Ithradine

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Ciradyl Ianthyra - FF Lightseekers

"I will do whatever it takes to see us to our journey's end."

GENERAL INFORMATION

Name: Ciradyl Ianthyra

Age: 27

Gender: Female

Race: Faye

Origin: Osprey

COMBAT INFORMATION

Class: Bard

Weapon:
Heart-String
Heaven's Chorus

Inventory:

• A few potion flasks.
• Quiver & Arrows
• Spare bow strings
• Swimsuit
• Elegant Dress
• Plain clothes
• Dried Fruit

Materia:

• Sense
• Long Range

Limit Breaks:
A Dreamer's Requiem - A soothing, captivating melody is played on the violin that reinvigorates the stamina of nearby allies. This increases their speed, strength, and resistance to mind-altering effects for a short time. The song may be played for longer to increase the duration of its effect.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Appearance Details:
Ciradyl possesses an hourglass-like figure and is somewhat short for a Faye at 6'1". Her snow-white hair is often kept up in a ponytail when she is travelling but will leave it down when resting at a town or city. She has mint-colored eyes that are normally the most expressive part of her features. Ciradyl's skin nearly matches her hair and only serves to make her typically vibrant choice of clothing more distinctive. She lacks the muscle definition of a typical soldier or adventurer but is in good, general fitness.

Personality:
Ciradyl is a melancholic Faye that rarely shows her true feelings through expressions or pitches in her tone. The hints of emotion are subtle and require a keen eye or some time spent with her. She is a confident speaker and has no trouble acting as the center of attention. Despite her typical coldness, Ciradyl easily dons any type of mask to suit her purposes though she will not do so around those who have earned her trust. The nature of her actions has led this trust to be hard to acquire.

The best way to understand Ciradyl is to listen to her play. When not performing in front of a crowd, her music is a reflection of her very thoughts and feelings. She feels as though there expressing them any other way is a waste of energy and willpower. Ciradyl is skeptical and pessimistic of most situations leading her to be cautious and plan her movements several steps in advance. There is nothing she detests more than being surprised.

Biography:
The only child of a wealthy merchant family, Ciradyl's parents immigrated to Osprey from Draanu Asnaeu shortly before she was born. They were quite strict with the young Faye, especially her father, about retaining the culture of their homeland. Countless sunrises were spent in the woods learning how to track and take down prey with a bow. Ciradyl fondly remembers these hunts despite the harsh methods in which she was taught. Her mother instructed her on proper etiquette befitting their position and pushed her to pursue the arts. One such trip to theatre in Kugane. It was her first true taste of the culture of Osprey and the performance ignited the spark that would push her to become a musician.

Her parents were quick to recognize their daughter's gift, a blessing from the heavens they came to believe from Etro herself. The mere act of listening to her singing seemed to imbue those who listened with a deeper and more acute understanding of their surroundings, as if the sound of her voice opened up their minds. Ciradyl first performed near a street closest to her house and quickly drew in a crowd. She performed music from Osprey and Draanu Asnaeu at first but as time went on she began to blend the two cultures into her own unique style. The performing arts became her main obsession and she learned many techniques from various masters to elevate her performances.

Taverns across Kugane began to hire her to perform which allowed her popularity to snowball. She would pack every tavern that she performed as they all tried to see the Faye Beauty with the voice of a goddess. Ciradyl continued to hunt with her father as her free time grew shorter and shorter. She shared everything with him and was her way to relax and unwind. Her mother attended nearly every show and was not afraid to gush about her talented daughter to anyone that would listen.

The war with Edren broke out shortly after Ciradyl landed a contract with a notable theatre. She performed as normal at first, the crowd often hosting a number of warriors either returning or leaving for the frontlines. Ciradyl poured her heart and soul into every performance, feeling as thought it was her duty to alleviate the worries of her patrons. This tranquil period did not last as the war began to turn against Osprey's favor. Her shows became less frequent and she began volunteering at hospitals to assist in the war effort, giving her insight into just how ugly the world could be.

The depression that fell upon the kingdom after their defeat at the hands of Edren tore at her heartstrings. Valheim's invasion soon after shredded them. War that had felt like a distant horror was now running amok in her home. Ciradyl did not think such acts of evil could be done but the Valheimians showed her the error of her naivety. Her parents were both killed in the collateral damage and most of their fortune was pillaged by Valheim save for what Ciradyl could carry. Osprey had lost before it had known it was under attack. She, however, would carry on the fight in her own way.

Ciradyl spent the next years establishing a network of spies and informants within the city of Kugane and establishing herself as a popular figure among the occupation force. Officers to foot soldiers came to see her performances with some attempting to court the Faye. This proved to be a useful source of information that Ciradyl expanded upon with time. Her fight would be one of subtlety and subterfuge, waiting for the day when they could overthrow their occupiers under a true leader.

Traits:

• Loves the outdoors
• Meticulous and organized
• Tea-connoisseur
• Habitual reader.
• Hopeless romantic
• Broken optimist
• Often lost in her own thoughts

Relationships:

Feron Ianythra - Ciradyl's father and main instructor for the bow. He was killed during the defense of Kugane after refusing to surrender his home.

• Irella Ianythra - Ciradyl's mother and number one supporter of her music. She was slaughtered after refusing to allow a Valheimian officer to take over their manor.
• Ciradyl is well-known in Kugane and surrounding areas, thought her name is not well known outside of Osprey

Ithradine's Character Storage

Ciradyl Ianthyra - FF Lightseekers

"I will see us to the journey's end. No exceptions."

GENERAL INFORMATION

Name: Ciradyl Ianthyra

Age: 27

Gender: Female

Race: Faye

Origin: Osprey

COMBAT INFORMATION

Class: Bard

Weapon:
Heart-String
Heaven's Chorus

Inventory:

A few potion flasks.

• Quiver & Arrows
• Spare bow strings
• Swimsuit
• Elegant Dress
• Plain clothes
• Dried Fruit

Materia:

• Sense
• Long Range

Limit Breaks:
A Dreamer's Requiem - A soothing, captivating melody is played on the violin that lifts that reinvigorates the stamina of nearby allies. This increases their speed, strength, and resistance to mind-altering effects for a short time. The song may be played for longer to increase the duration of its effect.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Appearance Details:
Ciradyl possesses an hourglass-like figure and is somewhat short for a Faye at 6'1". Her snow-white hair is often kept up in a ponytail when she is travelling but will leave it down when resting at a town or city. She has mint-colored eyes that are normally the most expressive part of her features. Ciradyl's skin nearly matches her hair and only serves to make her typically vibrant choice of clothing more distinctive. She lacks the muscle definition of a typical soldier or adventure but is in good, general fitness.

Personality:
Ciradyl is a melancholic Faye that rarely shows her true feelings through her expressions or pitches in her tone. The hints of emotion are subtle and require a keen eye or some time spent with her. She is a confident speaker and has no trouble acting as the center of attention. Despite her typical coldness, Ciradyl easily dons any type of mask to suit her purposes though she will not do so around those who have earned her trust. The nature of her actions has led this trust to be hard to acquire.

The best way to understand Ciradyl is to listen to her play. When not performing in front of a crowd, her music is a reflection of her very thoughts and feelings. She feels as though there expressing them any other way is a waste of energy and willpower. Ciradyl is skeptical and pessimistic of most situations leading her to be cautious and plan her movements several steps in advance. There is nothing she detests more than being surprised.

Biography:
The only child of a wealthy merchant family, Ciradyl's parents immigrated to Osprey from Draanu Asnaeu shortly before she was born. They were quite strict with the young Faye, especially her father, about retaining the culture of their homeland. Countless sunrises were spent in the woods learning how to track and take down prey with a bow. Ciradyl fondly remembers these hunts despite the harsh methods in which she was taught. Her mother instructed her on proper etiquette befitting their position and pushed her to pursue the arts. One such trip to theatre in Kugane. It was her first true taste of the culture of Osprey and the performance ignited the spark that would push her to become a musician.

Her parents were quick to recognize their daughter's gift, a blessing from the heavens they came to believe from Etro herself. The mere act of listening to her singing seemed to imbue those who listened with a deeper and more acute understanding of their surroundings, as if the sound of her voice opened up their minds. Ciradyl first performed near a street closest to her house and quickly drew in a crowd. She performed music from Osprey and Draanu Asnaeu at first but as time went on she began to blend the two cultures into her own unique style. The performing arts became her main obsession and she learned many techniques from various masters to elevate her performances.

Taverns across Kugane began to hire her to perform which allowed her popularity to snowball. She would pack every tavern that she performed as they all tried to see the Faye Beauty with the voice of a goddess. Ciradyl continued to hunt with her father as her free time grew shorter and shorter. She shared everything with him and was her way to relax and unwind. Her mother attended nearly every show and was not afraid to gush about her talented daughter to anyone that would listen.

The war with Edren broke out shortly after Ciradyl landed a contract with a notable theatre. She performed as normal at first, the crowd often hosting a number of warriors either returning or leaving for the frontlines. Ciradyl poured her heart and soul into every performance, feeling as thought it was her duty to alleviate the worries of her patrons. This tranquil period did not last as the war began to turn against Osprey's favor. Her shows became less frequent and she began volunteering at hospitals to assist in the war effort, giving her insight into just how ugly the world could be.

The depression that fell upon the kingdom after their defeat at the hands of Edren tore at her heartstrings. Valheim's invasion soon after shredded them. War that had felt like a distant horror was now running amok in her home. Ciradyl did not think such acts of evil could be done but the Valheimians showed her the error of her naivety. Her parents were both killed in the collateral damage and most of their fortune was pillaged by Valheim save for what Ciradyl could carry. Osprey had lost before it had known it was under attack. She, however, would carry on the fight in her own way.

Ciradyl spent the next years establishing a network of spies and informants within the city of Kugane and establishing herself as a popular figure among the occupation force. Officers to foot soldiers came to see her performances with some attempting to court the Faye. This proved to be a useful source of information that Ciradyl expanded upon with time. Her fight would be one of subtlety and subterfuge, waiting for the day when they could overthrow their occupiers under a true leader.

Traits:

• Loves the outdoors
• Meticulous and organized
• Tea-connoisseur
• Habitual reader.
• Hopeless romantic
• Broken optimist
• Often lost in her own thoughts

Relationships:

Feron Ianythra - Ciradyl's father and main instructor for the bow. He was killed during the defense of Kugane after refusing to surrender his home.

• Irella Ianythra - Ciradyl's mother and number one supporter of her music. She was slaughtered after refusing to allow a Valheimian officer to take over their manor.
• Ciradyl is well-known in Kugane and surrounding areas, thought her name is not well known outside of Osprey

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

&

Ranbu no Izayoi

Arton's armor was catered for fighting blight-beasts so beyond some bruising and superficial cuts, he came out of the battle fairly well. The party had really come together taking them down but more importantly it showed the young swordsman he still had a long way to go. There was something about the way Izayoi fought that resonated with him, more than the techniques themselves. As they broke for camp, Arton was set on figuring it out.

He had worked hard helping to set up camp and had an appetite to match his efforts. Arton ate with a smile and overall seemd to be in a cheerful mood. It was like a victory feast amidst comrades, meager as it might be. Arton approached Izayoi shortly after they had finished eating and the details of the watch had been decided. There was a slight nervousness in his eyes, unsure how to bring up his request "I don't think I've seen anyone move like that before."

"Hm?" Izayoi looked up where she was sitting, her blade on her lap as she tended to it. From the nervous glint in his eyes, she mentally resigned herself to listening to something most likely foolish again for the second time that day.

"In what manner? You have not seen the effects of a Haste spell before?" She poured a small measure of oil onto a cloth and began running it over her sword.

"No, uh, I have seen it a couple times but..." The look in her eyes reminded him of earlier. Izayoi did not seem fond of wasted time and frivolous words. His chances would fare better if he were direct. Arton lowered himself onto his knees and sat on the heels of his feet, hands resting above his knees "I wish for you to train me."

Of all the things Izayoi had been expecting Arton to say, this hadn't been one of them. The last time she'd even considered taking on a student of her own had been years and years ago, long before the war. And that had been cut short when others realized exactly what training entailed to her.

"An odd decision. We do not use similar armament, and from what I have seen, our preferred styles of fighting are practically opposite. Are you certain you have thought this through?"

Arton nodded once "I'm certain! I know if I can learn from you I can grow stronger." His motivation for which he'd leave unsaid for now. It was uncomfortable to speak so plainly, without some twist of truth in his words. He fought the way he did because up until now he had no other option. His stoic face betrayed the steady increasing of his heartbeat.

Izayoi only regarded Arton silently in response, a single brow lifted. Her own misgivings about her training methods aside, there wasn't exactly any reason for her to say no. If they were to continue to travel together for extended periods of time, making Arton stronger would only benefit her own goals. That, and it wasn't as if she'd had anything better to do during periods of downtime.

"Very well. I have no objections to this, though I am obligated to give you a warning: I can only train you as I have been taught. There is a reason why I have never had a student last beyond a month. As I have been told, my methods are 'insane and reckless'. " She lifted her hands from maintaining her katana to deliver the last three words in air quotes before returning to cleaning her weapon.

Arton's went wide as he was hit with a bit of shock, expecting more resistance to his request. The warning did manage to put a brief twist in his stomach but not enough to sway his determination. This training was cleary not for the faint of heart. All Arton had to do was to think of that day and he immediately found his resolve. A day that controls his dreams, steers his choices, and forever altered his fate.

"A month? It seems I have my first goal then." He enthusiastically declared. Everything he had come to understand about Izayoi made it clear that month would be one of the hardest of his life. He was ready to walk through hell if it meant that he could protect those closest to him. That he would not fail them because he was too weak to do anything.

One side of Izayoi's mouth curved up briefly in seeming amusement. The man's eagerness was akin to watching a puppy. It remained to be see whether his enthusiasm remained after even a week of training.

"We will begin when we camp in more secure environs, then. Running you ragged now would be akin to signing your death warrant in the event of another Blightbeast attack tonight. The majority of my techniques are unsuited to the cut and thrust of southron swords, but you will benefit from the conditioning nonetheless. I trust this is acceptable?"

"Of course!" He said with a bright smile "I suppose resting is the practical thing to do tonight. It has been awhile since I've camped without keeping one eye open." His gaze turned idly to the night sky and the stars that had woken from their slumber. Izayoi's training would bring him a step closer to being worthy of his family name. It was only then he could return home.

"Very good." Izayoi nodded curtly, before deciding to give voice to a thought that was still in the back of her mind. "Though why come to me to be trained? Any of our number outside of the mages could have done the same. The gunbladers would likely have swordplay more suited for yourself as well." She removed the rag from her blade, inspecting it briefly before nodding to herself in satisfaction as she returned it to its scabbard.

The question gave Arton pause, and the light expression faded slowly faded form himself "The easy answer would be because it is so different from mine." He stopped for a brief moment before continuing. "Truthfully, I feel there is more to learn than just techniques from you. I guess you might call it a state of mind or...philosophy. I don't know." He shifted off his knees to sit more comfortably.

Philosophy? How quaint. Arton might have fit in well in some samurai circles, as introspective as he seemed to be. Probably better than she had, among some of the more spiritual ones. Her master had never had any use for such thinking, and had never imparted anything resembling such aside from "kill your enemy before it kills you".

"You'll find I have little to offer in that regard." Izayoi stood, hooking her sheathed sword back into her sash. "Derive what answers you will from me, though I have nothing to teach in terms of philosophy outside of aggression and how best to hunt prey. But the hour grows late. Rest. I have the first watch."

That was where Arton had to disagree with his new master. The killer instinct that possesed Izayoi was something he hoped to acquire if not understand. Doubt regarding his methods had planted itself deep in his mind, unable to be dislodged. That may have been why he had been so furious when she exexcuted that man during the castle siege. Clarity on such thoughts would not be gained tonight.

"I'll try to get some sleep before I come relieve you." He stood up as well, fighting back a yawn as his body stretched. "May your eyes remain sharp as your blade." Arton smiled towards Izayoi before he headed off in the direction of one of the tents. He wondered if tomorrow would be as much excitement. Their quest was sure to only get more difficult the closer they got to the answers.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Mentions:

---

Bolstered by Neve's magic, the few gaps in Arton's defence disappeared as sword and shield moved like natural extensions of his body. His shield slamming against one of the monsters was enough to fracture a few bones and disorient them long enough for his blade to finish them. The swordsman favored drawing the enemy in close and overwhelming them with firm defense and raw strength. It was thanks to the artifacts he inherited that he had no trouble trading blows and coming out on top. Arton looked around the battlefield as the fighting appeared to die down and the remaining threats were either fleeing or being dispatched by the rest of the party.

Arton lowered his stances and took a few deep breaths"Anytime." He responded to Izayoi. He took the moment to glance over himself for any wounds that adrenaline might have hidden from him. His clothes were mildly damaged and drenched in the beast's blood but far as he could tell it was the typical assortment of scratches and bruises. The ache in his shoulder was dying down as well which put him more at ease. It was a uncomfortable warning system to put it mildly, not that it was always reliable to begin with.

"No one appears to be missing..." His head swiveled around the field in case anyone was injured and were laying on the ground "Where is Goug?" Arton asked to anyone who might be able to answer, nearly forgetting their caravan driver. With the daylight quickly fading, they would need to find a place to camp soon or they could be facing something worse in the dark.

Ithradine's Character Storage

Augustus Saul, From X-COM 1x1

__________________________________________________________ Name | Augustus Saul __________________________________________________________ Gender | Male __________________________________________________________ Age | 22 __________________________________________________________ Nationality | United States __________________________________________________________ Service | U.S. Military Intelligence Corps __________________________________________________________ Physical Profile __________________________________________________________ [+] • Height | 6'2" • Weight | 182 lbs • Build | Average, if a bit slim. • Hair Colour | Charcoal Black • Eye Colour | Ocean Bllue Extra __________________________________________________________ [+] • Theme • Fond of tabletop games • Exceptional at making sketches • Photographic Memory

Personality ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ • Decisive • Proud • Adaptable • Abrasive • Resourceful • Impulsive He prefers to be called by his last name to the point only very close friends have the right to call him by his first name. Saul has a strong sense of duty but is willing to bend the rules to accomplish his mission. His attitude is typically serious and his sense of humor tends to lean towards the darker side, but he is willing to comfort those he's fought alongside. Anyone who is not part of the GIB he views as outsiders and rarely ever converses with them. Saul handles stressful situation well and adapts quickly to new information, but can sometimes act too quickly. He absolutely refuses to show any signs of weakness even if it is detrimental to himself. It takes a lot warming up to him in order to gain his trust, but he is a reliable ally to have. History ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ Saul comes from a long lineage of servicemen dating back to the Continental Army during the United States' Revolutionary War. Every generation since then has served in one of the military branches gaining his family a high reputation and along with it an expectation of excellence. The same discipline taught in the military is adapted to be taught to their children at home. Respect, duty, and honesty are heavily enforced in the Saul household above all other virtues. Children know better than to bully a Saul at school and if they don't they quickly find out why. Just like how soldiers have each other's backs, Saul siblings have the back of their brother or sister. Augustus was born the youngest of four brothers to a wealthy middle-class family. His father was Jacob Saul, a respected officer in the U.S. Marines, and his mother Allison was a intelligence operator in the CIA. Augustus was often a target for his older brothers as he was the weakest of them and he could never win a straight-forward engagement with any of them. That was why he began studying extensively in military tactics, strategies, and defenses in order to turn the tide in his favor. Augustus thus began his long campaign of guerrilla tactics using trip-wires, traps, and even recordings of his voice to outsmart his older brothers. It was not until one such trap, using wire and a bottle of ink, got him into major trouble with his father when he had returned from duty and the ink got all over his uniform. Jacob Saul had a very long talk with his youngest son after that where he was punished severely, but also praised for his ingenuity. His father told him that fighting unconventionally is not a bad thing at all but it is important not to go to far. From that point onward, Augustus's fighting with his brothers decreased significantly and the four became an unstoppable team. It was no surprise to anyone when the brothers all decided that they would all join the U.S. Army Rangers one after the other. A couple years into the Army and Augustus had gotten in trouble more than couple times for breaking protocol and deviating from orders. The only reason he was never properly reprimanded for such actions was that they had saved the lives of his fellow soldiers several times and gotten them out of a bad situation. What finally forced their hand was when Augustus, now in charge of his own team, broke off from his squad in pursuit of enemy forces after a bombing in Bosnia. There was only one survivor besides Augustus after they were ambushed but even he eventually succumbed to his injuries. Allied forces managed to move in and eliminate them and relieve the pinned down Augustus. He was afterwards transferred to the Military Intelligence Corps thanks to his family's influence where he truly excelled. He was approached at his residence in Charleston, North Carolina during his leave with an offer to join a global initiative to protect the world from global threats. Augustus accepted the offer wanting the chance to make a real difference in the world, unaware of what exactly the threats they were talking about were. He packed up a few of things and was sent to the GIB HQ located in an extensive cold war-era bunker in the French Alps.

Self-Replicating Factory (Ithradine's Testing Grounds)

Potential XCOM RP

---

The start of the 1980s saw an alarming increase in paranormal sightings and disappearances that coincided with said sightings. A number of nations had their own departments to investigate such events, dating as far back as 1950, but only the Japanese 'Kiryu-Kai' were marginally successful. A summit of nations was convened concerning the growing reality of a paranormal threat and the result of the discussion was the creation of the Global Investigation Bureau under the project name: X-COM. A small number of invited parties strongly voiced their concern and remain strong opponents to the project as a whole. The Global Investigation Bureau, or GIB, was tasked with investigating the unusual activity of certain criminal organizations and religious sects as well as reports of strange creatures. Their initial funding and power was limited until they could prove that such an initiative was worth it.

Over the course of the next decade, the G.I.B investigated incidents all over the globe relying on specialized, independent pairs of agents to tackle them. The agents of the G.I.B encountered all manners of creatures and hostile organizations seeped in the paranormal. It was not long after the G.I.B began to engage these hostile organizations that they were soon reclassified as 'Alien Cults'. Through battling these alien cults, the G.I.B. learned that an extraterrestrial force was responsible for all of it and fear of a possible alien invasion began to spread amidst the world leaders. A small, unidentified flying-object was detected and intercepted off the eastern coast of Canada. The recovery of the wreck confirmed the world's worst fear. An imminent invasion by a hostile, alien force. The certainty and severity of the coming crisis prompted the founding nations of the G.I.B. to reorganize it into X-COM, a professional and fully independent military.

Augustus Saul, a veteran G.I.B. agent, was selected as the commander-in-chief of X-COM. Saul immediately sent out agents and recruiters to every part of the globe looking for the personnel ready and willing to give their life to protect humanity. X-COM continued to battle the same threats that their predecessors had while they continued to expand their influence to bases and outposts across the globe. They managed to virtually eradicate all traces of the alien cults from the world by late 2005. The number of paranormal sightings also began to drastically decrease around this time. The nature of the threat had turned the X-COM Project from just a secretive military to a powerful organization with some of the greatest minds of the century.

The current date is August, 11, 2013 and a new batch of rookies is about to arrive at X-COM's main headquarters in a undisclosed location in Europe. This recruiting effort is occurring across the globe at every one of X-COM's bases in preparation for the coming storm, if old intel was to be believed. Every face that scrambled through the underground complex understood the mission entrusted to them by all of Humanity. Fight until the alien menace was defeated. Fight when all others had lost hope. Fight, if needed, to the bitter end.

---

Commander Augustus Saul

Augustus Saul is the current commander of the X-COM project and overall leader of the organization. Saul was recruited by the G.I.B. at its foundation alongside his assigned partner, Mariva Silva (K.I.A), and was selected by the Council to lead the next stage of Earth's defense against an extraterrestrial threat. He can be cold at times but he is fully committed to the mission and purpose behind the X-COM project and its members. His experience during his time in the G.I.B., and other senior members, influenced most of the project's operating procedures and training.

Chief Researcher

---

---

• Players are restricted to one character but may make a new one if their first character dies.

---

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Mentions:

---

Arton's eyes had briefly looked to his side as Izayoi had darted past him, barely registering in his vision before he refocused on the beasts before him. She did him the favor of taking out two of them when the rest decided they were done waiting. Two were behind him and one came from the same direction that Izayoi had struck down the first two. Arton made the decision to face the two charging his flank, trusting in her to eliminate the other one. He was about to turn his back to faced them two shots ringed in his ears. One beast fell immediately and the other dashed off leaving Arton free to move. The steady burning in his shoulder told him the battle was far from over.

He had begun to move to regroup with Eliane and Izayoi when he noticed Neve take to the field as well. Arton had no lighting bolts or blades of wind to offer...just his flesh and blood. He felt himself humbled even further when Izayoi took down the largest of the creatures with both power and grace. A living work of art. The attack seemed to take a bit of her breath away so while Eliane moved to intercept the rest. Arton pressed up and positioned himself next to her. It was presumptuous to think she would even need his protection, but it was he knew.

Arton's eyes caught sight of a blight beast that weaved and practically skimmed across the ground towards Izayoi, likely sensing the momentary lapse in her defense. Whether or not it was true, he placed himself in between them and braced for the attack. The creature crashed into his shield and using its momentum Arton hurled it over his head. In the same motion, he plunged his sword into its stomach and cut a large gash along its length before it fell back onto the ground motionless. He had barely enough time to react to the second which appeared suddenly. The edge of his shield smashed into the beast's neck just in time to avoid a fierce bite. Arton kept the beast pinned which squirmed and twisted trying to free itself. The tip of his sword plunged just below where the shield held the monster and twisted in place. These attacks were far more savage than the ones he had dealt with deeper into areas afflicted by the Blight. They were lucky.

Fire Emblem: Crestfallen

Mentions: @Psyker Landshark@Ambra

---

Roland had been rather surprised with his roommate's candor about their living situation. Their first real conversation was more like a negotiation between two nations, discussing the rules of their shared border. A divider wall served to separate their living spaces and grant them privacy. He wasn't exactly comfortable sharing a room with a woman, much less one he didn't know. Roland resigned himself to dealing with the situation as is, praying to the goddess that a dagger wouldn't end up in his chest one night.

The next morning he woke up rather early to prepare for the day. He then went over to her highness's room and knocked on the door so that he could escort her to class. Her highness had apparently got an earlier jump on the day than he did, so he decided to head to class on his own. Roland was already seated when her highness arrived "How was your night, your highness?" He attempted to inquire as she sat down, but it seemed other matters had her attention. Whatever had gotten her in this mood he hoped it would pass once their professor finally arrived. Roland being the punctual person he was had arrived five minutes early to the class. The tardiness of their instructor was not something he would be quick to forgive.

"Nothing was out of the ordinary." He chimed in. Roland was fully aware of the pressures her highness was under. It was his duty, after all, to bear some of the burden. His father had trained and instructed him to be her highness's right hand man, not just her bodyguard. Her will and dreams superseded any of his own "I agree that it has been a rough start, but I'm sure it will only pick up from here." He did his best to console the princess, even refraining from directly using her title. The only time one would ever hear Roland call her highness by her first name would be if they eavesdropped on a private conversation between them.

"You two seem to be getting along." Roland noted towards Doric after relaxing back into his seat after being ready to intercept the flying sandwich. Truth be told he felt like time was being wasted waiting for the professor to show up. He had plans to try out the training grounds and if there wasn't going to be class he'd know right now.

Fire Emblem: Crestfallen

Mentions: N/A

---

Roland checked the board once more to confirm her highness's room number and excused himself from the larger group. He would need to be swift and efficient if he wanted to perform a proper sweep, unpack his things, and be in time for dinner. Roland knocked firmly on the door when he approached it to measure its sturdiness. Content with the results, he examined the lock and gave the doorknob a few rotations. It was not the most advanced security system he'd seen but it'd suffice against basic intruders and delay them until he arrived. With that finished, he entered the room but advanced no further than a few steps.

The furnishings and design of the room were of passable grade for her highness, knowing that the academy did its best not to cater to the nobility over commoners. Roland wasted no starting his examination. His first target were the pair of beds in the room. He had an idea of which one her highness would take but even so his duty required him to check both. Tripwires and magical runes came to mind first followed by secret compartments. Seeing her highness's luggage in the room, Roland was tempted to check them as well for sabotage. Her highness, however, was quite adamant about leaving her belongings alone so he relented.

Roland moved towards the window looking out at the monastery ground, searching for potential sniper locations and/or vantage points. His face tensed up a degree as he noticed plenty of angles an assassin could make use of. Peaks, bastions, outcrops...the architecture of the monastery would make infiltration from the rooftops difficult to detect. The only saving grace was its position on the mountain. Roland turned towards the interior of the room and paused for a moment. Concentration flashed in his eyes as his eyes dart from corner to corner, trying to picture how a potential assassin might rig the room.

Ithradine's Character Storage

Roland Amor Vaughann

[Full Name]
Roland Amor Vaughann

[Alias]
N/A

[Affiliation]
Galbia

[Starting Class]
Commoner

​[Status]
Son of Galbia's Royal Guard Commander

[Crest]
None

[Age]
17​

[Date of Birth]
2nd of the Radiant Moon, Imperial Year 763​

[Appearance Information]
Height comes in around 6'2", with a considerable amount of dense muscle weighing in at 205 pounds. His skin tone is fairly tan due to constant time outdoors. Hair is an ashen black color, kept short and tight with slightly longer bangs that is style to the side. Eyes are a distinct, vibrant amethyst color. Uniform is kept proper and well-maintained, with the only deviation being a decorative pin on his right chest.

[Personality]
Roland is an intensely loyal, fiercely skeptical, and extremely disciplined individual. There is nothing he cares for more than the safety of the one he has been charged to protect. With a duty un-ending, Roland views anything that isn't further his skills as a knight to be a waste of time. He views any strangers as a potential threat and questions the motives of everyone he comes across. Roland fulfills any task, no matter how mundane, with purpose and precision until it has been completed. While he can be forced to adapt, he prefers the security of rules, regulations, and traditions over improvising.

Despite his complete dedication to becoming a Royal Guard, Roland is deeply resentful of the fate bestowed upon him. This has tormented his thoughts and has occasionally led him to lash out at others. His tainted resolve pushes him to go beyond what is necessary when dealing with adversaries. There is little his twisted will won't do at the behest of Galbia's royal family.

[Personal History]
Roland was born to Julius Alvar Vaughann, Commander of the Royal Guard of Galbia. The men of the Vaughann family have served under the royal family of Galbia for generations. The moment Roland was born, at the beginning of the Radiant Moon no less, his fate had been decided for him. It was less than a year that the new heir to the kingdom was born and Roland's role decided. His training had started as early as the moment he began to walk. He was taught economics, civics, and a litany of military theories to prepare him to be both a protector and advisor to the young princess. Mistakes and deviance from his given path was met harshly.

The only time he was given any leniency was the time spent with the princess, and it wasn't much. The concept of a childhood was foreign to him, and the older he grew the more he resented the princess for his troubles. Every time his body was pushed to its limit. Every strike made against him from his father. Every day spent training so that the princess could safely live her life. This was all he had so despite the mental discourse, he pursued his fate to the highest degree. The only choice he felt was ever his was when a visiting mage discovered his aptitude for spells. Roland was sent alongside Sherry to the Officer's Academy, to further his own skills but to more importantly watch over the heir to the kingdom.

[Preferred Fighting Style]
Lance

[Equipment]
Training Lance
Vulnerary x 2

[Learned Spells]
Fire

[Interests]

Magic
Mount Riding
Military Tactics
Alchemy

[Likes]

Hiking
Exercising
War Games
Political Theory
Tea
Pastries

[Dislikes]

Sarcasm
Disorganization
Weakness
Being underestimated