Rauvik
The First of the Undead
After the creation of the undead animals had succeeded, the next step was to create a human undead. For this, Elynn and Nexara needed a Frostborn who had died recently. Elynn and the Golems, of course, knew the burial sites where the spirit of the Frostborn is released into the sky and the body given to the sea. Normally, it would not have been possible—or only very difficult—to retrieve a corpse, since the sea at the southern cliffs is particularly wild and treacherous, but with the help of the animal Golems this was no longer a problem.
Several undead double‑headed krakens were sent out to recover a fresh corpse from the southern cliffs and bring it into calmer waters, far from the usual routes of the Frostborn.
There, Veyos received the body, wrapped it carefully to protect it from further damage, and sailed back to Golem City. There he handed the corpse over to the two very different mages. The two women immediately set to work, transforming the dead Frostborn as fresh as possible. Elynn and Nexara succeeded in creating the first human Golem—an undead—and they gave him the name Rauvik.
Rauvik awoke with the knowledge that he was a Golem, and with the knowledge that he was the first of his kind. Contrary to Elynn’s and Nexara’s expectations, he was not pleased with his form of existence, for he perceived his body as weak and inefficient. His heart had to beat and he had to breathe in order to move, to speak, but not to live. If he were to lie down, stop his heartbeat and cease breathing, he could theoretically remain there for centuries until he decided to rise again and move. This frustrated him. He considered Veyos perfect and himself inadequate.
He also had the body of an older Frostborn, with age spots, creaking bones, and—according to him—an ugly face. They could at least have chosen a young Frostborn and not this repulsive shell. Fortunately, he was not forced to eat or perform other typically human functions. He was very strong compared to a Frostborn, but weak compared to a Golem.
It also bothered him that he could feel pain, that his eyes perceived only a small fraction of what a Golem could see, because he was bound to a human body. He hated his form of existence with every fiber of his being, yet he was not willing to give it up—he had nothing else. Moreover, this body possessed access to magic, which the Golems—despite being created through magic—had been denied.
What struck Rauvik the hardest, however, was that he had emotions, that he possessed the full spectrum of feelings, and that he was no longer rational like a Golem. He learned quickly to hide these emotions, but at the beginning of his existence he could not yet conceal them.
Rauvik is the mind behind the events to come; he is highly intelligent and cunning. His anger drives him. But it is not directed at the Golems, Elynn, or the Taikari—it is directed at the Frostborn. They are to blame for his existence. They brought about the war and would normally not have survived. He wants to complete Veyos’ original plan—the annihilation of the Frostborn—but they must suffer, more than the Golems and above all more than he himself.
He sees no advantage in his form of existence, no matter what others claim. Even though he knows that his drive, his cunning, his ability to manipulate are rooted in emotions, he will never admit it.
Rauvik also realizes very early that his existence is limited, for even though he does not age, he can be injured and mutilated. He has no means of reproduction and confronts his creators with this flaw shortly after his awakening. He insists on a solution to the problem, which the two women ultimately achieve—at the cost of Elynn’s life and that of several Taikaris.
They create a magical chamber that allows them to produce an exact copy of the undead from any dead body, including all memories up to the moment of death (provided he died near a magical, portable or stationary node that captured the memories).
Some of Rauvik’s “clones”:
Vikor the Gentle, soul‑healer and ancestor‑speaker aboard Raskab’s Fist
Letro the Calm, soul‑healer of the Löpenskold crew Ice Bears of Skipti
Several undead double‑headed krakens were sent out to recover a fresh corpse from the southern cliffs and bring it into calmer waters, far from the usual routes of the Frostborn.
Rauvik awoke with the knowledge that he was a Golem, and with the knowledge that he was the first of his kind. Contrary to Elynn’s and Nexara’s expectations, he was not pleased with his form of existence, for he perceived his body as weak and inefficient. His heart had to beat and he had to breathe in order to move, to speak, but not to live. If he were to lie down, stop his heartbeat and cease breathing, he could theoretically remain there for centuries until he decided to rise again and move. This frustrated him. He considered Veyos perfect and himself inadequate.
He also had the body of an older Frostborn, with age spots, creaking bones, and—according to him—an ugly face. They could at least have chosen a young Frostborn and not this repulsive shell. Fortunately, he was not forced to eat or perform other typically human functions. He was very strong compared to a Frostborn, but weak compared to a Golem.
It also bothered him that he could feel pain, that his eyes perceived only a small fraction of what a Golem could see, because he was bound to a human body. He hated his form of existence with every fiber of his being, yet he was not willing to give it up—he had nothing else. Moreover, this body possessed access to magic, which the Golems—despite being created through magic—had been denied.
What struck Rauvik the hardest, however, was that he had emotions, that he possessed the full spectrum of feelings, and that he was no longer rational like a Golem. He learned quickly to hide these emotions, but at the beginning of his existence he could not yet conceal them.
“I exist. But I am not like the Frostborn, nor like Veyos. I am something else. I breathe, though I do not need to. My body simulates cycles that serve no purpose. I must eat to maintain an illusion of life. Why? Why did you create me? Veyos and his kind are flawless. They are rational. They are unwavering. And you want to replace them with beings like me? With disgusting flesh and unnecessary functions? What am I supposed to consider myself? One of you? One of them?”
- Rauvik’s first words to his creators
Rauvik is the mind behind the events to come; he is highly intelligent and cunning. His anger drives him. But it is not directed at the Golems, Elynn, or the Taikari—it is directed at the Frostborn. They are to blame for his existence. They brought about the war and would normally not have survived. He wants to complete Veyos’ original plan—the annihilation of the Frostborn—but they must suffer, more than the Golems and above all more than he himself.
He sees no advantage in his form of existence, no matter what others claim. Even though he knows that his drive, his cunning, his ability to manipulate are rooted in emotions, he will never admit it.
Rauvik also realizes very early that his existence is limited, for even though he does not age, he can be injured and mutilated. He has no means of reproduction and confronts his creators with this flaw shortly after his awakening. He insists on a solution to the problem, which the two women ultimately achieve—at the cost of Elynn’s life and that of several Taikaris.
They create a magical chamber that allows them to produce an exact copy of the undead from any dead body, including all memories up to the moment of death (provided he died near a magical, portable or stationary node that captured the memories).
Some of Rauvik’s “clones”:
Vikor the Gentle, soul‑healer and ancestor‑speaker aboard Raskab’s Fist
Letro the Calm, soul‑healer of the Löpenskold crew Ice Bears of Skipti
Created by Selibaque 2025
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