Erich Sarkus Virak
Erich Sarkus Virak has lived the last fifteen years of his life as the bard named Kasim Areth.
The son of one of the most powerful families in all of Vel Anir, Erich left his home in what now seems like a lifetime ago. He, along with his twin brother, planned to forsake all their family stood for and what they desired. This, in his eyes, was not an act of cowardice but bravery.
Unfortunately for the young Anirian, his and his twin's attempt at Freedom resulted in only the harsh whiplash of reality. Although Erich eventually managed to escape into the world, his brother was not so lucky and eventually died in the attempt. Mostly thanks to the machinations of their father Erich Anselm Sellon Virak, the at the time Patriarch of the family.
Despite the tragic loss of his brother, Erich too was assumed dead by most people; Including his own family.
The young Anirian took advantage of this fact and disappeared into the world at large.
Donning the name of Kasim, the nobling became a bard. He used his extensive education within the world, and some learning from his mother to become a traveling musician, storyteller, and kingmaker. For fifteen years he moved around the world, gathering stories, telling tales, and going on adventure after adventure.
This all changed when he met the Princess of Minaris; Aviana Sabel.
His life was quickly turned into another sort of adventure, and before long the two Nobles fell deeply in love. Over the next few years their lives intertwined further and further, until eventually they were married.
Not long after Kasim and Aviana found their way back to the Anirian Lands, and there their life would take yet another turn.
Skills and Abilities
Once the single most powerful conduit for House Virak's ancestral magic, Erich, or now Kasim has signed away his power for the favor of his children.
Through a blood contract with his sister Elise Virak, Kasim has given over his right to the Virak Well of Power. This sacrifice was one that he made more than willingly. Bargaining with his sister and swearing upon the blood itself that she would not harm him, his children, or his beloved. The oath was taken, and his families future secured.
With it went his claim upon the families power, a magic based upon death and blood.
Despite this bargain however Kasim is still an incredibly powerful Rune Mage.
For fifteen years he studied, learned, and took on a deep understanding of Rune Magic. Perhaps one of the foremost experts in all of Arethil, Kasim knows the ancient language of Runes better than most scholars. His body is sectioned with thousands upon thousands of rune marks, and he is more than aware of the power that they hold over him and others.
He is an exceptionally gifted mage, his study having only deepened over the years.
Along with this, Kasim was brought up in House Virak as the primary heir. He was forced to endure training in combat, tutelage in war, and even in the harsher realities of the world. Kasim's earlier life and training stood equal to what most Initiates endured within the Academy.
The brutality of his life marring even the joy he feels now.
Biography & Lore
Erich, along with his brother Reinhard, was born almost exactly a year after his elder sister Elise.
As the Blood Demands, Once in a Generation a set of twins is born to the line of Virak. Whether they be the first, second, or third matters not. Simply that they lay within the generation. This herald of death comes when it comes, and one of the twins must be sacrificed to maintain House Virak's control of it's magic.
The truth of their heritage was unknown to Erich, Reinhard, and Elise for much of their lives.
For the first half of their childhood, the Virak siblings lived idealistic and happy lives. It was their mother that raised them, offering them a kind and loving hand. Through her they were taught the world, shown other nations and what lay beyond the borders of Vel Anir.
Valerye Lyene Virak instilled a love of learning and curiosity within her children. Showing them that there was much more than the simple semblance of life of a Noble. It was her who set Erich's wanderlust into place, and her who would eventually break him from the mold of an Anirian Noble.
Her passing was that which marred the world for the Virak Siblings.
After Valerye's death things became far more dark.
Erich's father took charge of raising his children, and quickly inducted them into the 'realities' of the world. Through the heavy hand of their Patriarch Erich, Elise, and Reinhard were quickly formed into what they always should have been; True Nobles.
They were beaten, trained in combat, forced to study language and the arts of war. All three of the siblings suffered, grew, and became filled with a malice and rejection of their father. This continued for years and years, until eventually the truth of their family became revealed to them.
During this time Erich and his siblings first became fixtures within Noble Society. They attended Gala's, parties, and any event they could. Erich and Reinhard befriended Prince Lynus Anireth, the three becoming a well known fixture of pranks and shennanigans. A fact that their Elder sister always bore a great deal of jealousy towards.
It was also during this time that the siblings began to split apart. Elise, knowing her fate was not to inherit the families control became detached and pulled away. Reinhard, knowing that Erich was the stronger of the two began to drift, knowing that his brother would one day have to end his life and wishing to spare him the pain.
A year of this passed, a life barely worth living, until Erich made a decision.
At the age of Fifteen Erich knew that he could not do what his father wanted, and thus decided to run away. Within the midst of the night the young boy fled, running into the night and leaving the world that he had been raised in behind.
It was an act that although well meaning, would only end in disaster. Even after his escape, Erich's father's machinations reached his ears. He was pulled back into the world of nobility, and in an attempt to save his brother's life...he instead caused his doom.
Never speaking of the details, not even to his now wife, Erich walked away from Vel Anir with his brother dead and the whole city thinking the same of him.
Walking into the world as a reborn man, Erich took on the name Kasim Areth.
He broke into the world using the studies that his mother had long since imparted upon him. He traveled from Vel Anir to Oban, from Oban to Alliria, and then to Dornoch and beyond. He took up the guise of a Gleeman, starting his story telling in Taverns and eventually reaching the lofty heights of the most wondrous parlors in the entire world.
For fifteen years Kasim made his way through Arethil. He traveled through Tavern's, Castles, Keeps, and Cities the world over. He met nobles, peasants, and even Kings.
His time around the world was spent telling stories, living adventures, and conducting himself as both spy and diplomat. This time in his life is marked and marred by dozens of different tales, all swirling around a bard who seemed to have more impact than any man in his position should. His very whisper enough to sway the mind of King and Country.
This sporadic, almost listless life came to an end when Kasim happened upon his now beloved; Aviana Sabel.
Their meeting, one of either fate or simple fortune, happened within the Ixchel Wilds. Upon the road to Mallian Kasim found the Minarin Princess half dead, slacked over her Elk and harshened by the attentions of Harpies. There he saved her, taking his knowledge of the Runes and battling off the degenerate flying creatures until she stood saved.
A new sort of story began then. Two years the soon to be lovers spent traveling together. Their stories became more and more intertwined, with Aviana sharing tales of her home, and Kasim revealing the truth of his birth. They moved through the Wilds, down the Spine, hunted by agents of Aviana's disparate family and careful to avoid the everwatchful eye of House Virak.
It was not until a moment of true desperation that Kasim revealed himself.
In a spark of desperation and utter need, Kasim called upon his families ancient magic. Drawing upon the Well and tearing at it's power, Kasim managed to save his beloved from a fate worse than death, but only at the cost of revealing himself to his family.
Mere weeks passed before another enigma of House Virak found them; the ancient secret of his ancestors crawling from the night to snatch his beloved from his arms.
Over months Kasim pursued the Kidnapped Aviana and his Uncle Sarkus. Traveling along the coast and chasing as quickly as he could until finally managing to catch up to them. Using Aviana's bonded dragon, and pulling her from the seas Kasim dragged his beloved back into his grasp.
It was then, after her rescue, that she revealed her pregnancy.
Knowing the fate of a New Generation of Virak's, and fearing for the safety of his children...Kasim did the only thing that he could think to do.
In an impulse Kasim took his wife to the ancient Virka Winter Estate, a castle that had once been owned by his mothers side of the family. There, he knew, his father would never travel, and thus the two of them would be safe. It was here that months later Elise Virak would find her brother by happenstance, and it was here that Kasim finally confronted what he was.
Preparing to fight to his very last breath, Kasim confronted Elise, ready to kill his own sister if he needed to. Yet his sibling did not come bearing threats or offering violence, and instead simply posed her brother a deal. It was simple, the safety of his family, his children and his elven beloved...if he forsook the power of his blood.
It was a bargain that he did not think over long, and before the dawn fell both siblings sealed their oath in blood.
True to her word, Elise ensured that Kasim's twins would both live. Twisting the ancient words of House Virak's blood-line and offering their father as a sacrifice to the Well of Blood during the Revolution of Vel Anir. An appeasement that was apparently effective, as the Baroness took her grasp upon the power of House Virak.
A control that she shared only with Kasim's nascent children.
Over the next year, Kasim true to his word stayed away from the Politics of his family and home. Living quietly in the Virak Winter Estate and making his new home there.
When news of the Republic and it's founding reached his ears it came along with a word from his sister. A surprising lenience to her letter as she offered not only reprieve, but acquiescent to his return. She spoke within her words not as a vindictive sister, but a loving and truthful sibling and aunt.
Immediately raising suspicion, it was only after dozens more letters that Kasim began to be convinced. He came to accept Elise's invitation, a decision reached only by the soft and encouraging word of Aviana, urging her beloved to return him. Accepting the push, Kasim headed towards Vel Anir, leaving his family guarded by a loyal House Staff and a fully grown Dragon.
References
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/the-battle-of-the-blades-the-assault.1119/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/from-the-ashes.1223/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/the-mountains-ahead.93/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/on-the-road.193/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/a-little-luck-never-hurt-anyone.724/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/those-for-the-mines.256/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/theres-daggers-in-smiles.368/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/bastion-of-gold-power.241/
https://chroniclesrp.net/Folklore/House-Virak
https://chroniclesrp.net/Folklore/Elise-Virak
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/those-rising.2808/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/read-between-the-lines.2377/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/the-world-unseen.3337/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/new-blood.3387/
https://chroniclesrp.net/threads/the-revolution-of-vel-anir.3425/