The continent of Ailon is as large as it is old. Over the years since history first began and mortals started living in cities, many kingdoms have come and gone on the large landmass. Most of those, carved with blood and steel or through shrewd diplomatic practices. Of course no matter how clever ones King or mighty one's army was, eventually most of those same fell to the same machinations that raised them. It was a seemingly never ending cycle, really, with one Kingdom lasting a hundred years or so before being conquered or taken by another. There were occasional peace between the entire continent, and such times were celebrated with open arms and revelry. Peace never lasted though. Eventually, war was always the only outcome.

Around three hundred years ago, something happened however. A powerhouse of a nation swept from the north, built on the conquering of several kings and other tribes and people under a single Emperor. They called themselves the Baumn Empire, named after the Emperor Baumn Alexius. Their armies were well trained. Disciplined, and above all - loyal.

Fearing this powerhouse, the southern Kingdoms and tribes banded together in the face of a greater threat, naming themselves the Caededril Alliance. It wasn't perfect, and it was a certainly shaky creation, with all of the lords and Kings. Still, with a little luck and strategic brilliance, they managed to fend off the Baumn Empire and send them back north.

After their defeat, they created a peace treaty. Eventually, with time the Caededril Alliance became the Caededril Republic, with their country focusing on trade, mercantilism, and the might of money. For around two hundred years or so, there was peace. Though the two countries never got along, and both of the countries continued to expand on other directions. Baumn continued to conquer its neighbors, while Caededril offered tribes and smaller kingdoms protection from Baumn...for the small price of becoming part of the Republic.

Of course, the two empires stepped on each others toes quite often, and with the two-hundred and fifty seventh year of the peace treaty, that peace finally came to an end. The two large countries clashed in a full scale war that was considered to be the most brutal war in all Ailon's history. It continued for almost forty three years with small lulls in the conflict throughout, but only recently ending with the death of Emperor Baumn Alexuis IV on the battlefield and the sacking Caededril's largest and richest city.

Currently, the two nations have another tentative peace, agreeing to cease all hostilities and turn their attentions to rebuilding and focusing on internal affairs.

At least that was the plan, until a military vessel from Baumn, sailing from their capitol to Caededril to discuss possible trade plans with the Republic. Lost at sea...they stumbled upon a continent that neither country had seen before. Immediately there was a scramble to claim the riches of this new continent. However, both sides feared conflicts that may erupt due to both of the nations history.

So, officially, the was declared a Neutral Zone, though that didn't stop the two empires from meddling in the affairs of the city, eager to get a leg up on the other.

Of course, that was around five years ago.

The city, now known as Oar's Rest, is a bustling city built on the ocean. It has many things anyone could ever possibly find or want here. Now that the city is more or less self sustaining with a few supplies from both empires, both kingdoms have started aggressively exploring the land, sending many parties inwards with only very few ever returning...they've even offered a reward for anyone who can bring back any information and perhaps...certain items that could give them an advantage.

Of course, that's all irrelevant to you, perhaps. Maybe you do not care about either of the countries at all. Maybe you're just here for adventure. To explore this undiscovered land. Perhaps you're here fleeing the justice of either empire, or maybe your a bounty hunter hunting said criminal. Really, everyone in Oar's Rest is here for their own reason.

Lore:
Named after its location by some Baumn Empire explorers. Its a cave close to Oars Rest. Not really much else to say here. Its where most people start their adventure since it offers protection from the humidity from the jungle. It's a rather easy path, if you're going inland. It'll protect you from the humidity of the forest but by no means is it safer. Creatures lurk in the dark, and if you venture too far off the marked and beaten path, you might just become lunch for some beastie. Some say they've seen Kobolds skittering about in here, though any solid proof has yet to be found as no one wants to venture deep enough into the caves to test that rumor.

The cave lets out some distance away. If you follow the path correctly and don't screw anything up and aren't attacked by some sort of creature, it should take you an hour or so to trek through it fully. At the end of it, there's an outpost not to far away. Usually, a guard is stationed at either entrance and end to help travelers along their way

Known Creatures:
Vampire Bats - mostly harmless, but incredibly annoying in large groups. Sleeps most of the day, and causes quite a bit of noise if woken. Will likely attract the attention of whatever else is in the area.

Piranha Hound - They make their homes in any place damp, cool, and that has an open source to the sea. Four legged, slimy eel dog things with gills and a large fin across their back. Able to swim surprisingly fast, and their legs carry them swiftly across the land with great agility. Teeth sharp enough to cause severe wounds. Light blue in color, with dark blue stripes and white eyes. For the most part, they rely on smell to find prey on land and a form of echolocation to find prey in the sea.

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Lore:
Named after a merchant from Caededril who was the first to step foot into the forest, the lush vibrant life-filled jungle is a surprisingly popular attraction of Oars Rest. Guards patrol the outer perimeter of the forest to ensure no creature gets out, and warn people not to enter unless they're sufficiently prepared. An alternative start to a venture from Oars rest, for those who want it. It offers a quicker, though somewhat more dangerous path than Reef Grotto to the small outpost an hour or so away on foot.

Many wild animals can be found here. While a good number of them are harmless, there are some rather dangerous creatures that make their home here. None more so than the plant life. The Flora in some parts of the jungle are particularly aggressive, and have grown in size to what some people would call unnatural. The Fauna, can be just as deadly as well, and the Jungle Trolls that live in the area are especially deadly and hostile to those who trespass on their land.

Jungle Trolls - Tall, lithe, covered in green skin and dressed with simplistic cloth wraps and armor. Employ shamanistic magic and crude weaponry. Usually, you leave them alone and they'll leave you alone so long as you don't intrude upon their territory or pose any sort of challenge to them.

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Name: Nazrc'thath Iyac'thorl'ieh

Race:
Illithids are a race of psychic but seldom seen beings with a humanoid body and an octopus-like head that live deep underground. They have four tentacles around a lamprey-like mouth, and use them to extract the brains of creatures and eat, preferring sentient above all since brains provide knowledge and psychic affinity in addition to sustenance. Their eyes are pale white, and they can see perfectly well in both darkness and light. Their sense of hearing is worse than a human's, and have difficulty distinguishing sounds from one another despite locating them the same as other creatures. Their skin is purplish blue to gray-green and covered in mucus, and is very sensitive to sunlight, to the point that they are rarely seen above ground, with the exception of a couple individuals who risk the danger in their quest of sating their thirst for knowledge. So if you see a tall stranger clad in a black cloak and a hood that obscures their face, do not stare too deep into the abyss...or the abyss may stare back.

Age: 50 years. Illithids live up to 130-150 years, so Nazrc'thath can be considered about 25 in human years.

Gender:
Illithids produce asexually, but his striking appearance and morbid curiosity cause people to identify him as a male.

Appearance:
In public, Nazrc'thath wears heavy black robes that cover his entire body and a hood that wraps his facial features in impenetrable darkness, with only the faint glimmer of his eyes seen through it. However, it is possible for a careful eye to notice the occasional tendril writhing in the depths when he is particularly excited, giving a hint to his true appearance.

Clothing/Armor:
Nazrc'thath wears the Black Robes of the Deep, which are heavy robes that completely conceal his body, including his face. The robes are enchanted with a powerful spell that shrouds the wearer's face in darkness, even when exposed to light.

Personality:
Nazrc'thath, though he is well versed in the human tongue, still has trouble speaking it fluently without making a disgusting sound of wet tentacles slapping together, so he tends to opt for simple phrases. He has an unending curiosity for the human culture and humans in general, finding even mundane things fascinating. He is not very approachable due to his nature, but if he finds himself in the company of someone with magical affinity, he may be drawn closer to them; whether it is due to his interest in the arcane, or due to the proximity of a delicious brain filled with magical power is a mystery to all but him.

History:
Nazrc'thath was always different from his fellow kin, ever since kin: his curiosity for the greater mysteries and particularly the surface world, which he was told was a hostile land of painful sunlight filled with hate and persecution towards the illithid. But despite his clan's resistance, he decided he would ascend, and become truly wise.
Once he blended into human society in disguise, he learned that the illithid had a dreadful reputation of being brain-eating abominations who knew only cruelty and domination. He then decided to sever the ties he had to his origins, and make a name for himself in the academic circles by finding the hidden secrets that lied forgotten in Edea's bowels.

Weapons:
Nazrc'thath wields the Tome of Eldritch Lore, an old scripture written in the illithid language; the runes are so grotesque and incomprehensible to the human mind that anyone not versed in arcane lore who dares lay eyes on the book may find themselves distraught if they are strong-willed, or outright driven mad in the case of the weak-willed. The Tome is filled with psychic power, and acts as a catalyst for him to channel his psionic skills as he reads upon the words of the Deep Ones, giving him greater control and precision over his powers.

Physical Skills:
-Brain Eating - Nazrc'thath may eat any brain he comes across using his facial tentacles, and gains both sustenance and psychic power by doing so, building up his potential for greater feats of the mind. Sentient and alive brains are the most optimal for this purpose, though non-sentient and even brains of dead creatures can suffice.
-Dark Vision - The eyes of illithids have developed for zero-light environments, and so he can see in complete darkness without hindrance.
-Magic Resistance - Illithid have a natural resistance to magical attacks and effects due to their psionic nature, shrugging them off like a creature with a carapace would ignore the stab of a sword. This has also allowed them to study magic and psionic power as a race so extensively.

Magic:
-Detect Thought - Nazrc'thath can sense the thoughts of sentient creatures up to 60 meters, and ascertain their approximate location. This requires him to stay still and concentrate, leaving him vulnerable for a moment.
-Telekinesis - Nazrc'thath can remotely manipulate objects lesser than his size up to 30 meters in distance, allowing him to draw them in, throw them or keep them still for a short while before having to take a break. He is limited to controlling two objects at a time as he directs the power with his hands.
-Abyss Veil: Nazr cloaks himself in the essence of the Infinite Abyss, granting him a veil of invisibility that lasts up to ten minutes, requiring half the time to keep a break. While invisible, he can not perform any other magic skills, but can attack an enemy who hasn't detected him for critical damage with his head tentacles, with the intention of sucking out the target's brain. Nazr can be detected by hearing or smelling while invisible; sunlight also reveals him. Once any attack has been made or the time limit is up the veil dissipates.

Weaknesses:
-Weak to Sunlight: Illithids are not suited to bearing the light of the sun on their slippery skins, and are affected by it even when wearing concealing clothing. Nazrc'thath in particular becomes partially blinded, and has more difficulty controlling his powers, which may result in him accidentally miscasting them on an ally. If the sunlight grows too intense, particularly in desert regions, they also start taking damage.
-Frail Fortitude: Illithids are physically weaker than the average human, and tend to get quickly cut down when in a melee of any kind.

Other Inventory:
Nazrc'thath carries writing tools in the form of scrolls, a quill and an ink vial, as well as empty vials in a satchel which he uses to store any liquids and body parts he wants to examine later.

Theme

Name: Jagred Velarium

Race:
Snowkin, a race of tall, fair-haired people. Most sport platinum or pale blonde hair and eyes of various color, however, those from the royal bloodline distinguish from the common folk with their blood red eyes. The purer their blood, the slower they age and the more hardy they are. Snowkin ages at the same rate as human, at least up until they reach adulthood. At that point, each snowkin ages at a different rate, depending on the pureness of their blood. Left alone, commoners can live up to 150 years, while members of the noble houses have the average life span of 500 years. However, their culture is so steeped in violence that old age often ceased to be a cause of death.

Age:
27

Gender:
Male

Appearance:

Jagred leads a hard, violent life, and it shows. Scars mars his pale skin, marks left behind from sword slashes, arrow wounds and even claws of beasts, but in the end, they all tell the same story: he lives. Even dressed in rough leather and tattered cloak, he cuts an impressive figure, all hard edges and coiled muscles. However, he lacks the intimidating mass of fighters; his sinewy figure more closely resembles those of sprinters and swimmers, standing at roughly 6'2''. In his cloak, he could even pass for a travelling merchant, rather than a violent mercenary who killed for gold on a daily basic.
For a sellswords, many would say that Jagred has a pretty face, and an exceptionally well-kept one at that. He has bright eyes, a sharp nose and strong jaw, and despite the scars than runs across his body, he has none on his face. His hair is the color of fresh fall snow, though not an uncommon color among his people, when couples with red eyes, marks the noble bloodline in Klonia. He grows it out, not long enough to pull into a ponytail yet, but still there for an enemy to grab in the midst of battle. If he were a little less vain, he would have cut it.

Clothing/Armor:
Jagred’s usual attire consists of a simple cuirass, one layer of boiled leather reinforced with metal plates, a linen shirt with cut off sleeves beneath, pants and leather boots. When out in the blistering sun, he adds an extra layer by donning a cloak, which is only a threadbare sheet of dark colored cloth decorated with questionable stains. On his arms, he wears a pair of leather gauntlets reinforced with thick metal plates that can be used to block and deflect sword strikes during combat.
Personality
Jagred can be considered a study in contrast. He is violent and jaded, the characteristics developed from a life of blood and steel, yet naïve and indulging, the stereotype sheltered elite. In his line of work, tasteful characters are hard to come by, so Jagred might appear somewhat guarded toward strangers. A bit overly so, to be exact. He also prefers violence to any other solution, as it is his forte, though it does not exactly make him hostile. Jagred knows too well what it feels to bite off more than you can chew. However, while your typical mercenary spends his coins on booze and wenches, Jagred spends his on lavish food and expensive boots. He wastes his fortunate like a young lord without his steward, which then often leads to him preforming various odd jobs to earn to coins needed to fuel his habits.
History:
The men around Dragon Spine all knew of the white demons from the mountains. They would descend suddenly from the mist with their battle cry, their hair white and their eyes as bright red as the blood of their victims. They were considered babarians at that time, infamous raiders and hated bandits, who lived by pillaging the villages nearby before vanishing up the slopes of Dragon Spine. Some said they were magekillers, that they had little magic of their own, and so they must rip it out from the bodies of others. Any attempt at subduing them proved futile, as mages were rendered inept as soon as they set foot up the slopes, and the snowkin used the treacherous terrain to their advantage.

More bloodshed throughout the years before peace was formed. As the snowkin grew in number, they became more unified, more civilized. Instead of roving bands of bandits loosely associated with each other, they began to form different territories on the Dragon Spine, each ruled by its own respective lord. The lords then elected a chief, whose duty was to manage relation with outside forces and uphold justice among the lords. The system worked, to some extent. They no longer had to raid and pillage; they began trading the metals they mined for necessities from the kingdoms below. The Kin still had their conflicts though; war was in their blood. At least it was mostly among themselves now.

Peace lasted, and this led the Kin to mingle with other races. They had a new name: Klonians of the Klonia Collective. The term ‘snowkin’ was reserved only for nobles now, who still had the distinctive crimson eyes and white hair. Though changed somewhat in terms of appearance, Klonians still retained certain characteristics from their ancestors: fair hair, pale skin, tall stature and a preference for colder climates.

Jagred was born Zugos Velarium, eighth son of Vinklaus Velarium, the sixth lord of his line and current chief of Klonia then. Born into noble blood, you’d think a life of luxury and decadence awaited him.

Not quite.

Despite being the scion of a noble house, Zugos was so far down the line it didn’t even matter. He would get no title and no land. Not even the smallest fraction of his line’s vast wealth and influence. In fact, his entire existence is compromising the stability of the throne; rebellions could rise in his name, rivaling houses could use him to hurt the chief. Once one of his brothers ascended, he would have to either justify his existence, or die. His father offered him a solution, when he reached the tender age of 10. It felt less like an offer though, now that he was older and wiser, more like a desperate order. Then again, he would have accepted it anyway. Back then, there was little he wouldn’t do for chief Vinklaus.

So he joined the chief’s personal force. They had a fancier name, but no one used it anymore, not even themselves. Some called them the Threshers. Most didn’t talk about them at all. They didn’t actually have a set role within Klonian military; Threshers answered to the chief and the chief alone, following whatever orders they were given. They acted as bodyguards, assassins, spies, consultants, or just plain soldiers, if the need ever arose. Whatever the chief wanted done, the Threshers would have operatives suitable for the job. And among these trained attack dogs of the crown, Zugos felt at home.

He climbed the ranks fast, relying on brilliant swordplay and unwavering loyalty. Then things fell apart. Zugos returned after a mission, the head of a rebel in his satchel was still fresh, leaving a trail of red as he entered the throne room. There he found his father, Vinklaus the Victor, slumped on the throne. Very dead. Around him, armored soldiers stood, weapons readied. Behind them stood his half-brother, Solveig, the third son. Zugos remembered little afterward. They talked. He asked. Solveig demanded, as usual. Then the soldiers charged. Desperation and rage fueled him, guided his blade and spurred him on, but in the end, he fumbled. It hurt, then he felt nothing at all. When he woke up, he was already miles away from the keep, lying face down in a ditch and hurting all over.

The next couple of days, he hid and listened. They said Vinklaus died from some disease. He had been sick for a while now, or so they said. Solveig was wounded from an attack staged by unknown forces. Vikos, the eldest son, took over the throne. Zugos then left. Klonia had nothing to offer him anymore.

Years have passed since, and he answers to a different name now.
Weapons:
He has with him a black sword that he straps across his lower back. The blade is enhanced to keep its sharpness despite minimum maintenance, suitable for long travels.
Physical Skills:

- Snikt Snikt - The sword is a simple weapon; nothing more than a hunk of sharpened steel, and yet, kingdoms were built upon and brought to ruins by the sword. Anything with opposable thumbs and sturdy arms can learn to swing a sword, but it takes raw talent and rigorous training to master. Fortunately, having spent his formative years among the war dogs of Klonia, Jagred had both in abudance. When he reaches for his sword, expect trouble.
-Hit and Run – Jagred is fairly quick on his feet, as reflected in his fighting style. However, he can also apply his skills outside of combat as well. He should have trouble climbing up a tree or scaling a cliff, given the right tools.
-Thick-blooded – Snowkins are gifted with incredible endurance due to their bloody legacy of taming the snowy mountains. The cold weather does not affect them negatively. Quite the opposite, in fact. Furthermore, they should be able to perform taxing activities for a longer period of time before feeling the exhaustion. Physical pain also has a diminished effect on them, though this can be both a strength and weakness.
Magic:
None.

Weaknesses:
Red Iron – Due to his snowkin physiology, Jagred is vulnerable to overheating in hot weather. He has to avoid the midday sun, rarely goes outside without his trusty cloak on and dislikes campfires with a passion. As he is no longer surrounded by the familiar tundra of his homeland, Rune has to take care to make sure his body does not overheat. He also shies away from heavier and thicker armor because of the very reason.

Other Inventory:
Jagred keeps two leather skin with him. One filled with water, while the other often contains the most expensive liquor he can get his hands on.

Interest rescinded

Name:
Ankt Sol

Race:
Aahari - Among one of the first to be conquered by the Baumn Empire, this hardy, reptilian race tend to be fairly large and almost resemble humanoid alligators or crocodiles. They are extremely resistant to pain whilst also sporting a tough hide. However, they have been found unable to be effective at using magic. This does not mean they cannot use it, they just struggle with it. They do have a good sense of smell and can stay underwater for an hour or two. Intelligence wise, they are not the smartest of sentient species, but they are commonly seen as tacticians within the Empire.

Age:
20

Gender:
Male

Appearance:
Ankt resembles any other Aahari in that he is large, standing at 6'7", and broad. He bears scars along his snout that travel down his back, several teeth are also missing from his mouth though it isn't enough to be noticed without concentrating. Ankt also sports large claws, while dull, they could still do good damage to a human. His scale colors are dark green with eyes that are yellow.

Clothing/Armor:
Ankt wears medium armor, that is normally considered for his people that is. It is armor forged with metal, though it serves a more ceremonial purpose rather that of protection. The chest piece only comes down halfway on the chest and is colored gold with blue markings dotted on it. The helmet is small, only covering the top of his head, and has feather to mark him as a hunter of something. He bears gauntlets to protect his wrists and a portion of his hands. The "leggings" never extend past his waste, though they bear markings for his status.

Personality
Ankt is not the joking type, in fact, he is the type who will only laugh if he is amused by someone else's pain. He commonly sees people in a way that he does not trust them, that they are out to get him; paranoid if you will. He is also the type to hold grudges, and grudges often means for him to hunt down whoever has offended him. However, Ankt is brutally honest and will never lie to someone's face and he is especially honest with how he feels about that person in general.

History:
Ankt was born into a warrior family within the Empire, thusly he was expected to become as such and nothing else. It was all to carry on the family name, it was something that he especially liked. He had slain his first beast as a wright of passage, he had become a man to at the age of ten. However instead of celebrating at home for his win, Ankt's father had done the unthinkable and cast Ankt out of the family. The reasoning behind this, his younger brother had become the favorite of the family due to his looks and his ability to learn magic better than most of the species. Thusly, Ankt murdered his father in cold blood.

Fearing for his life, Ankt's brother ran away so that the family could also be spared from Ankt's life and it worked. However, Ankt would not relent until his brother was dead and his grudge settled. Leads have all told that Salistar, the coward magician, would be found in Edea. So the hunt begins at Oar's Rest and Ankt will take the skull of his brother back to his family as a trophy.

Weapons:
Grudge Settler - A sword one-sided, slashing sword that was forged by Ankt himself to help complete his wright of passage. It has been enchanted by his younger brother to return to his hand should he be disarmed in battle.

Physical Skills:
-Swordsmanship - Ankt has been trained to use a sword for all his life, thusly he would be skilled in such a weapon.
-Hide of the Aahari - Being an Aahari warrior, Ankt is very resilient to damage however swords can cut him and arrows can peirce his hide. It is merely the more natural things that he is resliliant to.
-Stregth of Training - Ankt, having been trained to be a warrior all his life and of being Aahari, is very fit and can lift many objects that would be considered exceptionally heavy to the averge man.

Magic:
"Magic? I have no time for such things, lest my brother gets away."

Weaknesses:
Ankt is slow, not to learn, but merely just physically slow due to his large stature and the armor that weighs him down on a minor scale. Not to mention that his armor does not cover everything that is vital. Another weakness, is that of a standard blind spot of the Aahari, not being able to see what is directly infront of them or behind them. Ankt also does not know how to use multiple weapons, as in he is not trained to use a spear or bow, despite being raised to become a warrior.

Other Inventory:
Rations for two days and the skulls of his various enemies.

Name:
Ematrix Darkswallow (Previously Emily Hill)

Race:
Witch (Previously Human)

Age:
25

Gender:
Female



Clothing/Armor:
-Muggle Clothing- Clothing suitable for blending into an environment not populated entirely by Necromancers. Two sets, one for travelling and casual wear and the other for formal arrangements. Includes undergarments, work gloves and a hooded travelling cloak.

-The Cloak, and Hat of Shadows- The proper dress of a Necromancer (in training). Good at warding off the cold and damp of a cemetery in the dead of night, and possesses some basic charms against ill-meaning spirits.

Personality
Em is still young at heart, lacking any of the usual triggers that would push her into adulthood. She is perhaps a little too confident in her own cleverness, but has no problem listening to other's advice so long as she thinks it benefits her. She isn't what you would call "power hungry", but rather, she has an abnormal thirst for knowledge that pushes her along the path to power anyways.

With strangers, she is distrustful but not impolite. Her days on the road have taught her not to give too much allowance to people, men in particular, but her deeply ingrained upbringing of respect and kindness have yet to fade completely.

Doesn't like people who make fun of Necromancy.

History:

Weapons:
-D.D.- A powerful malicious spirit, bound to (or possibly manipulating) Em. It provides her sometimes helpful advice, offering insight and knowledge that only a centuries old evil spirit could possess. It resides in an old, gnarled staff, which could be treated as its vessel, or physical form. It can interact with the staff to a much higher degree than the rest of the world, to the point of being able to physically move it and channel certain sorceries through it.

For Em's purposes, the staff and spirit combo serve to strengthen her Necromancy, and allows her an easier time casting most magics save those of the most benevolent kind. When another but its accepted master picks up or comes into contact with its wood, they will be struck with painful and lethally infectious splinters.

D.D. can, to an extent, move beyond the limitations of its staff vessel. However, in this non-physical form it cannot risk sunlight or physical contact with a being besides its Master, or else it might find itself dispersed and sent back to the afterlife. With some effort, D.D. can use all of its capabilities as a spirit to provide some assistance, but this is limited by a great many factors.

-Evil Bones- A small collection of bones from men who died violently during an uprising in the village of Em's birth. Taken from their rightful resting places, these bones hold a grudge against the mortal world for unearthing them. Powerful Necromantic reagents.

Physical Skills:
-Witch's Body- The first step on the road to Lichdom. Grueling and unique magical enchantments, rituals and mixtures have been used to prepare one's body for eternity, transforming their existence into something that is "not quite human". Physical aging ceases, superficially mimicking the effects of eternal youth. Most importantly, the burdens placed on the body by powerful spellcraft and certain dark magics are almost completely nullified.

-Herblore- The ability to identify and utilize a wide variety of herbs, including knowledge of their possibly magical qualities and the proper methods of mixture to produce the best (or worst) effects. Equivalent to ten years of careful study, with ready access to both oral tutelage and extensive written knowledge. Can craft certain substances from gathered herbs, in a technique commonly called "Witchcraft", although it does not actually involve any true Magic.

Can Identify unknown herbs with some success at first, and with more after careful study and experimentation.

-First Aid- Perhaps not as flashy as Healing Magic, First Aid is the skill for dealing with injuries in the conventional sense, and knowledge of common medical techniques. Not really all that exciting of a skill, but a useful one.

Magic:
-Necromancy- Probably what somebody thinks when one imagines "Dark Magic", it is by far the most infamous and well-practiced dark art of the modern world.

Classic magics under a Necromancer's command are the iconic Raise Dead spell, which confers temporary motivation to a member of the deceased to continue living a wretched half-life under the Necromancer's command. Zombies are the most easily raised entities, possessing limited movement capabilities and virtually no mental faculties. Skeletons and Ghosts are both a little more complicated, but are host to a suite of fascinating abilities of their own that make them useful tools for any budding Necromancer. The use of additional magical energies and preparation can turn a temporary tool into a long-term partner, whose strength and capabilities are reliant on the quality of the base materials.

A little less flashy but equally useful is the power to communicate through the veil of the afterlife, temporarily summoning the dead for the purposes of advisory and spiritual assistance. Spirits can be used like shields against spiritual interference, or bound to items, people or places in a magical act known as "Haunting". They also make great scouts and assistants, so long as the Necromancer keeps a tight hold on them.

Saved primarily as a last resort, due to its blatant waste of resources, the Dark Bomb releases the stored energy of a soul in the form of a dense explosion of Necromantic energy, harmful to all life (but not the Undead). This destroys the source, whether it be a ghost or the physical remains of the deceased, and the amount of backlash on the user is considerable even for somebody with Em's preparation.

Necromancy is strong, but it is one of those kinds of magics that is heavily limited by reagents. Without a steady supply of fresh corpses, a Necromancer would have a hard time being useful at pretty much anything. Em's altered physical form protects her from much of the backlash associated with Necromancy, but even she is not completely immune. Overusing the Necromantic arts will cause her to weaken and eventually die, the more she lingers on the line separating life and death.

-Dark Aura- Dark Magic tends to stick to people and things that it comes into contact with. This phenomenon is called a Dark Aura, and the knowledge of and manipulation of this side-effect is one of the more subtle skills possessed by a Dark Mage.

Concentrating one's Dark Aura, they can inflict fear on lesser creatures, or project an air of power and awe around themselves that inspires others of the dark path to follow them. This is an important skill, as it also allows for the domination of spirits of the dead. If a Necromancer ever summons a spirit stronger than themselves, this is the ability they use to fight them off.

As Dark Aura builds up in items or people, it will gradually affect them magically, aligning them towards Dark and strengthening them with a sort of fel power. Those familiar with the Dark can sense the residue of Dark wherever it goes, allowing them to gauge the capabilities and track the movements of Dark Mages. A Dark Mage must always be aware of this, and look out for potential enemies in the form of Dark Hunters, or potential allies in the form of lesser Dark Spirits and Monsters who might be seeking their protection.

Weaknesses:
-Weak- This young Necromancer made a critical error in judgement that has resulted in her being stuck with an eternally young, and physically undeveloped form. She will never have the strength or endurance of a grown woman, and has certain limitations to both her equipment load and what physical feats she can preform at any given time. The constant overuse of Dark Magic doesn't help.

-Enthralled- Em has been captivated by the Dark Arts, and is being manipulated by a powerful Dark Spirit called Darker Dark. If given free reign, it will twist her mind and actions towards the ways of Dark, eventually cultivating her to be taken over by the Dark Spirit at the height of her transformation. Until Darker Dark is dealt with, Em can never change from the path of Evil, and she will be forced to be commit darker and darker acts until she completely falls into depravity.

Other Inventory:
(Travelling Backpack: Contains her changes of clothes, a small package containing dried meats and fruit, a water skin filled halfway with spring water, fire-starting gear, a small case for storing herbs, a first-aid kit and a small ritual case)
(Herb Case: Small quantities of herbs used for traditional Healing. A few dried, toxic herbs used in poisons. Some dried herbs used for curing minor to moderate poisons from certain monsters.)
(First-Aid Kit: Some clean bandages, a needle and two spools of thread, a small flask of alcohol, a vial for storing liquid, one vial filled with liquid labelled "Antidote", one unmarked vial filled with clear liquid.)
(Ritual Case: Contains a small knife, used in rituals. A few stoppered vials for storing liquid. A needle and one spools of thread. Scissors.)
-A small attached bag, for storing bones. Smells faintly of ash.

"Greetings, friend, I am Bell. Former Holy Knight of the Baumn Empire."


Name:
Isabella Valencia Alexuis

Race:
Human...for now.

Age:
20

Gender:
Female

Appearance:
Isabella stands at a rather imposing five foot seven. She has dark skin, with hair the color of snow and ruby colored eyes that seem...rather odd, if one were to stare into them for whatever reason. The have a tendency to make most people feel slightly uneasy, tough for whatever reason no one really knows. Overall, she has a strong and sturdy frame with obvious muscles on her body. Often times, she wears a calm, composed and even look on her face.

Clothing/Armor:
Her armor, is honestly designed to more or less be ornamental. Something nobles wear to expensive parties. It's not even armor, really, just a dress with some ornate metal plates on it. Still, those metal plates do their job well and protect her upper body and legs quite well and fits fairly closely to her body. The armor plating is worn over a sleeveless blue dress, and on her hand she wears gloves.

It really isn't anything special, aside form being a bit of a fashion statement and offering some decent protection to her vital areas.

Personality
Calm, somewhat taciturn, though not unfriendly. Isabella prefers reading and the quiet company of books rather than people. She carries herself with an air of grace and nobility, and often can come off as rather aloof and speaks rather formally most of the time. Despite this, Bell has a strong sense of justice and responsibility and often will help others if she can possibly do so. She dislikes violence in general, though won't hesitate to pick up her blade and use it to defend herself or another.

She can also be somewhat Naive, being a typical sheltered noble. She is somewhat too trusting of others at times, and believes that everyone is inherently good. Tends to also have a rather powerful curiosity about her, and can't resist trying to learn something if she doesn't know what it is - even if it's something that she maybe shouldn't know.

She has a tendency to look down on those who are closed minded. Or rather, those who don't keep an open mind about magic.

History:
Isabella is...well, a crowned Princess of the Baumn Empire. At least, she used to be. Not that its a well known fact, as she is the third kid in her family and her older brother is slated to take the throne after her father dies, while the middle brother is destined to become head of the military affairs. And with the throne currently denying her existence...well, she's not exactly the popular sort.

Growing up, she always had very little prospects in the realm of nobility or in the way of important stately affairs. Most of the time, her father let her do her own thing, and she didn't suffer a lot of the same pressures her siblings did in regards to academics, diplomatic and other such affairs.

As such, she had a lot of free time growing up. She didn't take much to histories or other academic pursuits, but took very well to martial pursuits and religion, often her and her brother sparred in both of their free time. When she wasn't doing that, she was pouring over tome and tome of religious text. She developed quite a bit of skill, and from a young age decided she wanted to be a Holy Knight, under the service of the Church of Nesenth, the Holy God that was worshiped throughout the Empire.

She was one of the best recruits they had in years, and had such high hopes for the red-haired girl. Her skill with both magic and blade was something they hadn't seen in years. And then she stumbled upon the archives...the archives that were strictly off limits to everyone but the high priest because of the dangerous information regarding some subjects the Empire would like to better keep secret. There...she learned of demonic magics and was fascinated with them.

She was able to hide her practices for a few years...but eventually it got out, and when it did, she faced execution for practicing the Vile Magic known only as 'Life Drain'. She didn't understand really - there was nothing inherently bad about the magic as long as it was used correctly...but well...eventually it is said the magic will turn any who uses it into a blood-thirsty demon, and indeed, over the short time she practiced it her appearance did change...

So she escaped, and took the first boat she could to Edea to get as far away from her former home as she possibly could. She would never be safe as long as she was on the continent. The Empire is ruthless in hunting down heretics...

Weapons:
Blue Steel blade - A blade designed by the Baumn Empire to act as a channel for magic instead of the traditional staff. While not as effective of a focus as a staff, it does it's job nicely as both a magic tool and a melee weapon, though its strength leaves a bit to be desired. Mostly employed by their Holy Knights.

Ornate Shield - a simple shield, designed to protect someone as a shield would.

Physical Skills:
Swordsmanship
She has been training since she could barely walk to wield a sword. As such, her abilities with it are quite impressive, even for someone as young as she. She's probably not as good as the rank and file Royal Knights, but her magic more than compensates.

Shield
While it is very true her current armor offers some very decent mobility should she need it, she mostly relies on blocking things with her shield, for the most part and then parrying with them. She knows how to use her shield to deflect blows of someone up to similar strength as herself, and could likely use it as a makeshift weapon to bash someone's face in.

Vitality and Endurance:
The soldiers of the Royal Baumn Army are no slouches. Their training, rigorous and sometimes even fatal for those unprepared or for those who just don't have what it takes. While she was a Holy Knight, they are a branch of the army and are similarly as rigorous. As such, Bell is quite use to harsh conditions and her body is able to handle the effects of various things better. She can also outlast most other opponents in a fight of pure stamina, and can keep fighting for a quite long time if she must - making protracted battles most always turn into her favor due to her sheer tenacity and willingness to not give up. This also offers her small resistances to poisons and other physically debilitating abilities.

Magic:
While her propensity for magic is high, she has decided to mostly give up the Holy Arts of her upbringing, and instead focus more on the magic she learned from the Archives. As such, her magic abilities are rather lacking at the moment, but she seeks to further her abilities with them.

Blood Draw
Blood Draw is exactly as its name states. It allows the user to draw spilled blood to them. A basic art of the Life Drain magics, and all must start here when attempting to learn. She can draw blood to her as long as it's in a few yard radius and make use of it.

Blood Stitching
A spell she made to mimic a holy art designed to heal. The blood stitches wounds together, staunching the flow of their own blood and invigorating the bodies healing processes. Unlike the holy art counterparts to healing, this is somewhat uncomfortable for the one being healed...at first. Subsequent uses, start to have a euphoric effect on the one being healed.

She mostly uses this on herself, when she has need of it as the art is usually looked down upon. If she has too, though, she won't hesitate to use it on someone to heal or save them.

Weaknesses:

Admittedly, she isn't the best with the sword and shield at the moment. As she has focused on magical pursuits and studying. While her skills with a sword are fairly decent, her skill with a shield is beginner at best as she never perfected that training before she was branded a Heretic.

Secondly, her magic is purely reliant on blood. While she could use her own blood for such things, that's not exactly going to lead to a long life. Against creatures such as Golems, beings of pure magic and the like...her magic on them would likely be almost useless for now. Additionally, she has to physically touch the blood in order for her to receive the effects, and drawing it to her isn't an instant thing. Something could interrupt the flow of blood, for example.

Her armor, also isn't the most protective of things.

Other Inventory:
Carries an old, leather bound book on her belt. Doesn't like others touching it. It is, in fact, a book from the Archives she pilfered when she left. She reads it almost daily, so she can better gasp the particulars of her chosen magical pursuit.