❖ [ Pronouns ] - She / Her. ❖ [ Honorifics: ] - Biro, Miss. ❖ [ Nicknames: ] - "Sana", “Winter’s Whisper” ❖ [ Titles: ] - Biro of St. Yuri's Academy of Thaumaturgy. ❖ [ Relationship Status: ] - Single. ❖ [ Character Alignment ] - Chaotic Good. ❖ [ Brief Introduction: ]
The Sich lay in silence, A haunting stillness etched in shadows' dance. From her snowbound perch, Oksana bore witness, To chilling scenes, a tale of haunting darkness.
Chums set ablaze with crackling fury, Raiders veiled in shadows, silent and eerie. Crimson hues staining the earth below, A canvas of chaos where silence would grow.
The world around her, shrouded in a hush, Punctuated by gestures, in shadows' cruel clutch. A symphony of silence, a dirge of despair, In its aftermath, Oksana’s heart echoed the silence, a ghostly affair.
In the aftermath of that fateful night, Oksana found herself immersed in a realm of perpetual silence, the echoes of chaos forever etched into her memory. Embracing her deafness with pride, she became resolute in her identity. While she had once experienced the fluidity of speech, she now navigated the world through lip-reading, phonetic cues, and signed language derived from the silent communication of hunters and scouts.
Unfamiliarity with her unique communication style often led others to misinterpret her as socially awkward. Nevertheless, Oksana's warmth and friendliness shone through, bridging the gap created by cultural differences. In group settings, she occasionally struggled to keep up, her deafness exacerbating the challenge, but her genuine nature served as an inviting beacon to those who took the time to understand.
This apparent social awkwardness served as a unique charm, a testament to her authenticity. Oksana occasionally retreated into emotional seclusion when overwhelmed, seeking solace in quiet, intimate conversations. Her proficiency in ice magic became a channel for expression, sculpting intricate creations that reflected the beauty she found in the silent world around her.
Endurance pursuits resonated deeply, a testament to her upbringing in the tundra, where trudging through snow was an everyday feat. Her affinity for tracking and animals granted her solace, a connection she sometimes found more profound than with her fellow humans.
Possessing a discerning eye, Oksana judged others not merely by their words, but by their actions and body language. Sincerity revealed itself through gestures and movements, which she keenly observed. Her own manner of communication mirrored this directness, unadorned and straightforward, conveying her intentions without ambiguity.
Her egalitarian perspective transcended titles of nobility, yet she held a deep respect for the wisdom and knowledge of the elders within the Sich, recognizing the importance of learning from those who carried the weight of experience.
Before this life, Oksana was an integral part of the Sich community, learning survival skills, magic, and the ways of her people. She often assisted her mother, Lyudmila, in tending to the sick and wounded. Tragically, her world shattered when the Sich fell victim to a brutal raid from Borislav the Ruthless. Oksana's parents, Ivor and Lyudmila, perished during that night, leaving her with the silent echoes of destruction.
Driven by a desire for justice and vengeance against those who orchestrated the raid, Oksana left behind the remnants of the Sich, including the memories of her childhood, the bonds with her people, with only the silent echoes of that night linger as a constant companion.
Now motivated by the quest to dismantle corrupt authorities, particularly the country's Sanguinaire overlords, Oksana joined like-minded individuals working from the shadows. Seeking justice for her people and preventing further suffering in regions, Oksana weaves her story through the symphony of silence, a ghostly affair that shapes her every move.
Oksana's attire consists of close-fitting leather garments, hugging her form with a blend of functionality and style. The supple material provides flexibility, allowing her unrestricted movement as she navigates her surroundings. The leather's deep hue harmonizes with her surroundings, subtly blending her presence within the environment.
Her hair, intricately braided, showcases a tapestry of vibrant red and blue beads woven throughout that adds a touch of whimsy to her appearance. These beads represent cherished memories, tokens of adventures and connections made along her journey.
Oksana's cloak is an exquisite creation adorned with an array of feathers. When the need arises, she deftly spreads her cloak, transforming it into makeshift wings that allow her to glide through the air with a sense of ethereal freedom.
Her attire is adorned with an assortment of trinkets and charms, each holding sentimental value. Tiny pendants dangle from her neck, carrying intricate engravings. Bracelets and anklets adorned with delicate charms tinkle with each movement.
Her style reflects both her practical nature and her whimsical spirit, merging functionality with personal expression. Each element of her attire tells a story, weaving together a tapestry of memories and aspirations, creating a visual narrative of her unique identity.
T H E G I F T
Base RAS
Augmented RAS
HP
Blood Types
Modifiers
39 (6.22)
{Base RAS+Item RAS}
20
Icevein, Mooncaster
{Typical Items, used for modifiers and augmenting RAS}
One Moon
Two Moon
Three Moon
Four Moon
Five Moon
78 (7.22)
117 (7.83)
195 (8.53) +1 on every dice
312 (9.22) Exploding dice
507 (9.98) Exploding and reversed dice
School
Speciality
Tier
Modifiers
Magnetic
null
0. Neophyte
{MOD}
Arcane
Cryomancy
V. Expert
+1 RAS Cryo
Binding
Material: Creation
IV. Journeyman
{MOD}
Chemical
null
0. Neophyte
{MOD}
Kinetic
Stasis
IV.5 Journeyman
+1 RAS Stasis
Atomic
Radiative
II. Apprentice
{MOD}
Blood
null
0. Neophyte
{MOD}
Temporal
null
0. Neophyte
{MOD}
Dark
null
0. Neophyte
{MOD}
Command
null
0. Neophyte
{MOD}
Primordial
null
0. Neophyte
{MOD}
Extra
Description
Fruits:
{Wolf’s Tooth}: {Negate flees, weaken all negations to flees, your flee will always have full effect.}
Other:
{Combat Related Abilities in Here}
Minashigo 65 (Orphan 65) - 65,000 times folded Nikan steel and trivalium. It ignores all bonuses, armours, and other buffs beyond one's mana. It can even cleave through VOID energies. If it strikes true, it may roll a (d4) for extra damage it deals. Weapons directly struck by it must roll a (d4) as well. If they roll a 1, they will not be usable for their next turn cycle. If it successfully applies any of its effects, its wielder's RAS tier is raised by one for the next turn cycle.
Kite Tusker Ears: an immensely wide-brimmed imbued hat that provides 16 manas and allows its bearer to fly.
Snow Wyvern (female, normal) Daemonium Frigus: Snow Wyvern - a white-feathered, eagle-sized atomic dragon from the Bay of Seals region. This is a battle companion or a pet, for smaller individuals.
Kirimansk A grand old house on the outskirts of Kirimansk, by the Belykuska River, with 500 acres of property stretching off into the distance. The house is quite opulent, but in need of some upkeep. The land is very good, complete with exclusive hunting and fishing rights as well as a large dock. Sometimes suffers from tremors and minor quakes.
Glacial Elk (Mount)
A giant 10 foot tall blade of Trivalium base is far too large to be wielded by anything other than the otherworldly. With a large blade thicker than the head of a hammer, this sword weighs over 300 pounds. Yet even in its gargantuan size, the blade still has a strange regal aura to it as the blade has a gorgeous lustrous white that has shimmering with gold.
Once wielded by Graf Hübert Kapperstel, Protector of Mandelein, it was the blade that delivered a decisive blow in the defeat of the Huntress, one of the ten Elder Sanguinaires. Hübert was an Original and an exceptional duelist, recognized by many magical covenants in the Twin Continents.
Requirements: Mages that can hit a 24 or greater with their max Kinetic or Magnetic roll. Wildbloods in 3+ Moons. Sanguinaires experience severe burns to their hands by touching it.
Manas: 24 - Maladyshield
Effects:
When the blade is wielded, it will begin to warp the area around it, nearly creating an optical illusion around the blade.
❖ Anything struck by the blade will be warped and incinerated. Making any wounds done by the blade unable to be healed or regenerated without massive additional damage being done to the target. (To heal damage the target done by this blade, the target will take 1/2 the damage again before they can be healed)
The blade's natural sheen that is often known as its regal aura seems to grow brighter when in the presence of the great evil known as Sanguinaires and will outright attack them.
❖ The manas within the blade, a strangely aggressive form of maladyshield that was bred to target Sanguinaires, begin to attack and draw from a Sanguinaire being within 5 feet of the blade, dealing 2 damage to the Sanguinaire until they leave the area.
❖ Anytime a Sanguinaire is dealt damage by the blade, the manas within the blade will draw from the manas within the Sanguinaire, anytime this happens, the Sanguinaire will roll a d6 and gain one of these debuffs:
1- Lose 1 RAS tier until the end of the Scenario. 2- Lose the use of 1 manatype until the end of the Scenario. 3- -2 to all actions until the end of the Scenario 4- -2 to the Sanguinaire's next attack and defense 5- -2 to the Sanguinaire's next attack 6- Nothing
[SCARF OF BRAVADO]: For every successful attack or defense using primarily the kinetic school, this dramatic black scarf adds +1 to attacks and defenses in that school. It may do the same for the arcane school at slightly lesser effectiveness, represented by rolling a d2 after successful attacks and defenses to see if a stack is gained. The maximum that it may add to kinetic magic is +10. The maximum it may add to arcane magic is +5. It also provides 16 manas.
Flaws ❖ Humble ❖ Takes Things Personally ❖ Repressing Feelings ❖ Selfless to a Fault
Roslyn is willing to share her attention, knowledge and any expertise with those that need it. She strives to support her friends and family. This makes her a good team player who prefers win-win situations. However, the world doesn't make this possible all the time and she finds herself forced to accept compromises at best. Usually those that are less in her favor.
More observant than some people, Roslyn tries to tune into other people and get a read on them. Deep down she wants to think the best of everyone she meets until proven otherwise. Of course, she knows people make mistakes and should be given one or two chances. This doesn't make her the best judge of character and can lead to being taken advantage of. When something drastic does happen and risks stirring a conflict with another individual, Roslyn will struggle and procrastinate. She's not fond of conflict especially with her friends and family. However, when it comes to standing up for her friends... that's another story. She'll push those anxieties to the side to defend them.
She has strong work ethics born from her youth. She is not frightened to roll up her sleeves and get her hands dirty to get a job done. For her, scratches, bumps, bruises and more are evidence of giving it her all and leaves her with a sense of pride. In something that she's passionate about, her eagerness and joy shine through on her expression.
When it comes to her role in things, she often downplays her importance. She sees herself as a simple brewer's daughter with a noble lineage. Nothing more or less. Roslyn willingly lets others take credit for accomplishments while taking care not to hurt anyone's pride or deflating their worth. It is hard for her not to internalize her feelings as she can be a bit...sensitive to other people's opinions. Especially when it comes to criticism, lacking appreciation, and even approval. Roslyn rarely vocalizes these feelings and even tries to hide them, but she isn't always successful.
❖[Eyes] Hazel ❖[Hair] Walnut Brown ❖[Skin] Fitzpatrick type III ❖[Height] 5'2" (157 cm) ❖[Weight] 112 lbs/ 51 kg ❖[Physique] Slender. ❖[Distinct Physical Notes] Freckles along her cheeks and nose bridge. Thick, untamed hair. Calluses and few burn scars along her fingers, arms, and one on her leg. A pure black birthmark in the shape of a long, jagged line on the outside of her right elbow. ❖[Style of Clothing/Accessories] Roslyn prefers practical and simple designs when it comes to her dresses, with a high of elegance made through embroidery. Due to her limited funds, she doesn't have a vast selection and limits herself to primarily one design choice. A simple blue dress with shortened sleeves and criss-cross corset to give her the illusion of an hourglass shaped torso. Beneath the puffy lower half are a part of travel boots stopping at her ankles.
Base RAS
Augmented RAS
HP
Blood Types
Items
77 (7.20)
77+32 (7.70)
20
Blackblood, Agitator
Band of the Beggar King, Smoking Bandit, Bottle of Whine
School
Specialty
Tier
Base
Offensive
Defensive
Magnetic
Internal
I. Novice
d4
3/4d4
3/4d4
Arcane
Pyromancy, Cryomancy
III. Apprentice
d8
3/4d8
3/4d8
Binding
Medical
III. Apprentice
d8
3/4d8
3/4d8
Chemical
Alchemical, Disruptive
III. Apprentice
d8
4d8
4d8
Kinetic
Telekinetic, Enhancement
III. Apprentice
d8
3/4d8
3/4d8
Atomic
null
0. Neophyte
d2
3/4d2
3/4d2
Blood
null
0. Neophyte
d2
3/4d2s
3/4d2
Temporal
Spatial Personal
I. Novice
d4
3/4d4
3/4d4
Dark
null
0. Neophyte
d2
3/4d2
3/4d2
Command
null
0. Neophyte
d2
3/4d2
3/4d2
Primordial
null
0. Neophyte
d2
3/4d2
3/4d2
Extra
Description
Fruits:
Butterfly's Wing: thrice per scenario, refund an action or defense after rolls are completed
Other:
Smoking Bandit: A handheld smoke cannon. It allows any liquid, granulated, minced, or powdered substance to be burned and its effects spread over 20 yards as a sort of AoE.
Discovered Ammo Rosy Wick: free skill use of one higher tier than earned for caster and (d3) allies. Will last for (d2) turns. Enemies may roll a (d4) for a chance to benefit from the effect. (1 wick=2 charges)
Skinglue: an adhesive chemical attack that will strike up to (d3) enemies and roll 4d12 but never deal more than a significant. If it lands, it will force them to roll disadvantage for (d3) turns. (1 tube=2 charges)
Band of the Beggar King (Torragon): A tarnished old ring, appearing to have once been precious. As long as its bearer rolls dice lower than their opponent’s in skill tier, they may steal (d4) from the opponent’s roll. As long as its bearer rolls dice lower than their opponent’s in RAS tier, they may steal (d4) from the opponent’s roll. Provides 10 manas, 4 more if highest skill tier is lower, and 4 more if current RAS tier is lower.
Bottle of Whine (Perrence): A fine vintage from the Quin & Quentin vineyard turned into an ornamental club. Every time that the bearer’s opponent makes a statement that could reasonably be construed as whining, the bearer will gain a free +4 to their next roll. Provides 8 manas to start. Each instance of whining will add +2 manas.
Four-Dimensional Compass of the Seafaring Tribe - locates items along four axes: latitude, longitude, altitude, and time. Can accelerate or decelerate one’s movement along a given axis by (d8) for movement rolls
Roslyn's education focused primarily on magics that aid her in the brewery. Each dedicated magic served a distinct purpose, though in recent times things had begun to change.
With arcane, her focus was on temperatures. Cryomancy and Pyromancy were ideal to maintain the best temperature for fire's coals while the chemical reactions stirred and settled in the barrels. Some times she had to heat metal for it to be hammered back or extend the light of a candle to work long into the night. However, she has dabbled in illusion side of things. Mainly to make herself 'disappear'. It was a trick that stemmed from her childhood and let her melt into the background, escaping unwanted pressure for a short time.
Her chemical studies allowed her to observe and influence the changes in the wort, hops, and other ingredients used in the brew. With this knowledge, she can influence the taste to a degree and ensure freshness. If pressures reached unwanted levels, she could speed up or even stop the reaction. She's saved a few keelers from rupturing in this manner.
Workplaces tended to have injuries so she included lessons in binding. Her brother's condition also influenced her desire to dive deeper than necessary into this school of magic. She hoped to aid in easing his pain and maybe her own one day.
Kinetic was helpful for speed, often allowed her to cover large areas in shorter time. Someone had to make sure everyone's working together and aware of any changes. Telekinesis allowed her to move more barrels than any girl her age could and ensured the carts were full before night hit.
B A C K G R O U N D
Roslyn grew up in Arkney, Hendland as the second child of Aaren and Blythe Wicke. Due to an explained sickness displayed by her mother, Blythe's first prospect for marriage was cancelled to save face. She endured many prods by numerous binders, but none could figure out the reason or cause for the illness. The only thing the knew for sure was that she would eventually die from it. Though not the sole cause of the noble family's debt, this certain added to it and forced their hand to accept Eustace’s request for Blythe to marry his son.
Despite the grim introduction, Aaren turned out to be a charming gentle. The two grew to love each other as they began their family. First came their son, Garith, and two years later their daughter Roslyn. In the background, Blythe's family remained distant until Roslyn turned five. Blythe's father had passed away and bestowed them a modest inheritance. A small manor, few servants, and a small reputation. Sadly, this included their remaining debt too.
Not allowing this to dampen their lives, Aaren moved them into the home and established their new status. They weren't the most wealthy, but the children knew happiness and love.
Her brother underwent a RAS test at the age of eight after nearly setting the drapes on fire. He scored rather high for a child his age, surprising everyone. At this point they knew they need to accumulate funds for the future. Until then, they would prepare him for it. During this time, her father focused on Garith and his role to represent the family.
In her childhood, Roslyn spent much of her time in the open meadows. She often wandered off from her wet nurse. At the age of seven, she started to play with the cherune. She was so young so Roslyn doesn't recall much about these memories save what her mother told her. Mostly that she giggle and chase these 'people' smaller than her about.
A year later, she manifested magic. She used what she learned from the cherune to try and sneak up on her brother. Sadly, it was more like a shimmer than actual invisibility. Still gave him a fright causing her to giggle then apologize. When she underwent the test, she scored notably lower and her father decided she would run the brewery. She was never meant to follow her brother into the academy, but she joined basic lessons with him. After this point in her life, she grew closer to her father and grandfather. This was their whole life and one day, it would become hers too.
By the time she was nine, Roslyn spend less and less time in the fields. Her mother's body started to fail. Blythe's head was plagued by aches, weakened limbs, and failing eyesight. It was horrible to see a mother, so full of vigor and play, gradually waste away. Roslyn did what she could, but nothing felt like enough. The last happy memories were on the morning before Roslyn’s twelfth birthday. The day’s routine started off normal as her mother closed her eyes, resting upright in her bed. Roslyn touched her cold skin and realized she had passed peacefully some time ago. Funeral arrangements followed shortly as the family grieved, any prior celebrations forgotten.
In the weeks after mourning, Roslyn found her life slowly changing.
Her brother continued to focus on his studies, rarely leaving his room. Their once strong bond began to wan in the wake of their mother's death. Meanwhile, her father withdrew into himself for a few months. This left her grandfather and her to run the brewery until he recovered. Sadly, age had started to catch up with Eustace. This left much of the leg work on her shoulders as she relayed orders, kept the keelers at the proper temperature, and more. It was the hardest time in her life, but she gritted her teeth and pushed through it.
When her brother began to show signs of struggling eyesight, her father summoned the binder. Much to their dread, her brother had inherited their mother's disease. Her heart dropped knowing she had to face another loss of her family. So far, the binder told her that she had a clean bill of health. Still... how long would that last?
Roslyn watched her father, with good intentions, withdraw his decision to send Garith. Instead she would take his place after her fifteenth birthday.
In less than two years, she shifted her focus from the brewery to other studies. She never thought she would have to cram years of manners, knowledge, and more into her head in such a short time. The worst part was that her brother was forced to become her tutor during this. This drove away any enjoyment from whatever she learned under his bitter lessons. She saw the darker aspects of him rise to the surface and their tensions rose the longer they spent time in each other's company. Despite her soft protests, her grandfather and father refused to change their minds. Was for her brother’s own safety and health. Finally, she fell into silent acceptance of their decision.
The building tensions finally broke on the day Roslyn left. An argument had erupted in her room, resulting in Garith leaving it in a huff. Meanwhile, Roslyn stood in the corner and hid her pain from sight.
The time had finally come.
Roslyn didn't know what to expect when she arrived at the Ersand’Enise Academy of Thaumaturgy. Before she left, her father's words rang in her head. They might not have the funds for a second year and she would need to wait to return. That dreadful fact haunted her for most of her first year and drove her to find a solution. Most of it was a bit of blur as she struggled to adapt, learn, and grow. Some events stuck out like the Forked Towers challenge and the Silk Gates incident. Other things faded to the back of her thoughts, no reason to remember them. Somehow, she managed to obtain a scholarship before the year's end, but this was just a small bandage for a continually bleeding issue.
M O T I V A T I O N
Roslyn's main focus within the academy is her family's brewery. In a way, it feeds her an excuse to learn about the various magics while she's forced to focus on the most beneficial. She hopes with the right knowledge it will improve production and quality. In addition, she plans to figure out connections to spread their goods from their little town. The main struggle is figuring it all out.
In the back of her mind, Roslyn misses the simplicity of the brewery. A time where things didn't depend on her to solve everything. Now if she stops or stumbles, the weight of her responsibilities starts to crush her. It’s the last thing her family needs and she wants.
Roslyn fears watching her loved ones die. Her mother's decline and sudden death left scars below the surface, even when she chose not to think about it. Even worse, she hates the sensation of helplessness as she knows her brother's fate. No matter what she finds or does, Roslyn knows it changes nothing. Perhaps this is why she secretly dreads going home every holiday.
I N V E N T O R Y
None Magical items Small pouch (hidden in her dress) with a few small coins Tiny, hand pounded tin with salve for burns, cuts, and other small wounds. Dress depending on the occasion (cloak for colder weather) Ankle traveling boots Large book with several pressed flowers (a wide variety) Small wooden box with a single, untouched beer bottle A small bundle of letters from her brother, father, and grandfather hidden underneath her bed (includes problems/successes with the brewery, fund information, updates over her brother's condition, etc) Clothes- Pair of breeches, shirt, a few dresses, etc. Some string for tying her hair up. All of them are worn slightly in places, but suitable for her station.
Magical Items Consumables x3 Rosy wick: burns with a particular scent that causes relaxation and increases focus. If meditated with, allows one free skill use of a tier higher than earned. x1 Blue Boomcherry Buster: will also reduce three incoming attacks by 2 points in a scenario. x2 Snowpepper sniffing powder: will instantly wake up any sleeping or unconscious character or beast. x2 Tusk Bandages: provides 4 health and a +1 to your next action or movement x0 Skinglue: from the Bleeding Pine, will instantly seal wounds if applied within one turn, reducing their tier by one.
Non Consumables x1 The Braineater: When placed on the head of a target, will transfer any one of their spells, skills, mana types, or memories over to its owner when placed back on the owner’s head for one cycle. Provides 24 manas. x1 Anti-magic device x1 Inferno Blanket: keeps you warm, no matter what. +2 and advantage against cryomancy. x1 Imbued Map of Kirimansk x1 Smoking Bandit: A handheld smoke cannon that can fill an entire battlefield with a burning substance of choice in seconds. x1 Band of the Beggar King (Torragon): A tarnished old ring, appearing to have once been precious. As long as its bearer rolls dice lower than their opponent’s in skill tier, they may steal (d4) from the opponent’s roll. As long as its bearer rolls dice lower than their opponent’s in RAS tier, they may steal (d4) from the opponent’s roll. Provides 10 manas, 4 more if highest skill tier is lower, and 4 more if current RAS tier is lower. x1 Bottle of Whine (Perrence): A fine vintage from the Quin & Quentin vineyard turned into an ornamental club. Every time that the bearer’s opponent makes a statement that could reasonably be construed as whining, the bearer will gain a free +4 to their next roll. Provides 8 manas to start. Each instance of whining will add +2 manas. x1 Four-Dimensional Compass of the Seafaring Tribe - locates items along four axes: latitude, longitude, altitude, and time. Can accelerate or decelerate one’s movement along a given axis by (d8) for movement rolls. x1 Void Diamond (2 carat?)
Animals
Name
Species/Category
Description
Special Effects/Spells/Traits
Bond Lv
Stats (HP, Dice)
Belle
Bay Horse
Eyes: Brown Build: Slender Color: Reddish brown with black mane and tail.
TBA
1
HP: Dice: Traits:
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ Expertise on crafting brews (includes mead, beer, and malts), types, chemical reactions, quality, and more. ❖ Brewer's tolerance: drinking for most of her life, she has a strong tolerance to large amounts of alcohol. +2 to keeping brews down, including mana brews/shots ❖ Light on her feet ❖ Puts her all into things she's passionate about and when people count on her
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ Represses her negative thoughts and feelings ❖ Inexperienced with manipulation/Easily Trusting ❖ Struggles with drastic change ❖ Doesn't take criticism well (she is slowly trying to improve this)
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
❖ Roslyn enjoys dancing, especially the more fast paced ones. Something about it calms her and reminds her of simpler days. In the moment, her body moves with purpose, fluid gestures and steady pace that reflect her love. It's not a surprise that it is a side subject she's been studying on and off. ❖ Magic casting style: Movement (short, sharp gestures) + Words (learned from her mother) ❖ 109 base mana (rounded up)
S O C I E T I E S
Societies
Year Joined/Stayed
Years Stayed
Enchanter's Union
1st Year
2 Years
Brotherhood of Brew Appreciators
1st Year
2 Years
The Mage Hunters' Society
2nd Year
Recently
C L A S S H I S T O R I E S
Year 1: S1/2 SK105: Sewing, Cooking, Repair & Construction Essentials - TC, TC, SL SK106: Business, Negotiation & Money Management - CM, LS, AL LN105: An Introduction to Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Eskandish - CM/CL, Eskand 1 AC102: Fundaments of the Natural Sciences and their Uses in the Magical Arts - AL, TC LN112: An Introduction to Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Enthish - CM/CL, Enthish 1 AR104: Painting and Drafting in Charcoal, Oil, Pastel, and Watercolour - AR, SN, TC SK101: Etiquette, Decorum & Forms of Address in Polite Society - EM, CL, LS SK104: Athletics, Agility, Physical Fitness & Sporting Activities - PL, PL, SN
Year 2 S1 AR205: Taste, Texture & Ingredients Science - AR, SN SK203: Tinctures, Cures, and First Aid - SL, TC SK201: The Art of Persuasion by All and Any Means - CM, EM LN206: An Introduction to Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Xochi - CM/L, Xochi 1 SK201: The Art of Persuasion by All and Any Means - CM, EM SI07: Horse Racing, Dressage & Equestrian Studies - BL, PL, TC
S2 SK210: A Merchant's Guide to Finance & Accounting - AL, CL SK209: Taming, Riding, and Caring for Animals - BL, SL AC212: An Introduction to Chemistry - AL, TC AC207: Philosophy in the Modern Era - CL, AL, SP
Currently Bonuses
Skill
Points
Analytical (AL)
2
Emotional (EM)
2
Communication (CM)
5
Technical (TC)
5
Sensory (SN)
3
Leadership (LS)
2
Survival (SL)
2
Biological (BL)
0
Cultural (CL)
4
Artistic (AR)
2
Physical (PL)
3
#ebe7a3 year 1 to 2 #cbc66d year 2 to ? #969351 #757011
Keelee was deeply affected by the loss of her father and the disavowal of her ability to take over his research and life’s work as she was still a child. This influenced her personality and in-part her blood type when her necromancy had manifested, wishing she could bring the dead back to life and live with the ones she loved forever, she acquired a special blood which allows her to bring the dead back to life even if only as zombies. Some operated by strings while others are hosts for demons from the void and beyond. The host inhabiting her father's vessel has only further served in exacerbating her paranoia and delusions that plague her mental wellness.
Keelee is particularly shy and usually melancholic, often speaking to corpses and animals as if they were people. She has a sincere desire to help others, especially to achieve their dreams and save lives. However, precisely because of his ingenuity she is also easily manipulated and easily gets involved in dangerous and illegal projects. Probably due to her background and her experience in medicine, she does not seem to feel disgust at working with human bodies, even if they are decomposing, nor does she feel remorse at awakening their bodies and manipulating them to achieve her end goal of perfect resuscitation. Keelee is a hard worker, giving all her strength and resources when given a task, locking herself in on the job until it is finished or completely exhausted.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
Keelee’s skin color, perhaps from the aberration that passed down to in birth, led her skin color astray from most Eeaiko. Rather than a pallid or pale blue the hue that flushes her skin is a soft yellowish-green color, similar to the algae that hangs at the water’s surface. No, rather more akin to algal blooms seeing as her nature predilects the nature of algae that grows out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds, inevitably killing them. Her facial features are a bit more rounded and humanoid, possibly from her location in the Arid Sea exposing her to many a race and culture.
A deep brown, almost tattoo-like, mark runs down the edge of her right eye matched only by several fish scales she has adorned onto her skin as her own personal flair of aquatic fashion. Her fascination with the shimmering of scales and refraction of sunlight glistening off them has triggered her to cover her body in sporadic locations. Aside from the marks and scales she dresses herself in dressed with the base or affections being made from sea fans. Her hair is left messy with a braid forming from the center of the back of her long cyan colored hair. The rest of her attire and accessories are made up of corals, tunicates, and other aquatic invertebrates.
L A N G U A G E S
Naturally fluent in both water and surface languages of Helbauron, Keelee saw no real use for learning any languages outside of that seeing as they were a people that kept to themselves. It wasn’t until she was older and felt a bit more ostracized did, she frequent the surface more and more. Due to her geographical positioning in the Arid Sea, Keelee was exposed to several dialects and languages, most notably with Xochi. She’s built up a working knowledge of phrases and words that assimilated together form a very broken version that’s exclusive to foreigners. Her latest addiction is Avician seeing her enrollment at the academy.
T H E G I F T
Keelee’s RAS borders on the high end for most Eeaiko, ending at 6.91. Beyond the RAS she has grown into she was blessed or perhaps cursed with the aberrative mana type that is known as Necromancy. Her ability to reanimate the corpses of nearby enemies or allies into vessels for the possession of minor demons allowing her to become a puppet master has piqued the interest of the prominent university. More so in her breakthrough with keeping a permanent, dominant puppet in play that possesses somewhat of a higher intuitive demon than most basic summons. Dark and Chemical is where she draws from the most to keep her zombies quite potent while masking the smell they denote. Her zombified father has benefited from the two schools so much so it is hard for those to mistake him for a dead man. Binding and Kinetic are her second focus mostly for preservation and constitution of her puppets while kinetic is her least focused school but aids in fine control of her machinations movements.
Before the inception of Keelee, her parents, part of the nobility with the Eeaiko demographic, enjoyed a life of comfort and ease. Her father was responsible for overseeing many inventions that saw the light of day. These ideas weren’t stolen from the Yasoi nor the humans as they usually were, but elevated or expanded on for the use of water dwelling people. His contributions were significant yet decadent in display which was something the other niche populations of Eeaiko were not used to. They were more traditionalist in nature and had grown accustomed to just one-to-one copies of Yasoi and human constructs. His inventions were then labeled heretical and dangerous that turned off some, but gained traction by forming a large cult following, gaining the eye of Royalty and ensuring funding since they enjoyed the nuanced inventions and the crowd it brought in. This put him in direct competition with a few other creators and in a negative light that led to the greasing of palms, exchanging of good for services, and mortal peril. Unaware of his position and security he thought nothing of it and returned day after day to his wife at home, ready to welcome his child along the way. Except he would never live to see the birth of his daughter, for on return to his workstation, he fell victim to an assassination attempt that proved true.
When news arrived to his wife the grief would not subside, which she knew was actively effecting the health of her child. To circumvent this and her sorrow she used the riches that were now in her name to contract a temporal mage to use their magic to reverse the Ymeehook bestowed on her husband. Unskilled in the ways of magic, she was none the wiser this mage had scammed her using a very chaotic spell. The temporal magic had worked as promised but ignited an aberration within her body that unbeknownst to her, manifested in their child, generating a cryptic mana type. Her father now back in the picture he was able to return to his family and his research. News quickly broke and hushed whispers spread through the localities, eventually dying out to plain gossip. No retaliatory actions were taken by the father or against him. Instead, years went by where he raised his daughter with his full attention, not wanting to waste his second chance. Keelee grew up more or less a happy child under the love of her parents, but waves of behavioral and mental disorders flared up from time to time.
It wasn’t until he unveiled his newest invention to streamline power to multiple localities did a new devious plot arise. A Quazoomik had found its way into his ranks, attempting to vie for his research and head of development. Surely another attempt at his life would be made, and so it was, or was it? He met his fate once more, but the details were a bit sparser this time around. His passing appeared to be a genuine accident, or had it? Unable to declare Hemvoorik, there was no clear perpetrator or anything to link to a murderer. The news broke to his family once more, completely breaking the wife, creating a catatonic husk that had spurious bouts of lucidity, presenting itself in laughter and denial. And awakening the magic in Keelee, giving rise to her obsession. Keelee was helped in burying her father, adorning his body with kelp and coral. Kelee wondered why people have to die and expressed her desire to bring everyone back to life, to be able to live with everyone she cares about for a long time.
Soon after she would begin to reanimate small creatures until she was plagued with staunch morbid curiosity, she ignored sentimentality and revived her father. The first iteration was an abomination from a child playing God, but she never quit. Afraid of being rejected and outcast from her home she moved on her own to a port city in the far east of Xochiyeteteo. There she was able to slowly perfect her reanimated father to a passing Eeaiko at the price of her sanity and entertaining a more notable demon to possess the vessel of her father that whispered indiscriminately in her ear. Word of her magic and research hit Ersand'Enise, making her a person of interest. Correspondence had reached her time and time again, yet Keelee was unsure if that is what she wanted or needed.
M O T I V A T I O N
Keelee’s motivations are painfully simple, she wants to be able to perfect necromancy to the point she can fully reanimate a deceased boy with their original soul. Eeaiko religion in relation to the afterlife centers around the idea that, “You have two deaths. When you physically die and the last time someone remembers you." Keelee doesn’t accept that, rather, she fears the prospect of losing a loved one to the void for all eternity. Keelee is hellbent on preventing her father’s Ymeehaup and so needs the resources that no one but Ersand'Enise can provide, whether that is tools or faculty that support her. To her the relationship feels very quid pro quo, which phases her very little. Becoming a grandmaster and mastering her mana type for her own means justified the ends of what the school would do with her research, altruistic or not. The fear of failure is not an option of a symptom she's allowed to feel, once you're aware of it you can't remove it.
I N V E N T O R Y
Keelee doesn’t carry much, she has no particular attachment to anything physical seeing as she holds bonds to a higher regard. She does carry around a small botanist pouch where she carries a few aquatic medicinal herbs but more importantly some marine mammals for chemical extraction. This can range from tunicates to sponges to bryozoans. Other than that, she keeps a necklace given to her mother by her father and a few pretty shells and pearls she can barter for coin if she ever needs it.
Necromancy has become her, Keelee’s strengths are shaped and catered around her obsessions and mana type. This has manifested into skills and strengths that help develop those abilities to a higher level. Being a puppet master has made her excellent at manipulating the living just as much as she can with the dead. She has no sense of morality, a given seeing as she pilfers the dead to join her army and will get her hands dirty where others would cower. In practice, it’s made her a better physician and botanist. What started off as a hobby due to the nature of her people that live in rich flora and fauna areas, turned into a tool. Her intimate knowledge of the interworking’s of the human anatomy and what they can endure and be prescribed has facilitated her goal to perfect her necromancy. There is a method to her madness and while the vision is lost on others, for Keelee it needs to be trusted to execute properly, regardless of who gets in her way.
Her strengths are also her weaknesses. Not completely of her own doing but the tragedy that had awarded her, her mana type and the constant forum with her dad’s vessel demon has served to erode much of a healthy mentality and trust of those around her, specifically in regard to the conspirators in her father’s death. Her need to strive for perfection and have such a lofty goal looming overhead has made her stubborn and obsessive, often making it hard to pry her away from anything but the tunnel vision road she’s laid out for herself. Stemming also from how devout her beliefs and traditions to the Eeaiko culture. While she is heavily adept at necromancy and the use of puppets, she has no real versatility outside of that. She has basic spells she can pull from but no secondary talents. Specifically in any kind of physical combat which makes it hard for her to fight in close quarters or in melee range, distance is key for her which makes her so nimble.
"I don't spread rumors about myself. That's just a rumor."
Rumor has it that if you wander the streets of Mudville at night, inquiring about a certain "Five-Tailed Fox," the locals will point you in a general direction—and if you're lucky, a woman of indistinguishable ethnicity will appear to give you aid for whatever you require, for the right price. Make no mistake, though—you do not find the Five-Tailed Fox. The Five-Tailed Fox finds you.
Of course, that's just a rumor. There is no Five-Tailed Fox. The locals are playing a prank.
If one were to grow frustrated in their search and inquire about a "Six-Tailed Fox," however—well then, they might get somewhere.
Meet Xiuyáng. She's a bit of an oddball, or as the sailors say, a fish out of water. Though it could accurately be said that her complex family history leaves her with no place to fully belong, that suits a habitual traveler like her just fine; in fact, someone like her can go just about anywhere—and though her odd appearance may raise many questions, none of them would be too serious or inconvenient—merely curious. This is her strength. Her vaguely ethnic face blends into almost any crowd you'd find at any port in the Ensollian Sea. Nothing to see here—just another traveling merchant, on a very normal business venture. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
Though she comes from a wealthy family, she hides it well, dressing and acting more like her merchant father than her noble mother. Though she is, in theory, a magician with markedly high potential, she doesn't flaunt it; some even say she once paid the Little RAScals a modest fee to spread a rumor that she'd been invited to join them. Though she is young, she gives off an air of being wise beyond her years, her face seemingly tailored by Oraff himself to perfectly wear a knowing wink and smirk. Her devil-may-care attitude belies a quiet, deadly strength. She knows when to play up her shady, cutthroat merchant act, implying that her services will require a dire price to be paid—to reserve her hidden kindness and generosity for those who truly deserve and need it. In all, she keeps everything close to her chest, her cards always hidden from prying eyes. Everything one thinks they know about Xiuyáng is equally likely to be either the truth or a misdirection. Xiuyáng associates with very few and trusts even fewer. It's only recently that the wider student body has even become broadly aware of her existence.
B U S I N E S S A N D P L E A S U R E
"Sure, I'll lend you some hats—as many as you can balance on your head. No, I am talking about the currency. Now hold still, I need to concentrate."
Like her father, Xiuyáng is a shrewd businesswoman, always on the lookout for opportunities not seen by the untrained eye, listening in on a variety of conversations for any juicy gossip she may encounter. She frequents the streets of the markets, the alleys of port towns, and the parties of the upper class in equal measure. She keeps a low profile, but those in the know will take note of her presence—and more importantly, her absence. If she's absent at an event that everyone else in her circle is swarming to, there may yet be something even more interesting going on elsewhere, behind the scenes. Either she's scheming something big, or she's at an even wilder, secret party, likely getting drunk with some yasoi friends. Some say she doesn't truly get drunk, merely absorbing the alcohol by drawing from it and using it for some subtle, deceptive magic that'll get others talking—but that's a rumor.
While she's smart with money, Xiuyáng isn't what one would call a miser. She'll gladly pay full price for quality goods and services, and leave the bargain bins and flash sales for those who need such things to make ends meet. It's simply an aspect of her dedication to the ways of the gods. While she is an open but innocuous critic of the church, she is profoundly spiritual. Broadly speaking, she mostly adheres to the Quentic faith, but draws some inspiration from the Angic Way, believing that balance in life and self is important to both religions. After all, the most coveted fate one can be assigned after death is reserved for those who pleased all five gods equally. Her interest in the beliefs of the yasoi's Chosen Creed—and the sixth—is just a rumor. Don't believe those kids.
A T R O U B L E D S O U L ?
"If I told you that you owed me a favor because I gave you a Gift, you'd look at me funny. It's not a Gift if you owe me. Why, then, do we apply different standards to the gods?"
That's how some of the more "religious" practitioners of the Quentic Faith would describe Xiuyáng, anyway. She's a good-natured and well-meaning child of the faith who's just a hair or two off the straight and narrow road; a little patient, gentle correction will set her right. Most others see her as an innocuous religious progressive with the vapid opinions typical of youth. She's in a rebellious, edgy phase, and she'll grow out of it and wise up eventually. In reality, Xiuyáng does seriously consider other worldviews, and has nothing but disdain for the secrecy of the church, and the academy. They keep so many secrets—openly and arrogantly—that it begs the question of just how many secrets are kept in absolute secrecy. So far, though, she hasn't made any bold attempts to unveil those secrets—at least none that anyone knows about, or that came to any sort of fruition. She also definitely has no involvement in any high-profile protests that never officially happened, and whose instigators were never seen again. That's not even a rumor at this point, it's just straight up slander.
S O P H O M O R I C W I T
"To catch fish, cast a net. To teach music to a crab, castanets."
Sophomore: from Thalak 'sophos' (clever or wise) and 'moros' (foolish). A wise fool. Intelligent and philosophical—but young and yet inexperienced—Xiuyáng spouts both profoundly wise proverbs and a unique brand of abject nonsense in equal measure. Some say this is just yet more misdirection, and she's secretly a genius. That's just a rumor, though. In reality, she still has quite a lot of growing left to do. While she's quite "knowledgeable" in history, politics and religion, and is always expanding her repertoire of cultural experiences—ultimately, this so-called wisdom is highly derivative of the (albeit diligent) studies of a child of the upper crust of society, with little experience to back her confidence—which is, perhaps, the sharpest edge of her mind: the charm and wordsmithing skills to convince others that she knows what she's talking about. To some degree, she still lacks the "bullshit filter" of the truly wise; one may want to find a polite excuse to leave the room when she starts going on and on about something she heard while "accidentally" eavesdropping on the Truth-Seekers Society. Of course, she's not actually a member—nor does she periodically disguise herself as a variety of first-year students who only visit the club once and never return. Xiuyáng is much too busy for something silly like that.
U N F I L T E R E D F U N
"Don't try to butter me up—unless we're making sandwiches—in which case, you butter me right the fuck up—capito?"
While Xiuyáng is viewed in much the same light as a comically useless rebel without a cause, it is widely known that she is a wild party animal and a drunkard to boot, and this is generally more concerning to others with an eye for the well-being of the students. It can't be helped, some say, knowing she essentially spent all of her teenage years surrounded by sailors, and even longer shadowing her father's business deals at extravagant drinking parties. What can she say, she's a fun little thing with a taste for the fun juice, and she'll drink you under the table. She also knows how that sounds, and is totally here for it. Xiuyáng actively seeks out people and places to relax, chill and vibe. Her quiet disdain for the pompous manners and ceremony required in the presence of nobles is nonetheless quite strong, and a sailor's mouth is what to expect when she lets her hair down, especially if she's genuinely drunk. In her mind, it's all part of her spiritual philosophy. Study hard, party hard—and as it happens, her preferred crowd to hang with is the yasoi. She finds their hunger for new life experiences endearing, and their culture fascinating to a fault. Perhaps she even feels some measure of belonging with them, as an eternal traveler in both a physical and spiritual sense—but that's just a rumor. Really, the Yasoi'riimel are just fun to be around.
L A N G U A G E S
"Go ahead, call me a dumb bitch in a language I don't understand. I'll wait."
Xiuyáng is well-traveled, as is her heritage and her birthright. As such, she's fluent in not just Avincian and Revidian, but Torragonese and Rettanese—and by extension, can read and write a good amount of Nikanese as well. She's also quite competent with Virangish and Perrench, able to navigate various forms of negotiation just fine. Her Inipori and Belzaggic are barely passable at best, and her Eskandish is, how do you say... mjög slæmt? No, that's not the one. Anyway, you get it. She's trying to learn the yasoi language as well, but it's proven difficult for her. Learning languages was much easier when she was younger.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
"We both know I'm nothing worth looking at, so... why are you staring? Idiot."
Xiuyáng is not your traditional pretty girl or classy lady. She keeps her hair short and most of her body covered, despite her ostensibly open personality. Some even say that her true appearance has never been seen, but that's just a rumor. Other rumors include that she's secretly a Bloodchild, or a yasoi with dwarfism, or that she has some horrific disfiguration or skin disease, or that she's a Sanguinaire protecting herself from the sun, or that she has Blackrot and covers herself to protect others from being drained to death. Still others, especially the girls, say that it's a simple case of low confidence or breast envy. Rumor has it she's been seen hanging with the Corpse Flowers once or twice. Honestly, nobody knows why she's so shy or secretive about her figure, but one thing is certain: in both appearance and spirit, she's "one of the boys."
Her manner of dress is a cultural hodgepodge. It's quite an eye-catching conversation piece—which, given her mercantile tendencies, is probably the primary function, rather than being fashionable abroad—though it is a nice side effect. She keeps everything but her hands and the upper half of her face—she's proud of her mother's eyes, if nothing else—covered at all times. She's also rarely seen without a medicine box strapped to her right hip (as is tradition, so that one makes the sign of Oraff when administering first aid, for good luck). As one of the more skilled students in binding magic, she sees it as something of a responsibility to always be quietly available to assist in any medical incidents, leading many to question where she suddenly appeared from. It violates her rule of staying low profile, but what can you do. When her fellow students are up to no good and somebody starts bleeding, it's her moment to shine.
T H E G I F T
"With just a bit of magic, and a lot of creativity, you can outshine the reverse."
Base RAS
Augmented RAS
HP
Blood Types
Items
8.32
8.65
20
Facemimic Devourer
Broken Mask of the Relentless Pursuit, Sea Legs, Staff of the Burning Monkey King, The Gourd of Joyous Springs and Ash Blossoms, Beanie of Weggosi Relaxation, Sanguine Bayonet of Endless Bloodhunger, Ahn-Dami's Second Chancers, Paired Mirrors of Swift Exchange
School
Speciality
Tier
Base
Offensive
Defensive
Magnetic
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
d2
3/4d2
3/4d2
Arcane
Pyromancy, Illusion/Luminescent
IV. Journeyman
d8
3/4d10
3/4d10
Binding
Healing, Material Creation/Destruction
IV. Journeyman
d8
3/4d8
3/4d8
Chemical
Internal, Alchemical
III. Adept
d7
3/4d7
3/4d7
Kinetic
Telekinetic, Stasis
I. Novice
d4
3/4d4+Adv
3/4d4+Adv
Atomic
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
d2
3/4d2
3/4d2
Blood
Dissolution/Generation, Fleshcraft
III. Adept
d7
3/4d7
3/4d7
Temporal
{Speciality}
I. Novice
d4
3/4d4
3/4d4
Dark
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Command
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Primordial
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Extra
Description
Fruit:
Wild Cherry: Twice per cycle/encounter, the bearer of this fruit may completely negate any bonuses, effects, or advantages that are not naturally a part of her opponent and their abilities and come from items, potions, or other external sources.
Candied Cherry: Three times per cycle/encounter, the bearer may roll with advantage and +3, so long as she is making use of any items, potions, or other external factors that apply bonuses, effects, or advantages that are not naturally a part of her.
Sacred Plum: Grants +2 healing every round when eaten. If healing is not needed, grants a buff instead. One-time use item.
Other:
Used Cycle Reroll: Yes Used Arc Reroll: Yes Crown of the Burning Monkey King: Passive +1 Skill Modifier Tier to non-Cryogenic Arcane Spells. Shielding Dance of the Monkey King: Negate up to 6 damage twice per scenario. Vampiric Rancor: Curses the opponent to take the same tier of damage repeatedly each turn until they heal. Kinetic Absorption and Reflection: Advantage when using Kinetic. Double running speed and jump height. Sound Dampening: Passive +2 Stealth. Clean Breathing: Immunity to inhaled substances. Water Breathing: Immunity to drowning while submerged in water. Voice Alteration: Passive use of Sonic Break and Sonic Bend when speaking. The voice synthesizer is malfunctioning. Weggosi Relaxation: Passive immunity to sense and mood-altering effects. Extrasensory Perception: Ability to see through solid barriers and hear through sonic barriers. Temporal Clairvoyance: Allows the user to cancel an undesirable roll and choose a different action, 3 times per cycle. Third Eye: Automatically pass any perception roll, twice per scenario. Second Chance: Store power, up to 20, each time a dice threshold is not met. A second chance at fate. Better Half: Exchange places with Ciro Volta, provided he's been informed through the mirror and agreed and prepared to swap. The More the Merrier: Attack (3/4d8) to steal 16+d32 manas from a target. Chug to acquire manas. 4 separate targets, 96 max. Chug chug chug: Drinking provides a random buff or debuff (d6) 4 times per scenario:
Advantage on next action
+6 on any action this turn
Double action on your turn
8 HP instant heal
Double Disadvantage
-6 on your next action
Mana Types:
Facemimic: Description: A mana type that is able to latch onto foreign manas and convert the surrounding cells to transform into a copy of the other manas' host. The targets must have an at least somewhat similar DNA make-up. Makes for near instant identification of mages: RAS, manatypes. Transformation is slow and often painful, if too many foreign manas are consumed, the transformation runs the risk of becoming permanent.
Mechanical effects: When using Facemimickry, adopt the opponent's mana types and RAS as your own. Costs an action in combat. Cannot be used to transform into other races or species. While transformed, the user's skill levels in all magics remain the same, but all skill modifier tiers are effectively reduced by one.
Devourer: Description: Most often in West Severa, 6/1000 - Devourers are notable for having generally high capacities (over 7.6) but being slow at drawing. Their manas are highly aggressive toward foreign or invasive substances, relentlessly attacking them. This is a double-edged sword, as it sometimes leads to severe and unwarranted allergic reactions. At its best, however, it renders Devourers virtually immune to all forms of poison and most forms of illness and disease.
Mechanical effects: Any effects, positive or negative, associated with toxins or maladies are negated, unless they are purpose-built to attack Devourer manas. Viral mana types not inherited at birth are strongly resisted. Internal Chemical attacks have their skill modifier reduced by 2 tiers. When drinking multiple mana brews or shots, thresholds only increase by 2 instead of 4. Devourers suffer disadvantage when rolling for initiative, and predictability penalties are doubled. This blood type is considered blessed by the Quentic church for its ability to ward off Sanguinaires; Sanguinaires who drink Devourer blood suffer effects ranging from instant death for New Sanguinaires and up to a week of intense pain and vomiting for High Sanguinaires. The taste is also said to be vile.
With her high RAS score and family wealth and connections, her admittance into Ersand'Enise was essentially a guarantee. However, her almost singular focus on the binding school of magic was cause for concern. After rigorous testing, though, she was—somehow—able to convince the relevant authority figures that she is someone of upstanding moral character. Imagine thinking that Xiuyáng is actually a goody two-shoes underneath all the misdirection, and that her shady persona is a façade—mostly. That's definitely just a rumor. Anyway, with a bit of pressure, she selected arcane as her second school of magic, which has worked out pretty well for her, though she is still mostly interested in binding. Her skill in it as a second year student is quite remarkable, but one must wonder what she'll do once she's mastered it. Certainly, her parents will pressure her to pursue other schools more seriously so that she can graduate Summa cum Laude and become the Arch-Zeno she's clearly meant to be, but others worry that she might start to crave darker, unmentionable pursuits.
While it would be an exaggeration to call the Facemimic mana type a "Solari family secret," there are remarkably few people in all of Sipenta who are aware that they possess it, and that list is carefully managed by the Solaris themselves, as well as their powerful allies. Xiuyáng keeps this secret as well, knowing the dire consequences if it ever slipped to any of her friends. She keeps her Devourer mana type close to her chest as well, pretending to be drunk or sick when appropriate. In combat, she uses stealth techniques to buy her time in the heat of battle to offset her slower drawing speed. She'll sometimes play at being a Truecaster, a type which also has its origin in Torragon, to lower her opponent's guard for a vicious combo attack. In truth, there is a bit of her own personal bias in that as well. She believes it's only fitting that, when borrowing (drawing) from one god's domain of magic, it's just good manners to deposit back into the same account, so to speak. She doesn't keep a ledger or anything like that though.
Another method that she's devised to work around the limited drawing speed is a technique she calls "Casting the Net." Essentially, while she's mostly outgrown the need for focus words, she can use them as a crutch to ease multitasking, allowing her to cast a spell while drawing at the same time, giving her actions in battle just a little more efficiency. Naturally, it requires a near-meditative state of concentration to maintain both full strength of her spells and full drawing speed, and unless an ally is covering for her or her enemy is cowering in fear, one or both will have to be compromised to maintain it. It is undeniably cool to watch when she's using both hands to work her magic, but many rightfully argue that it's more trouble than it's worth.
One unique trick her obsession with binding magic has resulted in is the art of drawing from physical matter, basically storing the drawn object inside her manas, and reconstituting the exact same object later. What began effectively as little more than a party trick became seriously useful when she realized she could use it to pickpocket with a degree of plausible deniability. Of course, she's not interested in stealing some poor kid's lunch money. No, she's much more concerned with the keys that various faculty and Lamplighters carry on their person. It's said that she has quite the collection of duplicate keys she's made out of reconstituted metal, but that's just a rumor. She often practices this trick in secret, attempting to store and reproduce a functioning pocket watch. Thus far, though, it's always come out broken, alas.
B A C K G R O U N D
"I could probably teach my family history for an entire semester. You're getting the redacted version."
Roughly three generations ago, various families of Rettanese nobility loyal to the Jiang Dynasty fled the pursuing Ten Dynasty, all the way across the Asperic Ocean to Virang, marrying into their noble houses, changing their names. Others who were unable to do so drifted to neighboring countries, including Torragon, where they did much the same. This is a very brief summary of her mother's side of the family. A young Sofia Yihan Xiang Esparza would inherit the Esparza Crown Jewellery Company here, and later marry Cosimo Solari, the successful owner of the Sant'Agata Albignese Trading Company, who would take the jewelry business to the next level in exchange for marrying into the Torragonese nobility. The arrangement proved profitable, affording the man nearly everything he wanted to achieve while supporting Prospero Malatesta's rise to power in Revidia. Cosimo had been an idealist, and wound up jaded by the whole affair, as in the end, merchants were still not afforded the same rights as the nobility—namely, the ability to be appointed Doge. He retains a cordial relationship with l'Anguilla, as he is not fool enough to tangle with the Eel.
The marriage proved fruitful as well, resulting in three daughters, of which Xiuyáng is the youngest. The others would marry off into other noble families, quietly expanding Cosimo's influence. However, Xiuyáng's raw magic potential was too great to ignore, and so it was decided that Ersand'Enise would be her future home. The news came to her as a mixed bag. Having the Gift made her special, but also, it meant that her adventurous life of traveling with her father was probably coming to an end. Being a clever and sneaky little girl, she would—in an unspoken bid to delay the inevitable—choose the binding school of magic, adding various trials and tribulations to the whole enrollment process. Much of her time in the following years would be spent shadowing various binding mages as they treated injuries and cured the sailors of her father's trading company of their illnesses. After a while, she'd become unironically interested in it, and took to the subject with notable enthusiasm. However, they wouldn't let her attempt any binding magic immediately, instead encouraging her to feel the wind of the Ensollian Sea, and use it for some small kinetic feats, in which she proved herself capable of picking up new skills quite quickly. She was brilliant, and had great potential—later to her chagrin.
At the same time, she was continuing to shadow her father as he conducted his business. As she grew older and more confident, she began fraternizing with various peoples: namely sailors, captains, and merchants, who'd have the most influence on her future temperament. While her father pushed her to be as productive as she could manage, her binding mage mentors were more relaxed, encouraging her to play and take breaks. They'd never imagine that she'd spend them watching the sailors brawl below decks, betting on the outcomes. This sparked her interest in martial arts, prompting her to pick up a few skills from her family's personal bodyguards. With her ability to out-drink even the drunkest of sailors, it wasn't long before she was considered "one of the boys," welcomed to drink with them and join the locker room talk. Her father would have hated this, of course, but he never found out about it. It was the best-kept secret of the fleet that Xiuyáng let loose whenever she was on a separate ship from her father. He did pick up on her new social skills, however, and began inviting her along to important meetings to listen to the nobles discuss business and politics.
Once she'd finally begun attending the academy, she started doing what she does best—making connections. She's in the maximum number of student clubs, and eavesdrops on a few others, namely the Truth-Seekers Society, Faithkeepers, and Egalite Fraternite. She also keeps tabs on the Faceless—or so she thinks—but is never directly involved in their activities—as far as she knows. Unbeknownst to her, they may be scouting her. Notably, she's absent from both the Carnation Accord and the Malturra Society, despite her obvious interest in binding magic, and alleged dabbling in blood magic. Some say she's a secret member of the Malturra Society, but given she's in the Magicians' Guild, that's impossible. It's possible that she's attending in secret, somehow, but that's just a rumor. She's too busy drinking and partying with yasoi friends to be of any real threat. Then again, her spotty attendance in most of these clubs speaks volumes...
M O T I V A T I O N
"If the best doctors in the world can't handle it, I'll become better than the best."
If one were to use magic to force Xiuyáng to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, she would tell you that she wants what she can't have—a simple life on the high seas, traveling with no higher purpose in mind. She's convinced that this is impossible, though, and so she's settling for what, in her mind, is the next best option: to become truly, unfathomably, unreasonably skilled at exactly one thing, and ensure that her skills are needed worldwide. In her case, that would be the use of the Gift to preserve and improve the lives of others. She believes that service to the gods should be entirely voluntary, and in her case, she's chosen Oraff—not to the exclusion of others, mind you, but it's simply not plausible for a mortal to be in five places at once—not that she hasn't considered the Temporal route. However, she rather values her sanity, in spite of her flagrant alcoholism. Look, she's working on it.
She fears disappointing her family, or being badgered, pressured, or even forced to pursue something more than her personal interests encompass. Her parents will probably give her no small amount of trouble if she won't broaden her horizons to other schools of magic so she can graduate with the highest honors. In particular, her father drills into her the importance of maintaining wealth, status, power and influence. Hoard money openly, and spend in secret, he says, that none may know your intentions. Fraternize with the nobility whenever possible, that you might someday marry up into a reputable and wealthy family. Carry the biggest sword, and do not reveal the full extent of its reach to your enemies. Bring all others to heel with a gentle hand. She's taken some of this to heart, but rejected most of it. She loves the mercantile life that her father cynically left behind, and dreads the day that his newly acquired noble title will come back around to thrust its tired, predictable expectations upon her colorful, fun life.
I N V E N T O R Y
"Of course I've got the goods. I'm a Solari. Now, what're ya buyin'?"
Xiuyáng carries a large but nonetheless portable medicine box, not just for her personal use during any medical incidents she may be present for, but also to sell and trade with. Within the right circles, she's known to deal in borderline illegal, recreational substances, if given the right code phrases. Her medicine box also contains a few small tools useful for gathering more ingredients. Generally, she uses her manas to store much of the same stuff within her own body, able to create more medicine in the unlikely event that she runs out. She'll have to give that stuff up if she finds herself in combat, but that's a pretty rare occasion.
Of course, she always has money on her—and lots of it. Occasionally, she'll open up a tent in the market and sell some Torragonese jewelry from her mother's company at a nominal student discount. The brand is quite a hit with the ladies, and rings are very popular. She's often seen with a smoking pipe in her hand, but she doesn't touch the stuff, instead drawing the chemical energy directly. Amusingly, she'll use it as an impromptu wand, if she's suddenly attacked. It also gives her an air of shrewd maturity that she finds quite advantageous when making business deals—a trick she learned from her mother. Another trick she learned from her is that a full sack of coin makes for an effective impromptu bludgeon. Aside from that, Xiuyáng doesn't carry any weapons aside from her cherry wood wand, unless she's forced to. On such occasions, she prefers claw-like weapons such as the Nikanese tekkō-kagi or a pair of the Sawandi equivalent, the baghnakh.
Name: Broken Mask of the Relentless Pursuit Item Description: A fearsome mask made of dark steel and padding to provide comfort and protection. This mask is tailor-made for hunting threshers, but can also comfortably be worn on land. It purifies toxins the user would breathe, allows the user to breathe underwater, and also allows them to alter their voice to speak clearly underwater with their teammates (or conceal their identity, for illegal poaching activities). This mask is made with an interlocking plate design that will shift with changes in the user's facial structure and changing levels of pressure, maintaining a proper seal regardless of whatever challenges the wearer may face. The voice synthesizer is broken, and can only project a distorted version of the user's own voice.
Special:
Clean Breathing: With Maladyshield, manas within the mask allow the user to breath in air that may be poisonous or caustic. Anytime the user is to breath in a toxin, poison, illness, or disease, they are immune to the aerosolized substance.
Self repair: The mask is enchanted to take energy from the surrounding area to repair itself. Such as heat from the sun, the kinetic energy of the wind or even the mask moving. It leaves no abusable openings.
Water breathing: The mask is enchanted so while underwater, it will undergo the constant chemical process to break down the molecular structure of water to create breathable air for the user.
Voice Alteration: The mask is able to alter the sound and loudness of the users voice, the pitch, the frequency, and many other things to recreate a voice the user can think of. Allows the user to use a voice other than their own, or even project it in certain ways to distract or disorientate. The voice synthesizer is malfunctioning.
Use: As someone who often finds themselves on the water, never having to worry about drowning is a big plus. Disguising her voice is its primary purpose however. The interlocking-plate design comfortably accommodates her changing facial structure when using Facemimicry. Clean breathing is rarely useful, but redundant layers of protection are always welcomed when dealing with sketchy types. It offers a degree of plausible deniability when and if her immunity to toxins gets noticed. It's obviously the mask. She's not a Devourer; that's just a rumor.
Name: Sea Legs Item Description: A slightly flashy pair of cannonball thresher leather boots that provide a customizable fit. These boots are made to help the user maintain balance, speed, and stealth. They're also quite sturdy and nominally heat resistant. Rumor has it Xiuyáng nicked these off a pirate captain. Nice booty!
Special:
Kinetic Absorption and Reflection: The boots are also enchanted to absorb external kinetic energy the user would feel from the boots and will reflect it back in the direction the user received it from. Allowing the user to increase many things, such as their kick power, jump height, running speed, and can even be used for defense to try to negate the energy of a strike. Gives the user advantage when using Kinetic based spells, and double the users effective running speed and jump height.
Sound dampening: Any sounds the user produces are dampened and reduced, making the user much quieter. This will give the user a +2 to stealth.
Use: Running fast while carrying a medium-large quantity of medicine can be awkward. Wearing these can make the load easier and safer to bear without worrying about damaging the goods. Sound dampening is another redundancy measure; if Xiuyáng's focus slips, her footsteps will still be quieter than they would be otherwise.
A regular looking gourd that naturally refills itself with any alcoholic beverage according to the owner's desires and tastes. This enchanted container has often been disregarded as a below average refill bottle that has gotten into fashion during the last decade, however Mountain Spring has kept the particularities of the gourd a secret for the most part. He left it with Xiuyáng after the battle with Marhazannet in the Forbidden Quarter of ReTan (Metropolis) as a parting gift after swearing an oath of sobriety to himself and the gods. The two had gotten along quite well in such a short amount of time, and Xiuyáng had said she needed a drink, only to be given a lifetime supply. Ask and ye shall receive!
The More the Merrier: Anything properly smacked by the gourd (d2 for 3d8 or 4d8) will have up to 48 manas taken from them (roll a d32 with a minimum of 16 guaranteed). Anyone that drinks from the gourd next (and they must appropriately chug) will assimilate those manas. This will wear off after a while. This can only be done once per target, four times per combat scenario, and the total number of manas stolen from all targets combined may never exceed 96 (the max potency of a prime shot).
Chug chug chug: Drinking from the gourd can provide a random buff or debuff: (Roll a d6, use up to 4 times per scenario)
Advantage on next action
+6 on any action this turn
Double action on your turn
8 HP instant heal
Double Disadvantage
-6 on your next action
Use: Xiuyang doesn't quite know what the gourd does, yet. She hasn't tried smacking anyone with it, but she has chugged from it many times, and received a positive energizing effect each time. She'll experiment with it more soon, but for now it seems like a very promising item to her.
On top of providing 24 manas, this bo staff will bump all arcane spells except for cryogenic ones up by one skill modifier tier. If twirled rapidly, it will create a blazing shield of heat capable of absorbing up to 6 damage twice per scenario.
Use: Xiuyang hasn't used it yet. She can feel the increase in manas. She'll test it out soon enough.
Beanie of Weggosi Relaxation: This multicoloured beanie allows its wearer to open their third eye, allowing them to see backward and forward up to ten seconds temporally in great detail, to see through solid barriers and hear through sonic barriers. It will allow its wearer to preview their own dice rolls within a turn cycle and act or react accordingly; at any time that rerolling is considered a valid action, the user may instead cancel their action that turn and try something else: a different magic school, or a different action altogether. This can be done 3 times per cycle, but only once per turn cycle in a combat scenario, and cannot be used to cancel an action that has already had rerolls spent on it. Additionally, twice per cycle, the wearer may automatically pass any perception roll. While wearing this hat, they will be immune to sense and mood-influencing effects. Provides 24 manas.
Use: Xiuyang, the all-seer. Be very afraid. She seems to be regularly using the Temporal Clairvoyance for something, but she won't tell anyone what it is.
Sanguine Bayonet of Endless Bloodhunger: Sucks the blood from whatever it stabs or slices, self-repairing. Upon dealing any damage, will continue to deal that same tier of damage every turn until the effect is dispelled. Provides 14 manas. For every round that its effect is active, it gains 4 more manas, up to a maximum of 30.
Use: Xiuyang's first truly lethal weapon. War approaches; perhaps it's time to get serious.
Ahn-Dami's Second Chancers: A pair of cutting-edge flintlock pistols. Every point that any of their bearer’s rolls fail by is stored, up to a total of 10 per gun, to be unleashed when their bearer sees fit. Provide 12 manas each.
Use: Another lethal sidearm. After the Trials, Xiuyang is arming herself to the teeth. What could she be thinking?
Paired Mirrors of Swift Exchange: If two people stand in front of these mirrors and speak the words “Commuto cum socium alibi” (I exchange with my partner elsewhere), they and any items on their person will immediately switch places. This action may not be blocked or canceled through the intervention of Knowers.
Use: Xiuyang has given the other mirror to Ciro Volta as a gift. She seems to have grand plans for this item.
Hui Mei: a female, albino land octopus. Always full of mischief. Known to steal shiny objects.
Daemonium Albusignium: Coldfire Wyvern, female, near-alpha, blackfire coloration. The largest wyvern species, rideable, breathes coldfire. This dragon is a battle companion or rideable for smaller individuals. This was a gift from Ciro Volta.
Cold Soup's Spoon: Imbued with some kind of magic. Purpose unknown.
Sacred Plum: Grants +2 healing every round when eaten. If healing is not needed, grants a buff instead.
2x Seagoat Cheese: Creamy and exotic, imported from Meatu, will boost your RAS by 17-32 manas.
I have no money! HAHAHAHA!
Fruits of Nature and Construct:
Nature: Twice per cycle/encounter, the bearer of this fruit may completely negate any bonuses, effects, or advantages that are not naturally a part of her opponent and their abilities and come from items, potions, or other external sources.
Construction: Three times per cycle/encounter, the bearer may roll with advantage and +3, so long as she is making use of any items, potions, or other external factors that apply bonuses, effects, or advantages that are not naturally a part of her.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ Sneaky Combat Medic ❖ Master of Disguise ❖ Duchess of the Ensollian Sea ❖ Escape Artist ❖ Surprisingly Tough ❖
"Oraff keep you, but at the same time... I never forget a face. Fuck around and find out, yeah?"
Surprising no-one, Xiuyáng's specialization is in stealth and subterfuge. Truly, she can go almost anywhere just by being herself, but when that's not enough, being a Facemimic is the icing on the cake. Xiuyáng usually avoids combat through arcane light-bending and kinetic sound-dampening, remaining undetected on the battlefield while gathering up useful resources and tending to the injured. It may seem unnecessary to some, but having studied Tan Keoulean and Nikanese history, Xiuyáng laughs at the notion of "rules of war." Blindly trusting her enemies to spare her life because she's a medic, or because she's a woman—or whatever other vapid, comforting notions others may rely on—is the privilege of children and of the naïve.
Xiuyáng is quite well-connected within the bounds of the Ensollian Sea, having spent her teenage years on various ships in her father's fleet, shooting the breeze with sailors, captains, merchants, and nobles. Really, it's her father's name that pulls the weight when she decides to make use of these connections, but she's not above it. Because of these past experiences, she also knows a great deal about how to run a ship, as well. One might think she'd be a valuable hostage—and one would be right—but anyone looking to kidnap her has their work cut out for them. Not only does her raw magic potential and strength of binding technique make her nigh impossible to contain—and her arcane and kinetic skills nearly impossible to catch besides—she's also pretty tough. You kind of have to be tough to impress sailors who are a foot taller than you. She picked up a unique style of physical combat from her family's personal bodyguards called Liu-Tian, which borrows techniques from both Machorro and Seun-chi-go. Many hapless street thugs are caught unaware by just how willing this seemingly pacifistic girl is to enter into a brawl, and just how favorable her chances are when she has the element of complete surprise.
"I'm a binder with blinders, on a lifelong bender!"
With the lion's share of an entire continent as her oyster, one may wonder what Xiuyáng can't do. Truthfully, she wonders the same. One answer might be that a big oyster is pretty empty with nobody to share it with. She trusts very few, and struggles to make genuine connections or trust others completely. While she's not so much of a lone wolf that she can't follow simple orders, asking her to do anything that might put her in a compromised position where she must rely on others to bail her out of said position will earn you a scoff and a polite counteroffer to fuck right off. Her teamwork leaves much to be desired. Another answer to the whole oyster dilemma might be that she's stretched too thin, filling it with junk. She is ever in the information gathering phase of various projects, but somehow—according to her—always lacking that special little piece of critical information that would cause her to act. She suffers from a loosely defined identity, too many options to choose from, and, to put it quite plainly, a lack of ambition. An excess of ambition, she will remind you, is portrayed as a critical character flaw in Thalak tragedy, and—as she'll rant on and on about, in the right setting—she hates how wealth, power, status and influence have become the nobility's raison d'être. With the introduction of the middle class into the structure of society, they—including her father and mother—have lost their way, and will incur Dami's wrath in the afterlife for exerting their will on the populace.
On the other hand, it could also be said that Xiuyáng suffers from tunnel vision. She rigorously studies the binding magic arts, to the exclusion of almost everything else. Her interest in other schools of magic only truly manifests to the degree that said school might make her a more effective medic. Arcane and kinetic help her to keep a low profile, while chemical lets her spread some of that happy brain juice that she desperately craves around to others. Some say that her true interest lies in blood magic, but that's just a rumor. True, she skirts the line, often snidely remarking to her critics that "blood magic is not used for defense," and "binding magic isn't real." However, no-one can mount any evidence against her that her interest in blood magic is anything more than an extension of her focus on medical applications, or even just idle curiosity. Because of her myopic view of the schools of magic, though, she generally makes for a pretty poor combatant. Her spiritual nature makes her a bit of a pacifist; though she will throw hands to protect herself and others when necessary, she will scarcely take a life except in the service of preserving it. Her dedication to Oraff is in no small part responsible for why her less scrupulous activities are largely tolerated. This tolerance, though, has left Xiuyáng a bit spoiled. While her recreational activities on the water keep her in reasonable physical shape, she scoffs at the notion of doing any hard labor herself. She tries to couch it by saying that it's her role in creation to pay skilled workers a livable wage for such things, but anyone with any sense knows that's a flimsy excuse to spend less time working and more time drinking. The girl loves her alcohol—and loves to blame the stuff for her occasional outbursts of emotion. A silver tongue becomes a double-edged sword when wielded in anger, and words that cut deep with surgical precision can't easily be taken back.
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
"Shune won't kill you if you learn too much, but curiosity killed a cat or two."
Points History for Salty Rat Bois: Starting Points: 1 Binding, 2 Arcane, 1 Chemical, 1 Kinetic First Semester: Took Binding and Arcane. 2 Binding, 3 Arcane, 1 Chemical, 1 Kinetic Second Semester: Took Binding, Chemical, and Blood. 3 Binding, 3 Arcane, 2 Chemical, 1 Kinetic, 2 Blood Also gained that year: 1 Arcane (daily stealth practice) Year One Final Tally: 3 Binding, 4 Arcane, 2 Chemical, 1 Kinetic, 2 Blood
SK102A: Making Camp, Foraging, Hunting and Travel in Remote Areas
MF107A-B: Blood Magic
AC101: Fundaments of Philosophy and its Relation to the Magical Arts
Classes, Year 2, 1st Semester:
MR201A-J: Containment & Efficiency
GR201A-J: Mathematics
MF204A-D: Chemical Magic
MF203E-H: Binding Magic
MR202K-T: Freecasting
GR202K-T: Written Avincian
AC201A: Philosophy in the Ancient World - Zaqhoria to Avince
SK201B: The Art of Persuasion by All and Any Means
MR203A-J: Preservation
GR203K-T: Theology
AC203A: Cartographical Practice and Measurement
SK204C: Advanced Gardening & the Myriad Uses of Plants
Free
AR206B-C: Tailoring & Fashion
MF208B: Blood Magic
SI10: Angic Philosophy, Practice, and Meditation
Classes, Year 2, 2nd Semester:
MR204A-J: Focus Words & Triggers
GR204A-J: History
MF204I-L: Chemical Magic
MF203M-P: Binding Magic
MR205K-T: Multiplicative Effects
GR205K-T: Logic
SK208A: Glassmaking
AC207B-C: Philosophy in the Modern Era
GR206A-J: Avincian Rhetoric
MR206K-T: Defense Against Magical Threats
SK210A-C: A Merchant's Guide to Finance & Accounting
Free
SK212A-C: An Introduction to Martial Arts & Combat Sports
AC212C-D: An Introduction to Chemistry
SI02: Recognizing and Resisting Dangerous and Radical Philosophies
SI06: Living with a Disability
Magicians' Guild - Officially a member, and a pretty active one—expected, given her heritage. She's always eager to do business, and others are always eager to meet her parents by way of her referral—a win-win for everyone involved. Will leverage the available discounts for others outside the Guild if they ask nicely.
Steamchurners - Got in before anyone realized that she comes from a noble family. They were so cool with her that they voted to just let her stay without a test. She appreciates their unpretentious and humanist vibe. Philosophy and drinking is her way of being—preferably both at the same time. She picked up a few neat arcane tricks here, too.
Innovators' Exchange - The place to be when looking for business opportunities, though it's usually the members of the club who are seeking out Xiuyáng for her interest in various projects of theirs. Xiuyáng herself is interested in where technology is going, and whether or not it may someday restructure society entirely, in some kind of technological revolution.
Society of the Grapes - A place where nobles parody themselves while throwing incredible parties? Xiuyáng was born for this. She's right at home with the other masked attendees, and well respected for her high magical power, unique insight, and—somewhat paradoxically—her willingness to be casually and flagrantly incorrect.
Waveriders - Xiuyáng very much enjoys their activities. Access to their equipment is generally useful to her too, if not for nefarious purposes. Anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of her body by signing up is sure to be disappointed, though, as she covers herself even while surfing. Seriously, in this climate? Torragonese genes are something else.
Brotherhood of Brew Appreciators - Naturally, Xiuyáng will try just about any brew, and can drink pretty much the entire club under the table one after another, despite being a woman of average proportions. Nobody knows her Devourer secret, as she mostly only pretends to be drunk, using the beer for chemical energy to give her the high using a Blessing of Joy. It takes an unreasonable amount of alcohol to actually inebriate her.
Yasoi'riimel - Most outsiders and even a few insiders assume Xiuyáng is only there to learn all about the secrets of the academy. However, she's unironically interested in yasoi culture and religion as well, and at least one or two of the members genuinely know it, while most others just agree she's harmlessly fun and generally tolerant of strangeness. These guys are her home away from home—don't fuck with 'em.
Tommy is someone who fears nothing. Not because he is brave, but because he does not understand the consequences to his actions. He lives as he wishes, and relishes in the joys that the world has to offer. Gambling? What a thrill. Fighting? Exhilarating. Debauchery? He's all for it. What defines him is a continuous search for excitement, pleasure and joy in the world he's been so lucky to survive in as a commoner, all the while he continues to expand power and accumulate such wondrous experiences. A dilemma rests within his crass, confident personality though. Is he slowly becoming a member of the ruling class that he once so despised? Should he seek its downfall, when he lies so close to truly joining that circle that's so far away?
Tommy is an unshakeable confident guy, yet he does not mind being the underdog. He lets people underestimate him, jeer, jape, laugh behind his back. He lets them think he's a dumb commoner scumbag that was stealing rings and horses before getting a lucky scholarship here because he takes pride in who he is, and makes no attempt to deny it. And it makes him look all the more better when he knocks them flat on their ass. Tommy loves who he is, he loves his family and he loves the way of life he follows.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
Tommy isn't the picture of beauty, but it's not like he's ugly either. Messy brown hair, grey eyes and sharp cheekbones carry a decent chunk of the load, and to be quite honest, he's probably one of the better looking people in his family. He stands on the shorter side(around 5'7), but doesn't display the typical insecurity by a shorter man, but revels in it. Besides that, the man has an exceptional physique, one that both holds an extraordinary amount of musculature and yet looks very aesthetically pleasing. What is even more odd is that he is not the type to train in that regard. Do drunken bar brawls really give you that kind of build?
His dress differs greatly depending on what he's aiming to accomplish. Strutting through lessons, or going about his business? Loose, casual attire. Trying to impress a highborn lady? The only suit he owns, perfume, the works. The man knows little about fashion sense, and usually looks for advice on the matter, but does have a love for jewellery when he's not on the job. Rings, chains, necklaces, the works.
Tommy was born to a mother on the streets of Barrowton, a middling city in the state of Enth, in a rather large family of travelers. He grew up in a massive household, with over 7 siblings, typical of a peasant. But he was somewhat special, in that he had a latent magical ability. Only a couple of his siblings could say the same, and he was the youngest. Surprisingly enough, also the only trueborn human of the group. For among his siblings counted a menagerie of halfbreeds, and nary a father that stayed among them. Perhaps it was because such a large family kept on expanding, growing bigger and bigger. For the Kavanagh's did not move alone, but as a unit. Uncles, aunts, grandparents, the troupe stayed together whenever and wherever they went.
Even though Tommy knew he was special among his family for possessing the rare gift of magic, he believed he was special for another reason. His mother told him that she had only bore children of important and special men, and that he was one such child. A bastard son of Prince John of Enth, who had visited her bed. Whether this is true is something that is highly questionable, even given the Prince's demeanor and antics, but there is something of a resemblance in the two. Besides, he had a bloodtype! Isn't that something only those fancy noble folks get?
And growing up around his vast family in the rougher parts of Enth, Tommy quickly learned what it was like to go to bed with an empty stomach. The thrill of stealing a horse from some middling merchant, and eating securely for a week. He became something of a myth in Barrowton, or so he says. The truth of the matter remains, he learned a lot of the tricks of the trade in that not so lovely part of the world. Thievery, gambling, drinking, spending every spare coin he got on a sneaky trip to a brothel, it was more than enough for him to live happily.
One day, the Kavanagh's packed their bags and set off on a boat to the city of Ersand'Enise. He was upset to leave his hometown behind, but the way of their people dictated that they travel, and so they did. This city was nicer, richer, but they never saw much of inside the walls. Instead, they worked in Moli's emporium in Mudville. A pleasant enough place, not too dissimilar to his homeland despite better weather. Surprisingly, he adapted far better to this climate than to his former homes.
Job security was snatched away from him when Moli's was destroyed by a band of rampaging noble kids. He saw a lot of it. As did his family. Thankfully, they never lost anyone, but a lot of people he cared about perished in the fires and collapses that occurred. It was not something the school could so easily sweep under the rug. And having lost their jobs, his parents were given a boon to stay silent. A free ride for one of your kids to attend the prodigious academy, if they had the manas. His sister would have been a prime candidate, a half-yasoi, but she sadly was a couple years too old. He, however, was in the prime age range. 17 years old and just enough manas to pass the test, he was admitted in.
The next year of school was a grand old time. He learned a lot of magic, and his innate ability helped with that learning, but the books were still an issue. It took him a while to learn how to read properly, He made plenty of comrades, and enemies in the beer hall. A drunken night lead to something special, and he emerged from that night significantly more confident, for what reason is yet to be seen.
A fateful night also came when he got a stipend from his scholarship. A vast amount of money for a commoner of his station, meant to be spent on living expenses. What the school didn’t account for is the impulsive brain of Tommy. He took that paycheck and spent it at the Vermillion Swirl, on a rather pretty Eeiako. A night of fun, japes and joking, and once again, he emerged more confident and enriched from the experience. A friendship made over pleasures of the flesh.
Now, he awaits the next year. A chance to show off in the trials.
M O T I V A T I O N
Tommy is here because he's a lucky bastard. When Mudville was wrecked, he was given this chance as one of the only kids with RAS to stay hush about the whole event, and he intends to make good on this scholarship. Before school, he was a traveling carnie, thief, bruiser, whatever people would pay him to be. Here? He gets to mix with the upper crust, romance some pretty noble ladies, beat up some highborn lads with little consequences and enjoy life to its fullest, all the while gaining strength and experience. What better reason could someone have?
I N V E N T O R Y
❖Brass Knuckles ❖A butterfly knife ❖A hand crossbow ❖A pistol ❖Tripwire ❖One decent suit ❖Bottle of too strong cologne ❖Some firecrackers and smoke bombs. ❖A comb
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖Peak physicality - Even though he’s got a good muscle mass and a rather aesthetic body, he’s strong. Immensely strong. Beyond human strength, reaching into the realm of monsters like sanguinaires and wildbloods. Not that he even knows what those are, or why he has such immense strength. His speed and senses also add onto this in combination, making him an exceptional physical threat.
❖Seasoned Criminal - Growing up in a place as impoverished as Barrowton leaves a man with scars, but also with a lot of skills. Tommy is stealthy and savvy as a result of his upbringing, and is no stranger to criminal activity. He can pick locks, break into houses, sneak around damn near silently and possesses the willpower to do things that people wouldn't ordinarily do for the right price.
❖Seasoned brawler - Tommy is a fighter. He’s fought in more than a fare share of drunken bar brawls, street fights, pits, boxing matches, the works. He has a good instinct for battle, and definitely knows how to throw a punch
❖Confident - Belief in oneself is paramount to success. For if you do not believe in your own abilities, you’ll never take risks or try. Tommy’s always willing to take those risks. He’s always willing to talk to a girl that’s way out of his league. And simply because of that, those many swings will eventually lead to a hit. That’s how he’s got by in life, and that’s how he intends to keep living. His mindset doesn’t allow the possibility of defeat, and even if it occurs, it was simply unlucky, or out of his control.
❖Sturdy - Not only is he immensely strong and fast, he’s got a ridiculous constitution. Being brought up on the filthy streets of Barrowton, he’s had his run ins with disease, and sickness, and not once has he succumbed in a significant way. He has a strong tolerance for alcohol, pretty much never gets sick and can function on very little sleep.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ Arrogant - Facts are, the guy believes in himself. A bit too much. At the end of the day, he’s a low ras commoner flaunting around power and one day, he’s going to get squished like a bug because he’s not careful in who he picks a fight with.
❖Crass - The guy is not a eloquent speaker. He tries to be, if there’s incentive, but he doesn’t understand court etiquette, nor does he really show people the respect they probably deserve.
❖Uneducated - He’s not had a formal education. He’s worldly wise to an extent, but as far as actual knowledge goes? He’s got almost nothing there. Sciences, languages, etc are foreign to him.
❖Impulsive - Tommy doesn’t ask, he acts. He’s rash and headstrong, and doesn’t understand danger because he doesn’t believe that he could lose. He’ll happily drag people down with him due to his bad decisions.
❖Overclocked - The downside to being an unleashed is he is prone to mental instability. An overworked mind leads to him seeking pleasures to soothe it, whether that be of the flesh, drugs, gambling, or whatever else. He’s prone to addiction by virtue of his being, as well as being somewhat unstable.
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
Guy has a massive fucking family. Like 30+ members. All here, in Mudville. Nearly all his siblings are half-breeds of some kind. Half yasoi, half-eeiako, the works. Color Code = Gray
Mahal learned to grow up faster than her half-sister, Lunara. Because of this reality, she has a bleaker view of the world and it shows in her serious demeanor. Humor and fun sometimes escapes her understanding causing her to stare in confusion. She doesn't enjoy idle gossip or excessive flattery either. In fact, she finds more meaning in gestures of kindness than actual conversation. When approached about her history, Mahal often refuses to answer or redirects the conversation elsewhere.
While Mahal's not afraid to push her luck and body to their limits, she isn't suicidal. There’s a difference between a death wish and taking reasonable risks. This hasn't stopped her sense of taste and mind from being open to trying new things.
Since she was young, Mahal has always struggled with her short temper. Thankfully she lashes out with words more than fists when her patience runs dry. Common sense seemed to evaporate when she uttered a rash string of words, coming to regret it later. It might explain why she rarely talks.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
Eyes: Brown Hair: Wavy Black Skin Tone: Olive, moderate tan Height: 5ft 6 inches Weight: 145 lbs Physique: Athletic, slender Facial Features: Tends to seem always annoyed or serious, even when calm Physical Quirks: Seems slightly thin despite her appetite Distinctive Features: Tattoo swirls of geometric patterns forming 'waves' down her back. Upon closer inspection, the trained eye can note the irregular stripe scars underneath.
Fashion
Due to the cultural differences, the local fashion scene is not a favorite of Mahal's. This hasn't prevented her from gradually incorporated it into her own daily wear.
For classes, she wears a simpler version of the regional fashion. She wears the smock, kirtle, and a simple skirt draping just above her ankles. Wrapped about her shoulders and down her waist is a sheer, flowing scarf of lighter color. For these, she has only found deep reds and browns that suit her tastes. Though she prefers barefoot, Mahal will wear shoes when needed.
Outside of classes or on casual days, she prefers a single piece dress with her scarf wrapped about her waist. Floral patterns are hand stitched into it. The colors vary based on her mood, but often she prefers bright colors of yellow, red or brown. On special occasions, she'll wear black with white stitched patterns. She will wear at least one or two of her accessories depending on her mood.
L A N G U A G E S
Name- Origins- Comprehension level- Types
Palaparense- Native- Mastery- Verbal and Written Inipori-Native- Mastery- Verbal and Written Rettanese-Learned-Intermediate- Verbal mainly Sawandish-Learned-Intermediate- Verbal mainly Avincian-Learned-Advanced- Verbal and Written *
* Struggles with certain words and phrases/sayings, may ask for it to be repeated.
On the school records, she is known as Ceren Aghar from Palapar. Despite that little fact, she prefers Mahal and requests others use it over her Virangish one. Born as the daughter of wealthy plantation owner Ruslan Agha and his second wife, she is the half-sister of Lunara Agha. Since a young age, Mahal has been Lunara's caretaker and playmate. She gained skills in how to cook, clean, and even repair clothing. It was clear to her for years who her father favored as she felt she could do no right in his eyes.
One incident, a memory that haunts her, opened her eyes to this fact.
As children, most days they chased each other in the front garden. One day Lunara darted into the coffee fields and forced Mahal to follow. Her half-sister encountered a Thunder Tamarin which bit and shocked her. Determined to protect Lunara, Mahal tossed a kicker snail at it and then bolted off with Lunara. Instead of praise for her quick thinking, her father unleashed his wrath upon her. In later years, the scars of that day were covered in tribal tattoos to hide her shame. A few years later, Lunara received a kitten from one of their family’s prized Goma cats. A protector of sorts.
Their magic manifested around their twelfth birthday at the same time. While Mahal prepared the morning meal, her shout shattered a dish and startled her mother. At the same time, Lunara smashed a vase into a wall. It wasn't the only change that Mahal had to endure when it came to her body. It was subtle at first, but her wounds healed notably faster and she had more energy after heavy meals. Unfortunately, her appetite seems endless forcing her to adapt. Skipping meals made her irritable and weakened her focus, resulting in her being locked away in a tiny room.
Eventually Mahal resorted to drastic measures. She heavily seasoned bark or raw bone chunks, making the ususual materials easier to eat. These denser things lessen the hunger pains to tolerable levels. One of many efforts she discovered to aid her.
After their display of magic, her father summoned her. He informed them that they would attend Ersand’Enise Academy of Thaumaturgy. They had three years to prepare. Mahal's only purpose to be there was to support and keep her sister on track with her task. Any failure would result in her returning home to face the consequences.
Mahal hoped, foolishly, if she succeeded that she might finally earn his approval. A small, quieter part of her knew better.
Over the next three years, her father brought in private tutors for them both. The girls studied together while the teachers pushed Lunara's progress over hers. Naturally her sister thrived, but Mahal struggled with the Avinican language. When the day to depart Palapar finally arrived, their family came to see them off. While Lunara and her mother shared a tearful farewell, Mahal approached hers. After the pair embraced, Onaona gifted her with a small box. Within it was a small, blue kicker snail to always remind her of home. Mahal later named it Koha, or warrior.
Their first year at the academy proved to be a hard lesson in how differently their cultures worked. At first the girls struggled to fit in until they struck a balance. It was during this time, Mahal experienced true freedom. She discovered a love of combat and the adrenaline it brought. Sneaking out at night without Lunara also proved to be easier than it had been at home. For the first time, Mahal has started to wonder about her future and what it might mean.
M O T I V A T I O N
On the surface, Mahal's motivation for attending the academy was straightforward. Lunara needed a familiar face to ground her and ensure she kept on track with her goals. Nothing more or less. So far, she has had little trouble doing this.
On a deeper level, Mahal wants her father's approval. She believed by being successful , he might realize her worth and things become better. Some quiet part of her knows she's clinging too hard to this lie.
The first year of the academy filled her with new experiences, some good and bad. She had experienced a sense of freedom she never knew before. One free of her father's judgment and suffocating presence. She has a strong enjoyment of combat, both in practice and education.
I N V E N T O R Y
Money Mahal currently has about two hundred Magus to her name for personal use. However, she keeps various smaller coins on her up to the amount of two Magus at max.
Wardrobe Up to about six different dresses for various occasions and seasons, most of them picked out by Lunara. Some are even brought recently from the city, but many stem from Palapar. She also has accessories that are more tribal in nature than her half-sister. Earrings made from Goma cat teeth, one or two silver bangles, and necklaces made with decorative stones, shells, and even fur. She also has a few pairs of shoes suitable for the changing weather.
Box Koha's home is a decorative box coated with sap to preserve the walls, both inside and out. The dimensions are about ten inches wide, seventeen inches in length, and a foot deep. The contents within are as listed: -one snail (Koha) -two branches tilted for scaling -one to two large rocks -plate with any number of food ranging from worms to vegetables -bowl of water
Name: Koha Sex: hermaphrodite Species: Kicker Snail Age: ~1 yrs (reaching maturity, max life in captivity 25 yrs)
Description: Koha's a pale blue snail with slightly translucent skin. The eyes upon his stalks are a dark black. Upon his back is a dark, earthy colored shell that ends in a point toward its tail. Several dots and shapes decorate the shell's surface thanks to stains of plant/mineral based dyes. Naturally, this changes based on Lunara's whims despite being Mahal's pet. Compared to others of his kind, Koha;’s size scales on the bigger side at about 5.08 cm (2 inches) in length from mouth to tail.
Character: Like many snails, Koha is slow and steady. He moves at his own pace and cares not for the world outside his own. His favorite pastime is inching along any lengthy branches, including Mahal's arm when offered. Though it will take some time. He definitely seems more animated whenever meal time comes around.
Abilities: Koha secretes a thin, transparent slime that coats its shell and body. When licked or consumed, it provides a mild hallucinate that lasts a good hour. Due to the coloring, the potency level is not toxic or lethal.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ Won't shy away from new experiences ❖ Basic knowledge and skills as a caretaker ❖ Athletic and physically tougher ❖ Palapar knowledge of native flora, fauna, and culture ❖ Basic first aid ❖ Martial arts knowledge and experience (learned when able) ❖ Innate and good sense of direction ❖ Healing time is cut by 1/2 to 1/4 time based on calorie intake (more effective when in state of rest)
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ Takes things at full face value (Has low sense of humor) ❖ Claustrophobic ❖ Low self worth in her eyes ❖ Growing spitefulness toward Lunara’s privilege with their father ❖ Tends to have a resting bitch face (she rarely smiles) ❖ Due to her secondary mana, Mahal suffers from endless hunger pains. She is forced to eat either tougher organic materials (bark, animal teeth, etc) or up to at least twice her calorie requirements daily to function with snacks on hand. This is in the form of bark chunks, strongly seasoned, on a pouch hidden underneath her waist sash.
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
❖ Tattoos that decorate the back part of her body, from between the shoulders to her lower back, cover scars that stripe across the flesh.
“Love shows itself more in adversity than in prosperity; as light does, which shines most where the place is darkest.” 17 | Male | Human | Revidia | Merchant | RAS: 7.95 (Manas: 126) | Worldbinder
P E R S O N A L
❖ [ Pronouns ] - He / Him ❖ [ Honorifics: ] - Biro, Master, Mister. ❖ [ Nicknames: ] - "Acco" or "Accorto" ❖ [ Titles: ] - Biro of the Ersand'Enise Academy of Thaumaturgy. ❖ [ Relationship Status: ] - Yes. ❖ [ Character Alignment ] - Lawful Neutral. ❖ [ Brief Introduction: ]
♫"My boy: flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, You enter our world this day: a small, red, crying thing. It is a place of hardship and want; of struggle and peril. Yet, I promise you that it is also beautiful. I promise that your mother and I would not have brought you here If there was not wonder and love and opportunity for you to find. You are no king, my little one. You bear no title before your name: Ciro. It means 'sun', for that is what you are to us. Your ancestors achieved no great glory in battle, flew no flags, slew no dragons. They were farmers. They were cloth sellers. They went to markets. They conquered oceans and They built an empire, Ciro: an empire of their own, spanning the globe over, And they did it without bloodshed. They were clever. They were shrewd. But they were good. This is the legacy that has passed to me and, someday, it will pass to you. I love you, my son, even though I will not often say it as you grow, For a man must be hard. He must provide and protect. He must venture and he must seek And he may show no weakness, except in these rare moments, ones like this. Then, I think, it is alright. I will be there, ever at your back, I promise, to hold you up when you stumble, To catch you when you fall. Until, one day, it will be your turn to catch me. Your mother and I: we are so excited. We can't wait to see what you become."
♫ Ciro was born in the city of Cantativa into the Volta family: among Revidia's most prominent merchants and, more recently, bankers. As the eldest of three children, he was destined to inherit the family concern and a position of significant power and authority within Revidian society. His mother, Vittoria, was a fourth daughter from the noble house of Aldebrandi and, from her, he inherited substantial power in the Gift.
His early years were simple and idyllic, no different from those of any other wealthy young heir of a major merchant concern: His education entrusted to some of the brightest minds in the nation, long idyllic dorrads and rezains in the vineyards and olive groves of the family villa at Montignano, playing hide and seek with his sisters and his dog Grasso. His father, Cosimo Volta, tended to the family's flourishing business along with his brothers and cousins and, increasingly, affairs of state. Ciro is too young to remember the dark days of conflict during the Joruban Revolution. He grew up in its aftermath, as a newly assertive Revidia sought to stake for itself a greater place on the world stage and the policies of Prospero Malatesta l'Anguilla increasingly shaped its society. His father went from supporter to opponent of the Malatesta regime after the infamous 'Betrayal at Sant'Albertino' where he ultimately took the part of the nobility in continuing to bar members of the merchant class for ascending to the position of Doge.
Yet, political setbacks aside, the family continued to flourish and, even more so, Revidia. Ciro manifested his first magic and, if he was not quite a prodigy, he was good: better than his parents had dared hope for. Soon, his sisters Selena and Lucrezia followed him and he began spending his afternoons, when he was not being tutored rigorously in arithmetic, the natural sciences, oration, linguistics, or the thaumaturgical arts, with his father, familiarizing himself with the globe-spanning concern that he was one day to head.
At first, it was daunting: decisions that affected so many lives in the hands of one person. It did not seem a good thing. It did not seem... right. And yet, someone had to do it. That responsibility fell to the merchant class. It fell to him, and to do it with greater care and godliness than the uninformed might. This was his place in society, as designed by Shune, the Learner, and Dami, the Judge. He settled into the role with the grace and poise his family had known he would. His father took him aside and it was here that he embraced his son and handed to a fourteen-year-old Ciro the note he had written on the day of the boy's birth. All was well. It was smooth sailing on a calm sea.
Yet, the currents of state move quickly in Revidia and, often, they are treacherous. Within the halls of government, Cosimo was being groomed as a rival to the doge himself. He was not so important as to be the only one, but nonetheless, it was true. As his time investment in the company necessarily decreased, his cousin Jacopo stepped into many of the positions he had held. While he continued to take Ciro through his weekly rounds, grooming him for the position he was to inherit, they were now accompanied by his own sons.
Then, one day, his father simply didn't return home from a voyage to Civitalunga. His ship, the grand galleon Impressa d'Oro had foundered in a storm off of Punto di San Michele. Yet, the Impressa was a sturdy ship and the storm had, by all reports, not been that bad. Ciro was no fool. His father: that lion of a man, who had spoken truth to power, who had always kept the Gods, who had conducted his business with decency and compassion... he had been murdered, either by the doge or by Jacopo. Why not both? For one hour, he locked himself in his room and he wept bitterly, clutching the note he had been given to his heart and swearing to do right by it. Then, he emerged, two years short of his majority, and made peace with his father's killers. It sickened him deep down where he would show nobody, for a man must be hard, but this was the Revidian way. He embraced cousin Jacopo and kissed him on both cheeks. He took his father's place in the Assembly of the Illustrious Republic and shook hands with l'Anguilla, assuring the doge of his continuing loyalty and support.
Ciro was not idle, however. He used what power he had to place Jacopo in direct charge of their textile business. It had once been their mainstay and was, in theory, an immensely influential position, but it was not profitable. His sons Antonio and Lorenzo were sent to distant ports as regional heads and, when the time came, suitable accidents arranged for them. Business withers if it is conducted only with coin, however, and he had learned this well. He enrolled in Ersand'Enise and, when he received the summons back home, for the funeral of his cousins, he had his servant, Gordo, bring him a bitter glass of wine. He sipped it in silence and darkness before setting his affairs in order and departing the next morning.
He took old Jacopo in his arms and consoled him, for the man had loved his sons almost as much as he had loved himself. Then, he let him fall into his cups and continue ruining the family's textile business. He sent the Dieci Volti some money to enhance the process.
During the cold, bitter hundri of DZ55, a meeting of the directors of the Compagnia de la Volta was convened and a vote was held. Ciro traveled not by portal, for a year at the academy had taught him that there was something peculiar about his manas: they resisted magics of space and time. They closed off the hungering VOID. He told nobody, for it was a useful if inconvenient power and he was already honing his use of it. He merely booked passage on one ship and then embarked upon another. The first one sank. The second did not. It was only late and he arrived to find Jacopo delivering something of a teary-eyed eulogy for that 'poor, cursed family'. Ciro said nothing, for nothing strengthens authority so much as silence. Instead, Jacopo was removed from his position. Cosimo's loyalists still held a bare majority and Ciro had treated Jacopo's people well enough that they would rather the business flourish under someone who was not 'their man' than one who was both inept and treacherous. Prospero Malatesta sent him a personal letter of congratulations and was eager to talk business with him when he arrived in Avincia. They spent two hours in a rosebush-filled courtyard - two circling mongooses - feeling each other out before parting with something of an understanding. Ciro returned to Montignano to a meal of calamari, pheasant, and fine breads from his mother. He, she, and his sisters sat by candlelight in the villa and made plans for the future.
It wasn't for very long, however. Ciro needed to return to the academy of thaumaturgy, where many interesting people were doing interesting things. There are four months left until he reaches his majority and formally takes control of the Compagnia. Tell me: are you someone interesting? He would love to know.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
❖ [ Eyes: ] - Blue-Green. ❖ [ Hair: ] - Black, Wavy ❖ [ Skin Tone: ] - Fitzpatrick type II. ❖ [ Height: ] - 5ft 9in / 177cm. ❖ [ Weight: ] - 150lb / 68kg. ❖ [ Physique: ] - Athletic. ❖ [ Facial Features: ] - Sharp features, substantial brows ❖ [ Physical Quirks: ] - None. ❖ [ Distinctive Features: ] - Birthmark on his left forearm shaped a bit like a Pentact. ❖ [ Apparel & Accessories: ] - A fine pocketwatch with a hidden compartment, a copy of the note his father left him.
Ciro dresses well, but never ostentatiously. He takes pride in his appearance and makes no attempts at false humility over his success and his station. His clothing is functional and always tailored to fit the situation and, while he has people to dress him, he has studied fashions and styles to the point where he can make his own decisions and, more importantly, will know if they're misleading him.
Beyond clothing, Ciro is a handsome young man, with bright, keen green-blue (or is blue-green?) eyes, wavy black hair kept at a respectable length, and sharp features. He is lean and athletic, with visible muscular definition but nothing overstated. Magic, at the end of the day, is his weapon of choice, and his body - healthy and well cared for - an instrument to deliver it.
❖ [ A F F A B L E ] dispassionate ❖ [ H U M O R O U S ] secretive ❖ [ B R I L L I A N T ] utilitarian ❖ [ G E N E R O U S ] selfish ❖ [ E A S Y G O I N G ] twisted
Everybody loves Johann - at least, anyone who's not a complete stick in the mud. This rather portly Kerreman lad is famous for frequenting the bars, pool halls, study halls, and biergärtens of Ersand'Enise. He can often be found at the library, collaborating academically with his fellow students, at the bank, managing his family's business ventures, or at the auction house, bidding on seemingly random items of interest. Whatever he might be up to, however, Johann never forgets his friends, classmates, acquaintances, and... well, just about anybody. One can be certain that, whatever he purchases, most of it will be for others, for it is Johann's foremost philosophy that something enjoyed alone is not truly enjoyed. So, he is always the one to buy an extra round for everyone in the bar, to organize the study session, to share his notes, to pay for dinner. He has the money, after all, and spending it on others is an investment in their happiness. Nothing makes him happier than being around people who want to be around him in return. The most basic litmus test for many biros on whether someone is a decent friend or not is whether they like Johann. Anyone who doesn't, clearly has no appreciation for what makes someone good.
Of course, most of this is a complete fabrication. Beneath his affable surface, Johann is cold, calculating, and ruthless. Driven by an obsessive need to discern the secrets of the human and humanoid body and develop complete mastery over it, he regularly engages in the most inhumane and sordid of experimentation. This is a strictly-kept secret, with even the school authorities unaware of either the experiments or their originator. Johann, meanwhile, has little use for social convention, tradition, or politics. They are merely tools that he employs and levers that he pulls to further his ends. Skillfully, he uses his money, raw magical power, and burgeoning reputation as insurance to guarantee that nobody could possibly believe the truth were someone to ever leak it. Someday, he knows, he will change the world, and a glorious day it will be. For the time being, sacrifices must be made - just not his.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
An absolutely enormous young man, in both height and especially heft, Johann is notable for his bright red hair, sharp little beard, and jolly face, which often wears a mischievous smirk. There are times when something else seems to flash through his smiling brown eyes, but it must just be a trick of the light. He is friendly to a fault.
His clothing is all custom-tailored, a necessity for one of his size and wealth, and reflects the latter with its fine materials and cut in addition to a colourful, adventurous palette that reflects his open, fun, and gregarious nature. This young Kerreman is very self-aware and definitely the sort to lean into his reputation and appearance. If he isn't the handsome leading man, then he's the funny friendly fat guy who everyone likes. Things are easier that way anyhow: many more surface friendships and few of the deeper entanglements that can be so problematic.
L A N G U A G E S
❖ [ K E R R E M A N ] natively ❖ [ A V I N C I A N ] fluently ❖ [ H U U L I S C H ] fluently ❖ [ P E R R E N C H ] fluently ❖ [ R E V I D I A N ] semi-fluently ❖ [ C O N S T A N T I A N Y A S O I ] basically
T H E G I F T
Blueblood, Copycat
❖ [ M A G N E T I C ] 4 ❖ [ A T O M I C ] 0 ❖ [ A R C A N E ] 0 ❖ [ B L O O D ] 4 ❖ [ B I N D I N G ] 3 ❖ [ T E M P O R A L ] ? ❖ [ C H E M I C A L ] 5 ❖ [ D A R K ] 0 ❖ [ K I N E T I C ] 0 ❖ [ C O M M A N D ] 0
Johann is, ultimately, a terrifying force of nature with the Gift, and his manas' ability to copy spells renders him even more potent. However, his greatest weapon is his mind and his ability to manipulate people. Unsurprisingly, his magic is tailored to fit this skillset. While he can certainly heal competently, he focuses more on fleshcrafting, generation, and regeneration. His use of Chemical and Magnetic magics is specialized in their biomanipulative aspects with some competency in illusion, corrosives, toxins, and energy. For the most part, however, he passes himself off as a healer, transmuter, lightning mage, and explosive chemist, perfectly competent, but not exceptional.
Finally, his massive size proves a boon with magic, giving him a capacity well in excess of most other people. In a pinch, he can liquidate his own energy-rich fat reserves for a sudden burst of power. This is only a last resort, as is - to some extent - combat itself. The best way to win is to never have to fight, or at least to never have to fight anyone who has a chance against you. When nobody's looking, Johann is rather good at punching down.
B A C K G R O U N D
He should’ve been born a first son. Alas, he was not. While his eldest sister Sybille is now Duchess of Lindermetz and in line to be queen consort, and his elder brother Klaus stands to inherit the duchy upon their father’s passing, little but a name and some share of his family’s substantial wealth is left to Johann, the pudgy little second son. The less that is spoken of his pompous godly younger brother Wilhelm and simpleminded sister Ulrike, the better.
From the time that he was old enough to understand that he was the spare and not the heir, Johann alternated between bitterness and some misplaced desperation to prove himself. Alas, for all that he was warm and kind - qualities uncharacteristic of high Kerreman nobility - Markgraf Klaus was a man of rules and principles, and his dictated that, while Johann was to be loved and provided for, he was not to inherit unless some calamity befell his brother. The ancient rules and the ancient line of Ostermark-Thandau were not to be disturbed or altered in any manner.
Yet, even warmth and care can only extend so far when he who has taken it upon himself to provide them is rarely present. The duties of Klaus - the elder Klaus, that was - kept him away from the family estate for months on end and, if he was a welcome presence to his wife and children, he was also set apart from them. Johann was left, by and large, to his tutors and his own devices.
While Sybille grew into a graceful and intelligent young woman, strong in body, mind, and magic, Klaus spent most of his time outdoors, hunting, riding, playing sports and wargames. Johann preferred books. He was too small to keep up with his vigorous older brother, and so he ate and he ate. Wilhelm was always his mother’s creature, much concerned with following her around, going to worship, and doting on feebleminded Ulrike. Before long, as his siblings went off to Ersand’Enise, the second son was left master of the house, at least in theory. In practice, he was given the small town of Thandau to administer as he saw fit.
His Gift had begun to manifest itself and, by the age of twelve, clever and intelligent Johann was finding ways to use it around the estate and the town. When he was not eating - for it had become a custom of his and his appetite was great - he was studying or at work on some new scheme to improve irrigation in the orchards, reorganize the tax records, reduce livestock loss, or incentivize the peasants to train at arms or send their sons and daughters to school. He shuddered to think that so many were illiterate and most showed little interest in reading or learning. A life without books was an unthinkable thing to him.
Around this time, he also began to develop the usual urges that a young man might at such an age. There was Katherine, daughter of one of the junkers. She was pretty and how he liked to look at her sometimes, but she was dumb. There was Alena, of Kurlich-Karnholdt, who was smart and friendly, but homely and oh-so traditional. Then, there were the many pretty girls about town, like Wilma, Verena, Therese, and Zoe. They fluttered around in their dorrad dresses, always leaning into each other, whispering and giggling as they carried baskets or sacks.
Finally, there was Margerethe, the miller’s daughter, but he knew to avoid her for the difference in their station. This, too, he found paradoxical. Perhaps the body of society needed to be organized, with each part serving its purpose, but there were some people who were clearly ill-suited for their stations or better suited for others. She was bright and beautiful and witty and would just as easily have made a duchess as a miller’s daughter. Johann learned when her father was there and when he was not and he made a point of bringing grain down or running an inspection or some other errand whenever he could. She always seemed to have a grin or a blush when he came around and he began dressing better. Whenever he saw her with the other girls, she would glance his way quickly before turning to them and whispering in hushed, excited tones. He knew that he was not handsome, but Klaus had told him well enough what it meant when girls did that.
Over the course of that dorrad and early rezain, Johann redoubled his studies and the work that he undertook on his family’s behalf. While Klaus was busy drinking and bedding women and casting fireballs at Ersand’Enise, Johann was actively bettering the duchy of Ostermark-Thandau. Often, he would come by Margerethe’s house and bring some book to share with her. He had extra food prepared and would carry it over in a basket so that she might eat like the duchess she should’ve been. Over the warm months, they spent a great many hours together. She confided in him that he was her dearest friend. He learned every bit of gossip about town and her opinions on everyone. Her magic was not so great, but he taught her how to use what she had.
Finally, he received news that, two days hence, his father was to return from an absence of some six months, and with momentous news. Johann burned with indecision. He could make his stand here: appeal to his father’s sense of fairness and desire to better the duchy’s position, and present himself as the clear heir, or he could embrace his insignificance and ask that he might be able to court Margerethe after all, as he was only a second son. It was late in rezain and the leaves were falling in earnest when he went to her to ask for her counsel and confess his feelings. He had taken care to make the moment special: a picnic in a field beneath a great oak tree, her favourite book, cake, and candles.
He left the picnic with cake on his face, having fallen forward when she flinched away from his kiss. He was a friend, a dear friend, she’d insisted, but it was foolish for them to be together. He’d suggested the elope, cheeks burning with shame and anxiety as he’d wiped the icing away, but then she’d been honest: she didn’t love him. She didn’t want to lie to him and use him for his money or station, but she felt no stirring inside of her. Johann had left her with the picnic, left her to clean it up, and walked away. It seemed that his course had been set. He was not beautiful, but he knew, at least, that he was effective.
He met his father on the road, having commandeered one of the grain wagons for the job, as he was not a good rider. There, he regaled the elder Steinbauer with the many great things he had achieved during those six months. He built up towards his case for inheriting the estate, for how much good he could do, and the evidence was all around them as they made their way through Thandau.
It was no longer theirs. Markgraf Klaus had been away arranging the marriage of Sybille to Prince Freidrich and Thandau was part of the dowry. He had, further, arranged for Klaus’ marriage to homely Alena and acquired Karnholdt in the deal. Johann’s work had been for nothing: a waste of resources better spent elsewhere. Furthermore, he had been busy stuffing his face, embarrassing himself about town, and being seen scandalously with a local girl. One who doesn’t even love me, the boy had thought. He was to attend Ersand’Enise himself in three years time, he was to learn, to make social connections, and to bring no further disrepute upon his family. Then, he was to take his place. He could see the wavering in his father’s bearing, hear it - ever so slightly - in his voice. There was none from Johann. He accepted the rebuke in humble good humour and vowed to do better. If he became a bit dissolute afterwards, a bit of a merry, feckless drinker and jolly do-nothing, it was only what was expected of him anyhow. He must never outshine his brother. He must never aspire to more.
Yet, he does.
M O T I V A T I O N
Johann's motivations are simple: make friends, have a good time, and make the world a better place. He is altruistic sometimes to a fault: there are those among his 'friends' who appear to just use him for the money, status, or academic benefits. However, unless they reciprocate in at least some fashion, they never seem to hang around for long.
He also has his research interests, of course, and he dedicates plenty of time to these, often locking himself in the Grand Library's solitary study rooms or disappearing into the laboratory that occupies the tower of his townhouse. These are basically the only times that he isn't out and about and being social.
Of course, there's a whole other side.
I N V E N T O R Y
Johann dresses as one might expect of someone of his pedigree, but he will almost never be seen carrying any visible weapon or obvious magical paraphernalia or focus. He will always have a few sacks of money on his person, in various denominations, as well as a handful of reagents and an imbued wand. Almost all of his items are, in fact, imbued in some way, though none is of particular note on its own.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ [ C H A R I S M A T I C ] ❖ [ V E R S A T I L E ] ❖ [ B R I L L I A N T ] ❖ [ S C I E N T I F I C A L L Y K N O W L E D G E A B L E ] ❖ [ W E L L C O N N E C T E D ]
Johann is extremely bright, superficially charming and likeable, and is excellent at adapting to unexpected situations and seizing opportunities. He has social and business connections one would not expect of someone his age and will throw his weight around for friends and even acquaintances though, beneath the facade, this is very much a calculated thing. His knowledge of cutting-edge science is nearly unparalleled and he regularly employs it in his studies and everyday life. Finally, he is immensely physically strong, though he rarely makes use of this strength, at the cost of physical endurance. He weighs slightly over 400 lbs, after all.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ [ O U T O F S H A P E ] ❖ [ C O W A R D L Y ] ❖ [ D E C E I T F U L ] ❖ [ M I S A N T H R O P I C ] ❖ [ A R T I F I C I A L]
All of Johann’s charm is skin-deep, or perhaps just a bit more than that, but not much. Beneath the surface, he is a bitter and detached individual with a colossal superiority complex fed, deep down, by a lack of self-esteem. He will make a show of bravery when required but, if there is genuine danger or risk, he will almost always try to weasel his way out of it. Finally, his level of fitness, while improved recently, still leaves much to be desired. For anything requiring stamina, he leans heavily upon his abilities with the Gift.
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
Colour Code: Goldenrod
S E V I I N ' D E L A A N ' T A X O I Y A
"A healer should do no harm."
16 | Female | Yandese | Clergy | 8.24
P E R S O N A L I T Y
❖ [ P R I N C I P L E D ] ❖ [ E X A C T I N G ] ❖ [ A L O O F ] ❖ [ C A R I N G ] ❖ [ C O N F L I C T E D ]
Seviin is a young woman - still half a girl - very much playing at being more mature, competent, and certain about life than she truly is. A tyro priestess of Oirase, she has dedicated herself to the cultivation and preservation of life at all costs, including that of her own. This dedication is, for the most part, genuine. It is also, however, her method of coping with the darker things in her life. Precisely what those are, she withholds to the point that most would not even guess at them. Most every action that this young Yandese takes is completed with either a light, noncommittal smile or a look of mild (and perhaps smug) disapproval, directed down her nose at those who fall short of her exacting ethical thresholds. She will help you and heal you, but she will judge you and you will know that you have been found wanting. Her ambivalence towards animals - the assiduous avoidance of most contrasted with her clear understanding and empathy towards them - is a further mystery. Yet, beneath this guarded and morally superior facade, she is capable of moments of sweetness, caring, mirth, and unexpected earnestness.
Ultimately, despite appearances, Seviin is a kind soul and will do everything in her power to ensure the survival and (physical) flourishing of her allies and - well, a priestess of her ilk does not necessarily keep friends. However, she will absolutely not, under any circumstances, act to harm another sentient being and, if possible, a living creature. She will not eat meat. She will find a use for all that she owns and all that she takes from the land and she will not - directly - say a cruel word to anyone. Certainly, she will never curse either. It is her job to nourish, to save, and to do good works, regardless of the wickedness that thrives around her. This moral code is one that she rigorously adheres to. It is her shield for the weak, the innocent, the preyed-upon, and... for herself.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
Tall, slim, and graceful, Seviin is the very picture of youthful yasoi beauty though, by Tarlonese standards, she dresses quite modestly. Long sandy-coloured hair falls in curtains to either side of her face, which is unmarked by the Tetsoi so favoured by southern yasoi. Red lips stand out against pale skin and vivid cerulean eyes. Her clothing is invariably white, sometimes accented with pastel colours in the habit of her holy order and often loose and flowing. To some, it may appear impractical. To a binder of her calibre, its maintenance - while simple - is symbolic and deeply meaningful.
On her person, Seviin carries neither weapon nor armour, though she does have a staff - Aloi'alar, the Mother's Mercy - passed down from her great grandmother, who was a healer of some repute. Any pouches and belts she may have are well hidden or incorporated seamlessly into her outfit. This is, in theory, a rather conservative set of garments but, in practice, there is always just enough skin left showing to pry loose the intentions of those with whom she interacts. When she can get away with it, she prefers to go barefoot, though she will never admit it, of course.
Perhaps the only discordant element of her appearance is the single large fang hanging from her left ear, turned into a piece of jewellery. Nobody but her is quite certain why she wears it or what it stands for, but she is never seen without it.
L A N G U A G E S
❖ [ Y A N D E S E ] natively ❖ [ T A N T I A N ] natively ❖ [ C O N S T A N T I A N Y A S O I ] fluently ❖ [ A V I N C I A N ] semi-fluently ❖ [ R E T A N E S E ] semi-fluently
T H E G I F T
{unknown), Solocaster
❖ [ M A G N E T I C ] 0 ❖ [ A T O M I C ] 0 ❖ [ A R C A N E ] 2 ❖ [ B L O O D ] 5 ❖ [ B I N D I N G ] (5) ❖ [ T E M P O R A L ] 3 ❖ C H E M I C A L ] 4 ❖ [ D A R K ] 0 ❖ [ K I N E T I C ] 2 ❖ [ C O M M A N D ] 0
Seviin is trained in the Gift as are all young yasoi and is extremely capable in its use, having completed her first year of studies at Tantas'iilwash Academy. However, she absolutely refuses to use it in a capacity that will harm other sapient beings, and prefers not to harm any living thing at all. All of her spellcraft is dedicated to this pursuit, with her abilities in Arcane used to create light, warmth, and cauterize wounds, her Chemical abilities to invigorate, empower, and transmute, and her Temporal to reverse negative effects, buy allies more time, and facilitate movement. In Tarlonese culture, no distinction is made between Binding and Blood magics, and these are used, of course, to heal and protect.
Of course, there is more - there is the thing that disturbs her so, but it is not something that she will ever talk about, as if she might someday disperse it into oblivion through sheer force of will.
B A C K G R O U N D
There is much to say about Seviin's origins and how she came to be here. It was as a seeker of asylum, however, for she could not countenance her people's horrid war against the humans of Ai Medda and their own kin in Constantia. Before that, she was a priestess, and much loved and celebrated by her family and community, if not seen as a touch odd and overzealous, perhaps. Maybe she wasn't always so rigid, so awkward, and so defensively sanctimonious. Maybe she's running from something else. Her past is not something that she speaks very much about, and so it shall not be spoken of here.
M O T I V A T I O N
Seviin is someone who lives by an absolute moral code and will not contravene it for anything. As Tantiac moved to effectively annex her country and the entirety of Tarlon, sometimes by outright force, she found herself called upon to act as an instrument of the empire in an expansionist war that she did not agree with. Hence, with the Trials beginning, she volunteered to represent her school before promptly defecting and seeking asylum. In the end, she is someone who clings to her moral code, who clings to a fairly narrow and easily definable idea of being 'good' in an uncertain world where the terrain shifts constantly around her and such broad concepts as 'right' and 'wrong' aren't necessarily so clearly evident.
I N V E N T O R Y
Seviin carries her robes, her staff: Aloi'alan, pouches of reagents, and some local currency on her. As a refugee, she does not own very much. Most of her food and necessities, she synthesizes using blood magic.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ [ I M M U N E T O D I S R U P T I O N ] ❖ [ A G I L E ] ❖ [ B R A V E ] ❖ [ L E A R N E D ] ❖ [ R E S O U R C E F U L ]
Seviin is, despite all of her purposeful lightness and elegance, someone who knows how to handle herself when it really comes down to it. She possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of the humanoid body, materials science, and basic physics, and will come to the aid of any ally in need regardless of her personal feelings. She is excellent at compartmentalizing, retaining a professional distance, and will not hesitate to speak truth to power.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ [ R I G I D ] ❖ [ S A N C T I M O N I O U S ] ❖ [ P A C I F I S T I C ] ❖ [ M I S A N T H R O P I C ] ❖ [ I M M U N E T O M A N A I N T E R A C T I O N S ]
With her attitude, Seviin is unlikely to make any friends and she tells herself that it's alright, that it doesn't matter and that she doesn't need them. As with many matters, she is lying to herself. Her entire identity is an unstable thing now, built upon pillars of sand. Her refusal to do any direct harm, while commendable in some respects, can make her a liability when it comes to outright combat.
Talkhan might be an absolute joy to be around or an absolute nightmare, depending on the type of person you are. There can be no introverts as long as he is around, given his constant talking and prodding. While he does enjoy hearing himself talk, even if the other person scarcely gets a word in, he is satisfied. That being said, he does have sensitive points, and if you start to push them, you might find his ire. He also has a poor habit of not letting go of things unless they are resolved
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
Talkhan possesses the physical characteristics and adorned trimmings of a classical Hegelan noble. His flesh has a light shade of pink, only slightly coarse, having been polished to a degree above the typical Hegelan ruggedness. His beard and hair are neatly trimmed to complement his facial shape, giving him a very clean appearance.
In most types of settings, Talkhan’s clothing selection would normally be sharp, akin to that of a regimental officer, but his clothes are worn far too comfortably. His shirt is unbuttoned from the top few buttons, cuffs left open, and even rolled up at times.
L A N G U A G E S
❖ All five Hegelish languages, though natively fluent at Ramorghand Hegelish ❖ Avincian at a near fluent level, still learning
T H E G I F T
Leadvein, Brutalist
❖ 5 Kinetic ❖ 4 Chemical ❖ 3 Arcande ❖ 2 Binding Talkhan’s Gift is displayed in mainly two aspects: dueling and liquid chemistry. Dueling is straightforward in its application; kinetic energy is used to propel himself, strike with a mighty, earth-shattering force, and defend himself by slowly drawing a kinetic shield. Arcane knowledge primarily involves fire and heat, and he utilizes fire when possible. On the other hand, his chemical knowledge encompasses the understanding and application of manipulating liquid mediums. He can distill saltwater, for example, but it was mainly taught to him as a means to manage fermentation methods. He possesses the knowledge to test liquids to determine composition and manipulate them to his own ends. While this ability does not extend to a person, he might be able to cure poison or illness if he is familiar with the exact issue. However, he does not have an advanced medical education.
B A C K G R O U N D
“You are sure?”
Talkhan felt his lip curl at his friend’s tone. His fists clenched as his teeth clenched in an effort not to lash out at the slightest of provocations, though neither of them would find themselves surprised. The first son of Kharan MakAndzey did not handle high stress well, becoming more like iron in hardness and brittleness. What could be more stressful than making a life-changing decision? One that a few Hegelans dared to even consider, let alone do: He was leaving the mountain.
The act wasn’t one of exile but, rather, opportunity. The doors of the Great Halls were open, exposing the wide world of Sipenta. Everyone was always telling him how advantageous this would be for his clan. How he’d do them proud, and he wanted to believe that, but somehow, doubt lurked in the back of his mind that he was doing this for selfish reasons. He wanted to escape the pressure and rigidity of his life here. The expectations he was burdened with ever since he could remember. Academics started when he was young, the trade soon after. Fighting came when he was strong enough to pick up a hammer, but the official instruction was dreadfully boring.
Talkhan turned, his shoulders dropping as he relaxed upon seeing his friend’s face. He reached up to clasp his fellow’s shoulder and gave it a slightly too hard squeeze.
“Fundarvi. I’ve never been surer in my whole life.”
Talkhan said, emphasizing with a nod. He'd miss his friend, the corrupting influence he needed to enjoy life even if it stirred trouble. They were little troublemakers growing up, he and all of his tankard brothers. They were all much like him, nobles escaping from responsibility. The drinking games they played led to many outings throughout the hold, causing trouble for the patrolmen. Most of it wasn't dangerous, aside from perhaps getting into fights with the haughty folks from the farms and ranches. All their grandstanding, now that some of them had money, was laughable at best and quarrelsome at worst.
“Ronkhar-az-MakAndzey!”
Fundarvi bellowed reaching up to mirror Talkhan’s clasping shoulder gesture.
“Ronkhar-az-Hagh Ramorghan!”
Talkhan replied, speaking louder as he gave a few pats to his friend. Fight for the clan, fight for the Hold. Every Hegelan hoped to do so in their own way and make their ancestors proud. He just hoped he was doing it for the right reasons.
M O T I V A T I O N
Outwardly, Talkhan’s maneuver to leave the mountain seems ambitious and daring. Many commend the young lad for his efforts to help his clan grow beyond just the mountain, and gaining trading knowledge from around the world seems like a very practical way to achieve that. There is a part of Talkhan where he justifies himself in that he is doing just that - learning and growing to be better for his clan. However, the secret is, he wants to escape the pressures that come with his role. His family is affluent, one of the richest, and with the mounting pressures of this new economic advantage, selling to other races, and the risks of new money in Hegelan society trying to dethrone old clans, there is a lot riding on Talkhan.
I N V E N T O R Y
Grungr-a-Alokh - Hammer’s Song - A trivam-smelted warhammer as tall as Talkhan walks. It was a gift from the previous King of Ramorghan to the MakAndzey cousins for their cooperation and discretion, although publicly this was not known. Not even Talkhan is aware of the full backstory, but essentially, his grandfather did some less heroic deeds to secure the King’s place during a turbulent time in Ramorghan's history.
Thirty-Three Cases of Mana Stouts, Ales, and Porters - The son in a line of brewers, he prefers to drink Hegelan brews regularly. While thirty-three cases are a start, he surely doesn’t have enough to get through the whole year. Each brew does raise his RAS level, but he isn’t drinking them for that.
Six Cases of Mana Shots - Each stone casket contains sixteen metal vials of the strongest mana brews to help Talkhan reach his maximum potential.
Mammoth Tower Shield: A shield wielded by Ogauraq warriors. Near unparalleled protection for those that can wield it. Must be at least an expert Kineticist, be an Ogauraq, or have exceptional physical might. Reduces damage from Area of Effect attacks by two tiers (halved for bosses). Twice per scenario, the wielder can [HUNKER DOWN] to sacrifice their turn and take no damage. Adds +3 to solo defense rolls, but causes its bearer to roll disadvantage for combo defenses. Provides 30 manas.
Belua Bellicosus: Ironhead - A goatlike car-sized dragon that camouflages among the cliffs and mountains of West Callanast, extremely quick and nimble, with a bonecrushing ramming attack. Though deeply territorial, this is a rideable dragon.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ Brewer’s Line
With the world discovering the potency of Hegelan brews, Talkhan maintains an advantage over most due to knowledge passed down from a long line of brewers. He knows the processes, and more importantly, can obtain as much as he can drink, so long as he has a means to reach his home.
❖ Palm Presser
Having a gravitas of sociability is certainly a skill, but Talkhan has people down to a science. He knows how to work a crowd and never forgets a face. Approachable and enjoyable in company if you can tolerate the loudness, but he is truly a people person.
❖ Classically Educated
Coming from one of the Hegelan noble houses and especially one as affluent as his, he was brought up with strict schooling to ensure his success and marketability as the first son. In a wide range of topics, from Hegelan sciences and society, he is very well-educated but not a mastermind.
❖ Politically Connected
Sometimes it isn’t what you know, but who you know, that makes the difference. In Hegelan society, especially in Ramorghan, could Talkhan throw his Clan’s political weight around to get a leg up on the competition if he needed to.
❖ Drunk Tank
There is tough, and then, above that, there is Talkhan. Even aside from his magical bloodline and mana, he is sturdy as stone. He can keep pushing even when battered, so never count him out of a fight.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ A Dull Burden
There is a sad truth to Talkhan. Brewing is boring. It involves a whole bunch of chemical mixtures and monitoring with a little bit of cultivation knowledge. It is dreadfully boring, and Talkhan’s brain ends up shutting down when faced with too many numbers, stretching to aspects of other schooling as well. He can’t sit still, reading, and studying.
❖ Grudges Not Forgotten
Talkhan is pleasurable when on his good side, but when he feels wronged, he will remember that. Forever. He will burn bridges if he felt wronged by someone and might even strain the relationship of mutual connections for even associating with the other, depending upon the magnitude. You can right a wrong, but that is entirely up to Talkhan’s discretion, and he isn’t easy to please.
❖ Knowledge from only Under the Mountain
Hegelan is king above all, coming from a... well... Hegelan. Eldolghay, Amghay, and Drankazi and their societies are only known partially, but the world at large seems quite... large compared to a single mountain. Talkhan will be ignorant of the world.
❖ Scrutinized
Talkhan’s exploits will likely make it home, and depending upon his actions, he might be elevated on a pedestal or trashed by the poets back home. Harming his Clan’s name would be bad considering their position, so Talkhan is being watched and judged.
❖ Drunk Tank
Essentially, Talkhan has a drinking problem, far more than the normal Hegelan. Half the time he is drunk and, as a result, possibly not as sharp and very bull-headed in this state.
Owing to her grim and rather turbulent history, Raffaella is more than a little timid around strangers. Combining this with her small stature, her demeanor often reminds others of a small animal, even when forcing herself to act bold and confident. She'll carefully choose the classes that require the least amount of human contact possible, but study her own personal interests on the sly. She's passionate about the things she's interested in and is often buried in books, though sometimes this burial is more literal and also an accident.
She has some health issues that she won't talk about, and is prone to sleepwalking at all times of day and night, giving the Lamplighters a bit of a headache at times. Once somebody finally notices she's gone missing, she's often caught wandering the school grounds at night, wandering outside the school grounds, attending classes she's not supposed to be in while nobody notices her, and generally being truant or absent. Anyway, aside from these silly little hiccups (that totally aren't her fault), Raffaella is generally a well-behaved girl with flawless attendance and a completely clean disciplinary record (self-proclaimed).
Those who get to know her well will learn that she is a sweet thing who wouldn't hurt a fly. The most dangerous thing about her is her occasional sassy sarcasm when she gets super annoyed. Her tastes are generally very girly, loving all things sweet, soft, warm, fluffy, and cute. Oddly, she also seems to like scary campfire stories and monster tales; maybe she actually enjoys being scared? Though, she's a bit secretive about it since it doesn't match her image. Not the type to let a little bullying get her down, she's an indefatigable optimist who just wants to be accepted, and would travel to the ends of the earth with anyone who would welcome her presence in their life.
Her absentminded daydreaming and wandering causes all who are prone to worry no small amount of panic when her absence is noticed. Raffaella, for her part, doesn't seem to think this is a big problem and is a bit too comfortable with being isolated from others, given how vulnerable she is. She doesn't yet have a full appreciation for the dangers of the world, given that she's always had caretakers, even if sometimes they were reluctant ones. She knows precious little about the shadowy forces at work in Ersand'Enise, let alone on the grander scale of Sipenta itself. She tends to be absorbed in her own little world.
Though Raffaella is generally all smiles and comes across as childish, she is unexpectedly comfortable talking about people exactly how they are—warts, scars, missing limbs and all. She is under no such illusion that the world is a perfect fairy tale, or her its princess whom it revolves around. She thinks like a cynical person, but consciously chooses optimism, and this hidden shrewdness catches some people off guard. It can create distrust in her public persona, or create the illusion that nothing bothers her, which can be a problem if others decide that she can handle some mean remarks or being used as an emotional trash can for everyone to vent to. Truthfully, there are plenty of things that will bother Raffaella, but she bottles it all up inside for the sake of everyone involved. Sometimes, spills happen, which generally ends with her settling up on her "crying debt."
Raffaella seeks acceptance and emotional validation with a quiet and unspoken desperation. Her running away from home started as a cry for help, and not much has changed. Though it's generally assumed that she has no control over her sleepwalking, it tends to occur when she is running away from an interpersonal conflict or some bottled-up grief that she has yet to get out of her system. She hates conflict, and open arguments will usually have her freezing up and backing down, then running away to some isolated place to brood. Her troubled childhood left a void of warmth in her heart that she'll seek to fill with anyone who offers even the illusion of familial affection. Any "free hugs" on offer are usually more for herself than for others.
"M-Modeling? Um... I-If I don't have to talk, I guess it's f-fine..?"
A petite young lady of ethereal beauty with gentle and decidedly pink features: hair and eyes—courtesy of a little arcane parlor trick—and often cheeks to match. A mere 45 kg (99 lbs), standing at only 146 cm (4' 10"), she wears a school uniform that's a bit too big and covers her like a blanket. She has some odd taste in accessories that make her stand out from the crowd, which she wears in spite of her terrible shyness. She's the type of girl who likes to have a cute and fluffy animal in one hand, and a source of sugar in the other. She is rarely seen without either, but keeps her hands to herself whenever they're empty, folding them in her lap in a girlish way—or more commonly, inside her sleeves, as she gets cold easily. Despite her insatiable appetite and sweet tooth, she has a tiny frame, and her pale complexion makes her seem somewhat frail, like a gentle breeze might carry her away to some faraway place, never to be seen again.
T H E G I F T
Raffaella has studied several magicks under the tutelage of the Chamarine Order, primarily chemical. Her specialties are in swift movement by flight, illusions and concealment, and disruption of enemy consciousness—in other words, running and hiding. She can offer support as needed, but prefers to avoid fights altogether if she can. She can strengthen allies with internal chemical and create bandages using alchemy, but she isn't a trained binder by any means. Blood is gross and bones are creepy, so her medical knowledge is essentially nil. Her middling RAS is too low for Atomic or Temporal, and the forbidden schools are—well, they're forbidden, so!
Base RAS
Augmented RAS
HP
Blood Types
Items
6.00
7.00
20
Sleepwalker Glutton Dreamcaster
Budding Rosary, Sweet Toothpick, Arslan's Lost Yarn of Aberrative Memories, Dixie Q’s Ultimate Mega Chow
School
Speciality
Tier
Base
Offensive
Defensive
Magnetic
Ferromagnetic, Internal
III. Adept
d7
2/3d7
2/3d7
Arcane
Pyromancy, Luminescent
IV. Journeyman
d8
2/3d10
2/3d10
Binding
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
d2
2/3d2
2/3d2
Chemical
Deceptive, Disruptive
V. Expert
d10
2/3d10
2/3d10
Kinetic
Gravitational, Enhancement
II. Apprentice
d5
2/3d5
2/3d5
Atomic
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Blood
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Temporal
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Dark
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte?
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Command
Control, Weakening
I. Novice
d20
3d20
3d20
Primordial
{Speciality}
0. Neophyte
{BASE d#}
{AugRas#d# + Offense Mods}
{AugRas#d# + Defense Mods}
Extra
Description
Fruit:
None
Other:
Used Cycle Reroll: Yes Used Arc Reroll: Yes Couple's Blessing: Couples gain +10 during combo defense. Costs a turn. Pearl Clutch: Survive any damage Tier 5 or lower with 1 HP. Effect extended to others by hand-holding. Ipte's Feast: Steal the enemy's food. Take a potato chip and eat it! Chef's Kiss: "Cooking" spells enhanced by one skill modifier tier. Spin a Tale: User can [Influence Reality] in favor of allies by writing fanfiction about them. Wool of Cool: User dips into Greyspace, becoming impossible to target. Costs a reroll. Dixie Q's Ultimate Mega Chow: Animals receive a +4 to any roll four times per cycle for this arc AND the next.
Mana Types:
Sleepwalker: Description: A mana bloodtype most commonly found in Eeaiko and Meerami bloodlines, but very rarely in humans as well. After occupying the cranial fluid and folds in the brain, the Sleepwalker mana begins to create neurological changes in the host similar to that of some marine mammals. The mage finds themself able to rest while keeping a part of their brain in a low activity state, allowing them to perceive outside threats while sleeping and return to full alertness. Hosts in the advanced stages of growth can train their bodies to perform high energy tasks and even reactively cast spells without leaving this state of half sleep.
Mechanical effects: At the start of combat, roll a d4. A 1 represents full alertness; nothing happens, reroll next turn. A 2 means only the left brain is awake; 3 means only the right brain is awake, and a 4 means fully asleep standing up. In all three of these cases, roll a d20 to determine the quality of sleep/nature of the dreams.
Glutton: Description: The main mana colony resides within the host's digestive system. This allows them to digest organic materials that would normally be inedible, such as tree bark and even decaying matter. Food is digested several times faster than a normal person and processed into nutrients just as quickly, giving them an accelerated healing factor and an instant energy boost that scales with calories consumed. However, the host's appetite is insatiable. They grow hungry at least twice as quickly.
Mechanical effects: All consumable item effects are enhanced. Buff effects and debuff drawbacks are doubled, but only last half as long. If an effect would last for an entire encounter/cycle, it lasts for 5 turns instead. If the item only has a chance to do something, the Glutton rolls with advantage. One-time healing effects are boosted by one damage tier. When a Glutton uses Binding on themselves or receives healing, they are boosted one damage tier and/or receive +4 on splash.
Dreamcaster: Description: A mana type obtained from a rare form of aberration. The mage's mundane dreams are gradually replaced by images from the VOID, giving them visions of warped landscapes, strange anomalies, frightful demons, and long lost artifacts. Every night the mage sleeps, they will have a small chance to produce one of the following effects:
Mechanical effects: If Raffaella rolled a 2 for Sleepwalker and 1-3 on a d20, she will have a nightmare, or a pleasant sleep if she rolled a 20. If she rolled a 3 and 18-20, she will have a pleasant sleep, or a nightmare if she rolled a 1. If she rolled a 4, both nightmares and pleasant sleep are equally likely to have with a 1-2 or 19-20, respectively. Depending on the outcome, the following effects will occur, lasting for the current cycle only:
Nightmare: Roll a d2. If a 1, Commune with the VOID or cast Power of Nothingness (Tier 3) without consuming an action. If a 2, Summon a loyal VOID being to your location for a day (roll a d20 to determine Tier).
Pleasant Sleep: Roll a d2. If a 1, Pull a random item from the VOID (roll a d20 to determine Tier). If a 2, Temporarily gain knowledge of an unknown spell from demonic whisperings (roll a d11 to determine the magic school and other situationally appropriate dice to determine which spell).
"Loo~k into my eye~s... and smile! Blessing of Joy! How's that?!"
Raffaella has very few memories—and vague ones besides—regarding her original home or her true parents, and she only has them because the divorce took so long. Raffaella was born to a nobleman and a common mistress, and when it became clear to the woman that the birth of her daughter would not result in her ascension into the nobility, she abandoned Raffaella at an orphanage, as the young glutton was quickly becoming too much to care for. This would remain a problem as young Raffaella grew up, with very few interested in adopting her due to the widespread poverty of the area. As she watched all of her friends leave the orphanage (and her) behind, she did not understand why—but she did notice a pattern: the smallest and cutest tended to get snatched up quickly. Desperate to have a proper family and a home, she worked diligently on her appearance—makeup, magic, and eating less—until she was the smallest and cutest of all, despite her nightly habit of sleepwalking to the kitchen.
Finally, the day came, and for a few years she was truly happy. However, history would soon repeat itself as Raffaella could not hide her ravenous appetite from her caretakers indefinitely. Her happy home would quickly become a battleground, her adoptive parents frequently arguing over how to make ends meet. Overwhelmed, she began to spiral, and developed a pattern of running away from home to get away from the ongoing crisis. One day, to her horror, her adoptive parents seemed to have accepted that she'd vanished for good, as she overheard them talking to a traveling mage who explained what she was. It seemed like her adoptive parents didn't even care about her anymore, and were just glad that they wouldn't have to feed her anymore. It broke her heart.
Crushed, she returned to the orphanage, unable to face the false smiles she knew awaited her when she did return home—but the orphanage was much the same. The nuns seemed annoyed that she had returned. In a stroke of luck that was surely owed to her by this point, she didn't have to bear the scorn for very long: the same traveling mage who had been chatting with her adoptive parents just a few days ago happened to find her, and chose to adopt her. She was going to send her to a magic school in Inipor too! Assured that the new environment would help her heal, she departed for the traveling mage's home in Virang. Despite scoring rather low in RAS, the entry-level academy in Inipor accepted her application quickly. Her worries of not fitting in at this new place proved unfounded, as the miniature Méattan became a darling among the Zenos, who affectionately referred to her by the same nickname her new adoptive mother gave her, Küçük. It did, however, result in her receiving more attention than other students, which earned her the scorn of a few—but she always had a support network.
M O T I V A T I O N
Most would say that Raffaella is an aimless girl. The one thing she believes she knows for sure is that getting married is out of the question, and becoming delinquent and living a life of crime doesn't suit her, so she'll need a job someday—but she's physically frail on account of a history of malnutrition, and ill-suited to physical labor. She loves to play the violin, but seems resigned to her inability to perform on a stage due to her desperately shy personality. When asked, she once told a Zeno some joke about being a "ghost writer" for someone destined to be famous. She loves baking and is determined to make the "sweetest desert ever." To this day, she blames herself for the divorce of her parents and all the familial struggles she's experienced in life, and is often seen in fervent prayer for the flourishing of any and every couple she encounters, earning her the nickname of "Ipte's Penitent." The nuns like to dote on her and make sure she never feels lonely again.
I N V E N T O R Y
Raffaella, a commoner whose life has been turned upside down multiple times, owns very few possessions. Nuns of the Chamarine Order have provided her with a wide variety of pretty dresses and chic accessories, which seem prone to intermittently become lost items just like their ditzy owner. She does have a few curious things:
Name: Budding Rosary Item Description: A gorgeous rose-themed rosary, decorated with the birthstones of Tiptos and Tellos. As a gift from a certain Hundrian nun, it reminds the owner to be bold and flourish. Provides 16 manas.
Couple's Blessing: When using a turn to pray, all couples that are combo defending gain a +10 bonus that turn. The bonus does not apply if a third wheel joins the combo defense. Also applies to enemy couples.
Pearl Clutch: The owner of this rosary will always survive any damaging attack of Tier 5 or lower with 1 HP, so long as they have more than 1 HP. This effect extends to up to two allies, so long as they are holding hands with the rosary-holder (this costs Raffaella a turn). There may be a way to abuse this, but only an absolute monster would do something like that. Monsters roll an increasing number of d2s for consecutive activations. Just saying.
Use: A symbol of divine protection. She's never seen without it.
Name: Sweet Toothpick Item Description: More of a skewer than a toothpick. Doubles as a wand but may result in teasing if used for eating at the same time. Tipped with metal prongs, works well with magnetic and arcane. Provides 10 manas.
Ipte's Feast: When the Sweet Toothpick is pointed at a food item, it is attracted to the user. So long as it can be pierced and held by the skewer, it can be cooked and eaten immediately. Can be used to steal food, both in battle and at the dinner table. Gluttons can use this to attract... dubious items of interest.
Chef's Kiss: Any spell that can, in theory, be used to cook food is enhanced by one skill modifier tier.
Use: Her singular weapon. Can be used to steal consumables from enemies trying to use them.
Name: Arslan's Lost Yarn of Aberrative Memories Item Description: A curious ball of fiery red yarn that appeared on Raffaella's pillow one night. Oddly warm to the touch, it feels strangely nostalgic, and seems to have special properties. No one knows where it came from—maybe an alternate universe? Provides 6 manas.
Spin a Tale: When spinning the yarn, it appears to its owner as if it were drawing connections between people, like a thread of fate. The user's imagination will run wild as to what this could mean, which may have a chance to [Influence Reality]. Effects are context-sensitive and always small. Can be used 9 times per arc.
Wool of Cool: In any situation where shitty rolls rule applies, the holder of this yarn trips and falls into Greyspace, becoming intangible and fading from existence and the collective consciousness of enemies and allies alike. Failure isn't embarrassing if nobody notices, right? This effect can also be activated manually at any time that rerolling is a valid action, but it will cost that reroll. Yeah, she totally meant to do that.
Use: A strange item, supposedly a gift from Vashdal. Sees use only rarely.
A nest of Torpedo Thresher pups, abandoned:
1: Alpha, male, normal coloration
2: Alpha, male, normal coloration
3: Kıskaç: Alpha, female, pearlescent. Loves to pinch poor Raffie on the cheek.
4: Alpha, male, faint reticulated pattern
5: Near-alpha, female, normal coloration
A single Zaqhorian Sphinx, male. A colossal very shorthair cat with tall, pointed ears, and long limbs. They are known to be able to jump well over fifty feet and their claws are capable of tearing through the skin of most dragons, crocodiles, and hippos. They specialize in hunting small to midsized dragons and direstorks, however. Their short fur is usually striped gold and black. This is a battle companion.
Two male Geistcats. Invariably a very deep shade of black, this cat sometimes takes on a purplish hue due to the frogs, snails, and small threshers and turtles that it commonly consumes. In many tales, these are the companions of witches. They are all born with greyborn manas and have the ability to fade partway into greyspace. Its unusually large mouth, which helps it crush its hard-shelled prey, always seems to be smiling. Often, the eerie white smile and gleaming golden eyes are all that an observer will see. Famously friendly but mischievous. This is a pet or battle companion.
Dixie Q’s Ultimate Mega Chow Yearly Subscription: A year’s supply of Dixie Q’s top shelf animal food. Feed it to any animal species to promote growth. A bond level is gained for every animal and they roll a +4 to any roll four times per cycle for this arc AND the next.
The shell of a Golden Emperor Conch, extremely rare and valuable. Prized in jewelry and crafting. Never loses its shine.
Spratz: A sweet spice that trumps both sugar and caffeine while providing a unique and sought after flavour. Will allow one to stay wide awake without sleeping for 48 hours. Enables a reduction of damage up to 4 levels at any point (can be stacked), although it cannot go below a glancing. Foods with spratz can only be preserved half as long. Must be prepared and combined with a dish.
Fingers of the Dog: These are gloves, made by Isabella Lowell of Pelova Fascino, of some very rare materials. Just what they might do remains a mystery…
D¤3
"The Eshiran girls gave me this... hat, thing? They were giggling. I don't like it when they giggle! I don't know what it mea~ns!"
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ Damsel in this Dress ❖ Disappearing Act ❖ Eager Beaver ❖ Support Master ❖ ? ❖
Being cute is a privilege, and Raffaella is not against using it... in theory. In reality, she's far too shy to show off, but some consider that part of her appeal. While she won't be winning anyone over with a silver tongue, there's just something disarming about Raffaella's innocuous image that makes her easy to trust. Perhaps it's her meek and slightly clumsy personality, or maybe it's her gentle complexion and honest facial expressions, or it might be her warm and high-pitched voice, or the way she speaks her mind openly about the positive points of others. She loves pink, soft and fluffy things, cute animals, and is easily bribed with sweets—which she regularly sneaks in to any class whose teacher will tolerate it. Raffaella may be easy to look down on, but even for those who find her cutesy persona grating, she's hard to outright hate, especially when she's so eager to help others when asked... even if it's just a way to avoid awkward conversations sometimes.
While Raffaella is generally optimistic and not the sort of person who is "never okay," she does have a few issues, including some health issues that render her rather frail, a fact which is easily forgotten as she flies energetically from place to place. Raffaella prefers to use magic to fly rather than walk everywhere to conserve her energy, which makes the glutton mana type slightly more bearable. She remains a sensitive soul who is quick to get dragged into emotionally charged situations, even if it's something as mundane as a pet cat hit by a cart. She tends to run herself ragged for others at times, perhaps because it distracts her from her fear of abandonment. So long as someone thinks she's useful to have around, she won't be forgotten again.
