Achilla Verena (IV)

Within the walls of the Verena estate, an Aurumel was born to Lady Aphralight Verena and Captain Achilla Verena (III). Since he could stand on his own two legs, he was raised, taught, tutored, and trained to be an airship captain. His destiny already set by the will of those around him, the young Aurumel knew no name, nor any formal mask, switching from one to another as the occasion saw fit. It was not until the boy became a man that his father relinquished his own mask - one passed on from his father, and his father before - and the young Aurumel stood at the helm of a ship as Captain Achilla Verena.

Though a strong leader and respected by his crew, it did not take long after leaving home for Achilla to discover that being captain of the Volantem Navis would do little to sate the thirst for adventure he had craved his whole life. Achilla had no desire to design architecture, carve sculptures, or compose symphonies, but he was still an Aurumel, and he still wanted to have his name last the ages.

It was after a journey from Quill down to Pyre that Achilla and a few of his crew found themselves enjoying a warm fire and a cold stein of ale. It was here that Achilla became entranced by the tales shared by the Pyroi Embertounges. He discovered that night that his immortality does not need to be through creation, but through legend. With a new spark in his heart, he readied his ship and headed for Banyan, where he had heard tale of competitions between the Banyari to tell the greatest story. If he was to become the greatest story to tell, he would have to know where the standard was set.

Once on the Green Shard, it did not take long before the curious sight of a Nitansien climbed out of its canopy to greet Achilla. The air grew tight with tension, but eased as the two conversed. The Nitansien, Vidar, informed Achilla of his desires to fight back against Teryxian Outlanders in his home, but was unsure where to begin. Stating, "You can't win a war with a hug," Achilla proposed an exchange: if Vidar took him to one of these competitive storytelling sessions, he would take Vidar down to Pyre, where he had heard of a fierce warrior. Unfortunately, such an exchange could not be made. Achilla instead settled for accounts of these competitions, and also invited Vidar to join him on Haark where he planned on joining Vechter - guardians sect of the Skyborn Order.

[Possible connection with Maiken...]

Once on Haark, Achilla told Zeris - his second in command - to take the Volantem Navis and the crew back to Veil. They had all been away from their home and families for a long time, and he did not know what Vechter would have in store for the trio.