CONTENT WARNINGS:
pregnancy / birth mention in backstory
DISSOCIATION, DEREALIZATION, WAR, DEATH, CHRONIC PAIN, MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
formerly found at irsalladin
FULL NAME: Revanelan Ilensul
DATE OF BIRTH: August 01, 9:11 Dragon
GENDER/PRONOUNS: Non-Binary, she/they
SEXUALITY: demiromantic demisexual
HOMETOWN: Arlathvhen’an, Free Marches
OCCUPATION: Inquisitor
ALIAS(ES): Rasa,
EDUCATION:
HAIR: long, brown
EYES: gold
HEIGHT: 5'2" (157 cm)
BODY TYPE: muscular
FACECLAIM: Hannah John-Kamen
LANGUAGES KNOWN: fereldan, orlesian, elvhen
SKILL SETS: hand-to-hand combat proficiency, melee proficiency
PHYSICAL HEALTH: above average, save the glowing mark on her left hand
MENTAL HEALTH: TBA
OVERVIEW: Her own agent, Revanelan has worked towards the betterment of the downtrodden and hurt, utilizing her unique skills to manipulate those she could, posing as an elvhen servant in numerous locations, working with the Elves of Hilamshiral, and even the Mage Rebellion in the hopes of forging a better world…
When the Conclave was announced, a chance to give freedom to the mages, a meeting with numerous people of power… Who would possibly forgo such an opportunity?
but perhaps she should have.
Born into a family of lesser nobles, Revanelan knew no suffering, only wealth and privilege- they had access to everything they could ever want or need, every whim met, albeit with nothing so extravagant as claims to godhood… Despite her position, Revan bore witness to suffering beyond measure as she watched the corruption of the Evanuris, the dedication of slaves to ‘Gods’ in whom they refused to believe.
Rather than remain complacent, Revanelan began to work silently against the higher nobles and Evanuris, making use of their connections to manipulate those they could into working against the ‘Gods’ interests while she freed their slaves and sent them away, where they could be free once more. Through her actions, she befriended a Spirit of Valor who chose to help her.
Over time, Revanelan became more closely involved with the undercurrents of rebellion, separating herself from her own status in order to help those who needed her. She had traveled to the Shattered Library in search of assistance from the Librarians when the Veil manifested- an event she hadn’t known, occurring so suddenly that the only warning was from her incorporeal friend.
As she fled through the Eluvian with Valor, certain that she would be needed on the other side, the Fade and Thedas were separated, ending the elvhen woman’s life… but for the intervention of her dear friend, gathering Revanelan’s soul and binding them together.
As the years passed and the world recovered, Revanelan would return, unknowingly bound to Valor for eternity, their memories lost to the Fade…
Born to a young couple during the second meeting of the Clans in the Dragon Age, Revanelan Ilensul’s birth was heralded by a rather intense discussion of the subjugation of the City Elves, in which her father argued that the Dalish should pay heed, lest they eventually be subjected to further mistreatment by the humans. So precise was her timing that, as her father’s voice raised, her mother’s did as well and she emerged, crying as loudly as each. For this she was named Revanelan, or ‘she who fights for freedom’.
Although the clans left, her small family remained, making a home in the secluded valley so that Arlathvhen might return in a decade’s time to a safe place. As time passed, her parents taught her a great many things, as did the clans that passed through or nearby. Eager to learn, Revanelan caught onto most things quickly. By her 10th year, she was able to catch fish on her own, ride halla, and proved a worthy opponent in battle.
Shortly after her 10th birthday, as the third Arlathvhen of the Dragon Age commenced, Revanelan found herself spending most of her time sparring with a group of children around her age. During one such bout, an unforeseen strike managed to draw blood, and a sudden wave of anger took hold of her- a return attack that should have been a simple blow came harder, fueled by something more than Revan’s strength- magic.
The reaction from the clans was one of apprehension- certainly they were accustomed to displays of magic, but more often than not, they were clear in nature. A spark of flame or a sudden wave of cold, freezing anything nearby… Yet she showed no such abilities, the only evidence of any magic her initial blow and the absence of any wound where she had first been struck.
Revanelan remained with her family for six more years, at which point her parents finally agreed to allow her to explore the world outside their secluded valley. Although they were hesitant, when another clan passed through, Revan departed with them along with her family’s well wishes.
The skillset she had cultivated only grew with her travels, snippets of Orlesian and Fereldan she knew growing to full fluency, abilities honed through practice and execution with the other hunters. With these activities came an understanding of her abilities: the strength with which she was imbued in the midst of battle, allowing her to wield a sword with a single hand, bearing a shield on her other arm, and preventing the exhaustion that might have overwhelmed her from wearing heavier armors. Although the Keepers of the clans often attempted to find other magical abilities within her grasp, each failed, coming away with more confusion than they had before.
She traveled between clans often, following whomsoever she believed might lead her to the most interesting places where she could learn more. During her 20th year, as she neared Val Royeoux, Revan found herself drawn to the foreign city and its strange politics. While she had heard much of the plight of the elves within the countries, never before had she entered the human cities.
Following her first journey into Hilamshiral and witnessing the position in which the city elves have been forced, Revanelan begins to question the beliefs that had been instilled into her by the dalish clans with which she traveled- while they thought of the ’flat eats’ as nothing but lost, she couldn’t help seeing them as a source of hope. Although she did not originally remain, Revan made connections and continued to make journeys into the city, slowly learning more and more of the city elves’ plight…
Until Hilamshiral burned.
She wept for those she had known, those who had been murdered by their own empress, a woman who she saw as no better than her opponents for the throne.
Taking the name of one woman she had grown close with and bore some resemblance to, Revan - now Rasa - infiltrated the nobility under the pretense of being a servant, connecting with the rebellion in an effort to truly bring forth change in the Empire.
Her own agent, Revanelan has worked towards the betterment of the downtrodden and hurt, utilizing her unique skills to manipulate those she could, posing as an elvhen servant in numerous locations, working with the Elves of Hilamshiral, and even the Mage Rebellion in the hopes of forging a better world…
When the Conclave was announced, a chance to give freedom to the mages, a meeting with numerous people of power… Who would possibly forgo such an opportunity?
but perhaps she should have.
An adamantly agnostic woman, Revanelan refused the title ‘Herald of Andraste’; although many assumed it was her Dalish origins, the truth was that she merely didn’t believe as those who hailed her as such did. Even apparent miracles would not change her mind- whatever had happened was more than the interference of some being greater than her… and even if she did believe, it wasn’t something she wished to dwell on.
Because the mark is increasingly obvious over time, Revan often wears gloves in an effort to remain at least somewhat anonymous and unknown as the ‘Herald’.
When Revan, Cassandra, and a few others arrived at Val Royeaux to find the group of Templars abandoning the people and claiming their reasons for the greater good, she found herself unsurprised- far too heavy a past with the Order, the idea of requesting their assistance had been entertained a mere moment before being dismissed. The Grand Enchanter’s appearance was too coincidental, yet Revan found herself inclined to return to the Hinterlands; to help those who she knew had been kept apart for so long.
Taking the name of one woman she had grown close with and bore some resemblance to, Revan - now Rasa - infiltrated the nobility under the pretense of being a servant, connecting with the rebellion in an effort to truly bring forth change in the Empire.
When given the title of Inquisitor in Skyhold, Revanelan declared that she would stand as an example, an elf fighting for the fate of all.
Despite her ability to play the various members of the court, returning to battle was a relief for Revanelan- it was far easier to strike at someone with a sword than with their exact weaknesses, examined and compiled over time. Despite the consequences, when the bridge collapsed under the psuedo-archdemon’s weight, Revan opened a rift and transported herself, the Grey Warden, and Hawke into the Fade…
When she emerged, it was with Hawke, alone, to declare that the Grey Wardens would remain under the Inquisition’s watchful eye rather than be turned loose to do as they pleased.
The Winter Palace was the first place Revanelan felt she could finally utilize her lesser known skills for the Inquisition, carefully moving about to discover the secrets of the nobles all the while playing to the court’s approval. Although it was difficult to manage both, she found herself ending the evening with the death of the Empress, the defeat of the Grand Duchess, and an agreement between Grand Duke Gaspard and Ambassador Briala - the fighting would end and, together, they would maintain peace.
While Samson and his soldiers charged through towards their goal with the grace of an elephant, Revanelan honored her heritage and the far too familiar temple’s customs before making her way to the Petitioner’s Chamber. Here, she pleaded with the Guardians of the Temple to allow her assistance in stopping the Red Templars, adamant that they would leave without disturbing the Well… only to have Morrigan pursue Abelas, abandoning the Inquisitor and her companions to the battle.
When finally the battle was over and they reached the pair once more, Revanelan was hesitant to have anyone drink- while the reasoning was sound that Corypheus would surely return, it seemed wrong to rid the world of something so rich in history. If it had to end, Revanelan chose to have the will of the Well pass onto one of elvhen heritage rather than Morrigan, drinking from it herself.
The years passed slowly for the Inquisitor- although her goal had been reached, Corypheus slain, the Inquisition remained, a force to be reckoned with as they fought the smaller remaining threats to peace. More and more memories made their way back to her, snippets that made no sense without context, simply another part of her altered life…
Of course the nations would see the Inquisition as a problem- unchecked, they might become a power the likes of which they had never known… The thought might have made Revanelan laugh if it hadn’t been for the bureaucracy Orlais and Ferelden forced upon her. She could speak the words they wished to hear, but such things took effort and time. It was bureaucracy better left to her advisors… until the countries called the Exalted Council two years later.
In spite of everything, she thought it would go smoothly- deal with the leaders, concede to some of their demands, make a few of her own… if only the qunari hadn’t turned up dead.
Yet it was for the better that it had; lives saved, information found… And an eluvian activated.
She knew what lay beyond- the Crossroads, not quite the Fade, but nonetheless painful as the visions and thoughts fought for precedence in her mind… Still, she entered; warded off the intrusions in an effort to find answers and, once again, save the people of Thedas.
Yet things became complicated- she traveled through the mountainous Elvhen Ruins where everything sang too familiar, destroyed the Qunari operation within the Deep Roads, and found herself in the Shattered Library…
The memories were too strong for her to withstand, here- connections formed as she journeyed throughout, bits and pieces finally coming together, forming a cohesive network of familiarity and, soon, leading to Revanelan’s original body…
When, finally, she found Solas, Revanelan knew everything. The pain in both her arm and mind continued, and so she numbed herself- found the elf and learned his intentions, unmoved by each of his minor revelations, reacting only to the magical destruction of her body…
Until he was gone, and she was free to break completely. Nothing would be the same… Nothing could be the same.
POST TRESPASSER
Life after the Exalted Council, much like life after the Conclave, could not be the same for Revanelan. She had lost an arm; a comrade; her entire sense of self. Uncertainty and anguish waged war within her thoughts, but she hides it well- tells few, if anyone, the truth of her existence… She spends more time on the past than she should, searching for connections that might explain some of the memories that had made their way back from former lives after the Veil, as well as on her first… Searching for a way to persuade Solas to stop.
CLASS: Arcane Warrior / Spirit Warrior
ABILITIES: Payback Strike, Bear Mauls the Wolves, Warrior’s Resolve, Shield Bash, Turn the Blade // Combat Magic, Aura of Might, Shimmering Shield // Beyond the Veil, Soul Brand, Blessing of the Fade
When the cursed blight was unleashed upon southern thedas, Revanelan took on another leadership role, this time in a truly dire end-of-days situation.
Fighter - Eldritch Knight
Born under many names in the past, they are known now as Revanelan Ilensul, a young wood elf with more history than even she knew.
they became host in eras long past to a fatally injured nature spirit, and Revan's soul entwined with it thereafter, allowing them to be reborn throughout the ages. memories and knowledge begin to seep in over time, and as they become more powerful, so too do her past lives’ influence.