Aela is a robust redheaded raider of some renown, who captains a ship that shares her moniker: Blood Kraken. She is bold of spirit and dark of wit. She is surprisingly learned for a simple sea raider and has demonstrated a knack for history. She wields a well-crafted spear in battle along with dark magic that hexes her foes and makes her spear blaze with dark power.
Aela was aiding her troubled first mate Arik retrieve his mother's enchanted remains, but does not wish to destroy them as he does (which he believes will end the nightmares which plague him). Aela believes the enchanted remains need to be taken to Lilladenau, where Arik's mother once drew power from the Sleeping Queen, in order to stop Arik's nightmares. Because of this disagreement, Arik eventually betrayed his captain in an effort to destroy his mother's head and be rid of his nightmares (as well as become the captain of the Blood Kraken), but the Storm Eaters saved Aela and slew Arik in the process.
Aela has been saved numerous times by the Storm Eaters, and now feels great respect for them, especially the dark paladin Isulf. She has taken Isulf as her lover and confidante, and named him first mate of the Bloodkraken.
After Arik's death, Aela told the Storm Eaters that she believes she is also cursed by the Sleeping Queen of Lilladenau, and hopes that by bringing the magical head of Arik's mother to that haunted place she can find a way to be rid of the curse. Aela then secretly revealed to Isulf that she isn't cursed, but rather she doesn't wish to live and die a mere Tide Wolf captain. She wants to "suck the marrow from the broken bones of the world" and revel in all its wonder and pointlessness. She claims the Sleeping Queen has given her a taste of power, and if she takes the head to Lilladenau the Queen has promised her much more. She asked Isulf to accompany her on this quest, to share in all the glory to be had in this dying and pointless world, and the paladin agreed.
Aela parted ways with the Storm Eaters after ridding Coldlight Fjord of the ghost of Haftan the Hungry. She and Isulf went east to Lilladenau in search of power, glory, and carrion. On the long, overland trek to Lilladenau, Aela cobbled together a group of hearty killers and adventurers which she dubbed the Bloodkrakens. Once Aela and her Bloodkrakens reached Lilladenau she used Arik's mother's head to begin a ritual that would awaken the Sleeping Queen and bring her back to Valkheim. To her tragic surprise Aela discovered that her reward for beginning this ritual was to be killed and horribly melted down to just her skull, and then be reborn as a Dreamer (an undead flying skull that knows only service to the Sleeping Queen). After watching Aela die and become an undead abomination, the Bloodkrakens turned against the Sleeping Queen and were able to stop the ritual before it could be completed.
The Dreamer that was once Aela was destroyed by Isulf and his magic blade
Hunger. And thus did Aela Bloodkraken, who dreamed of power and thirsted for all that life could offer, leave Valkheim and the land of the living.
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