Stern Algorithm

Arknights: 5S

@Nanolyte Hey, I just wanted to ask if everything was okay.

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Sara, Daughter of Aliya

Edmund @webboysurf, Maya @Obscene Symphony, Tyler @Scribe of Thoth

Sara blinked a few times in slight confusion, then put her hand to her chin as if lost in thought. Did Tyler truly find Lucas' behavior charming? No, surely he was being sarcastic, but it did bring something else to mind. Straightening back up, Sara replied, "I apologize, it is unbecoming of me to encourage back-biting of our respective Scions. It was not my intent to do so; they are, after all, The Mother's chosen, and it is an honor to serve them, come what may. I merely wished to offer a hand in solidarity and support, should it be needed. But I have spoken out of turn; you have been a Templar longer than I have, so it is not my place to share with you the difficulties of the post." With that, she bowed lightly and took a step back, excusing herself from the conversation.

Though there wasn't anywhere she particularly wanted to, or could, go. Being confined to this room and forced to engage in the politics of interpersonal relationships was tiring; Sara counted her blessings that Theobald mostly kept to himself, allowing her to, by proxy, avoid this kind of awkwardness most of the time. She pulled out her phone and checked the orphanage group chat to see what her 'sisters' and the children were up to, seeing many pictures of their preparations for the millennium festival. Though it brought a smile to her face, it brought a pang of homesickness. That's right, the orphanage, Lorenzia, and The Estoran Federation were her home, if only people could see that.

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Sara, Daughter of Aliya

Edmund @webboysurf, Maya @Obscene Symphony, Tyler @Scribe of Thoth

At Theobald's request, Sara gave what was something between a curt nod and an abbreviated bow. Perhaps what he wished to speak with Fyodor about was not meant for her ears. Though Sara took her duty seriously, she generally gave Theobald a fairly wide berth. She knew he was a man not prone to insubordination, and that he would not do anything to disobey the wishes of his superiors nor shirk the responsibilities of his station, so she had no fear that he would sneak away outside of her supervision. He was also a very large and very dangerous man if he needed to be; even if Sara left him to his own devices for a period of time, it was unlikely that he would come to any harm.

Sara found herself drifting towards the Scion and Templar of Gravity. Theobald was close to Edmund, and Sara had been left to supervise Maya when the two men went on their camping trips. As it turns out, the new Templar of Time was interacting with the pair as well, so it only seemed fitting to address at least one of individuals this ceremony was for.

Your Holiness," Sara bowed to Maya, then greeted her Templar "Sir Edmund," before turning to Tyler. "Sir Tyler, I am unsure whether to offer my congratulations or my condolences, so I will offer both." Her gaze flitted over to Theobald and then Lucas for a moment before returning. "In some ways, you and I are in the same boat, though your situation is assuredly the more difficult. If things become...unbearable, call upon The Mother for patience and succor, but also know that there are people who will stand by you. I'm always available if you need to talk." Sara hoped that she was not overstepping her bounds. The primary suspects for Theodore's death were the Kaudians, but she hoped that Tyler did not label her as guilty by association. Though they had both been Scions for a while, Sara had not had many chances to interact with Tyler; perhaps that will change going forward. If anything she had respected the work that the previous Scion of Time had devoted his short life to, Peace with Kaudus, and appreciated that Tyler had been there to support him up until Theodore's martyrdom.

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Sara, Daughter of Aliya

Sara quietly follower Theobald towards Commander Fyodor and offered a salute as well. At least that was something she and her Scion had in common; they both respected the old leader. The thought had crossed her mind to ask Fyodor for reassignment due to the tension between herself and Theobald, but she knew this was an impossible request if she wished to remain a Templar as Templars served until death (their own or their Scion's) or until they stepped down from being Templars. And it wasn't like any of the other Scion's didn't already have their Templars. Even if that were the case, Scions were celebrities, and any such reassignment would surely be the topic of gossip and speculation. Though working with Theobald was difficult, there was no need to broadcast that to the whole world. Besides, Sara saw that, underneath it all, Theobald was a good man; he was just hung up on his ambitions and prejudices.

Sara lamented the fact that this room seemed to be filled with Scions who were sick and tired of their Templars and vice versa and allowed their displeasure to be apparent on their faces and demeanor. What happened to duty? What happened to professionalism? What happened to putting one's own personal feelings aside for the greater good? Perhaps this was what the older sisters referred to as the 'deterioration of faith'. In the modern age, each person saw themselves as increasingly important, saw only their own struggles while ignoring those of others, and lost their sense of community and sense of responsibility to others. Sara shook her head and smiled; this had nothing to do with modernity, or social media, or technology; people were like this in whatever era. The 'young people these days' would grow up to say the same thing about their children. It wasn't about 'the times', it was about youth, experience, and maturity, a cycle that every individual had to go through and would be criticized for by the previous generation who 'knew better'. They will learn and they will grow in time; there was no need to be impatient.

Looking around the room, Sara smiled at Ionna's 'stunt'. At least someone was trying to get along with others, and bringing sweets was a good start, though Sara did not partake, choosing to remain at Theobald's side for the time being. Besides, it's possible that whatever Theobald wished to speak with the commander about may be important. However, Sara's gaze wandered to the young princess. While Sara had been around children for most of her life, she had been surrounded by poor children and didn't know how to act around a rich one, let alone the princess herself. Though Sara believed that all children ultimately had the same wants and desires, she saw Rosemary like a delicate vase; best keep her distance lest some neurotic butler accuse her of 'daring to approach' such a 'fragile piece'. After all, Sara was Kaudian.

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Sara, Daughter of Aliya

Sara stood at attention next to Theobald during the ceremony. Though she maintained a stoic expression befitting the gravitas of the event, mentally she chafed against the situation. Though she had been a woman of the church, what 'the church' constituted varied from place to place, and the humility of the orphanage that she was used to differed drastically from the opulence of the Cathedra Incepta. Rowdy children, upstart squires, and boisterous knights were what she was used to, and she had a hard time deciding how best to behave in the presence of deeply-entrenched as well as up-and-coming nobility.

The anointing itself was also incredibly awkward. Though the death of the previous Scion of Time was a serious tragedy and a blow to the faith, Sara did not feel that it was fair for Sir Tyler to bear such a stigma. If they were unsatisfied with his performance, why did they not simply dismiss him? Of course, Sara was sure that a thorough investigation must have been made that, on paper, absolved him of blame and negligence, but what was legally determined and what ill feelings people continued to bear in their hearts rarely, if ever, aligned. But though it may hurt Sir Tyler's career and reputation to be dismissed, it may perhaps be better than to be forced to carry such a burden and to face the constant onslaught of derision and suspicion.

Thinking that, Sara realized that she was no different, as she stole a glance at her own 'ward', a man who had made it his life's goal to fend off 'her people' and become a war hero. Sara recalled her ceremony, where Theobald had slapped her afterwards for being Kaudian, and wondered if the same would happen once this one was over. Yet she remained by his side, perhaps out of a sense of duty to the faith, perhaps because she believed she was strong enough to suffer the thinly-veiled insults and unkind glances. Perhaps Sir Tyler felt the same way.

Be that as it may, Sara also knew that this stuffy environment didn't suit Theobald either, and if it ever became too much for him and he stormed out of the cathedral, Sara would be more than happy to accompany him, though she may linger to at least pay respects and congratulate the new Scion and Templar.

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

I am sensing some slap-slap-kiss yaoi tension from the first post.

Arknights: 5S

(Context, Ros is my favorite character in the game)

@Lemons

Oh, well that's something we have in common then. As a longtime Gundam fan, I've always liked the idea of remote flying weapons, so when I saw a character who wielded telekinetic steel plates, I was immediately intrigued. But then as she featured in Chapter 8 (or was it 7?) and I unlocked more of her story, I wanted to protecc.

Arknights: 5S

Yeah, all I can do is nod in teary-eyed approval at seeing how far Ifrit has come. "Don't touch my daughters, you creepy old man!"

Scion: The Prophecy of Anani

Sara, Daughter of Aliya

Sara, Daughter of Aliya

________________________________________ Sara, Daughter of Aliya Female | 35 | Lorenzia (of Kaudian descent) Templar of Fire _______________________________________________ Can't believe they let someone of her...ilk become a templar. I wouldn't be surprised if another scion goes missing, sold to Kaudus, no doubt. ________________________________________

I find myself wondering why Incepta blessed Gaia with scions but not the other continents? Are not all humans Incepta's children? Do we not all need her guidance? Or are the people of Gaia favored among them? Apologies, it is uncouth of me to question Incepta's will. Minor Holy Sigil Location On the cheek Appearance Sara has dark skin, along with long, flowing, silky, raven hair. As a devotee of the church, she dresses modestly, somewhat hiding her figure and physique. Her face exudes a calm, motherly demeanor, but her eyes burn with a stern, critical inquisitiveness. She is tall, with wider shoulders than most women. Personality Sara is defined by the phrase 'hidden strength'. Initially, she appears quiet and demure, her time as a teacher at the orphanage having taught her patience and how to be gentle. But the cruelty she has seen living on the streets, mixed with the teachings of the church and what little of her homeland's tradition that she was able to glean from her mother have created within her a hard and decisive sense of justice. Though zealous, she is also curious and hungry for knowledge. As someone who never belonged, her heart questions and seeks answers. She finds comfort in scripture and devotion but seeks deeper truths that some might consider heretical, so she keeps these thoughts to herself. Though she has not had access to the best education, many have underestimated her intelligence due to preconceived notions of her 'people and culture'. Biography Sara's mother, Aliya, was seduced and trafficked from the Kaudus Empire into indentured servitude in Lorenzia by someone who she claimed to her dying breath was a noble, a noble who promised her a new life full of luxuries. Aliya even claimed several times that Sara's father was coming to visit, though he always met her mother behind closed doors, so Sara was never able to catch a glimpse of him. Aliya worked ahrd to support herself and her daughter, and implored Sara to focus on her education, ingraining in the child the fact that education was the only real means of social mobility for people like them. Eventually, Aliya took ill and passed quickly, and Sara registered herself at an orphanage that was run by the church. A large girl for her age, Sara found herself defending her fellow orphans from bullies, and as she grew older, this naturally led to her taking on a caretaker role for the younger children, as the orphanage was chronically understaffed. Since the orphanage was attached to the church, Sara simply followed the current trajectory of her life, and became a devotee of the church, cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry, while also becoming a teacher at the orphanage in order to support herself once she had surpassed the age that the orphanage was legally allowed to take care of her. This left her with little to no time to pursue higher education, and she doubted that she would ever save up enough to enroll into a Doumerc university, and even if she did, she knew the quality of her inner-city education was lacking. Ultimately, Sara was content serving the church and taking care of orphans like herself, perhaps she could give them the opportunities that seemed out of her reach. One day, as a young adult, Sara saw a noble picking on a commoner, and as the noble's wrath escalated to violence, Sara stepped in to stop him. Enraged at having been interrupted, the noble pulled out his blade. The commoner that Sara was defending happened to be pushing a cart full of supplies, and Sara grabbed from it a length of chain with which to defend herself from the noble's cold steel. Underestimating her prowess, the noble was disarmed, at which point, Sara wrapped the chain around her fist and soundly beat the noble. A passing knight witnessed the incident and investigated the issue, ultimately siding with Sara and chastising the noble. Despite her age, the knight saw her late-blooming talent, and after learning that she was a devotee of the church, invited her to become a page. Sara accepted, and throughout her training, demonstrated exemplary loyalty, devotion, single-minded dedication, strength that belied her appearance, a softness where mercy was concerned, and a hardness where justice was required. After becoming a knight, Sara was assigned to wilderness patrol, which became a unique learning opportunity for her, having lived in the city her whole life. Sara earned a reputation for ferocity, donning heavy armor in order to take the full brunt of a charging monster's assault and using chains to subdue the creature, allowing her comrades an easier time to take it down. When asked how she learned to wrangle such unpredictable and dangerous creatures, Sara would joke that she had been a teacher. After a few years of proving her mettle in the wilds, the knight who had recruited her recommended her to become a templar, and soon after she was assigned to the Scion of Fire, Nikolai Gaumond. As a templar, Sara became celebrity-adjacent, and a celebrity in her own right. The attention was new to her, but neither did she run from it, nor was she swayed by it. Throughout public appearances, Sara maintained professionalism and modesty, reminding herself and others that her fame came only due to her proximity to Nikolai, who was the real 'star of the show'. However, the noble she had thrashed so many years ago recognized her on television and sought to ruin her. Digging into her past, he discovered that Sara was the bastard daughter of a Kaudian mother and maliciously spread this information. When confronted about it, though Sara held no loyalty to Kaudus, she did not deny her heritage, believing that truth and honesty were virtues. Fortunately, Nikolai trusted her, as did Commander Fyodor, and Sara was able to keep her position, though public appearances and social functions became colder and more hostile for her. Eventually, Nikolai passed from age, and Sara was put on standby until the next Scion of Fire was discovered. This didn't take long, though the news that the miracle had occurred at the Kaudian front filled Sara with misgivings. Though from a shaky and uncertain background, Sara has gone through life one step at a time, allowing the fate that Incepta has ordained for her to guide her. She seemingly never questioned the events that pushed her through life, taking everything in stride. However, it is not so much that she never questioned it, only that wherever she was and whatever she was doing, there was always something new to learn, and she was always content with that. As a Templar, she would be closest to the nearest thing to divinity, a post that satisfied both her zeal and her curiosity. Weapon of Choice Gauntlets and a chain. Misc. Combat Theme - Towerfierce Hider Sister of the Church Theme - The Love that Binds Us Hider The naming convention of Aliya's tribe does not use last names, they simply state that they are the son or daughter of the parent whose tribe they are a part of, hence Sara does not have a last name (this is loosely-based on ancient Arabic naming conventions). Sara's origin story is loosely inspired by the heroic outlaws from the Chinese novel Water Margin, who usually exact retribution on deserving nobles, only to become outcasts due to the corruption within the upper echelons of society. Sara, of course, does not become an outcast in this case. Sara's character is somewhat inspired by the character Carnelian from the gatcha game Arknights, who is a displaced tribal cloaked in noble refinement. Sara wears a sword at her hip, mostly out of ceremony. She knows how to use it, though it is not her preferred weapon. Sara still keeps in touch with the orphanage and often flips through pictures of the children that they send her. For the visual artists out there, I apologize for being a hack and using AI generated art.

Arknights: 5S

The conclusion of Lone Trail (and info about Endfield coming out) has me emotionally wrecked and is forcing me to slightly tweak some of the background for this RP.