Name: Rowan of the Turning Leaves
Age: 24
Race: Fairy
Gender/Pronouns: AFAB - He/Him or They/Them interchangeably.
Appearance: All the common traits of Autumnal Fae are found in Rowan. Dark brown eyes that are large and rounded. Red hair that is chopped short, and sharp facial features. Well, not completely sharp, Rowan has pretty chubby, rosy, cheeks, which he puffs out when he's frustrated. Rowan is a little shorter than the average fairy. He stands at 2'8, but swears he is an even three feet tall. He always stands up completely straight, often with his arms crossed over his chest or braced against his hips. Rowan, always, stands up straight, especially around people taller than him, making direct eye contact with people when he speaks to them. Weighing in at 25 pounds Rowan is small in every sense of the word. On top of being short and thin they appear to have very little muscle development in their arms and legs, clearly not the body of a seasoned warrior.
His voice, by some accounts, does not seem to fit his body. Unlike the high pitched and soft voices of Fairies in movies, Rowan has a more raspy and gruff voice. While this might be a bit surprising to people first meeting Rowan, after time this voice sounds less rough and tumble and more like a young man trying to sound intimidating. But this is not always the case. When he is excited, tired, or caught off guard, his voice tends to take a higher pitch to it. Pointing this out usually ends with some rapid fire curses and some rude gestures.
But given this Rowan tends to...stick out among other Fae. Fae who love to groom and flaunt their wardrobes. His hair is messy, rarely brushed out of it's tangle, his clothes are dirty and torn in spots. While other races might not notice this, other Fairies do, and Fairies love to make a stink about it.
Attire: Like most Fae Rowan sticks to a very natural color scheme when it comes to clothes, as well as rough hewn fabrics. He favors shades of green and brown, which help with the natural camouflage Fae have in the forests. Most of his clothes are slightly ill fitted, especially around the chest, but if questioned he claims it's easier to move in looser clothes. Rowan's favorite outfit, and the one he is spotted in the most, is a simple. A linen tunic, and trousers. Both of these articles have several patches and repairs in them, suggesting they are rather old.
In battle very little changes. Rowan does not wear armor. The only thing the Fae does to prepare for a battle is roll up his sleeves in preparation to cast spells. The only other change is the spell book, bound in leather and tree fibers, moves from his bag to his outstretched hand.
What Rowan will not wear, however, is shoes. He feels like it is a disrespect to Nature, and severs his connection to the natural world. The most notable thing about Rowan's attire is a leather wrapping around his left wrist. He never takes it off, and nervously fidgets with it when he think's no one is watching.
Outward Personality: Upon first glance Rowan kinda comes off as a dick. Permanent scowl on his face, arms always crossed in front of his chest. He won't speak unless spoken to. But if he is talked to he answers questions quickly and curtly, why say a sentence when a word would do? He's also incredibly defensive, ready to point fingers and verbally attack if he thinks someone is against him. But people who get to know Rowan can tell this is a cover up.
Rowan, in reality, is really shy. Nervous around people, so he puts on the prickly exterior to avoid messing up. But sticking through the cracks is a genuinely gentle individual who enjoys quiet company. An anxious and lost fairy who really just needs to hear a couple of jokes and sing a couple of songs. He also snorts when he laughs.
Bonds: He would have given up long ago, to die alone and forgotten in a ditch somewhere. But he made a promise, and promises are very important to the Fae.
Goal: Rowan is always striving towards getting stronger, in the magic sense. Discovering magical artifacts, learning ancient and unknown spells, exploring dusty libraries for forgotten tomes. But Rowan's ultimate goal is to learn a spell to break a powerful curse.
Character Flaws: Coming from a society, and way of life, that is all about tricking each other, and throwing each other to the dogs at the first slip up, has left Rowan struggling to trust others. He also finds it almost impossible to ask for help, seeing it as a weakness. He immediately assumes if someone wants to help them that this will be used later against him. Any sign of good will is a trick and an debt. Because of this Rowan rarely opens up about his feelings, and instead uses lies to keep people from getting to know him.
Backstory: The leaves in the great oak tree had just started to turn orange when a Fairy was born.
Rowan, born Rowena, was the third child in a family of talented performers and musicians. It was joked that they learned to sing before they could talk, and went right from crawling to dancing. While other Fae children played in the streets, Rowena was learning to play instruments, favoring the pan flute and lute above all else. And while Rowena was quite reserved, shy around other children, they came to life during a performance. They were often hired for parties and other gatherings, drawing large crowds of faeries. So it came as no surprise when Rowena was chosen, as the tender age of fifteen, to travel with Lord Dryden of the Summer Breeze and his entourage, as his minstrel, announcing his presence and accompanying his meetings and parties with music.
For several years Rowena traveled with this group, but as they grew older, it was clear that they longed for more. And the night they turned seventeen the Lord Dryden released them from their duties as his minstrel, encouraging the young Fae to travel the world telling stories and playing music.
And while Rowena was excited to be free to choose their own path, they had grown unhappy with their presence. They needed something new, a rebranding to mark the start of their journey as a traveling bard.
This was when Rowan was born.
At first nothing but a stage persona, long orange hair tucked into a feather cap, breasts bound with cloth and leather, a mysterious and flirty persona that left audiences captivated. But soon, Rowena realized that they were far more comfortable being Rowan. And so Rowan remained both on and off stage, drawing fans from far and wide as he traveled. One night a member of his audience caught his eye. An Ostaran, with messy long hair, bright green eyes and a mess of freckles across his face. Something about him stood out to Rowan, and the Fae tracked him down after the show.
He said his name was Rafferty. And Rowan was instantly smitten.
The pair traveled together for awhile, first as performer and...manager of some sort, although Rafferty had only ever managed chickens. But slowly the two morphed from traveling companions to lovers. Rafferty was Rowan's balance. When the Fae got frustrated or in over his head, Rafferty was always there to lead him through it. And while Rowan could b cynical and rude, Rafferty was always kind and open minded. And no matter how large his crowds were, Rafferty was always going to be his number one fan.
But not everyone was a fan of Rowan.
Fairies are...tricky creatures. They like to poke and gossip and cause problems, especially with other Fae. It was simply their culture. And Rowan enjoyed a good deal of mischief. Many of his songs were...inappropriate to say the least, many of them insulting to minor Fae lords and ladies. And one of their songs happened to be about a Fae named Eoin having...relations with a goat.
And while the audience found these songs quite funny, Prince Eoin of the Clouded Sky didn't.
One night, as Rowan and Rafferty settled in for the night, buzzing with excitement at the success of the last show, Eoin suddenly appeared in a gust of icy wind. Eoin was infuriated, as this song could damage his reputation in the Winter courts, and as a lover of Maeb, he had quite a bit of power on his side. With a flourish Eoin unleashed a powerful curse, a sickly black beam crackling in Rowan's direction.
Rafferty pushed him out of the way. Saving the fairy and taking the curse onto himself.
Petrification. Frozen in rock, a scared look on his face, his arms outstretched in a permanent shove.
Eoin found this quite entertaining, listening to the distraught wails and sobs of Rowan, and found it a suitable punishment for the song. And he vanished. Leaving Rowan alone with his trapped love. Rowan remained, clung to the stone statue of Rafferty, for days. Completely distraught and heartbroken. He didn't understand how someone could be so selfless, to take something so terrible upon themself to save another. But Rowan knew his simple magical skills would not be enough to fix him, he needed to be stronger.
So Rowan left the forested grove, growing vines and grasses around the stone form of his love, hoping to shield him until he could return. And he would return. He would return with a way to break Rafferty's curse. Or he would die trying.
He was no longer Rowan of the Turning Leaves, he self exiled himself. Ashamed that his tricks and cruel jabbing had caused an innocent such harm.
He was just Rowan now. Rowan of Nothing.
Public History:Four years ago Rowan joined The Iron Pride Mercenary Company. He introduced himself as a Botanist Mage in need of money and protection while traveling. What they were seeking with the company? Access to any magical tombs or artifacts that Company happened to find, for the purpose of study. Rowan has adjusted quite well to the Company, working hard and without fuss on any mission he is sent on. But he mostly keeps to himself, not wanting to socialize with his companions. He does, however, seem quite curious about what his companions know, and if you have a fun fact Rowan will listen.
Skills: Magic: First and foremost Rowan is a mage, a Botanist, and a pretty competent one. In a fight Rowan is able to use nature magic to slow down or trip enemies. While his magic is not extremely damaging, a thorn whip to an eye hurts no matter what. And outside of battle Rowan can identify most magic effects and texts with relative ease.
Mobile and Quiet: Rowan is able to move pretty quickly and pretty quietly, even moreso when in a forested area. Being able to fly is an added bonus.
Navigation: Rowan has traveled through most of Southern and Central Tithe, can easily read a map or stars and use navigational tools. Also as a Fae Botanist he is attuned to the nature of an area, able to find the fastest and clearest path to a destination.
Plant Identification and Application: Another perk of being a botanist is being able to easily identify flora and some of it's uses. Rowan is by no means a healer, but might be able to find a plant to numb some pain or knock a dude out.
Magic: Rowan learned magic while he was a charge to the Summer court, but only recently began expanding his skills. However, in the last four years he has become an adept Botanist quite quickly. Rowan enjoys Botanist magic, finding his connection to Nature as a Fae quite comforting. Most of their magical skills fall under the influence category. Using grasses and other plants to control the movement of groups of enemies, such as using tall grass to trip enemies or cause terrain to be difficult to move through, or use bark and vines to shield allies from attacks.
He is less familiar with adaption magic, finding it to be a little...uncanny. Adaption has only been used by him instinctually, thorns shooting from their arm if they are grabbed, or hardening his skin into bark to tank an attack.
Weaponry: Rowan isn't skilled in physical weaponry at all. He carries a small knife on him, but that's more for cutting fruit. He also carries a staff. It is a well decorated with carvings of runes, colorful ribbons, and a simple metal ring pressed into the head of it. However this is used more for balance while they are casting. If Rowan is hitting someone with it, it means someone got too close and they are exhausted of magical energy.
Other: Rowan as once a well known Bard, playing a lute to accompany either stories or singing. It's been several years since Rowan has played his lute.
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