Raeventiel Beaudonet

The Black Swan - Raeventiel Beaudonet

Raeventiel was born on the 16th Sun of the 1st Astral Moon into House Dzemael, one of the four ruling families of Ishgard. He is the youngest of Lord Vilikiss’s son and perhaps the feeblest due to an illness he suffers from since birth. While he is considered to be Ishgardian nobility, Raeventiel is honestly a lesser noble at best thanks to his father’s ties with that of the Holy See. Raised as a devout follower of the faith, Raeventiel spent most of his time locked away behind closed doors because of his illness. He was quite fond of books as a child and would often spend most of his days within his father’s study while his brothers wandered off for practice.

While his family wasn’t particularly wealthy, his family’s lineage was well-known. House Dzemael has always relied on the Beaudonets for support throughout the ages. All of the prominent male-figures in his house, including his father, were all Ishgardian Knights who served the Archbishop. While physical limitations stopped Raeventiel from pursuing his family’s dream, the young elezen attempted to make up for his shortcomings by studying the arcane. Black Mage is of course a rather taboo subject in Eorzea even to this day but with a little help from his older brother Morgan and his father’s astute advisor; Raeventiel managed to learn.

After years of practice in secrecy, Raeventiel became the youngest thaumaturge to master the magical arts at age twelve. Even though his accomplishments were nothing short from astounding, Raeventiel never managed to win his father’s admiration. In Ishgard, sword and shield prevailed above all else and a mage like Raeventiel had no place there. With his accomplishment treated with total disregard by his father and brothers alike, Raeventiel was overcome with grief when he happened upon a wandering mage by the name of Qina’a.

Hailing south of the Highlands, Qina’a introduced himself to the young boy as bright-eyed adventurer seeking fame and glory. He claimed to have wandered out of the Twelveswood in hopes of finding new horizons elsewhere but instead found himself within the harsh mountains of Coerthas. He would tell fanciful stories about his life within the Shroud and speak fondly about Raeventiel’s skill over the arcane. The two became good friends but eventually their friendship blossomed into something far less innocent. Trouble brewed one his lord father learned of his infatuation over the wandering miq’ote. Having shamed his family for the second time, Lord Vilikiss casted out his youngest son and had his alleged lover hunted. Ishgard has always possessed little fondness for outsiders but even so for those who toy with magic. Named a heretic by the Holy See, Qina’a was found and put to death in a mock trial that shook Raeventiel’s faith. Having lost the only person who ever brought him joy, Raeventiel confronted his father and murdered him using he very magic his father hated so much. Having no time to reflect upon his hasty decision, Raeventiel was apprehended by the Templar.

News of his crime sent shock waves throughout all of Ishgard and left his family divided during the trials. All of his siblings except for Morgan turned their backs against him. No matter how much he pleaded for forgiveness, Raeventiel knew he was a marked man. Patricide is a crime worthy of death and shortly after the trial, he was sentenced to die. With only mere hours left in his young life, a gleam of hope appeared in the form of his brother. Morgan, against all better judgment, couldn’t sit back idly and watch his younger brother die at the gallows. While he didn’t quite forgive Raeventiel for killing their father, he did acknowledge that their father had always been unnecessarily cold towards his brother. The two of them escaped the city of Ishgard and fled towards the lowlands when the Templar finally caught wind of them.

After several near death skirmishes with their pursuers, the brothers eventually sought and found refuge within Gridania. It was none other than Mother Miounne herself who took in the two boys when they ventured into the Canopy covered in dirt and muck. While they were hesitant to trust her, Miounne’s nurturing nature eventually won them over. Raeventiel and Morgan stayed with Miounne under the guise that they were her nephews. They managed to stave off any suspicions despite their Duskwight heritage and blended in well with the Gridanians. Raeventiel would take odd menial jobs around town to earn money while Morgan would use his skills with the blade to earn a reputation amongst the Wood Wailers. Life within the Shroud was a peaceful one until word from Ishgard reached Gridania.

Knowing full well that they couldn’t live within Gridania forever, Morgan decided he would return to Ishgard to plead for mercy for Raeventiel’s behalf. Raeventiel begged for his brother not to go but Morgan saw no other choice. He believed that if he could plead forgiveness on his sibling’s behalf that perhaps the Archbishop would be compassionate enough to lesson Raeventiel’s sentence. Fearing for Morgan’s life, Raeventiel begged for his brother not to go but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Years passed since Raeventiel heard from Morgan. His brother’s venture back to Ishgard yielded no results. Ishgard had since closed its’ doors towards outsiders and Raeventiel is left wondering whether or not his brother lives yet still. Having had years to repent for his crimes, Raeventiel, now twenty-three; hopes to return to Ishgard and set the wrongs he’s done.