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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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 Feb 20, 2024 21:19:59 GMT -5
The Highlands A stretch of highlands nested between two ranges of mountains in the south east of the isles. Thick with trees and wildlife, it is as resource rich as it is dangerous. Rock slides, frequent storms, and dangerous wildlife are all prominent features of this region making it a hard place to survive for the unprepared.
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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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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 Feb 20, 2024 21:42:19 GMT -5
There was no real denying that Alden was making things up as he went along. He'd never been trained to be a scout or a ranger, he knew how to track and how to hide in nature because those were the only two skills an assassin required. But he wasn't familiar with game signs, couldn't recognize poisonous plants, and would definitely miss the warning signs of a potential flash flood or rock slide.
Despite this, his scouting mission was going reasonably well. He'd set up a camp in a sheltered area and was taking his time exploring trying to do his best to draw a map of the region. His drawing skills were passable enough that it would be somewhat useful for future expeditions until the real cartographers could get out and do something better. At least, he hoped so since it felt like a job and he wanted to feel as though he was being useful.
Alden wasn't sure if running away from Argentium had been selfish of him or not. He'd needed an escape and the trip was certainly that, he was feeling far more at peace than he had in a very long time. But as his mental health improved, the shadow of doubt had started to creep in to sour it. But that doubt wasn't dark enough to make him turn back, not yet, not when he'd found Jun, a stroke of fortune which made the trip worth it in the long run.
So he pushed the dark thoughts away and focused on what he was doing. Walking through the woods, following the ridge of the nearby crest that he could spy through the trees, breathing in the brisk mountain air, and enjoying the sunshine as he explored. Unaware that his pleasant walk was going to take an interesting turn.
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Rain
Established
Roleplay posts: 46
Appearance: Rain has medium tan skin, earthy brown eyes and darkest brown hair that has been kept in long braids. A collection of teeth and fangs from her successful hunts have been sewn into the length of some of her braids. She wears warpaint that denote her tribe and family lineage in terms of pattern and color.
She mostly wears clothes made of leather, fur and dyed woven plant fibre that has been carefully sewn together. She typically wears a headress using the head fur/skull/antlers of the animals commonly found within the season.
Equipment: Her weapons consists of two daggers that that can be joined and placed in the same sheath. They have symbols etched into the handle and base of the blade.
A small flask of blood that has been treated with herbs and oil to prevent coagulation.
Pouch of herbs.
Skills and Abilities: Hunting and tracking: She usually hunts creatures of a bestial nature, but it not necessarily limited to animals.
Dancing: Due to the nature of her Magic, learning the proper base skills to dance was a must. She specializes in an acrobatic form of weapon dancing.She can use swords and spear/staves in her routines though her preferred is her two dagger technique.
Simple weaponry skills: handy for all things self defense related, hunting related and dance related (See Dancing with Dagger).
Survivalist: They aren't fancy, but they are knowledgeable about what is needed to survive such as fire-making, shelter building, how to clothe and feed herself.
Dancing with Daggers(Ritual blood magic):
This ritual magic required both a component of blood to be poured onto her daggers and specific movements to be completed for an effect to be generated. Missing a step or getting interrupted will prevent the magic from taking effect. Once the effect is done the blood will "burn" away and require more blood before more effects can be completed.
Effects:
-Hunter's Breath: Rain points her daggers tips towards each other so that her arms form a loose circle where she will perform several increasingly fast spins either moving or in place. After, these spins are completed, she will break the circle while the other is kept at the level of her midsection while she slows her spins till she comes to a full stop. Successfully completing this set will give her an increase in her vigor/energy and allow her to feel significantly less exhaustion in the moment. Adequate rest will be needed after the effect wears off depending how strenuous her activities were while the effect was in place.
-Rage of the hound: The movements are short abrupt and fast, while she stomps her foot on the ground with a snarling expression. The movements are more flexible in style but she needs to keep stomping the beat long enough to go in blood rage. Blood rage will make her hyper focus on a single target, and make her strikes faster and stronger. She is less likely to notice pain in this state but will become acutely aware after it wears off or upon target death.
Blood's Eye: Rain must be able to complete her routine in the four directions. This is a slower more meditative dance that will put her in a trance like state in order to view the memories of the blood her blades are coated with. Depending on freshness and quantity the memories may be clearer and abundant, or fuzzy and sparse.
Wrath of the Ancestors: Has to manage to finish a dance in a circle and end where she started. Once the circle is complete all blood on her person, including her own becomes highly acidic to others and may leave burns and disfigurement to any that comes into contact till the effect ends.
Sickness Curse: A dance that required her to balance her daggers upright (By the handle) in her palms while she dances in place. The blood component must also be from the intended target, and for the target to get cut once dance is completed for chance of effect. If the effect takes, then the target will get an infection that can include high fever, Vomiting, delirium, sluggishness, Pains and if left untreated; possible death. If The Target has a decent immune system they may not feel any effect, or will get symptoms but eventually get better with proper tending on the wound itself. Disinfection the wound early enough can also prevent malady.
Dance of Stagnation: A fairly fluid dance that requires her to move loosely, meaning her daggers cut less deeply when they strike while she is performing this dance. If she manages to cut the target during this routine, the target will get a sudden onset of Anemia symptoms, which include Fatigue, weakness, dizziness ect.
These effects are difficult to mix together without unfortunate side effect, that being "Blood Curse". Blood Curse causes a burning sensation in the individual's veins all throughout their bodies It is an incapacitating kind of pain that Almost all Blood Dancers usually pass out from long before the effect wears off.
Biography: From When she was a little girl, Rain has only really known her village and the friendly faces of most of her fellow tribe. They had a mostly secure place in the heard of the forest, not far from rivers and lakes. They Were always big on hunting sport for both food and fun, though even if they came back empty handed, they'd still have the food from the field to not go hungry. She remembers the day she was old enough to get her face painted and how proud her mother was when she and the other kids all began learning the steps to their dances, while her father was in charge of teaching them to hunt. She remembers how one of the Elders, a braggart, showed his scars and made up wild stories about how he got them, while his long time friend and brother rolled his eyes, knowing the real reason was because he'd bailed his ass out of trouble more time than he even remembers by now.
She remembered when she she had performed her successful spell after so many failed attempts, falls and missteps.To boot, for all her trouble she was able to bring back to the village her first catch, a young deer they proceeded to cook up and celebrate the milestone. The day after, her mother tearfully told her that there was nothing more she could teach her, and that as for the rest, she should heed to the Ancestors and find it with her heart.
She remembered some bitterly cold winters after, a few faces passing away in peace, And her spending much of her time communing with her ancestors. She was a full woman, her village relied on her now, and as one of their best she did all she could to provide and teach. She had been in the middle of a hunt when the flood waters came...
Allegiances: None
Registered: Mar 22, 2021 18:35:18 GMT -5
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Post by Rain on Feb 21, 2024 10:48:22 GMT -5
The coast was clear, but oddly, as Alden traveled the quietness that surrounded him seemed to suffocate anything that wanted to make a sound. The leaves on the trees went from green to silvery in the gleam of the sun, and through they moved, their sound was muffled.
Rain had been stalking the paramiter of the territory. The beast had been elusive. For how big it was reported to be it was fairly hard to find, but she trusted her gut that told her she was on its trail. She kept her eyes on high, occasionally spotting the sight of fluffy coccoons hidden among the tree branches like hanging fruit. The times she'd opened the coccoons she realized most contained whole birds, rodents, or foul smelling sludge, reminiscent of the smell she'd encountered in the bildges. She hadn't dared to open the large sized coccoons, fearing what might be inside couldn't be unseen afterwards.
Herself, she kept low. She painted herself with mud to suppress her scent and help blend into her environment that was itself very generous with hiding spots. She had been demarquing the area of this creature by tying a piece of red twine on convenient branches. The silence clung around her too, but with her ears trained to pick up on subtle sounds, she heard the sound of footsteps kicking over foliage, it sounded like the hard shoes she'd seen other civilizations wear, on top of someone who may not be as observant as they should be by the rythm of their footsteps.
Taking in a deep breath she resisted the urge to groan her annoyance at having to deal with one of those savages from other worlds. Steeling her resolve for a confrontation for the greater good, she gave up stealth for speed. Her soft shoes kept sound low, and she deftly avoided brushing against the wild foliage that acted as her cover.
Even this short distance, she could feel the sensation of hairs against her face- thin invisible silk threads that clung to a person and ensnared them before they were even aware they were trapped. It took a few minutes to locate the sounds, clearly the other invidual wasn't worried about being stalked- or hunted. When her eyes finally localized her target, she gave up stealth entirely and ran for the figure. Her hand reached out to grip their shoulder in an attempt to halt them in their tracks and turn them around to walk back towards safety.
To her bad luck she was face-to-face with someone she was slightly familiar with. There was a pause of shock as she processed that it was Alden, only uttering a "You-?" before she stopped herself from talking. Her eyes scanned around, but it didn't seem all his stirring called the creature out yet. Before she'd talk more she gestured with her head for him to follow while signalling with a finger over her lips.
Be quiet.
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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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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 Feb 21, 2024 20:50:19 GMT -5
The atmosphere of the forest had shifted. Alden wasn't well trained, but he wasn't oblivious. He spent quite a lot of time in the woods and when things went silent he knew something was amiss. He walked more deliberately then, trying to make more noise as he moved. This had, in his experience, a fifty-fifty chance of deterring any predators that might try and attack him. It had been better in the old world, in this one they didn't seem to have the same fear of men so they were less likely to be skittish. Still, if he wasn't going to turn around so he might as well do the thing that might avoid conflict.
It seemed he was not going to be so lucky. Something was approaching and when he felt a touch on his shoulder he turned to face the threat only to find... "Me." He said simply, not immediately recognizing the woman who clearly knew him. Her face was familiar though, he was fairly certain he could place her he just needed a moment to think. He shifted and she would see him slip a knife back into his vest, he'd had it ready to strike the moment he'd turned but since she wasn't attacking he didn't see the need for it as he cocked her head at the raised finger.
All she got in turn was a nod as his memory finally proffered up the identity of the woman, or well, where he knew her from. She'd been the one to attack Black Bean, that memory made him grimace slightly. That hadn't been a particularly proud moment for him when he'd looked back on it and so he'd shoved the memory to one side since he'd had enough going on. It was unexpected to be confronted with it again and he wasn't sure what was going to happen next, what was she even doing this far to the East?
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Rain
Established
Roleplay posts: 46
Appearance: Rain has medium tan skin, earthy brown eyes and darkest brown hair that has been kept in long braids. A collection of teeth and fangs from her successful hunts have been sewn into the length of some of her braids. She wears warpaint that denote her tribe and family lineage in terms of pattern and color.
She mostly wears clothes made of leather, fur and dyed woven plant fibre that has been carefully sewn together. She typically wears a headress using the head fur/skull/antlers of the animals commonly found within the season.
Equipment: Her weapons consists of two daggers that that can be joined and placed in the same sheath. They have symbols etched into the handle and base of the blade.
A small flask of blood that has been treated with herbs and oil to prevent coagulation.
Pouch of herbs.
Skills and Abilities: Hunting and tracking: She usually hunts creatures of a bestial nature, but it not necessarily limited to animals.
Dancing: Due to the nature of her Magic, learning the proper base skills to dance was a must. She specializes in an acrobatic form of weapon dancing.She can use swords and spear/staves in her routines though her preferred is her two dagger technique.
Simple weaponry skills: handy for all things self defense related, hunting related and dance related (See Dancing with Dagger).
Survivalist: They aren't fancy, but they are knowledgeable about what is needed to survive such as fire-making, shelter building, how to clothe and feed herself.
Dancing with Daggers(Ritual blood magic):
This ritual magic required both a component of blood to be poured onto her daggers and specific movements to be completed for an effect to be generated. Missing a step or getting interrupted will prevent the magic from taking effect. Once the effect is done the blood will "burn" away and require more blood before more effects can be completed.
Effects:
-Hunter's Breath: Rain points her daggers tips towards each other so that her arms form a loose circle where she will perform several increasingly fast spins either moving or in place. After, these spins are completed, she will break the circle while the other is kept at the level of her midsection while she slows her spins till she comes to a full stop. Successfully completing this set will give her an increase in her vigor/energy and allow her to feel significantly less exhaustion in the moment. Adequate rest will be needed after the effect wears off depending how strenuous her activities were while the effect was in place.
-Rage of the hound: The movements are short abrupt and fast, while she stomps her foot on the ground with a snarling expression. The movements are more flexible in style but she needs to keep stomping the beat long enough to go in blood rage. Blood rage will make her hyper focus on a single target, and make her strikes faster and stronger. She is less likely to notice pain in this state but will become acutely aware after it wears off or upon target death.
Blood's Eye: Rain must be able to complete her routine in the four directions. This is a slower more meditative dance that will put her in a trance like state in order to view the memories of the blood her blades are coated with. Depending on freshness and quantity the memories may be clearer and abundant, or fuzzy and sparse.
Wrath of the Ancestors: Has to manage to finish a dance in a circle and end where she started. Once the circle is complete all blood on her person, including her own becomes highly acidic to others and may leave burns and disfigurement to any that comes into contact till the effect ends.
Sickness Curse: A dance that required her to balance her daggers upright (By the handle) in her palms while she dances in place. The blood component must also be from the intended target, and for the target to get cut once dance is completed for chance of effect. If the effect takes, then the target will get an infection that can include high fever, Vomiting, delirium, sluggishness, Pains and if left untreated; possible death. If The Target has a decent immune system they may not feel any effect, or will get symptoms but eventually get better with proper tending on the wound itself. Disinfection the wound early enough can also prevent malady.
Dance of Stagnation: A fairly fluid dance that requires her to move loosely, meaning her daggers cut less deeply when they strike while she is performing this dance. If she manages to cut the target during this routine, the target will get a sudden onset of Anemia symptoms, which include Fatigue, weakness, dizziness ect.
These effects are difficult to mix together without unfortunate side effect, that being "Blood Curse". Blood Curse causes a burning sensation in the individual's veins all throughout their bodies It is an incapacitating kind of pain that Almost all Blood Dancers usually pass out from long before the effect wears off.
Biography: From When she was a little girl, Rain has only really known her village and the friendly faces of most of her fellow tribe. They had a mostly secure place in the heard of the forest, not far from rivers and lakes. They Were always big on hunting sport for both food and fun, though even if they came back empty handed, they'd still have the food from the field to not go hungry. She remembers the day she was old enough to get her face painted and how proud her mother was when she and the other kids all began learning the steps to their dances, while her father was in charge of teaching them to hunt. She remembers how one of the Elders, a braggart, showed his scars and made up wild stories about how he got them, while his long time friend and brother rolled his eyes, knowing the real reason was because he'd bailed his ass out of trouble more time than he even remembers by now.
She remembered when she she had performed her successful spell after so many failed attempts, falls and missteps.To boot, for all her trouble she was able to bring back to the village her first catch, a young deer they proceeded to cook up and celebrate the milestone. The day after, her mother tearfully told her that there was nothing more she could teach her, and that as for the rest, she should heed to the Ancestors and find it with her heart.
She remembered some bitterly cold winters after, a few faces passing away in peace, And her spending much of her time communing with her ancestors. She was a full woman, her village relied on her now, and as one of their best she did all she could to provide and teach. She had been in the middle of a hunt when the flood waters came...
Allegiances: None
Registered: Mar 22, 2021 18:35:18 GMT -5
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Post by Rain on Feb 22, 2024 8:26:44 GMT -5
If Rain still had any hard feelings towards Alden it wasn't clear on her face as she led him away from where he was originally going. Along the way she mostly communicated in gestures, sweeping her hand downwards to tell him to crouch down into the brush when they passed through areas that were more open, she stayed away from the trunks of large trees, Pressed her nails in her the pad of her thumb to explain a plant that is harmful to the touch... All without actually speaking.
It wasn't until they were far enough away, where the leaves went from silvery to green again, that she had him lay low behind bushes. Still, she gestured him to stay quiet a little longer as she listened, and waited. For agonizingly long moments there was nothing and the wild woman could finally allow herself to speak.
"Apologies. You were about to walk into a trap. I was fortunate enough to hear you before you did, a bit farther I might not have," She briefly explained, "This is a hunting ground for a giant creature who spins silk." and, as if remembering, Rain reached into the bag on her belt and produced one of the smaller coccoons she had emptied earlier. The silk was similar to the ones spun by silkworms, though bunched together like this it was still opalescent in sheen rather than pure white. Rain gently pulled on a loose thread from the bunch and stretched it out, a move that made it turn invisible in an attempt to explain the trap Alden had nearly walked in.
"It hunts small prey, but recently it has gotten bolder and its game; bigger. It threatens the children and so I come to scout and mark its territory for a later hunting party. You however... I have never seen you in hunting parties. How are you so far away from Arg- Argment- " She sighed in frustration at her own inability to remember how to pronounce the name of her "Home". "Arginetium? "The Silver place" with no silver." she finally gave up and just used the description someone had given her as to what the name meant.
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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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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 Feb 22, 2024 20:05:39 GMT -5
It may have surprised Rain how readily Alden followed her directions. If he had any fears about her intentions he didn't show them as he followed her away from the oddly quiet stretch of forest. He intuited her hand signals without any difficulty following her along in perfect silence. It was actually eerie how quietly he moved, it went beyond simple skill there surely had to be something magical to it.
Finally, they came to a stop and she started to explain why she had stopped him. "I walked." He answered the question in the most literal manner first, his tone calm, neutral and profession. He had enough social to assume she was asking for a why more than the actual mechanics of it. "I left Port Argentium a few weeks ago to scout the land to the East. A decision I made of my own accord for my own reasons." He didn't want people to think he was a true representative of the nation of New Isra, while he could probably claim that without much blow back it wasn't why he'd left.
"You are the woman who attacked Black Bean." He said, his tone remained unchanged as he revealed he recognized her. "The last time we met, I told you to stay out of the forest. I apologize for that." He flicked his gaze away from her features before he added.
"I was already in a foul mood when I came upon you two and reacted more extremely than I should have. I do not offer this an excuse, only an explanation, and I do not ask for forgiveness. But I did wrong you and so it is only fair I offer up my apologies." He looked back at her and shrugged. "Thank you for stopping me from wandering into the trap. I try to avoid fighting if I can so it's appreciated."
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Rain
Established
Roleplay posts: 46
Appearance: Rain has medium tan skin, earthy brown eyes and darkest brown hair that has been kept in long braids. A collection of teeth and fangs from her successful hunts have been sewn into the length of some of her braids. She wears warpaint that denote her tribe and family lineage in terms of pattern and color.
She mostly wears clothes made of leather, fur and dyed woven plant fibre that has been carefully sewn together. She typically wears a headress using the head fur/skull/antlers of the animals commonly found within the season.
Equipment: Her weapons consists of two daggers that that can be joined and placed in the same sheath. They have symbols etched into the handle and base of the blade.
A small flask of blood that has been treated with herbs and oil to prevent coagulation.
Pouch of herbs.
Skills and Abilities: Hunting and tracking: She usually hunts creatures of a bestial nature, but it not necessarily limited to animals.
Dancing: Due to the nature of her Magic, learning the proper base skills to dance was a must. She specializes in an acrobatic form of weapon dancing.She can use swords and spear/staves in her routines though her preferred is her two dagger technique.
Simple weaponry skills: handy for all things self defense related, hunting related and dance related (See Dancing with Dagger).
Survivalist: They aren't fancy, but they are knowledgeable about what is needed to survive such as fire-making, shelter building, how to clothe and feed herself.
Dancing with Daggers(Ritual blood magic):
This ritual magic required both a component of blood to be poured onto her daggers and specific movements to be completed for an effect to be generated. Missing a step or getting interrupted will prevent the magic from taking effect. Once the effect is done the blood will "burn" away and require more blood before more effects can be completed.
Effects:
-Hunter's Breath: Rain points her daggers tips towards each other so that her arms form a loose circle where she will perform several increasingly fast spins either moving or in place. After, these spins are completed, she will break the circle while the other is kept at the level of her midsection while she slows her spins till she comes to a full stop. Successfully completing this set will give her an increase in her vigor/energy and allow her to feel significantly less exhaustion in the moment. Adequate rest will be needed after the effect wears off depending how strenuous her activities were while the effect was in place.
-Rage of the hound: The movements are short abrupt and fast, while she stomps her foot on the ground with a snarling expression. The movements are more flexible in style but she needs to keep stomping the beat long enough to go in blood rage. Blood rage will make her hyper focus on a single target, and make her strikes faster and stronger. She is less likely to notice pain in this state but will become acutely aware after it wears off or upon target death.
Blood's Eye: Rain must be able to complete her routine in the four directions. This is a slower more meditative dance that will put her in a trance like state in order to view the memories of the blood her blades are coated with. Depending on freshness and quantity the memories may be clearer and abundant, or fuzzy and sparse.
Wrath of the Ancestors: Has to manage to finish a dance in a circle and end where she started. Once the circle is complete all blood on her person, including her own becomes highly acidic to others and may leave burns and disfigurement to any that comes into contact till the effect ends.
Sickness Curse: A dance that required her to balance her daggers upright (By the handle) in her palms while she dances in place. The blood component must also be from the intended target, and for the target to get cut once dance is completed for chance of effect. If the effect takes, then the target will get an infection that can include high fever, Vomiting, delirium, sluggishness, Pains and if left untreated; possible death. If The Target has a decent immune system they may not feel any effect, or will get symptoms but eventually get better with proper tending on the wound itself. Disinfection the wound early enough can also prevent malady.
Dance of Stagnation: A fairly fluid dance that requires her to move loosely, meaning her daggers cut less deeply when they strike while she is performing this dance. If she manages to cut the target during this routine, the target will get a sudden onset of Anemia symptoms, which include Fatigue, weakness, dizziness ect.
These effects are difficult to mix together without unfortunate side effect, that being "Blood Curse". Blood Curse causes a burning sensation in the individual's veins all throughout their bodies It is an incapacitating kind of pain that Almost all Blood Dancers usually pass out from long before the effect wears off.
Biography: From When she was a little girl, Rain has only really known her village and the friendly faces of most of her fellow tribe. They had a mostly secure place in the heard of the forest, not far from rivers and lakes. They Were always big on hunting sport for both food and fun, though even if they came back empty handed, they'd still have the food from the field to not go hungry. She remembers the day she was old enough to get her face painted and how proud her mother was when she and the other kids all began learning the steps to their dances, while her father was in charge of teaching them to hunt. She remembers how one of the Elders, a braggart, showed his scars and made up wild stories about how he got them, while his long time friend and brother rolled his eyes, knowing the real reason was because he'd bailed his ass out of trouble more time than he even remembers by now.
She remembered when she she had performed her successful spell after so many failed attempts, falls and missteps.To boot, for all her trouble she was able to bring back to the village her first catch, a young deer they proceeded to cook up and celebrate the milestone. The day after, her mother tearfully told her that there was nothing more she could teach her, and that as for the rest, she should heed to the Ancestors and find it with her heart.
She remembered some bitterly cold winters after, a few faces passing away in peace, And her spending much of her time communing with her ancestors. She was a full woman, her village relied on her now, and as one of their best she did all she could to provide and teach. She had been in the middle of a hunt when the flood waters came...
Allegiances: None
Registered: Mar 22, 2021 18:35:18 GMT -5
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Post by Rain on Feb 23, 2024 12:17:38 GMT -5
As Alden gave his first answer I walked, Rain had simply stared back at him. The awkward silence between them stretched on, though in truth she was trying to figure out where she went wrong in her question to have gotten such a frank answer. Perhaps her mastery of the shared language wasn't adequate yet.
Luckily she didn't have to wonder for long, as Alden deigned fit to continue with an actual explanation. "Ah," She replied.
Another pause. He then pointed to the elephant in the clearing.
"Yes." She confirmed she fact she was, indeed, the one who attacked Black Bean. She showed no shame or guilt, nor tried to downplay or hide her responsibility. She couldn't change what already happened, and so there was no reason to fret. To her surprise though, he was the one to start apologizing, and thanking her to which she quickly tried to place her fingers over his lips. The gesture wasn't hard, just meant to stop him from speaking further.
"No need- I did indeed attack your familiar. Anyone would be upset." Her hand lowered down to her side. "If mere words were enough to disuade me, then I would not be worth being called a Blood Dancer. Forests have always been home to us, but you were right that these forests are quite unfamiliar to me and so I have pushed to learn more, though I understand and appreciate the sentiment." That last sentence seemed tacked on for the sake of "politeness", as one of the older ladies had explained to her.
"My name is Rain." Her hands gestured, open palms open above her head as they moved outwards, and then suddenly moving downwards as her fingers waved, a general gesture reminiscent of clouds and rain, like her namesake. "You all love to speak much and move little. Its amusing."
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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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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 Feb 26, 2024 21:47:23 GMT -5
Alden starred at the finger she held out to him. This wasn't the first time he'd been shushed in his life and since he'd already more or less said what he had to, he complied. He listened to what she had to say but didn't comment immediately, mostly because he was trying to figure out if he moved or talked more, when he eventually landed on an answer he said. "I do probably speak too much. But I think I move more." Alden shrugged and added "But I do agree, most people prefer the reverse. Also not that it matters much at this point, but it was actually the familiar of a friend of mine. One I just found out is still alive, so hopefully she and Black Bean will be reunited soon."
There was another awkward paused and then he added. "Oh, I am Alden, I shouldn't have assumed you knew that." Most people in the Port knew him but while she'd been in the area, she didn't seem that familiar with it. Which would be nice even if he'd already spoiled his first impression with Rain, he was trying to meet people who didn't know him.
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