Evangelion
The waves lapped against him and the warm sun hit his
back as the youth opened his eyes. Struggling to his feet he looked down
at the wet, torn robe clinging to him, his only possession. Thinking back,
he tried to recall the accident. He remembered a ship and a wicked storm,
and then the deep, cold darkness of the ocean. Before that he realized that
he remembered nothing of his life, his homeland, his family (did he have
any?), everything but his name...Evangelion.
Bewildered, he struggled up the bank, onto the coastal road and stumbled to the nearest village. The villagers of Hammerguild were very kind but times were hard and they had little to offer him. He made his way along the road, until his long trek brought him to the mighty spires of Devardec. Amazed by the sights that met his eyes, he had to see more. The East gate patrol, being a dozey lot, were unaware as he managed to sneak past the guards and into the city.
Evan lived off the streets for a few years, learning the city, hearing the tales of aulde told by the mighty adventurers that lived there, and living off the scraps thrown out by the Palace cook. It was late one day, while heading towards the Palace along Ramble lane that Evan passed four monks, heading back to their temple. He followed the four brothers from a distance, struck by their serene confidence and their cheerful camaraderie. Turned away at the doors by the temple guards, he vowed he would one day be admitted into it's halls.
It was several months later that a stronger, wiser Evangelion returned to the doors of the temple. Having proved himself in the cellar of the Adventurer's Guild and having learning a little about trust, after being drawn in by the traitorous Elreece, Evan felt ready to join the monks. Admitted by the monks of the Guild he was amazed by the warmth of the welcome. Evan felt he was truly home.
After meeting Guild Master Keraptis on a visit to Turpin's Keep he realized that he was one of the four brothers he followed to the Guild months before. Eager to please his new family he rose in the ranks and, along with his best friend Liepo became a Brother in the Guild.
Liepo was seeking to join the Temple of Light and his sister Monica had recently become a follower, which set Evan thinking about the Immortals. Looking around the Guild most of the people he looked up to followed Alvogyl including the founding monk Dr. Anlin, Avatar of Light. Evan sought out the High Priestess Cassandra to find out more. The more he learned the more he felt the ideals of the Temple matched his. After pursuing Cassandra (a little overzealously) he was granted an audience with Alvogyl. Upon completing his quest Evan joined the Temple.
In the Guild, Evan was taken under the wing of Irin, another of the four brothers and the Scribe of the Guild, and learned a lot from him. Evan sensed a great sadness within him, perhaps sensing that Irin's travels would soon take him away from the Guild. When Irin's pilgrimages to the forest meant he could no longer commit full time to his position he nominated Evan to take his place.
Now engaged to his beloved Layke, Evan's life seems complete. But on days when he is on his own, when his travels take him far from the Guild, he wonders about the place he came from and the people that gave him life...
(scribed: year 141)
Since then many changes have happened in Evan's life. Evan and Layke married but only spent a few happy weeks together before Layke died the final death at the hands of Ogres, while protecting her home village. After years of mourning he eventually found love again with the beautiful, and very feline Catseyes. After many happy years of marriage and Guild-life, Evan felt compelled to leave in search of his homeland. He was gone for several years and returned no closer to reaching his birthplace. But his pilgrimage confirmed what he had always really known, that Devardec and the Monk's Guild was his true home.
(year 163)
After a few years of happiness, including the birth of his and Catseyes's daughter Allura, Evan's life once more became troubled. With the departure of a number of his friends and the loss of Lord Alvogyl, Evan felt unsettled and not a little depressed. His wanderlust returned. Over the next few years he undertook a number of journeys, his time at home and the Guild becoming sparse and more erratic. During that time Evan's neglected wife found greater contentment in the arms of another. He was present in Devardec when Elaina took on the mantle of Immortal of Light and shared in that happiness, but it wasn't for a few more years that the need to wander left him.
A calmer, more settled Evan returned to Devardec and his friends. It was there that he met his old friend Gwynneth for the first time in ages. Standing at the entrance to the Guild they talked for a long time and Evan even found himself smilling. As they talked they were greeted by the many monks comming and going. A particularly insightful monk stopped to chat and, sensing the warmth between the two, she asked why it was that they had never got married. Evan had a moment of realisation and proposed on the spot. Gwynneth accepted, making Evan the happiest he had been for a long time.
And this is where the story really starts...
(year 185)