Primary
Name || Orion Gallilea Duvain
Age || 27
Gender || Male
Race || Angardian/Elf Halfblood.
Class || Scout/Assassin
Background
"Father...Could you tell it to me again, the story?" The question hung in the air a few heartbeats after the young boy had allowed the words past his lips. It was a familiar question, one that had been asked over and over whenever the boy and his father would trudge through the fields at night. Around this time, the boy would slow his pace, his light amber eyes reflecting the light of the stars above, and his small hands looking over his father's body with huge and curious eyes, a hidden pride within them. They had gone on this walk many times, and would continue to do so. They had to. The fence around the stables would always need repairing, especially when the villagers were constantly tearing it apart for the hell of it.
The question would always be met with a smile, strongly infused with a deep pain, but with a smile nonetheless. "Alright, I'll tell you again. But Orion, I'm sorry to tell you, and I know that you must know this...." The father would pause, take a breath, and place his hand on his young son's head ruffling his already rugged ebony hair. "No matter how many times I tell you the story, it won't bring her back. I've had a hard time with that myself, but in the end, she just couldn't." He turned his light green eyes to his boy, kneeling beside him in the tall grass. "She loved you. She still does. But your mother cannot come back here....Not after.." His tired face winced at the memory. "Just know, that if she could she would return, and she would hold you in her arms forever."
Orion stopped his horse in the middle of the now almost barren grassland, his cloak flourishing in the wind as he dismounted Davrel. In his hand was the one thing his father had always carried alongside him, the sturdy glass bow, and it's arrow sheath. As he walked along the crumbling ground, the earth at his feet cracked and moaned, his once energetic eyes, now glazed over in a new layer of pain. He had dealt with pain before, insults were almost always thrown at him for his mixed blood, and his accent, especially in a place it didn't belong. This pain however was different, it grabbed hold of his heart and wrenched it into a tiny sliver, barely allowing it to pump the next ebb of life into the young halfblood. The pain of loss. It hindered you beyond repair, and haunted your every move.
With a deep breath, he laid the bow and it's last few arrows onto the ground next to the tombstone that marked his father's final resting place. "May you have a peaceful journey father..." He trailed off and fell to his knees beside the grave, his hand reaching out and stroking the hard granite. "I-I'm so sorry that I wasn't here for you when you needed me most." He winced, drawing in a breath. The memories flooded back fluidly and harshly. He had been visiting the Elvish Kingdom, finally able to get the chance to see the other half of his heritage, and with proper invitation as well, from his mother. He hadn't given much thought to the recent bandit raids as he left, hadn't thought to stay and decline his possibly only chance to see his mother. He had been a fool, an anxious and excited idiot. His behavior had cost him his father, and for what? A tour of the forest? Orion remained on his knees for hours.
Face still tear stained, his head hanging, Orion stood almost deaf to the world. Almost, but not entirely. He still had to tell his mother, after all, that's what he had came for wasn't it?
He couldn't tell anymore. Perhaps that was one reason, maybe he just sought comfort and wisdom. Though, he had begun to believe that he would probably have to return the favor. He held his breath as the sound of footsteps came towards him, his amber eyes trained to move towards the motion. "Mother, I..." Before he could finish, arms were wrapped around his broad frame, stopping his train of thought completely. Before he could try to fend off his emotions, a single tear streamed down his face and dropped onto the lavender colored dress his mother was wearing.
"I've lived over three-hundred years, and you are my flesh and blood. I knew something was bothering you, I could sense it" Her voice was calm and soothing to Orion, a voice that could sooth with just a whisper. "What's bothering you so?" She leaned back a ways, trying to search his eyes.
"I..." He paused to remove himself from his mother's grasp. Turning away from her light blue gaze, his words flowed from between wobbling lips. "Father.. He's dead. He was murdered in a raid. They burned half the village, he was there fighting to protect it.." His brow furrowed "And I was here, I could have helped, I cou-"
Once more he was stopped by his mother's embrace. Instead of soothing him however, she shared tears with him.
The tree's around them seemed to wave as they passed, their branches swaying in the midnight wind. With his father's bow carefully worn around his chest, Orion gently nudged Davrel forward with his heels, the horse in turn whinnied and increased his speed. As another gust of wind caressed his face, Orion lifted a golden hand to his face and pulled up his mask, letting it cover his mouth and jaw. "C'mon Davrel, we still have a ways to go yet.." He murmured through the thin, yet comfortable fabric. The horse let out a snort, causing a small smile to fight it's way onto the pained man's face. They had been traveling for quite some time now, only stopping for rest when it was absolutely necessary, and buying goods that he could afford, mostly food for Davrel. He only hoped his mother had been right, that this Rakasha would help him. She had warned him that he would ask for something that held value that was personal, and worth a lot of coin. So, she had given him her father's golden gauntlets, an offer she knew the Rakasha couldn't resist. The only way to trade with this Rakasha was to barter, and he had something that would come in handy.. Orion held tight to Davrel's reigns as the ground cracked beneath the two.
The desert had taken it's toll on the duo, a strong thirst building in the pits of their stomachs. When they had arrived to Jo'Ravvii's hut, Orion had to walk beside his weakened horse, unwilling to take the risk of Davrel going lame. The heat licked at their backs, and nipped at their very essence. With shaking hands, he tied his horse's bridal to the nearby post, basking in the brief shade of a nearby tree. The first he had seen in quite a while. Lingering only to gently run his finger's down his friends snout, a small thank you, he headed into the hut. Inside the hut was filled with treasures of many kinds, swords, scrolls, bows, even potions. As his eyes traced every item, and his mind raced to think of a story behind them, a deep accented voice came from the center of the hut.
"Welcome traveler, how may I assist?" The form of which the voice had come from stood, tall and slender, almost frail looking. "Have you come for a trade?" The voice sounded sweet, but trained, focused. Orion caught that.
"I'm here to trade yes. And I believe that you have something that would help me." He tilted his head, trying to catch a glimpse of the Rakasha to whom he spoke, but the light within the hut was dim, and hid his features.
"Ah..." The frail body stepped into the light then, his pale coat showing, along with his shimmering green eyes. Eyes that were locked directly on Orion with a greed he had never seen before. "I'm getting ahead of myself...What would you like?" The old merchant asked, tilting his head slightly. "...What will you trade for it?" He added, his voice deepening. Orion shifted his weight, feeling strangely unnerved at the stare he was being given. "I have these to trade to you, elvish gauntlets that belonged to my grandfather, a pair he wore proudly until his death. They are his very essence."
Orion felt pleased with himself at the pondering look that took over the Rakasha's face, so he continued. "I have come for a blade like no other, one that will help me on my journey, wherever it may take me. An amber sword."
Silence danced in the hot air around them, only to be broken by Jo'Ravii.
"No deal," He put his hand up to keep Orion from arguing. "That item has a story behind it, and if you want it, you must have an equal story, a personal one." The green eyes once more locked upon Orion, but this time they lingered on his fathers glass bow.
Orion pursed his lips, he had to get that sword. He just wasn't sure whether or not he was ready to part ways with the bow. "Would you allow me the sword if I, in return, worked for you to pay it off?" He knew it was hopeless, but he had to at least give it a try.
Jo'Ravii smiled broadly, an unsettling, almost wolfish grin. "Ah....So I was right." He walked closer to Orion, just slightly, and said "I only make an equal trade, remember?" He eyes almost devouring the bow in their eagerness.
Orion wanted to run, he wanted to turn back, he wanted to keep the bow. He knew he couldn't. Closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh, he took the bow from around his chest and gently held it in his two hands. With his eyes still wrenched closed, he held the glass bow away from his body, wincing as it was snatched from his hands.
"Ah...Yes, yes, this will make an exquisite trade. The sword is just over there. Now please, get it, and get out." Jo'Raviir pulled the bow to his body and backed away into the shadows, a wicked grin still plastered on his old face.
As the days turned to months, and months to years, not once had Orion gone back to his father's grave. He couldn't. He found solace by climbing atop the roof's of any inn he had been staying at, gazing up to the sky with wonder. Perhaps it was a bit strange, but he would find himself talking to the stars, revealing some of his deepest regrets, secrets, loves, and other such to the sky. As a man for hire, he had seen many things, had been told to venture many places. As hard a life as it was, it was the only way to bring coin in fluidly enough to provide for him and his horse. Though his mother could be considered as a wealthy person, he never once thought to ask, his pride was too strong for that.
Upon his journey, he had encountered plenty. Enough to make a normal man weep perhaps, but not Orion. He had to keep going, if he stopped he feared that his failures would swallow him whole; he had to keep moving, never allowing the, the chance to catch up. One particular day, he had been sharpening his blade when the innkeeper ran out of his inn, sweat lining his brown hair. "Please, anyone, help!" He tripped and fell into the dirt, locking eyes with Orion as he had landed on the ground. The look within his eyes was that of a wounded animal, begging for relief. A look that the young halfblood had gotten used to over the years. He stood, sheathing his sword and rushing over to the frantic man, setting a gauntlet on his shoulder.
"What is troubling you?" He asked, his light amber eyes searching for any signs of combat on the man. He saw the man point his index finger to the door, "My daughter...Please, she's gone into some sort of...trance. Please, help her!"
Orion pursed his lips before sprinting into the inn, and heading to the direction the father had pointed. His heart racing, Orion opened the ajar door further, his eyes finding the convulsing body of the young girl. She had dribble running down her chin, and her skin was as pale as the snow outside. He dropped down beside the girl, his hands shaking and hovering over the girls neck, pressing his fingertips lightly over her pulse. Faint, but there. He could sense a presence behind him now, the father no doubt. "I need to see your herb selection. Do you have one?" Normally most innkeepers would sell and buy herbs, he could only hope this one did the same.
"Yes, yes it's downstairs.." The man didn't question it, his eyes focusing on his daughter. As Orion left her side, her father immediately replaced him, holding her head in his lap.
After filing through the selection of herbs and crushing them into a fine powder, Orion knew he was running out of time. This would have to work, otherwise thaey wouldn't have time for anything else. And, he refused to use magic. He didn't trust himself enough. Orion bounded up the stairs, the now water mixed powder was carefully being held close to his chest, his hand tight around the bowl. When he entered the room, the girl was paler than before, as if fading from the room. She was dancing with death. Orion resumed his position on the ground and carefully held out the bowl to the girls father, steadying the old man's hands as he passed it on. He carefully opened the girls lower jaw, nodding to the father to pour in the liquid.
He held his breath as he helped tease the medicine down her throat, his fingers rubbing the girls neck to help the flow. When all of the bowl had been emptied, both of the men remained deathly still, the girl had stopped convulsing, but she hadn't escaped her trance. Orion could feel his heart sink, he had been to late, he had failed yet again. The poor girl. Clenching his fists, he dropped his head in shame and hurt. "I-I'm so sorry.." He felt a hand on his shoulder and lifted his head, amber eyes locking on the small hand. It belonged to a child.
She was alive. A laugh bubbled up from his chest and rose into the room, filling it with relief. He had done it, he had saved the girl.
Orion had stayed at the inn to watch over the girl as she recovered, and help her father with restocking his stock of herbs. Every night he would visit the girls room and tell her a story of a beautiful elf who fell in love with a mortal man, and the young halfblood boy who helped around his father's farm. On the last night of his stay, he walked into the dark room, he hood down, his mask off for the first time for what felt like forever. He sat down at the end of the young girl's bed, smiling as she sat up and reached out to him. After staring at her extended arms for a few heartbeats, unsure of what he should do, the young girl, Cassandra, crawled over and hugged him. Orion slowly brought his arms up and set them around her, returning the embrace. "How are you feeling?" He asked, his voice soft.
"A lot better!" The smile on her face grew wider, "Are we going to have another story-time?" Her eyes grew slightly bigger, and her smile became one smaller, yet more punctuated.
Orion sighed and pulled away from the hug, put gave a small chuckle. "Alright, do you want to hear about the El-" He was cut short by Cassandra shaking her head vigorously, before she interjected with, "No, I want to hear what happened to the boy. What's his story?" She crossed her legs and tilted her head, waiting anxiously.
Orion pursed his lips, mirroring Cassandra and crossing his legs as well. "I'm afraid that his story hasn't ended yet...It still has to be finished." He sighed and gently moved her bangs from her eyes, tucking them behind her ear. "But..I suppose I could give you a preview. A little bit before the end." He smiled at Cassandra, though his smile was weary, almost sad. "Every story has a begging, and this boy, Orion, he had a bit of a..hard one. But hopefully he'll have a happy ending." He stayed almost all through the night, telling his tale to Cassandra, the curious girl who had never thought that Orion was right in front of her. She had fallen asleep just as he had arrived had the inn in her story, giving in to the ebb of sleep.
Before he left the inn, and Cassandra, he softly whispered into her ear, "The girl he saved, her name was Cassandra. A strong girl, who could do anything if she put her mind to it. The same girl that will know the ending to Orion's story before he does."
AppearanceOrion is a tall, yet built man standing at 6'3, his long arms and broad shoulder's almost always crossed across his chest. A thin line is almost always pressed onto his tanned, almost reflective peach skin, rather than a toothy grin. Though, that is almost always covered anyway due to his delicate and very precious mask. One that is very intricate with it's designs, yet mysterious as to it's background. His fiery amber eyes are normally as calm as the water's that flow within the dark forest, but hide a deep sadness behind them, one that is not easily noticed, even to the trained eye. His hair is a short, and ruffled black tuft. He can easily run his hand through it and call it a day.
He appears at ease almost at all times, especially in combat. He finds an inner peace and exhibits it, not letting his anger cloud his judgment, not after what had happened beforehand. Though he had been raised as an Angardian, he still has a slight elf accent, giving a calm tone to his deep voice. He prefers to keep his hood on as much as he can, covering his pointed ears, and hiding his identity.
Equipment- A Pair of Golden Elven Gauntlets
- Leather Chest Armor
- Teal Cloaked Hood (Father's)
- Angardian Arrow Holster
- 5 Small Copper Tipped Arrows
- 3 Dark Ember Tipped Arrows
- Long Bow (Gifted to him by an innkeeper)
- Small Flask of Poison
- Mother's Face Mask, With Golden Imprints.
- 4 Small Throwing Daggers
- Dagger Sheath
- Sharpened Amber Sword
- Lightweight Leather Boots
- Water Canteen With Dragon Patterns
Other TidbitsOrion has a sleek black and white spotted mountain horse the age of 7, named Davrel. He had taken it from his fathers stables just before leaving to visit his mother, and has kept it ever since.
