Raymond

Biodata

Background / History

Raymond is Pierre Krag’s second son. His deceased grandfather witnessed the burial associated with Cordu’s Warlock legend and passed the story down to Pierre, who later told Raymond 5.

His family intended him to become a shepherd, but he had postponed training for more than two years through various excuses. At seventeen, he expected to begin the following year if nothing changed. The work involved prolonged travel, little time at home, and difficulty marrying or establishing a family—prospects Lumian used to persuade him to investigate the Warlock’s possible treasure 4.

Raymond was also due to become a Greenwatcher, patrolling nearby pastures and fields to prevent grazing during the closed season and protect young crops. He deferred starting until after the Lent Festival 5 16.

Appearance

• Height: Slightly under 1.7 metres 3.
• Hair and eyes: Brown 3.
• Features: Ordinary looks and a slightly flushed face 3.

Personality

Raymond envies Lumian’s opportunity to study under Aurora rather than follow a family-assigned trade. Financial independence strongly appeals to him: when Lumian proposes a hypothetical reward of one hundred Gold Louis, Raymond imagines opening a small business in Dalege instead of becoming a shepherd 3 4 11.

Although familiar with Lumian’s dishonesty, Raymond repeatedly falls for his pranks. He can nevertheless challenge his friend’s reasoning, pointing out that Lumian himself sets fabricated stories in the distant past to make them difficult to verify 4 7 16.

He is frightened by forbidden powers, the Inquisition, and the belief that owls carry away souls. Those fears coexist with considerable enthusiasm for finding treasure; Lumian privately praises his diligence during their investigation 4 7 8 16. Raymond also objects when Lumian deceives Naroka and later mourns her death quietly 7 20.

Abilities & Skills

Information Gathering

Raymond helps locate witnesses and question villagers about local legends.

• Identifies nine surviving villagers around his grandfather’s age or older 7.
• Questions his father about the Warlock’s burial and possible residence 5.
• Helps obtain a more detailed description of the Warlock’s owl from elderly witnesses 8.

Practical Hunting Knowledge

Raymond draws on ordinary weapons and coordinated manpower when discussing how to capture a dangerous beast.

• Suggests borrowing a hunting rifle 11.
• When told that bullets cannot penetrate the beast’s hide, proposes surrounding it with a group, exhausting it, and restraining it 11.
• Lumian offers to teach him fighting techniques, but the provided account does not show the lesson taking place 8.

Relationships

• Lumian Lee — Friend and investigation partner. Raymond values Lumian’s knowledge despite his habitual lies and pranks; Lumian warns him about the dangers surrounding their investigation 7 16 20.
• Pierre Krag — Father. Passes down the grandfather’s Warlock story and prepares Raymond for Greenwatcher duties 5.
• Ava Lizier — Friend and romantic interest. Raymond hopes to win her favour, suggests including her in the treasure investigation, and supports her bid to become Spring Spirit 7 11 16.
• Guillaume Berri and Azema Lizier — Members of the same group of young friends. Raymond initially dislikes the idea of including them in the investigation because it would divide any reward and reduce his opportunities with Ava 7.
• Aurora Lee — Lumian’s sister. Raymond admires her appearance and fighting ability and envies the education she provides Lumian 3 4 5 8.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Investigating the Warlock Legend

• Recounts the story of a Warlock whose coffin became so heavy that nine oxen were needed to pull it 3.
• Accompanies Lumian to question Pierre Krag, discovering that Raymond’s grandfather witnessed the burial firsthand 4 5.
• Visits Naroka, who reveals that the Warlock lived on the land now occupied by Lumian and Aurora’s home. The former parish priest removed the valuables, burned the house, and had the corpse reduced to ashes 7.
• Continues interviewing elderly villagers after the apparent loss of every material lead. Their accounts distinguish the owl by its unusually large size and seemingly movable eyes 8.

Rumours and Warnings

• Hears Ava’s claim that Madame Pualis can communicate with dead souls and prepare potions and charms. Frightened but hopeful of a reward, Raymond suggests reporting her to the church; Lumian urges caution 11.
• Accepts Lumian’s advice to remain near the village and church rather than pursue potentially dangerous legends 16.
• Tells Lumian that Naroka died before dawn. He lends Lumian his household’s Little Blue Book, unknowingly supplying the intact text needed to reconstruct a concealed plea for help 20.
• Receives a further warning not to go outside after dark following Naroka’s death 20.

Lent Festival

• Joins Ava’s Blessing Procession, carrying a branch-woven basket of natural offerings 30.
• Finishes the Riverside Ritual last after failing to get a head start or push past the others. Lumian, young Guillaume, and their companions lift him and throw him into the river 31.
• Follows the ritual’s rules by swimming downstream and returning home discreetly, where he must remain until nightfall. The procession proceeds to the church without him, before Ava’s beheading 31.