Biographical SectionName: Aëyr.
Age: 19.
Race: Selkie.
Sex: Female.
Appearance: Dark brown hair, slim build, average height. (better description to come, probably draw her when I get the chance)
Homeland: The Free Holds.
Born and raised in the seas, near an uninhabitated northern archipelago, she learned the ways of survival both above and below sea-level. Her shoal was not large, but tight-knit, and had regular gatherings with other nearby shoals, selkie, merfolk, or otherwise. So far out at sea, there was very little in the way of interference from the landborne races. However, still young, a merchant convoy from the Free Holds happened upon her archipelago and decided to spend some time there resting, restocking, and taking note of the isles' resources and location for future voyages. Finding the selkies residing there, they offered some trade in exchange for some of the precious ores surrounding a dormant volcano. Not valuing the ores themselves, the selkies readily agreed to the trade.
A couple years later, when she was sixteen years old, a new, larger, and better-armed convoy arrived at their archipelago. These new men made no efforts for trade, and went straight to mining the ores and cutting down trees for lumber.
The selkies approached the merchants and their guards demanding they leave their isles alone, but they refused, threatening the selkies if they interfered. Powerless, the selkies could do nothing but observe as their land was pilfered. In hiding, they eagerly awaited the day when the men would leave them to their peace, but when that day came, they were in for an even worse fate than before. A small troop was sent out to find the selkie hideout and capture some of them as slaves. Once found, they attacked and ruthlessly killed six, capturing two girls and one man.
On the ship, they were chained to the deck and not allowed into the water. Drying up to the sun, it was not long before the three of them had shed their coats. The man, most adept in the use of magic, managed to break himself free of the bonds, but was slain before he could escape with the others. And so it was that they were shipped through Teluria to the Free Holds and sold into the slavery of a brothel in the city of SouthBlood. Trained both physically and mentally, given strict workout regiments and diets—though hers tailored to her amphibious nature—she quickly became one of the many skilled prostitutes of the establishment, often using her empathetic nature to take advantage of her consumers' desires.
Though she, as the years passed, came to accept the hard life fate had given her, her constant companion Eüchia, the selkie two years her younger who'd been captured alongside Aëyr, had fallen into a deep depression. As such, she resolved to break her out. They made it halfway through the city before being caught. To make an example of them to the other slaves and prostitutes, they strung Eüchia at the end of a dock, gave Aëyr a dagger and three options: slit Eüchia's throat, and keep her own life; cut Eüchia loose into the water, and be banished to the desert; or do nothing and spare Eüchia, but be herself flogged to death on display.
Taking the dagger in her hands, she cut Eüchia loose.
They abandoned her naked in the desert, far from other settlements, with no knowledge of where she was. Knowing not what else she could do, she ran in one direction, sleeping during the day and absorbing any moisture she could from the air, with a little help from her meager magical abilities to keep the heat at bay. After three days, she arrived—starved, dehydrated, largely sleep-deprived, and burnt from the sun, at Goblin Hold. They cleaned her up and brought her back to a decent level of health, astounded by her trek across the desert. When she was fit enough to leave, she gratefully took her leave of the Goblin Holds, and with rations to last, she went first to the Imperium, then to the other side of the Blood Sea, and has been wandering since, constantly moving.
Motivation: After years of slavery, Aëyr wants to regain some sense of self-worth. Benevolent at heart, and choosing others over herself, all she wants is a better world where others, perhaps, won't have to suffer as she did. She chose to join the Queen's Blades to help others.
Traits & Equipment
Slippery:
You are fully aware of what happens if that war hammer the size of a small child hits you square on the chin. You’ve decided to make it a priority to learn how to never let that happen, and while you’re still learning, you understand at least enough to jump back from a blow before it takes off your head.{Basics of dodging and evasion.}
Dodge!:
[Rank 2] As you've refined your instincts, your ability to avoid harm has also grown, and as such whenever an enemy swings at you, there's a solid chance you've already figured out not to be there by the time the swing would connect.{Dodging is quicker and no longer forces your character onto the defensive, and can occur even if your character is caught off guard.}
Stealthy:
Every journey begins somewhere for the avid stealth expert, and yours is about on par with that of a cut-purse or a minor bugler. You have the basics down, but to learn more will take time and practice.{Basics of stealth-oriented tasks and escaping.}
Endurance Training:
After training out in the field for hours and hours on ending, you have come to realize the value of being able to simply last longer than your opponent. This translates into taking a couple more hits before you will go down, and having a higher tolerance to pain... Though, getting hit still hurts, quite a bit actually, and you’re no god.{Basics of taking more damage and resisting pain-related negative effects.}
Acrobatic:
You understand the basics of climbing ropes, ascending walls, jumping across rooftops, and rolling when you hit the ground. On the other hand, you’ve only really grasped the basics of it, so jumping a twenty foot chasm while being shot at is not recommended.{Basics of acrobatics: Climbing, falling gracefully, etc.}
Selkie:
Selkies are amphibious creatures, living both on land and in the sea. As such, Aëyr has partially webbed appendages that aid her in swimming, and can hold her breath underwater for about an hour. She can handle great pressure so as to dive deep, and can see well both above and below water. Their physiology is also designed to allow them to support the cold of the sea.{Increased swimming skill; breathe longer; underwater sight; withstand high pressures; withstand low temperatures.}
Going the Distance:
A skilled runner, she is both fast and enduring, able to make long treks with great speed and little sustenance.{Increases speed and endurance while running.} Level 2
Burning Fast on an Empty Tank:
Even after exhausting herself completely, she can push herself to the same speeds with but a moment's rest.{Decreases recovery time.}
Teamwork I:
You work well with others, and are growing accustomed to doing so. You have a greater chance of success in any action if you perform it with an ally, rather than alone.{Minor bonus to anything when done with a compatriot, to a reasonable degree.}
Sharpshooter:
You've become accustomed to aiming, then firing. Nifty.{Minor bonus to accuracy.}
Equipment ListWears light sleeveless clothing, with some leather sewn in for
minor protection of essential parts, but mostly designed to be lightweight and flexible. Carries large canteens filled with water, a large warm cloak, a satchel filled with a variety of medicinal herbs and paraphernalia, and a couple long, sharp daggers. Also her weapon of choice, a sling with a number of small spherical stones.
Personal SectionRomance: It happens if it happens.
Does the Kouri Plushie exist?: I suspect so.
Signature: Holmishire, should you choose to accept me.
