The Harbinger of Ferocity — Roleplayer Guild

Sakaala



Character Summary

Name:Sakaala
Aliases: Referring to herself as "Sakaala", it is unknown what her name truly is, but there exists reason enough to believe that her assumed name has apparent symbolism, most likely only amongst those familiar to her fallen people - a culture who placed great value in the meaning of all things, most importantly those belonging to themselves. For those in the know of obscure and arcane history of other kinds, she is "the finality" or more simply "the last (whole) one", a sobering title that is not only accurate but more than anything most disheartening.
Age: Worn by the ravages of time and life, the fading of her pelt and wiriness of her whiskers suggests the savage's race is older than her physique lets on. It is uncertain exactly how her lot aged and progressed, but one can assume Sakaala's age is well into her adulthood and edging ever closer to its twilight phase.
Race:Half Beast, or some mingling of man and beast. She closely resembles the terrible lions of the coldlands, having robust size, muscle and scale to lend some confirmation of such suspicions. It is however, yet of debate as to the origins of half beasts; beings crafted by the work of primal gods of old or the actual mingling of a man and an animal's blood from an ancient ritual long since lost. All the same, half beasts are unquestionably "monstrous" beings, reviled and loathed in many civilized places where they are portrayed as menaces in the mythology that surrounds - seen as a frightening and beastly perversion of the worst aspects of barbaric society. They were rumored to stalk and devour those who dared too deep into the cold or dark woods, but exist now as little more than rare stories told in taverns by drunkard men about faraway lands where even the brave shouldn't delve.
Place of Origin:The Coldwood is a region far and well removed from any shred of society, a forgotten secret to the east and buried in aptly named forests. Little evidence of its existence as any form of organized people exists today and that which does in permanent stone structure perhaps belonged not at all to them to begin with; the rest of the history of the Coldwood otherwise lies in now buried ash. It sees just as few outsiders to this day, being little more than uncharted wilderness rife with legendary danger.
Gender:Female, as there exists no question to the beastly lady's gender. What overt feminine tones she exhibits do little to inhibit her inherent ability for conflict, revealing that perhaps her people relied upon its women as warriors and hunters; a truth only the insightful or studious might discern.
Occupation: Now a wayward warrior-mage, Sakaala has survived the many passing years as a mercenary in the company of those that would keep her. While neither priest or wizard, she draws up from a well of inherent supernatural power within as sorcerous might and wields it with as much ferocity and finesse as any given weapon.

Stats

"She is said to be strong, swift, resolute and cunning, even just as learned as any man among us. Do not let her twisted figure, growled words or abrasiveness fool you into thinking she is but just the animal she appears. This woman's stock is said to have been the bane of prideful hunters who claimed for themselves a land they did not own. Be wary, be vary wary friends."

Strength: 16
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 15
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 15
Charisma: 6

Physical Attributes

Height: Of approximately 23 hands.
Weight: Of approximately 35 stones.
Build: While far from perhaps what she was in her prime, Sakaala is not lacking in her physique as many mortal arcanists often suffer ridicule and insult for. Athletic despite all that she has so stalwartly endured, she bears the burdens of both prior motherhood and a life waged at mortal risk upon her flesh. Yet, her towering build and still supple muscle are right indicators that she is anything but feeble; a huntress still and one far from deficient in experience.
Eyes: Golden, the right of which is pallid, being both milky and blind from obvious injury.
Pelt: Faded, of a greying tawny that had been truly faint gold.
Tattoos/Scars/Piercings: Decorated to the point of blindness in healed scars about her face, one of Sakaala's eyes remains disabled by old, incurable wounds to this day, the same of which has left a lasting gash to her face; even bits of the ear on the side of the blinded eye are tattered, even pocked by burns. Her once strong arm is now rendered former, acting mostly limp and lame, capable of movement only by sheer force of will in the same vein just as she would conjure magic into reality. What other wounding she endured is concealed, but if visible it would display her survival of other injuries that would claim the lives of lesser men.
Day to Day Attire: Sakaala ornaments herself in the trappings of a mercenary, albeit one quite unlike any other. She bears upon her breast a once polished set of elven plate that has become quite dulled with age, perhaps made of elder techniques and metals lost to newer smiths for the armor remains little worse for wear. Wisely she armors the weaker of her two arms, that one mostly disabled and numb, finishing it in a pauldron, bracer and fingerless leather glove. Underneath her protective, armored shroud, she dresses herself in a set of now tattered, washed out ebon robes, worn loose in the free arm and rolled on the other. The tail of such a piece tells of violent stories past, torn open and burned, the type of decoration one would consider a trophy in sort.

About her neck hangs a sobering reminder, as does the wide, dense leather belt she bears at her waist which supports two large knives secured at the thigh. A traditional item of a now lost people, the decorated belt and its careful stitching exist as maybe the only relics of her former life she still possesses. They are tribal relics, perhaps known only in origin to Sakaala and scholars who seek out forgotten eras, pursuing tall tales that in some cases prove eerily true.

Of her true arms she caries a ceremonial elven sword, a weapon not likely to have belonged to her and which thrums slightly when drawn from its sheathless resting place upon her back. While not a weapon sized for her, its unique balance to favor an elven wielder in their grace and the sheer immensity of her size allow her to fight yet with it in only a hand, moving like water between and through foes, striking down those caught within horrible reach. Albeit made of the same strange alloy as her chestplate, the sword remains remarkably polished and wholly unmarred even without any attending.
Strengths:Encompassing Insightfulness; the aging leonine woman is far from uninitiated to the world. Cunning and intuitive, even her lack of formal education dampens her understanding of anything little. She is of the kind who carefully maneuvers both spell and sword, deed and word. The wiles of men and world are challenges only at their greatest in the social arena where her damaged flesh and fearsome reputation precede her voice.
Monstrous Being; a being of two bloods, she is gifted with traits that few men ever come to know, oft those physical, almost as if to spite her disability. Rarer still, the latent magic within her spirit makes her a wielder of powers mostly unknown.
Mystically Gifted; what she lacks in her now twisted body she has gained many fold in magic. While not the greatest of swordsmen or mages, she wields both with natural ease and has come to blend them with nearly no effort.

Weaknesses:Disfiguring Scarification; she needed no aid in running cold the blood of mortals upon sight, but her long healed injuries exasperate the issue only more.
Monstrous Being; it is true without doubt she cannot always go peacefully where others tread without care, but that is not without reason... some rumors of monsters are true, after all.
Physical Disabilities; for all her blessings in strength, constitution and agility compared to common men, little can be done to wholly salvage a visionless eye and a hobbled arm.


Psychological Attributes

Fierce * Mystical * Seasoned * Thoughtful


Sexuality:Bisexual, while not disinterested in the prospect of love or lust regardless of gender, having bore several children previously, she has remained without true companionship since she was rendered widowed many years time ago.
Relationship Status:Widowed, with her mate and offspring slaughtered in the name of cruel "justice". A deep place of hurt resides within her... one preferred as a memory not relived, but the suffering can only be dulled so much even if forgotten.
Personality: Sakaala exists within a void of mysticism and myth, being both an icon of a dead people and an even more dead identity. The fierceness associated with those once like her is unmatched, for she is of that same caliber capable of reacting on relentless instinct when need be, tempered only by worldly wisdom and physical limitations. She remains willfully calm, thoughtful and perhaps even too abstinent from any sworn involvements or promises made to or for mortals. When she does speak or act, she does so with all the authority and regality of a wild queen, posing as assumed importance; at worst patronizing in her display for within her eyes she does know best, or so she would assume. Neither aloof nor coddling, she thinks of most as little more than children, fumbling ignorantly through life and to their blind deaths. While she can be verbally scornful, she prefers the method of a watchful, disapproving mother or the raw violence she can promise on whim - whichever proves more valid.

Born and raised a huntress, made warrior only later in life, all challenges are a pursuit to her. Tasks unfinished are difficult to let go and the matters she believes must be attended to in due time are not left to rot away. Patient, owing to this and the nature of her coming to understand magic, she tends to betray her true feelings not through spoken word but instead the subtlest unconscious gestures of her animal-esque body.
Habits:Cleanliness, as fitting for one who in a way views herself as primal nobility, she strives to remain clean even if filthy.
Vigilance, either rightfully placed from horrors recalled or experience won in coins for lives, she is distrusting, watchful and oft sleepless.

Hobbies:Spellcraft, while the nature of her mystical ability is carefully concealed, she takes great joy in understanding the primal forces of magic as a pleasure few mortal mages will ever understand. Personal and connected to her at her fibers of existence, to cast magic is again to recall what life can be like.

Skills

Half Beast: It is said that two bloods run within the bodies of half beasts, both animal and man. Granted all the intellect and understanding of persons but the body of a beast, Sakaala is armed in the natural sense to the very literal teeth. Bearing claw and fang, if she ever dared so much as wish to use them, she is as formidable as the lioness of the cold lands she resembles. She benefits from heightened senses and keen understanding of them, making their use just as valid a threat as her physical weapons, such as within places of poor light or when scent comes into play.
Channel Spell: The ability to cast magical spells and effects is no small wonder even in a world where magic is possibility, but the power to do so while accompanying martial maneuvers is another great feat altogether. Able to channel some of her spells through her natural and weapon attacks, she unleashes devastating blows that often inflict a variety of other effects on the victims of the attack. Working in conjunction with her supernatural martial arts, she can perform these abilities often in unexpected ways; the careful casting of even a single spell and striking of multiple foes with its effects at once is not beyond remote plausibility. Despite these things, Sakaala is limited to a small selection of spells to channel a day and cannot do so extensively without becoming exhausted mentally. Likewise, the majority of her magical effects cannot be employed to any noteworthy effect at range, forcing her into the danger of melee.
Latent Hunter: A born predator, Sakaala was one of many huntresses of her people, no less acting as a ranger of the wildlands in times of danger or when her people were threatened. Having survived alone from these skills for years, she is an ably bodied huntress and would be considered an expert in the wild beyond, capable of eluding enemies and striking unexpectedly. Of her practical skills, she is a trained gatherer, able to provide for herself and others in the ways of naturally provided rations, traditional medicine, pure water and various other minor feats of outdoorsmanship. Difficult to track when being followed and hardly inhibited by natural terrain or the elements thereof, she is woefully unprepared in environments of civilization being quite distinctive and without any fundamental instincts to act on or easily build from.
Lore Exposure: Having lived such a varied and long life has graced Sakaala with many practical life skills, but perhaps one of her most notable is her vast smattering of knowledge upon matters ranging from historical events, myths and legends, distant locales, forces of nature to even arcane mysteries. Self taught, her incredible recollection is imperfect and incomplete, but well recounted even if lacking in detail and specifics.
Martial Adept: There are those who achieve martial proficiency through strength of arms alone and then there are those who acquire combat superiority by raw skill. Sakaala's inhuman strength and agility lend well to life lived by the sword, but it is her intuition, understanding and force of personality that truly make her a deadly foe. She not only understands the principals of conflict, but actively anticipates them with near preternatural skill. This so called "blade-magic" is a blend of mysticism and swordplay - at times engaging in impossible feats martial through magic and others achieved by intense discipline and practice alone.
Natural Sorcery: As a creature born of magic, the very essence of latent power lies within Sakaala and those that were like her, infused with every ounce of their person. It is from this obscure pool that she draws upon, evoking sorcerous power on whim, but having deeply specialized in doing so; her repertoire of magical spells not vast or complex, but instead practical and martial. She blends the martial arts and swordplay with her magic instead of casting traditional spells by and far, although she can indeed manifest some purely magic effects.

Traditionally, few monstrous humanoids are able mages - instead relying upon their natural superiority to combat magical and mundane threats through sheer force and intuition. Sakaala, in spite of these things and the taboos of her now lost society, has taken up arcane power to compensate for her debilitation and growing age. It is known that many mortals are driven mad by arcane power with time, but many monsters seem no worse for wear.

As with all sorcerers, Sakaala's magic depletes throughout the day when she expends it. Recovering her inherent energy when she rests for a prolonged time, she relies upon measured application of mystic force so not to expend all of her magic in a short time although she is capable of doing so. To cast a spell is to draw from a mental reserve, to exhaust this supply is to be so fatigued in mind that the body too is too weak to act efficiently. Inexperienced, oft young mortal arcanists, those few who discover internalized power, know well what it is to exhaust themselves to the point of collapse or even coma.


Magic

Combustion: A corona of roiling, searing air sheathes the blade, leaving waves of intense heat in the wake. A creature or object struck by the weapon discharges the spell, causing the target to instantly ignite in a personal inferno and setting them intensely ablaze for a moment before the magical flames vanish. If hasty or fortunate, a creature can extinguish the lingering non-magical flames left behind - if not careful, they continue to burn with mundane fire until its fuel is exhausted, its air is cut off, or effort is made to put out the flames. This spell is inherently associated with fire by nature.
Detect Magic: The spell's caster can visually detect magical effects within their line of sight, out to a short distance as glowing radiation or "aura". If they wish to concentrate they may separate different auras and determine their individual strength, and with further concentration attempt to determine the specific spell effect that is active. Powerful magical effects and creatures leave lingering auras, and appear more easily upon focus. Because of its nature, it is simply magic in of itself as a whole.
Dispel Magic: A powerful, brief burst of nullifying magic affects a creature or object, or dispels an area instantly of any temporary magical effects and interrupts ongoing ones or those being cast. The dispelling affect always targets the most powerful spells first, then attempts to remove the progressively weaker ones of its target. Against a creature casting a spell, this effect causes the spell to immediately fail to cast. Permanent effects of magic return to life after being disabled for a few moments. Dispel magic requires a magical target to affect, failing if it lacks one but being expended all the same. Because of its nature, it is simply magic in of itself as a whole.
Enfeeblement: An ominous dark green glimmer envelops the weapon's blade and is discharged upon successful strike, magically debilitating the muscular strength of the victim. Each instance of crippled physical might is additive and creatures utterly depleted of their strength are temporarily paralyzed and rendered helpless. Their lost strength returns minutes later after the last blow endured. This spell is inherently associated with earth by nature.
Haste: The caster and nearby allies blur with sudden, lightning fast alacrity, moving with intense speed and reflexes beyond regular limit. Their attacks become so rapid they are a near blur of motion, and their movement causes them to almost shimmer with enchanted speed. Striking more accurately and evading more rapidly, this heightening effect lasts only a few intense prolonged moments. This spell is inherently associated with water by nature.
Mage Hand: An invisible force may manipulate objects through concentration as though it were an extension of its master. Although capable of only lifting light objects, it has the full functionality of a phantasmal hand free of a body, giving it great range of motion. A form of very limited magical psychokinesis, its range is short and it disperses to nothing if it travels far. Because of its nature, it is simply magic in of itself as a whole. 
Message: A distant conversation may be held at a whispered tone, sent to a small number of desired creatures. Although each may reply individually, the visibly spoken words of the spell's caster are sent to all affected individuals. It bypasses line of sight, limited out to several hundred feet, but is stopped by magical silence, dense metal or stone, or several feet of earth or wood. The words spoken are identical to what is being said and do not transcend language barriers. Because of its nature, it is simply magic in of itself as a whole.
Shocking: A scatter of sparks and silent cyan-white lightning shudder about the sword's length, pulling it more accurately toward metal targets. Upon striking, the magical effect discharges with a dull, localized clap of thunder and the target is struck by a mighty burst of lightning from the weapon, jarring them. This channeled effect is much more likely to land upon metal targets than those not bearing much metal. This spell is inherently associated with air by nature.


History

Lore: Hunter, warrior, arcanist - over the span of a lifetime one has many varied roles that they might confront, but few ever live them so fully as to explore them in their entirety. Sakaala however, has lived a life in full.

She says nothing of her younger days, but is undeniably left with the signs of bitter wounds past, most notably the blindness of her right eye and blatant lameness of the right arm, she has endured trials no one, be them man or beast, should be forced to confront alone. Born an exceptional huntress but appointed a warrior, she served loyally on behalf of her scarce peoples keeping bleak threats beyond, those that few men safe in cities suffer, at bay. Although she, as with select others among her lot, served with little conflict against curious men, not all were so accepting of their defeats; many hearts became vengeful, hateful... spiteful. The matters became of personal vendetta in the bloodiest of sorts and ill plots under noble guises were born. It was as result of this she was forced to fight to the last beside those who were her sisters on an ever losing front of all sides, but even for her inborn might she too was felled. Struck above the breast, an arrow deep and a sword plunged deeper, she was brutally scarred by hunters' blades at the cost of arm and eye, left to be consumed by flame at the hands of the torches brought by those same souls. How she survived is either proof of divine power or the raw might that had laid dormant within her force of personality.

She speaks nothing of her children, but her eyes betray the sobering reality that she was stripped of them, violently; the grim ornaments of her necklace are perhaps all that remains of her connection with them, torn from the grasp of a man that likely procured them as trophies won from "vile monsters". It is this, surviving such atrocity, that surely turned her to things most men believe left better unknown - the primal powers unknown and arts arcane. For one reason or another, perhaps because she is not of mortal stock, she acquired the capacity to wield mysticism as any other weapon, just as one would an axe, bow or spear. She made her very body, and even her sword, its conduit in this spiraling and obsessive embrace; almost a direct extension of herself, that which transcended her age and fed upon heartfelt pains.

For years she wandered alone or in company, taking opportunity to meet out justice for the slaughter she and her deceased others endured whenever the occasion arose; sellswords like those she associated with, more than pleased to take the coin of even shadier men, obliged their strange cohort. She existed among them as an oddity, a point of curiosity and fear, remaining until they disbanded or laid defeated. Not proud of what it was she did, her days of revenge long ended and she vanished for years on end, enduring status as a myth and little more - just as her people have faded to.
Motivations: The ideology of the Vigilants has become a subject of personal importance to Sakaala. If men truly are to wage war against forces of evil, pure ones and not those perceived or fought for wealth, honor or prestige alone, then there is no other better than her to mentor them. Few have suffered as she has and fewer yet have fallen so far from great places to have once aspired as her. It is a matter of closure and redemption, to pay for her own crimes she enacted in her years of bloody trade before life comes to its inevitable end and she is returned to the very earth that nourished her.

Extras

Aura: Sakaala radiates a pale, stable corona that manifests as a font of living magic. Shimmering as one draws closer, identifying its thorough internalization throughout, it is more easily viewed at a distance than that of creatures with no magical inclination and thus most mortals.
Scent: Unmistakable by virtue of her fabled leonine origin, she is an almost earthy, faintly musky scent quite clean and refined. Its subtlety might at most be tinged with notes of sage, mint or lavender and anointing oils, or concealed by smoke of old fires and far wilderness reaches.
Other:Vardenvall
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