Theren Ravencrest
Theren Ravencrest
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Theren was raised in a sect devoted to the Goddess Selune, raised by both his parents and the wider community. When he was 10 years old, a group of wanderers were found near to the village, and invited inside for some food and medical care. Yet, when night fell, the wanderers seemed to transform and soon beset upon the townsfolk, slaughtering them like animals. While Theren and his parents managed to escape the initial battle, they were soon tracked down by a single man. His parents prayed to Selune for guidance and protection as the man approached their door, but none came - and they soon were slaughtered just like their friends. Theren was hidden in the wardrobe, and began reciting the same hymns his parents had, and found naught but silence in return. All the while, the monster drew closer. In a moment of desperation, he grabbed a nearby knife and plunged it into his attacker, stabbing them again and again and again - until they were nothing more than a bloody pulp beneath his trembling hands. Soon after, one of the leaders found him hunched over their fellow monster, knife in hand. They locked eyes, one pair filled with hatred, the other with the gleam of both victory and amusement. The creature - for such a man could not be human - smiled at him, with teeth far too sharp and a lips that stretched far too wide, and left with only a few parting words. Silence reigned over the once bustling town, and when dawn came, Theren was the only person left alive - horrifically scarred by the events that transpired. In an effort to survive, he collected whatever items he could, and fled from the town. He spent the rest of his life as a traveler, moving from town to town, accruing knowledge and training in swordsmanship - always running further from his past.
Education
His upbringing in the sect and scholarly pursuits later in life made him an extremely well-learned man. He is fluent in 5 languages, with a detailed theoretical knowledge in religion, mathematics and arcana. Additionally, he's been trained in investigation and picked up a multitude of survival skills during his life as a wanderer.
Employment
Oftentimes he's hired on a gig-by-gig basis, commonly as a bodyguard or muscle - his large frame helps sell the image, even if his skills aren't up to par. Beyond that, he'll pick up the odd delivery or repair job where he can, just to accrue some extra coin for the road.
Failures & Embarrassments
The complete destruction and massacring of his sect remains the greatest blight on his life and mind. His status as the sole survivor only reinforces the guilt he feels when recalling the events. It remains both his greatest shame, worst nightmare, and thrust to continue in life.
Mental Trauma
No trauma in his life can compare to being orphaned at 10 years old. An attack by followers of an unknown God/Goddess butchered the small village, including Theren's parents. When cornered by one of the men, he prayed to Selune for guidance - just as his parents did, before their death - and was returned with only silence. In desperation, he grabbed a nearby knife, and leapt upon the intruder, stabbing the man countless times while they wrestled. Eventually, his opponent died, and he was left in his home, the sole survivor. Worse, was when one of the leaders arrived at his home, finding him crouched over the body of his fallen comrade. Instead of attacking, the man merely smiled, as if he'd achieved some great victory, and left. The survivor's guilt and the man's stranger reaction have left a permanent scar on Theren's psyche, leading him down a path of self-isolation and paranoia.
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