Novach

Novach (IGN: jaeu) is a citizen of Felnós.

Origin
In the heart of the Abyssal Depths, where the ocean’s pressure threatened to crush even the strongest bones, there existed a Murkborn named Novach. Unlike his kin, Novach possessed a curiosity that burned brighter than the phosphorescent glow of his eyes. His scales were darker, his jagged teeth sharper, and his hunger for knowledge insatiable. Novach moved gracefully through the kelp forests, his claws tracing ancient glyphs etched into the corals. He sought forgotten truths—the kind that whispered through the currents, promising power and redemption. His mind, fractured like shattered glass, yearned for coherence. Perhaps, he thought, understanding the purpose of his existence would mend his fractured soul.

The seabeasts avoided him, their tails flicking in fear. They whispered tales of Novach’s malevolence—the way he lured ships to their doom, feasting on the souls of sailors. But Novach cared little for their judgment. He had glimpsed the surface world—the ships with billowing sails, the sun’s golden kiss—and wondered what lay beyond the abyss.

One moonless night, Novach swam to the highest tower of the Murkborn ruins. Its spire pierced the gloom, reaching toward the surface. There, he sang a mournful melody—a plea to the goddess Melós Filós. “Why did you create us?” he asked, his voice echoing through the depths. “What purpose do we serve?”

Melós Filós appeared before him, her eyes like twin galaxies. “I sought wisdom,” she said, her voice a haunting whisper. ''“But I birthed hunger. You are my failure.”''

Novach’s heart ached. “Is there redemption for us?”

The goddess touched his forehead, and Novach glimpsed visions—the city of Fístar, the forbidden libraries of Scholars, and the fabled Harmonic Conduit that held the secrets of creation. “Seek these truths,” Melós Filós said. “Find purpose beyond hunger.”

And so, Novach embarked on his quest. He swam through treacherous currents, deciphering runes etched into sunken temples. He battled seabeasts and negotiated with ancient spirits. Each revelation brought clarity, knitting his fractured mind together. He discovered that the Murkborn were not mere failures. They were keepers of forgotten magic, guardians of the abyssal gates. Their hunger was a curse, but it could be channeled—for the greater good or unspeakable evil.

Novach’s Encounter with Vandellia
As Novach swam deeper into the Abyssal Depths, his heart weighed heavy with newfound purpose. The Harmonic Conduit’s glow still lingered in his mind, guiding him toward redemption. But the ocean held more secrets, and Novach hungered for answers. One day, as Novach explored a forgotten shipwreck, he sensed a presence—a shadow that moved with purpose. His phosphorescent eyes widened as he turned to face the intruder. There, standing on the broken deck, was a figure draped in tattered robes. His skin was as pale as bleached coral, and his eyes dark like the void.

“You,” the stranger’s voice echoed through the wreck. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Novach’s claws tightened around a rusted anchor chain. “Who are you?”

The figure stepped closer, revealing sharp features and a mouth that curved into a cryptic smile. “Call me Vandellia,” he said. “A wanderer of forgotten realms, seeker of lost truths.”

Novach’s hunger flared. “What do you seek here?”

Vandellia’s eyes bore into Novach’s fractured soul. “Answers,” he whispered. “The purpose behind your existence, the threads that bind you to this cursed hunger.”

Novach’s scales prickled. “What do you want from me?”

The stranger extended a bony hand. '“Knowledge. Secrets buried deeper than the abyss itself.”'

Novach studied Vandellia’s eyes—the hunger mirrored there, the fractured longing. “Why should I trust you?”

Vandellia’s smile widened. '“Because we are kindred souls, Novach. Both cursed by creation, both seeking redemption.”'

And so, Novach followed Vandellia through the twisted kelp forests, past ancient statues and forgotten altars. They swam deeper, where the pressure threatened to crush Novach’s bones. Vandellia’s whispers guided him—the city of Fístar, the forbidden Codex of the Void, and the Oracle of the Abyss.

Each revelation brought Novach closer to understanding. Vandellia spoke of cosmic cycles, of gods who played dice with existence. He revealed the Murkborn’s purpose—to guard the abyssal gates, to keep the balance between hunger and enlightenment.