Role

Chapter 1

Galathaniel is the scion of noble House Cordatus. Though not especially
wealthy nor powerful, theirs is an ancient and respected line.

Galathaniel's parents are more lord and lady than father and mother to him.
This is not to say they do not love. There is however some stoic distance
between them - one born of decorum and social mores.

For much of his early life, Galathaniel was both dutiful son and loyal
subject. He broke off a boyhood romance with young Giselda at Mother's
insistence. He befriended the King's niece as Father bade him.

When it came time to settle into a lifelong vocation, however, something
happened. Galathaniel said "no" to his sire for the first time in his life.
"No, Father, I am no paladin, nor will I bend knee to that pompous fool who
calls himself Marshall. The Maran way is not my way, and the drow are our
kin!"

Electing instead to pursue his lifelong love for Knowledge and the arcane,
Galathaniel tried to enroll himself in Darsylon's guild of Conjuration. Tried
but failed, however, for Father had bullied the lowborn guildmaster into
submission.

That marked the beginning of a subtle rift between the young elf and his
family. Barely a month later, he had already re-settled in Galadon and was
quickly impressing the guildmaster there.

Years and then decades of rigorous study, research and experimentation
followed. On top of his love for Knowledge, Galathaniel has since discovered
in himself an unsettling thirst for Power - Knowledge IS Power, he has become
fixated on the fact. Knowledge begets Power, which in turn begets even more
Knowledge - exhilarating!

As the Planewalker he has become, Galathaniel wields considerable power but is
keenly aware of the limitations to that power. By nature cautious and
conservative, he prefers diplomacy to direct contests of strength - the
so-called 'soft power' described in the Magistrate Library's 'Gates of Stone'.

This is reflected as well in his approach to work, as a Magistrate of the
Blood Tribunal. He chose the Tribunal because he believes in the Orderly
utopia that it champions. He sees the Tribunal as doing the Light's work, and
he perceives the Dark of the Tribunal as being on a path to redemption through
their 'good works' as peacekeepers.