Venat, Hero of Demonkind

Early Life

Venat Rhul is a name that appears in Defleos stories and history. A Suna-born Snow Elf, Venat was born to two notable adventurers, Arlen Rhul and his wife, Ashryn Venat. The two were born in Eiri and spent their younger years adventuring. Eventually, Eiri's jobs ran dry, and they needed to provide, knowing they had a child on the way. Arlen and Ashryn were officially married in their home village and given many supplies and a boat to travel on. Their next stop was Suna’s capital, Serilina. After settling down in Serilina and the birth of their daughter, Arlen and Ashryn decided to give the child her mother’s maiden name, thus Venat Rhul was born.  Venat started adventuring early, following in her parent's footsteps. Her mother taught her an abundance of magic, and her father helped her with street smarts and charisma so that she would never get a bad deal on a job. Some say Venat was a true prodigy, eclipsing her parents in skill and fame by the time she was only 50 years old. By the time she was 100, every guild, party, and non-magephobic mercenary company from Suna to Eren wanted her. However, she always stood firm in being independent so that she could be free to help anyone, anywhere. The pay was always secondary to this noble-hearted hero. With Venat’s pure heart and genuine care for others, her most famous achievement was no surprise.

Persecution Of The Defleos

300 years ago, the Defleos were discovered in Yorn, or as they referred to their home, Detoya. As first contact often goes with something alien, people become scared and find themselves predisposed to prejudice. The Defleos suffered this to a great degree. In their early generations, slavery was a preferable outcome, while others were captured, tortured, and even hunted for sport. Taking Defleos horns was even considered a status symbol among the upper class. “Demon Culling” bounties were a well-paying job posted on notice boards, being considered a kind of “pest control”. Venat could not stand by and watch the persecution of the innocent. She immediately organized a group of like-minded individuals and staged large-scale protests against the government-sponsored genocide while secretly running a network of escape routes for the Defleos to use to hide away in safe havens. As the Venat pushed more and more, her fame and history swayed more and more people to her cause. Nations began to change their policies and views on the Defleos, and eventually, Venat was left with one truly stubborn opponent. The fifth King of Suna, King Regnault VII.

King Regnault VII: “Despot of The Godsea”

Regnault VII was a human soldier from the Sunan Navy who had taken the throne briefly through a military coup. By all accounts, his rule was harsh on the people of Suna, with raised taxes, high military spending, and strict laws enforced under military rule. Of course, this included even worse treatment of the Defleos. When they were first discovered, King Regnault VII saw the Defleos to the south as a threat to his kingdom and was a major proponent of prejudice against them. Even as the rest of the world started making amends and working towards equality, he sought no compromise. Venat, believing that he would never see reason, gathered a small party of elite adventurers to help remove Regnault, “Despot of The Godsea”, from power. Janeaux de Marais, a famous hero of Eren, joined her cause. His long-time friend and renowned dwarven warrior, Karlev, “The Hammer” came with him. Lastly, they had employed the services of Matriarch Lilith Auralina, Moth-Insectoid Cleric of the Wulei Tribe of Southern Yorn, whose pact with a powerful spirit granted her unmatched healing abilities. Together, the party could storm the capital, and eventually, Venat reached the king while her allies handled the guards and incoming soldiers. Venat’s magic far outclassed Regnault VII, so the party of heroes could dethrone him and his regime. Following his defeat the former king was put to trial by the public, where he was sentenced to death. Janeaux de Marais succeeded Regnault as king, having his coronation punctuated with Regnault’s execution. All anti-Defleos policies were promptly removed and banned from Sunan law.

The Heroes’ Epilogue

It had taken 100 years total from when she started her protests, but Venat succeeded and freed the Defleos from persecution in the Eastern Kingdoms. Matriarch Lilith surprisingly lived to be 80 years old, some suspecting her long life was due to her pact with her spirit. Karlev had settled down in his old age and now watches over a small farming village in Northern Eren. King Janeaux eventually passed peacefully in his sleep 56 years after his coronation. Venat and her party were all in attendance at his funeral.           Venat continued her adventures on her own, fighting for justice and the good of others. However, one day, Venat seemed to vanish without a trace around 50 years ago. To this day, those of Suna and Yorn may know the ancient tale of The Hero Venat Rhul and her party, and she is even revered in equal measure as a saint by some tribes of the Defleos. There is a memorial statue to the heroes in Sirelina and one of Venat herself in Rivarlant. However, some also believe Venat to be nothing more than an old myth and legend passed down through time.