Iskandar Ravensson

Iskandar Hrafnson

“The Way teaches us that to oppose things outside of a proper time and place is an error. The Way teaches us that opposition to a thing is counter to its nature and that as one moves in accordance with nature, one grows in harmony with self and the world. The Way does not teach what happens when one exists outside of the natural cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Understand, I do not complain. This path was freely chosen, and one I walked willingly; she was worth it then and remains worth it now.

The King offered us immortality and we took it, and since that fateful decision I have taken her around the world, visiting the lands of my formative years, the lands of my slavery. Yet I cannot complain, for out of that slavery I was reborn as something greater than I had been. I learned how to fight and how to think, how to heal and how to harm, how to take and how to give. I learned about yin and yang, the synthesis of the two and how harmony can be evoked.

I think sometimes that it is that teaching which has let me endure as long as I have. I bear scars from my younger days, my youth was not an easy one. I know, buried beneath the teachings of the way and the principles learned in meditation and through what is known now as martial arts, that there is a temper deep within me, one that could do considerable damage.

But the Way has brought me peace and allowed me to balance being a man of peace, and a man of conflict. It has allowed me to answer the questions ‘Why do we fight? What is worth fighting for?’"

The Past

Iskandar was born in a province of a Kingdom that vanished long ago, absorbed by its more powerful neighbors. At the tender age of five though he was snatched by slavers, and after a series of incidents found himself sold as a slave in China. He lived in China, being passed from owner to owner until his late 20’s, when he was sold once again only this time to the Japanese. Inquisitive and curious, the young man had absorbed the languages of the Far East, as well as their philosophy’s, religions and their fighting arts as well. Eventually, his last owner was the one that set him free, formally adopting the ex-slave into his household. Iskandar remained in that household until his late 30’s when his surrogate father died and Isakndar decided it was time to return to the homeland he had not seen since he was young, and could barely remember.

He took passage on a ship, and later became a pirate, taking a long road back home.

But eventually, he did end up back home. And found himself even more of an outsider than he thought possible. His people were coarse and violent, and he was refined and calm. He did not enjoy violence (at least he didn’t like that he did) and used it as a last resort while his people used it as a first response. He was interested in esoterica, and they were interested in the physical and the immediate. It was, uncomfortable for a time. Fortunately when he got back home, he met a rather unusual, and willful blonde woman, Astarte Aijihad, daughter of the mighty warrior Ashrom, who was Khan of his people. The two struck a friendship of sorts, with Iskandar serving as both playmate and mentor. Astarte helped the outsider monk bridge the gap between himself and the People. And while he was never quite approached in the same way as other men of the tribe, he was able to earn respect and eventually their approbation. Over time, the older warrior fell for the willful warrioress, and eventually they were married in full barbaric splendor.

When the Kingdom that was fell, Iskandar took Astarte East, in order to show her the wonders of the Orient (Or as she likes to say “the long boring trip to Chi’pan”). During their travels she caught a rare illness, one that his healing arts were unable to combat effectively, and he called in a favor from the tiger clans of China to whom he had rendered considerable service in the past. They granted her tiger-lycanthropy and cleared out the debts owed to the warrior-monk. Shortly thereafter, Isk and Astarte returned to Europe where they were reunited with King-Khan, and his Crazy Wife. King-Khan offered them immortality as his guardians, protectors and servants and Iskandar convinced Astarte to accepting, binding themselves to the vampire Isidore D’Aiglemort for time and all eternity.

The Present

Iskandar and Astarte were called to Chicago at the behest of the vampire in order to provide support to his efforts on behalf of the creature known as Aelianus Invictus. Since their arrival, there has been a great deal of ‘hurry-up and wait’, something that troubles the monk not at all and the tigress a fair bit. To distract her from their situation and at her own insistence, Iskandar recently became a father to twins, and the ‘tartlings’ have ushered in a new age for the warrior-mystic and his crazy mate.

Now, the warrior-mystic and his bride travel with the vampires and their leader to Denver, Colorado, a place that reminds the warrior mystic of the mountains of China and the sound of snow falling. It reminds him of 'home' as well, nestled amidst valleys and mountains. Iskandar feels a peace that he has missed, echoes of the past that sing in his present, and soothe as well.

I wash off the hatred of my enemies and the theft and anger of rich men

Of his knowledge a man should never boast
Rather be sparing of speech
When to his house a wiser comes
Seldom do those who are silent Make mistakes

It gladdens me to know that Odin prepares for a feast. Soon I shall be drinking ale from curved horns.This hero that comes into Valhalla does not lament his death! I shall not enter Odin's hall with fear. There I shall wait for my sons to join me. And when they do, I will bask in their tales of triumph. The Aesir will welcome me! My death comes without apology! And I welcome the valkyries to summon me home!