Val

**Val** is an Osaran with dark skin and long straight black hair tied back in a ponytail. About Rain's age, he is impulsive, hot-headed, and loves to fight. While Val is pretty competent in fighting (both monsters and in duels), "pulling a Val" has become proverbial among his friends, meaning "doing stuff you'd need stuntmen for" or "being in fights above your capabilities".

## History

He was born in Aduara, but was brought out of the "Eastern provinces" when he was still a child - probably not even ten years old back then. Val trained since he was four for becoming a Light Mage like his father.

While Val was brought to safety, Potentate Fecht got hold of Val's father and enslaved him, turning him into Lightbreaker. Val says that the man who had raised him has become as dead as his mother, only his body still moves.

Val was issued his bronze-plate (302-12221) in Ellum, a long way from Fel Sadanis where he later wound up to adventure.

Val met Rain when the latter rescued him in the sewers from a Mucus King. Later, Jamus befriended Val and brought him to Tallheart's hideout, where the whole group plus Ameliah and Carten planned to raid the newly discovered dark-aspect lair that they suspected was in a certain mine. There, Val defeated an Essence Monster in solo combat, finally unlocking the special class "Contender of Light" that he had wanted to take for years already. This special class created three new Skill trees for him with his six previously selected skills being put into them: Daybreak, Midlight and Nightfall.

Val then selected the new skill *Transparency* that let him become invisible, using it for various exploits, including spying on people and turning in bounties with the Watch and sneaking into The Fells, attempting to solo another essence monster but falling prey to a Level 8 snake that had sensed him despite *Transparency*. Citizen Sadanis was furious about this, but as he ultimately didn't disturb her plans, Val was spared grievous punishment. Val was imprisoned in the Citizen's mansion, but escaped with help from Rain.

During the Shift, Val saved several people's life, among them Vanna, who hooked up with him afterwards. Val also took huge risks trying to harm a Razorspine Dissolver, which earned him facial acid-scars.

### Ascension

Val was one of the founding members of Ascension.

He has since continued to be an asset to Ascension, and has not pulled any more truly suicidal stunts within the company. He is making use of his *Transparency* skill extensively, and is often engaged in security, surveillance or reconnaissance missions inside and outside the company. Despite his close friendships with the leading members of Ascension, he only shared his most secure secret (the class knowledge inherited from his father) after the evacuation of Vestvall.

## Build

He is capped at Level 8, and thus may have nine skills. The following seven have been revealed within the story; he likely has 12 ranks in each of them, because of his specialization.

* *Solar Ray* (laser beam from hand, originally from "Beams", now likely "Midlight")
* *Lunar Orb* (light source, multiple uses because of intimate connection to the user. May be used as beacon or will-o-wisp illusion. Likely now in the Nightfall tree.)
* *Hard Light* (force shield made of light)
* *Luminous Concentration*
* *Beloved of the Sun*
* *Last Light*
* *Transparency* (becoming invisible)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chapter 103
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 72
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Chapter 46
4. ↑ Chapter 88
5. ↑ Chapter 98
6. ↑ Chapter 100
7. ↑ Chapter 104
8. ↑ Chapter 102
9. ↑ Chapter 113
10. ↑ Chapters 131, 172, 184
11. ↑ Chapter 173

Val had Point of View paragraphs as early as in chapters #29 and #38. Chapter #46 was entirely dedicated to his PoV, which made him the second character after Jamus to be given that attention. Val later also provided PoV paragraphs in #72, #81, #103, #184 and #190. (Full list of chapters includes PoV breakdowns)