History

The only child of a common delvan couple, Ariel’s health proved to be a problem from the moment he was born. Fortunately, the boy didn’t seem to carry any serious illnesses, although there would always be something keeping him in bed. Despite his endless health concerns, the love of Ariel’s parents never faltered– the couple raised the boy in a happy and stable home, allowing him to grow into a shy but positive young boy.

While his parents were never fervorous Aureanists, a previous miraculous experience led to them becoming closer to their local church, where Ariel would spend most of his free time whenever his health allowed. While the many activities organized by the pastoral offered some relief from the four walls of his bedroom, the time spent at the church was bittersweet – Ariel would witness the neighborhood children have fun in ways he’d never be allowed to.

As his teenage years dawned, so did the seed of rebellion in his heart. Despite his health stabilizing considerably, Ariel was still kept inside, treated like the frail child he once was. Irritated, he rejected his parents’ treatments, venturing outside on his own as soon as his age allowed. Desperate to understand where they had gone wrong, his mother and father sought council with a priest from their church, who advised them to keep an eye out but be patient, as this rebellious streak would eventually die out.

During his explorations, Ariel experimented with everything he was never allowed before. He became a known face in the undergrounds of Delverne, his ventures leading him into a clandestine fighting ring. As brutal as the fights were, there was something about the violence that attracted him; without any experience, he hopped into the ring himself. To nobody’s surprise, Ariel was pummeled by his adversary, though the result meant little to him – the experience was exhilarating. The pain, the sweat, the blood… for the first time, he felt truly alive. Ariel returned to the ring many times after, gradually learning how to fight from experience. He knew from the beginning that his health would never allow for a full-fledged career as a fighter, but he was determined to take it to the farthest limit possible. The end of his brawler days came months after, when a badly healed fever took its toll during a competition. Fortunately, he was quickly rescued by a regular watcher of these fights – a youthful priest with a loose smile.

As Ariel was nursed back to health, his savior introduced himself as Erard, a templar turned priest assisting at the local church – the same who counselled Ariel’s family. Erard confessed to tailing Ariel to the ring for weeks, keeping an eye on him when his parents couldn’t. According to Erard, he saw much of himself in the young elf, claiming to understand his turbulent feelings and desire for freedom. The priest offered a deal: Ariel would quit worrying his parents and, in turn, Erard would teach him to channel his anger and fight without sacrificing health. Knowing he had no other option, Ariel accepted the deal and became the monk’s apprentice. 

Though hesitant at first, Ariel’s training soon proved to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Erard was a berserker, his less refined way of fighting fitting Ariel’s personality perfectly. On top of the physical training, Erard would chat with his student about their views on religion, Aurea and the current delvan society, broadening Ariel’s views on what he thought of Aureanism. The time spent with Erard renewed Ariel’s relationship with religion entirely; by the time he had become as strong as his master, Ariel had decided to follow his master’s footsteps and become a priest, to help others in need as he’d once been helped.

Seminary training was much harder than usual as he lacked the manners and friendly behavior expected of priests, but his bluntness made him unexpectedly popular with the youth. While he avoided dealing with “normal” people, the way he could communicate with the lost and the angry earned him the love of the local community, driving him to succeed in his training for them.

As the decades of experience and knowledge piled up, going from a priest to a pastor came much more naturally than Ariel would have imagined. His pragmatic nature meant that his ideas were grounded and easy to follow, making church actions much more transparent and in line with what the people wished. For better or for worse, the prickly priest of the neighborhood church became a figure of renown, much to his own chagrin.