Rizali Corvus
 Riza without glamours. | |
| Demographics | |
|---|---|
| Controlled by: | Kyrie |
| Species: | High Elf |
| Born: | Astral Era Year 513 |
| (94 years) | |
| Nationality: | Elahánan |
| Political Affiliation: | Inverted Spire |
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Rizali Corvus is an illusion mage who arrived in Ceadaichte Mòir escorting the seasonal traders' cart in the spring of AE607 with Kaegan and Lyndh. They arrived prepared to journey through Kingfisher Forest and attempting to recruit any interested local villagers to their cause. While attending The Inverted Spire, they had stumbled upon ancient journals and documents that implied an eternal empire existed on the far side of the forest. Corvus's interests were in expanded knowledge of magic, as the residents of the eternal empire were said to be unparalleled in their arcane mastery.
Biography
Early Life
Rizali was born in AE513 to the House of Air in the Elahána Forest, a High Elven kingdom bordering the Republic of Ustendelle to its east. By the time of their birth, the House of Air had fallen from favour and hadn't held the throne in centuries. The House of Fire had held the throne for three generations in a row, something that would have been unheard of in the early days of the kingdom, and the Anticipation of Water was rumoured to be next in line. The House of Air wouldn't be in a position to seat the throne for another five generations at least. Despite this lack of prestige, their childhood and adolescence were still privileged, as even a distant branch of the ruling family held a fair amount of money and connections.
Rizali, or "Riza", was the third child to Arlassan Corvus, himself the second son to the head of the family, Feylhen. The estate for the House of Air took up one quadrant of the Royal Quarter in the capital and contained homes and security for the main branch of the House. The Houses of Air and Water historically had the most children and, as such, Riza was constantly surrounded by family members while growing up. They were a particularly frail and sickly child and spent a lot of time in their room while growing up, reading and practising magic with a family-procured tutor. They entertained themself with light shows, bursts of different colours and sounds, and sneaking around the estate at night while blending into the shadows.
At the age of twelve, Rizali approached the head of the family to request an official recommendation to the premier magical academy in the region, The Inverted Spire, and was granted their wish.
Acceptance to The Inverted Spire
Rizali emigrated to Ustendelle shortly after their 13th birthday in AE526, arriving in Coxarif via private carriage with their mother Brithari. They had been accepted into The Inverted Spire at the earliest age possible and would begin entry-level mage training the same week of their arrival. Their earliest days in the Ustendellen capital aren't well-documented outside a few official documents noting a member of the Elahánan royal family had arrived in the country and would be staying indefinitely, and their enrollment documents at the magic academy.
Their apprentice training was under the Adept-Elemental Mage Caoimhin Wælisc, a human from the northwestern reaches of Ustendelle, who encouraged the young elf to explore Coxarif during their time between classes. This coaxed out of the apprentice an interest in eavesdropping and socialising that would follow them their entire life. Once they entered adulthood, Rizali could be seen in taverns across the city, sharing stories of old Elahána and its secrets, and listening intently to any stories of human culture and history. It was also during this period that Rizali learned that some humans, particularly those from the western reaches of the Republic, had never seen an elf before and were prejudiced against them. They would begin wearing a hood to hide their ears when outside the Spire beginning in approximately AE536.
During their apprenticeship, Adept-Elemental Wælisc noted Rizali's aptitude and passion for magic, and the growth they experienced once they'd settled into the academy proper. The elf was an avid reader, and spent most of their time early on in the library's apprentice section, soaking up knowledge of magical history and ancient spellcraft. In group classes, they were often disliked or resented for their ability to answer most questions even when the subject hadn't yet been covered and an incorrigible nature that desired the approval of whichever Adept-Mage was teaching that particular subject. In an academic newsletter interview after attaining Adept status themself, Rizali is quoted as saying that they were "pretty terrible with people" at that time and expressed regret for the friendships they could have but weren't able to make.
Adept-Elemental Wælisc also noted Rizali's interest in specialising in Illusion magic and encouraged the elf to grow into the role. In 537, Rizali was allowed to take the placement test for the Illusory Specialisation track and was accepted as a Journeyman into the program.
Illusion Magic Training
Journeyman Mages were allowed access to previously-restricted information, most notably gaining passage to the second floor of the Spire's Great Library. Rizali spent the first two years of their Journeyman studies passing most of their free time in the library, again reading through magical histories and spellcraft, this time able to see more than just the magical history of the humans, but also the elves from their native Elahána. Though they had enjoyed private magical tutoring before moving to Ustendelle, Rizali had not been taught much of the history of magic within their people, and showed a specific interest in that area.