Ae

Ae (Formally known as Haedech) is an exiled Kaedian, and antagonist to Yaelnu. Having suffered an unjust exile from Kaed, Ae attempted to pass his Burning Trials but was found to have been greedy. In response Ae renounced his religion and sought out his own dreams and desires.

Appearance
As a child Haedech was of an average appearance. He had the strong face of his father, and the straw blonde hair and brown eyes of his mother. Haedech was an active child, he helped his father herd sheep and cattle, so he always kept a lean figure.

As Haedech grew, he grew out his hair and developed a beard at a young age. Haedech grew to be 6'2" tall and maintained a lean yet muscled physique.

At the age of 18, Haedech changed his name to Ae, he shaved his head, but kept his beard. His eyes took on a slightly golden tint around the edges, and he seared his hand print along the right side of his head, starting at his right temple and reaching around to the back of his head.

At 32 years of age, Ae hasn't changed much in appearance, aside from his face appearing more tired, and being slightly bulkier.

Personality
Ae is a very intelligent person. He has no problems questioning faith and duty, but that does not mean he will rebel. In his youth, he was very loyal, however, as he grew, due to his circumstances, he began to lose faith in loyalty and learned to look out for only himself.

As time went on, he became a leader of a caste of exiles, ranging from many distant countries. He slowly began to trust others, and began to found his own following. He was well respected due to his intelligence, and his natural talent in being able to adopt other magical practices fairly quickly.

Given his upbringing, and his adult life, Ae has learned to be wary. But also knows not to dismiss someone you do not know. He has learned to listen, and take a cautious approach to most situations. He doesn't have a wish to hurt or harm anyone, but he does harbour a wish for revenge. Having plotted for so long, he has been known to have outbursts of anger in response to situations not working in his favour.

Background
Born as Haedech to two citizens of Kaed. Haedech's parents were both Shepherds. Like most children of Kaed, he was schooled with the other children of his community, by the adults who had the day off.

Haedech and his friend Brakthon were both diligent in their studies. Haedech's intelligence and talent for the Flame lead to him being respected by his peers, Brakthon especially, who also had a talent for the Flame and thought that both he and Haedech would become Scal before the ages of 20.

Anyone who looked at Haedech and Brakthon would have sworn they were brothers. Both were inseparable, if you saw one, the other wasn't too far behind. Both practiced the Flame together and studied the teaching of Lasyre. Brakthon never understood Haedechs desire to lead a simple life like his parents and become a shepherd.

Exile
Unable to understand Haedech's wish to be a shepherd, given his affinity with the Flame, Brakthon began to grow jealous of Haedechs natural talent. Brakthon knew jealousy wasn't a condoned trait of Lasyre, so he kept his feelings to himself, but still they grew more and more over the years until one day he lashed out and attacked Haedech.

Haedech had no idea why he was being attack by Brakthon and tried to reason with him, but he wouldn't listen. He only tried to goad Haedech into fighting back, by hitting him and calling him names, realising he had no choice, Haedech fought back. Having drawn the Flame before hand, Brakthon easily overpowered Haedech, pummelling him into submission. Each time Haedech would try to rise, and Brakthon would knock him down, getting more savage each time before finally throwing him into a wall, and knocking him unconcious. Haedech woke to find Brakthon kneeling over him, with his hands gripped around his throat. Without even thinking, Haedech drew the Flame instantly, gathered into his palm, gripped Brakthons head with his right hand, and exhausted the Flame, searing his handprint across Brakthons eye and nose (An advanced technique only the elite of the Scal can do.)

Haedech was exiled at the age of 13, feeling horrible for what he had done for his friend, he said nothing, and knowing it would get him exiled, Brakthon also said nothing, letting Haedech take the blame.

13 - 18
Haedech spent his first year in exile barely surviving. He had made the western mountains of Kaed his home. Not being a very tall mountain, the temperate weather meant deer were plenty, but along with deer came wolves. Haedech learnt much in his first year, he learned to hunt, track and make traps. He learned how to repair his clothes, and heal himself. Haedech kept teaching himself how to control and utilise the flame. He hadn't been able to draw the Flame as quick as he had in his fight with Brakthon, but he still quickened his ability to draw it to approximately 4 seconds, which was much better than his 9 second average. He also couldn't focus the Flame to one area of his body as he had in his fight, but he did learn that if he empowered himself, he could give off an nonthreatening aura, keeping deer in his presence calm, and keeping the wolves at bay. Haedech lived in a poorly constructed shack, and occasionally ventured down the West side of the mountain into Panovach, where there was a small town half a days walk from the base of the mountain. He would trade deer, wolf and rabbit pelts for supplies, and always stay the night and talk to the locals. This small amount of social interaction if what kept him from losing his mind. The next morning, he would leave, and be home again by night fall. He would then repeat this a week or two later, and was known around the town as the Young Hermit, as he never gave his name.

As time went on, Haedech practiced his talent with the Flame, and learned more about healing, so when he was visiting town, he wouldn't just trade pelts, but also he would offer his services as a healer free of charge. He then started using some of his money made from pelts, to pay a Herbalist to teach him. He learned to draw on the Flame quicker, focus it into the palm of his hand, and while he couldn't fire it, he could expel it from his palm, burning whatever he was touching at the time. He could also hold the Flame overnight, which was useful for keeping warm on windy nights.

The Burning Trials
By the age of 18 Haedech was strong enough to face the trials of becoming a Scal. So for the first time in 5 years he returned to Kaed to face the Burning Trial. Over the course of the week Haedech passed his first three trials, but when it came time for the last trial, the Trial of Selflessness, the jury came back with a failure. They had concluded that Haedech had amassed a small fortune selling pelts and kept most of it for himself. Utterly devastated, Haedech hung his head in shame and turned to leave, and that's when he saw him. Brakthon refused to make eye contact with Haedech, but the hand print branded over his left eye was unmistakable. Haedech called to him, hoping to get some reaction from his best friend whom he had thought of everyday since leaving. But Brakthon ignored him, turned away and went to leave. Haedech couldn't believe it, he hadn't seen his best friend for five years, he had taken the fall for him, had been exiled for him. Starved the first year of exile, been unable to feel the love of his parents, family and community for what felt like an eternity. Haedech snapped, screaming at Brakthon, in that moment, he hated him, despised him for existing, for being a part of his community.

"Brakthon!" He screamed "Let that mark be a curse, may you look at it everyday for the rest of your life and know what you have done. You are not of Lasyre, and you do not belong in Kaed, you're a wretch who had me being exiled for being better than you. You are nothing to me, as is this whole damned nation. Kaed has lost its light, and its people live in darkness. It has done nothing for me, and I owe it nothing in return."

Transformation
Haedech made the 3 day trek in little less than 2 with the help of the Flame. As soon as he got back to his shack, he collapsed and slept for 16 hours.

He awoke the next morning an hour before the sun was to come up. He knew what he was to do. Sitting in the middle of the hut he meditated, slowly drawing upon the Flame. Letting it fill him, taking it in, more than he had ever taken in before. Just as the sun was breaking the dawn, he opened his eyes and exhausted himself of the Flame, burning down the hut surrounding him, burning the druid robe he had worn and altered to keep in one piece for the last 5 years. Burning the hair on his head down to the roots so it would never grow again, burning all but his beard. He rose with one last thing to do, he concentrated the last of his power into his right hand, and raised it to his temple, Branding himself with his curse. He was not of Lasyre, he was not a Kaedian. He had stripped himself of everything, he rid himself of all the letters of his name, bar the first syllable. He was to step into the world naked and cursed. He stepped into the world reborn. He stepped into the world as Ae.