Portraits of Izarius
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"Those of the house of Blackraven are said to be able to trace their ancestry directly back to Inaxius "Black Raven" de Falken. A black raven was reputed to be one of Inaxius's favourite forms." Although the lineage has origins from the ‘First Warlock of Avion’ himself, most … almost all of the Blackravens have been wielding the sword, holding noble positions in service to the Order of the Knights of Ravenwatch. Only a few amongst these noble fighters have chosen the path of magic. From the 2nd generation onwards, after Inaxius’s only son Idbak Blackraven married the elf princess Eillanora, all descendants henceforth; unlike Inaxius and Idbak had straightish blond hair – a characteristic from the elven blood. The godly blood flowed along each one of the descendants giving each a sense of unity amongst each other, linking each of the descendants of the 3 brothers (as did the brothers) who walk Terrania and otherwise. A curse or a hidden blessing from the gods? Izarius was born the eldest, a healthy baby. His father, Lord Equwan Blackraven was good, just and loved by people and like his forefathers was a fighter, a high-ranking knight who earned the respect of his men and foes alike. (It is not known to whom Lord Equwan truly served but a Sky Blue armour would sometimes be seen, always polished and gleaming, with the saddle and armoury for that of a large creature closeby). His mother Lady Irasah, the niece of the current Elven High King of the elf-clans of Avion, who was adored by the elven people, raised her son telling him stories of bravery, of valiant men and women, stories of love and stories of the gods. But all was not to be well. When hair started growing on Izarius’s head it was not the expected straight blond which the Ravenwatches wore so proudly over the years. They were raven black locks of curly hair, very much like that of Inaxius! This did not disdain Lord Equwan and he, like his father and forefather’s before him trained his son in the art of the sword at a very tender age. Thus reliving the somewhat mythical saying "Oh see how Lord Ravenwatch teaches his son to wield the sword, now all that remains is for him to learn to walk into battle!" Izarius grew up healthy and well, not sick and bed-ridden as his father feared. He grew both in mind and in body. He was promised to have a physique that most fighters would envy. Izarius, a young man would go on hunts with his father and even on some occasions accompany him on his longer journeys. Although the blade and the sound of battle were a lure of most young men, Izarius was also intrigued by magic. Often he would sit in the family library and gaze at the shadowed corner which held spellbooks magical scrolls belonging to the very few of his forefathers who chose the path of magic. It was during one such time when a blurry vision of a hooded man with feature’s similar to himself adorned with a Sky/Royal Blue robe first appeared to him. Ever since then he appeared mostly in his dreams, his whispering always inaudible to Izarius. When he was of age, young Izarius declared that he desired to choose the path of magic! Afraid that his father would refuse his request, Archmage Sasha (a good friend of Lord Equwan, who was also sometimes seen wearing robes of a similar shade to that of Lord Equwan’s ‘secret’ armour) talked to him and Izarius obtained blessings from his father to follow his heart’s wish. And so the story continues … |
