Renier

Enzo (Brother)

Rhaegan, Aleksey, and Reicher (Half-Brothers)

Polaris (Half-Sister)

Rowan (Uncle)

## Application Sheet

Renier was a tall, dark, handsome brown male with flame colored eyes, born to Hexa and Spade (NPC) outside of the Domain, alongside a brother, Enzo. After living as a loner, overthrew Faust and took over Vale as its King. Mate to Wren, father to Shenandoah, *he* was overthrown by Alar, who used trickery to make him think Shen was dead, and he left the pack as a result, never to be seen again. Between Ren and Alar was a troubling period in Vale's history known as the Dark Ages. He was created and RP'd by Tazihound.

His younger half-siblings were Aleksey, Reicher, Rhaegan, and Polaris.

## Personality

* ***Adaptable and Cultured**.* Because he’s spent the majority of his life wandering, Ren has learned how to survive by utilizing instinct and bending himself to become a versatile wolf. He has numerous skill-sets that he's acquired over the years by studying others and observing life. He has a delicate sensibility and can easily perceive others' emotions. In this way he is not easily fooled, but also makes him extremely sensitive.
* ***Adventurous.*** The brute has a taste for solitary life, enchanted by the idea of freedom. He’s constantly on the move and bores easily of routine life, pitying those who feel bound by pack life. He has a habit of changing location every few days simply to entertain himself.
* ***Blunt.*** He doesn’t hold back what’s on his mind, no matter how distasteful the comment. He'll let you know his opinion even if you don't ask for it.
* ***Cunning.*** Like his mother before him, Renier is a schemer. He is highly intelligent and will manipulate others to suit his needs when necessary, though will likely turn to brute force in such a situation. He has very few morals and rather enjoys the life of a con. When he wants something Renier will make strategic moves to get it; nothing will stand in his way.
* ***Egocentric.*** Ren’s foremost concern and focus is himself. He can be obnoxiously full of himself and puts his needs before all others. This is not to say he doesn't care for others, just that he believes no one is "higher" than himself. This likely stems from a long history of having to defend for himself.
* ***Hedonistic and Coy.*** Ren is a notorious flirt and takes pleasure in courting. He views it as more of a hobby to toy with them, an indulgent way to pass the time, than a commitment. He's never had a deep relationship as he bores easily. He's rather shallow, pulling always toward a pretty face rather than a soul that could challenge him.
* ***Frivolous and Charming.*** When he’s in the right mood Ren can be quite the conversationalist. He's a sarcastic wolf who can find humor in just about any situation. He scorns those who take themselves too seriously.
* ***Pedantic.*** At his core he is perfectionist. He is his own worst critic, but won't let others see this obsessive side.
* ***Hostile and Tortured.*** Although he maintains a controlled outward appearance, Renier can succumb to his violent instincts based on his past. He has learned to tame his inherited anger but it constantly burns a hole in him that makes him rather irritable at times. He is an unmatched and fearsome opponent, having been raised to defend himself since he was a mere pup.

## Pre-Group History

Lending to his personality today, Ren was born into a web of deceit. His mother, Hexa, had seduced the Bane pack’s alpha, Spade, into mating with her in a play to rise to the top as the female alpha. In her success, a litter was born, among them a pup who was a spitting image of his father, but was born of his mother's being. Having inherited Hexa's relentless aggression and wild antics, Ren quickly overpowered his siblings, all too eager to dominate them. This pleased his mother, who’s only measure of love was how powerful a wolf was. Spade, however, feared the pup he had spawned was dangerously strong and hostile. He attempted to calm the pup by paying him extra care, but his efforts were futile. Ren was his mother’s child. Spade eventually gave up on the pup, leaving him to his mate’s questionable parenting.

With Hexa as his commander Ren grew up a confident and cunning individual. She trained him as if he were a member of the militia, to observe and act on instinct. The lessons with Hexa were violent, exposing Ren to fragility of life at such a young age. He recognized his mother's bloodlust, and could feel her own strength running through his veins. He too yearned to kill, and Hexa taught him everything he needed to know. He started on simple prey, rabbits or vermin. By the time Ren was a juvenile he was assisting on pack hunts, bringing down larger game such a deer, elk, and moose. His strength and agility proved to be an asset to the Banes, which pleased his mother. Hexa had Ren promoted to Beta, tasked with keeping the wolves within their rank. He became the reaper of brutality, and the other wolves learned to fear him. He was charged with dealing out punishments; no matter how severe. He was proud of his rank at first but yearned for the freedom he once had when he was young. As a beta his responsibilities were constant. He had become Hexa's smooth-talking, killing machine.

He grew to be exceedingly powerful with all the graces of a diplomat, but couldn't help feeling different from the Banes. They were a serious clan, hellbent on destruction and always undermining each other to get to the top. The pecking order was brutal, and no wolf was safe within the pack while he was around. Ren began to resent Hexa’s intense instruction, finding it unnecessary. He hated the way the other wolves feared him. He felt trapped within the pack's bounds as a Beta.

Though not all of the Banes viewed Ren with fear. One wolf in particular, a smaller, beautiful female named Melanie, grew close to Ren. In her eyes, Ren was misunderstood. She saw what the others couldn't; his sensitivity, courage, and affection. She knew no matter how he was forced to act that he was truly good. Ren felt alive when he was with her, he had never met a wolf so true. She was his pure, perfect love. He never wished to be parted from her. But being a Beta of the Banes, he was not permitted to be with Melanie, who was too small to be considered of much use to the severe Bane culture. Ren knew Hexa would condemn them. So, they hid their love, only meeting in secrecy.

Overtime, however, Melanie and Ren lost discretion. They were followed by a pack member who reported her findings to Hexa. Enraged, Hexa developed a plan to send Ren away on an extended hunting trip for the pack, knowing Melanie would then be left unprotected by him. But Melanie herself had a secret. She was pregnant with Ren's litter. Though she was sad to see him go, she knew by the time he returned she would have his pups, and they could unite as a family. Hexa would *have* to accept them, wouldn't she? Ren went off on the hunting trip with a small party from the pack, bring home a hefty bounty for the Banes. On their return, however, Spade informed his son of Melanie's passing. He told Ren that Melanie had become ill and died peacefully. Ren felt that he had died with her.

He took up and left Bane wolves. He drifted from pack to pack, each time taking on a new personality, but never finding a place he belonged.

## Group History

Renier ended up on the outskirts of Valerian territory. He would meet a lone Valerian she-wolf by the name of Wren. Renier attacked Wren, hoping that she would spread word of his presence (and the danger he posed) to her packmates. They met under different circumstances a short time later - with Renier actually *saving* Wren from a cougar. He escorted her safely back to the vicinity of her packmates, and the two left on somewhat-better terms (with Ren amused that she bore *his* name). He coerced her to spend more time with him, and found himself enraptured by her.

Spending so much time near Vale's borders, Renier was eventually found out. Faust, Vale's alpha, found the dark loner skulking around the borders and attacked him. Pinning Renier to the ground (catching him off-guard and defeating him in battle), he vowed to kill Ren if he trespassed again. Renier was unperturbed by the threats. He would continue to see Wren, and eventually, they made their union official, becoming mates. She didn't want to betray Vale - those wolves were her friends, practically *family* - but she loved Ren. He assured her they would make it work, and began silently plotting a way that Wren could have both him and her pack: he would become the alpha.

Still, he would take a bit of time to leave Vale. He'd heard rumors of his mother being in the Domain, and sought her out. He didn't find her, instead finding his brother Enzo. Enzo told him that Hexa was dead, and had birthed a litter of pups before her demise. Renier wanted to find them, though for what purpose (to train or to execute them, it remained to be seen) nobody knows.

After briefly crossing paths with Athena (who he called "Blue"), he got some hints to where one of his brothers, Rhaegan, could be. While searching for Rhaegan, Renier crossed paths with Hekate and Stallion. Hekate, impressed by the dark stranger's manners, offered him her soldiers should he need them - and Ren was all too willing to consider it.

Eventually, he found his brother, who was a young adult by this point. Rhae was disinterested in having another brother - he had a mission of his own. Renier wanted an ally, however, and when he heard that Rhaegan wanted to exact revenge on Stallion, former Alpha of Blutwald, Renier saw an opportunity in this - he *knew* where Stallion was. He guaranteed Rhaegan the whereabouts of his enemy, in exchange for his allegiance. Rhaegan, single-minded in his pursuit of revenge, agreed.

He and Rhaegan arranged a meeting with Hekate to discuss the downfall of Vale. He instructed Rhaegan to keep his cool until the time was right, for Stallion, in this moment, was considered an ally. Renier met with Hekate, Stallion, Lykos, Andras, and Veron: the Vektreni assassins. They agreed to a plan, to kidnap a Valerian in order to keep Faust quiet.

The plan was put into action, aided by events beyond even Renier's control - Wren informing Faust that she was pregnant with his pups, for he had taken advantage of her (a lie). Faust would be enraged, and choose to lead a patrol to track down and kill Renier. Faust took Loki, Quinn, and Starke with him, playing right into Renier's plans.

While the party were searching for Renier, and a rabid bear was being tracked by another large group of Valerians, it was easy for Andras to steal Nyru as a captive. The Renier, Rhaegan, and the Vektreni slipped into the territory to track Faust, but were caught off-guard by the Valerians in his patrol. The two parties clashed, and while they did so, Renier broke away to face Faust alone.

At the edge of a cliff, Renier and Faust faced off, but Ren had the upper hand, as Andras trotted out of the trees, with his captive, Nyru. Renier told him that his pack would be unharmed, if he surrendered to Ren's fangs. If Faust struggled, Renier would allow Andras to kill Nyru - and then other members of the pack, one by one. Faust couldn't see a way out...and then Wren appeared.

Wren pleaded with Renier to stop the madness, threatening to throw *herself* from the cliff, but Andras grabbed her, and Ren finished what he'd started. Still, his hesitation when Wren appeared showed Andras his *weakness*, one he would bear in mind. Renier sank his fangs into Faust's throat and cast him from the cliff, before traveling to the heart of Vale and announcing that he was the new King, and would usher in a period of freedom and prosperity.

He welcomed Rhaegan into the pack (though he had attacked Stallion, which wasn't part of the plan), and went to see Wren: his Queen.

But Wren wanted *nothing* to do with him. He tried to give her time to grieve, but she didn't even seem to be *trying* to see things from his perspective! Renier told her that he'd given her everything she'd wanted - her mate and her pack! He wanted them to start living their life together, in bliss, with the pups she was carrying. But Wren hated him for killing Faust, hating herself for letting Renier steal her heart and lead her down this treacherous path. She would learn more about Renier's past as he lashed out verbally in his frustration - but he never harmed her. Or the pups growing within.

Wren left the densite when she felt the first pangs of labor, trying to get away to let herself die, but Renier tracked her down. He tried to help her through the difficult labor, offering comfort and words of love, but his heart broke as she delivered three stillborn children. *He had nothing left.* No children, no mate, nothing. He wanted to die...until a sound came from the fourth pup. *She had survived.*

Renier was ever so soft as he introduced himself as her daddy, and asked Wren what their daughter's name would be. Wren named her Shenandoah, feeling a mother's love and the determination to live, for her, now that Shen was here. For a moment - just a moment - she could picture their blissful family life. But then she looked at Ren, and remembered...she promised, silently, to keep Shenandoah from her father's murderous influence.

As Shenandoah grew, Wren did her best to keep Renier out of her life. Renier grew more hostile towards Wren for keeping his daughter away from him, but when he saw how frightened Shenandoah would become during their fights, he would remove himself from the situation. He *tried* to make amends with Wren, but was frustrated she wouldn't even give him a chance to show he would be a good leader, a good mate, a good *father.*

Under Wren's careful supervision, Renier was permitted to play with, talk to, and explore with Shenandoah. He would even show her how to fight, making it a game. He adored Shen, and Shen adored her father in return, who was full of so much more light and life than her mother. It was no wonder she gravitated towards him. He gave her stability and happiness, and she gave that to Renier in return. He didn't care for the pack, and despite his best efforts, Wren wanted nothing to do with him. *Shenandoah* was all he had, and he treasured her.

Other wolves were plotting, though: minds as devious as Renier's. Alar used his connection to the Princess to lure her out of her mother's den at night, and into the darkness. Wren would awaken and realize that she was not in the den, and Renier summoned the Black Watch and Alar to search for Shenandoah. As a blizzard raged, Shen and Raban had taken shelter.

The Valerians searched everywhere for their lost princess, but were unable to find her in the storm and cold. Wren and Renier realized that the conditions were too horrific for a pup as young as Shenandoah to survive as long as this. They realized Shenandoah had to be dead.
Wren knew that Renier would not return to Vale after that. He had nothing left there, and would move on, unwilling to be surrounded by the ghosts of Shenandoah and Wren herself. Renier departed the Domain, after determining his daughter was dead, and has never been seen again.

A wolf could only take so much loss. Nobody knows where he went, but he left the Domain forever.

## Trivia

* Renier was not interested in having the power of Kingship - his motivations for 'killing' Faust and taking over Vale was so that he and Wren could build a life together. He rationalized the death of Faust as necessary to achieve this goal and could not *understand* why Wren wasn't willing to see things his way.

## Quote

* "A fire cannot burn forever, Wren. Eventually it consumes itself...[but] fires are essential to the natural regeneration of a forest. Not everything that gives the impression of evil is damaging." (to Wren, *Fire*)
* “Vale is entering a new age. It will be one of prosperity. Those loyal to their King will reap the benefits I have to bestow. Food, shelter, protection and *freedom*. I will not chain you to your tasks as your alpha before you. Gone are the limitations of the pack’s boundaries. Let it be known that, under my rule, Vale will thrive. However, heed my advisory. Those who resist me will face a most mortifying fate.” (announcing his reign to the Valerians, *Vale Plot Finale*)

## External Links

* Official Application Sheet
* Tazihound's deviantART Gallery