Vander Weldenskölir
Nov 17, 2011 23:20:47 GMT -5
Post by Vander on Nov 17, 2011 23:20:47 GMT -5
Full Name: Vander Weldenskölir
Other name: N/A
Race:: Elf
Side: Varden
Birthplace: Du Weldenvarden, a little ways southwest of Nädindel
Age: 123
Gender: Male
Birthday: August 23
Eyes: Carmine
Hair: Jet black, long, and flowing
Weight: 180
Height: 6'1"
Magic User: Yes
Preferred Weapon(s): Vander wields a pair of well-balanced falchions. His righthand sword is named Blödhreona or "Blood Reaper" - The hilt of Blhödhreona has a crimson-colored wrap, fairly indistinct. The blade is black, almost like obsidian. When held up to the right light, a faint red tinge can be seen on the edge of the blade. His lefthand sword is named Ekarhjarta or "Oaken Heart" - Similar in styling to Blödhreona, but the hilt is wrapped in strips of leather that have been dyed green. The blade itself has a color and texture that looks remarkably like wood.
Personality: Vander is fiercely loyal to the causes he has adopted. Though he would admit that he is somewhat insecure and not the quickest to form friendships with others, he is relentless in protecting those with whom he has formed relationships. At times this can lead others to perceive Vander as headstrong; while this might seem to be the case at times, Vander is, in truth, quiet and peaceful, just as quick to appreciate a moment of serenity as he is a moment of battle.
Appearance: Vander prefers to wear leather armor due to the increased degree of mobility it grants him. He generally tends to prefer that any such armor be dyed black as it has proven the most versatile option for camouflage in a variety of situations. It is extremely rare to find him not wearing his armor, as he has sworn to himself that he will always be ready to defend those he loves. Occasionally, he will wear a cloak, though he prefers not to due to the fact that it somewhat hampers his mobility.
Likes: Nature, Swordplay
Dislikes: Magic, Urgal
Strengths: Excellent swordsman, relentless, very loyal (when he wants to be)
Weakness: Impulsive, afraid of commitment, struggles with learning magic
Family: Father: Amras Mithrandír, Blacksmith, 378
Mother: Orophin Mithrandír, Warrior, 354
Not-So-Brief History: Vander grew up in a rather reclusive environment. Although his family were staunch supporters of the Varden, they had chosen to live apart from others. Fairly lonely as a child, Vander developed an extremely intense relationship with nature. This world was shattered one day when a raiding party of Kull stumbled across the small farm that Vander's family worked. Although they were able to drive off the Kull, Vander's parents were worried that further attacks might follow. Thus, they decided to move closer to Ellesméra, the Elven capital.
Life in Ellesméra was something of a culture shock for Vander. Ellesméra, as quiet and serene as it is, seemed overwhelming to Vander, who had grown up having little to no contact with anyone outside his own family. Although he tried to make friends, Vander always felt as if he didn't quite fit in with the other elves. Vander knew that he should be happy; he was surrounded by people of his own kind after all, and there was no threat from the Kull in Ellesméra. Nonetheless, he kept yearning for the solitude and serenity of the little farm that he had lived on as a child.
The only time when Vander found he could put these thoughts aside was when he was training. Vander could lose himself in his swordwork, and he put hours and hours of intense work into improving his form. Although he struggled with other aspects of his training, such as the use of magic, Vander seemed to be a natural with a sword and quickly outstripped his sparring partners.
While his mentors generally praised this talent of Vander's, some began to worry that Vander might lack the proper temperament for fighting. In sparring, Vander often displayed a degree of ruthlesness that was unlike his normally quiet and detached demeanor. Worried that he was growing increasingly restless with his training, they decided to send him on a limited reconaissance mission.
Thrilled to be finally seeing some real action, Vander eagerly awaited the day that his scouting party would depart on their mission. The day before they were scheduled to leave, Vander's father drew him aside and presented him with a sword. Excellently crafted, the falchion looked every bit as graceful and elegant as it was deadly. The blade itself was black, reminiscent of obsidian. The hilt was dyed crimson in color, and though indistinct, it did not detract from the overall beauty of the sword. However, the most unique aspect of the sword was the blood red tinge that appeared on the edge of the blade when it was viewed from a particular angle. Thus, Vander chose to name the sword Blödhreona, or "Blood Reaper."
The reconaissance mission began rather without event. As the party made its way towards the edges of Du Weldenvarden, there was very little would suggest anything was amiss. This was hardly surprising, as they would have known if anything had tried to penetrate the wards placed to protect the forest. Nonetheless, a growing sense of unease grew among the party members; there were supposed to be sentries posted on the edges of the forest, yet they had failed to meet any. Finally, they reached the edge of the forest. At first, Vander and his companions could hardly believe what they saw. A large encampment of Kull had positioned themselves only a short distance from the forest edge. The scouting party quickly decided that word must be sent back to Ellesméra, warning them of the threat. It was then, however, that Vander saw the sentries. Some of them still appeared to be alive, but there were far more corpses. At this horrifying sight, and despite all his training, something in Vander snapped. With a snarl, he rose from the position he had occupied and set out towards the encampment, mindless with rage and grief at the sight of his dead kinsmen. The leader of the scouting party saw this and quickly ordered Vander back, but Vander acted as if he had not even heard him. He quickly positioned himself in Vander's path and ordered him back again. Again, Vander reacted as if the scout leader was not even there. Growing legitimately concerned at this point, the scout leader took a step back and drew his sword, one more time ordering Vander to return to his position. This was a huge mistake. The cold flash of the scout leader's steel triggered something in Vander and before he knew what he was doing he had drawn Blödhreona and launched an attack. While blind with rage, some small part of Vander watched in growing horror as the attack caught the scout leader completely by surprise and Blödhreona plunged deep into his chest.
Vander stood there, numb with shock. What had he done? Dumbfounded, he simply stared at his own hands, as if they had somehow betrayed him. He did not even notice as the other scouts surrounded and restrained him.
The trip back to Ellesméra was just as uneventful as the trip to the edge of Du Weldenvarden had been, but it was obviously far less enjoyable. Though the other scouts had bound his hands and held him at swordpoint at all times, the truth was that Vander's spirit had been broken.
Upon reaching Ellesméra, word of Vander's heinous deed spread quickly. It had been many years since the blood of an elf had been spilled by a kinsman. Vander noticed none of this; he could not stop reliving that moment over and over again in his mind.
Opinions on what to do with Vander were split. There were some who argued that what he had done was unforgivable, and that he should be exiled. Others, however, argued that Vander's actions were not indicative of the quiet elf who had fallen in love with nature. Debate raged back and forth, but it quickly became clear that some punishment had to be administered. It was thus suggested that Vander be expelled into the depths of Du Weldenvarden so that the forest itself might judge him.
Once again, Vander found himself preparing to depart Ellesméra, but he felt no excitement this time. He had been granted a small ration of food, and though it had been extremely controversial, he had also been given his sword Blödhreona. As Vander set off into Du Weldenvarden, it was all he could do to keep himself from throwing the sword away in disgust. Although he knew that the sword itself was not to blame, he was still unable to fully confront the thought that he had taken the life of one of his kinsmen.
As days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and months turned to years, Vander drifted in and out of a dazed state. Many, many times was he confronted with life-threatening perils in the depths of Du Weldenvarden, but he always managed to survive. Then one day, he stumbled upon a small farm. Largely overgrown, the farm nonetheless seemed familiar to him. At first, his attempts to remember were stymied, but eventually it dawned upon him that this was his family's farm, the farm that he grew up on and had such fond memories of. Awestruck that he had just happened upon the farm by chance, Vander staggered around the farm in an amazed stupor. As he wandered about the farm, his eyes kept being drawn back to the center of the farm, where stood a solitary tree. Stout, but not too tall, the tree was one of the most beautiful that Vander had ever seen. Approaching it in an almost reverent fashion, Vander gently placed his left hand against the trunk. Almost as soon as he had touched the tree, Vander staggered back. In that brief moment of contact, the tree had managed to convey such feelings of life and vibrancy that Vander was brought to tears. Vander realized that this was what he had been waiting for, a sign that although he had committed a most terrible crime, the forest considered him to finally be worthy of forgiveness. Touching the tree again, Vander felt a strong compulsion; he was to make of this tree a sword, as beautiful and deadly as Blödhreona, but symbolic of Vander's rebirth through the trials of Du Weldenvarden.
Again Vander lost track of time as he dedicated himself to his work. Begging the forgiveness of the tree, he broke off a single branch; this was to be the foundation upon which Vander would create his new sword. At first, Vander was at a loss for what he would use to carve his new sword. The only blade he had with him was Blödhreona, and he was hesitant to tarnish the creation of his new sword with the memories that Blödhreona carried. Vander agonized over this dilemma for days, but he finally came to realize that the forest was sending him a message yet again. Although Blödhreona had been used to commit a most heinous crime, it could also be used in fashioning his new sword, a sword that would be used to spread justice and peace. Accepting this, Vander took up Blödhreona and began to carve the branch into the shape of a falchion just like Blödhreona.
Finally, after a great deal of time, Vander stepped back to look at his handiwork. Although he still needed to wrap the hilt, Vander was generally pleased with how the sword had turned out. Picking it up, he yelped in surprise and dropped it again. Vander watched in amazement as a deep gash welled up on the palm of his hand. How is this possible? he thought to himself. Picking the blade up again, (by the hilt this time) Vander lightly ran a fingertip across the edge of the blade. Sure enough, the blade was razor-sharp. Somewhat puzzled, Vander was at the same time delighted; he had intended for the sword to symbolic, but he had never thought that it might be usable as an actual weapon. Thrilled at his discovery, Vander bound the wound on his hand, and then lay down to sleep. Just as he slipped from consciousness, the name of his new sword came to Vander: Ekarhjarta or "Oaken Heart."
Not long after this, Vander found himself near the entrance to Ellesméra. It seemed that he had finally come full circle. Once unsure whether he would ever be able to set foot in the capital city of his people again, Vander finally felt confident in his return. As he walked through the city, Vander saw many familiar faces, but some new ones as well. Although he was not aware of it at the time, his ordeal in Du Weldenvarden had lasted over 30 years.
Although Vander still struggles with the memories of what he did, he finally feels ready to resume his place in elven society. Although his skill with a sword is as excellent as ever, he knows that still has much to do in the way of training if he is to be able to help the Varden in their fight against Galbatorix and the Empire.
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Although Vander had been officially accepted back into Elvish society, he could still sense that many of his kinsmen resented him for what he had done. At first, this bothered Vander, but as he dove into his training once again, he quickly forgot about it. Vander continued on in this state for a number of years, blissfully immersed in training.
One day, Vander awoke to find Ellesméra practically abuzz. After speaking to a few of his fellow elves, Vander was able to piece together what was causing such a stir: apparently a dragon egg had been found and brought back to Ellesméra. Although Vander had been deep within the heart of Du Weldenvarden at the time of The Fall, he had been brought up on tales of the legendary dragons and their equally famous riders.
At first, Vander was ecstatic. This could mark a huge turning point in the fight against Galbatorix! The more he thought about it, however, the more he was filled with a growing sense of trepidation. Vander knew that the presence of a dragon egg meant that everyone would have their turn before the egg, in the chance that it might hatch for them.
Although Vander wanted to be given his chance with the egg, deep in his heart, he realized that this could cause even deeper schisms within the elvish community. Thus, it was with a heavy heart that Vander petitioned to be excused from presenting himself to the egg. Although many elves were shocked at Vander's petition, it was decided that his wish should be granted.
Not long after this decision had been made, however, Oromois and Glaedr arrived in Ellesméra. They quickly learned that an elf had asked to be excused from being presented to the egg. Demanding why this was the case, Oromis managed to get to the heart of the matter in a very short period. After he had been told the story behind Vander's actions and the series of events that had followed, Oromis reacted in an uncharacteristic fury. Scolding those who had granted Vander's petition, he insisted that all were to be given their turn with the egg, bar none.
Thus it was that Vander found himself before the dragon egg. The egg, perfectly smooth and crimson in color, struck Vander as one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. Pausing for a moment, Vander reflected on the whirlwind of events that had occurred over the past few days. After a great deal of debate, the elves had acquiesced to Oromis' argument and decreed that Vander was to be presented to the egg after all. Vander had protested, arguing that making such a decision would unduly focus attention on him and could potentially lead to further divisions within the elvish community. Vander was unsuccessful, however: it had been adamantly decided that Vander would have his turn in front of the egg.
Snapping back to the present, Vander glanced about. A small crowd of elves had gathered. Though no one made a sound, Vander could practically feel the divisions within the crowd. He knew that there were many who would be delighted to see him fail, but he also knew that there were some who supported him.
Steeling himself, Vander strode quickly, if not assuredly, towards the egg. Reaching out, he lightly brushed his fingertips against the egg. Not suire quite what to expect, when nothing happened, Vander placed the palm of his right hand against the egg. Still nothing happened. Sighing, half in dejection and half in relief, Vander quickly turned from the egg and strode away. He did not want to be there to see any of his kinsmen gloating over his failure.
Suddenly, though, Vander heard a gasp from the crowd behind him. He tried to ignore it, but he could not help sneaking a glance backwards. At first, Vander did not notice anything. Then, he saw it. Where before the egg had been perfectly smooth, there now appeared a spiderwebbing pattern of cracks. Hardly believing his own eyes, Vander was suddenly being grabbed and ushered back towards the center of the clearing where the egg lay. As he watched, the cracks began to grow. Finally, the top of the egg cracked open, and the dragon poked its tiny head out. As it extricated itself from the shell of the egg, Vander marvelled at its beauty.
Reaching his hand out once again, Vander noted that the dragon was identical in color to its egg: crimson. The dragon, noting his attention, craned its head towards Vander, as if seeking his touch. As the two made contact, Vander's mind was suddenly filled with light and noise, equally pleasant and painful. Grinning through the pain, Vander spoke the name that had imprinted itself in his mind: Bloodkite.
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The next few days made Vander's life up to that point look relatively peaceful and calm. Caught up in a whirlwind of celebration, Vander felt as if he was adrift on a sea of emotions. While part of him was caught up in the moment, another part was wondering what came next.
The answer came fairly shortly, as he was summoned before Queen Islanzadí. Although Vander could sense that even the queen was pleased that a dragon had hatched, her demeanor was calm and collected. She informed Vander that, although he had been granted a great gift, great responsibilities came along with such a gift, and that he and his dragon, Bloodkite, would come to be seen by many as a symbol of great hope. To be able to perform his newfound role, it was obvious that Vander would need training, and so it was determined that he would learn under the tutelage of Oromis and Glaedr.
This did not really sink in until later that evening, however, as Vander lay awake with Bloodkite curled up next to his head. He was going to become a pupil of Oromis! Although all elves obviously knew of Oromis and Glaedr, very few had actually met them. As Vander drifted off to sleep, he could not help but feel a sense of trepidation.
Vander awoke the next morning, feeling well-rested and refreshed. Beckoning Bloodkite to follow him, Vander set off for where he was to meet Oromis and Glaedr. Upon reaching the designated meeting-place, Vander and Bloodkite sat down near the edge of the meadow and waited for the arrival of their mentors.
They did not have to wait long, for they were suddenly greeted by an immense pressure and a loud noise. Looking up Vander saw Glaedr slowly descending towards the clearing, with Oromis perched on his back. At first, Vander was struck speechless. Glaedr was, quite simply, one of the most majestic creatures that Vander had layed eyes upon. As the pair drew closer, Vander was also struck by just how enormous Glaedr was. Glancing down at Bloodkite, Vander found the differences between the two dragons to be almost comical. It boggled his mind to realize that one day his own dragon would be just as large as Glaedr was now.
As Glaedr landed in the middle of the clearing, Vander took the opportunity to appraise Oromis. His first impression was somewhat mixed. Although he had heard the stories of how Oromis and Glaedr had been injured, he still felt a little bit underwhelmed by Oromis's appearance. Vander had expected someone...well, someone more imposing. Oromis, on the other hand, appeared almost frail, most certainly not in his prime.
It did not take long for Oromis to disabuse any such notions of fragility, however. Vander had never found the training he had undergone in the past to be particularly difficult; not easy, but certainly nothing that had given him any real difficulty. Training under Oromis, however, was a whole different story. More often than not, Vander stumbled back home completely exhausted and often frustrated with his seeming lack of progress.
Nonetheless, his skills gradually improved, although he still struggled with the use of magic, something which had never come particularly easy for him, even though he had the talent. Although he grew restless at times with what he felt was the somewhat stagnant nature of his training, Oromis was always able to draw him back with some new piece of knowledge or lesson. Vander also knew, however, that he was being groomed as a potential successor to Oromis. Vander would have protested this when he was younger, but with age and experience also came a tempering of his impulsiveness. Gradually Vander came to accept that it was not yet the right time to reveal himself to the world outside Du Weldenvarden.
After almost a century of training under Oromis, however, rumors began to spread that a new Rider had emerged in Alagaesia. Although these rumors could not be confirmed at first, stories kept pouring in, suggesting that there might, in fact, be some truth behind them.
Thus, it was that Eragon found his way to Ellesméra. Though there was some debate amongst the elves over whether or not the existence of Vander and Bloodkite should be revealed, it was eventually decided that they should remain hidden while Eragon and Saphira trained under Oromis and Glaedr. Although it took a great deal of self-control, Vander accepted this decision, and he and Bloodkite remained hidden in the depths of Du Weldenvarden.
With the death of Oromis and Glaedr, however, Vander insisted that he reveal himself, so that he might be able to join in the fight against Galbatorix. Although reluctant, the elves finally acquiesced, realizing that they can no longer afford to keep Vander and Bloodkite hidden. Finally free to act, Vander and Bloodkite are eager to prove themselves against the forces of Galbatorix, and they will stop at nothing to see Oromis and Glaedr avenged.
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Anything extra: Assuming the character is accepted, I would be thrilled to be granted the privilege of claiming one of the Varden eggs. If so, I will update this post with more backstory on how Vander becomes a rider. For now I will post a mini-character sheet for said dragon.
Dragon's Name: Bloodkite
Birthplace: Ellesméra
Gender: Male
Color: Dark Red
Eyes: Black
Physical Appearance: As Bloodkite has yet to fully mature, he does not match the stature of some other dragons. Ferocious looking indeed, Bloodkite is covered with layers of spiky outgrowths towards the front of his body. Bloodkite is not hesitant to put these to use when grappling with other dragons.
Personality: Much like his rider, Vander, Bloodkite prefers peace and quiet. Bloodkite also shares Vander's deep affinity for nature, and together they have sworn a pact to defend it against those who would seek to do it harm. Although preferring a life of peace and solitude in Du Weldenvarden, both Vander and Bloodkite realize that inaction is no longer an option in the growing conflict. Like his rider, Bloodkite is utterly ruthless and without mercy in battle.
Password: [[Witch]][[of Teirm]]
Other name: N/A
Race:: Elf
Side: Varden
Birthplace: Du Weldenvarden, a little ways southwest of Nädindel
Age: 123
Gender: Male
Birthday: August 23
Eyes: Carmine
Hair: Jet black, long, and flowing
Weight: 180
Height: 6'1"
Magic User: Yes
Preferred Weapon(s): Vander wields a pair of well-balanced falchions. His righthand sword is named Blödhreona or "Blood Reaper" - The hilt of Blhödhreona has a crimson-colored wrap, fairly indistinct. The blade is black, almost like obsidian. When held up to the right light, a faint red tinge can be seen on the edge of the blade. His lefthand sword is named Ekarhjarta or "Oaken Heart" - Similar in styling to Blödhreona, but the hilt is wrapped in strips of leather that have been dyed green. The blade itself has a color and texture that looks remarkably like wood.
Personality: Vander is fiercely loyal to the causes he has adopted. Though he would admit that he is somewhat insecure and not the quickest to form friendships with others, he is relentless in protecting those with whom he has formed relationships. At times this can lead others to perceive Vander as headstrong; while this might seem to be the case at times, Vander is, in truth, quiet and peaceful, just as quick to appreciate a moment of serenity as he is a moment of battle.
Appearance: Vander prefers to wear leather armor due to the increased degree of mobility it grants him. He generally tends to prefer that any such armor be dyed black as it has proven the most versatile option for camouflage in a variety of situations. It is extremely rare to find him not wearing his armor, as he has sworn to himself that he will always be ready to defend those he loves. Occasionally, he will wear a cloak, though he prefers not to due to the fact that it somewhat hampers his mobility.
Likes: Nature, Swordplay
Dislikes: Magic, Urgal
Strengths: Excellent swordsman, relentless, very loyal (when he wants to be)
Weakness: Impulsive, afraid of commitment, struggles with learning magic
Family: Father: Amras Mithrandír, Blacksmith, 378
Mother: Orophin Mithrandír, Warrior, 354
Not-So-Brief History: Vander grew up in a rather reclusive environment. Although his family were staunch supporters of the Varden, they had chosen to live apart from others. Fairly lonely as a child, Vander developed an extremely intense relationship with nature. This world was shattered one day when a raiding party of Kull stumbled across the small farm that Vander's family worked. Although they were able to drive off the Kull, Vander's parents were worried that further attacks might follow. Thus, they decided to move closer to Ellesméra, the Elven capital.
Life in Ellesméra was something of a culture shock for Vander. Ellesméra, as quiet and serene as it is, seemed overwhelming to Vander, who had grown up having little to no contact with anyone outside his own family. Although he tried to make friends, Vander always felt as if he didn't quite fit in with the other elves. Vander knew that he should be happy; he was surrounded by people of his own kind after all, and there was no threat from the Kull in Ellesméra. Nonetheless, he kept yearning for the solitude and serenity of the little farm that he had lived on as a child.
The only time when Vander found he could put these thoughts aside was when he was training. Vander could lose himself in his swordwork, and he put hours and hours of intense work into improving his form. Although he struggled with other aspects of his training, such as the use of magic, Vander seemed to be a natural with a sword and quickly outstripped his sparring partners.
While his mentors generally praised this talent of Vander's, some began to worry that Vander might lack the proper temperament for fighting. In sparring, Vander often displayed a degree of ruthlesness that was unlike his normally quiet and detached demeanor. Worried that he was growing increasingly restless with his training, they decided to send him on a limited reconaissance mission.
Thrilled to be finally seeing some real action, Vander eagerly awaited the day that his scouting party would depart on their mission. The day before they were scheduled to leave, Vander's father drew him aside and presented him with a sword. Excellently crafted, the falchion looked every bit as graceful and elegant as it was deadly. The blade itself was black, reminiscent of obsidian. The hilt was dyed crimson in color, and though indistinct, it did not detract from the overall beauty of the sword. However, the most unique aspect of the sword was the blood red tinge that appeared on the edge of the blade when it was viewed from a particular angle. Thus, Vander chose to name the sword Blödhreona, or "Blood Reaper."
The reconaissance mission began rather without event. As the party made its way towards the edges of Du Weldenvarden, there was very little would suggest anything was amiss. This was hardly surprising, as they would have known if anything had tried to penetrate the wards placed to protect the forest. Nonetheless, a growing sense of unease grew among the party members; there were supposed to be sentries posted on the edges of the forest, yet they had failed to meet any. Finally, they reached the edge of the forest. At first, Vander and his companions could hardly believe what they saw. A large encampment of Kull had positioned themselves only a short distance from the forest edge. The scouting party quickly decided that word must be sent back to Ellesméra, warning them of the threat. It was then, however, that Vander saw the sentries. Some of them still appeared to be alive, but there were far more corpses. At this horrifying sight, and despite all his training, something in Vander snapped. With a snarl, he rose from the position he had occupied and set out towards the encampment, mindless with rage and grief at the sight of his dead kinsmen. The leader of the scouting party saw this and quickly ordered Vander back, but Vander acted as if he had not even heard him. He quickly positioned himself in Vander's path and ordered him back again. Again, Vander reacted as if the scout leader was not even there. Growing legitimately concerned at this point, the scout leader took a step back and drew his sword, one more time ordering Vander to return to his position. This was a huge mistake. The cold flash of the scout leader's steel triggered something in Vander and before he knew what he was doing he had drawn Blödhreona and launched an attack. While blind with rage, some small part of Vander watched in growing horror as the attack caught the scout leader completely by surprise and Blödhreona plunged deep into his chest.
Vander stood there, numb with shock. What had he done? Dumbfounded, he simply stared at his own hands, as if they had somehow betrayed him. He did not even notice as the other scouts surrounded and restrained him.
The trip back to Ellesméra was just as uneventful as the trip to the edge of Du Weldenvarden had been, but it was obviously far less enjoyable. Though the other scouts had bound his hands and held him at swordpoint at all times, the truth was that Vander's spirit had been broken.
Upon reaching Ellesméra, word of Vander's heinous deed spread quickly. It had been many years since the blood of an elf had been spilled by a kinsman. Vander noticed none of this; he could not stop reliving that moment over and over again in his mind.
Opinions on what to do with Vander were split. There were some who argued that what he had done was unforgivable, and that he should be exiled. Others, however, argued that Vander's actions were not indicative of the quiet elf who had fallen in love with nature. Debate raged back and forth, but it quickly became clear that some punishment had to be administered. It was thus suggested that Vander be expelled into the depths of Du Weldenvarden so that the forest itself might judge him.
Once again, Vander found himself preparing to depart Ellesméra, but he felt no excitement this time. He had been granted a small ration of food, and though it had been extremely controversial, he had also been given his sword Blödhreona. As Vander set off into Du Weldenvarden, it was all he could do to keep himself from throwing the sword away in disgust. Although he knew that the sword itself was not to blame, he was still unable to fully confront the thought that he had taken the life of one of his kinsmen.
As days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and months turned to years, Vander drifted in and out of a dazed state. Many, many times was he confronted with life-threatening perils in the depths of Du Weldenvarden, but he always managed to survive. Then one day, he stumbled upon a small farm. Largely overgrown, the farm nonetheless seemed familiar to him. At first, his attempts to remember were stymied, but eventually it dawned upon him that this was his family's farm, the farm that he grew up on and had such fond memories of. Awestruck that he had just happened upon the farm by chance, Vander staggered around the farm in an amazed stupor. As he wandered about the farm, his eyes kept being drawn back to the center of the farm, where stood a solitary tree. Stout, but not too tall, the tree was one of the most beautiful that Vander had ever seen. Approaching it in an almost reverent fashion, Vander gently placed his left hand against the trunk. Almost as soon as he had touched the tree, Vander staggered back. In that brief moment of contact, the tree had managed to convey such feelings of life and vibrancy that Vander was brought to tears. Vander realized that this was what he had been waiting for, a sign that although he had committed a most terrible crime, the forest considered him to finally be worthy of forgiveness. Touching the tree again, Vander felt a strong compulsion; he was to make of this tree a sword, as beautiful and deadly as Blödhreona, but symbolic of Vander's rebirth through the trials of Du Weldenvarden.
Again Vander lost track of time as he dedicated himself to his work. Begging the forgiveness of the tree, he broke off a single branch; this was to be the foundation upon which Vander would create his new sword. At first, Vander was at a loss for what he would use to carve his new sword. The only blade he had with him was Blödhreona, and he was hesitant to tarnish the creation of his new sword with the memories that Blödhreona carried. Vander agonized over this dilemma for days, but he finally came to realize that the forest was sending him a message yet again. Although Blödhreona had been used to commit a most heinous crime, it could also be used in fashioning his new sword, a sword that would be used to spread justice and peace. Accepting this, Vander took up Blödhreona and began to carve the branch into the shape of a falchion just like Blödhreona.
Finally, after a great deal of time, Vander stepped back to look at his handiwork. Although he still needed to wrap the hilt, Vander was generally pleased with how the sword had turned out. Picking it up, he yelped in surprise and dropped it again. Vander watched in amazement as a deep gash welled up on the palm of his hand. How is this possible? he thought to himself. Picking the blade up again, (by the hilt this time) Vander lightly ran a fingertip across the edge of the blade. Sure enough, the blade was razor-sharp. Somewhat puzzled, Vander was at the same time delighted; he had intended for the sword to symbolic, but he had never thought that it might be usable as an actual weapon. Thrilled at his discovery, Vander bound the wound on his hand, and then lay down to sleep. Just as he slipped from consciousness, the name of his new sword came to Vander: Ekarhjarta or "Oaken Heart."
Not long after this, Vander found himself near the entrance to Ellesméra. It seemed that he had finally come full circle. Once unsure whether he would ever be able to set foot in the capital city of his people again, Vander finally felt confident in his return. As he walked through the city, Vander saw many familiar faces, but some new ones as well. Although he was not aware of it at the time, his ordeal in Du Weldenvarden had lasted over 30 years.
Although Vander still struggles with the memories of what he did, he finally feels ready to resume his place in elven society. Although his skill with a sword is as excellent as ever, he knows that still has much to do in the way of training if he is to be able to help the Varden in their fight against Galbatorix and the Empire.
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Although Vander had been officially accepted back into Elvish society, he could still sense that many of his kinsmen resented him for what he had done. At first, this bothered Vander, but as he dove into his training once again, he quickly forgot about it. Vander continued on in this state for a number of years, blissfully immersed in training.
One day, Vander awoke to find Ellesméra practically abuzz. After speaking to a few of his fellow elves, Vander was able to piece together what was causing such a stir: apparently a dragon egg had been found and brought back to Ellesméra. Although Vander had been deep within the heart of Du Weldenvarden at the time of The Fall, he had been brought up on tales of the legendary dragons and their equally famous riders.
At first, Vander was ecstatic. This could mark a huge turning point in the fight against Galbatorix! The more he thought about it, however, the more he was filled with a growing sense of trepidation. Vander knew that the presence of a dragon egg meant that everyone would have their turn before the egg, in the chance that it might hatch for them.
Although Vander wanted to be given his chance with the egg, deep in his heart, he realized that this could cause even deeper schisms within the elvish community. Thus, it was with a heavy heart that Vander petitioned to be excused from presenting himself to the egg. Although many elves were shocked at Vander's petition, it was decided that his wish should be granted.
Not long after this decision had been made, however, Oromois and Glaedr arrived in Ellesméra. They quickly learned that an elf had asked to be excused from being presented to the egg. Demanding why this was the case, Oromis managed to get to the heart of the matter in a very short period. After he had been told the story behind Vander's actions and the series of events that had followed, Oromis reacted in an uncharacteristic fury. Scolding those who had granted Vander's petition, he insisted that all were to be given their turn with the egg, bar none.
Thus it was that Vander found himself before the dragon egg. The egg, perfectly smooth and crimson in color, struck Vander as one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. Pausing for a moment, Vander reflected on the whirlwind of events that had occurred over the past few days. After a great deal of debate, the elves had acquiesced to Oromis' argument and decreed that Vander was to be presented to the egg after all. Vander had protested, arguing that making such a decision would unduly focus attention on him and could potentially lead to further divisions within the elvish community. Vander was unsuccessful, however: it had been adamantly decided that Vander would have his turn in front of the egg.
Snapping back to the present, Vander glanced about. A small crowd of elves had gathered. Though no one made a sound, Vander could practically feel the divisions within the crowd. He knew that there were many who would be delighted to see him fail, but he also knew that there were some who supported him.
Steeling himself, Vander strode quickly, if not assuredly, towards the egg. Reaching out, he lightly brushed his fingertips against the egg. Not suire quite what to expect, when nothing happened, Vander placed the palm of his right hand against the egg. Still nothing happened. Sighing, half in dejection and half in relief, Vander quickly turned from the egg and strode away. He did not want to be there to see any of his kinsmen gloating over his failure.
Suddenly, though, Vander heard a gasp from the crowd behind him. He tried to ignore it, but he could not help sneaking a glance backwards. At first, Vander did not notice anything. Then, he saw it. Where before the egg had been perfectly smooth, there now appeared a spiderwebbing pattern of cracks. Hardly believing his own eyes, Vander was suddenly being grabbed and ushered back towards the center of the clearing where the egg lay. As he watched, the cracks began to grow. Finally, the top of the egg cracked open, and the dragon poked its tiny head out. As it extricated itself from the shell of the egg, Vander marvelled at its beauty.
Reaching his hand out once again, Vander noted that the dragon was identical in color to its egg: crimson. The dragon, noting his attention, craned its head towards Vander, as if seeking his touch. As the two made contact, Vander's mind was suddenly filled with light and noise, equally pleasant and painful. Grinning through the pain, Vander spoke the name that had imprinted itself in his mind: Bloodkite.
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The next few days made Vander's life up to that point look relatively peaceful and calm. Caught up in a whirlwind of celebration, Vander felt as if he was adrift on a sea of emotions. While part of him was caught up in the moment, another part was wondering what came next.
The answer came fairly shortly, as he was summoned before Queen Islanzadí. Although Vander could sense that even the queen was pleased that a dragon had hatched, her demeanor was calm and collected. She informed Vander that, although he had been granted a great gift, great responsibilities came along with such a gift, and that he and his dragon, Bloodkite, would come to be seen by many as a symbol of great hope. To be able to perform his newfound role, it was obvious that Vander would need training, and so it was determined that he would learn under the tutelage of Oromis and Glaedr.
This did not really sink in until later that evening, however, as Vander lay awake with Bloodkite curled up next to his head. He was going to become a pupil of Oromis! Although all elves obviously knew of Oromis and Glaedr, very few had actually met them. As Vander drifted off to sleep, he could not help but feel a sense of trepidation.
Vander awoke the next morning, feeling well-rested and refreshed. Beckoning Bloodkite to follow him, Vander set off for where he was to meet Oromis and Glaedr. Upon reaching the designated meeting-place, Vander and Bloodkite sat down near the edge of the meadow and waited for the arrival of their mentors.
They did not have to wait long, for they were suddenly greeted by an immense pressure and a loud noise. Looking up Vander saw Glaedr slowly descending towards the clearing, with Oromis perched on his back. At first, Vander was struck speechless. Glaedr was, quite simply, one of the most majestic creatures that Vander had layed eyes upon. As the pair drew closer, Vander was also struck by just how enormous Glaedr was. Glancing down at Bloodkite, Vander found the differences between the two dragons to be almost comical. It boggled his mind to realize that one day his own dragon would be just as large as Glaedr was now.
As Glaedr landed in the middle of the clearing, Vander took the opportunity to appraise Oromis. His first impression was somewhat mixed. Although he had heard the stories of how Oromis and Glaedr had been injured, he still felt a little bit underwhelmed by Oromis's appearance. Vander had expected someone...well, someone more imposing. Oromis, on the other hand, appeared almost frail, most certainly not in his prime.
It did not take long for Oromis to disabuse any such notions of fragility, however. Vander had never found the training he had undergone in the past to be particularly difficult; not easy, but certainly nothing that had given him any real difficulty. Training under Oromis, however, was a whole different story. More often than not, Vander stumbled back home completely exhausted and often frustrated with his seeming lack of progress.
Nonetheless, his skills gradually improved, although he still struggled with the use of magic, something which had never come particularly easy for him, even though he had the talent. Although he grew restless at times with what he felt was the somewhat stagnant nature of his training, Oromis was always able to draw him back with some new piece of knowledge or lesson. Vander also knew, however, that he was being groomed as a potential successor to Oromis. Vander would have protested this when he was younger, but with age and experience also came a tempering of his impulsiveness. Gradually Vander came to accept that it was not yet the right time to reveal himself to the world outside Du Weldenvarden.
After almost a century of training under Oromis, however, rumors began to spread that a new Rider had emerged in Alagaesia. Although these rumors could not be confirmed at first, stories kept pouring in, suggesting that there might, in fact, be some truth behind them.
Thus, it was that Eragon found his way to Ellesméra. Though there was some debate amongst the elves over whether or not the existence of Vander and Bloodkite should be revealed, it was eventually decided that they should remain hidden while Eragon and Saphira trained under Oromis and Glaedr. Although it took a great deal of self-control, Vander accepted this decision, and he and Bloodkite remained hidden in the depths of Du Weldenvarden.
With the death of Oromis and Glaedr, however, Vander insisted that he reveal himself, so that he might be able to join in the fight against Galbatorix. Although reluctant, the elves finally acquiesced, realizing that they can no longer afford to keep Vander and Bloodkite hidden. Finally free to act, Vander and Bloodkite are eager to prove themselves against the forces of Galbatorix, and they will stop at nothing to see Oromis and Glaedr avenged.
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Anything extra: Assuming the character is accepted, I would be thrilled to be granted the privilege of claiming one of the Varden eggs. If so, I will update this post with more backstory on how Vander becomes a rider. For now I will post a mini-character sheet for said dragon.
Dragon's Name: Bloodkite
Birthplace: Ellesméra
Gender: Male
Color: Dark Red
Eyes: Black
Physical Appearance: As Bloodkite has yet to fully mature, he does not match the stature of some other dragons. Ferocious looking indeed, Bloodkite is covered with layers of spiky outgrowths towards the front of his body. Bloodkite is not hesitant to put these to use when grappling with other dragons.
Personality: Much like his rider, Vander, Bloodkite prefers peace and quiet. Bloodkite also shares Vander's deep affinity for nature, and together they have sworn a pact to defend it against those who would seek to do it harm. Although preferring a life of peace and solitude in Du Weldenvarden, both Vander and Bloodkite realize that inaction is no longer an option in the growing conflict. Like his rider, Bloodkite is utterly ruthless and without mercy in battle.
Password: [[Witch]][[of Teirm]]
I LOVE LONG CHARRY SHEETS! 
