Mentor and City NPCs of Etzos
Sima Gupta
Name: Sima Gupta
Race: Human
Date of Birth: Ymiden 51, 663
Skills: Abrogation: 76 / Attunement: 26
Hone: 51 / Da'Riya: 60 / Teaching: 50
Bio:
calm - controlling - collected - commanding - cultured
One of the few who bear Torvyn's spark of abrogation, Sima is a stern but polite woman who hardly seems to belong among the upper echelons of the Blackguard. Though she answers to Torvyn directly, it is not uncommon for Vuda to call upon her when in need of tracking down, subduing, and most often, executing the more dangerous aberrants. While she is powerful, she's no fool and has clearly allied herself with Vuda's interests. She has no love for other mages, even other abrogants like herself, as such individuals threaten her position, but she is not so far reaching as to do anything about it - at least, not as far as anyone is concerned.
Initiated into her magic during the later arcs of her early adult life, Sima learned quickly, not only impressing Vuda with her natural aptitude but with her intelligence as well. For arcs, she spent time with larger groups of mage hunters, protecting them from harm, but with time, her groups grew smaller and her role larger, until it was widely accepted that for Sima to take any more than a single martial guard with her on any assignment meant whoever - or whatever - they pursed was something quite dangerous indeed. Like all mages who showed not only talent but a willingness to serve at Vuda's whim, she soon became a familiar face and name among the Ministry of Advisors: one that inspired both respect and fear. She'd killed more mages than most knew personally - not something that weighed upon the minds of the magically inclined lightly.
As the arcs passed, the subject of students was brought up time and time again, both by Torvyn and Vuda. Both were well aware Sima would not be around forever, and her knowledge and expertise would be a tragic waste should it die with her. She spent some time, looking through the ranks of the Blackguard, then the Army, then the families of those known mages of whom she'd never been called to interact with - a good thing, by all accounts. She found nothing to her liking - her candidates were either too weak, too strong, to level-headed, to wild. What she wanted as something to mold, to shape into the perfect copy of herself to house the same. So, she chose to visit the orphanages, seeking a child with which to do just that.
Appearance:
178cm/5' 10" - thick build - grey black hair - brown eyes
Relationship to PC: Sima adopted Odd out of the Etzori Orphanage with the intent of grooming him to be the perfect abrogant. Though he views her as his mother, she views him as tool - a successful experiment she plans on recreating soon. She views him as an asset, a weapon, something to keep primed and ready for whenever she should need him. There is a sort of connection she feels with Odd, but it's more of a mutual understanding. They both want to be powerful, and they both prefer to be the ones in control. That Odd allows her to hold the latter over him is proof enough to her of his loyalty.
Created by: Odd
Approved by: Maltruism
Race: Human
Date of Birth: Ymiden 51, 663
Skills: Abrogation: 76 / Attunement: 26
Hone: 51 / Da'Riya: 60 / Teaching: 50
Bio:
calm - controlling - collected - commanding - cultured
One of the few who bear Torvyn's spark of abrogation, Sima is a stern but polite woman who hardly seems to belong among the upper echelons of the Blackguard. Though she answers to Torvyn directly, it is not uncommon for Vuda to call upon her when in need of tracking down, subduing, and most often, executing the more dangerous aberrants. While she is powerful, she's no fool and has clearly allied herself with Vuda's interests. She has no love for other mages, even other abrogants like herself, as such individuals threaten her position, but she is not so far reaching as to do anything about it - at least, not as far as anyone is concerned.
Initiated into her magic during the later arcs of her early adult life, Sima learned quickly, not only impressing Vuda with her natural aptitude but with her intelligence as well. For arcs, she spent time with larger groups of mage hunters, protecting them from harm, but with time, her groups grew smaller and her role larger, until it was widely accepted that for Sima to take any more than a single martial guard with her on any assignment meant whoever - or whatever - they pursed was something quite dangerous indeed. Like all mages who showed not only talent but a willingness to serve at Vuda's whim, she soon became a familiar face and name among the Ministry of Advisors: one that inspired both respect and fear. She'd killed more mages than most knew personally - not something that weighed upon the minds of the magically inclined lightly.
As the arcs passed, the subject of students was brought up time and time again, both by Torvyn and Vuda. Both were well aware Sima would not be around forever, and her knowledge and expertise would be a tragic waste should it die with her. She spent some time, looking through the ranks of the Blackguard, then the Army, then the families of those known mages of whom she'd never been called to interact with - a good thing, by all accounts. She found nothing to her liking - her candidates were either too weak, too strong, to level-headed, to wild. What she wanted as something to mold, to shape into the perfect copy of herself to house the same. So, she chose to visit the orphanages, seeking a child with which to do just that.
Appearance:
178cm/5' 10" - thick build - grey black hair - brown eyes
Relationship to PC: Sima adopted Odd out of the Etzori Orphanage with the intent of grooming him to be the perfect abrogant. Though he views her as his mother, she views him as tool - a successful experiment she plans on recreating soon. She views him as an asset, a weapon, something to keep primed and ready for whenever she should need him. There is a sort of connection she feels with Odd, but it's more of a mutual understanding. They both want to be powerful, and they both prefer to be the ones in control. That Odd allows her to hold the latter over him is proof enough to her of his loyalty.
Created by: Odd
Approved by: Maltruism
Dale Garnet
Name: Dale Garnet
City Location: Etzos
DoB: 3 Vhalar 661
Race: Human
Organization: Black Guard (Special Support Committee)
Profession: Investigator/Homicide Detective
Skills:
Attunement 76/100
Investigation 51/100
Detection 30/100
Intelligence 26/100
Bio: Dale works as an SSC Investigator for the Black Guard. He has been in the Black Guard for the past 30 arcs, switched over to detective work roughly about Arc 704 and rose to the status of independent investigator from there. He sought initiation in attunement soon after, specifically to support his work finding criminals. After he became proficient in the magic, he was approached to join the smaller cell of the SSC, which he did so without complaint. He is well-respected by his fellow Black Guard, as well as the general population, with a reputation for unveiling mysteries around brutal and cruel crimes, and hunting down suspects to bring them in for justice.
He treats the rules with respect, but frequently bends them in order to get farther along in his investigations. Dale doesn’t like bribery, nor does he like to ally himself with the underground. That said, he will sometimes blur the lines if it means he’ll get closer to finding a vicious suspect. But overall, he prefers the city’s law and wants to make the streets a safer place but his perspective is firmly in that murder, arson, kidnapping, rape, and other heinous crimes are of top priority and everything else (such as petty or non-violent crimes) can wait to be handled.
Dale sometimes gets frustrated by the limited resources the Tower gives the guard to work with. It’s never enough, in his opinion, and he doesn’t understand why because to him it should be obvious that these twisted criminals belong in chains and nothing should get in the way of that. He’ll stand up for the Black Guard with passion, against any who speak ill of the city guards.
He's married to a lass known as Mariel, who is over two decades younger than him. They have no children, but have been married since about Arc 715. She's a tough dark-haired woman who works as a city guard in night-time patrol routes. All of his assistants (or “students”) have died and he’s never had one last more than three arcs, though it averages more around one arc as some get taken out much quicker due to the sensitive nature of their cases. Most recently, he lost his last two from the war with Lisirra. It’s rumored to be a death sentence for those assigned to work with him.
Still, he can’t handle everything himself and assistants/partners are useful for however long they’re able to keep alive. He’s gotten familiar to keeping emotionally distant but not chasing them away. Dale avoids bonding with those he works with but sometimes it can't be helped and he just hopes for the best, then gets up and moves on after the worst happens.
Appearance:
Dale is a rough-looking older man. Dark gray hair kept medium-length, and a thick but sharply trimmed short beard. He’s got scars along his face, and limited vision in his right eye due to an attack that occurred against him in his early arcs of investigating a particularly gruesome line of homicides and kidnappings. Unlike his partner at the time, though, he survived the attacks.
He’s slightly more fit than average when it comes to his build and stands at about 5ft 10in. Usually he wears soft clothes rather than armor to keep people from taking too much notice when he’s about investigating a case. This clothing often has anti-magic properties woven into it, in the case he has to hunt another mage. He keeps to black colors so that when he does find it beneficial to identify himself as a Black Guard, ignorant people are more keen to believe him without a lot of push-back.
Relationship: Dale will meet Llyr because he’ll suspect Llyr involved in a murder he’s investigating. Through that initial meet, once it is found out that they both have Attunement sparks, they will grow a relation to one another in the course of the investigation. Llyr likely will request Dale to teach him how to sharpen his understanding and application of attunement. Hopefully Dale will agree…
Created by: Llyr Llywelyn
mastermark deckard
Mastermark Deckard
Age, Race, Gender: 41 Arcs-Old, Human, Male
Skills: 51 Blades: Bastard Sword, 51 Deception, 51 Intelligence, 51 Tactics, 51 Leadership
Biography: From a raggedy upbringing as an Immortal-scorned refugee, Amemnos Deckard took to the 'true' Etzos values as a young Etzori Mark-in-training. It all made sense, to him, and as he aged, he grew in wisdom beyond his years. He is a loyalist through and through, as cold and warm blooded as he needs to be to push his agenda. Now, he is a decorated Etzori Mastermark, and he has not lost an ounce of his anti-Immortal zeal though he may hide it in the open.
Current Activities: Following the invasion of Rhakros, he is haunted by the warning signs of Sintra's coup, and though he still maintains his position as Mastermark, every bit of privacy he has is used to portray himself as loyal to Sintra's cause despite where his heart may lie. Every so often, when chaos can be observed in the city, he and others like him will meet as a gathering of rebel co-conspirators seeking to oust her. The group is mostly comprised of grizzled old men with stubborn minds, but they know how to play games within the web by clearing out the spiders and agreeing to a new place to meet when the current one is adjourned. After all, it was par for the course for the Etzori propaganda machine.
The lot of them each have false teeth filled with poison that will induce a heart attack with agreements to pass on so that they cannot be interrogated. Most of them are carefully selected zealots, each with a fear of a future for their family, descendants, and way of life becoming endangered under Immortal rule.
Their main aims are to draw from notable figures in Etzos' past for their insurrection to pool resources. Folk stories, myths, legends, mages, and historic facts. They are ultimately building an anti-Immortal arm of the occult, and they have no singular leader. They are the blood of Etzos, its beating heart, and they will never give in. A leader who is an ideal can never be dethroned. Still, they need a face to recruit these weapons, and that face is currently Deckard.
Created by: Aylune
Drillmistress Jeesa
Drillmistress Jeesa
Fast Facts:
Age: 56 (as of Saun 720)
Sex: Female
Race: Human
Eyes: Ochre
Hair: Light Brown, with graying streaks
Affiliation: Etzos Army
Occupation: Military instructor for cadets
Sparks: Hone Lucis
Witchmark: A rune of naming positioned on the skin directly above her heart. It glows dimly with soft golden light.
Information:
Marion Jeesa is a respected veteran soldier of the Etzori army. After years of active field duty, she was awarded with a position as instructor for the new recruits. She is neither tall nor short, and her body is composed of lean, wiry muscles. Many battles have left her with a multitude of scars, while age etched lines in her face. She keeps her hair short and fairly masculine in style, as she finds it more practical that way.
As a stern and strict woman who has little mercy for her students, Jeesa is a firm believer in tough love. Her usual scowl, glare, and displeased tone of voice are but a façade. In truth, the drillmistress gets attached quickly to ‘her’ cadets, and wholeheartedly cares for them. If one of her students asks for her help, she’ll readily provide it if she’s able, and if it warrants her involvement. Likewise, if they were to be endangered while under her care, Jeesa is more than willing to rush into the fray to defend her students. However, she has no patience for the lazy and weak of spirit, preferring a talentless cadet who gives it their all and powers through to a genius who breaks down and whines when the going gets tough.
Some of these tendencies may be attributed to the ordeal she endured as her mutations began to manifest. Her development of a natural ability to hold ether in reserve was immediately coveted by her superiors in the military, who saw it as a huge boon if it could be reproduced. Jeesa underwent a relentless and often agonizing program of treatments and experiments by mages, alchemists, engineers and inquisitors alike.
Jeesa endured this suffering stoically, never entirely sure if the failure was on her part or theirs, and willing always to try just one more thing. Eventually, it was concluded that this was something unique to her and, apologies given and accepted, she returned to her regular duty with the thanks of those who truly appreciated her toughness throughout. She has since been given a wider latitude of discretion where military boundaries are concerned.
Having gone through such an ordeal willingly, she is ill-inclined to cut any slack to a subordinate who has not given their full measure of effort. As well, she has a subconscious tendency to stand by the "oddball" in any group of trainees she oversees, knowing how it is to be singled out.
Considered an elite soldier during her younger years, Jeesa is a respected officer of the army. While not on active field duty anymore, Jeesa still remains a most capable and fierce combatant. She is capable of harnessing the Domain Magic of Hone, which she uses to enhance her physical abilities. During her time as an active elite soldier, and as compensation for the experimentation, she was given a set of enchanted Sovereign Ward armor. As her magical ability grew and the number of her mutations increased, she had the armor altered to take full advantage of them. No longer requiring the standard well the armor was fitted with, she began to fuel it herself, tapping into her vast reserves to great effect.
Notable Items: modified Sovereign Ward armor
A set of full plate armor enchanted with the Sovereign Ward. Like any other set, it is capable of fully absorbing kinetic energy if there is enough ether fed into it. This particular suit was altered based on Jeesa’s specifications a little more than two decades ago. While other such armors run on the ether provided from a well, Jeesa’s is powered by her own stockpile of ether. The second modification is that absorbed energy is not instantly expelled. Instead it is stored for a short time, and can be released at the user’s leisure, be it immediately or within a minute. This requires too much ether for a normal suit of SW armor remain operational for the intended duration without rapidly draining ether, but Jeesa has no such problems.
While she is very skilled in the use of both blades and polearms, while in her armor Jeesa prefers to fight barehanded, enhancing her attacks with the equal opposite reaction generated by said attacks, or by adding the kinetic energy from the enemy’s attacks to her own. It has proven frighteningly effective, only adding to her reputation. It is said her mastery of the Sovereign Ward armor is second to none, not even Black Guard Capt. Berrit Segrille.
Relevant Skills:
Master: Polearms, Blades, Unarmed Combat - Ki'enaq, Unarmed Combat - Sovereign Ward Armor, Hone
Expert: Tactics, Intimidation, Shielded Combat, Leadership, Discipline, Detection, Endurance, Strength
Competent: Physics, Acrobatics, Negotiation, Teaching, Running, Navigation
Novice: swimming, climbing
Mutation Theme: Ether battery:
Created by: Yanahalqah
Age: 56 (as of Saun 720)
Sex: Female
Race: Human
Eyes: Ochre
Hair: Light Brown, with graying streaks
Affiliation: Etzos Army
Occupation: Military instructor for cadets
Sparks: Hone Lucis
Witchmark: A rune of naming positioned on the skin directly above her heart. It glows dimly with soft golden light.
Information:
Marion Jeesa is a respected veteran soldier of the Etzori army. After years of active field duty, she was awarded with a position as instructor for the new recruits. She is neither tall nor short, and her body is composed of lean, wiry muscles. Many battles have left her with a multitude of scars, while age etched lines in her face. She keeps her hair short and fairly masculine in style, as she finds it more practical that way.
As a stern and strict woman who has little mercy for her students, Jeesa is a firm believer in tough love. Her usual scowl, glare, and displeased tone of voice are but a façade. In truth, the drillmistress gets attached quickly to ‘her’ cadets, and wholeheartedly cares for them. If one of her students asks for her help, she’ll readily provide it if she’s able, and if it warrants her involvement. Likewise, if they were to be endangered while under her care, Jeesa is more than willing to rush into the fray to defend her students. However, she has no patience for the lazy and weak of spirit, preferring a talentless cadet who gives it their all and powers through to a genius who breaks down and whines when the going gets tough.
Some of these tendencies may be attributed to the ordeal she endured as her mutations began to manifest. Her development of a natural ability to hold ether in reserve was immediately coveted by her superiors in the military, who saw it as a huge boon if it could be reproduced. Jeesa underwent a relentless and often agonizing program of treatments and experiments by mages, alchemists, engineers and inquisitors alike.
Jeesa endured this suffering stoically, never entirely sure if the failure was on her part or theirs, and willing always to try just one more thing. Eventually, it was concluded that this was something unique to her and, apologies given and accepted, she returned to her regular duty with the thanks of those who truly appreciated her toughness throughout. She has since been given a wider latitude of discretion where military boundaries are concerned.
Having gone through such an ordeal willingly, she is ill-inclined to cut any slack to a subordinate who has not given their full measure of effort. As well, she has a subconscious tendency to stand by the "oddball" in any group of trainees she oversees, knowing how it is to be singled out.
Considered an elite soldier during her younger years, Jeesa is a respected officer of the army. While not on active field duty anymore, Jeesa still remains a most capable and fierce combatant. She is capable of harnessing the Domain Magic of Hone, which she uses to enhance her physical abilities. During her time as an active elite soldier, and as compensation for the experimentation, she was given a set of enchanted Sovereign Ward armor. As her magical ability grew and the number of her mutations increased, she had the armor altered to take full advantage of them. No longer requiring the standard well the armor was fitted with, she began to fuel it herself, tapping into her vast reserves to great effect.
Notable Items: modified Sovereign Ward armor
A set of full plate armor enchanted with the Sovereign Ward. Like any other set, it is capable of fully absorbing kinetic energy if there is enough ether fed into it. This particular suit was altered based on Jeesa’s specifications a little more than two decades ago. While other such armors run on the ether provided from a well, Jeesa’s is powered by her own stockpile of ether. The second modification is that absorbed energy is not instantly expelled. Instead it is stored for a short time, and can be released at the user’s leisure, be it immediately or within a minute. This requires too much ether for a normal suit of SW armor remain operational for the intended duration without rapidly draining ether, but Jeesa has no such problems.
While she is very skilled in the use of both blades and polearms, while in her armor Jeesa prefers to fight barehanded, enhancing her attacks with the equal opposite reaction generated by said attacks, or by adding the kinetic energy from the enemy’s attacks to her own. It has proven frighteningly effective, only adding to her reputation. It is said her mastery of the Sovereign Ward armor is second to none, not even Black Guard Capt. Berrit Segrille.
Relevant Skills:
Master: Polearms, Blades, Unarmed Combat - Ki'enaq, Unarmed Combat - Sovereign Ward Armor, Hone
Expert: Tactics, Intimidation, Shielded Combat, Leadership, Discipline, Detection, Endurance, Strength
Competent: Physics, Acrobatics, Negotiation, Teaching, Running, Navigation
Novice: swimming, climbing
Mutation Theme: Ether battery:
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Celia Yvarium
City Location: Swamps of Lowgarden
DoB: 12 Cylus 679
Race: Ithecal Wyvarnth
Skills:
Necromancy 76
Defiance 51
Unarmed Combat (Vy'Ufnaji): 51
Intimidation: 41
Teaching: 30
Meditation: 21
Bio: Celia was left on the streets of Etzos as a foundling, a child of an Eternal Empire deserter left to fend for herself after running afoul of a local gang. As an Ithecal, she learned swiftly to defend herself, and where she couldn't defend herself, warn off attackers with intimidation. She caught the eye of a mage of the Coven early in her adulthood. While the mage was merely competent in their respective arts, they saw fit to initiate the young Wyvarnth lady at the age of 21, most likely prompted by their own spark's urge to proliferate and their own lack of willpower.
The initiations that she underwent by this reckless mage left her changed forever, as one would expect. She became withdrawn and prone to interact with the elements and her necromantic pets rather than the living. Even so, her talents for explaining certain arcanic concepts earned her the attention of the Faculty of Arcana in Etzos. She taught there for a time, until, in later years, she drifted away from society, driven to the swamp of Lowgarden by both the growing attention of the Coven as she grew her power and renown as well as intolerance from the population of Etzos.
She became a hermit of sorts, but not an unhappy one. She was more than content to live out her life communing with only her servants the undead and friends the elements.
Celia never once in her life as a mage experienced the urge to pass on her sparks to other mortal beings, until a mage by the name of Pygmalion entered her midst. He was already mighty in the arts of graft, and initiated into becoming and hone. Her spark would take an interest in him as he stumbled upon her hut in the swamps, seeing him as a prime candidate for persistence, as a mage that was already accomplished in several arts.
Appearance:
Celia has several mutations that are not clearly evident to those who are unfamiliar with her status as a mage. For one, her scaly hide has taken on a pale pink hue, drained of its former color by years of necromantic corruption and preservation spells. A cloying scent of embalming herbs follows her around. As well, the earth seems to cling to her feet as she treads ground, a defiance awakening that prompts dirt to cling to her rather stubbornly.
Relationship: Celia will of course, at first, be reluctant to break her isolation for the sake of Pygmalion. However, when it comes clear that he is horribly confused and broken, yet wielding great magical power at the same time, it will prompt her instinct to transmit information, garnered from her time at the Etzori Academy, to temper the wildness of his magery, and teach him to reach an inner calm that has thus far eluded him.
He will in turn aid in her isolation in the swamp, lending his resources to establish a hideout where they can practice their arts and consolidate a secure position there in relative peace. In time, they'll most likely come to see each other as equals, with each having contributed something toward their partnership.
Credit: Pygmalion