Radiance
slowly rode through Devardec upon her Glowing White Griffin, named Partam,
and thought back over her life. Once very proud of her accomplishments,
Radiance had learned a harsh lesson about greed and ambition and had paid
the price dearly, eventually leaving her beloved Monk's Guild, and then
eventually leaving Terris altogether for more than 20 years. It was
her very accomplishments that would humble her, helping her to learn who
she truly was.
The daughter of Ranethbenterl and an elf woman, who left shortly after Radiance's birth to return to her people, Radiance was raised to know the Monk's guild, and to follow the path of her father into serving the Lord Alvogyl and the Light. Her father had made many mistakes during his life, the first one being born a Ranger and joining the Monk's guild because, basically, it was the only guild he could find and he had a brass bell. But though Raneth joined the Monks not fully knowing or understanding the world of Terris, he soon grew to love them, and when he had his daughter, he named her with the hopes of her becoming a Monk and joining Light, which she did.
Radiance learned much from her father's mistakes, and trained carefully in the Way of the Monks. She remembered fondly her father teaching her about the Way- balance, helpfulness, politeness, enlightenment, and the many things that it meant to be a Monk. He made sure she understood the importance of learning spiritual karma, something he didn't learn until late in his life. Radiance was a quick study, learning things with ease that took Raneth years to master. When Raneth presented Radiance to the Monk's guild, she fit in quickly.
She had few very close friends, but among the first of her friends was a Wizard named Gemstar. Then the terrible tax fell upon Terris, and her friends were gone. It was a time for great mourning by Radiance, as her beloved father also fell during this time, only leaving behind his camel, Lumpy, for Radiance to care for.
Though bereft, Radiance soon made new friends, Maelius being one of them. Through the many years they have known each other, though at times heartbreaking, they have remained friends, and are now (after so many years) to be married.
Radiance's first marriage, to a Ranger named Tyran, who also belonged to the temple of Light, was brief, yielding one progeny- their daughter Hibiscus. Hibiscus was a curious child, and soon after her fourth birthday, she disappeared, not to be rescued until six years later, at the age of 10. Her second marriage was to Royale, whom she was crazy about. Unfortunately, his absence from the lands of Terris drove her eventually to seek a divorce. Thereafter she married Padow, who left her widowed.
Radiance quickly progressed through the ranks of the Monk's guild. A Sister for many years, she finally approached Keraptis and Deward about becoming a Mother in the guild. Shortly after becoming a Mother, Eriel was elected Guild Lieutenant (GL), and Deward left the lands, leaving the Mentor positions opened. Royale took over the program, changing the name from Mentor to Sensei. Royale was Master Sensei with two assistant Elder Senseis- Radiance and Tedronai. Soon after, in a GL race which Radiance lost to Royale, she took over the Master Sensei position. While Master Sensei, a new Guild Master (GM) was elected- Mitchellx. One of Mitch's first official actions was to make Radiance Mother Superior- the first since the great Quailitha, and a title which she bore proudly. Soon after there was another GL election, and Ashryn and Radiance ascended to those positions. Eventually, after Ashryn served as GM for a time, Radiance was elected the first female GM of the Monk's guild.
The first to receive a glowing spiritual light from the new Monk's guild, only one of two people to ever have a Dance Floor for a mount (which is a story for another time), and the first to receive the new guild mount, the White Tiger, Radiance grew quite proud of her positions, which also included being the Scribe of Light, and then High Priestess, and eventually the Oracle of Light and mortal leader (though she did have a brief stint in the temple of Luck, due to frustrations about Alvogyl leaving the lands), in the temple of Light. Many years after Alvogyl left, Elaina ascended to Immortal of Light, and Radiance followed her until her disappearance from the lands, whereafter she joined Omnicat's temple and the sect of Faith. She also served as the Champion of Devardec under the Baron Mitchellx, and becoming Baroness of Devardec after Mitchellx's departure. Mitchellx returned during Radiance's long absence, and is once more the Baron of Devardec. While the Baroness of Devardec, Radiance left the Monk's guild, only returning after her long absence.
Her first household was the Mad Knights, which she was invited to join after she started running to the top of the Spire of Dawn and doing a nose dive off in imitation of her friend Ringdancer, a fellow member of the temple of Light. Seeing that Radiance was losing it, Ringy made the invitation, "Come, join us, Radiance!" Seeing that she was descending into the abyss of madness, she quickly agreed, and sought entrance to the household of the Mad Knights. Later, Radiance ended up leaving the Mad Knights, and joined her husband , Padow, in the Order of the Five Rings. She left there after growing frustrated with a lack of participation and never truly feeling as though she belonged. She joined the House of Sisters soon after, leaving there after a spat with one of the leaders. She is now a member of the Dragon's Vengeance.
Through all her troubles, however, Radiance had always relied on her best friends of the Monk's Guild and Terris: Schuyla, Brennae (Schuyla's sister, both of whom have now left the lands), Royale, Kiodai, her adopted brother; Tessa, her good friend and formerly her adopted daughter; and Madelyne, her bestest best friend and her sister, who was always getting herself into trouble; and the many others who kept her laughing and listened to her woes, many of whom are gone now.
Turning Partam, her griffin, towards the Central Plaza of Devardec, Radiance thought of her past. Ambition truly took its toll upon her, making her look at what she had become with loathing. She left the lands for over 20 years because of what she had become, only recently returning when she knew she could look upon the Lands as a fun place to be again.