Description
Dravencoles appears to be in his mid-twenties, his youth tempered by the calm confidence of a seasoned warrior. He has broad shoulders and a solid, athletic build, the kind forged by years of hard living in the cold mountain air. His long golden-brown hair is thick and sun-touched, pulled back in a loose braid over one shoulder, while a short, well-kept beard frames his strong jawline. His piercing green eyes stand out vividly against his warm, weathered skin, steady and watchful beneath dark brows. A simple silver hoop earring gleams in his left ear, adding a subtle glint of personality to his otherwise practical appearance. Dressed in layered leathers and fur-trimmed armor, every piece bears the mark of care and use, and across his back rests a massive, rune-etched warhammer. He carries himself with quiet strength and purpose—like the mountains behind him: steadfast, patient, and unyielding.
Background
Dravencoles was born in the western Dragonspire Mountains to Rayvencoles, a wandering priest of Elandria, and Cherylcoles, an abbess of a small mountain temple. His family belongs to a scattered clan of humans who live throughout the mountains—folk who weave their clan name into their given names rather than carrying surnames.
He grew up in the quiet solitude of the peaks, learning the prayers and stories of Elandria from his parents. The family would travel to Southaven regularly for supplies, giving young Dravencoles glimpses of the wider world. He was a quiet child with a fierce temper—quick to anger when he saw injustice. Recognizing this fire from his own youth, Rayvencoles sent his son to train under Brother Aldric Stoneward, a cleric of Elandria in Southaven, hoping the discipline would temper him.
Years of training forged Dravencoles into a paladin of the Oath of Devotion. He believes in swift justice and has little patience for negotiation with evildoers. His stern demeanor often sets him apart from the rest of the party, particularly when they engage in diplomacy where he sees action as the better course. Though he may not speak often, his presence is commanding, and when he does act, it is with decisive force. His faith in Elandria gives him strength not only in battle but also in moments of doubt, reminding him that compassion and courage must walk hand in hand.
His parents are old now and rarely make the journey down from the mountains anymore. When Lord Elrin Kael began hiring adventurers to investigate the mysterious disappearances in Southaven, Dravencoles saw it as his chance to prove himself worthy of the goddess’s light after years of training.
Story
Dravencoles joined the party in Southaven to investigate disappearances plaguing the town, quickly establishing himself as the group’s moral compass and frontline protector. His devotion to Elandria guided him through early battles against cultists and creatures of darkness.
The heist of the Emerald Bank in Lusteris changed everything. In the vault, the party discovered the legendary Hammer of Elandria, and Dravencoles claimed it as his charge. But proving himself worthy of the weapon has been a struggle. During an interrogation of Talan Windfern, frustration led him to suggest killing the panicked druid—a lapse that shocked his companions and Queen Aelra Sylanthiel alike. At Saint Andral’s Church, a vision reminded him that mercy is the heart of light, and he carries a charm of the saint as penance.
He has stood firm when it mattered most. At the Queen’s trial, he struck down the assassin Kaelen Rynn with a devastating divine smite. At Aramond’s Lookout, when Talan lay dying from serpent venom and all other healing failed, Dravencoles poured radiant magic into him and pulled him back from death by sheer force of will.
In the tunnels beneath Southaven, Sythara bound him and the others to a vow of silence and restoration. Now he carries secrets he cannot speak, and the Hammer of Elandria still waits to be attuned at the First Shrine in Solaris.
In Session 34 - Ashes and Radiance, Dravencoles felt the golden feather resonate within the Grand Cathedral of Elandria, leading the party to hidden chambers beneath the nave. In the corrupted crypts below, he wielded the Hammer of Elandria for the first time against a powerful wight—and the weapon answered with devastating radiant force. Drawn to the altar by a power beyond his own will, he vanished and completed the Trials of Light, attuning to the Hammer at last.