Graven Ashe

Archon of War Ashe (a.k.a. Graven Ashe)

Graven Ashe is an Archon and the legendary leader of a famed and feared Disfavored legion. Temperate and dutiful, Graven Ashe is a loyal officer to Kyros, and he both expects and commands great respect from his soldiers.

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Graven Ashe stands nearly 7 feet tall, bald and gray-haired, stout and well-muscled. He is the epitome of an aged, war-hardened general.
The Archon's armor sports a pair of blinding azure gems and ironwork of unparalleled quality. There is no stamp of a forge smith anywhere to be found, suggesting that this suit is as old as anything found in the royal trophy halls celebrating the conquest of the Northern Empire. Regular treatments of oil have lent to the preservation of this adored defensive relic.
Boots show the wear of excessive training drills and long marches evident in most Disfavored armor, but these are plainly treated with greater devotion. Ashe was careful not to let excess of moisture or dirt clog the tread. The names "Amelia" and "Brennix" are carved into each of the iron-shod toes.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Graven Ashe is the Archon of War and general of the Disfavored, one of Kyros’ elite armies. Before serving Kyros, Ashe fought against the Overlord in defense of his homeland around 330 TR. It was during this desperate defense that Ashe’s powers as an exarch began to manifest. His soldiers would rise from the battlefield, healed of all but the most lethal wounds. These abilities allowed his army to resist the Overlord’s invasion for longer than any other since the early days of Kyros’ conquest. They also brought him to the attention of Blood Ruin, then Archon of War and leader of Kyros’ invading soldiers.
As Kyros conquered the North under a single banner, there were those who resisted the call to unification. Ashe was a young bannerman at the time, petulant and inflated by pride by his own admission. He rallied the sons and daughters of the North to stand against Kyros. While Imperial armies could not stand against the forces of the Overlord, with battles routinely turning to slaughter, Ashe gathered what troops he had and retreated to the mountains. Their adaptive, pragmatic tactics and full use of advantageous terrain made them a killing shadow cast over the offensive. The uncanny resilience of Ashe's forces, including the ability to stand against the Archons of Entropy and Sorrow, fighting with sticks when their iron broke and countering sorrow with the proud songs of the North, were the first signs of Ashe's nascent power as an Archon. The women and men of his legion trained harder, marched farther, and endured more the longer he led them. His soldiers credited him with this new advantage: Ashe had given them total commitment, and they felt protected and strengthened by his presence. Ashe attributed the performance of the legion to their training and breeding, but soon it became clear that something greater was afoot.
Kyros finally noticed that Ashe's influence over the troops was a demonstrable threat when Graven Ashe slew Blood Ruin in a battle described as the greatest of the Age. Though Ashe ultimately emerged triumphant – earning the mantle of Archon of War – he and his army were weakened by the battle. A relentless offensive by the Overlord, consisting of every army they could spare was sent after Ashe and his legion - all but sacrificing the Scarlet Chorus in the process. Ashe was apprehended eventually, but not until his army lay broken, by other Archons loyal to Kyros. They brought him in chains before Tunon. He said that enemies of Kyros would all be put to the sword unless he took that one opportunity to surrender and join the fold. Ashe seized the opportunity, pragmatically believing that life and service to the Overlord, and the lives of the men and women who survived the onslaught, were more important than his pride. So he bent the knee and swore obedience.
As a result, the remnants of his army were granted the rights of Kyros' Peace, and lived on as servants of the Overlord. Ashe reformed the remnants of his legion into an elite troop representing all that the North holds dear: Perfect training, rigid discipline, respect for the law, and family. However, since they had transgressed and rebelled against the offering of Kyros' protection, his elite legion was stripped of their decorated name and dubbed 'Disfavored,' a mocking reminder of past crimes. Despite a century of fighting, Kyros' favor is still elusive and Ashe and his men continue to labor to win it. Perhaps as a result of his humbling experiences, Ashe is a realist, a pragmatist, and his ego is only slightly inflated - a rare trait in Archons. He listens to the Court and the advice of his Iron Guard, making him a rare kind of leader indeed.
The invasion of the Tiers and the final conquest of Terratus was supposed to be the final achievement of the Disfavored. Perhaps for this reason, Graven Ashe was opposed to the Scarlet Chorus' participation in the Conquest, as it was the last chance to regain the favor they never had.

Sturdy, elderly warrior from the conquered Northern Empire.

Alignment

Lawful Neutral

Species

Archon

Ethnicity

Northmen

Year of Birth

280 TR 151 Years old

Birthplace

Northern Empire

Gender

Male

Eyes

Glowing Blue

Hair

Bald, Gray

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Tanned

Height

6'11"

Weight

350 lbs.

Aligned Organization

The Disfavored

Other Affiliations

• Kyrosian Empire

Ruled Locations

• Iron Hearth