Archelius

Background: Archelius is both the firstborn of the Enlightened Herd, and firstborn to Darkweaver and Laghodessa. His early life was primarily nomadic, and easily described as peaceful. The herd traveled frequently in pursuit of both safety and knowledge, always looking to learn about the gods, pagan and organized religions, and hidden magics of each land they drifted into. As the eldest fawn among what became many in the herd, he felt responsible to learn everything he could, and retain knowledge after leaving each land. He also felt the need to be the keeper of his younger herd brothers and sisters, genetic or otherwise, and matured fast under a self imposed sense of responsibility. In his late 'teen' years, the Enlightened herd made a hesitant attempt to return to the land of it's origin; "The Endless Forest".

This attempt went poorly, and resulted in a significant portion of the herd being executed overnight, and survivors being hopelessly separated and presumed dead. During the night in question, Arch had fought beside his father and younger brother, Adrastos, as well as the old enough males of the herd - all those close to his age, or all the fathers who shared a curse similar to his fathers and followed him out of the forest. They had been grossly overwhelmed by devout pelted deer, separated, and to Arch's knowledge upon returning to the scene after separation and subsequently needing to flee a ghastly sight, slain. The following morning, he used magic learned from alternate lands to call upon the slain souls of his herd that could be found, and fled the forest. In particular, he kept the souls of Adrastos and his younger sister Laoise close, within his antlers, after burying their bodies proper. He then led the herd of spirits out of the forest in a continued nomadic lifestyle for another several centuries, taking up the leadership position himself, modeling his leadership style after that of his father and mother, who he quietly swore to eventually avenge the deaths and disappearances of someday. 

In the passing centuries, he had particularly and accidentally invested time focused on death related magic, ultimately resulting in becoming a full fledged, never ageing necromancer. Being one who wandered worldwide, he dabbled into methods not particularly linked to any one place of origin or methodology, but instead hybridized styles over time and learned to become magically flexible and creative; as well as religiously creative. Sadly, the same could not be said about his personality, which managed to become lost under a veil of stoic quiet and held back, calculated anger. While a side of him would want to lighten up, only the occasional snark would be all he'd afford for far too many years. 

Upon returning to the Endless Forest, Arch disguised himself with magic to appear as a normal deer and scouted the forest out, hoping to track down the descendants of those that murdered his herd-mates and family so many centuries ago so he could exact revenge. Instead, he discovered Loki, and eventually was reunited with Darkweaver and the ghost of his mother, Laghodessa. Accepting the idea that his father had already been terrorizing the forest in revenge before he had the chance, Arch gave the forest a second chance. He however continued living under disguise for a few years, still retaining all too vivid memories of his last experience. In this time, he had assisted Darkweaver in a deal with Osias, and lent his power in Necromancy to recover the bodies of Laoise, Adrastos, and Laghodessa from the earth to have them properly reanimated and revived, souls returned to flesh. He still stays close to the family now that it has been restored, concerned for their well being. In sticking around, he's slowly but awkwardly also becoming less of an 'I want revenge' machine and getting a normal personality. It's awkward and he's often clearly stressed by the shenanigans of others, especially after creating a daughter out of runes and actually trying to create friendships, but he's a positive work in progress.