River

“They say insanity doesn’t turn people into monsters. Not literally, anyway. I disagree.”

If you just listen to village gossip, your impression of River might just be a good one: Outstanding healing skills and a renowned bloodline. However, even coming near his haunt will change this impression. The ice-encrusted bloodflowers fill the place with the reek of death. Bone and cobweb decorations clearly say “keep out!”. It is obvious to see that he doesn’t want to be disturbed. Those that still dare venture into his lair have been seen coming back out very fast, wide-eyed and terrified of what they have seen.
River’s birthplace was a colony in the Snowsquall Tundra completely devoted to their scientific research. He harbored powerful arcane energies, as well as a rare mutation that gave him gills. The researchers of the colony began studying him, naming him after the icy river he fell in at the age of four months. Nobody realized that just this incident was the worst thing ever to happen. For at the bottom of the water lay a stone so dark it absorbed the light of everything around it.

A fragment of Shade.
River picked it up.
And was no longer who he had been.

After this, River’s strength increased greatly. He became violent and aggressive, lashing out at everybody in range. Eventually he was wrapped in frozen chains and locked down, to be cryogenically frozen. However, the Shade had no will to be trapped once more. It broke out and influenced River, in both body and mind.
River’s talons were encrusted with stone. Claws of bone clasped around his ribs. Almost all of his restraints shattered into dust. He attacked the whole colony and did not stop until every living being around had ceased all movements and the snow was red with the remains of his late family.
News spread slowly, but it still reached the ears of a certain pair of in the heart of the Tangled Wood. A Shadetouched was on the loose in the Southern Icefield, killing everyone it came across… not good. A team was dispatched immediately, led by Python herself. The full details of the capture have not been declassified, but perhaps in the future I can tell more.
River never fully recovered from his injuries, both mental and physical. He retains some of the features he gained through his meld, as well as the ability to sense coming danger, abnormalities and death. The chains on his wings have been found irremovable and must stay. He has found his place in the darkness of the Shadowbinder’s domain and will likely stay there for the rest of his life. The book he carries at his side has a notebook section, medical information and a knife hidden at its spine, as well as containing a list of enemies he wants dead and how he wishes to achieve this goal. He is a basically caring person, but be wary of angering him, for if you do…
The Beast may yet return.