Basil Regal Cragaxe

Species
Basil is that of a Northern Elf, which are typically seen across the Helmsland in the far North. Often living for hundreds of years, the average Northern elf matures at the rate of 3.5 human years. With a variety of looks, the most common are pale skin, ginger hair, and reddish/hazel eyes. A once powerful race of elves, the Northern elf was met with great oppression when the Humans moved into the area and conquered the land from them. After the Kingdom dissolved into the Councilate, efforts to improve relations have been made, but were never truly successful.

Appearance
Basil is an average looking Elf girl, with ginger hair and reddish/hazel eyes and pale white skin. Having lived for many years in poverty, Basil is quick to wearing something informal, even when the occasion cause for better fashion. Often wearing either Scholar's robes, cozy bath robes in her home, or a stylish, yet socially unaccepted Blue Collar and small white skirt. Basil also appears younger than her age, not only for the fact that she matures slower, but her years as a Council Member spoiled her in skin care.

Personality
Basil is an awkward case where, her personality switches up very drastically, but usually always in accordance to some context. One moment she could be joking around with you, and the next, physically restraining herself from letting her sword slice through after missing you barely, intentionally. Many though, consider her as kind, curious, courageous, and stubborn. No matter the situation, if Basil believes it, she will do what she can to get there, even if it means the murder of someone she would once consider a good friend.

Pre-Birth
In the time before Basil, in the Helmsland Isles, the Northern Elves ruled the land until the Humans took power in a coup. With little resistance, the Northern Elf Empire had crumbled, and the Kingdom of the Helmsland Isles was erected. The Northern Elves would face mass oppression in their old lands. Anywhere from being mistreated by the common folk to death if the King willed. From King Gril I to Foil III, the Kingdom Reigned over the land for 546 years, or 156 years in JRT (standard elf years [3.5x standard human year]).

Birth
In the First year of Foil III's Reign, 235 JRT(823 KYR), Basil was born. Being born a Northern Elf in the Helmsland Isles meant one thing for Basil, and that was oppression. Basil didn't have the greatest childhood. Her parents, Aegadar and Nalia Regal were poor farmers who earned 1/4th that of the standard human farmer in the realm. Basil was rather innocent at this time, not thinking much of it, but growing up, they soon started to realize the how the world was around them. It was clear that something wasn't right, and Basil did not enjoy that one bit.

Coming of Age
In the year 241 JRT(844 KYR), at the Age of 6(21 in human years), King Foil III would enact the Free Farms Act which would cause all Farmers to give at least 60% of all produce if asked by town mayors. This seems not too problematic in richer towns, but in the poor towns, all farmers would be required to give as much as possible. This would effect all towns heavily populated by Northern Elves, the slums. This Act would entirely screw over Basil's parents' source of income in the town, which was already mostly diminished. After this Act was passed, Basil came to the conclusion that the King was out to target the Elves, to starve them out of the Kingdom and rid of them for good. At just the age of 6, Basil was introduced to the Harsh Reality of the world.

Rebellion
In the year of 252 JRT(882 KYR), at the Age of 17(60 in Human years), Basil would go around and stir up groups of elves her age, even the few, straggling poor humans, in unarmed raids on food storehouses to provide food for Elven and Poor families in her hometown. As the raids were very small, and hardly organized, news of them to the King were often discarded and regarded as "Too Light to be Dealt with in Imperial Matters." Over time though, these raids would get more and more organized with news of them sparking similar ideas in other towns nearby or as far as the farthest borders. Each time, however, the King would just mark it all as "Too Light to be Dealt with in Imperial Matters."

Revolution
The year 254 JRT(889 KYR), at age 19(67 in Human years), rebellions are running rampant. Chaos plagues the land. Northern Elves finally taking a stand. Basil plans to get in contact with as many rebel leaders as possible to discuss a fully organized rebellion. A secret meeting is held. The decision is made. Votes cast. The Nordia Revolution is exacted into existence. For experience and being the longest lasting Rebel leader, Basil is elected to the top of the new Nordia Rebellion effort. With more swift and organized raids and attacks, the King finally acknowledges this threat. Imperial Troops are decentralized and placed throughout the Kingdom in poorer towns, all over the land. Real battles begin to take place. 6 Months into the Nordia Rebellion effort, a plant is finally set to storm the King's Castle. Having gained the support of the masses of elves throughout the Kingdom, and even the mid to lowerclass Human citizens, the Rebellion is able to grow large in number.

The day has come where the Nordia Rebellion must finally storm the Castle. Not a single drop of blood is shed that day. Mysteriously, no opposition in site. The Nordia Revolt is able to advance with no friction in the way.

Overthrown
The Castle walls are breached, up through the castle, to the King's chambers, the first few rebels breach in. The King looks to be already waiting. Walking in, Basil finds that the King is just standing, Crown out reached, waiting for the taking. Basil obliges. The King abdicates his throne. Mass confusion is in the air. Many assumptions are made on what happened on this day. The King is rightfully exiled into the wilderness of the lands outside the Kingdom. Being the old man he is, no one expects him to go far.

Having the power of the crown, Basil doesn't want to make the same mistake that was made for the last 546 years, and therefore, develops and idea to divide the power among 5 voted in members. The Councilate of Helmsland is thus created.

Council
Within the Council, 5 members are elected, Basil included. The Council is dedicated to handling all the power the King did, but all matters must be agreed upon by the majority of the 5 members. The Council would go on to rule for the next 23 years JRT(81 human years) to come. In that time, only 3 of the Original Councilors had been replaced, but in that time, the Council had been a good idea and runs smoothly according to the Public, but within is a different story. Great Bias and turmoil would take place within the Council, causing it to nearly fail every day.

Speculation
Over time, Basil began to figure that some decisions would never be brought up with her there, and on most occasions, would never be invited to meetings. According to Basil, not that many decisions were being made, but they slowly realized that, sometimes, the newer Councilors would be more well-versed on topics she believed she was very well-versed in. Basil began to feel worry they were being left out of meetings. She was the only Elf on the council, afterall. Eventually, Basil would end up spending more and more time at the meeting hall, as to never miss a meeting, in fear of not being notified in the first place. She began to realize her worst fear.

Realization
They were not only keeping most meetings from her, most topics were on the idea on how they would bring down Basil from her status without the public outcry, but they believed that murder was too outrageous to be in the question. Basil rightly, didn't attend those meetings, however, overheard some bits and pieces from the doors outside the meeting hall. These meetings would happen nearly everyday, for weeks on end. Basil would only ever be notified of meetings that the decision being made was something that the public would react heavily to. This outraged Basil greatly, but in fear that something would happen to her, Basil decided the only option she had was to just step down. She was being plotted against for being an elf, and was never involved as much as she thought she had been.

Departure
Fearing what the government would try to do to her having lost her status, she ran. She ran far away. For 11 years, she ran between towns, ultimately, further and further south. She would gain a knack for documenting in a diary everything she learned about the places she visited on her travels away from the Helmsland Isles. She grew a large interest in those non-human/elf peoples and wished to learn everything from their culture to their history.

Arrival in Kylorne
The culmination of 11 had led her to this. Off of a boat in the Northern Reaches of Kylorne, Basil noticed a greater personal identification with this new land. Everyone they met, whether apart of the same land and culture, or not, would identify the land with one word of many variations of speak. Ultimately: Kylorne. Travelling further south, from town to town, Basil would meet a caravan of merchants. Agreeing to follow these Merchants for some time, in exchange for passing on knowledge from their journey, they went on. From town to town, Basil began to document everything.

Wandering
Wandering with this Caravan, Basil would see many wonder landmarks and places to potentially travel to after leaving the Caravan. Meeting many new people and learning as much as they can, Basil would go on to learn the customs of the land, a mix of many. On top of that, Basil would begin to learn common, only knowing Silvi fully, Basil began to learn the foundational language of the roads between. As they travelled further south, Basil grew fascinated with a certain abandoned mountain top. An old library of sorts, Basil thought of the possibilities with this land, and grew eager to learn who controlled the region. Traveling further south, past a stronghold of noble fashion, Basil would reach a castle town along a river.

Meeting the River'folk
Someone stands right in the middle of the road, as if expecting the Caravan, with trade posts all around. Growing closer, a man on the Caravan expresses relief towards seeing a certain named man. Argon. Asking questions, Basil learns that Argon is the leader of a land settled along the river called River'reach, or the Reach. Basil decided it was time to leave the Caravan here, and after expressing goodbyes when the trade posts are all set up and ran dry between the local traders and the Caravan, Basil would be left there, in foreign land, no knowing a single person. Something she was used to over the last 11 years. She began asking around about places to stay, but none would give a better answer than that of Argon, the Volark(King) himself. A house was being built on a bridge and needed someone to live there, for economical reasons. Argon practically begged Basil to stay in that house for a few nights so that the architects could get an idea on the general acceptance of a small bridge town, similar to the large one under construction over Kunami Lake. Basil agreed, not expecting to stay more than a few days.

New Home
Whilst in this new place, Argon had agreed to give Basil a tour of the land, and so they started off, looking around at all the thing the Reach had to offer. One thing Basil did in fact notice, was the war torn state of the land. As if battles had taken place all around. Asking about this, Basil would learn that River'reach had not too recently undergone a civil war, and that they have been slowly, but surely rebuilding. Basil felt this information was sad indeed, but glad to learn that the people she is meeting is the winning side of that conflict. During the rest of the tour, Basil saw many sites, such as the Citadel of Stars in River'Nexus, and the magnificent Casten Arch Bastion, the home of Argon. Basil felt right at home, noting it as very similar to that of the Helmsland Isles, many familiar architectural designs; the obsession with Bridges. Basil felt like this was the place to be. The place to settle. And so she did. She never officially told Argon she was staying, but it was kind of figured, as she made herself right at home, whenever she was at just that. Home.

Exploring The Land
After having decided to stay in River'reach, Basil would go on to explore the area around Kylorne, starting with just around the Reach. Discovering two new places near the Reach: Hewe Kahmang and West Watch, to the West, beyond the Swamps where Bogart lies. For this discovery, Argon wished to personally meet these two lands, and thus, they ventured back out, and met them all over again. Beyond that, Basil grew interested in creating a personal map of the land with all the settlements and notable locations on the Continent she was on. She would head out and mark down everything she saw, coming back every now and then to store information she had gathered in her home.

Scholar Life
This development of Basil greatly pleased Argon, and thus he would offer Basil the position of Scholar, if she so pleased. All her job was, was to learn and contribute the knowledge back to the Reach in some way or another. Basil agreed and thus she started her career as a Scholar of River'reach. Basil thought it would be fun to deem herself the "Nomad Scholar" while documenting her findings, and leaving little notes in places she believed were special in some way. As an official Scholar of River'reach, Basil continued her journey across, documenting the land in all its glory, meeting many friends along the way. On one of her journeys, she would meet Nethy the River Toad Caravan Merchant, the Leader of the Bogart. In doing so, Basil met a very like minded friend of the Reach, often coming back to meet with Nethy and trading knowledge for knowledge.

Meeting a Strange Object
On one of her meetings with Nethy, whilst trying to give a book on the Kunami River Settlements, a Strange Object was with him. It humanoid being, calling itself the Archive. A confusing object this was, with their first encounter being blatant thievery of the book being gifted to Nethy. Eventually, Nethy would help retrieve the book, but because this "thing" wasn't really alive, Nethy instructed that Basil not take it personally; that the Archive only wished to store the knowledge within itself. Basil was fine with this Development.

One day, weeks later, whilst at home, Basil having returned from gifting the Stone Witch of Mora a book on the History of the Helmsland isles, the Archive would return in great criticism of Basil's history. Denoting her as mischievous. Basil would not take this slander, and thus began to heavily critique the Archive. This did not bode well with the Archive, and thus a large argument ensued. Both beings would try and get to the bottom of the other, using whatever means they could to figure out how the other's mind works. Eventually, Basil would crack the mind of the Archive, and greatly stun the Archive with her findings. The Archive would then leave, not having any of this, in fear of what would happen.

Reachian Promotions
Living in the Reach for a while, Basil became really interested in the internal matters of the land. Argon would one day go to her in secret, offering her the position of High Scholar of the Reach. In this position, Basil would be able to take on her own apprentices and train them in the ways of her own. She was also able to now hold classes for all the Scholars in River'reach, as well as greatly influence national policies with her knowledge. Being so greatly involved in this matter, Basil would run for Vardian(Minister) of Diplomacy. Basil would win in the election from thenceforth be the acting Diplomat of the land, which suited her Nomadic tendencies anyway. One day, a certain man, named Kubel would request that Basil take him as her Apprentice Scholar. She would be reluctant at first, but agree to it, noting that she had been wanting a Scholar Apprentice for a while anyway.

Raskog's Chase and Love at First Sight
It's a fine afternoon in Kylorne, Basil is miles away from a certain Grave that a wandering Druid Dwarf by the name of Raskog Cragaxe had just reached. Near the mysterious grave lay a rock with the words "The Nomad Scholar was here. Heading East." inscribed onto it. Raskog was currently on the search for a certain "Nomad Scholar" at the time and decided it was a worthy lead. Following note after note for many weeks, in many different and extreme conditions, at the doors of a castle on one Rainy night, Basil would be found by Raskog at the location of "Blue Castle", nearly 4 kilometers out from the Reach. Raskog, not knowing that was Basil, was desperate to find shelter from the rain, but the doors of Blue castle were sealed shut. Basil reminded him of a certain Eledari Watch tower just east of that point. Reaching that tower, Raskog would thank Basil for the help, asking who they are in the process. Once Basil had revealed that she was the Nomad Scholar, Raskog would go on to explain the situation at hand. Both would later recount that that moment they first met in the rain was as the love stories they'd read in old books.

Archivic Chaos
Raskog would go on to explain that the Archive had sent him in search for "the Nomad Scholar, [in hopes that] she may give [him] the answers to help [the archive]." Basil would go on to explain the situation from her point of view, explaining how the Archive was actually a container holding the minds of six ancient kings. Three kings had perished over the ages in the mind, but three remained. These kings were contained through the mixing of the six sections of the brain, each taken from one of the kings. The Archive had noted that they were not to know their old names, but basil had figured out one of the names. From that location, Basil and Raskog would head out towards River'reach, but along the way, at the river's end nearby Mora, the Archive lay there in wait. Confronting them, the Archive would start attacking basil. Raskog being ready to defend would cause the Archive to stop. Basil would then go on to reveal that she knew the names of the three Kings. However, before she could bring herself to even say one of them, the Archive would say it before them. Instantly, one of the minds of the Kings would die. Out of nowhere, a new voice would start on about how there would be consequences for the Archive if any of it's protocols were broken. In that moment, the voices of the last remaining Kings would start to spill out, denouncing basil for killing one of them. They would then leave Basil and Raskog two books each and leave.

After reading both books, Basil and Raskog would finally learn the protocols for the Archive, as well as the history of the 6 Grand Magistrates of Ancient Synkletos. Having come up with a theory, both would agree to meet again another day. That night, however, the Archive would return. Nearly killing Basil in her sleep, Basil woke up and began to attack the Archive in self defence. After much arguing back and forth and interrogation, Basil would learn news she didn't want to hear. On top of that, the Archive kept trying to defend herself from the Archive. Getting away for a brief moment, Basil would quickly write a note and send it towards Raskog's grove in hopes he would arrive as quickly as possible to assist her. After continuing to interrogate for what seemed like several hours, banging was heard at Basil's door. It was Raskog, out of breath. Filling in Raskog on what had went down, Basil proceeded to restrain the Archive. Raskog disagreed with this, but allowed it under some persuasion. Many hours and questioning go by. They finally agree to rid of the Archive, imprisoning it.

Defeat and Confusion
The Information that Basil had learned was that the Archive was a vessel for cosmic evil in the universe. Whenever someone would release the evil, it would destroy that world, the Archive would finally recapture it, and then it would move on to another world. The cycle was doomed to forever repeat and evil would be released if the Archive was killed. The Archive contained this evil by capturing the innocence of six human souls, thus entrapping the evil within it. This process was overseen by an overseer. These overseers would make sure nothing happen to the Archive and they lived for many years. Whenever an overseer died, a new one would hastily take its place.

Basil and Raskog believed that the only way to stop this cycle, or at least delay it, was to imprison the Archive somewhere. Taking the Archive to the holy flame of Thunder Mountain, Basil believed it would be a good way to torture any remaining information out of the Archive before imprisoning it. In the process, the Archive would go on to summon a mighty Ent King to attack, twice. Raskog and Basil being gravely angered, decided, out of pure spite, to kill the Archive for attacking them. The Archive, was hastily cornered on top a copper spire, coming out of the ground over the holy flame. In the Archives final moments, Basil would use her axe to knock the Archive into the flame from at least 13 meters above. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr5yxnRE66g ' The Archive was dead. ']

Days later, upon returning to Mora, Basil would find the Archive again in a sort of cocoon state. This could only mean one thing. The worse was only to come.

Exile
In guilt and shame, Basil decided that she would run. She would run far away from the land of Kylorne. For weeks she ran, in a self-imposed exile. She believed that the world was going to end and that it was all her fault. She decided it was best to get as far as she could. Nothing happened. She didn't go very far in the end, only a couple hundred kilometers from the Reach, where she would lay low. She felt terrible in the end, and felt she had a duty to return, but could not bring herself to do it after unexpectedly leaving. She felt that returning would mark her as the bad guy, so she devised a plan. If she were to return, she would become the bad guy before anything happened. No one can hate you for a world ending threat, if you've already made them despise you in the first place.

Return of Dismay
With her goals set on return, she began her travel back. Upon returning, she felt good being home, but could not bring herself to meet anyone. She accidentally ran into Argon, who would be surprised at her return. She would lie and explain that she went on a long journey around Kylorne. Argon felt he should give her a tour of the place, seeing as a lot had changed in the time she had exiled herself. After doing so, Argon explained that he would be going away for a time, to a place for outside the reaches of Kylorne, that he believed was a good vacation spot, and so he was off not long after that exchange.

A few days later, whilst traveling around, she was returning on one of the new roads between Hyljaheim's Camp Hefja and River'Nexus. Randomly, however, she would encounter Raskog. Raskog not knowing where she'd been, was only happy to find her. Basil told the same excuse she told Argon, and both began to ride around the area. Basil would explain of a magical power she learned while gone, called Kuri, and even vowed to teach Raskog how to use it. During their ride around River'reach, they would end up meeting up with a weird man who was traveling to see the Citadel of Stars in River'reach. The man joined them on their ride, and at one point, behind Basil's house, they would encounter a weird object stating that it was cursed. Basil, having the quickest, most detailed plan flash through her head, decided to touch it. She then immediately acted as if though she had become cursed herself. She would go on about how she could not function properly, and that her magic was gone and improper. Having a strange idea to meet up with another man, Raskog decided that Basil should meet a man named Aved in the City State of White Orchid. Doing so, they would tour a large cave where large bones were seen coming out of the walls, and plants were taking over. Explaining that her magic felt better in that location, Basil would go on to venture the cave. Upon the exit, however, Basil would sprain her ankle in a fall while climbing out. The 4 of them would head back to White Orchid to treat it. Being given Russian Vodka by the mysterious man they met in River'reach to ease the pain, Basil felt worse afterwards. After a nice meal, the 4 began discussing about the Archive and how the Archive possibly cursed Basil. Just then, two people show up. A Dwarf friend of Raskog, and a weird creature named Starra. Starra would go on to bug Basil while Aved and the Dwarf friend of Raskog discussed diplomatic matters. After being finally ticked off enough, Basil fled the area towards Ulthuan Town center. An hour later, Raskog met up with her, and Basil would express her displeasure with Starra. Raskog insured that Starra was just innocent and attacked by everyone her whole life, viewing it as common courtesy to hit everyone she meets.

After the exchange in Ulthuan, weeks later, Raskog and Basil would meet in Raskog's grove. Discussing life the last few days, Basil would go on to properly teach Kuri as a ploy to finally get everyone to hate her. Getting to carried away with one of the extreme forms of Kuri, Raskog would accidentally attack Basil, and thus, Basil knew it was time. Using her magic powers to put on the visual effect that she had turned into a demon, she ran towards White Orchid. Raskog would go on to find Basil later on in the day, warn out and afraid of Basil. Basil would express how "it knows everything" and "it senses all" whilst visually in fear. Finally acting as to summon the courage to speak, she starts with "They call themselves the Draconic Or-" and in that moment, she uses magic to blind Raskog for only a few moments and gets away. She returns to the Reach and leaves a poem of riddles that direct Raskog as to where she is heading, and then leaves.

A Double Confession
Weeks later, Basil is found by Raskog, bathing in a tub in Traveler's Respite. Trying to scare Raskog away again, Basil begins to appear as a demon, once again, but fails to do so. In that moment, she decided to go along with Raskog and make him believe she is helper her. Taken to a little pond surrounded by Sugar Cane, Raskog begins a ritual guided by Basil, and thus, Basil uses this as an opportunity to tell the truth, slightly, to Raskog. Appearing as a dragon this time, Basil scares Raskog away and tells him that she was an almighty being and that her body is but a vessel. Realizing she was taking it too far, she starts confessing slowly, however. She decides to disappear again, but this time she heads to a residence in Cape Sor, Leánntir. Raskog having assumed this is the place she went to, goes here first. Unknowingly however, he arrives with whilst she is following behind. The moment she notices him, however, she runs off. Chased for many kilometers to a cave where she would venture down into, finally giving up.

Once Raskog reached her, she finally confessed everything. Her guilt, her lies, everything. Raskog would then attempt to console her, telling her that everything is fine. Believing this to be true, Basil gets more comfortable in that moment, however Raskog continues. Raskog slowly begins to confess something of his own; his love for Basil. In that moment, every memory of Basil had after meeting Raskog flashed through her head, all seeming to align with one thought. Every major decision she has taken since she met him, has been with Raskog in mind. Raskog had been on her mind from the very start. She began to realize that she felt the same way, and thus, she would go on to partner with him.

Start of a Relationship
Not much is documented on the relationship with Raskog, however throughout the time, it was an awkward experience. Never knowing how to act around each other, both were quick to disappear from the other for a few days at a time. However, eventually, they got used to each other. One of the many projects Basil had had from the start of her life in River'reach was to fix up the old library she saw with the Caravan she arrived in. She had asked Raskog to help her in the Project, and he willingly agreed. Their first goal was to start by cleaning an old pond, making it look more appropriate. In doing so, they realized it would be a fantastic place for marriage. And thus a date was set for a month from that day.

Marriage
The day of the marriage was chaotic, but it finally came. Delayed by nearly an hour, lots of people arrived. Dwarves from Raskog's land, River'folk from Basil's, and people they both met throughout all of their journey's together. It was a spectacular day. However, the Ents were very active that day, and many tried to attack, but luckily the River'reach warriors deterred them during the marriage ceremony. After the marriage, of course, a grand ceremony was held, but unfortunately, it was raided by a powerful enemy that would go on to attack everyone. Luckily, no one lost their lives that day, and many saw it as a fun after party event, seeing as most everyone were drunk anyway. After the fight, Basil led the guests up the mountain to the library, where she and Raskog would finally decide on a name together. Mixing but family names, they settled on Regal Cragaxe as their house name. Argon felt it was good enough, and even gave Raskog honorary citizen.

At the end of the party, Argon and a citizen of his broke out into a fight. Both were severely drunk, however afterwards, Argon would go on to send a formal apology to both the newlyweds.

Relationship With Raskog
Basil's relationship is a work in progress. Starting with a low build up after many adventures, to the confession of Raskog. The awkward phase at the start would slowly pass by, but by the end, but were really close to each other. After the wedding, Raskog would go on to assist Basil in many projects and help lead the new Noble house: Regal Cragaxe. Raskog was a perfect match for Basil, matching chaotic energy, whilst being able to keep more sane then Basil in tough situations. Both would go on to live happy together for the current foreseeable future.

Gallery
Last updated: 06:27, 12 March 2023 (UTC)