Name: Solaire AstoraAge: 27Appearance:Backstory: Solaire’s story first began with his abandonment. Solaire’s mother was a prostitute-turned-nun who who left him in the care of the church orphanage where he would serve an early age as a choirboy. He was given a rudimentary education in literature and numbers as well as taught the lessons of faith which he still holds near his heart. Solaire’s tenure as a mere choirboy changed when his church performed for a wealthy lord, who wished to take a few of the boys to serve on his own choir. Solaire was one of the few who were fortunate enough to be chosen, and at a young age of eight he was sent from the choir to live at the lord’s mansion.
However the lord did not wish to only hear the hymns the boys sand. No, he wished to hear more, their emotions and their cries. Solaire had lived at the mansion for barely a month before a few choirboys went missing, supposedly having “run off” for some reason or another. Each one a boy that the lord had shown particular interest in. Around that time one of those boys revealed himself, traumatized and abused. He told Solaire and the other boys the fate that had befallen him and the others, forced to satisfy their lord. What followed was pandemonium that Solaire did not expect nor had any control over. The guards arrived to the room and started taking the boys away, Solaire included. At some point one of the boys managed to start a fire, a fire which had spread to the grand hall were marvelous silk curtains had hung. Solaire barely managed to escape the chaos.
Alone and cold Solaire was not certain what would befall him. He saw the lord and his guards survive the inferno, and heeding the warnings of his fellow choirboy Solaire ran. He ran into the forest, not knowing where he was going nor where he was at. He heard hoofbeats behind him and he knew that he was being chased. Desperate the boy pleaded to his god to save him, for a blessing or a sign. It came in the form of a blade from the dark. His pursue fell dead and soon Solaire had a bag over his head.
When [Solaire could see again he found himself in a camp full of rough men. Bandits and highwaymen who have been preying on travelers. More specifically, the lord’s men. While unsavory folk these brigands were former serfs of the lord who had witnessed his cruelty and wished to fight against it. They knew Solaire was one of the many victims the lord had taken and they wished to offer him a chance to save others. To do good, fight evil. Scared and naive, Solaire accepted this fate.
From there Solaire had trained and fought alongside the brigands to destabilize the Lord’s lands. They made sure to only strike at the lord’s own soldiers, leaving peasants and merchants alone. They in fact created rapport with a rival lord and assisted him in uncovering the lord’s deviant tastes, and soon other noblemen swooped in to take down the evil lord. All the while Solaire offered help through his voice, faith, and arms. Because of his upbringing he was able to enter various religious places to seek assistance as well as meet important and powerful people. His soft and kind voice allowed him to bring a sliver of hope to the downtrodden, bolstering the support of the rebels. And at a young age Solaire was taught how to fight for god, taught to fight in order to defend himself and others. While his training was not knightly, one needn’t be a knight to slay pigs.
By the time Solaire was twenty years old the lord who had caused him so much suffering was executed. His crimes of heresy and treason stripping the lord of his title and properties. The brigands who had helped defeat the lord returned to their homes under new leadership. Solaire himself sought to head to the capital of his faith to reaffirm his faith. He had to admit that fighting against the tyranny of the Lord of the land was not an easy one, as many of his soldiers were mere men who were misguided at best, or completely innocent at worse. Solaire had no delusion of the sins he committed and wished to redeem himself in the eyes of his god.
So for many years Solaire trained and traveled. He became an ordained cleric and often did missionary work to many impoverished areas, including war zones. His time as a brigand proved oddly useful not only to defend himself and others from violence, but also to understand the mindset of the angered and dissolute bandits who would try and rob him. While most ended up dead due to their actions, Solaire cherished the few he could save. Solaire would continue this holy work, vowing to remain strong in the face of adversity, and should he ever fall, he would do so in sacrifice.
Inventory: Golden Rosary - Solaire’s Holy Symbol given to him when he became an ordained cleric. A symbol of his office and if needed also valuable enough to be offered during the most dire of circumstances. Ostensibly given to him to ward off greed, as the value and importances of his holy symbol ought to outweigh any temptation. His name and the date of his inauguration is inscribed onto the back of the Rosary.
Missionary Habit - Sturdy yet refined garments for those of the cloth. Build to last and withstand against all sorts of weather, be it snowy days, harsh winds, or even blistering heat. All the while formal enough to serve in nearly all types of religious services barring ones that require specific attire. While the attire appears rather conservative and restrictive, it’s actually quite breathable and allows Solaire a full range of motion. If necessary he can shed a majority of his outfit to a simple pair of trousers, long-sleeve tunic, and sturdy boots.
Holy Text - Solaire’s book of faith containing holy scripture, verses, and tales of his religion. It is not the full text but rather an an excerpt given to all missionaries, as the full text spans five books. Solaire also keeps pressed flowers between the pages.
Shillelagh - Solaire’s humble cudgel back in his days as a youthful bandit. This stick is carved from blackthorn and decorated with a steel cap. Not only does this staff assist Solaire’s gait and stride, but it is also his primary weapon should he need to defend himself. The handle is hollowed and filled with lead to increase the weight and subsequent striking power of his stick, and with proper momentum and form Solaire could easily crack plate armor. Additionally the Shillelagh is exactly three feet in length, with subtle notches going up the length of the staff to measure inches.
Scrivener's Kit - A soft leather case that contains a vial for holding ink, an ink pen, spare pen nibs, a small container of pigment for making ink, a tiny knife for cutting quills into pens, a blotter, and a small ruler. Solaire often writes letters and documents during his journeys and thus keeps the means to write those documents close at hand. More often than not, the pen is mightier than the sword, and a well written letter has taken over castles far more efficiently than an army would have. In theory of course. Solaire has never had the opportunity to make that a reality.
Diary - Solaire’s personal journal. Simply a place where he could jot down notes, his thoughts, and other things of interest. Currently full of sketches of things of importance or interest. Solaire notable writes in a different script than english, utilizing a cypher of his own making in order to ensure no one who reads his journal could actually understand its context without Solaire. He doesn’t even use conventional letters, and instead writes in perfectly scripted runes of some sort.
Satchel - A shoulder bag to carry all of Solaire’s belongings. Fairly empty all things considered. It contains one large main pouch, as well as two side pockets large enough to hold a book. Various loops and straps are also attached to the back to tie down larger objects such as bedrolls, tools, and containers.
Silver Knife - A small spring folding knife made of silver. It was gifted to Solaire by a smith who Solaire had managed to turn from banditry. It’s blade glims even in darkness, and while it’s silver edge is unsuitable for warfare, hopefully it may ward off evil nonetheless. It also cuts meats very well. Thanks to its folding edge Solaire could easily hide this within the palm of his hand or other small places.
Holy Water - A metal flask containing twelve ounces of blessed water. While some would say that it's merely boiled salt water, which it is, Solaire would assure them that it can still provide protection and blessings to those who need it. He typically keeps it to bless newborn babies or disinfect wounds and surfaces.
Intro/Sample Post: Footsteps echoed off the stones as Solaire approached the forlorn mansion. As the cleric approached the mansion, it was not lost to him that his name is the same to the latter half of this hallowed place: Rivianne Solaire. This dark and mysterious place had no real need for the cleric’s service, however Solaire had his own reasons to be here. Many rumors in these lands speak of a vast fortune hidden within the mansion, and that it’s lord had been gone for quite some time. However it was not greed that drove the priest, but fervor. Among the rumors spoke that those who attempt to investigate the keep were consumed by a profane darkness, and no doubt that occult activities were at work. Memories of the tyrannical lord and his evil deeds flashed in Solaire’s mind, reminding him why he wears the cloth of his faith. He would not stand idly by and let evil consume the hearts and minds of men, preying on their greed and misfortune.
As he approached the mansion, Solaire took note at the lack of tracks. He saw no footprints or trails coming to or from the mansion. The full moon was high into the sky, and if the rumors were true tonight would be the night that one either finds their fortune or their end here at the mansion. So Solaire expected more people to arrive, as he surely wasn’t the first. But regardless the priest continued forwards, his hands resting on his Shilelagh as it tapped against the stone. The air felt cold and truthfully, Solaire felt fear. It was not unfamiliar for him; he had faced fear all his life. But each time he remained diligent, held strongly to his faith, and strode forward to face his fear head on.
When Solaire approached the door he knocked twice. Shortly after he was greeted by a small girl dressed in maid attire. Her face had notable scars, bringing back memories of the boys abused by the tyrannical lord. However Solaire made no accusations yet and merely introduced himself.
”Greetings. I am Solaire Astora. May I enter?” And after that everything went black.
Other: Solaire is a highly skilled scribe, capable of writing long lengths of letters and essays within hours. He is also capable of perfectly forging a signature and copying one’s writing style. Whether he writes with ink, coal, or even blood, his handwriting is impeccable.
In addition to his amazing writing skills, Solaire is a speed reader. He has read through entire textbooks and multiple journals in a matter of hours, and when it comes to written text he has perfect memory of their contexts. While he still needs time to fully understand the text he can always remember what was written on the pages.
Solaire is fairly youth and athletic, thanks to a career that requires him to maintain some level of physical activity. While he is neither an acrobat nor a strongman, Solaire could be expected to run, lift, swim, and climb as well as any spry youth. He has also been taught various meditative breathing exercises and exercises to assist his physical endeavours, increasing his overall stamina.
Additionally Solaire is fairly competent in self-defense. While he doesn’t consider himself a soldier or even a fighter, he knows enough about the ways of battle to avoid being a victim of it. If possible Solaire aims to disarm and knock down his opponents. That’s not to say he isn’t willing to kill; should the circumstances arise where leaving someone alive will only cause more death Solaire will take it upon himself to end their life. He's particularly handy with a short staff, such as canes and clubs.
Lastly, Solaire prides himself on his skills as a singer. While he’s not the most creative when it comes to making songs or hymns, his vocal range is as wide as the sky itself. when it comes to matching a tune or note he's quick to adapt and with some practice, he could sing along like a professional. He's quite capable of hitting high notes notmally meant for females as well as lower notes generally reserved for men.
