Grandma
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 147
Age: Appears to be in her 80's
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Appearance: An elderly woman with a wiry frame who most notably possesses unnatural height, standing at well over seven feet tall even when hunched over her cane. Her hair is grayish-white and normally done up in a bun and her eyes are also gray in color. Her skin is very pale and has an almost grayish hue to it. Her nails are long, black, and sharpened at the tip.
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Equipment: She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others' spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish-colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for communication with others who own similar bracelets.
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Skills and Abilities: Skilled at knitting!
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Biography: While the details of Grandma's past are shrouded in mystery, since first meeting Naoki she has served essentially one role, that of advisor. While her titles have varied as Naoki moved up the social ladder of Isra, her continued support, and assistance she offered to Naoki have never wavered.
Even following the destruction of Isra, Grandma continues to follow and offer guidance to Lady Naoki as they attempt to rebuild from the wreckage.
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Allegiances: Naoki
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 19:51:53 GMT -5
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Post by Grandma on Nov 13, 2021 17:02:35 GMT -5
It was a sunny afternoon, a bit chillier than usual but given the sun nothing to be too concerned about. Fortunately for the hodgepodge of picnic blankets, there wasn’t much wind, not yet anyway. These blankets were spread out in a half-circle in the clearing in front of Grandma’s cottage. There were a few fires sprinkled strategically around the edges of the clearing for those needing to warm their hands but located far away enough from the blankets to prevent any mishaps. A number of simple tree log seats were available for those who didn’t fancy sitting on the blankets. Several long and plain-looking wooden tables were set up directly in front of Grandma’s porch, laden with food that had been masterfully created by Laute. Most of it was made of crab, for a massive migration of the shellfish had been spotted that morning, allowing the populace to eat their first full meal since the start of the cataclysm. They had few seeds to add for gruels and porridge, but the demon of glutton had eaten her fair share of local roots, fruits, and shoots. The majority of it made her incredibly sick, but enough of a variety had been gathered to create a healthy, herby soup. The day prior, a woman by the name of Roxanne managed to take down a large, flightless bird taller than herself! Its bones were added to the soup, making the broth rich. Additionally, with the help of the Imilla people, Laute dug through the sands and found all sorts of wiggly creatures to stock the pot. Then, finally, using a small amount of stocked flour and a few odd, ripened fruits from the Isle, Laute created several sweet pies of varying flavors. It was truly a tantalizing meal, doubly so given the ever gnawing hunger that was an all too common feeling these days. Grandma lounged in her rocking chair on the edge of the porch, greeting all who passed by as they filled their plates with food. It was a good vantage point to spot all those attending while also having a moment to speak with them as they filled their bellies. As expected, there weren’t too many new arrivals just yet. Still, there was a steady stream of new arrivals, doubtlessly feeling ravenous from the not so insubstantial jaunt it took to reach this place from Port Argentium. |
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Anastasia Vulpin
Committed
Roleplay posts: 60
Appearance: Anastasia is a curious case. Not much is known of who she used to be, or even how much of her body is the original owner’s, or even human, as she had been remade and rebuilt by one Doctor Vulpin after finding her shattered remains. Thankfully the good doctor had the sense to replace and rebuild her former, broken body with parts from other women, instead of mixing and matching with whatever or whoever was convenient.
The doctor, however, did not take much stock in the tones of each part, which left Anastasia with a variable palette of skin tones. Each replacement part, bordered by a myriad of stitches, sports the colour of their original owner, from the palest to the darkest skinned individual, to a handful of more colourful tones, such as blue and green from the doctor’s non-human stock.
Though patchwork, the doctor seemed to have a good eye, as Anastasia could be considered good looking, if one could look past all the stitches and patches of mismatched skin. Though hidden behind a mask most of the time, she sports defined features, from carefully chosen cheekbones, a smaller nose, and a well shaped jaw line. Her mouth is split down the middle, and often pulled into a big, long grin, showing off a set of pearly whites. Thankfully, Vulpin had the sense to make these parts match, except for one of Anastasia’s canines, that looks far longer than her others.
As the finishing touch on her face, her eyes are ironically full of life, even if one is blue and the other green, at least one belonging to someone else before it was gifted to Anastasia.
She has a limber, athletic build, one built for the ease of efficient movement, and it allows the patchwork woman to climb, crawl, and otherwise move with grace, not unlike a circus acrobat.
Her body is also home to a great number of secrets. On the outside, she seems fairly straight forward, she looks like any other human just with different coloured skin across her body. The doctor needed more than just a regular old human though, which has lended itself to several changes in her body’s build. Her fingers, for instance, seem normal when in gloves, but each of her fingers is able to split in two, effectively giving her ten digits on either hand.
As for her clothing, she wears whatever she can get her hands on or whatever Vulpin gives her. Her favourite outfit however, is one of many colours, not unlike herself. The outfit must have belonged to a circus at one point, as the top left her arms and shoulders exposed, and only really covered her chest and the sides of her neck. The material over one side of her chest is a rich purple, and the other side a deep gold, all complete with green stitching all the way around.
Her bottoms starts half way up her abdomen, the almost-corset like midsection is made up of a multi colored diamond shaped checkerboard that ends just past her rear, trimmed with little golden fronds. The legs are made up of several long strips of purple and gold material that bloom at the middle, and connect back together half way up her shin, and finally she wears a matching pair of boots.
Finally, her mask was gifted to her by Doctor Vulpin, though unlike his it ends half way down her face, and consists of a pair of feminine eye-holes and a long beak at her nose. Perhaps its his way of showing off his handiwork.
Equipment: Anastasia was remade for the purpose of assisting Doctor Vulpin in whatever it is he needed done, mostly around his surgery. She is usually equipped with tools given to her by the Doctor, such as knives, a bone saw, dental pliers, whatever she needs at the time.
She does, however, own a fairly ornate knife, one that she hides among the baggy strips that make up her trousers. This wasn’t given to her by the Doctor, however, instead its one she found while walking the beaches. The way the blade shone in the sunlight made it seem so pretty, so the patchwork woman decided to keep it.
Skills and Abilities: Anastasia has many skills gifted to her by her father, Doctor Vulpin. Most notably she is a skilled surgeon, not only because of Vulpin’s teachings, but also her fascination of what makes a body tick, as well as how to preserve parts of that body once it has stopped ticking.
Her rebuild and construction has left her limber and agile, a conscious choice by the Doctor, which has given her exceptional ease of movement and flexibility. As a result, her movements are quite graceful and with purpose, not unlike that of a circus gymnast.
Her additions at the hand of the Doctor each serve their own purpose as well, such as her extra fingers for greater dexterity while using tools.
Since her body is also made up of spare parts, those parts are highly replaceable, leaving her with an exceptional endurance. Those parts that do break can either be fixed or replaced. Some might think that with her constructed nature that she can’t necessarily feel pain, especially considering she doesn’t have much of an adverse reaction to such things, but that’s not the case. She can most certainly feel, but instead of being adverse to pain, she is fascinated by it, much like every other sensation she feels across her borrowed skin and muscle.
Allegiances: Doctor Vulpin
Registered: May 21, 2021 21:19:25 GMT -5
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Post by Anastasia Vulpin on Nov 15, 2021 7:53:10 GMT -5
A picnic? Anastasia had never been to a picnic before. Or, at least, not one that she remembered, but then again she remembered very little from before Doctor Vulpin had saved her life. It had been a few weeks since she had woken up on his operating table with a new body, one stitched together from the finest parts the doctor had preserved. Though her silhouette was well proportioned and seemed completely natural, the stitched together mismatch of colours across her skin had lead her to be given the nickname of Patches by the island folk who weren't as put off by her.
Still, a picnic! She had needed it explained to her, but once she got the idea she found it rather quaint. A gathering of folk to eat food on blankets. Not the most sanitary of practices, but who was she to judge? It sounded fascinating at the very least!
She dressed in an almost harlequin-like outfit she had salvaged a few days after her creation. It sported a fine mix of purples, golds, and greens, and though it left her arms and upper abdomen exposed, it was by far the most comfortable outfit she had either found or been given. Although she always wore a porcelain mask over the top part of her face, she didn't make any effort to hide what or who she was, perhaps out of respect for herself or Vulpin's work, or just because she simply didn't care.
The now one true Doctor Vulpin stood atop the end of one of the log benches, surveying the area around her. She had been among the first to attend, punctual as ever of course, but not many chose to come close. Anastasia could understand that from a logical point of view, she wasn't what most would consider normal and that scared people, but those she has met or treated seemed to think otherwise for the most part. Grinning from ear to ear, she walked across the log, arms outstretched, until she got to the end, then rolled off of it in a forwards cartwheel, with her hands pressed against the wood and her legs rolling up into the air, and down again in one graceful movement. She stood up straight and sighed happily. It was nice to be out of the infirmary for once!
As she spotted Grandma, she offered an enthusiastic wave, then went on her way to try out that mingling thing that had been suggested to her. Though she and Doctor Marks got along, she didn't really have any friends yet. Time to change that!
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Alden
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 266 
Age: 53(?)
Appearance: The reference image is a commissioned piece and is accurate.
Alden is 6 even, with shoulder-length messy black hair, and several days worth of beard stubble. He is handsome, with a powerful jaw, mid-set cheekbones, and a perpetual grin that makes him seem younger than he really is. His bright green eyes, constantly sparkle with barely contained mirth. He has the lithe well-muscled body of a swordsman, and he moves with considerable grace and dexterity.
If one were to do a more thorough examination of Alden's eyes they may notice a further detail. Around the outside edge of his iris, there's an intricate series of minuscule grey runes.
Underneath his shirt, Alden's skin is a mass of scar tissue. Starting from just below his neckline, there is very little space that does not sport some relic of a past injury. A particularly observant person may also note that among these scars, some are a bright scarlet. These scarlet scars form an intricate series of runes hiding amidst the rest of the scars.
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Equipment: Alden's general loadout when he goes fighting consists of the following:
A twin set of enchanted shortswords. The simple straight blades are unnatural dark, absorbing rather than reflecting light. Giving the enchanted steel an appearance closer to cold iron. The guard has the Isran sun emblem emblazoned in a medallion shape just above the guard, which is wrapped in simple leather. The enchantments increase their sharpness and durability, as well as being able to ignite the blood of anything that he has pierced with either blade.
Numerous braces and hidden throwing knives all over his body. At one point, these were also enchanted but when the calamity struck he didn't have time to grab his original set. So these are all well-made but ultimately mundane weapons. Still, with his strength and skill, they can be quite deadly.
Unfortunately, at present, he is also missing his armour. His preferred armour is leather dyed in mottled black and greys, with strike plates sewn between layers for added protection. His old set was also enchanted for increased protection from physical and magical attacks.
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Skills and Abilities: Alden is, for lack of a better term, a weapon master. He has been trained to use almost any weapon you can think to name. Relentless daily training with each, with extraordinarily demanding expectations on performance and harsh incentives for failure giving a level of skill with most of them that make him formidable.
However, his preferred style involves twin short swords. While he is skilled with all of his weapons thanks to training, he discovered a natural talent with the blade. His level of skill when wielding his short swords is on another level entirely, nearly transcendent in his skill.
On top of that, he is a living magical enchantment. Carved into his body are a variety of runes that grant him numerous innate abilities. He is inhumanly strong, around three to four times stronger than a man in a similar state of physical fitness would be. This also applies to his endurance, speed, reflexes, and other physical traits. He also has regenerative abilities exceeding human normal, able to heal from even broken bones in a matter of days rather than weeks.
In addition, he is immune to most poisons and resistant to the rest. The runes etched into his eyes ensure he can see the same no matter the level of light and reveal magical auras to him. Runes along his back make him impossible to scry on directly and provide him a measure of resistance to magical attack. This, combined with training, also makes him immune to magical mental influence. Finally, runes on his feet dampen any sound he might make taking his already considerable stealth abilities to another level entirely.
Speaking of his training also included all of the skills one would think an Assassin should have. He knows how to mix poisons, move without being seen or making noise, scale walls, lie or disguise himself, pick locks, pick pockets, just for starters. He is also quite skilled at clerical work and he has some diplomacy ability after thirty years leading the Sun Marshals.
Beyond all of this, Alden also possesses an incredible amount of willpower. If Alden decides that he will do something, there is very little that can stop him from doing it. In fact, at present, the only thing that could deter him from a course of action is Captain Naoki. The former Empress is the only person he has any loyalty to and he often values her judgement on matters above his own.
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Biography: Alden was born to a small farming family in an out-of-the-way village. His parents named him Toan and until he was five his destiny was most likely to live and die on the same farm he was born. However, that all changed when Pride arrived.
The leader of a criminal group known as The Set, Pride offered his parents a sum of money that would make any poor farmer's heart stop. Enough money to change their lives forever and all he wanted was Alden, one of nearly a dozen children. A child that wasn't even old enough to help with chores around the farm yet. And the man as so nice, he wanted a ward that he could train to be a retainer how bad of a life could that be?
The answer to that question was basically Hell. Pride was a potent alchemist, enchanter, and scholar and he had but one goal in mind. To create a superior warrior. Alden was subjected to hellish daily training along with six other children. Forced to learn to fight with every weapon, against any foe, in any condition. His limbs were broken deliberately and he was forced to continue to fight and train in constant agony. And this was among the mildest of the ways he was trained.
The culmination of the training came when he was twelve. When he and the six other children were locked in a room and told that the only one who got to leave... was the only one to survive. Of course, surviving was hardly a reward.
Once Pride had only the strongest of the children left he proceeded to the next step of his plan. Alden's memories and identity were seared away as Pride carved runes into his flesh and his very soul. Transforming the young man into a living magical artifact and keeping him on a drug that suppressed all of his emotions.
From there Alden became the new Wrath of the set, a weapon meant only to slay those he was told to. That may have been all he would be but Pride made a miscalculation, Alden's runes helped him to build an immunity to the dosage meant to keep his emotions in check, a weakness made worse by Pride having let him keep his anger thinking it would make him a better weapon. Eventually, events conspired and Alden snapped when the only member of The Set to be kind to him, Sloth, was killed for threatening to expose Pride.
Alden, driven into a deeper rage than ever before killed Envy, Lust, Gluttony, and even disembowelled Pride. Greed manage to escape and Alden slaughtered everything in his path trying to catch the man. Eventually succeeding in his goal. Bereft of a target for his rage and the chase having left him in the middle of nowhere Alden finally collapsed the trauma and coming off of the dosage causing him to bury most of his memories.
He wound up in Isra where his talents and skill soon earned him the eye of the then, criminal Madam Naoki. She recruited him as one of her enforcers a role he continued as her power expanded and grew until she finally became Empress. His reward for his loyalty? Appointment to the head of The Sun Marshals her special police force, effectively making him her right-hand man.
During this time he also uncovered his own past and learned that Pride had survived, the man had made preparations for such an eventuality and his death only saw his soul moving to a phylactery as he became a lich.
Pride created a new Set, this time making each member just as he made Alden. Eventually, this culminated in Pride attacking Isra and his eventual, final defeat.
Decades have passed since that time and Alden, whose power kept him at his prime for years continued to serve Isra until the new calamity took him to The Island of Mists, his empress reduced to a captain and he now serving as her first mate.
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Allegiances: Naoki and Port Argentum
Place of Residence: Port Argentum
Registered: Mar 21, 2021 13:21:25 GMT -5
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Post by Alden on Nov 15, 2021 12:30:42 GMT -5
Alden’s invite to the event was a bit more formal than the random signs that had attracted most people. The man was informed that his attendance was pretty much mandatory. Not really surprising considering the role he’d once filled in the empire but considering the shaky ground he considered himself on now, he wasn’t sure how he felt about attending. Mostly because he was fairly sure he’d just show up and loom over the gathered crowd.
Still, if he was going to do so he could make it as easy on himself as possible. Which meant that he wore a long sleeve shirt despite the mid-day heat. While he was certainly recognizable even with his scars covered it, it made him less so. A lot of people’s impression of him was just, Naoki’s scarred enforcer after all.
Thus he didn’t announce himself when he arrived at the picnic, just walked in found somewhere quiet and out of the way and did his best to avoid attracting attention. The last group meal he’d gone to had soured his mood. Some things had occurred to improve his disposition since the last disastrous outing but he still hadn’t gotten to a point where he could say he was looking forward to this one.
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Coatl of the Imilla
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 143
Appearance: Skin just a skosh darker than an old clay pot. The shade of his hat occludes black, sun-beaten eyes, wavy, matted hair, and just enough beard to protect his chin. His hands are coarse and leathery, with wiry tendons. His height isn't quite imposing, it's but enough to lend credence to a purposeful stride and posture.
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Equipment: An old duster, scarf, and cotton shirt and slacks. A thin brigandine with copper plates and a military-grade pitchfork.
A single candle, a reagent of now forbidden degrees of power.
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Skills and Abilities: On his home turf, Coatl could manifest formidable elemental magic. Here the magic is suppressed down to more subtle manipulations. However, the spirit of Cuaté, the "Witch", is still with him.
Coatl is, at his core, a simple farmhand. His experience working on ranches and plantations has earned him a strong physique and a way with animals. When he was a teenager, he also spent some time as a city guard and militiaman, giving him basic competence with a variety of weapons.
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Biography: The Imilla Clan were migrant farmers and laborers, selling themselves to wealthier kingdoms. They were a people bound by working shanties, and stories of an Eden from whence their ancestors came. As a youth, Coatl felt they were naive. They possessed the most basic of martial skills and required the aid of capricious spirits with weak magic to protect them.
His suspicions were half true, for when they encountered a malevolent kingdom, they were very nearly enslaved. However, his parent's commitment to peace earned him, and him in particular, the loyalty of an ancestral spirit that was far more dependable.
Using the power of this spirit, Coatl and a few other "chosen ones" helped bring prosperity and safety to their clan, ensuring that no one else would try to enslave them. The golden years of their people came to an abrupt end, however, when the flood waters came...
Registered: Mar 20, 2021 23:42:08 GMT -5
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Post by Coatl of the Imilla on Nov 15, 2021 16:20:21 GMT -5
Long day, old friend?
The sylph rarely revealed her presence so readily, as she preferred to remain the talk of intrigue and rumor. But this time she decided, to hell with it. The ghostly white form, while not dazzling or disrupting, was plain for all to see. The spirit, vague in texture, sat casually next to Alden on an invisible chair. Her hair and robes of nothing billowed as if underwater.
A savior of millions really ought to have more friends.
Despite her indistinct face, she'd project to Alden the sensation of her smiling.
***
*THUMP!*
Coatl approached Grandma somewhat abruptly, with little fanfare, and deposited a large wooden crate next to her rocking chair.
"Alright then. So-" He pulled out a wooden clipboard with some parchment attached to it, and a charcoal stick.
"This here is a compilation of every possible weird, wiggly, and esoteric something or other I could find on the island. My people and I kept some samples aside from Laute's potluck, and I tossed in a few more things me and Katiana uncovered in our expeditions of the nearby locales."
The Imilla people had developed a reputation not just for hard work, but also no nonsense friendliness which could be downright startling sometimes.
"Now, which of these do you suppose has the potential to be used as a reagent for uh..."
It was as if in this very moment Coatl had only now realized this was probably not the best idea or best timing.
"The- those weird things that you do?" His fingers gesticulated wildly as a representation of those weird things that Grandma does. Turning back to his clipboard, he seemed to decide that he was committed to this awkward conversation and was going to see it through no matter what.
(He had definitely been spending too much time with Katiana Graves.)
The box was very, very alive. Some of the more freakish creatures were being hidden from view by drapes of seaweed, kelp, and slime molds that could be mistaken for gem stones at the right distance. Flowers, fungi, seeds, weeds, and things without names formed a sort of crust that bubbled and pulsated with the more animated things lurking beneath.
Although the box was chaotic, the notes on Coatl's clipboard were exceedingly neat and detailed, with lettering small and dainty enough to have been written by a precocious school girl.
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Alden
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 266
Age: 53(?)
Appearance: The reference image is a commissioned piece and is accurate.
Alden is 6 even, with shoulder-length messy black hair, and several days worth of beard stubble. He is handsome, with a powerful jaw, mid-set cheekbones, and a perpetual grin that makes him seem younger than he really is. His bright green eyes, constantly sparkle with barely contained mirth. He has the lithe well-muscled body of a swordsman, and he moves with considerable grace and dexterity.
If one were to do a more thorough examination of Alden's eyes they may notice a further detail. Around the outside edge of his iris, there's an intricate series of minuscule grey runes.
Underneath his shirt, Alden's skin is a mass of scar tissue. Starting from just below his neckline, there is very little space that does not sport some relic of a past injury. A particularly observant person may also note that among these scars, some are a bright scarlet. These scarlet scars form an intricate series of runes hiding amidst the rest of the scars.
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Equipment: Alden's general loadout when he goes fighting consists of the following:
A twin set of enchanted shortswords. The simple straight blades are unnatural dark, absorbing rather than reflecting light. Giving the enchanted steel an appearance closer to cold iron. The guard has the Isran sun emblem emblazoned in a medallion shape just above the guard, which is wrapped in simple leather. The enchantments increase their sharpness and durability, as well as being able to ignite the blood of anything that he has pierced with either blade.
Numerous braces and hidden throwing knives all over his body. At one point, these were also enchanted but when the calamity struck he didn't have time to grab his original set. So these are all well-made but ultimately mundane weapons. Still, with his strength and skill, they can be quite deadly.
Unfortunately, at present, he is also missing his armour. His preferred armour is leather dyed in mottled black and greys, with strike plates sewn between layers for added protection. His old set was also enchanted for increased protection from physical and magical attacks.
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Skills and Abilities: Alden is, for lack of a better term, a weapon master. He has been trained to use almost any weapon you can think to name. Relentless daily training with each, with extraordinarily demanding expectations on performance and harsh incentives for failure giving a level of skill with most of them that make him formidable.
However, his preferred style involves twin short swords. While he is skilled with all of his weapons thanks to training, he discovered a natural talent with the blade. His level of skill when wielding his short swords is on another level entirely, nearly transcendent in his skill.
On top of that, he is a living magical enchantment. Carved into his body are a variety of runes that grant him numerous innate abilities. He is inhumanly strong, around three to four times stronger than a man in a similar state of physical fitness would be. This also applies to his endurance, speed, reflexes, and other physical traits. He also has regenerative abilities exceeding human normal, able to heal from even broken bones in a matter of days rather than weeks.
In addition, he is immune to most poisons and resistant to the rest. The runes etched into his eyes ensure he can see the same no matter the level of light and reveal magical auras to him. Runes along his back make him impossible to scry on directly and provide him a measure of resistance to magical attack. This, combined with training, also makes him immune to magical mental influence. Finally, runes on his feet dampen any sound he might make taking his already considerable stealth abilities to another level entirely.
Speaking of his training also included all of the skills one would think an Assassin should have. He knows how to mix poisons, move without being seen or making noise, scale walls, lie or disguise himself, pick locks, pick pockets, just for starters. He is also quite skilled at clerical work and he has some diplomacy ability after thirty years leading the Sun Marshals.
Beyond all of this, Alden also possesses an incredible amount of willpower. If Alden decides that he will do something, there is very little that can stop him from doing it. In fact, at present, the only thing that could deter him from a course of action is Captain Naoki. The former Empress is the only person he has any loyalty to and he often values her judgement on matters above his own.
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Biography: Alden was born to a small farming family in an out-of-the-way village. His parents named him Toan and until he was five his destiny was most likely to live and die on the same farm he was born. However, that all changed when Pride arrived.
The leader of a criminal group known as The Set, Pride offered his parents a sum of money that would make any poor farmer's heart stop. Enough money to change their lives forever and all he wanted was Alden, one of nearly a dozen children. A child that wasn't even old enough to help with chores around the farm yet. And the man as so nice, he wanted a ward that he could train to be a retainer how bad of a life could that be?
The answer to that question was basically Hell. Pride was a potent alchemist, enchanter, and scholar and he had but one goal in mind. To create a superior warrior. Alden was subjected to hellish daily training along with six other children. Forced to learn to fight with every weapon, against any foe, in any condition. His limbs were broken deliberately and he was forced to continue to fight and train in constant agony. And this was among the mildest of the ways he was trained.
The culmination of the training came when he was twelve. When he and the six other children were locked in a room and told that the only one who got to leave... was the only one to survive. Of course, surviving was hardly a reward.
Once Pride had only the strongest of the children left he proceeded to the next step of his plan. Alden's memories and identity were seared away as Pride carved runes into his flesh and his very soul. Transforming the young man into a living magical artifact and keeping him on a drug that suppressed all of his emotions.
From there Alden became the new Wrath of the set, a weapon meant only to slay those he was told to. That may have been all he would be but Pride made a miscalculation, Alden's runes helped him to build an immunity to the dosage meant to keep his emotions in check, a weakness made worse by Pride having let him keep his anger thinking it would make him a better weapon. Eventually, events conspired and Alden snapped when the only member of The Set to be kind to him, Sloth, was killed for threatening to expose Pride.
Alden, driven into a deeper rage than ever before killed Envy, Lust, Gluttony, and even disembowelled Pride. Greed manage to escape and Alden slaughtered everything in his path trying to catch the man. Eventually succeeding in his goal. Bereft of a target for his rage and the chase having left him in the middle of nowhere Alden finally collapsed the trauma and coming off of the dosage causing him to bury most of his memories.
He wound up in Isra where his talents and skill soon earned him the eye of the then, criminal Madam Naoki. She recruited him as one of her enforcers a role he continued as her power expanded and grew until she finally became Empress. His reward for his loyalty? Appointment to the head of The Sun Marshals her special police force, effectively making him her right-hand man.
During this time he also uncovered his own past and learned that Pride had survived, the man had made preparations for such an eventuality and his death only saw his soul moving to a phylactery as he became a lich.
Pride created a new Set, this time making each member just as he made Alden. Eventually, this culminated in Pride attacking Isra and his eventual, final defeat.
Decades have passed since that time and Alden, whose power kept him at his prime for years continued to serve Isra until the new calamity took him to The Island of Mists, his empress reduced to a captain and he now serving as her first mate.
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Allegiances: Naoki and Port Argentum
Place of Residence: Port Argentum
Registered: Mar 21, 2021 13:21:25 GMT -5
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Post by Alden on Nov 15, 2021 20:03:17 GMT -5
It was not often that Alden was taken off guard and when it did happen... Well, he wished it was a good things more often. The spirit that sat next to him may have been vague and indistinct to others but to him, she was as clear as day. Clearer to him than some of the living since his rune scarred eyes always showed him to flows and eddies of the spirit of magic.
“Too many to count.”
Alden responded softly as he offered the sylph back a wane, weary, but genuine smile. Even if there was sadness in his eyes.
“I’d hoped you’d made it even though we had yet to find you. At least now I no longer have to wonder I suppose.”
And at least she was not lost to them entirely. Still, he could not stop himself from letting out a bone-weary sigh. He did not have many friends and to learn he’d lost one of them weighed on him even when the news came from her own mouth, so to speak.
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Grandma
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 147
Age: Appears to be in her 80's
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Appearance: An elderly woman with a wiry frame who most notably possesses unnatural height, standing at well over seven feet tall even when hunched over her cane. Her hair is grayish-white and normally done up in a bun and her eyes are also gray in color. Her skin is very pale and has an almost grayish hue to it. Her nails are long, black, and sharpened at the tip.
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Equipment: She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others' spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish-colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for communication with others who own similar bracelets.
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Skills and Abilities: Skilled at knitting!
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Biography: While the details of Grandma's past are shrouded in mystery, since first meeting Naoki she has served essentially one role, that of advisor. While her titles have varied as Naoki moved up the social ladder of Isra, her continued support, and assistance she offered to Naoki have never wavered.
Even following the destruction of Isra, Grandma continues to follow and offer guidance to Lady Naoki as they attempt to rebuild from the wreckage.
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Allegiances: Naoki
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 19:51:53 GMT -5
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Post by Grandma on Nov 16, 2021 12:58:06 GMT -5
Offering murmurs of greeting to the various townsfolk as they passed by with plates full of food, Grandma was keeping an eye out for more notable visitors. It didn’t take too long for a few to arrive. Anastasia was there, just as energetic as the previous time Grandma had met her. Returning Anastasia’s wave with one of her own, Grandma’s eyes continued to scan the crowd for familiar faces.
Ah, and there was Alden. He wasn’t making a show out of his arrival, but that had never been his style. She decided against drawing any unwanted attention to the man by waving, instead simply offering a respectful nod should he look over. If he was here perhaps Naoki would be joining them later? Well, regardless of if she did or not it was comforting to have Alden around for security purposes.
During her inspection of the crowd, Grandma had failed to notice Coatl’s approach. Turning with a raised eyebrow as the man unceremoniously dropped the large wooden crate beside her, Grandma glanced from Coatl to the crate and then back again. It took a moment to place him and to say she knew the man wasn’t quite accurate. But he was the one with that all too familiar spirit at the feast.
Deciding to let Coatl speak without interruption, Grandma had to suppress a mild chuckle at how uncomfortable he seemed to be finding this conversation. Still, he had done her a great favor by bringing these things to her… It would be rude to leave him hanging in silence too long, that’d likely just unnerve him even more. And the last thing she wanted was this to be the last crate she received from this man, no, if she could have it her way this could be a regular occurrence…
“Well, well, well… It seems I have a bit of a charmer on my hands!” Offering Coatl a warm smile, Grandma reached out to clasp one of his hands, giving it something between a shake and a pat. “This is quite the unexpected gift, but consider me thoroughly impressed by it!”
Peering over at the contents of the box and then motioning for Coatl to hand over the list to her, Grandma began rapidly reading over the man's notes. There was more detail in them than she would have expected… Perhaps one of these days she’d request his services to help organize some of her existing ingredients.
“Would you mind leaving this with me for a bit so I can sift through it? I also have recently come across a rather impressive alchemist who I’d also like to look through this. I’m sure there’s plenty of things in here they could find a use for. I’ll have to make sure to thank you and your people properly by giving you some of the finished potions we create.”
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Coatl of the Imilla
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 143
Appearance: Skin just a skosh darker than an old clay pot. The shade of his hat occludes black, sun-beaten eyes, wavy, matted hair, and just enough beard to protect his chin. His hands are coarse and leathery, with wiry tendons. His height isn't quite imposing, it's but enough to lend credence to a purposeful stride and posture.
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Equipment: An old duster, scarf, and cotton shirt and slacks. A thin brigandine with copper plates and a military-grade pitchfork.
A single candle, a reagent of now forbidden degrees of power.
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Skills and Abilities: On his home turf, Coatl could manifest formidable elemental magic. Here the magic is suppressed down to more subtle manipulations. However, the spirit of Cuaté, the "Witch", is still with him.
Coatl is, at his core, a simple farmhand. His experience working on ranches and plantations has earned him a strong physique and a way with animals. When he was a teenager, he also spent some time as a city guard and militiaman, giving him basic competence with a variety of weapons.
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Biography: The Imilla Clan were migrant farmers and laborers, selling themselves to wealthier kingdoms. They were a people bound by working shanties, and stories of an Eden from whence their ancestors came. As a youth, Coatl felt they were naive. They possessed the most basic of martial skills and required the aid of capricious spirits with weak magic to protect them.
His suspicions were half true, for when they encountered a malevolent kingdom, they were very nearly enslaved. However, his parent's commitment to peace earned him, and him in particular, the loyalty of an ancestral spirit that was far more dependable.
Using the power of this spirit, Coatl and a few other "chosen ones" helped bring prosperity and safety to their clan, ensuring that no one else would try to enslave them. The golden years of their people came to an abrupt end, however, when the flood waters came...
Registered: Mar 20, 2021 23:42:08 GMT -5
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Post by Coatl of the Imilla on Nov 16, 2021 22:15:37 GMT -5
The sylph sensed exactly what Alden meant by not having to wonder anymore.
You're lucky. I'm still wondering if the me from your timeline is alive and out there somewhere, doing something heroic and stupid.
She watched as Coatl navigated his list with Grandma. She could more or less sense the flow of their conversation, though she wasn't bothering to make the conscious effort to eavesdrop.
My host is much more mature than I was at that age. But now he's spending more time with spunky, adventurous young women and I fear that, compounded with my self, we're all going to be a terrible influence on him.
She laughed a ghostly laugh that echoed somewhat through the air.
***
Grandma's characteristically old lady gesture helped Coatl remember his composure and manners. "You're perfectly welcome madam." It was a relief. He was still intellectually aware that there was much more to her than appeared, but those hard bones and ancient skin didn't exactly scream eldritch horror.
"You take all the time you need. Meanwhile I think I've earned myself a bit of rest. I'll be around enjoying the picnic." He tipped his hat to excuse himself, and turned around just in time see a quilt-skinned woman cartwheel her way off a log. This made him pause noticeably for a second before he could go get some food.
There is not a single normal woman outside of my clan on this island is there?
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Laute, the Gourmet Glutton
Established
First Child of Gula, Devourer of Studiose
Roleplay posts: 27
Appearance: Inhumanly pallid and freckled in onyx, Laute is an odd figure at first sight. When one adds the curved horns, the bovine ears, and demonic writing across her skin, you get something decidedly hellish. Her eyes are yellow with a rectangular pupil, just like a goat's, and she sports a pair of powerful hooves in place of feet. Her hair is incredibly thick and appears to absorb the light around it, leaving it devoid of texture to the eye. A long, tufted tail lashes from her lower back.
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Skills and Abilities: Laute's purpose is to overindulge in fine things, thus having a heightened sense of smell and taste. She can detect a variety of poisons, provided she's run into them before. Limited control over fire, frost, and smoke are all within her domain. Should her master (currently Naoki) wish it, she can change forms into anything typically affiliated with glutton, all of which include but are not limited to piglike, oxlike, and snakelike shapes.
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 13:18:24 GMT -5
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Post by Laute, the Gourmet Glutton on Nov 16, 2021 23:35:21 GMT -5
Though she was one of the first to arrive, Laute felt as though she should have been there before anyone else! After all, she was the one who made the food and helped Grandma set everything up, but she was left behind at the cookhouse to make sure the other half of the feast was going to workers and families who were inundated with their own lives. She received help, but she needed to make sure they were doing it right. Mortals and their material lives! How funny they were.
In any case, she was here now, all dressed in a dashing red doublet atop a black blouse and equally dark breeches. An apron covered the front, splattered with she-crab stew and a menagerie of other foods.
And she was completely at home with it.
In another realm, her horns, tufted tail, hooves, and hourglass eyes on a human-shaped visage would have frightened many. Here, in Port Argentium? She was treated just like anyone else because almost everyone was just as strange as her. It did not otherwise bother her, but it was often a slight inconvenience when she was trying to get something done. Here? Until she grew several pairs of arms to help her with tasks, no one cared. She could do what she did best.
With this knowledge, she walked through the gathering crowd up to Grandma, who she greeted with the scrape of one hoof laid over her ankle and a deep bow. Her dark hair flopped over her shoulders and into her face until she stood back up. "Greetings. All has been laid out perfectly if I do say so myself. Has anyone eaten yet?" she asked, her eagerness bubbling up and barely contained. Looking over her shoulder, she stared at Coatl, Alden, and Anastasia in turn, having not met one of them due to her stuffed schedule.
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Clik'Ree
Established
Roleplay posts: 21
Age: 13 years of age, although the average lifespan of a Thri-Kreen is 30.
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Appearance: At 7'03", the Thri-kreen is a towering creature of chiton. Broad, with four arms that only add to the overall impression of size, Clik'ree (or Clik, as many prefer to refer to him as) is an intimidating and alien sight. Largely insectoid in form, with a Mantodea leaning it can be difficult for the average person not to feel unnerved in his presence.
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Equipment: Carrying a heavy battle-axe of mediocre make, the blade of the weapon is not regularly sharpened. Yet, with the sheer weight and the strength of the creature, one could easily discover that it doesn't have to be.
He has a bow made from the bone of a large animal, coupled with a quiver of crude but fierce arrows of barbed wood and bone. Wears a loin cloth made from the hide of a leopard.
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Skills and Abilities: Sheer strength is Clik'Ree's most pointed brutal ability. Strong even for his massive size, one might find it difficult to simply block one of his blows.
He is equipped with a natural armor called chiton, an exoskeleton that protects his inner viscera. It's strong, flexible, and silent, with the drawback that damage to it takes time to heal not unlike human flesh.
Thri-Kreen don't require sleep per se, but must still rest to regain their strength. Instead, they enter a state of torpor.
Last of all, he is quick and capable of leaping great distances.
Registered: Nov 11, 2021 16:31:32 GMT -5
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Post by Clik'Ree on Nov 17, 2021 1:43:39 GMT -5
It was a significant distance that Clik'ree spied the setting of some human gathering. A hunting party, perhaps? His antennae twitched with indecision. The last time he had entered a human encampment, it had resulted in far fewer humans. Yet that was to defend him home, his people. He had nothing to defend now, except perhaps for the strange bundle of a human he ad roughly gathered up beneath one of the lower sets of his four arms, carrying her as if she were to be part of the potluck served.
Perhaps it was some perceived desire to see the human delivered somewhere safe. Or perhaps the scent of meat hung on the air in such an enticing fashion that he couldn't help himself. Either way, the towering creature made its way towards the sounds of merriment. A few peasants spotted him, scattering to a safe distance, (although with how eclectic groups in the area may be, were perhaps not as afraid as they otherwise might have been.)
"THERE ARE HUMANS HERE." his voice rang clear and far too loud for such a rustic festival, but he seemed unaware of such disturbances. Unfortunately such words may have begun to tip his ward off to his inhuman nature. Depositing her onto one of the blankets without so much as allowing her the dignity of getting her feet under her, he gazed around at the peculiar collection of individuals around.
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Grandma
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 147
Age: Appears to be in her 80's
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Appearance: An elderly woman with a wiry frame who most notably possesses unnatural height, standing at well over seven feet tall even when hunched over her cane. Her hair is grayish-white and normally done up in a bun and her eyes are also gray in color. Her skin is very pale and has an almost grayish hue to it. Her nails are long, black, and sharpened at the tip.
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Equipment: She wears a deep purple robe that has sleeves that extend far beyond her hands. Her hands are covered with fine gloves of black silk and she wears one ring on each, one having a purple stone set in it and the other a piece of onyx. Carrying an ornate cane of orellium, Grandma can use it to increase her magical channeling as well as assist in deflecting others' spells with it. The cane itself is black and covered in numerous ornate, but tiny runes. The cap on the cane is a purplish-colored gem. On her wrist is a silver bracelet with a ruby in it that Grandma uses for communication with others who own similar bracelets.
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Skills and Abilities: Skilled at knitting!
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Biography: While the details of Grandma's past are shrouded in mystery, since first meeting Naoki she has served essentially one role, that of advisor. While her titles have varied as Naoki moved up the social ladder of Isra, her continued support, and assistance she offered to Naoki have never wavered.
Even following the destruction of Isra, Grandma continues to follow and offer guidance to Lady Naoki as they attempt to rebuild from the wreckage.
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Allegiances: Naoki
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 19:51:53 GMT -5
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Post by Grandma on Nov 17, 2021 14:21:20 GMT -5
“You do just that, grab a plate and go eat to your heart's content. They tell me most of this food will go bad if not eaten so don’t feel shy!” Shooing Coatl off goodnaturedly, Grandma soon found her attention directed to Laute. As the one who had cooked up all the food for this event, Grandma was more than happy to speak to her. After all, it seemed Laute had only just arrived herself, undoubtedly busy with other tasks until now.
“Plenty of folks have already begun ‘chowing down’ so to speak and from what I've seen thus far I'd say your food has been quite the hit. I’ll make sure later on everyone knows it was you who made it. After all, you deserve most of the credit for putting this scrumptious meal together.” There had been some others involved, but without Laute’s skills, there was no doubt they’d all be eating something much less appetizing than this.
“So no running away before I make that announcement, you hear me? Now please, everything is running smoothly, take a moment for yourself. Get some of the food you oh so lovingly created and socialize. Or don’t, but I won’t have you working yourself to the bone anymore today! You deserve a break and I’ll see that you have one.” Grandma’s words were kind but firm, the crone clearly having already made up her mind on this matter. It was just then that Clik’Ree’s rather strange words rang out. Numerous eyes including Grandma’s were drawn to the creature.
The hell was that? Squinting suspiciously at the insect-like creature, Grandma wasn’t sure what to make of it. She certainly hadn’t seen it in Port Argentium before. With an appearance that distinct she’d certainly remember him. “Excuse me Laute, one moment please,” Grandma said as she rose from her chair with a rustle of robes.
There was a jingle of keys as the crone unlocked the cabin door and disappeared inside. A few moments later she reemerged, this time with a loaded crossbow in hand. Shutting the door and locking it, Grandma lowered herself back into the rocking chair with a sigh. Carefully leaning the weapon against the porch railing, she turned back to Laute and continued.
“Now where were we? Ah yes, I was telling you to take a much-deserved rest! And don’t forget, no running off till I give you a proper thanks!”
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Alryca Starwell
Established
Roleplay posts: 11
Appearance: She has a tall, lithe frame, if a bit better endowed than most of her elven kin. Long, platinum blonde hair streams down to nearly her waist, and her long fingers are frequently seen twirling it. Her eyes are vibrantly blue, and constantly looking about to take in new sights. She has no particular preference in clothing, dressing reasonably fashionable as far as she can afford.
Equipment: She has a wand that she carries on her person at all times, with it, she performs her magic. Sketchbooks and drawing items are held in a small satchel at her waist. She is usually wearing robes due to her position as a junior member of the Isran enclave, a position earned solely by the dearth of summoners amongst magic users.
Skills and Abilities: Alryca is a novice summoner, but she shows promise, if only her extracurricular activities would not get in the way. She can summon a wide variety of creatures, but has yet to be able to summon something she has heard of. She maintains multiple sketchbooks, as drawings the things she sees helps her to summon them later.
Biography: She has a bright, inquisitive personality that excels at learning but is fairly obnoxious in any situation that even remotely approaches being described as "serious." She loves magic and will happily talk anyone's ear off about it, and this is doubled under the effects of alcohol.
Registered: Mar 22, 2021 10:26:18 GMT -5
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Post by Alryca Starwell on Nov 17, 2021 19:06:13 GMT -5
Alryca had not spent much time outside of her tent, trying to use what magic was available to aid the Port...mostly to no avail though one of her summons did catch a fish! And then eat it...so not a great start overall for what remained of the Conclave. Buuuuut the invitation did promise free food and some socializing, which Alryca was in desperate need of.
The blonde elf showed up in her best, least tattered robes (no holes, and actually still maintaining a bit of their original black and crimson) and beelined for the food as soon as she entered. Alryca waved cheerfully at Grandma, though avoided her gaze a bit as she was still intimidated by her.
The little fire mephit on her shoulder leaped to the ground to pick up scraps and make his own plate out of a cup lid, staying within a few steps of Alryca at every moment.
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Alden
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 266
Age: 53(?)
Appearance: The reference image is a commissioned piece and is accurate.
Alden is 6 even, with shoulder-length messy black hair, and several days worth of beard stubble. He is handsome, with a powerful jaw, mid-set cheekbones, and a perpetual grin that makes him seem younger than he really is. His bright green eyes, constantly sparkle with barely contained mirth. He has the lithe well-muscled body of a swordsman, and he moves with considerable grace and dexterity.
If one were to do a more thorough examination of Alden's eyes they may notice a further detail. Around the outside edge of his iris, there's an intricate series of minuscule grey runes.
Underneath his shirt, Alden's skin is a mass of scar tissue. Starting from just below his neckline, there is very little space that does not sport some relic of a past injury. A particularly observant person may also note that among these scars, some are a bright scarlet. These scarlet scars form an intricate series of runes hiding amidst the rest of the scars.
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Equipment: Alden's general loadout when he goes fighting consists of the following:
A twin set of enchanted shortswords. The simple straight blades are unnatural dark, absorbing rather than reflecting light. Giving the enchanted steel an appearance closer to cold iron. The guard has the Isran sun emblem emblazoned in a medallion shape just above the guard, which is wrapped in simple leather. The enchantments increase their sharpness and durability, as well as being able to ignite the blood of anything that he has pierced with either blade.
Numerous braces and hidden throwing knives all over his body. At one point, these were also enchanted but when the calamity struck he didn't have time to grab his original set. So these are all well-made but ultimately mundane weapons. Still, with his strength and skill, they can be quite deadly.
Unfortunately, at present, he is also missing his armour. His preferred armour is leather dyed in mottled black and greys, with strike plates sewn between layers for added protection. His old set was also enchanted for increased protection from physical and magical attacks.
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Skills and Abilities: Alden is, for lack of a better term, a weapon master. He has been trained to use almost any weapon you can think to name. Relentless daily training with each, with extraordinarily demanding expectations on performance and harsh incentives for failure giving a level of skill with most of them that make him formidable.
However, his preferred style involves twin short swords. While he is skilled with all of his weapons thanks to training, he discovered a natural talent with the blade. His level of skill when wielding his short swords is on another level entirely, nearly transcendent in his skill.
On top of that, he is a living magical enchantment. Carved into his body are a variety of runes that grant him numerous innate abilities. He is inhumanly strong, around three to four times stronger than a man in a similar state of physical fitness would be. This also applies to his endurance, speed, reflexes, and other physical traits. He also has regenerative abilities exceeding human normal, able to heal from even broken bones in a matter of days rather than weeks.
In addition, he is immune to most poisons and resistant to the rest. The runes etched into his eyes ensure he can see the same no matter the level of light and reveal magical auras to him. Runes along his back make him impossible to scry on directly and provide him a measure of resistance to magical attack. This, combined with training, also makes him immune to magical mental influence. Finally, runes on his feet dampen any sound he might make taking his already considerable stealth abilities to another level entirely.
Speaking of his training also included all of the skills one would think an Assassin should have. He knows how to mix poisons, move without being seen or making noise, scale walls, lie or disguise himself, pick locks, pick pockets, just for starters. He is also quite skilled at clerical work and he has some diplomacy ability after thirty years leading the Sun Marshals.
Beyond all of this, Alden also possesses an incredible amount of willpower. If Alden decides that he will do something, there is very little that can stop him from doing it. In fact, at present, the only thing that could deter him from a course of action is Captain Naoki. The former Empress is the only person he has any loyalty to and he often values her judgement on matters above his own.
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Biography: Alden was born to a small farming family in an out-of-the-way village. His parents named him Toan and until he was five his destiny was most likely to live and die on the same farm he was born. However, that all changed when Pride arrived.
The leader of a criminal group known as The Set, Pride offered his parents a sum of money that would make any poor farmer's heart stop. Enough money to change their lives forever and all he wanted was Alden, one of nearly a dozen children. A child that wasn't even old enough to help with chores around the farm yet. And the man as so nice, he wanted a ward that he could train to be a retainer how bad of a life could that be?
The answer to that question was basically Hell. Pride was a potent alchemist, enchanter, and scholar and he had but one goal in mind. To create a superior warrior. Alden was subjected to hellish daily training along with six other children. Forced to learn to fight with every weapon, against any foe, in any condition. His limbs were broken deliberately and he was forced to continue to fight and train in constant agony. And this was among the mildest of the ways he was trained.
The culmination of the training came when he was twelve. When he and the six other children were locked in a room and told that the only one who got to leave... was the only one to survive. Of course, surviving was hardly a reward.
Once Pride had only the strongest of the children left he proceeded to the next step of his plan. Alden's memories and identity were seared away as Pride carved runes into his flesh and his very soul. Transforming the young man into a living magical artifact and keeping him on a drug that suppressed all of his emotions.
From there Alden became the new Wrath of the set, a weapon meant only to slay those he was told to. That may have been all he would be but Pride made a miscalculation, Alden's runes helped him to build an immunity to the dosage meant to keep his emotions in check, a weakness made worse by Pride having let him keep his anger thinking it would make him a better weapon. Eventually, events conspired and Alden snapped when the only member of The Set to be kind to him, Sloth, was killed for threatening to expose Pride.
Alden, driven into a deeper rage than ever before killed Envy, Lust, Gluttony, and even disembowelled Pride. Greed manage to escape and Alden slaughtered everything in his path trying to catch the man. Eventually succeeding in his goal. Bereft of a target for his rage and the chase having left him in the middle of nowhere Alden finally collapsed the trauma and coming off of the dosage causing him to bury most of his memories.
He wound up in Isra where his talents and skill soon earned him the eye of the then, criminal Madam Naoki. She recruited him as one of her enforcers a role he continued as her power expanded and grew until she finally became Empress. His reward for his loyalty? Appointment to the head of The Sun Marshals her special police force, effectively making him her right-hand man.
During this time he also uncovered his own past and learned that Pride had survived, the man had made preparations for such an eventuality and his death only saw his soul moving to a phylactery as he became a lich.
Pride created a new Set, this time making each member just as he made Alden. Eventually, this culminated in Pride attacking Isra and his eventual, final defeat.
Decades have passed since that time and Alden, whose power kept him at his prime for years continued to serve Isra until the new calamity took him to The Island of Mists, his empress reduced to a captain and he now serving as her first mate.
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Allegiances: Naoki and Port Argentum
Place of Residence: Port Argentum
Registered: Mar 21, 2021 13:21:25 GMT -5
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Post by Alden on Nov 17, 2021 19:29:26 GMT -5
The sylph sensed exactly what Alden meant by not having to wonder anymore. You're lucky. I'm still wondering if the me from your timeline is alive and out there somewhere, doing something heroic and stupid.She watched as Coatl navigated his list with Grandma. She could more or less sense the flow of their conversation, though she wasn't bothering to make the conscious effort to eavesdrop. My host is much more mature than I was at that age. But now he's spending more time with spunky, adventurous young women and I fear that, compounded with my self, we're all going to be a terrible influence on him.She laughed a ghostly laugh that echoed somewhat through the air. "The you from my timeline?" Alden responded as he blinked in surprise. Evidently, his wondering over the fate of his friend was not quite over and done with as he thought. "Well, I knew alternative timelines were involved in these lands but I'll admit I didn't expect to meet a ghost of a friend from a different world." Maybe he should have expected it, wasn't like it was even the strangest thing to happen this week. Still, it made him feel a little better to know that a Jun might be out there alive and kicking for him to meet someday. Then the spirit of his friend noted that her host was getting involved with adventurous young women. "Certainly a bad influence if he wished to live a boring life. But at least you always stood up for what you believed in and I knew you to be a woman of morality. So he could have worse examples if he is to become a hero." Which was a funny concept to him, heroes. Jun had been a hero, always willing to throw herself head long into danger to save another. Though he also remembered her being discontent a lot of the time, always trying to get stronger. People had called him a hero as well and he supposed he'd been self-sacrificing in his own way. But for some reason he never really felt as though he was risking much when he put his life on the line to save others. He went into every fight ready to die but... well he never did. Was it strange that he almost felt as though he'd been denied a reward? Strange that he thought if he'd died doing something heroic then maybe he might have known some peace in the next world at the very least? Alden shook his head trying to dispel the maudlin thoughts but he had little success. It wasn't as though he wished to die but he was starting to realize that he'd spent so long being prepared for it that... He was numb to it, it held no fear to him and it was even starting to hold some appeal. At least he'd be able to get some rest. He reached up and rubbed at his eyes, he hadn't been sleeping well old memories haunted him when he tried. He was so very tired but what time he could steal to rest did little to help and he couldn't seek more because there was so much work to do. |
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Coatl of the Imilla
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 143
Appearance: Skin just a skosh darker than an old clay pot. The shade of his hat occludes black, sun-beaten eyes, wavy, matted hair, and just enough beard to protect his chin. His hands are coarse and leathery, with wiry tendons. His height isn't quite imposing, it's but enough to lend credence to a purposeful stride and posture.
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Equipment: An old duster, scarf, and cotton shirt and slacks. A thin brigandine with copper plates and a military-grade pitchfork.
A single candle, a reagent of now forbidden degrees of power.
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Skills and Abilities: On his home turf, Coatl could manifest formidable elemental magic. Here the magic is suppressed down to more subtle manipulations. However, the spirit of Cuaté, the "Witch", is still with him.
Coatl is, at his core, a simple farmhand. His experience working on ranches and plantations has earned him a strong physique and a way with animals. When he was a teenager, he also spent some time as a city guard and militiaman, giving him basic competence with a variety of weapons.
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Biography: The Imilla Clan were migrant farmers and laborers, selling themselves to wealthier kingdoms. They were a people bound by working shanties, and stories of an Eden from whence their ancestors came. As a youth, Coatl felt they were naive. They possessed the most basic of martial skills and required the aid of capricious spirits with weak magic to protect them.
His suspicions were half true, for when they encountered a malevolent kingdom, they were very nearly enslaved. However, his parent's commitment to peace earned him, and him in particular, the loyalty of an ancestral spirit that was far more dependable.
Using the power of this spirit, Coatl and a few other "chosen ones" helped bring prosperity and safety to their clan, ensuring that no one else would try to enslave them. The golden years of their people came to an abrupt end, however, when the flood waters came...
Registered: Mar 20, 2021 23:42:08 GMT -5
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Post by Coatl of the Imilla on Nov 17, 2021 22:48:13 GMT -5
He's a lot more grounded. All he wants is to protect his clan and work with his hands. Not nearly as angst-ridden as you and I were at that age.
The spirit cocked her head and chuckled as she observed Coatl's bewilderment at the strangeness around him. Grandma was fine. The jigsaw acrobat of a woman was ok. But the yodeling bug, that might have spilled something in his head. Coatl wasn't a journeyman or a novice. He was a full-grown adult who knew himself and feared little, and he had a good heart. And so watching him be such a fish out of water like this was incredibly amusing.
The hardest moments for him were when he didn't know if there were any survivors from his people, or even related to his people. As soon as he discovered there were, he bounced right back. The singing archer certainly helped.
She chuckled lightly again.
Alden, I know technically you're a part of something greater. I'm sure you know it. But, maybe you need something, or someone, to help you actually feel it in your heart. An individual, or a community, to help you not just ease the burden of rebuilding our world, but transforming that burden. The sylph shrugged. It doesn't even have to be a person. A ritualistic practice may help too. The Imilla people have a thing for candles and circles. I don't suppose you're religious.
***
Coatl had just enough time to get a bowl of crab stew when the seven foot behemoth of an insectoid man deposited a young blind woman in the middle of their picnic. Just how many what-in-the-goddamn moments was he going to be plagued with today?
"Yes, we are human!" (Well, mostly, but he didn't say that part outloud) He immediately approached them, since no one else seemed to dare to. It seemed crazy, but his instincts told him to be vocal and direct. He had flashbacks of the snake woman and the strange child to visit his village not long ago. There were non-human survivors of the floodwaters too, and they needed to be dealt with. At the same time, it wasn't fair to expect them to understand human social norms; even humans rarely did that with any consistency.
"We offer you food! Take some! But be careful not to harm or startle us! We will defend ourselves!" He took his own bowl and offered it straight to the monster. Without even waiting for a reply, his gaze came down to the blind woman.
"You alright?"
***
Cuate watched Coatl engage the creature.
Atta boy.
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Raisa
Established
Roleplay posts: 26
Age: 31
Appearance: Raisa's red hair frames a face of delicate features, off-put only by her ghostly, pale blue eyes. She often carries a dubious expression about her; brow deepened in scrutiny. Her choice of wear includes a variety of cowls, veils, robes, and modest skirts and tunics. One can also find a handful of jewelry on her form, all of it enchanted.
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Equipment: One small dagger and a leather pack filled with needles and thread are all Raisa have on her as she arrives at the Isle.
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Skills and Abilities: Once the apprentice to the famed Regina Fletcher, Raisa has found a talent in enchanting items and thus has become a skilled artificer over the years. Though she still has much to learn, one will find her determination the only thing more startling than her abilities.
Registered: Nov 10, 2021 16:17:53 GMT -5
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Post by Raisa on Nov 18, 2021 0:51:30 GMT -5
When Clik'Ree first picked her up, she'd been screaming. Now, so long after, she'd settled into a state of startled resignation, curled tight into his chest. Even through the many layers of clothing she wore, Raisa could tell there was something odd about the hands of her savior. At first, she thought it must be armor, but it didn't jangle the way armor usually did. She paired it with the clicking sounds she heard earlier. That was also not armor, so what could it be?
While she was thinking, the woman was suddenly and unceremoniously dumped into a blanket. She sat there for a moment, blinking in stunned silence. Several sensations washed over her at once: the first was Clik'Ree's screams of humans being present. The second was a sore bum. The third was the noises of people all around her, chitchatting and merrymaking. The fourth was the very strong scents of food... namely crab. It was difficult to take it in all at once, but she sat up and tried to gather herself, hoping an explanation would be given soon. Luckily, someone came up to her.
"... ah, yes! Quite. That... man? Saved me." She gestured generally in the direction she felt Clik'Ree was in. "I was adrift on a boat. Please don't harm him, I think he's nice." She dropped her voice very low, leaning in, "And I don't think he's smart enough to use me as bait. I have no means to help myself. He could have killed me long ago."
Clearing her throat, the artificer sat up and held out a hand. "I am Raisa. This is Clik'Ree. You are?"
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Laute, the Gourmet Glutton
Established
First Child of Gula, Devourer of Studiose
Roleplay posts: 27
Appearance: Inhumanly pallid and freckled in onyx, Laute is an odd figure at first sight. When one adds the curved horns, the bovine ears, and demonic writing across her skin, you get something decidedly hellish. Her eyes are yellow with a rectangular pupil, just like a goat's, and she sports a pair of powerful hooves in place of feet. Her hair is incredibly thick and appears to absorb the light around it, leaving it devoid of texture to the eye. A long, tufted tail lashes from her lower back.
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Skills and Abilities: Laute's purpose is to overindulge in fine things, thus having a heightened sense of smell and taste. She can detect a variety of poisons, provided she's run into them before. Limited control over fire, frost, and smoke are all within her domain. Should her master (currently Naoki) wish it, she can change forms into anything typically affiliated with glutton, all of which include but are not limited to piglike, oxlike, and snakelike shapes.
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 13:18:24 GMT -5
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Post by Laute, the Gourmet Glutton on Nov 18, 2021 3:25:10 GMT -5
"Socialize, mm? Not something I do often," Laute replied to Grandma, smiling fondly at the goings-on. "They do seem a lively bunch. Perhaps I will! And-" She paused as a giant insectman (something that was mildly curious to Laute, but not terribly unusual) barged in with a woman in its arms. As she watched it drop the bundle of cloth and all her red hair, Laute looked beside her to see that Grandma had already gotten out a weapon!
"Good thinking," commented Laute. "I sensed that the girl was very powerful, too. Do you suspect she manipulated the poor creature into ferrying her? Oh! What cruelty." With a hand on her chin, she did take time to admire the Thri'kreen's form. "How powerful he looks! And healthy. Have you ever had insects before, Grandma? Delectably crunchy with something sweet. Most do not find them repulsive after you get past the legs."
With that, the demon took her attention elsewhere. "I can promise you I won't disappear. I think I will also do some of this... this socializing! How about this one, here?" With a trot of her hooves, she made her way over to the flaxen elf. How graceful they were! And it seems she had her own little summon there.
"I do enjoy speaking to imps on occasion. What is his name?" asked Laute with a bit of enthusiasm that was faked for the sake of appearing approachable.
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