[CHAR] The Whispering Badlands

[beyond visions]

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Emmett Warde II

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"Go ahead and challenge me."

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Name

Emmett Warde II

• Emmett takes on his father's name as he died when his son was only a baby. With his father's name now his own, Emmett however, sees it moreover a curse than an intended blessing. A curse because of the expectant for the same type of greatest the man he was named after had. Emmett does not bear a single memory of his father, but with the story he has collected about him, he is assured his father was indeed a man of any achievements. Yet now Emmett feels as if he must prove the same type of fulfillments his father had in order to prove his manhood.

Nicknames

Little Pup

• The Lead Explorer, Emmett's uncle, has called him by the nickname since he was a young boy. You see, Emmett has always been quite the runt compare to other guys. Emmett is shorter and considered skinner than average males his age, and this feeds to his insecurity yet he has always been encouraged by his uncle to use what others see as a weakness and make it his strength. The only person Emmett tolerates calling him Little Pup is his uncle, but even then he acts annoyed with the childhood nickname only because of his desperate efforts to act tough around others.

Emma

• This is actually an insult given as it is the feminine version of his name. He of course hates it more than being called Little Pup.

Role

Adventurer 1

Age

19

Gender

Male

Reputation

When Emmett Warde II's name is mention most think of the first Emmett Warde, the seasoned traveler and distinguished explorer. It is uneasy for Emmett to know others expect to see his father when they look into his eyes. But with his confidence, Emmett supposes they see the type of person who will not back down from a challenge. And yes, people will agreed with that, yet the kid's daring behavior brings him to doing many foolish stupid acts for so-called respect.

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Appearance

The first thing to notice about Emmett is, he's a small guy. But no matter, he strives to take the insecurity he has about his size and diminish it with thoughts exaggerating his skills to be more than what they actually are. Thus, Emmett becomes cocky and sometimes in stupid bravery, challenges men of gigantic statures to a brawl. It's done both the best and worst for him. The best, because he has tackled some experience in hand-to-hand combat, the worst because he has gone close to nearly getting himself killed. Emmett loves challenges and will do about anything to prove himself as a man, thus reason why he accompanies his uncle on the journey. With this excitement to be the alpha male, Emmett though not masterfully skilled, has trained his body a bit through what he enjoys to be running. He is not nearly as fast as he would like, but his stamina is not half bad. Sometimes he thinks if only he had longer legs, perhaps then he would be quicker.

Emmett has pale skin that burns quite easily. So, to counterattack this while trudging through a blazing desert, Emmett is force to rely closely on fabric layers. During the day he swaddled in various strips of cloth to conceal every inch of his skin for fear of what pain the sun's rays inflict. And even over those fabrics, he tops it off with a sweeping dark cloak. But beneath the garments, and right back down to the skin itself, Emmett shares his fair amount of scars and bruises due to reckless bar fights.

Height

5'3

Weight

125 lbs

Positive Traits:

• Courageous
• Forgiving
• Generous
• Perfectionist
• Serious

Negative Traits:

• Rebellious
• Cocky
• Stubborn
• Deceptive
• Impatient

Personality Description

Emmett is not one to cower at the face of fear. However he is not a thrill-seeker, he is not even adventurous either, unless that adventure includes glory and honor. Even when he could first think on his own, Emmett has obsessed over the thought of becoming a man of renown expeditions like his father. This has had both its negative and positive effects on Emmett. Positive because it has pushed and urged him to develop pride and search for success. Yet, negative due to an impulse to impress, the hunger to make others awe at his fulfillments.

Since Emmett has been raised mostly by his mother, he has adapted more gentler traits- forgiveness and generosity. He has become a forgiving person due to his own mistakes in life. With this, Emmett is not known to be a person who holds grudges, but this can backfire in a way that he allows himself to be taken advantage of, or become a pushover. But none the less, when he is stressed over a particular individual, he now currently finds himself inhaling the sweet dust of a desert flower. Even before the expedition, Emmett would sulk in bar, where bottles are popping, rather than bottling up any hurt feelings. As for generosity, Emmett did not grow up within poor living conditions, though he may have not been the riches, he has been taught it is better to give rather keep. Besides, treasures and trinkets mean nothing when glory is on the line.

Being the only man of the house since his father died, Emmett has felt it be that he strives for perfection. Because of it, it is not usual for him to give up, at least not unless someone forced him to due to a hopeless situation. If there is an challenge to arise that he can prove his masculinity or the flawlessness he is looking for, then he will face it. But a perfectionist has their downfall as without it, Emmett become dissatisfied with himself, even in a sort burn-out way. Next to his perfection, Emmett is also a person who takes everything very serious. Though this can be taken as a negative trait, it mostly shows that he takes every moment in a more concerned and attentive manner.

Though one of the strongest flaws of Emmett is his hate for rejection. He does not take no quite lightly and most often resorts to rebellion and defiance. It may be his pure stubbornness or angst that pushes him towards this behavior, yet no matter, he does not care about the consequences, only about his pride. Speaking of pride, Emmett is a very cocky kid, but it keeps him optimistic as he thinks quite highly about his sense combat skills. But it may be for the best, as if he did not find himself adequate, his perfection would eat him alive.

As for some of his other flaws, Emmett is deceptive, being that he does not always tell you everything you should hear. And with his secrets, he is in straight denial if you would ever discover it, even with evidence. But this is not saying that he would be loyal to the group for glory would be a sacrificed if he became a traitor. Instead, Emmett prefers to never admit to anything, best he still have his pride. His last flaw, being impatient, is actually something intensified because of his drug addiction, as he also suffers from having a short temper.

Likes

• Sweet Things
• Giving to the Poor
• Wrestling
• Watching Arena Fights
• Running
• Participating in Races
• Skipping Stones

Dislikes

• Sappy Love Stories
• Sailing (Easily Seasick)
• Being told no
• Wearing little to no clothing
• Colder Weather
• Learning new weapons

Skills

• Agile/Flexible
• Stealthy Rogue
• Well advanced in using his sling
• Fine Stamina

Weapon(s) Description

The Sling

• A very simple, yet effective weapon. Emmett's sling has a small pouch in the middle of two lengths of cord. Emmett's sling bullet is most often a stone picked off from the ground. For most of his life, he has used the sling moreover for hunting game rather than a weapon for protection. Yet, the sling is fully capable of knocking a lethal blow to hostiles within combat. He was first taught how to spin the sling by his uncle when he was about the age of seven. With a weapon where accuracy is key, Emmett has learned to have perfect timing and right aim. The weapon really shows when Emmett is on edge as he will continually miss a target.

Two Daggers

• As for closer combat, Emmett wields with him two daggers. Since Emmett's body is moreover built for stealth rather than strength, one of his weapons for choosing has become the dagger. With this, Emmett's fighting stance as reverted towards that of a rogue. When it comes to matter of skill, his sling bests the blades, yet he does not fare poorly with a dagger. It is managing two at once that arrives as a challenge to him.

Quirks

• Talks to himself- Emmett always thinks aloud both when he solving some type of puzzle, coming up with strategies, or even just venting alone
• Knuckle Popper- Emmett seems to crack his knuckles both before a brawl for an intimidating flair, and even when he is just bored
• Has a sweet tooth- Maybe it is just the kid that Emmett is that makes him extremely love sweet tastes. He made sure before the journey to bring with him two small jars of honey in his pack.
• Gets drunk easily- Emmett is considered a lightweight, and though he likes drinking, he knows it doesn't take much to get him tipsy.
• Always making bets- if there is a challenge to be thought up of, Emmett will do it

Weaknesses

• Small guy, not very strong
• Mind can be easily enthralled by magical manipulation
• All around needs more practice in hand-to-hand combat, especially in learning how to take down foes much larger than him
• Not quite yet skilled in dual weapon handling

Fears

• Losing his uncle
• Having others find out his drug addiction
• Becoming a slave
• Having to withstand torture in order to keep his companions safe

Secret(s)

Desert Flower Addict

• Among the Whispering Badlands there is a drug known as Desert Flower. The plant is recognized by its will to inhabit a desert and for its bright orange petals lightly patterned with strips of red. At the stigma of the flower holds hallucinogenic dust with the capability to induce euphoria. Once the flower is stiffed, the user inhales the dust and becomes delusional with unreal illusions seeming to them realistic. The drug is known to be found within desert parts of the world. Those who venture into the Whispering Badlands to collect and sell the flower are dubbed, Gatherers. As for Emmett he has secretly picked his stash, and occasionally when least likely spotted he inhales the dust the Desert Flower releases. Outside the Whispering Badlands, the flower is expensive as not everyone decides to journey out to a wasteland in other to find its fresh pickings. But Emmett can count himself lucky when he successfully does not get himself lost or even killed when wondering about with a head fill of hallucinations.
  
  After intake, pupils are dilated and the eyes are red to the point of looking bloodshot. The user sweats profusely as the body becomes over heated. The more times passes the more the short term effects fade. But as for long term effects, Desert Flower addicts are known to adapt a fiery temper along with little to no patience. Desert Flower is also highly addictive, for if the user withdraws from the drug, they begin to fall into extreme grief to even the point of suicide.

History

From what Emmett has heard about his father he was a scout in the ranks for a bit before becoming a full-fledged explorer later in life. Apparently his father did not venture off in exploration because of mere fairytales. No, instead Emmett's father was the type to sail of in hopes to discover new regions and continents beyond the homeland. His father's brother on the other hand, the current Lead Explorer, enjoyed the thrill of possibly encountering mythical beasts bound by legend. The two brothers ventured off on each every adventure together, with their findings of new land bringing in stable wealth, Emmett lived in well conditions even in absence of his father. In fact, his father indeed died within the Whispering Badlands, well most likely died. Well, his body was never found as he was abducted by Bone-Dry Slavers, he is just as well good dead with the torturous treatments towards their slaves. Emmett has come to believe in optimism that his father was mercilessly given a quick death.

Emmett has seen his uncle as that father figure, he is man who has mentored him his whole life. Emmett's uncle trained and treated him like a son. Yet, that is not to say that Emmett has hit his downfalls, because the kid enjoys bar fights and beating other men at their own games. Emmett is a bit of a gambler when it comes to rolling dice or pure shenanigans even if it is going to bring him legal troubles. And since it does not take much to get Emmett drunk, he has fought his fair share of drunken bar fights. He regrets his actions when finding his mother distraught and hurt over his poor decisions but in the rebellion of a young man, he finds himself doing otherwise.

The Whispering Badlands expedition is objected to hopefully change those behaviors and shape him up into a man. Emmett may perhaps become as great, if not better, than his own father. He understands this is one of the reasons why his uncle is bringing him on the journey, but he also acknowledges that his uncle wants to honor his brother by finishing what they started and letting his son be the one to join him in the glory. Emmett is eager, cocky, and lustful for the challenge that may gain him respect as a living legend.

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[Fetzen]

OTHEN PERELYN

_{Source: Cristi-B @ DeviantArt}

"Why should I be afraid of seeing my own blood ? As long as there's not too much of it coming out it's one of the easiest things for your body to replace."

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Name

Othen Perelyn

Nicknames

Beast - because of his appearance.
Blithiot - a combination of the words 'blithering' and 'idiot'. He hasn't heard it for a long time, as the friend of his who invented it as a humorous call for him once has moved away.

Role

Adventurer 3

Age

30

Gender

Male

Reputation

He doesn't really have a reputation in the sense of many people already knowing about him. He has just been too far away from them for half of his life. However, when he appears somewhere, it usually doesn't take long for civilians and soldiers alike to notice him. Those who do know him more closely will likely tell two things about him: First: He is strange. Second: When it comes to a fight, he is almost like fierceness itself, not having much of respect for his own body and demanding bascially the same thing from others. The majority of the people on the streets rather tries to keep a bit of a distance towards him.

Appearance

Othen's hair is cut short and of a very fair color. Sometimes it's even considered a 'dirty white'. As if he wanted to compensate this, he keeps his beard very long, bundling it with braces as close to his chin as possible. His more often than not exposed upper body is partially covered with some kind of warpaint. If there is any other meaning to this than just looking rare, he's an expert in keeping this a secret. In general he is often considered a colossus because of the immense amount of bulk attached to his body. His clothing appears to be comprised mostly of hide, but it is rather worn out and could use some thorough cleaning. His eyes are gray and he generally appears to be some years older than he actually is.

Height

6'9

Weight

370 lbs

Positive Traits:

• A friendly request will often result in him lending a helping hand.
• Undemanding.
• Has a strong sense of comradeship.

Negative Traits:

• He can be very stubborn when he has got an idea he thinks is brilliant or when someone advises him to change his way of life.
• Has a tendency to take words down the wrong pipe.
• Intensive and long-handed planning is something for slowcoaches. There are so many variables around that can change that the risk of a plan becoming useless at least equals the risk inherent to getting to work immediately.

Personality Description

Othen may appear as someone who doesn't care much about civilization, however this, at least in his mind, is a big misunderstanding: He does care about it, he just doesn't believe that neat housings, cities and a lot of the things people have invented to alleviate their lives should be considered a mandatory part of it. It can make people weak. In order to stay within the bonds of his own belief, he has a tendency to make life more difficult for him that it has to be: Having not seen any kind of what other people would call a decent amount of 'education' and not knowing about urban customs at best or straightforwardly refusing adaptation to them at worst, he can be difficult. On the other hand he is not infected by a lot of the expectations a more civil person often has, which can be advantageous for becoming friends IF one is willing to look beyond the other things.

Likes

• Eating, especially unprocessed or lowly processed foods.
• A decent fight, be it with weapons or with bare hands.
• Untouched nature.
• People who are as modest as he is and have a real understanding of him, especially since this is rather rare.

Dislikes

• Aristocrats. They have no idea of real life and rely on others doing their work for them.
• Blah-Blah. The definition of this is somewhat variable if observed from outside. For him, 'Blah-Blah' is when there is a discussion going on he believes won't yield any useable results in a rather short matter of time. This doesn't have to be simple smalltalk as social interaction can be viewed of as a useable result, too.
• Money. It's just so horribly arbitrarily dependent on what people currently believe it is worth. If someone hands you over a new piece of clothing you have a chance to immediately assess it and so has the one you are trading with a chance to asses what you give to him.
• Too many people on the same spot.

Skills

• Very strong and tough.
• Broad knowledge of the wilderness: Plants, edible animals and how to hunt them, survival tricks in general.
• Basic knowledge about self-treatment. This mainly focuses on injuries.

Weapon(s) Description

He makes use of two very simply constructed, large and heavy axes. Additionally, he is in possession of a wooden shield he can use as an alternative to one of the axes. All of this appears to be old and having seen continued usage for several years. As the two axes aren't exactly identical it is likely that he has first acquired one and then, later and from another source, the other one - indicating that he hasn't bought them.

Quirks

• As already stated, his definition of civilization is a bit different of the ordinary.
• Constant training is a must have for him. If there's no fight, then go berserk on other things, and be it lifting stones or carrying around other heavy loads.
• He's a smoker. Not much, but he does it. Mostly homebrew stuff as just buying it would conflict his attitude.

Weaknesses

• The idea of the risk of a plan becoming useless at least equaling the risk of getting to work too quickly can go off in the wrong direction. As he has survived this far the impact of his impatience in most cases is moderate and rather an annoyance then a real threat, but you never know...
• Having him as a companion in a city or even just a better developed village can be a real burden.
• His physique sometimes makes things more difficult for him than for others: Sneaking, squeezing through tight spaces or riding without quickly draining a horse's stamina are examples for that.

Fears

• Getting old.
• The possibility of him being attacked while he is asleep.
• Powerful magic. He doesn't know much about it, and probably that is exactly the point why he is afraid of it.

Secret(s)

The 'homebrew stuff' he can be seen smoking sometimes isn't entirely consisting of harmless, dried leaves. He sometimes adds ingredients to it that make him less reasonable for a while, but also even more ferocious.

History

Othen was born under very poor circumstances. His parents did barely earn enough funds to keep three persons and the shabby dwelling place they were living in alive, so they decided not to have another child. It was from early onward in his childhood that he learned to gather additional supplies farther away outdoors. Life was tough and the entire family wasn't really accepted in society because they were looking so poor and couldn't afford many things that others considered as taken-for-grantedness.

Unlike other people possibly would have done, he didn't get stuck in self-pity and despair. He accepted the situation and focused on damning the society he had only seen the more dark sides of. Never having been a real part of it, he voluntarily built up even more distance after his parents had died a natural death. The more he did so, the better it felt and the better the circumstances actually became for him. He didn't have to buy anything, he could just grab it from nature. What had once been a supplementary activity started to fill out more and more parts of his life It toughened his body. However, at some point, he became bored. He just had discovered everything there was to discover around the place he was living.

So he was confronted with a choice: Move to another place, risking to solve the problem only very temporarily, or look out for something like an actual purpose in his life. He decided for the latter option and joined a group of wandering mercenaries. It was there that he developed his style of fighting and the new occupation pleased him: Being a member of a group of wandering mercenaries basically was some sort of hybrid between his style of living outside of any settlements and being a part of a society. However nothing lasts forever: Old members went and new came, and not all of them did agree with all of his oddities. It became less and less fun, so he left. But he was now infected with being a fighter, and what could be more perfect than joining a new group that intended to go where barely anyone had gone before for a long time ? It's a challenge he has selected by his own will.

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[Deserted]

Rook Warde

"Never piss off what you can’t kill."

Name

Rook

Role

Lead Explorer

Age

42

Gender

Male

Reputation

Rook has a considerable reputation, one that permeates the common class of men and overshadows even some nobles. It is widespread, but not very prevalent (more like a brand than a hero.) Putting a face to this reputation, however, is a different story with the limited means of communication. There is a plethora of tales ranging from fantastic to mundane none of which Rook will either confirm or deny. He is as silent as the grave.
The following are some of the more predominant examples:
-filthy rich but keeps it hidden
-has been granted nobility or knighthood by some authority because of some great deed no one can quite seem to recall
-murdered his brother (Emmet, Warde of the Whispering Badlands) which is known by the family not to be true.
-a thief, grave robber, highwayman, pirate, black-market trader, or other criminal on the run from the authorities
-former knight, soldier, or mercenary of some sort haunted by his past atrocities
-a revolutionary seeking to gain a following and overthrow the current monarchy
The one reputation above all else, is that he is a man of skill and talent, and that alone has lead to a few considerable names seeking to recruit him and a few considerable payoffs for appeasing them.

Appearance

A little muscular, but not buff. There is a kicked-back and easy feel to his disposition, greatly contrasted by his sly and observant eyes. Grey hair has begun to hide on his head and goate. His dark brown hair is thick and stylish, but often buried under a hat or hood. While he dresses with care, that is the extent of it, once his work begins his garments become merely a tool and thus are not without stains and tears.

Height

5’9

Weight

180 lb

Positive Traits:

• Cunning
• Easy Going
• Responsible

Negative Traits:

• Secretive
• Cautious to the point of being non-committal and amoral
• Disillusioned with people

Personality Description

Rook is both one of the easiest and hardest people to get along with. He does everything in his power to diffuse situations, he always seeks mutual benefit and trade. At the very least, he will hear someone out. However, there is a monolith in his behavior that does not budge an inch. Because of this, compromise is taboo to him. He views the world as easy come and easy go, but as soon as someone seeks to change him he solidifies his stance.

He is a responsible person, taking care of everything under his charge. He expects everyone else to do the same. When they do not, he builds a hedge between him and them, and allowing their foolishness to destroy them while he sits by and watches.

It could easily be said that Rook is strictly neutral, and it would also be strictly wrong. He is autonomous and aligned only to himself. While this makes him a difficult servant or slave, he is a fantastic leader, fulfilling every expectation of the role.

Likes

• A good sense of humor
• Independence
• Time to think
• The night sky

Dislikes

• Small-minded people
• Standard-substandard anything
• Unwanton destruction
• Mosquitoes

Skills

• Strategic Thinking
• Sweet Talking
• Life on the run
• Research
• Architectural Inspection
• Antiquities Preservation
• Dead Languages

Weapon(s) Description

Mobility, versatility, and power. Rook carries a hatchet and a war-hammer (with a pick on the other end. In his equipment is a recurve bow that he has trained to offset firing from horseback. He also carries a bullwhip (of which he is rather adept) as well as dual boot knives.

Quirks

• Talkative... yet keeps secrets.
• OCD
• Enough: Rook makes sure that only enough is used for anything. This leaves a reserve that could be the difference between survival and death.

Weaknesses

• Disillusioned
• Apathetic
• Uncompromising

Fears

• Himself
• Irrelevance
• His nephew becoming a loser because of something he’s messed up

Secrets

He is a creature of secrets, protecting each like a dragon jealousy hoards treasure. Much of his life and work is shrouded in a fog, with rumor and speculation mixed with half-truths and inaccuracies. The one secret that can be pried loose by those under his charge is the fact that his reputation bothers him greatly, as if he despised the very fact that he was known.

History

The truth? The simple truth without embellishment? That is not so simple, for we often fantasize our paradigm, or are flat out mistaken. Such a rickety structure is the memory of man. So, the closest to the truth from my perspective is as follows.
We were treasure hunters, in a way, when we had no urgency for a roof or for tax money or for funds to pay a healer. One might say that the lower class of freemen was the breeding grounds for treasure hunters. Life was just the down time between quests. Nor did it matter the desires of our guild or clan. We told them to hang themselves by their thumbs, we had heard the siren call of the minstrel be it fiction, fancy, or legend.

Emmet, perhaps, was better equipped than I. He was focused, honed on the treasures and the glory. I lacked focus. That was perhaps the reason he was the first to taste the dream, when he found that old wizard’s keep out in the Badlands. I was with him then, but doubted our success the entire way. I was cursed there, unsealing that dark chamber and all of those obscene leavings protruding out of the sand. The venture paid in silver, but at what cost?

I diversified a bit, and struck out into politics for a while. Actually got to speak to the duke once, I got to say three words. “Man must speak...” What a fool I must have sounded. I was interrupted by some whispered emergency, and waited to present my case later. I gave up after three months of waiting for action. I realized the fallacy of civilization in that time, and the fallacy of myself. I tried to pursue some mundane life back home, but I never knew how to be normal.

So, I struck out again, this time with spite and rage, and I threw formalities to the wind. Some would call it criminal, some clever. I shattered the spell of fantasm and fed the loop of greed back on itself, and it paid in gold. Glorious gold. I made enemies, and I killed them when they drew the line between life and death and facsimile. However, I never felled anyone who did not give me another option. Then, in one spectacularly impossible to predict twist... it all ended. The cunning escapades, the fame and glory, the money. I was a broken man, the idol of myself toppled in the temple of my heart. I recall kneeling in the sand and dust, leaves blowing around me. I was wrong, so wrong. I had played the game of mankind, and I had only achieved destruction of everything that meant anything. I was alone, surrounded by the dead and surrounded by life. I was the curse.

Our big project, the one me and Emmett worked on for decades, was the Hand of Eden. We had studied, and learned, and dreamed, and practiced. Little by little, did we carve legend into reality, and little by little we reached insight. Emmet was sure that he had found it on his last venture. He was striking out, either desperate or ready to rejuvenate the Hand. I find it more than simple coincidence that he vanished about the same time that I was dashed against the stones.

So, when I got back, I tended to his boy and widow. However, the curse of Humanity called, and I could spare not but a few days of the month in their company. Perhaps the tranquility was what opened up the clues, for piece by piece I had collected the keys to unraveling the Hand, and perhaps even driving out the corruption that had strangled it. Much of what I pieced together, came from Emmet's research. I was actually ready a few years before, but at the pleading of his mother, I waited to take Emmet’s son to forge him into a man. So, this journey is personal, and I believe the time is right because I am right for the task. I will need to compose a team.

[dreamingflowers]

Floure Camlo

"Why do people go to a fortune teller if they do not want to hear the truth? I don't sell lies for coin"

Name

Floure Camlo, in her native language Camlo means, one who kisses well.

Nicknames

Lady Lovel

• It is the name she uses when telling fortunes for her clients. With this name she earned a reputation for herself and people who are in need of her services know her only as Lady Lovel. Lovel is actually her surname translated into the common tongue.

Little flower

• A loving nickname used mainly by her brothers who have always treated her like something in need of protection. A delicate little flower, which if you know Floure at all is far from reality.

Role

Physician

Age

18

Gender

Female

Reputation

The reputation of Floure’s people often precedes her. She belongs to a wandering race driven from their ancestral homeland centuries ago. In the intervening years they have spread across the nations, earning coin as itinerant peddlers, performers, storytellers and mercenaries. The Travelers are a mongrel people, intentionally mixing their bloodline with as many other tribes and clans as they can. Their women are known to seduce the most attractive and intelligent foreign men, hoping to enrich the bloodline of their people. It is believed that Traveler blood flows in the veins of most commoners.

Appearance

Floure is an attractive young woman possessing a natural beauty, pure and fresh like a spring flower. One of the first things you will notice are her striking eyes, pale in color and framed by long black lashes. They are the kind of eyes that you can’t look away from and they often shimmer with thoughts of mischief and joy. Inherited from her high born father Floure has smooth alabaster skin. It starkly contrasts with her flowing raven hair which she often wears down letting it fall along her shoulders and back. Her hair is very thick and naturally curly. She has a sweet face with a tiny nose and full pink lips usually curled up into a cheeky smile.

As an entertainer the young woman dresses in bright and colorful garments, to draw the eye to where she needs it. She wears a white of the shoulder blouse with a plunging neckline, the sleeves decorated with intricate embroidery. Around her waist she wears a bodice made of supple painted leather which hugs her curves and cinches in her waist. It was custom made for her, richly decorated with colorful threads and swirling flowers. Underneath that she wears a skirt of multiple layers and varying contrasting colors. Tied on top of her skirts and around her waist is a sheer shawl in a rich purple hue painted with golden moons, stars and other celestial bodies . Small gold ornaments hang from the edges of the shawl . The young woman wears her riches on her body and is rarely seen without an assortment of jewelry adorning her neck, ears, wrists, hands and even ankles. They're made from all kinds of precious metals and stones

Being only eighteen years old and at the start of womanhood Floure has a very womanly figure for her age. With narrow shoulders, a well-developed bosom and wide hips that sway when she walks, but they are largely hidden by her full skirts. Being a dancer she knows how to move incredibly well and the way she moves is both alluring and graceful. When dancing she wears a pair of anklets with tiny bells on them, so her moves are complimented by an ever present chime.

Height

5’4

Weight

119 Ibs

Positive Traits:

• Kind
• A good listener
• Clever
• Intuitive
• Sweet talker

Negative Traits:

• Manipulative
• Secretive
• Possessive
• Spiteful

Personality Description

Floure is a compassionate and kind young woman. She is quick to take a liking to someone because she believes there is good to be found in everyone. Having grown up in large and very loving family she knows the importance of the individual comes second to that of the community. Blood ties are very important and she would walk through fire for any one of her relatives be it her closest brother or her most distant cousin. She has a strong maternal instinct and children often flock to her because they feel her warmth and caring soul.

Had she been raised in the environment of her father she might have turned out to be a soft spoken demure young lady, as it stands she is far from that. Floure has a way of wrapping people around her little finger, especially young men. Sweet words and flattery are her forte and she is not above using her beauty and silver tongue to get what she wants. Aside from her mischievous streak she is just a sweet girl who bears no ill will to most, her manipulations and schemes are mainly innocent play. She is not afraid to stand up to men and manages to get away with more than most, some say it's because they find her desirable while others blame her way with words. Floure is accustomed to getting her way and has a hard time dealing with rejection, which she does not understand.

Having met people from all walks of life Floure is tolerant of others but there is still a clear distinction between Travelers and the Goriken rat, the common people. She is wary of common folk especially the religious kind. Coin has its way of disappearing around her be it her own or that of others. Her people are known to perform a trick they refer to as the Huckeny Boro or the Great trick in which all money mysteriously disappears from a house. The victims are usually people of great wealth. Floure knows this trick very well and has performed it on regular occasion, so her pouch is rarely empty. Which is good considering she likes all things beautiful and expensive.

There is a familial kind of feeling to her, like she is the sister or daughter you never had. If she becomes your friend she will consider you family and treat you in the same way she does her brothers and sisters.

Likes

• Beautiful things, be it clothes, jewels ornaments, or anything else she can wear on her person.
• Dancing
• Fortune telling
• Visiting the marketplace
• Watching the sunset
• Performing the Huckeny Boro on rich people
• Joke around with friends

Dislikes

• Cooking, sewing, washing clothes. Nearly any chores traditionally carried out by women
• Religious fanatics
• Her father
• Being locked up in a town, a city or any other place
• Drunk noblemen
• Lakes, rivers or any large body of water

Skills

• Skilled herbalist and healer
• Adapt at reading body language
• Quick on her feet

Weapon(s) Description

Iron knife

• A long extremely sharp knife forged from the strongest iron known to her people. It is engraved with sigils which are meant to give it cleansing and purifying qualities. It is at least three generations old and passed down like many things in Traveler culture from mother to daughter. It strangely shows little to no sign of usage despite its age. It is mainly used to cauterize wounds.

Quirks

• Always checks her reflection- Floure is very much aware of her appearance and constantly makes sure she stays pretty as a picture.
• Likes to flirt – She possesses an inherent charm and she often doesn’t even realize she is acting flirtatious, as it is just her way of communicating.
• Very superstitious – Afraid to provoke the ire of the spirits and Gods she threads carefully and adheres to a host of superstitions instilled in her from a young age.
• Playing with her hair - It is something she does when she’s in deep thought. She finger combs her long black curls with gentle hands as to not pull out any of her precious hair.

Weaknesses

• Small stature and physically not very strong
• Not skilled in any kind of fighting style or efficient use of a weapon
• Can’t stand seeing others get hurt for her sake

Fears

• Never seeing her family again
• Dying before meeting the love of her life
• Lakes, rivers or any large body of water
• Losing her freedom

Secret(s)

Will be added as the story progresses.

History

Despite her mixed heritage Floure is a true Traveler and Traveler blood runs through her veins. She was born inside a moving wagon, to a mother who had already had too many children, and a father who had made the mistake of falling for the exotic beauty of a Traveler woman. The result of a night of passion, unwanted by her father and in a way also an inconvenience to her mother. You would think this a recipe for disaster. Luckily her grandmother took pity on her, raising her as her own. Floure was a mischievous little girl even in her early years. She didn't care for learning to sew and cook and preferred to watch her grandmother amuse the common folk with images she'd see in the fire, the palms of their hand or even a bowl of water. The little girl was fascinated by the art and it was something that managed to catch her attention every time. Like dancing fortune telling was passed down from mother to daughter and none of her siblings had shown the same natural talent Floure had for the art of divining.

At the age of seven Floure's grandmother began training Floure in the ways of the Travelers, their customs, traditions and beliefs. In their many hours spent together Floure found a true mother in her grandmother, often pretending to misread the markings in her hand just so she could spend more time with the old woman. She learned about the medicinal properties of plants. Her people rarely stopped anywhere and they used what they found on the sides of the roads, in the forests and fields to cure the sick and mend the wounded. The talent of fortune telling was instilled in her from a young age and it was soon followed by a passion for dancing.

Over the years she spent on the roads their caravan traveled everywhere. Floure watched each of her siblings come into their own, her sisters became seamstresses, cooks and mothers and her brothers became, warriors, merchants and peddlers. During her teenage years misfortune struck one of her brothers, he was suffering from a rare disease. A sickness that hadn’t been seen by the Travelers in many generations. The method of healing this illness was all but lost, buried somewhere deep in the minds of the elders, who sadly even failed to remember their own children. The young Traveler girl set out to join to expedition to the Whispering Badlands in hopes of obtaining a vial of sacred water from the river in Mother nature’s palm. Traveler legend says the water has life prolonging qualities and healing powers.

[MacabreFox]

Grace O’Faolain

"If death be what ye seek, then surely, I can give it to ye."

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Name

Grace O’Faolain

Nicknames

Gracie ~ an affectionate name used by her kin, and fellow sailors. She doesn’t quite like it when others that don’t know her that well, use that name, to her, it’s a sign of disrespect, as they haven’t earned the right to call her that.

Cutthroat Grace ~ A nickname used by the people of Raughlaih, and Dunohwain, as she has murdered countless vagabonds that have gone against Baron O’Clearigh

Role

Navigator

Age

27

Gender

Female

Reputation

In her homeland on the Isle of Falkirk, Grace is a renowned woman for her sailing skills, as under her father’s guidance, she has sailed on his ship on several voyages. Her father, Rorik, owns a fleet of ships, most of which they use for trading with the regions to the east, along the southern coast, just north of the Whispering Badlands. However, when there is a clan dispute amongst the other islands that surround the Isle of Falkirk, Rorik and Grace set sail to dispel the upheaval, often times resorting to violent measures. A common whispered word about Grace are the following, ”vicious corsair woman”, “treasure seeker”, and most importantly, “one helluva sailor”.

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Armor

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Appearance

When first meeting Grace for the first time, most will note, her storm-grey eyes, and the way her gaze seems to pierce the soul of those she meets. Her skin is tawny, as years spent under the blistering sun have tanned it, and when the sunlight illuminates her hair, it is the color of fire itself, bright, coppery orange. She has a lithe, well-muscled figure from the work aboard ships at sea. Men of the vindictive nature would think her easy prey for her feline features, yet hiding beneath the surface is a raging torrent of violence ready to burst to at the seams if tempted. As she speaks, many will notice her strange, and peculiar accent. She is well-spoken, but it can be hard to understand her as she is not from any of the kingdoms surrounding the Whispering Badlands, though her voice is husky, she has a tendency to speak in a singsong voice, as if everything she says she has the intention to erupt into song.

Were she to pull back her long locks of copper hair, and conceal it under a cap, most folks would believe her to be a young boy, as she is not well-endowed, save for the prominent curve of her hips. She is rather gangly at that, as she is rather tall for a woman, but she simply attributes that to her place of birth, as most women are tall on the Isle of Falkirk.

When it comes to the matter of her clothing, Grace forgoes the traditional clothes of women, leaving the skirts and dresses behind in exchange for a loose, billowing white top, with a green leather waist cincher, and a pair of brown cotton trousers. To protect herself from the heat of the sun, she's purchased only recently a wide-brimmed hat, green in color, and a cloak to match. Around her neck, is a simple pendant that hangs on a black corded string, what is the pendant itself you ask? Why a rough, untumbled serpentine stone, green as an emerald but with a curiously black center, like that of a snake's eye. In her ears, are two black onyx stones inlaid in gold. On her right hand, she wears only one ring, it is a ring with a gold band, and an onyx stone as well. If you ask her why she wears onyx, she'll simply tell you that it wards off negative energies.

Height

5 feet 8 inches

Weight

135lbs

Positive Traits:

• Optimistic – Grace always views life by looking at the brighter side of things, she has an encouraging spirit in the darkest of times.
• Adventurous – She possesses an adventurous nature, one where bravery, and courage is needed. She is willing to take the more difficult path, even if it is full of treacherous obstacles.
• Dependable – No matter the circumstance, Grace can be counted on to come through to the other side. It is why her father has often allowed her to take charge of his ships if he has other important matters to attend to.
• Honest – Of all people, Grace will tell it like it is, even if it means hurting people’s feelings. She doesn’t believe in sugar-coating
  anything, and believes she strongly in telling the truth. It is extremely difficult for Grace to tell a lie, though, she has done it before when she has found herself in a sticky situation.
• Resourcefulness – As those she has sailed with before; Grace has found uncanny ways to make ends meet. She has a knack for observing her situation, and enhancing it, especially if she is lack of something, such as shelter, food, or even water.

Negative Traits:

• Hot Headed – Grace has a hard time controlling her anger, and can be particularly stubborn when she firmly believes she’s right, which isn’t always the case.
• Violent – Due to the countless raids ran on unsuspecting ships that have faulted the O’Faolain clan, Grace is more prone to solve things with violence instead of talking things through, or even finding a more peaceful resolution.
• Rebellious Spirit – As accustomed to seafaring ways, Grace is uncannily rebellious, and it has often landed her in hot water before. She is far from lady-like, she swears, spits like a man, and has a hard time handling any form of authority, particularly when it comes from someone she doesn’t like.

Personality Description

For those that have never met Grace before, most will note her unlady-like ways. She curses, spits like a man, and has a hard time keeping her voice down in arguments. While violence is in her nature, as Grace prefers to solve her problems through fisticuffs, or a good swordfight, she is also a very positive person, which may come as a shock to others who take her to be a simpleton. One will find encouraging words coming from her mouth, instead of insults, depending upon the situation of course. She is an honest person, and finds lying hard to do, though, given the circumstance, she will if she has to. Most will find Grace too blunt for their tastes, but as they get to know her over time, they will see that she means well. Not only is she dependable, always completing her assigned tasks, and coming through on personal favours, Grace is also extremely resourceful. To her, it is like a second nature, she is constantly surveying her surroundings, keeping an eye on any unsavory people in her midst, taking note of anything that can be used in a fight, i.e., bottles, chairs, anything that really constitutes as a weapon.

She is quick to smile, and will offer an intimidatingly strong handshake to those she has never met before, as she likes to hear how people flinch at a woman’s strong handshake. When given the time, if it is appropriate, Grace has an infinite amount of sea shanties she will sing.

Likes

• Cats
• Anything green
• Sweet, sweet, honeyed meade.
• Exploring
• Singing
• Dancing
• The ocean, or any other body of water.
• Nature
• Cats again, because why not?

Dislikes

• Sexism – men and women alike.
• Running out of meade
• People who complain
• Goats – She thinks they’re just plain evil, look at those eyes!
• Mouthy teenagers who don't know their place, *hinthint* *Emmett*
• Being cold
• Losing a fight

Skills

• Navigation
• Sailing
• Sword-fighting
• Hunting
• Horse-Riding
• Fishing
• Basic Survival Skills (i.e., tent building, fire making, drying/smoking meat, etc.)
• Cooking, Sewing, Gardening

Weapon(s) Description

• Steel Shortsword, and x2 Iron Daggers
  Grace owns a steel shortsword, one that never ventures far from its sheath, unless of course, she is engaged in battle. The sheath itself is wrapped in worn, embossed brown leather, depicting ivy leaves encasing it. On each side of her hip, dangles an iron dagger with black leather wrapped handles, you know, for safety measures. These daggers are mostly used if she loses her sword in combat, but majorily act as a cutting device.

Quirks

• Humming – Grace does this when she is nervous, or bored.
• Kicking/Digging the ground - When she is extremely bored, Grace often digs the heel, or the toe of her boot into the ground beneath, mainly when she is waiting for something to happen, or just being impatient.
• Making Things - Quite literally, Grace will make crowns or bracelets from twigs, or blades of grass, whatever she can bend, tie in a knot, she will put it to use, another thing she does when she is bored.
• Tattooed – On her back, as is not common with most women of her time, is a black oak tree.
  
  Tree Tattoo

  
• Spitting - Oh yes, watch out for those gobs of spit, so you don't happen to step in one. Not that she hawks loogies, but she spits when she's mad by spitting at their feet whomever she's arguing with, or she'll spit in her hand to make an agreement. She just spits a lot... She's picked it up from the men aboard her father's fleet of ships, that's for certain.
• Superstitious – Did you catch Grace doing something weird, or strange? If you ask her about it, she’ll likely tell you it’s to ward off evil spirits, or it’s just something she was raised with.

Weaknesses

• Again, cats. – Grace really does have a strong affinity for cats, if she sees a cat in trouble, she’ll often rescue it, no matter the precarious position it has gotten itself into, that’s just how she is.
• Prone to drinking – She won’t deny it, her favorite choice of drink is meade, meade that hails from Falkirk particularly, but that doesn’t mean she won’t drink any ale or rum in that case. However, Grace is not an alcoholic, she just drinks…a lot.
• Insomnia – It is hard for her to get a good night’s rest, and when she does, she is often troubled with haunting dreams of the countless people she has killed.

Fears

• Fear of Falling in Love – Of all people, Grace isn’t a sucker for love, or at least she says so, because she actually has never loved anyone. In fact, she is so afraid of love, that she turns down any advances from anyone, she just doesn’t want to deal with it. Perhaps it is the fear of being left alone in the end, or the fear of rejection that keeps her from settling down.
• Fear of Growing Old – Grace is in the prime of her youth, she has watched many elderly people die, and she doesn’t want to have the chance to grow old. That may be why she finds herself in reckless situations time and time again, as she doesn’t want to become a feeble, forgetful old woman.
• Fear of Snakes – Terrified of snakes since she was a little girl, Grace was bitten as a child when she was swimming in the River Saohain on Falkirk.

Secret(s)

Grace has killed over one-hundred people. It is in part why she suffers from insomnia, as she sees the faces of those she has killed in her dreams. She suffers from a guilty conscience. Killing has become natural to her, that she doesn’t hesitate to do it if it calls for it.

Another secret that most won’t know about Grace, is that while she is afraid of falling in love, Grace is attracted to both men and women, of course she has told anyone.

On top of being attracted to both men and women, there is a man that fell for her, one that she dreams about to this day, his name is Cillian, though she doesn’t like the idea of marrying him, or anything of the physical nature. She often wonders what happened to him, as she hasn’t seen him in ten years.

Wanted Criminal in the northern island kingdom of Dunohwain, a rival kingdom that Clan O’Faolain has pillaged countless times.

History

Born on the night of a full moon in the fall, in the manor of the O’Faolain clan, on the northern shores of the Isle of Falkirk, Grace was raised by her mother, Clara, and her father Rorik. In her early years, Grace, as the only daughter in the clan, was doted upon by everyone in her family. Her seven brothers, Eoin, Liam, Cian, Darragh, Finn, Rory, and Lorcan accepted Grace like another brother, and took her with them on their countless escapades across the misty moors, often resulting in chastisement from their mother for being fools. By the age of 9, Grace could best her youngest brother, Lorcan, in fight of wooden-swords. She had a hard time with the other children on Falkirk, and often stuck by her brothers’ side. Her life in the manor was a peaceful one, until she turned fourteen. Her eldest brother, Eoin, now twenty-one, set sail with their father, as did Liam, Cian, Darragh, and Finn. An island to the south of Falkirk, had kidnapped the wife of one of their fellow islanders, and to rescue her from a life of certain misery, they sailed to the tiny island of Raughlaih, and plundered the villages in search of her. When they found her, they slaughtered the man and his children without mercy, and returned her to her own family in Falkirk. Piracy was rampant across the isles surrounding Falkirk, and not because of the O’Faolain’s, as there were other clan’s causing chaos during these early years.
Baron Owen O’Clearigh, the man in charge of Falkirk Island, had difficulties with Dunohwain to the north, and Raughlaih to the south. The Baron of Dunohwain, Cathal Mac’Gallchobhair, and the Baron of Raughlaih, Ferren Cearbhaill, were in constant conflict with O’Clearigh over various treaties and pacts they had signed. When one treaty or pact was enacted, either Mac’Gallchobhair or Cearbhaill, would violate the terms of agreement, often times over petty arrangements, such as who had rights to what waters to fish in, what uninhabited islands belonged to whom, or the taxation of land and property.

Irritated with the constant fighting between the three isles, Owen O’Clearigh enlisted the help of the O’Faolain Clan to act as mercenaries in keeping the peace between Dunohwain and Raughlaih. During this time, while her father, and her five brothers went out to sea to patrol the waters between Dunohwain, and Raughlaih, Grace stayed home with her mother, and her two younger brothers, Rory and Lorcan. For years, while Clara tried to domesticate her daughter with skills that most girls her age had mastered, such as sewing, cooking, tending to the garden, and the like, Grace fought with much resistance to being held to the ideologies of a proper woman. The only thing in the world that she wanted more, was to be captain of her own ship, and sail the waters unknown past Falkirk, Raughlaih, and Dunohwain.

When Grace reached the age of 17, after much pleading to her father, Rorik relented in allowing Grace to come aboard The Velvet Maiden, his biggest ship yet to own, and sail with him for a year in patrolling the waters. While Clara struggled against the idea of her only daughter sailing out to sea, her father kindly reassured her, that Grace would be in the best of hands. To Grace, she relished the first time the massive, twin-mast ship left the docks of Falkirk Bay, and sailed out into open water. One year, turned into ten, and over the course of the years, Grace aided her father in decisive battles against the marauders of Dunohwain, and Raughlaih, that threatened to capture Falkirk. They raided the strongholds on the islands where the marauders called it home, often plaguing the villagers for answers of their whereabouts. She wielded her shortsword like an extension of her arm, spinning, slicing, and cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. She developed skills of covertness, hiding in the darkness of the shadows, painting her face in fearsome colors to terrify her enemies, and slipping the blade of her dagger between the ribs of her sleeping foes. As time passed, Rorik expanded his fleet to eleven ships, and became the largest merchant, and the most profitable in Falkirk, as he had his crew venture to the east, the coasts above the Whispering Badlands, and return with commodities that Falkirk never had before, such as spices like cardamom, saffron, pepper, and various chilies; he brought back luxurious bolts of fabrics for the nobles on Falkirk, like silk and velvet, and countless other goods unobtainable on the island.

During the time spent on open waters, Grace busied herself, when she had time free from swabbing the deck, helping pull of the anchor, or even unfurling the sails, with reading. It was here that she learned of the legend and tales surrounding the Whispering Badlands, of a beast known as the Shade, one that held the key to replenishing the vitality to Mother Nature’s Palm. It was during an expedition to the east with her father, that she had ventured into a general goods store, and while browsing the limited section of books available, she pulled out a book with faded black ink inscribed on the front that read, The Mysteries of the Valley. She thought nothing of it until the chance of opening the book back on The Velvet Maiden, when a curious map fell out from the leather binding. She could hardly believe her eyes, where it led to exactly, she could not tell, save for a black “X”, on the map.

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[The New Yorker]

Cillian “Cill” O’Houlihan

"Rules are meant to be broken… and so are bones."

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Name

Cillian O’Houlihan

Nicknames

Killin’ Cillian- A name given to him while working under Rorik O’Faolain. It may just have been created due to it’s simplicity, but Cillian has earned it all the same.

Killin’ Hands/Hands- A nickname which has followed Cillian around his entire life. From the orphanage, to the killing fields, to the noble halls Cillian has always been known for delivering raucous knockouts.

Role

Adventurer 2

Age

35

Gender

Male

Reputation

Cillian is known in different places for different things. Depending on who you ask, and where, you’ll get appropriate reactions. If you ask a Luskian merchant, he’ll respond with a gruff “murderer”. A Falkrik Islander may say “rogue”, or “deserter”, or “who?”. A Badland’s traveler would know him simply as Cill, a laidback barman with little patience for idiots and fiends. In all places Cillian is known for his hard knuckles, slick wit, and undying pessimism. Back home in the northern Islands he had a reputation as a problem solver, and that reputation continued to precede him, even when he failed. Now he’s a big fish in a little pond. A man of great skill and perception being used to watch oversized children and host low-talent fights.

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Appearance

Cillian has always been a rather handsome man. In the orphanage they would make fun of his ears, which were proportionally large compared to his head. But even then he would get compliments from ladies on how handsome he was. Later in life those compliments would be partnered with sultry eyes and parted, painted lips. Cill is a man of average height and weight with dark, thoughtful eyes. His face is a mixture of smooth curves and straight lines. Tight weathered skin spans his forehead as his full brows furrow in disapproval. His hands are a testament to his craft and creed; the knuckles calloused and rough, still bearing the stains of forgotten blood. His facial hair changes with the times, as does his hairstyle, but the color remains the same at a deep, soothing brown.

Cillian’s toned body is well complimented by his array of outfits and accessories, collected earnestly since his young adulthood. Cillian is now the product of a life lived running from one’s past. A poor boy trying to hide his classlessness, a lost man looking for his lost love, a criminal trying to make people forget his brutishness. Everything from the broken bridge of his nose to the width of his forearms betray the finery he wears and the jewelry he dons.

Height

6 feet 1 inches

Weight

186 lbs

Positive Traits:

• Clever mind
• Unrelenting bravery
• Martial adept

Negative Traits:

• Easily drawn into violence
• Unrelenting bravery
• Mean streak

Personality Description

Cillian’s life has always been surrounded by violence, and he’s never complained, even when it took the life of this wife and child. Cillian is the sort of man who accepts his fate, who sees the wood within the trees and smiles as others miss it. During his youth, when he wasn’t weighed down by the enduring hopelessness of life, Cillian was a boastful man, taking pride in his employable skills and independent nature. Now he remains quite, hiding his abilities among his other plain, inoffensive features.

Cillian knows now that his skills are not the same liberating, pride inducing things that could both free him from the orphanage as well as provide him a healthy living. He knew now that these skills were as much death warrants as they were blessings. His unquestioning bravery doesn’t come from some noble, moral place, but instead is derived from a driving need to feel the rush of adrenaline one gets from a brush with death. His cleverness only helps him solve the problems he gets himself into during his next search for adrenaline, and almost never stops him from rushing headlong into the situation in the first place. Cillian never shy’s away from fighting words, but never lets a fight get too far at the bar.

Likes

• Drinking
• Fighting
• Fucking
• Cooking

Dislikes

• Talking
• Fighting
• Leaving
• Losing

Skills

• Improvisation: No matter the situation Cill is presented, he can conceive and execute a sensible and effective resolution.
• Inextricably dangerous: A man is composed of many different things, some of which are dichotomous. Cillian is a man who both loves and despises his martial prowess. He’s learned hundreds of different ways to break a man, and thousands of variations in which to try. Traveling the world has provided Cillian with the opportunity to learn new and innovative styles of fighting, while his insatiable passion for the craft has allowed him to master them. If these new styles fail to grant him advantage in a grappling scenario, he can always fall back on his patented haymaker. Whatever his reaction to this trait, which has secured Cillian’s livelihood for the past three and a half decades, it is an irremovable aspect of his personality.
• Strong Jaw: Cillian has been beaten his whole life. He’s always found a way to beat the odds, despite them being set against him. Often times this has to do with his literally strong jaw which can take a solid punch and still not yield a knockout. But more often than not, Cillian has a passion and luck which work in tandem to keep his precariously balanced life ever teetering, further and further along the boundary between life and death.
• Acrobat: Over the past couple of decades Cillian learned that understanding how to move one's body around difficult obstacles is necessary for his skirmishing style of combat. It took him many years of practice and training, but he's come out on the other end with an acrobat's body.

Weapon(s) Description

Fists- Cillian always keeps his best weapons near him at all times. His fists are known for being able to knock men out with a quick one two. They bear scars from battles over the years, but he often keeps them wrapped in cloth, and protects them in iron gauntlets.

Hand Crossbow- When Cillian was working for a Luskian King he learned the skills of ranged combat with a hand held crossbow. This allows him a quick reaction to threats around him without needing to be up close. This thing is usually tied to a strap bound around his leg for ease of use and access. It must be reloaded after each shot so it tends to be useless later in combat.

Whip- Cillian has always carried this whip with him, almost as long as he’s carried his primary weapons. As a young man fresh out of the orphanage, he found easy work on farms and ranches. In his youth he was known for being an excellent herder of cows, and sheep. This whip has been with him since then, some twenty years ago.

Quirks

• Gambler: If there’s a game to be played with cards or dice, Cillian will be there.
• Drinker: Cillian drinks when he’s bored, or tired, or annoyed, or happy, or sad...
• Deep sleeper: The only thing in Cillian’s life that isn’t tainted by facts. His dreams are mere projections of his untarnished memories; not quite fantasy, but not quite reality. Realizing that his life is only good when he’s unconscious makes Cillian a man who lives to dream, and an effigy which dreams to live.

Weaknesses

• Undiplomatic- Cillian has tried becoming more diplomatic since he fled Lusk, but that form of diplomacy exclusively involves intimidation. He can’t really sweet talk his way out of a fight, because… well… he doesn’t want to.
• Alcoholic- All the jokes about medicinal uses and stress relieving aside, Cillian is an alcoholic and he needs help.
• Self-destructive- Whether it be running away from home, loving someone of a higher station than himself, or bartending in one of the most dangerous places in the world, Cillian always makes the worst of decisions. He is prone to making choices that lead to horrible conclusions, either consciously or unconsciously. Despite knowing full well of this disposition, he never takes excessive actions to divert his fate. He’ll do what it takes to stay alive, but that’s as far as he’ll ever go. As Cillian sees it, he’s a man on a path, and that path leads straight to hell.

Fears

• Commitment- Commitment comes with love, and love comes with pain.
• Darkness- Cillian despises the darkness, it effortlessly conceals threats and painfully heightens his other senses. If he must be in the dark for some reason, he can be, but he’d just as soon prefer a fire.

Secret(s)

When Cillian lived in Lusk he was married to a noble woman with whom he shared a child. They loved each other intensely and had built a happy life for themselves. Her father however disagreed with their love, and had disowned his daughter for her defiance of his word. In fact, he did more than that. The King wanted his princess back, and was intent on doing it without setting her against him. He attempted to frame Cillian for the death of his son. An assassin came in the night, subdued Cillian after a brief struggle, drugged him, and placed Cillian's bloodied, unconscious body near the corpse of his ravaged infant son. Waking up to the horrible scene he attempted to explain the situation to his shocked wife. She wasn't going to accept any of his protestations however.

The fact is, the assassin only killed Cillian's son, being an agent of the King. And yet, the house where Cillian and his family lived ended up burning down that night; with the bodies of his wife, his son, and the staff which served them burned into the foundations of the wreckage of the home. Cillian doesn't think about that night very often. The months which succeeded them, in the stinking prison, takes up the majority of his waking thoughts now. While the months preceding them still haunt him in his dreams and remind him of the life he could have had.

History

Not much is known of Cillian’s past, and even less of his true family. As far as he knows, he was discovered in a nunnery in the farming town of Glacier Hill on Falkrik Isle. From there he went to the orphanage and eventually ended up in the home of the ranching family, the O’Houlihans. He worked the ranch for several years for his foster parents until he decided to use his hands for something other than plowing the field and wrestling the rams. He started punching faces professionally at the tender age of 19 as a mercenary for the Falkrik lords and ladies. He made good money as he traveled to and fro, delivering important cargo, stealing information, kidnapping, rescuing, anything that may require a strong fist and a sharp mind. Eventually he came under the employ of Lord Rorik, who was looking forward to an epic campaign along the Isle’s.

Around this time he met a lovely young woman by the name of Grace. They bonded over the promise of treasure, seeking a long forgotten hoard along the coasts. There was in fact no treasure when they found the requisite cave, but they remained all the same as they spoke on their dreams and desires. Cillian foolishly fell in love with this girl, who he learned soon enough was the daughter of his current employer. He cared not for the social stigma as he imagined the life they could live together. After several weeks of meeting in the cave Cillian decided he would propose to Grace, ask her to run away with him. Unbeknownst to him, Grace was to set sail with her father on his next campaign. She left the next day without giving him an answer. Though Cillian was set to leave as an ancillary force a day behind Rorik’s forces, he decided against it. He booked passage the next day for Lusk, a far off tropical country along the western continent. The Journey took him a year as he stopped off at the many islands along the way, finding work and building up a repertoire of skills. He reached Lusk with the business of Island hopping behind him. He would work to forget Falkrik and all its woes.

Lusk was a lush work environment for him as crime was rampant and the local guard couldn’t get enough assistance. He built up a name for himself as a precise vigilante, which almost always brought the criminals in alive for the hangman. This bought him a position on a local Monarch’s security team. Only a year or so of perfectly guarding King Orel afforded Cillian a comfortable lifestyle and a seat on the King’s council. Once again, however, Cillian had made a tremendous mistake. He’d fallen in love with the King’s daughter, Johna. Orel disapproved of their relationship but there was nothing that could be done. They’d fallen in love in an instant and that’s all it took to decide to wed. Any protests the King made were met with swift rejections by Johna. She was regretfully disowned and promptly married Cillian.

They had a child and formed a respectable little life for themselves along the farm lands of Lusk. At 2 years old the boy seemed to be taking rather well after his father. He seemed tough and vibrantly filled with life. Until he wasn’t. The story goes that Cillian lost his family in a fire, barely making it out alive himself. The King, who did not believe this story, kept Cillian alive as his investigators developed a case. No foul play could have been said to have taken place in the house and so Cillian was given a trial by combat, which is afforded for cases such as these under suspicious circumstances. Cillian faced the Luskian knight in the blazing heat of high noon after months chained in a cell. The odds were utterly stacked against him in every way as the full plated knight swung his halberd expertly around his body. Cillian scored the killing blow, however, as he sawed into the throat of the knight with a rock after disarming him.

Upon winning his trial by combat he was free; free to be killed by the King’s assassins and other frustrated sources. Cillian knew that he needed to flee that circumstance entirely. So he stowed away on a ship to the only place he knew his past would never catch up to him, The Whispering Badlands. Upon arriving he had no prospects, until he met the traveling merchant Y’uril of Cord, a man who owned several businesses across the world, and who was currently building a bar in the Badland enclave of Red Rock. Y’uril could see that Cillian was a world wearied man with little patience and great power, he would make the perfect bartender for his little dive in this veritable hellhole known as the Badlands. Cillian has been tending bar in The Screaming Rock for several years now, trying to leave the mercenary lifestyle behind him. But, like a dog trying to outrun his tail, Cillian would never be able to outrun his past. A week ago Grace O’Faolain walked into the bar with a group of explorers on some expedition or another. It hardly mattered to Cillian. He took whatever money he could get for the gig, and told his only friend in the city, Corkran, to watch the bar for him while he was gone. Cillian dusted off his battle attire and followed the party out of Red Rock, proving to himself for the last time that he would never learn from his mistakes.

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[beyond visions]

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CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS

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Character Relationship Sheet

[center][color=Choose a color][h1]CHARACTER'S NAME[/h1][/color][/center]
[center] [b]Age:[/b] | [b]Role:[/b] | [b]Reason for being here:[/b]

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[center][h3][color=1E90FF][i]Emmett Warde II[/i][/color][/h3][i]"quote of thoughts"[/i]
Thoughts on them in general

[h3][color=FFA500][i]Othen Perelyn[/i][/color][/h3][i]"quote of thoughts"[/i]
Thoughts on them in general

[h3][color=A9A9A9][i]Rook Warde[/i][/color][/h3][i]"quote of thoughts"[/i]
Thoughts on them in general

[h3][color=C71585][i]Floure Camlo[/i][/color][/h3][i]"quote of thoughts"[/i]
Thoughts on them in general

[h3][color=green][i] Grace O'Faolain[/i][/color][/h3][i]"quote of thoughts"[/i]
Thoughts on them in general

[h3][color=DC143C][i]Cillian O’Houlihan[/i][/color][/h3][i]"quote of thoughts"[/i]
Thoughts on them in general
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[beyond visions]

Emmett Warde II

Age:19 | Role: Adventurer 1 | Reason for being here: To prove both his manhood and that he shares the same glory as his father

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Friends ☺ | Romantic Interest ♥ | Neutral ◑ | Friends with benefits/flirtation/together ♥♥ | Enemies ☠

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Emmett Warde II

"I want help, but I don't want to admit it."

In the end goal, Emmett is not here to get something, he is here to prove something. He understands that, though he begins to see the unknown parts of him and the desert is drags out intense emotions. One thing Emmett hates about himself is his indebted relationship to his drugs. He wants to be cured yet he does not want a doctor for the fact that he rather keep it a secret between only himself. But the secret in itself scares him as suicidal thoughts flood in the absence of the Desert Flower. Usually this happens in the late hours of the night, for in the day comes the time of confidence and a cocky attitude, keeping his chin up and demanding respect through effort. It is then that Emmett carries himself the best.

☠☺ Othen Perelyn ☺☠

"I swear on some days, I just want to slap the silly war paint off his silly face... On other days, I bloody want to hug the brawny berserker."

The two are rivals, there is no question about that, yet Emmett does not clearly despise the berserker. Instead, the boy comes off moreover annoyed by Othen's tests of manhood, or the fact that he loses his bets against him. They have clashed before as Emmett has adapted a short fuse and a hot-head due to his drug addiction, however it is not only that because the two also are both very stubborn. All in all though, Emmett never wants to see Othen go, strangely enough, the big man is Emmett's big hero. He just doesn't show it because the thirst to beat him just once in a match of hand-to-hand combat far exceeds feelings deep down. The closest at this point Emmett will get to friendly interaction is a teasing banter or mischievous prank. In conclusion, to Emmett's perspective, it is a love hate relationship.

☺ Rook Warde ☺

"Love my uncle, but I would also love some answers to my question. But that's the thing, I'm a little scared to ask those questions."

What hurts the most to Emmett is to be so close to a man whose rumors circulate around the fact that he could have possibly killed his father. It is not right, not right at all, so you imagine how much harder it is to ignore the bad rumors. But he is a good mentor and great teacher, Emmett cannot deny it and he cannot let the naysayers get to his head. Yet he must instead hold his uncle responsible for everything he sees with his own two eyes. And so far the man has partly raised him with his mother, Emmett just wishes he could diminish the mysteries and boil down to just who his uncle. But no matter, the nephew trusts his uncle with his life or he would not embark on the journey in the first place. Emmett hopes the journey will not only his rite as man, but that it will show his uncle's true colors.

☠♥ Floure Camlo ♥☠

"Both frustration and attraction... I wonder if she ever notices. Yet again, she is a fortune teller, they read people for coin."

It is no surprise that a young attractive woman near the same age as Emmett would grab his attention, and grab it she does, tightly at that. Floure must sense it too if she is as intuitive as it seems, although Emmett has not verbally expressed the liking, his eyes say a lot has he has gave long unintentionally gazes to her form. But even her as a person makes him crack a smile on the inside. Other than the stares, he has not spared much more communication to her as he in fact fights himself to hide the expressions as much as possible. Emmett is not a romantic, and with his feelings, the best he does is bottle them up and ignore them causing him to be pushy when he is speaking to her. Either he keeps his feelings hidden or she pries them out. Though perhaps even pure circumstance has something to orchestrate...

☠ Grace O'Faolain ☠

"I know I piss her off... And I don't forget it when I really do."

Here we have a cocky young buck who is a bit chippy and lippy at moments, and then we have a woman with real right to brag if she does with the experience and background she has. This will show the disrespect inside of the young Emmett as he is more inclined to back talk and defy a woman than a man, reasonably because his mother is quite more of a pushover than his uncle. But Emmett remembers that Grace is there navigator and he wants to at least force himself to trust the one who is holding the map. What would seem even braver of Emmett is if he were to rebel against her direction on the journey due to one he finds superior. Speaking of superior, Emmett's obsession with manhood seeps sexist remarks bringing even more tension.

◑ Cillian O’Houlihan ◑

"Mr. O'Houlihan, I don't know if he hates me or not. One thing's certain, I don't get in his way. But it's not that I am afraid too, I simply just don't, at least not for now..."

To Emmett, Cillian, or how Emmett most often addresses him as, Mr. O'Houlihan, has been quite forgotten. He just doesn't think of the man quite often, but when he does make contact Emmett is relatively respectable, as he doesn't have anything against Mr. O'Houlihan. It is not the scars or even the bloody knuckles that wards Emmett's testosterone off, because those things usually invite him even further to challenge a man like so. Instead, it is Mr. O'Houlihan's eyes and constant face of disapproval. But facial appearance is little of what makes Emmett simply back off, it is the fact that everyone else seems so much more relevant to Emmett's life- Othen is like a competitive big brother, Rook is his uncle and the man he strives to impress, Floure is the dreamy girl whom he tries to bottle up feelings for, Grace is the woman who he smart-mouths, and Cillian... well that's Mr. O'Houlihan, a man he has not clashed with, nor conversed.

[MacabreFox]

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CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS

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Character Relationship Sheet

Grace O’Faolain

Age: 27 | Role: Navigator | Reason for being here: Simply put, the thrill of adventure

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Friends ☺ | Romantic Interest ♥ | Neutral ◑ | Friends with benefits/flirtation/together ♥♥ | Enemies ☠

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☠ Emmett Warde II ☠

"If this lad don’ learn his place soon, I’ll knock his teeth down his fookin’ throat."
After a week in the desert, the rationing of water, and the blistering heat, the last thing that gets on her nerves is Emmett Warde II. The boy, as that is what he is in her eyes, a mere boy, is hot-headed just like her, and the two often spend the evening around the campfires bickering, mostly threats from Grace. She reckons the boy needs a good ass-whuppin’ to put him in his place, and if he keeps pushing her buttons, she’ll damned well do it. Not to mention, she’s seen the way he stares at Floure, why doesn’t he kiss her already?! It’s driving her mad, be it lust or love, he needs to make a move. And another thing… whatever he’s doing, sneaking away from camp in the middle of the night, is likely to get him killed. Does he have a weak bladder? Is he on some ancient/foreign drug she’s never heard of? Whatever it is, if his habits don’t change, she’ll find out for herself one way or another.

◑ Othen Perelyn ◑

"Why is he so tall? And what do the tattoos on his face mean? He’s like a giant teddy bear with a wide streak of masculinity coursin’ through his veins."
Grace doesn’t mind Othen at all, then again, she doesn’t know him that well really. Sure, she’s had small chit-chat with him, where is he from, what did he do before the quest, and so on. What really puzzles her is his sheer height, truly. Standing at 6’9, the man is simply intimidating, not to her, but she knows he must be to others. In fact, she hasn’t had the chance yet to attempt one of his challenges, as Emmett jumps at any given chance. Another thing that she wonders, is what the tattoos on his face mean, or at least mean to him.

◑ Rook Warde ◑

"This bloke ain’t so bad, seems to know what the fook he’s talkin’ about at least."
Were it not for Rook, and his knowledge of the Badlands, Grace is certain that they would be headed in the wrong direction, wherever that may be. Rook and her often discuss the markings on the map, and the landmarks depicted. To her, he reminds her of her father in a way, not that she looks up at him like a father figure so to speak, but she sees the way he talks to Emmett, and therein, she sees a man with great love for his nephew. It was odd indeed, how Rook found Grace, as she had come to the edge of the Badlands already, in Red Rock, and had purchased herself a room in one of the nicer inns in the dusty settlement. Her reason for going to Red Rock in the first place, was she caught wind of a man named Rook Warde, that had extensive knowledge about the Whispering Badlands, and particularly, he had expressed profound interest in the map she found. A brief exchange of letters later, and she found herself in the sweltering heat of Red Rock, and found the giant of a man, 6'9 as well, just like Othen. What was it with these towering men? Were their parents Giants of some sort?

☺Floure Camlo☺

"What’s she mean, she knows what I need in mah life?"
The first night into their travels in the Badlands, when they were all gathered around the campfire, Grace quietly pulled Floure aside, and asked her for a reading. The young girl could only smile knowingly at her as she whispered in her ear, ”I know what you need in your life.”, she proceeded to tell her that Grace needed to let go of her fears, and accept come what may. In her eyes, the young girl is favoured in Emmett’s eyes, and why wouldn’t she be? After all, they must be close in age, no doubt a year or two apart. If anything, her patience with Grace, and her calm attitude is like a drink of cool water under the blistering sun of the desert. She'll see to it nothing happens to her, after all, she may know of a sleeping tonic for her.

Grace O'Faolain

"I best make a name for myself while I can still move, one of these days, which I pray tell, never comes, I might just be a withering old soul who can’t move away from her fire."
Internally, Grace has many ongoing battles, since the reunion of Cillian, the man she met all those years ago on the moors, with his stranded sheep from Glacier Hill, to the day she left him without an answer, she beats herself up over the guilt as to why she never gave him an answer. Part of her expected him to be there when she returned… yet, he disappeared after her year away at sea, how can she blame him? More so, her drinking often provokes deep, unsettling bouts of rage, perhaps it is best that her horse is dead, as she’s had to drink the rest of her meade that she brought with her. Not only does this plague her, she is worried, that they won’t survive the quest, and that all will be for naught, that her bones will be bleaching in these accursed desert sands for the years to come.

♥ Cillian O’Houlihan ♥

"Cillian…he’s certainly changed, but I still see my Cillian in those eyes o’ his. Still handsome at that. But…I wonder, does he hate me for what I did to ‘im? Why couldn’t I just tell him that I was sailin’ away with Pa?"
Cillian O’Houlihan. The man that stole her heart. Her only love. After all these years, a decade to be exact, she’s finally found him. But what was he doing all the way at Red Rock? It’s like turning the page of a well-read book for Grace, she knows so much about him, yet during their time away from each other, she feels that he has become a new man, a different man. By the scars on his knuckles, and the way he dresses with such finery, Grace truly wonders what happened to him during their time apart. There is nothing more that she wants, than to be swept away in his arms, lost in his embrace, to hear the beating of his heart in her ear, to kiss him again, like the one they shared so many years ago on the shoreline of the cave, weeks before he proposed to her. She’s worried that he holds some sort of grudge against her, perhaps even angry at her for leaving so abruptly. Besides that, Grace still holds the same feelings for him, like she has since the day she met him. The question now is, will she ever work up the courage to tell him? Or will she run away again?

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[The New Yorker]

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CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS

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Character Relationship Sheet

Cillian O’Houlihan

Age:35 | Role: Adventurer 2 | Reason for being here: A break from the drunks, a chance to be happy.

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Friends ☺ | Romantic Interest ♥ | Neutral ◑ | Friends with benefits/flirtation/together ♥♥ | Enemies ☠

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☠ Emmett Warde II ☠

"If the kid could get over his baggage, he could become a respectable man."
Emmett is a kid with a lot of potential. He has the passion and the skill necessary to do great things some day, but as it stands he is overcompensating for his lack of experience. Cillian would much prefer if the boy were humble and accepted his inadiquacies. Then Cillian thinks of himself at the same age and laughs as he considers how humble he was, which is to say not at all. In reality, Emmett reminds Cillian a great deal of his former self, the memories of which repel his current demeanor.

☺ Othen Perelyn ☺

"He knows nothing about me and cares not for class. He sometimes makes me forget that places like Lusk ever existed."
As far as Cillian is concerned Othen is a good man, with a strong frame, and an even stronger moral spirit. In any case he behaves as one would expect from his established character as he approaches situations from a simple, yet impeccable stance; whether that be morally or physically.

◑ Rook Warde ◑

"He’s a smart guy. He seems to have his hands in everything, which is a sign of inscrutable motives."
Cillian doesn’t know why Rook does what he does. He dislikes his mysteriousness and the pomp and circumstance of his recruitment methods. But ultimately the man is effective, and considerate. Cillian can’t complain about much concerning Rook, but he doesn’t complain in general.

☺ Floure Camlo ☺

"There will come a time when you’re not sure if it’s worth the risk to come and save me—it isn’t."
Cillian decided when he joined the party that he might as well become friendly with the physician. They’d be seeing a lot of each other and there’s no reason to make it awkward. Their relationship is only helped by the fact that Floure is a patient listener and a calm, insightful soul. Cillian doesn’t want to take advantage of her patience and so hasn’t said a word of his past plights. Though he knows it would be healthy for him to do so.

♥ Grace O'Faolain ♥

"It’s… It’s incredible to see you here. How are the Northern Winds?"
The moment her auburn touched hair crested the edge of the door, Cillian knew who it was. As she ordered her drink Cillian was already making it. In a flash, all his memories of their time spent in the Northern Islands rushed back to him and he was 25 again. Confident, strong, independent, undefeatable. Then a sense of time returned to him and he was himself again, as he stood in the dark dingy bar with the red clay sand wafting in through the cracks in the walls. He felt he would never be able to live with himself if he didn’t learn what had happened to her after she left Falkrik for the other surrounding Isles. She revealed she was on a mission and heading out of town soon. Then Rook approached knowingly, recruited him quietly. Cillian wasn’t going to let the party leave without him anyway, whether Rook had expected to recruit him or not.

For a week Cillian has been considering why he truly came on this mission. Was it for Grace? Was it for glory? Was it for death? He still doesn’t have an answer. But when he looks at Grace as she studies a map, he can’t help but feel that she’s the reason why he’s ever done anything. He can’t help but feel that the only reason he won his trial by combat was so that he could have the chance to be happy with her again. He doesn’t care whether he lives to love her or dies to protect her, nothing could stop him from doing now what he should have done a decade ago: follow her to the ends of the earth.

Cillian O’Houlihan

"Die."
Cillian sees himself as a pure mass of living chaos. He entered this world in a blur and took it by storm as he sought a path for himself. He’s learned that there are only certain people in the world who have a safe predestined path, everyone else has to make their own, and Cillian has never had a great sense of direction He’s wandered through hell and back and everywhere in between, he can’t find a respite here or a way to rinse his hands clean.

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[Fetzen]

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CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS

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Character Relationship Sheet

OTHEN PERELYN

Age: 30 | Role: Adventurer 3 | Reason for being here: One has to challenge oneself on a regular basis.

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Friends ☺ | Romantic Interest ♥ | Neutral ◑ | Friends with benefits/flirtation/together ♥♥ | Enemies ☠

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☺☠ Emmett Warde II ☠☺

"Up to a certain point, the difference between what a man wants to be and what he is can be thought of as aspiration. The magnitude of Emmett's difference however is insane."
Luckily for Emmett, Othen isn't exactly the right person to use as a reference for what is 'perfectly neutral' in terms of sanity. Maybe it is this that makes him perceive Emmett's gap between be and want-to-be as as good core buried under a lot of bad circumstances. The worst of them clearly is Emmett's words always already assuming equality between the two things - and there is no excuse for that. He accepts any brawl Emmett asks for and won't throttle back to ease the strain on the guy's fragile body: Getting crushed repeatedly will either serve as a lesson or help in getting him closer to his ideals. At least that is what Othen believes in. However it can be really annoying to have someone around who is so unforgiving in his cockiness.

◑ Rook Warde ◑

"Another Warde ? I can't stand against a pincer movement of that breed."
The coincidence in the familiy name would have made Othen charge at Rook and hit him in the face if he had known Emmett better at the time of his own recruitment. Now, one week later, there is no reason for him to discharge his frustration about a certain nephew in such a way. Othen thinks that Rook has proven himself adequately skilled for his self-esteem. There are other things that silenty roam his mind: How the hell did Rook manage to know so many things about him in advance ? And the few days the party has been together now have been sufficient for the savage Othen to pick up a lot of different stories about their leader. It boggles his mind why Rook doesn't put a short and clear end to all of them as it is obvious that at least some of them have to be lies contradicting each other. For now, a decent amount of caution, mentally cross-checking each and every decision Rook makes and standing up to his own opinion when he sees a major flaw in them is the way Othen intends to deal with the situation.

♥ Floure Camlo ♥

"What the hell is she doing out here ?"
Shouldn't she be in a rich man's tavern and dance on a table ? Or, perhaps, if she really needs it, descend into something more shabby and fulfill the desires of more primitive men by doing the same thing ? Anyway, the Badlands just seem to be the wrong place for her. The environment will ruin her posessions and probably her body within weeks. However Othen did not have the courage to touch upon that as her behaviour and especially her appearance are invoking his own, more primitive instincts. He has too much control over himself to let it come out right here and now, but if the day comes she approaches him in her special way, he will be ready. Last but not least, she's the physician, so he will make body contact to her in a rather foreseeable future anyway when she has to patch up the hulk from his injuries.

☺ Grace O'Faolain ☺

"Is she going to jump in for poor Emmett one day ?"
Othen did barely know anything about Grace when he joined the party, but that's nothing special as this basically is true for everyone. What he knows about her now is what he has learned from the chit-chats they had. He is unaware of the fact that his 6'9 are going over her head not only in the pure physical meaning, but her being very strong for a woman didn't go unnoticed. So far as she has already revealed it, her character appeals to him: Grace's love for nature, her skills when it comes to survive on one's own in the wilderness, and her songs are quite interesting. If she should really decide to jump in for the cocky Emmett once, he would probably find out that she's also skilled when it comes to fighting, and even if her improvisation should bring his own style purely based on strength and fury into trouble, he would still like her for that. But... but... there are two things Grace should stop doing. First: Spitting. Not that Othen wasn't used to disguting things, but.. WHY ? Second: Drinking. It ruins your thinking and one day there will be a padding round your waist.

☠◑ Cillian O’Houlihan ◑☠

"It seems I just can't figure out him."
Most of the different stories one can hear about Cillian have in common that he has spent a long time with shady dealings, but that is one thing. The so called civilian society can be very rude, and if that poor guy has been unlucky enough to interfere with that then there is a reason to feel sorry for him. On the other hand Cillian just seems to want to appear like a newly rich snob. Floure wears fine cloth and jewelry, too, but the difference is that she seems to have earned them in a honest way and is too charming to let that become a disadvantage for her. At least he seems to be quite capable of defending himself.

Othen Perelyn

"I don't admit it, but I'm a bit frightened."
Othen wouldn't be Othen if he wasn't convinced of his own thoughts, but he's not arrogant enough to be convinced of his own appearance and beliefs being easily acceptable for everyone. Of course, he would really like it if others started to move in his direction in terms of the latter one. They aren't in any of those nice towns where it would've been no problem for anyone to just leave and go his own way, but here they are in the Badlands, utterly dependend on each other. He can't afford to be left behind one day for whatever he might have done - and that's what's keeping Othen busy somewhere deep in his mind, not accessible from outside.

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[Deserted]

Rook Warde

Age:42 | Role:Lead Explorer | Reason for being here: His lifelong dream

Character Relationships

Friends ☺ | Romantic Interest ♥ | Neutral ◑ | Friends with benefits/flirtation/together ♥♥ | Enemies ☠

◑☺Emmett Warde II☺◑

"Time to taste the world."
He could probably achieve anything he wants, especially when he crawls out of feeling like he has to prove himself to everyone. Doubly so once we restore The Hand.

I doubt he believes me about any of this. He was the most moody youth, and now that his body has slowed growing he can get his head on straight. He’ll probably go back to brooding in a tavern until his body and mind are spent for good. I’d better make sure we actually achieve something on this expedition, so that he doesn’t feel a failure.

☺☠Othen Perelyn☠☺

"The man is a storm."
He’s a little odd. I cannot say exactly what he would do with his success. But he was available and on our side. I’ve been working for a while to collect his talents. I am much relieved he is along. He is exactly what I need for my gaps in knowledge of surviving the badlands. I think we will do well together. Just... wish he didn’t look like poop.

I bet he will be offended should we encounter distinguished guests and I ask him to bathe.

☠Rook Warde☠

"No sinister a villain have I ever known."
I kind of wish I cared more about the people on my expedition more than the treasures and glory ahead. Trying to care, not really succeeding. I guess ‘kind of’ will have to do for now. I feel terrible about it, but it appears to be my nature.

☺☠Floure Camlo☠☺

“A lion in the grass"
The front of a delicate flower. She’s no more helpless than a cactus in this desert. She seems to have done a spectacular job at pulling the wool over most of the eyes of the expedition. But what healer willingly tags along into the Badlands without qualm, and what delicate creature could possibly be bred from a traveling troupe? I think should she vanish while out here, we should find her doing quite well without us.

Now, if only there were some to prevent her from stealing our treasures and leaving us with nothing. I’m pretty sure she would do it more out of the sport than the need. Two can play the game and she is a rookie. I must confess that I have far more than her at gaining the upper hand in this game.

☺☠ Grace O'Faolain☠☺

"Confuses the devil out of me"
She holds nothing in reserve, save for the Rasmus Map, which is the one thing that she would do well to be rid of. I believe that I like her quite a bit, since she offers insight not regularly within my thoughts. It is remarkably convenient for me, I don’t even need to ask, I just need to point the conversation in the direction I want, and she will handle the rest.

Of course, this is going to be a problem as she runs her mouth to every slaver and caravan we encounter. While there is no secret that treasure hunters enter the badlands, not everyone needs to be insulted in the process. I might have to hang her out to dry when she turns this into an invasion and liberation from the Bonedry Slavers, instead of staying focused on our task at hand.

☺☠Cillian O’Houlihan☠☺

"He makes me uneasy"
He makes me uneasy. Good. He could scare half of the wildlife out here with a mere look, and the other half should he bludgeon a predator to death with his bear hands. It is always more successful to surround yourself by the most dangerous people you can find. I can see that below his quiet exterior is a crafting mind... again, he makes me uneasy. Better to stay too close for his hostilities to lash out against me and pointed to the opposition.

Of course, he is a bit of a fool, taking risks just because he gets a thrill from it. He’s probably going to die out here by an infection in his leg that prevents him from walking... just like Riggor, Colin, Colin Jr., Norelle, and a few others that expired on my expeditions. Oh well, I shall toss his name on the pile when the time comes.

[dreamingflowers]

Floure Camlo

Age: 18 | Role: Physician | Reason for being here: To find and obtain the healing water of the desert so she can save her brother.

Character relationships

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Friends ☺| Romantic Interest ♥ | Neutral ◑ | Friends with benefits/flirtation/together ♥♥ | Enemies ☠

♥ Emmett Warde II ♥

"He's cute even when he's angry and I can tell he likes me. Though I know if I dig too deep his infatuation will probably be over quickly."
In Floure's eyes Emmett resembles the typical Traveler boy trying to prove himself a man. His cockiness and alpha male attitude along with his thirst for glory and adventure all remind her of the boys back home. But he is not a Traveler man because if he were he wouldn't have given her a second glance. She is a commonality among her people. Yet Floure caught him staring at her more than once. She finds it endearing and often can't keep from laughing at his angry outbursts, which thus far haven't been directed at her. The fact that he's always incredibly uncomfortable around her is something that never ceases to amuse her and it is a great source of entertainment. She winks at him when she catches him staring and when they gather around the fire at night she sits just a tad bit too close for his liking. Is it wrong to string him along for a bit? After all common folk never adjust well to Traveler life, they're just two different breeds.

☺ Othen Perelyn ☺

"He's really easy to manipulate and I bet he'll do anything I ask, which is exactly why I won't ask him for anything. I do have a conscience you know?"
Floure thinks of Othen as a gentle giant. A simpleton in the good sense of the word. He's the one she plans on hiding behind during a brawl as he's nearly twice her height. They haven't spoken much yet in the week they spent together and Floure soon picked up that he's not much of a talker. She can appreciate his chosen silence but there are times when she just wants to drag him out of his tent and make him sing a Traveler song or something otherwise ridiculous. It would be good for him. The amount of food he can devour astonishes her, he even likes her cooking which is ill-famed for being too spicy or extremely salty.

☠ Rook Warde ☠

"He doesn't trust me and I don't trust him. I don't see that changing in the near future. I mean why did he even want me to come along? "
Before joining the expedition Floure dug up as much information as she could on the man who was going to lead them. What she found she did not like, not at all. The truth was somewhere amongst the rumors. Most of the them she found hard to believe and even with her uncanny sense of finding out the truth she has no clue who he really is and what he's done before joining the crew. He's distrustful of her when he's the one with all the secrets! What a hypocrite......
Perhaps he just despises her people, the hatred for the Traveling mongrel people is after all widespread. All she needs from him is to get them to Mother nature's palm so she can get what she's looking for. She'll make sure he stays alive until they're there but nothing more.

Floure Camlo

"I have to do this for him but I've never done anything on my own. What if I don't make it back in time?"
Floure's biggest mistake is the fact that she severely underestimated this expedition. She'll be away from her family for a long time for the first time in her life. Eventually this will lead to her becoming incredibly homesick as her life and character are largely defined by and intertwined with her Traveler family. Life on the road and life in the scorching heat of the dessert are entirely different. There are no supply wagons, no rivers nearby to gather water to bathe, no forests to gather medicine and food. She's traveled through and lived in the desert before but not without the comforts of her wagon and caravan. Will the image of her fatally ill brother be enough to keep her going?

☺ Grace O'Faolain☺

"If I could just snatch a few of her copper hairs, I can use them for my lucky charms. Not many girls back home have that kind of hair, I would just love to dress her up real nice."
Grace, the way she talks, walks, acts is all just so foreign to Floure. It is as if the young redhead was raised by men, perhaps she didn't have any sisters or her mother passed when she was young, or maybe she left Grace's father. She'd like to think the latter. Whatever the case Floure can't get enough of watching her talk down to anyone who gives her crap and she's not afraid of a fist fight either. She proves that a woman can be more than what men descided they should be. The fact that she defies sailor superstition about women only adds to Floure's idiolization of Grace. She admires Grace and wants to be more like her, to fight her own battles, beat up anyone who bothers her. She can wind men around her finger just fine and have them fight for her but that's not the way Grace handles life.

◑ Cillian O’Houlihan ◑

"Cillian frightens me a little bit......or maybe that's not the right word. He's intimidating and also quite immune to my charms. I don't know how to act around him, I feel like I have to hold in my breath all the time."
Being in Cillian's presence makes Floure nervous and uncharacteristically quiet. She's gone through considerable effort to avoid being alone with him which is quite impossible as she's tasked with caring for their health. Yet as dangerous as she feels he is she doesn't think he's evil in any way. Something tells her she will need to get to know him better first, if she doesn't want to be scared of him for the entirety of the expedition.