yoshua171

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Edits have been implemented. I also added a small bit to his Full Appearance, it's a description, doesn't really change anything.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

I'll make the geomancy edit tomorrow. As to the schools/Bloods they are clearly defined in magical talents. He is most proficient with aeromancy and herbamancy. He has a single geomancy spell (which we discussed) and a single pyromania spell (which can only make a flame that could light a candle and we discussed it).

He doesn't have Psychomancy, ant reference to such is within his mental section and is used to help clarify how difficult (or simple) his psyche is to navigate depending on the skill of the individual intruding (or attpring to intrude) in his thoughts/mind.

I typed this on my phone so excuse any typos :P

Anywho, off to bed for me.

The Prophecy

I'll post after Rhae.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Arkaeis Zraimat
Username: yoshua171

Basic Info

Character name: Arkaeis Zraimat.
Age: 28.
Mageblood type: Ancient.
Favoured Magic Class: Chantment.
Previous Magic training: Novice.
Race: Rheven-ari.
Full Appearance: Arkaeis stands at a generous 6 feet with his double jointed legs—a knee joint, and a secondary joint which reverses direction and leads to his ankles—fully extended. In a relaxed stance he is roughly 5'10.

Biography: Born on Midnight Island to the Zraimat family, Arkaeis was raised to be a mediator between the Shayahn and Vridurhi classes, not to mention the six other Shayahn families. As he grew, raised in the traditional way, Arkaeis learned of the deep intricacies of the mind, the psychology of his kind. This interested him greatly and early in his life he delved into the knowledge that his kind had stored on the subject. Not only did he study it, but he drowned himself in it. He began to absorb as much information as he possibly could. He was ravenous for it, as if knowledge were his sustenance and he had never been fed. At the age of sixteen he attended his first meeting, watching the proceedings and doing his best to pinpoint the best possible solutions. His father, Akain, was proud of his son's skills, but he was to be quite surprised when, quite rudely, the boy interrupted the meeting to give his take on it.

There was a time of stunned silence before the family representatives attending the Khriial Set began nodding their heads at the idea. It was a novel idea, not perfect, but nonetheless it helped them solve the issue and where his father had once been ready to scold, he was now just as ready to congratulate him. Arkaeis could not help but beam brightly for the rest of the meeting, which lasted at least fifteen more minutes.

He was proud of himself and the event lent him a new sense of confidence. It was the seed that grew into what would eventually become his resolute assured state of mind—banishing all self doubt from his mind. His experiences began to broaden as he witnessed Vanas Set and heard the ideas of the people along with the Set-reven. He began to notice the way that the Set-reven would sometimes fully embrace the voice of the people, and how other times they would only appear to do so.

It was a subtle form of manipulation, a form of manipulation that his family had become grandmasters to. He was learning and when he saw it he was able to tell when to intervene and when to simply make note. Sometimes the wishes of the masses would not benefit the masses, it was an odd concept, but he understood how it made sense. He knew it was his duty to discern between these where the Set-reven failed. He was the judge and they the ones on trial. A form of superiority, bordering on arrogance, began to grow on Arkaeis.

His father did not correct it, though he saw it coming to pass. Instead, he took his son to the next Hhay'en Ashar, where the boy made his own mistakes. In the middle of the meeting, once again, he made a suggestion, interrupting a member of the Elder council. Narrowed eyes looked upon him, and this time very few agreed with him, despite the intelligence behind his idea. While it did not cull his arrogance outright, it taught him that humbleness and patience were also necessary traits. It was around this time, at the age of 18 that he began to develop his persona.

The probabilities began to run in his mind, he would no longer have to rely purely on his conscious mind's ability to analyze situations. He would access these scenarios when needed, but they would always be there, running in the background while he worked. His daily life continuing, Arkaeis began to learn the cruel nature of the world, watching the families squabble amongst themselves for superiority, watching predators hunt their prey. He understood that this was how the world worked, that the strong preyed on the weak. However, what constituted strength, the young Reven wondered. Was it influence or skill with a blade? Or perhaps it was magic, which flowed through everyone's veins, regardless of their knowledge or skill.

Knowledge, no...it was knowledge. Intellect, for a strong brute was nothing compared to the one who controlled him, moving him strategically like a game of Chess. This appealed to him, and so Arkaeis continued his studies and as he did he found that many of his kin were beginning to show skill with magic. They had a myriad of Bloodlines, some Psychomancers, others Pyromancers. It was always intriguing to watch them play with the forces of nature.

He wondered if he were unlucky and simply had not inherited the talent. He studied magic, first all the bloodlines, for the Rheven-ari possessed their own College of magic, though it was limited to their kind. He attended several classes, but the intelligence of the professors never impressed him.

Nothing was new, and he could not practice any of the Bloodlines they taught. So, after much digging, Arkaeis finally turned to the Ancient magics. Finding the dusty old tomes buried in their vast archives, Arkaeis began to attempt runes, then weaving, and finally...Chantment. He discovered his abilities one night in a small empty chamber one night. A room carved out of the stone, it was seldom used and possessed only a single chair and table. He had been reading about Chantment and its rarity for quite a while. He had not seen any of his fellow Reven possess the talent and, slightly desperate to see if he had any Blood, for none of the other magics had responded to his call, he tried to do something simple: light a candle.

He chanted, keeping his voice low, but clear having memorized the phrase before he tried it. It went just so, “Accende lucernam linum coram me mensam ex calculo. De duobus digitis linum latet sub palma florebit. Hic ubi ignis apparuit.” While the Chant was not very effective, it was specific for he had read that inaccurate specification of a spell's location and properties could lead to disaster and injury.

Nonetheless, the spell worked, for the wick of the candle suddenly lit. His lips spread in a smile, and elation spread through him. Still, once he pulled his hand away from the candle, the fire went out. When he placed it over the candle once more by two inches it lit, but if his hand was any higher or any lower and nothing happened. The discovery intrigued him greatly, filling him with a sense of accomplishment despite the simple task.

It was this day that he knew he had to travel. For him to learn the ways of this magic he needed to know more than his home in Shayl Kharath would allow. So the very next day he revealed his discovered to his father and then told him of his plan.

The man did not approve, but nonetheless he knew that Arkaeis would find a way regardless. So he decided to support him. It took him several years of preparation for Arkain had no intention of sending his only son out into the world unprepared. As such his father continued the boy's training with a blade, which he'd started years before. Eventually the man even managed to obtain the Traveler's Blade, better known as Sesrale Maevrihn. Then, on the day of his 27th birthday he bid his son goodbye, and wished him success. Hopefully he would return with knowledge and experience that made it all worth it.

Arkaeis knew he would and for every day he traveled, after landing on the shore of the mainland, he grew. He encountered trouble here and there, but what was more important was the wealth of experience he gained. Even on his way to the College he saw the many races of Tiien, people he had only read about in books, and they intrigued him. They thought differently from his kind, though for the most part he was ignored or thought a human. This of course amused him and he entertained them, gradually understanding how their kind acted on a more intimate level. He continued to do this, learning the similarities and differences between the minds of the many races.

However, all the while he honed his craft, writing down each spell he formulated and constantly working to improve them. The more streamlined, but specific, a Chant was, the easier the spell was to cast, and the more effective it became. Oddly, despite his original feat in conjuring flame, his book allowed him to do little else for it was worn and old. Instead he took to the disciplines of Aeromancy and Psychomancy, the two which seemed most useful and best kept in the book. Psychomancy in particular interested him and he pored over it, sometimes losing sleep, but not all too often.

Eventually, after a year or so, some wandering, and some beeline towards his destination, Arkaeis would find himself near Leaper's Plateau, only several hours from the College's lofty halls. While excited he had long learned to keep cool his nerves. He did not want to find himself distracted due to fickle emotion. Things would be changing soon, and he knew it.

He knew he was destined for great things, but he wasn't yet sure exactly what those things were.

He'd find out soon enough.

Personality: Enigmatic, veiled in mystery and pleasant in his mannerisms, Arkaeis is a rather cunning individual. While on the outside he appears a near perfect gentleman of high intellect and enigmatic interests, within he is darker, colder, and far more manipulative. Long has he toiled to perfect himself and in his own mind he has succeeded, literally. In this way Arkaeis is entirely confident in himself in all things, even those that he has little talent for. He is unshakable in his own way and on many levels will resist the ploys of others, be they intentional or otherwise. Thus to others he appears a man entirely abhorrent of manipulation and deceit, of course that is only if you know him on an incredibly basic level, for in truth Arkaeis is in fact quite deceitful to all around him. It is a marvel that no one, and that is said with absoluteness, has realized his trickery. For to others he is kind, reliable and honest. Intelligent yes, and definitely more than a little eccentric, but otherwise harmless unless provoked.

Of course, when provoked, Arkaeis does not always appear so on first observation. Instead, he appears either more amused by proceedings or incredibly, horribly bored. This stems from his rather strange rage, which is not easily roused from its slumber in his soul. In fact, those who know Arkaeis very well often say that despite having seen him angry, they always got the sense that he was still entirely in control the entire time. This is frighteningly true and brings with it many implications. First among these is that despite his emotional state, Arkaeis remains entirely in control of his actions even if such does not appear to be the case. Second is the startling realization one gains when they come to know that not only is Arkaeis in control at all times, but that he can rouse any desired mind state or emotion entirely on command. This lends to the fact that all who know Arkaeis understand how great his self control is, even if not to what extent.

When it comes to matters of friend, foe, and family Arkaeis is very particular with how he deals with people. When it comes to family, they are both priceless, and expendable, or rather they are perfect tools for his machinations. When it comes to friends Arkaeis appears incredibly loyal and helpful to near perfection. However, in the end it is almost surely a ruse for he lets so very few into his heart
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While he is cold, it is difficult for one to truly understand just how much until they have seen him unrestrained against his enemy. Thus it can be seen that in battle Arkaeis only enjoys himself when he needs not utilize the entirety of his deadly arsenal of skills. Otherwise he tends to find himself annoyed by the fact that he must consider his enemy an equal. This reveals another of Arkaeis's vices, something that few know unless they delve deep into his true persona. In short, Arkaeis is prideful and a measure arrogant as he believes that none truly surpasses his majesty. However, it is not in the skills of the body that he believes himself entirely superior, no, it is in the realms of the mind that he so places himself. In a sense, he is not entirely wrong. A fact that, should any discover his true nature en full, would frighten most, not that they would survive long to tell their tell...after all, the others didn't.

Good Attributes: Enigmatic, Charismatic, Intelligent, and Gentlemanly first and foremost. He is pragmatic and cautious as well.

Bad Attributes: Curiosity is likely his biggest flaw as can be amusement. While not easily angered, Arkaeis' temper can lead to a dangerously cruel and chilled side of his personality. He is also manipulative, though it is not immediately apparent.

Equipment

Clothing and Belongings

Beyond what he wears in his reference, Arkaeis also keeps, or wears, a warm cloak, with a hood. This cloak is waterproof on the outer surface and is a mixture of soft cloth on the inner surface, with heavier (but warmer) wool and the like stuffed within. The cloak is a neutral brownish gray so as to make him inconspicuous. It is long and tends to conceal his feet and legs. Beyond this, Arkaeis carries a matching brown satchel, which he carries slung over one shoulder and crossing down over his body where it rests at his hip. This satchel carries several tools, unscented soap, and two books. One of these books is a spell tome in which he writes the Chants he has worked out. The second book contains the words of the Chanter's Tongue, though it is a worn out heirloom, with several missing pages and some text which is illegible. He also wears a pack, in which he primarily stores provisions for his travels. He does not keep his coin on an item separate from his person, instead wearing a small necklace pouch which lies concealed beneath his garb at all times unless in use.

Armor and Weaponry

While he possesses, nor wears, much of either, Arkaeis does keep with him a few notable items. In particular, the Reven conceals several sets of concealed bracers beneath his clothing. They are made from steel and are equipped to his forearms and surrounding his shins. The shin guards are something like cylindrical bracers with a cloth inner portion and a metal outer one. In the way of armor he wears little more.

When it comes to weaponry, Arkaeis wears only two daggers, and a single very light blade. One of the daggers is a hunting dagger, designed for big and small game. It is what he uses to carve meat out if he must hunt. It is reserved only for animals and he will seldom use it for anything else. The second dagger is for combat purposes, and he keeps it out of sight at all times, so that any adversary he might come across would never know it existed to begin with.

Last among his weapons is his sword, which is an odd thing. The weapon is disguised as a thick walking stick. The sheath, hilt, and handle of this blade are crafted of iron would, which is seamlessly carved to appear like a simple walking stick with a slight cross-like portion just above where Arkaeis holds it. The blade is precisely four and a half feet in length and composed of crummite, which naturally occurs in the mines on Midnight Island. The blade was wrought by several master geomancers in tangent with a master carver and herbamancer. The blade is typically given to prestigious members of Rheven-ari society who venture out into the world. The blade is particularly heavy due to the materials that compose its form. The blade has survived many trips in many different Reven hands and for now it belongs to Arkaeis.

Capabilities

Magical Talents: When it comes to magic, Arkaeis' knowledge is more plentiful than his experience and while he is a very fast learner he is but a novice when it comes to skill. As a mage of Ancient magic, specifically Chantment, he has attempted spells, but found little success. Nonetheless he has some aeromantic ability, though it is weak at best. He also possesses a single spell related to the geomancy Blood, which allows him to decrease the weight of his blade.

Physical Talents: Arkaeis has become hardy from his travels and obtained a high amount of stamina however, he is not particularly strong in the physical field.—insteading making up for it with grace and finesse. His lower body is far more developed than his arms and torso, allowing him to deliver kicks that could break ribs due to the natural strength of a Reven's legs. He can jump considerably higher than a human and is incredibly fast and agile. His reflexes are quick and his senses sharp. Beyond this he has the natural syneshesia of all Shayahn Reven. His synesthesia is a connection of sound and sight, allowing him to see colors related with sounds. Different sounds have different colors, and he has noticed that different races, and even animals, seem to have unique shades of these colors. He finds this very intriguing and has even begun to note how emotion affects the voice when it is portrayed through such a medium. Beyond this, Arkaeis has picked up meager hunting skills, allowing him to move silently even in forests to wait to ambush his prey. He has near master skill in swordsmanship allowing him a distinct advantage in combat.

Mental Structure/Talent: As a member of the Zraimat family, Arkaeis has been sculpted from birth to be an arbitrator, and oddly by extension, a master of manipulation. It should be noted that while the full description of his mind is complex, that he works on essentially three layers. The top most later known as the Facade, the middle layer known as the Bridge, and the innermost layer known as the Core. Anyways, without further ado, the structure of Arkaeis' psyche:

Layout

False Subconscious

Arkaeis' mind is incredibly organized and can be separated into notable sections. The outermost section of his mind is dedicated to what appears to be random thoughts suffused with kernels of truth here and there. While hardly a hurdle for any Psychomancer of considerable skill, this layer prevents inexperienced mages from prying into his schemes, as such tactics are not too infrequently employed in Rheven-ari politics. An Advanced or Master practitioner would find this defense barely as resilient and useful as a low level ward, discerning its nature quickly and bypassing it with ease. However, a Psychomancer of Expert or Intermediate skill will be at least briefly confused by the initial layer, an expert pressing through with minor difficulty, whereas the intermediate has a 50/50 chance of succeeding. A novice will not be able to discern rhyme nor reason from the layer, considering it the natural subconscious mind, which it is not. This layer is not a feature of the normal Rheven-ari mind, and was brought into being through training and diligent effort. It is somewhat common in members of the Zraimat family due to their place in Rheven-ari society.

The Sea of Ego

Just beneath the False Subconscious is the Sea of Ego, which can be described as a maelstrom of personalities. This layer is composed of what could be anywhere between ten to one hundred separate personalities, each unique. These persona wink in and out of existence depending on which is required. If one were to watch the Sea's movements, they would not notice any specific patterns or currents, but they would notice dances and plays being carried out between the personalities. This is where probabilities and scenarios are run inside of Arkaeis' mind. These persona can, and are, created and destroyed almost at a whim, so as to allow Arkaeis to consider as many possible outcomes as is possible. While Arkaeis is aware of this layer and has some measure of conscious control over it, what could be called a subconscious mind rules over these processes for the most part. This pseudo subconscious helps facilitate the scenarios so that Arkaeis can continue to interact with his surroundings without sacrificing a ridiculous amount of focus.

Seat of the Dominant

Upon the 'floor' of the Sea of Ego is the Seat of the Dominant, the portion of Arkaeis' psyche where the most dominant of his persona dwell. If Arkaeis switches persona the new persona will take the place of the old upon the seat.

The Fortress

Beneath the 'sea floor' is the Fortress, which is dedicated to the few Aspects, who are essentially the driving forces of Arkaeis' personality. There are is a grand throne and two lesser thrones in the Fortress. The fortress is Arkaeis' final defense against psychic intrusion, but due to him not truly possessing any wards it can still be pierced. it can only defend him for a limited time depending on the skill of the Psychomancer. The greater the skill the less time and effort will be needed to pierce this defense.

The Throne Room

The inner sanctum of this Reven's psyche, the room is inhabited by three, two Aspects, and a single Archetype. They are known as Observation, Amusement, and Ambition. The A twins, Amusement and Ambition, are both Aspects by which Arkaeis' personality is deeply, and inherently, effected. Observation, also known as 'The Core', is the Grand ruler of his Psyche. He is the Archetype. Observation is mostly without bias besides focusing on the gathering of information and knowledge in all its forms. The Archetype concerns itself with obtaining wisdom and intellectual superiority, though does not care about the consequences of such unless they directly go against its continued survival.

The two Aspects have less sway, but are nonetheless the other two defining traits of Arkaeis' as a conscious being. Ambition pushes him to improve himself, both through obtaining knowledge, power, and station. Ambition cares not for the emotions of others, but instead wishes to lead them to follow in its footsteps, with it as their shepherd, and they as the sheep. Ambition will always push Arkaeis to reach higher unless Observation tempers it or dictates otherwise for the betterment of the whole.

Second of the two Aspects, but not any less influential, Amusement drives Arkaeis to find its namesake anywhere it can. Due to the influence of its twin, and its better, it tends to glean amusement from learning information and exerting the power it gains over others. Granted, the way this is expressed on the surface differs widely, just as with its twin, and so will not usually be obvious. Such is the nature of this Reven's mind.

When it comes to his mental talents, Arkaeis is incredibly good at multitasking and has an almost eidetic memory, allowing him to recall almost anything he's experienced to a fault—aside from his infant years or time unconscious of course. Nonetheless, his memory is not perfect and he is capable of forgetting or not noticing certain details. His attention to his senses is exceptional allowing for him to be aware of the input from all of his senses, including the abnormal input of his synesthesia. While he cannot block out pain, he can dull it somewhat and knows how to quickly induce a heightened awareness through a breathing technique, allowing him to release a mixture of endorphins and adrenaline. He is not aware of the chemicals, but is aware of the sensations that this slow breathing technique allows him to induce. The highest of his abilities is his analytical prowess, allowing him to discern a great deal from any given situation. This also makes him a very fast learner. Beyond this Arkaeis is attuned to the workings of his body, allowing for precise movements despite his limited physical strength.

Secret Word: Rebirth.

Blood Act~ Lore /CS Thread

Rheven-ari

Alternate Names: Reven or Revenants.

Average Lifespan: Due to them living largely in the shadows of society, most Rheven'ari survive for at least 100 or 200 years. However, they are capable of living for immense lengths of time. The oldest Revenant lived so long that they were unable to remember her age, which was at least in the thousands by then.

Brief description: Bearing a humanoid guise, but inhuman minds, the Rheven-ari have legs with two joints—a knee and a joint like the leg of a dog which reverses in direction and leads to their ankle. Standing anywhere between 5'9 and 6'8 they are roughly human sized in height, though their frame is decidedly thinner than that of a human. They are lithe like elves, and possess a cunning rivaled by few and surpassed by even fewer. A notable fault is the muscular strength of the Rheven-ari, which tends to start either the same as a human's strength or somewhere below such.

Beyond this the Rheven-ari are fairly neglible in their traits unless one looks to their classes, the Shayahn and Vridurhi Reven, each of which have their own specific flaws and abilities. Nonetheless, the Rheven-ari are a fairly reclusive people, with a small population in comparison to the other races. They almost solely inhabit the isolated Midnight Island where they stay, only sending members of their kind into the world here and there for the sake of trade and to keep themselves up to date with the ever changing Tiien.

Likely the most common place to see them is at Twilight Academy where they often frequent for new magical knowledge, or even to learn from the masters of other races. They possess only two holdings, known as Shayl Kharath and Vria'dur Kharath. Foreigners, while not shunned from their land, are welcomed tremulously and with well placed wariness as the bacteria, and thus sickness or disease, that they could bring might devastate their population.

They are a cautious lot, but also an adventurous one. Oddly contradictory ideals held within a largely individual focused culture. Such is simply the way of the strange and enigmatic Rheven-ari, and it will continue to be as long as they exist.

Location: Almost solely found on Midnight Island off the coast of Naerse.

Mage blood rate: 90% Though their birthrates are hardly as high.

Status- Player created- yoshua171

Racial information

Revenant

The Origin of this mysterious species is largely unknown however, what the legends say is that the Rheven-ari have some kind of relation to the Nox. The gods, if you could contact them, would tell you that they emerged from it during the world's reconstruction following the Nuclear war. Sadly, even they have forgotten what it was that got the Reven sent there at all.

Though the Chessmaster...or the Wild might remember.

Culture and Society

Government

The Rheven-ari, almost since their emergence from the Nox, they have separated themselves into two general classes: The Shayahn and Vridurhi. While the two work with one another and neither are technically the ruling class, there is something of a rift between them. Over time their differences have only grown and while they have not yet, they one day may split off from one another and attempt life separated. Nonetheless that day is not soon in the coming and as things are this is how the Rheven-ari structure their society.

The Shayahn are the workers, light bringers, and travelers of the Reven, they gather food and materials for what is referred to as the Shayl Kharath. Shayl Kharath is the visible portion of their capital city, but it is by no means the largest, which is impressive considering its size. Beneath Shayl Karath and expanding deeper and deeper underground by the day, is Vria'dur Kharath, an underground metropolis of sorts, composed of smoothed curving tunnels, and literally hundreds of interconnected cities.

Within each city there is a centralized government. Shayl Kharath's citizens, rather than being ruled by a king or queen, is run by eight distinct families. While these families rule the city and dictate the duties of the citizenry, they are also the most likely to head out into the world, an action which is generally dictated by the Vridurhi council of elders. It is in this way that the two classes work together for the Rheven families and the Vridurhi council dictate eachother's actions with precision and a mind for the better of the whole. The Rheven families take care of procuring materials, both from the outside world and their island. They also oversee the preparation of these materials as well as the defense of Shayl Kharath, though if an attack were to fall upon the Rheven-ari both the families and the elder council would work in unison to defend their people.

The families and their duties are as follow:

The Ginoirh Family are known for their exceptional hunting and tracking skills. As such they are primarily in charge of procuring meats as well as preparing them. This proximity to animals makes them especially resilient against sickness and disease. They tend to have somewhat rough personalities, and a generally blunt nature. They are often described as ruthless and passionate. While these traits are not widely considered as desirable, they can be helpful when tempered by the naturally intelligent mind of the average Reven. While not as experienced as the Zraimat family in regards to war, they are still considered strong warriors and as such are respected in that area as well. The Ginoirh are also rather crude and without much tact, at the same time they are known for the brutal honesty and steadfast loyalty to allies. They are true to their word in almost any situation and most would say that a Ginoirh never breaks a promise.

The Jayhali Family are known for their architectural abilities, making them mostly in charge of the buildings of Shayl Kharath. They maintain, renovate, and add new buildings, or oversee the process of such. Every so often, a member of the Jayhali family will travel out into the world to observe the developing architecture and infrastructure of the world to obtain notable schematics and information regarding such. Partially a result from their trade, the Jayhali Family have an almost innate sense for the weaknesses and layout of both cities and buildings in general. They have a good sense of direction in cities, though they lack such outside of them. Furthermore, due to their architectural trade the Jayhali have incredible awareness of spatial relations, making it easy for them to navigate in a location they have only seen once. If they've seen it more than that then it's likely they could do so with their eyes closed. Members of the Jayhali are confident in themselves, for the most part, and while observant, they are not overly calculative unless talking about structures. Instead they are quite cheerful individuals most of the time, and especially so when pursuing, or discussing, their passion for building. Last, but not least, while Jayhali cannot navigate the natural world as well as cities, they can easily determine the general stability of natural structures almost purely through contact and visual observation. They are said to have close relatives in the Vridurhi class, allowing them less synesthesia, and more vibratory senses—thus aiding their ability to understand structure and stability quite well.

The Dhurmaea Family specialize in medicines as well as the tending to, or gathering of, plants for consumption. As such they oversee agriculture and act as the doctors for both Shayl Kharath and Vria'dur Kharath. They are one of the few Shayahn families to also dwell underground, causing them to, in some ways, be looked down upon. Their kind crossbreed more often than the other families and their bodies are extremely resistant to illness due to their purpose in the civilization. They are well known for the kindness, but also their ability to ignore social stigma or bad relations in the interest of the whole. This makes them largely impartial in their mentality and they are commonly thought of as a neutral party when it comes to the politics of the Rheven-ari.

The Nayrgrana Family are the merchants and bankers of the Rheven-ari. They are amazingly good with numbers and math. This, if they were born Vridurhi, would make them incredibly good scientists. Nonetheless, the Nayrgrana prefer to fill their coffers and trade fine wares. Their immune systems are average for Rheven-ari, aside from their 'couriers' who have incredible immune systems. The main branch of the Nayrgrana never come within a certain radius of foreign species, including sentients, instead they train their couriers very well, and send them into the world to take part in trades. As such, the world sees couriers far more often then they do the actual merchants of the Nayrgrana family. Due to their strong grasp of economical concepts the Nayrgrana are known for being rather cold and calculative. However, contrary to popular belief, they are not greedy, and instead choose to use their ample funds to support the entirety of their race. As a byproduct they have ample political support from a vast majority of the citizenry, making them a powerful force in family meetings. Oddly, while somewhat cold in their nature, members of the Nayrgrana family are not unsympathetic and are quick to sympathize, or even empathize with people. It is the manner by which they do so which makes them strange, rather than console people with kind words, the Nayrgrana are firm realists and will give objective advice to people in regards to handling situations. How others take their cold advice is not their concern.

The Yael-ghari Family are the craftsman of the Rheven-ari, specializing in the creation of tools and weaponry. They are not however, typically considered inventors. Instead, the Yael-ghari specialize in the near perfect construction of almost anything displayed to them. Their sense of touch is heightened and linked with their sight, displaying their unique synesthesia. This allows them to discern the structure of make of things that they touch. Even a blind Yael-ghari would be capable of identifying an object through touch and would be able to intimately understand the nature and purpose of an object in their hands. They are quick witted and quick to judge a person's character. Nonetheless, they care little for the physical appearance of themselves or others as long as they do not appear utterly haggard or slovenly. They are hard workers and while they are not widely liked or disliked among the people, the Yael-ghari's services are appreciated, even if they are sometimes very particular in regards to the price of their wares.

The Sanaei Family are the tailors and seamstresses of the Reven. They are also often the closest to the citizens, due to their kindness, hospitality, and generous nature. They clothe essentially everyone, or teach them how to clothe themselves. They have the least interest in political power and influence, but ironically are widely considered the voice of the people due to being so closely related to them. Nonetheless, their status is considered the lowest of the families due to this same closeness. However, much to the chagrin of some of the other houses, particularly the Nayrgrana and Zraimat families, their close relationship with the citizenry totally overshadows their low status. This makes their word equal to that of the aforementioned due to it largely representing those they rule. Members of the Sanaei are typically well mannered and tolerant. They possess an almost endless patience, and are probably the most empathetic of the families. They prefer simple lives and will remain calm in almost any situation. Their immune systems are slightly below the average for a Shayahn Reven due to them hardly ever leaving the island.

The Tendar-vikal Family are the warriors, the soldiers, and the military of the Rheven. They have handed down militaristic traditions for the duration of their race's existence. Oddly, they are not considered as able in the area of strategy and tactics as the Zraimat Family. Their skills are rather straightforwards, and due to their love of combat they, every two years, host two tournaments, one on Midnight Island, and another on foreign soil. This second tournament has only been created recently, specifically in the last ten years, meaning that it's only happened five times to date and thus is still not widely known throughout the world. Their relationship with the people is somewhat tremulous, and their say in meetings is...often questioned. The Tendar-vikal are closely related to Yael-ghari and the Elder council as well as the Zraimat family. They vary greatly in mentality.

The Zraimat Family is one of the smallest, but simultaneously well known family. They are enigmatic in nature and their purpose is less defined then the other seven families. They are primarily considered a go-between for the Rheven Families and the Elder Council, putting them in a very powerful position. They are the organizers, they are the teachers, they are the tacticians and strategists, allowing them, in some situations, to overrule the decisions of the other families. Oddly, the Zraimat Family are also in charge of the religious aspect of life. Much to the chagrin of several of the other families, the Zraimat have both the support of the public, and the status of the other well known families. While it is the Vridurhi who manage the keeping of the race's records and information, as well as the scientific advancements of their kind, it is the Zraimat family who administrates and spreads this knowledge through their school, libraries, and the uncommon temple. Those of the Zraimat are exceptionally intelligent, considered some of the most intelligent among the Rheven-ari, which is saying something. They are less partial to the time that they function, and oddly they can be born with a myriad of abilities from either biological classification. They are never born with more or less weaknesses or strengths than the primary classifications though.

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The Four Sets

Vanas Set

When issues need be discussed by the families, a gathering is held in the center of Shayl Kharath. It is called the Vanas Set, or 'Open Debate,' and is one of the four methods that the Rheven-ari utilize to solve problems. The Vanas Set is employed specifically when a larger issue is presented to the families and none of them can solve it on their own, but the Elder Council does not deem their involvement necessary.

There is an open square the center of Shayl Kharath, typically used as a marketplace, which is cleared out when the Vanas Set is held. If possible a notice is sent out one or two weeks in advance and so the majority of the Shayahn are notified of the event. When it comes time for it to be held, the four representatives from each family—except the Zraimat family, who only sends one. These individuals are known as the Set-reven. Upon their arrival they take their places on a single massive raised dais in the center of the square. The twenty-nine Set-reven sit upon chairs placed upon the dais with each chair facing the back of the next. The seats are always placed sideways facing clockwise and spiraling inwards to the central chair where a member of the Zraimat family will sit.

By then the marketplace will have filled with the citizenship, crowding the buildings, and pushing for a place closer to the dais. The square is so large that it can fit hundreds upon hundreds of people, but because of this few are able to hear the ongoing discussion held upon the dais. To aid the transmission several mages with the Blood of Aeromancy in their veins are placed in strategic locations throughout the crowd. Through their deft manipulation of air and the sound waves that travel through it, the Aeromancers transmit the voices of the Set-reven to the entire square while silencing the noise of the crowd to barely a hum. If the majority becomes aggravated by a decision, they are forced to make their complaint known throughout the entire square to break the barrier of air which quiets them. In this way, the Rheven-ari may make fair conclusions, even though coming to those conclusions may take more time than usual.

The crowd is typically listened to, but in rare circumstances the Zraimat will overrule their calls. These occurrences are exceedingly uncommon, and the Zraimat is always forced to explain why they came to such a decision.

Khriial Set

When an issue is one that the families must resolve within their circle alone, they gather within a chamber below Shayl Kharath. Here the families gather, again sending four representatives, by the same name –Set-reven—who are watched closely by four members of the Elder council and a single member of the Zraimat family. These meetings are called Khriial Set, meaning 'Closed Debate' in the common tongue. Khriial Set are held when matters regarding a particular family, or their purpose, must be answered and the voice of the people will not assist in the solving of the issue. These meetings can take quite a while, and so they will usually happen at set intervals during a set period of time at the end of which a solution must be found.

If the families cannot come to a more or less mutual agreement, the four elders will step in and cease to simply offer their wisdom, and will instead make a decision. Only a ruling of one third the participants, excluding the Zraimat, can partially overrule the elders forcing them to make slight modifications to the ruling. If half, or more, of the participants overrule the elders then the decision is modified by the families in tangent with the elders. If all parties overrule the elders, then the Zraimat will call upon the grand elder or ask the citizenry to choose three Set-reven amongst themselves and send them down.

The three citizens will look over the previously presented solutions and choose two or three of them. The Elders will then review them and choose to remove one, after which the families will vote on the one they prefer, and so the process will end.

Hhay'en Ashar

Translating to the 'Veiled Council,' this problem solving method hands the problem off to the Elder council, which grows every few generations as new Reven become old enough to be considered as candidates. Typically only Vridurhi Reven are chosen, but every so often Zraimat or other Shayahn Reven are chosen. Nonetheless, the Hhay'en Ashar is not held often and involves a secretive meeting between the Zraimat family and the Elder Council. The Zraimat will deliver the issue, which must first fail to be solved by the families amongst themselves or during the Vanas Set. Some issues will be rushed to the Elder Council before this, but these issues do not happen often and must be of such importance that the Elders are immediately required.

It is largely unknown what the Elders do when holding the Hhay'en Ashar and only select members of the Zraimat family have ever attended unless a member from another family is called of course. Nonetheless, those who have taken part in the Hhay'en Ashar are sworn to absolute secrecy and so it is considered an almost hallowed subject. In some ways it is taboo to even speak of it, nonetheless there are rumors aplenty regarding what the Elder Council does during these.

Nonetheless, the decision made during Hhay'en Ashar are almost always the right ones and so the process is not greatly questioned. The people largely trust the Zraimat family to keep the Elders in line, and as they are so well respected even by the Shayahn Reven, little worry is ever directed in regards to the result of a Veiled Council.

Nitsuri Ashar

A form of council wherein the Elders leave the confines of their underground home, the Nitsuri Ashar, or Summer Council, is always held in the warmth of summer during the day. These gatherings are held between the Elder Council and the Citizenry and take place upon the crest of a hill to the west of Shayl Kharath's center. The Elder council will declare the goings on in Vria'dur Kharath during this time, and the Shayahn of Shayl Kharath will be able to assist in the governance and problem solving of their subterranean brothers. These councils are held for the benefit of Vria'dur Kharath, and to assist in unifying the people. Additionally, the chieftains of Vria'dur Kharath's many underground cities will briefly assemble, declaring their thoughts as to how to improve life in shayl Kharath.

The Nitsuri Ashar are akin to both festivals and political events. Food is served, dancing and singing is done, but business is also taken care of. In this way the two classes are unified and find ways to assist each other. This also assists in maintaining and reinforcing the respect and trust that the Shayahn place in the Elder Council. It is an essential event indeed.

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While these are the methods utilized by the Shayahn Reven, the Vridurhi are less centralized in their governance with the exception of the Elder Council. Instead of families, the Vridurhi cities each have a chieftain of sorts, along with a citizen council. The two hold roughly equal power and keep one another along the right track. If things become unbalanced or out of sorts the Elder Council or the Zraimat family can be called upon to offer advice and an impartial mind to the decision making process.

This set of methodologies does well for the Rheven-ari as a race and makes sure that both classes maintain a high degree of both trust in one another and autonomy should it ever become necessary.

Racial Mentality

The Rheven-ari are individualists, plain and simple. They are also isolationists for the most part, as they tend to stay away from the rest of the world. They believe in the strength and intelligence of individuals, though they know the power that lies in numbers as well. Nonetheless, most Rheven-ari could be considered realists with a very logical outlook on life. They are not trusting of those outside of their race and largely consider the other races to be mentally inferior to themselves, though this is partially due to an inferiority complex in regards to their physical abilities. Most Reven also have an intense interest in knowledge and learning in general. Due to their largely superior minds, the Reven do not entirely understand how the minds of other mortals work, and as such they take to considering people as case studies. Some concepts go right over their head, but for the most part Rheven-ari are accepting and willing to listen. Sometimes they will even trade their services for the chance to learn new subjects. While, as mentioned, most Rheven-are like to think of themselves as mentally superior to the other races, they tend to look down on other sentient beings with a silent, and largely undetectable, disdain. If questioned regarding it they tend to either ignore the query or answer with an exceptionally long winded response, explaining the reasons behind their belief. Nonetheless the Rheven-ari tend to be helpful to their fellow man, assisting as long as they will be compensated with knowledge at the very least, as well as being fairly understanding of their actions.

Beliefs

When it comes to the religious tendencies and traditions of the Rheven-ari, they, as a whole, worship only one god and that god's name is Moltom. It is their firm belief that it was Moltom who created them in the days before the Great Loss, an event during which a wealth of knowledge was lost to the Rheven-ari. Few remember those days, and fewer know the truth of that terrible event. Beyond this the Rheven-ari are not an overly superstitious lot, though they are almost always very spiritual in nature.

Language

Arihn, their language, is composed primarily of soft sounds, with a fluid rhythm to it. The language is easy on the ears and does not have very many hard syllables, instead favoring softer pronunciations.

Working Vocabulary
Regularly updated.

Set- Debate or discussion typically involving a larger group of people.
Vanas-Open or receiving. Also relates to trust and the lack of keeping secrets. Empathic.
Shayahn-The name of one of the two classes, it means Light walker.
Vridurhi-The name of one of the two classes, it means Illuminated Shadow.
Shay-The Sun.
Shayl-Sunlight
Ahn-Light.
Rhi-Shadow.
Vridu-Illuminate, to bring light to.
Kharath-City.
Vria'dur-Shadow treading. To walk in shadow.
Nitsuri-Summer.
Ashar-Council.
Hhay'en-Veiled, or veil. That which is wreathed in mist. Refers to mysterious or partial unknowns.
Khriial-Closed. Without empathetic.

Physiology

Unlike the rest of their cells, which have a very high metabolic rate, Rheven-ari also possess a wealth of extremely low metabolism stem cells which are stored throughout their bodies. These cells remain in an essentially inactive state. These cells, in tangent with several other factors, bless them with extremely long life spans. However, these life spans are not entirely based on these cells or even their biology. In regards to Shayahn Reven, they possess these cells in addition to having a naturally higher resistance to many different illnesses that would otherwise endanger their lives. Additionally, their diet is typically more varied and full of nutrients, which keep them healthy and hardy. They are generally more prepared for the world than Vridurhi Reven.

On the other end of the spectrum are the Vridurhi Reven who tend to never encounter dangerous diseases due to staying on Midnight Island. In addition to this, the diet they partake in, a diet only possible due to the unique flora and fauna on Midnight Island, increases their likelihood of a long life. The reason for this is that the chemicals induce hormones that encourage their bodies to generate more of their specialized stemcells.

Lastly, Rheven-ari have cells which are able to continue conducting mitosis for periods of time far longer than most races, allowing them a lifespan that can possibly surpass even that of the oldest recorded Naga.

Moving on from their cellular workings, Rheven-ari are humanoid in their general skeletal structure and appearance though they possess traits which distinguish them. In particular, a Rheven-ari's legs resemble those of an Esyire; two key joints --knee joint and a second reversed joint connecting a second bone to the ankle. The feet of a Rheven-ari have a different shape, four forward facing toes and one heel mounted, backwards facing one, all with retractable claws. Their hands also possess these claws, which are typically around half an inch's length. Additionally, to protect their feet from rough or sharp objects, Rheven-ari possess thickened skin in that area, allowing them to walk with very little discomfort, if any. Small to medium sized rocks, even sharp ones, will not damage their feet or cause them much inconvenience allowing them to travel barefooted.

The circulatory system of Rheven-ari move at a heightened rate, caused not by a larger heart, but instead by their veins and arteries having smaller pumps with several heart analogues throughout. They have one heart, considered the central hub, in the center of their torso beneath their slightly longer and more efficient lungs. They have much smaller (about 1/4th the size) organs at each corner of their torso each shielded by extensions from the pelvis and ribcage respectively. These bones do not have many gaps between them, unlike those found in most other humanoid races, and are instead more like solid plates with needle thin spaces between them. While these plate-like ribcages protect their lungs and 'hearts' more effectively than those of other races, they can be shattered by blunt force. If this occurs it is much more likely to kill the Rheven-ari than it would be to kill a member of another race. It should be noted that all Rheven-ari will experience altitude sickness roughly two times as quickly as a human would.

It should be noted that while the Rheven-ari have more than one 'heart', they will likely be permanently bedridden, or crippled, of their central heart is permanently damaged. Taking out 3 of their four other 'hearts' will likely cause death and taking out the central heart in addition to 1 other 'heart' will also likely cause death. Additionally, due to the increased speed of their blood flow, Rheven-ari are more likely to die from blood loss than humans.

As mentioned prior there are two varieties of Rheven-ari: Shayahn Reven, and Vridruhi Reven.

As the name suggests Vridurhi Reven operate primarily during the night hours. They have adapted to suit these habits and possess exceptional night vision. However, due to living mostly underground their skin burns from sunlight much easier than the Shayahn Reven or even humans. In terms of musculature, Vridurhi Reven have are weaker than the average human being able to lift barely their own weight, which is around 110 pounds on average. Vridurhi Reven do however have higher stamina than a human, despite their lacking strength, allowing them to carry out physical activity for 10% longer than a human typically could. This is a result of the Rheven-ari's naturally high metabolic rate, which is in place to keep their brain properly fed with nutrients in addition to the rest of their body.

Vridurhi Reven have less humanoid facial features, appearing somewhat thin and ugly by human or elven standards with faces that can sometimes make people mistake them for particularly 'attractive' orcs or deformed humans. However, Reven do possess the unique ability to sense vibrations via both their sense of touch and hearing allowing them to use a mixture of seismic sense and echolocation. During the night this ability is less active allowing them only to sense the general location of objects and people. However, during the day when their eyes are unable to properly see this ability is considerably heightened, allowing them to detect specific shapes and discern a good measure of detail. Nonetheless, their vibration sense was developed to supplement their poor day vision, rather than to replace their sight completely.

This ability becomes mostly dormant during the night, but upon exposure to sunlight, a Vridurhi will display the ability to navigate almost entirely without their eyes. Nonetheless identifying people or the specific physical shape of small objects will be impossible for them without their eyes. It should be noted that their eyes do not function well in daylight as they are designed for the subterranean dwellings of their home. Vridurhi Reven are more susceptible to disease then their Diurnal cousins and as such do not typically leave Midnight Island.

Last of all, Vridurhi, when they do have mageblood, tend to have a higher aptitude for learning magic than Shayahn, the reason for this is not known.

Shayahn Reven have night vision that is barely above that of humans however, their eyes are generally more advanced. This is partially due to their naturally occurring synesthesia in addition to their ability to perceive incredible detail. A Shayahn Reven could be considered much like a hawk or owl, able to zoom in to see things from further distances and even to reveal greater details the closer something is.

Most commonly, the brain of a Shayahn will associate their hearing and sight. However, some are born with the unique ability to sense magic, or rather arcanite. Those capable of this can, with practice, differentiate between the types. This is just another reason that they do not associate with most other races.

In terms of their musculature, Shayahn possess strength roughly equivalent to that of an average human. Their stamina is very high, though it can be exhausted quickly if they have not learned how to regulate themselves properly. Shayahn are faster, more flexible, and agile than humans. Elves surpass their natural agility, though Shayahn are more flexible and light on their feet. Shayahn usually weigh around 130 pounds without any training. Additionally, due to the increased durability of their bodies, caused by generations of travelers and vagabonds, Shayahn can jump particularly high and/or fall from roughly two stories without breaking any bones should they land properly.

Another notable trait, while not positive in nature, is that Shayahn burn much easier from fire, it is unknown as to why. Here end the differences between Shayahn and Vridurhi.

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Stats

Advantages:

>1 major heart, 4 minor
>More effective lungs
>Faster than Elves
>Durable from the waist down
>High stamina amount, but use it quickly if not careful
>Claws
>Agile
>Incredible intellect
>Plate-like 'ribcage' analogue
>Higher resistance to sharp force trauma
>Magic sense/Synesthete(Shayahn)
>Synesthete(Shayahn)
>Lower magical talent(Shayahn)
>Good night vision(Vridurhi)
>Vibration sense/Exceptional hearing(Vridurhi)--limited--

Disadvantages:

>Claws can be broken and take weeks to heal
>Must eat more than humans due to their high metabolism
>Particularly susceptible to Disease and poisons/venoms
>Bleed out easier due to the speed of their blood flow
>Twice as sensitive to lack of oxygen
>Plate-like 'ribcage' analogue
>Particular weakness to Blunt force trauma
>Burn easily—fire(Shayahn) or light(Vridurhi)
>Hypersensitive to light(Vridurhi)
>Average(Shayahn) or lower(Vridurhi) than human strength

Psychology

Unlike the human mind, the mind of a Reven is something of an enigma. The key differences from the human mind come in the form of how quickly they process information and additionally that, depending on their class, two or more of the sensory parts of their brain will be more or less melded into one. Beyond this their brains start more well developed than those of humans, including connections between their synapses that most other races have to mold throughout their lives. Beyond this it should be noted that a Reven's brain is far more effective at storing and recollecting memories, and the speed at which they process information is anywhere between two or eight times that of most other sentient beings.

However, likely the strangest aspect of their brain is that it does not contain the entirety of their mind. Instead, the majority of a Reven's mind is intimately connected with their former prison. This allows the structure of a Reven's consciousness to be largely dependent on the individual, the stimuli they encounter throughout their life, and the way they work towards molding it. This leads to an intriguing point, a Reven is entirely capable of modifying the way that their mind functions, from the way information is processed, to the way they register pain and various other stimuli through modifying the way that their brain receives and reacts to stimuli.

However, there is an intriguing downside to this capability of theirs. In short it makes sympathizing and understanding the other races a fair deal more difficult than it would be otherwise. An upside to their unique neurology and psyche is that Psychomancers find their minds to be puzzles, rather than open books and as such it typically takes an adept Psychomancer, or one knowledgeable in regards to their kind, to properly decipher the labyrinth that is a Rheven-ari's mind. Inexperienced Psychomancers will often find themselves somewhat disoriented when around Rheven-ari, even if they are unaware of their presence, as the influx of their thoughts and emotions, or the lack thereof, can be rather disconcerting.

Even experienced psychomancers tend to state that Rheven-ari possess a mind which feels distinctly foreign. Sometimes their psyche has even been attributed an otherworldly quality, feeling as if it originates from some far off place where the rhyme and reason of Tiien holds no sway.

It is possible that their theory is not far from the truth, too bad there's no way to confirm such....

The Prophecy

Well I was going to cook up a post with I'on real soon. Within the next few days, so if you want to wait on that, Merc, there'd be a bit more input.

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

Important note: Abstractis Imperialis Veritis (aka the swarm of butterflies) is effectively invisible. They don't exude their own essence and their body is "opaque" to essence vision. Which makes them an even stranger anomaly haha. However, don't edit your post Hawk. Reason being, we'll just presume that he detected the trace amounts of Reates' essence that was on the outer surface of their bodies due to them being near him so much.

Most of them wouldn't be visible, but those few were :P

They were probably feeding from him recently, as that is how they sustain themselves.

---

Conversely he could be sensing the air essence that is being displaced around the butterflies.

Anywho, I enjoyed both posts. I'm not certain how Reates will be reacting to Ian, but it ought to be interesting. Furthermore, I find it quite amusing that Reates is basically making reality seem like a dream due to how strange he is xD

Yoshua's Character Storage Mark VII

Arkaeis Zraimat
Username: yoshua171

Basic Info

Character name: Arkaeis Zraimat.
Age: 28.
Mageblood type: Ancient.
Favoured Magic Class: Chantment.
Previous Magic training: Novice.
Race: Rheven-ari.
Full Appearance: Arkaeis stands at a generous 6 feet with his double jointed legs—a knee joint, and a secondary joint which reverses direction and leads to his ankles—fully extended. In a relaxed stance he is roughly 5'10.

Biography: Born on Midnight Island to the Zraimat family, Arkaeis was raised to be a mediator between the Shayahn and Vridurhi classes, not to mention the six other Shayahn families. As he grew, raised in the traditional way, Arkaeis learned of the deep intricacies of the mind, the psychology of his kind. This interested him greatly and early in his life he delved into the knowledge that his kind had stored on the subject. Not only did he study it, but he drowned himself in it. He began to absorb as much information as he possibly could. He was ravenous for it, as if knowledge were his sustenance and he had never been fed. At the age of sixteen he attended his first meeting, watching the proceedings and doing his best to pinpoint the best possible solutions. His father, Akain, was proud of his son's skills, but he was to be quite surprised when, quite rudely, the boy interrupted the meeting to give his take on it.

There was a time of stunned silence before the family representatives attending the Khriial Set began nodding their heads at the idea. It was a novel idea, not perfect, but nonetheless it helped them solve the issue and where his father had once been ready to scold, he was now just as ready to congratulate him. Arkaeis could not help but beam brightly for the rest of the meeting, which lasted at least fifteen more minutes.

He was proud of himself and the event lent him a new sense of confidence. It was the seed that grew into what would eventually become his resolute assured state of mind—banishing all self doubt from his mind. His experiences began to broaden as he witnessed Vanas Set and heard the ideas of the people along with the Set-reven. He began to notice the way that the Set-reven would sometimes fully embrace the voice of the people, and how other times they would only appear to do so.

It was a subtle form of manipulation, a form of manipulation that his family had become grandmasters to. He was learning and when he saw it he was able to tell when to intervene and when to simply make note. Sometimes the wishes of the masses would not benefit the masses, it was an odd concept, but he understood how it made sense. He knew it was his duty to discern between these where the Set-reven failed. He was the judge and they the ones on trial. A form of superiority, bordering on arrogance, began to grow on Arkaeis.

His father did not correct it, though he saw it coming to pass. Instead, he took his son to the next Hhay'en Ashar, where the boy made his own mistakes. In the middle of the meeting, once again, he made a suggestion, interrupting a member of the Elder council. Narrowed eyes looked upon him, and this time very few agreed with him, despite the intelligence behind his idea. While it did not cull his arrogance outright, it taught him that humbleness and patience were also necessary traits. It was around this time, at the age of 18 that he began to develop his persona.

The probabilities began to run in his mind, he would no longer have to rely purely on his conscious mind's ability to analyze situations. He would access these scenarios when needed, but they would always be there, running in the background while he worked. His daily life continuing, Arkaeis began to learn the cruel nature of the world, watching the families squabble amongst themselves for superiority, watching predators hunt their prey. He understood that this was how the world worked, that the strong preyed on the weak. However, what constituted strength, the young Reven wondered. Was it influence or skill with a blade? Or perhaps it was magic, which flowed through everyone's veins, regardless of their knowledge or skill.

Knowledge, no...it was knowledge. Intellect, for a strong brute was nothing compared to the one who controlled him, moving him strategically like a game of Chess. This appealed to him, and so Arkaeis continued his studies and as he did he found that many of his kin were beginning to show skill with magic. They had a myriad of Bloodlines, some Psychomancers, others Pyromancers. It was always intriguing to watch them play with the forces of nature.

He wondered if he were unlucky and simply had not inherited the talent. He studied magic, first all the bloodlines, for the Rheven-ari possessed their own College of magic, though it was limited to their kind. He attended several classes, but the intelligence of the professors never impressed him.

Nothing was new, and he could not practice any of the Bloodlines they taught. So, after much digging, Arkaeis finally turned to the Ancient magics. Finding the dusty old tomes buried in their vast archives, Arkaeis began to attempt runes, then weaving, and finally...Chantment. He discovered his abilities one night in a small empty chamber one night. A room carved out of the stone, it was seldom used and possessed only a single chair and table. He had been reading about Chantment and its rarity for quite a while. He had not seen any of his fellow Reven possess the talent and, slightly desperate to see if he had any Blood, for none of the other magics had responded to his call, he tried to do something simple: light a candle.

He chanted, keeping his voice low, but clear having memorized the phrase before he tried it. It went just so, “Accende lucernam linum coram me mensam ex calculo. De duobus digitis linum latet sub palma florebit. Hic ubi ignis apparuit.” While the Chant was not very effective, it was specific for he had read that inaccurate specification of a spell's location and properties could lead to disaster and injury.

Nonetheless, the spell worked, for the wick of the candle suddenly lit. His lips spread in a smile, and elation spread through him. Still, once he pulled his hand away from the candle, the fire went out. When he placed it over the candle once more by two inches it lit, but if his hand was any higher or any lower and nothing happened. The discovery intrigued him greatly, filling him with a sense of accomplishment despite the simple task.

It was this day that he knew he had to travel. For him to learn the ways of this magic he needed to know more than his home in Shayl Kharath would allow. So the very next day he revealed his discovered to his father and then told him of his plan.

The man did not approve, but nonetheless he knew that Arkaeis would find a way regardless. So he decided to support him. It took him several years of preparation for Arkain had no intention of sending his only son out into the world unprepared. As such his father continued the boy's training with a blade, which he'd started years before. Eventually the man even managed to obtain the Traveler's Blade, better known as Sesrale Maevrihn. Then, on the day of his 27th birthday he bid his son goodbye, and wished him success. Hopefully he would return with knowledge and experience that made it all worth it.

Arkaeis knew he would and for every day he traveled, after landing on the shore of the mainland, he grew. He encountered trouble here and there, but what was more important was the wealth of experience he gained. Even on his way to the College he saw the many races of Tiien, people he had only read about in books, and they intrigued him. They thought differently from his kind, though for the most part he was ignored or thought a human. This of course amused him and he entertained them, gradually understanding how their kind acted on a more intimate level. He continued to do this, learning the similarities and differences between the minds of the many races.

However, all the while he honed his craft, writing down each spell he formulated and constantly working to improve them. The more streamlined, but specific, a Chant was, the easier the spell was to cast, and the more effective it became. Oddly, despite his original feat in conjuring flame, his book allowed him to do little else for it was worn and old. Instead he took to the disciplines of Aeromancy and Psychomancy, the two which seemed most useful and best kept in the book. Psychomancy in particular interested him and he pored over it, sometimes losing sleep, but not all too often.

Eventually, after a year or so, some wandering, and some beeline towards his destination, Arkaeis would find himself near Leaper's Plateau, only several hours from the College's lofty halls. While excited he had long learned to keep cool his nerves. He did not want to find himself distracted due to fickle emotion. Things would be changing soon, and he knew it.

He knew he was destined for great things, but he wasn't yet sure exactly what those things were.

He'd find out soon enough.

Personality: Enigmatic, veiled in mystery and pleasant in his mannerisms, Arkaeis is a rather cunning individual. While on the outside he appears a near perfect gentleman of high intellect and enigmatic interests, within he is darker, colder, and far more manipulative. Long has he toiled to perfect himself and in his own mind he has succeeded, literally. In this way Arkaeis is entirely confident in himself in all things, even those that he has little talent for. He is unshakable in his own way and on many levels will resist the ploys of others, be they intentional or otherwise. Thus to others he appears a man entirely abhorrent of manipulation and deceit, of course that is only if you know him on an incredibly basic level, for in truth Arkaeis is in fact quite deceitful to all around him. It is a marvel that no one, and that is said with absoluteness, has realized his trickery. For to others he is kind, reliable and honest. Intelligent yes, and definitely more than a little eccentric, but otherwise harmless unless provoked.

Of course, when provoked, Arkaeis does not always appear so on first observation. Instead, he appears either more amused by proceedings or incredibly, horribly bored. This stems from his rather strange rage, which is not easily roused from its slumber in his soul. In fact, those who know Arkaeis very well often say that despite having seen him angry, they always got the sense that he was still entirely in control the entire time. This is frighteningly true and brings with it many implications. First among these is that despite his emotional state, Arkaeis remains entirely in control of his actions even if such does not appear to be the case. Second is the startling realization one gains when they come to know that not only is Arkaeis in control at all times, but that he can rouse any desired mind state or emotion entirely on command. This lends to the fact that all who know Arkaeis understand how great his self control is, even if not to what extent.

When it comes to matters of friend, foe, and family Arkaeis is very particular with how he deals with people. When it comes to family, they are both priceless, and expendable, or rather they are perfect tools for his machinations. When it comes to friends Arkaeis appears incredibly loyal and helpful to near perfection. However, in the end it is almost surely a ruse for he lets so very few into his heart
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While he is cold, it is difficult for one to truly understand just how much until they have seen him unrestrained against his enemy. Thus it can be seen that in battle Arkaeis only enjoys himself when he needs not utilize the entirety of his deadly arsenal of skills. Otherwise he tends to find himself annoyed by the fact that he must consider his enemy an equal. This reveals another of Arkaeis's vices, something that few know unless they delve deep into his true persona. In short, Arkaeis is prideful and a measure arrogant as he believes that none truly surpasses his majesty. However, it is not in the skills of the body that he believes himself entirely superior, no, it is in the realms of the mind that he so places himself. In a sense, he is not entirely wrong. A fact that, should any discover his true nature en full, would frighten most, not that they would survive long to tell their tell...after all, the others didn't.

Good Attributes: Enigmatic, Charismatic, Intelligent, and Gentlemanly first and foremost. He is pragmatic and cautious as well.

Bad Attributes: Curiosity is likely his biggest flaw as can be amusement. While not easily angered, Arkaeis' temper can lead to a dangerously cruel and chilled side of his personality. He is also manipulative, though it is not immediately apparent.

Equipment

Clothing and Belongings

Beyond what he wears in his reference, Arkaeis also keeps, or wears, a warm cloak, with a hood. This cloak is waterproof on the outer surface and is a mixture of soft cloth on the inner surface, with heavier (but warmer) wool and the like stuffed within. The cloak is a neutral brownish gray so as to make him inconspicuous. It is long and tends to conceal his feet and legs. Beyond this, Arkaeis carries a matching brown satchel, which he carries slung over one shoulder and crossing down over his body where it rests at his hip. This satchel carries several tools, unscented soap, and two books. One of these books is a spell tome in which he writes the Chants he has worked out. The second book contains the words of the Chanter's Tongue, though it is a worn out heirloom, with several missing pages and some text which is illegible. He also wears a pack, in which he primarily stores provisions for his travels. He does not keep his coin on an item separate from his person, instead wearing a small necklace pouch which lies concealed beneath his garb at all times unless in use.

Armor and Weaponry

While he possesses, nor wears, much of either, Arkaeis does keep with him a few notable items. In particular, the Reven conceals several sets of concealed bracers beneath his clothing. They are made from steel and are equipped to his forearms and surrounding his shins. The shin guards are something like cylindrical bracers with a cloth inner portion and a metal outer one. In the way of armor he wears little more.

When it comes to weaponry, Arkaeis wears only two daggers, and a single very light blade. One of the daggers is a hunting dagger, designed for big and small game. It is what he uses to carve meat out if he must hunt. It is reserved only for animals and he will seldom use it for anything else. The second dagger is for combat purposes, and he keeps it out of sight at all times, so that any adversary he might come across would never know it existed to begin with.

Last among his weapons is his sword, which is an odd thing. The weapon is disguised as a thick walking stick. The sheath, hilt, and handle of this blade are crafted of iron would, which is seamlessly carved to appear like a simple walking stick with a slight cross-like portion just above where Arkaeis holds it. The blade is precisely four and a half feet in length and composed of crummite, which naturally occurs in the mines on Midnight Island. The blade was wrought by several master geomancers in tangent with a master carver and herbamancer. The blade is typically given to prestigious members of Rheven-ari society who venture out into the world. The blade is particularly heavy due to the materials that compose its form. The blade has survived many trips in many different Reven hands and for now it belongs to Arkaeis.

Capabilities

Magical Talents: When it comes to magic, Arkaeis' knowledge is more plentiful than his experience and while he is a very fast learner he is but a novice when it comes to skill. As a mage of Ancient magic, specifically Chantment, he has attempted spells, but found little success. Nonetheless he has some aeromantic ability, though it is weak at best. He also possesses a single spell related to the geomancy Blood, which allows him to decrease the weight of his blade.

Physical Talents: Arkaeis has become hardy from his travels and obtained a high amount of stamina however, he is not particularly strong in the physical field.—insteading making up for it with grace and finesse. His lower body is far more developed than his arms and torso, allowing him to deliver kicks that could break ribs due to the natural strength of a Reven's legs. He can jump considerably higher than a human and is incredibly fast and agile. His reflexes are quick and his senses sharp. Beyond this he has the natural syneshesia of all Shayahn Reven. His synesthesia is a connection of sound and sight, allowing him to see colors related with sounds. Different sounds have different colors, and he has noticed that different races, and even animals, seem to have unique shades of these colors. He finds this very intriguing and has even begun to note how emotion affects the voice when it is portrayed through such a medium. Beyond this, Arkaeis has picked up meager hunting skills, allowing him to move silently even in forests to wait to ambush his prey. He has near master skill in swordsmanship allowing him a distinct advantage in combat.

Mental Structure/Talent: As a member of the Zraimat family, Arkaeis has been sculpted from birth to be an arbitrator, and oddly by extension, a master of manipulation. It should be noted that while the full description of his mind is complex, that he works on essentially three layers. The top most later known as the Facade, the middle layer known as the Bridge, and the innermost layer known as the Core. Anyways, without further ado, the structure of Arkaeis' psyche:

Layout

False Subconscious

Arkaeis' mind is incredibly organized and can be separated into notable sections. The outermost section of his mind is dedicated to what appears to be random thoughts suffused with kernels of truth here and there. While hardly a hurdle for any Psychomancer of considerable skill, this layer prevents inexperienced mages from prying into his schemes, as such tactics are not too infrequently employed in Rheven-ari politics. An Advanced or Master practitioner would find this defense barely as resilient and useful as a low level ward, discerning its nature quickly and bypassing it with ease. However, a Psychomancer of Expert or Intermediate skill will be at least briefly confused by the initial layer, an expert pressing through with minor difficulty, whereas the intermediate has a 50/50 chance of succeeding. A novice will not be able to discern rhyme nor reason from the layer, considering it the natural subconscious mind, which it is not. This layer is not a feature of the normal Rheven-ari mind, and was brought into being through training and diligent effort. It is somewhat common in members of the Zraimat family due to their place in Rheven-ari society.

The Sea of Ego

Just beneath the False Subconscious is the Sea of Ego, which can be described as a maelstrom of personalities. This layer is composed of what could be anywhere between ten to one hundred separate personalities, each unique. These persona wink in and out of existence depending on which is required. If one were to watch the Sea's movements, they would not notice any specific patterns or currents, but they would notice dances and plays being carried out between the personalities. This is where probabilities and scenarios are run inside of Arkaeis' mind. These persona can, and are, created and destroyed almost at a whim, so as to allow Arkaeis to consider as many possible outcomes as is possible. While Arkaeis is aware of this layer and has some measure of conscious control over it, what could be called a subconscious mind rules over these processes for the most part. This pseudo subconscious helps facilitate the scenarios so that Arkaeis can continue to interact with his surroundings without sacrificing a ridiculous amount of focus.

Seat of the Dominant

Upon the 'floor' of the Sea of Ego is the Seat of the Dominant, the portion of Arkaeis' psyche where the most dominant of his persona dwell. If Arkaeis switches persona the new persona will take the place of the old upon the seat.

The Fortress

Beneath the 'sea floor' is the Fortress, which is dedicated to the few Aspects, who are essentially the driving forces of Arkaeis' personality. There are is a grand throne and two lesser thrones in the Fortress. The fortress is Arkaeis' final defense against psychic intrusion, but due to him not truly possessing any wards it can still be pierced. it can only defend him for a limited time depending on the skill of the Psychomancer. The greater the skill the less time and effort will be needed to pierce this defense.

The Throne Room

The inner sanctum of this Reven's psyche, the room is inhabited by three, two Aspects, and a single Archetype. They are known as Observation, Amusement, and Ambition. The A twins, Amusement and Ambition, are both Aspects by which Arkaeis' personality is deeply, and inherently, effected. Observation, also known as 'The Core', is the Grand ruler of his Psyche. He is the Archetype. Observation is mostly without bias besides focusing on the gathering of information and knowledge in all its forms. The Archetype concerns itself with obtaining wisdom and intellectual superiority, though does not care about the consequences of such unless they directly go against its continued survival.

The two Aspects have less sway, but are nonetheless the other two defining traits of Arkaeis' as a conscious being. Ambition pushes him to improve himself, both through obtaining knowledge, power, and station. Ambition cares not for the emotions of others, but instead wishes to lead them to follow in its footsteps, with it as their shepherd, and they as the sheep. Ambition will always push Arkaeis to reach higher unless Observation tempers it or dictates otherwise for the betterment of the whole.

Second of the two Aspects, but not any less influential, Amusement drives Arkaeis to find its namesake anywhere it can. Due to the influence of its twin, and its better, it tends to glean amusement from learning information and exerting the power it gains over others. Granted, the way this is expressed on the surface differs widely, just as with its twin, and so will not usually be obvious. Such is the nature of this Reven's mind.

When it comes to his mental talents, Arkaeis is incredibly good at multitasking and has an almost eidetic memory, allowing him to recall almost anything he's experienced to a fault—aside from his infant years or time unconscious of course. Nonetheless, his memory is not perfect and he is capable of forgetting or not noticing certain details. His attention to his senses is exceptional allowing for him to be aware of the input from all of his senses, including the abnormal input of his synesthesia. While he cannot block out pain, he can dull it somewhat and knows how to quickly induce a heightened awareness through a breathing technique, allowing him to release a mixture of endorphins and adrenaline. He is not aware of the chemicals, but is aware of the sensations that this slow breathing technique allows him to induce. The highest of his abilities is his analytical prowess, allowing him to discern a great deal from any given situation. This also makes him a very fast learner. Beyond this Arkaeis is attuned to the workings of his body, allowing for precise movements despite his limited physical strength.

Secret Word: Rebirth.

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

She'll already have it :P

Essence of the World: The New Age [CLOSED]

Lol Fallen :P

Yeah, hopefully one day we can pick that up once more and play things out ^_^

Oh yeah, Fallen, I'm making great headway on the Rheven-ari. Just thought you oughta know~