The crew of the Borealis:
Berlin:
The epitome of a gentle giant. He's a big man with an intimidating form, though he's not a forceful type. Smooth blonde hair in a ponytail, grey eyes as deep and complex as the sea, and suntanned skin. He is the captain of the Borealis and has been for many years. The sea is his mistress and his one love. He's got a calming, easygoing presence but also naturally commands authority when the need arises.
Magical ability: Control via physical contact. He rarely uses it, as he feels it's wrong to control a free man in a way that would be against his will. The most common way he uses his ability is to mollify a bristling, hostile person by laying a casual hand on their shoulder and sending forth a kind of calm energy so the other person cools down. His ability also grants him a kind of magnetic personality that puts people at ease and makes him generally likable upon first encounter.
Rheoaan Rohaan Rio Ja'aisen:
The youngest member of the crew at ten years of age, he's been with Berlin for about two years. Born on a remote island on the southwestern coast, he lived with other shape shifters like himself--outcasts of society--until his home was raided by fanatics that believed the only good shifter was a dead one. Taken on a ship to the mainland to be sold into slavery, he escaped and began living on the streets of the port city he landed in. A wily, determined child, he pickpocketed to keep himself alive...until he pickpocketed a member of the Borealis and was caught. Berlin saw the state he was in, knew he was a shifter and would have little to no future on his own, and saw the potential in him as a future thief. Berlin took him in, tamed his wild nature (mostly), taught him the common speech of Avarian (and in turn, learned a bit of Rohaan's language, Vokurian, and trained him up to be a capable thief.
Berlin is the only authority whom Rohaan respects. He revels in causing trouble, sometimes has a bit of a feral nature, and has no problem taking risks--often to his detriment. While the roles of crew members are often fluid since they are small in number, Rohaan is often found in the crows nest, or occasionally in the galley.
Magical ability: Shape shifting. He has the ability to change any of his features except the color of his eyes (which are a telltale cobalt blue shade that is more vibrant and brighter than human eyes) and the color of his blood, which is red with a silvery sheen to it. Can become human or animal, and can mimic other people's appearances. It takes a great deal of effort and some forms leave him exhausted. Specially enchanted steel can inhibit his shifting abilities with close proximity or physical contact.
Uban Harriah:
Lived a quiet country life until his magical abilities manifested and he accidentally killed someone. He was hauled off to prison for his crime, though after about a year he managed a close-call escape that left him missing a finger on his left hand. He fled far from his home to the northwestern coast where he was not a wanted man, though he had nothing to his name and lived in poverty until, as he made his rounds looking for work on the docks, he found Berlin, who saw the prison-brand on his wrist and took him in.
He's an energetic sort, a real joker, loves horses, and has absolutely no fear of heights, which is why he's generally a topman, working the ropes and sails aloft. Can't cook to save his life. Late twenties. Been with Berlin for about 5 years.
Magical ability: can create and manipulate arcs of electricity. He cannot summon or control lighting, but is merely able to send pulses through physical contact, or to create a small arc between his fingers or hands.
Berlin:
The epitome of a gentle giant. He's a big man with an intimidating form, though he's not a forceful type. Smooth blonde hair in a ponytail, grey eyes as deep and complex as the sea, and suntanned skin. He is the captain of the Borealis and has been for many years. The sea is his mistress and his one love. He's got a calming, easygoing presence but also naturally commands authority when the need arises.
Magical ability: Control via physical contact. He rarely uses it, as he feels it's wrong to control a free man in a way that would be against his will. The most common way he uses his ability is to mollify a bristling, hostile person by laying a casual hand on their shoulder and sending forth a kind of calm energy so the other person cools down. His ability also grants him a kind of magnetic personality that puts people at ease and makes him generally likable upon first encounter.
Rheoaan Rohaan Rio Ja'aisen:
The youngest member of the crew at ten years of age, he's been with Berlin for about two years. Born on a remote island on the southwestern coast, he lived with other shape shifters like himself--outcasts of society--until his home was raided by fanatics that believed the only good shifter was a dead one. Taken on a ship to the mainland to be sold into slavery, he escaped and began living on the streets of the port city he landed in. A wily, determined child, he pickpocketed to keep himself alive...until he pickpocketed a member of the Borealis and was caught. Berlin saw the state he was in, knew he was a shifter and would have little to no future on his own, and saw the potential in him as a future thief. Berlin took him in, tamed his wild nature (mostly), taught him the common speech of Avarian (and in turn, learned a bit of Rohaan's language, Vokurian, and trained him up to be a capable thief.
Berlin is the only authority whom Rohaan respects. He revels in causing trouble, sometimes has a bit of a feral nature, and has no problem taking risks--often to his detriment. While the roles of crew members are often fluid since they are small in number, Rohaan is often found in the crows nest, or occasionally in the galley.
Magical ability: Shape shifting. He has the ability to change any of his features except the color of his eyes (which are a telltale cobalt blue shade that is more vibrant and brighter than human eyes) and the color of his blood, which is red with a silvery sheen to it. Can become human or animal, and can mimic other people's appearances. It takes a great deal of effort and some forms leave him exhausted. Specially enchanted steel can inhibit his shifting abilities with close proximity or physical contact.
Uban Harriah:
Lived a quiet country life until his magical abilities manifested and he accidentally killed someone. He was hauled off to prison for his crime, though after about a year he managed a close-call escape that left him missing a finger on his left hand. He fled far from his home to the northwestern coast where he was not a wanted man, though he had nothing to his name and lived in poverty until, as he made his rounds looking for work on the docks, he found Berlin, who saw the prison-brand on his wrist and took him in.
He's an energetic sort, a real joker, loves horses, and has absolutely no fear of heights, which is why he's generally a topman, working the ropes and sails aloft. Can't cook to save his life. Late twenties. Been with Berlin for about 5 years.
Magical ability: can create and manipulate arcs of electricity. He cannot summon or control lighting, but is merely able to send pulses through physical contact, or to create a small arc between his fingers or hands.
