Ranith

Information

Player Name: hiddengecko

Character Full Name: Ranith Crimsondawn

Character In-Game Name: Ranith

Nickname: -

Association(s): Silvermoon

Race: Blood Elf

Class: Warlock

Age: 132

Sex: Female

Hair: Red

Eyes: Green

Weight: 130 lbs

Height/Scale: 5'5/0.94

Skills and Abilities

The usual range of abilities one would expect from a Warlock of reasonable skill. On account of her classical education and scholarly history, she has a predilection for the less violent applications of fel magic: Summoning portals, ritual magic, and the like.

When driven to combat, her spellcraft is conservative in its use of her energy, often taking advantage of her understanding of the physical plane as much as those beyond. While it looks less impressive and bestows less terror than the usual agony and chaos of archetypal warlockery, it remains arguably more efficient.

Much of her focus remains on her trade; inscription and enchanting both find their uses, but a particular passion of hers is archaeology and exploration.

Until recently, she has displayed next to no interest in demonology.

Appearance

Usual Garments/Armor: She sticks mostly to robes while in polite society, as they offer a convenient midpoint between fashion and utility. In the field, what she wears depends greatly upon the situation - whatever is practical, be it breeches, furs, or otherwise. She has a fondness for scarlets and dark shades; pointing out the stereotypical nature of this makes her defensive.

Other: She carries a well-crafted falchion of no historical note whenever socially acceptable. While she knows how to use it, she's no swashbuckler; carrying it simply makes her feel safer, while lending a certain air of authority.

Personality

On the surface, she can be a little stubborn and instructional, both on account of upbringing and years spent educating unruly students with more competence than natural charisma. Beneath that rather stuffy exterior, however, lies a surprisingly compassionate and playful person: those she counts among her friends may be subjected to teasing and innumerable bad jokes, not to mention aimless rambling about topics of interest. She's also rather lazy, though gifted enough to usually get by in life until confronted by something genuinely difficult, at which point she will grumble and complain and procrastinate until she gives up and actually puts effort into her endeavors.

Ranith isn't the noblest of souls, and fel corruption has done nothing to help that, but she does (usually) try to overcome her occasional bouts of unintentional sociopathy for the betterment of others, unless doing so would require her to be very brave or very selfless.

She has an affection for spicy food which might be charitably described as masochistic.

History

Raised the second child in a household with three, Ranith enjoyed the benefits of a somewhat wealthy family while not growing up particularly spoiled. She was brilliant for her age, and bookish, which at first filled her parents with pride; unfortunately, she was not an especially motivated nor aspirational youth.

She was content to read fiction as much as history, performed adequately in all her lessons while putting out a minimum of effort, acquired neither the jealous hatred nor the envious love of her peers, and breezed contentedly through her education with a scattering of close friends and careless pursuit of whatever caught her fancy. She showed promise in both her mundane studies and those of Arcane magic, though in the latter she seemed to lack the motivation to truly excel; her siblings got along well enough with her, arguments with her parents were rarely heated, and her mischief was generally harmless. All told, it looked very much like she could do nearly anything in life she set her mind to, if only she would set her mind to it in the first place.

Which is why, when she came of age, she turned to teaching the basics of magic - not out of any great passion for scholarship, nor desire to impart great wisdom, but because in spite of restless and ill-behaved students it came almost as naturally to her as breathing. Without much difficulty, she acquired a reasonable stipend, prestige enough to show her face without shame in most tiers of society, and most importantly time enough to pursue her own interests. Surprisingly enough, this worked out rather well for her - just as she was no star pupil, she was no star teacher, but she was genuine and natural and had a knack for dealing with students just as listless and ill-motivated as she herself had been. She had enough gold to live comfortably, enough time to see to her hobbies, and (usually) enough personal contact to not get too lonesome.

The Scourge brought an end to all that. Silvermoon burned as the undead marched to the sea, and many of her peers and students burned with it. As the light of the Sunwell faded, Ranith for the first time felt the hollow ache of helplessness, and the siren song of power at last took hold of her. So many of those lost could have been saved, had only she been less listless, less weak. A lifetime of mere adequacy seemed suddenly a very bitter prize.

Grieving and alone, she helped rebuild Silvermoon with so many of the others who remained. And, with so many of them, she turned to fel to sate her addiction. It breathed new life into her interest in magic; new, if unstable life to their shattered city: it was sweet, addictive, and dangerous. With nothing to lose, now, Ranith found herself eager to learn more of this tainted flame. Her spells grew stronger, her studies darker. There were countless possibilities that before had been barely considered, and now? She had no one to teach but herself.

In time, some schools were rebuilt, and learning began again, but Ranith found herself less and less suited to the classroom. With her university's blessing, she turned to her erstwhile hobby of archaeology. What was once mere academia had found a new role in an arms race that encompassed every school of warfare: anything could give an edge. Things long since lost to the living races: forgotten magics, relics of legend, secret, untapped fonts of magic in the hidden corners of the worlds.

And so, she came to Outland. Its shattered landscape and naked skies enthralled and terrified her: to tap the source of so much change and destruction was unthinkable, exhilarating. A barren, hostile wasteland stretched before her, seemingly endless in scope and potential. It was not something to be tackled alone, but what Warlock has ever need to be so?

An imp would not do: mischievous, distracting, unable to keep harm from her and worst of all loud. A Voidwalker was stolid, not particularly bright, and followed orders to the letter: she had no patience for minding constantly how she worded her every order nor micromanaging every task assigned to it. A felhunter would never come within thirty paces of her if she had any say in it.

A succubus would be perfect. Intelligent, protective, subtle enough to blend in polite society, and most importantly able to carry a conversation. It could write for her, run errands for her, and hopefully distract anything large and possessing more teeth than it had a right to long enough for her to set it on fire or be elsewhere.

The summoning was executed flawlessly: researched, reheased, and completed. The creature's name was Kirinal. It was playful and ostentatious, and seemed quite harmless - which, of course, Ranith knew full well it was not. They began their travels together. So long as Kirinal protected her and fulfilled the terms of the contract, she cared very little for whose interests the Saayad truly strove for.

For months they journeyed, making cautious excursions into the wilds of Outland, conspiring with the Scryers in Shattrath, gathering information and artifacts, data of note. Ranith noted with no small amusement her companion's love of mundane tasks, and with some concern her propensity to wander off alone. While it never seemed to place her in danger - indeed, Kirinal seemed only to grow more protective of her by the day - it served as a worrisome reminder of the Sayaad's true purpose.

They moved later to Undercity, Ranith seeking the wisdom of an uncle of hers: She hoped for his aid in safely putting several of the more esoteric magical baubles they had uncovered to the test. Kirinal seemed not to enjoy her time there at all; the Forsaken had little interest in her save as an object to be researched, and none at all in her temptations. Ranith would have been amused had she not so strongly shared her companion's sentiment.

It was a welcome relief when they both returned to Silvermoon, the Warlock retiring for a time to a more private lifestyle to document and process her findings. The demon seemed to take a curious pride in doing the simplest of tasks in less adventurous moments of solace, and Ranith before long found herself studying her infernal companion with as much interest as her trinkets. No matter how she distanced herself, it was difficult but to feel a degree of affection towards the Sayaad: She was after all as much companion and confidante than servant. Perhaps more so.

Oh, well. If one has already secured their damnation, they might as well make some friends on the way down.