Biography

NAME | Hemedes Taverra | RACE | Imperial | GENDER | Male
OCCUPATION | Attrian Focus
AGE | 25 | EYES | Grey | SKIN | Olive
HAIR | Auburn | HEIGHT | 5' 1" | BUILD | Small

Hemedes was born to a common family in the small peasant village of Vercellae on the Whispering Isle, the southern most island of the Attrian Archipelago. His life should have been simple and unassuming, but fate had a different path for him. When he was six months old, the village's local mage began to feel a draw on his own magicka, and followed the feeling to Hemedes' family home. It was upon this visit that Hemedes was discovered to be a Focus -- the rarest of Attrian mages, with a deep well of magicka, but incapable of expressing his own magic.Word of a Focus born to the humble village traveled quickly, and attracted the attention of a local group of bandits who desired to have access to the power Hemedes held. They began raiding the town in an effort to find the gifted baby, which eventually gained the attention of the local lord, Raxus Taverra. His forces quickly put down the threat, and, in gratitude and concern for the child, Hemedes' family offered the young Focus to the man to raise and keep safe.

Hemedes' life forever changed, and he was officially named a Taverra and adopted into the lord's family. He grew up alongside Raxus' biological son, Reikos, ten years his senior, with all the privilege and prestige befitting an Attrian Focus. He wanted for nothing, and was given the finest instruction for his future as a Focus, learning discipline and meditation techniques in anticipation for the day he would be partnered with one of Attrian's great mages. When he wasn't studying and preparing for his future, Hemedes and Reikos spent wild days in the woods and coastal beaches of the Whispering Isle, finding trouble wherever they could.At the age of sixteen, Hemedes was introduced to Ventros Faventia, a powerful mage and a lesser lord of Attria. Ventros swept Hemedes off his feet with honeyed words and undivided attention, and when he asked to be Hemedes' mage and husband, the young Focus eagerly accepted his proposal after six months of courtship and after Hemedes' seventeenth birthday. There were no red flags at that time that he can recall, but after three months of married bliss and doting affection, the marriage quickly and brutally soured.Hemedes endured cruel physical and magical abuse by his husband for five long years, in which he was isolated from his loving brother. Reikos eventually made contact and Hemedes was able to tell him everything about the horrible life he had been leading. Reikos, in a rage, confronted Ventros and slayed him in a duel for his brother's honor. Upon looking through Ventros' personal study, Reikos and Hemedes discovered correspondence between Ventros and Raxus that revealed that their father had been aware of the abuse and had done nothing to stop it. Reikos then turned his rage on his father, slaying him as well to avenge Hemedes' suffering.Hemedes spent over a year in recovery, learning to adjust to normal life. Once he felt safe and capable, and desperate to gain independence after years of being crushed under a harsh boot heel, Hemedes turned his attention on restoring an abandoned manor known as Crow's Watch. He spent months restoring the estate and its withered vineyards, and it is now a place of pride, a home, where he assists Reikos in perpetuating the family wine business and finding purpose in his life again.

Secrets

YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A SECTION THAT CONTAINS HEAVY SPOILERS!PROCEED ONLY IF YOU DO NOT MIND SPOILERS.

Everything detailed beyond this point is NOT well-known. It contains heavy RP spoilers for Hemedes and his most heavily guarded secrets.Everything beyond this point is NOT common knowledge and must be learned IC.If you wish to have your character know any of the following information about Hemedes, YOU MUST HAVE MY PERMISSION and discuss it with me prior to your character throwing out things they may know or suspect.If you do not care about spoilers, feel free to proceed to the next section to learn more about Hemedes' secrets. You have been warned of spoilers!

Nocturnal's Raven

A mother's love is never free...

A DEAL AND AN OATH

Two years into his abusive marriage to his husband, Ventros, Hemedes was at his breaking point. Trapped by the binding that seals a Focus to his mage, he had no way of escape. His magic would always long to return to his mage, compelling him to turn back if he ran too far.Battered and bruised, both physically and emotionally, Hemedes fled his home into the woods surrounding his husband's lavish estate. It was here that he met an agent of Nocturnal, known simply as "The Oathhand." This voice of Nocturnal offered Hemedes a deal he simply could not refuse -- a way to protect himself from his husband.He was granted an enchanted, black ring, which gave him the ability to escape into nearby shadows, rendering him invisible to everyone around him. In exchange, Hemedes would repay Nocturnal by stealing something precious for her at a time of her choosing.

The cost seemed simple and trivial, but Hemedes soon came to learn that there were many strings attached. The time of Nocturnal's choosing came not once, but every month during the cycle of the new moons. To aid Hemedes in his upcoming tasks, the Oathhand granted Hemedes the power to discern fraudulent items and artifacts, and the wisdom to look through the lies of clever con men, so as never to be deceived or taken advantage of.Yet another gift was granted to Hemedes by night's end that would further aid him in his monthly quest. With the setting of the sun on the evening of each new moon cycle, Hemedes transforms into a crow, and has until sunrise to return with Nocturnal's chosen treasure. If he accomplishes his quest before the sun rises the following morning, Hemedes returns to his human form. However, if he fails, he remains a crow until his task is done and the offering is granted to his Prince. Only then can he become a man once more.

The final gift the Oathhand bestowed upon Hemedes was the companionship of Sir Trinket, a raven of the man's Court, who would teach and watch over Hemedes from that moment onward.

Attrian Focus

A sacrifice of that which is most precious is never lost, but becomes something greater in the hands of another.

A PRECIOUS SACRIFICE

The history of Attrian Focuses is a long, prestigious one, steeped in mystery.The legend of the original Focuses dates back to the founding of Attria, with the taming of the great volcano. During this tumultuous time, the wrath at the heart of Attria's violent, fiery mountain was a formidable threat, one that could prove destructive to lands beyond the archipelago.Great spells were required to subdue the fires that raged and roared beneath the island, spells that the greatest mages of men were incapable of weaving alone, even with the assistance of Ayleid wizards. All seemed hopeless, the threat, the Great Evil, breaking open the earth and spilling scalding blood into the sea.It was in the final moments of this impending doom, when the situation had become most dire, and hope seemed out of reach, that three mages born under the sign of the Atronoch, came together to perform a great sacrifice. Knowing that the spells required more magical strength than their fellows could provide, they took part in a ritual that stripped them of the use of their own magicka and bound them to mages of their choice. This binding allowed their chosen companions' magic to tether to the great well of magicka within each of the Three, bolstering their mages' power ten-fold.

With the selfless sacrifice of the Three, the Great Evil was banished into the recesses of the island's bowels, secured by the arcane chains of the spells cast by men and mer. Hope was restored and Attra and the rest of Tamriel were saved, but the Three were forever changed, and the price that they paid on that day would have far-reaching consequences in their own bloodlines.

WELLS OF POWER

Following the defeat of the Great Evil, the Three were honored for their heroic deed and mighty sacrifice, which allowed for their mages to do the impossible. The ritual proved to be a permanent change, with the Three never again able to access their own wells of magicka, but the power of their bonded mages continued to be strengthened, fueled by the untapped resources of their partners. This unique bond was likened unto a mage using a focus to enhance his spells, drawing upon the power of a relic to bolster his own gifts. In time, the Three were given the venerated title of Focus for their continued role as support for their mighty mages.Two generations passed from the time of the Sacrifice of the Three, and all seemed well within their families. Children were born, and some grew to become great mages in the blossoming island of Attria despite their ancestors having no access to their own magicka any longer. In time, the duty of their forefathers seemed to be a moment to remember in the distant past, but all of that was about to change.In the third generation, one child of each bloodline was born without the use of magicka, and while this would have not been of any true note under normal circumstances, these three were different. Mages near these children began to feel a tug on their own magicka, as if being summoned, as if their magic was reaching out to another. The three children were tested by the royal wizards, and it was discovered that they held the same unique gift as their forebears. They could not use their own magic, but the mages around them could harness the untapped magicka within them.

The three young Focuses were announced to the people, and celebrations were held in their honor. As the Focuses grew, they were kept separate from the mages of Attria until they were of age to choose mages to bind themselves to. The ancient rites performed during the time of the Great Evil were once again used to complete the bindings, and the mages of the new Three became renowned for their incredible strength at the sides of their Focuses.Every three generations, this pattern was discovered to repeat, with one child of each bloodline being born a Focus. They became known as Attrian jewels, their greatest and most beloved treasures, but as lineages began to dilute, and illegitimate children were born into the lines, the predictability of where and to whom a Focus would be born was muddled. In time, only one family had a certainty of bearing a Focus -- the Attrian royal Ascentros line.The hunt for the other two Focuses becomes a matter of importance for all Attrians every three generations, with each citizen hoping that a Focus is born into their family, and praying that affairs made off-island do not produce a Focus without anyone's knowledge. In an effort to curb this concern, the birth of Attrians, legitimate or otherwise, are required to be registered, and any illegitimate children born to main-landers have been seized in the past and brought back to the island to be raised. This has caused rifts and conflicts between Attria and the mainland of Tamriel, but in the past two hundred years, accommodations have been made to move mainland mothers to Attria to raise illegitimate children, which has restored relations with Cyrodiil.Still, the concern persists that, one day, one or more Focuses will be born far from Attrian influence, leaving them vulnerable and at the mercy of mages beyond the island's governance.

THE BINDING OF MAGIC AND SOUL

In modern Attria, the act of binding a mage to a Focus is almost a religious affair, the union being blessed by local priests of Julianos, who further conduct the ancient rites that bound the first Three to their mages in centuries past.The process in which a Focus chooses a mage is a rigorous, calculated, and often times, exhausting effort. In order for any potential bond to take place, a mage's magicka must first be compatible with the Focus' untapped source, which both mage and Focus can feel upon meeting.

When a Focus and mage are found to be compatible, a courtship may begin after being sanctioned by both a priest of Julianos and the current ruling Ascentros.Focus courtships do not necessarily always end in marriage, but it is rare for it to take a different path. The union of a Focus and mage and the sensation of sharing magicka is so intimate, that even if a bonding does not start out as a love affair, it most certainly can end as one. Not all bindings result in romance, however, with some resulting in close friend and partnerships. The fear of a poor binding is often on a Focus' mind during courtships, as abuse of their power has occurred in the past.In rare situations, Focuses have been stolen away and forced into the binding against their will, resulting in mages rising to power with an enslaved Focus at their side. Four centuries prior to current events, a Focus was kidnapped and bound to a necromancer, who overthrew the Ascentros lord on the throne, seizing power. The balance of power only shifted when the lord's brother, a Focus himself, bound himself to his mage lover, and they fought back. The necromancer was slain, and his Focus freed of the bond, and an Ascentros was once again on the throne of Attria. Such threats are ever present on the island, and Focuses are guarded most jealously by the citizens and ruling nobility to hopefully prevent such a disaster from ever occurring again.

Character Details

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS/BELIEFS | Nocturnal
POLITICAL ALIGNMENTS | Neutral
MAGICAL ABILITIES | None, as a Focus, but can bolster the magic of mages around him
MAGICAL COMPETENCY | N/A

Hemedes, in his youth, was a rambunctious, brave child with an independent fire that burned within him. Those who knew him described him as being fearless, outspoken, and confident, but, as a Focus, he had a humble, reverent side to him as well, with a strong desire to fulfill his destiny and be partnered to a strong, benevolent mage.In recent years, however, Hemedes has completely changed. Following the abuse he suffered at the hand of his husband, he has become far more reserved, cautious, and quiet. His rebellions, if any, often come in the form of quick-witted remarks in conversation, proving the old Hemedes is still somewhere within him to some extent.He has a very different confidence about him now, some might say, one that he does not necessarily flaunt, but is there, just beneath the surface. It is seen in the way he watches people, studying them, calculating every move they make. He seems to be one step ahead, or knows things about people he should have no way of knowing. He has also been described as being unusually silent, often surprising people with his sudden presence.

Hem does not like to be touched, and he does not trust mages. His magic, with a mind of its own, has become highly protective of him, and when mages try to connect with their own magicka, Hem's sometimes becomes violent. Mages who have been "bitten" by Hem's magic describe it as a "hot shock." He is deeply guarded against mages of any kind, only letting a rare few close, including his adopted brother, Reikos.He is also very slow to trust, but every so often, in rare instances, he may get a good impression of a person and lets them close quicker than most.

Additional Features

SCARS | Hemedes has dozens of scars on his body from the abuse he suffered during his marriage. He has an enchanted earring in the shape of a feather that he wears to conceal these scars. Very few people know they actually still mar his body, as his brother, Reikos, believes his finest healers succeeded in erasing them. Hem rarely reveals these scars. The most prominent are the ones around his mouth, which resemble burns.

JEWELRY | He is never seen without his ebon-feather earring in his right ear, which is enchanted to hide his scars. Another is a black ring with intricate, lacing patterns woven throughout the metalwork.

Skills

Many would say Hemedes' skills lie in household management of his estate, Crow's Watch, but there are many more that are secret skills that he closely guards. His known skills are in the arts of gardening, animal husbandry, beekeeping, and falcon training. His illicit skills involve thievery, subterfuge, and lock-picking.

Hooks

FOCUS | Hemedes is a Focus of Attria, incapable of accessing his own magic, but is a boon to mages around him, amplifying their power when they tap into his well of untapped magicka. He has a revered status on Attria due to his title and nature.

ADOPTED LORDLING | Hemedes is technically a noble of Attria by way of adoption. His brother, Reikos, is blood-related to the Ascentros family by way of the status of being distant cousins to the current lord on his mother's side.

RAVENS | Hemedes adores ravens and crows, and keeps many in his company. He rescues injured birds on the island and nurses them back to health, or adopts orphaned corvids, raising them to adulthood. Where he goes, ravens and crows will follow.

SCHOLAR | For the longest time, Hem's was only able to see the world through the pages of books in his library. He holds books in high regard, and treasures them. He has a vast collection that he is often seen reading from in his spare time.

TRAVELER | Once he had the chance to do so, Hemedes struck out into the world to explore it. He has been all over Tamriel, but knows there is still much he has yet to see. He never passes up on the opportunity to get out and explore.

THIEF | Hem is quite the kleptomaniac, and has to show much restraint to pass up shiny objects when he sees them. Sometimes, he simply cannot help himself, and his pockets are lined with stolen goods that he takes home to add to his personal hoard. When not falling victim to his own proclivities of petty theft, Hemedes is actually a highly skilled burglar and pickpocket.

Rumors

Common

Cyrodiil (Attria Proper) | "Hemedes rarely comes to the main island. It's quite a shame, given Galen lives here, and he is a Focus, too. You would think they would be closer than they are, but that boy would rather stay on the Whispering Isle than come here. I wonder why that is?"

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "I heard that Hemedes was sold into his marriage by his father. His own father! Can you imagine? I suppose that explains why Reikos went on a rampage and killed him."

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "Rumor from the castle is that Hemedes was caught being intimate with a lover in the hallway. Strange. I thought after his marriage ended in such tragedy that he'd avoid relationships. He has for the past two years."

Uncommon

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "Some say Hemedes' husband had hurt him. Reikos doesn't talk much about why he killed the lord, but from what I've heard, it seems it was justified. Poor Hemedes. He's such a sweet, quiet boy, and a Focus to boot. Who would hurt a Focus? That man had a death wish if it's true."

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "Hem sure loves his birds. He rebuilt that old ruin of Crow's Watch and has allowed the crows to keep nesting there. He's so sweet with them, too."

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "If you're a mage, stay away from the castle. Hemedes hates mages. Given what I've heard about what he went through in his marriage, it doesn't surprise me. It's just a shame he may never give another mage the chance to bond with him again. That's a Focus' purpose, after all."

Rare

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "Some of the crows at Crow's Watch are quite friendly with Hemedes. There is one that gets particularly protective of him and has chased people away before. The servants say they sometimes hear him talking to that crow like it can understand him. That poor boy must really be traumatized if he's treating a bird like it's smart enough to talk back to him."

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "A servant from Crow's Watch told me that he saw Hemedes and his seneschal, Keitsa, moving something into the estate through the back door in the dead of night. It looked like furniture of some sort. That is so odd. Who moves furniture into their house in the dark?"

Cyrodiil (Whispering Isle) | "Hemedes is so damned quiet. You never hear or see him approach, but he sure has a knack of just being there when you turn around. It's almost like he's a shadow in the dark. It's eerie."

Relationships

SEXUALITY | Bisexual
OPEN TO ROMANCE | Yes, but tentative
STATUS | Tentatively courting
CURRENT ROMANCE | Mattias Crestshield, Bard
CHILDREN | None
LIVING FAMILY | Adopted brother and the Ascentros family

Friends

Mattias Crestshield | Lover | Friendly
Taverra Household | Friends / Servants | Friendly
Keitsa | Seneschal / Confidant | Friendly

Family

Reikos Taverra | Adopted Brother | Friendly
Ascentros Family | Friends | Friendly
Galen Ascentros (Fellow Focus) | Cousin | Friendly

Deceased Family

Raxus Taverra | Adopted Father | Enemy
Ventros Faventia (Presumed) | Ex-husband | Enemy

Mounts & Pets

Winter

Species | Horse
Gender | Female
Color | White with brown freckling

Ravens

Hemedes has nearly a dozen ravens who live on his property and spend time around him. The most notable is a crow with violet eyes, and seems to have an uncanny intelligence.

Homes & Properties

Crow's Watch Estate

Once an overrun and ruined vineyard estate belonging to the Taverra family, Hemedes took it upon himself to repair and tame the property, turning it into a prosperous manor once more. It sports lush, plentiful vineyards, apiaries, stables, and a sizable winery. Crow's Watch has become a haven for the island's crow population, with many seen roosting along the estate's property. It has become a lodge, as well, to house the Ascentros family when they wish to hunt in the island's forested countryside.

Stories

THIS SECTION IS A WIP WITH SOME SECTIONS CONTAINING NOTHING WITHIN THEM YET.However, below are the guidelines for the written works for him:Some of these stories, journal entries, and missives are of Hemedes' past and/or secrets, and may contain major spoilers regarding him and his history.Feel free to read them if you like, but keep in mind that your characters will likely not know of any of these things. I am open to having your characters be aware of Hemedes' past, but please ask me about it first.I will always be adding new stories here as they are written, and you are welcome to follow along. You have been warned of spoilers!

Trigger Warning

This 18+ story contains themes of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, and eludes to sexual assault.

Journals

THIS SECTION IS A WIPNothing yet -- WIP

Correspondence

THIS SECTION IS A WIPNothing yet -- WIP

Screenshots

Travel Screenshots

Artwork