RUHISAI
Darwin is never far from the woman he loves,
Ruhisai, though they can't really understand each other yet. He tends to blush and lose track of his thoughts when she's nearby.

DESCRIPTION
Darwin has unkempt sandy blond hair, with matching beard. He has ghostly blue eyes and wears a contemplative smiles, even at the worst of times - as if he knows something good is about to happen. Often an honest, lopsided laugh breaks over his face like a wave crashing on the shore.

Slung over his back is a satchel of books and an art pad. When things are quiet, Darwin enjoys sketching the plants, animals, and peoples of the island. His talent is impressive.

Darwin carries a gnarled, hardened, fire-blackened walking staff inscribed with scripture verses. A silver and amethyst cross, a family heirloom dating back centuries, hangs about his neck.

HISTORY
A noted naturalist and capable sailor, Darwin was asked to investigate rumors of atrocities committed against the native peoples. He agreed to go as a personal favor to his childhood friend, the Archbishop of Dublin. He is an agent of the church and carries the corresponding documentation.

REJECTION OF HIS OWN PEOPLE
After witnessing the enslavement of native shamans by the outsiders, and the brutal murder of his best friend because of the color of her skin, Darwin has rejected outsider society. Miraculously re-united with Ruhisai, he requested she take him to her village, to begin a new life among the natives.

REJECTION BY THE NATIVES
Despite being warmly welcomed by many of the natives of Wiksik, including their purported king, Darwin (a pacifist) and Ruhisa were repeatedly brutalized by a certain member of the village's own Council of Wiksik, and a local sociopath.

Having no choice, and with nowhere to go, they withdrew to the jungle. It is at this time they first declared their love for one another.

ACCEPTANCE
Shortly after fleeing Wiksik, the couple were contacted by Solemn, leader of the Society of New Haven. Currently, DaRu look forward to starting a new life with newfound friends.

COME TO NEW HAVEN
If you are a misfit, a freak, a dangerous loner, or just plain alone, come to New Haven. I have a feeling you will fit right in.

A TERRIFYING DREAM
Recently, Darwin was contacted mentally by a powerful lich king, the leader of the Necromancer's guild. The experience left Darwin shaken and torn. His faith caused him to recoil, but the scientist in him was both fascinated and attracted by the exploration of the unknown. To date, he has only quietly contemplated the vision in his heart.

BEACHSIDE VOWS
At sunrise on the shore of a small island north of the mainland, they stood hand and hand and became one. With no church available, Darwin and Ruhisai exchanged their vows before God. (Darwin still hopes for an official church blessing, if a clergyman can be found)

HALLOWEEN 2010
Swam with a giant squid for a little while. Such awesome and amazing creatures! How marvelous, and how much more marvelous the God who made them!

You restore 10 HP to the giant squid

RETURN TO WIKSIK
After many months of wandering, the couple returned to Ruhisai's home village, where they were warmly welcomed by both the Necromancer's Guild and Anthor . In a native ceremony Darwin did his best to follow, their marriage was sealed by Jahnam Nehkan, a member of the Guild. Darwin still hopes to be wed in an outsider ceremony as well.

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF RUHISAI
Recently Ruhisai, after having fallen terribly ill, passed away and disappeared entirely. Darwin, his heart broken beyond the capacity for rational thought, has withdrawn to the wilderness, and now lives the life of a pious hermit.

Ruhisai did eventually return, though she was strangely silent. Darwin at first concluded she was a spirit. Physical circumstances soon proved that to be wrong, but Ru has yet to say anything about her long sojourn through the spirit world.

SOMETIMES THE SHEPHERD
Sometimes the shepherd must take up the staff to defend the flock from the wolves. On Black Saturday, the day after Good Friday, a time of death and mourning, Darwin and Ruhisai scuffled with a local murderer. In the fight, Darwin accidentally took the man's life. The Spirit of God immediately drove him into the wilderness, to torment him, and on Easter Sunday God sent a demon to strike Darwin down.

LIFE IN WIKSIK
After many adventures, Darwin has settled into a quiet domestic life in Wiksik with his beloved wife, Ru. He spends his days healing the sick, providing cold water to strangers, and gold to those in need. He continues his studies of the island, sketching and making detailed notes on its many inhabitants. His King James Bible, though battered, is prayerfully and joyously poured over every night by candlelight. He has planted a small orchard and tends to that as well.

Having been invited to join the Society of Notable Somebodies, Darwin accepted. Mostly because he seems to have an affinity for groups with the word "Society" in them. :)

A BLOODY DAY, A SIMPLE CHURCH
While foraging in the jungle, Darwin was attacked and brutally assaulted by the Hierophant, who spat racist epithets and intimated he intended to rape a native girl, perhaps even Ruhisai. Ru arrived in time and together they dispatched him. Returning to Wiksik, they found the Spirit Hut empty. They were then again assaulted by a cannibal named Seven Teeth. Again the couple fought back and dispatched him, only to be assaulted by yet another killer.

By God's grace, they escaped alive, fleeing without supply into the jungle. Darwin gave thanks for being alive, but he was disconcerted by the Hierophant's tags. He claimed, openly, to be a Christian. How could this be? Clearly he was deranged. But Darwin had only met two other Christians on the island. What would people believe, if the Hierophant and his false church were the only representatives?

There comes a time in every person's life when they have to stand up for what they believe in. This is Darwin's time. He knows what he has to do, but he feels utterly unprepared to do it. He is a man of science, not a theologian.

Nevertheless, there must be a simple church in Shartak, if only to accurately present the Truth.

LEARNING THE WAYS OF SPIRITS
Invited to visit the Free Spirits far to the north, Darwin and Ruhisai traveled for days with their companion and good friend, Samantha Kade. Arriving at the ancient temple just south of Shipwreck, they communed there with powerful spirits. Although his faith made him a bit hesitant, his powerful scientific mind was overwhelmed with curiosity. He allowed Ruhisai to lead him through secret tribal rituals which opened his eyes to the spirit world.

They were both murdered by the outsider-hating native Click Click, and from there moved to Santa's grotto to defend the big fella through the Christmas season. Given a sword by the old saint, he passed it on to his darling Ru as a Christmas present. It has started him wondering, however, if perhaps he should not take a more active hand in fighting the forces of Satan on Shartak.

A VISIT WITH SAINT NICHOLAS

Darwin Saint-Luke has spent the days following Christmas in long conversations, and often in prayer, with Saint Nicholas. They speak of many things - of Krampus, the terrible devil the saint keeps in chains, but

who is loosed once a year to punish naughty children, even to the point of carrying them away in his sack. Of the elves, who once were gods and goddesses but whose time has passed

and who now toil to make up for the many terrible things they did to the children of men. And finally, of secret things, which obviously disturb

Darwin Saint-Luke greatly, but of which he will say nothing. The old saints eyes are clear and blue as a crisp winter sky, but are not untroubled, and he seems happy to have someone to talk to.

Darwin Saint-Luke settles in beside his wife, and pulls her close. He touches the sword he gave her.

�We've been asked to keep that safe. At least ... for a while.”

ON HELL, MADNESS, AND PURGATORY

Darwin was sought out by Joshua Abraham Norton, a friend who was concerned. How did he get to this island, and why is there no death here? What what were all the awful spirits that often surrounded them? Are we all dead? Mad? Darwin response follows:

"I hardly consider myself a wise man, but I will offer what I can. From the perspective of science, I can say, there is nothing that happens in contradiction to nature,only in contradiction to what we know of nature.”

“The same, I believe, is true of God's will.”

“I believe the things attested to HIM in the Scriptures - that neither death nor life, present nor future, breadth or height, can separate us from the love GOD has demonstrated to us through HIS Son.”

“I do not believe we are mad, friend Joshua, but I do believe we are ignorant. That is something that can, perhaps be remedied in time. Perhaps not.”

“One thing I do know, our lives, and indeed our intellect, is finite. We are but a morning vapor, a butterfly's breath, in the vast concourse of eternity."

"If we allow ourselves to stand humble before both nature and GOD, if we keep our place and are open to whatever comes, life can be a wonderful and amazing journey of discovery.”

Darwin Saint-Luke lifts his glass and smiles.
You say “One we can all take together. As friends.”

“So rather than be distressed, or frightened, I am excited, for I believe GOD loves me, and there's a whole wide strange world out there, just aching to be explored, appreciated, and understood.”


A SACRED SPACE

After establishing the first of what he hopes will be many aid stations for lost travelers about a day's journey west of Wiksik, Ru and Dar decided to investigate rumors of strange happenings up in the mountains. Along the way, they were visited by strange visions of colorful ponies, and once there, Darwin was visited by what he believes may be his spirit guide - a big yellow pony named Applebloom.

RETURN TO THE SACRED SPACE
Darwin returned to Wiksik, his new home, where he was instructed to no longer refer to Wiksikians (Wiksikis? Wiksikites?) as "Ru's people".

"We are your people, and you are ours."

Darwin spent some time there, re-planting their groves and awaiting Ru's return from the mountain. A visit from Samantha revealed some interesting rumors about rune sticks and the ancient runes up on top of the mountain - Darwin has decided to return there, compelled by both mystic and scientific curiosity.

Junkhead - If you're reading this... MONKEY TAG!!! :)

ACCEPTANCE BY THE ISLAND
In June of 2012, while chanting at an ancient post, Darwin found himself surrounded by the spirits of the ancestors of the island. They blessed him and accepted him as their own. Moved to tears, Darwin dropped to his knees to thank the LORD, and blessed the island with all his might.

AT THE SACRED SPACE
Darwin has frequently encountered Applebloom, whom he is convinced is his spirit guide, despite all evidence to the contrary!

Darwin has been teaching Ruhisai the way of her ancestral spirits, in the hopes that she can learn the secret of the arches, but the going has been slow. Darwin is a little sheepish that he, and outsider, is the teacher to his beloved Ru, a native.

While travelling through the area, Darwin and Ru once again encountered their good friend Samantha, who returned Dar's cross and regaled them with an astounding tale of world-saving heroism.

THE RETURN TO WIKSIK
After a long study of the mysterious gateways, Darwin returned to Wiksik, only to discover it was in a horrible state of abandonment. The Spirit Hut was empty, the jungle surrounding the village was gone, and there were few people about. Darwin and Ruhisai's home had been ransacked. Sensing he returned after some terrible conflict, he has been unable to find out what exactly happened.

Immediately, Darwin set about to restore his new home. His first order of business was restoring life to the area around Wiksik. Every day he toiled over the barren ground in the hot Shartak sun, watering and tilling. Every night was spent lost in deep prayer.

It was during this time he had a very strange, preternatural encounter with Melgor. For some reason, Darwin found himself glowing white around the native, but he disappeared before Darwin could find out why.

Eventually, Ruhisai found her way back and they were joyfully re-united. The jungles grew thick and lush. The animals began to return. Darwin then set about restoring their mango and banana groves.

LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE
During this period, late one night, Darwin was lost in prayer when Theodore Edwin Gein attacked him from behind, bludgeoning him to death. An enraged Ruhisai, awoken by the attack, pursued the fleeing Gein into the night-blackened jungle. She trapped him and disemboweled him against a tree. It is only now that the couple has noticed that Gein and his murderous girlfriend Kali'na have taken an unusual interest in them (as of this writing, Gein and Kali'na have accounted for six of his last 12 deaths).

While trying to use the portals to find his way home, he was invited by Tonto to visit the court of Raktam. However, the invitation proved to be a trick. Kali'na was laying in ambush, and after his death, Darwin and Wiksik were openly mocked by a member of the court.

"We are pressed but not crushed,
perplexed but don't despair.
We are persecuted but not abandoned;
Cast down, but never destroyed.

For neither death nor life
nor present nor future
nor depth nor height
can keep us from the love of CHRIST."

He did eventually make it back to Wiksik, to find Gein had vandalized their home. He cleared the groves and the graveyard, and set about repairing the damage.

SHADOW OF A THREAT
Nurse House-House attempted to contact Darwin for help with a grave spiritual matter. However, at the time, both were sick from malaria. By the time they recovered, she was gone. They attempted to use the gates to find her, but only succeeded in getting hopelessly seperated. During this time, Darwin was contacted by the Nurse frequently in his dreams.

After several weeks of hopeless searching, Darwin and Ruhisai rallied at Santa's grotto for Christmas. It was a particularly bloody melee, but through it the Nurse found them. She indicated she was beyond help, but that a shadow of a threat was growing in Shartak. Somehow, this threat was centered on Anthor and Eliza Day. Darwin has always had respect for Anthor, and has decided to seek him out, to find out if there is anything he can do to help.

Ru has been teaching him how to track.

"I have set the LORD always before me. Because HE is at my right hand, I will not
be shaken."


What will become of him next is unknown.

Joshua Abraham Norton - Okay, this is getting SCARY! :)