“There are thousands of adventures in this world waiting to happen.
I say, bring them all on!”
Full Name: Zaris Ellazar Hollowmire
Pronunciation: ZAR-iss / EL-uh-zar / HALL-oh-MY-er
Nickname: If Zaris is really too long for you, try Zair. Though, a couple of his friends enjoy calling him Cat or Monkey every now and again.
Age: 17
World: Htrea
Race: Elementum. Of unusual talent. While your typical elemental takes only the form of the element it is born into, putting them along the lines of an elemental spirit, an elementum is basically an elemental in a human-like body. An elementum is believed to be the outcome of an elemental mating with a human with magic, but that is simply the story everyone has come to believe, and not to be taken as truth. They are a race that has been around in Htrea as long as werewolves, both appearing in this dimension around nearly the same time. They can typically only control and master one element, two if they are lucky or exceptionally powerful, and, in their prime, can even take the form of the element itself. While others in Htrea or even on Earth are capable of controlling elements, nigh no one can override an elementum’s control over their element(s), save for a stronger elementum or elemental. Sadly, around when Zaris was found by his adoptive family, this race was, as far as anyone knows, hunted to extinction.
Appearance: Zaris is a rather handsome boy—at least, he certainly things so. He has rather unruly, silvery hair that falls just below his ears at the front and slightly caresses his neck toward the back. It always sticking up at odd, untamable angles, even when he actually tries to keep it in check. Like his hair, his eyes, too, are silver. It is a trait of the common elementum is for their hair and eyes to match their element, but since Zaris controls multiple, his hair and eyes both change color to match the element he is currently using (list of colors to elements below). Having relied heavily on his magic for as long as he could control it, he has an average build more lean than muscular. He currently stands at 5’8,” but his mother claims he still has a fair amount of growing left to do. He almost always wears a carefree expression and has a slightly squared chin. As is a trait of his race, he is fairly fair skinned, considering how often he works outdoors and basks in the warmth of the sun. No matter how hard he tries, he just will not retain a tan for very long.
Distinguishing Marks: He has a scar above his right eyebrow from one of his misadventures with friends. Four faint lines from old claw marks run down his left arm from shoulder to the underside of his wrist. They would occasionally ache when he was a child, but it has not done so for many years. At least, until recently.
Clothes Wear: Caring little to be weighed down by a lot of garb, he usually keeps things simple, favoring clothes that are easy to maneuver in. He usually wears a pair of good, hefty boots since he never knows what kind of jobs or errands he will undertake for the day, and has a belt with a pouch and a few loops to fit various tools or weapons. He also favors loose shirts or going shirtless in the warmer months but does have winter clothes stored away for that season. Which he gladly uses.
Magic Abilities: Unlike the common elementum who could only connect with one or two elements, Zaris has found that he has power over all the basic elements: fire, water, earth, air, light, and darkness/shadows. He is strongest in darkness/shadows, air, and fire. He is currently capable of mimicry with only the first mentioned of his strengths, much to his surprise, since his personality matches the element of air better. Though, he has the feeling that that will change soon, and practices with all of them any chance he gets.
Magic Weaknesses: 1. If he is not careful, his powers will act of their own accord with his emotions. He still has trouble to this day keeping them fully reigned in. 2. If he gives in completely to the element, while it will make him more powerful, the element can and will control him instead of the other way around, which can pose a danger not only to himself, but everyone and everything around him. If he were to give in, the only way to regain control is for his mental willpower to be stronger than the element’s. If he cannot regain this control, there is the chance he could completely lose himself to the will of the elements. 3. In a lesser form of the above, if he uses any of the elements for extended periods of time without either changing which one he uses or ceasing their use, his personality shifts slightly toward the strongest characteristics of that element. 4. Unlike normal elementals who feed on magic and the energy of their element and with having a human body, using his powers to any extreme extent ultimately feeds on the energy of his body, making him hungry. If he does not replenish himself when he needs it, he could end up passing out, or worse. Though the strength of his powers do not dwindle with the rising of his hunger, the more he uses his powers on an empty stomach, the weaker he gets physically. Simple, daily usage of his powers does not take as large of a toll on him as extended or extreme use, and the more he uses them, the more the elements and his body adjust to each other. In short, the more he practices, the less frequently they’ll drain him. 5. While using one of the elements, if he is attacked by the opposite, it is possible for it to temporarily "short out" his ability over that element. For example, if he is using fire and someone with a stronger hold over water than he over fire attacks, it "short circuits" him in that element if he does not drop his hold over it in time.
Physical/Other Abilities: He is extremely agile and nimble and can be scary quiet and sneaky when he wants to be. He is also a good pick-pocket, though he will not own up to that fact in front of anyone, and only does it out of fun, not to actually steal anything.
Physical/Other Weaknesses: Strength. Despite growing up in a largely farming community, he has relied enough on his powers enough to not have built all that much muscle. He also can’t tell a good lie to save his life.
Weapons: He prefers to use his powers in the rare occasions when he has needed a weapon. However, he does have his late father’s hefty, single-handed flammard, and a pair of crescent moon knives
Personality: Ask anyone in his village—except, perhaps, his mother—and they will tell you that Zaris has little sense of duty and is extremely obnoxious. Though he still frequently helps out around his village, he would much rather be out spending time with friends or wreaking havoc. He is laid back, and enjoys taking his sweet time with things. He is a playful, trickster sort, and loves causing trouble for the elders in his village, as well as tormenting his fellow classmates and friends. Despite that, he is thought rather highly of among (most of) his group of friends, and is the leader of his little band of mischievous misfits. He is also extremely expressive, his emotions easily displayed on his face.
Major Positive Traits: Care-free. Playful. Willing to help out, even when he doesn’t want to. Caring, especially with friends and family.
Major Negative Traits: Little sense of duty. Almost never hurried. A bit too trusting. A troublemaker and prankster. Often does not think through what he says or does.
Ticks and Tags: Ticks: The quiet pains him, so he often hums or sings a little “do da do” song, normally and intentionally off-key if an actual song. He also has the habit of tapping his foot, and paces on various occasions. Tags: Has trouble sitting still, so is always moving. He likes to call girls (especially those he finds pretty) “doll” or “dollface,” and has an easygoing way of speaking and holding himself. Uses a lot of contractions (eg. Watchya, gotchya, gotta, etc)
Fears: Large dogs, especially wolves. He has no idea where it came from, but suspects it has something to do with the mysterious claw marks on his arm.
Family (Adoptive):
Mother: Kraya Palwater. Magicaster. Village Healer. Likes layered skirts and has dirty blond hair she often keeps up in a bun.
Father (Deceased): Cedric Palwater. Warrior. Died when Zaris was 13.
Mysterious Possession: An amulet that he has had for as long as he can remember. There is something about it that keeps him from getting rid of it, and that compels him to keep it on his person at all times. He only leaves it at home when he thinks there’s a chance of losing it. Otherwise, when he does not feel like wearing it around his neck, it hangs from his belt or is shoved away in a pocket. It is a small, wavy rectangle about three inches long that flares out at the end. The center of it has a narrow strip of flattened blue stone, while the rest is a tarnished silver engraved with swirling lines Zaris has always enjoyed pretending are some type of ancient runes. He occasionally even uses it to scare some of the grumpy, elderly people in his village who are overly superstitious.
Other: He has a rather odd affection for cats. Whenever he sees them, he is always filled with a warmth and joy he cannot explain, and even respects the animals. Which his friends love to make fun of every now and again.
Short Bio: Zaris can remember nothing of his life before he was around the age of six. On an abnormally dark fall night, the emaciated child, his arm bleeding from gashes made by the claws of a large beast, stumbled on the doorstep of a young couple in a small village. There, he collapsed, too weary to go on.
The couple, Cedric and Kraya, took him in and nursed him back to health. His arm had been in bad shape, the boy lucky to have not ultimately lost it entirely. With Kraya a skilled healer, she was capable of healing the worst of the damage, leaving only a few scars in the place of the wounds. To this day, his once injured arm has, upon very rare and seemingly random occasions, throbbed with a faint, dull ache, though it has always only lasted a couple seconds.
The boy said little for the first couple weeks after his recovery, giving only his name, which, as the couple soon found out, was all he remembered of what had happened before he showed up on their doorstep. His name, and that he was an elementum.
Though the young couple tried, they could not find the boy’s parents, so, after meeting with the Council of Elders, they took him in to raise him as their own. Incapable of having children of their own, the couple always looked at him arriving at their doorstep as a blessing.
Zaris showed a great skill in his abilities even at a young age, though he had difficulties fully controlling them. Over the years—and many fires, miniature floods, and other property destruction later—he has since been capable of maintaining a good amount of control.
Because of his overall personality, he quickly made many friends and quite a few enemies around the town, but always proved himself useful with his powers over the elements, using them to help people around the small village his adoptive parents called home.
He lived quite happily with Cedric and Kraya. With Cedric a warrior in the village, and Kraya a magicaster, he learned a few skills from each, though he often failed miserably at Kraya’s trade. A short while before he turned thirteen, Cedric died in a freak riding accident, leaving only him and Kraya.
For the next four years, Zaris did what he could to help pick up the slack left in Cedric’s absence, but still often found himself avoiding chores as much as possible. He schooled alongside the other children of the village, starting his own little group of boys and girls around his age who just did not seem to quite fit in, or at least had a similar mindset.
He was happy, if not a bit bored with village life, but the peacefulness of the place was certainly one to be envied, especially with the insanity that had befallen Htrea as of late. At least, until the one fateful day that would change his life forever.
