Afanen

Afanen

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Age
Born
Died
Gender	Female
Residence
Home
Nickname
Diety	Estridae
Race	Half Elf
Meta Data:
Class	Cleric - Scorcer - Mystic Thurge
Alignment	None
Level
Player	Holly Gulbranson
Campaign	Forgotten Light

Started - Half Elf Cleric of Estridae

Finished - Half Elf Cleric of Estridae\Scorcer\Mystic Thurge

I had started playing Afanen as the healer for the group and ended up so much more. Death was a constant companion to this character and at times had me looking for words to comfort others when I had the exact thoughts floating around in my head. Why would Afanen go on? What kept her from not letting others quit when that's all she wanted to do? It wasn't until the very end of the game when I had gotten the choice to continue being the God Kissed or revert to being a Cleric of Estridae that I had realized - As much as she had wanted the easy life, it just wasn't meant to be. She would travel the lands under the assumption of being a Cleric of Estridae but really being the God Kissed, preaching and healing as was needed.

She had died during a fight and afterward something told me that in her time of service when she was dead, she would learn a lot about the gods that others wouldn't and it would change her. She was resurrected and became a scorcer and then a mystic thurge. Abandoning her divine spell casting ways for one of arcane and then progress both. As a character she would never completly abandon Estridae or the message Estridae stood for in the mass' eyes. Yet to see everything from the shadows would be just as nice.

Anecdotal History

I remember it well, the smells of the local baker, the sounds of the blacksmith and the laughter of my many friends. It would have probably turned out to be a pretty enjoyable, kid filled life, with some farmer for a husband, cleaning the house for a living and raising kids. But life had bigger plans for me, my parents insisted i go to church like I belonged in the town - unlike them. I would join the neighbors and go to weekly worship of Estridae join the kids for the half hour of Sunday school afterward, and then play for the rest of the day. Most days went like this, except most of the teachings for the rest of the week were ones of reading, math, gardening, baking and whatnot ... its a bit hazy now. Just like the faces of my parents, which one was elf? or were they both half elf ... I suppose when your young it just doesn't matter much. Until the day when THEY came, It was the middle of service, the doors in the back were flung open and the gnoles rushed in. The screams of the innocent filling the air, i just froze, i watched the cleric gather the elders, women and children and directed them to the back exit. I watched the men try to buy them time to escape, but there wouldn't be an escape for any of them. Bodies toppled, i under a few of them, the look of horror in their eyes, and the spark of life leaving their body. Still frozen in a mound of the dead ... then there was a sharp pain in my side, coming back to make sure the dead were truly gone before setting the church on fire. Burning flesh isn't something you ever forget or the look frozen on the faces of the dead. I still have the nightmares, and their blood still under my nails ... it never comes out no matter how hard you scrub. They called me blessed, because a woman clad in white somehow got me out of there ... I walked for several days ... she kept me going, telling me "its just a little further" or "its not your time, keep moving". I stayed quiet, for a year or two, before I started to talk again. he-eh took out this nail *holding up the pinky finger on the right hand* trying to get the blood out from under my nails with a small dagger - a cleric walked in and scared me while i was doing so. They all just called me blessed, "Estridae does not save everyone, you know" ... part of me always wishes that I had died that day. *inhales deeply* BUT I didn't so life must go on.

I chose to join the army when I became of age to defend those would need defending as a Cleric of Estridae. That's where I met the rest of them and started our adventures, Fleetfoot Division 2. I guess I was supposed to heal their physical wounds and follow orders. It may have started out that way but soon I was healing their physical bodies just as much as their souls.

• long pause*

I died you know? It was during a mission that doesn't exist, and would end our military careers. Just poof ... in the middle of battle, standing next to Anze one minute and gone the next. Suppose you wouldn't call me much of a cleric of Estridae afterward. Being brought back from the dead gives you a new perspective on life. Well, I'm off nice talking to you. Mmm? why did share all of this with you? I suppose its so that one can tell the tales of how life will change you, how people can change. Or i just wanted to validate my existence to another being before going on to face death once more.

Afanen the Adventurer

Afanen lead a life of adventure and Service dedicated to the gods. Born a half elf, she barely knew her family as they were slain in a Gnoll raid during her youth. Village Elders who had been fortunate enough to survive the attack claimed that she was a blessed child, for a woman in white walked the girl out of the massacre unharmed. She was the only survivor. Her title would determine her path as she grew up training to be a Cleric to Estridae.

As she came of age, Afanen chose to join the Naltronian military and was ultimately placed under the notorious Fleetfoot Division 2, a scouting team known for being riff raff and difficult to deal with. She was there to help try to bring some order to the chaos. She was quickly accepted and became a trusted member of the team, working to track down the demon cult Saba Enas. She traveled across the whole of Naltronia during her service, finally being sent to Arambashia on a covert operation that was launched during Emperor Tilson's peacekeeping mission to try to build good will between Naltronia and Arambashia. The mission would lead to her death at the hands of the cultists, a blow that would almost disband the group of adventurers who had taken the mission. They would travel for several years before returning to combat the threat of the cult.

In death, Afanen was greeted by Brashq who tempted her with the poisonous gift of undeath. She refused the offer, and met with the Lady in White once more, who offered her to help Shepard the souls of the departed to The Last Gate. Afanen accepted and her spirit helped Estridae until her resurrection in 979 LD at the Borosage Abbey. Death did little to dampen the fire that burned in her soul, and once reunited with her friends she set out against the cult of Saba Enas once more.

Her journey would take her across the world and between the planes, going through the Hells, and finally to Issalon to raise the lost temple of Estridae. She would aid multiple gods during her adventures as well, including Estridae, Telraedye, and Oontarm. Her willingness to aid any of the Gods lead to them naming her God-Kissed, a title few mortals have ever been given. The gift would lead to further hardship, but Afanen would remain steadfast in her duty from then on.

Afanen the Harbinger

The Adventurers of the Forgotten Light would ultimately part ways. Many retired from Adventuring and chose to settle down, but Afanen was fueled by her dedication to the Gods. Her time was spent travelling between Naltronia, Arambashia, and Mishar, bringing the word of many gods to the cities and villages along the way. She focused her efforts on saving people, using her god granted powers to ensure that the bulk of people survived whatever catastrophic events headed their way. Her efforts became so renowned that she became vilified, and her very presence would set people on edge or become the tipping point for civil wars. According to the legends of her passing, she once traveled through the Great City of Rocal. Within 2 weeks the very sizable city had consumed itself in a violent uprising. By 1010 LD, the once fortified castle and surrounding land lay in ruins, occupied by Bandits and malcontents.

Other tales claim that she was at the siege of Zamatinol, and rallied the people to fleet before they were overrun by Aramish forces. It is said that she stayed behind to try to convince the Aramish commanders that an attack on the city of Nightvale, Naltronia would be folly as well. During these tumultuous times, Afanen began writing her final works; the Revelation of Mortals. It would be labeled Blasphemy, and would send Afanen into exile. It is believed by many that she took to the sea, protected by Zamikeye herself.

In Memorial

Afanen died in the early seasons of 1008 LD. She returned to Naltronia to aid in the conflict against the growing Gnoll forces and was struck down. It is believed that her efforts were against the will of the gods. Rumors remain that her body was taken away by the Eyes of Litamoria to be entombed as an Emperor, or it may have been taken by the Church of the Rose to be defiled for the blasphemies she spoke in life. Regardless of which, Afanen's final resting place remains a mystery, along with the location of her Revelation. Adventurers have taken up the search, and spread rumors that the scrolls have been distributed in the Isles, but the trail grows colder with each day since her passing.