[CHAR] The Storm Cycle: Reclamation

~The Queen who holds a Dying Wish~

The Queen

Name:
Queen Sorcha Mulryan

Hair, the color of sun. Eyes which reflect nothing but a clear blue sky. A Voice loud as thunder and judgement swift as lightning. If one were to look at this person claiming to be the reincarnation of the Old King, they'd be hard pressed to find any reason to doubt her. Possessing power that can fell Fomorians in single strokes, a charisma that can rile the spirits in even the most downtrodden, there is little question about her abilities and powers. Now whether she is truly the reincarnation of that old king...well, that remains to be seen.

Her attitude certainly, leaves much to be desired sometimes in that area according to some. Boisterous and friendly, the queen prefers getting her hands dirty and being in the front line with everyone else. She will, if given the chance, join her knights on any tasks they might have even if she other things to tend to. She certainly drinks enough to make one question her kingly attire and will often get involved in drinking contests with her knights. That is to say - she does not hold herself to some higher standard than her knights. She lives with them, and treats them no differently than one would anyone else.

However, even then she still carries a certain air of regality and beauty as if someone was looking at a sunrise itself close that it feels like one could touch, yet still so far away.

Her past is not something she speaks of, with the excuse that 'she must look forwards to the future', but take a rest during the hours of dawn and one may just find her gazing longingly over the sea, or watching the sun rise across the mountains with a melancholic, wistful expression as if remembering times long past.

She arrived in Albion roughly a year ago, in a little village by the name of Airedale, saving it from an attack by Fomorians. Since then she has made it her base of operations. She's fortified the town, and has miraculously sanctified the ground - allowing the curse that runs deep within the land to be held off, allowing for more than simple crops to be grown. Many rumors have already drawn a number of people to her side, and she has sought out the notable people of the land, asking simply for alliances and support.

Of course, such things do not come easily and many are not so happy with this unknown woman making claims upon what they see as their land. Yet still, with a hand held out, a gentle smile she asks simply - "Will you join me?"

-Knights of the Realm-

The Squire

Name: Lugh
Gender: male
Age: 16

Abilities:
While Tuatha magic may run deep and while it seems he isn't very proficient at it as of now, he seems to be naturally gifted with fire and lightning based magics. As well, he can generally sense the presence of otherworldly or magical effects in the area and can sense the corruption of the Betrayed God.

Skilled with most weapons, though not quite possessing the ability of a seasoned knight.

History:
A young boy in Queen Sorcha's care. A Tuatha child whose parents were in Airedale when the Fomorians sacked the village. After losing his parents in the attack, she took him under her wing. Possesses a surprisingly sturdy and hardy fortitude for a young man, and has been extensively trained to use all manner of weapons, though favors a spear. A somewhat serious sort and a bit of a romantic that is easily swept up in tales of heroism and knighthood, but tends to get flustered easily, especially when Sorcha and others dote on him.

The Cursed

Name: Elnith
Gender: Female
Age: 24

Abilities:
The curse the fey placed on her is something of a double-edged sword. It gives her monstrous physical ability, being able to match most fomorians in strength blow-for blow, and generally outlast them even in battles of stamina. As well, it also generally makes her mostly immune to other curses of similar types, being able to naturally resist them. However, it also has the rather nasty effect of occasionally causing her to fly into monstrous fits of rage and once the curse as completely run its curse, turn her into something resembling a Fomorian herself.

Her sword, pilfered from the corpse of a fomorian has the ability to 'Always reach its target' That is to say, it possess a rather unique ability to warp space around it so that it is always able to reach that which its wielder attempts to strike so long as its within her line of sight. The armor, while maybe not being the most practical, is of giant make given to her as a gift by some of the giants of Llobrokr after befriending them. It protects the wearer from most magical effects that would cloud the mind or the body and restrains the curse placed on her so its less potent.

History:
Elnith has a rather nasty and quite honestly - terrible reputation in the land. Born to some parents whos faces she can't remember, some years ago that she can't exactly recall, in a village that no longer exists. Elnith has not had a happy life for the simple reason that at birth, she was cursed by a Fairy. A curse that would 'Turn her into a beast that slaughtered her own kind'. Needless to say, knowing Fey magic carries real consequences and fearing for their lives...the parents left her in the forest, unwilling to kill her and too cowardly to even attempt raising her. If it hadn't been for a passing hunter that had took pity on a defenseless baby, she'd probably have just died.

Her life from there to now is fairly colored. She spent her days training, figuring that a stronger body could resist the curse. That a strong mind could withstand it - its certainly helped, but there are times when she simply can't help herself and gets lost in the thrill of battle whatever it is. Not to say the rumors that surround her - that she slaughtered entire villages of people, that she's simply a fomorian wearing human skin, and other such things.

Well, all rumors have a kernel of truth to them...

Rather than her finding the queen, the Queen sought her out on rumors of a 'demon knight slaughtering humans' but upon seeing a girl that looked like and as the queen stated 'just needed a hug', she made her an offer. Elnith accepted, elated that someone saw something in her other than some...cursed individual.

Despite her reputation and such, Elnith is surprisingly friendly with people, though often gets into bouts of depression and a bit of self-loathing if left alone for too long, believing that one day she will turn against her fellow knights. Doesn't help sometimes she'll blackout at night, wake up in an entirely different area with only hazy memories of what occurred. She tries to keep a positive outlook, and since meeting the queen she's certainly gained a somewhat more mixed reputation.

The Prodigy

Name: Vyrell Menear
Gender: Male
Age: 20

Abilities:
In regards to the Leargas, aside from the combat talent that comes from it, though its heavily diluted and not quite as strong thanks to his human blood, Vyrell seems to have picked up a particular talent for seeing the 'possible path combat can take'. That is, in his words the ability to perceive the multiple results an action can take based on factors known to him and always be able to choose the one with the best possible result for himself in direct combat, or the one with greatest likelihood of success.

Its not perfect, of course. He's only able to take factors he knows of is into account and the results aren't always perfect, and the Leargas can be quite draining on the body.

Aside from this Vyrell's sword was found in a secluded grove, in what appeared to be a small shrine to some now defunct god. While he doesn't know much about it, he's learned that the God was once one of Dreams and Insight. The blade itself doesn't seem to possess much special ability, and he's always looking for information regarding it.

History:
Possessing sharp mind, keen intellect, and even keener senses, Vyrell has led a charmed life, perhaps thanks to his Elvish blood. No one in his family can quite remember how far back it was - but they all can claim one thing for certain - they do have elvish blood in them. With a practical mind and a desire to learn and master all forms of combat, Vyrell seeks one thing above all else perfection in the art of battle. In such pursuits, he's studied under the Tuatha, sought out his Elvish cousins within the Forests of Lylmesari - and even studied under a Fomorian who saw potential of some sort in the boy.

As for how he came into the Queens service - having made quite a name for himself in the land, quite a few people were eager to employ him in a way, even the current monarch of Harzelslack, a king that claims Lineage to one of the more famous knights from Myth. Why? He says he was just curious about the queen initially, but upon seeing her, despite her sometimes less than kingly attitudes she has, he was convinced that she was the one who could lead this land.

|The Bandits|

Bandit Chief

Name:?
A young Tuatha man who seems to possess a stronger affinity for physical arts than those of mystical ones. Wields an axe made of Giant Bone and seems to possess some special properties and has some seeming special connection with the beasts of the land.

The Thief

Name:Cecilia
A human woman with darker, tan colored skin with blond hair and emerald green eyes. Seems exceptionally skilled with a bow and arrow and perhaps some sort of wind-magic on her side. A thief of some renown, especially in Harzelslack where she's known to steal from the rich, though its not exclusive to just them. She'd stolen from the Dwarves and Tuatha just as much.

/The Fey\

???

A mysterious fey of unknown origins. Seems to be hanging around Airedale for some reason.

[The Lightsword Clan]

The oldest, Leo

Oldest son of the Lightsword clan. Possesses extremely skilled swordsmanship and inherited a great deal of his families magical ability.

The Second oldest, Gabriel

Second oldest of the Lightsword clan. Not as skilled as Leo, and a bit of a non-serious, womanizer he still holds the family and himself to high standards when it comes to fighting bandits. Perhaps, gets a little too into it at times.

The maid, Sucaria

A maid taken in by the lightsword family some years ago. Found sickly and near-death, the half-fomorian was left for dead and would have likely died despite her durability had it not been for the family giving her a place to stay.

<The Fomorians>

The Vagabond

A fomorian of unknown origins and ability. Seems fairly powerful.

Cethlann, The seeker

A fomorian of unknown origins and ability. Seems to be affiliated with the bandits in some way. Has some connection to the Vagabond, though it remains unclear what exactly that connection is.

\Harzelslack/

Mayor of Redwater, Conand

A taciturn man overseeing Redwater. Something about him seems unsettling.

Gráinne

A somewhat abrasive knight from Harzel

Lonan

A rather serious knight from Harzel. Highly values the rule of Law. Seems to possess some sort of otherworldly steed by the name of 'Steblas'. Supposedly has fae ancestry.

[The Underworld]

Survan

A demon that lives in the underworld, seemingly acting as a sort of guide or perhaps an obstacle for those of the living that finds themselves here. Seems to like jokes about goats and sheep.

Great With Morgan

Raella Norinth

Supposedly a student of the Great With Morgan.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Map of Albion~

Map of Albion

-Locations-

Locations

Airedale

What used to be a small seaside village on a small peninsula, could now be considered to be a fortified town. After it was attacked by Fomorians, the current Queen drove them off with a furious storm, or so the remaining residents say. The village's eastern side meets the Southern Sea, and the land around it is lightly forested with rolling plains to the north.

Its generally a safe region, with few fomorian sightings. However, like much of the land of Albion, large scale crops and farming was not possible until recently - the Queen purified the land through some means, allowing people to actually start agriculture in more than just a few plots of land for a few scraggly crops.

Hjrelskins Fall

West out of Airedale, is the largest body of inland water in Albion. Known as Hrelskins' Fall, legend has it that it was created when an ice giant was slain, and their blade fell to earth and sunk into its depths, creating a hole in the earth. Others say its where the Ice Giant Hrelskin used to live - in a cave behind the waterfall that filters down into the lake from the mountains to the north.

The lake itself is home to numerous fresh water fish, and the abundant nature makes it an idyllic and otherwise peaceful spot.

If not for the Fey that haunt the forests around it...

Redwater Point

The most prominent and productive fishing village in Albion. Once, it was under the Ethelred's family's care, though after their fall they fell under the jurisdiction of Lord Bernard Alistain who now rules through proxies and administrators due to failing health. Known for its milder climate compared to the rest of the Albion. The particular fish that can be found here are a bright crimson in color, and in certain seasons the sheer amount that can be found turn the sea surrounding the village red, hence the name.

The surrounding land consists of forests, that soon turn into sweeping, rolling plains the closer to the Wastes it gets.

Its rumored the old Ethelred castle became haunted after its defilement and abandonment...

Ethelred Ruins

The abandoned ruins of the Ethelred families castle and home, sitting forlorn upon a cliffside that overlooks Redwater Point. What was once a bastion of defense and civilization, has fallen into disrepair and silence. A story many a structure and family share in Albion, really.

Still...some rumors say that the ruin isn't quite as dead as it looks. Surrounded on its southern side by sea, and the north by hills and plains, with a small forest upon the eastern coastline where a path leads to Redwater.

Southern Sea

The southern sea of Albion. A calm sea, compared to the stormy seas of Nid to the east and the frozen Whispering Sea to the north. It extends from the southern side of the land to the western, though most don't traverse the waters due to the leviathans and potential monsters lurking within if one travels too far from the coast.

Harzelslack

Surrounded by rolling plains on all sides, the City of Harzelslack is currently the largest city upon the Albion landmass. Ruled over by king Harzelslack who built and founded the city after dealing with the bandits in the area it is the currently safest and stableist place to live in Albion. While he doesn't claim it - many people consider him to be the current reincarnation of the king.

That is to say, most view Sorcha as the pretender.

Who can really say who is right, here?

The city is peaceful, but the king is known to be something of a tyrant. Broken laws and dissent is met with swiftest and harsh punishments, but loyalty and cohesion is rewarded.

Lylmesari Forest

The mystical forest of the elves. Ancient and primeval, with ancient buildings once dwelled in by fey that no longer are inhabited by them...or so most believe. The marble, pristine while buildings are now home to little more than elvish outlaws and overrun with beasts and lesser fairies that were spared the curse from the Betrayed god.

Within, somewhere, lays the Lylmesari city. The last city of the elves.

Kythels Coast

Named by the Dwarves after an ancient Goddess, the coast is made up of rocky cliffs and snowfields. Many old dwarf ruins dot the land here, and some can even be found as far south as the southern sea. The ruins are incredibly old - and also incredibly taboo for dwarves to venture into lest they incur the wrath of their goddess.

Wild beasts and animals make the place their home, and recently an Elder Beast has taken to stalking the land along with its cult-like followers that worship it.

Kythel's Hand

The only Dwarvish settlement upon the mainland, and the staging ground for many of their raids. A peninsula sticking out into a frigid, frozen sea. Its one of the few places safe from dwarf raiding parties. That is to say, they don't tend to attack or bother non-dwarves here from an unwritten rule of not harming those seeking shelter or protection.

Surprisingly safe.

Rumors exist of other routes to Emain, via ancient tunnels.

Emain

The bastion city of the dwarves situation upon three islands. Normally, its surrounded by frigid winds and a sea of ice, with waves as threatening as any fomorian. Normally, its impossible to cross unless you have a dwarvish guide to bring you through the storms.

Once you hit the island proper - its a surprisingly pleasant place. The deep timbre of dwarves singing rumbles the earth and causes the sea to swell outside their walls from deep within the vast tunnels below the islands.

Llobrokor Mountain

The mountain of Giants which extend high into the heavens. In their language it means 'Root of the Tree.', and in certain tellings of their own history is where the root of a massive, ancient tree once connected this world with that of many others. They were sworn to protect it, but they were betrayed by those of the Ice.

Being as reclusive as they are, most never leave the mountains and their singular settlement upon its slopes, and most humans have no reason to visit. The mountains are exceedingly dangerous, and a number of Elder Beasts call the place home, including the most dangerous of all - Dragon kin. Rumors say a river of Lava flows under the mountain across Albion that feeds into an ancient realm of Demons.

Gheslias Wastes

Wastelands are nothing new to Albion. They may come, and go, drying up crops and entire swaths of forests and lands, but the one at the foot of the mountains to just north of Hrelskins fall, is the constant. Windy, grassy plains where nothing can grow. Elder beasts avoid the area like the plague. Fomorians stalk the land, hunting any human unlucky enough to travel here. The air is thick, choked with visible malice that makes ones skin burn even in freezing temperatures.

There is no reason for any human to come to a place so steeped in hatred.

Yet, within the center...people say there is a shrine, that is always empty but always full of fresh offerings.

Field of Ghosts

A vast expanse of snow and ice. The land here is especially cursed - that is, it is so filled with hatred for those that live that the land itself causes the dead to simply rise from the graves. Spiritual grudges will manifest, and the gate between this area and the underworld is especially thin.

A massive frigid Elder Beast of frost and decay stalks the land, seeking to add more to its collection.

Whispering Sea

The frigid and uncrossable northern sea of Albion. The wind howls constantly, the waves crash upon the glacial cliffs. They say, far, far to the north across the frigid wastes lay a paradisical realm where great kings and warriors are allowed to live in paradise. Some though, say it is a land where both the horrors and miracles of the Endless Night remain untouched by the world and any who travels there is doomed to die there.

All rumors, of course, carried by the wind.

Castle Lightsword

Located at just the end of the Field of ghosts, in the northern most region of the land is Castle Lightsword, home of the Lightsword clan. In ancient times they were warriors and fighters under the care of an Elder Beast. Part of their family was also tasked with guarding the tombs of giants in the plains below.

Still, with remnant powers from the Field of Ghosts nearby and the inherent death-seeped land of the giants graves, dead do raise here occasionally and mystics who seek to further their more darker arts tend to call the place home.

Giants rest

Located south of castle lightsword and to the west of mt. Sliabh, is the graveyard of Giants. Massive stone monoliths indicating where giants rest dot the land. Giants tend to bury their dead in a rather unique fashion - they first cremate the body in a bath of lava, letting their soul return to the mountain. Next, they take the ashes and bones that remain and carry them to their final resting place - giant underground tunnels.

The land itself is marked with ancient runestone tombstones, and littered with warm, hot gyesers that blast boiling water into the air heated from somewhere below. Its a popular spot to rest upon the road should travelers be heading through the area. Aside from the undead, beasts, fey, and fomorians its a surprisingly pleasant place to rest.

That is to say, you probably shouldn't linger for more than few hours unless you have business.

Ithica Lake

A lake of cool, fresh, clear water situated within a secluded grove within Gaints rest. No one is quite sure of the origin of the name, but it is supposedly where the Old King received the blessing of Heroism and was given a golden blade by a wiseman that would later serve as his advisor and train him to becoming a proper king.

The giants say that the lake is a remnant from the old world and bears the name of a Moon Goddess.

The dwarves refute this, of course. Their Goddess is one of the ocean and heroes, not a lake and her name is Delpithi, not Ithica.

Perhaps its a simple translation error.

Mt. Sliabh

The home of the Tuatha. They rarely travel from the mountain, except when a young one now coming of age goes on a pilgrimage to see the world. Intelligent and wielding primordial magics and knowledge, they are often sought after to be advisors and hired by those aspiring to kings or queens. The mountain is off limits to most humans, and aside from it being the place in the entire realm where the curse is the weakest no one knows much about it.

Castle Reinhardt

The noble Castle Reinhardt. A mere shadow of its former self. Walls crumbling, unable to be kept up. The only thing they are good at now, is keeping the rain out. Situated as it is...its a good thing the Fomorians and Fey have no interest in such a place, otherwise the few who remain would have been tormented to their demise long ago.

Surrounded on all sides by the Laughing wood, its family was once the one who kept the Fomorians and Unseelie in check around the area, but with their dwindling numbers, the Fomorians and Fey both have grown in number and the effects are most certainly being felt across the land.

For if a habitat is overflowing.

They those without, seek their own elsewhere. Fomorians are no different.

Laughing Wood

The opposite of Lylmesari, once the home of the Fey, now mainly inhabited by Fomorians and Unseelie. The forest is dark, mystical, and oddly entrancing as if whispering invitations to those inside to get lost, only to laugh mercilessly as they themselves become a permanent resident of the forest.

Its an utter mystery, really, aside from those of House Reinhardt. Anything within the forest is cursed, and partaking of anything will result in an inevitable curse falling upon a human.

Nids End

The cost of the Laughing wood. Supposedly, an ancient serpent met its end here. Not much is known, but the coast itself is home to particularly terrible and vicious fomorians that inhabit the coastline and caves upon it. Not even dwarves dare to step foot here, lest they fall victim to the Fomorian and Elder beast that lives here.

An elder beast, that is said to have somehow learned to command Fomorians and fey both.

|Glossary|

General Knowledge & Misc. Myths

Wasteland
Land afflicted by the betrayed Gods curse. Contrary to popular belief, it does not necessarily mean a land that is nothing but a barren land of hard, dry soil and hills. It can be roughly described as any land that refuses to allow any plants or food to grow aside from trees or hardy, tough shrub that also angers and causes local wildlife to go berserk. Disease, undead, and famine all are common here.

Like seasons, Wastelands can come and go, afflicting land seemingly at random. There is very little that can be done to combat this, but the Tuatha are able to purify land using complex rituals and maintenance.

Wings of Light, Wings of Dark
A tale from just after the time of the Betrayed Gods fall. As his now cursed ridden body fell to the ground, his soul was split in twain. From it, the first Dragon Elder Beasts were born. Notably, a terrible dragon of black and a radiant dragon of white. Both, were born from the gods malice towards the creatures that had betrayed him. The black, was utter destruction and hatred. The White, was of righteous divine fury that would judge all as sinners.

The Endless Night
When the old world ended, the world was shrouded in endless darkness. Only a fractured moon would hang above the skies, lighting the world against a tide of abhorrent beasts, nightmarish creatures, and soulless husks that had lost their way in the madness of it. Albion would have been wiped clean, had it not been for a single, surviving god. Whatever its reasons were, it protected the humans that had no where else to go, the giants that had remained loyal to it, and the fey and elves that had been cut off from their home. When the sun finally rose upon the world once more, the God desired rest -

But the Elves and Fey were greedy. Seeing the cold, arctic world the wanted more, and realized that if they could use the Gods power themselves, they could likely make Albion much warmer. To weak to directly harm the God, they presented him with a cursed gift. Unfortunately, in turn, they too would be cursed, transforming into hideous monsters themselves.

Perhaps they were just homesick for their green, endless forest.

Myths of the King

Colloquially known as the 'Scéal Rí', it is the most prominent legend that exists after the Endless Night, taking place a scant few years after the fall of the Betrayed God and the ending of the Endless Night. It is split into four parts, each corresponding to a different time of the Kings Journey and Rule, and a popular story to tell children, as well as something that simply gives the people of Albion a hope for the future.

The first, tells of the Kings childhood and training under the guidance of a wise sage of the Moon. He traveled around Albion, meeting all the different people as a knight errant. Future knights of various houses, Unseelie fey and Seelie fey. Fomorians, both good and bad. The second, tells of his rise to kingship and the many tales of the knights which served under him up until he was officially crowned king. The third, focuses on the Golden Age - the age in which Albion was considered the safest. The age in which the King Ruled. The fourth, focuses on the betrayal of the king by one of his knights and the subsequent fall of the realm and devastation of Albion that followed.

The Peoples Heart -
The dragon of black ravaged the land, bringing curse and destruction, while the dragon of white would devastate the people, bringing divine fury to the beings that had sinned whether they be human, fey, tuatha, or giant. The king, would slay the dragon of black to gain recognition of people along with his knights. No one is quite sure what happened to the White Winged dragon. Some say it recognized the king as pure and just, and would fall into a deep slumber. Some say it blessed the king, before disappearing and leaving Albion in the hands of mortals.

Knights of the King

Lunestel Castle - The Lunar Citadel
The Castle of White, the Castle of Light, the Throne of the King. When the people of Albion recognized the king, the Giants would build the king a castle. Instead of building it from brick and mortar, they would find a mountain and quite literally, within a week, carve the entire rock into a majestic castle that towered above the land. The castle's location while not lost, few remember where it is, and fewer dare to venture there.

King Arthwys:
The eponymous king of the Sceal Ri. The king who held Albions future in his hands. A brave lad that was initially from a village near what is today Ithica Lake with his brother and sister. The very same lake that he would first meet the Sage of the Moon that would lead him to become a king. After all was said and done, he was unceremoniously killed by his most trusted knight, his body so badly burned and torn to pieces barely anything remained of it. His holy sword was lost, though is said to have been enshrined in a place where the Moon meets the Earth by Queen Morgana.

Queen Madwen Morgana Alafan:
The kind and loving queen of Albion. Was a simple village girl living in a village near the Laughing wood along with her brother working as a healer and was the one who'd run off the malevolent fey if they bothered the village. Eventually she and the king would fall in love. What became of her after the Kings death is uncertain. Sigurd helped her escape the castle, but after that it is uncertain. Rumors say she pleaded with the moon for Vengeance.

Lady Erahith:
A tuatha mage who stood steadfastly by the king, joining him shortly after his training had concluded. Fell in love with Gerainth. She carried his magical sword far, far away so that it wouldn't fall into the hands of the rebels. Supposedly died peacefully, passing the sword down to her children - who some say would still bear the blood of Gerainth.

Lord Regimbald:
A human of dubious origins. A wise man with 'eyes which reflected the seas of another goddess'. He joined the king some years after the slaying of the Dragon of Black. His reputation is a bit mixed - considered knowledgeable and insightful of many things, but also possessing a somewhat ill temperament and personality. When the rebels stormed the castle, he was found on the vacant throne laughing before he thus told the rebels the prophecy for the future. Supposedly only one man who saw him that day left the throne room alive.

The Nameless Knight of Betrayal:
once of the Knights closest knights and confidants, she led a rebellion against the king. Legend says she was jealous that he would take another woman as his wife. Possessing armor and spear crafted from a storm dragon, she was considered the strongest and most loyal of knights up until that moment. Her true name is only spoken in hushed tones, and most general folks likely wouldn't know of it. Depicted as having a spear made of the corpse of a storm dragon, and wearing armor the color of gold and red. Said to have been slayed by the Dragonslayer, Sigurd.

Sigurd the Dragonslayer:
One of the most well known and also popular knights from the tales. Sigurd slayed the dragon Fafnir, gaining incredibly powerful physical ability upon doing so. Supposedly crafting weapons from its body, he went on to become a beast-slayer that defended the land from the likes of many Elder Beasts. A children favorite most of the time. Fiercely fought the traitor knight until he could no longer and was one of the few survivors. He returned to the castle, where it was said he would protect the castle until the new king of Albion would return.

Gerainth the Valiant, Saint of the Sword:
the 'Most handsome knight' under the kings command. Supposedly a bit of rapscallion with a habit of being a bit to fond of women, the knight possessed reportedly innumerable magical blades they could call upon at will to pierce foes. Was slain by Isolt the Lion at the edge of the great bridge, giving Sigurd enough time to evacuate the queen and its civilians. Gave his sword to Lady Erahith to protect as his dying wish.

Mathilda the Watchful Star:
Not much is known about this knight, her deeds less well known and fewer. However, her importance was no less than any of the others. Possessing a bow made from the mysteries of the Endless Night, it was said she stood atop the tallest tower in Lunestel Castle. Her eyes could see across the entire land, and her bow could rain stars down upon the unsuspecting interlopers who would dare stand against the king. In the end, she could not bring her bow against the King, nor could she bring herself to harm her former comrades. So she left before the final battle, taking a dwarven ship across the northern sea to find solace.

Lord Harzel Alafan:
A man who was half brother to the queen, sharing the same father. A serious sort who was cursed to be 'Beloved by the Unseelie' Possessed no remarkable skills other than a sturdy body and was often in charge of more dubious operations under the king and had learned many tricks for dealing with Fairies and how best to kill or placate them over the years. Killed by Waltram, the Champion of the Sun in a duel after Harzel had made terrible mistake. Supposedly his body was stolen away by the Unseelie Queen at the time. Some say she revived him with particularly terrible magic.

The knight he loved would later go on to give birth to a second child...who's descendant would eventually become known as King Harzelslack.

Isolt The Lion
A cavalry commander bearing lance and riding upon a horse kin to an Elder Beast. Supposedly an artificial creation by a fomorian who turned against their masters. Possessed incredible strength and speed and a lance that could 'roar like a mighty beast and make the heavens and earth shudder'. Was close friends with the Traitor Knight, and in the end threw her lot in with her. Was wounded by Gerainth in the final battle, but would recover not long after the battle had reached its end. Though her pride and honor were tarnished, she would travel far, far below where not even giants nor dwarves dare to tread to find the answers she sought.

Waltram, Champion of the Sun
Often considered a foil to the king. A former ruler in his own right, who possessed a blade similar to the kings, but of Sun and Hope instead of Moon and Portent. Supposedly had the blood of giants, he wielded great strength and honor, and had a penchant for challenging opponents to knightly duels in order to resolve differences. He had been returning to the castle from a Wyvern extermination when he received news of what had happened. Initially he desired to help the king, but would end up in a duel with Harzel where Harzel would be slain. Not realizing the full scope of what had occurred, he'd grow disillusioned upon seeing the body of Gerainth and Margeth and the pure white walls of the castle stained with blood. For once, in his life, the hope he inspired in others vanished and his blade dulled, never to duel again.

He would seek his end among the giants that he called kin.

Princess Margeth Harzel
Daughter of Harzel and supposedly a knight he fancied. Was gifted a magical axe by the Tuatha upon her birth, and would later go on to be a knight errant, traveling around the kingdom to solve problems. A bright, spunky and friendly girl by most accounts. Had a tendency to wear full armor and used magic to mask her voice to avoid suitors. However, when she got word that the Traitor Knight was leading a rebellion she hurried back, forgetting to bring her axe.

She was slain by her father in the initial chaotic moments of battle not realizing who she was.

Sir Friedwald, the Beast-speaker:
A man from the north, from what is now known as the Field of Ghosts. Unlike most, he preferred life among the wild and the beasts - and supposedly had even befriended several of them. How true it is, is up for debate but it is true he was the first one the king turned to when dealing with elder beasts to see if a more peaceful and less violent solution could be found. For whatever reason, he threw his lot in with the Traitor Knight, using the power of a particularly tricky beast that could travel great distances in instants to sneak past the main body of the kings army and ambush the castle, nearly obliterating the forces before they had a chance to even react. Eventually the remnants of the Kings army would chase him all the way to the north once more, but the beasts of the land supposedly protected him.

[Pyromania99]

Lunalel Lightsword

Name: Lunalel Lightsword

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Appearance:



Abilities:
Luna is one of the strongest warriors from her family. Part of that comes from her unwavering training in her youth and part is from an inherited power in her lineage. Long ago, a dying Elder Beast made her family, so long as they were honorable warriors, inherit the remnants of her strength throughout their line. It was an Elder Beast of Light and Honor, or so the stories told. Out of her two elder brothers, her and a younger brother and sister, it appeared as though she were the one to inherit most of the generations power though the family’s heir was close behind her.

For that, she is able to use a variety of Light based Magics. Healing and creating weapons from that light based magic, hence the family name, as well coating her weapon with light energy to strengthen it (though this can become taxing). She also can create damaging beams of light from her hands that damage opponents. Among other things, of course.

In addition to her family’s boon from an Elder Beast, there were stories that far before the Lightswords were even called such, they had mixings with giants and have a very small amount of giant blood in their veins. There isn’t much to it. They have a small affinity for the giant’s relation to fire which gives them a resistance to the cold. Luna won’t be jumping in a freezing ocean but she can more easily resist the cold winds of the north. Their strength is also increased a small bit thanks to their giant ancestors.

History:
A long time ago, to the cold north, the Lightsword family was not known as such. It was a clan of warriors with no such name. Then one day, Lucilia, an Elder Beast, took them under her wing. She saw their honor in combat and taught them and blessed them with her power. From that day, the clan was blessed with Light Magic. They fought with Lucilia for years until one day, she lost in battle and was put on her death bed. As she lay, she told the clan that they would continue to receive her blessing in their lineage so long as they stayed honorable warriors. The clan wholeheartedly agreed and had their entire line blessed and given the name, Lightsword. So the story goes, skipping over a couple of specifics. Still, Lunalel goes by this story, proud of it. If one asked her to recite the tale, no matter how many times, she definitely wouldn’t mind sharing it. She could recite the majority of the tale perfectly since even before she could hold a blade properly though that was earlier than a normal child, given the family’s heritage. And when she could hold the blade, she trained with it the rest of her life, becoming one of the best swordsmen or women of her generation in Lightsword territory. After a time, she went on active patrols with the soldiers. They would patrol the land and made sure that there was no threat of robbers, brigands, bandits, monsters and many other things. From there she received a reputation of being fairly well liked among the soldiers for a couple of things. They trusted her strength and endurance, such as when she made every grown man seem like a small child when she won a drinking contest against some of the best!

In recent days, Lunalel was with a number of soldiers in a small patrol. While on patrol, they were beset by a large pack of feral, starving beasts. While they would be able to slay a number of the beasts on their own, there were too many of them as they were being surrounded. Some beasts lunged and were quickly dispatched by the squad as they started to back up trying to not get fully surrounded and soon they made a break for it. They knew the location of a chokepoint nearby so they could prevent being surrounded on all sides.

As they retreated, the beasts were on their heels trying to maul or bite them only to receive spear thrusts or sword swipes. One soldier was about to be pounced on by the beast! Quickly, Luna aimed her hand at the oncoming beast and shot it with a beam of light powerful enough to kill it’s frail being. Soon, the group arrived in a cave, as defensible as one could get against beasts like this. They set up a position ready to strike down any beast that enters. Soon, a pile of haggard and starving corpses lay at their feet but there was no sign of them stopping. They wondered what could possibly push such beasts to attack without regard but there was little time to discuss it before they had to defend themselves. Soon, however, a loud crackle was heard outside the cave and a figure appeared before them…

The figure, a woman, then asked them if they belong to the Lightsword house, to which of course, Lunalel smiled and admitted that she was the first daughter of Lord Lightsword before thanking her for saving them. From there, she led the woman to the castle. Where she introduced the woman and reported the attack. The woman needed to talk to her father about something and he dismissed everyone in attendance aside his Heir. Sometime later that day, her Father came to her and told her that she had a month to get ready for she had somewhere to go for him.

Anything else:
-Has a High Tolerance for Alcohol. Particularly likes the taste of mead.
-Her family has her mother and father (though apparently she takes more after her father), her two elder brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister and many extended relatives aside.
-Insists others call her Luna, rather than Lunalel, if they’re friends.
-Gets flustered if a woman starts to hit on her.

[A Lowly Wretch]

Od

Name: Od.

Age: 19.

Gender: Female.

Appearance:

Full Body

Beneath the armor she's got the form of a warrior, albeit one that's seen very little sun. She's got a tall, almost statuesque body with fairly pale skin. Her face isn't particularly remarkable but she's got a very thoughtful, serious look as her resting expression. Her hair is crudely cut to a semi-short length. It's still something of a disheveled mess of wavy pale green hair hair but it only comes partway down to her neck with the bangs purposefully shortened to not cover her eyes.

Abilities:

She is not aware of the true origin of her abilities but in being used by the formorians she was quick to learn this about herself: Her blood is filled with the essence of life itself, revitalizing all that it touches. Naturally this grants her swift healing, wounds sealing shut in mere minutes. Were she to be torn to pieces only the largest remaining chunk of her would begin to grow as the soul is indivisible, missing pieces only growing back once they rejoin the formal whole. In addition the blood also provides a strong immune system, rendering her staunchly resistant to most diseases and able to bounce back from the deadliest poisons. Additionally her blood rids her of all but the most immediate of fatigue. While she might tire after exerting herself to the absolute limit in the short run a brief reprieve will leave her as good as new.

These qualities are not limited to her either. Though her blood might be thick, sticky and have the color of sap it can be imbibed, like drinking syrup, which temporarily confers it's benefits to the consumer. It can also be applied directly to wounds which will greatly accelerate cell regrowth in the area. This quality not only affects animals but plants too, restoring wilted vegetation to full health and even allowing seeds planted to germinate much faster.

Something that only applies to her is that her flesh is naturally as tough as wood. It's just as flexible as normal tissue however it's much harder to slice, similar to a tree in resilience. Additionally while her flesh is still flush with blood it will remain alive and active as though she was still whole, even when torn apart. Her head, body and limbs will all maintain all the physical functions still available to them and act according to her will until they die. It's entirely feasible for her to pick up her own head and reattach it to her neck, albeit awkward to navigate a headless body from where her head lays.

Death for her mostly occurs when the cells are no longer capable of healing. Fire and acid are the most immediate ways of ensuring this as they damage on a cellular level. Exsanguination will also quickly leave her less capable of healing since the blood is needed to promote regrowth. Things that bring about death such as necrosis hurt her since the blood cannot reanimate what is already dead. Lastly her blood offers her little protection against magic that isn't directly opposed by the element of life that is infused throughout.

As for her skills she was trained by a veteran knight in the art of combat. Because of her toughness she often opts to wield a blade one handed and leave her off-hand open for strikes and grappling maneuvers. She is trained in use of a shield or blade in her off-hand but her preference is a lighter style which lets her fight with more speed and aggression, using her natural durability to makeup for the lighter armor and lack of a shield. This style is further emphasized by the magical sword she inherited from her late king.

She wields the Sword of Damocles, a blade named after the fae king who forged this weapon. It's blade looks akin to frosted glass with an elegant silvery guard. It's hilt has a grip that is woven from the hairs taken from a horse's tail and the pommel appears to be a crystalline prism. The blade itself is extremely thin with edges finer than glass and it is no wider than Od's pinky finger. The enchantment on this sword makes it extremely durable despite it's fragile appearance, able to withstand forces that would sunder even a steel blade. It also does not rust nor chip, remaining pristine under any conditions. It's true power however lies in the sword's ability to cut through nearly anything with the same ease one would find in cutting through water. Metal, earth, hide and bone, naught but the most magically protected of materials can withstand the cutting edge of this blade. It is so sharp that even touching the flat of the blade would leave a cut on one's hand.

But for all the power the sword offers it comes at a terrible cost. A powerful curse sleeps within this blade. Any and every attack made by this weapon has a chance of awakening the curse within. When this happens the sword will quite literally turn upon it's wielder and run them through. The Sword of Damocles has passed down across many hands. Time and time again their fate is the same, unstoppable in battle until that fatal moment when the sword finally turns it's blade on them instead.

Will Od be the one to finally tame this wicked sword?

History:

Her earliest memories are fuzzy and distant. The most she could remember of her early childhood were faded words of which only |Od| was legible and a strange tree illuminated in the dark. Shortly thereafter she was taken by the formorians, twisted creatures that dwell in dark places. Their master was a formorian of fairly keen intellect, one who grasped quickly what she was capable of after some painful experimentation. From then onwards for the rest of her childhood she was farmed for blood by the master formorian who sealed it in flasks and distributed it to his servants as a means of keeping them alive in combat longer.

At the age of eleven she was liberated after the formorian's stronghold was raided by brave knights of a noble king. Though the master fled as the battle seemed lost he was unable to keep much of what he possessed, including her. When she was freed from her shackles the knights found that she knew nothing save for what she observed from the formorians. With no home and no real identity save for the word Od she was taken back with them. There they gave her a new life, teaching her the ways of her fellow humans and giving her the freedom to choose the life she wished to lead. As the knights were the closest thing she had to a real family she swore to follow in their footsteps and serve the king just as they did: as a knight.

So she was trained in the art of warfare, serving many long years as a squire to one of the king's closest knights. One fateful day however as he led his knights in battle against cruel servants of the formorians the king's legendary sword finally turned on him, it's curse bringing it to end the man's life then and there. His men had to retreat but Od was the first to try and retrieve their fallen king. As he breathed his last breath he asked for Od to claim his sword before he declared her a true knight. Obeying his wishes she pulled the sword from his body, no longer a squire but a true knight.

After they returned however the fellow knights were not so understanding. Now with the king dead and Od being the only one to have heard his final declaration there was no proof that the king had made her a knight or given her the right to claim his sword. Od knew that she was telling the truth and though hard as it was for her to turn against the men she once deemed family she wanted to honor the king's final words. In the dark of night she rode out from the kingdom, hoping that with her absence the unrest amidst the now masterless knights would settle.

After roaming the land, free to follow whatever direction she chose Od found herself aimless, wandering from town to town without any real ambition to pursue. All she had been taught from the day she was rescued was combat, she had no other skills to truly integrate into these various communities. Thus, since combat was her only trade she offered her service to those in need of a blade. She only ever asked for enough money to feed herself and mend her gear, only ever serving those who's need for her violence was just.

Eventually, she found herself in the company of the queen, an upcoming monarch bringing knights of renown under her service. Od was keen to accept her offer, eager to finally perform her duties as a knight for the first time since she became one.

Though she may be young she's seen much. Still, there is much more for her to see yet.

Anything else: It is quite possible that the ruins she was taken from as a young child were a leftover remnant of the Endless Night, something buried long ago and forgotten. It is where she derived her name.

She knows a fair amount about the formorians, including their language, given how she had spent so long amidst them.

[VitaVitaAR]

• Name: Fio Fan Fallise, also known as the Sword Witch
• Age: 20
• Gender: Female
• Appearance: "Hmph. Just wait and see what this witch can do." A very petite girl, easily mistaken for a child even on close examination. She resents this.
• Abilities: A highly capable witch, from a bloodline of magic users lasting back to the ancient king's times. Fio's catalyst is a sword, with a slender and elegant blade and a blue and gold hilt. She cannot fight reliably with it, but it is an excellent catalyst for casting spells all the same. Her chief method of offense is the conjuration of Phantom Swords, though she can use other forms of magic she favors Phantom Swords for her most direct and powerful method of dealing damage, as the Phantom Swords have considerable armor-piercing capabilities even in their base state when fired as projectiles. Her personal durability is quite low, and thus Fio also has capability in barrier spells in order to protect herself from being harmed. By casting a spell and attaching modifiers to it(such as summoning a number of Phantom Swords then adding commands to repeat the process to add more swords) she can alter it or increase its effects.
  Additionally, she possesses three doll familiars. These familiars are intelligent and have their own personalities, feelings, and specialities.
• History: Fio's family has practiced magic for a considerable amount of time. It is said that she is descended from a court mage of the Ancient King, and her sword catalyst was a gift to her ancestor that has been passed down through the generations to her. Living in a secluded place, a small but remarkably cozy home, she swiftly gained a reputation as a witch due to her rather irritable interactions with travelers and her rather obvious usage of magic. Given her unique usage of a sword as her catalyst, she has been called both the Sword Witch. Needless to say, given her family history, it was only obvious that she would come to accompany one claiming to be a reincarnation of the King, if only out of curiosity. Can she really be what she claims to be?
• Anything else: Fio is a rather irritable girl who does not tolerate foolishness. While she hates being mistaken for a child, she has childish mannerisms such as a love of sweet things and a fascination with dolls and small, cute animals. Regardless, she is still a capable practioner of magic and will quickly remind anyone in doubt over her abilities of that fact. Personally, she is not at all certain if Sorcha is what she claims to be. Rather, she desires to find that out for herself, her curiosity being the main reason for her presence to begin with. While her irritable personality can make her rather grating to be around, she does not take alliances lightly and possesses a deep hatred for those who would betray the trust of others.

[Crimson Paladin]

Ice Knight

Name: Ethelred

Age: 134 (26 when frozen, only recently thawed)

Gender: Male

Appearance: Ethelred currently cannot remove his armor, thus it is all anyone sees of him.

Abilities:
Ethelred was altered by a malevolent unseelie's curse, and is now what he has deemed "kin" to ice and snow. Freezing temperatures do not harm or hinder him, and he can see through ice, allowing him to navigate snowstorms and see through his frozen helmet. He can freeze things by touch, through his armor or even through the tip of his lance, and in enclosed spaces he can measurably chill the air around him. He doesn't seem to need to eat or drink, and he's not entirely sure why. He's also not entirely sure why the curse didn't affect his mind- perhaps the curse was flawed, or perhaps killing the fey stopped its progression before that point.

Another effect of the curse is that his armor seems to have fused with him, and taken on an icy, crystalline appearance. The armor slowly "heals" any damage inflicted upon it, including any attempt to shave off its crystalline protrusions. His lance and shield were also altered, but mercifully they were not merged with him.

Ethelred's horse, which suffered the same curse as him, remains a loyal companion despite its twisted appearance. Its horns and protrusions allow it to defend itself effectively, and like Ethelred, it's not bothered by freezing temperatures.

As a knight, Ethelred is skilled in the use of his lance both mounted and dismounted. It might not have a cutting edge, but it makes for a brutal bludgeon and the tip is quite sharp, as the fey that cursed him found out the hard way.

History:
Over a century ago, Ethelred was the youngest son of a noble family that controlled a small piece of land. Being somewhat removed in line to inherit their land, he was never particularly interested in politics and intrigue. Instead, he became a knight-errant, a wandering warrior seeking to emulate the heroic tales of the old king of Albion. He traveled the land, helped people, and battled bandits and raiders who would prey on the weak and vulnerable, and occasionally even came into conflict with supernatural malefactors. He never figured that his family would miss him- after all, he was the spare of a spare of a spare- and he reasoned they'd probably be more comfortable with one less potential claimant scheming to inherit.

While traveling through a rarely-treaded mountain pass, Ethelred was suddenly beset by a magical spell. His boots froze to the ground, and a layer of ice began to form around them, spreading up his legs. His horse fared no better, rooted to the spot by the same curse. As Ethelred tried in vain to free himself, an unseelie approached, its inhuman voice chuckling at the knight's plight. It gloated about how this curse was its doing, and how it would enjoy what came next but in the middle of its ramblings, Ethelred thrust his lance forward and stabbed the fey through the torso just before his right arm froze up, a final defiant blow.

As the evil fairy tried to pull itself free of the weapon, its face turned to horror as it saw the ice advancing along the lance. The last thing Ethelred remembers as his head froze over is seeing is the fey frantically struggling as it too was encased in an icy tomb, a victim of its own wicked curse. It's not an entirely bad way to die, he thought as it went black.

The next thing he remembered was waking up on the ground, having been freed from his frozen prison. Above him stood a radiant woman, sword in hand. She spoke of the king's return, the beasts being slain, the fey facing retribution, and traitors facing reckoning. By the time Ethelred regained enough strength to stand up and ask who she was, she was gone. Stirring awake next to him was what he initially believed to be some sort of elder beast before he realized it was his horse, twisted into some sort of strange ice creature by the unseelie's curse.

It didn't take Ethelred long to realize that he too was changed by the curse. His armor, which had taken a strange crystalline appearance, would not come off, including his helmet. The freezing cold temperatures no longer bothered him, and found himself no longer growing hungry or thirsty. His first was to interrogate the fey that cursed him, still frozen with his lance in its chest. He attempted to free the unseelie by smashing the ice that imprisoned it, but this only caused the frozen fairy to shatter into pieces. If it wasn't dead before, it was definitely dead now. At least his lance wasn't broken, though.

With little hope of finding more information on this curse, he descended the mountain and found a changed land. It seems he had been frozen for over a hundred years now, and things had gotten even worse in Albion over that period. He also learned that the frozen forms of him, his horse, and the fey had not gone unnoticed, and had gained some local fame as "The Frozen Knight", as both a landmark for those navigating the mountains, and as a symbol of human defiance against the Unseelie. It was a relief to him that the local highlanders weren't afraid of him, and it was probably a relief to them that he intended to be the very symbol of human spirit and resilience that they had made him out to be.

Ethelred set out in search of the woman that freed him. He traveled from town to town, helping the locals, taking time to master his new powers, and catch up on the state of Albion. By the time he reached the queen to pledge himself to her, having decided her goal was a worthy one, word had already gotten around of his deeds.

Anything else:
About 40 years ago, his family got into a conflict with another noble family and ended up getting wiped out, and their castle reduced to a ruin. The perpetrator of the massacre, currently the rival family head, is still alive but elderly, and Ethelred wants justice. For now he's stayed his hand, either because he wants to help the queen establish a law of the land by which justice can be carried out, or perhaps he's biding his time because as the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold.

Another thing is that while he doesn't want to lose his powers, he would at least like to be able to find a way to take off his armor.

[Guy0fV4lor]

The Unbreakable Blade of Reinhardt

Name: Sir Elias Von Reinhardt

Age: 25

Gender: Male

Appearance:

Abilities:

[Blood Of Fafnir]

_{Fafnir was once an Elder Beast of fire and might that ruled over a Clan of Giants with brute force alone. Upon slaying the beast; Sir Sigurd von Reinhardt took Fafnir's strength as his own, the ancient Dragon's stolen might becoming inherent to House Reinhardt for generations to come. This power; bound to the Reinhardt bloodline, often manifests as a birthmark in the shape of Fafnir's final wound and located over the heart.}

[Peak Human]

_{Though his sheer strength alone makes Reinhardt capable of crushing stone with his bare hands, his other physical capabilities are top-tier when compared to his fellow man.}

[Magic Sense]

_{Despite having no magical ability of his own, Reinhardt is decently capable at detecting the flow and presence of magic.}

[Expert Swordsman]

_{Though not among the best swordsmen in the land of Albion, the countless hours of practice Reinhardt has put into his swordsmanship can hardly be disregarded.}

[The Unbreakable]

<sub>Due to Reinhardt's tendency to return from battles unscathed, rumors would suggest the man's skin to be impenetrable by normal means... However true such a thing might be-- no one quite knows for certain.

Recent events have revealed that there may be more to Reinhardt's seeming invulnerability than it would at first seem....</sub>

History:

Reinhardt. The name of a knightly house that has served the people of Albion since the rule of it's first king. A house renowned for producing heirs of unmatched physical might and tenacity-- as well as some of the most legendary beast slayers Albion has ever known. Charged with eliminating threats in the Northeastern territories of the kingdom, House Reinhardt upheld its oath to protect the people of Albion even centuries after the King had met his end.

But every vigil is destined to end eventually.

Through the countless years of fighting beasts and brigands and Fomorians alike, the overwhelming strength of the once great house was whittled away bit by bit. Constant fighting against tireless enemies slowly drained the House's numbers, ancient heirlooms were lost, stolen, or destroyed, what little crop the territories could muster was consumed just as fast as it could be produced. By the time Elias Reinhardt had come into the world, his mother, father, and uncle were the last of the Reinhardt line; the walls of their once venerable Castle Reinhardt crumbling and the many chambers within it's halls left dirty, and unkempt.

Even as the end loomed over what remained of house Reinhardt, the Lord of the house; ever dutiful to the people of Albion, still raised Elias as a knight. At age eight, Elias was was taught to wield a sword. At ten, he was taught to hunt. At fourteen he learned how to harvest useful materials from the bodies of beasts. At sixteen the young man was Knighted, and at eighteen the young warrior even managed to successfully drive off a great vulture; an Elder beast of misfortune, from the Northeastern territories.

At twenty-two years old, the young Elias Reinhardt was dispatched to face the most dangerous foe he'd ever faced. A Tuathan scholar that had been studying the nature a Fey artifact that had been discovered in the region had been driven mad by the twisted magics of the Unseelie, and threatened to make the lands of the Northeastern territories even more of a wasteland than they already were. For ten moons the Knight fought the mage; their battle raging without repose through night and day alike...

It is said that the young Reinhardt; though his armor and weapon had been broken beyond repair, returned to Castle Reinhardt without so much as a scratch... But forever changed.

Now the young knight travels South to the town of Airedale, carrying a letter addressed to the one rumored capable of saving the land; the very king his family had once so faithfully served.

Anything else:

• Elias is the first of house Reinhardt to leave the Northeastern territories since the end of the first King's reign.
• Despite his family's reputation as beast hunters, Elias himself seems to avoid people associated with the elder beasts.
• Elias has a tendency to accidentally break his weapons.
• The Reinhardt family birthmark often gives off a dull orange glow that intensifies proportional to physical effort.

Memorials

"All this destruction... This great ruination of our Kingdom... You who would turn our legacy to little more than a smouldering pile of ash... Tell me--"

"Was it worth it?"

S̷͍̈̕͝î̸̺̚g̵̲̀̀͘u̵̯̬̽̆r̷͖͓̟͊̕d̶͈̞̗͒ ̵͔͍͑V̵͉͆̋̋ô̷̩̑̈n̵̬̜̑ ̴̰̼̋̚R̸͕̉e̴͈̥̫̎̾͝ḭ̴͂̕͘n̶̾̄͜h̷̛̭̞͊́á̴̟̪̊̈́ŗ̸̪͋d̴͔͉̚̕͜t̴̢̓ ̸̲̔͜

[Cu Chulainn]

In spite of his rage, he is still just an... elf on a shelf?

Name: Marduk Swordwind

Age: Late 20s

Gender: Male

Appearance:
A jaded man with a foul mouth, Marduk stands at a measly 5'7" and bears an impressively athletic build. What betrays his Elven heritage are his otherworldly youth, piercing emerald eyes, and hair white as snow. He usually dresses sparsely, preferring mobility over protection in most engagements and trusting in the speed of his Elven blood.

Abilities:
Stronger and faster than the average human, Marduk possesses the body of a natural warrior. While it isn't particularly hardy, his mastery of arms allows him to hold most foes at bay. His proficiency with most forms of weaponry is his greatest skill, having been trained by Elven weapon-masters who possess centuries of experience in the art of war. He has particularly trained in the usage of the staff, seeing it as an "origin point" for most other combat forms. Marduk was able to pick up such skills rather quickly due to his particularly potent Elven blood, and his strong connection to his Leargas. Such a connection was awakened when Marduk had "consumed" a fairy.

Marduk's Leargas in question is quite powerful, even in comparison to the ones that most Elves possess, his ancestor possessing a strong warrior's spirit. By drawing upon the memories of his ancestor, Marduk is capable of summoning divine shades of his ancestor's weapons, each one artifacts of a god from a bygone era. Blessed constructs of light that burn away curses, he can only summon one armament at a time. However, the more he taps into the hidden power of such weapons, the further he risks himself of getting completely possessed by his ancestor, losing his sense of self in the process. Even now, Marduk is prone to fits of rage in the midst of combat, the wrath of his ancestor forever beating in his heart, a bloodlust that only a life of battle could quell.

It is believed that finding the artifacts of his ancestor would give Marduk a greater control of his Leargas, perhaps even quell his ancestor's rage in full. However, they are all lost to time, having been scattered since the betrayal of the Fairies. These weapons are a great sword, a war hammer, a pair of daggers, and a spear. By giving an "anchor" to the memories of his ancestor's armaments, perhaps Marduk could even unlock their true potential...

History:
A man of few words, with those few words being foul and uncouth, much of Marduk's past is shrouded in mystery. His earliest memory was that one fateful night. He was merely a child, and he had awoken to a scene of bloodshed, one where the bodies of many Fomorians were strewn across the ground before him. In his hands, he had clutched the remains of a fairy, its blood painted all over his face. Not soon after was he taken in by a group of Elves, still very dazed and confused. It was then that he was given the name "Marduk," among other things, namely being told that his Leargas had awakened, and he was the host to a powerful ancestral spirit.

Afterwards, Marduk remembered being raised among the Elves, having taught many things by their kin. From meditation techniques he found rather boring, to feats of arms that he was particularly excited about, Marduk was immersed in their fading warrior culture. Unbeknownst to him, he was raised among a particular sect of Elves, a warrior cult with ties to Marduk's Elven ancestor. Even so, they declined to share with Marduk anything significant of his ancestry. Not that he cared too much in the end, although the constant secret-keeping grated on the youth as he grew older. It didn't help that the very same Elves held high expectations of Marduk, constantly comparing him with his particular ancestor. And as much as he desired to leave, the Elves insisted that he must stay and complete his training, as his bloodline would mark him as a target of the Fomorians.

It wasn't until he had spent his twentieth long winter with the Elves that they finally had shared with Marduk the secrets of his ancestor. The weapons he was able to draw out from his Leargas were scattered all around Albion, and it was his solemn duty to find each of these weapons, as only those of Marduk's ancestry are capable of truly wielding them. He was also informed that the reason the Elves were so hard on Marduk was because his Leargas required great discipline in order to truly wield, a lesson deeply ingrained within Marduk. Frankly, Marduk thought this was all a crock of bullshit, but didn't mind finally being left off the hook for once. Now, sent off with such a lofty goal in mind, Marduk was quick to learn more about the land of Albion, not knowing that his every action from here would be heavily scrutinized by powers beyond his control.

Anything else:
Not knowing his ancestor's true identity or name, Marduk refers to his Leargas as "Sharur," something he's heard the Elves whisper in hushed tones. He believes Sharur to be the dynasty of an ancient ruler or warlord of sorts, seeing as the Elves believe he is of royal blood.

While he acts like he barely knows the language, Marduk seems to be quite fluent in Elvish, possibly due to the influence of his Leargas. He would rather play the fool, however, if it meant listening in on juicy Elf gossip.

Marduk's ancestors had exiled themselves a short time before the Elves betrayed the last of the gods. Because of this, Marduk carries a seething hatred for the Fomorians and the Unseelie, one that he seldom is able to hold back. Gods forbid if his ancestor had any say in such matters.

Marduk's strength is quite baffling as he is capable of wielding weapons larger than any human would, let alone one of his lithe frame. Perhaps it is due to his diet?

It seems that although he is trained in ranged combat, Marduk shuns the use of dedicated ranged weaponry, including the bow and arrow, a favorite of the Elves. When asked, he merely comments that such weapons are "chicken shit." This same sentiment is held for most forms of armor.

Marduk carries with his person a wooden staff enchanted with durability and hardness, his primary weapon so he doesn't have to solely rely on his Leargas. He also wears the standard cloak and boots of the elves, equipment that allows him to skulk about silently and without being seen. Particularly effective within wooded lands.

[FrogRFlowR]

The Owl Knight

Niall Ulchabhán

23 years of age, Male

♪

Hider

History
Niall has appeared a few years ago out of seemingly thin air. As the land fell into dark times and people were needed to step up, he took up arms and oaths to fulfill and set out through the land as a Vagrant Knight, with no real titles or possession safe on his person. He would travel to land to help villagers and people in need and quickly made sort of a name for himself as a wandering, local folk hero of some sort. No one could ever see his face for two reason; he almost exclusively traveled and did his work at night and he also almost never removed his helmet. This is what earned him his nickname; The Owl Knight.

Anything else

Niall was raised by benevolent but secretive Tuathas. They did not tell him much of how he came under their care but he believes, from what he heard, that they found him lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night. His parents may have been set upon or abandoned him, it isn't known. They raised him to value pacifism and to resort to violence as a last resort. They taught him about his people and what he was and the History of this land, and of course - they taught him to fight. Not because they believed in it, but because they knew that he was a Human and could not stay on Mount Sliabh indefinitely. Not being able, or wanting, to alter his direct body with enchantments, the Tuathas created a familiar for Niall. An Owl, Gwdihw, a magical creation that had fey properties and was linked directly to Niall through a powerful magical link. It was like an extension of his person, and grants him certain abilities. They also gifted him with his signature helmet and the Lance he uses in combat, The Eye of Night.

Abilities

Niall is a gifted fighter in general, but what sets him apart is his training and magical abilities gained through his time with the Tuathas. Niall attack most often from the Dark, taking his targets at a disadvantage, and strike with extreme speed and precision.

Gwdihw, his pet owl familiar who can always be found near Niall. Through it, Niall is gifted multiple magical and fantastical abilities that aid him in his quest.

Owl Accuracy: Niall is gifted with augmented visual prowess. He can see in the night like a predatory bird, and in the day or
night he can strike with extreme precision and at high speed.

The Eye of Night: The Owl Knight can bring forth from his lance a magic that would resemble some sort of mist, albeit very
dark, that would stretch over a certain area and simulate a moonless night.

Wind Magic: The ability that is the centerpiece of Niall's combat style, and used in conjecture with the others. He can use
Wind Magic to to grant himself greater speed and jump higher and further. His enemies could easily think he can levitate or fly, but
they would be wrong.

[BrokenPromise]

Hermit

Luana Roycroft

Forrest Hermit

Age 24 | Female | 5'10

Appearance

+

Abilities

Hunter's Spear Mastery

Luana is capable with a spear in her hands. She's been using them since she was old enough to hunt and has become proficient in their use. Years of hunts have honed her body, but her athletic prowess is very much in the realm of what a human could normally achieve. She can reliably hold off common ruffians, but she'll need to get creative to overcome foes with enhanced strength.

Endless Eclipse

A nigh-indestructible spear head that's as broad as her arm. The spear head sparkles like the night sky, but its twinkle is overpowered by sunlight. The spear itself is short (as long as she is tall) but is light and compact enough to be useful in a forest. While the spear head is strong, the shaft is made out of wood and isn't any stronger than a standard spear shaft. The spear's real special ability is to let it's wielder divine information. If they thirst, they can see the location of a pond. If they are hunting someone, they need only think their name to see their location. The visions that Endless Eclipse shows Luana are not accompanied by sound, and it can be difficult to discern something's location if Luana is not familiar with the area. As an example, she could easily see that a bandit hideout resides within a cave, but might have difficulty discerning where the cave was located if there weren't other hints to go by.

Druid Craft

Anyone who spends that much time in the wilderness is bound to learn how to control it. Luana has two primary uses for her druid craft. The first is that she can turn into any animal she has seen so long is it's no larger than a bear or smaller than a house cat. Any injury she sustains in an animal form will carry over to her real one when she turns back. She can also give herself small animal traits, such as gills for breathing underwater or light sensitive eyes for dark vision. She can only give herself one of these features at a time. The second aspect of her druid craft is the ability to manipulate plant growth. Vines can spiral out of control in seconds, and acorns can grow into fully fledged trees in minutes. While animal shapes are easy to maintain, plant growth requires quite a bit of concentration, especially if it's being used for more than a few seconds at a time. She does carry a few acorns and vine seeds on herself should she find herself out of the wilderness.

Survival

Luana knows her way around the wilderness. She knows what's safe to eat and what's poisonous, how to track animals, and the best plants to make antivenoms and salves out of. Even out of the forest, she usually carries a few vials to use in a pinch. But Luana is hardly an alchemist. Her antivenoms are good against most venomous attacks, but are too feeble to treat magical poisons. Salves and the like can stem bleeding and aid recovery, but won't instantly heal a wound.

History

Elves are content to live their entire lives in Lymensari forest, but most humans wouldn't dream of it.

Ever since her parents told her about the betrayed god, she's had a desire to see an elf. Surely they looked more fantastic than any of those scary formorian fellows. Though at such a young age, she wasn't sure how to go about completing such a task. When you were only 6, no one took you too seriously. Sure, there were some boys her age that promised to show her some elves if she married them. Another claimed to be an elf in disguise. That was fascinating, but it was becoming more and more apparent that if Luana was going to see an elf, it was going to have to be something she did herself.

Her desire to see elves shaped a lot of her childhood decisions. Luana spent a lot of time at the outfitters trying to understand how everything worked. What was essential for a trip or what made for the best hunting knife. Her parents refused to buy her anything that might help her run away from home, but they would buy her books that she liked. She read about all kinds of wildlife and plants.

As she got older, her freedoms grew. Her knowledge about the local wildlife made her an asset during hunting expeditions. She insisted on being armed just like the guys, and trained with them extensively. When she wasn't training or hunting, she was practicing other skills. Most girls sewed clothes, but Luana was learning how to sew up wounds and make salves out of the local plant life.

One day the hunting party got a bit too eager while chasing a boar. The frenzied hunters were unaware of how deep into the wood the boar had taken them. The trees were getting thick, but surely a wounded boar wouldn't be that much trouble. And they were right. But the forest was home to many creatures, most more dangerous than a common boar.

What insued was a slaughter.

The hunting spears did little to the creature's hide, and it was famished. The thick forest didn't impede its movement, and a single swing of its tail could break a tree, let alone the bones of the hunters. Everyone was running for their lives. Luana's thirst for adventure had been sated, and her only thought was that she had to survive. The hunting party split up, knowing that this creature was impossible to outrun. Better a few of them perish than all of them. Luana was not lucky enough to avoid the creature's gaze.

She should have died. She was weaker than the other hunters and less experienced to boot. But be it luck or intervention, the creature was felled by a single stroke. A comet fell from the sky and split the creature's head in two. Though what appeared to be a comet had actually been a mighty spear. This was the first time Luana had set her eyes on Endless Eclipse. But what really caught her attention were the silhouettes that must have belonged to her saviors. They must have been elves, but she was too tired to move or talk. They moved deeper into the forest before she could recover. But the spear had been left for her. With the spear in her hands, Luana felt she had little to fear from the forest. She needed to find those elves, and was determined to remain until she saw them.

She got no closer to finding the elves, but the spear revealed its origins to her in a series of dreams. It was an artifact that belonged to a god named Aigorost that resided among the stars. It was too weak to do much, but had been watching Luana for a while and decided to bestow its boon on her in her time of need. This emboldened her, and she had decided that she would not leave the forest before finding the elves. Before long she became a hermit. Her local village spread rumors about a wild spear maiden, but non suspected it could be Luana. She didn't need books anymore. Her spear could show her whatever she wanted to see.

But it couldn't show her what those silhouettes were.

After a few years, and out of the blue, Luana tried asking her spear for some direction. Just the vague request of where she needed to go. And the spear showed her a queen with hair as radiant as the sun. In truth, Luana had no desire to give up her search for those shades, but her spears answer had her interest piqued. She set out to find this queen on the same day.

But she'd need to stop by the outfitters. She'd been wearing the same clothes for some time now.

Anything Else

Available upon request.