The Life and Death of Aranys Dawntracker

Historical Basis

Aranys, The Owl of Death was born as Aranys Dawntracker, an Eladrin born in what is now known as Yareene before the Draconic Wars. Aranys spent his youth worshiping the Elven and Eladrin patron Corellon but took very little away from his teachings. He found himself instead drawn to the teachings of the Raven Queen. The inevitability of death fascinated Aranys. When Aranys reached adulthood he joined the Raven Knights, the Raven Queens personal force that protects the world from the forces of Orcus or undeath. It was at this time that Aranys met his wife and had a son. Aranys was happy with his life during this time. He felt that he was truly giving back to the planes and he was raising his son right. When the draconic wars started Aranys thought that the Raven Queen would protect her followers. It was not until dragon born fanatics killed his wife and son and left him for dead that he realized the gods did not care for mortals.
Aranys spent the next half a millennia studying ways to slay gods. Aranys spent time in the library of fate and he travelled the deep reaches of the Underdark. He finally bound the Raven Queen into one of her young followers, a changeling named Quilynn. Aranys attempted to kill Quilynn and therefore The Raven Queen but was defeated. Fables are always full of irony and it is said that Quilynn from this myth is the same Quilynn who took Aranys’ legacy and carried on his family name.
Aranys survived the fight with Quilynn because he had mastered death. He had seen the Raven Queens true face and learnt her secrets. He set out to found a city that would be a symbol of the freedom from gods that he sought to destroy. He spent years building a warding system that protected the city from any immortal. When the Thror Stoneblood came to challenge him he accepted his death and finally went to meet the Raven Queen.
It is said that when he arrived at the veil the Raven Queen stopped him from crossing over to punish him for his crimes. She made him relive the death of his wife and son repeatedly for ten years until eventually Aranys drew his blade and challenged her for her domain. The battle was said to be fierce but Aranys threw her body down into the snow after months of fighting. Aranys was now the Exarch of Death and Winter.
Shortly after the Gods of Old stepped down Aranys went and took the domain of darkness. Having spent hundreds of years in darkness he found peace in it. Darkness is the spouse of night and winter. Aranys did not want the world to fear darkness as it had been for millennia so he took Lolth’s legacy and tried to make it beautiful.

Date of First Recording

438 BHC

Date of Setting

438 BHC