♦ The Noble Art of the Duel
♦ A Classical Education
♦ Command and Management

♦ Duelling Pistol — An ornate pistol, designed for maximum accuracy and flashiness at the cost of reload speed.
♦ Family Sword — A family heirloom, this sword has seen many a combat and hangs heavy at Godomar's side.
♦ Spyglass — Using plates of glass, this tube allows for the magnification of far off sights.

Deimos of Tijan

25

Nonbinary (they/them)

Tijan - A small island located close to The Ichiren Dynasty, Tijan is mainly dominated by the large temple that covers nearly every surface of the rocky land. The people who live here are most likely monks or scholars, living out their lives as peacefully as they can muster. Tijan holds a massive library full of found texts and scrolls and essays written by the scholars who make their homes here and many empty rooms which the monks use to house sickly or poor people if they are in need.

Outfit

Baby-faced, short, and lean, Deimos could very easily pass for child upon first glance. Cursed with an extremely youthful expression and limbs that rarely act according to their whim, Deimos is as awkward physically as they are verbally. Standing a mere 5'4" and weighing just over one hundred and ten pounds, they are far from a threatening silhouette and seem to be fully aware of that. Deimos is rather attractive, however, even if they are not entirely aware of it. Vanity is not a virtue after all, and as such Deimos often does not spend too much time worrying or fussing over their appearance.

Tan skin contrasts vividly with Deimos' thick blonde hair which, despite constant badgering from the monks back home, they now refuse to shave. Their eyebrows are thick and dark, often turning upwards with anxiety, and their eyes give off a friendly light when they happen to be in a good mood. Pale green eyes star up at the sky and the stars when and glitter with curiosity when they think one one could possibly be looking. Deimos was happily blessed with an angular and androgynous face, and thanks to this they were able to go about day to day without having to worry about being misgendered. With a sharp, curved nose, full lips, and cheeks full of dark freckles, Deimos holds a relative attractiveness that definitely is not enough to turn heads.

Dressed in the usual modest outfit most monks seem to wear, Deimos is not exactly the most fashion forward person on the ship. They do not entirely understand the thralls of dressing fancily and find that suits and silks are rather lackluster, especially if they get in the way of working. Beneath their tattered outfits Deimos has fields of stars and monk symbols tattooed across their body, and sometimes, on particularly hot days, they will remove their sleeves and these odd markings will be visible to the world.

Bumbling is the best way to describe someone like Deimos of Tijan. They were born into their awkwardness, raised by monks who shared their quiet and soft demeanor, and thrust into a world that was suddenly so much bigger than they expected, so of course they had to be a bit bumbling. Deimos always seemed to cling to the library when they were younger, craving the knowledge that the words held rather then companionship like many other monk children. Thanks to this, they have plenty of book smarts but fall flat when it comes to social situations. They often get anxiety from being in crowds or in tense situations, and have been known to hyperventilate when too panicked.

Despite their social anxiety, though, Deimos is a calm and gentle soul. They have taken a vow of pacifism and will never start a fight if they can help it. Of course, they will not hesitate to protect others or themself when presented with a dangerous scene, but in they end Deimos is strongly against causing harm to any living thing. To the people they have grown to known Deimos is an angel, treating them with the utmost respect and serenity they too would love to receive. Deimos believes strongly in karma, and as such acts according to what they wish to have in return. Because of this ideology, whenever Deimos makes a friend they work their hardest to make sure that person is as happy and content as can be.

Deimos is, of course, a book worm. They do not border on the term 'nerd', oh no, they are the term. Never has their been a better word to describe someone as bookish and meek as Deimos. They rely heavily on the well of knowledge that obtained from countless hours of studying and learning from the best scholars back home. This heavy leaning on their own intelligence, however, makes them a bit prickly when someone attempts to question Deimos' reasoning. Even the slightest insult to the cartographer's intelligence can put them in a bad mood, and while they are rarely angry Deimos does get depression or downtrodden rather easily.

In the end, Deimos is a soft and gentle soul that possesses an enormous amount of awkwardness. Where they fail in social situations they make up for in general intelligence and a thirst for adventure. Their curiosity rivals that of a hunting cat, and even if they are sure to tip toe around stressful issues once something of note pops up Deimos is always ready to learn more about it. Deimos rarely acts out with their emotions, and always seems to plan their steps a head of time before leaping into action. When not furiously documenting where they have been and where they will probably go, Deimos can be found reading wherever there is light or meditating and praying to their God. They work hard to maintain relationships and to prove their worth to their fellow crew mates, and this journey will be full of firsts for them.

● Cartography and Star Mapping - Living with a monastery can get a bit boring sometimes, so Deimos decided to fill up their time by learning how to draw maps from the countless examples in the Tijan library. They are mostly self taught but have a fantastic sense of direction and enough knowledge on the subject to start from scratch. As for star mapping-- Deimos has always had an interest in constellation and has journals full of shapes and figures from the night sky. Both skills make them an extraordinary navigator.

● Herbal Knowledge - Thanks to growing up with a garden full of different leaves and flowers and monks who know how to use them, Deimos has picked up the ability to tell certain herbal plants apart from others. With this ability, they know how to use plants to make certain teas and pastes that could have powerful benefits. They can also tell when certain plants may be poisonous or dangerous to consume and actually have a few pouches of herbs on them for future use.

● Self-defense - Though well known to be a pacifist, Deimos was trained with their fellow monks in martial arts as a form of self defense and discipline. Their style derives from the act of using one's opponent's weight and power against them, and as such Deimos relies on speed and mental finesse rather then brute strength or direct hits.

● Strength - As their usual stature may dictate, Deimos isn't exactly the most strong person on the boat. They have spent so much time building up their mental prowess they they have completely lost the ability to lift anything heavier than a half-full keg of beer or a small pile of books and scrolls. Of course, their monk discipline made them at least a bit quicker than most, but in the end Deimos is completely unfit to be manning any of the heavy lifting around the ship.

● Sailing - Though Deimos had studied the mechanisms of every ship possible in the library, when it comes to actually being out on the open air they known nothing of what to do with the ship. Directions aside, they really do not know the magic in how to get the boat to turn nor how to unfurl and wrap up the sails if asked, and thanks to this they often shy away from doing boat-duties in favor of just charting out their path.

Twenty-four years ago, a child with dark skin and blonde hair was left at the doorstep of the Tijan Monastery-- a child that was born merely one year before. There were no parents accompanying this child, no pets or servants, and the only thing around the small crying bundle was a chain and a golden ring. This child was abandoned on a chilly Tijan night with nothing but the cooing songs of the gentle monks to sooth it and the blessing of an unknown God above to protect it.

Deimos' first memory was this: a dimly lit room, a blurred and concerned face, and a song. A song sung in a language they would not yet understand. A lullaby to calm the soul. Below them, in this memory, was an arm, holding them upright, and beside them was a chest keeping them warm. They had no clue who they were at this time, nor that they were abandoned and found and loved again instantly. This was their first memory and their first unknowable truth.

Deimos was brought into the monastery that night and instantly placed with a crowd of other children. If the tikes noticed the new comer's different hair and skin they said nothing about it, and Deimos was raised in a loving and practical environment as any other child. They were mentored by an older monk named Wangwei and the two grew close as Deimos slowly grew into their own as a scholarly type. Wangwei taught Deimos everything they know about their religion and their way of life, and was well known around to monastery for holding a rich love for philosophy and apothecary, that of which they also passed down onto Deimos. They learned to appreciate life and act according to their own wishes thanks to their mentor.

The happy days with Wangwei could not last forever, though. He was an older monk by the time Deimos was placed under his care, and when Deimos was about sixteen their mentor fell ill. Months passed with Wangwei bedridden, and Deimos, as loyal as ever, sat by their bedside and listened to the last teachings Wangwei had to offer. The night of his death was a mournful occasion for the whole monastery, but his life was celebrated for a week straight with wine and music afterwards. Deimos took part in the festivities only to keep their spirits up, but after the week of celebration ended they locked themselves away in the library to truly mourn their dead teacher.

Deimos studied every book in the library after that, sitting in the farthest corner for days on end just pouring each paragraph into their mind. They took a new found interest in plants and herbs thanks to Wangwei's influence and, slowly and carefully, began growing detached from the monks' hermit-like ways. They began to lose sleep and found their eyes drawn up to the stars mapped above the temple. They drew constellations from memory and mapped out the night sky one hundred different ways just to kill time. Their love for graphs and maps grew with each new scroll they discovered in the library, and soon they had hobbies that were more scholarly than monk-like. Training and meditation continued to play a big part in Deimos' life, but in the end they had begun to crave something outside the usual monotony they experienced.

And that 'something outside' came as a whisper that resonated through the temple halls. A monk, back from a pilgrimage, had heard tell of a grand voyage being planned and knew they were in need of a crew. Deimos devoured this gossip and instantly turned to the head council of the temple, pleading with them to allow them to use the boat as a means to obtain a spiritual journey. After days of pressing and pleading the monks gave in, and Deimos was suddenly thrust into a world that they did not entirely understand with a box full of scrolls and books and a dream to learn more than they possibly could know.

Deimos had nothing to offer but their brilliant mind and a curiosity that was deeper than most may realize. When they approached the person in charge of hiring for The North Wind's journey, Deimos laid their skills bare on the table. Hand drawn maps and star charts splayed across the table, and Deimos stared on with an unnatural flame of determination that seemed to cry 'look at me, look at me and see what I can do'. After a private interview and perhaps a whole hour of rambling map explanation, Deimos was hired as part of the crew of The North Wind, and they were finally getting the adventure they so craved.

Growing up in a monastery can only keep someone entertained for so long. Deimos, after fulfilling his duties as a youth for the monks and teachers of Tijan, sought to experience the world to its fullest. They asked if they could go out to see the world, and when that didn't work they turned and began calling their excursion on the airship a 'pilgrimage'. Once free of the monastery rules, Deimos was free to find all of the knowledge they fervently sought. Their ambitions lay in their endless curiosity and their thirst for adventure, and The North Wind seemed to be the key to their wishes.

● Scrolls x20 — Packed away in their large backpack, Deimos carries around countless scrolls full of old maps and star charts. Half of them are blank, however, ready to be use.

● Calligraphy Set — Ink (in various colors!) and at least a dozen paintbrushes used for map-making and, sometimes, calligraphy.

● Books x10 — Novels and textbooks and essays taken from the monastery. Deimos reads them on their down time or before bed.

● Prayer Beads — Normally tied around Deimos' left hand, these beads are a pale blue in color and give off a faint glow despite not holding any magical properties. They calm Deimos in the midst of anxiety and act as a focus for their nightly prayers.

● Silver Ring — A silver band which has just recently been able to fit around Deimos' finger. The inside of the ring is engraved with the name C. D'Aboville.

● Herbs — Plucked straight from the gardens of Tijan, Deimos has five pouches full of herbs that can be used for spicy teas, healing pastes, and other useful remedies.

♦ The Noble Art of the Duel
♦ A Classical Education
♦ Command and Management

♦ Duelling Pistol — An ornate pistol, designed for maximum accuracy and flashiness at the cost of reload speed.
♦ Family Sword — A family heirloom, this sword has seen many a combat and hangs heavy at Godomar's side.
♦ Spyglass — Using plates of glass, this tube allows for the magnification of far off sights.

"Lexington Vale, but most people call me Lex"

26

Male

Baleine

Lexington has a rough and weary sort of appearance, portraying someone who's matured well beyond his years. He has a tall and athletic build, standing at 6 feet and weighing in at around 175 pounds. He has long hair that he dyed blond everywhere except on the left side, which he shaved close to his skull. The next thing you'd notice would be his icy blue eyes that look like they've been cut from a rare stone. He has harsh eyebrows, a long thin nose, and stubble dotting his chin as well as above his full lips. Both of his ears are double pierced with hoops in all four holes. Lex will usually wear clothes that allow him to blend into the crowd, usually dark slacks and cotton shirts, nothing too special. He's never seen without his cane or the pistol that he keeps holstered at the hip. Lex walks with a distinct limp in his left leg.

Lexington is a charming, gentleman thief. People are usually caught up in his good looks, trustful smile, and witty humor until the next thing they know they're penniless. Behind his bright smile is a cunning and calculating swindler. Lex's one true love in life is money and he's got a fiendish knack for taking it from the unsuspecting. He doesn't view it as stealing, he sees it as a game, one that he cheats at and wins often.

Lex is smart in his own ways, he might not fully understand magic, or be an academic scholar, but he has his fair share of street-smarts. Above all, Lex knows how to adapt, how to survive. He knows how to lift money from people without them feeling a single tug, effortlessly able pick locks, and heists and scamming are a second nature to. You may like him, but don't trust him for a second, not unless you want to be robbed so fast that you won't even remember his face in the crowd. Lex is a negotiator, a smooth talker, always having something to say. Lying is a necessary skill, as well as a poker face, Lex has mastered both. Deception is his best friend, he'll do whatever it takes to get a job done.

Lexington is slow to trust, mostly because he's so untrustworthy himself. It takes time to become his friend, but if or when you do, you might as well be family. Even to those close to him he remains sort of an enigma, he tells very little about himself or his past. This is because he believes that information is power, sometimes even more powerful than money. If one thing is certain about Lex, is that he has a love for life. He finds finds even the mundane to be beautiful, but has a passion for anything that gets his adrenaline pumping and heart racing.

● Thievery - If you have it, Lex can probably take it from you. Deception and distractions are his best tools. He has quick hands and light fingers. These skills usually manifest when Lex is pickpocketing, lock-picking, scamming, etc.

● Fighting - Lex has been fighting since he was a little kid, always has, always will. He doesn't fight with the concept of honor, no, he does whatever it takes to win. Lex is well versed in sword fighting, and is a pretty good shot with his pistol. Most of the time, Lexington doesn't even use his hidden sword or pistol, preferring to just beat people with his cane. Having adapted an odd style of fighting on the streets, Lex aims for pressure points and weak spots, using speed and precision instead of strength and brute force.

● Adaptation - Lex, above all else, knows how to survive. He'll do whatever it takes to stay alive and well, usually without regard for others.

Lexington might have quick hands, but he's not quick on his feet... At the age of 10, Lex's leg was broken by a thug and it never healed quite right, leaving him with a distinct limp in his left leg. Which is why he's always seen with his cane. Though money is his motivation, it can also be used against him. His interests are easily swayed if the right sum is offered. Lexington's most frustrating flaw comes from not being formally educated. Everything he's ever learned has been taught by either pirates or by his own mistakes and studies. Sure, he's quite articulate and knows how to read and write enough to get him by, but in the limelight of a scholar, he pales in comparison.

The first lesson Lexington learned in life was that the slums of Baleine take kindly to no one. Lexington assumes that his father disappeared well before his mother gave birth his brother and himself, because he never met him. He figures his mother was ill during her pregnancy because unfortunately, she died during childbirth due to complications. Thankfully, the doctors were able to save Lex and his twin brother, Athas. With no parents or relatives willing to take them in, the brothers were thrown into the foster care system of Baleine. The twin's early years were a mix of different parents and trying to find a place called home. Since most of their caretakers never actually gave a shit, the brothers were forced to care for themselves at a young age. It started with dipping into distracted women's purses, and transformed into full-fledged pickpocketing.

Athas and Lexington were crime protégés by the time they were 8, while also getting into their fair share of trouble and scraps. It didn't matter how often they were knocked down, they found strength in each other and trudged on. Soon enough they fell into the gang life, though if Lex knew what was to come, he would have been scared straight to a life a purity. It all came crashing down on the young brothers when a heist went south. They were supposed to be robbing a house in the upper class district but they were ratted out by another member of their gang for cash. Lex and Athas were jumped before they could reach the target's house. Their opponents were members of a rival gang who wanted more territory in the slums. The thugs beat Lex senseless, breaking his leg in the process. The worst was what they did to Athas. They made Lexington watch as they slit his brother's throat. An image that haunts Lex every time he lays his head on a pillow or closes his eyes.

Too young, his brother was taken from him too young. The thugs took Lexington and sold him to a band of pirates for a hefty sum. Once again proving how powerful money was. Lex was put to work immediately, basically a slave for the next few years of his life. They'd send him out to steak for them, or they'd put him against other kids his age and have them fight for their entertainment.

At this point, Lex was used to going from one shitty situation to the next, so he did the only thing he could do, he adapted. And it worked, the gang of pirates who bought him, their leader saw something in Lex. Their boss, Maddox, ended up taking Lexington under his wing. Lex played along too, as if he could actually care for the man who kept him as a slave in a damn airship like a dog. Lexington escaped by stealing from one of the criminals on board. He lifted the man's pistol without him even knowing that Lex was there. The next thing anyone knew, their captain was being held at gun point by Lex, who was now a young adult. The crew begrudgingly released Lex, ashamed that they were bested by a young thief. Lex ended up on the streets once again, left to his own devices. Although this time around, Lexington decided that he would survive on his own terms. This was how the gentleman thief was created. Instead of brute force and fear, Lex preferred charisma and quick hands. He made sure he stole from the rich, and that he never hurt a soul. Lex prefers it better this way, he knows how to fight dirty, he's caused his fair share of blood, but he loved the rush of pulling of a heist without anyone knowing what hit them.

This is how Lex survived his early adult life. With his dirty money he was able to secure his first real home and didn't have to keep moving because gangs were no longer after him and he was rarely even seen performing a steal, let alone caught. It looked like this would be the rest of his life, carrying in surviving, just the thought left Lex feeling empty. His brother had aspired to be so much more, Athas had dreams of exploring, of living a life that didn't require him to steal to survive. Lexington adopted his brother's dream as his own, and when he heard about The North Wind's daring expedition, he realized that he had to join the conquest, for Athas. The only question that needed to be asked was how would he convince the Captain to let him aboard? It took some convincing and some trademark, Vale charisma, but he was able to create a valid arguement as to how he was needed on the ship. Lexington explained that not only he was willing to work however he was needed on the ship, but that he also had useful knowledge the crew might need. A lot of applicants had book-smarts and theoretical knowledge, but not many had the street-smarts Lex had. Lexington promised that The North Wind would probably be a target to pirates and thieves due to the nature of their expedition, he assumed that thieves like himself would want a piece of whatever the Ship came back with on their way home from the expedition. Lex was a servant to a band of pirates for many years in his youth, he knows how they work, their tactics and thinking. And the best way to not be robbed is to rob others before they have the opportunity to take what's yours. Lexington guaranteed that if he was aboard The North Wind, not a single item would be taken from the ship without him knowing.

Lexington is in search for treasure beyond imagination. He wants to explore the unknown in hopes of fulfilling his brother's dream. He hopes that he will return from the trip with enough money to justify not having to steal ever again. Lex is doing this to clean his conscious, to let go of the life that killed his brother, to live a life worth living.

● Cane - Lexington is always seen with this beautiful and deadly cane. He uses it to assist his walking and to fight when needed. Lex almost never uses the hidden blade, preferring to smack around his opposition instead of stabbing them.

● Flintlock Pistol - Lex knows not to bring a blade to a gun fight, so if the stakes are raised he will always fall back on his pistol to solve problems his cane can't. He keeps all the equipment and cleaning tools needed for it on his person.

● A gold ring - This ring is always found on Lexington's left hand, nestled on his middle finger. This is no ordinary ring though, if twisted in a precise way, a small, sharp blade will be opened. This has gotten Lex out of a couple unpleasant situations in which he was tied up.

● A lock picking set that Lex uses often, with these in his hands no lock is safe.

● A well drawn picture of a young boy that looks strikingly similar to Lexington is always kept on his person. He's often seen looking at it when he think's no one is watching.

Khun

Fifteen

Male

Gekkō

With below average height, pale white complexion, and a scrawny physique, Khun was quite the specimen and the envy of every male in the slums. His erratic, onyx-colored hair often is wrapped around and partially hidden by whatever piece of cloth he gets his hands on. However, what makes him a cut above the rest is his impeccable taste in fashion. Nothing said style like tattered, baggy mustard-colored pants that he wore for days on end. He usually paired this with stained, white sleeveless shirts or blouses. Khun's footwear of choice came in the form of his bare feet; nothing felt more comfortable, or at least that's what Khun keeps telling himself. Also, he only has one arm; no one really cares though.

Khun is a selfish guy, no need to hide it. Anyone growing up on the streets will tell you that the first lesson you learn is to trust no one and to look out only for yourself. Khun learned this the hard way and his curiosity didn't make it any easier. Let's just say that most of the life-threatening situations Khun gets himself into stems from his natural inquisitiveness. He enjoy the usual vices - drinking, gambling, women, and the rest. You only get one life, and the chance of it ending or turning for the worst the next minute is more likely than you think. However, this doesn't mean he's not a likable person. Especially if you bought him a meal or drink. Just don't expect him to go out of my way to have your back. Being realistic about these things is what he does best. Always trust a drunkard to drink, a murderer to kill, and a coward like Khun to run away with his tail between his legs.

For a child who was abandoned at birth, life in Gekkō wasn't all that bad. Experiencing the struggle it took to survive, in what was known to be the criminal capital of the Ichiren Dysnasty, definitely built character. As soon as Khun learned how to walk, the harsh reality of how cruel the world actually was, made its presence known him. Unfortunately for him, he just didn't know it yet. Cruelty had a name and it was to Khun's displeasure to have met him. Head of one of the many major syndicates in Gekkō, was a man who went by the name Shen. Who he exactly was and where he was from were of little value to a lowly slum rat like Khun. At the time, the only thing that mattered was that Shen, in exchange for Khun's services, provided him with what he needed to live; food, clothing, and a bed to sleep in. The relationship the two shared was strictly professional, but it only took a single mistake to make Khun realize how dangerous Shen actually was.

A figurine shattered on the floor, mishandled due to Khun's carelessness. What Shen asked for return, was an arm. He gave Khun the option of choosing which one he was going to give up. As expected, Khun chose neither and made a break for it. He woke up beaten, bruised, and bandaged up, with his left arm missing. He was lucky enough to have been saved by some good samaritans who had found him passed out in an alley, in a pool of his own blood. Khun had cheated death, but after that night, he was never the same again. Melancholy had settled as he spent most of his days aimlessly wandering the streets of Gekkō.

How he recovered from this slump in his life? Let's just say that it only took one night to make him want to live again. Actually, it took more than that. I believe there were several pints of ale and countless stories from a local from Taureau.



The morning was humid as usual in Gekkō. Khun took a sip from his gourd, some foul concoction brewed by the local boys that helped ease the numbing pain of their daily routines, and let out a heavy sigh. Though he took odd jobs all around the city in order to support his day by day lifestyle, cleaning Lord Hazad's manor was the one he found he took most often and hated the most. He often thought about stealing something from the Lord's lavish collection of foreign arts, but he knew getting caught would mean certain death for him. First and foremost, he was a coward, so he kept content with a sigh and a fit silent swearing, relegating the idea of stealing something and leaving the godforsaken town forever to his fantasies.

Even if he did muster up the courage and manage to accomplish it, where could he actually go? He had few friends, none outside of the city, and certainly none that dealt with the buying and selling of stolen art. He would be on the run for a day? A week? A month? Some uncertain but probably brief amount of time living in fear of being caught before actually being caught and punished horribly. It was a fool's dream.

"Feh. Can't believe this stupid painting could feed a someone for a lifetime..." Khun began his daily ritual of complaints before dusting the area around Lord Hazad's greatest treasure, an original work of the painter Giradelli. It took him about three heartbeats to realize that the painting was, in fact, missing and another three heartbeats to realized that he was truly and thoroughly fucked.

"Oh god. What do I do? The Lord will think I stole his stupid fucking shit painting. I'm so fucking dead, I am. Of course this would happen to me!" Khun frantically paced around the room trying to decided what to do next, because what was next was probably a painful death. He panicked further when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Was Hazad home already?

No, it wasn't him. The whispering voices that Kun was hearing were unfamiliar. These were probably the thieves that stole Hazad's treasure. Should he try to capture them to prove that he didn't steal the painting? No...they sounded dangerous and armed, and even if he could somehow subdue them, Hazad was likely to just execute him for good measure for even being involved. That left one option...

Through the tightest of corridors, trash-filled alleyways, and collapsing rooftops, Khun hastily made his way to the only person that he could seek out help from. Out of breath and panting, he found himself inside one of the most infamous taverns within the confines of Gekkō. The lack of rowdy cheers, lifeless bodies, and broken stools confirmed his assumptions. Surrounded by a drunken crowd, sharing another one of his grandeur tales of adventure, was an acquaintance of Khun.

Squirming through the sweat and ale doused patrons, Khun made his way towards his old friend. Stumbling in front of him while catching his breath, Khun flashed a smile and spoke before passing out. "Hey there, Zeph..."

To escape Lord Hazad's wrath; so basically avoiding death. What happens after that? Khun hasn't really gave it much thought yet. He'll worry about that when the time comes.