grief melt into coldness. Then he felt a pressure on his chest from a taloned paw, and the dragon spoke again, his voice reverent in prayer. “Beloved Waybringer, if this young human still has a destiny in this land, please ease his suffering and unburden his heart.” Daniel gasped as his body was flooded by a pure, cleansing cascade. It was like being enfolded in radiant wings. His charred, cracked skin knit together and the agony was swept from him in a moment of such profound relief that it felt like rapture. His eyes flashed open; but the dragon was gone. Daniel found that his lungs could once again drink from the cool, blessed air. He climbed to his feet and looked down upon the pathetic remains of his mother, her hands curled like claws from the torment of her final moments. His face twisted into grief and he bowed his head, tears washing down his cheeks. He balled his fists and his rage swelled to a shrieking inferno, threatening to consume him. But remembering the dragon’s advice, another part of him surfaced. “No!” he gasped with conviction. “She wouldn’t want that!” With a shuddering inhalation, he turned aside his anger and grief, diverting them like a river into compassion and resolve. His mother’s gentle spirit would live on through him, he vowed. From now on, he would do what he could to bring solace to the anguished. He would stand up for the innocent and the downtrodden, opposing those who would oppress and murder them. In the days that followed, he felt something new in his soul: some kind of connection to a magnanimous spirit in the Great Beyond — a being he would come to learn is Apsu the Waybringer. DESCRIPTION AND PERSONALITY
Physical appearance: Daniel is a comely, fair-skinned young man of average height and athletic stature who looks to be around 20. Being of Chelaxian stock, he has dark brown hair and soulful brown eyes. He wears a golden brooch at his throat in the shape of a dragon’s foot. When dressed for battle, he wears sturdy steel armor and carries a longspear. Although Chelaxian in ancestry, Daniel’s parents emigrated to Nirmathas before he was born. They settled in a small village near the town of Crystalhurst, deep in the Fangwood forest. That large forest is in many ways the heart of the nation of Nirmathas, its deep woods having played many pivotal roles in the region’s traumatic history. Values: Revering compassion, redemption, and peace, Daniel seeks to ease suffering wherever he finds it. He also likes to inspire beleaguered people to help them intervene in their own fate and earn a better future for themselves. The cursed land of Ustalav will be a tough nut to crack, though! Personality: Daniel is optimistic and caring. He enjoys being part of a team who is proactive about improving the world. He also wishes to seek out evil conspiracies to try to undermine them before they can grow into overwhelming threats. Daniel is aware that there are some deeply-rooted evils in the world. Sometimes, fighting and destroying them is the only way to safeguard the innocent. Yet he also believes that the spark of love exists in all but the most depraved and wicked creatures. That spark can become the seed of compassion, sacrifice, and justice. Inspired by the leadership and peace of Apsu the Waybringer, he believes the war against corruption, oppression, and cruelty should be fought on two fronts: the tangible realm of the mortal body, and the exalted frontiers of the heart. He hopes this combination will be enough to make real progress in the advancement of civilization — elevating it to the splendid heights of creativity and beauty that his father fervently believes are possible. Code of Conduct: Respect legitimate authority, act with honor, help those in need, and fight against those who harm or threaten innocents. Fight not just in the physical world, but on the battlefield of the heart. NOTABLE PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE
His mother Juliana is deceased. Much of the goodness in Daniel is thanks to her. His father Caru still lives in Nirmathas. He’s a priest of Shelyn gifted in the bending of magic to his will — warping spells to new purposes their inventors never envisioned. Inspired by Shelyn’s love and the desire to exalt civilization to splendid heights, Caru has always used his talents to benefit the world. As Caru and Daniel got past their grief over the death of Juliana, Caru found his son to be an eager student who was eventually able to learn enough to tap into the power of Apsu the primeval dragon. Caru’s history: Caru and Falstaff left Cheliax some 25 years ago due to the oppression and diabolism there. They came to Nirmathas because its deeply-rooted reverence for liberty and generosity is the polar opposite of Cheliax. Caru hopes that he can be a part of the creation of a new civilization in the Fangwood Forest. Shelyn’s themes of beauty, art, and music are things civilized beings can bring into the world to complement the rugged, natural splendor of the wilderness. Additionally, Shelyn’s theme of love has been a powerful influence to both Caru and Daniel. Falstaff is Daniel’s uncle (his father’s brother). Falstaff and Daniel’s dad Caru have had a strained relationship at times because although both men are very sharp and talented, Falstaff’s lust for knowledge and power lured him to the path of the atheist and the arcane, where he may even have dabbled in the forbidden arts. Meanwhile Caru gravitated toward the enlightenment of the divine, seeking to harness it for the benefit civilization. A few years ago, Falstaff fell from grace — losing most of his prestige and wealth. Daniel doesn’t know the specifics, and in fact isn’t eager to know because he has always valued his uncle’s counsel and looks with awe upon his intellect and achievements. Kezmorel is a young male brass dragon who saved Daniel. He’s one of the guardians of the nearby town of Crystalhurst, but he was neither timely enough nor powerful enough to save Daniel’s village. He is a follower of Apsu. Apsu is the primeval dragon who existed before the dawn of creation as we know it. Along with Tiamat, he sired the entire race of true dragons and is also believed to be one of the creators of the multiverse. More recently, he fought in the battle to defend all of creation against Rovagug. His titles include Waybringer and Maker of All. Facets of him that are relevant to Daniel include peace, leadership, and compassion. The following quote from his history is especially relevant: “Apsu hates to see other creatures suffer, even as he himself endlessly feels the stings of his son’s betrayal and his mate’s rejection.” Also inspiring is the fact that Apsu had the strength of spirit to put aside vengeance, instead yearning only for peace despite grievous wounds inflicted on him by his mate Tiamat. Tiamat’s acts before the dawn of time corrupted half of the dragon race, who thus became chromatic. Apsu’s main nemesis is his first son Dahak (known also as the Sorrowmaker and the Endless Destruction). Dahak hates his father and wishes to destroy him. In fact, Dahak is so bad that even chromatic dragons tend to hate him. PROFESSOR LORRIMOR
Before Daniel’s religious training under his father was complete, he was contacted by an assistant of Professor Petros Lorrimor. The assistant told him that the professor would soon be in Nirmathas and he wanted a guide and bodyguard due to the ongoing violence in the region. (Unbeknownst to Daniel, his uncle Falstaff had put in a good word with the professor to get Daniel on the short list.) Knowing the professor to be a learned and respectable man, Daniel eagerly accepted. As fate would have it, Petros wound up being molested not by conflict among men, but by a family of wild boars that were protecting their territory. As they stampeded out of hiding toward Petros, the alert Daniel stepped between the professor and the thundering hooves, using his spear to ward off the beasts and prevent a severe trampling and goring. The grateful professor promised never to forget Daniel. After that job, Daniel (now age 18) returned to his father’s temple in Nirmathas, where he continued his religious apprenticeship. Some months later, he received a letter from Professor Lorrimor, this time asking for Daniel’s aid in a much bigger endeavor: an expedition to the Pillars of the Sun in distant Osirion. Daniel also learned that his uncle Falstaff had already agreed to accompany the expedition. Eager to see his uncle again and drawn by the siren call of wondrous and legendary Osirion, Daniel’s decision was easy. That night, during a fond farewell dinner with Caru, he promised to deliver a letter from his father to Falstaff whom Caru hadn’t seen in years. After voyaging with a caravan to Ustalav, Daniel rendezvoused with Falstaff and Petros Lorrimor. Soon thereafter, they and many other early members of the expedition embarked on the long journey to Osirion. From there, they commenced the even-longer exploration of the Pillars of the Sun, which was a kaleidoscope of archeology, rugged wilderness, and camaraderie. Falstaff: Despite Uncle Falstaff’s grumpiness and disappointment over Daniel’s ongoing pursuit of the divine, Daniel enjoyed being with his uncle again. It also afforded them the opportunity to debate the true source of magic in the world. Falstaff contended that the gods, or the charlatans claiming such titles, were actually just powerful mages. Falstaff and Daniel often argued past each other because Falstaff relied on incisive intuition and prodigious intellect. But Daniel spoke from the heart, which often knows no logic, only passion. If Daniel had any doubt of Falstaff’s arcane prowess, it was laid to rest when his uncle saved him from a rockslide, later explaining that the eldritch lines of power that pervaded the fabric of reality were his to pluck like harp strings. Despite Falstaff’s claim that this rescue was entirely out of self-interest, Daniel knew that the codger secretly cared about him. But Daniel was tactful enough never to say this openly nor get too sentimental with his uncle. After the enriching and horizon-broadening expedition to Osirion, Daniel again returned home to work on his religious training with Caru. A year later, the day he’d been anticipating for years finally came. In a sublime epiphany, Daniel felt himself linked more deeply to Apsu. At once, the world looked new to him, colored brightly by the esteem and compassion of the Waybringer. His heart soared and his soul felt complete. It was as if the long-lost final verse of a poem had been spoken! Caru congratulated him warmly — and though his son revered a different god, his father welcomed him as a member of his clergy.
Black smoke obstructed an empty sky; flames bit back the chill of dawn. A lad named Daniel lay charred and wheezing, having dragged the corpse of his mother from the blazing rubble that used to be their home. Meanwhile, the Molthuni raiders who had ravaged the village departed, moving out to a new target. Collateral damage was of little concern to them, for their mission was clear: Nirmathas had to be brought to heel. And the only thing its stubborn populace seemed to understand was violence! As Daniel lay scorched and dying, with tears of despair streaking his face, a winged reptilian beast strode from the smoke. Lithe and tawny, the creature’s eyes blazed with fury as it took in the carnage and destruction. Upon seeing Daniel’s plight, its expression softened with compassion. The imposing being prowled up to the stricken youth, looming over him. Now beyond fear, Daniel was surprised when it spoke. Its voice was young, sonorous, and tinged with regret. “She is gone. But you may yet honor her. Choose to live.” With his life ebbing, Daniel could not answer. His eyes slipped shut. He felt his rage and grief melt into coldness. Then he felt a pressure on his chest from a taloned paw, and the dragon spoke again, his voice reverent in prayer. “Beloved Waybringer, if this young human still has a destiny in this land, please ease his suffering and unburden his heart.” Daniel gasped as his body was flooded by a pure, cleansing cascade. It was like being enfolded in radiant wings. His charred, cracked skin knit together and the agony was swept from him in a moment of such profound relief that it felt like rapture. His eyes flashed open; but the dragon was gone. Daniel found that his lungs could once again drink from the cool, blessed air. He climbed to his feet and looked down upon the pathetic remains of his mother, her hands curled like claws from the torment of her final moments. His face twisted into grief and he bowed his head, tears washing down his cheeks. He balled his fists and his rage swelled to a shrieking inferno, threatening to consume him. But remembering the dragon’s advice, another part of him surfaced. “No!” he gasped with conviction. “She wouldn’t want that!” With a shuddering inhalation, he turned aside his anger and grief, diverting them like a river into compassion and resolve. His mother’s gentle spirit would live on through him, he vowed. From now on, he would do what he could to bring solace to the anguished. He would stand up for the innocent and the downtrodden, opposing those who would oppress and murder them. In the days that followed, he felt something new in his soul: some kind of connection to a magnanimous spirit in the Great Beyond — a being he would come to learn is Apsu the Waybringer. DESCRIPTION AND PERSONALITY
Physical appearance: Daniel is a comely, fair-skinned young man of average height and athletic stature who looks to be around 20. Being of Chelaxian stock, he has dark brown hair and soulful brown eyes. He wears a golden brooch at his throat in the shape of a dragon’s foot. When dressed for battle, he wears sturdy steel armor and carries a longspear. Although Chelaxian in ancestry, Daniel’s parents emigrated to Nirmathas before he was born. They settled in a small village near the town of Crystalhurst, deep in the Fangwood forest. That large forest is in many ways the heart of the nation of Nirmathas, its deep woods having played many pivotal roles in the region’s traumatic history. Values: Revering compassion, redemption, and peace, Daniel seeks to ease suffering wherever he finds it. He also likes to inspire beleaguered people to help them intervene in their own fate and earn a better future for themselves. The cursed land of Ustalav will be a tough nut to crack, though! Personality: Daniel is optimistic and caring. He enjoys being part of a team who is proactive about improving the world. He also wishes to seek out evil conspiracies to try to undermine them before they can grow into overwhelming threats. Daniel is aware that there are some deeply-rooted evils in the world. Sometimes, fighting and destroying them is the only way to safeguard the innocent. Yet he also believes that the spark of love exists in all but the most depraved and wicked creatures. That spark can become the seed of compassion, sacrifice, and justice. Inspired by the leadership and peace of Apsu the Waybringer, he believes the war against corruption, oppression, and cruelty should be fought on two fronts: the tangible realm of the mortal body, and the exalted frontiers of the heart. He hopes this combination will be enough to make real progress in the advancement of civilization — elevating it to the splendid heights of creativity and beauty that his father fervently believes are possible. Code of Conduct: Respect legitimate authority, act with honor, help those in need, and fight against those who harm or threaten innocents. Fight not just in the physical world, but on the battlefield of the heart. NOTABLE PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE
His mother Juliana is deceased. Much of the goodness in Daniel is thanks to her. His father Caru still lives in Nirmathas. He’s a priest of Shelyn gifted in the bending of magic to his will — warping spells to new purposes their inventors never envisioned. Inspired by Shelyn’s love and the desire to exalt civilization to splendid heights, Caru has always used his talents to benefit the world. As Caru and Daniel got past their grief over the death of Juliana, Caru found his son to be an eager student who was eventually able to learn enough to tap into the power of Apsu the primeval dragon. Caru’s history: Caru and Falstaff left Cheliax some 25 years ago due to the oppression and diabolism there. They came to Nirmathas because its deeply-rooted reverence for liberty and generosity is the polar opposite of Cheliax. Caru hopes that he can be a part of the creation of a new civilization in the Fangwood Forest. Shelyn’s themes of beauty, art, and music are things civilized beings can bring into the world to complement the rugged, natural splendor of the wilderness. Additionally, Shelyn’s theme of love has been a powerful influence to both Caru and Daniel. Falstaff is Daniel’s uncle (his father’s brother). Falstaff and Daniel’s dad Caru have had a strained relationship at times because although both men are very sharp and talented, Falstaff’s lust for knowledge and power lured him to the path of the atheist and the arcane, where he may even have dabbled in the forbidden arts. Meanwhile Caru gravitated toward the enlightenment of the divine, seeking to harness it for the benefit civilization. A few years ago, Falstaff fell from grace — losing most of his prestige and wealth. Daniel doesn’t know the specifics, and in fact isn’t eager to know because he has always valued his uncle’s counsel and looks with awe upon his intellect and achievements. Kezmorel is a young male brass dragon who saved Daniel. He’s one of the guardians of the nearby town of Crystalhurst, but he was neither timely enough nor powerful enough to save Daniel’s village. He is a follower of Apsu. Apsu is the primeval dragon who existed before the dawn of creation as we know it. Along with Tiamat, he sired the entire race of true dragons and is also believed to be one of the creators of the multiverse. More recently, he fought in the battle to defend all of creation against Rovagug. His titles include Waybringer and Maker of All. Facets of him that are relevant to Daniel include peace, leadership, and compassion. The following quote from his history is especially relevant: “Apsu hates to see other creatures suffer, even as he himself endlessly feels the stings of his son’s betrayal and his mate’s rejection.” Also inspiring is the fact that Apsu had the strength of spirit to put aside vengeance, instead yearning only for peace despite grievous wounds inflicted on him by his mate Tiamat. Tiamat’s acts before the dawn of time corrupted half of the dragon race, who thus became chromatic. Apsu’s main nemesis is his first son Dahak (known also as the Sorrowmaker and the Endless Destruction). Dahak hates his father and wishes to destroy him. In fact, Dahak is so bad that even chromatic dragons tend to hate him. PROFESSOR LORRIMOR
Before Daniel’s religious training under his father was complete, he was contacted by an assistant of Professor Petros Lorrimor. The assistant told him that the professor would soon be in Nirmathas and he wanted a guide and bodyguard due to the ongoing violence in the region. (Unbeknownst to Daniel, his uncle Falstaff had put in a good word with the professor to get Daniel on the short list.) Knowing the professor to be a learned and respectable man, Daniel eagerly accepted. As fate would have it, Petros wound up being molested not by conflict among men, but by a family of wild boars that were protecting their territory. As they stampeded out of hiding toward Petros, the alert Daniel stepped between the professor and the thundering hooves, using his spear to ward off the beasts and prevent a severe trampling and goring. The grateful professor promised never to forget Daniel. After that job, Daniel (now age 18) returned to his father’s temple in Nirmathas, where he continued his religious apprenticeship. Some months later, he received a letter from Professor Lorrimor, this time asking for Daniel’s aid in a much bigger endeavor: an expedition to the Pillars of the Sun in distant Osirion. Daniel also learned that his uncle Falstaff had already agreed to accompany the expedition. Eager to see his uncle again and drawn by the siren call of wondrous and legendary Osirion, Daniel’s decision was easy. That night, during a fond farewell dinner with Caru, he promised to deliver a letter from his father to Falstaff whom Caru hadn’t seen in years. After voyaging with a caravan to Ustalav, Daniel rendezvoused with Falstaff and Petros Lorrimor. Soon thereafter, they and many other early members of the expedition embarked on the long journey to Osirion. From there, they commenced the even-longer exploration of the Pillars of the Sun, which was a kaleidoscope of archeology, rugged wilderness, and camaraderie. Falstaff: Despite Uncle Falstaff’s grumpiness and disappointment over Daniel’s ongoing pursuit of the divine, Daniel enjoyed being with his uncle again. It also afforded them the opportunity to debate the true source of magic in the world. Falstaff contended that the gods, or the charlatans claiming such titles, were actually just powerful mages. Falstaff and Daniel often argued past each other because Falstaff relied on incisive intuition and prodigious intellect. But Daniel spoke from the heart, which often knows no logic, only passion. If Daniel had any doubt of Falstaff’s arcane prowess, it was laid to rest when his uncle saved him from a rockslide, later explaining that the eldritch lines of power that pervaded the fabric of reality were his to pluck like harp strings. Despite Falstaff’s claim that this rescue was entirely out of self-interest, Daniel knew that the codger secretly cared about him. But Daniel was tactful enough never to say this openly nor get too sentimental with his uncle. After the enriching and horizon-broadening expedition to Osirion, Daniel again returned home to work on his religious training with Caru. A year later, the day he’d been anticipating for years finally came. In a sublime epiphany, Daniel felt himself linked more deeply to Apsu. At once, the world looked new to him, colored brightly by the esteem and compassion of the Waybringer. His heart soared and his soul felt complete. It was as if the long-lost final verse of a poem had been spoken! Caru congratulated him warmly — and though his son revered a different god, his father welcomed him as a member of his clergy.
Children