King Gabraeil (Gab - rai - il)
High King Gabraeil Feywild (a.k.a. Heavenborn)
The semi-mythological first monarch of Nerevarn. While he almost certainly did exist, his life has been so mythologised in the many thousands of years since his reign that it has become impossible to disentangle the legends from the truth.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Almost everything known about King Gabraeil is Nerevarnese legend, or stories from the oral histories of The Nomads of Sarayne. The legend goes that he was born in the Heavens and fell to earth as a child, after he became lost and stumbled upon one of the gateways to the mortal plane. The nomads say that he landed in a patch of wild lilies, a plant which they now regard as blessed. This is said to be the origin of the lily as the symbol of the royal dynasty which they use to this day. He was found playing in the lilies by a family, the believed-descendants of whom still hold great status amongst the Saraynese nomads, and raised by them until he reached adulthood.
It is said that he displayed many wonderous abilities and characteristics which confirmed to his adoptive family the sacred nature of his origins: it is said that any room he occupied was filled with golden sunlight, even in the dead of night; that the evil creatures of the forest fled at his approach; and even that he had the wings of an angel.
Years later, at the end of his known life, the legends say he was seen from a distance by the sailors of his fleet actually taking flight on wings of pure gold and white, and soaring into the air in battle with a hideous monster which had attacked them. It is this incident which is said to have been the death of him however, as he did not return to the ships and was never seen again.
Social
Family Ties
King Gabraeil was the founder of The Royal House of Nerevarn, descendants of which still live today. His third son Baldar inherited the throne after King Gabraeil outlived his first and second sons and his eldest daughter, all of whom were ahead of Baldar in the succession but are said to have died of old age before their father.
Religious Views
According to legend, Gabraeil was the King who established the Royal Family's oath-ties to Dianecht which persist to this day. The story goes that Gabraiel left his nomadic family when he reached adulthood, wishing to see the world. After many decades of adventures all of which have their own myths, the legend goes that he was wounded in the Great Forest (the tales vary as to what he was hurt by), managed to make his way out, but was mortally injured. Eventually, he could walk no further and fell to the ground where he lay to await death. Lamenting the loss of his life, which was sweet and pleasant to him, a tear fell upon the grass. Where it fell, a fountain sprang up from the earth, and an unknown voice said to him that if he would swear himself and his descendants forever to serve it, the voice would make the fountain heal him. Gabraeil was not willing to serve an unknown god, and said that unless the voice would identify itself, he would rather die than bind his soul.
At this, the voice burst into a fiery figure of intense light and carried Gabraeil up to the Heavens from which he had fallen so many years ago, where it revealed itself to be Dianecht, God of Light and Life, who wished to have an earthly Kingdom to serve him and do his will on Valdys. At this, Gabraeil swore at once the requested oath, and bound his descendants - which would become the Royal Line of Nerevarn - to serve the God for all time. At this, the waters of the fountain washed over him and he was healed. The Royal Palace was constructed years later around this sacred fountain.
The statue of King Gabraeil that once stood in the Illyria Temple of Dianecht.
Species
Age
Approx. 210 at his death, according to legend.
Date of Birth
Unknown
Circumstances of Birth
His legend tells that he was born in the Heavens and, as a child, became lost and fell to earth where he was cared for by The Nomads of Sarayne.
Circumstances of Death
Unknown, disappeared without trace
Family
Children
Pronouns
He/Him
Eyes
Said to be the colour of glacial ice
Hair
Light golden brown
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Fair
Height
6'8
Belief/Deity
Founded Settlements
Comments