UPDATE 5/9/20 Gave him a decent backstory! UPDATE 4/4/2020 Changed rhy's secondary color as it was rather...jarring before. this looks A LOT better imo! Full Name: Rhyadin Age: 6 (at the time he meets Aylen) Lives to be 15. Gender: Buck Breed: Mule Deer. Residence: Oquirrh Mountains. Voice: Deep and smooth (Ref: Eomer/Karl urban from LOTR) Mate: Lazuli Rank: Advisor. Co-leader. Sword and Shield. Offspring: Two unnamed as of now daughters. Height: Rather large for a mule deer. At least 5.0 ft.
Backstory: Like Aylens, his early life starts out with tragedy. Contracts a disease during a fawn, and it proves itself to be deadly and fast acting. And Rhyadin's system was failing fast. In desperation, his mother, who had knowledge of the divinities, called out to any being who would hear her. The Dark Spectre came to her, promising it would make a deal for Rhyadins life to be spared. But not before a voice of warning could be heard by the Elder Being. Choosing not to heed the latter, the mother agreed to the Dark Spectres deal. She was willing to die in exchanged for the disease to be wrenched from her sons body so that he could live. But the price became higher as the entire herd was taken by the illness. Leaving only Rhyadin alive. Weakened, but healthy, Rhyadin removed himself far away from his home to escape the memory of death and disease. Was soon found by his aunt's herd, who took him in and raised him. Sparred with other bucks growing up within the family often, though he was always beaten, as his body had taken on a weakness since he first got sick. But Rhyadin possessed an indomitable will, and the more he spared, the better he got at it, Really good in fact. Bested almost everyone that tried to spar with him. As he came of age, eventually left his aunt's herd to try and strike out on his own. (Though he visited them from time to time.) Was an active participant in the Rut each year, though he never sought to take any groups of does for himself. Deep down Rhyadin felt as if fighting was a way to vent out his frustrations of being weak as a yearling, and to show himself rather than other bucks how strong he had become. Was caught in a scuffle with a mountain lion one day. In the ferocity of the fight the pair had stumbled down a steep, rocky hill. The fall, combined with the scratches and bites received from the puma weakened Rhyadin. Injured badly but determined not to die, he fended the mountain lion off for three days as it came back again and again to see if it's quarry was dead yet. Until he was found by a pair of does. (Aylen and Hyree) The eldest of the group, a third doe called Lazuli, agreed to take him in so he could heal. He was disliked by her at first, as she thought he would try to take the group as payment. But it soon became clear those weren't his intentions. The little herd soon warmed up to him. Rhyadin may not have been interested in claiming the does for himself. But other bucks had their eye on them, and would try to take the does for themselves. Rhyadin, not wanting to see this happen, especially as most of these bucks were arrogant, sleazy types, answered their challenges to fight. His prowess and skill was enough to send them running and whimpering away. Lazuli saw in Rhyadin a valuable herd member if he chose to stay. The brown buck had grown fond of the herd, and felt as if it were his duty to be with them. If lazuli is the head of it, then Rhyadin is the sword and shield. Though Lazuli wasn't shy of asking him for advice, for he too had considerable leadership qualities. During Aylen's two and a half year journey, they grew closer and fell in love. Became the father of two twin daughters by the time Aylen returned. During the time of the Black Days, when a wildfire ravaged the east side of the Oquirrh Mountains and killed Aylen's first mate Dhroven, he kept the herds morale together as Lazuli lead them to the southern side of the mountain range and fought off any predators who sought to take advantage of the deer's weakened states. As he grows old, another price of the Dark Spectres deal manifests as Rhyadin contracts the same disease he had when he was young. Claiming him in the end. Though he is touched by darkness from his mother's initial deal, he reunites with his family and lazuli as she too grows old and dies in the eternal lands. Relationships: Aylen: Daughter figure. Loves and would die to protect her. out of all the members of the East Oquirrh Herd, they relate to each the most from the tragedies they went through in their early years. Lazuli: Mate. Loves and cherishes her with a fierceness that overwhelms him. The thought of losing her and the herd to a rival buck or predator grants him extra strength when fighting. Hyree: Though not as close to her as Aylen and struggles to understand her sometimes, he too loves the young doe and would do anything to protect her. More of a niece figure. Rowan: Dislike at first. The buck showed up as a challenger, but was laughably beaten by Rhyadin. But the buck seemed determined to keep going. In a rage at his arrogance, Rhyadin almost killed the young male until Aylen intervened. Incredulous and angry at her interference, but not wanting to kill the buck in front of her, he let Rowan stay with them until he healed. Was sure Rowan was out to oust him by way of subterfuge, but it never happened as Rowan began to think of the herd as a family than a conquest. It took awhile for Rhy to warm up to him, but over time becag to think of Rowan as a younger brother sort. Dhroven: Aylens first mate. Suspicious of him too at first. But it was easier to like him quickly then Rowan.