Evanlark the Blessed
From a young age, Evenlark’s childhood presaged a bright and promising future. His edari mother, Meriele, ran the brothel in Ravengulf where he grew up and she reserved her personal services for only the best. Various stories relate that Evanlark’s father was a rich sea captain, or possibly even an admiral. Compared to the other brothel brats, Evanlark was always faster, stronger, and smarter. However, his charm and humour rarely resulted in resentment from the other children. Almost as soon as he could talk, he often found himself entertaining guests of the comfort house in the common room with stories and jokes.
Evanlark the Broken
Unfortunately one evening, as Evanlark was running refreshments up to one of the rooms, he got in the way of an ill-tempered client who took great offense to finding his way impeded by a child who appeared not to respect his elders. He took out his anger on Evanlark, beating him severely. By the time the bouncers were able to throw out the unruly customer, Evanlark lay unconscious on the floor. Even though his multiple broken bones were expertly set, he remained unconscious for nearly a week. When he finally awoke, he had lost both his quick wits and quicker reflexes. It took him nearly a month before he was able to move about on his own again, enduring constant pain while he did so.
In an effort to return her son to his former self, Mariele turned to religion, dragging Evanlark to a different temple every day. Although Mariele could not afford the magical healing required to fully heal Evanlark, she hoped that through prayer some god or goddess might take divine pity on her son and restore him.
Evanlark the Unfortunate
After months of being dragged to different temples, with no improvement to his constant pain, Evanlark reached the end of his patience, both with his mother and with religion in general. Seeking to escape the monotony of endless prayer and chanting, he escaped on a small merchant ship, the Yellow Crocus. While strong enough to handle most tasks aboard the sailing vessel, his crippled body frequently proved to be a liability and he was relegated to the position of cabin boy. During the three years he spent on the Crocus he learned much about seafaring, and loved to climb the mast far above the deck when his duties permitted.
Almost exactly three years after leaving home, the Yellow Crocus was caught in a terrible storm and wrecked on a reef. Thrown into the angry seas, Evanlark managed to grab a plank and hold on for the many hours it took for him to wash up on shore. Thankful to be alive, and seemingly the only survivor, Evanlark quickly explored the small island he found himself upon. There was no sign of any other inhabitants. The first few weeks were difficult as he scavenged for food, water, and shelter. Once the basics were acquired, he soon settled into a routine. Blown far outside of the normal shipping routes, Evanlark assumed that the only way he would be able to return home would be through divine assistance. Each day was spent alternately praying to many of the various gods he had been introduced to by his mother and exercising his body. This constant exercise with the rocks and sticks of the island slowly developed his muscles and reflexes to the point where he believed himself to be quite proficient with the quarterstaff and spear.
Evanlark the Suffering
When daily prayers to many gods had little effect, Evanlark devoted himself for longer and longer periods to various gods individually. It was near the end of a month devoted to
Olheon that he felt the god’s divine touch for the first time. Opening up to the god’s power and finally embracing the chronic pain he endured on a daily basis, he slowly grew in the grace of the Just Arbiter. Shortly after making the choice to devote himself fully to the ideals and philosophy of Olheon he was able to attract the attention of a distant ship and was finally rescued.
Returning to Ravengulf, he made his way to the temple of Olheon to seek formal teachings in the faith of his chosen god. It didn’t take long for him to find he much preferred his daily exercises and physical activity to long discussions of theology. Realizing he would probably never understand all the intricacies of the approved worship of Olheon, much less being able to teach it to others, he left the temple, determined to find his own way to honour Olheon’s attention.
Evanlark the Enduring
The edari monk now wanders the world, seeking out those who are in pain or enduring hardship and seeks to ease their burdens. It was during his early wanderings that he discovered his practice with the sticks and staves of his island home transferred effortlessly to the forms favoured by Olheon's followers. While rarely one to start a fight, he has proven quite effective at finishing them, and offers no quarter when dealing with fiends and the undead. Although he is now much quieter, and slower to speak than in his youth, he still enjoys sharing a good tale with friends. His strong character can be at times imposing, supportive, entertaining, or persuasive as required. His early experiences in the seedier sections of town and aboard ships still conflict with the discipline expected of a monk and he frequently has to check his impulses so as to avoid falling afoul of Olheon’s expectations.
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