[hider=It's time for a Paladin'ling.]
[center][img]http://puu.sh/u7hZj/aa00a14dbc.jpg[/img][/center]
[i]With bright blonde hair and sky blue eyes. Jacque’s sharp features are often tempered by the gentle expression he wears. Despite his large stature, taller than many of his peers at 6’4, there’s a gracefulness to how he moves. While not as powerfully built as some others, he nonetheless strikes an imposing figure when clad in his masterwork armor. Though its gleam is still bright, the dulling at the edges shows it has survived tests of its worth. His attire is predominantly blue trimmed with gold, and serves to heighten his knightly bearing. 

If one were ever to see his bare torso, they would no doubt note the prominent scars there. At the center of his ribcage are five points, as if someone had attempted to plunge their hand into him. Perhaps more worrying would be the effect on his shadow. While it appears completely normal if cast in front of him, when his shadow is behind him those perceptive enough may notice jagged five points of light upon his chest. Almost as if the light is passing through the scars.[/i]

[b]Name:[/b] Jacque Raynes
[b]Age:[/b] 20
[b]Gender:[/b] Male
[b][b]Race:[/b] Human
Nation:[/b] Astopol

[b]Personality:[/b] Lax. From how Jacque acts, most people would likely never guess he came was raised among the upper class. He’s very much an open individual, and prides himself on being an easy person to talk with. Reserving distinction for when strictly necessary, he treats most that he meets with the same amount of respect. Admittedly it may be a bit flippant of him to do so, but respect given is generally respect returned. 

A guardian more than any crusader, he seeks to preserve life wherever possible and tries to show mercy to even the “monsters” of Talze Utera. As a result, he generally isn’t assigned taskings where he might be allowed to make such a decision. Even when he is, it is more likely in a support role for crusaders who are more than willing to do what needs to be done. To this, he has little objections; smart enough to understand that very few others had an experience similar to his own to shape their outlook. When pushed to take a life though, he does so with ironclad resolution. It is not a decision made lightly for him, and thus he has all the more reason to follow through with it. 

While never one to doubt himself, recently Jacque has found certain limits to his abilities. He practices and pushes himself daily to improve, but some things simply remain out of his reach. Unable to save his mentor from succumbing to illness, he wonders if he’ll be unable to stop others from passing. His parents grow older each day, and his friends are dispatched with greater frequency. Will he be there when he’s needed, and will his magic be enough?

The full moon is also something that makes Jacque uneasy. In the days around it, he can feel a throbbing in his old scar. The wound in his shadows seems to grow a bit larger, and a sensation grips his heart. Each month those days pass without event, but it’s still something that Jacque has never grown used to.

[b]Biography[/b]
[list][*]At a young age it quickly became apparent that Jacque was special. He never fell sick, recovered from bumps and bruises at a remarkable pace, and grew up healthy and strong.
[*]The War broke his family apart as his father joined the frontlines. He does not return when it ends, but continues to fight as the March of Light begins. The Rift Beasts are driven back, and still he does not return as Astopol turns their attention against Talze Utera.
[*]A young boy by then, Jacque’s abilities are recognized. Hailed as another sign of the Goddess’ blessing, he is taken in to be training and taught by the finest Astopol has to offer.
[*]Traveling from his out of the way village though, the caravan is ambushed by a handful of monsters. They hope to kill him as a way to hurt both the country and his father, a prominent crusader by now. Yet the attack fails as a separate band of Talze Uterans interfere with the ambush, buying the defenders enough breathing room.
[*]Rushed to the safety of the capital, Jacque has not forgotten the events of that strange night throughout his years of training and schooling. [/list]
[hider=Expanded History]Born just half a decade before the Great War, Jacque was raised mostly by his mother. His parents had married young, and his father had yet to fulfill his pursuit of glory. A promising crusader, his father was not home as often as he was. His mother, understanding of her husband’s ambitions, did her best to raise him by herself. Just as well trained as her husband, she made sure that Jacque got started with his training from a young age.

Even to a father who was not home much of the year, it was clear that Jacque had been blessed in some way. He grew up faster than the other children, and boasted an inexhaustible energy. With the knowledge that his child was somehow special, his father quashed his desire for glory and settled down to live with his family. There was trouble brewing to the north, and only time would tell when it could no longer be contained. Best to actually live as a family before then.

As expected, the Jeualian Empire did not settle down as they dealt with what trouble they had in their newly established borders. With their forces assembled and their mission clear, the Empire marched its armies against the southern nations. His father took up arms again and joined the march north, leaving Jacque alone with his mother again. As the warfront slowly ground to a halt, news of his father’s efforts reach the small town they call home. 

Even with the battlelines shattered by the Rift Beasts’ appearances, news reached the small town. His father had not returned for his efforts were now directed against the new monsters that plagued the land. As his father garnered more and more fame for his accomplishments, Jacque found himself the subject of respect out of association. Life did not change much for him as his town remained untouched by the chaos that had enveloped much of the land. 

One day though, a group from the capital arrived at their small town. His father had spoke of Jacque quite often, and he was of enough interest that they wished for him to journey with them and learn at the best institutions the country had. There was no reason to reject, and he had since begun to push at the limits of what he could learn at home. Bidding his mother farewell and looking forward to what the future might hold, he left Kinabre in the company of the caravan.

The attack halfway to the capital was unexpected and left Jacque in recovery for half a month afterwards. Three merchants passing them by on the road. Unassuming one moment, and ferocious werewolves the next as a sphere one released bathed the area in moonlight. Unprepared for such an ambush by three of Talze Utera’s famous monsters, the guards were quickly pushed onto the defensive and gave up ground quickly. 

Unable to rally, the caravan surely would have been destroyed if not for a stranger’s timely intervention. Arriving in a swirl of miasma that was typically found in Talze Utera, he pushed the three monsters back and the werewolves quickly retreated afterwards, the advantage of surprise lost. Who the stranger was has never been discovered. He disappeared as quickly as he had appeared, and there had been little clues left behind. 

The rest of the journey was trouble free, and Jacque began his training shortly after he had recovered from the incident. During those two weeks, it became fairly evident to the Healers that their patient had an affinity for their school of magic. Educated and trained with the other elite magicians that Astopol boasted he met many from great families and powerful lineages, but perhaps none more notable than the daughters of the Keep and Soutcrux families. He only met Frett Soutcrux during the last year of his studies, and his teacher’s education meant he had little attention and time to put towards other things.

Recently graduated, he’s just gotten a few taskings under his belt, but nothing particularly grand. The latest job seems like it might be just the thing to get his name some recognition, though he's not particularly concerned about it.[/hider]
[b]Abilities[/b]
An accomplished magic user, Jacque’s specialization lies in the arts of Healing magic. Classed as a High Medic, he is capable of fulfilling most needs a squad of four other Astopolian Knights may require. With a knack for sustained magic, his effectiveness truly shines in drawn out battles where his magic can linger; repairing wounds, eliminating fatigue, and letting his comrades fight at full functionality. His talent also lends itself towards dealing with afflictions and maladies as his magic steadily burns away anything that does not belong in his patient. His magic proves to be easily identifiable though as it manifests in the form of golden motes of light, surrounding those he’s treating or falling over the area he consecrates like snow. 

[u]Sword Arts – Golden Lives Style[/u]: The foundation for is a meld before enhancement spells that boost Jacques performance to superhuman levels, resembling other males strengthened by Talentium, and powerful regeneration magic that holds his body together through the strain the style puts on him. It is a well-rounded style that does not dominate any particular aspect of combat, but nonetheless has a few tricks that may tip the scales in Jacque’s favor. When using the Sword Arts, his body is shrouded by a golden glow and sheds a constant trail of golden motes. The infusion of active magic provides Jacque a measure of protection against spells that would target him directly.

[indent][u]Sensory Overload:[/u] Infusing his weapon with energy, a swing releases the unstable crescent at an opponent. Successful contact causes the magic to flood their systems, where it causes their senses to run amok. While technically enhancement magic, it is entirely uncontrolled and the boosts fluctuate rapidly and without any sort of pattern disorienting and crippling those affected.

[u]Two Gold for the Dead:[/u] Clasping his weapon with both hands, Jacque lifts it towards the sky and releases two bright bursts of magic. Although it carries minor healing properties, the magic is meant to cleanse the undead, diseased, and other foul beings. Any “unhealthy” cells are attacked and destroyed, burning them away with holy light. 

[u]Benediction of Gold:[/u] A declaration that none shall fall brings forth a burst of healing unlike any other. It is merely the appearance of powerful healing magic though, and in truth is simply the bolstering of a body’s ability to heal. Accelerating it to a rapid degree, the healing magic stabilizes the process for his allies, counteracting any negative effects. Unfortunately, even the magic cannot provide all the energy and the healing of their wounds may be paid for with fatigue and exhaustion.

[u]Gilded Feathers:[/u] A flare in the magic that infuses Jacque signals the preparation receive an attack. A brief bout of invincibility that would tear his body apart regardless of how fast it could recover if it lasted for more than that moment. A great flash of light accompanies the spell, a show of the energy used, and protecting him further by blinding enemies.[/indent]
[b]Important Items[/b]
[u]Evloga:[/u] A long staff forged of Talentium, it occasionally bears the ornate flag of Astopol when appropriate. A tool for defense, Jacque uses it mainly when holding his ground and takes advantage of its vast reach to keep his enemies at a distance. 
[u]Krisil:[/u] A greatsword, Krisil is only drawn when Jacque must take the offensive. The nature of his mindset when wielding the weapon means his enhancement magic tends to lean towards speed and strength rather than toughness and regeneration.
[u]Fylakas:[/u] His father’s knife, also of Talentium make, that was passed onto him recently when he returned to visit his parents. A gift and tool that would hopefully keep him safe and return him to them. Perhaps it is unsurprising then, that Jacque’s magic flows to keeping him standing and withstanding blows.
[u]The Goddess’ Tear:[/u] A reinforced vial that hangs from a necklace, the water contained within comes from what is said to be the holiest spring in all of Astopol. Given to him as a gift from his mentor when he left her guardianship, it’s a precious memento.[/hider]