The pounding of her own heart was headache-inducing. There was so much noise coming from the growing tremors and the inevitable sounds of a famished beast coming close–all she could really hear was her own heart. Some prayed, some wanted to cower, and yet despite Zarina’s own values and attachments, the only thing that ran in her mind as she held her one-legged position was what to do when the plan failed. And given how close the monstrosity was, it appeared to be an almost guaranteed alternative.
Zarina was just about ready to intervene and improvise a last stand to salvage what she could of her team when the Wyrm just … Turn the other way? The plan worked. It worked and Zarina could now breathe, because she had just realised she was holding her breath during her standstill. A loud exhale along with a few coughs were allowed to come out as she stumbled to get her footing again. Sweat quickly accumulated all of a sudden, as if she had just done a long jog under the sun and only now had the watery aftermath. Especially on her back–it was particularly unpleasant.
”Oh. Shit.” the whole team had this moment of grand relief, and Jocasta was one of the first to downright celebrate, ”Oh SHIT.” she nodded repeatedly, ”YEAAAAH BITCH!” she wailed now that the Wyrm was quite a ways away, taken by the moment and acting like some frat boy that beat some lifting record. The adrenaline of victory was so great, she even approached Yalen and presented her hand for a High-five, which she would deliver with quite the smack, ”Yeaaaahhhh!”
Alright, it was time to cool down, Jocasta was right and they had to go. Although as they began to move, Zarina noticed the little musician had exerted herself quite a bit, as did quite a few others. The tall Virangish girl conferred special attention to the orchestrator of the initiative they had just taken. Without much warning, she swooped in to duck and nab the little lion on her shoulders to lift her up, ”There she is! ”she called out joyously, clearly not as tired as the others, "The lady of the hour. Let those little legs rest." She then turned her head toward Yalen, "I can also give piggy-backs." she winked.
During their final trek, Zarina was playing steed for the worn out little lioness. Looking over to the side, she took notice of her own sister–the person she had seemingly avoided for a while. She still didn’t speak, but when their gazes would cross, she conspicuously smiled toward Ysilla before facing forward to the Tethered Refuge.
Location: Tethered Refuge
They had made it, and the venerated lion was made to dismount now. The Refuge greeted them, and while not with the most open of arms, the little ones treated the visitors as better than the highest born of nobles. Needless to say, the sight of this many kids eager to see Zarina made the teen grin ear to ear. Without a shred of reservation, she stepped before the group of young folks, arms opened invitingly, ”Hello Refuge-Starlings! Did you like the show?” and then her hands came together in a clap, ”That Wyrm back there? Stood NO chance against our Great Mane Manoeuvre!” Ayla got a very conspicuous glance from the flamboyant Zarina.
She went on to add some spice to the events that unfolded, making it digestible for kids in the process, ”And so a Legendary Spear was made from the very sands of- Hmm?” a young boy came to her, and addressed her in her mother tongue. Whether it was her appearance, getup or thick accent in Avincian, she had been made as a Virangish, ”Gonna have to give me a moment, lovelies.” Abdel was given her full attention, scooting a bit away from the grouping youths, she’d lower herself and knelt with one knee to get at his level, ”Hmmm.” she squinted at the trinket, even reaching out touch it, ”*Azunu …”
Looking over her shoulder, Zarina’s jovial and high-energy demeanour had completely changed–the realisation of what was going on here hit her. There was no need to let the caretakers know of anything. But just as she was about to provide an answer, the young lad was downright yanked from the collar. ”The F-” her voice grew very quickly and simultaneously to her ascension, however she stopped herself very quickly The Fuck are you interrupting my discussion, Asshole? would have been her full response in a scenario far closer to home. And then potential violence.
But she knew better, Jocasta being the first she’d look at when reconsidering things, ”It’s fine.” she exhaled from her nose, with Kaspar giving her an idea, ”I was just showing him a trick.” in her hand, she morphed some of the residue sand all over her into a small, glass emerald she flicked over at the not-so-well treated boy. Lips pursed, she gave a final glance that showed nothing but uncertainty and concern to the boy he looked back.
Then came the Warden, or at least he introduced himself as that, ”Warden.” she replied with her arms crossed and a mere, curt nod. It’d be hard to tell if it was merely a polite recognition, or a remark. Either way, she kept herself discreet during the mini-tour and took in what both the establishment’s head and the recently introduced Marceline had to say. All the while, Zarina kept particular attention to Jocasta. The little things she had already begun to notice were only reinforcing the potential concerns she may have.
With the rundown given and ‘Marcelina’ attributing them their rooms, Zarina lazily waved at the Warden, ”It’s what we do.” with a just as passive and uninspired response. It seemed many things were on her mind and her distraction was made quite apparent. ”And where do you sleep, Marcelina? And everyone else?” she asked, chin nudging forward and eyebrows raised. There were no caretakers too close-- she was paying close attention to that too.
Interacting with: Yalen @pantothenic, Jocasta @Force and Fury, Ayla @Ti, Kaspar @Wolfieh (In intermission, see Kaspar’s latest post!) Location: Torragonese Desert
Yalen not only complied with Zarina’s request but even went on to close the item himself. A light bit of reluctance came from the Virangish young lady, as if she were a little surprised, although ended up relenting. A scrutinising gaze was kept on the tethered blond, both arms crossed, as she watched him go. Looking satisfied after having it returned, he’d get her thanks, along with a distinctly more genuine smile than what she had been presenting thus far.
”... No it isn’t.” was her response to Ayla’s quote, with her Virangish accent slipping her and a far more typical Avincian accent taking over ever so briefly. Her expression was as deadpan as it got, especially as she gestured toward the two dead Halassa by her own blade. Perhaps a bit disingenuous, but one was certainly mightier at getting the job done fast and efficiently, ”Although this is mightier than anything you’ll find in Severa.” she commented in jest as Ayla’s coffee cup was served.
Now for Jocasta and Zarina’s insistence. She was overjoyed to see such appreciation for her favourite treat! A toothy grin reigned on her visage, ”Wallah! You should taste it with goat milk! Trades that pure bitterness for something real nice to the tongue. M’hm.” she even has the tethered imposter’s cup a tap with her own in a celebratory manner before she indulges herself, taking small and methodical sips as if she had mastered the act of drinking it down to a science.
”Aye, thanks you two.” she corrected her finger pointing. A quick glance had her make sure everyone was following with no stragglers before she essentially led the way. And before long many would take this down time to exchange, and she wouldn’t be any different. Kaspar and Zarina would end up at the tail of the group as they’d engage in a casual but ultimately information conversation, until a couple of things caught Zarina’s ear. Most notably: Jocasta’s change in demeanour and now partially-exposed history with the refuge. There was a potential loose cannon.
The chair-bound tethered could potentially feel the growing attention coming from the tall Virangish girl behind her, or maybe not. Zarina was considering all potential issues, oblivious to just how bad things could really get, and yet she didn’t actually appear to suspect Jocasta of anything beyond volatility, ”Makes me wonder what the big beard was th-” as she was going to pursue the exchange with Kaspar, a series of unfortunate events would unfold.
Torragonese was Zarina’s second mother tongue, and as a rider, the dramatic mention of the evil sands had her on her guard immediately. Although instead of reaching for her weapon, she immediately reached her arm out to get Kaspar further behind her- a pointless gesture given the gravity of things, but one that could mean a few things. A thing was for certain, she knew the slow scholar, as well as some others, would be dead if it were true and the group was unprepared, ”Fuck.” she cursed under her breath as she looked over at the direction of the incoming beast. The seismic activity made it easy for the Kinetic mage to notice and locate the massive monstrosity, even when visibility had been diminished by the night.
The natural instinct was to run, but the team couldn’t afford it– not without help. Jocasta had the same idea, which prompted a squint from the young rider, ”She has the right idea. But most of you can’t outrun that thing. Not without a horse.” she tried her best to keep her cool, but the cold sweats were accumulating fast on her forehead and neck. She could escape, probably, and so could Jocasta by what Zarina could deduce. But the rest? Her sister? The crippled Yalen? Nerdy Kaspar? They’ll die for sure.
In Zarina’s moment of intense anxiety, a position she had never truly been in despite leading quite the dangerous folks, Ayla had a solution. The first words that came prompted Zaz’s glare, ”A game …?” precious seconds were going to waste, and they were discussing a game. But Ayla wasn’t joking. Zarina didn’t get it, not entirely anyway, but simple deduction was to use a lure by how she was attributing roles, with her own being to hurl it with Jocasta toward the Halassa they had left behind.
She got to work. Or rather, she prepared. First, she marked a spot on the sand and found a proper reference point. One of the stone plateaus was recognized and she could easily determine the trajectory of the object to be tossed away. However, that wasn’t all she was preparing. The Binders had to build, and Yalen had to heat up, and with all that spare time potentially idle, Zarina concocted Plan B. There was no point in uttering it– the risk of distracting from the main plan was too great.
”If it turns sour,” she speaks to Jocasta, as they both held the same role, ”Think you can get Ayla and Yalen to safety? I can throw my sister and Kaspar far enough for them to get away. Should be able to land and handle minor injuries. Worst case, I keep it busy.” she inhaled loudly, and then exhaled.
The turning fork was ready. It looked heavy, and definitely not something she could manipulate on her own. Her Telekinesis was still budding and magnetism most certainly wasn’t going to work properly with a super-heated piece of metal. So, she looked over at Jocasta, ”Just aim it properly, and–” another big inhale-exhale, and she went for it. With the accumulated kinetic energy from the tremors, she could unleash a single, powerful and focused blast from a well-coordinated kick. The big fork was propelled at great speeds, and now all that was left was Jocasta’s adjustment of its trajectory, and Ayla’s final touch.
And then she froze, adopting even a one-legged pose she had no issue maintaining. The most tense moment had come, and all Zarina could think of was how she would have to play out her contingency plan.
44 | MALE | PARRENCE | FORCE & ESSENCE | BERSERKER__ _ _ _ _
C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Dauntless A man that’s seen and fought it all, very little can surprise or intimidate Arnaud, even the most sided of odds. With this comes an air of jovial confidence towards any sort of adversity, seeing such things as potential challenges to reinforce the notion of him being the strongest but also enhance his own arsenal. He is not easily rattled or provoked, like a Rhinoceros in its peaceful habitat.
❖ Unrelenting Whether in the battlefield or in the mundane, Arnaud doesn’t just stop. He finishes what he started, even if it takes everything from him. It is this desire to see everything to the end that he’s earned his notoriety as bloodthirsty and unstoppable. Very few have ever stopped Arnaud in his tracks, even in conversations.
❖ Deferential Arnaud is polite and greatly values manners. He often humbles himself when exchanging with others, friends and enemies alike, often giving off the impression he’s a gentle and jovial unit. All who have underestimated him have perished, however. He provides respect to all those he meets and even more so to those who defy him with shows of courage.
❖ Gluttonous Not only with food, though a big man like him’s gotta eat, but with anything that can be remotely pleasurable. Arnaud tends to do many things in excess with a minimal grasp of temperance. A residue of his life as a near-King, although he is never crude or inelegant about it.
A beast of a man coming in at 194 cm tall and slightly over 200 kg of pure might. Once somewhat leaner, the years have added to Aheri’s bulk, which has done nothing but enhance the absolute unit that he is. His dark hair and beard remain long and maintained, although shorter than his days as a warlord. He only wears his nose-ring as jewellery from his past life, a sign that he’s almost entirely integrated in Perrench culture, but couldn’t fully let go of some of his more ironic pieces to go along with his white, body-wide tattoos.
Nowadays he wears armour like many of his fellow knights, albeit with frequent sacrifices to his arms and legs to favour movement. The Lion’s crest is built upon most armour he wears. In a more casual setting, he is usually content with a typical brown robe with a mere rope at the waist to keep it together and a pair of regular trousers. He also doesn’t walk barefoot.
B A C K G R O U N D__ _ _ _ _
Uru Zuyr The Rhinoceros The Dusted Beard The Strongest Man in the World Aheri
Born Aroun Maobe, he was the first son of Beirut Maobe, the King of the Zuyr people. A people with deep roots in Belzagg, but had drifted into a more nomadic lifestyle that ultimately detached them from their feuding continent in search for more fertile lands. It is when the lands that would eventually become Virang that Beirut’s ambition flourished, and would be Aroun’s burden to bear after his death.
A powerful people, made strong by ceaseless conflict and raiding, led by a powerful leader had everything it needed to make something great of this land. However, when Aroun was just 15, his father would perish in battle, putting the Maobe family’s might into question. The young Aroun would gain the moniker of Aheri the day his older cousin sought to take the throne. A mage himself, far more versed in the arts than Aroun, and yet it would be the cousin’s skull that’d be obliterated between the teenage beast’s palms. For he was already a formidable fighter, and a behemoth of a man.
Might didn’t make everything, and while the Zuyr still valued a leader as the strongest, it would be only thanks to his brother, Bashir, that their father’s ambition would enter the realm of possibility. Aroun was the might, Bashir the strategist. Their endeavours would go one for almost twenty years, countless battles to slowly assimilate more and more of the birthing Virang, until they reached an impasse with the natives of the lands that would later become Malabash. They needed more. More hands, more resources, more weapons.
The Eskand menace in the South didn’t come to deaf ears, even far in the North, especially with the aggressive expansion made by the Zuyr and the trade routes they would begin to open. An opportunity both Aroun and Bashir saw. With Parrence nearly crippled by the southern raids, the northern border was ripe for the picking by yet a new menace, also versed in raids. Albeit, one way over its head.
The first year, it was easy picking. Especially with Aheri the warlord spearheading the assaults, most champions stood no chance. It seemed dire for the fragilized empire. When Aheri came to sack and claim one of the small vassalized islands, he would be confronted by an all too familiar sight: A legion of armoured men ready to die with their commander having no chance against him.
What he didn’t account for was the lieutenant taking charge when the head of the defensive force was killed. A young, likely foolhardy rider Aroun would eliminate in a single hit. And yet he couldn’t help but respect the man with the Lion emblem. It is said that a mighty battle ensued, both sides clashing and no victor emerging for a good hour. Very few lived to tell the tale, but the Lion had managed to sink his teeth into the unstoppable rhino’s neck and subdued him. An impossibility, to be sure, and yet the raiding party’s numbers had completely dwindled, and Aheri was surrounded, slashed and impaled. The monster of the north had been stopped in his tracks by one many would simply call ‘The Lion Knight’.
Whether by genuine entrapment or stubbornness, Aheri was captured and his men either fled or were finished off. A prisoner of the Lion and a useful political tool to repulse the northern raids. They had their king, or at least former king, as he would end up disgraced like his father had after death. He was no longer their King by sheer might, or at least that is what Aheri believed. The times had changed, Bashir had brought prosperity without the need of archaic, tribalistic shows of might, but Aroun would no longer be their King. He would not accept it, for he was now a burden to his people.
With the threat of the South persisting and the North quelled now that their royal blood was kept as a ward, King Arcel considered it a waste to keep Aheri imprisoned. His might was renown and his experience crucial. And with that came an accord: He was to follow the strongest, as his people always did, which was the very King that the Lion served. A solemn oath of fealty, serving as a royal advisor and executioner to the king. And in exchange, a chance at redemption as a disgraced King. A great ally could be made of the Zuyr should they accomplish their wild but promising goal of founding their own nation. The promise of royal backing of Bashir’s endeavours was made between two men- not representatives of nations or royals, men who stared each other in the eyes without chains or guard. And swore to one another.
The young king reminded Aroun of himself in some way. Young, underestimated and carrying a massive burden, yet fearless to the threat ahead- fearless toward the Aheri himself. To this day, the now newly baptised Arnaud Maobe has only knelt to two: The Lion, and his King. The two living men that have his full respect. He carries out his promise day by day, fully accustomed to the culture of Parrence. Right up to the very Pentad being accepted in his life.
I N V E N T O R Y__ _ _ _ _
❖ Le Détroit - A massive battle axe with a pointed tip to double as a spear. The design is very Perrench, though the shape of the spear resembles his own weapon’s unique form in his chieftain days. It is weathered on one side, a testament to how much it’s been used, both in combat and as a tool for executions.
❖ Suhu’Ali - A sleeping drug. A small dose of this powder can help most go to sleep. A full blow of it to the face can put an elephant to sleep.
❖ Mkobo - A hallucinogenic drug used recreationally by his people. Arnaud doesn’t consume the stuff, but has used it against his enemies in the past and sometimes offers it to battle-scarred comrades to help them find some peace.
❖ Sidi - A pain drug. Used to dull pain, although needs to be dosed correctly at the risk of paralysis or even heart failure.
❖ Majini - A wicked drug used to ‘manipulate’ others. Some consider it a curse that even a gris-gris can’t help with. When eaten, it puts the victim into a frenzy where they often exhaust themselves to death and sometimes even enter fits of murderous rage. Small doses have been used to greatly enhance the brutality of soldiers in battle.
T H E G I F T__ _ _ _ _
Third Wheel - Force & Essence - Leadvein
Arnaud never had any true initiation in the Gift beyond traditions that existed in his faction’s culture. Nonetheless, with his propensity for fighting and exceptional physical might long his bloodright as a Leadvein, he naturally developed the Force branch of mana, first using it to essentially enhance his already mighty blows, and now his very stomps have the potential to generate small-scale earthquakes and shockwaves. Loud battlecries that can repulse even fully armoured men too close to him are some of the fearsome things some have told about the Aheri.
Destroyer of the earth, generator of storms (massive air currents generated through Force magic), the moniker of ‘Strongest Man in the World’ can’t really be contested with factoring this facet alone. As a Leadvein, he has a natural talent for assimilating 'Force', being Kinetic energy, and utilizing it in destructive ways with little risk of harming himself.
His secondary Gift branch is Essence, a common one found among the top mages in the Zuyr people. It is almost entirely internal to the caster with rare hallucinogenic purposes applied to the enemy. Aheri uses it mainly in two ways: Self-enhancement, which has led him to develop his own unique ‘buff’ in recent years, and creation of drugs typically found in his culture.
❖ The Lion’s Triumph: An homage to the one man who bested him. Aheri roars in a similar fashion to a lion, causing a surge of adrenaline and other potent substances to course through his being before ground himself in a grand earthquake. His sweat becomes steam and his body becomes particularly hot. Now every step and strike he only lightly winds up is capable of causing massive seismic blasts for a brief period. He is also quite faster.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Absurd Physical Might Even without the Gift, Arnaud has been known to stop Rhinos in their tracks with only his hands. Coupled with great proficiency with many spear and axe-like weapons, he is a threat to even strong mages without using an ounce of mana. It is said his grip is so great, he can crack rocks with it.
❖ Very Fast for his Size When he starts running, very little can stop him, and he continuously gains momentum. But even in the heat of the moment, he catches many off-guard with how quick he can land some strikes, even if he isn’t going to be dodging many attacks himself (Mobility =/= swift attacks).
❖ Battle-hardened Moulded by hundreds of battles, a man like this has the willpower few can compare to. Not only has his decision making improved with the passage of time, but he can withstand the worst of odds and come out on top no matter how arduous the path is.
❖ Cultured From Belzagg to West Severa to Rettan, Arnaud has made his mark in many places, and not always as a conqueror or raider. He is versed in many cultures that surround Virang and can hold conversational-level exchanges with many languages common in the area.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Tunnel-Visioned Once he’s fixated on something, it’s hard to distract him, especially if he’s worked up. Though even mundane curiosities can get him caught up in spirals of exaggerated interest for an entire day.
❖ Collateral Damage A man that’s known for generating earthquakes and laying entire lands to waste through sheer might is bound to be a hazard to allies and foes alike.
❖ Winded He’s fat and getting old. His stamina isn’t what it used to be, which some can definitely use to their advantage if they’re bold enough to tire him out.
❖ Illiterate Scholarly work was not for him, he was a warrior and operated through doing things. His brother was the wittier of the two. He does understand some texts in Perrench, more so out of crude memorization and actual reading ability, from his conversion. Surprisingly, his lingo is actually not that bad, as he has a pretty good memory.
C O L O U R C O D E & O T H E R__ _ _ _ _
❖ Hex code: 7F4C20 ❖ He remembers the name and face of every opponent he has fought and killed.
Sasha de la Estepa__ _ _ _ _
23 | S E C R E T | P A R R E N C E | T H U N D E R - E S S E N C E - B L O O D | K N I G H T R I D E R__ _ _ _ _
C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S__ _ _ _ _
[ Tourrare ]
Born as a surprise (and unlikely) second child to a huntsman and his wife, Sasha was the second child of a Tourrare family that would end up joining houses with a renown Lord of the tribe. Like many of their kind, Sasha is thoroughly knowledgeable and experienced with animals, especially horses, and is frequently seen tending to the largest ones.
Their place among the Tourrare society is unique, however, as they seldom interact with others while the obscure but spreading myth of the Golden Blood spreads outside the lands in which their people live. Unlike their people, Sasha is generally seen as inauspicious and avoidant of others, whether outsiders or fellow Tourrare, with minimal regard for status or cultures. It is a surprise that they have lived this long as such a recluse and outlier.
[ Squire of the Lion ]
One thing that always captivated Sasha was the existence of exceptionally large or exceptionally small creatures. To ever discover these mesmerising beings, they would have to discover the world - a terrifying notion to the reclusive and discreet Sasha. This wanderlust that clashed with their innate revulsion for a break in the comfortable routine has brought them to becoming a pupil to the Tourrare’s most promising warrior, and their brother-in-law, Asier Arslan. Although the rapport between Sasha and Asier had been budding about as long as he had been close friends with Giselle, their sister, allowing for the now veteran of the battlefield to easily relate to the challenges brought by Sasha’s temperament and quirks.
[ The Kitten Knight ]
Baptised the “Kitten Knight'' as a humorous jab to their position as a Squire to the Lion (and that they’re smaller than Asier), Sasha is neither a Knight (yet) nor harnesses the awesome powers of kittens. It is interesting to note that cats do seem to be attracted to Sasha and will frequently demand food while mounting their shoulders. They have little aversion to it, if not sometimes overwhelmed by the numbers. These creatures are nice, predictable and don’t make them question their actions. Unlike people. They still don’t quite understand the purpose of this moniker or any humour behind it.
[ An Immovable Rider ]
Few have ever seen what lies behind the layers of metal, mail and padding that protect Sasha from the world. The weight of such a getup does not appear to bother them, and if anything is something sought after with Thunder and Essence Magics keeping the extreme nature of it under control. All that protection and the helm elevate Sasha to about 5 feet and 7 inches, however their natural height is closer to 5 feet and 3 inches. Pale but healthy skin can sometimes be seen in the rare occasion Sasha removes their armour - usually for blood ministration - but little else is known about their appearance beyond the reflections of slightly golden hues beneath the cracks of their helm. Heavy and efficient at blocking out noises, it is a safe haven for an easily overwhelmed creature like Sasha.
B A C K G R O U N D__ _ _ _ _
Sasha was a surprise to their family, coming a handful of years after their sister, Giselle, to a family that had been trying to conceive a male heir. Ultimately, whether Sasha’s very sex was in accordance would matter little, as their development would prove to be difficult to the family, leaving them to see Giselle’s childhood friend and future groom to be their son figure. Nonetheless, despite their odd nature and peculiar physical features such as their eye colour, Sasha was accepted among their people.
A recluse for most of their childhood, it was said that Sasha only began to communicate verbally at the age of five and actively avoided others. Especially during gatherings - they were overwhelming. Still, it did not take long for the oddities surrounding Sasha to attract attention, and eventually the unveiling of their miraculous “golden” blood. It was known that, in rare occurrences, mages could be born with immense resilience to afflictions which first appeared to be Sasha’s case but the additional phenomenon had yet to be documented: The blood could greatly accelerate healing when ingested by another.
The Tourrare believed in an envoy of Aun-Oraphe, although the Holy See was very reluctant to concede any such notion to a tribe that had always been poorly regarded by the rest of Parrence. Nonetheless, with more attention on Sasha came more consideration for the person by their entourage. With a wheel test and surprising knack for mimicking her teacher’s, Asier’s, Thunder, it was deemed more than beneficial to make due with Sasha sometimes overwhelming quirks with the promise of a formidable boon for the Tourrare. Although perhaps their brother-in-law simply wished for Sasha to get as big of a chance at life as they could.
Sasha remained blissfully disconnected from the geopolitical machinations of outsiders, having almost never left their steppe. Their daily life consists of handling beasts, training and ensuring the peace in their people’s territory while always wearing those heavy, clunky layers of metal armour before stepping outside. A tranquil existence if not increasingly stressful with the prolonged absence of their mentor who had gone to the war. When the news of Asier’s potential capture reached home, however, a promise was made to his wife in daughter: Sasha would bring him back, lest they never show their face again from under their iron helm.
I N V E N T O R Y__ _ _ _ _
❖ Aun-Ipté’s Embrace: A massive amalgamation of metals used to form Sasha’s armour, mostly composed of iron. It is all managed and kept in one piece with a constant magnetic field that can be felt when close.
❖ L'Alabarda de la Estepa Daurada: A long, iron halberd with gold ley lines that trance through the bar right up to the tip and blade. Very good synergy with Thunder Magic.
❖ Hierbamonte’s Bulwark: A large, circular shield with brass coating that could almost be called a tower shield.
❖ Arriscat: Sasha’s Hierbamonte Horse, a massive mare standing over 220 cm, generally used for field work and heavy carriage work. Not a very fast beard but has the strength, stamina and back to handle a heavy rider and heavy armour.
❖ Segu: A dwarf cat species gifted to Sasha from a Djamantese noble that was treated with their blood. It is as small as a kitten and often seen on their shoulder. It remained home, but Sasha kept a crude drawing in their helmet.
❖ Vemonankh, the Staff of Perdition: A Hegelan-made staff found in the Tyrannus Gehenna’s hoard in Mont Errant. A staff that increases efficiency in charge drawing and thunder magic casting. It is considered to be of very high quality, just shy of the best. A strong offset to one of Sasha’s weaknesses.
❖ Tyrannus Monsigneus Egg: Acquired in Mont Errant with the staff, it is believed to hatch soon. It has been trusted to the Tourrare forces that came with Asier and survived.
Sasha, despite being a recluse, was quick to learn anything that involved the Gift with a strong inclination for Thunder and Essence magics. In theory, they can use all five schools to some degree, but three are their main focuses:
❖ Thunder: Sasha’s strongest spells reside here. Most of her notions were acquired by the tutelage of their brother-in-law and do not disappoint. Whether it’d be magnetism of lightning strikes, they can do most of it.
La Llança de Echeran-Zept: Most of Sasha’s gathered charges are focused onto their spear, making for very strong spatial compression, making for a devastating strike. The magnetic field that keeps their armour stable with some pieces made to levitate around them to more easily gather charges. Until Sasha’s next attack, a lower dice than normal is used to defend (cannot defend allies too). In exchange, the next attack will be a level higher. This limit can be removed by spending a turn charging the spell (no movement), disallowing defending of allies. With the Staff of Perdition, a coin flip can determine if this charge is skipped.
El Mur de Oraphe-Zept: Energy is drawn and converted into thunder magic that re-enforces that bonds of the iron worn by Sasha and eases swift intervention when an ally is in danger (with their massive shield). Sasha’s defence roll increases a level but the offensive roll takes a penalty as this considerably slows them down. They can use their normal defense roll to protect an ally this round too, but cannot attack or have attacked this round. So long as the horse is at play, a 4 dice with the winning result being 4 can get an additional defense in.
❖ Essence: Focused mainly in internal magics, especially on themself, Sasha orients her efforts in keeping the soft, little creature hiding inside the armour safe. It is also a school of magic that isn’t too negatively affected by their blood type.
La Sang de l’Or d’Oraphe: Sasha’s abnormal blood, stemming from both their mana type and a unique mutation in the actual blood cells, has strong healing qualities but loses its strength after a few minutes outside of the body, making it only useful fresh. A coin flip will determine whether Sasha refuses treatment or allows part of their body to be exposed to offer their blood.
❖ Blood: Sasha will mainly use this school of magic for mild injury healing and drawing from metal of fallen warriors to repair their own armour/equipment or create powerful defenses for their allies. For bigger heals, if they opt to not use the blood, they will suffer a penalty to the healing as they lack the experience and human contact to properly execute such a feat.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Hyposensitivity to Touch and Pain ❖ Obsession with extreme sizes - Can quickly and accurately calculate sizes of things and distances to a degree. ❖ Immense Vitality ❖ Very good with animals
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Hypersensitivity to Sounds - Prone to Meltdowns ❖ Absolutely no social tact ❖ Inexperience - High anxiety from routine breaking ❖ Slow Drawing and Slower movements
44 | MALE | PARRENCE | FORCE & ESSENCE | BERSERKER__ _ _ _ _
C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Dauntless A man that’s seen and fought it all, very little can surprise or intimidate Arnaud, even the most sided of odds. With this comes an air of jovial confidence towards any sort of adversity, seeing such things as potential challenges to reinforce the notion of him being the strongest but also enhance his own arsenal. He is not easily rattled or provoked, like a Rhinoceros in its peaceful habitat.
❖ Unrelenting Whether in the battlefield or in the mundane, Arnaud doesn’t just stop. He finishes what he started, even if it takes everything from him. It is this desire to see everything to the end that he’s earned his notoriety as bloodthirsty and unstoppable. Very few have ever stopped Arnaud in his tracks, even in conversations.
❖ Deferential Arnaud is polite and greatly values manners. He often humbles himself when exchanging with others, friends and enemies alike, often giving off the impression he’s a gentle and jovial unit. All who have underestimated him have perished, however. He provides respect to all those he meets and even more so to those who defy him with shows of courage.
❖ Gluttonous Not only with food, though a big man like him’s gotta eat, but with anything that can be remotely pleasurable. Arnaud tends to do many things in excess with a minimal grasp of temperance. A residue of his life as a near-King, although he is never crude or inelegant about it.
A beast of a man coming in at 194 cm tall and slightly over 200 kg of pure might. Once somewhat leaner, the years have added to Aheri’s bulk, which has done nothing but enhance the absolute unit that he is. His dark hair and beard remain long and maintained, although shorter than his days as a warlord. He only wears his nose-ring as jewellery from his past life, a sign that he’s almost entirely integrated in Perrench culture, but couldn’t fully let go of some of his more ironic pieces to go along with his white, body-wide tattoos.
Nowadays he wears armour like many of his fellow knights, albeit with frequent sacrifices to his arms and legs to favour movement. The Lion’s crest is built upon most armour he wears. In a more casual setting, he is usually content with a typical brown robe with a mere rope at the waist to keep it together and a pair of regular trousers. He also doesn’t walk barefoot.
B A C K G R O U N D__ _ _ _ _
Uru Zuyr The Rhinoceros The Dusted Beard The Strongest Man in the World Aheri
Born Aroun Maobe, he was the first son of Beirut Maobe, the King of the Zuyr people. A people with deep roots in Belzagg, but had drifted into a more nomadic lifestyle that ultimately detached them from their feuding continent in search for more fertile lands. It is when the lands that would eventually become Virang that Beirut’s ambition flourished, and would be Aroun’s burden to bear after his death.
A powerful people, made strong by ceaseless conflict and raiding, led by a powerful leader had everything it needed to make something great of this land. However, when Aroun was just 15, his father would perish in battle, putting the Maobe family’s might into question. The young Aroun would gain the moniker of Aheri the day his older cousin sought to take the throne. A mage himself, far more versed in the arts than Aroun, and yet it would be the cousin’s skull that’d be obliterated between the teenage beast’s palms. For he was already a formidable fighter, and a behemoth of a man.
Might didn’t make everything, and while the Zuyr still valued a leader as the strongest, it would be only thanks to his brother, Bashir, that their father’s ambition would enter the realm of possibility. Aroun was the might, Bashir the strategist. Their endeavours would go one for almost twenty years, countless battles to slowly assimilate more and more of the birthing Virang, until they reached an impasse with the natives of the lands that would later become Malabash. They needed more. More hands, more resources, more weapons.
The Eskand menace in the South didn’t come to deaf ears, even far in the North, especially with the aggressive expansion made by the Zuyr and the trade routes they would begin to open. An opportunity both Aroun and Bashir saw. With Parrence nearly crippled by the southern raids, the northern border was ripe for the picking by yet a new menace, also versed in raids. Albeit, one way over its head.
The first year, it was easy picking. Especially with Aheri the warlord spearheading the assaults, most champions stood no chance. It seemed dire for the fragilized empire. When Aheri came to sack and claim one of the small vassalized islands, he would be confronted by an all too familiar sight: A legion of armoured men ready to die with their commander having no chance against him.
What he didn’t account for was the lieutenant taking charge when the head of the defensive force was killed. A young, likely foolhardy rider Aroun would eliminate in a single hit. And yet he couldn’t help but respect the man with the Lion emblem. It is said that a mighty battle ensued, both sides clashing and no victor emerging for a good hour. Very few lived to tell the tale, but the Lion had managed to sink his teeth into the unstoppable rhino’s neck and subdued him. An impossibility, to be sure, and yet the raiding party’s numbers had completely dwindled, and Aheri was surrounded, slashed and impaled. The monster of the north had been stopped in his tracks by one many would simply call ‘The Lion Knight’.
Whether by genuine entrapment or stubbornness, Aheri was captured and his men either fled or were finished off. A prisoner of the Lion and a useful political tool to repulse the northern raids. They had their king, or at least former king, as he would end up disgraced like his father had after death. He was no longer their King by sheer might, or at least that is what Aheri believed. The times had changed, Bashir had brought prosperity without the need of archaic, tribalistic shows of might, but Aroun would no longer be their King. He would not accept it, for he was now a burden to his people.
With the threat of the South persisting and the North quelled now that their royal blood was kept as a ward, King Arcel considered it a waste to keep Aheri imprisoned. His might was renown and his experience crucial. And with that came an accord: He was to follow the strongest, as his people always did, which was the very King that the Lion served. A solemn oath of fealty, serving as a royal advisor and executioner to the king. And in exchange, a chance at redemption as a disgraced King. A great ally could be made of the Zuyr should they accomplish their wild but promising goal of founding their own nation. The promise of royal backing of Bashir’s endeavours was made between two men- not representatives of nations or royals, men who stared each other in the eyes without chains or guard. And swore to one another.
The young king reminded Aroun of himself in some way. Young, underestimated and carrying a massive burden, yet fearless to the threat ahead- fearless toward the Aheri himself. To this day, the now newly baptised Arnaud Maobe has only knelt to two: The Lion, and his King. The two living men that have his full respect. He carries out his promise day by day, fully accustomed to the culture of Parrence. Right up to the very Pentad being accepted in his life.
I N V E N T O R Y__ _ _ _ _
❖ Le Détroit - A massive battle axe with a pointed tip to double as a spear. The design is very Perrench, though the shape of the spear resembles his own weapon’s unique form in his chieftain days. It is weathered on one side, a testament to how much it’s been used, both in combat and as a tool for executions.
❖ Suhu’Ali - A sleeping drug. A small dose of this powder can help most go to sleep. A full blow of it to the face can put an elephant to sleep.
❖ Mkobo - A hallucinogenic drug used recreationally by his people. Arnaud doesn’t consume the stuff, but has used it against his enemies in the past and sometimes offers it to battle-scarred comrades to help them find some peace.
❖ Sidi - A pain drug. Used to dull pain, although needs to be dosed correctly at the risk of paralysis or even heart failure.
❖ Majini - A wicked drug used to ‘manipulate’ others. Some consider it a curse that even a gris-gris can’t help with. When eaten, it puts the victim into a frenzy where they often exhaust themselves to death and sometimes even enter fits of murderous rage. Small doses have been used to greatly enhance the brutality of soldiers in battle.
T H E G I F T__ _ _ _ _
Third Wheel - Force & Essence - Leadvein
Arnaud never had any true initiation in the Gift beyond traditions that existed in his faction’s culture. Nonetheless, with his propensity for fighting and exceptional physical might long his bloodright as a Leadvein, he naturally developed the Force branch of mana, first using it to essentially enhance his already mighty blows, and now his very stomps have the potential to generate small-scale earthquakes and shockwaves. Loud battlecries that can repulse even fully armoured men too close to him are some of the fearsome things some have told about the Aheri.
Destroyer of the earth, generator of storms (massive air currents generated through Force magic), the moniker of ‘Strongest Man in the World’ can’t really be contested with factoring this facet alone. As a Leadvein, he has a natural talent for assimilating 'Force', being Kinetic energy, and utilizing it in destructive ways with little risk of harming himself.
His secondary Gift branch is Essence, a common one found among the top mages in the Zuyr people. It is almost entirely internal to the caster with rare hallucinogenic purposes applied to the enemy. Aheri uses it mainly in two ways: Self-enhancement, which has led him to develop his own unique ‘buff’ in recent years, and creation of drugs typically found in his culture.
❖ The Lion’s Triumph: An homage to the one man who bested him. Aheri roars in a similar fashion to a lion, causing a surge of adrenaline and other potent substances to course through his being before ground himself in a grand earthquake. His sweat becomes steam and his body becomes particularly hot. Now every step and strike he only lightly winds up is capable of causing massive seismic blasts for a brief period. He is also quite faster.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Absurd Physical Might Even without the Gift, Arnaud has been known to stop Rhinos in their tracks with only his hands. Coupled with great proficiency with many spear and axe-like weapons, he is a threat to even strong mages without using an ounce of mana. It is said his grip is so great, he can crack rocks with it.
❖ Very Fast for his Size When he starts running, very little can stop him, and he continuously gains momentum. But even in the heat of the moment, he catches many off-guard with how quick he can land some strikes, even if he isn’t going to be dodging many attacks himself (Mobility =/= swift attacks).
❖ Battle-hardened Moulded by hundreds of battles, a man like this has the willpower few can compare to. Not only has his decision making improved with the passage of time, but he can withstand the worst of odds and come out on top no matter how arduous the path is.
❖ Cultured From Belzagg to West Severa to Rettan, Arnaud has made his mark in many places, and not always as a conqueror or raider. He is versed in many cultures that surround Virang and can hold conversational-level exchanges with many languages common in the area.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S__ _ _ _ _
❖ Tunnel-Visioned Once he’s fixated on something, it’s hard to distract him, especially if he’s worked up. Though even mundane curiosities can get him caught up in spirals of exaggerated interest for an entire day.
❖ Collateral Damage A man that’s known for generating earthquakes and laying entire lands to waste through sheer might is bound to be a hazard to allies and foes alike.
❖ Winded He’s fat and getting old. His stamina isn’t what it used to be, which some can definitely use to their advantage if they’re bold enough to tire him out.
❖ Illiterate Scholarly work was not for him, he was a warrior and operated through doing things. His brother was the wittier of the two. He does understand some texts in Perrench, more so out of crude memorization and actual reading ability, from his conversion. Surprisingly, his lingo is actually not that bad, as he has a pretty good memory.
C O L O U R C O D E & O T H E R__ _ _ _ _
❖ Hex code: 7F4C20 ❖ He remembers the name and face of every opponent he has fought and killed.
That shell was indeed impenetrable by normal means. With every reverberation of her strikes throughout the large beast, Zarina could quickly determine the inefficiency of exploiting blatantly vulnerable spots where the Halassa couldn’t reach her with its oafish movement. It was about the extent of the experimentation she was ready to do, as the beast had displayed its entire potential in its attempt to get its ‘prey’. It was time to finish this.
As the beast rotated itself with its claws ceaselessly digging into the sand so it could face the much smaller Virangish girl, Zarina quick-stepped back to confront the beast head-on. At this point she had determined the length and speed of its neck-lunges and felt safe to handle this predictable, rabid monster. However before she could seize any sort of opportunity, Zarina would be reminded that many externalities could occur during a battle. One of them being a big ass Halassa literally flung like it was nothing and landed very close by, given she had purposely kept the alpha at the back so it wouldn’t impede the others.
Zarina blinked, her attention taken away as much as the crazed Halassa’s was. So much so that it attempted to bite in the direction where Jocasta’s victim had landed. Of course it was merely reacting to rather extreme stimulus and didn’t actually reach the repulsed beast, but it gave the Virangish dancer an opening. Regaining her focus, she propelled herself forward with the same simple technique used for her jump, but far more precise as it was barely ten metres in distance. There, she rested her palm onto the edge of the turtle’s beak, right where flesh started and the hard, jaw-bone stopped. With that contact, a wave of electricity unleashed into the beast. Definitely not enough to truly harm it or burn, but with how close it was to the head, it’d naturally stiffen its muscles momentarily and keep it still.
Without an ounce of hesitation, Zarina delivered the Coup de Grâce with a loud pant to go with the thrust of her blade. It was made to impale right through its eye, hilting the obsidian sword to the socket. This would not kill it, but the drawn kinetic energy from the most recent snap of the beak unleash through the thrust was the finisher. A precise shot of air going right through the skull’s opening and obliterating the brain. A technique seen among many mages to humanely slaughter creatures and a method Zarina was clearly versed in.
With only its limbs infrequently twitching, the instantaneous death was confirmed the moment the head just dropped. The executioner slowly drew her blade out, eyes closed during this brief act while her opposite hand rested upon the beast’s cheek to ease the removal of the blade. She sighed, the same hand on the cheek rose up to brush her own forehead and face. Zarina broke a sweat!
Feeling deserving of a reward, she reached out to the aether above her shoulder, expecting to grab a cup of delicious, black coffee, only to look somewhat like a fool. Her cup had been left with the jug, and given the action that had happened, was probably filled with sand. Again, she sighed, this time from her nostrils.
”Hold it there for a moment Ayla! I can help!”
”Eh?”
Then came the third sigh with her eyes rolling. They were still not finished. With a quick flick of her blade, she tried to swing off some blood from her blade before it dried and then went on to hop over the shell of her now dead target, blood still flowing out of that small stab she had made, ”Dreamer give me strength.” she whined to herself, her tone sarcastic but hushed enough to be easily missed by those not paying close attention to her.
A Halassa remained that appeared to be shared between Yalen and Ayla. Zarina was definitely too out of the way to notice what Jocasta may have done, but Kasper’s and Ysilla’s deeds were at least evident by their positioning compared to their ‘designated’ Halassa. Now that most of the threats were handled, it was time to clean up. Quickly. She hopped off the shell, and when she got closer to where her group stood their ground, she couldn’t help but notice just how … Familiar Kaspar’s choice of execution was. Definitely different from a Chemical mage’s approach, such as her mother, would do, yet it was also similar. She shook her head, redirecting her attention to the actually live turtle as the other seemed just about dead.
Zarina made her way to the confused Halassa, its state assessed as it resembled Ayla’s, Zarina’s friend, approach to disorientation. And from what could be determined, the Priest-boy was exacting some sort of magic. But it wasn’t finishing the job quick enough. At least not to a coffee-less Zarina’s standard anyway, ”What are you two baboons doing?” she called out with her thick accent, looking somewhat annoyed, while walking toward the dying Halassa’s at a brisk pace. Two minutes would turn to just five seconds as she gave the exact same treatment to the blue turtle as she did to the alpha: A zap to the head and a stab to the eye, causing the brain to explode by a concentrated blast of kinetic energy.
”I thought they taught you guys about mercy, mini-Padre.” she remarked while keeping her blade in the beast, and then slowly removed it the exact same way she had the first, ”Got something for this?” she turned her head toward the clergyman, her blade presented to him was coated with the Halassa’s blood and some liquefied brain-matter. Should he help, in spite of this odd ask, he would actually get a gracious ‘Much appreciated’ from Zarina.
When the blade was cleaned, whether by Yalen’s help or her compromising with something else, she then pointed toward Ayla with her Shamshir, ”And youuuu, kitty cat,” she lowered her chin a little with her brow raised, ”I gotta teach you how to fight. ¿Usar una espada?” Zarina grinned wide before sheathing her black blade and seizing her sandy cup along with her coffee jug. A long since cold coffee, which she’d present to Ayla the same way she presented her dirty weapon to Yalen, ”Could you warm this for me, please, love?” her tone softened, now that she was so close to getting her reward.
With warm coffee, she began to serve multiple metallic cups she could easily manipulate at short distances with her magnetic magic. There wasn’t that much coffee left, but it was still a treat to all, ”Alright, alright, good job you guys. Have a drink before you fall asleep on me. The desert’s a bitch like that.” she peered over at the chair-bound blonde, ”Even you, Jocasta. Jo’s alright? Drink up.” she spoke quickly, and definitely had a more dominating presence than Jocasta’s current persona. The cup of steaming coffee was levitating before the secretive tethered girl, waiting to be claimed. Given how tired she looked, it seemed reasonable for Zarina to insist on keeping Jocasta boosted.
Kaspar would get her attention for a good moment as the group briefly recuperated. They weren’t going to linger, but rushing was also a bad idea, ”Casper,” pronounced it strangely enough but clearly knew the name. She paused for a moment, staring between him and the Halassa he had finished off. A somewhat concerned squint remained on the deceased beast, ”Nice work.” she was uncharacteristically awkward there, but left it at that with a nod of approval and pursed lips.
”So. The settlement.” she posed the subject after taking a good sip of her beverage, ”We’ve agreed to talk to them first, yeah? Then let’s get moving before they’re all turtle shit.” the rest of the coffee was downed and the nearly empty jug shoved into her bag, still concealed behind her dark cloak, as she stood up. Her arms stretched up and prompted a light yawn, ”... It’s that way, right?” she pointed in the vaguely correct direction, though she did not have the sensory reach her tethered colleagues have, and the now passed twilight made it hard to actually see.
The one with such a namesake spoke up, louder and a more dominating tone than the persona Jocasta tried to emulate, essentially cutting her off. But it was just that, an immediate and brief correction that didn’t even earn the Virangish girl’s gaze as she’d take a sip from her favourite beverage right after. It would only be after Hugo’s elaboration on priorities that her golden hues geared themselves toward the chair-bound tethered, ”Sure, I’ll hear them out. But I’m also getting rid of the threats even if they whine about it. Just so we all know where I stand.” she announced as she pushed her chair back and got up just as the others did.
Zarina took the time to refill her own cup and prepare another while the others were hopping into the portal into the familiar night of Torragon. She was actually the last to go in, for she had something to add in her exchange with the Paradigm which she would start with a snap of her fingers, ”Ah yes.” her digits were not finger-gunning upwards, and slowly pointed toward the bearded mage, ”When we’re done, how do we get back? I’d hate to make the boat trip again.” she grinned confidently while awaiting Hugo’s reply.
With her question answered, she left the final cup of coffee on a surface near Hugo, ”See ya’.” with that, she hopped into the rift and joined her comrades.
Location: The Deserts of Torragon
The sand was cold, the breeze even cooler. The desert was such a merciless teacher, no real respite for those that dared to tread her hateful lands. But all those familiar with the dunes of Torragon knew the frigid nights were far more bearable than the scorching daylight, and Zarina was certainly glad to feel the cool, rainless air. She takes in a deep breath, finding her happy place among the dry soil her ancestors once marched upon as warriors, as merchants and even as nobles once. It was her element, now if only she had Riesco …
Her brief moment of stretching, arms opened wide and eyes closed while her cloak waved to the wind’s rhythm, was interrupted by Jocasta’s warning and Yalen’s clear change in demeanour when the rabid beasts had taken notice of their arrival. Zarina’s eyes didn’t open just yet, this was a nice and soothing moment. But as the vibrations in the sand reached her own sensitivities, she’d turn her head to prompt a crack from her neck and slowly open her golden gaze to the dying twilight before her.
”Agreed.”
She responds dryly to her sister’s remark while taking a step forward and essentially crossing the invisible line her colleagues weren’t keen on violating, many opting to stand their ground instead. And then another step was taken with her body leaning forward a little. Her metal jug was carefully levitating by her, as well as her recently filled cup, and she realised it by the third step which prompted a pause. There was no way she’d compromise it, so she’d carefully guide it over to a stony surface near Jocasta.
The beasts were drawing very near, and Ayla was preparing her counter-attack. When the little lion’s melody came to be and set the rhythm of the upcoming dance, Zarina drew her black, piercing-friendly Shamshir in one, fluid movement with her left hand, making it clear to even those who didn’t pick up on it yet that she intended on bringing the fight to the Halassa.
”Dibs on the big one.”
A wide, toothy grin took shape onto the young, Virangish mobster as she commenced her jog toward the maelstrom of rabid breast flesh coming right at them. Ayla was limiting them and coated them with different paint each. In turn, Zarina could more safely feast on the energy the pack was emitting by charging in so violently. And just as they would get a bit too close, she lept in the air, propelling herself as to get behind the group, and more specifically the conspicuously big one with a unique pattern on its shell, the odd sixth among the five colours used. A basic use of Kinetic magic, one she had a more intimate attunement to, so it came to no surprise she’d have no trouble manoeuvring and correctly if she over or under-shot.
First thing’s first, the alpha had to be stopped. She did so by hurling her blade at its tail while she was still above it. And no, her aim wasn’t perfect, which merely scraped the creature’s appendage instead. But it was enough to get its attention, especially when her landing would come with an amplification of her impact’s sound, the same way she emphasised her footsteps during dances. Naturally, the shelled beast would not take kindly to its tail being messed with and confront a potential flanker.
Zarina took this chance to observe how it moved, how awkward it was for it to orient itself toward a small target and its general speed when it couldn’t just bullrush. By then she would use basic Magnetic magic to attract her blade back to her left hand and keep it outstretched to her side to make her appear a tad wider. She intended to strafe the creature, keep on its blind spot now that its sight was compromised, and her echoing, calculated footsteps added to the disorientation that Ayla was already providing for the group.
Like a Matador in a Corrida, she kept calm. It was to be expected from one used to dealing with animals. She was very much teetering close to that vicious beak, but continued to strafe to the side, circling the beast, and if it charged, it had a perfectly good shell to hop on and revisit that tail she had previously cut. One could mistake this for toying with the beast, but it was clear she intended to either find a quick opening for a swift and merciful Coup de Grace, or to tire the beast out. The former was more likely, given the nature of the Halassa’s condition.
It would attempt to bite, and it would attempt to swipe. Both terribly impractical when facing a lithe and agile predator who specialises in movement. All of which gave her even more means to zip faster around the beast while keeping close. There would be a bit of prodding, mostly to the shell to see just how tough it was but also keep the creature’s attention on her.
The rhythm of the rain was often found to be soothing for some, but to an insomniac like Zarina, it just kept her mind focused on everything other than a happy, comforting realm of tranquillity. And so, more coffee it was. Coffee and finding something to do. Despite the raging storm, the Virangish freshman opted to leave the premises and find something to get her mind off the inevitable thoughts that’d plague her if idleness was indulged.
Before long, Zarina was outside after a brief prettying-up with nothing but a cloak and a levitating umbrella protecting her from the elements. Luckily the winds were merciful, allowing the dark, silky clothing to remain veiled during the entirety of her venture. Her velvet blue shoes, embroidered with gold, were not exactly the best for the increasingly wet pavements she ventured through, which led her to adopt a brisk pace and seize every dry spot she could find. Along with her levitating umbrella would be a metallic gourde, and from it she’d occasionally take a sip from the steamy, caffeinated goodness.
There was nothing, not one distraction at this hour, but at least the trip down to the Merchants’ quarters was somewhat of an adventure on its own. And it would get a whole lot more fantastical with a certain corvid stalking her. At first, she thought little of a bird just hanging about, especially when she preferred to focus on her beverage. But then it hit her that a bird was just squawking and flying about at this time and so consistently. Eventually she took notice, and a new adventure awaited.
Like many before her, and a couple after her, she would be brought to the Forked Tower. The down-to-earth Virangish couldn’t help but raise her eyebrow on more than one occasion, however the appeal of new discoveries was a bit too strong for this clearly bored teenager. Her umbrella was folded into her small bag she kept veiled inside her dark cloak, kept in a distinct pouch as to now drench the other goods, while her gourd was kept hovering near her shoulder. The riddle was … Not too difficult. Nothing that trumped counting owed money and sniffing out stolen stashes.
“Sixty-Six?” she squinted at the paper, and then the fork, “Huh, reall-”
Poof
”-y? Eh?”
Blink, blink.
Dopey, golden hues darted left and right, up and down, as her frame stayed frozen in a somewhat uncomfortable posture. Lips slightly agape, the relatively tall teen needed a moment to process everything. There wasn’t a storm, this wasn’t the tower and there was the head honcho of all magic-folks essentially greeting her. She couldn’t help but react with clear suspicion in her gaze, tone and body language. But as it was revealed to be the real deal, the hood finally came down, letting her tied, ash-brown hair fall onto the still damp surface of her cloak.
“Paradigm.” was her singular opening line once Hugo had made a greeting along with proper gestures and whatnot. She paced around, absorbing the various apparatuses with her gold gaze, leaving damp footprints behind her with every step. The usuals ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions were posed, although little could be answered before the next visitor came: Ysilla. This got the oldest of the twins to quiet down with a clear change in her demeanour. Where she had no qualms in exploring a portion of the study while keeping some distance with the legendary mage, she suddenly stiffened up and quickly directed herself to one of the seats she was invited to take, all while keeping a focused stare on her sister. Then came Ayla, a girl that never failed to get a habitual wave and loud click of Zarina’s tongue when she made an entry.
And finally, Yalen. Now he would not be spared from Zarina’s scrutiny, but it wasn’t nearly as focused or posture-changing. It did, however, prompt her to widen her eyes in brief surprise and kept them there while an amused grin took form on her visage. A scrutinising and very conspicuous scan of his being was made, from head to toe, as if she was checking him out, though with a borderline pretentious smile. The tall teen would come to rest her chin over her palm, letting her cloak open up as she adjusted her posture to show off her layer of fine, Virangish clothing. But most importantly, all could see her Hexaic necklace dangle between the fissure of her cloak.
When the time came for the pained priest to take a seat, Zarina pulled the chair by her and invitingly gestured for the blonde lad to take a break, ”Coffee?” she inquired while beaming at the newcomer, the smells of coffee and her subtle lavender perfume so easy to capture from his distance. Her gourd was still very much levitating by her via a magnet magic exercise. The question wasn’t meant to be answered as a thin, metallic cup slid his direction. The drink was black with nothing really added to it, though it was very much fresh. Ysilla would also be wordlessly blessed with such a treat, while Ayla got her’s from the getgo- there was no need to even ask. Jocasta would be asked the same as Yalen, with a smile!
Provided with a folder, she shifted her gaze between its contents and her neighbour with a brief awe-filled pause when she saw the rift being opened. Her gold hues were often drawn to his leg.
‘Tethered’, a term that appeared more than once in the document, was then uttered by Hugo. Zarina leaned back onto her seat, one leg over the other and furrowed her brows, ”Does it hurt? After all that climbing.” she inquired as she looked over at her neighbour's direction with a strong Virangish accent but a hushed tone, which didn’t make her speech anymore difficult to understand but she made the origins very clear to those who had heard the language before. What was difficult was discerning whether she asked out of concern or mere curiosity, as her body language did not give too much away.
”Okay.” she replied right as Hugo finished his brief and she dedicated more of her attention to the file than her afflicted peer, ”If at all possible.” she repeated, ”So, is our goal to defend them or just neutralise the threats? If they don’t want to help or our help in general, even with our ailing friends here,” she nudges her head to the side so as to bring attention to Yalen while her focus was Hugo, ”do we just … Act against their interest so long as we eliminate the threats? Or is their safety what matters more?” she gestures her hand in a circular manner while crossing her arms, her demeanour never changed even when treading on potential hostilities with the tethered. It sounded like business as usual, ”I’d make these decisions myself, but I’m wondering what exactly we want out of this and what the priorities are.” the same gesturing her then posed its digits big her cheek as she waited for an answer.
Although in the meantime, she tilted her head and peered at the tethered teen, ”Relax, fireball, save that spunk for when those legs discover the glories of the western deserts. You’ll need it.” she readied her hand to give Yalen a pat on the shoulder, only to hesitate with her lips pursed, and then retreat to take a sip from her coffee instead. She was very much ready to go once clarifications were made and some loaded glares were dedicated to her sister. Maybe a refill for Ayla.
❖ [ Pronouns ] - She / Her. ❖ [ Honorifics: ] - Biro ❖ [ Nicknames: ] - “Zazzy/Zaz”, “Bitch”. "Boss". “The Menagerie Queen”. “Babaca”, “Bruja”, “Luuchy”. ❖ [ Titles: ] - The Silverstar Dragon. The Black Dragon. Champion of the Samarra Race. Biro of Ersand'Enise Academy of Thaumaturgy. ❖ [ Relationship Status: ] - Complicated.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
❖ [ Eyes: ] - Gold. ❖ [ Hair: ] - Dark Chocolate Brown. ❖ [ Skin Tone: ] - Fitzpatrick Type 4 - Deep olive to moderate brown. This can skew closer to 3 in colder months or if Zarina stays indoors most of the time, or 5 in opposite cases. ❖ [ Height: ] - 6ft / 185cm. ❖ [ Weight: ] - 150lb / 70kg ❖ [ Physique: ] - Tall, slim. ❖ [ Facial Features: ] - Mole under right eye. ❖ [ Physical Quirks: ] - Taller than average. Slightly weathered knuckles. ❖ [ Distinctive Features: ] - Unique golden eyes found in females of the Al-Nader line. She has a beauty mark under her right eye. Will often have mild draconic traits while wearing a special bracelet. ❖ [ Apparel & Accessories: ] - Zarina’s choice of clothing generally falls into modest bedlah style, kurta robes and velvet textiles for warmer seasons. In cooler times, she will cover up with more colourful Ikat-made attires. Generally, she will alternate between darker colours or white-gold colouring, although relatively humble in flamboyant patterns - she is no noble. Zarina favours trumpet sleeves to her tops and sarouels for her legwear, finding other sorts of pants to not only be unbecoming of a woman but also uncomfortable. This inclination was birthed from her previous activities as a dancer where a dress wasn’t recommended. Her footwear is traditionally Virangish with some of her shoes curving up, while others remain typical to match her clothes.
Multiple silver and gold rings are worn on her fingers, often connected to other jewelries that span through her arms and will sometimes crown her head. Again, she isn’t as conspicuous as some noble girls, but style has no price. One might speculate that she wears these rings to punch a bit harder, at the expense of her hands.
❖ [ Eyes: ] - Gold - Orange ❖ [ Hair: ] - Dark ❖ [ Skin Tone: ] - Black Scales - Fitzpatrick Type 5 ❖ [ Height: ] - Varies: 9ft / 275cm - 23ft / 700 cm ❖ [ Weight: ] - Varies: 330lbs / 150kg - 2645lbs / 1200kg ❖ [ Physique: ] - Monstrous. ❖ [ Facial Features: ] - Barely human / Dragonlike. ❖ [ Physical Quirks: ] - Horrifer Wildblood, ram-like horn patterns and thick black scales. At five moons, they conceal most facial features, at four they remain visible. Extended arm length with membranes that form wings. ❖ [ Distinctive Features: ] - The Wildblood transformation can have one’s physical appearance greatly altered depending on the moons. The Horrifer was said to be so big, it would potentially defy the normal limits of a Wildblood’s size. At five moons, very little human-like features can be distinguished behind the somewhat human-like posture.
B A C K G R O U N D
❖ [ Personal History: ]
Zarina was the firstborn of Saoussen Al-Nader, coming to the world just a few minutes before her two sisters. An unusual phenomenon to be sure, and one made even rarer by Saoussen's difficult pregnancies due to her mana blood type. Along with Zarina came Ysilla and Sabbah, all near-identical triplets but with wildly differing personalities.
Zarina was the overly active child that came home with scrapes and bruises as if she were a boy, working off of impulse and rarely thinking things through. Ysilla was the more reserved thinker, quick witted and with a general lack of care as to how she was perceived. And then there was Sabbah, the goldenchild that seemed to have the best of both, and a clear favourite to take over the family’s rapidly growing business. The father had only one interest in mind: Gambling. And the mother led one of the biggest brothel networks in Virang under the banner of the Al-Nader family, which had since been recognized as a cartel.
What Zarina did have was her grandfather, a Torragonese-born Torraro man that had married into a Virangish Artisanal line, and had been the catalyst for the exceptional growth of the family. He was her rock, taught her to ride and even fight - given she couldn’t help herself - and was all around a guiding hand for the aimless Zazzy. However, this contentedness with the state of things would come to an end when a poisoning from a rival family Saoussen and Sabbah. The former showed her hand as a Devourer and delivered righteous retribution, but the youngest of the triplets had no such luck. As promising as the child was, she did not inherit everything desirable from her mother.
The tragedy nearly spiralled the family into its first ever, and likely fatal, downfall. Adnan, Saoussen’s father and Zarina’s grandfather, dubbed ‘Papy’, was far too long to take the reins. But Zarina was not. She was young, but she was also driven. And someone had to do something.
The eldest Al-Nader child became all-too familiar with the foul system her family had been cultivating in order to reach social apotheosis. Her resentment for sex workers, “degenerates” and lower thugs grew exponentially as they weighed heavily on her soul. Many were the times where brutality was necessary to be respected and get the point across. And it never got easier for the discreet but massively empathetic Zarina. Her only respites were, ultimately, her Papy and the few animals she was allowed to keep, especially her camargue horse, Riesco. She remains purely driven by a desire to keep her family in one piece, and a deep rooted desire to be considered as worthy as her sister to take command in the eyes of her mother. Although the truth is that this pressure mostly comes from herself, making her mother appear far more demanding than she ever truly was. Strict, sure, but fiercely independent and far less harsh ever since the loss of her youngest.
A mysterious scholarship for Ersand’Enise had landed upon Zarina’s, and her sister Ysilla’s, lap on their sixteenth birthdays. The family had the resources to access such a prestige, as Saoussen was an alumni, but a special recommendation came with it. The benefactor remained anonymous, but Adnan’s grin when it was mentioned led Zarina to speculate he might be behind this.
The only remaining question was what the Rettanese symbol on the back meant.
❖ [ Accomplishments & Achievements: ]
❖ Won the Samarra Horse Race when she was 14 ❖ Liberated the Refuge of San Agustin with her comrades and took down the afflicted Royal Sand Wyrm. ❖ Successfully subdued and tamed an Alpha Dune Sea Froabas with the help of Kaspar. ❖ Ended 3rd in the Trials despite a disqualification in one trial. ❖ Survived the ruins of Ancient Zaqhoria and confronted Heart without getting destroyed. ❖ Created an innovative method of serving coffee with Marceline Escarra and raked in record profits in Zenobucks' first year of activity. ❖ Sowed the seeds of Cozesteo's rise by sparing his life and interrogating him on the matter of Cuimits. The latter's fate becoming essential to the final state of An Zenui. ❖ Broke into, freed prisoners and escaped the Omenaxan with Tku Pictor and Mister Jascuan. ❖ Delivered the final blow to Hetraxa, saving An Zenui and its people with all of her friends staking their lives together. ❖ Came First in the trials of DZ55 in team Raffscallions.
Year One, Semester One: Classes: Kinetic & Chemical AR102: Dramatic Performance in Tragedy, Satire, Epic & Comedy SK103: Farming, Gardening, Animal Husbandry & Animal Familiars SK106: Business, Negotiation & Money Management AC103: Fundaments of Geography & Cartography in Magical Practice SI01: Darhannic Practice, Worship, and Theology SI08: Vegetarian Cuisine & Eating Healthy
Year one, Semester Two: Classes: Binding & Chemical AR106: Embroidery, Crocheting, Tailoring & Fine Needlework SK104: Athletics, Agility, Physical Fitness & Sporting Activities SK102: Making Camp, Foraging, Hunting & Travel in Remote Areas AC104: Fundaments of History and its Lessons for the Magical Practice SI03: Dragon Racing, Dressage & Draconic Studies SI07: Horse Racing, Dressage & Equestrian Studies
Year Two, Semester One: Classes: Kinetic & Temporal AR202: The Thespian's Craft in Tragedy and Epic Performance AC201: Philosophy in the Ancient World - Zaqhoria to Avince SK204: Advanced Gardening & the Myriad Uses of Plants SK203: Tinctures, Cures, and First Aid AR205: Taste, Texture & Ingredients Science SI01: Darhannic Practice, Worship, and Theology SI07: Horse Racing, Dressage & Equestrian Studies
Guild: The Magicians' Guild Clubs: The Fingersteeplers, The Fauna Society, The Society of the Grapes, The Mage Hunters' Society, Ordo Draconum, The Eyes of Vashdal, The Innovators' Exchange and The Cloudchasers.
❖ [ Family Ties: ] Zarina hails from the Al-Nader, a historically little-known Artisanal family that recently entered small bourgeoisie, and even more recently dipped into considerable wealth and influence. Despite the unassuming past of this family, a handful know of the ties the family holds to grand figures from both the Torraro and the old elites of Virang. The former has long been a source of stigma to the family, however.
❖ [ Relationships: ]
Ysilla Al-Nader - Twin sister, although they’ve remained distant with one another. They’re usually on the same page despite their overt differences. Ayla Arslan - Her best friend. Reminds her a lot of a lost sister. Knows her secrets. Jocasta Re - A close friend. Permanently cautious of her, and yet cares a considerable amount too. Knows her secret and attributed handler. Marceline Escarra - A close friend and business partner. Feels like an older sister to her. Yalen Castel - An unlikely good friend from the Quentic Church. She trusts his character. Yuliya Ivanovich Vasilieva - A close friend and very much infatuated by her. Knows her secret. Kaspar Elstrøm von Wentoft - Close friend and permanent Zeno group comrade. Knows her secret, and she partially knows his. Tku Pictor: Battle-forged friendship. Trustworthy man that does good. Tennaxi-Luna: Once an enemy, now a precious friend. Miret’thilan’dichora: Seasonal lover, and her first love. Leon Solaire: Close friend and "brother". Casii’fyret’alan - Frenemy.
Friends - Isabella Lowell, Maura Mercador, Abdel Varga, Benedetto Corvi, Samaxi, Tyrel’yrash’dichora, Raffaella Mataraci, Thomas Kavanaugh, Sienna Afraval, Marz Mohfolk Acquaintance - Dorothea Hohnstein, Evander Fino Synesti, Niallus Saberhagen, Esmi’nesta’tawaar, Jamboi, Penelope Pellerin, Sven Bjørnsson, Manfred Hohenfelter, Jomur Ikon III, King Sancho of Torragon, Neki Kaureerah Wenhan, Johann Steinbauer, Taleja Drakenknecht, Salomé Xiuyáng Solari, Roslyn Wicke, Oksana Levlytsar, Cal’tuuro’jaros, Ingrid Penderson, Mahal Agha, Lunara Agha, Ariadne Hyde, Chad’amis’yida’thala, Seviin’delaan’taxoiya, Guy Attard, Talkhan MakAndzey Questionable - Trypano Somia, Colette D’aureville, Marljin Vaanse, Edyta Łaska, Augusto Frannemas, Fiske Flachstrauch, Rikard Ambrus, Yansee Keelee Kensen-loon, Juulet’oli’muustii’zan, Desmond Catulus, Ciro Volta, Yvain de Berbignon Unknown - Charlotte Jena, Owain Vaanse, Valerian Remi Leclère, Margot Fischer, Pluurii’daxtoil’asitan
See also: Confrontational, Honest, Tactical, Fierce, Domineering. A blunt girl that doesn’t beat around the bush. Zarina does not bottle up thoughts and feelings for long and will express dissatisfaction when it exists. Perhaps there is a certain naiveté to the way she approaches things, but she prides herself over her honesty. Very little can intimidate Zarina. She will almost never show fear, knowing full well it is a death sentence when confronted to a dangerous predator.
❖ [ Playful ]
See also: Teasing, Condescending, Provocative, Impulsive. Zarina will poke mercilessly poke fun out of people that have the nerve to disrupt her peace. Nonetheless, she uses humour and teasing to alleviate tensions and establish the tone of the room fairly quickly. Although she will sometimes push things a bit too far and enter levels of inconsideration that harm more than they help.
❖ [ Radiant ]
See also: Energetic, Hopeful, Compassionate, Vulnerable, Bleeding Heart. Trials and tribulations brought by her experiences in the past and Ersand’Enise have challenged Zarina’s perspective on the world. After stooping down into a sorry state, she emerged as an envoy of positivity and hope to those around her with a strong code against senseless killing. Such compassion for others has often left her struggling to maintain her ideals and open to being hurt, but she firmly believes it to be all worth it. If anything, she believes she deserves the added hardships for some mistakes of her past.
M O T I V A T I O N
❖ [ Answers ] - To understand who and what she’s become. Find Heart and understand the dynamics of the Wildbloods, Sanguinaires and Sirrahi. ❖ [ Ambition ] - Zarina is keen on being a worthy successor to her family’s name and history. She seeks the approval of both her mother and great grandfather, both of which expect different things done in different ways. Her vision for her businesses stretches far, as the Gods have given her a glimpse of so much potential. ❖ [ Amity ] - The world is keen on tearing friends and families apart. She will make a stand against this. United, this generation is far stronger than any other. ❖ [ Aegis ] - What is a great power used for destruction can also be a mighty bulwark for those less fortunate. Life is precious, and the values of Oraff-Zept are close to Zarina’s heart. ❖ [ Ascension ] - More power means the ability to preserve more lives and stop those that'd harm before they could do it. If she can wield the immense potential within, then there would be no need to fear the dark night full of terrors.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ [ Riding and Animals ]
Zarina has always been good with them, and she’s had plenty of experience with them between her business, school and experiences such as taming an Alpha Froabas. Being her passion, she can be considered at a very advanced level when it comes to riding (land and air steeds) and tending to animals.
❖ [ Physical ]
Once a dancer and practitioner of Machorro, Zarina is physically well kept (even if she let herself go a little at the end of DZ54). As a Wildblood, she is naturally much stronger at three moons and above.
❖ [ Network ]
As the heir of her family’s activities and a successful entrepreneur, Zarina has a growing network of influence reaching as far as Palapar. She’s also known for being quite the gala hostess and a linchpin to many existing relations today.
❖ [ Business Acumen ]
It comes naturally to her, more so in strategic decision-making rather than making deals with others. She is good at finding the right people for the right job, too. Has remarkably good temperance when it comes to expansion and seizing the right opportunities.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ [ Shaken Faith ]
Recent revelations and experiences have led this normally superstitious and devout Darhannic to question many things. She feels somewhat conflicted with every prayer, and consequently has lost confidence in her actions. Her bravery may seem more like a death wish than genuine courage.
❖ [ Caffeine Addict ]
Once cured by a White Aberration, she dove back into the habit near the end of the year and cannot live without the stuff.
❖ [ Dependency & Exposure ]
As a Wildblood, she is dependent on Jocasta Re to be kept in check. Multiple people know of her secret and can be used as leverage against her. Her “affliction” also shakes her confidence in forming relationships.
❖ [ Not an Intellectual ]
Zarina is someone who takes action and doesn’t do well with sitting and studying. She learns slower than average this way. Tends to be slower at figuring out thought exercises. Very much an emotional person rather than rational.
❖ [ Bleeding Heart ]
Zarina will go out of her way to prevent senseless slaughter, often at her peril. This can be used by her enemies to get any sort of advantage on her. A betrayal of this value is a very, very big ask for Zarina lest she’s sworn revenge on the concerned party.
Sacred Fruit of Oraff-Zept - Orange: Combo defenses add a stacking d2 to defense rolls (start with one by default). Provides advantage to combo defenses and lowers their counter requirement to 7. Oraff's General Blessing: Passively heal (d3) every round. Sacred Fruit of the Earth Dragon - Avocado: You gain the ability to bank overdefenses when combination defending of up to 10 points for future defenses. If defending solo, you may bank up to 6 points. Also gains an extra flee. Dragon’s Fyre: Shorten all charged attacks by (d2) stages, disrupt one charged attack / cycle.
Other:
Wildblood Mana Tiers: 8.76 (225) - 9.32 (338) - 9.99 (507) Coldfire - Hidden Chemical Spell: Tiers III to V. Creates invisible flames that do not require combustion and can near-instantly be turned into a raging inferno with minor chemical manipulation. Under the right conditions, they can produce powerful directional shockwaves for a hybrid Kinetic spell. Pleasant Echoes - Personal Spell: Facilitates animal influencing. Bloodwarping - Hidden Magnetic Spell: Tiers IV - VI. Allows the caster to manipulate the iron content in blood and metallic content in the body to cause deficiencies, weaponize it, or even exert subtle control. (Cannot be used yet)
❖ [ Blackblood ]
33% of the population, mainly found in noble lineages, 1/3 people – This is most mages. There are no particular benefits or drawbacks associated with being a blackblood.
❖ [ Wildblood ]
Contracted from wild animals with mana. Manas permeate the body, leading to greatly enhanced capabilities and lifespan, but destabilised genetic structures and DNA. Under four or more full moons, the manas gain strength and try to 'hijack' the body and restructure it to match the animal they originally inhabited. The lifespan of a Wildblood becomes the average between the host’s and the invading mana’s species. A human mage’s lifespan is around 80 years.
Animal Type: Tyrannus Horrifer Lifespan: Unknown, potentially longer than a Monsigneus (~ 320 years). The original host has lived for far longer. Contracted From: Heart, the Prisoner of the Zaqhorian Crypt.
❖ [ 3 Moons ] RAS: 8.76 (225 Manas) At this stage, Zarina’s mind remains her’s, barring pain-induced rage and infrequent mania. She remains under control of her instincts, although she can’t help but feel a desire to dominate lower lifeforms that get a little too ahead of themselves. Her physical might is essentially doubled, rivalling Sanguinaires while her durability is also enhanced. Very little physical changes occur beyond small scales on her chest and extremities with thicker and sharper nails.
Scales: Any damage received is reduced by half. Apex Predator: They roll with advantage against all other animals/wildbloods except Threshers. +4 HP
❖ [ 4 Moons ] RAS: 9.32 (338 Manas) At this stage, Zarina’s mind isn’t fully her’s, being a 65/35 between the beast and herself. She is capable of restraint and thought, but any push that may trigger her ire or killer instinct will overpower her quickly. She is easily twice, if not three times her size (not height) at this stage, but she can still be recognized as human by her facial features and human flesh being discernable in some areas. Still, she remains more bestial than anything else.
Her physical might varies depending on her control, but it is generous four times that of a human’s with great durability. A wildblood at this stage becomes very difficult to kill as their binding capabilities skyrocket (requiring one shot kills or quick flurries to take one out). Additionally, the Horrifer’s breath (albeit a weakened version) becomes naturally available to the host at this stage. With a brief charge, it utilises a wide sweeping beam of atomic energy known as the Horrifer’s Light, rivalling Tier 6 and even 7 atomic spells, leaving toxic residues in its wake.
Power: Their dice are always Explosive. Sky Tyrant: A fear effect that weakens enemy's strengthen with disadvantage. +8 HP
❖ [ 5 Moons ] RAS: 9.99 (507 Manas) At this stage, the beast has fully taken over with very few Wildbloods ever capable of having even some control. No human traits are discernable at this stage beyond the posture and vaguely human shape they still have (they remain hybrids), as well as not being the size of the actual animal. Very little can be done to reason with one and options entirely depend on the skills of the Wildblood and what precautions they have taken.
They are nigh invincible barring a powerful enough attack to instantly kill or subdue them. In the Horrifer’s case, the thick, black scales make this a particularly daunting task. Their potent binding will rapidly heal injuries and their aggression will make attrition unmanageable even with prepared groups. The physical might of the Wildblood varies greatly at this stage, depending on their individual strength, training and even growth stage, but at minimum they are at least ten times the strength of a human (as a Horrifer). Of course, at this stage a Wildblood is almost entirely driven by instinct and thus incapable of strategy.
A trained and prepared Horrifer Wildblood can eventually gain access to The Light that Burns the Sky, a more powerful variation of the Horrifer’s light that is said to surpass even the greatest atomic spells. This has not been seen in over a millennium.
+16 HP
I N V E N T O R Y
G E A R
❖ Platinum Rosary of the Darhannic (Hexaic) Faith - Often the object of prayer should she not have a personally valuable item or thing. (Neck)
❖ Name: Hetzelburg Homburg:
Item Descriptions: An edible hat and tastes like a typical Kerreman food. If not eaten entirely, it will regenerate. Depending on whether it tastes pretzel, bratwurst, schnitzel, sauerkraut or strudel it will serve as a different buff.
A d5 (advantage) is rolled for the following effects (Drudgunzeans can choose): ❖ Pretzel: If you fail against 3 rolls, it will automatically trigger double advantage for your next turn. ❖ Bratwurst: You get 50% more max HP. ❖ Schnitzel: Heal over time, roll a d5 every turn for a gain in HP. Over heals can be applied to any ally or a buff to yourself for one action. ❖ Sauerkraut: Boosts chemical or arcane level by 2 levels. ❖ Strudel: Roll a d2, if 2 you cannot be targeted by a direct attack.
Additive Effect: 32 manas
Name: Silverstar Dragon’s Scales
Item Descriptions: A set of plate armour born of a composite of Fuming Obsidian Concentrate and steel that forms a very powerful alloy and platinum detailing. With a Royal Sand Wyrm scale being used to increase the durability of the armour making it a night unbreakable beacon of silver brilliance.
Considered ‘Heavy Armour’, it gains the following benefits:
❖ Reduces damage by 1 tier. ❖ +8 additional HP (non-internal attacks) ❖ Minimum defense modifier is 3d.
The armour is made of the Legendary Royal Sand Wyrm’s scales and a protective layer of steel melded Fuming Obsidian Concentrate to provide the following benefits:
❖ +2 to HP ❖ +2 to Defense ❖ +1 to Defense against heat based attacks ❖ +2 to Defense against atomic attacks
Harrowing Glimmer - The constant radioactive aura around the armour flares during combat, causing those attack by the wearer to roll a D2. If it is a 1, they will lose a stack of any buff they have (Unpredictability or other). If they do not have a buff, they will gain a stack of predictability for a turn instead.
❖ Quality Silk Vestments - No added benefits beyond being light and of quality.
❖ Name: Flaming Greaves of the Silverstar Dragon
Item Descriptions: Made of fire resistant materials and imbued with fire resistant manas, these hegelan-crafted boots allow one to walk on burning ground and even wade through lava for short periods. Prettied up by an expert to fit the theme of the Silverstar panoply.
It offers the following effects: ❖ Advantage against heat based environmental hazards. ❖ +1 Defense against heat based attacks.
Item Descriptions: An absolutely Giant of a shield made from Royal Sand Wyrm scales, Begemot manas, platinum and steel. It is a shield that almost seems to be alive as it bears the face of the Royal Sand Wyrm that was slain in the Torraganese desert. Mighty and powerful it is made to not only be a powerful defensive tool, but also with its shifting forms it is able to change into melee weapons, and even into a cannon.
As a shield, it has the following effects:
❖ Can be used up to three times per scenario. ❖ +2 Defense ❖ Gives access to the ‘Searing Return ability’.
Searing Return - Counters made with this shield get a bonus added to the amount of half the difference between the attack and the defense. The excess energy is stored into the shield and fired back, or formed into a giant, flaming hand to obliterate enemies.
Horrifer’s Black Scales - Mightily resilient smaller scales split from a singular large one made to enhance the surface of the shield. Up to 5 damage points can be removed from a single attack per cycle.
❖ Il-Halim - Soothing Murmurs: A Shamshir with a bright, pale blade and a silver handle. Effective at conducting electricity and good focus. Excellent riding weapon.
❖ Il-Kabus - Thrilling Terrors: A Shamshir forged from obsidian and designed to be superior at piercing damage than most of its category.
❖ The Calesardes Mechanism: A pyramid-shaped mechanism from a long lost civilization. Its mechanisms and use are a mystery. It wards of Knower interference and makes space-time usage safer.
❖ Conquistador's Gauntlets: These armoured gloves allow their wearer to skip one stage of any charged attack and to subtract a total of five points from an adversary's rolls twice per cycle. They also provide 16 manas.
❖ Many Moons Armband: A silver armband with five circles carved. Said to be from an era long forgotten, wielded by champions long dead. Enables Wildbloods and Mooncasters access to the effects of three moons, regardless of the actual status of the moons. If there are already three or four moons out, this item will enhance effects by one more. Provides 8 manas.
A colossal buster blade, forged of ghulthite. Can only be used at close range. ❖ Momentum: Entering close range will add +3 guaranteed damage. ❖ Cleave: May hit two humanoid-sized enemies at once. ❖ Rend: May combo with itself against larger enemies.
❖ The Lucky Coin: D2 for a critical success or a critical fail. All on a coin toss.
❖ Storage -
❖ Leather Messenger Bag - In Vogue among her people, not too efficient in terms of capacity but withstands quite a bit of punishment. Fashionable.
❖ Sealed Coffee Container - For daily coffee needs. Not thermally sealed, so needs to be warmed up.
S T O R A G E
❖ A-Grade powdered Spratz: Questionably acquired from inside a dress in carny-land. x200g A sweet spice that trumps both sugar and caffeine while providing a unique and sought after flavour. Will allow one to stay wide awake without sleeping for 48 hours. Enables a reduction of damage up to 4 levels at any point (can be stacked), although it cannot go below a glancing. Foods with spratz can only be preserved half as long. Must be prepared and combined with a dish. In Zarina’s Kitchen.
❖ Royal Sand Wyrm Claws: The strongest materials found on a Sand Wyrm, said to make some of the best armours and weapons in Sipenta. Although no known Blacksmith is currently able to work them. x7 (Shared with Marceline) In Storage.
❖ Royal Sand Wyrm Bones: Bones of varying sizes that are said to be great building materials. Not the easiest things to store! x11 (Shared with Marceline) In Storage.
❖ Royal Sand Wyrm Scales: Flexible scales of the Sand Wyrm, said to make flexible and durable armour. Their size makes them practical to produce a lot of different gear. X50 (Shared with Marceline) In Storage.
❖ Emergency Ground Coffee: AAA-Grade, in case she can’t get some of it. Enough for two kettles. In Zarina’s bag.
❖ Dragon Spurs: Guaranteed to help you prod your dragon to move faster (without breaking the skin). In Storage.
❖ Fragments of the Magic Nullifier: Pieces of a broken magic nullifier, with many gears still intact as well as the core potentially salvageable by a savvy individual. In Zarina’s living space.
❖ Woolly Mammoth Pet Bed: A large, human-bed sized resting spot for big pets, although it welcomes all species that fit. Very warm and comfy. In Zarina’s living space.
❖ Slo-Mo Three's Smooth BBQ Sauce: The smoothest, savouriest BQ sauce around, with exotic herbs and hints of cumin and coriander. (In Kitchen)
❖ Unsigned Portrait of Queen Eleanor: The painting appears to be a painting of Queen Eleanor from the famous artist Édouard Fabien. However, the person who reproduced the painting forgot to add his trademark symbol that identifies all his authentic works. In Storage.
❖ Old Bronze Hourglass: With sands that start red and turn black as they flow through the middle. Found in old ruins of Zaqhoria. In Storage.
❖ Singular Silver Coin: A coin with the same face on both sides. It was conjured by the Ice King and trusted to Zarina. Consistently cold to the touch.
❖ Snowsweeper Plush: Plush made from Snowsweeper wool, a gift from the Eskandish reservation that houses the rescued animal Zarina, Maura and Ingrid had saved. She helped finance the shelter and 'adopted' a calf named Adnan.
❖ Horned Dragon Saddle: Provides a free flee action to the rider (and the animal) per scenario, with a reduction of 3 damage tiers against bosses. Both the rider and the steed suffer from the action penalty afterwards. Provides 14 manas. Can be equipped on any mount.
❖ Bottle of Ellermane Bleu x1: One of the world's last remaining bottles of Château Morcand Ellermane Blue, vintage DZ45, a rare wine produced in only two vineyards on the Isle of Ellermane before it collapsed into the sea. Also considered the best Morcand vintage. Gives the consumer 3 effects:
❖ Any social roll (lying, talking, doing business, and closing deals) +1 to social rolls if both parties consume it. ❖ Perception rolls to detect poisons in the wine receive a -3. ❖ 1 skill tier up on all magic schools for the consumers’ next d2 turns.
❖ Primordial Egg: An egg dropped by a Yolk demon that hatched during the battle again the Demon Elephant.
F I N A N C E S ❖ Groove Currency: G¤3 ❖ Change in Hand: Approximately Ỽ2 ❖ Wealth Group: Wealthy - Ỽ100 allowance per cycle. ❖ Current Associated Bank: Bluebell's Investment Group
Size: 3 stories, although split with the second part being only two. 1200m² of grassy land at the back.
Summary: Four bedrooms. A main drawing room. A play room. A kitchen with a small room for casual eating. Two lavatories, one on each floor. A relatively large study. An attic. A cellar. A couple of closets. Currently being renovated by Abdel Varga. Has stables that can hold up to 5 steeds. There is a barn at the back for growing dragons (they remain chained). A wooden fence delineates the property borders. There are a few trees in the backyard.
Location: Bhalahustra, South Sawand.
Size: Large with 8 bedrooms. Essentially an inn.
Summary: This brightly coloured abode boasts six rooms and a bar stocked with rare alcohol and is a popular stopover for travelers navigating the treacherous mountain passes on the way to hegelan lands. Some say that it possesses a dark secret as well, but they say that about everything these days just to get you interested. Chosen as a safe retreat for Zarina and close ones, and a daycare for many of her animals during turbulent times. The animals enhance the inn experience, of course.
F A M I L I A R S
M O U N T S
Name: Riesco Sex: Male Species: Camargue Horse Age: 6 Tier: Low Category: Mount (Mount, Battle Companion, Pet, Cattle, or a combination)
Description: Bonded to Zarina when he was but a foal and she was 11, the two were essentially inseparable (in reason). Almost every day, even during rain seasons, she would take him out and they would ride. He is accepting of other riders and the breed is considered friendly and domesticated. He has been very stressed to have had his rider leave for over a month, but is now happily reunited. He is very calm in her presence, rarely panicking. He will always try to find some treats hidden in people’s pockets and wander around if not tied. He is currently kept at her home at the Godsroad.
Character: A loyal horse strongly bonded to his master. He is very gentle and accepting of others riding him despite being a full stallion. He is quite gluttonous and will always seek a potentially hidden treat on someone's being. Like a cat, some could believe he's never been fed! He rarely cowers from danger so long as he's handled properly.
Original Dice: d2 (Progress: d2, d3, 2d2, 2d3, 2d4)
Current Dice: 2d4
HP: 25
Bond Level: 5 - Six years of bonding as a species bred for human companionship as well as being used in every arc.
Abilities: Mundane but Reliable: Does not incur any penalty for combo’ing with their master. They also have an inherent +3 to any stress-related rolls.
Max Bond - Protective Instinct: Riesco is capable of sacrificing his action to offer Zarina a free defense on an ally twice per scenario.
Max Bond - Two Against the World: Twice per scenario, his roll will be his maximum of 8.
Armour Bonus - Formation Break: When attacking a combo defense once per scenario, the enemies will roll at disadvantage if Zarina is combo-attacking with Riesco.
Name: Cavalry of the Silverstar
Item Descriptions: Armour fitted for Riesco the Stallion, composed of a Royal Sand Wyrm Claw and multiple processed Scales to form a high quality set of armour worthy of magical heavy cavalry. The plating’s colouring is consistent with Zarina’s inclination for Platinum, although the metal isn’t used in its composition.
Name: Alqasas Sex: Female Species: Dune Sea Froabas - Alpha Age: 1 (Born Mid-DZ54) Tier: High Category: Mount & Battle Companion
Description: The Largest Froabas species in Sipenta, especially as an Alpha. Alqasas is decorated with a noticeable and bright gold and green swirling pattern with subtle pearlescent purple and reticulated. Considered to be the rarest pattern type among its kind and an Alpha to boot. As of the next year, she is about large enough to be ridden unlike her non-alpha siblings.
Character: Alqasas will frequently make shows of dominance to others of its kinds and humans she does not know. She sometimes challenges Zarina’s position as leader, although has never attacked her. She somewhat fears her mother, but definitely craves the safety she provides, even when it goes against her Alpha instincts. Get anxious very easily without other Froabases around, or Zarina.
Dice: See Abilities.
HP: 32
Bond Level: 3
Abilities: Offensive: Air + Fire breath: Explosive chem dice Ground + Fire breath: 10d3 Air + Claws: 5d8 (need a +11 to counter) Ground + Claws: 4d8 Tail Lash: 5d10 (will never do more than a minor) Air + Bite: 10d4 (rolls with disadvantage) Ground + Bite: 8d4
Defensive Air: 12d4 Ground: 10d3 Wing health sacrifice: can reduce any incoming damage tier by 2. Upon second use, will lose the ability to fly unless healed to full health.
Weaknesses Attacks to the throat area, especially during fire breath, will be boosted by one damage tier. Attacks targeting wings will roll with disadvantage but, if they hit, will be boosted by 2 damage tiers.
Alpha Dragon Rage Triggered when at least 8 health has been lost. The dragon may sacrifice health to add two points to its next roll for each health sacrificed. If its next roll succeeds, it will recover half the health sacrificed.
Description: The Largest Froabas species in Sipenta, especially as an Alpha. Thawra’s scales have the ‘Zephyr’ pattern: Sleek bluish-green with a blue underbelly and white ovals around the eyes, like an orca. Normally sized for her species.
Character: Thawra can be best described as nervous, and with that comes some volatility, making her difficult to handle. Zarina has a better grip and her, and it is due to the co-dependence developed between master and mount that she has behavioural problems. Gets massive separation anxiety and often gets into fights with her sister, Alqasas, although she is quick to concede.
Abilities: Very similar to Alqasas.
Name: Nu Sex: Male Species: Bluewater Behemoth Age: Juvenile
Description: A gargantuan open ocean filter feeder, the Behemoth is a not-so-gentle giant. More than willing to swallow anything in their path, these hulking, airship-shaped threshers are constantly eating and constantly moving. Capable of surprising bursts of speed, they possess massive spined paddles instead of legs. They can slam these together to generate enormous shockwaves, titanic currents and whirlpools, and simply crush smaller creatures. They have demonstrated an almost sadistic aggression in doing so, often going out of their way to flatten small whales, pop sharks, and obliterate lesser threshers.
Character: Hostile and ruthless, Zarina currently has little grasp in controlling it. It is currently held in a special space in the aquatic section of the Animal farm, however future accommodations for its more mature stages must be considered. Daily efforts are made to educate it.
Abilities: TBD.
Gear: ❖ Scorpion Clawguards: These resize to fit on almost any thresher, allowing it to save up unused points from over-defenses, to be used when needed. A maximum of 12 at a time may be saved this way.
B A T T L E - C O M P A N I O N S
Name: Nibbler Sex: Male Species: Abnormal Giant Dormouse Age: ~1
Description: What looks to be a normal Dormouse with black stripes over his eyes. Said eyes are very expressive, as well as his body language. Can live around 15 years, supposedly.
Character: Unusually brilliant for a Dormouse. Capable of understanding Avincian (to an extent) and context of situations.
Abilities: ❖ Passive: Every round, a d6 can be rolled to enhance any offensive or defensive roll in the team. ❖ Active: Twice per scenario, Nibbler is capable of unleashing a 2/3d12 attack in combination with anything. ❖ He has 12 HP.
Name: Biby Sex: Male Species: Djamantese House Hippopotamus Age: Juvenile
Description: A very small hippo with a maladaptive mutation that causes its skin to be gold in colour. Generally considered a nuisance with a massive appetite and a desire to bite anything, along with poop to match its voracious hunger. High maintenance, but a novelty as well as extremely adorable.
Character: A greedy little shit that sleeps for most of the day. Biby is, thankfully, quite docile and enjoys trips in the handbag, although it won’t hesitate to release itself anywhere. Currently, he is being trained to not bite just anything and play nice with other animals. A whole setup is made with a comfortable, wool bed and plenty of food, a large bowl of water and plenty of crispy goods.
Abilities: ❖ The Yawn: What does it do?!
Name: Osman Sex: Male Species: Land Octopus Age: 0
Description: An adorable and quite intelligent species of cephalopod, known for their friendliness and ability to learn.
Character: Docile and very attentive. He's quickly learned a few tricks and tasks to help his mother. Very impish when in the mood to play. Is eager to be complimented.
Abilities: TBD
P E T S
Name: Arlo Sex: Male Species: Blueberry Dragon Age: ~2
Description: A small, blueish dragon with a love for fruits. Arlo loves peaches in particular and hanging on his master's shoulder when out of his cage. Capable of living up to 20 years old, he is kept mostly indoors in the warm and safe from predators. He will also hunt insects that enter the home!
Character: Initially shy, Arlo is actually quite the talkative little diva seeking attention from anyone he's familiar with, including other animals. Zarina had to ensure her locks were proper as he's since shown to be able to operate doors! He responds well to rewards and operates like clockwork when it comes to sleep: Always when the hour of Dami starts, he will fly to his cage and go to sleep. Like many of his species, he is easily spooked and will seek solace on his master's shoulder or find an elevated hiding spot.
Abilities: A speedy creature in the air and capable of learning quickly, it is said to be the smartest small flying dragon species. It has a strong nose for nearby foods and can distinguish the most nutritive at a certain range. He can spit small breaths, though they're generally harmless and less potent than a grape dragon's.
The Zangari Monkeybirds
Species: Zangari Monkeybirds Age: Hatched on Velles DZ54
Description: A species of mostly-flightless birds, their limbs have become long and spindly and they are known for spending their whole lives on the overgrown cliff sides, amid the vines, roots, and crevasses. Smart and capable of mimicking human voice (with basic understanding of word meanings and context). Very colourful, and prone to being loud and messy.
Abilities: High intelligence, capable of speech, quick, annoying, very beautiful and colourful patterns, need constant attention. Can be taught to do tasks.
Name: Horus-gar the Black Sex: Male Description: A “Dark Lord” variation of the Monkeybirds, looking very similar to a firetail with black plumage and orange-like patterns. Horus knows he’s the most fabulous and an immense drama queen. Always first to be on Zarina’s shoulder.
Name: Maat-res Sex: Female Description: The runt of the litter and often seen following Zarina around as she had to be nursed with more attention than the others. Often hides behind her leg and is too afraid to interact with the world as much as the others. Has pretty big feathers for her sizes near her limbs and head, and with blue as the dominant colour.
Description: Living in the darkest depths of the ocean, this small bioluminescent thresher is known for its stunning multicoloured light displays, ability to render itself inert and drift while waiting to ambush prey, and its remarkable digestive system. Able to compress food when ingested to less than 1/4 of its former size, its feces often takes the form of dense minerals. Yes, poop diamonds.
Character: She stays deep underwater. She lurks, eats random prey and poops shinies. Fradje recognises the feeding bell and presence of Zarina and understands she is the hand that feeds her. She doesn’t ask for more. The human even cleans her poo away!
Abilities: Big. Stealthy. Hard to detect. Can snap someone in half. Poops diamonds and other minerals. An Alpha, so bigger, tougher and more resilient overall.
The Kaempe Ko
Species: Kaempe Ko Age: 10, 7, 12
Description: Giant, woolly bovine animals from Eskand, raised as livestock for their creamy milk, heat-resistant wool and delicious meat. While territorial, the domesticated specimens are relatively docile, especially if regularly fed and groomed.
Abilities: They produce a lot of milk, are very big and can probably trample you. Extremely pettable.
Name: Storfyr (Big Guy) Sex: Male Description: A big bull among bulls. Pretty chill. Loves to lick salt cubes and is excessively curious. The earth shakes a little when he eagerly migrates toward something interesting.
Name: Sollys (Sunny) Sex: Female Description: A young Kaempe Ko ready to bear an offspring. She has the vigour of youth and often prods Frue to play with mild headbutts. Can be a bit pushy for scritches from humans, sometimes tipping them over. A cuddlebug.
Name: Frue (Lady) Sex: Female Description: Currently Pregnant and lactating! The older female, used to the process and will remain docile. She is a sweetheart and will stay put when being handled. Has successfully given birth to four healthy foals.
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
❖ Original RAS before entering Ersand’Enise was 7.62 ❖ Current Hex Code: E5E4E2 ❖ Old Hex Code: C78A2C
❖ [ Pronouns ] - He / Him. ❖ [ Honorifics: ] - Mister, Biro ❖ [ Nicknames: ] - “Captain Skuggvar” ❖ [ Titles: ] - Resident of the St. Augustin Refuge. Hunter. Lord Ali of House Bukhari (Formerly) ❖ [ Relationship Status: ] - Dating: Maura Mercador
❖ [ Brief Introduction: ]
Vindictive, Observant, Kind Hearted, “Normal”, Insecure, Grudgeful, Clever, Indignant Abdel is, all things considered, a very normal teen with typical teen quirks. A total show off but easily scared off from bringing in some bite, he does make some good humour out of these silly situations when he can. Really, among the entourage he’s been with, he’s one of the closest to being normal. Although he tends to be sharper than the average, he does let emotions get to him when he is wronged. He holds grudges and isn’t very forgiving (and has a very good memory). He enjoys doing things with his hands and just going out there to move, hiding his Tethered traits the best he can.
His interests revolve around building things, potentially some architecture and engineering later on, and finding information on things. Less so to learn and more so to make use of his tracking capabilities and the advantage a Tethered has when ambushing via long range. He hopes to eventually make enough money to focus more on constructing, but the thrill of it keeps him going for more.
Abdel was once known as Ali Bukhari, child of the prestigious Bukhari family of Inipor, one of the biggest Darhannic clergyman families. He was sent to the St. Agustin Tethered refuge days after his diagnosis, and most of his past was removed from memory, although he still speaks the languages he knew and recalls bits and pieces. He and all those in the Refuge were ‘liberated’ by a group of Students from Ersand’Enise, and has since wished to join them in the school thanks to scholarship provided by the Duque Frannemas.
Abdel has made many friends, got particularly close to a wheelchair-bound girl named Maura and has essentially joined the ‘gang’ that is strangely involved with many big events around the world. He works as an independent, small-time bounty hunter during his free time, is employed by his friend Isabella for part-time work and has made a hobby of fixing some homes and building things he enjoys.
Ever since his voyage to ReTan, he has been found to have changed. Some would say for the better with his increased confidence and ability to call out misdeeds. But some can see his growing anger bubbling out, a resentment for aspects of the world and people that he had bottled up for years.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
❖ [ Eyes: ] - Brown. ❖ [ Hair: ] - Black. ❖ [ Skin Tone: ] - Fitzpatrick type V. Abdel is definitely on the darker end of those living in West Severa, although he goes down to type IV if in cold weather for long. ❖ [ Height: ] - 5ft 11 / 180cm. ❖ [ Weight: ] - 125lb / 56kg. ❖ [ Physique: ] - Thin. ❖ [ Facial Features: ] - Very standard. Has a ratty, thin moustache when he doesn’t shave. ❖ [ Physical Quirks: ] - Tethered but can walk normally again. ❖ [ Distinctive Features: ] - Tall for his age. ❖ [ Apparel & Accessories: ] -
Abdel will typically dress with simple clothes, ranging from simple tunics to very basic coats. Initially due to a lack of care for his appearance, he now tries to remain inconspicuous as a bounty hunter.
T H E G I F T
Base RAS
Augmented RAS
HP
Blood Types
Items
7.40 (90)
7.90 (122)
20
Tethered Thunderchild
Black Beast's Blade, Slayer’s helm and Hungering Helm
School
Speciality
Tier
Base
Offensive
Defensive
Magnetic
Internal, Ferromagnetic
VII. Master
d18
4d18
4d18
Arcane
N/A
I. Novice
d4
d2 3/4d4
d2 3/4d4
Binding
N/A
IV. Adept
d10
N/A
d2 3/4d10
Chemical
N/A
I. Novice
d4
d2 3/4d4
d2 3/4d4
Kinetic
N/A
0. Neophyte
d2
N/A
N/A
Blood
N/A
III. Apprentice
d8
d2 3/4d8
d2 3/4d8
Extra
Description
Fruits:
Sacred Fruit of Eshiran-Zept - Brandæble: Increase your RAS tier dice by one stage above where they should be. Eshiran's General Blessing: Each time you deal damage of significant tier or better, gain advantage on your next action. Sacred Fruits Trust & Skepticism - Lychee & Chestnut: Trust: The bearer of this fruit may offer two free combination defences per cycle. Skepticism: The bearer may also be combination defended for free twice per cycle. Caribou’s Antler: Lose an item to cleanse and restore all health, lose health to restore an item.
Other:
Bloodwarping - Hidden Magnetic Spell: Tiers IV - VI. Allows the caster to manipulate the iron content in blood and metallic content in the body to cause deficiencies, weaponize it, or even exert subtle control.
First Year - First Semester Classes: Magnetic & Binding AR104: Painting and Drafting in Acrylic, Oil, Pastel & Watercolour SK104: Athletics, Agility, Physical Fitness & Sporting Activities SK102: Making Camp, Foraging, Hunting & Travel in Remote Areas LN106: Introduction to Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Rettanese AC102: Fundaments of the Natural Sciences and their Uses in the Magical Arts SI06: Navigating the World with a Disability SI02: Recognizing and Resisting Dangerous and Radical Philosophies
First Year - Second Semester Classes: Arcane & Chemical AR101: Human, Natural & Constructed Forms in Sculpture SK105: Sewing, Cooking, Repair & Construction Essentials SK103: Farming, Gardening, Animal Husbandry & Animal Familiars LN102: Introduction to Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Perrench SI04: Hiking & Wellness SI03: Dragon Racing, Dressage & Draconic Studies
Second Year - First Semester Classes: Magnetic & Chemical AR201: Application of Magic in Sculptural Practice AR204: Sketching and Drafting in Ink & Charcoal AC202: An Introduction to Biology AC203: Cartographical Practice and Measurement LN205: An Introduction to Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Warlish SI02: Recognizing and Resisting Dangerous and Radical Philosophies
Second Year - Second Semester Classes: Kinetic & Chemical AR207: Sculpting with Living Materials SK207: Carpentry, Coopery & Woodworking with Magic SK209: Taming, Riding, and Caring for Animals AC212: An Introduction to Chemistry LN209: Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Kerreman LN211: An Introduction to Literature, Rhetoric & the Written Word in Nashibansek SI04: Hiking & Wellness SI06: Navigating the World with a Disability
Societies:
Inventory:
Currency: Ỽ427 - Put in Bluebell’s Investment Group.
Named Items: N/A
Minor: -A cane from the Refuge.
Magical Items:
A large and wicked black steel sword that stands at the size of a fully grown man, this blade hums with magnetic energy and strains in the hand of the user when fought with. The user gains an increase of 1 RAS tier when using magnetic as the primary school to attack or defend with. The user gains the effects of [Attract] or [Repel] when attacking or Defending with the blade. Anytime the user counters, they gain flipped dice on the counterattack. The sword gives 12 manas.
❖ Slayer's Helm: In addition to providing its user with 18 manas, this cavalry helm in the Retanese style will boost defensive rolls by +2 for every successful attack landed.
❖ The Hungering Helm: This handsome, deep crimson wizard hat is adorned with a stylish pink and black pair of ribbons and a pair of raven feathers. Its edge can split open to reveal a hungering maw lined with razor sharp teeth. When it bites into a target, the sanguinaire manas of this hat will temporarily steal up to 24 extra manas for that cycle and may empower themselves with any secondary or viral blood types of their target for the next three cycles. Must be fed once per cycle. Provides 24 manas.
❖ Unruly Dragon's Bridle: In addition to providing medium to large dragons with +18 manas, this bridle will boost their rolls on control checks, increasing the bonding level, as well as combo attacks and defenses with advantage.
❖ Screamer's Collar: The user and allies +1 to all actions and the user can combo attack with a group of 2 other people.
❖ Arrow Dragon Venom: A poison that can completely disable the use of temporal magic.
❖ Duelist's Glove: Normal Glove of good manufacture.
❖ Ship in a bottle
❖ 1 Sea Sapphire ❖ 3 Zanzerast ❖ 2 Wyrmwood Hearts ❖ 3 Ironwood ❖ 1 Sand Wyrm Claw ❖ 5 Halassa Shell Fragment - 1 Aged ❖ 13 kg Salted Beef ❖ 19 Naranja, fairly low Mana density
Animals / Companions / Vehicles:
Name: Dayanara & Qadira Sex: Female Species: Skuggvar Age: 0 (Born Velles of DZ54) Dice: d2 for 12d2/3
Description: Notorious predators with powerful tracking abilities and physical might. Considered very dangerous even for mages, hunting parties are often gathered to eliminate Skuggvars that have tasted the blood of someone from the community. They appear docile but are ferocious and cunning beasts. They constantly wear muzzles and are kept controlled by Abdel’s magic.
Character: Dayanara is more extraverted and willing to be pet than Qadira who is the more aggressive one of the two. They learn quickly but challenge their master frequently. They have figured out ways to get out of their muzzles twice, but the current edition has them stumped.
Sacred Fruit of Community - Peas in a Pod: The bearer will gain the ability to share a single pool of mana with anyone who shares the contents of this pod with her as long as they are allied and within twenty yards of each other. The others may also combination cast with each other so long as she is among them. Both Skuggvars have eaten from Kaureerah's pod, binding themselves to her.
Bond Level: 3
Name: Zorayas Sex: Female Species: Trickster Wyrm Age: 0 (Born Ardanes of DZ54) Dice: Unknown
Description: With a decent RAS, a roughly humanoid-shaped thing on its tail, and an instinctual way with illusion magic. Other animals are wary of humans/yasoi/hegelans/eeaiko while those four sapiens are all relatively social with other sapiens. The wyrm can cool its body temperature, go very still, and hide most of its energy signature, scaring off some would-be predators but drawing in Sapiens and then ambushing and eating them. Its digestive system is very specialized to allow for quick absorption of manas without killing them. Hence, its RAS spikes really high after a meal and it uses that to hunt further, going on these mini-rampages and gorging on sapiens with mana and then going for extended periods without eating. Current wears a muzzle too.
Character: Zorayas is still in the very early adolescence stage and hasn’t fully developed a personality yet. She enjoys shadowing Abdel and hiding in his tunics. Her tail being underdeveloped is used to simulate infant-like forms as lures, much to Abdel’s distress.
"O' Dreamer, guide my mother through her endless night. Guide my sister to your grace she has lost. And perhaps I may one day be guided to my dreams once more."
A young adult that’s put her faith and family before anything else, it comes to no surprise that an immense amount of pride is felt over things so dear. So much so that ounces of criticism points their way, if not carefully formulated, can provoke the explosive nature Zarina is known for. She has no reservations when it comes to establishing dominance and antagonising those she is less than pleased with. No matter their status or size. Her tendency to be at the forefront of conflicts has since earned the respect of those she was initially made to manage and lead.
That is not to say she is unapproachable. Quite the contrary, keeping questionable individuals together and cooperative requires more than just fear tactics. Zarina understands how to make a place feel homely and provide the right amount of attention to make another feel valued. The pride she feels for what’s dear to her often extends to those who lend themselves to her activities and reciprocate the affections she may try to communicate. A tough balance of fear and love is one she’s consistently had to teeter upon, and has since become adept at it, should her beliefs allow for any sort of flexibility, which it sometimes does not.
C H A R A C T E R A P P E A R A N C E
Where many families breed to form a line of powerful mages, the Al-Nader pride themselves over the beauty of their children. A perfectly symmetrical face beyond a beauty mark under her eye, a light shade of brown, gold pupils and hearty, healthy lips. Draped by a crown of slightly wavy, dark ash-brown hair extending to her midriff. The tiniest hint of blush persists, although often the fruit of subtle makeup. Perceived beauty isn’t the only thing the family is known for: They are also quite tall. Zarina is 185cm tall with a very lithe figure.
Zarina will frequently wear quality, silk garments that show off her form and compliment her art. Jewellery is something she enjoys having with her, most notably her gold Hexaic necklace. But outside of any obligation, she sticks to baggy and comfortable getups, usually of good quality but unassuming overall. What she’ll wear to classes or for ‘work’ is contingent on her somewhat volatile mood and whether or not she’s to bring her Shamshirs along, which need a specific belt to hold the sheathes and it doesn’t always go well with certain ‘stylistic’ choices she may make.
L A N G U A G E S
Highly educated, Zarina knows many languages and has mastered those closest to her birthplace. However, despite perfect fluency, she will keep a Virangish accent just because she can and wants to.
❖ Avincian - Perfectly Fluent, but you’re getting an accent and Virangish expressions (She will sometimes slip and have a perfectly normal accent). ❖ Virangish - Mother Tongue, very proud of it. ❖ Torragonese - Second Mother Tongue from her Great-Grandfather’s lineage. She’ll often speak without an accent, but is forgetful of some words and grammar rules as she doesn’t use it too often. ❖ Inipori - Semi-Fluent, seat of her religion and held in very high regards. ❖ Paggonian - Intermediate, very similar to Virangish. ❖ Rettanese - Intermediate, quite many of them in Virang and some rival groups exist among them. ❖ Belzaggic - Basic conversational. ❖ Perrench - Basic conversational.
T H E G I F T
The Gift has been increasingly at the forefront of a young Al-Nader’s education. Being a Blackblood, Zarina was deemed more than capable and basic studying commenced slightly before puberty. Application was a different story, and remained relatively limited barring a couple of exceptions.
Kinetic: Zarina’s mother’s speciality, and her Papy’s own as well. Naturally, she followed in their footsteps and incorporated it the same way they did: In her movements, whether artistic or combative. A very direct form of utilising her own movement. Although speaking of footsteps, she has learned to use this school of magic to enhance the echoes of her footsteps (hasn’t yet grasped how to suppress), emphasising the ‘rhythm’ she uses in a dance, or when applying Machorro fundamentals. She’d love to learn how to move things around, though!
Magnetic: With her inclinations toward using Shamshirs and potentially armour should she keep up with her Papy's resume, this felt like a no-brainer. As of now, she is capable of offensively using minor electrical currents running through her blade or fingertips and applying attractive/repulsive charges that make her combination of attacks more difficult to avoid.
Binding: A school of magic she has the least knowledge or prowess over. An interesting turn given her family’s past and her ambitions. But should she be truthful, she would admit to wanting healing and defensive binding magic all for the sake of her steed, Riesco, both for his safety but also to potentially have him keep up with her as she grows as a mage and engages with bigger threats.
B A C K G R O U N D
Four hundred years ago, there existed a small, nomadic family of Blackbloods. Somewhat vain people, eager to get the praise of the many through their displays of art, whether theatre or song, but most of all was the beauty of their people. Especially the women. A curious phenomenon, from a kind that came from the scorching dunes of Torragon, supposedly, and thrived off the donations of their audiences, a few cattle and a handful of followers.
The appeal of nobility and stability was not lost to these still mysterious individuals. When the highborns of Virang discovered the value of their blood, all they needed was to know their secrets to such beauties for an accord to be made. And eager they were to share. For a good while, these people with no place to truly call their home lived off a simple yet paradoxically complex magic that served well in surviving merciless climates.
All their followers and cattle were 'marked', passively but continuously drained of their essence, as to invigorate their most prestigious. But that was enough to maintain youthful appearances. This same magic was used by the men in raids in older times to blitz unsuspecting settlements, and use their finest as living materials for a ritual. A ... Very primitive use of Binding magic, which left some to question why they needed a living being in the first place. Although as they settled, animals and venerated creatures were used instead.
Although this didn't stop the ghoulish socialites from adopting this practice and turning it into a discreet and overused trend. One that ushered in quite a bit of depravity within Virang, and would have eventually taken the Sultan's merciless gaze ...
It would come to no surprise that this fad, a by-product of simple blood magic made accessible to envious fools, would backfire. My ancestors, proud as they were, were adamant on keeping their practice. They were so confident in their growing status that they had forgotten to consider the compromised virtue of the little slut they had hoped to marry off. The groom, displeased and offended, denounced this minor and forgettable nobility, and soon the disgrace brought total ruin to their short-lived glory. The State soon cracked down on the petty practice, and little was left of it to remember.
Al-Nader, once graceful but ruthless takers, were lulled to passivity by the appeal of social ascension, rather than keeping to what they knew best. And now they pay the price.
Just as the name Al-Nader had gained renown and appreciation, it was then eradicated from common knowledge, sullied by its past and recognised only for the perceived depravity it had brought to Virang. A scapegoat to feel better over their fall into temptation.
The beauty of the women had still its use, even in the bottom of society. Whored out, humiliated and battered, they never forgot who they were, and made sure their children remembered the name Al-Nader. While the men were made to be sellswords or disposable laborours.
Three generations of this cesspit of an existence was enough to have Mussah Al-Nader, fourth son of his sickly mother, exact a plan not to regain grace, they did not need it, but to TAKE what is rightfully theirs: Their name. Their beauty. And their Pride. But what did they have? They had hardened men, and women on the bedside of influential people. All that was left was to centralise.
And most of all, they had the curse that made them reviled in the first place. An edge for their men in the field of battle and a means of subversion for the women, poisoning many without them ever even noticing and striking when optimal. Secrets were piled up, notoriety was once again gained and before long, through grinding, extortion and pillaging, enough capital was gathered for the first Shisha Lounge - The Flame Lily, the symbol of our family today.
It was the match that set this pyre ablaze. One lounge became two, two became the racing books, and then the brothels. Mussah died younger than most, but left the blueprints for his children. It had reached a point where Saida Al-Nader, about a century ago, denounced the blood practices and buried them for good, figuring that we were best not to burn ourselves once more. Well, as good as they were buried by those who disgraced my family in the first place. We haven’t forgotten these arts just as we never forgotten our name, or where we came from. We’re forever tainted, and we’ve since embraced it. So I'm left to wonder, what brought old Saida to declare such a Fatwa?
We take what is ours and kneel to none. Only by learning from our betters have we achieved what we are today.
"O' Dreamer, swathed in the warmth of our dreams,"
And now we get to me, Zarina Al-Nader.
I was the first of three to come from Saoussen Al-Nader on a cool, Zehelli evening. A rambunctious child, I was neither as passionate as my sister Ysilla nor a prodigy like Sabbah. But I had guts, as my Papy would say. And guts were all I truly needed when I think back. My mother did place high hopes on us, though, being prodigious herself with a RAS of 8 and having attended Ersand’Enise.
It was not disappointment in her face when she learned we couldn’t match her innate prowess. No, it was something even more distressing. It was sadness.
But I digress. Our upbringing was rather typical of an Al-Nader. We were strongly encouraged to take an art and make it our own. Ysilla found her strange … Inclination early, and Sabbah had a golden pair of lungs. And I just couldn’t sit still. So my Papy, my still living Great-Grandad for those that don’t know, decided to try his luck.
"Safeguard our memories, our lineages and our love as to bless our children with the same warmth we offer you."
It kicked so much ass, that little internship with Papy. He taught me about the wars and battles of his youth, how to hold a sword even! And, figuring out my discreet admiration for mother, convinced her to tutor me in dance. A notion I wasn’t exactly thrilled by, but as usual, Papy knew best. It grew onto me, the same way his teachings did when I was younger. Or maybe he wanted me to learn what mother never did, marrying the beautiful artform of Virangish dance with Machorro.
Prosperity was short-lived as we reached adolescence. Sabbah’s breathing had begun to become a problem. And eventually an emergency. Fragile since birth, we never thought a mere cough would get to this. She couldn’t sing, the halls of our home no longer echoed her of her beautiful melody, but of her ceaseless wheezes and coughs. I hated it. And she was dying. It was hard to say from what, but it was too slow for poison.
"Merciful Dreamer, made to abide alone, forgive our long and distressing nights, trying our mortal and imperfect souls."
It eventually spread, and it was clear by how skeletal she was that it wasn’t something that could be remedied by a few tonics and a binding mage. My mother broke down, my father … Ugh. Someone had to step up, and so I did. I uttered blasphemy, and proposed the old ways. I had no idea how we'd use it, or if it'd make a difference. But I supposed, at the very least, I could feed my essence to my sister to keep her alive a tad longer so we could figure it out. So Mother could snap out of it and Ysilla could think of something. But my biggest fear, if I'm to be truthful, was how our enemies would act knowing we'd be vulnerable, and mother rendered into such a state.
Ysilla objected. Seeing minimal use in such a risky play. What brought us both ruin and fortune, but she did not believe in the risk, nor was disgracing ourselves worth it. Maybe she was right. But what she proposed was just … At this point, we may as well have left our sister to die alone, because our arguing led to nothing. Nothing but resentment.
"For we know we are not Forlorn, even in the darkest of terrors and loneliest of bedsides."
Sabbah didn’t survive the night following that talk. There was no point in revival, what plagued her wasn't going to just vanish. And it may as well have spread to our family, with how torn it ended up being. My mother became increasingly irrational and catatonic and my sister-
"O' Dreamer, may your sleeping children, loving or resentful, find solace in your grand dream."
Once again, someone had to step up. And with my sister stonewalling our greatest weapon, I had to stick to what I knew as she envisioned things beyond the scales I was concerned about. At fourteen, I entered the family’s operations and did my best to ensure our grip on the communities didn’t falter, and returns were still positive. I was good at it. Very good. But it wasn’t enough. Our reign depended in big part on mother’s strength and status. With her mind withering, something had to be considered in the long run.
Ersand’Enise, we were going to end there regardless. Just being an alumni from such a place does wonders to the fickle nature of reputation. And I intend to uplift the name Al-Nader, make my forefathers proud. I will bring us to stability once more, just as my ancestor Mussah once had, and my Papy and mother did in their own ways as well. Everything I hold dear depends on it. Even my diluted, distant sister. Someone's got to keep an eye on her peculiar machinations.
"And take mercy on the damned, led astray by the wicked, seduced by the hollow nightmare. I shall see you again, in this dream, and the next."
M O T I V A T I O N
❖ Bring stability to Al-Nader and consolidate her place as the next Fasila, so as to let her mother finally rest. ❖ Accomplish as much as her Mother and Papy have, while staying true to her family’s values, as well as her faith. ❖ See what this Solaire guy is made of. ❖ Temper Ysilla's wild curiosities. Even if it means drastic measures. ❖ To be able to sleep normally again.
I N V E N T O R Y
❖ Il-Halim - Soothing Murmurs: A Shamshir with a bright, pale blade and a silver handle. Ignacio Corrello, now Adnan Al-Nader, is Zarina’s Great-Grandfather (Her Papy) and a renown military man with multiple accomplishments under his belt. The Torraro-born warrior offered his prized weapon, three steeds and a plundered onyx stone as tribute to his wife-to-be’s family. A blade that once fought for the Pentad, now baptised with the sweet whispers that bring wondrous dreams to the sleeping God, and a peaceful sleep to its adversaries. He was more than happy to see his dear Zarina inherit it, and taught her the fundamentals, notably for cavalry combat.
❖ Il-Kabus - Thrilling Terrors: A Shamshir forged from the rare Obsidian offered to the Al-Nader family as tribute. It has never been used in battle, and was made to celebrate Saoussen Al-Nader’s accomplishments as a Mage and Fasila. It is slightly longer than its counterpart with a tip better adapted for thrusting. Where Soothing Murmurs is the blessing of dreams, Thrilling Terrors is the frightening blackness of the night and all the horrors that lurk beyond.
❖ Necklace of the Darhannic (Hexaic) Faith - Often the object of prayer should she not have a personally valuable item or thing.
❖ Quite a bit of jewellery, perfumes and fine clothing.
❖ Coffee beans.
S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S
❖ Artistic: Born from a family of artists and with the soul of one, Zarina puts a lot of value in not only her Vriangish and freeform dancing and performance, but many other artforms she is lucky to witness.
❖ Machorro: As a child, Zarina was more rambunctious than most girls and got into a few fights. Her Papy had taken it upon himself to discipline and educate her in the basics of martial art, which served as a uniquely effective pipeline to her love for dancing. Her current level is intermediate, but she does have some experience using it in action.
❖ Leadership: She leads by example. First one in, last one out. Zarina has a knack for connecting with others, knowing when to show acts of generosity and when to ask about their needs. The fact that she tends to work hard to be competent at what she does (even if sometimes unsuccessful) has inspired fully-grown men that have now accepted her as a captain of sorts. A consistent leader with a sense of honour will make any henchman feel better about what they do. She doesn't hesitate to use her looks either.
❖ Network: Along with her capabilities in leadership, her position as an heir to Al-Nader has given her access to an expansive network in Virang’s economic powerhouses, some lower political figures and some Rettanese influential figures. However, these connections generally hinge on her mother’s presence, so they are definitely not a given.
❖ Riding: She has Torraro blood in her veins, and a beautiful Black Stallion named Riesco she’s raised since infancy (He is 4 years old). Of all her strengths, this is her best one just under her aptitude for traditional Virangish dancing and freeform.
W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S
❖ Emotional: Zarina has difficulties controlling her emotions, which make her somewhat explosive, especially if she feels insulted. She isn’t nearly as irrational as her mother, but she has threatened many in the past over small things. She will not break down over random taunting or annoyances, but taking the time to pinpoint what riles her up has considerable effect on her.
❖ Superstitious: She really takes the Hexaic faith to heart, and will refuse to conduct some things under certain conditions (To be elaborated on, let’s make this interesting!)
❖ Insomnia: Zarina cannot sleep properly and hasn’t been able to for four years. She generally exhausts herself or suddenly doses off. She can keep it somewhat under control but there will be times where she’ll be far less effective than her normal. Very much connected to her emotion control issues.
❖ Caffeine Addict: More precisely, coffee. And no, this isn’t the cause of her insomnia as she’s long since developed a resistance. But she cannot live without the stuff, exacerbating her trigger-happy nature at times.
❖ Remorseful: When your business is to do bad things to maybe bad people, it takes a toll on those not so unscrupulous. Zarina is a sensitive soul deep down, and every beating to assert dominance takes a toll on her mind. She copes with a ‘code of honour’ she takes from tradition, vowing to never harm certain people and under certain conditions. But we all know she’s kidding herself.
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