Aravashnial
Aravashnial is an elven wizard from Kyonin who is currently residing in Kenabres but has suffered a horrific injury to his eyesight during the devastating attack by the Lord of Storms. He used to support himself by crafting magic items and selling them in shops in the Gates District and by casting spells for hire, but he never owned a storefront himself and would disdain a job as a store clerk." Now, all of his time and energy is for figuring out tactics to fight the Demon Lord and to restore his eyesight. It has recently been revealed that the Elven Wizard is also secretly a Riftwarden.Personality:
Aravashnial has always been driven to excel, and his intensity in the pursuit of knowledge and magic is only rivaled by his intense hatred of demons. Humility has never been one of Aravashnials defining personality traits. Although his blindness has forced him to behave more diplomatically toward others, he considers himself one of the most knowledgeable Riftwardens in Kenabres and his natural tendency is to be the one giving orders rather than receiving him. Aravashnial is well regarded among his fellows as a talented and courageous wizard. Aravashnial has long believed that the Riftwardens should be more open in their support of the Crusades despite the advantage that secrecy has given them over the enemy. Aravashnial is somewhat of a conspiracy theorist and always has a number of outrageous theories brewing.
Background:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Both of his parents were wizards, and soon after he learned to read and write, his mother and father began teaching him of magic. He was a dutiful son, but as he grew older, his own personality began to assert itself. He choose to specialize in conjuration rather than abjuration (his parents specialty), much to his familys displeasure. Further, his growing obsession with Tanglebriar began to worry not only his parents, but also his teachers and fellow apprentices they believe that Aravashnial had been lured to the worship of dark powers, when in fact the opposite was true. Aravashnial felt the stain of Tanglebriar on Kyonin was an affront to his heritage and to magic itself, and hoped he would be the one to discover a way to send the demon Treerazer back to the Abyss. As his studies progressed, however, he came to the unshakable conclusion that without outside aid, the best Kyonin could hope for in the longstanding conflict against Tanglebriar was merely a continued stalemate. When his apprenticeship ended, he shocked his family by announcing his intention to join the Mendevian Crusade. He would join the crusaders, learn their methods of battling demons, and then some day in the future return with that knowledge to aid his homeland.
Before settling out of Mendev, Aravashnial decided he should first visit other parts of the Inner Sea to continue his studies as a conjurer. As he traveled, he stopped at every large library he came across to conduct research. While exploring the ruined remains of a library in Galt, he came fact to face with a young woman doing the same. Aravashnial discovered the womans name was Lylina and that she was a conjurer like himself. They traveled together out of Galt, but it wasnt until after theyd crossed the border that Lylina told Aravashnial that she was a member of an organization called the Riftwardens. She invited him to accompany her to Mendev and join her organization.
Aravashnial has spent the last 2 years in Mendev working for the Riftwardens. He has undertaken over a dozen missions into the Worldwound, each time emerging with more scars and a new hatred of demons, but also increased knowledge. When not working directly with the Riftwardens on missions, Aravashnial passes the time drafting possible tactics to use against Tanglebriar, so that if he dies on a mission, what hes learned can be sent back home to aid his people. He supports himself by crafting magic items and selling them in shops in the Gates District and by casting spells for hire, but he doesnt own a storefront himself and would disdain a job as a store clerk.
Humility has never been one of Aravashnials defining personality traits. Despite his relatively short time in the Riftwardens, he considers himself one of the most knowledgeable Riftwardens in Kenabres. He is well regarded among his fellows as a talented and courageous wizard. After a brief romance, he and Lylina split up over a heated argument about whether or not the Riftwardens should be more open in their support of the crusade something that Aravashnial has long believed is important, but that Lylina feared would compromise too many secrets the organization has learned about the enemy. Shes since moved on, having left Kenabres to work with the Riftwardens in Nerosyan. Aravashnial still harbors bitterness in his heart over their parting, but tells himself he no longer cares for her.
Aravashnial is somewhat of a conspiracy theorist and always has a number of outrageous theories brewing. His latest is that certain groups among the crusaders have been infiltrated by demon cultists, and that their influence has been more damaging to the war effort than actual battles.