Exsecrata Amara Astra

Passerculus (Little Sparrow) / Flavia (yellow or gold, referring to her eyes and her preferred name)

16

Female

C-

Flavia is about average in height, close to five feet ten inches or one hundred and seventy-eight centimeters, but a perpetual slouch and sometimes-timid demeaner maker her seem smaller. She looks unfortunately right in the middle of the 'award teen' phase, all gangly arms and legs and elbows and knees, but there are hints that she will become a real beauty in time. Her luxurious snow-white hair is very important to her, she spends many hours taking meticulous care of it, and it shows. Her eyes are an intense and unusual gold and could be mildly disconcerting if they didn't have a tendency to shy away from looking directly at people. Her pale skin speaks of very little time outdoors, and her soft hands and slim frame shows very little experience with exercise. Her golden guildmark is imprinted on her left shoulder. Oddly, she prefers leggings and pants to skirts, and wears little in the way of jewelry or makeup. If anything, its like she doesn't want to draw attention to herself...

Amara, or Flavia, as she wishes to be known as, has significant contrasts in her character. She can be brash and bold but also timid and cowardly with almost no in between. She'll curse you out at the top of her lungs and then apologize quietly a moment later. She is shy at first but generally warms quickly. When she feels safe, she is her bold self, talkative and carefree, quick to laugh, quick to joke with a robust yet sharp sense of humour, and friendly in a rakish manner. But she shows a completely different side of her when nervous or even mildly intimidated. She withdraws quickly, like a turtle in it's shell, becoming quiet, timid, and submissive. It almost like she becomes a different person. When problems come she gets flustered easily and is indecisive at best. Ultimately, though, when push comes to shove, she is a weak willed coward. She'll let people push her around and walk all over her and run away from danger if she can, even if something important to her is at stake. She hates this about herself and wishes she wasn't. She envies those with power and courage and wishes that she could be the same. Due to her past, she thinks that with power comes freedom from fear.

Though generally fine with being around people, she is an introvert at heart and enjoys peace and quiet in solitude the most. She enjoys reading and studying, especially about magic. Her childhood was spend studing diligently with access to vast archives, so as a result, she is quite knowledgeable about magical theory and magic in general, like a walking encyclopedia. Her dream is to master all kinds of magic, maybe even every single one. In essence, became a powerful Wizard.

Overall, she is an intelligent, rational, and logic-driven person who can be deeply introspective, even philosophical at times. But, contrary even to this, she has a brace of fears ranging from mild to irrational, that tend to consume her rational thoughts.

The Astra family was an old, powerful, and wealthy mage family who were completely dedicated to their craft. Generation after generation they studied, collected, and quantified magic. Those born into their bloodline almost always had above average talent with magic at the very least, and they only got stronger from there. One's magical power, a factor of not just strength but skill and knowledge determined their standing in the hierarchy of the family: The title and praenomen of 'Magus' was always held by the most powerful wizard of each generation, with the oldest Magus being the head of the family and the line of succession following age. The branch of the family who the Magus came from would generally be in favor and hold the most power, which was considerable. They lived in a large city-state, named Arcadia, that, while technically ruled by a king, they were the true power behind the throne, and they used their magic to stay that way. However, for this they were not very much loved by the people.

Amara was born the youngest of three siblings and the only girl. When children are born, a divination is cast by the wisewomen to determine their magical aptitude and possibly even hint at their future, which would determine their praenomen. Her eldest brother was found to have incredible magic the likes of which had not been seen for generations. He was given the praenomen of Magus from birth. She, however, was a different story. To her father's horror, she was found with barely any magic at all and a dark future that hinted at terrible things. And so he named her Exsecrata. Cursed. And Amara. Bitter. He would have actually had her killed, if her mother had not begged and pleaded for her life. 'Flavia' was a nickname given to her by her mother, and used by everyone but her father.

And so, she grew up the baby of the family. Barely a mage in a family of great magic. But, her elder brothers loved her and looked out for her and the three were very close, especially with the oldest, Ferrin, whom she respected, envied, and idolized. Unwanted and rejected by her father, she spent a lot of time with her mother, whom she took after in looks, even having nearly the same shade of hair. Her favorite times were when her mother would sit down and brush that hair while singing. She spent most of her days studying and practicing magic, in an all-consuming effort to somehow make her father proud of her. She never succeeded.

One day, however, war came to their city. An empire was forming, growing, sucking up cities and countries in it's wake. Arcadia was next in the Alvarez Empire's sight. The fighting was harsh and destructive with powerful mages on both sides tearing asunder the very earth itself. At it's height, a powerful demon suddenly appeared in the city, reeking havoc. Whether the demon was summoned by either side in desperation, or by a third party, or completely unrelated, no one really knows. But it was so dangerous, soldiers and mages of both sides, even citizens were called to arms.

The city burned.

During the confusion, and for reasons unknown, her father grabbed what he could, took her mother and the three siblings and fled. But the oldest brother got separated from them. He was later presumed dead. Her father never was the same. He drove them hard, fleeing as if hell itself were after him. They fled west, into the unknown. Crossing mountains, lakes, and lands unknown, to settle in the country of Takahan.

Seemingly destroyed by the death of his favorite Son, her father deteriorated. He grew angry, unreasonable. He devoted most his time to his studies, and when he appeared, his mood was evil and abusive. He pressed her brother and her harder then ever to train and always compared them mockingly to their missing sibling, Flavia most of all. It grew so bad that Flavia couldn't take it. With a single written goodbye, she pilfered a magic tome from their meager possessions and fled.

With some close calls, luck, several curious coincidences, and a bizarre incident involving an undead chicken that will never be adequately explained, she ended up in Dragon Heart. Now, she has been a member for a little over a year...