I'm back from my games. Sheet incoming.
Added: Are we pretty much starting fresh? No story continuation from the last iteration?
Added: Are we pretty much starting fresh? No story continuation from the last iteration?
- - - - (Personal Details)
First Name: Rem
Last Name: Vano
Age: 31
Sex: Male
Home Nation: Part-time resident of Hyznia and a less renowned Diver.
Appearance:
Rem stands at five feet and nine inches. He's a bronze-skinned man with the build of a field laborer and dark brown hair. He has a solid even plain looking face, squared jaw, large nose and amber colored eyes. His hair is scraggly, long and unkempt and he has a full beard that he shaves just enough to keep it from growing "wizardly". He wears a brown tunic and trousers and a dark green cloak made from thick fibers tightly woven together in layers. Animal fur is stitched into the fringes of his hood and cloak to keep the cold out in location that are particularly vicious. He wears well made boots that he has clearly had for a very long time judging by the wear and scruff on them.
Personality: Rem is devoted to his personal research and to the furthering of his mentor's goals. Despite not having a lot of interaction with strangers of late he seems to be rather friendly and helpful. It is very clear that he holds a great deal of information back from those he knows.
Despite the friendly facade Rem is often distant. Spending more meaningful moments with his animal companions and examining flora and fauna than that of comrades around. He treats his companions with the same respect owed to a close friend regardless of their primal and savage demeanor. His mind seems set on growing closer to the beasts and understanding the secrets of No Man's Land before they are ploughed underfoot overzealous settlers.
History:
Rem's story starts with a man named Haedrig. Haedrig was an old scholar Hyznia who looked into the No Man's Land for secrets of the old world, of a world he thought existed before men shut themselves off from the outside in fear. Secrets he often termed as Whispers. He was a particularly noble and honest man with colleagues and unlike many mages, kept the company of oft-thought savage beasts. Among the higher orders of Hyznia he was counted for a pariah. He was looked down upon for his studies of the wild they tried so hard to keep out of their homes and states, not simply because he studied them but because he desired to grow closer to them. What Haedrig truly considered himself was as a professor of the Arcane Whispers. The Whispers he was so absorbed with are the fine details of the makeup of the living world, not in the artificial creations of the arcane but the naturally formed creatures and phenomena that were out there. The miracles of birth that could naturally create its own arcane current in a tiny body all with the power of a just a woman and seed of man. These things weren't engineered or designed, there was greater purpose and Haedrig wanted to seek it to the finest detail.
Rem was among the few men who believed in Haedrig's theories. The truth rang out to him as clearly as a church bell in a village square. The truth he learned only made him more hungry to find more. Not for power or glory but to understand more than what he was taught by the philosophy of men lazing in a castle. Haedrig was old and he told of stories he had when he was younger. He himself was a diver to learn in the wild. When Rem spoke to the old man of his own desire to go into No Man's Land and continue Haedrig's work, the professor beamed with excitement but pulled him aside to give him an important lesson.
"Know you not why I have no pet or animal with me, Rem?" The elder asked him, eyes brimming with total kindness.
"I don't, sir. With how oft you speak of the beasts and their majesty I have wondered such a thing." Rem responded, wondering where Haedrig was leading this.
Haedrig lifted his sleeve and pulled off a glove from his right hand. Strapped to his hand were false fingers, the pointer and thumb being the only real ones. "A beast of No Man's Land is always a beast, Rem. You don't tame them. You may grow close to them, you may trust them but they are their own. They will only obey if they trust you, if they love you. Remember Rem, a beast will always be a beast." He flexed the only functioning fingers slightly before placing the glove back on.
Haedrig was a gifted teacher but politics of the arcane orders are harsh and unforgiving. He died in his bed as he lived, happy, but a pariah amongst the order. The higher mages discredited his theories and his works were left in the dust. So Rem, emboldened by a fervor to carry on the work, picked up Haedrig's research where he left it. To hell with the politics of the order. He was going to go deeper to the truth than any man. He would tap into the arcane lifestream and study the whispers of old before they were stamped out by the artificial force crammed into an area by the introduction of a fake arcane node. That was indeed part of the old master's work. He found that the introduction of a huge source of power imbalanced the stability of local wildlife and natural currents. Haedrig's theories only added frustration to the council.
----
After being summoned by the King of Hyznia with Master Sulfrax Lauchlin he was pulled into a building conflict he hoped he wouldn't regret.
Occupation: By definition Rem is a diver. Beyond that he is a personal researcher, explorer and cataloguer.
- - - - (Power Matrix)
Primary Focus: Arcane
Magical Capabilities:
Rem uses many archaic phrases in his spells to help him focus. Many think such methods are outdated to the speed of thought and motion but there is power in words.
Unro Boshoth - Causes the targeted rock, stone or dirt to become fine sand. Causes quicksand when used on an already loosened surface. This is a spell that fundamentally breaks down earthy surfaces. It has little to no effect on enchanted surfaces.
Unro Dagoon - Turns a patch of ground into thick, sticky mud that makes traversal difficult. A transmutation spell that is worthless in particularly dry climates without certain requirements met like underground water sources.
Ernal Finno - Manipulates the plants in a given area with their inherent arcane power to move quickly in order to obey the will of the user. Snaring, entangling, strangling, etc. With volume and duration come more strain on Rem. Releasing the spell on the plants will leave them in their current position without any further drain from the caster.
Read Beasts - A simple term for being able to perceive the intent and thoughts of something. In this case it is that of beasts, simple, carnal or otherwise. With this he can communicate to a certain degree that language doesn't allow and issue a command if the beast isn't inherently evil.
Untap Potential - Allows Rem to tap into the latent energy of an allied beast or comrade who has willed their consent to him. An emotional agreement is important to the success of the spell. Linked emotionally and by touch he may transfer his own arcane power into their body or temporarily change the flow of energy in theirs. This allows Rem to repair simple damage done to an arcane system or purposefully stimulate the system to give them a short boost in strength and arcane potency at the cost of the same energy later. They can burn through their arcane power more quickly to enhance strength and potency. Rem's own potential with this comes short of fixing a system shocked by silence. Such a thing is very delicate and trying to resuscitate a silenced system has similar consequences as if you were to defibrillate a man who's heart was already beating weakly. It could wind up causing worse damage.
Untap Potential is primarily used to support others and bring out the best in them but on a rare occasion when it is necessary and the risk is worth it he may reverse it between himself and Senna, granting himself some of the beast's power.
Rem's capabilities will improve as the story moves on.
Weapons and Equipment:
-Travelling Bag, a simple shoulder bag with ample space to place important belongings and research.
-Walking Cane, a long staff of naturally sturdy wood he crafted himself from a part of a very old tree. Despite the age it has a natural arcane current and acts as a useful conductor for his magic. A good way to avoid the use of batteries that may disrupt the specific flows he's looking for. Rem has enchanted it through the use of archaic runes to further augment its durability and allow him to channel arcane bolts through it. Arcane bolts are a standard magic attack known by most novice mages. They are not particularly deadly but provide an important power for self-defense.
-Tuning Flute, a peculiar instrument and one of the projects of Haedrig. The tuning flute was designed for the purpose of simple communication and sound mimicry with animals. It can capture certain sounds to be played by simply blowing the whistle. This is the only item of true importance that Rem carries on his person and he guards it closely. It's rather small and hangs around his neck. There are no switches or buttons, it is not science but a work of magic that responds to the users direct use of arcane energy.
Specialties:
-Rem Vano is an exceptional problem solver and tactician in tight spaces. When you work with beasts on a regular basis that have the capacity to eviscerate you within seconds this tends to happen. He works very well with others in combat and tends to stay at a medium distance from the fighting. The staff he carries isn't just for walking and with the right output of energy its density grows to be capable of blocking unusual weaponry and striking with an added measure of force. He himself isn't a stranger to a brawl but he's no warrior or destroyer. He moves the world he doesn't wreck it. (At least he tries his best not to.)
-Rem meditates on a different level than a ki specialist. It is not about what's inside but what is outside through the mind's eye. He can examine the arcane current running through things, living or otherwise, to take advantage of or research and learn from. These are often the locations of ancient whispers. Haedrig's Arcane Whispers are like the magical DNA of the world that cannot hide their past. He may recover energy more quickly through the exploitation of the land.
-Rem has an overly protective companion named Senna.
-Rem Vano is familiar with a lot of old languages and ancient runes.
Name: Senna
Age: Difficult to determine the specific age but Senna is certainly in the prime of her strength.
Sex: Female
Species: Ironbristle - A great black creature that most resembles a monstrous version of a cat, normally eight to nine feet in length this beast is covered in thick black bristles, the bristles are springy, sharp and durable. They leave almost no vulnerable spots on the creature's hide. The bristles smooth over when they are calm leaving them sleek and shiny as if they were covered in metal appearing almost statuesque. When they are alert, ready to attack or just threatening you they will often bear the bristles out like hair standing on end. Getting brushed against like this could do quite a lot of damage to someone if they weren't sufficiently clothed or armored. Their teeth and claws are over-enlarged, a natural adaptation to living in a location that requires predators to break through tough armor for their meal. Their bristles can grow back within hours of losing them, popping out of their hide like thick hairs. By using their bristles they can resist a great deal of physical harm but are rather vulnerable to magical attacks, a form of strike they normally don't deal with.
Some rare breeds or Ironbristle are poisonous. Their coat feels smooth going one way and sharper than a bed of razors the other.
Appearance: A slightly smaller ironbristle, Senna has beautiful gold eyes. Her coat bristles are a jet black, acting as great camouflage in dark places.
Personality: Loyal to Rem but has a mean independent streak where she will disappear to scour a new area or wait for Rem outside of settled areas. She is careful of any humanoid that is not Rem and extremely protective of him, to the point that touching him or even getting slightly close to him would warrant a fierce growl.
Sounds of the tuning flute are very effective at calming her down when she has become tense but Rem reserves its use as much as possible. He wants her free of any magical influence when possible.
History: Senna was one of Rem's first successful attempts to communicate with the wildlife of No Man's Land. She has been by his side even when his comrades and other companions have perished.
Magical Capabilities: Through Rem's potential magic the two can be linked on an instinctual level, allowing them to act and hold eachother back based on their feeling and desires and work in unison in combat or other pursuits.
Specialties:
-Watch the bristles! Touch it the wrong way and you're leaving flesh behind, they're very sharp.
With slight quality of life changes like a standard mage spell. After fighting the Gaians I realized how off set he was. Now I feel like he's just right without being an actual soldier or offensive mage.