Aarne's family is a group of travelling merchants from the snow plains of Maialund - the northern continent. Aarne was a miracle child, having been born after his parents made a plea to the forest spirits for a child. As a result, he was born a human Conduit, unable to perform magic himself, but able to channel and amplify magic through his body. Shortly after he was born, his body became a vessel for a dark spirit known in Maia folklore as The Jackalope. Fearing for how the spirits' power might develop being surrounded by wild magic in the forests and plains of Maialund, his family cross the channel to the main continent when he's still a toddler.
The northern half of the main continent is almost completely devoid of natural magic, and so the dark spirit in Aarne lies dormant, unable to consume any energy more than what it needs to survive. Aarne and his family - his mum, dad, maternal grandmother, paternal aunts, and two cousins - travel around the northern half of the continent for many years, selling their wares throughout the small farms towns and villages. They lived peacefully until one day, when Aarne was 8, he decided to venture into a small wood near the town they were staying in. There was just enough natural magic in the earth for The Jackalope to be able to manifest, bursting out of Aarne's body in a chaotic and destructive rampage. Aarne has only the faintest memories of this happening, but afterwards his family chooses to stay close to the Capital - the most populated city on the main continent and completely devoid of any natural magic.
When Aarne is 15, there is a call to arms for more young trainees, as the war and plague overseas has decimated much of the Capital's army. He chooses to join the knighthood against his families' wishes. He is thrown into training and life at the castle and slowly begins to distance himself from his family and his roots as he strives to fit in with his peers. He quickly proves to be incredibly proficient at swordplay, and rises quickly through the ranks. After returning as a lieutenant from a campaign overseas at only 19 years old, he's promoted to a member of the royal guard, and two years later makes his way to the rank of captain.
After being in the position of captain for a year, Aarne accompanies the queen and her company of visitors on a hunt in the fringe of the ancient forest known as The Wilder. As they make their way back, they come across a peasant begging for help. Aarne crotches down to ask what they need, and the peasant reveals themself to be a hungry fire spirit. They burn away the body they're using and engulf themself in their true form, a wildfire quickly spreading across the thick canopy. Aarne reaches out to attack them, and the fire spirit discovers Aarne is a human Conduit. Possessing his body, the spirit draws on Aarne's strength to attack the Queen. However, the dormant Jackalope in Aarne's body senses the invading spirit and attacks to protect its vessel. The fire spirit is weakened and the fire begins to die down. As Aarne slowly comes back to his sense, disoriented and hazy on what occurred, he is arrested by his own men and accused of attempted regicide. He is thrown into the city's jail and his execution is set.
Aarne is the catalyst for Sam, Ghost, and Cory coming together to save the continent from the destructive rule of the fire spirit which has possessed the queen. He meets Sam when they're locked in the same cell, forming a strained alliance to escape as Aarne is desperate to not die tomorrow and prove his innocence. There is a general distrust between them, as Aarne was the one who arrested Sam, however they eventually find a mutual respect. Ghost reminds Aarne of the cousins and family he once had, and recognises the same deep-seated longing for a home he can never go back to in her. After meeting Cory under the false pretences of them being a powerful ancient wizard, and very quickly realising they are not, in fact, said wizard, Aarne has a slight distrust towards them, especially since they're very reserved and removed from the rest of the group at first. However, he quickly sees Cory's value as a healer and useful asset with the magic they can perform, and the two form a sibling-like bond.
last edited 14th June 2026.
