Joaqim
Content Warnings
Death, body horror
Joaqim was the second-born son of Dayani King Kole Bagvush and Queen Miria. Unlike his older brother, Ashot, the young prince never enjoyed sparring lessons. Instead, with his nose deep in books, Joaqim found comfort in the royal library. The Millenial War of Colours especially intrigued the boy. The contradicting sources, tales of Grdzneuli rulers’ terrifying might, and the unimaginable scale of the conflict filled him with awe. Joaqim dreamed of visiting the Nimrodial Library and uncovering records not even the royal library held.
After noticing Joaqim’s interest in history, Kole assigned Royal Scholar Al'Arikh as his mentor. The menes’ha man’s halo, tails, and purple hair puzzled the prince. Al’Arikh soon became a father figure to Joaqim. His stoic but gentle and caring demeanour comforted the apprentice, while the tales from bygone eras encouraged his thirst for knowledge.
Several years later, Al’Arikh introduced his new apprentice, Adarnerse, to Joaqim. The prince was excited to befriend his peer, but initially, Adarnerse kept his distance. Over the months, the newcomer warmed up to Joaqim, and the two grew close. Close enough for the prince to call him Nerse. Joaqim often sneaked sweets to the library, and the two gobbled them up under Al’Arikh’s nose.
One day, Joaqim noticed Nerse having trouble reading book labels from far away shelves. The prince wrote a sentence on a piece of paper, walked several steps and asked the friend to read it. After he failed to do so, Joaqim asked Al’Arikh to bring a stagyar glassmaker and gifted custom-fit glasses to Nerse. The friend broke down in tears, surprising the prince, but making him happy to know the gift was appreciated.
Unrest
Several years later, raids spread through Dayaen. The leader was Malkisaidek, a commoner claiming to be from the Tsiskari lineage, which the Bagvushs unjustly dethroned. Some said the Spirit of Rebellion guided the insurrection, seeking vengeance against the Bagvush dynasty. Initially, Joaqim didn’t give ear to the rumours. With Kole’s impenetrable palace and Ashot’s prowess, the young prince had nothing to fear. But as raids crept closer, Joaqim’s anxiety grew.Whenever the prince mentioned the raids to Nerse, the friend glanced away and swiftly changed the subject. To reassure him, Joaqim showed Nerse a secret passage from the palace. Kole made it solely for Joaqim, but the prince vowed to bring Nerse along if things turned for the worse.
Year of Birth
2079 AR/ADF
46 Years old
Circumstances of Death
Killed by rebel Malkisaidek Tsiskari
Children
Current Residence
Sex
Male
Eyes
Purple (initially green)
Hair
Purple (initially orange)
The Rebellion
One day, when Khaba’Ardian King Rhamas was visiting Kole, Nerse barged into Joaqim’s room. With shaking hands, he apologised and begged Joaqim to flee. Before the confused prince could react, Al’Arikh rushed in, saying the capital was under attack.The insurrection soon reached its peak. Ashot led the defence, while Al’Arikh guarded the palace gate. Kole ordered Joaqim and Nerse to use the secret passage, only for Nerse to reveal that the rebels had already surrounded its exit. But not even servants knew about the path. Upon seeing Joaqim’s questioning look, Nerse stuttered. But before he could explain himself, Kole darted behind the spy and put a dagger on his neck.
Suddenly, Malkisaidek barged into the palace, holding a bloodied golden morning star in his right hand while clutching a head in the other. Before Joaqim could react, the intruder tossed the head at Kole’s feet. A glance at the corpse’s horns and purple hair confirmed it to be Al’Arikh. Joaqim mustered all his strength, with trembling hands raised the sword, and stood between Malkisaidek and Kole.
Weeping Nerse cursed the rebel, calling him a delusional child who believed in their sick mother’s ramblings. His screams turned into muffled whimpers as Kole pressed the dagger closer. The king promised Malkisaidek he’d spare the rebels, including Malkisaidek and his treacherous brother. All the rebel had to do was walk away.
“There is no way back!”
As Malkisaidek swung the morning star, Joaqim glanced back. The last thing he saw before the impact was Kole slitting Nerse’s throat.
Resurrection
As Kole and Malkisaidek’s duel carried on, the prince grasped Nerse’s broken glasses and crawled towards the forest. He couldn’t feel the clutched soil in his palms. Heard the leaves rustle, but couldn’t sense the wind graze his skin. For weeks Joaqim wandered, not feeling hunger or thirst, while the burning pain itched on the left side of his face and spread down his neck. As he crept through the narrow streets, the prince heard people celebrating Malkisaidek’s victory, whispers of the queen killing herself following Kole’s defeat, and how the two princes perished without a trace.
The Nimrodial Library
A young woman greeted the newcomer. Before Joaqim uttered a word, tears flowed down her cheeks. She hugged the surprised visitor and welcomed him into the library. The woman was Yellow Grdzneuli Anni, able to read people’s thoughts and memories, and manipulate emotions. She revealed how Joaqim was connected to a black hole, explaining the gveleshapi’s incomprehensible ramblings. Joaqim was completely linked to the purple creature, making him the current Purple Grdzneuli. Anni suggested sailing to the Colchid Isles and meeting the Green Witch Med’Hea.
Reunions
Med’Hea’s typical menes’ha horns and wings together with halo and tails bared a striking resemblance to Al’Arikh. As Joaqim explained his story, a smile broke Med’Hea’s impassive face. Al’Arikh was one of her creations, and his apprentice could aid Med’Hea’s long-sought dream. The Green Witch walked Joaqim to a secluded room and showed him a flayed body with broken horns, a fallen halo, and mangled wings and tails. She was Lak’Rima, Med’Hea’s eldest sister, who she sacrificed centuries ago.
Upon his touch, Joaqim felt magic seep into the long-dead corpse. With a focused push, he let it flow stronger, causing the body to contort. As the thrashing ceased, Lak’Rima’s flesh twisted and thin skin enveloped the body, dotted with fish scales and raven feathers.
The corpse opened her eyes, shot up in a scream, and glared at the onlookers. The second she met Med’Hea’s eyes, Lak’Rima’s expression softened. She asked if the ritual was successful, if Shal’Amea ascended, but Med’Hea cut her off with a tight embrace.
Upon his touch, Joaqim felt magic seep into the long-dead corpse. With a focused push, he let it flow stronger, causing the body to contort. As the thrashing ceased, Lak’Rima’s flesh twisted and thin skin enveloped the body, dotted with fish scales and raven feathers.
The corpse opened her eyes, shot up in a scream, and glared at the onlookers. The second she met Med’Hea’s eyes, Lak’Rima’s expression softened. She asked if the ritual was successful, if Shal’Amea ascended, but Med’Hea cut her off with a tight embrace.
Joaqim sought to bring back Al’Arikh and Nerse. He travelled back to Dayaen, dug up Al’Arikh’s body and let the magic flow in. The shattered ribs interlinked with a snap, yet the body couldn’t recreate his missing head. Raven beaks and eyes sprouted from the neck, screeching Malkisaidek’s name while glaring at Joaqim. After a moment, the body calmed down and Al’Arikh asked about his whereabouts, the rebellion and what happened to his apprentices. Joaqim’s right eye swelled with tears as he hugged the mentor and explained everything up to the reunion.
The ecstatic mage was ready to meet Nerse next, but Al’Arikh asked him to reconsider. Instead of feeling the apprentice’s hug, Al’Arikh felt only the crushing chest and his head tearing off the shoulders. Nerse deserved better than this painful existence. Reluctantly, Joaqim agreed to let Nerse stay at peace.
The two returned to the Colchid Isles and spent years researching ways to ease their condition. But with little success. He grew fascinated at Lak’Rima’s tales and Med’Hea’s recounts of now-destroyed planets. Khimakar, the fourteenth planet and Ayonerra’s moon, especially piqued his interest.
The ecstatic mage was ready to meet Nerse next, but Al’Arikh asked him to reconsider. Instead of feeling the apprentice’s hug, Al’Arikh felt only the crushing chest and his head tearing off the shoulders. Nerse deserved better than this painful existence. Reluctantly, Joaqim agreed to let Nerse stay at peace.
The two returned to the Colchid Isles and spent years researching ways to ease their condition. But with little success. He grew fascinated at Lak’Rima’s tales and Med’Hea’s recounts of now-destroyed planets. Khimakar, the fourteenth planet and Ayonerra’s moon, especially piqued his interest.
The Dead Amaar
At the beginning of the Grand Metal War, the Anraakh Empire awoke a slumbering Amaar. Dayani Amirspasalari, Reon Kin’Ghaard, decapitated the beast, whose enormous body fell upon earth.To test his limits, Joaqim resurrected the Sun’s child. He was wary of the Amaar and didn’t bring its intelligence back. The corpse thrashed as the broken bones twisted in place, its radiant orange plumage turning iridescent purple. The beast squirmed in pain, its limbs jolting during each movement. Countless screeching ravens sprouted from its neck, swirling across the sky and desperately attempting to reform the lost head. They twisted, turned and merged, forming a human-like face which swiftly fell apart.
Together with Lak’Rima and Al’Arikh, Joaqim mounted the beast and flew towards Khimakar.
Khimakar
Even without feeling cold, Joaqim knew Khimakar was freezing. Ice covered the lands, and no sunshine reached the desolate planet. Soon after landing, a cloud-like creature approached the trio, holding a flute with spider limbs. After the group introduced themselves, the creature hovered in silence for several seconds, called themself Khimakar, and agreed to answer their questions.An Unlikely Accident
Over the years, Joaqim and Lak’Rima grew close and one day, lay together. Even though they felt no warmth, the closeness was comforting. Several months later, Lak’Rima showed signs of pregnancy. Neither expected their bodies to retain fertility, so they swiftly informed Med’Hea.A frozen moon was no place for a child, so Med’Hea took the newborn and raised it. Lak’Rima and Joaqim often talk to the child through a raven.
What the Dead Have to Say
Joaqim noticed how the mentor-apprentice relationship between Al’Arikh and him dwindled. They slowly shed any prior formalities, revealing every hidden feeling or grudge. Lak’Rima noticed the change affecting her as well. Eventually, all hints of self-consciousness, inherent respect and shame disappeared. Their speech turned direct, with no meandering nor fear of hurting the other or being hurt in return.As months passed, Joaqim further dwelled on the altered mindset. He felt complete freedom and deemed it the perfect state of mind.
The Purple Grdzneuli wants the risen dead to confront their living brethren, bringing on a planet-scale terror. Every human would be forced to face all their wrongdoings, uncover every lie and shatter under the agonising truth.
“The reunion you don’t think you deserve.”
Magic
The dead retain their memories and selves, but shed all masks from their former lives. They don’t recall any type of afterlife following their deaths. They can’t feel physical touch, hunger, thirst, warmth or the cold. The only feeling the risen have left is a constant pain from the wound that killed them.
The Purple Grdzneuli often digs up graves and temporarily raises the dead to test and strengthen his magic.
Notable Relationships
Family
Miria, meanwhile, frequently dotted on the young prince.
Joaqim and Ashot didn’t share any mutual interests or personality traits. The two had a warm but distant relationship.
The young prince rarely interacted with Kole’s daughter, Qalethia.
Al’Arikh
Joaqim enjoys the changed dynamic with Al’Arikh. The mentor-apprentice relationship doesn’t hinder them anymore, and the two are truly equal.
Adarnerse
Joaqim was ecstatic to befriend a peer. The prince often wondered about Nerse’s life as a commoner and admired his perseverance to become a scholar against all odds. He often noticed Nerse hide a frown with a faint smile.During the rebellion, the prince didn’t have time to process Nerse’s betrayal. Joaqim later remembered the times his friend stammered and caught his words before they spilled out. He often recalls Nerse’s tear-filled screams towards Malkisaidek and knows the betrayal wasn’t completely Nerse’s fault.
Joaqim always keeps Nerse’s broken glasses close.
Malkisaidek
The Purple Grdzneuli despises Malkisaidek for ruining the lives of everyone he held dear. He awaits a moment to confront the delusional king and shatter his ego.Lak’Rima
The Purple Grdzneuli learned Lak’Rima’s native tongue and taught her Dayani in return. The dead woman’s tales of her home fascinated Joaqim.Lak’Rima fully supports Joaqim’s goals and often accompanies him during grave-digging.
Khimakar
The cranky spider-cloud became a welcomed inclusion to the dead group. Joaqim enjoys listening to their past, mixed with curses towards the Sun. Khimakar occasionally inhabits Joaqim’s body and plays flute using his fingers.Anni
Joaqim is grateful to the Yellow Grdzneuli for helping him understand his condition. Yet, he wishes to attain her magic of manipulating emotions to advance his goals.
My my, he's so fascinating!! Very interested to see how he pulls of his plans. And his relationship with Lak'Rima is strangely cute ^^ (also, you weren't kidding when Malk's account of the rebellion was biased XD)
What's cuter than digging graves together! Bias? What bias!