Full Name: Arkadea
Role: Pact Commander (former), Champion of Aurene
Born: 1325 AE
Profession: Ranger
Blorbo: Canach
Arch-Enemy: Emissary Vorpp
Featured in: So Your Best Friend Died In Front Of You, The Refuge
Arkie was born from a pod like every other sylvari, except that the day before she emerged, a fern hound arrived to sit under the pod and wait.
She greeted him like an old friend before even getting dressed. She named him Laurel, and he'd be by her side for every adventure to come.
She wasn't in the Grove that long. Caithe's mentoring and the Call quickly dulled any attachment to it as home. The Priory became that, for a time.
She was naive and excitable and jumped into any chance to interact with the world. And with the Pact the chances seemed endless.
There was always someone to save and justice to bring. With Zhaitan's defeat, she caught her first snatch of fame and turned one year old. She had her first taste of grey morality when assigned to capture a rogue Secondborn at Southsun Cove. She sympathised with Canach's ideals and was careful to bring him in alive- and visit him in prison afterwards.
art by achromant
Her sense of style tended to veer between homegrown and easy to acquire tattered human wear until she adjusted to a more complimentary outfit. A latent colour change that sylvari call 'blossoming', emerging when they've matured a little, turned her greenery more mellow.
It was mainly due to solidarity with Canach, a shared drive to escape with their minds intact, that they survived the campaign against Mordremoth. Being a ranger lent an affinity with all types of creatures, but nothing felt the same after bonding with Aurene when she hatched.
As a slayer of numerous threats and two elder dragons, she had become a hardened warrior and squad leader by the time Dragon's Watch journeyed to Elona. She relied on Aurene for strength and often ended up sitting alone in Sun's Refuge, contemplating the unending tension, but always made sure to make Canach feel appreciated when he dropped by.
art by maximum-overboner
The slow, arduous offensive against Palawa Joko wore her down hard, as did the inexplicable sexual tension.
Even after putting him to rest his taunts followed her and caused her to withdraw from the rest of the guild, questioning if this had ever really been the best option. At the very least he was no longer there to nag.
She'd gone from a bright and ignorant sapling to a decorated hero, and felt the loss of that innocence. She'd never known how to just be alive with no terrors breathing down the world's neck.
But she had friends to comfort her, and to comfort in return. She and Canach decided that if a renewed dawn ever came they'd travel away together and explore somewhere entirely new.
She had to admit, the little lullaby they soothed the saplings with in the Grove might have a point. The stars do find their way. She was so proud of Aurene she could burst, and for the first time she could remember, actually capable of hoping for the future.
