[hider=Lucan Vernier] [center][h1] [b]AT A GLANCE:[/b][/h1][/center] [center] ┏━━━━━━━━━┓ [h2]◊ NAME: ◊ [color=841617]Lucan Vernier[/color] ◊ AGE: ◊ 60 [color=841617]◊ ❝I am damned to Hell a hundred times over, but at least I can still drag down with me all my fellow sinners.❞ ◊[/color] ◊ CONTINENT OF ORIGIN: ◊ Mountaines, Kunlun ◊ PRACTICED MAGIC: ◊ Light & Dark[/h2] Lucan is a premier healer, his abilities renowned across the Continents. Where mundane medicine fails, his magic does not. Mending common injuries, energizing the tired, fixing ruptured organs, identifying ailments and poisons, purifying toxins, curing maladies or combating diseases, all is possible if given enough time. Light magic meets its limit when faced with regenerating lost tissue and dealing with terminal illness – dark magic does not. Lucan is also a haemomancer who has accumulated a wealth of knowledge through years of sanctioned research of utmost secrecy. He has bid foes to reveal the truth, used blood to track, scry, or corrupt, made elixirs to prolong the king's life, explored powers granted by ritual sacrifice, and has even dabbled in soul magic the once. With years of experience at his back, Lucan is versatile, competent in everything from warding, to clairvoyance, illusions, and more. He relies on precision over power, preferring to plan, prepare, and study when he can afford it. Given hours or days, he can draft great rituals (light or dark) using geometric symbols and arcane patterns. In combat, he casts protective shields, bindings of silver light, stuns or paralyzes foes, and fells them with long-range beams. Close quarters is a definite weakness, and he is far from his prime as a mage, his reflexes slower, his endurance poorer. [h2]◊ RELATIONSHIP WITH ROYALTY: ◊ Pragmatic loyalist[/h2] Once, his faith in the monarchs was unquestioning, his servitude the only thing which ensured his survival and promised a measure of peace. That promise was a lie, and his life has hung on the precipice for years, but Lucan doesn't fault them for that. No, what truly shook him and which he cannot overlook is that royals are not infalible. They're not incorruptible. They can stray and make mistakes just like any common man. [i]They[/i] are the existence with the utmost power in the realm, magic or not. And that makes them more dangerous than anyone – even a mage. The older generation (him included) has strayed too far, but perhaps, the younger heirs – royal and magical – hold greater promise... ┗━━━━━━━━━┛[/center] [center][h1][b]A DEEPER DIVE:[/b][/h1] ┏━━━━━━━━━┓ [h2] ◊ CHILDHOOD: ◊[/h2] Born into a family of physicians, Lucan was a boy easily given to learning, fascinated as he was by the world and its workings. His future was bright, for he would have surely become a great doctor or scholar even without any supernatural prowess. Alas, magic threw his life into dissaray. He remembers its first manifestation with clarity; he was tasked with collecting the patient's bandages for cleaning. Lucan doesn't know what led him to touch the ailing woman. Compassion? Instinct? The reason lays forgotten to time, but the consequences do not. His palm shone, and the wounded woman was healed. Only – he hadn't known to regulate his power then, so she had been left with a burn. His parents presented him to the Royal Guard at once. Unfortunately, royal decree called for mages only after they turned 18 years of age, so Lucan was returned to his family. They feared him, because magic was unknown – unexplainable, unreasonable, ungodly. So, he was kept on the periphery, told not to interfere, to keep his 'abomination' under control. Gone was the opportunity to succeed the family trade, though no one could accuse him of not trying. He stole into his father's study, begged his mother to let him assist, hounded his siblings for knowledge they took for granted. All the while, he questioned: How was magic different? Why? What were its mechanisms, its functions, its limitations? He theorized, experimented, and practiced no matter how often it ended with him locked in the cellar. By the time he was recruited as an initiate, Lucan had refined control of his magic, and a burgeoning understanding he was eager to develop under proper guidance. Competition was fierce and their master a combative sort who disregarded casualties in the name of training. Luck, skill, persistence – none of his peers were lacking. Yet, in the end it was him who was chosen as a Royal Mage, and to this day and age, he can only guess why. He has served since the former king's reign, and believed he would serve the next one till death. However, His Majesty Estienne was stricken by a terrible illness, one beyond even Lucan's skills. If only he'd had more time... Alas. "Find a way," the queen told him, and when he said there was none with light magic, he was given permission to turn to dark. There were scarce old tomes in the kingdom's possession, but enough to find a quick if temporary solution. With the power of blood, they kept the king alive for a few more years, but it was only a matter of time. The prince and princess were deemed too young (though the former was on the cusp of majority), so they sought alternatives. His and the queen's scheme was a most dark one – they transferred King Estienne's soul into his younger brother's body. This was 4 years ago, and since then, King "Ingram" has ruled. However, the cost was steep; Kunlan was beset by waves of monstrous forces, what little crops they had were blighted for two years, and the king has been practically driven mad by guilt. While the queen searches for ways to fix her husband, Lucan is assessing the younger royals to see who is worthy of his loyalty... [h2]◊ PERSONALITY: ◊[/h2] Observant, analytical, and curious to a fault, it was his thirst for knowledge and the quest for understanding which led him off the honest path. Or perhaps he has always been deceptive, even to himself, and the fragile guise of academic interest was but a veil hiding an underlying desire for power and control. Even he's not sure. Regardless of the truth, Lucan has accepted darkness as a part of who he is. Disillusioned yet determined, he has come to nurture the quiet conviction that even if past wrongs can't be righted, punishment awaits the wicked. And if it falls to him to deliver it, then so be it. Lucan's inner doubts are concealed beneath a facade of geniality and grace. He is approachable, sympathetic, yet holds high expectations – of others and of himself. He is insightful, clever, and creative, open to sharing his ideas when appropriate. He believes mages could be far better utilized, but has grown numb to their losses. While he's not the type to overtly rebel, he is perfectly capable and willing to influence, manipulate, and nudge things towards preferred outcomes. Behind the scenes, Lucan will do it all; anything for the sake of the kingdom. [h2]◊ OPEN TO FRIENDSHIP: 3 ◊ ◊ OPEN TO ROMANCE: 1 ◊ ◊ PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR RATINGS:[/h2] He's amicable enough, can be charming even, but does not find it easy to trust others. It's not even the fear of being revealed as a dark magic user which drives his secrecy, but the ill fate of a mage's life in general, and especially the weight of burdens he carries as a royal mage. However, he is comfortable in the role of a mentor, and often approaches relationships from the position of a wise guide. As for romance, I'd personally put it at 0. He's 60 years old, so I really, really doubt there are any suitable candidates available. That, and my style of writing emphasizes plot, where any arising organic romance isn't central. But hey, let's never say never. ◊ [h2]◊ APPEARANCE ◊[/h2] [img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c62b5-8367-7240-8d45-6b7064366f0f.webp[/img] ┗━━━━━━━━━┛[/center] [/hider] [hider=Kunlun royals] [table] [row][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8a9d-a3fe-701e-9d83-53482bccaa89.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Ysolde Evangeline von Eisenfall [color=#2E2C2C]. . . . . . . .[/color][/cell][cell]"We have made the necessary sacrifices, so why...? It cannot end like this."[list] [*] Grieving, obsessed, competent. [*] The one active monarch. [*] Holds the kingdom together.[/list] [color=#2E2C2C]. .[/color][/cell][cell]Queen Regent, 43 y/o [color=#2E2C2C]. . . . .[/color][/cell][/row] [row][cell][img] https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8a9c-06f3-715c-84c2-9b885e46662b.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Amalric Albrecht von Eisenfall[/cell][cell]"Come, Your Majesty, why don't you rest? Let me..."[list] [*] Ambitious, practical, manipulative. [*] Doesn't know the truth, but his suspicions are close to the mark. [*] Many answer to him. [*] Feels ready to reign.[/list][/cell][cell]Crown Prince, 21 y/o[/cell][/row] [row][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8a9d-09f3-72dc-9f36-f7b44dabf2b1.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Lieselotte Felicia von Eisenfall[/cell][cell]"You want to untangle the web, but can you handle the spider?"[list] [*] Magnetic, graceful, beguiling. [*] Also suspects the truth. [*] Loyal to her family and herself.[/list][/cell][cell]Princess, 18 y/o The Jewel of Kunlun[/cell][/row] [row][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8aa0-2d55-764e-a1d6-9d8b30933974.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Eustace Alphonse von Eisenfall[/cell][cell]"Knowledge is power."[list] [*] Clever, shy, kind, private. [*] A bookworm and aspirant academic. [*] Is fascinated by Ingram's condition, but doesn't suspect magic. [*] Good friends with Marcelle.[/list][/cell][cell]Prince, 14 y/o[/cell][/row] [/table] [table] [row][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8a9c-c540-73a9-9b67-6d6000282012.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Ingram Havel von Eisenfall[/cell][cell]"I feel him...He's here! No, no, please forgive me, brother..."[list] [*]Inhabited by the soul of Estienne. [*]Recluse, guilt-ridden, delusional. [*] Appears rarely in public. [*] When he does, it's usually in Amalric's company.[/list][/cell][cell]King, 40 y/o Former Wyvern corps commander[/cell][/row] [row][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8a9d-ed3f-73ae-873f-996bd03153ea.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Zaynab bint Janan von Eisenfall[/cell][cell]"I have a nose for foulness, and it [i]reeks.[/i]"[list] [*]Sharp, wily, mercantile. [*]Thinks her husband is cursed and/or possessed. [*]Carries anti-mage sentiments.[/list][/cell][cell]Ingram's wife, 36 y/o Hails from the Dezert[/cell][/row] [row][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8a9c-7490-736d-aa62-6242b6a85862.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Armand Bashir von Eisenfall[/cell][cell]"I don't know [i]who's[/i] done that to father, but I won't let it stand."[list] [*] Fiery, pugnacious, impulsive. [*] Thinks his father is cursed. [*] Carries anti-mage sentiments.[/list][/cell][cell]Prince, 16 y/o Wyvern Rider Trainee[/cell][/row] [row][cell][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c8a9d-5f45-705f-97db-6fa96b6820e9.webp[/img][/cell][cell]Marcelle Kalila von Eisenfall[/cell][cell]"It's times like this we need to hold onto each other."[list] [*] Kind, diplomatic, insightful. [*] The bridge between the two sides of the royal family.[/list][/cell][cell]Princess, 15 y/o[/cell][/row] [/table][/hider]