Name: Septimus
Khulruudi*Alias: The Scholar, The Kind
Age: 153 years
Species: Hueilin (pronounced Hway-lin) Dragon- Clan Khulruud
Gender: Male
Description: A silver coloured dragon whose back is a dark navy-tinted black. His chest scales and underside are a creamy off-white shade, similar to pearls in both colour and lustre, gaining a shade of cyan, royal blue or purple at certain angles. The colour can also be found on the dragon's horns. bio-luminscent whitish blue patterns line his fins, fin quill tips, wings, face and arms. the patterns on his forehead and arms are artificial, the former applied at birth by the clan leader; his father Arashi, whereas the latter were given to him as a good luck gift by his grandfather [Mother's father] when he was exiled, a bolster to his mana reserves back when they were too small to be of use, and a kind of 'grafted memory' to teach him some useful spells in order to help the young inexperienced dragon survive in the outside world. New ones have been added since then by a Khulruud Elder named Thurduunax, and look markedly different in style to the old ones. The dragon's eyes are bio-luminescent like his patterns, the iris glowing a bright whitish blue around pitch black pupils. the sclera are black normally, but can sometimes light up to match the intensity of the iris, blanking his eyes out completely so that the pupils, iris and sclera are completely engulfed in light, though this usually happens under magical influence such as while doing spells. Septimus usually travels with two large creamy coloured leather satchels strapped to his flanks. these bags often contain food, books, magical items, the occasional potion and other somewhat strange tools, including a barbecue spit made up of 3 metal rods. when his wings are furled they hide these bags almost completely (hence why they're not visible in the pic):
SeptimusHeight: 13 feet tall [Shoulder], 27 feet tall [tip of horns, head lifted]
Length: 91 feet long
Wingspan: 218 feet across
Weapons: His Claws, horns, teeth, thickly armoured whip-like tail, and sizeable, physically powerful body all serve to be effective weapons. Additionally, he has a
high intensity flame breath that burns deep blue at the base, turning white at its coldest points. The sheer heat of his flame is such that, were it not for Arashi's insistence on his name, he would likely have been named something more readily associated with fire; his breath is
the hottest presently known among Hueilin fire-breathers. Notably, it can be further augmented magically to be stronger during times of need. Septimus can choose whether to fire it conventionally in a stream or to fire it in the form of fireballs, though the former is far more common.
Powers: Fairly adept in the arcane arts. Though he is experienced in the use of almost all elemental magics, he is exceptionally biased towards
fire, electrical and psychic magic, taking after his father in his affinity towards
electricity. Additionally, his extensive study of the arcane has led to him
creating a new and unique form of magic: entropic magic, a pseudo-element and field of magical use so volatile that it often causes the target to outright explode, or at the very least, throw the object it is unleashed upon into complete chaos, causing the hottest of objects to suddenly freeze, causing that which levitates to plummet like a stone, and cause solids, liquids, gasses and plasmas to shift states without warning, among many other things.
Alternate appearance: Elven form:
A dark skinned elf with exceptionally angular features. His eyes retain their draconic appearance, sclera black with glowing irises and cat-like pupils. Platinum blonde hair grows long from his head, tied back into a ponytail, a few strands and bangs framing his slender face, elven ears visible amidst the hair. Two vitorite earrings can be seen on his right ear, halfway up the ear's height.
At 6'7", the elf is still one of the larger humanoid forms to be found in Aster. His skin is a dark charcoal grey; a colour that would unnerve some more sheltered of Aster's societies. He is typically dressed in a white, long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows. His lower arm runes are plainly visible. His lower body is clad in black trousers and dark grey buckled boots. A plain grey waistcoat is worn over his shirt. On his hands, leather fingerless gloves can be seen, steel plates covering the backs of his hands, decorated with embossed Celtic trinity symbols. Over the waistcoat, he wears a
cream-coloured leather long coat; a Sahari 'wirshah'. The outside of it resembles the hide of a crocodile, armoured and looking as though the back is covered in scutes. The inside however, is a sharp contrast; deepest navy blue, speckled with tiny glowing white dots, looking as though a midnight sky had been sewn into the coat's interior fabric. The fabric itself feels like silk, and oddly
seems to counteract the effects of the surrounding environment, feeling cool in hotter climes and warm in colder ones. The very edge of the coat's interior, near where the buttons would normally close, the tough yet supple leather of the exterior reaches inwards. As a result, the coat's lapels are the same colour and texture as the exterior of the coat. Strapped to his waist is the scabbard of his sword, the
Elderfang. The scabbard is, interestingly, the same colour as the coat, though lined with dark navy leather patterns on either side. The blade's grip is similar, soft leather sewn into place with navy blue leather strips and threat. The hilt and pommel are made of platinum, and shimmer a lustrous silver. The pommel itself has
a large marquise-cut blue topaz which glows faintly with unnatural light, independent of any light source. The blade, meanwhile, is made of
snakewood, coated in a resin that has given the blade the strength of steel, with the advantage that a wooden weapon provides. It is exceptionally light and well balanced as a result. Around his neck, a
deep black-brown stone is wrapped in an elegant but sturdy platinum medallion. Over his shoulders and around the back of his neck, a sturdy leather strap, covered in steel plating, holds a satchel that hangs just below the small of his back.
Personality: A calm, inquisitive, impulsive creature, Septimus is known for his pleasant, though stubborn, curious nature. His
strong sense of justice, sharp tongue and
stubborn attitude have been the cause of many misfortunes in his life, including his exile, though in spite of it, Septimus would
never shy away from helping a friend who's been treated unjustly. He's prone to impulsive behaviour when bored, and can often be found doing bizarre and sometimes outrageous things in such circumstances. His
favourite pastime is reading, though his impulsive habits can find him doing far stranger things. In recent times, his impulsiveness has been tempered with a measure of caution. He has
developed a sense of duty towards lesser creatures, and his most recent venture saw him slaying demons of various types and strengths in the defence of a people at risk of total annihilation. Personal motivation aside,
his first and foremost love is for knowledge and methods to acquire it, and he can often be
found in the library or temples of whatever village, town or city he happens to be in at the time.
History: Septimus is a member of a species of Dragon known as the Hueilin, or Spirit Dragon in their natural tongue, a species native to the
continent of Syravoras and the
Kirrahara mountain range in the
northern reaches of Aster. Their community is set in a valley amidst the mountains, so deep that it is comparable to an oasis amidst a desert, the temperate, somewhat tropical nature of the valley a stark contrast against the harsh ice capped mountains and sheer cliffs surrounding it.
The nature of this place is completely unknown to any but the Hueilin, thanks to a powerful magical 'veil' erected around the mountain range's highest peaks, identified as
a perpetual, impenetrable fog that seems to ruin any and all attempts to pass through it, causing technological, biological and magical means of navigation to
malfunction, with the result
invariably being the explorer walking back the way they came, often times without realising it.
Seven clans make up the Hueilin community:
Khulruud, Khelisaad, Burkhaan, Maelgwyn, Onokruun, Slaangen and Unguul, with clan Khulruud being the largest of them both in number and average size. The name 'Hueilin' is a direct merger of the words 'Huei' and 'liin', which, in their language literally means 'soul-skin', referring to the fact that in ancient times it was believed that the glowing patterns on their bodies were projections of the creatures' souls in visible form, and that their magical power depended on the power of these souls. Such beliefs have been partially debunked since then, but the name has remained. Septimus was born the son of the greatest magi in his clan. Magus Arashi was a proud dragon of storied lineage in the clan, being known for his spectacular mastery of the arcane arts since a very early age. So when his seventh and only surviving son was born, a moderately adept dragon at best, surprise swept across most of the clan, including Arashi himself. After several decades and little success in honing the whelp's magical and physical skills, the magus exiled his son, seemingly out of rejection, amidst criticism by others in the Hueilin community, and Septimus vowed to return one day a greater Dragon than any of the great Magi of the Hueilin, the Ancestors included. Only
a long journey and shocking story unearthed the truth behind Arashi's motives. Having learned of his father's turbulent past, and newly empowered thanks to the rectification ritual conducted by Thurduunax, Septimus
has since grown to be a formidable and honourable fighter in his own right, the rift between himself and his father healed. He now roams Aster, fresh from the Demonic battlefields of Tyrbenetus, striving to expand both his knowledge and power, as well as that of those around him, so that they may one day fight back the threat when it reaches Asterian shores.
(*): Khulruudi is the Thimeyran adaptation for "Of Khulruud".
Name: Arashi
Alias: The Stormweaver, The Experimentalist
Age: 3001 years
Species: Hueilin Dragon-Clan Khulruud
Gender: Male
Description: A dark grey dragon whose back is tinted near-black. His scales are very small but very hard and tightly packed, the result being a dolphin-esque leathery feel, but having a somewhat better resistance against blades due to the interlocking scales and the density of the scale layer of his flesh. his underside is a paler grey than his back, and somewhat softer. a thick, rich, glowing white mane of hair runs down his back from the middle of his forehead all the way to the tip of his tail, spreading out into a V shape near the end of his tail, which is lined with a set of 6 curved, blade-like spikes. the mane is also found from his chin to the back of his lower jaw, forming a beard of sorts. a white runic pattern can be seen on his forehead, the name and symbol of his Clan in the Hueilin's native language. most of his upper torso is covered in similar runic tattoos, all of which share the bright white glow. his chest and collar area is decorated by a bright lightning-like pattern spreading round towards his back. rich, complex patterns line his massive wings' underside; a defensive mechanism evolved out of need for a startling tool early in the evolutionary line of the Hueilin Dragons. simpler eye-spot patterns line the outside of the wings, as well as the secondary set of wing-spines set just behind his hip. he uses this to help control his flight, though shortcomings are made up for with telekinetic abilities. the Dragon's antler-like horns are silvery in colour, though light can be seen glowing in between the many overlapping 'layers' on the horns. The dragon has bracelets on both front arms, made of a very durable metal, golden runes glowing on the surface of them. his right ear has a single earring. The Dragon has an Asiatic body build, longer and more slender than more physically adept Hueilin [like his mate, and, though to a somewhat lesser degree, his son], though he is by no means slow.
The StormweaverHeight: 19 feet tall [Shoulder], 40 feet [tip of horns, head raised]
Length: 180 feet long
Wingspan: 230 feet across
Weapons: Claws, horns, teeth, thickly armoured, blade-tipped tail, body
Powers: Highly adept in the arcane arts, and especially skilled in manipulating aspects of the weather and psychic magic. High intensity flame breath, capable of melting most metals if exposed to the flames long enough.
Personality: An obsessive perfectionist with harsh ideals, he comes off to those who don't know him as manipulative, power-hungry and heartless. He tends to use his ability to read personalities [partially attributed to psychic ability] to turn those he sees as pests, enemies and obstacles in his plans against one another. He is an inspiring leader despite these perceived flaws, which he hides well from those around him. He is still relatively young for a Hueilin, but ancient by most creatures' standards, and with that age has come wisdom that most have trouble finding. He has a keen knowledge for the workings of the arcane and makes full use of it, bending the boundaries of reality with everything from the weather to the deepest reaches of the mind. His perfectionism means that he's highly critical of others' flaws, and is known for continuing a task he takes up till it is finished. This unfortunately means he's occasionally sidetracked, but what is a bit of time wasted to an immortal?
History: Arashi of clan Khulruud was the prodigal child of his generation. from the age of 20 he was as magically capable as dragons more than 120 years old. He rose through the ranks of the clan rapidly, awing all who met him and striking down all who crossed him. At the age of 700, he began his experimentations with time behind the backs of his elders and peers, and by the age of 1350, had successfully stepped back in time, nearly dying in the process as all before him had. Nearly 50 years later, he departed Aster, exploring the continents of the world, and finally, 520 years after that, reached Tyrbenetus. There, he spent a century fighting the Daemons and their influence, trying to turn the tide of battle in the favour of the natives' inhabitants, and making many friends among the natives, including the Djinn Warrior known as Septimus, or Sanguine, as he was later known. Eventually, it was shown to be a struggle they would never successfully win, and Arashi was asked to return to Aster, to warn them of the coming threat. Upon his return, he found Aster under siege by an Archdemon, which he successfully managed to shackle and trap. 30 years later, having established a strong following of warriors against the Daemons, he finally returned home, far more powerful than he had been when he departed. Before long, he was the head of the Clan, becoming the youngest Hueilin Dragon ever to become a Clan Lord. In the years following, he took a mate, and [after six stillborn and immeasurable misery] had a son. It had seemed the Daemons had unleashed a curse upon him, intent on crippling his bloodline. And yet, the seventh was born healthy, and was named after his friend, his brother-in-arms. But over the years young Septimus's lack of physical or magical strength made Arashi bitter, angry that he didn't have the strength to match his peers neither magically nor physically; something he interpreted as part of the Demonic curse. Still, he watched over Septimus, striking down any who dared speak ill of him or pester him, either physically or by turning their clans against them, in hope that his son would one day fill out his father's paw prints and become a powerful Dragon himself. But eventually, he began to feel it was hopeless, and in a final effort to turn him into a capable warrior, exiled him. In the following months since his son's Exile, he proceeded to twist the clans' allegiances and beliefs around in an attempt to usurp the control of the Hueilin entirely, after mounting frustration that the other Clan Leaders did not believe his warnings of the coming Daemonic threat. However, his plan failed when the other Clan Leaders figured out he was twisting their minds, finally calling a vote amongst themselves and deciding to exile him for it. He has since flown across the continent in search of his disciples, hoping to compensate for his failure among his own kin by strengthening the rest of the continent to fight in their stead...
Name: Buruq
Title/Rank: The Ambassador, The Elder Hueilin, The Undying
Age: ~ 500-1000 million years old
Species: Hueilin - Ancient Khulruud
Gender: Male
Description: An enormous dragon completely covered in very small silvery scales. A long silky mane of black fur runs down his back and seems to waft in the air perpetually, even when no breeze is present to carry it. The shimmering of his scales conceals the thousands of natural runes that have manifested in his skin over the long years he has lived. Were he to unleash his full power, the runes would glow brightly enough to make him look like a being made of pure light; a fitting appearance for a Justicar as old as he. While his natural eye colour is a rich, captivating sky-blue, it usually can't be seen due to the bright white glow that fills his gaze; the magically enhanced sight that allows him to see demons that the naked eye cannot perceive. His form is long and slender, resembling another Hueilin in recorded lore, Arashi the Stormweaver, in appearance. A notable trait that sets Buruq apart from other Hueilin is the vast crown of horns he wears, nine large, elegantly curved, blade-like horns grow from the base of his skull backwards in a gentle curve, made of a natural, steel-like ivory. Unlike the Stormweaver, his elemental form is not electrical, but rather, that of air, capable of fading out of sight and reach at will with nearly no effort.
Height: 70 feet
Length: 350 feet
Wingspan: 400 feet
Weapons/Equipment: While his claws, fangs, wings and hide are intimidating weapons in and of themselves, his greatest strength is his experience in the fields of politics and war. Be it convincing his allies of a course of action or unleashing long forgotten tactics and weapons on unsuspecting enemies, Buruq is an indispensable asset to the war in Tyrbenetus.
Powers: In addition to the powerful fire-breath inherent in almost all Hueilin, Buruq is also a powerful psychomancer and adept in using many different elements, most important of all being air itself, which he often employs in tandem with other elements. Through the use of these combinations and his vast experience, Buruq is capable of unfathomable destruction, and it is only for fear of what his foes' adaptations to him would mean for his allies that he restricts himself and his powers to a relatively tame support role.
Personality: If there was one word that would describe the Ambassador, it would be 'eccentric'. He is shockingly cheerful and amicable for a being caught in a seemingly eternal war. On many days, when not obliterating platoons of demons alongside his comrades among the Justicars, he can often be found up in his tower in the Justicar Keep, puffing on a hookah or magically manipulating a musical instrument or two to play for him. More recently, this has extended to him reading the books Septimus left in the Justicar Library. His unpredictable personality makes him a bit of an odd creature to talk to, and many are often left completely confused after a conversation with him.
History: Much of Buruq's history is a mystery. The few things known about him suggest that he is unfathomably old by most standards, and that he was sent to Tyrbenetus from Syravoras. He was meant to be an ambassador of Syravoras's Hueilin to Tyrbenetus, but that project was abandoned after Buruq's companions were killed and contact was lost. Rather than return home, Buruq stayed in Tyrbenetus to fight what he saw as the most dangerous foe the world had ever faced. Since then he has grown to become one of the Justicars' oldest and most powerful members, and a mentor to many great warriors including Sanguine [formerly known as Septimus, before taking on the name and crimson armour he currently wears], Arashi the Stormweaver and Septimus the Scholar. He has, on occasion, offered his wisdom to many of the Justicar Order's members, helping them through their darkest hours and guiding their way forward.
Name: Thurduunax
Title/Rank: The Runecrafter, Lord of Clan Khulruud
Age: 15,000 years old
Species: Hueilin - Clan Khulruud
Gender: Male
Description: A massive dragon clad in blackened scales, looking perpetually charred, a dull yellow-orange glow visible between the various scales and plates. The glow is most visible through his countless battlescars, from his head all the way to the jagged, rocky tail tip that shows his Khelisaad ancestry. His chest plates have split into multiple smaller platelets, each a powerful barrier against harm, interlocking nearly perfectly. Beneath these seems to be a second layer of tough scale-like flesh, far surpassing the strength of any kind of skin or leather. His wings are heavily tattered and faded, though much of the apparent age comes from disrepair rather than age, as the dragon's immortal form is meant to be able to outlast eternity. At least a few of these scars were inflicted through the use of very powerful magic, the nature of them nigh impossible to heal. The most striking trait of all is the fact his hide is practically covered with runes which are usually invisible, but glare brightly when exerting himself or when fighting anything more than the most trivial of opponents...
Height: 32 feet [shoulder], 60 feet tall [tip of horns, neck craned]
Length: 184 feet long
Wingspan: 267 feet
Weapons: Thurduunax is a highly versatile dragon, capable of great feats of magic and physical power. With a skeleton bound in extremely powerful muscle, a hide tougher than steel and claws and fangs as hard as they are sharp, he is capable of tearing apart most things in his size range.
Powers: If anything can be said of Thurduunax, it is that he is an unparalleled wielder of fire and redirective magics. It is not often he resorts to using magic, as his physical strength is often more than enough to get the job done, but when need be he can unleash terrible destruction upon the object of his ire. Being a Runecrafter of his age and experience, he is decently capable in most forms of magic, including the direct manipulation and application of mana in its raw form; the means through which Hueilin craft their runes. Naturally, his position makes a comprehensive knowledge of healing magic and related fields paramount, and as a result he is probably the most capable healer among the Hueilin, with the possible exception of the 13,000 year old Cyndeyrn, the leader of Clan Maelgwyn
Personality: A stoic but critical creature, Thurduunax is always quick to speak when something displeases him. He has little tolerance for those who will not cooperate and those who would try and hinder him. His knowledge of the dangers that inhabit Aster has made him a rough being to all but the closest of his friends. It is this knowledge that has driven him to approve of some of Arashi's goals, particularly the need for the Hueilin to be exposed to hardship and difficulty, to train them to closer match the beings they once were.
History: Thurduunax's past is not the most eventful. His first three thousand years of life were spent much as any Hueilin's is: in Drakhunmiir among his kin, learning the ways of his kind. He showed a surprising affinity for the art of runecrafting at a very young age, and was swiftly taken on by the Hueilin's Master Runecrafter at the time as an apprentice. By the time he had reached the age of three thousand years, he was the master of his craft, his mentor having fallen to another Hueilin in a fight for power. It was around this time that the Seven Clans sent out a member each to explore Aster and identify other Mana Wells as well as the Guardians watching over them. Thurduunax went as the representative of Khulruud, and was accompanied by Vuradviig and Arturax, Burkhaan and Khelisaad dragons respectively. After finding traces of a Mana Well in the South of Aster, they took to the ground to try and seek it out. The ground collapsed under Thurduunax, revealing an underground lake of immense size and rich in vitorite clusters; signs of a nearby Well. As he called up to assure his companions he was safe, a terrible roar rang out, and both his companions were plucked up and slain by what he would later learn was a Dhahaka; a demonic dragon which, in this case, was immensely powerful and had a penchant for hunting other drakes. With his team now slain and the Well within reach, Thurduunax pressed on. He found it defenceless, its former guardians long dead of old age. In honour of his fallen companions, Thurduunax proceeded to guard the Well for the following 12,000 years, until one fateful day when a young Septimus stumbled upon that very underground lake. A short fight to test his strength showed the Elder how dire the situation was among his kind, a fact bolstered by Septimus's recount of what had happened recently. After conducting a rectification ritual to cure Septimus's life-long weakness and enable him to realise his full potential, the two then headed for Drakhunmiir with the intent of bringing justice to Arashi, who had reigned cruelly and unjustly over the past several centuries.
Upon finding that Arashi had been exiled, Thurduunax tested those who had ascended in his place, finding them to be woefully ill-equipped to serve their roles. He then took them on as apprentices and drastically changed the policies the Hueilin lived by, with the intent of helping regain their former strength through exposure to the harsh reality of the world beyond their utopian home. Since then, he has investigated the story of Arashi and those who follow him, and while he is still not quite trusting of him, he does understand the hardships the Stormweaver was forced to go through. Before he can show any outward sympathy however, he will need undeniable proof that Arashi's actions were justified; something Septimus seeks to provide.
Name: Ceridwen
Title/Rank: None
Age: 110
Species: Hueilin - Clan Maelgwyn
Gender: Female
Description: A slender dragoness with a small but agile build, Ceridwen is the daughter of a Maelgwyn father and Unguul mother. Her snout is more akin to a beak than the saurian muzzles most commonly associated with Clan Maelgwyn, and her deceptively small wingspan is compensated for by the existence of very large membranes. Long, backwards swept horns are for the most part smooth, unusual in a Maelgwyn dragon and far too large for an Unguul, making her a bit of an anomaly among her kind. Her reasonably sized tail is prehensile and armed with a row of rigid quills which she can twist through her tail's remarkable flexibility to point at her foe. Her body is impressively sleek and well designed for both flight and swimming. The resulting dragon is highly agile both on land and in the air. Her scales are primarily a very dark grey with a near-white underside. Her beak-like snout is tinged with streaks of iridescent gold
Height: 9 feet tall [shoulder]
Length: 48 feet long
Wingspan: 73 feet across
Weapons/Equipment: Long, slender talons and sharp quills serve as her main solid defence. In addition, Ceridan is capable of breathing a stream of startlingly hot flames, typically glowing near white with its intensity.
Powers: Despite her small size and relatively young age, Ceridwen is a capable cryomancer, armed with the means to turn everything from water to air into a deadly weapon. Additionally, she is surprisingly talented in the art of magical healing, able to repair injuries that would usually take weeks or months to heal within hours or even minutes, depending on the complexity of the damaged parts.
Personality: A fiery little dragoness, Ceridwen is notable for her temper. She has a measure of pride and confidence that she has yet to properly deserve, and gets very offended when any aspect of her being is mocked or criticised, her size being a particularly sensitive topic. Being part Unguul and petite naturally, she is one of the smallest Hueilin in her age range, easily dwarfed by most others. The advice recorded in ancient tomes warning to 'never laugh at a live dragon' was undoubtedly written for dragons the likes of Ceridwen. Despite the spunky attitude however, it isn't hard to bring to the surface a more inquisitive side, less prone to arrogant disregard for others; something that makes her the more reasonable side of the duo that consists of herself and the exile she travels with, Ezreal.
History: Ceridwen has always been a bit of a feisty dragoness, ever since her earliest days out of the nest. Be it nipping at older dragons' tails or chasing down the local fauna in Drakhunmiir, she was always up to some form of mischief. Now out of Drakhunmiir and exploring Aster at large, not much has changed except the environment in which she gets up to her antics. She has not been out in the world for long, and her hesitance to deal with the humanoid races as a result shows it. She has however, encountered one of Arashi's Exiles, a fellow half-Unguul named Ezreal, and has decided to accompany him in his travels until she becomes better acquainted with the world.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Name: Andruil Filtiarn "Liullwyn" Lyall
Alias/Rank: The Wolf of Valenhad, Viscount of Crestvale
Age: 28
Species: Viveryn (First-Elf in his native Irrydil Elven tongue. Technically Half-breed, or 'Nuveryn'. His elven blood was diluted by the human rulers of Valenhad millennia ago, though they have, for the last 5000 years, been marrying amongst their own kind, restoring their bloodline to the point it is little more than a singular incident in their past)
Gender: Male
Description: A tall, light brown haired man with slightly long hair. his slightly pointed ears are difficult to see under the hair, but he takes no risks, usually wearing a hood when not amongst other elves, or his own people. he's moderately tanned, and has some rough stubble. his eyes are an eerie shade of feral yellow, and are highly adapted for vision in light or dark surroundings. he's broad shouldered and fairly muscled, as would be expected of a soldier.
Armours:
Silver Order Armour: Worn when on official duty for Valenhad, and in battle. Most of what he wears is hidden under a dark, fur-collared cloak. beneath it is hardened and reinforced leather armour, with plate panels spread over flat surfaces, while chain surrounds the joints. it is made for the best combination of strength to weight and manoeuvrability, meaning the man is capable of impressive movement in spite of being decently armoured. a close inspection of the armour concealed by the cloak would prove that it's colour scheme is primarily blackish grey, with navy blue and grey accents on various surfaces. his chest plate is adorned with a coat of arms depicting two black dragons gripping a heraldic shield, upon which a falcon was depicted; the Valenhadian coat of arms. the gauntlet of the armour are designed with a sharp edge running along the outer side, running from the wrist just behind the small finger all the way to the elbow. tough, partially plated reinforced leather boots are worn on the man's feet, and the glint of a sword scabbard is visible on his side. Additionally, he carries a blackish grey heater shield decorated with a grey wolf head design, framed by the wings of a similarly coloured phoenix. Beneath the design, the words
enim regis et patria are emblazoned, curving round the bottom of the phoenix's tail. On his back is a scabbard with 40 arrows, along with a strap from which hangs his recurve bow.
"Civilian" armour: Used when off-duty and travelling. His clothing is relatively inconspicuous compared to the Silver Order armour he would wear otherwise. A dark grey cloak is worn over [and closed around] a tan coloured shirt, the collar of which is kept open, both for comfort and appearance's sake. Around his neck hangs a doeskin medallion with a silver [actually platinum] rectangular plate, about an inch long and half an inch wide, made up of endless knots in a celtic design. At the centre of the plate, the knots morph to form a wolf head, two small topaz gems acting as the eyes. Over his shirt is a black waistcoat, decorated with fine silver Elven vinework-designs; a throw back to his origins. The inside surface of the waistcoat is made of red silk. The cloak is made up of two layers; a dark grey outer layer, and a marginally bigger maroon inner layer, acting as a form of border to the dark grey of the cloak. They are sewn together and are lined with pockets in which he can keep various items of use that the pouches around his waist and across his chest can't. Around his waist, a maroon sash is wrapped, concealing the leather belt of his pants and acting as a base on which the sheath straps of his sword, dagger and pouches, are fastened. His pants are similarly made up of dark grey fabric. Over the clothing, Andruil wears treated and hardened dark leather armour, made to the shape of the wearer's body, making for a snug fit but maintaining flexibility where needed. The greaves, have frontal plating, overlapping around the ankle and foot joint, as well as wrapping around the toes. The plating is mildly decorated, elven vine-work embossed on the surface of the metal. This theme continues with all his armour, gauntlets and chest plate also bearing the same decorative theme. Protecting his hands are a pair of leather gauntlets, the fingers of which are protected by overlapping plates along each knuckle's surface, allowing full flexibility but granting some vicious striking power should Andruil decide someone needs a punch to the face. From the top most knuckle and upwards along the wrist and lower arm, the metal plates become larger and more visibly decorated. A hood can be seen hanging from the back of the cloak behind Andruil's head. When in places where elves and 'half-breeds' are less tolerated, the hood is a valuable tool to keep from attracting unwanted attention, especially considering he isn't easily recognisable as being a member of the Silver Order, or of the Lyall family; two names that typically give him amnesty from the persecution elves tend to suffer from [though the latter only really applies within Valenhad's borders. The Lyall family's influence, while broad, isn't visible enough for them to be recognised by commoners]. At his left side, under the cloak, his sword hangs at the ready, kept within it's sheath but within easy reach. On his right gauntlet, a small, elegant wrist-bow is kept folded, usually concealed by the gauntlet's metal plates, though a flick of the wrist will have it unfold and arm itself, after which a simple chord and ring trigger will launch the bolt at a target. On his back, a shield, quiver and recurve bow can be seen, the shield's Silver Order and Valenhadian symbols clearly visible. On the left side of Andruil's waist, his dagger hangs in its own sheath, ready for use.
Height: 6.5 feet tall. 8.5 feet in Werewolf form
Weapons: His weapons were commissioned by his family to Dwarven smiths, though follow a specific design to ensure light weight and practicality. These weapons consist of a one-handed sabre/scimitar-like sword, a curved dagger and, for the moment, a gauntlet-mounted crossbow strapped to his left arm, with an effective range of roughly 20-30 feet, after which it has neither the power nor accuracy to be lethal. glowing runes run along the sides of the blades. More recently, he has acquired a more effective ranged weapon in the form of a recurve bow that is predominantly black, with light brown strips along the face and back of the bow, and ivory [more specifically dragon-horn] tips. the bow is lined with silver vine-like engravings, resembling filigree, making the bow resemble Andruil's sword to a startling degree. Unlike the sword however, the engravings on the bow do not glow in the presence of danger, helping maintain his cover in the shadows. On his back is a quiver of 40 arrows. More recently, in light of the complex and unpredictable nature of his "clean-up" missions, he has been armed with some more 'high-tech' tools, including things like smoke bombs and other utility weapons typically reserved to the Black Hand Assassins.
Powers: Highly skilled in conventional combat. he's outstandingly talented with a sword, and is an impressive shot with ranged weapons, though his weapon of choice is usually the small crossbow attached to his arm, for practicality reasons. In werewolf form, his equipment seems to meld into his fur. The fur around his neck is exceptionally thick, hence the nickname 'Maned Knight'. large claws and fangs, as well as superhuman strength and agility, are typical traits of this condition, the latter of which are present even when not in the were-form. His bite can pass the condition on to others, though it seems that he has control over it, since most of his enemies who had been bitten in combat never did become werewolves. his condition is inherited, due to his maternal great grandfather having been bitten by a werewolf in the line of duty. his loyalty and bravery earned his King's gratitude, and several apothecaries, wizards and healers were summoned to try and cure him. though they failed, they did manage to reduce the severity of the condition to the point that the man could still retain his consciousness and awareness while in werewolf form, meaning he wasn't reduced to an utterly mindless rabid beast during such times. the condition has run in his family since. Andruil's father, interestingly enough, is a direct descendent of the Kings of the Elven Kingdom of Irrydil; a bloodline that, legend says, was so attuned with nature that they could call upon the powers of beasts at will. Assuming this is true, it would explain the fact that the lycanthropy is much tamer in Andruil's father, uncle and brother, than it had been further back in the family. Thus, it seems the incident only reawakened a dormant ability inherent in the entire Lyall bloodline. As the invading strain of lycanthropy was diluted over the generations, control has been almost entirely regained over the ability, to the point that the Lyall family are known to be a family skilled in the control of the ability; Some even commission them to act as trainers and rehabilitators for those afflicted by the condition. As for Andruil himself, he has for the most part mastered his abilities, though an exception can be noted on days close to the full moon, during which times he tends to be somewhat more irritable and aggressive...
Personality: A friendly and kind-hearted individual, Andruil tends not to think things through before he acts. his impulses result in sudden decisions, though in combat, his intensive combat training means that his attacks are generally well aimed. He's driven by an overwhelming drive to protect others, the reason for which is interlaced with his past. He is something of a womaniser, and doesn't shy away from the opportunity if it arises. He tends to have a raunchy sense of humour, meaning he's more adventurous in conversation than most...
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Name of Faction: Brotherhood of Necros
Leader/Governing Body: Grandmaster Atrox
Capital: N/A
Description of Architecture: Architecture for the Asterian branch of the Brotherhood is black, red-lined tents. they seem to be made of some form of cold, silky material, a foreign material to Aster, brought with them from elsewhere. Though no information about them is known to Asterians at all [including their name, leadership, architecture or history] this material is actually made of the hide of animals native to their homeland.
Description of their land: Their current base in Aster is a camp in a wood at the foot of a massive, high-peaked mountain range. the woods seem dead, dry and leafless, with tall pikes embedded in the ground at random intervals with a pentagram on top of it, a skull in the centre seeming to have an endless supply of blood pouring from the eye sockets. these act as both deterrents and sentries. anybody who passes the invisible line between where the pikes begin is detected. they are never seen again by their loved ones.
Inhabitants: Stekhs. similar to sauropod dinosaurs, though instead of a long neck, they have a mammoth-like head, almost embedded in the muscle and armour surrounding the arms, chest and back of the animal.
Armed Forces: No soldiers. The order is made up of a large group of necromancers and other specialists in demonic magics of various types. their forces are made up of undead beasts of various kinds.
Name of Faction: The Kingdom of Valenhad
Leader/Governing Body: King Sebastian Archer and the House of Lords (The rulers of Tremaine, Riverdale and Mercutio. Sebastian himself is ruler of Crestvale, the fourth major province)
Capital: Crestvale City
Description of Architecture: Stone cottages with thatch roofing makes up the majority of buildings in the Valenhad Kingdom. Some of the larger, more stately buildings have roofs with shingles on them, usually made of stone, certain types of clay, or dragonscale, for the most prestigious official buildings, such as the Royal Palace. Tall, elegant statues decorate the entrances of some of the wealthier homes, made of varying materials, with stone and steel being the most common, and obsidian and gold being the rarest and most sought after. These statues are often made in reference to heroes in the family's history, or reference to their name or position. The Royal palace has two tall golden phoenixes framing the entrance, in reference to the banner of Valenhad. The Lyall family decorate the entrance to their home with two wolves, one of obsidian, another of alabaster.
Description of their land: The land controlled by the Kingdom of Valenhad is mostly made up of rich forests, lakes and fields, giving the Kingdom a very large supply of resources. The Kingdom is set on Aster's Eastern shore, The Kingdom of Germania located immediately to its South, and The Kingdom of Draxon South of that. Valenhad's Northern reaches are wrapped by the vast Kirrahara mountain range. at its feet are several cities that act as both training grounds for the Kingdom's strongest forces, and as evacuation posts, each having vast underground fortresses that can withstand siege nearly indefinitely, acting as Valenhad's last resort. During times of peace, these cities are occupied by a 'skeleton crew', only the bare minimum of staff required to keep it functioning present. Under their operation, the underground cities act as trading hubs and food suppliers, augmenting the diets of other cities further south with rarer types of foods. Among these are a number of luxury wheats, wines and cheeses, and Kirraharan Fire Whiskey is a favourite amongst the upper classes, with Kirraharan Honey Ale being a more affordable luxury for the lower classes. The kingdom is split into four main provinces; Crestvale, Riverdale, Tremaine and Mercutio. Each of these is in turn superordinate to a lesser province. Crestvale is the marine and terrestrial trade hub of the kingdom, serving as a nexus for all goods in and out of the kingdom and a major stop for traders coming around the continent. Riverdale majorly consists of the central parts of what was once the Irrydil Elvish Kingdom, and as such, has the largest Elvish demographic in the Kingdom, with humans, dwarves and other races making up minorities. It serves as the most popular trading harbour for foreign goods, thanks in part due to the old pacts made between the Irrydil kingdom and factions beyond the Jade Sea East of Aster.
Inhabitants: Humans, Elves, and Dwarves. Various species of steed and beasts of burden, ranging from the common horses and oxen, to gryphons, dragons, and large, mammoth-like pachyderms known as Turuks. They're notable for their shaggy grey fur and 6 tusks. In addition to acting as beasts of burden and siege weapons, Turuk milk is highly nutritious, and the mature Turuk White cheese is known to be the best in the Kingdom.
Armed Forces: Several hundred battalions of troops, ranging from light infantry to heavy cavalry. Highly skilled ranged units, magical support units, artillery units consisting of ballistae, trebuchets and catapults, as well as airborne artillery and aerial assault units in the form of mounted Dragons of various types.
The Silver Order: The Knights of the Silver Order are well trained warriors known for their tactical expertise and varied skills. Considered the King's personal guard and representatives in military affairs, it is rare to see a Silver Knight outside of Valenhad itself. On the extremely rare occasion when it does occur, its usually with the King's express authority. In addition to their tactical expertise and diplomatic skills, it is not unusual for a Silver Order Knight to have Black Hand training [More on the Black Hand below]. As such, Silver Knights are loved and respected by those loyal to the Crown, and feared by the Crown's enemies.
The Council of Mercutio: One of the oldest and most powerful magical orders in Aster. Their legendary power has been the source of fascination for centuries. Adept Demon-Hunters and specialists in all things arcane, it is rare for their number to exceed 40 at any time. They have three ranks within their order, namely the Vindicators, Inquisitors and Archknights. Vindicators are the most common, with 200-250 present on average. They serve as investigators into the paranormal and supernatural, often being sent to investigate locations across the continent where there has been notable undesirable supernatural activity. They are often seen with Griffin Hawks perched on their shoulders; their messengers to and from Arx Arcaenum; the fortress that acts as the Council's headquarters. Inquisitors are the executors of the Council's will, and are often sent alongside Vindicators to eliminate more dangerous threats such as phantoms, demons and necromancers. Archknights are the highest ranking figures in the Council after the Archmage himself, and are sent on the most dangerous missions, either alone or with assistance from lower ranking Council representatives. Among the opponents Archknights are trained to deal with are Archdemons, wraiths and revenants. Often, a single Archknight can bring down their opponent single-handedly, though at times, a specific Archknight's skills may not be adequate to deal with certain foes, thus bringing forward the use of assisting Council representatives.
The Black Hand (aka The Black Fangs of Valenhad): An elite group of warriors renown for their unrivalled combat skills. They're easily identified by their dual Elven Scimitars, light armour and various forms of poisons, acids and, on rare occasions, unstable magical or alchemical weapons. Unlike most orders, the Black Hand's hierarchy is easily identified by the quantity of armour worn by the warrior. Unlike most soldiers, Black Hand rarely wear anything heavier or tougher than leather armour, with the highest ranking agents forsaking it entirely in favour for light clothing. They have been known to bring down opponents of impossible scale in battle, one notable poem stating '
But were death itself in its shadowy might the Black Hand cross, there could be no denying before the Black Hand Death's loss'. It is not unheard of for a team of 10 black hand to face down 100 regular soldiers and succeed with no casualties. Such an incident occurred in the era of the second King of Valenhad, King Arturian, during a meet with neighbouring Kingdoms in foreign lands. During their meet, the palace was seiged by an enemy faction, an army of 2000 marching to the palace's gates. King Arturian had a team of 20 Black Hand agents. The siege lasted for a week before the enemy army retreated, their forces reduced to half their original scale, as a result of Black Hand tactics and combat mastery, alongside the 150 regular guards remaining of an original 200 securing the palace.
Faction: The City-state of Thimeyra
Ruler: Qa'id Antar Timeem
Political System: Constitutional Monarchy supported by the Court of Advisors
Capital City: Thimeyra (Silverlake)
Description of the Architecture: A city set in the middle of the Asterian desert, South of the continent's centre, Thimeyra draws much of its livelihood off its namesake; the seemingly bottomless lake the city is built beside. The city has several massive walls wrapping around itself and the lake, with a significant amount of empty ground within the walls used as building room and additional defences. The walls, as well as the rooftops of all official buildings within the city, are dotted with ballistae and trebuchets, giving the city the appearance of some massive porcupine, bristled with defences sufficient to pound all but the most massive invading forces into dust long before they ever get close enough to retaliate. The buildings are almost all decorated with arches and domes, and streets tend to be narrow but numerous to keep the heat from reaching the people at ground level, meaning much of the city's streets are cast in shadow at almost all hours. The widest roads in the city are set between the largest buildings, most of them official structures, and in the rare cases of wide roads not near official buildings [such as the bazaar], they are shaded with vast veils and fields of magic to keep the heat of the harsh, unrelenting desert at bay. Throughout the city, several large squares are located with fountain-wells connected to the lake, supplying water to all the city's inhabitants. Beside the lake itself is a single single floor building tended to by mages specialising in purification magic. At the city's heart is a massive, beautifully decorated palace; the home of Qa'id Antar Timeem, the ruler of the City-State of Thimeyra.
Description of the Lands: The Asterian Desert is a vast and merciless land, with dunes that shift and change endlessly with the winds passing through this arid landscape. Without the appropriate equipment, passing through it is nearly impossible, and none but the Thimeyran/Silverlake Elves (Known in their native tongue as the Hukkamil-Birran) and the nomadic Human tribe known as the Abirus-Sahari, have ever been able to travel through it safely. The areas along the desert's outskirts that are not overwhelmed by the ever-changing dunes have savannah-like grassy plains, and are inhabited by a range of creatures, primarily reptilian in nature. They range from horse-sized predators to enormous herbivorous behemoths with long, curved horns that sprout from just behind their eyes, curving under like a ram's and extending forward alongside their mouths, used to dig into the earth for sustinence. These beasts are often employed by both the Thimeyrans and the Nomads to carry things such as portable command centres and siege engines, the smaller creatures used as mounts.
Inhabitants: Almost entirely occupied by Thimeyran Elves, a dark skinned race of Elves that split from their fairer-skinned brethren in the far West of the continent long ago. Amongst them, a few other, less exotic races can be found, such as Goblins and Dwarves, and on occasion, Humans. A decent number of the aforementioned species of beast used as mounts are kept within the city's walls, but most are left in their own habitat as a result of the city being unable to sustain them in large numbers (though recent rises in external trade has given the city a decent means of keeping a larger number of them within the walls).
Armed Forces: To be Elaborated.