Rowan Aratris

Name: Rowan Aratris
Appearance Age: 35
True age: 751
Sex:Male
Personality: As an old Eldari, Rowan has seen several lifetimes of conflict and war. A former member of the Eternal watch, Rowan became annoyed with the political maneuvering of the golden council and left to put his considerable skills to use in service of the world. He is well known among the eldari for his too calm demeanor that hides simmering aggression, and a glare that promises violence at a moment’s notice. Despite this impression he’s far more in control of himself than people believe. Rowan is not quick to smile or joke, but has been known to loosen up on rare occasions, and can come across as cold or uncaring.

Rowan appreciates a person with tenacity, someone who is able to work hard to achieve their goals even if others consider it to be impossible, and expects the best effort of anyone under his command or fighting by his side. While he himself was considered a born and bred warrior he’s never allowed that to go to his head, and has never used it as a crutch. He might have been gifted, but he has still worked hard to hone what he was given into a true edge, and has never looked for respect or admiration because of who he is, or liked people who assume because they’re strong like him that he will automatically side with them. He has no time for people who believe they are superior because they’re stronger and has always found himself opposing people like that.

Rowan is quick to act, some would even go as far as to say he’s rash, and he rarely second guesses himself. He is a warrior first, a soldier second, and will always follow his keen instincts over orders. He will always help when asked and though it might not seem like it he will always step in to stop someone being hurt. At the same time, he knows when to hang back and let things sort themselves out, or when to let people fight their own battles. He himself prefers to fight alone, or beside trusted comrades like Yavanna, and is considered a lone wolf by most eldari. He prefers not to have other peoples lives in his hands, and while he’s been given command of soldiers before he does his best being put in a leadership role.

From the early days of his time in the Warrior academy, Rowan has been friends with Yavanna Elbereth. At first he expected to be met with the same unearned respect and adoration he was often given by others but found it refreshing that she thought him a simple brute. She earned his respect with her unyielding spirit and drive, and he earned hers back by actually taking her seriously. Together they have worked to hone each other's abilities and easily became the most formidable pair in the academy. Respect, friendship, and a bond forged in trials of war, the two have always had each other’s backs. There is no other warrior who he would trust more at his side than Yavanna. Though he is no longer in the eternal watch Rowan knows that no matter where he goes, he will always have a friend in his homeland.

Rowan has always had a great respect for Dalrodir Shor, who has more than earned that respect through his great acts and general no nonsense attitude. The great eldari hero was an inspiration to Rowan growing up, and Rowan wanted to be exactly like him. Infact, for years he ignored his powers, fighting with only the blade to be like Dalrodir who had no need for fancy powers to win fights. He even served under Dalrodir, for a short time alongside Yavanna, which was possibly the greatest time of his young life. Between that, and his friendship with Calrados, Rowan has kept an eye on Fayla Shor though he is not as close to the young warrior as Yavanna is.

Rowan’s hatred for heanta is strong, and even the most docile of heanta are met with aggression and mistrust. Infact, when met in the wilderness or outside towns he will simply attack on sight and ask questions later. When younger, he simply mistrusted them, but respected their warrior prowess. He even fell for a female heanta, a fierce redhead warrior named Kaila, which ended with her death at the hands of her brothers, and Rowan’s mistrust of heanta turning to hatred. In regards to the other races of asmir, Rowan has little time for the short lived humans or the strange asentari, though with him spending more time in the freelands it seems likely that he will have to reconsider how he interacts with them.

Likes:

• Fighting: He is at his most content When fighting or hunting a foe or on the killing field or even training.
  
• Enjoying the little things: Rowan knows life is long but short all the same and does his best to remember to enjoy the little things, from his favorite food to a quiet drink with his friend.
  
• Yavanna: She has and always will be his best friend until the day they die and beyond. Even though they spend most of their time apart, she is like a sister to him, and the only family he has.
  

Dislikes:

• Politics: Despite being 751 years old, Rowan has no time for political bullshit. He especially dislikes when he’s used as a tool to get a job done and when someone plays on his hatred for heanta to achieve that.
  
• Entitled people: He has always worked hard to get where he is despite being a gifted warrior, and his like for like minded people is counterbalanced by his dislike, sometimes even hatred for people who think the world revolves around them. He does enjoy teaching them otherwise though.
  
• Heanta:  Hate is a better word for heanta when it comes to Rowan.
  

Fears:

• Losing another loved one: Rowan has a deep-seated, almost insurmountable fear of losing another loved one to violence and war. This is the reason that, in the years since Kaila was killed, he hasn’t sought another lover or allowed himself to establish an emotional connection with another living being. This fear doesn’t apply to Yavanna as badly for Rowan, as they’ve spent a lifetime training, fighting and surviving battlefields together and he knows she can look after herself.
  
• Going over the edge: He fears becoming immune to the trials of others, to no longer care to help someone who needs help, or simply losing himself to anger and rage and not being able to find his way back.
  
• Caves: Rowan doesn’t like small places, especially caves. There’s nothing more likely to kill a warrior than a cave in.
  

Height: 6’7”
Weight: 240lbs
Appearance: Rowan has piercing yellow eyes and long silver hair, which is uncommon among eldari, that falls down to his shoulders. His skin is lightly tanned and weathered, and is crisscrossed with scars, but most prominent is the ring of claw marks around his neck and shoulders from a pitched life or death brawl with several heanta, and a long deep red scar over his left eye. He is tall and heavily built with powerful muscles, which makes him easily stand out in a crowd. In fact he’s always stood out for exactly this reason, earning the respect of lesser warriors.
Clothing: Rowan favors light practical clothing such as combat leathers and a good cloak. He’ll sometimes change the cloak out for a leather long coat or jacket, but prefers something easily removed as he is always ready for a fight. Rowan usually doesn’t bother with armor, especially the heavier stuff that would slow him down, but if it comes to it he’ll wear a custom made set of light armor Pictured above.



General Fighting Tactics: Rowan has always valued a direct approach to combat without need for flair or fancy maneuvers. He is the vanguard, the hard hitter, fast, durable and strong, he can go toe to toe with any style of fighter and hold out against them. He is the sword to his friend Yavanna’s shield, making the pair a force to be reckoned with when teamed up together. Despite his size he is still fast, which makes him even more deadly with his greatsword as he is often underestimated.

Rowan's sword style is a variant of the two handed part of the sword style developed by Yavanna, with some more aggressive techniques of Rowan's own making. He is still well versed in the standard techniques of the eldari but had little interest in trying to master the styles of other races, only learning to combat them. He also carries a Hand Axe for tight quarters, and while he’s no expert he has trained with enough to pose a considerable threat when trapped or without his greatsword in hand. Likewise, he’s practiced both hand to hand combat and with a bow, and has a decent understanding of how to defend himself and pick off targets at medium range.

Rowan relies more on his physical body than magical power to fight, but he keeps several magical abilities up his sleeve for more dangerous situations. His most surprising skill is the ability to heal, and while his gift is weak he’s capable of using it on himself as well as others outside of a fight. This has allowed him to survive more dire situations than should be possible. Second wind keeps him going when his stamina starts to fail at the cost of not being able to use his abilities.

Combat Stats-

Strength || Good(R-1 Very Good)
Speed ||  Good(R-1 Very Good)
Agility ||  Average(R-1 Good)
Durability || Good
Stamina || Fair(R-1 average)
Magical power || Poor

Strengths:
Enhanced Senses: Rowan is blessed with a keener eyesight, hearing and sense of smell which aids him in and out of combat. He has earned himself a reputation as an excellent tracker because of this, trumped only by the animal forms of Eldross.
Greatsword Master: Rowan is an excellent physical fighter and while he can use just about anything, he is at his best with a greatsword in hand. He has mastered both the eldari two handed sword style and a variant of Yavanna’s, and puts them to great use in combat.
Mental fortitude: Along with a great deal of control over himself, Rowan has a powerful mental fortitude that helps him shrug off the effects of mental attacks with ease.
Weaknesses:
Double edged: His enhanced senses can backfire on him, particularly his keener eyesight which is very sensitive to sudden changes of light, and his hearing which can be overwhelmed by loud noises. His tolerance of bad smells is better, but can still be overwhelmed by an unnatural or magical based smell assault. As such Attacks that affect these senses last an additional post.
Offensive Magic: Rowan has no ranged magic available to him. All of his offensive spells have a range of no more than 10ft, and he cannot use very strong magic.
Fire Weakness: Rowan takes 25% more damage from fire based magic.



Primary Equipment
Name: Falling Sun
Type: Greatsword
Description: A massive two handed sword forged by A human smith and named in honor of Rowan’s former blade, an ancient enchanted steel greatsword named Rising Sun that was lost during Onyxus’ rampage. The blade of Falling Sun is four and a half feet long and the handle is 20 inches, with a 2 inch wide counter balance, with a total length of 6ft 3”. Falling sun is a double edged divinium greatsword and is an average of 4 inchs at its widest but flares out near the handle, creating an edged crossguard, And 2 inches at its thickest. It’s a heavy weapon, but Rowan can still swing it with alarming speed. The edge was dyed a cold blue during the forging, giving off a cold light to match Rowan’s Cold Powers.
Enchantments:

Name: Warriors Edge Type: support Damage Category: n/a Description: Falling Sun glows with a bright blue light that travels down its bearers arms and into their body, reinforcing it. This reinforcement comes in the form of a +1 boost to strength, speed and agility that lasts for 3 posts. The wielder must maintain contact with Falling sun or the effect ends. The effect drains a great deal of power from the sword and can only be used sparingly. Duration/Cooldown: 3 post duration, 6 post cooldown, two use per thread

Secondary Equipment

Name: Sky Splitter
Type: Hand Axe
Description: A one handed axe with a three foot long reinforced handle and a curved six inch axe blade. The blade and handle reinforcements are enchanted steel. Sky Splitter belonged to Kaila, and while he prefers not to use it, it’s proven to be an excellent back up weapon in close quarters where a six foot long greatsword isn’t easy to swing, and can be thrown quite effectively. It's decorated with heanta runes and symbols, and many people assume he took it from the corpse of an enemy.


Poison Resistance: Because the Eldari are inherently magical beings, their bodies are far faster at locating and eliminating threats that would infiltrate them. As a result, they recover much quicker from the effects of poisons than other races would. This cuts 1 post of duration of all poisons inflicted on an Eldari. For example, if an Eldari is inflicted with a poison that lasts for 4 posts, it will only last for 3 posts. It also increases a poison's grace period by a post.



Ice blade: Lvl 1, Lvl 2, Lvl 3.




Name: Prowess
Type: Support
Damage Category: N/A
Description: After spending several human lifetimes on the battlefield, Rowan has developed a sixth sense for danger, making him extremely hard to catch unawares or flatfooted. When attacked from behind or unexpectedly, Rowan’s body will react to the incoming threat on its own, allowing him to avoid or mitigate the damage from the blow. His body can only react as fast as his agility allows and a large part of this relies on his enhanced senses. If one or more of his enhanced senses are hindered, this is less effective. This is less useful in a direct confrontation, but when the odds are not in his favor this can save his hide.
Cooldown: Passive

Name: Cooling Breath
Type: Healing
Description: Rowan has access to a very basic healing ability that is slower than the average healers ability, but has the added advantage of self healing. Additionally, as the name suggests, the ability has an element of Rowan's cold energy to it, and is far more effective at dealing with burns(burns heal 1 post faster than stated on the table).
Effect: As long as contact is maintained, the target's wounds will be healed. The more severe the wounds, the longer this healing will take. The scale is as follows:

Damage Category	Time needed	Examples
Light	2 post	Bruises, Cuts, hairline bone fractures, light burns*
Moderate	3 posts	Deep lacerations, minor bone fractures, moderate burns*
Heavy	4 posts	Multi-layer lacerations, bone breaks, 3rd degree burns*
Severe	5 posts	Minor organ damage, Multi-point bone breaks, severed limbs, charred flesh*
Critical	6 posts	Moderate organ damage, severed limbs, major blood loss

Limbs can be reattached using this healing, but not regrown using this method of healing.
Limitation: This ability requires hands on contact. Cannot be used if the user is in the second stage of exhaustion state or higher. Only restores the target's physical body. It does not restore their stamina or magical energy.


Name: Rapid deflection
Type: Defense
Damage Category: Weak
Description: Rowan moves his sword with alarming speed and can deflect up to 10 Very Weak or one weak magical or physical projectiles back towards the attacker with far less accuracy.
Cooldown: 1 post cooldown.

Name: Cold Strikes
Type: Offensive
Damage Category: Weak X 3
Description: Rowan channels cold energy into his greatsword and unleashes up to three strikes. Each strike is infused with cold energy and deals weak damage on top of the damage dealt by the weapon, and can leave a coating of ice similar to Ice Blade 1, but weaker. The weapon does not maintain its charge, and the power is consumed even if the attack misses. There is no set pattern to the strikes. Once he decides to stop channeling energy into the blade, the ability ends and the cooldown begins.
Cooldown: 1 post cooldown per strike.


Name: Second Wind
Type: Restorative
Damage Category: N/A
Description: When Rowan’s body begins to reach its limits, instead of entering exhaustion stage one, he enters Second Wind for two posts. During Second Wind he loses access to all of his powers with the exception of his passive abilities and weapon’s enchantments, and cannot draw on magical power, however he remains at 100% fighting capability physically. It only activates once per thread on the post that he should begin exhaustion state 1 in.
Cooldown: Passive

Name: Rush Down
Type: Support
Damage Category: N/A
Description: Rowan moves up to 15 foot with a sudden burst of speed that far exceeds his normal movement speed, but not so fast he appears to vanish. He cannot redirect or stop his sudden charge or retreat.
Cooldown: 1 post cooldown.


Name: Wave of Cold
Type: Offensive
Damage Category: Average
Description: Rowan charges his sword with magical energy and performs a spinning slash that unleashes a Wave of cold energy from his sword in a ten foot area. While the wave thrown off deals Average damage, the real danger is being caught within reach of his sword. Can be performed as a horizontal or vertical spinning slash.
Cooldown: 2 post cooldown

Name: Frigid Counter
Type: Defense
Damage Category: Average
Description: Rowan blocks with his greatsword and unleashes a burst of cold and ice in front of him that blocks incoming physical and magical attacks, up to Average damage, and can knock back opponents directly in front of him depending on weight and strength. The shield cannot be held, meaning timing is required, but can be performed quickly enough that Rowan can easily follow up with a counter attack.
Cooldown: 3

Regular Boosts: Strength +1, speed +1, Agility +1, Stamina +1


Name: Glacial Will
Type: Restorative
Damage Category: None
Description: Rowan shrugs off the effects of pain, poisons, and mental assaults through force of will alone. It doesn’t cancel any abilities that cause these effects, just mutes them for two posts. If their duration is still running when this ends, he’ll feel the effects again. However it doesn’t delay their effects, and their duration ticks down alongside this ability.
Cooldown: 4 post cooldown.

Name: Defensive Form
Type: Support
Damage Category: N/A
Description: Rowan enters a state of defensive focus, increasing his agility by +1 at the cost of reducing his strength by -1. He can maintain this state for up to 5 posts, but it costs him 2 pp to activate and 1 pp per post there after.
Cooldown: 1 + 1 for each post maintained.


Name: Frozen Crashdown
Type: Offensive
Damage Category: Strong
Description: Rowan imbues his blade with a great deal of magical power and slams it downwards, preferably on his target, but the ground will do. Upon impact, the blade releases all of the built up cold energy in a blast that hits in front of him expanding out to 10ft in a semicircle area. Like Wave of Cold the most dangerous part is being hit directly by his sword.
Cooldown: 3

Name: Armor Of Frost
Type: Defense
Damage Category: Strong
Description: Rowan creates a shimmering armor of cold and ice around his body that can protect him against up to a total of strong magical damage before shattering. The Armor lasts until it’s shattered, he enters Second wind, or he ends the effect. If he’s hit with a spell that exceeds the remaining damage capacity, excess damage hits him. It does not block weapons, but will reduce damage from any magical effects on them. It requires 2 pp per turn to maintain.
Cooldown: 4

Elite Boosts: Strength +2, speed +2, Agility +1, Stamina +1 Durability +1, Magical Power +1

Background

History:



Rowan was born in a small town near the Eldari heanta border shortly after the Human Eldari war. His Father was a hunter and a bastard, and his mother was a seamstress. They weren’t rich, but neither did they want for much, as the meat and furs his father provided sold for a good price. Rowan’s earliest years were spent under threat of a beating from his father when the man got too drunk, and decided to take his woes out on his family. Other than that his life was uneventful, and when he was old enough, his father took him hunting and taught him to track and take down prey. Although his father was a prick at the best of times, Rowan enjoyed the hunting trips and the knowledge his father willingly shared with him. As it turned out, it was just as well that he’d been open to learning to hunt, because it ended up saving his life. When he was in and around twelve years old when a heanta raiding party slipped by the border and attacked. During the fight, his parents were killed and Rowan’s house was burned to the ground. Rowan’s mother hid him, and if she hadn’t sacrificed herself to draw the heanta away he would have been found and killed. This was his first experience with the Eldari’s hated foe, Heanta.

After the smoke cleared, there was nothing left of the village, Rowan. The survivors had fled, leaving Rowan alone with the dead, and nobody dared return until a counter force arrived to make sure the heanta had left. Rowan had been too terrified to move, and it wasn’t until someone discovered him in the hiding place his mother had found him that he was finally coaxed out. He was found by a woman named Genevieve Aratris. She was a sergeant in the Eldari army, who took him from the wreckage of his village. The kind soldier asked him if his parents had maybe made it away, but Rowan had seen his father die, and he’d heard his mother's screams. There was no chance they’d survived. Genevieve asked him about his other family, of which he only had an uncle in gateway harbour.

Genevieve took his hand, and promised to bring him there, and she did as she promised. The trip to Gateway harbour was tough, but Rowan did his best to keep his mind off things by helping Genevieve and her soldiers with duties around the camp. Everyone was kind to Rowan, Genevieve most of all. Though he hadn’t liked his father much, he missed his parents, and was still struggling to come to terms with what had happened. He felt isolated, even with everyone doing their best to console him. Of course, things were only going to get worse, when they finally reached gateway harbour. He expected to be left to his own devices, but the kind eldari woman didn’t let him go off on his own and insisted on helping him find his uncle. However what they found was only an empty house. When they asked the neighbours, they were told that the man had died. And so, Rowan found himself facing the world with no family.

Genevieve was reluctant to toss him on the mercy of the city, and asked Rowan if he would perhaps like to come live with her until they found him a permanent home. Rowan accepted and Genevieve took his hand and they started on their journey to his new home. Of course, he hadn’t realised then that she lived in Gildaron, or that it was not to be temporary.

Rowan took a while to settle in, but Genevieve and her husband Gareth, who welcomed Rowan into his house with open arms, managed to draw him out of his shell. He’d seen a lot in his short life already, and losing his parents was still fresh on his mind. When she asked Rowan what he wanted to do when he grew up, he said he wanted to be like her. To fight and protect their lands from the heanta and humans and other threats. Genevieve promised to help him get there. After he settled in, Genevieve began to train Rowan to fight, and Rowan enjoyed it. He’d always liked hunting, but fighting with a blade was something entirely different. It was fast and dangerous and wild, and Genevieve was an exceptional swordswoman, she was very tough on him but she was also kind. He waited for the day they would ask him to leave, but it never came.

Instead, they asked Rowan if he would like them to adopt him, and explained that Genevieve had been wounded in the human eldari war, and couldn’t have any children of her own. It felt like destiny that he’d met these amazing people, who loved him even though he wasn’t their son. Rowan accepted, and it might have been the happiest day of his life. As time passed, he grew bigger and stronger and faster, and by the time he was eighteen he was nearing his full height. Genevieve helped him understand that though he was likely to be powerful, he needed to be in control of himself. She taught him to never let his strength go to his head, or to abuse it. When he was nearing nineteen she announced that she had secured him a place in the Eldari Warrior academy if he so wished to join.

And so, Rowan began training even harder in preparation for the trials that potential warriors faced to get into the academy. He was already a decent archer, and his sword skills were beginning to rival Genevieve’s, but he’d never held a polearm, and would need to at least know the basics. The day finally came, and Rowan watched the trails ahead of him take place. A young man ahead of him, turned and grinned up at him. Rowan watched as a small girl walked into the ring. The young man turned and spoke to Rowan. “I’ve heard of her. She’s failed the test 5 times. This should be fun to watch.” Rowan ignored him, but watched the girl shoot her bow, which she did well, and then fight. She wasn’t fast or strong, but he could see the work she put in. Eventually, she won her bouts and left beaming. The young man in front of him snorted. “Seriously, the trash they let in.” Again Rowan ignored him.

It seemed the young man was all talk, and his sword skill was lacking. He barely hit the targets, but still managed to scrape by. He returned to the ring, having passed and grinned at Rowan ”Not bad right?”. Rowan was next, and the guy clapped him on the back. Rowan glared at him but the young man seemed to not notice. Rowan’s archery trial was first, and each shot hit in a neat cluster around the bullseye. The polearms followed, and despite his lack of skill his strength and speed carried him through. His final bout was with the sword, and he easily beat his instructor in a matter of seconds, earning applause from the crowd. Rowan offered his instructor a hand up, then returned to the side of the ring. The young man was waiting.

“Now that was impressive. I had a feeling you’d be good, you big bastard. I’m Tari. And you?” He said. Rowan looked at him coldly. “Rowan.” Tari nodded. “Well Rowan, we made it. And it didn’t take six tries.” He said loudly, looking at the girl behind him. She said nothing, ignoring the Tari’s obvious attempt to look tough in front of his friend. “I’m surprised you made it. Must have done something special for the instructors to impress them.” Tari said to the girl and elbowed Rowan with a grin. The girl tensed, but remained silent. Rowan clenched his fist. “Hey, I’m talking to you.” Tari said. “Such a loser, right Rowan?” Rowan turned and half snarled at him. “Why don’t you leave her alone?” Rowan wasn’t expecting thanks, but he also wasn’t expecting the resentful look she gave him. She glared at him and stepped up to Rowan, who remained calm.

“Excuse me? I don’t need some meathead sticking up for me, thank you very much.” She then spun on her heels and looked Tari dead in the eyes with pure annoyance. “As for you. Shut the fuck up.” She huffed and walked off, trying her best to hide the tears. Tari didn’t notice, but Rowan spotted it with his keener eyes. Tari let out a stupid laugh and turned to Rowan. “What a bitch. You’re just defending her and she takes it out on you. But seriously, I didn’t mean to upset you friend.” He said. Rowan grabbed Tari by the shirt, lifting him up to meet his face. “We are not friends. As if I’d befriend a piece of shit like you. Now fuck off.” Rowan said, and let go of Tari. The young man stumbled back and glared. “You’ll fucking regret that.” He shouted. Rowan simply turned and walked away.



When classes began, Rowan found himself the centre of attention. Everyone except Tari and his small group of friends, and the girl who had snapped at him during the trials, Yavanna was her name, talked to him and treated him like he was something special. Rowan hated the attention, knowing he’d hardly earned it, and kept himself distant. He still quickly became the star pupil of the class, easily besting most of the other students. Only one other student seemed to be able to keep up with him, one of Tari’s thugs who rivalled Rowan in size if not brains or skill. He didn’t let his success go to his head and continued to apply himself in all aspects of classes, not just combat. He wasn’t the smartest, and made sure to keep on top of his studies.

Unlike the rest of the class, he never took part in their jeering of Yavanna. He found himself watching her though, and though he didn’t step in to defend her, because she had made it very clear she didn’t want him too, he started to respect her because of perseverance in the face of adversity. Tari was the worst to her, with his little gang of nobleborns, and their tormenting was starting to aggravate Rowan. Especially because, despite his claim that Rowan would regret his decision to not be Tari’s friend, the young man continued to try to recruit him. Despite that, there were several times when they came to blows as Rowan’s refusal to consort with Tari’s ilk began to frustrate the noble brat.

One day, one of the instructors decided to have the group spar amongst themselves. He picked pairings at random, which resulted in Rowan being paired with Yavanna. Rowan nodded to the girl, who starred back full of defiance and stepped into the ring with him. Taking up the traditional defensive stance, she glared at Rowan. “Don’t you dare go easy on me, meathead.” Rowan loosened his shoulders and took his stance. “If I do that I won't have a chance.” He said, trying to acknowledge her growing skill. However, Yavanna took it the wrong way, by the look on her face. She rushed forward, and the fight began.

Yavanna held her own well initially, avoiding taking hits by combining deflecting with smart movements. But Rowan’s speed and strength meant that even with her clever movements he began to overwhelm her defenses. He noted how she moved to deal with each strike he threw, and saw the impressive skill she had honed despite not being built for it. Genevieve would be impressed by her. Unfortunately, skill wasn’t enough, not yet, and Rowan won the match, stopping short of hitting her where most would not. Yavanna turned red in the face with rage, as her defense began to crumble. She looked at Rowan’s weapon and then to Rowan, and hissed at him. “Why did you stop!? I told you not to go easy on me!” She stepped forward and grabbed him by the shirt front. Rowan was once again taken aback by her sudden display of hostility towards him but coldly replied, “I always pull the final blow. I’d take somebody's head off if I didn’t.” He said. Maybe she was used to taking the hit that would knock her out. The instructors never scolded Tari or his cronies when they hit her with a potentially fatal blow. Even with dulled steel, it must be painful, and he’d learned to be careful from Genevieve.

Yavanna seemed to withdraw when she heard Tari’s obnoxious guffaw from the edge of the ring. “Nice work squirt. Did you really think you had a chance against my pal, Rowan?” Her gaze fell to the floor and she released Rowan’s shirt before she slunk back to the edge of the ring, staring at her feet, red as a beet and looking distinctly embarrassed. “Why don’t you fight her, Tari?” Rowan said suddenly as he watched her retreat. Tari grinned. “I’m as likely to beat her as you are, so what’s the point?” Rowan gave him a simmering look. “Tell you what, if you win I’ll join your gang.” Rowan said. Tari’s grin broadened. “Ha, I knew you wanted to join. Come on then, Squirt. Let's get this over with.” Tari hopped into the ring and Rowan backed out. He met Yavanna’s eyes, and nodded. Yavanna narrowed her eyes at Rowan and he let out a sigh because he knew she had taken this the wrong way, but still entered the ring. Rowan watched as they both prepared to fight.

Tari grinned and charged forward, brandishing his weapon dramatically. Yavanna allowed a small smile to creep onto her face, and she sidestepped Tari’s advance, spinning quickly and whapping him over the head with her own sword. Tari lost his balance and fell flat on his face. She turned to look at him as he jumped to his feet, face contorted with anger. “You think you’re funny squirt? Huh?” Yavanna simply shrugged and waited. Tari advanced on her again, this time attempting a combination of blows. She deftly deflected the strikes before having to roll out of the way as Tari suddenly brought his blade crashing down hard in a vertical blow. She noticed that her opponent had started breathing heavily, having winded himself from his own combination. She stepped forward and feinted high, before sweeping his legs out from underneath him with a sweep kick. The instructor’s voice interrupted the proceedings. “Alright, that’s enough for the day. Report back here tomorrow morning at 8 sharp.” He then left as the recruits replaced their training weapons on the racks.

Rowan watched as Yavanna turned to follow suit, when he spotted Tari stand up his face a mask of rage and made to strike her from behind. “I’ll teach you to mess with me-” Rowan stepped between them, glaring down at Tari as he grabbed the blade and ripped it from his grasp. He growled in Tari’s face. “I ever see you try something like that again, I'll break your arm, you honorless shit.” Rowan threw the weapon aside and shoved Tari onto his ass. Before Yavanna could have a go at him again for stepping in, Rowan walked away to put his weapon back. Yavanna eyed him for a moment, before stepping over Tari and replacing her weapon on the rack and leaving.

Rowan spent the afternoon running, then before dinner cleaned himself up. He had plenty of time to think about Yavanna’s strange dislike of him, and eventually put it down to his undeserved status. If only she knew he didn’t like being put in the spotlight she might be less hostile to him. Despite Tari’s claim that she didn’t stand a chance of beating Rowan, Rowan didn’t think that was true. She’d bested Tari, as Rowan had expected, and many considered the noble brat to be one of the best in the class right behind his big Goon and Rowan. She’d made great improvements. Maybe she was just a late bloomer. And strangely, the more Yavanna hated him, the more he found himself wanting to be her friend.

After dinner, Rowan headed to the Library, to fill his meathead with knowledge. He chuckled as he remembered the insult she’d thrown at him. No one dared insult him. It was refreshing. However, on the way, he spotted Tari and his cronies skulking around the barracks. Ahead of them, Yavanna was walking towards the training area, carrying an armful of books. They were following her, discreetly. So Rowan followed them. Yavanna entered the training rooms and Tari and his cronies snuck up to the door to watch. Rowan hung back, out of sight but still able to hear them as they whispered. Something crashed to the ground, and they started to laugh quietly, then they slunk into the room. Rowan walked down the corridor and watched as Tari approached Yavanna. “What are you up to, squirt?” Tari asked mockingly. Rowan couldn’t see her properly but he heard her reply. “What do you want dick head?”

Tari’s response was disdainful. “Late night study? You’re even sadder than I thought. That will make this a little harder.” Rowan heard a scuffle, and heard Yavanna grunt in pain. He slipped forward as Tari spoke again. “On the plus side, this would’ve been a lot more painful if your buddy Rowan had joined my gang.” He heard the sound of fist meeting flesh, and another grunt. Rowan moved to the door, and watched as Tari lifted Yavanna’s face to meet his eyes. “It’s a shame you’re so pretty. I never wanted to damage something so beautiful.” She spat in his face, and slammed her head back into her captors face breaking free and kicking him in the nuts. Rowan felt a flash of pride. He wasn’t sure why, but seeing her fight off four bullies despite all of her weaknesses was inspiring. The pride turned to pure rage when Tari punched her square in the face, splitting her eyebrow. She went down, but bounced back up faster and started swinging. Then they seized her arms, and despite all of her attempts to free herself, she couldn’t. Rowan had seen enough, fuck her pride she could hate him all she wanted but he wasn’t going to let Tari get away with striking her again. He surged forward and grabbed Tari’s drawn back hand. “I warned you.” Rowan snarled, and wrapped his hand around Tari’s throat.

Lifting him off the ground, Rowan glared up at him. Yavanna looked up with blurry vision as Tari began to pale, and tears leaked down his face as he feared the worst. Then Rowan dropped him.The noble wheezed for breath as he stumbled and started to say, “You’ll pay for-” Rowan punched him in the jaw, and Tari’s entire body did a full spin before he hit the ground. Something slammed into Rowan’s back, and he turned slowly to glare at the perpetrator, who dropped his broken stick and backed away. His glare moved to the two holding Yavanna, who released her and quickly backed away. Yavanna dropped to the ground and began crawling towards her weapon as Rowan barked at the goons. “Get lost, and take this trash with you.” They obeyed. Rowan slowly, reluctantly looked at Yavanna. She was going to scream at him for saving her.

Yavanna breathed deeply and heavily as she clutched her training sword. She looked up at Rowan, still a little foggy from the attack. She wiped blood from her face and tried to muster up a defiant expression, but failed and her shoulders slumped. Rowan opened his mouth, took a moment to think, then said, “You fight like a wildcat. I respect that.” Yavanna finally regained some of the wind that had been knocked out of her. She looked at Rowan trying and failing to hold back tears. “I guess I do need help.” She wiped away tears and set about trying to pack up her books, but they all just fell out on the floor again. She looked at her shaking hands and more tears came. Rowan remained silent for a moment, then said, “You had them. I was just being a hero.” Yavanna couldn’t help but smile. That’s what she was thinking earlier. For a moment, the facade fell, and she finally began to understand Rowan, truly. She approached him, not aggressively, but earnestly this time. “This... this was a weak moment. I should’ve seen it coming.” She looked at the floor before continuing.

“No-one was supposed to see this.” Yavanna gestured to the books. “He must’ve tailed me from the barracks.” Rowan remained quiet as she tried to explain. At least she wasn’t screaming at him. He shook his head. “You think training after hours is weak? How do you think I spend my time?” She looked up with a wry smile. “I dunno... lifting elk?” Rowan snorted. “Funny, but no. I do this.” He said. “Train, not beat people up in secluded rooms.” Yavanna looked at Rowan for a moment. He seemed sincere. It appears that she definitely misjudged him. She suddenly realized that she had been doing the same thing that she had been accusing him of, judging him by his appearance. Yavanna felt ashamed at her previous attitude towards him. “I had no idea. I’m sorry. I...” Her gaze returned to her shoes. “I just thought you were just a big-strong-beefy-hero. You’re so good at everything! And you make it look so easy and-” She suddenly looked at Rowan in confusion. “Wait, what were you doing out here anyway? And why did you risk yourself to help me?”

Rowan waved away her apology and waited until she was done blitzing him before he replied. He chuckled at her calling him big-strong-beefy-hero. It fit well with Meathead. “I had a very good teacher. My mother actually.” He said. “And as for that, well I was on the way to the library, and I saw them following you from the Barracks. So I followed them. I wasn’t going to step in, because you made it very clear you don’t need to be saved, but.. It went too far.” He paused, then continued. “They don’t respect you, because they think you’re weak. But you’re not. You don’t give up, even when you're faced with the biggest fighter in the class. You’re the butt of jokes, but you’ve never stopped trying to fight. They fawn over me, trying to latch onto the glory they think I'll bring them, but you continue to try to escape my shadow. I like that. I don’t want to be put on a pedestal, and you’re the only one in our class who doesn’t do that. That’s why I risked myself, even if it makes you hate me more for stepping in. Because I’d rather have you around to hate me, than have to put up with being fawned over alone.” He said.

Yavanna considered Rowan’s words for long moments. She resented him for being perfect, but it turned out they were both dealing with their own struggles. She looked into Rowan’s eyes and spoke completely honestly. “I believe I understand you better now. I was too busy trying not to be helpless that it skewed my vision. I’ve been an underdog ever since I decided that I wanted to follow the Path of the Warrior. I don’t have the strength or speed that others do, so I have to train harder than most, just to keep up. I can’t make myself grow more, but I can make myself better in other ways. I will be a Warrior someday.” She lowered her gaze. “I let that mentality blind me. I completely mistreated you, and I’m sorry. I just...” She looked up again. “I didn’t want to be pitied.” She reached out a hand to Rowan and smiled. “I guess there’s only one question left to ask. Do you wanna be my gang?” Rowan snorted a laugh. “Don’t you mean in your gang?” He said. Yavanna grinned stupidly. “Nope. I know what I said.” Rowan grabbed her hand. “Fair enough. Then yes, I will be your gang.”



The next day, Rowan expected to be told off by the instructors for assaulting Tari, but it seemed Tari hadn’t said a word. Considering it would involve admitting to his own guilt, it made sense that the brat wouldn’t say a word. Rowan left it up to Yavanna to report what had happened to her or not, and didn’t care if it led to trouble for him. In the end nothing was done, but a lot changed. Over the following months, he and Yavanna grew close. Tari left her alone, and stopped trying to recruit him to his little gang. When the others realised Rowan was friends with Yavanna, they tried to befriend her and found, to Rowan’s amusement, that she was having none of it.

His friendship with her had other benefits too, for one it made studying easier with help. He wasn’t as advanced in theoretical works as she was, and while he hadn’t been slacking it was still a weak area for him. While his skill with Genevieve’s style of combat was already quite high, Yavanna helped him expand that knowledge base into the other Eldari fighting styles. Meanwhile to help her improve they spent each evening in the sparring ring, running or putting her through her paces with exercises to increase her speed and strength. It got to the stage that, while Yavanna wasn’t able to keep up with him in a foot race, she had far better stamina. Alone, Rowan was a force of nature, but with Yavanna’s techinical genius they became a nightmare to fight.

When the group sparring began, the instructor was forced to even the odds by placing Rowan and Yavanna in a team on their own. The others assumed it was because of Rowan alone, until they faced Yavanna alone to find she was not to be ignored. They’re teamwork saw them win Academy tournaments and eventually Rowan wasn’t alone in being revered by the rest of the class. Three years passed, and the pair earned a reputation for their formidable teamwork and extreme work ethic. They had each grown in their own way, though in Rowan’s case it was mostly bigger. When the time came for them to recieve their own blades, Rowan had just turned twenty-one.

On the day he was to commission his sword he was surprised to find Genevieve waiting for him outside the academy, with a greatsword. "it was my father's." she said to him. "But it's yours if you'll have it." Rowan carefully took the weapon with a soft smile. "It would be an honor to wield your father's blade." The blade was named Rising Sun and was a 6ft long single edged enchanted steel greatsword made in the first age. Rowan proudly accepted the blade in the acceptance ceremony. After receiving his sword, life became even and predictable. Most of the next few years of his life were spent training, studying and preparing to join the army. It was expected that he would get an offer to join the Eternal Watch, and indeed a few months before he finished at the Academy he was extended the offer. Rowan refused. It was a great honor to join the watch, but he had always wanted to spend time in the army like his mother. It helped that Yavanna didn’t receive an offer making the decision for Rowan to join the army easier.

It was noted that the pair worked extremely well together, and they were placed into the same unit. It wasn’t long before they discovered that Tari had also decided to go on to the army, unlike many high born children who simply joined for the prestige. He was assigned to the same unit as Rowan and Yavanna. What’s more, even though his old gang didn’t follow, he managed to collect a new following of like-minded morons. Tari began to stir up trouble for Yavanna again, spreading nasty rumors about how she made it through academy training on her back. Tari’s own squad were happy to spout the rumors and spread it to other squads. Yavanna and Rowan’s squad put no stock into the rumors as soon as they saw her fighting, but it still got around and caused a bit of trouble. Rowan was furious, but his fury was nothing compared to how calmly Yavanna dealt with the situation. She was used to people like Tari by now, and she simply let her abilities do the talking for her. She knew the opportunity to shut him up was going to come. They just needed to be patient.

***

Sure enough, their opportunity came knocking. One night, Yavanna’s squad had just returned from a patrol and were settling in for the evening. Yavanna found a clearing in the woods to sneak in a bit of extra training before dinner(typical). She began her calisthenics, loosening up and venting the pent up energy from their uneventful patrol. Things were going well, until she heard footsteps in the foliage and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. “Well, squirt. Looks like nothing ever changes.” Yavanna stopped and turned around to see Tari and his latest gang of cronies emerge from the shadows. Yavanna shook her head in disdain. “Seriously? After all this time, you still haven’t learned to mind your own business?” Tari’s eyes lit up with anger. “This is my business. You and that giant asshole humiliated me. I still owe you for that.”

Tari drew his weapon and stepped forward with his gang. “Well, really it was Rowan who humiliated me. You were pretty much helpless until he came along. So it's him I owe, but He's pretty attached to you, so I think this is the perfect way to make him pay. And this time he's not around to intervene.” The others drew their weapons, and Yavanna sighed. “You do realise we’re not using training swords anymore, right?” She looked Tari dead in the eyes. “You’ve made two mistakes. First, I wasn’t good enough to defend myself back then, granted. But I don't need Rowan to protect me. I’m much better now. Better than you know. Second.” She leveled her weapon at Tari and smiled. “I have a weapon this time." Tari charged with his crooks in tow.

Yavanna was not bluffing, and even with the advantage in numbers, Tari once again found himself on the wrong side of the fight. Yavanna was completely untouched, while Tari and his gang reeled from bruises and cuts she had inflicted. Sheathing her sword, Yavanna looked down at him as he sat on his backside on the ground. “You still think I got through the academy on my back?” She turned her back on the gang-leader, and began to walk off. Tari was not done, however, and he drew a knife from his belt and lunged at her back. Before he realised what had happened, Rowan was standing between him and Yavanna, gripping his arm tightly. “Just because she doesn’t need me to protect her doesn’t mean I don’t have her back.” Rowan started to squeeze Tari’s arm tighter and tighter. “Remember what I said I’d do if I ever saw you do something like this again?” Before Tari could answer, Rowan locked his arm and snapped it.

The crack echoed in the forest, and Tari began to scream. One of his goons charged Rowan, but Yavanna clapped him across the back of the head with the flat of her blade and he fell on his face in the mud. “I think you’ve learned your lesson, but by all means, keep coming.” Rowan said, throwing Tari aside and drawing his greatsword. Nobody moved, and Rowan and Yavanna returned to camp. Tari received medical attention for his arm, but no healer could fix his pride. His goons deserted him, and he was forced to get by on his own.

***

The months that followed were quiet. There were a few encounters with heanta along the border but they didn't cross over. Rowan was becoming more tense as the time passed, because while the Heanta attack that killed his parents meant he met Genevieve and Yavanna, he still owed the horned warriors a few deaths in return. But the Heanta were just watching their backs, as tensions were brewing between them and the orken on their Eastern border. One afternoon while Rowan and Yavanna were out scouting, he spotted a Heanta patrol. With his enhanced hearing he was able to overhear them talking. Apparently an orken warlord by the name of Grish’nak the Destroyer had slipped into Kyrias and attacked a village only to run afoul of Ren the Hornless. He slaughtered most of them but several groups had escaped, and Ren and the Heanta had driven them away from the safety of their own borders. They had been driving the Orken towards the Eldari border where they would either fight or flee into equally hostile lands.

Rowan told Yavanna everything he overheard and they returned to camp to report. With the potential of an Orken incursion on the horizon the unit deployed all but one squad to watch their area of the border, spreading out to meet the threat. If anything crossed, they were to take them down and ask questions if anyone survived. With the thrill of a potential fight after all this time patrolling both Rowan and Yavanna were excited. And then they heard the shouting and the clashing of blades. Then the Orken were upon them, at least twenty. They were still concerned with whatever was chasing them and didn't see the squad of Eldari and in the chaos several were cut down before they realised what had happened. The Orken targeted Yavanna out of the assumption that she was easy pickings, and as she danced around their blows and extracted their blood, Rowan struck them from behind. In a single motion the pair cut through five of the Orken, and were about to move on when there was a scream and Enayi, one of their squadmates took an axe to the gut.

Rowan charged the Orken and slammed into him, launching the bastard away. When the axeman regained his feet, he charged Rowan, who ducked, and Yavanna was waiting to drive a sword through his chest. They drew close over Enayi, and killed anything that got close. It was only a few more seconds before the last Orken went down. When all the fighting was done, Rowan moved to Enayi to heal her. He was interrupted when Yavanna tapped him on the shoulder, and that was when he realised that somebody else stood among the bodies. A tall silver-haired Heanta with purple eyes and no horns. Rowan's heart stopped as he watched the Heanta's greatest warrior look them over, expression unreadable. He was on their side of the border, but nobody dared bring it up. When Ren didn't move they began to wonder if he would attack, and before anyone else could interject, Rowan and Yavanna stepped forward. Together, they might hold him off for long enough to let the others escape. Ren watched them move to block him, determination on their faces. After a few seconds, the Heanta sheathed his weapons and gave them a nod. Then he turned and walked away.



The years following the incident with the Orken on the border was far less eventful. Rowan and Yavanna got in a few scrapes with the heanta on the other side, but no war parties crossed over. It seemed the heanta were content to continue to harass the Orken on the other side. Thankfully, they never saw Ren the Hornless near the border again, a blessing, but not all was calm everywhere in the world. Tragedy struck in Eldross lands when a mad witch set loose the dragon king known as Xartas, resulting in a reign of terror that lasted several months. Xartas was eventually brought down by a strike force of Eldari, Eldross, humans and, surprisingly, Orken. The heanta did not show up, but that wasn’t a surprise. Not much is known about what happened when they finally defeated the dragon, but the blast was heard in the golden city.

A few years later, a similar incident happened in Kyrias, where the heanta were attacked by a red dragon who awoke a sleeping giant. Not much news made it to other lands, but the incident was enough to calm down the growing tensions between the Heanta and Orken, the latter of which sent aid to rebuild the city. Many years later, after countless border skirmishes and several minor battles with heanta warbands, a full on war broke out. Not between the Eldari and Heanta, but the humans and Orken. And like the first time the humans went to war, they were the aggressors. This did not sit well with the Eldari, and when the human forces began to fail, they sent for aid from the Eldari. Though the humans had gotten themselves into this mess, they would have refused had the messenger not been so compelling. It helped that the Heanta had now become involved in the fighting, and it didn’t take much to convince the Eldari forces to move out.

They swarmed into mondolin, and Rowan and Yavanna got their first taste of true war. The Eldari armed forces advanced, led by Dalrodir Shor, converged on the city of Mith Silvanus and while the Magi set to work shielding the city, the Warriors joined the fray on the front lines. They relieved the exhausted and wounded Humans who had the benefit of Eldari healers to help them return to full strength. Meanwhile, the Heanta and Orken continued to batter them with skirmishes, with several battles taking place. Rowan and Yavanna found themselves in the heart of some of the fiercest fights, but the Eldari held their ground, and not a single enemy made it past them to the city beyond. Then, in the fiercest battle yet, Dalrodir ordered a faked retreat. The Orken forces took full advantage of the chaos they expected to unfold, and when they were fully committed, the refreshed Human forces surged from their city and turned the tide.

The Heanta moved to aid Orken forces, but they were reduced in numbers from all the fighting done before. With both opponents weakened, the Human and Eldari forces drove them into the retreat and back towards their borders. After Dalrodir’s tide turning battle, Yavanna and Rowan’s unit were given leave. They had seen a lot of fighting and with the Heanta broken, and the Orken about to fold, they returned home. But they never made it to Sindaron, because the Heanta had pulled a proverbial fast one, and an army marched over the border between Minarion and Kyrias and attacked Aviron, a large, prosperous town in Endaron. The Heanta forces razed the town before help could arrive. The notable thing about the town was, it was the hometown of the renowned healer and veteran of the Human Eldari war Liliana Korvesa.

If Rowan had been Magi material, she would be his role model. As it was, she had earned a great deal of respect as a clever commander who worked alongside Shor to drive back the Heanta and Orken, and was considered one of the Eldari’s most powerful Magi of the first and second age. When Liliana called for aid to drive out the Heanta, Rowan and Yavanna’s unit were placed under her command, along with every other unit given leave, and as many extra forces as could be spared. And then, she gave chase.

Rowan and Yavanna followed their orders, and they marched towards the inevitable clash between the two massive forces. As fate would have it, the battle took place at Blackspire Pass, a large ravine that lay in the mountains bordering the Burning Wastes. The battle was a bloodbath, with great losses on both sides. Yavanna and Rowan fought harder than they had ever fought, and the battle slowly began to turn towards the Eldari. It was during this time that Tari decided to make himself known again. Yavanna and Rowan’s squad became isolated during the fighting, and they found themselves surrounded. They began to try to cut their way out, but their squad was properly pinned. Yavanna saw a movement out of the corner of her eye, and yelled at Rowan. “Rowan!” Her eyes widened in shock, she wouldn’t get there in time. Time slowed, when suddenly Tari emerged from the mass of Heanta and ran his blade through the one who had almost stabbed Rowan. Rowan turned to see Tari looking at him, and he looked down to see the Heanta’s blade sticking out of Tari’s gut. Tari looked at Rowan and smiled sadly. “What? You didn’t see that coming?” Then, Tari collapsed to the ground.

Tari’s final absolution had cleared a way for Yavanna and Rowan’s unit to reunite with their main forces, and the Heanta line began to crumble. The Eldari pushed the Heanta on to the frozen lake that dominated the Pass, and Liliana Korvesa gave the order for the Magi to bombard the lake with magic, until the ice gave and forced the remaining Heanta forces to retreat into the Burning Wastes. Liliana was about to issue the order to pursue the retreating Heanta but General Rasa arrived and countermanded that order. An argument ensued, with Liliana refusing to budge and being backed by several officers. However, the final word came when Dalrodir Shor himself arrived and ordered the Eldari to retreat to their own lands. The war had been won, but the cost would be felt for centuries to come. Yavanna and Rowan, for their part, returned to guard duty as seasoned veterans.

Less than half a year passed before the Eternal Watch sent word to Rowan and Yavanna, offering them a place among the Watch’s ranks. By this time Rowan had plenty of worldly experience and joined the Watch alongside Yavanna. For Yavanna, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream, for she had finally earned a place with the elite forces of the Eldari, against all odds. While it was standard to place new recruits through several extra years of training, as Veterans of the Golden Tide, and Blackspire Pass, it wasn’t required. It also helped that Rowan and Yavanna were already highly skilled, more so than the average soldier. With the Watch came a new level of freedom for the pair, as they were no longer restricted by army protocol and routines. Instead they were given missions and deadlines, and the resources to get things done. While they had enjoyed their time in the regular army, this provided a whole new challenge and experience.



With his entrance into the Eternal Watch, Rowan was thrust into a new adventure, and life was changing for everyone. His mother had finally retired from the Army to his father’s relief, and with the watch’s more flexible squad management meant that he saw less of Yavanna except on missions requiring stealth. He was thankfully considered green enough, by Eternal Watch standards, to not be given command of squads. He prefered to take orders than to give them, or to work alone when possible. His speed meant that he was often sent out ahead of a squad as recon or the vanguard, and there were several occasions where he was dispatched as reinforcements for eternal watch members in a pinch. He enjoyed the solitude of these excursions, except for maybe the fact that he missed Yavanna. That and, because of them being assigned to different tasks so frequently he was not with Yavanna when she was nearly killed protecting the human diplomat Kazon Relora.

When the Undari were discovered, Rowan was part of an Eternal watch squad dispatched to protect the Eldari Diplomat sent to extend a hand of greeting to the stranger new beings. The undari of course, were not a friendly bunch and the Eldari were ordered to leave their lands. Thankfully it didn’t turn violent, but this wasn’t the last the Undari Rowan would see. However the trip back wasn’t so peaceful. The heanta had caught wind of the Eldari diplomatic party and sent a kill squad to take the group out before any formal relations could be achieved by them with the Undari, or even better, pass the blame onto the strangers and spark a war between the Eldari and Undari.

Rowan sensed something first, or smelt something, a mix of ash, pine and Lilacs. He called a warning, moments before they were ambushed, and an arrow whipped from the woods into the head of the eldari diplomat. Or it would have been, had Rowan’s squad leader not put up a shield of air around the party the moment Rowan had shouted. Rowan and the others spread out, waiting for further attacks, and then the Heanta were on them. Charging from the forest, they outnumbered the Eldari two to one, but it became clear quickly that the heanta did not have access to powers, except the female who lingered near the trees, trying to find the right moment to take out the Eldari Diplomat.

Rowan surged forwards and swept the legs out from under the closest heanta. Before he could crush the downed Warriors throat with his boot, he was forced to turn and deflect an incoming blade. The downed heanta clawed Rowan’s leg, but caught in his leather armor. He parried another blow with enough force to knock the blade loose from his assailant's hand, and followed up with a sweeping blow that took off the heanta’s head. The heanta behind him had surged up, but Rowan spun and cut the leg from under him. With a scream, the heanta went down, and Rowan lunged, blade swinging to finish him off, when an arrow hit the back of his hand.

Rowan’s eyes snapped to the red headed Female who was glaring at him, drawing her bow back for a second shot. He snapped the arrow and pulled it from his hand then pulled a knife from his belt and threw it, clipping the bow and sending the shot wide, and before she could draw again he charged closing the distance faster than she could comprehend. She dropped the bow and pulled an axe from her belt as he swung, but she was gone before his sword hit the spot where she had been standing. The female smiled at him mockingly and then she turned and ran. He hesitated, because there was still a threat behind, but the other heanta had started to scatter too. His squad had it handled, so Rowan gave chase. She was faster than him, by a bit, but he tracked her by her scent of Lilacs.

The scent vanished and he stopped, and a slight creak of word alerted him in time to side step a plunging attack. He struck back with a quick one handed slash that she avoided. She said something to him, in heanta tongue and smiled as she started to circle. Rowan frowned. "I don't speak your tongue." Rowan said in the common tongue. "that's a pity." she replied. She lunged, swiping with that axe and Rowan blocked, deflecting the blow. While he could swing his greatsword one handed, it was difficult to control for blocking and when he grabbed the handle with his other hand to block the next attack she purposely struck the blade to send a shock down into his wounded hand causing Rowan to flinch. He struck back all the same and she jumped out of reach. "How's the hand feeling?" she asked with a mocking twinkle in her eye. Rowan lunged forward with a slash and she blocked, but instead of drawing back he pushed forwards and grabbed the handle of her Axe with his injured hand.

“It's fine.” He said, pulling on the axe at the same time as pushing against his greatsword. The axe slipped from her grip, and the heanta staggered back. The blade slashed out, grazing across her outstretched hand cutting a gash into her palm. The heanta toppled backwards and rolled to her feet with a glare. “How’s your hand?” Rowan mimicked her. The heanta lunged and he tossed the axe, swinging his sword. She dived under the strike and tried to slash his eyes out with her claws as she sprang up but Rowan dodged back. The other hand came around and he caught it, But she was quick to twist his grip and break free. She leapt back, and started to circle him again slowly. Rowan was smiling now, his heart thumping. He hadn’t fought a worthy opponent in a long time. The only other person he’d fought that was capable of matching him was Yavanna.

Rowan lunged and the heanta was ready for him, dodging to the side as his blade struck, and slashing at his wrist. His leather Vambraces took the blow, but her other claw came at his throat, forcing him to step back, his arm expended, and she kicked the weapon from his grip. He let it fall and backed away as she slashed with her claws again, drawing a long knife in response. They circled, and she lunged, dodged around his answering slash and tried to go for the underside of his arm. He was ready, and drove his elbow back with a thud, catching her in the side of the head. The heanta staggered away and Rowan turned, thrusting the blade for her torso, when he heard movement. He turned his attack into a parry as another heanta came at him from behind.

The female let out a barking command in Ar’Hean and the other heanta, another red head, hesitated. Rowan slammed a fist into the heanta’s face and sent him sprawling. His blade flashed for the heanta’s exposed throat, but she knocked it aside. “Leave him alone.” She said, blocking the other heanta protectively. That's when he noticed the resemblance, and realised they were siblings. There was no more smiling, the heanta started to back away from him. Rowan, remembering the day he’d encountered Ren the Hornless and had been spared, did the same. So he let the heanta who smelled like lilacs go. When he was far enough away, he saw her grab her weapon and pull her brother off into the forest. A few minutes later, Rowan’s squad leader appeared, and they regrouped back on the road to continue the Journey home. Rowan decided not to mention he’d let the heanta go, not even to Yavanna. And even though years would pass before he saw her again, Rowan never forgot that distinct scent of Lilacs and Pine.

Years later, after the Orken Genocide at the hands of the Heanta and Undari, and after Ren the Hornless fell slaying the Kishin Dola, tensions began to brew between the eldari, Undari and Heanta. The Eldross did all they could to avoid a war, which looked more and more likely as Rowan once again found himself stationed at the Eldari heanta border, this time as a veteran Warrior who answered only to his higher ups in the watch. Several skirmishes broke out along the border, and Tension rose so high that it could be cut with a knife. But then a summit was called, and leaders of each race attended it to try to work out a solution to the war. After seven tension-filled days the news arrived that there was to be a ceasefire, and a bufferzone was established between the heanta and eldari lands. Still, Rowan couldn’t believe that it was true. The heanta were bloodthirsty, they’d proven as much when they had turned on the Orken. He figured it was only a matter of time before they would break the ceasefire, and he was right.

The war began in earnest, with the previously established bufferzone becoming a death zone. Rowan had seen plenty of fighting before, but this was the worst, everyday was a bloodbath with neither side gaining ground, and the war raged for over fifty years. At some point, the eldross joined the fighting, followed by the Undari who attacked from the water after passing through kyrias to reach the northern Sea. Eldari children were born, raised and thrust into the war straight out of the academy it lasted so long. The worst of it was seeing these fresh faced recruits dying in a war they weren’t even alive to see start. Rowan barely rested, doing his best to help hold the line, and his strength and fortitude saw him through the roughest of times. Sometimes he fought alongside Yavanna, sometimes it was alongside eldross strangers he’d never met, but did his best to see through to the end of the day. He neve gave up, never tried to escape the fighting, but after so long, war weariness set in. In 712, they saw the worst battle of the ages. The Battle of Serenity Valley.

The culmination of fifty years of war, the Battle of Serenity Valley was a cataclysmic event whose ramifications are still felt to the present day. Rowan and Yavanna were on the front lines of the vanguard for the initial clash with the Heanta and Undari, and were at the heart of the fiercest of the fighting. They witnessed the clash between Dalrodir Shor, Celaena the Hornless and Roth Vandel, the negotiator who had been present at Highspire Pass for the signing of the treaty that preceded the war, a fight that dominated the battlefield. There was death on both sides, and with no end in sight it seemed that the battle would end with no-one left standing. Yavanna and Rowan saw many friends die, and slew even more enemies in return. Battle-lines had crumbled and conflict had degenerated to a bloody scrap. It was then that the war was flipped on its head.

An oddly familiar horn sounded from the south, followed by the sudden appearance of the Kingdom of Mondolin to the fray. The Humans brought all of the technological innovations they had devised since the last conflict, along a massive force of fresh and eager troops. The Mondolin forces crashed through Serenity Valley like a wave, routing the exhausted troops here, there and everywhere. The Knights of Mondolin charged straight through the center, and even Dalrodir Shor was forced to fall back. Rowan had never witnessed the humans in their full might before, and that was the day he stopped writing them off as dangerous foes. Humans were weak individually, but collectively they were more powerful than anybody had anticipated. Both sides retreated in the face of the new force, and they each retreated to their own territories. Using this opportunity, along with the help of the revitalized Kingdom of Mondolin, the Eldross and the Order of the Sun managed to bring both sides to the negotiating table, resulting in the Second Highspire Treaty.

Background Part two


One year after the Second great War ended, the world was still coming to terms with the aftermath of the devastation they had wrought on themselves. Rowan, for his part, requested several months of leave to spend time with his aging parents and have a moment to live his own life. He was enjoying his time off, but it was cut short when an Eldari diplomat on a mission to the city of Oleas, disappeared along with his two personal guards. Given that Yavanna was being sent, and someone of his stealth skill was needed, Rowan decided to go accept the call to return to duty early and went with her. They headed south, picking up the trail of the Diplomatic party in the freelands, and followed it halfway to Oleas. That’s where they discovered the first signs of trouble, and with a bit of work managed to catch word of a group of mercenaries who were reported to have been kidnapping people in the area. They eventually tracked down a small encampment, and after making quick work of most of the merc’s, questioned their leader, and discovered they’re commander was contracted by the slave city of Karcenak to bring as them as many slaves, especially eldari, as possible for an upcoming trade deal with the Heanta. Rowan was about to walk away, when he caught a familiar scent off the man. Lilacs. It instantly made him think of the heanta he’d faught in the woods so long ago, and he began demanding answers from the human. The man denied knowing anything about a female heanta, and the more Rowan pushed the more uncooperative the man became until Rowan simply lost it and snapped the man’s neck.

The pair moved on to the apparent site of the next ambush, Rowan more anxious to deal with the mercenaries and get their people back. He’d never forgotten the female heanta, but he didn’t expect to recognize her scent so easily. And it was her, he was sure of that much, though it made no sense as to why she was so far south, or why the mercenaries would take her captive, if their employers were working with the heanta. He would have answers soon, as the moment of the ambush approached. Rowan and Yavanna found the mark, a lone Eldari far from home. They didn’t dare alert the stranger of the danger, but waited for the mercenaries to spring their trap before the pair lept into action and started cutting them down. The Eldari ran, but anyone who tried to chase met with Rowan or Yavanna’s steel and went down.

But something was wrong, and their ambush had been prepared for. Somehow someone had escaped them, and there were three times as many mercs as they expected. They were quickly overwhelmed and forced to retreat, however as they made to do so a pair of mercenaries caught Yavanna by surprise, and one almost gored her with a spear. Rowan put himself in the path of the weapon, which drove deep into his thigh, and then the pair were dead as Yavanna took their heads off. Rowan ripped the spear out and they tried to flee, but didn’t make it far before Rowan began to slow. He would never outrun them with such a bad injury, and Yavanna could hardly carry him and make a quick escape. “You have to leave me.” Rowan said. “Are you kidding? That’s not going to-” Yavanna tried to argue, but he thrust his sword into her hands. “They won’t kill me, they want Eldari alive. Besides, if I keep trying to run I’ll bleed to death.” Yavanna sighed petulantly. She knew he was right. “Why do you have to be a big-heavy-beef?” She left him leaning against a tree and hefted his blade over her shoulder. “I’ll be back before you know it.” Rowan nodded and smiled. “I’ll be waiting.” With that, he watched her flee into the forest.

It wasn’t long before the merc’s found Rowan lying against the tree, stopping the worst of the bleeding. The wound was deep and would take a lot more time to fully recover from. They tried to demand Yavanna’s location but he refused to open his mouth. When he didn’t speak, they threatened him, and eventually acted upon said threats as one of them hit him in the face, and broke a knuckle as Rowan barely acknowledged the hit. In the end they pulled out shackles, and he let them take him quietly. He struggled at one point, just for show, and when he took a gut wrenching kick to the wound he ceased. Let them think they had won. The humans dragged him into their camp and slammed him into a cage inside a big pavilion. Several pairs of eyes, all eldari except one, a red headed heanta, watched him in defeat. Rowan looked over them, then to her, flicking his gaze up and down her. She eyed him back, and pursed her lips. Rowan set to healing his leg slowly. Several hours past, when he heard a hiss from nearby. One of the Eldari was right up against the bars. “You, I know you.” He said in Eldari. Rowan nodded. “I’m Eternal watch.” Rowan replied. “You must be our missing diplomat.” The Eldari nodded. “I am. Are you here on purpose, or because you’re incompetant?”
“Better hope it's the first one.” Rowan said. “Or you're fucked.” The man sighed. “Are there more of you? How many men did they send?”
“Enough.” Rowan responded. “Now, shut up. We’ll draw the guards attention.” Rowan said.

Rowan dozed off at some point, and woke up to quiet whispering. Someone was in the tent, a couple of someones by the whispers, approaching the cages. A lock clicked, and Rowan’s eyes snapped as he heard snarling. The cage next to the female heanta’s was open, a young eldari woman cowering in the corner of it. As the lead man reached for her, a set of claws lashed out from the cage beside him, tearing down his face. The man reeled back screaming, and the other pulled a thick club. Rowan was on his feet and at the door in a as all this transpired, and had the lock snapped in an instant despite the cuffs. He barrelled into the man, knocking him prone. With a stomp, he crushed the man’s throat. The heanta gestured towards her lock, but guards armed with spears rushed in. Rowan backed down, and into his cage. Not yet. They would need Yavanna here first. The bodies were removed, the locks on Rowan’s cage reinforced with a thick chain.

Several hours passed, when he heard the female talk. Not to him, but the eldari in the cage besides her. “Are you ok?” She asked. The Eldari looked up, warily, and the heanta reached a hand out across the gap. The woman took the extended hand, holding it tightly. Rowan watched quietly at the strange display of kindness between enemies. Rowan drifted off, and was once again woken by a hissed whisper. “Hey, beefcake.” The Female said to him. Rowan looked up, an eyebrow raised. “What?” He asked.
“You’re Eternal Watch, right?” She asked.
Rowan frowned. “How did you know that?”
“Just because you can’t understand me doesn’t mean I can't understand you.” She said with a sly smile. “I speak eldari.”
“I see. Yes, I am Eternal Watch.”
“Good. Do you have a plan?”
“My pardner is taking care of the plan.” He said.
“You hope. You were captured, I seen your leg when you arrived. How do you know your partner didn’t bail?”
“She’ll be here.” He replied. “We’ve come here to save these people, she won't abandon them or me..”
“And me?” The heanta asked. “Will you leave me here?” Rowan didn’t reply, but instead asked her why she was there. “I was trying to free them.”
“You’re a heanta, trying to free Eldari. I don’t buy it.”
“If it foiled one of my father’s schemes I’d throw myself into the sea.” She said. “I’m not the same blind girl I was when we fought. I’ve seen the horrors my kind are capable of, and I left. I can’t be part of that.”
Rowan fell silent.

As night fell again, Rowan spotted a familiar face peering around the side of the pavilion doorway. Unfortunately, the Eldari diplomat had also spotted her, and immediately began shouting frantically. “Hey! Help us! We’re in here!” Yavanna immediately pulled back around the corner, cursing to herself. “Of course he’s a fucking idiot. Alright, we’re doing this the hard way. She waited for the first guard to arrive out, using the silhouette provided by the fire in the background as a guide. She grabbed the end of the man’s spear and severed his head with a slash. As he fell, she grabbed a knife from his belt and threw it straight into another guard's throat. The remaining two advanced at her with swords, and she deftly dealt with their predictable swings, relieving one of his head and impaling the other through the chest. Yavanna sheathed her sword and ran over to Rowan. “Sorry I took so long. Do you know which one has the key?” Rowan nodded. “The one dressed like an idiot.” He stood up in the cage. “I’ve got this.” Grabbing the chains with his hands, A wave of cold pulsed into them, and he easily broke them.

“So much for reinforcing the locks.” He opened the cage and held out his hand to catch the sword Yavanna tossed to him. A few quick slashes and he cleaved away the other locks on the cages while Yavanna kept a lookout, except the female heanta’s. “So you’re going to leave me here?” She asked. He hesitated, then cut the lock. “I hope you were telling the truth.” Rowan replied. He looked at Yavanna. “Plan?” Yavanna studied the front of the camp. “They’ve put out the first fire, so they’ll be coming to put out the second one. If we hurry, we can evade them and escape out the front using the smoke as cover.” Rowan nodded, but the heanta spoke up. “We should kill them. They’ll keep plaguing the land looking for Eldari if we don’t end them here.” She said, looking between Rowan and Yavanna. “If you're anything like him, the three of us can end this here.” Yavanna gestured to the diplomat. “Look lady, our job is to get him to safety, not go on a rampage. I’m not sure if we can risk fighting our way out.” She looked to Rowan. “It’s your call, but we have to keep him safe.” Before Rowan could speak, the Heanta responded. “I know it's your job, but this is for the good of everyone in these lands. Put them down here and now, before they cause more pain.”

Rowan shook his head. “We need to stick to the mission.” He said. “And get the diplomat to safety.” He looked at Yavanna. “But there’s nothing stopping us from coming back. She might be right about dealing with this before it gets worse.” Yavanna nodded. “The trade was due to be tomorrow, though I doubt they’ll be in a hurry without anything to trade.” She peered out of the doorway again. “Alright. There’s a village not far from here. Zendar. He’ll be safe there.” Voices interrupted her thoughts as she spotted the fancy grunt and his minions coming back towards them. “Window’s closing. Let’s move.” Rowan nodded and grabbed the diplomat, throwing him over his shoulder. The man protested, but the last thing they needed was the moron to get scared and run off. The other Eldari gathered behind them, the young woman taking hold of the heanta’s hand. “Stick close, don’t panic, and keep quiet.” Rowan said, then nodded to Yavanna to lead the way.

The journey out miraculously went without a hitch, the party using the cover of the billowing smoke to escape the camp. Yavanna led the group to Zendar, securing them shelter in the Eldritch Moon Inn. Once they were secured, Yavanna turned to Rowan. “Well, when do you want to do this? They probably won’t hang about too long once they’ve put out the fire and salvaged their belongings.” Rowan dumped the diplomat in a chair. “We go back now.”
“Wait you’re supposed to protect me!” The diplomat said. “I-” Rowan held up a hand. “No, we were sent to save you. You're saved. Stay here, don’t, it doesn’t matter.” The diplomat blustered. “You’re commander will be hearing of this.” He said, but Rowan was ignoring him. He looked at the heanta. “Are you still in?” He asked her. She nodded. “It was my idea. I could use a bow, if you have a spare one.” Yavanna hesitated for a moment. She looked at Rowan. “You trust her?” Rowan looked at Yavanna. “I do. I’ll explain later.” He said. Yavanna nodded and handed her bow and quiver to the Heanta. She took it with a grin. “An eldari trusting a heanta, this must be a first.”

Soon they found themselves stalking through the trees back towards the slaver encampment. It wasn’t hard to find between the loud voices and plumes of smoke. Yavanna looked to Rowan. “Alright, this is your mission. What’s the plan?” Rowan opened his mouth to speak but the heanta stood up. “We kill them all. Or as many as it takes to send a message.” She looked between Rowan and Yavanna. “Try to keep up.” She turned and stalked off into the camp. Rowan drew his sword, looking to Yavanna. “Lets go teach these bastards not to mess with the Eldari.” Rowan stalked after the Heanta. Yavanna smiled as she followed. “Try not to get stabbed again. Saving you last time was a professional courtesy.” Rowan snorted. “You said that the last time.” Yavanna chuckled. “What can I say? Pretending to need you really brings the Watch together.” He heard the voices ahead, and walked out as the Heanta turned left and circled around the group. Yavanna walked out alongside him, and the gathering of mercs looked up. One pointed. “Look boss, some of the idiots came back.” Yavanna narrowed her eyes. “I literally burned your camp to the ground and freed all of the prisoners.” She drew her sword and moved forward. The fancy leader grunt stepped forwards.

“So it was you who caused this mess. You cost me a lot of money, but I’ll forgive that. Two Eldari is better than none Eldari, so come along quietly. Don’t make us bruise the merchandise.” The man said. Yavanna shook her head disdainfully. “You know what, I’m done. You die now.” Rowan grunted in agreement, hefting his sword. Yavanna pointed at the fancy leader. “Fancypants is mine.” With that they charged forward and began cutting their way through the mercs, at the same time as arrows began to fly out of the darkness, finding exposed throats and hearts. Yavanna dodged a clumsy attempted sneak-attack by the leader and ran him through his crappy fancy armor.  Rowan charged and slid past the closest merc, spinning low to cut his legs, and the legs of the man beside him from under them. An arrow shot past his shoulder by inches and into the chest of the man behind him. This happened on several occasions, and he noted that any arrows shot around Yavanna didn’t come quite so close.

The fight raged for several more minutes, before the last of the humans fell to a blade or arrow. The Heanta stalked from the darkness to join Rowan and Yavanna. She looked between Yavanna and Rowan. “Well, you two are a formidable couple.” Yavanna raised an eyebrow. “Couple of legends?” The heanta looked them over again. “Indeed. I’m glad I didn’t meet both of you back when the Undari showed up. I’d probably be dead.” She turned towards the camp. “I need to go find my axe, thanks for the bow.” She started to walk away, then turned to look at Rowan over her shoulder. “We should do this again sometime.” And then she was gone. Rowan turned to Yavanna. “Come on, we better get back to that moron. I don’t want to get a bad review.” Yavanna spotted something on the body of the slaver chief. An elegant scabbard with an equally ornate handle protruding from it. “Sounds like she’s taken to you a good bit, huh?”

Rowan, who was starring in the direction the heanta had gone, snapped his attention back to Yavanna. “Doubtful. Still. She was an odd one.” He replied as she reached down and liberated the weapon from its former owner. The weapon was a long knife, clearly of Eldari origin. “You don’t see that in the Free Lands everyday.” She stowed the knife and nodded. “Alright, let’s get back to that fool.” They returned to Zendar to find the diplomat still staying at the inn. He wanted an escort home because the roads weren’t safe, it turned out. The pair of heroes sighed heavily, and escorted the diplomat home.


Rowan found his mind wandering to the female heanta more and more over the next few weeks. He’d continued his leave from the Watch, and since he had the time free decided to take a trip out to Zendar. He didn’t expect to meet her again, but to his surprise, she was there. She’d taken up residence in the little village, after driving off some bandits. The locals had taken a liking to her, and she’d taken a liking to the village. Rowan didn’t expect it, but she greeted him warmly. “I was hoping you might come back this way.” She said when he’d entered the inn. She offered him the seat across from him. He sat down and took her in. Her hair was still a vibrant red, and her skin was light and untouched by the sun. She had short onyx horns on her head and purple eyes. Rowan didn’t understand it, he’d known and been with many women over the years, but he’d never seen anyone quite like her. Or maybe there was more to it. “I didn’t expect to find you here.” Rowan said. “I was just passing through.”
“Oh really?” She asked. “Well you're here now, why not have a drink with me?” She asked. Rowan agreed. They sat and talked for a while, until Rowan realised he’d never asked her name. “It’s Kaila.” She replied. “And you, beefcake?”
“Rowan Aratris.” He said.
“Where’s your friend?” She asked.
“Taking a well deserved break I think.”
“Hmm. Good for her. And what about you?”
“I’m doing the same.”
“Well, you could always stay here a while. Its a peaceful village.”
“You know, I think I might.” He replied. He stayed a few days, spent most of the days training and relaxing in the town. They talked in the night, about their pasts and everything they’d been through. After three days, it was time to return home. As he went to leave, Kaila planted a kiss on his lips. “Maybe think about coming back?” She asked. He did.

Over the next two years, he visited her countless times. He had returned to duty by then, and when he wasn’t on a mission he made his way to Zendar to spend the days with her. He’d never felt like he did about Kaila towards anyone else, though it took Yavanna pointing it out to Rowan that he was in love with her. Eventually sick of needing to leave her, Rowan asked to be stationed in Zendar as a Watcher, and his request was granted. And so, they moved into a small house in the woods not far from Zendar, and began to live together. No one except Yavanna knew about them, and she was happy for him. She came to visit whenever they found the time, and Rowan was pleased that Kaila and Yavanna got on well. Eldari and Heanta were mortal enemies, and while he knew neither of their races would ever accept them, they were happy together. What made it easier was the relationships they built in the town. The people of Zendar accepted them without question, and they gave the people peace of mind. Rowan and Kaila made sure that any bandits stupid enough to get near never returned.

They lived together for over ten years, they got married in the village, and Kaila eventually fell pregnant. But what joy they felt for the future, was soon to be cut short as news of the Eldari and Heanta living together in the freelands, eventually reached Kyrias, and Kaila’s father. In the dead of night, a heanta Killsquad led by Kaila’s own brother stormed their house, leading to a brutal fight. Rowan held them back, even as they rained down blows he could hardly keep up with. He managed to catch one out, and took off his head, but then a blast of power struck him and sent him crashing into the wall. He struggled to his feet in time to see Kaila’s own brother drive a knife into her belly. “Traitorous wench.” He spat, “You’re spawn will never see birth.” Rowan bellowed a challenge and charged across the room, but the heanta was faster, and his claws closed around her throat, ripping it out. Time stopped. Rowan’s heart stopped. And then the world turned to cold as power exploded out of him, ripping the house and the heanta in it appart. Rowan collapsed, drained from the outburst of magical power, and managed to crawl to Kaila, dragging her into his arms as she gasped her final few breaths.

Rowan felt like he would never move again, until he heard shuffling and realised that someone Kaila’s brother had survived Rowan’s blast where no one else had. Rowan made his death painful and long lasting, and when the humans of Zendar found him cradling his dead wife, they recoiled at the sight of her mangled killer’s body.

It took Yavanna to convince Rowan to let anyone near Kaila’s body prepare her for Burial. He was so consumed by grief, that she was the only he let near him. He became cold towards everyone else, but his mistrust of heanta had been replaced by a burning hatred. They’d proven the kind of monsters they were, as if the signs hadn’t already always been there. He promised vengeance on Kaila’s family, and would one day see it through. Rowan returned to Endaron and active duty, and would spend the majority of his time stalking the lands coldly dispatching targets. He refused to work with anyone save Yavanna, and let the grief of Kaila’s death consume him. He kept his distance from everyone except her and his mother and Father. Years later, another tragedy struck in the form of the dragon known as Onyxus. Rowan had been far off when it started, but upon receiving word he travelled north to aid in the battle. He never made it, as Dalrodir shor had slain the dragon, with some help from Ren the Hornless’ daughter. The Eldari were devastated at the loss of their hero, but the Eldross were the real victims, having most of their people slain and their homeland destroyed. They were scattered to the wind, but the Eldari offered them a home.  

Rowan’s imposed isolation was concerning enough that Yavanna eventually forced him to come and meet her friends Mariel Shor and Calvados Insari, who just happened to be one of the best Rangers the Eldross had to offer, and also Mariel’s husband. He allowed himself to get to know them, and they became good friends. He made a formidable third member of their team, and Rowan was happy to work with the Ranger because he had proven so capable. However, one day Calrados returned from a mission, and he was never the same. Rowan eventually convinced him to open up about it, and the ranger reported seeing walking corpses. Rowan didn’t dismiss the idea, as some strange rumors had circulated years before, after Lilianna Korvesa went berserk in the city and had been killed by her ward, Merlin. Rowan never forgot what Calrados told them, but things eventually went back to normal. Eventually, Calrados and Mariel had a child, Faylandrea Shor, and Rowan was starkly reminded of everything he had lost. Still he was happy for the couple, and eventually became like an uncle to the young inquisitive girl. He was nowhere near as close with her as Yavanna, since he spent most of his time out on missions.

Years later, tragedy struck when Calrados was reported dead, after a routine scouting mission went horribly wrong in the freelands. Heanta intervention was suspected but not proven, however Rowan was sure of it. And once again, the heanta had taken something from him. Rowan left to investigate the site, but he found nothing except the faint scent of ash. However there was no proof of what had happened and there was no way to hold the heanta responsible. Still, Rowan vented his anger by wandering into Kyrias and taking out a heanta patrol, leaving nothing but mangled corpses. Never again, would he lose someone to those monsters. He would kill them all first. Rowan receded further, and he spent the majority of his time stalking the land, only returning to Cindaron for short periods. He helped with Fayla’s training, helping to mold her formidable talent into deadly skill.  Years later, Rowan was contacted by a member of the golden council, who told him about a threat to Fayla’s life. This was when he found out she’d been associating with a heanta, Valatrix of the hornless clan no less, and the girl was conspiring to end Fayla’s life. The man ordered Rowan to kill Vala, and keep it quiet. Rowan, blinded by the desire to protect Fayla, accepted.

Side notes: Hi Jun! Nice to see you here!
Rp example: big-strong-beefy-hero

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