Corvus

Corvus is a bard with, ravenblack hair that stops just above his shoulders. His hair is messy and longer in the back than it is in the front. He has tan skin and pointy ears. His eyes are bloodorange colored, which he hides behind a pair of red spectacles. He wears a black jacket with poofy sleeves and red and gold accents. It is opened to ecpose his shirt and parts of his chest. On his midriff he wars a dark red scarf as a belt. He wars tblack leather trousers adorned with utility belts to hold his dagger. He wears buttonboots that reach just below his knees. On top of it all he wears a black cape that is tied around his torso with golden ropes and hangs off one shoulder. The cape is adorned with black feathers at the top. The inside of the cape is dark red. Corvus' has an overall Harlequin motif, with diamonds showing up on the inside of his cape as well as on his jacket. He wears a lot of gold jewellery, like necklaces, rings and earrings, that look ancient or like it's from another time. His overall color palette is black, red with bits of gold and white.

Corvus: Backstory

ACT I: Eragim

• Corvus, born as Eragim of Illyria, is the youngest child of Lord Driton and Lady Diellza of Illyria, a wealthy family of dhampirs whose lineage is old and prestigious. Their vampiric ancestor is held in high regard, but has become unknown over the years - now often referred to as "The Originator".

• Their estate/castle is on top of a hill, with a beautiful town at the foot of it. In their castle they have an old mural/fresco depicting "The Originator" and how he started their bloodline, tracing their vampiric ancestry.

• Eragim, who has always enjoyed the arts, specifically music, was often teased by his older brother Endrit, the heir of the title, for having no interest in history or politics. Although the arts are appreciated in Illyrian culture, Driton and Endrit always made comments about Eragim's grating singing voice. "Way too raspy for such a beautiful face." His father would often say. "More like a crow and less like a nightingale." His brother added, thus the nickname "Corvus" was born.

• One of Eragim's greatest passions was creating own songs, creating new melodies and changing up classics, often experimenting with different sounds and modulations. He sometimes even "pimped" his instruments to produce more interesting sounds. This was heavily criticized by his father and his court, often seen as disrespect for their beautiful traditions. His mother and older sister Flaka were quite supportive, however.

• Especially his sister was a great supporter of Eragim's passion, motivating him to keep going. "You are the best of us, Eragim. Don't let other's speak ill on your gift. Keep doing what you're doing and you shall change the world." She would often say after Endrit's relentless teasing. They are incredibly close and Flaka is Eragim's closest friend during this time.

• When Flaka turns 100 years old she is forced to marry a stranger, leaving Illyria and thus Eragim. This impacts Eragim a lot, as he had begged her to stand up to their father. But she simply responded that 'it is her duty as eldest daughter to do as he says.' Still, she pleads Eragim to never be as foolish as herself to heed the call of duty - to enjoy his life to the fullest and pursue his passion and gifts no matter what anyone says.

ACT II: Kujtim

• Eragim plans on leaving Illyria shortly after Flaka's wedding, but when he sneaks out to town he bumps into Kujtim, a young man who works in the stables. They quickly fall in love despite their different social ranks, keeping their relationship hidden.

• Eragim decides to stay in Illyria for a bit longer, sneaking out of the castle to meet up with Kujtim on the regular. They often talk about escaping their town and dream of building a life together where no one knows them, free from duty and expectation.

• After around Lord Driton reveals that Eragim is to marry into a noble family in order to strengthen their political ties. He hates it and rushes to Kujtim, where he suggests running away together, but Kujtim refuses. His mother is sick and needs someone with her to care for her and to make money in case she needs medicine, as their father passed when Kujtim was still young. This leads to a massive falling out between them, as Kujtim calls out Eragim's privilege, while Eragim feels betrayed and misled.

• Eragim decides to run away the following week, remembering his sister's words. He only packs his instruments, a few clothes and some expensive jewelry, hoping to sell them for a high sum.

ACT III: The birth of Corvus

• Eragim, who decides to adopt the moniker "Corvus" as a stage name and in order to remain anonymous (he got word that his parents are looking for him), is confronted with the harsh realities of a peasant life. He tries to make the best of it, entertaining small crowds in nearby taverns for little money, but he would be lying if he didn't miss the luxuries of his old life.

• He struggles to gain support for his original work, but the usual adventurers and tavern dwellers seem to like his rendition of the classics. Since he enjoys the carefree-ness of dancing and singing together, he gladly sings for the few crowds he gathers. He doesn't get rich from it, but at least he can play by his own rules.

• After agonizing months of hopping from tavern to tavern and repeating the same few classics as well as having to spend most nights in shady alleyways, Corvus grows tired of his new lifestyle, craving the easy luxury of his home. He briefly considers going back home, but decides that he values his freedom more than his comfort.

• Luckily, only a little while later, an impressive figure attends one of Corvus' performances. The tall, pale man, clad in dark clothes, hair white and face slightly wrinkled, approaches Corvus, telling him how entranced he was by his rendition of the classics.

• The man introduces himself as Lord Valen Corbeau and he offers Corvus a place at his court. "If you play for me, little bird, you shall have everything you ever wanted. All the luxuries you can imagine. An audience just for you, listening to you sing your songs every night." He promises.

• Corvus, who admittedly misses the comfort of luxury, thinks this is a perfect deal and accepts Corbeau's offer.

ACT IV: Corbeau's court

• As promised, Corvus performs almost every night in front of an audience of nobles, enticing them with his songs and experimental music. They seemingly love him and Corbeau delivers on his promises of luxury, showing Corvus with gifts every night.

• They soon develop a very intimate relationship, blurring the lines of patron, father-figure and benefactor.

• After a while, Corbeau demands (kindly, at first) that Corvus play some of the classics again, simply to have some variety in sets. Corvus reluctantly agrees. Soon after, Corvus is only to play classics and after that, back to instrumentals only.

• Corvus feels indebted to Corbeau and their complicated relationship as well as Corbeau's manipulation ("I have given you a warm bed and warm food when you were a mere stray. How dare you question me?!" He would say.) makes it hard for Corvus to decline his requests.

• Almost every night, and only at night, Corbeau makes Corvus put on a show to entertain his peers. It is clear to Corvus that he is right back where he started again - nothing but a pretty face trapped in a golden cage, forced to do things he never wanted while enjoying the lavish.

• Corvus realizes that Corbeau never is up during sunlight and makes a plan to run away once again. Afraid Corbeau would come after him, he thinks the best course of action is to kill Corbeau.

• Corvus knows Corbeau is extremely powerful, suspecting already that he must be of vampiric descent. He uses the daytime to research Corbeau's family history and finds not only confirmation that Corbeau is in fact a vampire, he is also the very "Originator" that has started Corvus' dhampiric bloodline. A VERY distant relative, so to speak.

• A few weeks later, Corvus has forged the perfect plan to end Corbeau. He decides that after his performance that night he is going to invite Corbeau to his chambers and confront him with the truth, as well as his wish to leave. If all fails, he has a wooden stake readied.

• Corbeau doesn't take the confrontation well and makes a claim on Corvus, saying that Corvus' body and his blood belong to Corbeau, that he is his blood. That he can do whatever he well pleases to do with it.

• Enraged by Corvus' request to leave, Corbeau wants to turn Corvus into a Vampire Spawn, which would make Corvus Corbeau's slave.

• Corvus panics and rams the wooden stake through Corbeau's heart, turning him into dust and killing him - or at least that is what Corvus believes… although a lingering feeling of Corbeau being alive follows him even as he makes his escape from the castle…

ACT V: Joining the party

• Corvus, traumatized by his experiences at Corbeau's court now cherishes his freedom even more. He drinks, sings and fucks freely without abandon, trying to regain any semblance of control while also trying to give up control with any high he can find. He tries to forget, tries to shake the feeling of something lurking in the dark, tries to shake the feeling of his very blood not belonging to himself.

• Corvus is appreciative of his re-gained freedom, at times being very precious about it. Still, he can't help but chase comfort in luxury, while still being happy about the simple pleasures of life that only come with a certain freedom. He decides that he shall never belong to anyone ever again, only to himself. Corvus refuses to play classics, only playing his original work and not caring if he gets booed or kicked out of the tavern, gladly sacrificing odd-jobs at well paying taverns, even if that means sleeping in the streets - he will find something to drink or someone to seduce to keep his body warm for the night. Only when he is really desperate or hungry he will throw out his new set rules and play the crowd pleasers.

• Recently, however, he has gotten strange letters, signed with the letter "-VC", making Corvus suspicious, considering there is only really one person they could be from. The thought makes Corvus' stomach churn. He decides to never stay long in one place in order to shake whoever is messing with him off his trail.

• This is where he runs into An, a priestess who is offering a considerable sum for anyone who helps her cleanse a haunted house. Corvus, who has gotten terribly paranoid (and broke) agrees in hopes to feel safer with a group.

Corvus is flamboyant, hedonistic, humorous, flirty and charming. He always has a clever word on his tongue and loves the small AND big luxuries of life. He sometimes comes off as selfish, but he just wishes to protect himself first and foremost. Once he likes someone he would go to the ends of the world for them. It just takes a LOT of time for Corvus to trust someone. He is very smart and creative, if a bit peculiar.