Alek Vallo
Appearance
Alek is a well groomed man in his late 20s, with a clean-shaven, handsome face and windswept hair. He wears fairly simple clothing over his bronze-skinned body, and is equipped with little more than a breastplate engraved with the symbol of a raven, a holy symbol of Haroch, and a basic shortsword that he can imbue with magic on the fly.Personality
Despite having been raised around corpses and spending several years alone in the woods, Alek is remarkably affable and put together. He remains calm when his friends would grow frustrated or panicked, and can hold long conversations without feeling bored or shy. He states that a large part of his relaxed nature is based around the insights he gained during his years of meditation, and that very few things can phase him now.Abilities
Alek has all the abilities one would expect from a powerful cleric; he can heal the wounded, smite his foes, and resurrect the dead. In addition to all this, his service to The Shadow has greanted him the ability to curse a creature, ensuring the next blow against them causes far more grevious wounds than would occur naturally, and on his exploits he has managed to absorb the smallest bit of an Ashen Rider's essence. In dire situations he can use the ashes of the dead to turn himself into a facsimile of a Rider, capable of withstanding mighty blows and cutting down his enemies with a magical sword of shadows and light.History
Raised in Shadows
Alek is the son of clerics whom served Haroch already, and so grew up constantly surrounded by death. When they were not performing autopsies, they were offering prayers for the departed, or conducting funeral services. He matured far more quickly than most his age, and followed his parents into priesthood.Death Priest
As a priest of death, Alek learned a great many things - reading and writing to begin with, then medicine and herbalism to cure the sick or disinfect the dead. He studied biology and can now draw detailed anatomical diagrams for many of the species in The Varolian and, of course, he learned how to cast magic, but surprised those around him with rare talent at this part of his studies. Many priests study for years yet can do little more than cantrips or first level spells, yet they came naturally and easily to Alek, gaining him quite some status amongst his peers. Much of that status and respect would errode over time, as he asked more and more questions about the nature of death and his place in the cycle as a priest. Many of Haroch's faithful are zealots who get themselves killed attempting to root out undead and necromancers from society, or are otherwise feared by the public for their masks and haunting voices. Arguments brewed over the idea that Haroch needed no faithful at all, or that the temples were worshipping in the wrong ways. Eventually he grew sick of constant debates, and left on a pilgrimage to ponder all his many questions.Hermit
At some point on his wanderings Alek encountered a forest filled with undead. Ordinarily, and according to the dogma of his church, he should have set to work slaughtering them all, sending them to their fated judgement. And yet, something inside him decided this was a perfect place to meditate; he set up a protective circle to keep himself safe, sat down, and remained in this place for several years. To the silence and the shadows he asked many questions, and pondered the many possible answers, attempting to truly, ultimately, understand his deity and the role death plays in the Cosmos as a whole.The Champions
It was during his meditations that two strangers arrived in his forest of the dead. A child of light and a daughter of time had been granted visions leading them to him. Once they explained this, all of the various pieces in his mind fell into place. An insight was gained that day which has so far been difficult to explain in a way that makes sense to anyone else, but he suddenly knew his role in the world, and asked the two women if he could join them going forward. They finally laid the undead in the forest to rest, then became fellow adventurers and the dearest of friends.Festival of Change - 673 MA
When Cass suggested the group travel to Chyreum for its famous yearly festival many months after Alek joined them, Alek helped in convincing Zykída to go despite her belief that it was a waste of time. And so, when Cassandra was killed by conspirators seeking to bring ruin to the city, one can only imagine the guilt he must have felt. Luckily he was more than prepared, having been taught how to raise the dead during his life at the temple, and even though this was his first time he was successful. Cass' soul had scarely even thought about leaving this world before it was pulled back to her body, to the grateful joy of her loved ones. By the end of the festival, the conspirators were exposed by The Exotics, an undead hero was put to rest, and an ashen rider was driven away - despite his disagreements with his other priests, Alek still served well in his role as a champion of Haroch.Demon Siege of Pylona
The next significant event between more standard adventures was the attack on Cassandra's home city. Cultists had unleashed demons to wreak havoc on the city, and it would have been Alek's duty to send the demons home. The Champions had been fighting for less than a single night before the city was saved by a golden light that annihilated every hostile presence in the city. He could not see the source, for all but Zykída were blinded, but he could sense it was most certainly not Haroch come to reclaim his escapees, or even any other God like the citizens believed.Demon Siege of Acidon
Acidon was the second, and hopefully the last, city to suffer an invasion like the one at Pylona. By the time The Champions were able to make their way to the small city they found The Exotics already fighting to save it, and they had done so for days on end. Together the groups were able to kill most of the cultists, dispel the portal, and finish off the demons before the wider world was at risk.The Dragon & The Rider
Some time later, some of The Exotics travelled with Alek and the others across the mountains near Amphousa, to retrieve a piece of an ancient war machine. Their ascension was difficult and they faced many dangers along the way, most significant of which was an Ashen Rider. Without the support of a dozen other warriors and mages, they fought it with a much smaller group than last time they'd faced the shade of an Archon. Eventually they prevailed, with Alek landing the final blow using a spell that leeches the essence of its victims, absorbing the tiniest fraction of the undead being. The rest of the trip was just as eventful, in the months following it Alek would develop a spell that let him harness the powers of a Rider for a moment or two, able to join Zykída on the front lines for once. Yet more important than his new potential was the releasing of a draconic soul to the afterlife - it might have been the single most impactful achivement of his entire lifetime serving Haroch. Though, as ever, he tried to not make a big deal of it. Instead, the attention of most in the hours afterwards was on Zykída, for it seemed that Zia had given her champion greater power in return for everyone's deeds in the mountains.The Luminary
Kída's transformation was a frought process, for she did not wish to ascend and leave her loved ones behind. And so she defied her God multiple times to stay with Cass and Alek, until eventually Zia relented, granting the power without tearing the group apart. In the months that followed, however, the group would be tested by unending tasks, each more dangerous than the last. Eventually Cass could not keep up, and soon after Alek began to waver - they were granted relief from the many quests, but Zykída was not. Celestial, but not Immortal, each time they saw Kída after a mission she looked more haggard than the last. Alek always dutifully healed her up with whatever magics he had regained, offering words of encouragement to try and cheer up both of his friends, and pushed himself further than he should have to accompany them on missions he was not quite rested enough for. Something had to give, or all three of them would die. Whilst not the greatest researcher, he began to look for ways to recuperate faster, or to convince Zia to relax just for a moment.Festival of Change - 674 MA
Lost in his research, Cass reminded the group that the Festival of Change had rolled around once again, and that they'd be expected to attend. Whilst Zykída would not even be allowed this meagre rest for a tournament meant to honour her God, Alek and Cass took the time to attend. Alek aided the Exotics once again when strange potions began to circulate, helping them medically examine and magically ask questions of someone the potions had killed, and was nearly killed by a terrible monster during the climax of the festival. Zykída would arrive after Alek fell the first time, though she herself was gravely injured and nearly slain. Though they only received 2nd place in the tournament, they all survived, which seemed prize enough for the beleaguered cleric.
Children
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