Background
Aranthar was born in Mountain Shadow nineteen years before the purge. His father worked the mines, providing raw ore to the smithy to create everything from horseshoes to nails for the town. His mother was a candlemaker. He had one sister, Leah, who was a year younger.
Aran grew up under vampyr rule, though thankfully Rakarian was rarely in attendance in Mountain Shadow. Because of his constant absences life there was not nearly as bad as in neighboring towns. People were almost never dragged off to become shamblers, and the villagers were left in relative peace. However, because they were so close to the Fell Wood the consumed were a constant danger and a strict curfew was enforced.
As Aran grew up he proved to be intelligence, fast and charming. He was well liked and always eager to help those around him, though he was also known as a bit of a prankster. By the time he was eleven he’d discovered women, which changed his life forever. Aran attempted to woo every woman around him, though at such a young age he didn’t meet with a great deal of success.
The one exception was little sister’s best friend. Kera was a year younger than him, and smitten with Aran since around the time she could walk. She acted out fantasies of marrying Aran, with her sister’s full support. Aran ignored her until he turned fourteen, when she turned thirteen and began to develop into a woman.
For an entire summer Leah, Kera and Aran were inseperable. Had events been allowed to play out Aran would likely have asked Kera for her hand, but a visitor to the village changed everything. A man named Gavin showed up and quietly approached the village elders. He claimed to be from the far off land of Valys, and was recruiting young men to come away with him.
They’d be trained as knights, and would one day come home to help free to the people from the tyrrany of the vampyr. Aran’s father was a man of principle, and sat his son down to discuss the matter. He wouldn’t force Aran to go, but this provided an opporunity to get training and an education that he never would in Mountain Shadow.
Aran told his father he needed the night to think about it, and met with Kera and Leah to discuss things. He was leaning away from going, because he was rapidly falling in love with Kera and didn’t want to leave her behind. Kera insisted that he go. He’d only be gone for five years, and would come back a knight who could protect her. He pledged to wait for her as well, and made the decision to go.
Gavin extended the offer to several other young men, but only one accepted. Gregarian was a rival for Kera’s affections. He was a year younger than Aran, and had sought Kera’s hand since they were children. Gregarian had an intense dislike for Aran, because he was more charming and had Kera’s affections.
The pair were escorted across Olivantia by Gavin. This was the first time Aranthar had ever left his home, and everything he saw was new. He quickly fell in love with the adventure, and resolved to see as much of the world as he could before he died. Gregarian, on the other hand, pined constantly for home and thought often of Kera.
Gavin began teaching the pair swordsmanship on the very first day. They practiced for an hour in the morning, and then again for an hour before bed. At first they drilled forms, but then Gavin set them to sparring. Gregarian was taller than Aran, but Aran was quicker and a faster study. In a few weeks he’d outpaced Gavin, and every day after the gap between their skill widened.
By the time they reached the border of Valys a month later Aran was already a competent swordsman, while Gregarian was still an apprentice. This made their rivlary ever more bitter, at least to Gregarian. Aran considered it friendly competition, and actually felt a little bad at how easily he beat Gregarian.
The arrival in Valys city was like nothing the boys could ever have imagined. Magic was tightly controlled in Mountain Shadow, and they’d never before witnessed enchantment on the level available in Valys. Washbasins and tubs filled themselves with water that stayed clean no matter how often bathed in. Glowstones hung above many streets, and fire rubies were set in walls or bathtubs to provide heat indoors.
The crowning jewel was the floating citadel that hung over the city. It’s architechure was unlike anything they’d ever seen, a holdover from the Elentian Empire. Only three like it still existed, and hasra chose to station one over Valys as a show of strength, which duly impressed both boys and instilled a healthy respect for Hasra before they even set foot in the capital.
Once they arrived in the city proper Gavin took them to the Great Temple, a huge marble edifice of columns and arches dedicated to Dalanthar. It housed over six thousand people, more than the entire population of Mountain Shadow five times over.
The boys were housed in a barracks with over a hundred other teens from Olivantia. It was one of six similar barracks, which contained the hopes of an entire nation. The Knights of the Dawn hoped to turn those six hundred boys into a fighting force that could lead their people to freedom.
Each barracks was declared its own army, and the boys within were drilled and trained as a unit. Aranthar rapidly rose to the rank of captain. His natural charisma, quick wit and skill with a blade enabled him to beat out the other boys and before long he was the most lethal one in the lot.
The other armies came to fear him as he led his to victory time and again. Aran became renowned for bold tactics that proved devastatingly effective. The only complaint the Knights training him could muster were his irrevrence, disrespect for authority and unwillingness to follow orders he disagreed with. They preached obedience over all, and eventually these flaws cost Aran command of his army.
Despite being the most talented officer in the corps he was demoted to the rank of Cadet Leiutenant, and forced to assist the weakest captain of the six. Gregarian, who’d rapidly rose in both popularity and skill, was given control of the army Aran lost.
This occurred near the end of the second year of training, and also brought a letter that broke Aran’s heart. True to his word he’d not been with any other women, though opporunities had certainly presented themselves. Yet the word he received was that Kera had been taken by Rakarian as a bride. Aran gave her up as lost, because he knew Rakarian was all but unstoppable. What could he do to get his love back against a vampyr of such strength?
Aran moved on and began seeing other girls, though he kepts his walls up and didn’t do more than dally with them. His heart had been broken when Kera was taken, though of course he didn’t blame her. Gregarian, on the other hand, refused to let Kera go. His dislike of Aran grew to hatred, because he saw Aran’s dalliances as disrespectful to Kera since he knew how she felt towards Aran.
Aran had done an amazing job putting together his army, which Gregarian was now in control of. The officers and personell wanted to prove they were the best, and Greg worked them into a frenzy because of his hatred for Aran.
For his part Aran did his best to prepare his new army, but no longer being in command meant there was only so much he could do. Fortunately the guy in charge knew he was the worst of the captains, and also knew Aran was the best. So he listened to Aran at most turns, and allowed Aran to restructure the army.
Time after time Aran’s new army was crushed by Gregarian’s, but each time the margin was narrower. The other armies beat Aran less and less, and eventually his army was second only to Gregarian’s. This process took all of the third year, and at the end of that year the Knights training them allowed Aran to assume full command and resume his rank of captain.
During the fourth year Aran and Gregarian battled to be the best. Gregarian’s army had the best discipline and the most solid formations. It’s individual members were better fighters, and they knew it. Aran’s army had more heart. They used unconventional tactics and avoided direct conflict in favor of skirmishing and hit and runs.
These tactics made them the butt of jokes among the other armies, because they were considered dishonorable. The other armies gave Aran no credit for his victories, especially Gregarian. If Greg won then he lorded it over Aran. If he lost he chalked it up to Aran ‘cheating’.
Aran’s temper was legendary, which was in keeping with the fire in his blood that no one had identified. Yet as the years passed he learned to control it, and didn’t let Gregarian bait him into fights. Nor did he rise to the bait when Gregarian made fun of his army.
Early in the fifth year Olivanticus attacked Valys for the sixteenth time in two centuries. Armies of consumed, shamblers and enslaved Orokh marched in a horde larger than any that had ever been seen before. Valys called on its Hasran overlords for help, but even with teleportation circles getting an army mobilized to help would take them months.
Valys was on their own against a vastly superior foe. Their borderforts were overrun, and for the first in two centuries the capital was beseiged. This meant every man strong enough to lift a sword was required to fight, and though the knights were loath to risk their Olivantian recruits they hurled all six armies of cadets into the fray.
The cadet armies were stationed as a last line of defense inside the outer wall at the fortress of Bakkar about a hundred miles south of the capital. If Olivanticus broke through they’d hold him back as long as possible. When the unthinkable happened the Knights ordered the cadets to plug a breach in the south wall.
Swarms of consumed and shamblers broke through the wall, and the armies fought valiantly but they were simply too few. Their lines buckeled and the enemy flooded the streets of the city. Aranthar remembered a tactic he’d used as a child to lure consumed into a trap. They could smell fresh blood, and would come towards the largest source of it.
He ordered some of his men to slaughter a field of sheep, and to make it as messy as possible. Another group was dispatched to gather as much lampoil as they could get. Aran had it brought back and drenched the field in which the sheep had been killed. The final group of his men scattered hay over the field to add to the fire.
Sure enough the consumed flooded into the field, drawn by the overwhelming scent of blood. Aranthar ordered the field torched, and many of the consumed were destroyed. The other cadet armies had falled back to the inner wall, but Aran’s troops surrounded the surviving consumed and wiped them out to a man.
Unfortunately this did nothing but buy time. It was a bold tactic, but could’t stop the forces Olivanticus had arrayed against Valys. It did buy the defenders time to escape, and the action saved hundreds of lives including the other cadets.
Every surviving cadet was granted full knighthood after the battle. Many earned commendations. Aran was given the golden sunburst, the highest honor a knight could earn. He was given the rank of Lieutenant and assumed command of twenty five of the most promising recruits.
The war that followed was short and bloody. Olivanticus ravaged the countryside and wiped out a number of towns and villages. Worse, he garrisoned the fortress of Bakkar which the knights lacked the strength to retake. Eventually reinforcements from Hasra arrived, but they were far too late. They pushed Olivanticus back to Bakkar, but the fortress was lost and Valys knew it. They fell back and conceded the stronghold as lost. This so incensed Hasra that they demanded Praetor Etrion Valys put his plan into action.
He felt it was premature, but had no choice but to obey. All five hundred surviving cadets were smuggled back into Olivantia. Gregarian and Aran headed back to Mountain Shadow along with a score of seasoned knights that camped outside of town in a secluded gully. Aran, Gregarian and Gavin infiltrated the town and began recruiting townsfolk to join them.
Almost no one was willing to help, although they did recruit Harl the local smith. He’d been a friend of Aran’s for years, and Aran was shocked to learn that Harl had married his sister a year prior. The pair had an infant child, Aran’s niece. Yet Leah had been taken by Rakarian to become his second wife. Both Kera and Leah needed to be saved.
The night of The Purge came a few weeks later, and Gavin gave word for the assault to begin. The fight was bloody and nearly all of the knights were killed. Only Gavin, Gregarian, Aran and some red shirt survived the fight. Gavin held Kera hostage, while Gregarian took young Temis as a hostage.
Rakarian engaged Aranthar one on one, and seemed surprised when Aranthar survived the first few passes. The banter between them was what gave Gavin time to take Kera hostage. Once Rakarian knew of her peril he dropped his weapon and Aranthar ran him through.
Gavin’s next move was to order the death of Kera, Temis and Leah. He argued that the children would hold a grudge for the death of their father and would also be vampyr. Gregarian reluctantly accepted the order, though he was torn by his love for Kera. The thought that she’d not only lain with Rakarian, but bore his child decided the issue. He burned with rage and ignored Kera’s treaties.
Aran and Harl stood alone against Gavin, Gregarian and the nameless redshirt. Aran held off Gregarian and Gavin while Harl escaped with Kera, Leah and Temis. Aran avoided killing Gregarian, though he had the chance to do so as he was a far better swordsman.
When the dust settled Rakarian was dead, but his wives and child had escaped. Aran had disobeyed orders, which was grounds not just for expulsion but also for execution. Gavin was left with a difficult decision. Olivantia needed a hero, and Aranthar was the one that best fit the bill. Instead of punishing him Gavin gave him full credit for killing Rakarian.
Aranthar was again awarded the golden sunburst along with titles and a half dozen other medals. Gregarian was livid, because he knew that Aran had defied his commander and should have been put to death. This took his hatred to a whole new level, and he challenged Aranthar to a duel.
Aran spanked him, but let him live. Worse, this fight took place in front of the whole town of Mountain Shadow. This included Kera, who now hated Gregarian for his willingness to kill her and her child.
The purge itself had gone well, but there were still pockets of vampyr all over the nation along with a powerful army holding the border with Valys. Gavin received orders to rally the people of Olivantia, and take the army northwest to sweep away the last vampyr army.
Gavin was a native Olivantian, so the people accepted him. To fire them up, though, he told them wildly exaggerated tales of Aranthar. The people rallied behind Aran as their great hero, and he bitterly hated himself for lying to his own people over his deeds. He knew his fight with Rakarian was neither honorable, nor accurately portrayed.
Aranthar was presented with a Enurian blade taken from one of the Vampyr slain during the purge. It was a shining beacon of hope for the people, and he cut quite the dashing figure. Young, handsome and in shining silver armor with the white and gold tabard of the Dawn.
Thousands of peasants joined the army and it continued to swell the further they went. The people loved Aran, and continued to spread word of his deeds. By the time they reached the vampyr army the people expected him to all but destroy the vampyr by himself.
Aranthar did come up with the strategy that destroyed the vampyr. It wasn’t a bloodless fight, but it was far less bloody than it could have been. Once again Aranthar was called a hero, and this time his legend spread throughout the entire nation.
His name and freedom became synonymous. Statues were erected throughout the nation, and no matter where he went he couldn’t pay for his own drinks. Hundreds of women through themselves at him, and Aranthar availed himself of their charms. He lost himself in drink and lust in a vain attempt to forget the lesson he’d learned.
All the glory and honor the Knights of the Dawn stood for were a lie. It was a clever veneer over an awful truth. When the war ended Aranthar quietly left the order and disappeared as best he was able. He grew a beard, let his hair grow out and stopped wearing the trappings of a knight.
He sold his medals and used the coin to buy a mare he named Cassie. The only thing he kept from his time as a knight was the sword he’d been given.
Aran took jobs as a caravan guard, mercenary and anything else that would give enough coin to afford drinks, dice and women. He lost himself in an endless pattern, drowning his sorrows as the world went to hell around him. The more time passed the more bitter he became.
The Knights proved inept at running the country, and it became far more dangerous than it had been under the vampyr. All the promises of freedom and a better life came to naught, and Aran was left with the miserable truth that he’d killed a vampyr who didn’t deserve to die. Rakarian had been fair and Kera had loved him. So had his little sister, yet he’d murdered the man they loved.
This brings us to the start of the novel. Aran is drowning his sorrow in an inn in Lowtown of Reverian. The city never recovered from the war, when Olivanticus’s keep quite literally exploded and took much of the city with it. The place is a pale shadow of its former glory, much like Aran himself.
Aranthar’s Character Arc
Aran begins the book bitter and cynical. His life is ashambles, but he can’t summon the effort to care. He blames the Knighthood for nearly all his problems, and he’s not far wrong.
When he was a boy Aran signed up with the Knights of the Dawn, because they claimed they could make a difference. They stood for honor, truth and justice all of which Aran believed whole heartedly in. He became a true believer both in Dalanthar and in the knights, and this lasted for the five years of training.
When the purge came Aran was the staunchest of knights. This faith was shaken to the core by the events surrounding the death of Rakarian. Gavin lied and used dishonorable tactics to kill Rak. Afterwards he wanted to slay Kera and Leah. Kera was Aran’s former love, and Leah his sister. Even worse they wanted to kill Temis, a boy of no more than three.
This shook Aran’s faith, but he didn’t leave the order. He finished out the war, during which he saw the merchants of Hasra circling like vultures. After the war he left the order, and since then has watched the knights fail at every turn. They haven’t improved life for Olivantia. They’ve failed the people.
The merchants of Hasra all but raped the fledgling new government, and because they did it within the letter of the law the knights couldn’t touch them. This disillusioned Aran to the point where he trusts neither justice nor Dalanthar. He utterly loathes the knights at the beginning, but also loathes himself for the role he played in bringing them to power.
He lost his love (Kera) to Rakarian, then watched her heart break as he killed the man she loved. This has left him bitter about love, and since then he’s been a womanizer. He isn’t capable of lowering his defenses and letting a woman in, and hasn’t been in love since Kera.
The only positive he took from The Purge and his role is that the vampyr are gone. He believes to his core that they’ve been vanquished, and doesn’t realize they are back. This will catch him off guard, and force him through the first doorway. Knowledge of their return changes everything.
By the end of the book the following changes need to happen:
- Aran will fall in love with Briana, even if they don’t admit it. At least he can feel love again
- Aran will learn to forgive himself for the role he played in The Purge
- Aran will find his duty again. He will become a Twilight, and he will hunt the vampyr. He cannot allow their return to go unopposed
