Venellius

An elven monk with a shattered past, Venellius travels Aitreas after the Collapse, seeking to help those he can when he can.

History

I remember nothing before the beach. I awoke on black sand shores, dark water stained with soot and blood lapping at my feet. The sounds of cracking lightning and earth roared about me, as the skies screamed and the world trembled. I remember fear. I remember my feet taking me away from the beach as fast as they could, off into the mountains just past the shore, as debris sized from pebbles to village-sized boulders crashed down around me. I spent days trekking through the rocky crags, before I finally breached to the other side. Devastation had claimed the land, but at least the earth itself did not scream. I wandered for many decades in the aftermath of some great war (which I would later learn more about), until I came to the doors of the monastery of the Order of the Forest Rose. They welcomed me in, and though I was loathe to share what I knew of my past (or what little) I thought I could maybe learn more of myself and what happened before I woke up.
I spent four centuries in the Order, and though I never learned more about who I was, I learned much of who I am, and made many good friends. Together, Arenallia and I rose through the ranks of the Order, and I became Master of Meditation while she shot for Grandmaster. She was one of my closest friends in the Order, and Isollea became a great friend in the latter decades in the monastery. Master Isollea was kind-hearted and impassioned, but they were too chaotic for me, at times. I also discovered my seemingly innate faith in the Silver Dawn while at the monastery. Perhaps it is a remnant of my life before?
When the Collapse happened, many members of the Order dispersed across Aitreas. Over the first few weeks, the monastery emptied, and eventually I was the only one left. So, I answered the call as well, and began traveling around the continent. Over time, I honed the combat skills I had learned in the monastery, and began to learn the "ki" that Arenallia had spoken of. I have yet to master this. Alongside that, I occasionally manifested some form of an "echo," for lack of a better term, that seemed keen on defending me. What this is, I have no idea, but I hope to learn its nature and how to master it.
In the hopes of learning more about my past, and to help Aitreas, I have made my way to the border of the Mournland, heart and core of the suffering here. I hope to find the secrets to my life within.

Appearance

I am of tall, lean, and muscular build, copper complexion, and serene demeanor. I carry no weapons, and minimal equipment kept in a leather messenger bag. My robes are simple, of blue and white make. I wear no shirt, but have a half robe and sleeve from my belt that runs over my left shoulder. Bound around my arms are simple, white cloth wraps, and I have similarly flowing half-robes and pants on my lower half, held by a leather belt. I wear simple sandals. My hair is black, long, and straight, kept in a high ponytail that falls to just between my shoulderblades, and I have deep, forest green eyes.

Allies

My faith in the Silver Dawn felt innate. I believe it may be a remnant of before I awoke, but I'm not sure.
For nearly four centuries, I studied and meditated within the Order of the Forest Rose. I was the master of meditation.

Core Allies:

• Grandmaster Arenallia Laenilius. High Elf. Grandmaster of the Order. Location unknown since the Collapse.
• Master Isollea. Dragonborn. Master of Combat. Good-hearted, but at times chaotic. Location unknown since the Collapse.

Enemies

Since my departure from the monastery, I have had repeated trance-dreams of combat with a mechanical, humanoid creature. It is perhaps undead, but I cannot be sure as its face is always shadowed and obfuscated. We battle upon a twisted, grey hellscape, but no victor is ever revealed before the dream ends.