Grare

*You are right here in your story. Don't skip ahead.*
Massie Burnson, *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*, p. 32
**WARNING: SPOILERS FOR *THE ARCHER'S CUP* ARE AHEAD; CAUTION IS ADVISED.**

**G****rare**, more commonly known by the nickname **Slimmo**, is a chef at Blackstone Citadel. After his lover Elisabeth chose Ronan over him, Grare adopted the alias of **Bane Graveheart** and set out to wreak his revenge on Ronan.

## Biography

### Early life

Grare grew up near Black Lake, part of a community that had been established there many years earlier. One of his playmates was his cousin Gort, who often joined him in exploring the region. The pair uncovered a number of caverns and tunnels as they grew older, particularly as Gort grew bulky in comparison to Grare, who came to be known as Slimmo based on his own skinny frame. At one point, the pair got lost, but uncovered an underground stream that saved them from perishing of thirst.

As Slimmo grew older, he fell deeply in love with Elisabeth, a beautiful young doe. Aside from Gort, she was the only one whom he showed his most secret cavern, where he painted a loving portrait of her. Being an admirer of Fleck Blackstar, Slimmo named this cavern in honor of Warren Fortress. Elisabeth, reciprocating Slimmo's affections, made him a beautiful apron that he wore in his profession as a chef.

Ultimately, however, Elisabeth-whom Slimmo fondly called Beth-chose to marry Ronan, who came to serve as citadel lord some time after Blackstone Citadel was established. Slimmo was heartbroken, and came to hate both Elisabeth and Ronan. Despite Elisabeth's choice, however, he still longed to be with her, and this developed into a burning obsession. He continued to wear the apron she had made for him, though Elisabeth ceased to visit Blackstone mess hall, with her family instead being attended by Jervie, one of Slimmo's former pupils.

Using his knowledge of the tunnel networks, Slimmo defied Ronan's orders regarding who was allowed to leave the citadel and where they were allowed to go. In time, he also infiltrated areas of the citadel normally inaccessible to anyone but a Keymaster. This enabled him to carry on a campaign of terror, in which he sought to force Ronan to flee Blackstone in disgrace. Inspired by his youthful etchings of “B+G=♥”, which had once symbolized his and Elisabeth's young love, Slimmo adopted a chilling alias: Bane Graveheart.

### *The Archer's Cup*

When Heyna Blackstar, Jo Shanks, and Lokson and Lokson's army arrivde in the mess hall in Blackstone Citadel, Slimmo came out of the kitchen to meet them. He was particularly pleased to meet Jo, being a follower of archery competitions. After Slimmo made himself laugh with a joke, Jo recognized his relation to Gort, who had left Black Lake for Cloud Mountain years before. Slimmo served the group breakfast, and later assisted a tired Jo, at Jo's request, by making him blackroot tea.

Sneaking behind Blackstone's water gate, Slimmo planted what appeared to be a barrel of blastpowder, lighting the fuse before retreating. He informed the Lord's Council of this via the latest in a series of threatening letters to Ronan, which he signed using his Bane Graveheart name. The fuse was extinguished before it reached the barrel, and Blackstone Hospital Matron Breelia Wilder was arrested on suspicion of being Bane Graveheart. After Jo tripped and made a mess of himself in the mess hall, Slimmo helped him get cleaned up.

He soon recognized that Jo was smitten with Amber Hewson, and encouraged him to pursue his feelings. The two discussed Slimmo's own past love, but Slimmo didn't bring up Elisabeth's name. Jo also spotted Slimmo's wet clothes from his earlier subterfuge, but Slimmo brushed it off as a result of working in a hot kitchen. After the two talked over more blackroot tea, Slimmo directed Jo to the Blackstone common in search of Amber.

Taking matters into his own hands, Slimmo arranged a private meal for Jo and Amber, serving them himself. However, his encouragement and their growing chemistry hit a roadblock, as Amber was secretly engaged to Lokson. Sworn to secrecy by her, Jo was unable to inform Slimmo of this. Slimmo, nursing his own twisted desires, encouraged Jo not to give up on his feelings for Amber, no matter the cost.

When Matron Wilder escaped, Slimmo was present in the mess hall as searchers assembled. He inquired about the absence of Lord Ronan, and was among the many stunned when Lady Elisabeth entered the hall, addressing him by name and affirming her love for her husband. Dazed, he soon responded to Lead Captain Truff's orders to have food and water prepared for the searchers. Slimmo then surprised Jo by offering to guide his party as they searched outside the citadel.

Slimmo led the group, which included Cole Blackstar and a couple of Jo's old comrades from Halfwind Citadel, through the nearby woods to Black Lake. Along the way, Slimmo shared his suspicions as to how the matron escaped and where she was heading. They found her boat gone, but then fled as a group of wolves appeared. After saving Jo from falling off a ledge, the group made their way into Slimmo's Warren Fortress, which then served as his lair in harvesting blackroot and other schemes.

As the party discussed the cave and their failed mission, Jo came to suspect that Breelia Wilder was Slimmo's former love. After sharing some of his history and blackroot tea with the younger bucks, Slimmo gave Jo a tour. With their pursuit frustrated, the group returned to Blackstone. The next day, Slimmo wished Jo luck in the Ultimate Archer's Cup, and expressed his own intent to achieve his goal of love. Thinking he was going after Breelia, Jo wished him luck.

However, Slimmo instead sedated Truff and locked him in his hidden pantry, before secreting pepper-filled barrels meant to be mistaken for blastpowder around the citadel. He then infiltrated the Lord's Quadrant, and used darts to sedate several rabbits. Having been alerted to Bane Graveheart's continued presence by another of his letters, Jo pieced together the puzzle. He arrives\d in the midst of Slimmo's attempt to murder Ronan and carry off Elizabeth.

As Slimmo tried to disable him with darts, Jo pled with the cook to abandon his wicked purpose. Filled with years of self-justification, Slimmo refused, and was only stopped from killing Ronan when Jo managed to snag his apron with a bow shot. Jo was able to tackle the hampered Slimmo, and other bucks arrived to help subdue him. Frustrated and, at last, seeing the wrongness of what he intended, Slimmo confessed all his actions and plans.

He was escorted to a cell, where he wrote an apologetic letter to Ronan and left his apron when Jon arrived to collect him. Believing himself worthy of death, Slimmo was surprised to learn that he would instead accompany a party led by Lokson to Halfwind. As part of his penance, he would serve as their chef. Slimmo then parted ways with Jo with an embrace from the younger rabbit, who expressed hope for Slimmo's redemption.

## Physical appearance

Grare is described as being 'tall' and 'rail-thin.' He used to wear a colorful apron, made by Elisabeth, which was decorated with faded, hand-sewn flowers of many colors and types; this he abandoned after relinquishing his feelings for Elisabeth. He takes very short strides, and makes a honking noise when he laughs.

## Personality and traits

On the surface, Grare was friendly and welcoming towards everyone, being a bit of a jokester. Underneath his easygoing facade, however, he was bitter and vengeful. Even when he had plans to kill Ronan and take back his lost love Elisabeth, Grare still had a good heart and genuinely cared about his friends and patrons. Like his cousin Gort, he loves his food being praised.

Grare was initially unwilling to kill Ronan, being content with the idea of driving him away. He expressed embarrassment at the idea of telling Cole that his cave was named for his ancestor's stronghold. He expressed great admiration for the Blackstar family, having met Victor Blackstar on several previous occasions. For all his evil actions and his evil obsession, Slimmo expressed love for the Cause. Grare also affirmed that, were the Mending to come, he and the other locals would choose to remain at Black Lake, making it part of the Mended Wood.

Grare took an early liking to Jo Shanks, and willingly showed Jo his secret pantry. He also explained the restrictions against obtaining blackroot and leaving the warren at the present time. He expressed his dislike of these rules, and those who made them, after expressing great respect for Lokson; this seemed to reflect a love for the late Lord Lokken. Slimmo was also on the habit of catering dinners for Lokson and his followers and guests.

## Relationships

### Elisabeth

Grare and Elisabeth used to be romantically involved, at least until she gave him up for Ronan. While she no longer loved him the way she evidently had before, Grare never stopped desiring her, becoming infatuated over her to the point of being willing to kill Ronan to have her. Elisabeth, for her part, had cool feelings toward him ever since she married Ronan, most likely keeping a comfortable distance from him, as he resented her husband Ronan.

### Ronan

Grare harbored a fierce contempt for Ronan ever since he married Grare's love, Elisabeth. Grare's hatred of Ronan was so severe that he was willing to kill the lord if it meant he could have Elisabeth back. However, eventually Grare was made to see the wrongness of his actions, and he let go of his feelings for Elisabeth and his animosity towards Ronan. During his brief imprisonment at Blackstone, Grare wrote Ronan a letter of apology.

### Gort

Gort was Grare's cousin, and the two often played together during their youth at Blackstone Citadel. At some point, the two young bucks discovered a series of caves near Black Lake that Grare would later name after Kingston's Warren Fortress. As Gort grew older and plumper, they had to find alternate routes of entering the labyrinth, which led to their discovery of just how deep the caves went. Grare and Gort got lost in the caves for a short period of time at one point.

### Jo Shanks

Grare took an especial liking to Jo Shanks upon their first meeting when the latter came to Blackstone. The two bucks grew closer in friendship over the next few days, with Jo confiding in Grare his feelings for Amber Hewson and Grare giving the younger buck advice on love. Jo was forced to turn on Grare once he learned of the cook's identity as Bane Graveheart, a fact which anguished Grare, as he admitted he thought Jo would have understood his desperation to be with Elisabeth. Even after Grare was subdued and imprisoned, Jo took pity on him and was kind and respectful towards him. Grare and Jo parted on good terms, with their last exchange showing Jo expressing hope for Grare's redemption.