Raneer Valikreen

## Summary

Raneer is a rather tall muscular elf with long black hair tied up in intricate ponytails woven in such a way as to resemble thorns. He wears practical clothing although it is intricately woven by his people and as such has a lot of subtle artistry, mainly of thorns and death. He carries an elven axe which is of strange design compared to most axes, intended to be used as both a defensive and offensive weapon. He has ritualistic scars all across his body and face as part of his rite of passage to become a thornstinger. He also wears an amulet of Ikandruss stylised with thorns but he has quickly learned to keep that hidden on the Coast.

## The Coast Arc

Raneer arrived on the coast confused and exhausted from his long journey leading his tribe from the Enchanted Forest. Eager to find a home for the displaced people under his protection he agreed to Nathrian Vermault's deal, unsure of how much he was truly paying. He was signed up to work for the Hoard to pay back his debt and there he met Vance, his first true friend in the city.

Vance guided Raneer through the ways of city life as they jointly rescued Golden Iris (Sekrimor) in their raid of the Pomegranate Palaces. Golden Iris was greatful to the pair of them and Raneer greatly respected him, his powers, and his wisdom. The next mission Raneer performed for the Hoard involved rescuing a kidnapped woman from the clutches of serpents. It was here that he met other members of the party such as Lideen, Varan, and Tar'Djin.

Still learning the ways of the city and becoming frustrated with his tribe's inability to integrate into coastal life Raneer went on another mission with just Vance where they were faced with aspects of Thureen. Uninterested in his god's philosophical musings, Raneer was initially shocked at how a powerful mage could toy with him and Vance so easily. However, in the end he began to accept the god's messages and finally returned to his tribe to find many of them had been changed by Thureen. It was in this mission that Raneer gained the ability to steal the faces of those he killed, a skill he would use in the future.

On the next mission Raneer met the Cunt Gang, Will, and Vrak'si, with whom he was not impressed. They infiltrated the Black Moon Company and slaughtered many fey who were shocked at Raneer's supposed betrayal. Raneer was not overly concerned, happy to slaughter elves as he had grown up doing. However, as they moved through the company Raneer began to wonder more and more as to what plan he was actually interrupting and what it meant for the elves. In the final battle he fought Laucian Moonwhisper who truly made him wonder about the consequences of his actions despite his apparent nonchalance. Replying to Laucian's question about what was causing him to do this with: "Poor financial decisions."

When Oberon, the leader of the Black Moon Company escaped into the Elemental Plane of Fire, Raneer and the rest of the party followed while Laucian escaped. Raneer remembered little of what happened in the Elemental Plane of Fire, there was some sort of message about trusting his friends to help find his mother, and he acquired Oberon's face at the end. Still unsure about what was going on with Oberon, Raneer used his face to investigate, contacting Laucian Moonwhisper once more who told him his mother would find him at the next full moon.

## The Conspiracy Arc

Teaming up with Vance and Tar'Djin to investigate an invitation sent to Vance by an old enemy the three of them were lured into a trap where a mindflayer ambushed them with the enslaved bodies of Vance's old friends, including Golden Iris. Raneer and Tar'Djin were almost slaughtered but Vance managed to hold off their opponents only to reveal that his brain was already overtaken as he teleported away and Raneer and Tar'Djin narrowly escaped the crumbling building.

As they buried the bodies of Vance's friends they discussed their differing and in some ways, similar, views on the world. They took up an investigation into the 6-faced man whom they suspected was responsible for Vance's death. This investigation led them to the Lost Pantheon, a collection of gods from the Far Realm which even the other gods know little about.