Character Study: Braham (Part 1: Retaking Cragstead)
Braham has been a major character in the Icebrood Saga, and due to the confusing ending, we're not exactly sure where Braham's at right now or how he'll be going forward. I want to take this opportunity to go back to the beginning and see how far we've come, and how our relationship has evolved over the years - we've had ups and downs, but I want to see what the core of our friendship is.
Part 1: Retaking Cragstead
We meet Braham in Season 1 as a worried sixteen-year-old with an insane hairstyle (according to Taimi), who barges into Rytlock's office demanding aid for his people, citing his relationship with Eir while also being averse to talking to her.
We had come in looking for a way to help, and this seems like a good place to start, so when he decides to go to Hoelbrak despite his mother being there, we decide to go with and back him up before Knut Whitebear.
There - after learning the dynamics between Eir and Braham are complex - Braham shows a bit of an attitude, a bit of fire, some bitterness - but at heart he just wants to save his friends. Whitebear and Eir can't help, so you offer to go with him. He thanks you profusely.
At Cragstead, he shows stunning positive character traits like loyalty to his people, determination, courage, and - to top it all off - an amazing amount of responsibility.
He fights with energy and intensity, the sort you only get from a sixteen-year-old whose life is crumbling around him. His weapon is the blunt-power mace and shield and he tends to charge in recklessly.
After liberating some prisoners, his love interest, Ottilia, is mentioned (who remembers Braham used to have a love interest?!?) - the dredge had taken her away somewhere, which would incite anyone's fury - and yet, we have this line:
Braham: I hate this. We have to help Ottilia - and her family — but first, I have to make sure these 'steaders are okay.
Braham: I've got this under control.
Later, he even tempers his hotheaded teenager-ness a bit:
Braham: I want to tell Brimstone and Whitebear that we managed without their help. Rub it in their faces, you know? Tell you what. You go tell Brimstone. I hear he's in the middle of a big meeting in the Imperator's Core.
Player: You going to inform Whitebear?
Braham: First I have to get these people to Hoelbrak. Once they're safe and healed and fed, I'll find out how I can rescue those who were taken.
Everyone knows Braham is reckless! But here we see his self-control. He couldn't rush off and yell at Brimstone and Whitebear immediately, so he was able to cool off and focus on the important things. He's capable of setting aside instant personal gratification for his responsibilities.
He was the only one both willing and capable to come to the rescue of his friends. And he was capable, and he was willing - that says a lot about him.
Braham is a teenage norn, and yet he takes the time to write us a letter and tell us how things turned out after, even calling us legendary... and yet he also says "I hope you still want to come with me."
Braham, Braham, Braham. Of course we still want to come with you. And so we do! Six Molten weapons facilities, where Braham and Rox get to know each other (and Rox shows him caution and tempers his recklessness a bit).
Afterward, Braham sends us another letter containing the line "I owe him [Knut] nothing, but reporting what happened is the right thing to do." And, y'know, to rub their faces in it like he mentioned earlier.
But then - when Braham gets there - he's more furious about the people who died. The people he grew up with.
Braham: I thought you should know. They were almost all... by the time I got to Cragstead, a dozen of my friends...
Braham: If we'd stood together... but no, it's every hunter for himself, right?
Afterward, Braham thanks you again for your help when you were a complete stranger who didn't have to. He's expressed his gratitude at least thrice by this point.
He's sixteen. The destruction of his whole hometown caused him to grow up fast - but he didn't grow responsibility just because of that. He had it all along. His dad trained him well.
Let's have some love for Braham! Spirits know he needs it.
Credit to the Guild Wars 2 Wiki for the dialogues from these story instances! (in the tags if you want to look them up yourself!)
