Name:Kell’Daronahis-Valkaren, otherwise known as Kell.
Race: Cronus (av-de-Gronne): a reptilian bipedal species locked in seemingly eternal tribal warfare. They are generally known (and feared) for their subspecies Cronus av-de-Bladet consisting of
enormous lizard-like creatures renown for natural born prowess in the arts of pure battlefield combat. Kell’s subspecies is noticeably shorter, thinner, and generally milder in attitudinal comparison. His subset of Cronus are known for their race’s technological advancements, fish-farming, and the creation of their homeworld’s capital city. The thread that links them is the magic born from blood and bones. All of their magical abilities and technological advancement are powered by the harvesting of felled beasts and enemies.
Age: 42 USY
Gender: Male
Appearance: Of more imposing height than the common Cronus av-de-Gronne, Kell can seem rather threatening when he looks out at the world through predatory vertical pupils set within blood red irises. His skin is colored like the pale green of his home’s marshlands. Kell’s legs curve at the knee and ankle much like a dog’s hind legs. Three long digits with sharp, obsidian razor-like claws stretch from his hands (and his feet too). The inside of his mouth is lined with rows of jagged teeth capable of shredding flesh to the bone. There is a noticeable lack of scars on his flesh due to his genetic ability to heal cleanly; the only marking on his flesh are the symbolic tattoos over his eyes that look like war paint. If he’s in battle, Kell traditionally dresses himself with hand-made armor crafted from the bones or carapace of a monster he slew back on his home planet. If he’s off the ship traversing seedy, creep-infested territory, Kell totes around a bulky heavy repeating blaster on his back. On ship during more relaxing moments Kell wears nothing more than leg-fitting trousers, and the occasional sandals, he’s fascinated by the things. Lastly, his right arm from the elbow to his hand is completely mechanical. Kell can be often seen having in depth conversations with his arm, and his arm can be quite sassy during battles of wit.
Homeworld: Kell stemmed from the jungles of Zharysk and its plentiful swampy marshlands. In a strange stroke of fortune, Zharysk has evaded control at the hands of the Crux Tenebre and the Arc Luminous. Scholars suggest that there’s no reason to intervene with a planet with a nearly non-stop history of clan infighting and bloodshed. However, others note that over time Zharysk indeed created a massive industrial city within the heart of the planet’s central jungle which ultimately leaded to advancement of the war tribes and recruitment of select warriors to command the capital’s formidable military. Political forces are intrigued by two things of Zharyks, one is the attractive skillset of the av-de-Bladet and their capabilities of laying waste to large forces of men despite low odds of success. The other is their strange magic. After all, one wise scholar elaborated that any intelligent leader should be apprehensive about invading Zharysk due to historical records detailing advanced warships being decimated by Cronus-manufactured war beasts. Currently, Cronus is in a state of flux between continuous advancement and the tenuous alliance between av-de-Gronne leadership and the thirst for conquest of the av-de-Bladet.
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Role: An absolutely trustworthy and consistently sober pilot.
Skills: Being born within the corpse-laden confines of a world that consistently played out the concept of survival of the fittest, it goes without saying that Kell has innate physical fighting skill. He’s a nasty opponent to spar with hand-to-hand or with a weapon, although he’s not masterful in either. He hopes one of the more battle-trained members of the crew will take care of fighting, and if he has to, it’s preferable to shoot holes in a man than get up close.
Kell’s primary talent is piloting ships. When he was young, he showed prodigious skill when he was taught to ‘take control’ of native animals by tapping into their bones. Rather than be wasted as a fish-farmer, Kell was taught how to pilot fighters and other space-faring ships. Not only does he have a firm command of the cockpit, but his link with the ‘spirit of the machine’ makes Kell a uniquely qualified pilot that operates ships on a level most others cannot.
Blood FocusDrinking the blood of another intensifies his senses, strength, and reflexes. If over-used, he can enter the preferred alternative amongst the warrior class known as the ‘blood rage’ where he becomes a threat to everyone in the immediate vicinity.
Bone ReaderThe ability at the heart of the av-de-Gronne’s strength. ‘Bone’ is a figurative term applied to their uncanny connection to the fabric of structures whether they’re naturally made trees, or constructions such as ships, and buildings. A bone reader can touch the surface of a structure and sense the matter and life within. He can then connect with it to make it an efficiently operating being revolving around the reader’s mind merged with the ‘spirit’ of the machine. This is how Cronus war beast fleets are piloted to immense success.
World BringerThe reason for Kell’s tattoos over his eyes. He was given the title of ‘World Bringer’ by his people due to a rarely passed down ability to ‘see things’ when he consumes another person’s blood. He can share that vision with the person whose blood he’s taken in a shared lucid dream-like place. If he drinks his own blood, Kell’d be transported within himself. Few things are written of this ability. Some believe he can traverse dimensions, or at least, open up a channel with the gods. This is not a confirmed theory.
Unusual Mechanical ArmOnce, Kell’s arm got chopped off in the middle of a tribal war. He lived with the unfortunate condition for quite some time until someone close to him created a mechanical arm. This was no simple piece of equipment. In truth, the arm holds a sort of sentient A.I. The “A.I.” in question is the spirit energy of an animal from his planet. Each year that goes by, the spirit grows as well. Currently, Kell’s talking arm-companion is a mouthy, bratty teenaged girl. Her name is Momo.
History: To his great misfortune, Kell was born as a mixed breed between his race’s two special lines. Dara’vonna “Dara” Krenna and Vicondius “Vic” Valkaren granted him his cursed place in the world. Dara was an av-de-Gronne, and Vic was an esteemed av-de-Bladet. Kell’s parents defied Cronus social norms by interbreeding, caring not for what outsiders thought of their relationship even if it made them exiles in their own home. Because of their decision, Kell grew up as an outsider amongst his own people. The clans did not see him fit to fight along their side, and the Cronus city-makers spurned him for his assuredly lacking genetic predisposition toward intelligence. Fortunately for Kell, the grand city Argoralis of Zharysk was a home where he had a sliver of a chance; and he seized it.
Throughout his childhood, Kell’s parents shared with him the key points of their culture. Vic taught him how to fight and how to take a beating with honor, but surprisingly enough Vic also instilled a sense of restraint, which is an attribute fairly rare amongst the av-de-Bladet warriors. Dara shared the magical knowledge of the av-de-Gronne, most notably bone reading. It was then, as a child of eight years that Kell displayed unusual skill within the realm of controlling beasts. With a lack of friends, it was only natural for Kell to isolate himself away from both city and clans, seeking the solace of the jungle where he could speak to the creatures dwelling there.
Kell’s prodigy-like skills captured the imaginations of ambitious city council members and those same Cronus leaders funded his education as a ‘bone rider’. A bone rider is what the Cronus consider a pilot, an individual capable of operating the legendary sentient beast-machines that are at the forefront of Cronus war fleets. Kell had hoped he would pilot one of these machines to his own freedom. Instead, he was used as a tool to keep rebellious clans in line. From the age of seventeen to twenty-five, Kell had a hand in several bloody conflicts where he consistently saw his species tearing each other apart. Due to numerous successes and a shared sense of humor with the beast-machine he’d named “Old Boy”, the soldiers under Kell’s command grew to respect him; he had transcended past the limitations of his mixed heritage.
But, there were only so many times Kell could fight or continue watching futile clan wars lay waste to his home world. One day, with a few of his closest friends, Kell and Old Boy deserted from the Cronus military and traversed space. Exploring new worlds and meeting different races became an exceedingly fun and interesting life. Kell was finally free.
His explorations developed focused interests regarding footwear (specifically sandals) and musical tastes, especially those discovered by humans and humanoids. The good times could not last forever, sadly. Old Boy died after suffering severe scars during a space battle with pirates, and upon that moment Kell and his band separated.
Several years later, there were plenty of rumors about a repeatedly drunken Cronus who frequented multiple cantinas and completed smuggling contracts with superior success to sober and flight-school trained pilots. Somehow, some way, Kell ended up on the Nova Dawn. When a man’s got an ancient ship with a lot of secrets, it’s not a bad idea to acquire a pilot with a history of handling odd ships using his particular skill set. Kell had nothing better to do, and the intrigue behind a ship like Nova Dawn compelled him to agree.
Personality: One might expect a Cronus to spout off ideals about a warrior’s honor and a strict allegiance to the code of war. Instead, he’s a cynical, shit-talking smartass with a penchant for making strange, playful, or sarcastic comments. Kell’s the kind of guy anyone can sit back and have a beer with but still somehow end up not knowing much about him personally, outside of a few surely embellished war stories. Drunken Kell is particularly open minded and liberal with his words. He's about the 'vibe' and 'free flowing' wherever the universe decides to take him.
Other: - Dubbed his heavy repeating blaster ‘Big Sexy’.
- Watches Soap Operas avidly whilst piloting.
- Keeps a locked chest full of bones and blood vials.
- Has odd taste in music (especially human-made music) incongruous to his appearance.
- Owns a pair of neon green sandals
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Kell