[CHAR] Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Fantasy Knight RP

[Krayzikk]

Nicomede

Name: Nicomede (Nico), formerly Nicomede Durante
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Appearance:

Appearance

Personality: A serious man of noble bearing, though the edges have been worn away by long years on the road. The ceremony of his birth is long gone but Nicomede still acts in a way consistent with the respect he intends to show, even if commensurate respect has long been absent in reply. Highborn manners are taught young, and impossible to shake. With those manners comes an unshakable sense of duty followed even at great cost. A task taken is a task completed, and a life under his care is a life preserved. Whether an innocent or a man under his command, it makes little difference. Those who would spite their responsibility are Nicomede’s greatest foe, and Nicomede’s own record a fast route to his anger.

None of this is to say that Nicomede is a humorless man. He has an easy, affable disposition well-suited to making friends. So long outside of the nobility has given him a friendly understanding of the common man, and despite the grace with which he can navigate higher society’s mores he’s grown more comfortable with the rank and file than with those of his own birth. But he doesn’t truly belong in either world, and in his heart he craves nothing more than the respect he was robbed of. The right to remain in one place and hold his head high again. No longer the disowned and unwanted.

True friendship is hard won, best forged in fire and in blood, but Nicomede is unafraid of sharing the wisdom he has garnered with those younger or less experienced. If his friendship is hard won his loyalty is a Herculean task but once earned it will never waver unto even the brink of death.
Brief Backstory: The family Durante originated in Velt many generations ago but it was in Thaln that they reached new heights. The current Lord Durante, Nicomede’s father, controls an influential fief in the northeast of Thaln. A key stop in trade between the two kingdoms, bountiful land and no shortage of heirs. Nicomede the eldest of the Lord Durante’s sons was expected to inherit the lands and the title, raised his whole life for that very purpose. Though he learned to lead, of course, young Nicomede felt perhaps too strongly about the responsibility of a noble to his people than the other way around. After all the Church of Mayon teaches, perhaps above most else, the protection of the innocent. But nevertheless he acted as he should, behaved with the appropriate grace, took to his studies like a fish to water. And as with most boys his age more than anything he took to the sword. The Durante family’s preferred swordsmanship had been handed down with its Mayonite faith for generations, long before their emigration to Thaln. And Nicomede excelled. He trained, and trained, he helped train his younger brothers, and he competed at the first chance given. Possessing the capacity for magic he was, of course, trained in that field as well but his interest was more limited. His pursuits ended, with few exceptions, where the craft ceased to be a boon in combat. He studied policy, he studied tactics, he worked to mold himself into the model nobleman that was expected.

When war broke out against the traitorous Phoran Cal’s forces Nicomede took command of his father’s forces, as was his right. These duties he shared with his father, as well as his younger brother. His forces engaged in a few small skirmishes, conflicts in which they summarily routed their enemies, but Durante’s holdings bordered on traitorous lord’s. The probing, back and forth, of each’s defenses went on for the better part of the conflict without decisive action. The war was progressing firmly in the rightful ruler’s favor, but one of their allies had suffered grievous losses a previous battle. With all quiet along the border of Durante’s own lands Nicomede’s younger brother had been instructed to join his force with that of their allies, and push onwards. But days passed and those reinforcements had been nowhere to be found. Knowing that failing to capitalize on the enemy’s losses would be a grave mistake, Nicomede split off part of his own command to provide reinforcements instead.

Leaving him grossly outnumbered when their traitorous neighbor pushed his advantage. The Durante heir’s command was forced to defend a township without any fortifications, natural or otherwise, with half their intended strength. To win would have been glorious, and it was possible… But it was to be a bloody affair.

Instead Nicomede chose not to fight. His forces retreated from the township before the enemy arrived, and ordered the township to surrender when the enemy arrived. The only surrender in the course of the war, the only land forfeited without even a fight. Nicomede rendezvoused with his younger brother, a day’s ride away, and retook the town without the losses it would have cost to hold it. The traitor was routed and chose to surrender only a few months later when the war had been all but decided.

Not that any of that mattered to the Lord Durante. The embarrassment of such a surrender, the shame that his heir had ordered it, was insurmountable. Face had to be saved, and there was a clear choice.

Nicomede was a coward, he proclaimed, that had run to his younger sibling for help and it was only the work of his brother that the township had been saved. His heir had cut and run rather than face an uncertain battle, unable to face the realities of war. Under the circumstances he had no choice but to disown his eldest son, strip him of his name, and ensure that the title would fall to his more worthy sibling. He traveled to the front lines in person to do just that before the war ever ended. The Lord Durante’s men were marshalled to bear witness in the town’s main square, delivered the same decree that had already been sent to every corner of the fief and beyond and watched as the family’s crest was struck from Nicomede’s armor. In the eyes of the Goddesses, the Lord Durante announced, Nicomede had no family name and the Lord had only one son. Henceforth he was banned from setting foot on Durante land.

With no money, no home, and nothing but the gear on his person Nicomede sold his services as a fighter to survive. There was no company that would take in a disgraced noble, by now word of his shameful cowardice in contrast to the kingdom’s grand victory had spread far. Without status or money his reputation was a hindrance more than his arm was a help.

For five years he has roamed alone, fighting to stick to his principles as well as he could. His work paid little, his gear lost its luster, and his face faded further and further from the public consciousness. Not his story, his was a cautionary tale. But within a few years no one could have associated the roaming sellsword with the former heir to Durante.

Certainly the Iron Rose Knight he saved in the course of a job, rescuing the wounded warrior from likely death at bandit hands, couldn’t. If he had he might not have invited Nicomede back to the capital to join the Knights.
Equipment: Nicomede wears what clearly used to be a regal set of gleaming alwhyte plate armor, simple but masterfully crafted with gold trimming as befit his status. Pieces are missing now, lost to battle and too little money to repair them. His torso remains armored, but of the arms and legs only his pauldrons, gauntlets, and greaves remain. The pieces that persist are scuffed and dented, the place his family crest once sat scored away before his exile. The arrangement bears more resemblance to a seat of half plate now, thick and durable traveling clothes supplementing the remaining armor.

The spada da lato belted at his side, on the other hand, is immaculately maintained. There is no doubt that it is a functional blade, no mere badge of office, but its craftsmanship remains untouched by rough living. The blade, more slender than a contemporary longsword, runs down towards an intricate swept hilt that nevertheless incorporates a rigid cruciform guard. Some of this durability can be attributed to enchantment upon its crafting, but the rest is thanks to diligent, regular maintenance. Though not an enchantment in and of itself, the blade was forged with careful attunement to Nicomede’s preferences and synergy with his applied magic. The blade is supplemented by an offhand dagger, belted on the opposite side.

Nicomede’s final possessions are a worn but sturdy leather bag and a durable cloak to combat the elements.
Skills: A gifted duelist, and a talented tactician. Make no mistake there is as much difference between a regulated bout and real combat as there is between wading into a chaotic bloodbath and facing down a single opponent focused on you and no one else. Nicomede has a gift for both, but a true edge when it comes down to his skill and that of an opponent. His training emphasizes thought and flow, seeking or creating the perfect opening rather than battering down a foe’s defenses. His style reflects that, wielding two weapons equally suited to defense and granting the ability to strike effectively at close or medium range. He is familiar with a variety of blades but his sidesword is what he prefers.

Befitting his original inheritance, Nicomede is a deft hand at the game of tactics if not necessarily familiar with the level of strategy. And though not a Paladin himself Nicomede embraced wholeheartedly his Mayonite faith and its affinity for water in the use of his magic. Though possessing nothing but respect for Paladins who see their element differently, Nicomede had never subscribed to the passivity of a Mayonite’s defense versus a Reonite’s fiery offense. Water is strongest of all he believes; what water cannot flow around, water will flow through given enough time. To fight like water is not to be passive, but to flow around and through those who would bring harm. To that end Nicomede has, in addition to more traditional workings of the element, harnessed water’s pressure to punch through enemy armor in a concentrated point in supplement to his spada’s tip.

In addition to his extensive formal education, Nicomede had picked up the skills of surviving on the road with little money. Unfortunately for him, cooking was not one of them.

Nicomede cannot cook better than boiling even if it were to save his own life.

[Heartfillia]

Elwen Gela “The Reaper’s Bride”


27


Female


Human


Elwen stands at 5'6" with an hourglass frame, but don't let her size fool you, she is stronger than she looks. She has fierce blue eyes that seem to peer into someones very soul, and pure white hair that she inherited from her fathers side. She also scar under her left eye from one of the final battles of the last war.

normal wear

Armored

bunch of pictures!

Before she left the Order, Elwen was a kind woman who took her role as a Knight in the Iron Rose seriously. But also had a fun sarcastic side. She would take all the new female recruits under her wing and help guide them.

However, now she is almost always in a state of irritance. Which seems to flare when ever she has had one too many drinks. Her sarcastic nature has increased but not in a fun loving way. But once in a while there can be a glimpse of her former self.



Elwen was born into the noble house of Gela. Though that wasn’t much higher than a commoner in the eyes of the other nobles. Her father, Sir Damon the Fearless; was as a well respected Knight despite his standing in nobility. He was a duelist and adept Mage, a rarity in the world. With two different studies that require time and effort to perfect, it brought suspicion upon the house.

Her mother died at childbirth, so she only knew of the things her father would say about her. Her father raised her...unlike many nobles who had their children raised by their nannies or butlers. Elwen wanted to be with her father always, even on his dangerous trips so she asked him to train her to be like him. With no desire to remarry and have more children, the decision came easy to him to pass on his knowledge to her.

He taught her like he was by his father. Personally teaching his sword techniques and knowledge of magic. Not going through a tutor or college. Elwen excelled, taking to it like a fish to water. With her strong mind and determination she quickly started holding her own against other squires her father would set up to spar with her, and even other knights when she was 14. Not to mention the bandits and criminals he would hunt down for the kingdom.

When she was 18, she decided to join the Iron rose. With years of hunting criminals and protecting villages, she now had a strong sense of justice and wanted to make a difference on a larger scale. Quickly making a name for herself just like her father did in his own way. Quickly gaining the title of “The Reapers Bride” in the last war. With her skills of the blade and her ease of use of magic, She tore through the battlefield often creating a path single-handed . Rumors started with her being a witch, which soon expanded to her making a pact with death itself as she seemed to make it through impossible situations, hence the name.

She didn’t let that get to her though, She was already used to people being suspicious of her father and her all her life. She didn’t mind the title as it struck fear into her opponents. Still even with that name she had no problem making friends and soon finding someone whom she fell in love with. She was happy.

Till five years ago when he was murdered.

Elwen couldn’t handle the pain of the loss of her love. She didn’t even figure out who MIGHT have done it. A sensless murder of a man who didn’t deserve it. The justice would remain unserved. Unable to handle this, she couldn’t remain she had to do something! So she left the Iron rose to hunt down her lovers murderer… any hint of a violent criminal or bandit she followed, no matter how remote. It didn’t matter if it wasn’t even related to his murder. She would hunt down each one as if they were the one who killed him and bring them to justice.



Enchanted long sword of Flame a gift from her father.
Dagger
light armor to complement her quick movements
multiple Flasks of alcohol of some kind. she never seems to run out.
most importantly a necklace with a wolf head on it. She always fiddles with it.



Mage - Evelyn has a strong and sharp mind. She is able to easily grasp the complexity of magic and learn low level to some mid level spells with ease. While others tend to only be focused on a single subject she has a wide range from all elemental to basic enhancements and healing. She can come up with different ways to make a simple spell help her in different situations. Thinking outside the box. Downside is that she doesn't know any high level magic.

Duelist - Like her father, she is a master with a blade and hand to hand combat. However, besides a dagger...she doesn't have any experience with other weapons. Not even a bow. She can use a shield but she likes to use two hands with her blade.

High tolerance to alcohol - She can drink any brute under the table. Its how she gets her booze for free.

Years of traveling made her comfortable living it in the rough. Finding food and basic tracking.



She just came back to the order.

She's a sort of boogieman to criminals everywhere. Though she really only kills murderers or very violent bandits.

[Caasicam]

Val

Name

Ferocia Maximiana Furius Valentinianus

Age

21

Gender

Female

Race

Human

Appearance

Val

Personality

A brash, headstrong individual whose confidence tends to initially come erringly close to arrogance. While certainly capable, her confidence not at all misplaced, this may be abrasive for those unacquainted with her particular brand of gregariousness. Slow to trust, though even slower to break that trust once it has been gained. Enjoys embellishing stories perhaps too much, understandable dislikes discussing her family. She can, with great effort, tone down to a more appropriate level when the situation calls for it, but that doesn't mean she has to be happy about it. Prefers Val over her proper name.

Brief Backstory

The now eldest child of the nobleman Valeninianus, though it was not always the case. Val, or as she was born, Ferocia Maximiana Furius Valentinianus spent the majority of her childhood in the shadow of her twin brother, Cassius. This was not unexpected, as was natural for him to be the eventual heir to the land and people overseen by the Valeninianus name. Not for lack of trying on her part, it became abundantly clear very early on in her life that an eventual quiet life as half of a political marriage was going to be out of the picture, and convincing her otherwise more trouble than it was worth. While not ideal in the eyes of her parents, at the time it seemed like less of an issue given that Cassius was seen as the quintessential heir.

Val, to her credit, wasn't resentful of the attention that her brother received. Almost the opposite, as the twins were nearly inseparable well into their teens. Nothing was too difficult for them to overcome.

It was because of this that the misfortune that struck was so devastating, as Cassius fell suddenly and inexplicably ill. His passing only a few weeks later sent their father into a depressive, drunken spiral; and it shattered the picturesque life which Val had been living up until that point. From there on in, the Valentinianus keep suffered, and a rift was driven between the noble family. Val became not good enough, as her father fixated on the loss of his heir and not the loss of his son. This pushed Val away from her home, and into the larger world of Thaln. It was then that she managed to use what crumbling influence her father's name held to enter the ranks of the Knightly Iron Roses order, as much as a means to salvage the honor of her family's name as a way to prove her worth towards her father. It is in the service of this order that she has been for the past three years.

Equipment

Hasta- An ornate spear approximately two meters long. The haft is hardened ash, lacquered and reinforced with bars of metal, while the head is longer than average and flanked by a pair of spikes to be used to both guard and strike.

Gladius- Her late brother's sword, worn from use but still as sturdy as ever. Imbued with a degree of magical power, the blade as been known to strike with a thundercrack, though it requires a blow forceful enough to trigger such a spell.

Skills

While she may have been overshadowed by her brother, one step behind a prodigal warrior is still far beyond what many could claim. During her time in the Iron Roses her skill has only been honed. Well practiced with both her hasta, as well as her brother's gladius, Val's nearly obsessive desire to improve and prove her ability appears to have worked well in her favor. While lacking the technical flair of style that some may lay claim to, it is difficult to argue against the effectiveness of her more pragmatic approach. One which pairs well with her natural athleticism and love for combat.

Val is gifted in the use of magic, it being one of the few areas which she exceeded her sibling in terms of natural talent. Though not a mage, she was nonetheless tutored in the use of her ability by a Reonite paladin who was part of her father's court. While capable of channeling the divine fire of Reon through her weapon, her real aptitude fell in the realm of the concentrated fire of storms: casting bolts of crackling lightning.

[pandapolio]

Chrollo

𝒞𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑜

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance:


At around 6ft Chrollo has a minor height advantage on most people he meets, which helps give off the impression he looks down on everyone literally and figuratively. While he has a collection of functional robes to choose from day to day, the constant seems to be that they are all quite ornate and well-made. Adding on to the sense of wealth he always has a collection of rings adorning his fingers made out of precious metals and gems. The two constants in his outfit are a pair of earrings with blood-red gems hanging from them, as well as the bandages that cover his body. They start at the top of his neck and reach all the way down to his feet. Chrollo is incredibly secretive about the bandages and his appearance underneath them.

Chrollo is considered quite handsome, though secretly most would consider him more beautiful than handsome in a traditional way. He has long hair that is often left to hang rather than pull it back, only doing so if it gets in the way. The most notable feature of his is his glowing yellow eyes. They appear almost feline in nature and fluctuate in light depending on how much mana he is using. When not using spells they appear almost normal if not for color and shape, but when he is casting high-level spells they can begin to illuminate much like candles in the night.

Personality:
Fitting the feline-like appearance of his eyes Chrollo can most times be described as “mildly amused” or “somewhat interested” in most people around him. He tends to give off a feeling of unease in most people, that they are a toy he is using to temporarily relieve boredom. It is hard to ever tell if he is ever being sincere or merely playing with you. Most questions he asks feel barbed as if he is attempting to provoke instead of understanding.

While he is no traitor or heretic, Chrollo feels no true loyalty to either the monarchy or church. If anything his attitude towards these institutions could best be summed up in the phrase “not my problem”. Even his loyalty to his fellow mages of the college is doubted by most mages in said college. One thing that does manage to catch his attention is mysteries. Whether they are unknown magical artifacts or a simple riddle, Chrollo has an innate need to learn. There is a single figure that commands Chrollo’s respect and loyalty, the person who saved him from his destiny.

Chrollo is driven by a need to repay the debt he owes to his master for giving him the gift of a new life. That gift is the most valuable and precious thing Chrollo has ever received and causes all other acts of kindness to pale in comparison in the eyes of the young mage. No matter what he suffers he follows any order or request that is given to him by his master no matter the cost.
Detached, Manipulative, Carefree

Brief Backstory:
Chrollo prefers not to think of a time before he met his master for those days have left him with nothing but nightmares. The only remaining trace of that time is a subtle flinch at the sound of a whip cracking. According to Chrollo, his true life began when the first gentle person he had ever met gave him a name. At the age of nine Chrollo was acknowledged as a human and it was a completely alien experience to him. The journey with this kind person wasn’t easy, but it was still an amazing experience for him. It was on this trip he learned how it felt to smile, laugh, and sleep with no fear. The kind stranger would tell him stories every night as the moon rose high. They would speak of wondrous places and magical beings that the boy couldn’t even imagine. Endless water and giant lizards sounded like insanity, but the whole trip felt like a dream so Chrollo instantly believed them all. Eventually, their trip ended at a sea of stars, the city of Aimlenn. As they approached through the darkness of night Chrollo was amazed by the sights around him. Little did the boy know he had just arrived at his new home to begin the next chapter of his life.

As it turned out Chrollo had a naturally large reserve of mana, especially for a child with no training or nourishment. Having seen this the kind stranger recommended him to be taken in by the mages college as a student. The kind man was actually a wizard with the college named Karandor. Chrollo was terrified to be separated from his savior, but after much comfort, he finally relented and went to his first classes. These classes were filled with other orphans adopted by the college, or prodigies from the surrounding area who only stayed for the day. Even though he was remarkably shy the small boy was one of the best students in his class, and it stayed that way until his graduation at the age of fifteen. Chrollo had a reputation as a hard-working and honest student that always tried his best, and ended up graduating as the third-best mage of his class. While the top student immediately goes into service for the kingdom, the others are left to choose their own paths. The second best decision to join a mercenary company along with a few others, while many just became scholars for the college. Many of the lower-ranking students went off on their own to make a name for themselves in some way or another. When it was time for Chrollo to make his choice he didn’t hesitate and became the assistant to the very same wizard who had saved him all those years ago.

At first, Chrollo worked as a simple assistant that helped with paperwork for Karandor. His real job was to grow his magic’s strength until he could accompany his master on his journeys out of the nation. It took him about two years to reach this point, and they set off on their first journey together. They journeyed west to visit the Elves at the Veil of Tears and study Elven magic. The wall of water was an incredible sight to watch, and it never got old trying to understand the enchantments around it. That was merely the first of three expeditions Chrollo and his master went on over the next 5 years. Their third expedition was by far the most dangerous they had embarked on, and it would be the one that ended in disaster. Their objective was to study some reported carvings in a cave in the mountains near Orodagor. The journey there was difficult and the research went no better. They had found the carvings but had little way to understand them, as they were written in an unknown language. During a late-night of studying a mysterious wind picked up around the mouth of the cave, and Chrollo’s master went to investigate. As Karandor walked away Chrollo noticed a lantern with an open lid and moved to close it. As he bent down the flame leaped at him and expanded rapidly.

From the master's point of view, the cave suddenly exploded in flame from where his apprentice was standing. Using his enchanted cloak he shielded himself from the flames, but the force sent him flying. Slowly floating down with the use of magic the master watched with horror as the cave suddenly collapsed sending dust up everywhere. For four days Karandor frantically searched for any signs of life from his apprentice. The most he ever found was a torn piece of singed cloth. Defeated and having lost his student Karandor began the long trek home.

It was two years later that a miracle would happen at the mages college. In the middle of the day, a man in rags stumbled through the front door and shouted that he must speak with Karandor. As the old man reached the lobby to see what the fuss was about he immediately recognized the mana of the man standing before him. Karandor rushed forward and embraced Chrollo and silently wept while holding him close. As he pulled back he could see drastic things had happened to his apprentice. The once child-like blue eyes were now a bright yellow, with alien iris’. Chrollo’s hair had grown much longer, and he was a good bit taller. The most significant thing by far was tattoos that covered the vast majority of his body. They were clearly visible through the rags that barely covered Chrollo, and they were utterly confusing. They appeared to be just lines and lines of words in various languages. While there were human and elvish languages scattered around the arms and legs, the vast majority were the undecipherable language from the caves in Orodagor. Karandor brushed off his confusion for the time being and quickly ushered his student upstairs just happy to see him again.

To the other mages of the college, Chrollo was drastically different from before his disappearance. Long gone was the responsible and quiet student and in his place was an unapproachable wall. Most praise was met with silence while criticism received derision. While there were questions, it was no question that Chrollo had taken massive leaps in his magical capabilities. He had made so much improvement in fact that Karandor decided to let Chrollo borrow the college's tome on gravity magic, something kept locked from most. Karandor was able to arrange this as head of the department of magical archeology. While learning this new form of magic Chrollo has taken the role of bodyguard and obtainer of rare artifacts. He would often help local guards protect the important dig sites of the college around the countryside.

Equipment:

• Earrings with mana reserves in the crystals
• A golden staff that acts as a magic focus
• A magic ring that allows for simple levitation
• A large collection of ornate jewelry he often wears
• An enchanted cloak that prevents a majority of attacks from breaking through

Skills:

• Powerful mage
  
  
  • A high-level Gravity mage: Chrollo is one of very few mages who are proficient with gravity magic, a relatively unknown school of sorcery. Its primary purposes are to change the mass of objects, the momentum they travel with, and their center of gravity. This can range from increasing the weight of an opponent's armor to supercompressing air to form a magical projectile. Techniques like that can often be combined with other disciplines by advanced mages, such as compressing a flame into a small ball of fire. The most difficult and time-intensive applications of gravity magic are AOE spells. The most commonly used version of the spells is "Imperatoris Edictum". The spell is named after the fact the spell increases the gravity around the mage, thus forcing the targets to kneel or prostrate themselves in front of the caster.
  • Chrollo is also adept with other forms of attack magic the college regularly practices such as the schools of fire and earth. These allow him a way to fight back against lesser enemies without having to use gravity magic. He has the typical simple attack spells such as "fireball" and "earthquake". He is also able to cast defensive spells such as "cloak of fire", which protects its user by shrouding the caster in magical flames that harm approaching enemies.
  • His tattoos allow Chrollo to cast spells without expending the average amount of mana. Where a normal mage typically requires something like a staff or wand to harness mana into their desired form, Chrollo is able to do it for the most part without these things. The tattoos act as a form of a roadmap for the mana to follow as he prepares the spell. A focus is still needed to act as a sort of north star for his established roadmap.
  • Chrollo's augmented eyes allow him to very clearly see mana. They also have the side effect of glowing when casting magic.
• Chrollo is a member of the college and more specifically a part of the department of magical archeology. Even though he has been more recently utilized as a combatant, he hasn't forgotten the years of lessons given to him by the college.
• Using both his augmented vision and normal sense Chrollo is able to spot small details. This skill has been honed from years working at dig sites looking for the smallest of artifacts.

[JessieTargaryen]

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"Worried about me? How about you try to keep up?"

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Personal Information:

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Name: Runa Liulfr
Age: 21
Gender: Female
Race: Hundi
Appearance:
Standing just over five feet and 4 inches (5'4) tall, Runa has a rather small stature as is common amongst her kind. However, the young Hundi has an athletic build that slightly betrays her deceptive strength. Clearly defined muscles can be seen under her flawless skin, delivering a stunning appearance for the girl. Complimenting her toned form, Runa also has rather generous curves and generally is received as being a rather beautiful young woman. Her hair sits about shoulder length, starting out black and turning a pure white at the ends. While these features are common among humans, it is her traits unique to being a Hundi that tend to capture the most attention upon Runa. Two large, fluffy ears sit prominently atop her head, with black fur matching her hair along the outside, and white fur on the inside. Her eyes are heterochromatic, the right a beautiful golden while the left is a stunning sky blue in color. In the corners of her mouth, Runa has little fangs similar to that of a wolf. Her large, white, tail is also an easily identifiable marker for the young woman. One which commonly is used to betray the poor girl's emotions even if she is trying to hide them.

Typically, there are two types of dress for young Runa. Armored, and casual. She spends most of her time, being a member of the Iron Rose Knights, in her armor.

(Armor NOTE: Obviously, Runa is not the blonde in the armor, but that is pretty much how her armor and sword look).

Her casual attire is a bit more flaunting, with the more moderate climate of Thaln, Runa favors wearing a simple combination of tunic and shorts. The tunic, however, stops just above her belly button and the shorts only cover half her thighs. Both articles are jet black, a stark contrast to her pale skin. Her manner of dress is typically seen as a little scandalous among the general populace, but Runa simply finds the climate too warm to wear much more.

When needed to dress up for more formal events, the young Hundi opts for a long, black dress. One which ends just above the floor, and leaves the Hundi's back exposed. Down to the waist, the dress hugs her form tightly and bears only one sleeve, the other arm being bare. Overall, it gives the young woman a rather striking appearance when needed, though it's rather common knowledge among her fellows in the order that she strongly prefers to shed the formal attire for something more casual as soon as she can.

Personality:
Confident.

That is one word many use to describe the young Hundi. A girl who is a member of the Iron Rose Knights despite not being human, nor from a noble background, earned her place in the Order. If there is one thing that the girl embodies, it is confidence. She has no doubts in her mind about her skills, often venturing into the realm of overconfidence and feeling as if she can handle things that might be a bit too advanced for herself. Still, Runa manages to avoid the line of coming across as rude or looking down upon others. She just knows very well where she stands in the world. Though Runa is also a very emotional girl and can be rather quick to anger if she sees another being mistreated, and will often act on this emotion. Runa is generally regarded as an intelligent young woman as well, able to exploit the weaknesses of her enemies in battle.

Aside from her confidence, Runa is known to be a very energetic and outgoing girl. Seemingly always in a good mood, with a smile upon her features no matter where she goes. Things that catch her attention tend to distract her quickly, and she can be a bit overbearing as she gets caught in her own excitement. Though some might also call her eagerness, excitement, infectious. As her smiles and laughs seem to spread to many of those around her. She is a very friendly girl and oftentimes will go out of her way to meet new people. Typically striding straight up to others and introducing herself without a hint of fear. Runa is also known to be a bit of a flirt, finding a bit of enjoyment in the act of teasing others, and flirting back and forth. Being born of commoner heritage, Runa also tends to speak in a more... basic manner. Not using a lot of the speech patterns that are common among the nobility, and trying her hardest to relate to the struggles of those she is conversing with.

Runa is a selfless girl, oftentimes going out of her way or stopping what she is doing to help somebody else out if they're in need. She remembers some of the struggles growing up with only her father, as commoners, and having to get by on just his income. This memory and trait are core parts of what drives her as a knight, as Runa genuinely wants to help everybody around her. To make their lives easier, and protect them from danger. In combat, Runa is known to try to face threats head-on, viewing it as better to expose herself to danger more than any others. Though this attitude has caused the young woman to get hurt from time to time, it is still not something that she regrets. Runa is also a rather brave young girl, not something to be confused with being fearless, for even if something scares her, the Hundi is typically able to push through said fear for the sake of others.

Brief Backstory:
Runa is one of the few Hundi who is a native of Thaln, as she was born to a Hundi mother and a human father. Her mother, coming as a sellsword, had fallen in love early on with a young Smith who had helped her following an ambush that had nearly killed the woman. Though shortly after Runa was born to the two, her mother passed away from a sudden illness that had taken her. Leaving Runa's father alone with his daughter. As such, things were tight for the two for much of Runa's young life. Living on just the income of a lone smith made it so that Runa was not one of the kids who had many possessions, but still, she could not complain. The young girl spent most of her free time, as soon as she was able, helping her father out in the forges to make his work a bit easier. She also quickly learned to cook, eager to help take care of her father who had done so much for her.

From a young age, Runa took an interest in the Iron Rose Knights, a sort of childish fascination with the warriors protecting their realm. However, this fascination also drove the young Hundi to want to become one of those very knights. Asking her father for help, the man set up a small area for his daughter to train and taught her some of the basic combat skills he had learned from her mother. Over time, the girl's skills continued to improve as she practiced and trained nearly every day the best she could. As such, her days were often filled. Her young schedule being torn between academics, training, helping with the forge, cooking, and practicing her spellcasting. Day after day this continued until Runa finally had a lucky break. An elder member of the Iron Rose Knights and an old acquaintance of her father stopped by their home to visit the man. During this time, young Runa was practicing her swordplay and the Knight just happened to take notice. Moving out to her training area, the older man was impressed by her form, albeit it rudimentary without any formal training, and asked the young girl why she was practicing so hard. After a brief conversation and some light training, the Knight bid his farewell and went on his way.

A couple of months later, Runa received a letter offering to let her serve as the squire and train under the very man who had visited her those months ago. Which, naturally, the young woman jumped at the chance. For the following years, Runa diligently served under the knight and learned much about all the aspects of being a Knight. All the while, making some coin of her own which she frequently sent back to her father to help him. On her 21st birthday, Runa's dreams finally came true. During a visit back home to her father, Runa's mentor dropped by for 'just a chat'. However, it soon turned out to be much more. With a small ceremony soon following, Runa was inducted into the Iron Rose Knights as a Knight herself, her dreams finally coming to fruition. Her father, having already known of the development coming, then presented his daughter with the sword and armor he had made especially for her to celebrate the occasion. Now with the proper gearing and official rank, Runa was ready to step into the next phase of her life.

Combat Information:

Equipment:
Surtr: A hand-and-a-half (bastard) sword forged by Runa's father as a gift to his daughter for entering into the Iron Rose Knights. It is naturally imbued with the same elemental magics which Runa is naturally inclined towards, enabling the weapon to become wreathed in flames at the girl's will. This effect naturally enhances Runa's offensive capability as the heat of the flames is known to soften armor, seemingly making the blade cut through many things with ease. In addition, it's also a fantastic torch.

Vǫrðr: Runa's armor, custom-forged for her by her father. The plate provides ample protection while still allowing the young Hundi plenty of movement. It is also inscribed with the crest of Runa's family, on her mother's side, to show her heritage as a Hundi alongside this is the Order of the Iron Rose Knights' crest, showing Runa's proud loyalties.

Basic Survival Knife: Runa has a basic knife she can use for various purposes out in the field. Including minor repairs on armor, cutting through various vegetation, etc.

Armor/Weapon Maintenance Kit: Runa also has a very basic kit she keeps in a pack to help maintain her armor and weapon. A more in-depth kit is kept back at base. She uses this alongside skills learned from her father as she grew up helping with the forge.

Skills:
Martial Prowess: Runa is an extremely skilled combatant, able to hold her own with most types of weapons, but excelling in two particular areas. The first, usage of her hand-and-a-half sword, Surtr, in melee combat. In this area, the young Hundi was able to excel past most recruits of her age, holding her own in sparring matches against members older and more experienced than herself. The second area in which she excels is hand-to-hand combat. When disarmed during sparring matches, Runa has been known to unleash a flurry of blows that caught even the more experienced off-guard. The young woman showing herself to be quite adept when it came to using her fists.

Elemental Burst, Flames: Runa is naturally inclined towards using flame magics and has shown herself to be able to use such magic with reasonable capability. While unable to cast any particularly amazing spells, the young Hundi has a few tricks up her sleeves.

• Inferno Blade: _{With the utterance of a single word, "Kynda", Runa is able to cover her blade in a burning sheath of flame. This spell enables Runa's blade to cut through most materials with relative ease, along with burning her opponents. A derivative of this spell is that she is able to generate a small, controlled flame in her palm. Serving to be able to light torches with ease.}
• Fireball: _{Requiring more concentration than her Inferno Blade, and a small incantation, Runa is able to hurl a medium size ball of flame at her opponents, the result being a small explosion where it lands. The projectile moves as fast as a thrown spear, so it can be dodged but receiving a direct hit is generally lethal to your average human.}
• Hel Walker: _{Runa is very resistant to naturally occurring flames, and minor resistant to those created via magical means. This means in several situations, the young girl can walk directly through an inferno to come after her enemy. However, this ability requires quite a bit of concentration and losing it does put her at risk of being burned.}

Physical Condition: Runa is in excellent physical condition, despite her small frame she is able to keep up with human men who are at the peak of their condition. Her speed, strength, reflexes, and other physical abilities allow her to be considered among the peak of the Hundi, already known for their incredible martial prowess.

The Forge: Having helped her father with his forge for most of her young life, Runa is also decently skilled at using a forge. Be it forging new weapons, fixing broken ones, or crafting armor, Runa is capable of performing all these tasks. Though her skilled pales compared to a seasoned blacksmith, she is still rather decent.

Cooking:Growing up, young Runa had to learn how to cook in order to help take care of her father after a long day in the forges. Over time, she grew to be rather adept. Finding that she enjoyed the act, and could create some rather delicious meals. A skill which she still practices today, and tries to share with any who are willing.

[Martian]

Sir Kherun Zeydria

Name:

Kherun Zeydria

Age:

21

Gender:

Male

Race:

Human

Appearance:

Kherun stands at an average 5’8’’ with a smaller frame. But hidden on his small build is well toned muscle as he is stronger than he looks. Kherun has skin and shoulder length hair that is the colour of freshly fallen snow. He also has vibrant violet eyes, his most defining feature. Kherun tends to dress in expensive clothing as he was raised in the royal court. When out on knight duties, Kherun wears a mix of brown leather armour and medium weight plate mail armour.

Personality:

Kherun is a very determined individual, always working toward a goal. He feels he needs to do this because of his want of a higher station in life. He has worked his way from being a palace servant to being an Iron Rose Knight. Because of this he is always trying to prove himself to others as he wants everyone to have the best possible view of him. He also holds himself to these standards as he wants to be his best self.

Kherun is also a very open individual and is willing to converse with anyone as he feels it rude to shut anyone out. This has led to him being well liked among those at the castle. He is known to make friends easily and genuinely values their opinions and feelings. Kherun can be quite protective of others, potentially a reason why becoming a knight appealed to him so much.

When it comes to knightly duties and fighting others, Kherun likes to have a romantic view of it. While Kherun doesn’t enjoy violence, he does believe that he is doing something courageous and heroic by defeating evil doers. As of right now Kherun has yet to become disillusioned from his fantastical view of the knights.

Brief Back Story:

For many generations a clan of wandering druids has populated the southern tip of Thaln, looked down upon by the other inhabitants of the region. Once hailing from another kingdom, these druids immigrated to Thaln as they looked for a better life. They would maintain their traditions and magics, venerating nature. They also worshipped the nature goddess Hildena, a very different religion that the Reonite or Mayonite religions that were popular in the kingdom. For a long time they were just tolerated by their neighbours. That changed when the War of the Red Flag began.

The forces of Phoran Cal travelled to the south, trying to recruit the locals to his cause. When they approached the druids, they were rebuffed. The wandering clan decided to align themselves with the rightful king. Using their ancient magic, the druids forced the rebel forces out of their land. When the war ended, the King acknowledged the efforts of the druids, and declared that their leader Paulas Zeydria as the rightful leader of the druid clan. Because of this recognizing, a bond between the royal court and the druids was founded. To help cement this bond, Paulas sent his first born son Kherun to live in the royal court.

The young Kherun was taken in to be trained as a servant of the court, helping around the castle. It was here that he first heard stories of the Iron Rose Knights. Kherun immediately began doing everything he could to join the organization. He secretly began training with a sword with the help of the palace guards. He would sneak into the stables to learn to ride a horse. He would even convert to the Mayonite faith due to its connection with the Knights.

But even with all this work, the best future Kherun would likely find was one of a palace guard. He then decided that he needed an edge, something to make him stand out among the other potential knights. So he decided to dig into his heritage, Kherun reading every book he could find on druids and their nature magic. Luckily, as he studied, Kherun discovered that he had indeed inherited the magic of his people. For several years Kherun worked to expand his magical potential, all the while still keeping up with his traditional knight training.

By the time he had reached his twentieth year, Kherun was essentially a full blown druid. He know wielded a wooden staff, had an owl familiar, and could commune with nature. These qualities were not unnoticed in the court, as several nobles noted that a magic user could be a benefit to the Iron Rose Knights. So after a lot of royal bureaucracy, Kherun was admitted into the Knights on a trial basis. Even though it wasn’t a full membership to the order, Kherun was elated and ready to prove himself as a worthy knight.

Equipment:

Kherun wears a set of leather armour, with a lighter metal armour on top of it. In his right hand is a longsword, one just the right size to be comfortably wielded with one hand. In his other is a long wooden staff, made from the wood of an ancient tree. This staff acts as a magical focus and can both power up and speed up the casting of spells. Kherun also has a small dagger kept strapped to his side, just in case of emergencies. Around his neck is several small charms, bones, and other fetishes that are central to his identity as a druid. While not exactly gear, Kherun does keep a grey warhorse named Wedge for transportation and a great horned owl named Watcher as a familiar.

Skills:

Kherun has all the basic skills needed to be a knight. He can ride a horse, he can move in armour, and is proficient with a blade. What sets him apart is his druid powers, as he has a connection to nature. Kherun can focus his magic to make plants grow, he can read their auras, and can even control them. A side effect of this is that Kherun feels sick when plant life near him is being destroyed. He also has a connection to animals, being able to understand more out of their calls and they can do tasks for him. This is most evident with Watcher, a great horned owl who works for Kherun as a familiar. Kherun is also well read, not only being literate but being fluent in a few languages, including the ancient druid speech of his people.

[A Lowly Wretch]

Martin Hollowsland

Name: Martin Hollowsland.

Age: 15.

Gender: Male

Race: Human.

Appearance:

Sketch

With a body that makes most young girls seem masculine by comparison Martin is by far the least intimidating presence in any group. He stands at about 4'5" with platinum blonde hair, ice blue eyes and skin so pale that the hair and eyes are the only things on him with any semblance of pigmentation. He wears a blue travelers cloak with a high collar, hood and buttonable front folds. Underneath he's mostly sporting a silver-trim tunic with a semi-ornate belt. His boots though crafted of quality leather are of a thick build, meant more for longs hikes than other more courtly footwear.

Personality: On the surface he is a quiet, meek sort. He struggles to speak up for himself and largely tries to avoid overt attention overall. At most times he is relatively cautious, perhaps largely due to his nervous disposition. He stammers frequently and oft trips over his own words in times of trouble but in calmer circumstances around those he's comfortable with he still chooses his words carefully, often opting not to speak at all if it puts him at risk of upsetting others.

Below the surface his kindness and altruism has been colored with despair and pessimism. He genuinely wants to help others and believes that if he has the power to then he should use it to aid those in need. Living the life of a nobleman's fifth son however has given him much insight into the nature of people and has done well to discourage him from being ambitious. With his eldest brother constantly watching his back while waiting for their father to die so he can inherit the family's holdings before driving his kin off his property and his second and third oldest brothers both plotting the eldest's demise he's not very comfortable spending much time, if any, with his family. His father was very Machiavellian style of lord. He would spend countless hours either amidst court politics or plotting schemes on how to better expand his territory and undercut his rivals. His mother wasn't much better. He only really got along with his younger sister. He had a couple friends but for the most part he was simply happier being apart from everything, either studying or enjoying nature.

At his core he is bidden by strong ethical drive to help others however he can. His natural personality would have him blend in to the background as he is quite shy both by nature and as a result of being so far down in the food-chain when it comes to his family but he does enjoy spending time with those he considers friends. He is fairly smart and tends to think things through but is far from daring and folds quite quickly under direct confrontation, both in the figurative and literal sense. There is a part of him that seems somewhat secretive however. He is often evasive in dialogue and tries not to discuss himself more than necessary, keeping details to a minimum.

He fears what would happen should the public learn of his bond with The Advocate.

Brief Backstory: Martin is the fifth son in a long family lineage of lords, the youngest of his brothers and second youngest of his siblings, the youngest being his little sister Nina. He grew up largely picked on by his older brothers who were jaded by their wealth and position. They never respected him but also payed him little mind as he was no obstacle to them but he also kept well away from being included in any of their schemes, secluding himself to his studies and arts whenever possible.

He had few friends amidst his peers. His best friend was a noblewoman's daughter, Edre, a girl around his age who wanted to join the Iron Rose Knights. She was a sporty firebrand who practiced all sorts of martial skills but she detested the entitlement and fluid ethics of most other noble's children. They bonded when she stood up for him one day, driving off those who were bullying him.

One day however a terrible incident occurred. Bandits had attacked her one day when she was off for horse-riding practice, intent on kidnapping her for ransom. Even with only her instructor by her side she had no intention of surrendering and fought back, even managing to drive the bandits off. She was injured beyond repair in the process however. Her dominant arm was maimed and her leg nearly severed. After her instructor had brought her back, keeping her alive enough to survive the trip back to her estate, they took her in and stabilized her condition.

Unfortunately for her while she was recovering well enough she was rendered quite incapable of all but the least taxing physical activities. While it would not have been impossible to treat her with magical healing from the church those with the magical potential and means of healing were not immediately within their city and commissioning one to come over and conduct their magic would cost a hefty sum. Instead her parents, who had disliked her tomboyish nature and disapproved of her ambitions, used this as a means of educating her as to why she should focus on more courtly ambitions. This had crushed her spirit almost entirely.

_
The next time Martin saw her she was a miserable shell of her old self, bitter with disappointment and lacking all her former vigor and enthusiasm. He had never seen her so downcast and it wounded his heart to see his friend suffer so. He went and prayed at the church of Mayon, wishing to the goddess for a way to bring his friend back to how she used to be. That night however what he encountered however was something... Else.

In his bedroom mirror he saw in place of his ordinary reflection a version of himself in a most wretched state. His hair was disheveled, his clothes torn and frayed, his body coated in a litany of wounds and other ailments. The mirror image stood with a crutch, his arm in a sling. This version of himself spoke aloud, introducing himself as "The Advocate".

The Advocate offered a means of helping his friend. He fully accepted his help and in return was taught a spell of some sort. While it had described in clear detail how to perform it the actual spell's function was largely a mystery, only briefly explained as a spell of healing. The truth only became clear after he had rode out in the dead of night, sneaking upon her family's ground and casting this spell from the forest upon her. While he didn't see it's effect on her the spell's functionality was made immediately apparent as he suddenly found himself sporting all of her injuries.

He quickly realized the gravity of what he had done. Though she might now be in perfect health he was clearly in the state that she was not long ago. If the truth came out that it was him who had performed what was essentially a miracle then attract a lot of attention. Too much attention in fact.

He knew his family well and understood quite well that being discovered as capable of performing miraculous feats would make him a pawn for everyone else. His family, the other lords, the church, there was no way he could keep up with the machinations of those around him if he were to suddenly become that important. Instead he decided that he'd return to his home only long enough to gather his belongings before sneaking back out again and leave home for good. As he was packing his things however he made a shocking discovery.

The Advocate stood still within his mirror but now his dominant arm was free from it's sling and he no longer stood upon a crutch.

Not long after his recent departure he came upon the Knights of The Iron Rose, those who's own mission were also to help those in need. It was then he figured that by helping them he'd be helping others too. A risky endeavor but if he were able to spare at least a couple from an early death then it'd be worth it. His biggest concern remained The Advocate, the being who opposed everything he stood for, invisible to all but himself.

Equipment: Upon his person he carries a satchel with his belongings, mostly just the things one needs to travel the long and winding roads. He carries with him a lantern for lighting the way during the darker hours. He keeps some oil and a tinderbox in his satchel for this reason. Aside from all that his only other notable belonging is a journal along with some ink and a writing quill. It was something to express his thoughts and record his travels into should he one day perish and someone finds his belongings. As for weapons the closest thing he has to that is a small knife designed more for opening letters than for things like bloodshed.

Skills: Martin is fairly well educated, having a good understanding of many different subjects though little in the way of practical experience in any such fields. As far as combat is concerned one would be better off handing a blade to a rabbit before even considering him.

As far as magic is concerned while Martin might have the capacity to cast magic his knowledge of spellcraft is quite limited for his only tutor is The Advocate, a being who's purpose and nature he fails to understand. He can use a sort of healing spell to remove all wounds and ailments, both magical and otherwise, off of someone at the cost of taking them upon himself in their stead. It is a dangerous spell for he has to balance just how much damage he can absorb from others before the effects prove fatal. What's even deadlier is what else can be done with it, a secret known only to The Advocate itself. While it's evident the spell can move injuries and other such ailments only it knows that these effects can be moved off the caster onto another. What's more is that other variations of this spell can be used to shirk damage off of the caster onto those around them or even dilute injuries to any individual across a unified group. The Advocate knows much but shares only what is deemed necessary to further it's own mysterious ends.

Aside from all that Martin's true talent lies in his sensitivity towards spirits. He can see both ghosts and magical auras but at the cost of being highly vulnerable to them. While unknown to him he is, in truth, a natural medium who serves as a conduit for both magic and many varieties of spirits. Being so exposed to possession is a dangerous quality which is what made Martin such an ideal host for The Advocate. This does, however, make it relatively easy for him to channel magic when there comes a time for him to learn such spells.