[CHAR] Southward!

[Polaris North]

Aram Vikkar, the Ex-Mage Hunter

"It shouldn't be too hard to get it through the thick skull of yours huh? I ain't coming back and that's final!"

---

Name: Aram Vikkar

Age: 30

Gender: Male

Country of Origin: Remulus

Weapons: Though he doesn't use it as much as before, he does have a well-maintained arming sword. With it comes two knives just in case he were to be disarmed. He is also in possession of a bow and a multitude of arrows that he still personally makes.

Appearance: Sporting unruly dirty blonde hair most of the time, he usually comes off as a lazy person. He typically loves running his hand through it or ruffling it to make it more messier. He has blue eyes - rather torquiose when you really look at it. He doesn't have much in terms of casual clothing. Aside from his chef's uniform when he is in work, and his old armor from when he was a mage hutner, there isn't much of anything left. He does have a brown cloak and normal traveller's clothing that he usually wears whenever he leaves to gather supplies or visit other kingdoms and whatnot. He stands at a height of 5'10 with a rather muscular build thanks to his years of training and hands-on experience from when he was a mage hunter, but isn't too muscular as to be considered bulky. He has multiple scars running across his body thanks to the numerous fights he has been in - with a mage or not.

Personality: Aram is a rather outspoken individual, unafraid of people's opinions on him changing when he does. He will say what he thinks should be said. He's straightforward and brutally honest, which can cause some problems when it comes interacting with someone sensitive. Other than that, he's a relatively nice and easygoing guy who knows when to have fun - especially when others need it. He only dabbles in two vices - smoking and drinking. Other than that, he's a decent person. He has a high tolerance against alcoholic drinks so he's not scared of spilling information when he's drunk. Despite his past, he has no ill will towards mages and finds them rather interesting - other than the few grudges that he has because of some mages who were truly just not right in the head. Outside of work, he honestly seems like a very lazy person. And like every person in Remulus, he's very easily irritated. Though his irritation just as easily subsides.

Having been through years of training, he knows how to pace himself when it comes to fights - and knows his own strengths and weaknesses. He knows he isn't in top shape because he hasn't been through the same arduous training as when he was a mage hunter, even though he still keeps himself in relatively good shape. When you look at him, you wouldn't really realize that he's a rather strategic person. After all, when you're fighting someone stronger than yourself, you'd have to find a way to survive the battle - and Aram is well-versed in the art of strategy. Unfortunately so, he's not used to working with others without the same training as him as he mainly communicates with hand and eye gestures instead of verbally speaking - as is the norm when you're in a group of mage hunters.

Short Biography: The Vikkar family is loyal to the reigning House in Remulus - the Vikary family. There has been some talk that the Vikkar family is actually a branch family of that House, but no one has ever spoken the truth about it. There is some truth to this rumor, as the Vikkar family is related to the Vikary family by blood from a time long past. However, the Vikkars decided to branch off from the main family because they wanted to become mage hunters, and wanted to keep that under wraps. Being under the spotlight as the kingdom's main house would eliminate the possibility of them ever getting complete privacy.

From a young age, a Vikkar child would be trained as a mage hunter - honed to hate the mages and to kill them, all while serving the Church. Aram was not an exception. Growing up in this kind of family would have usually made you cynical and jaded - taught at a young age that killing was right as long as the things you kill are mages or demons. Aram, however, never fell into this kind of thinking. While he still served his family and the Church loyally, he felt remorse whenever he took a mage's life, or took them to Ivorytower. He finished his training when he was only seventeen years old, 'graduating' early because of him being a Vikkar. From then on, the only things that he could remember was avoiding magical shots, getting hit by said shots, cutting down a mage, cuffing a mage, reporting to the Church and the likes.

Through the years of hunting, Aram found great joy in simply getting to hang out in the local pub. This is the main reason why he began to drink. As time passed by, he grew aware of his natural resistance to the alcoholic beverages so he came to the thought the it was fine to drink with others. Thanks to one of the local barkeeps, he began smoking as well. The barkeep decided it was a good idea to hand Aram a cigarette stick so that he could relax and whatnot. Ever since then, he's rarely seen without a cigarette unless he's on the job. He does know how to smoke in moderation, though, and is able to control himself.

Aram had also gotten quite the reliable partner at that time. Her name was Lucia. She was not as well trained as him, but she certainly made up for it through her brains. Every strategy she concocted had a ninety-five percent chance of success - and multiple back up plans of it miraculously failed. They met under the order of the Church. Smart, she may be, but her lack of experience in terms of actually fighting had been her downfall. So they decided to assign her to the older and more experienced Aram. Lucia was nineteen while Aram was twenty-one.

At first, the two seemed like complete opposites who could never get along. Lucia was soft spoken and had trouble communicating with Aram so that she could share her plans. Aram, on the other hand, was too opinionated and failed to realize Lucia's want to share her ideas with him. The first two missions were completed, though rather amateurish and disappointing. It wasn't until it was their third mission when a mage had them pinned down in a shack that they managed to work together perfectly. Lucia shared the plan, Aram executed it. After that, the duo became well-known for their teamwork. Aram had come to appreciating her presence in his life, but never felt the romantic love that it would usually lead to.

Because of his job, Aram never got to meet someone to spend his life with. However, when he was twenty-six years old, he was gravely injured - both physically and emotionally as his partner of five years now lay barely alive in front of him. Trapped between mages with his squad slaughtered, he took on quite an onslought as he waited for reinforcements. People claim that he was lucky to be alive, and he believed that as well. Lucia died of her injuries and Aram silently mourned for the fallen hunter. For the first and last time, he felt satisfaction when he saw one of the mages receive an arrow to the head and the other having his head severed from the rest of his body.

Because of his injuries, he was put on temporary leave which then turned out to be his retirement as he couldn't come back for six months to recover. Then, he took on becoming a chef while being a part-time blacksmith. In the span of four years, former colleagues visit him freqeuntly to tell him to come back as he was already healed, but he turned down each offer and the Vikkar family was close to disowning him - claiming that he was unworthy to call himself one for being so weak. Recently, he had heard news of Lord Dramon, head of House Caerlight, was looking for soldiers to investigate rumors about a rebellion brewing. Aram wasn't planning on joining but he got a visit from his father who told him to join or face the consequences. Having no choice, Aram packed up his things, took on the mage hunter gear once more and set off for Graelia.

Other: Being a person raised in Remulus, he's used to traversing through wetlands. He's also rather good at swimming because of this. He has a pet falcon named Gurui - mainly used for messaging and the likes.

Aram has been seen still practicing with his sword and going to a range to practice archery as he seems to have the innate want to use it despite not wanting to go back to mage hunting anymore. Given his years of experience, he's a rather good shot and proficient with the sword.

Since he had drunk a special potion, he's resistant to magic but may still be killed by it if hit enough times.

[LordVoldemort]

Here you gooo

Name: Lau Jin

Age: Nineteen [18-30]

Gender: Male

Country of Origin: Caskary

Weapons: A Jian and Pistol Crossbow

Abilities: None

Appearance:

Here

Personality: In a world full of dark brooding tidings, an individual of lively character is a much needed change. Jin sees the world around him with heavy optimism and awe. While not entirely ignorant to the situations that grow at hand, Jin prefers to not hear about conflict or tension (when the time is appropriate, anyways.) To some of the more serious men and women, Jin can be seen as annoying, understandably. His tendency to relax when he can and flirt around with women has given him a bit of a bad name, even to the point where it's difficult for him to find a place to be sworn in as an official knight. Nonetheless, he pushes on to find the right home to swear fealty to.

Despite these rather unfit personality traits of someone who can call themselves a knight (let-alone a squire), Jin has kept true to the code of chivalry. With the death of his master, Jin was heavily influenced by her final acts on the battlefield. In order to honor his master's legacy, Jin took it upon himself to change his less-than-noble ways to make his master proud in the afterlife. In consequence, he bears a small amount of survivor's guilt because of his long-past cowardly ways.

Short Biography: (More history will be revealed IRP through interactions.) Born in the country of Caskary, it was not long until he told of the Holy War between the forces of Graelia, Caskary, and Remulus against the forces of Atrela, Opalium, and the late Sheale. The Lau Family had aided in the war with just enough effort that they were given the opportunity to have their family knighted in the country of Graelia. His family had not taken the opportunity, due to close ties and family in Caskary, but were still nonetheless welcome to accept should they reconsider. It was not until Jin was born that the opportunity was taken. Sent to Graelia to learn the ways of becoming a knight, Jin had forgotten much of his people, and absorded the culture of foreigners.

At some point, Jin's master was killed in an unknown circumstance. Left without a master and grief-stricken, Jin returned to his home to relearn the ways of his people. Along the way, Jin took it upon himself to stay true to the code of chivalry, and take up his master's mantle in order to honor her. He now roams the land of Avalon, never staying in one place, seeking a new master to become a vassal to.

Other: The people of Caskary traditionally love horses; Jin is no exception.

[Garth]

Brother Roland

Name: Brother Roland of House Calafia

Age: 22

Gender: Male

Country of Origin: Kingdom of Graelia

Weapons: Mace and shield. He's trained with a sling but hates using it (it's a peasant's weapon)

Abilities: no magical abilities

Appearance: Roland is a young man. He keeps his dark brown hair short. He has piecing brown eyes. He keeps himself clean shaven. However, if out in the field for an extended time with the Army of the Church, he will let his dark facial hair grow. He is almost six feet tall and well built. His muscles are not massive, but toned and well developed. He often wears the blue robes of a priest of the Creator. They are the simple robes of a priest, but his robes are of a finer make and cut than the average priest. Also the holy symbol he wears is of finer quality than most priests can afford. When there is the need, he will don his plate mail to defeat the False Gods and their minions. His plate mail is nearly the same quality and make as many young knights. When in armor, he wears a blue and white surcoat over his armor. His helmet is opened faced; in battle, he is to be seen by his allies to serve as an example and role model. He carries his mace with him almost everywhere.

Personality: Friendly and outgoing. Has great faith in the Creator. He is a nobleman and the son of a nobleman. He has trained his whole life to be a knight. He is confident in his skill at arms and in his social status. He is a Nobleman because it's the Creator's will that he be a nobleman. His training as a priest has soften (a little) his arrogance and the way he looks down at peasants and others with a lower social status. He stills looks down at them, but now he knows it's his duty to help, protect and serve them. He has been trained as healer. He knows basic medicine and how to treat battlefield wounds. He teaches the people of the church how to avoid diseases and mixes some simple herbs to treat main aches and illnesses. Roland see's the hand of the Creator in almost everything he does. Roland may bless an archer's bow. Then when the archer makes a difficult shot, Roland will claim it is because of the Creator's blessings. Others may call it luck or skill. But in Roland's heart, it was divine intervention.

Short Biography: Roland is an ordained priest of the Creator. He is the second son of a nobleman. His older brother will inherit the family's lands and title. By long tradition, the second sons of his household have sworn loyalty to the Church and have become Knights of the Church. His uncle, his great uncle and many more than he could remember have become ordained priests before him. Now Roland is fulfilling his duty by serving the Church. He has graduated from the Seminary at Temple Square in Clanark. Roland is still a warrior. He is now a holy warrior if the Creator. One of his first assignments was to escort and guard of shipment of tithes collected from the villages. The small group was attacked by bandits. In his first battle, he showed his bravery and valor in almost single-handedly defeating three armed bandits. He has also fought with twenty other Priestly Knights against a band of cultists. In that fight he saved the cardinal when the cardinal was knocked off of his horse. Roland stood over the cardinal and held off the cultists until they were rescued. He has been in a number of fights, some lethal, some not, while serving as a guardian of the Church and clergy. When needed, he is a weapon in the hand of the Creator. He also serves the Church as a priest; teaching, giving blessings, healing and other duties of a young priest.

Other: Roland has been assigned by the Church to accompany the expedition south and aid it in any and every way possible. Roland has always served under his superiors of the Church. This will be his first assignment alone.

May the Creator smile upon you.

[Emma]

Jazz

---

Name: Jasmine Quinn

Age: 22

Gender: Female

Country of Origin: Atrela

Weapons: She has a small dagger she hides up her sleeve. She also has her Tome.

Abilities: Her ability and main area of study pertain to illusion. She can enter and control other peoples dreams when they are asleep. There is no sense of time inside the dream world, so leaving others dreams only happens when the person wakes up, or she can hop into someone else's dream, or if somebody shakes Jaz back to reality. Inside the dreams she can control and create everything she can imagine. Outside the dreamworld and back in the reality she can only create illusions. These illusions are similar to holograms, as they are harmless and intangible, but look solid and real. She knows most basic spells, like lighting a fire, or locating lost things via scrying. She has also learned how to change pebbles into coins, but the spell only lasts ten minute. Most of what she was taught had to due with controlling her ability, and making potions.

Appearance: She has pin straight shoulder length hair, and yes the silvery color is natural. Depending on how the light hits her shiny hair it can appear more pink, gray, blue, or purple. Her eyes are the same strange gray lilac as her hair. She is on the shorter side standing at 5'2. She is petite and thin, with a tiny waist and lithe legs. She only weights about 100 pounds, and wishes she looked more like the statuesque dancers of Opalium.

Personality: Most of the time Jasmine can come off as cheeky, or even rude. Do to her history, she has learned to put up a wall between people and her true self. She puts on a confident, and brazen attitude as a way of making sure no one can hurt her. She has also become a tad more cynical then your average girl, do to the many betrayals, and hardships in her past. Her walls come down when inebriated, but otherwise she tries to remain as sarcastic, and relaxed as possible.

She is capable of being utterly ruthless against those who mess with her. She is truthfully the most loyal person you'll ever meet...as long as she considers you a friend. Jaz is someone who is suspicious of others, and unforgiving towards those who wrong her. By unforgiving I also mean vengeful, so basically you don't want to mess with her. Then again it is actually hard to get on her bad side.

She takes peoples bullshit in stride, and basically ignores idiots. Count yourself lucky if Jaz chooses to be her genuine self around you. Jasmine is a very stubborn, and intelligent woman. She is secretly a bleeding heart, and takes the suffering of innocents personally. Over the years of hiding a persecution as a mage, she has become more sly, blunt, and uncompromising.

Biography

Jasmine's parents, Leda and Gavin met in Voln. Her mother was a performer for a traveling theater troupe called Saffi's Theater. Her father was the newest to join the crew. The troupe was in truth a guise for a mage and Magic rights extremist organization, that both her parents were devoted to even before Jasmine was born. The troupe traveled around the lands preforming, all the while secretly helping harbor and relocate mages.

Two years before Jazz and her twin sister Serena were born the troupe was almost caught, so they had to dial down their acts. Gavin immediately proposed to Leda as soon as she found herself pregnant. They got married soon after. Jasmine and Serena were born a whole month early, small, beautiful, and oddly pale. Jasmine was born first, and named after the flowers that had bloomed the night before. Serena the surprise twin, was born second and sickly.

Gavin quickly wrapped little Jazz, and Serena up in blankets, and handed Leda their newborn girls. He admitted to Leda that he came from a family of mages in Caoba, though he was not a mage himself. He explained that based on the girls appearances they were most defiantly mages, like his own mother, who had the same silver lilac eyes as the babies. Jasmine's abilities started manifesting early on.

Leda and Gavin wanted their girls to have a happy normal life, but they knew all to well about the persecution, and unjust laws that came with being a mage. They didn't want to lose their daughters to the Ivorytower or execution. After much deliberation among Leda, Gavin, and the troupe, they decided that the best why for the twins to lead a normal life in this unfair world, was to make them appear fully and plainly human. Irene, one of the founding members of the troupe, was a mage herself, and was able to create a potion that changed someones eye color to brown. Though the potion had to be taken every week to keep working, and the girls hair had to be dyed every month. These were just small precautions, the real trouble was making sure neither of the twins did anything in public. Irene gave the girls catalysts that bound their raw magic so no accident are exposure could happen. Irene would become their teacher in the was of spells and how to use and control their abilities.

By the time the twins were seven, they, their parents, and Irene had left the troupe for a safer life in a town called Mugus in Atrela. Gavin got a job as a brick layer, and Leda worked at the bakery. They all lived in a cottage at the edge of town, and things were happy. Jasmine went to school, and spent her days playing with the other children around the town. She liked to help her mother at the bakery. Serena who had always been sickly and frail, spent most of her time learning magic with Irene at home, and resting. No one suspected anything, and they all slowly made a life for themselves in Mugus.

She was ten years old when a demon attached itself to Serena. In a span of three days her sister was gone, and in her place was something inhuman. Irene killed Serena, and Leda went mad at the loss of her daughter. Her only sister, her twin was gone, and her mothers mind was lost. Gavin did his best to cope, and pick up the pieces but Leda was never going to get better, and his hatred for Irene grew with every passing day. Two months later, Irene left in the middle of the night after a fight with Gavin. Life kept on moving, and Jazz's became weaker and weaker as she hardly slept or ate. Her teacher sent her home one multiple occasions for fainting spells, and passing out at her desk. Gavin decided that school was not the safest place for Jazz to be anymore, so he pulled her out. He became paranoid of losing Jasmine to a hunter, or a demon. Jazz spent her days at her mother's bedside. Dark circles under her eyes, and low energy became a constant.

Due to the extreme lack of sleep and the typical cold weather that was Atrela, it was only a mater of time before Jaz got sick. She contracted a horrible fever. Her father called for the doctor, and during the examination the docter figured out Jasmine was truly a mage. He gave her medication, and then told Gavin that he would have to report him and Jasmine to a hunter. Gavin full of fear, paranoia, and ale, he killed the doctor before he left the house. He then quickly packed a bag with their essential, and took out the emergency money, and the forged identity papers he had hidden under the floor broads. They ran. The catatonic Leda was making their journey hard, and for the first time in her life Jasmine was afraid of her father.

They ended up at a old inn, just a days journey from Voln. Jaz was to sick to keep going, and ran out of potion days ago. Two weeks later she was finally well again, and they were on the move. Gavin had gotten into contact with the old troupe. They met up in Voln, and Gavin left Leda and Jasmine with them. He turned himself in for the murder of the doctor, but luckily his wife and daughter were safe. Gavin was sentenced to hang a week later.

The troupe was smaller then it use to be, but Clyde, Alles, and Hank were still their. Jasmine remembered them, but Leda was still lost in her mind. She was only ten, her sister was dead, her father was dead, and her mother was crazy. They only stayed with the troupe for a few months, and then it was decided that Leda needed more care then they could give, so they left her with Hanks elderly mother, Mae, in Kamas. Jasmine was given a choice to stay with the troupe or her mother. Out of loyalty she chose her mom. Life in Kamas was dull, and wet.

She was twelve when Irene showed up one random day. Irene stayed and taught Jaz more about magic. But the knowledge that Irene killed Serena was always the elephant in the room. Leda never really got better, but with Jasmine's illusion magic and control getting better, she started coaxing her mother back day by day with an illusion of Serena. Leda was happily lost in delusions of Serena, and she forgot about everything and everyone else. Including Jasmine. They ended up leaving Grandma Mae's home a year later, to travel with the troupe. It was a different world to Jaz, living in the caravans, traveling from place to place, and eating outside around a fire. Her favorite thing was that everyone in the troupe knew her secret and didn't care that she was a mage.

The next three years were spent traveling around the lands with the troupe. She even began singing in some of the little musicals. She loved to explore all the new cities and towns they came across. She would help Irene cook up potions, and practice spells. She would help paint sets with Hank and Tomlin. She would stitch up costumes with her Alles, and Harriet. She ran around helping Vaughn, Clyde, and Dexter with the backstage work and shopping. Nights after the shows, were spent dancing and singing around the campfire till late. She helped with the morning puppet shows, and told stories to the towns children.

Sadly good things can't last. The troupe was traveling through the southern lands to get to a city called Ballorie. The famous festival of arts was being held there this year, and the troupe never missed it. They had been preforming at the little villages along the way, but it had been a week since they passed the last town, so they were out of food, and needed to stop to hunt and rest. Camp was set up just off the forest road. Jasmine snuck off to explore the forest, instead of helping Harriet and Alles cook. Near midnight she was climbing a tree next to the river far off from the camp. But even from the distance she could hear the screaming coming from the direction of camp. She ran as fast as she could to see what was wrong. Just as she reached the edged of the camp a raider man grabbed her from behind.

She struggled to get free, but all she could do was watch as they raided the caravans, and wagons as her group tried to fight them off. Irene used her magic, but after taking two of the raiders out she became depleted and fell to the ground. Her mother, Harriet, and Alles, were already captured and tied to a tree. Tomlin and Hank did the best they could, but were quickly slaughtered by the much stronger raiders. The raiders burned the wagons, after stealing anything of value, they took horses, and shouted and laughed as they talked about selling the woman.

In a rage Jaz used her illusion ability, creating a nightmarish swarm of monster bats that surrounded one of the raiders as if attacking. He ran screaming, and impaled himself on a tree branch. Jaz's eyes turned back into there original color as the potion that made her eyes appear brown burned out of her system. The raiders took her for a mage, and in a matter of seconds knocked her to the ground. She could hear her Irene screaming as Jaz laid in the dirt bleeding and bruised. Her friends cries sounded further and further away, as the raiders road of with there haul and the woman.

The fire and ash of the caravans, and Hank and Tomlin dead bodies were the only things left other then unconscious Irene and the dying Jasmine. Irene using the last of her magic, and was able to save Jaz from bleeding to death at the cost of her own life. Jasmine awoke to the noon sun shining down through the forest canopy. The smell of cinders and blood, was accompanied by the cheery tweeting of birds in the tree above. She would never see her mother again.

Over the next year she lived on her own, and survived, her only thoughts were ones of revenge and finding her mother and the others alive. The raiders had been apart of the Falcon clan, and so began Jaz's falcon hunt. She killed seven Falcon clan raiders before she was caught and thrown in jail, to await her sentence. She was having non of it and broke out as soon as she could. Unfortunately she was now on the hunters radar. A bounty for the mage Jasmine was posted, described with brown eyes, long black hair, small, pale and dangerous. Two years of running, she by pure luck found Harriet, who was selling herself on the streets of Clanark. Thats when she learned the fate of her mother and the other. Dead all of them. She has been living in Voln for the past two years. She is joining up with hopes of snuffing out the whispers of war, and secretly just wants to belong to something.

Other: She is not religious, but she believes more in the False Gods then the creator if anything.

[ArenaSnow]

Arnold Horgvar

Name: Arnold Horgvar
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Country of Origin: Born in Graelia, with his late teenage years in Atrela.
Weapons: A trusty old blade(with more wear), acquired during one of his less glorious exploits in Atrela.

Appearance
Arnold keeps a scruffy appearance and always has the slightest hint of a smirk on the corners of his mouth. He is relatively tall (a few inches above the average height of a Graelian) and has a slightly thin, but well kept build, kept in shape from constant practice. Rarely does one see him out of a brown wool shirt and decent leggings that indicate no affiliation with one house or another. He almost always keeps his gloves and boots on, though he may often forget any headgear. He is very much in shape, and in no danger of being overweight, though he looks a little bigger given the equipment he dons below his outer coverings. Below his fairly casual garb is an 'average' set of chainmail armor (and very basic clothes below that) that does not do a whole lot besides hinder some stabby things and glance a few blows. He's not exactly a peasant, but his outfit could be better kept. He recently replaced his shirt and leggings.

Personality
Arnold is fairly young, though he's gained a cocky wild edge that persists from his 'almost banditry days', as he likes to deflect. Truth be told, he is fairly suitable for a bandit, though he makes a very clear distinction between being a mercenary and a bandit. He thinks he knows 'it all', has a fairly big mouth, and has many of the stereotypical attributes of a person in his 20's who hasn't quite gone to the next level of adult life yet. He'll be lazy if he can and makes for a decent conversation partner for most people that aren't nobility, but he does have a 'calm' side that he uses effectively in combat. He carries pessimistic views about people in power (basically, he has an attitude when he's told what to do), but he doesn't mind taking their money - just as long as they keep out of his way. His temper is sometimes a problem, though he does well in keeping it cool these days.

Magic users can live, but if there's any hint of a spell being used on him of any kind, the mage is going to have a "chat with his sticker". You know, the friendly kind of chat that a blade has with a gut. He won't murder someone for a healing spell, as an exception, and he doesn't mind when magic is used on anyone he doesn't like.

'Short' Biography
Arnold's life is fairly simple to summarize; he was raised with fighting fists, spent his teenage years with a blade, and makes his living off not doing much along the lines of work. His past is inglorious at best, not that many people know how he spent his late teenage and prior adult years.

He was born and raised in the "low middle class" part of Clanark. Home was fairly stable; his father was often drunk, yes, but the effects weren't nearly as bad as one would expect. His mother was the one who pushed Arnold to learn how to fight at an early age. His mother, all the way through his childhood, warned him of the dangerous and untrustworthy nature of mages. In other words, his mother ran the household, and his father was typically too drunk or dim to care.

He learned well, and his practice with his own parents proved him competent in brawling if nothing else. Far from the best, but close enough to good that he was rarely disturbed by his peers in early years. His first sword was something of a heirloom - a beaten sword from the Holy War, given to him by his mother. It was worn down and not particularly sharp, but it served him well. It followed him after a blowout with his parents - mostly his mother, who insisted on making him an apprentice to a blacksmith - that resulted in his abrupt departure from home and the start of his life wandering the wilderness, usually erring towards the northern borders of the country.

His ability to stab things earned him a spot in a small band of fighters that were roaming between Graelia and Atrela when he was 16. For seven years, he spent his time in the group, learning from better fighters and learning a variety of dirty tricks. It was a group that very narrowly slid along the edge of 'mercenary' and 'brigand'. They were mercenary given that they offered their services to the minor houses that wanted someone to do dirty jobs. They were brigands in that the dirty jobs were things the houses didn't want tracing back to them. Robbery, kidnapping, and an occasional murder was not past them. Arnold was a core member of the group later on, and participated in most of the dirtier activities. He saw it start from a group of reformed drunkards and petty bandits, and he saw it grow into a... margially more legal group of mostly reformed drunkards and slightly better bandits that called themselves mercenaries. A few of their jobs included the extermination of actual bandit groups. On the flip side, they included taking the lives of at least a dozen innocents over the years. They developed a very mixed reputation. Even with his senior position, Arnold wasn't too well known, mostly due to his habit of obscuring his face while on jobs.

The group was thinned out when one of Atrela's larger houses became sick of the group's involvement in the country's petty squabbles along the borders. Housecarls and professional fighters met Arnold's camp one day, and when Arnold returned from a minor task in the woods, there was barely anything left save the bodies many from his group and three people left standing. The remainder of the group disbanded, and Arnold joined the unofficial branch of guard for one of the minor houses that had frequently hired his group for minor tasks. His face still wasn't well known, which was extremely helpful in actually getting the job - his group's name was run through the muck in the eyes of the people enough that his fallen group was well and truly considered bandits.

He was kicked from the loose 'guard' unit (and generously allowed to live) when he became drunk one day and bloodied his superior's nose over some small slight that is forever lost to memory. He returned to Graelia and has been living off his sword arm and friendly relations with local innkeepers ever since. While his reputation in Atrela by then was botched, he didn't have much of a record in Graelia. He became slightly popular on the fringes of the capital for his participation in public duels hosted at the sides of town for popular entertainment. He wasn't the best, but he was pretty good, and he wasn't a sore or frequent loser. Connections built from that, and a few lifted goods, have allowed him to carry just enough coin that he doesn't starve.

While he's not very fond of the nobility, he figured he would take up a proper job for once in a few years. The mention of money and the idea of actually having something to do is enough for him to give the mission a fair chance. He's known for being good with a blade, decent in conversation, and holding a base grudge against mages.

Other
He's a fair swordsman, though hardly the best. Give him any one handed melee weapon that isn't a sword, and he can figure it out. Two handed weapons aren't his style, but he can handle those too if he has to. He's shit with a bow, but he can at least figure out a crossbow without shooting himself with it (not that he's used either). He cooks burnt anything, heals/performs first aid activities with the grace of a falling warhammer, and treads a fine line between being a fair fighter and a rabid brawling dog. He considers it a strength to pick between the styles.

[ALonelyParrot]

Kennen Kalmar

Name: Kennen Kalmar
Age:
Country of Origin: Graelia
Weapon: Daggers, a crossbow, and a general usage of tools

Appearance:

Appearance

Kennen Imore can be most distinguished by his large bushy hair. It’s wood brown color combined with the curly nature of his hair gives his head an almost bark-like look. His face is of no particular importance, as it is neither ugly nor beautiful but merely mediocre. However, contrasting his face, Kennen is lanky and tall, allowing him to look over a crowd of people. When located in the town of Graelia, he usually wears scholarly associated attire. Though, while travelling, he wears ordinary traveller’s attire. He’s usually seen with reading glasses and his large pack, which contains an array of writing charcoal, parchment, and travelling necessities.

Personality

Naturally as a travelling scholar, Kennen is highly intelligent and overly inquisitive. In either the books or the field, Kennen is laconic, getting across his points with great punctuality and clarity. His silent demeanor stems from the intense concentration he’s in. In it, he combs through every detail for useful information and deftly inscribes such knowledge onto his papers and his mind. In addition to this, Kennen can appear cruel as he experiments on non-human entities for the sake of learning. At times, the overbearing pressing nature of this personality can lead him to compel others in revealing personal information.
Due to the nature of being a travelling scholar, Kennen had developed a keen sense in value and bargaining. In most cases, Kennen is able to sniff out suspicious dealings. However, he can still be duped if the salesperson is particularly experienced. Though he hates to admit it, he has a soft spot for children, allowing young vendors to consistently rip him off.
As a result of his developed business sense, Kennen also has a knack for extorting information out of people. In most cases, information will come easily for him, but for the more tricky cases, he uses a variety of techniques that include but are not limited to flattery, bribery, and getting people drunk. However, even after the necessary information is obtained, he tends to stay friendly (though not be friends) with the people he closely followed but only if that person is not hostile towards him afterwards.
When conversing normally with people, he tends to be less prying and more friendly. A range of friendly mental games to comforting consultation usually arise during the exchanges, but unfortunately, he’s notorious for going on rare but equally boring tangents about his research that can last for nearly five hours. Any attempts to stop him or leave the area usually fail due to a variety of reasons. When his eyes begin the hypothetical “sparkling,” family members or close friends know to do anything possible to prevent him from going on this tangent.
In combat situations, Kennen becomes highly tense and tends to be non-communicative. It is during these moments that Kennen does not think in terms of winning the battle but in terms of the best possible moves for escape. This habit of his can be a sizable issue when fleeing is not an option. However, if flight from a sticky situation is necessary, Kennen can evaluate all possible methods of escape and the aid of escape becoming very useful to others, granted that they can get him to explain his plan of escape.
In addition to his cowardly tendencies, his ability to cooperate and to lead others is subpar since he’s only responsible for himself throughout his journey. Any people that he travels with rarely become friends with him, and the death of others hardly stain his conscience, which continually separating him from others. It should be said, however, that if a very close friend of his dies, the death will affect him normally if not worse than others.

Abilities

Though Kennen is not the most physically endowed person, his physical abilities are still decent due to his constant travelling over a variety of terrains. Whether it be mountains, forests, or lakes, Kennen’s body is acclimated to all of them. Also, because of the dangerous nature of travelling, he’s capable of using weapons, primarily daggers and crossbows, albeit at a mediocre level. Because of his lack of skill, he usually accompanies travelling groups.
As mentioned in his personality above, Kennen has above average conversational skills as well as haggling skills. Kennen can consistently get important information as well as excellent bargains. His analytical skills also allow him to pinpoint an issue within another person, allowing him to consult that person effectively.
Because of his experience with books, Kennen is able to read through books and tomes with great speed and accuracy. As a result, Kennen has a near encyclopedic knowledge, knowing all about fauna to geography of the land. In addition to book knowledge, Kennen also possesses an expansive knowledge of the terrain along with weather patterns, animal behaviour, and direction. He also possesses necessary survival skills such as building shelters or basic first aid.
Kennen also has experience with religious and philosophical texts from his language texts. Although the specific knowledge of these have undergone much corrosion, the great volume he had read in the academy allows him to converse with priests, philosophers, and the like without too much trouble. However, this knowledge can only go so far, preventing any deep conversation in those topics.

Background

Born into a medium-high wealth family of shopkeepers, Kennen led a relatively quiet and steady childhood in Graelia. Although, he did have one livelihood that never ceased to entertain him: books, particularly the ones that described the wildlife beyond the City of Graelia. Whenever he could, he would secretly leave home to run around the city, requesting to read or borrow any books that contained information about the world outside Graelia. At the end of the day, he would be panting due to exhaustion multiplied from the beatings he received from his parents. His parents continued to beat and scold Kennen for not aiding them in their business, but they eventually realized that Kennen had a potential that was not for business but for something else.
At eight years of age, Kennen was enrolled into an academy located inside the city. Although this academy was the only school that had a more variety in subjects, his parents enrolled him into classes mainly pertaining to language and the art of speech. However, Kennen had no interest in these subjects. Although he was still quite adept at it, his true passions lay in the world, not in silly rhymes and syllables. There was, however, something that kept him interested in the academy: access to the Great Library. Despite being open to a variety of subjects, Kennen never touched certain sections of the Library, choosing spend much of his free time perusing the books based in the natural world as well as history and culture.
However, it was about four years that Kennen realized that the library no longer had the knowledge he sought after. After pondering upon this fact, it dawned upon Kennen that he could have asked a scholar for deeper knowledge. It was then that Kennen began asking around the academy in order to find a suitable scholar. It was then that he heard of Scholar Elwood. From rumors, Kennen learned that Elwood taught no classes and spent most of his time in the mountains. Excited, Kennen rushed off to meet the scholar, only to find that it was difficult to pin the scholar down. When Kennen finally got a hold of Elwood, Kennen was rejected. Kennen asked again another time and was rejected once more and continued this cycle over and over. With each cycle, Kennen would be mysteriously be faced with a dire situation, each forcing Kennen to apply all the knowledge he learned in the library. It was after several petitions and adversities that Kennen found out it was Elwood that had caused those scenarios in order to test Kennen. Because Kennen had survived all of them, the scholar accepted Kennen.
Kennen struggled, however. His normal classes were a must to keep his parents from moving him elsewhere, and the scholar's training was much more unforgiving than Kennen had anticipated. The physical activity paired with intellectual training continued to burden Kennen, straining his muscles, mind, and markings. In spite of the hardship, Kennen continued on, growing familiar with the scholar and his unusual teaching style. After two years of rigorous training, Kennen had been proclaimed the apprentice of scholar Elwood. Previously, the scholar took no students, and with the announcement of this fact, the whole academy was abuzz, especially Kennen’s parents. They too knew of the scholar and were not quite happy with Kennen, for they expected Kennen to become a merchant like they were, not a crazy old coot. After a heated argument with his parents, his parents were furious with him and refused to pay for his education or food. It was the next day that Elwood, not knowing what had happened the day before, said to Kennen that they would be travelling the land beyond Graelia for an extended period of time. Not telling Elwood of what had happened, Kennen left with Elwood the following week, never telling his parents of his departure.
Eight years passed. His mentor had taught him much to Kennen during the long journey. However, because Kennen was a young independent man and Elwood required to return in order to publish their findings, Elwood gave Kennen a lifelong quest to go out into the world and learn as much as he could. From there, Kennen and Elwood departed from each other.
A few years have passed. Kennen now travels the land, collecting rare plants for selling, bargaining rare artifacts, and documenting all his findings. One day, however, a thought arose from all the philosophical junk he learned, “Who are the ‘false gods’ and this ‘creator’ really?” Intrigued that his knowledge in philosophy gave no substantial evidence to this question, Kennen began his quest to discover the truth behind these powers, not knowing where this would take him…

Other:
He doesn’t quite know which side he wants to believe. At this point, Kennan has become "agnostic". Also, he has a “slight” fear of spiders from library experiences.

[Dnafein]

Yoho

Name: Wesley “Wes” Balthier
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Country of Origin: Southernlands
Weapons:

Flintlock Pistol

Cutlass

Knife

Appearance:

Wesley

Wesley stands at 5’11”. His body is lithe and belies a strength earned from a life working on a ship at sea. Wes wears a hat and long coatwhen travelling.

Personality: Wesley is quick to laugh and generally brushed off all but the gravest of insults. He enjoys life's many pleasures and takes steps to ensure he has the opportunity; Even if it means avoiding something that risks his skin.

His jovial demeanor can change quick as lightning to a seriously focused and driven individual. This usually happens when Wes must accomplish a task. Be it adjusting a ships sail, or capturing an enemy vessel Wesley sees it through. And then returns to his charmingly roguish self.
Short Biography:
Wesley’s father was an officer in the Shaelean Navy when the country imploded. Homeless and alone the ship turned to piracy to survive. Wes’ mother was a passenger on a pillaged ship. Her hand was fought over until it finally belonged to Wesley’s father; And while she never loved her husband the couple did develop a mutual respect and of course Wesley.

Wesley grew up aboard several ships, until his father captained his own. Afterwards the Wolves’ Fang became Wes’ home. As he grew older the boy learned every plank of that ship and learned every job that worked it, save one. Anytime his father would close with another vessel Wesley and his mother would retreat to the Captain's cabin. During these times Wes’ mother would educate the youth in scholarly pursuits.

That is not to say that Wesley wasn't taught how to fight; In fact the boy was taught to use every weapon that could be found on the ship by his many “aunts and uncles.” The captain's son was simply protected from combat until he was ready. Once he was deemed ready Wes found himself quite adept at the pirates profession, to his father's pleasure.

Wes’ parents retired around their son's twenty fifth birthday. His father gave Wesley his flintlock pistol, his knife and the Fang and moved into Graelia. Unfortunately for Wesley, his ship became a target for pirate hunters. After three years of playing cat and mouse with a particularly angry pirate hunter the Wolves’ Fang fled inland; Wesley carefully using rivers and tributaries to move.

Sadly the Fang was lost far from the sea in a final fiery conflict with the pirate hunters. Those who survived went their separate ways; And Wesley, now a captain without a ship, was left to work his way back to the sea. One tavern, brothel, heist at a time.

Other: Wesley knows how to make gunpowder should he acquire the necessary ingredients.