Post by SilentSpork on Jan 14, 2014 21:07:43 GMT -4
Name: Derin
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Age: 25
Personality: Usually a fun though not always outgoing attitude Derin appreciates the simpler things in life. He'll happily spend an entire day laying on the banks of a lake or on a ridge and dreaming the day away. When things start getting a little more serious Derin relies on wisdom and thought to try to work through the issue as much as possible. Traveling the lands as a monk he can often be found talking with both common and even lordly folks though he usually likes to keep a lower profile with the powers that be. While a not worthless in a fight, Derin is strongly against conflict as a way to resolve issues.
Appearance: A tall man at 6'2'' though most of the time he appears shorter because of a forward slouch. His messy blonde hair is typically haphazardly strewn about. His placid blue eyes are perhaps the only thing about him that doesn't look completely unruly.
Clothing/Armor: His normal attire usually begins and ends with a simple dark brown robe that looks well worn. Simple shoes keep his feet protected and since he lives on the road its not unusual for him to be carrying some sort of pack in good weeks. In bad weeks he is hard pressed to find food and usually ends up parting with any items of value to trade for a meal. The only item that Derin invariably has with him is a long staff that he claims is a mark of the order of monks that he follows though there are never any other monks around to confirm or deny this.
History: Derin doesn't talk much about his past because as he sees it, it has 'very little to do' with who he currently is. Its hard to tell if Derin truly believes this or not as his past self seems to be the only thing that can break his usually undaunted mask of easy going.
What Derin wont talk about is the city of Coldlea he once called home. The city was founded centuries ago by an order of monks that were afraid of being destroyed by the overwhelming power of the demons that roamed the lands. These monks had started off as a small sect that studied natures expressions of spiritual energy. These studies grew along with the order and they slowly began to be able to call upon natural forces which each monk having an affinity for specific elements.
However, while they were able to hide easily from any prying human eyes, demons were not so ignorant of the group. The monks were not without tools to defend themselves, but the unnatural powers of the demons brought with it an attrition level that was unmaintainable for the order. Without action, their people would have been destroyed long ago. In a desperate attempt at survival a city was founded with one simple purpose: cut off the outside world.
The first construct of the city was the barrier, a tool of magic that necessitated many monks to give their lives to create. This barriers only purpose was to conceal all power and presence of the inhabitants inside. Over the few decades following the beginning of the isolation a city and culture were founded that would last unchanged for hundreds of years. During this founding, much of the monk like ways were lost as the need for a fully diverse population became apparent. Those who didn't follow the rules and teachings of the monks but retained the access of their spiritual elements began to be called mages. The monk sect that had originally founded the city slowly faded into history and lore even for the people of Coldlea.
Even with the diversification this period of stable but stagnate social order could only last for so long.
While in isolation the monks, and later mages that replaced them, had not forgotten their fighting capabilities but instead had continued to try to hone their skills in fear of a day when the demons may find and break into their city. Unfortunately, with youthful warriors there is a tendency to have a need to test their skills. This single desire, grown throughout the centuries, lead to a discord over the continued isolation. A brief but brutal civil war broke out as the argument came to a head. Derin, having always valued wisdom and peace, fought on the side of the elders to maintain the isolation.
Whatever occurred during that war changed Derin forever and drove him to flee the city and the only life he had ever known. As there is no way back into the city, this choice has left him without home or a people to call his own and so now Derin travels by himself in search of something only he knows.
Likes: Having fun, helping people, deep conversations
Dislikes: Hate and war
Occupation(optional): Derin travels as a monk of the order of Coldlea. In the beginning of his journey Derin had decided to follow some of the old ideals of the monk sect that had originally founded his homeland as it was the only thing he knew of about the outside world. Surprisingly, even against the wear of time, legends of the monks of Coldlea still survive in some areas though Derin usually finds it easy to downplay those as being mere fantasy. He takes on any work in the town he tavels to in exchange for food and housing. Though most of the time he does mundane work, on the rare occasion he will assist in more arcane matters.
Weapons/Abilities: Derin's main weapon is his staff which he can use to great effect. While the weapon would seem ordinary to most, some would be able to sense the magic that surrounds it. The magic would appear to any outsider to be most likely some minor charm or prayer that had been placed on the staff years ago. The true effect of that spell is simply to obscure the staffs actual construct of being a spear, the head of which is blunted by the effects of the spell.
While Derin's life now days doesn't demand them often his mage affinity is that of Wind and, to a lesser extent, lightening. As his main element is wind he is able to control air flow, pressure, and density while his secondary control over lightening gives him some ability over energies around him but it is very difficult for him to create himself. Mages of Coldlea, regardless of which focus they have, channel the natural environments energy to use their magic. As the power comes from their environment as opposed to themselves there are several dangers and advantages inherent in their use of power.
((YOU SEE NOTHING BELOW HERE. NO QUESTIONS!))
Throughout his time being a wandering monk there had been a few battlefields that Derin had come across. This one wasn't much different then any other he had seen, the bodies still cooling in the last few hours of light. There were flags strewn about that would have once been held proudly but now were tattered and stained. Weapons, trickets, and most other items of value had already been looted by one group or another. Really the only thing that made this particular battlefield unique, and more horrifying, were the rather large craters with burnt grass surrounding them. 'A demon was apart of this fight.' Derin thought to himself with a shiver, 'probably why they just left the dead and got out of here.'
The field that had been the stage for the battle was surrounded by forest on three sides with a wide river running along the final side. While the field wasn't encredibly large it was filled with a horrific number of dead bodies. "I wonder what happened here." Derin thought aloud as he often did when he was alone. "Were the humans fighting each other or were they fighting the demon?" Maybe there was some evidence to suggest this but Derin was no expert when it came to this sort of stuff.
Derin's stomach grumbled in protest for not having been given the attention it deserverd. Times had been hard for the people in the area which usually meant there was plenty of work but very little extra to go around. This lead to monk's such as he going for a rather sparse diet while traveling parts like these. It wasn't hard to imagine after seeing the waste of life, resources, and time that lay before him why the area was in such a way. To much war and even the most opulant area could be driven into hardship and while these areas weren't bad off they could be better.
There wasn't much for him to do now that the conflict was done so he began working his way through the field with plans on making camp on the edge of the woods. Derin would need to make the proper prays for these fallen soliders which would use of the last light of the day so a camp really was the best option at this point. As he progressed towards the spot he had mental picked out in the tree line a sudden breeze picked up. Derin's attention focused as he changed direction slighly to walk with the wind. Wind was his element and he would not deny its suggestions no matter how seemlying random they were.
Gender: Male
Race: Human
Age: 25
Personality: Usually a fun though not always outgoing attitude Derin appreciates the simpler things in life. He'll happily spend an entire day laying on the banks of a lake or on a ridge and dreaming the day away. When things start getting a little more serious Derin relies on wisdom and thought to try to work through the issue as much as possible. Traveling the lands as a monk he can often be found talking with both common and even lordly folks though he usually likes to keep a lower profile with the powers that be. While a not worthless in a fight, Derin is strongly against conflict as a way to resolve issues.
Appearance: A tall man at 6'2'' though most of the time he appears shorter because of a forward slouch. His messy blonde hair is typically haphazardly strewn about. His placid blue eyes are perhaps the only thing about him that doesn't look completely unruly.
Clothing/Armor: His normal attire usually begins and ends with a simple dark brown robe that looks well worn. Simple shoes keep his feet protected and since he lives on the road its not unusual for him to be carrying some sort of pack in good weeks. In bad weeks he is hard pressed to find food and usually ends up parting with any items of value to trade for a meal. The only item that Derin invariably has with him is a long staff that he claims is a mark of the order of monks that he follows though there are never any other monks around to confirm or deny this.
History: Derin doesn't talk much about his past because as he sees it, it has 'very little to do' with who he currently is. Its hard to tell if Derin truly believes this or not as his past self seems to be the only thing that can break his usually undaunted mask of easy going.
What Derin wont talk about is the city of Coldlea he once called home. The city was founded centuries ago by an order of monks that were afraid of being destroyed by the overwhelming power of the demons that roamed the lands. These monks had started off as a small sect that studied natures expressions of spiritual energy. These studies grew along with the order and they slowly began to be able to call upon natural forces which each monk having an affinity for specific elements.
However, while they were able to hide easily from any prying human eyes, demons were not so ignorant of the group. The monks were not without tools to defend themselves, but the unnatural powers of the demons brought with it an attrition level that was unmaintainable for the order. Without action, their people would have been destroyed long ago. In a desperate attempt at survival a city was founded with one simple purpose: cut off the outside world.
The first construct of the city was the barrier, a tool of magic that necessitated many monks to give their lives to create. This barriers only purpose was to conceal all power and presence of the inhabitants inside. Over the few decades following the beginning of the isolation a city and culture were founded that would last unchanged for hundreds of years. During this founding, much of the monk like ways were lost as the need for a fully diverse population became apparent. Those who didn't follow the rules and teachings of the monks but retained the access of their spiritual elements began to be called mages. The monk sect that had originally founded the city slowly faded into history and lore even for the people of Coldlea.
Even with the diversification this period of stable but stagnate social order could only last for so long.
While in isolation the monks, and later mages that replaced them, had not forgotten their fighting capabilities but instead had continued to try to hone their skills in fear of a day when the demons may find and break into their city. Unfortunately, with youthful warriors there is a tendency to have a need to test their skills. This single desire, grown throughout the centuries, lead to a discord over the continued isolation. A brief but brutal civil war broke out as the argument came to a head. Derin, having always valued wisdom and peace, fought on the side of the elders to maintain the isolation.
Whatever occurred during that war changed Derin forever and drove him to flee the city and the only life he had ever known. As there is no way back into the city, this choice has left him without home or a people to call his own and so now Derin travels by himself in search of something only he knows.
Likes: Having fun, helping people, deep conversations
Dislikes: Hate and war
Occupation(optional): Derin travels as a monk of the order of Coldlea. In the beginning of his journey Derin had decided to follow some of the old ideals of the monk sect that had originally founded his homeland as it was the only thing he knew of about the outside world. Surprisingly, even against the wear of time, legends of the monks of Coldlea still survive in some areas though Derin usually finds it easy to downplay those as being mere fantasy. He takes on any work in the town he tavels to in exchange for food and housing. Though most of the time he does mundane work, on the rare occasion he will assist in more arcane matters.
Weapons/Abilities: Derin's main weapon is his staff which he can use to great effect. While the weapon would seem ordinary to most, some would be able to sense the magic that surrounds it. The magic would appear to any outsider to be most likely some minor charm or prayer that had been placed on the staff years ago. The true effect of that spell is simply to obscure the staffs actual construct of being a spear, the head of which is blunted by the effects of the spell.
While Derin's life now days doesn't demand them often his mage affinity is that of Wind and, to a lesser extent, lightening. As his main element is wind he is able to control air flow, pressure, and density while his secondary control over lightening gives him some ability over energies around him but it is very difficult for him to create himself. Mages of Coldlea, regardless of which focus they have, channel the natural environments energy to use their magic. As the power comes from their environment as opposed to themselves there are several dangers and advantages inherent in their use of power.
((YOU SEE NOTHING BELOW HERE. NO QUESTIONS!))
Throughout his time being a wandering monk there had been a few battlefields that Derin had come across. This one wasn't much different then any other he had seen, the bodies still cooling in the last few hours of light. There were flags strewn about that would have once been held proudly but now were tattered and stained. Weapons, trickets, and most other items of value had already been looted by one group or another. Really the only thing that made this particular battlefield unique, and more horrifying, were the rather large craters with burnt grass surrounding them. 'A demon was apart of this fight.' Derin thought to himself with a shiver, 'probably why they just left the dead and got out of here.'
The field that had been the stage for the battle was surrounded by forest on three sides with a wide river running along the final side. While the field wasn't encredibly large it was filled with a horrific number of dead bodies. "I wonder what happened here." Derin thought aloud as he often did when he was alone. "Were the humans fighting each other or were they fighting the demon?" Maybe there was some evidence to suggest this but Derin was no expert when it came to this sort of stuff.
Derin's stomach grumbled in protest for not having been given the attention it deserverd. Times had been hard for the people in the area which usually meant there was plenty of work but very little extra to go around. This lead to monk's such as he going for a rather sparse diet while traveling parts like these. It wasn't hard to imagine after seeing the waste of life, resources, and time that lay before him why the area was in such a way. To much war and even the most opulant area could be driven into hardship and while these areas weren't bad off they could be better.
There wasn't much for him to do now that the conflict was done so he began working his way through the field with plans on making camp on the edge of the woods. Derin would need to make the proper prays for these fallen soliders which would use of the last light of the day so a camp really was the best option at this point. As he progressed towards the spot he had mental picked out in the tree line a sudden breeze picked up. Derin's attention focused as he changed direction slighly to walk with the wind. Wind was his element and he would not deny its suggestions no matter how seemlying random they were.