Somnus

Basic Details

• Race:
  • Human
• Age: ??
• Class:
  • Cleric
• Height:
  • 5’7
• Skin Tone:
  • Pale, fair
• Hair Colour:
  • Black (originally)
  • White, with black streaks
• Eye Colour:
  • Pale purple (#FED0FC)
• Voice:
  • Effeminate, gentle, sickly
• Accent:
  • British/Undefined

Appearance

Somnus is clad in vaguely gothic armour - with two large horns protruding from the helmet - that is adorned with 3 crescent moons on their chest. Their shield is also decorated by moons and raven feathers.

They also have a red string tied around their shield-bearing arm and carry a large scroll on their back. There is a bag of holding on their belt.

Backstory

Rural Beginnings

Aestair; was a Human born into a small agricultural town somewhere on Vaelorys. They enjoyed tending to the crops, rearing the animals, and cooking with their family.

Religious Prospects

From a young age, Aestair was involved with the church and taught the followings of The Fate-Cloaked Maiden. They were taught how she was a Human mage who ascended to the status of Godhood and became the God of Fate & Death. Aestair was taken by the scriptures and was personally tutored by a number of the priests on how to harness their faith in The Maiden to better effect.

On the day of their 15th birthday; Aestair was brought before a man referred to as The Archraven. He invited them to leave home and join a private group of truly devout students of The Maiden with the promise of one day becoming a priest and working for the church.

“The training will be quite rigorous and painful but if you want to be a priest and walk the same path as our Maiden, then you must complete it.

The offer is yours, young Raven - but you must chose before exiting this room. Should you leave - you must never speak of this again, we wouldn’t want the other students feeling left out.”
- The Archraven’s words to Somnus

Aestair pondered the offer, pausing for only a moment of doubt at the thought of not being able to say goodbye to their parents, and then accepted. They were taken to a room and given new clothes to wear; a long black cloak with a hood and white mask that covered half their face, before being introduced to six other students; many of them older than they were, wearing similar attire.

“Your first lesson, young raven, is to never reveal your name to anyone. You must never use it again.”
- A priest speaking with Aestair before showing them to the room.

The other students acknowledged the new arrival - referring to themselves as “A Young Raven”. The eldest one was clearly quite sickly - requiring a walking cane to even stand - but made the effort to show the young Aestair around their new home before they each went to bed. The eldest student woke Aestair for just a moment and offered him a worn piece of white string.

“You chose a good day to arrive. Take this string of mine, tomorrow’s my final day of training - I am going to complete my goal and become a priest of our Maiden - so I won’t have much use for it much longer.”
- The eldest student to Aestair

Aestair was amongst the students as they wished the eldest of them good luck on their final trial - many of the younger ones surprised that they couldn’t watch. A number of hours later one of the priests came to their room carrying a broken white mask - like the ones they each wore - and confessed that the eldest student had failed his trial and was no longer with them. Aestair resolved themself to ensure that they completed their training for both of them.

Training

Aestair struggled through the first year of the training - the physical toll of the long rituals and communions made Aestair appreciate sleep whenever it was granted. The next few years were arduous, with days; and eventually weeks and months, blending into one another. Throughout that time the only solid marks in time Aestair had was when one of the elder students attempted their final trial. Each time; Aestair took note of the physical toll on their body and his own to gauge his progress against theirs. With each failure - weight was added to Aestair’s resolve to complete their training for each of those who had fallen in the attempt, as well to their shoulders by their trainers. The final year of their training was a gruelling slog - with no new students having arrived since Aestair - they were the final hope of the Church.

Finally, the day came for Aestair to complete their training. They weren’t sure how old they were or even what their name was. Their entire existence was focused solely on completing this trial.

“Young Raven…

You are brought before us all to begin the process of Ascension. You have trained and dedicated your life to The Fate-Cloaked Maiden and now you shall serve alongside her, as equals.

Step forwards into the circle and begin your final trial…”
- The Archraven’s command to the room

Aestair was confused by this revelation - that wasn’t what they had agreed to it all those years ago, was it? Stopping for a moment to clear their head, they were caught off guard by two large figures behind them pushing them towards the circle. They had no choice but to walk forwards and take their place in the ritual.

The ritual began and the runic circle below them lit up - as it had a thousand times before. Clutching the piece of white string closely they began to focus on the ritual and let the magic flow through them. It was overwhelming - like all of existence and history was racing through the very fabric of their being. Memories of their life on the farm; from so long ago that they felt like someone else’s, came flooding back for just a moment before being replaced by Aestair’s first day meeting the older students, and then watching each of their final trial days. Aestair almost didn’t recognise themselves; the training had changed them so much and they had sacrificed plenty - but it was time to complete the trial for each of them… and then the realization set in.

The overwhelming power flowing through them was nothing in comparison to the shock that came over them at the realization that none of them had failed their trials - the ritual itself was doomed to fail from the very beginning. Aestair had visions of of the older students’ final trials replay in their mind. At the end of each ritual, they were caught off guard by the same priests that had trained them and; at the behest of The Archraven, slain. Anger, fury, and sadness all swelled in Aestair’s heart in this moment and they fell to the ground with a thud. The ritual was over, and The Archraven’s voice boomed through the chamber.

“You have failed us. In doing so have forfeit your status as a challenger…

Priests, prepare the containment armour.”
- The Archraven’s command to the room

Aestair was helpless to act; their physical body drained from the ritual, as the priests bound them to the wall and began to fit a suit of armour upon them - their vision went dark as the visor was finally placed over their head. They only heard one last sentence before exhaustion took them.

“We’ll have to start over from scratch. For now, we’ll keep them bound as our puppet.”
- The final words of The Archraven that Aestair heard.

Realization

Aestair awoke in pitch darkness as they assessed their new reality. Occasionally, they could heard Priests speaking amongst one another, where they referred to themselves as “The Ascenders”. They reasoned that they had been stood up against a wall within the halls they once called home - but they couldn’t be sure without vision.

Aestair could feel their body slowly returning to their control but it wouldn’t be for a long while. Time seemed to move slower than it once had and they quickly learned that sleep wasn’t truly restful like it had once been - they considered it a good thing if they found a few hours of undisturbed peace.

An unclear amount of time passed before one day Aestair overheard The Archraven in a chamber nearby, speaking with a young child; anger swelled to the surface as tears streamed down Aestair’s face. The boy was preaching how eager he was to complete their trials and become a priest. A newfound resolve grew within Aestair and with every ounce of strength in their body managed to flex a finger. It wasn’t much; and it certainly wasn’t enough to claim retribution against The Archraven, but it was proof that they could move. If they could move a finger; they could one day move their entire body again.

One day; Aestair heard the young student ask one of the Priests what the suit of armour was. “That’s what happens to the students who don’t pass their trials.” the priest said to the student’s shock and horror, before admitting that he was just joking. The response only heightened Aestair’s resolve and later that night; aided by the fury, managed to open their visor and see out into the chamber. They plotted from there how and when they make their move.

Years passed; time only tellable by the age of the newest student, before Aestair could move their entire body again for extended periods of time. It was not by intention or design, but on the day before the young students’ final trial, Aestair made their move. Calling forth all of their resolve Aestair charged into the room to their left - where they had once slept and pleaded with the child to run. The child; half awake and clearly confused, was unable to respond before The Archraven stepped into the room - pushing Aestair into the wall with magic.

Aestair’s focus was split between exacting revenge and protecting the young student. The student was frozen; with both Aestair and The Archraven pleading with him for help, until The Archraven deflected one of Aestair’s spells directly at the young student - killing him in an instant - with not a hint of sorrow or shame on his face. An entirely new rage flared from inside Aestair and his vision went completely red. Aestair slaughtered The Archraven alongside each and everyone one of the Priests - chasing them out of the church and into the town above.

They glanced down at their hands and the piece of string the eldest student had once given them; now turned a dark red. They clutched it tight whilst they watched the sunset - the first they’d seen in so long - before exhaustion took them. As they fell - they heard only a single word from a feminine voice.

“…somnus…”
- The voice Aestair heard before collapsing.

Somnus

They awoke in sheer darkness once again - only this time it was not natural. Their visor was open and they still couldn’t see beyond their own self. That same feminine voice spoke to them.

“I sense great anger inside you. You are lost my dear disciple - far from the course of Fate set out for you.

Come my child, take a rest; completely at peace, in my domain.”
- The Voice to Somnus

Whilst the voice spoke; Aestair realized that they felt truly rested for the first time in a long time. They revelled in the feeling as the voice appeared to them in the form of a woman wearing a long, black, feathered cloak and a pale white mask - the visage of The Fate-Cloaked Maiden - and Aestair immediately grew tense again.

“I can see you are apprehensive of my appearance, my child. I do not blame you for that. Followers of a perversion of my faith have caused you so much pain, and for that, I am truly sorry.

I know that words alone would mean little to you, so I came to offer you a chance to overcome that pain. But first I must ask, do you remember who you were? Or more aptly, who you are?”
- The Fate-Cloaked Maiden to Aestair

Aestair; defensively, protested that of course they remembered who they were - before stumbling trying to remember their name. It took an uncomfortably long time for Aestair to accept that they couldn’t remember who they were; both currently and before having met The Archraven.

“I see. Not only did they cause you pain, but they unknowingly have stripped you of your memories - a fate worse than death some would say.

I do not envy you Mortal. Rest here - in my domain - for as long as you must to accept your new reality. My offer will still be there when you are ready.”
- The Fate-Cloaked Maiden to Aestair

Aestair slowly let their guard down as the confusion about their identity led them to sleep. In the final moment of consciousness - Aestair heard that voice again - speaking the same word “somnus”. Aestair tried for what felt like an eternity to remember who they were but each attempt ended in failure.

They remembered their time on the farm, cooking food in the kitchen with their Mother. They remembered their first day in the church, meeting the Priests, and then the Eldest student giving them the piece of string. They glanced down and saw it was still in their hands; crimson red replacing the white it had been. Aestair felt shame come over them as they realized he had tarnished such a cherished gift - one of the few positive memories he had of his former home - before a sickly voice spoke up behind them. Aestair was shocked to see the image of the eldest student before them.

“We couldn’t protect you…

We, as your elders, let you down and for that, we apologise; as does our Maiden. Wear that string not with shame but with pride, Young Raven. You are free, and that is what matters most.

I am glad that I got to meet you, you really did choose a good day to arrive…”
- The Eldest Student to Aestair

The image faded and Aestair felt tears stream from their face before a swell of emotions; anger, sorrow, guilt - but also happiness, relief, and pride, came over them. They stood up; stood tall for the first time in an eternity, with a new resolve fuelling them - as The Fate-Cloaked Maiden’s voice echoed into the space around them.
”Your demeanour has changed, my child. Have you accepted your new reality? If you have - answer me this one simple question… Who are you?” she asked, waiting for a response.
”Somnus” they responded confidently - just that single word. They had only heard it twice but they somehow now understood that it meant “sleep”.
”You are ready then, good. It is time for you to return to your world; although some time has passed since you were last there.” The Fate-Cloaked Maiden spoke once more before the darkness around them vanished and they were met with a beautiful sunrise near a coastal town. The Maiden’s words replaying in their mind as they took in the sights and senses of being alive; truly alive, once again.

“There are others out there - like yourself - who have been knocked off the path fate had set out for them. I could not act to prevent the perversion of your fate - and I cannot apologize enough for that - but I ask you now to step in and act in my stead.

Correct the anomalies that I cannot, and I promise your true name in return.”
- The Fate-Cloaked Maiden’s offer to Somnus

Somnus spent the next several decades uncovering and resolving numerous perversions & anomalies of fate, whilst guiding lost or forgotten souls to their resting places. Over this time they developed a true reverence for The Maiden and was mutually trusted by their Deity.

A New Assignment

One day - in 919 PD - Somnus was sent a message by The Maiden requesting them to visit a city on Otheria known as Roan. They would need to infiltrate the city’s spy network; known as the Cloak Corps, and report on their dealings to The Maiden.

“I have reason to believe a force with ulterior motives has infiltrated a organization with ties to my legacy. The city of Roan’s Cloak Corps are a sacred group and I will not allow them to be perverted by the greed of other Mortals.

Head to Roan and become my ears and eyes.”
- The Fate-Cloaked Maiden to Somnus

Somnus felt a ring appear on their finger - it was black with a polished silver edge, and detailed with Raven’s feathers. They intuitively knew that it would aid them in their endeavour. Using the ring; they changed their appearance & voice and headed for Roan.

Link To Campaign

On the 13th of Vaelorn, 920 PD - Somnus was once again contacted by The Fate-Cloaked Maiden. She asked them to find a group in Roan known as The Fated Eight and aid them for a short while.

“Somnus - I must ask you for a favour. Find a group known as The Fated Eight and correct their fate - so they might correct all of ours…”
- The Fate-Cloaked Maiden to Somnus