Henry Ravenshade

**Henry Ravenshade**
***20.Feb.609 SC**-**10.Nov.631 SC***

**Place of birth:**Ebonvale

**Henry Ravenshade** occupies a tragic place in Tormentian history. Born amidst high societal expectations as one of the heirs to the Ravenshade legacy, he was thrust into a life of nobility and duty. His life, rich with the promise of leadership and prosperity, was cut short on the battlefield during a conflict with the Valoria. Consumed by grief, his mother engaged in the Ritual of Malicious Desires, seeking to undo the finality of death. The ritual, however, twisted her intent, resurrecting Henry not as the man he was but as the first cadaver—a mindless, reanimated creature with an insatiable hunger for mortal flesh. His transformation marked the dawn of the cadaver plague.

## Biography

### Childhood

Born on **20th of February 609 SC** Henry never knew his father, who perished to a voltquake prior to his birth. Henry's arrival was a bittersweet moment for his mother, offering a fragment of solace in the wake of her devastating loss. Growing up in the shadow of his father's absence, Henry became the singular focus of his mother's life—her joy, her pride, and the anchor that tethered her to hope after grief had threatened to unravel her.

In the sprawling estate of the Ravenshade family, Henry was raised with the utmost care and affection. He was a bright child, quick to laugh and eager to learn, traits that endeared him to all who knew him. His mother ensured he received the finest education and training befitting his noble status. Every milestone, from his first steps to his academic achievements, was celebrated as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Ravenshade name.

The warmth and devotion with which Seraphina raised Henry could not fill the void left by Benedict, but it forged a powerful bond between mother and son. Henry grew to understand the depth of his mother's love and the magnitude of the sacrifice she had made to give him life in the face of tragedy. Despite the absence of a father figure, the Ravenshade household was one filled with love, and Henry's childhood was as joyful as Seraphina could make it in the face of their shared loss.

### Youth

As Henry transitioned from childhood into his teenage years, the absence of his father became a shaping force in his development. His youth was characterized by a determination to embody the Ravenshade name with honor, though this drive was occasionally marred by an impetuous nature and a propensity for rebelliousness. Henry's desire to prove himself often led him to act without fully considering the consequences, resulting in a series of well-intentioned but rash decisions.

Despite his noble upbringing, Henry struggled with a deep-seated restlessness and a tendency towards arrogance, which often put him at odds with his tutors and peers. He yearned for a sense of purpose and found solace in the tales of bravery and heroism that filled the annals of history. These stories ignited in him a burning ambition to leave his own mark on the world, which sometimes manifested in a competitive streak that could alienate those around him.

Seraphina watched her son's growth with a mix of pride and concern, knowing the challenges that lay ahead for a young man of his temperament. She attempted to temper his flaws with gentle guidance, instilling in him the virtues of patience and humility, though not always successfully. Despite this, Henry's innate charm and vivacity ensured he was well-liked, and his mother's unwavering support remained his guiding light.

### Going to war

The kingdom of Valoria launched an unexpected invasion of Stormhearth Kingdom on **27th of July 631 SC**. These news struck Henry like a clarion call to action. Defying his mother's pleas to remain safely at home, he enlisted in the army, compelled by a deep sense of duty and a burning desire to prove himself.

Henry's transition into military life was marked by the same fervor that characterized his youth. His bravery and relentless pursuit of the enemy quickly set him apart from his peers. On the battlefield, his actions spoke louder than his lineage, and he earned the respect of his subordinates not through his name, but through acts of undeniable courage and commitment to their cause.

Tragedy, however, was not far behind. On **10th of November 631 SC** in one of the pivotal battles that have turned the tide in Stormhearth's favor, Henry met his untimely demise. Amidst the chaos of war, his valor shone bright, but it was not enough to shield him from the cruel fate that awaited. His comrades, in a solemn act of loyalty and respect, retrieved his fallen body from the battlefield, ensuring that he would be returned to Seraphina. It was a gesture of profound significance, allowing his mother the chance to say her final goodbyes and lay him to rest with the dignity befitting a hero of Stormhearth.

### The first cadaver

Devastated by the loss of her beloved son, Seraphina Ravenshade dedicated herself to an all-consuming quest: to undo the immutable grip of death. Her grief drove her to seek out the Ritual of Malicious Desires, a dark and perilous ceremony rumored to grant the summoner a single wish. For two years she scoured the land for information, consulting forbidden texts, bargaining with shadowy figures, and exhausting much of her fortune on elusive knowledge that many believed to be nothing more than legend.

When at last she believed she had pieced together the necessary steps, Seraphina proceeded with the Ritual of Malicious Desires. In the eerie stillness of a moonless night of **4st of November 633 SC**, she called upon the Devil-King to restore her son to life. Her voice, thick with sorrow and hope, broke the silence as she made her plea to the dark deity.

Upon the ritual's completion, a profound silence fell over the chamber where Seraphina had laid Henry's body within an ornate coffin. The stillness was shattered when the coffin lid began to tremble, and with a strength that defied the grave, Henry pushed it aside. His movements were jerky and unnatural as he rose. Henry was indeed brought back, not as the son she knew and mourned but as a first cadaver—a grotesque reanimation driven by a hunger for mortal flesh.

Before Seraphina could react, Henry lunged at her with a chilling ferocity. Her shock and heartbreak were eclipsed by a primal fear as her own son, unrecognizable and relentless, attacked her. She had envisioned a reunion, a return to the life they once shared, but was instead faced with the gruesome visage of death's perversion. The last moments of Seraphina's life were marred by the terror of her son's reanimation, as she fell victim to the unintended and tragic consequences of the Ritual of Malicious Desires.

This gruesome event marked the beginning of a terrifying epidemic. The cadaver plague, originating from this misguided ritual, spread with voracious speed. The once peaceful region of Stormlash Valley fell into chaos as more and more cadavers arose, overwhelming the living and casting a shadow of death over the entire land.

## Appearance

Henry was a figure of youthful vigor and noble bearing. He possessed short, wild black hair that matched the untamed spirit he carried within him. His hair, often tousled from training or the rush of battle, framed a face that was clean-shaven, reflecting the practical needs of a soldier and the expectations of his noble status. His appearance was one of stark contrasts: the darkness of his hair against the fairness of his skin, a testament to the bloodline of the Ravenshade family.

## Personality

Henry grappled with a sense of inadequacy stemming from his father's common origins. This perceived shortfall in his noble heritage was the crucible that forged his driven and assertive nature. Determined to carve out his own place of respect within the highborn circles, Henry often pushed himself to excel in academic and martial pursuits, eager to outshine the shadow cast by his lineage.

His eagerness to prove himself was double-edged; it made him fiercely dedicated and resilient, yet it could also manifest as a vulnerability, leading him to take unnecessary risks to garner recognition and praise. Henry's relationships with his noble relatives were cordial, but beneath the surface lay an undercurrent of his relentless drive to match, if not surpass, their achievements.

In social settings, this same drive prompted Henry to be charming and engaging, always striving to leave a lasting impression on those he met. His ambition, however, sometimes bordered on competitive zeal, which could alienate peers who might have otherwise been allies. Despite this, his innate charisma often won him forgiveness and friends, and his genuine acts of bravery and kindness spoke louder than his heritage.

It was only in the military that Henry found a true sense of purpose, a place where his valor and commitment could be measured by his deeds, not his bloodline. The structured environment and clear objectives of military life provided a canvas for Henry to demonstrate his worth unequivocally, culminating in the respect he earned from his comrades-in-arms.