A slim and lithe youth, Elijah bears the fit and athletic frame typical of a hunter, and is rather dexterous and nimble. Standing in at 5'11", Elijah stands at a an average height, neither tall nor short, with plenty of room to grow. His golden blonde hair gives contrast to his deep gray eyes, though his hair is usually dull in sheen and somewhat dirty due to the hours spent outdoors. His dusty hair and calm gray eyes give off the sense of both youth as well as knowledge in a striking, but relaxing effect. It can be noticed that he rarely smiles, but it doesn't necessarily mean his face is in a perpetual frown.
Name: Elijah Wilder.
Age: 18
Personality:
Warm and down to earth, Elijah is a modest young man with a strong sense of morality and justice. This level headed hunter tries his best to stay brave and rational in the face of hardship and adversity, and is quickly able to adapt to changing circumstances. He thinks quickly on his feet, and has an innate curiosity, but can be rather aloof at times. As the son of a hunter, and a hunter himself, the ideals of patience and calmness have long since been ingrained in his psyche, and Elijah is rather slow to anger and drastic action. Honest and trustworthy, Elijah is compassionate and kind, if a little pragmatic and soft-spoken. Loyal to a fault, Elijah is more than willing to risk himself for the sake of others, and goes to great lengths to defend his loved ones. A very relaxed and grounded individual, Elijah's calm and generally positive demeanor, bolsters the spirits of those around him.
Backstory:
Born the only son of a runaway Varyan noblewoman, baby Elijah and his near-death mother were found in a creek inside a forest nearby the village of Aven, by a monster hunter named Erik Wilder. Taking the dying woman and her baby son back to his home on the outskirts of the village, Erik Wilder, with the help of some other villagers nursed the woman and her child back to health from their malnourished, near death state. Unaware of the woman's status as a noblewoman, Erik Wilder offered to let the woman and her child stay with him in his home and provided for them. With his help, the woman resolved to name her son 'Elijah'. The woman and the hunter were married a year later.
As a child, Elijah lived a relatively normal life. Though not particularly talkative, he was rather adventurous and easygoing and as a result, made friends relatively easily. He was particularly known for roaming around with a small group of young boys and girls around the village and causing mischief wherever they went. From stealing off into the woods past curfew, to playing tricks on the old villagers, the group were dastardly and beloved all at the same time. The fact that it was revealed at this time that Elijah had magical potential only served to make the mischief making even more intense, as the pranks slowly began to involve bright flashes of light the occasional spark. The group was fondly known as the 'Little Ones', by their elders and parents.
Noticing that his stepson had a mischievous streak, and a knack for doing things he shouldn't, Erik decided to take Elijah's curious and adventurous spirit and put it to good use. At age, 12, Elijah began following his step father into the forest to begin learning the arts of hunting. At a young age, Elijah proved to be exceptionally sharp and bright, capable of hitting targets at distances comparable to an archer several years older than him. However, his father noticed that Elijah was impatient and moved around too much, which often led to him scaring away game that the father and son came across.
His father began to teach him the virtues of patience and calmness, teaching him how to play music in an effort to drive the importance of balance and steadiness were in the line of work that was the hunter's path. Slowly but surely adopting the principles of a hunter, Elijah's troublesome and mischievous tendencies melted behind that of a calm, and patient young man. He easily learned and reaped the benefits of being patient, able to hunt, and collect, and fend for himself in the wild. As he grew older and more capable, Elijah's father began taking him deeper into the woods to hunt more dangerous creatures- monsters and the like. Here, he began learning the importance of thinking fast, as well as level-headedly, especially when dealing with beasts and monsters stronger, and faster than a human. Elijah learned when to trade the bow for the blade, and where to strike creatures to disable and defeat them, as well as how to use his limited control over magic to his advantage.
Upon turning 18, Elijah's instruction in the ways of hunting monsters and beasts have been cut short by the war, his father being brought into Edessa's forces to fight off the invading Varyans, and himself being sent northward with the refugee caravans.
Skills and Abilities:
- Professional Marksmanship- As a hunter, and the son of a hunter, Elijah has received considerable instruction with the bow. He is capable of hitting moving targets, as well as firing from horseback, and while he has shot at animals and monsters alike, he has yet to shoot at a human being.
- Journeyman Tracking- with his keen eyesight, Elijah is capable of locating and tracking down creatures through deductive skills and clues.
- Journeyman swordsmanship- When hunting advances from deer, elk, and other game to more monstrous creatures, there are times when the bow is no longer a viable form hunting. His father has instructed him in the use of the sword, teaching him how to redirect, and dodge out of the way of oncoming blows, as well as where to hit to debilitate and quickly disable monsters. While many of these techniques also transfer to swordplay against other human beings, the vast majority of Elijah's experience revolves around fighting creatures.
- Novice Magic- Alongside more martial skills, Elijah has also shown the propensity towards magic. Not particularly experienced with its use, having never had a teacher or mentor, Elijah is nevertheless capable of basic feats of magic. His most commonly used abilities include a burst of fire and light at the palm of his hand, useful for blinding or scaring light sensitive monsters and creatures.
- Journeyman Horseback Riding- A fairly practical skill, Elijah is knowledgeable on how to ride a horse through less than desirable conditions and take care of a horse.
- Journeyman Huntscraft- Elijah is decently well versed in the various trade skills of a hunter. Carving and skinning animals, basic fletchery skills, bow and equipment care and the like are all things Elijah is capable of, though not amazing at.
- Novice flute playing - though the way of the arts, poetry, and writing are often emphasized amongst members of the upper classes, music is almost universally appreciated throughout Edessa. Elijah was taught how to play the flute by his father in order to teach him how to remain calm and patient.
Equipment:
- Father's Sword, Worn. - An old sword used by Elijah's father. Though it is worn and has seen its fair share of use, it remains a balanced and capable weapon nonetheless. It is a plain arming sword with a decently hefty blade, nimble, yet sturdy enough to use against monsters. While it is light enough to be wielded in one hand, its hilt allows it to be used in two.
- Recurve Bow, Ironwood. - a bow made by Elijah's father for Elijah when he turned 18. It is a sturdy, tough bow made from Ironwood, and requires more strength to draw than a similar sized bow made of typical wood, delivers considerably more power and speed behind each arrow.
- Ironwood Quiver and Arrows. - A leather wrapped quiver made of ironwood, that holds a score of of steel tipped ironwood arrows.
- Roark, Horse. - A well bred brown horse named Roark ridden by Elijah. His sides have and back have been laden with saddlebags to carry the rest of Elijah's stuff.
- Roark's saddlebags contain: A of leather waterskin, a small pouch with money, a tinderbox, a small hatchet for wood gathering, a hunting knife, and whetstone, fletching for 20 arrows, and a dozen spare ironwood arrow shafts, a spool of fine thread and needle, a roll of clean cloth and bottle of spirits for cleaning and treating wounds, a pouch of herbal ointment, a few days worth of dry provisions for Elijah as well as his horse. Behind the saddle is a blanket and spare clothes are wrapped in a roll of canvas.
Name: Galahad Quaid
Age: 18
Personality:
Quiet and reserved, Galahad is a relatively soft spoken individual. His calm and collected demeanor is often mistaken for an uncaring and aloof disposition. Underneath his quiet persona lies an innate brilliance, a highly intuitive and calculative mind. Highly logical and orderly, Galahad shows visible disdain towards the use of trickery and subterfuge but recognizes it's usefulness in strategy. Efficient and analytical, but often accused of lacking outward compassion, Galahad is a competent tactician boasting considerable knowledge of theory, though lacking in experience. Strong willed and possessing an air of determination, Galahad is highly critical and will rarely hesitate to call others out on their shortcomings, often leading to him butting heads with others. Like many high-status nobles, Galahad can at times be arrogant and overly prideful.
Background:
A child prodigy from the capital city of Edessa, Galahad is the only son of General Ephraim Quaid; a prominent leader of the Edessan military, and the King's right hand. Galahad's childhood was strict and rigid, and from a young age, he was subjected to a heavily controlled regimine consisting of private lessons, tutors, fencing lessons, and statescraft among other things. As prideful as he was intelligent, Galahad and his father often butted heads while growing up, continuing even through his adolescence. Upon reaching adolescence it became revealed that Galahad was capable of controlling magic. In fact, he had an incredible mastery over magic not seen in many mages twice his age. Taking private lessons from his father - another talented mage, Galahad quickly underwent training to master his full potential.
Proving himself to be an extremely talented mage, Galahad's father had him enrolled in Edessa's Military Academy, where his natural intelligence, and mastery over various skills propelled him to the top of his class. Revealing himself to be a capable warrior, as well as tactician, Galahad's promise outshone many of those at the academy, and his at times arrogant attitude gained him as many admirers as it did enemies. Galahad was offered positions in several Knighthoods, including the prestigious Knighthood of Blades, the esteemed Knights of the Lexicon, and the mage-exclusive Knights Arcana.
It was during Galahad's last year in the academy when the Varyan Empire began their invasion of Edessa. While Galahad was eager to join the fight, like many of his classmates, his father insisted that he continue and finish his education before joining the war effort- they needed more strategists than they did foot soldiers, his father had claimed. Reluctantly pouring himself into his studies, Galahad continued his work at the academy, hoping to quickly graduate in time to aid his country's weakening army. However, eventually, the war reached the heartlands of Edessa, and his father sent him away, up north to Ardel. Tasked with protecting the heir- and future of their nation, Galahad reluctantly left his country behind, and began his trek north.
Skills:
A child of nobility and the son of a general, Galahad is talented in a wide berth of skills. From statecraft to strategy, Galahad has been educated in diplomacy and military tactics. A trained swordsman due to private lessons throughout his childhood, as well as the Edessan Military Academy, Galahad is a capable fighter, as well as tactician. With his natural affinity with the magic, Galahad is widely regarded as an extremely talented mage for his age. Capable of throwing bolts of energy from his hands, as well relieving the injured of ailments, a testament to his mastery over magic is his ability to create and maintain a solid blade of energy around a focus.
- Professional Swordsmanship - A top student at Edessa's prestigious Military Academy, as well as trained from a young age, Galahad, while lacking in true battlefield experience- having only fought in an occasional skirmish, has been trained extensively in fencing and bladesmanship, and has at times been able to best several of his instructors in combat.
- Adept Magecraft - A mage of considerable note, Galahad has a natural natural affinity with the world's magic. Capable of throwing bolts of energy from his hands, and relieving the injured, a testament to his mastery over magic is his ability to create and maintain a solid blade of energy around a focus.
- Professional Strategist - A child prodigy, an heir to nobility, the son of a general, and a skilled student of a prestigious military academy, Galahad is well educated in diplomacy and military tactics.
- Journeyman Riding - Rare is the nobleman not educated in horseback riding. While not proficient in combat from horseback, Galahad is a capable rider.
- Journeyman Statescraft - While educated in statescraft and policy making as a child and through his time at the military academy, it is clear that statescraft was not one of Galahad's focuses.
Equipment:
- Galahad's Coat - A battlecoat often worn by top ranking Academy students. These coats are often a sign of status in Edessan military units. Several Knight Houses also give their own personalized coats to prospective members. These coats are crafted by the finest magesmiths and are made of the finest leathers and lined with mithril thread, making it resistant to magic. Galahad's Coat is from the Knights Arcana and is warded to provide him further protection from physical impacts, dulling blows on contact.
- Einherjar - An ornate, ivory sword hilt with a short crystalline blade. Galahad uses this sword hilt as a focus for his magecraft abilities. The most common application of Galahad's magecraft abilities are made manifest in the sword blade he conjours. The blade, while quite wide, is made of pure mana, and is therefore nearly weightless. The blade is capable of cutting through weaker materials with ease. The hilt features a magic crystal in its pommel and serves as a reservoir of extra energy when needed.
- Terrence, Horse - A calm, but powerful warhorse. Terrence has magically warded leather barding, and carries the vast amount of Galahad's possessions in his saddlebags.
