Well, here's the first character. Still need to work out the magical kinks and kind of got writer's fatigue half-way near the end, so revisions may occur. But for now, working on the second character. --- Name: Noel Yang Alias/Nickname: "Noel Nightly" was his Porn Star name, "Lady Face" was his name when he was still at the Academy Age: Twenty Six Race: Human Appearance: [img=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5V4zGo9O7FM/UwHvXLBqmLI/AAAAAAAAAp4/epEnpaijZAg/s1600/Pixiv.Fantasia.full.164866.jpg] Has a slim, feminine body. Thin and lithe but with the right amount of fat and musculature that he certainly is not skeletal. Not the beefiest, but he's stronger than he looks. For a human, anyways. Social Status: A graduate of the Master Melody’s Academy for Fine Arts and one of their better students, but has long since been dropped of their radar two years after his graduation. However those with certain interests may know him from several pornos as well as musical numbers, where he provides his expertise for various situations. Relations: Most near family are deceased, though he knows he has some distant cousins who may be aware of him, though he hasn't gotten out of his way to know. Has some fans from his media work but generally doesn't answer their calls, a few fellow travelers who may know him/have worked with him, and he has a small but notable reputation among those who have need of a bard/actor/human with an Essence. General Activity: Noel tends to do whatever job he finds that he feels would suit him. He's done some time as an "Escort" as well as an actual bodyguard (With a ridiculously low bodycount however), tends to just show up, help the situation however he can, and leave before people start asking him to stay. He does seem to be the wanderer type, though he's recently begun trying to travel with a group. The life of a lone wanderer isn't as fun as he imagined, and would like companionship. Abilities: Physical - Noel isn't really a body worker, though he does make it into a habit to take care of it. Keeps himself clean and smelling fresh, and tries not to get too unhealthy or sick. He's actually pretty strong for someone with a lithe frame like him, but he's still pretty scrawny. He is rather athletic in that he's quick with his feet and has very good hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and situational awareness. Decent at picking up subtle cues as he's always looking for them. He also prides himself on his voice and his ability to copy any sound he hears, right down to the volume and accent. Some may think that his voice is magical for the sounds it can produce, but no, that's just him. He's very good at hiding himself and others if need be. If for some reason he finds himself in a fight, he's not much for fisticuffs, but give him a solid stick or staff and he'll show off some of the martial arts he learned back at the Academy. Not really a fair fighter seeing that he'd lose a fair fight. Very good at throwing things however, be it furniture he can pick up or even proper throwing knives and such. Also knows how to handle a whip or chain with frightening efficiency, but this takes more in the form of how he can somehow form knots and lassos rather than any damage he does with them. Noel has picked the lute as his instrument of choice, but also has some experience working with other stringed instruments, the keyboard, and a drum set. Magical - Noel's magic could be simply called "Illusions", but this would need more elaboration. Noel's magical ability is more accurately called "Psychomancy", or the Divination of the Psyche. For some, these seems to only be illusions. But it is more than that. It is the ability to control and change one's mind, spirit, and soul. Psychomancer can create a Wide Concentration to cast their spells over a large area, or Focused Concentrations to hit single target with much more power. The emotions of the caster as well as their target also is taken into account for the effects of the spells, as each as their own strengths and weaknesses that must be understood to be utilized to it's fullest efficiency. There are many spells in Psychomancy, and the following is what he is capable of preforming himself. He can do additonaly, more powerful spells, but they require the use of his Instrument. [hider=Spells][list]Telepathy - The simplest and likely first spell a Psychomancer will pick up. Telepathy is basically reading the mind of someone. the mind is a fickle thing however; rarely does it actually speak in complete and understandable phrases. Indeed when a novice first uses Telepathy for the first time, they may find that everyone's thoughts are usually rambling run-on sentences. But with enough time, even a novice can begin to make sense of someone's thoughts, translating it into something with meaning. This is especially helpful for communicating outside of languages, more so once the novice begins to learn how to speak to others using their Telepathy. Instead of words they can translate their own thoughts into others. Sometimes they end up a rambling mess, but again, training allows them to fine-tune it into a more understandable messages. However, Telepathy has a range dependent on their level of ability. Most novices don't have a range further than a ten-yard radius of their current position, and only within eyesight. But as they become more skilled, they can read minds at a further distance in every direction. Illusions - For more educated mages, many would associated Psychomancy with primarily Illusions, and while there is correlation, Illusion is simply another trick up Psychomancer's sleeves. Illusion is also known as "Perception Manipulation", as they are not merely image tricks. Most Novice Psychomancers will begin learning Illusions first by using a spell that will save their lives many time in the future: Invisibility. Basically, they will use their magic to manipulate a person's visual perception, causing the mage to disappear from their sight. This works well on most creatures who use sight as a their main means of finding people, though creatures using different means would need to be affected by different spells. But illusion allows the mage to do that; a advance illusionist can do more than turn invisible, they could make it so that their entire existence disappears. their scent, gone, the noise they make turns to silence, even their touch no longer registers. Thanks to Illusions, a psychomancer could potentially do anything, and leaving none the wiser. But there is a flaw; for all their potential, illusions ultimately do nothing at all. No matter how powerful the illusion, now graphic or detailed the illusion is, it is ultimately nothing. Some can be creative and cause the enemy to cause more damage to themselves using Illusion, but Illusions themselves do no physical harm, and even the mental damage can be recovered from.[/list][/hider] Equipment: Noel carries a staff five-feet in length (just a little bit shorter than he is) that can he separated at the middle to create two smaller staffs 2 /12 feet length each. It serves as both a walking stick, a tool for measuring, and a weapon for self defense. He also carries a kukri, though that was a gift and he doesn't use that for fighting. Much. Hibiki (Instrument in image) - Noel's personal "Fragment". On it's own, it's capable of emulating the sounds of other instruments, often used to accompany Noel's own singing. Though bulky, it weighs next to nothing and is nearly indestructible (At least Noel doesn't mistreat it enough to figure out what can break it). Often wrapped in a thick cloth and carried on Noel's back when not in used. Fragment Abilities: Theme Music Power Up - Simply as the title entails. Using Hibiki's powers, Noel can create inspiring music for his allies around him, each one getting something that makes them confident and feel more powerful. It's not merely moral support either; it literally does physically and magically strength his allies, allowing them to preform feats that they normally couldn't. Affects all allies who can hear him. Psychomancy Spells - Not exactly an innate ability of Hibiki, rather it's used as a strengthening catalyst for Noel's own magical abilities. Only needs to be possessing Hibiki to use these spells, and they do not disrupt his Theme Music Power up or the Heal Bell. [hider=Spells] Pathokinesis - Also known as Emotion Manipulation. Pathokinesis is essential to a Psychomancer, as it allows them to control not only their enemies, but also their own emotions. Certain emotions allow for a better efficiency with their magic, while others will debilitate it. Pathokinesis can also be used to cause the enemy to become reckless or turn against each other, or to bestow confidence in your allies and alleviate their fears. Pathokinesis is considered one of the more controversial magics in Psychomancy, and while it can still be officially taught, many in the world will be uneasy to know that you could potentially control their emotions against their will. The effects of Pathokinesis are usually temporary, but they can provide a spark to cause someone to succumb to a pattern of emotions thanks to the caster's manipulations. Doppelgangers - A variant ability of Illusions, however Doppelgangers have the advantage that they can be used on opponents no matter what level their wards are since the spell is targeted at the caster instead of their opponent. Doppelgangers allow a mage to create multiple copies of themselves or others. Like illusions, these doppelgangers are incapable of causing any physical effect, though with enough Essence one can emulate the effects. Doppelgangers are easy to dismiss, but also easy to see through; typically a solid blow will cause the Doppelganger to vanish unless the mage constantly pumps energy to maintaining the illusion, but each doppelganger requires a constant upkeep of energy, as well as the base cost to cast the spell. A weak doppelganger to last a few minutes won't take much energy, but more realistic doppelgangers for longer time is a skill largely reserved for advance Psychomancers. Psychomancer themselves can discern Doppelgangers using telepathy, as doppelgangers do not have any thoughts. Precognition - Considered the pinnacle achievement for mages who are skilled Wide Concentration magic. Precognition is a telepathy variant that allows the mage to detect their opponent's subconscious; those subtle cues that the mind sends to it's body before the body reacts. Precognition allows the mage to be able to understand instinctively what their opponent is about to do, from combat to the poker table. Precognition occurs when the Psychomancer is Synchronized with their opponent, meaning that their thoughts are one. Synchronization is achieved mainly when a telepathic link is created between the mage and the target long enough that the mind of their opponent is assimilated into the mage. This intimate connection is often achieved between close individuals, but Emotions play a large part of how one's Precognition occurs. To be the source of one of the mage's basic or hybrid emotions allows for a greater chance of Precognition of the emotion itself is in it's highest form. Thus there needs to be a certain understanding between the mage and their target, an understanding that requires an open and accepting mind, but at the same time the mage must be capable of manipulating their own emotions appropriately to use Precognition to it's fullest. Scry - Considered the Pinnacle achievement for mages who are skilled in Focused Concentration magic. Scry is a unique spell that allows the mage to be able to create what is known as an Astral; their own minds freed from the restraints of their body. A Scry is capable of using their Astral to go into places their bodies cannot, and in their Astral form their Psychomancy power is increased exponentially. Scry can also be used to see and find something in the world regardless of location; often scrying will be used to find lost artifacts or people. But Scry has it limits. While the Astral form is powerful, it must be near it's body; without it's mind the body is an empty defenseless husk. Should the body be "killed", the Astral form will be trapped, and without a body to feed energy off of, the Astral will fade. The Astral form itself derives energy from the willpower and mage blood of the body, as well as the Astral's spells. The more spells the Astral uses, the less time they have to remain in that form before they must return to their body; if they run out of energy before they reach their host body, their Astral form is destroyed, as is the mind that created it. Even Scrying is not safe; the further away an opject is, the more energy needed to find it. Scrying as a form of searching itself uses much more energy than an Astral projection does, causing the scenes found during scrying to be come short, more so the better hidden the subject is. Dominance - Unlike Pathokinesis, Dominance is an almost illegal variant of Psychomancy. It is more commonly known as memory manipulation; it allows a mage to manipulate the memories of their target, either by diving into their minds and discovering information kept hidden in their thoughts, to to alter and hide memories to change their personalities entirely. Dominance is a powerful ability of master mages, requiring a godly amount of Concentration, Willpower, and Training. But with enough of the three, Psychomancer can potentially puppet any sentient mortal being. Even if the Dominiance does not take over for any reason, the power of Dominance itself is enough to shatter any Ward, leaving the victim exposed to further attacks. It's power has it's own drawbacks of course, such as the Essence required to cast and maintain the spell, as well as the fact that Dominance can only occur in close physical relation to the target; further ranges require additional energy for an already high-energy spell. Dominance Mages must be closely guarded, and apostate Dominance Mages are often hunted down and executed before they use their magic for evil. [/hider] Heal Bell - Hearing the music from Hibiki allows Noel's allies to recover from their injuries and withstand any pain they're suffering. The strength of the healing is exponential; at the beginning, it can't heal much. But the longer it plays, Noel could potentially make his allies immortal with a extreme healing factor. Fragment Personality: Noel becomes very idealistic to the point of suicidal naivety. So inspired by his own power, Noel would think that he could take on the whole world, dropping what he's doing to tackle the problem he's facing. Unfortunately, this also means he's not playing Hibiki and now has lost the power it grants him and to his allies, while also putting him on what could be considered a suicidal charge filled by his own ignorance to weakness. He will jump head first towards any problem without a strategy or even a thought in his head, merely acting and doing whatever he can with his given momentum. Personality: Will show in IC. Biography: Noel's history first began at the academy. When he first started, he had parents; two fathers, with a mother no where in sight. It was never very strange for Noel, simply something that he has learned to be normal for him. Of course, normal for him isn't so normal for everyone else. At the Academy Noel was a good student; never cause much trouble, tried his hardest, did was he was told... But trouble tends to find him and Noel, not being the passive type, never let any slight against him go lightly. If it wasn't for his parent's homosexuality, it would be for his appearance, or his "nerdy" demeanor. But Noel was raised to be a strong boy, capable of handling any situation. Or at least, that's what he had to become one day. He returned home to find the brutalized remains of his fathers sprawled out on the floor and walls. The horrific matter of their deaths suggested that demons or monsters had come and ravaged his parents, but the graffiti written in their remains suggested that their deaths were a hate crime. Since that day Noel skirted the line of having to become a mature young adult to becoming a broken and traumatized child. It was around this time that he had begun to master his Fragment, Hibiki, and used it powers to simulate his mind. He used it to ignore the horrors he saw and to try to continue living without fear and regret. He worked harder on his school work to make himself feel superior over others, but the stress of trying to be the best made him rely on Hibiki's magical effects more. While he was ultimately successful, becoming one of the top graduates of the Academy, it was an empty victory for Noel. After graduating, he simply began to travel the world trying to figure out what he was doing with himself. He mostly worked for the Academy in hunting renegades, using his abilities to charm and close in on his target before taking them out, or at least setting them up to be taken out by other graduates. Due to his looks and his charisma, he had tried to take up acting. Of course, it wasn't always so cut-and-dry as to simply land a job as a character in a movie or some such; he had to start from the bottom, which meant working in porn movies. And he did well. His feminine appearance made him quite a catch for some producers, and has starred in many types of movies in various positions. Even after he started making a name for himself in the movie industry, he still participated in pornos due to it's atmosphere. A sort of casual work place that occasionally allows you to dress up in fetishistic outfits and screw your co-workers. Additionally, he helped him with his job with the academy, using his new found fame to cozy up to targets before eliminating them. It also helped Noel avoid working for the academy; he'd claim that he's undercover with whatever act he's involved in at the time and may or may not actually get some work done. He wanted to be away from the Academy, live his own life however it came (in)to him. It was a nice life, but soon Noel sought to be on the move once more. He felt that as much as being a porn star was an enjoyable and profitable experience, he was wasting his skills and abilities just working in movies. After amassing a small fortune for himself, he retired from the movie business and began a traveler, looking to try to help solve whatever problems happens to cross his path. Occasionally he'd mention his affiliations with the Academy if it helps with his duties. He has made quite a few friends along the way, and tries to convince them to accompany him in his Knight Errant ways. He may just be a human in this chaotic and mad world, but hoping and praying is for the powerless. He had power, and aimed to use it.