Fraa Gratho

Fraa Gratho is one of the Valers present at Tredegarh during the extraordinary gathering. Erasmas later recognizes him as the Valer who, during street unrest in Old Mahsht, placed his body between the narrator and a Gheeth leader’s firearm and then disarmed the attacker—an example of the Valers’ controlled, non‑lethal methods.

During the ordered dispersal from Tredegarh, Gratho appears with a small departing unit (Cell 317) that includes fellow Valers and trusted companions of Erasmas. Lio leads the cell, and the Valers present pay formal respects to Fraa Jad before departure; Gratho travels with them as they transfer to a military aerocraft under escort. Other Valers named alongside him in this context are Osa, Vay, and Esma.

At the Caravansery of Elkhazg, as Cell 317 prepares for an ascent into orbit, Gratho works alongside Fraa Jesry assembling space suits and associated equipment. He demonstrates a retractable blackout screen that hides the suit’s external lights and displays, leaving the wearer matte black and less conspicuous—an answer to concerns about covert movement in the suits. He participates in the group’s simulator and equipment‑staging sessions as part of launch preparations.

Low‑orbit consolidation and communications

After ascent, Gratho is among the first icons visible on the reticule alongside Sammann. He confirms an initial star check, inviting independent verification. While the cell regroups under a balloon decoy and begins gathering payloads, he hovers watchfully as Suur Esma tows in Jules Verne Durand. At Lio’s order, Gratho and Sammann clamber across the payload tangle to mount and align a line‑of‑sight relay, restoring the cell’s link to the Reticulum. He continues EVA tasks as the team maintains station and connects incoming payloads in the balloon’s shelter.

Gratho is characterized by courage, discipline, and close‑quarters skill consistent with Vale‑lore training. As seen, he favors restraint and protection of bystanders over escalation.

Reticulum ambiguity and transmitter disablement

When Sammann outlined how Reticulum defenses might soon filter out bogus traffic, Gratho cautioned that the situation would not resolve in that way and pointed out Fraa Jad as he dismantled the wireless box that linked the cell to ground relays. Sammann later clarified that only the transmitter had been ruined; the syndev continued to function locally even as the downlink was cut.

Approach to the Daban Urnud

As the cell executed its silent climb and final orbital trim, the group abandoned the Cold Black Mirror and closed to visual range of the vessel. At a signal, grapnels were fired into the rubble shield’s mesh. The Valer cohort—including Gratho—had been issued cold‑gas thrusters, which they used to slow the group’s swing as tethers went taut, helping the cell gain a controlled purchase on the exterior.

Current status: with Cell 317 at the Daban Urnud’s exterior after grapnel‑assisted contact, continuing the covert approach.