Description
Wreathbound Ranger
Dossier
- Name
- Vaerek Rathkin
- Pronunciation
- (VAIR-ek RATH-kin)
- Faction
- Draconic Kindred
Lore
“Vigar'am primori a sek. A sanguin, scal, a scal, mi'aghora. Lygos Amora, lygos Sareen, lygos Horlg, lygos Vana, lygos Mano. Sek Salaseth, te mi'aghora, vigar'am.”
— Vaerek's battle incantation
- Born V-9
- Morathi
- Wreathbound Ranger
- Heartroot Sanctuary
Bastard son of a Morathi noble who chose exile over Tarn. Deserter of Fala. Ranger of Heartroot. Ward of Saoirse.
The bastard son a Morathi noble, who chose self-exile over a life of luxurious derision. Vaerek began that life by venturing on trips in the wilderness out of his home city of Tarn. The choice to serve in the military came during this time, where soon-after he accepted a placement far away, across the sea, in the Empire of Fala. A step towards true solitude. Though, in this assignment he didn't last, and deserted in that foreign land, longing for a life outside the rigidity of Morathi heirarchy.
He chose to travel the Balamwood following his desertion, by chance, as it seemed a proper place to leave the noise of civilization. Several years were spent living the life of a woodland hermit and working as a forest-guide to the farmers who lived along its fringes. As time went on, the druids within the Balamwood warmed to his presence, allowing him entry into the grove of the Heartroot Circle and an invitation to join its sanctuary.
Vaerek found grove society more palatable than anywhere he had been before, even though he butted heads with many a druid. In the eyes of Arleth's clergy, Vaerek was too liberal in his applications of violence. He was never extended the offer to join the clergy, even though he showed an aptitude for Beast magic (precisely, reptilian wildshaping). Archdruid Ulric, seeing another lost beast, did not let discussion of Vaerek from the druids ever leave the realm of simple critique. So, Vaerek continued on at the Grove, finding a place to be, a place where he - although questioned - always had a chance to disprove the worry of druidic criticism.
After some time, Vaerek befriended a young druidess by the name of Saoirse. The druidess sought the world beyond the grove, and came to him as one of the few who had such a yearning. Vaerek would go on to teach her the arts of combat and indulge in her wanderlust. He allowed her to often accompany him during his patrols of the Balamwood, coming to view her as his adoptive younger sister.
When Saoirse confronted Shiokan followers by herself, Vaerek was the one to find her but not the one to save her. Ulric stepped in, commanding Vaerek to return to the grove and for the girl's family to be gathered. Reluctantly he complied. After witnessing Saoirse grow into adulthood, it was difficult watching her leave for her own journey away from the grove. He missed her deeply for a time, but soon, Ulric would appear at his den's door with a quest. The Archdruid gave Vaerek a mandate to track Saoirse's whereabouts and protect her, as she once again had confronted Shiokans.
Setting off without debate, Vaerek followed her path from the Balamwood, southward to walls of the capital of the mighty and immortal Fala. With the druidess so nearby, all would change, as he would be swept up in the Fading. Confused, he awoke in the dunes of the Samafi, thinking his quest ended and his little sister likely dead. Vaerek spent weeks in the desert surviving alone, mourning in self castigation in the heat and the cold of the sands. He was ready to return to Balamwood and relay his failure to the Archdruid. Eventually, his wandering found him at the gates of the township of Mora Mora.
In Mora Mora, his ears caught rumor of Falan survivors - so, with kindled, albeit tenuous hope, Vaerek chose to stay. He prayed Saoirse would come through the gates of the town. In his waiting, he volunteered to patrol the desert, gathering resources and slaying sandworms, praying to find her in the sands. Soon, his prayers were answered.
Returning from patrol he heard that a new group of 'Foundlings', as the Morans called them, had arrived - with one matching Saoirse's description. Vaerek rushed to find them, only to hear that they had been sent on a quest to earn the trust of the prince. Vaerek bided his time, with hope restored. When word of the group's return came, he rushed to find them. It was her, in the company of others also forsaken to the southern sands from Fala. In his happiness he realized his quest was complete. So he would join them in their wandering journey on a new quest, a story yet to be written.
Vaerek's story now is the same as Saoirse's, a knot in the roots of time, the clearing at the end of His path of pink leaves not yet in sight. Fire, and the obsidian of stone, can Vaerek see now among those leaves. May His godtrees watch over them.