Character(s) A Heroes Rivalry: Character List

[Lore N. Fables]

Spoiler: Xanthippe "Xan" Thornbrook

Spoiler: The Mark on the Hip

Name:
Xanthippe "Xan" Thornbrook

Age:
22

Parents:
Magnus and Jeszeek Thornbook

Born:
Ellios, outside of Athios


Bio:
I'll fill this mess in later... Basically, she received her mark at the same time Arcturus and their friend Sing had, which labelled her as the Hero of Athios. Usually, this would be a tremendous honour, but seeing that there was underhanded nonsensical foul play happenin' at the palace she was to now train and live in, she found herself caught in the middle of an underground war. Being a prisoner in a guided cage and unable to tell her best friend what exactly Tasker, the head of House Mathus, had been doing or what he threatened to have done to Arc, Xan held her tongue, kept calm and carried on... Not the best selling t-shirt some of her friends were hoping for...

I'll spiffy this up later on, but I had wanted to put this up...


Here's what I had written in the PM's...

Xan grew up in a political household in the village of Elios. Both of her parents were avid supporters of Athios, as well as holding political positions within the city. Whether or not anyone saw it, loyalty to her realm was beaten into her, sometimes it was literal. Especially when she brought up Arcturus in the later years of being at home. Her parents having found out about his magic usage through the 'Athos Political grapevine' and had deemed him, 'impure stock' and refused to hear her pleas where he was concerned.

Her days were spent with Arc and Similari, usually off adventuring within the forests of Lupine. She enjoyed being around Arc and adored his freedom and curiosity when it came to discovering new things that could unlock mystery's that were left unexplained. She herself, being forced by her family to think and act in a way beholding a citizen of Athos, lived vicariously through his curiosity.

At the age of 10, the trio had discovered a the villa and used it as their secret base, and though Xan had never outwardly expressed it, she had wished she could have lived there, never to go home to her parents again. Arc had discovered the remains of ancient wolves and upon searching the remains, he'd found metal teeth, determining they were tamed.

Her parents, deciding that she'd been spending too much time with a 'magic using demon'', hired instructor's to keep her busy during the day. Learning the different languages of the realms, Elven, Dwarven and Common tongue, she struggled with Lizardkid and often got help from Arc with it, though, she'd never quite mastered the language as he did.

Once Arc had gotten hired on with the merchants, his family, as well as hers, had cut the both of them some slack. More so, for Arc, which eased some of the worries on young Xan's mind. Though she would never admit it, with the discrimination and demonization of magic users was abound in most of the realm, and especially in her own home, she couldn't outwardly express her want to help the mages. It wasn't their fault they were blessed, and yes, she feels that mages were blessed with the powers of the gods to help the creatures of their world. A rather romantic idea for a child as young as she, but when tutors came to her she was able to glean information about the outer realms from them.

A while after Arc had started working for the merchant, and Xan started her tutoring and weapon training, an illness swept the village of Elios. Imortophage- Illness that is said to have had cases dating back to the Immortal Empire, infecting Xan's parents. Arc, using what information and knowledge he'd gleaned from dealing with different traveller's, was able to create a cure to handle the mutating illness. After giving Xan's parent's the cure, their attitudes had changed completely towards him.

On the eve of her 13th birthday, Arc had asked to meet her at their secret hideout. He had commissioned for a matching pair of Canine Teeth to be made into pendants for the two of them. That pendant would become her most prized possession. From the moment he placed it around her neck, she'd never taken it off.

The following morning, a tattoo appeared on her right hip that ran not only down part of her thigh but also up her stomach to her bosom, marking her as a 'selected' with the Realms flower. The Athios lily. The markings of Athios. Her parents were thrilled after they'd come running into her room that morning hearing her scream. It wasn't the searing pain that had ripped through her side that had made her scream. The scream came after the pain and she'd seen what had appeared. Her life was forfeit. With its appearance, it'd also sealed her fate with the realm of Athios. A forever servant to a realm she found, after her short life, to be deplorable.

After the congratulations from her parents, and quickly getting dressed, she rushed out to find Arc and Sil to let them know the horrible news. When she'd reached him, she saw his right arm. The markings of Magion. Not long after that, Sil showed up with their tattoo as well. The three of them had been chosen. Xan was more upset about Arc going to Magion, which meant she would never see him again, and now they would be practically sworn enemies. Keeping her words to herself instead of telling him how upset she was, she put on a brave face and tried to focus on the positive.

Upon hearing that Arc was to start his training with her, at King Gallamius' behest, she was at least a little relieved that he would be staying with her, or Athios for a little while longer. She knew that Arc was not too thrilled about the arrangement, but at least he wouldn't be alone in a land of strangers. She could still keep an eye on him, to try and be that rock for him, since she knew his time in Athios would be pure hell. Especially for a mage.

And she was correct. He was automatically singled out and not only did the instructor's push him twice as hard as the others there, but the other trainees were also absolutely nightmarish to him. So many times she'd had to physically bite down on her tongue to keep her mouth shut. Loyalty as the next hero had her mouth sealed and her eyes closed. Even if she couldn't bring herself to speak out, she remembered everything said and done to him. She would sneak out after the call for light's out to meet with Arc, even if his attitude towards her changed. She couldn't blame him for it either. She wouldn't have faulted him if he had of kicked her out the second she'd appeared close to him.

At 15, they'd investigated an execution of a kid for using magic. After investigating with Arc, they'd found the source of the problem. Arc and Xan had discovered the source. Xan, being the ever quite and never to question, stood silent while Arc took the young boy as his apprentice defying the order of execution. She had never been more pleased with Arc before in their short lives. He was never afraid to stand up for himself or those being bullied. But after years of conditioning, Xan was able to maintain a level, clear expression, and maintain a steady heartbeat, which was important for the line of work her parents were molding her for. A political assassin what they had wished for her. Even if the assassin part wasn't all that appealing to her at the time, she'd been interested in the politics, working to make the discrimination the mages faced lessened and hopefully made a punishable offence. Though, that would take time, and practically a miracle.

At 16, Magion had sent representatives to the court in Athios. Xan, knowing how angry Arc had been of late, his treatment of her grew colder by the day, as did her silence. Still, the only way she knew how to be there for him was to just pester him with her presence. Which she did, a lot. Sometimes she would try to reason with him, just to push him to release some of his anger towards the guards and the diplomats that would come to gawk at the "Caged Mage", which was the tamest of names they'd called him behind his back.

The one time she'd spoken up for him, it was before Magion had come, but only just. She had been in the infirmary under lock and key for her outburst. When one of the diplomats had been watching Arc spar, the sneering bastard by the name of Etmus Ophillum had proclaimed that he would have bought and bedded by midnight the famed Caged Mage, and have him begging him for mercy before it was done. Xan had finally broken. While Arc was busy with not only 2 regular warriors, he was also pitted against a Tempest and three tiger-esk creatures.

Lunging at Etmus, not only did Etmus fight back but his entire horde of bodyguards as well as a handful of guards. By it took a sword hilt to her temple before she finally gave way to unconsciousness. When she woke the next day, she had found that she'd broked four ribs on her left side, and punchured her lung. She was certain magic was used on her, for as little pain she was in. She knew that Arc would probably be in the same shape she was in, but she couldn't allow him to see her the way she was. It would only spark more anger in that already darkened heart of his.

She stood and watched his outburst to the King, her heart broke with every word he'd said, but she couldn't quite blame him for his hatred either. The only tear she'd shed was watching him walk out of that room without so much as a look back, even if he knew where she'd been, he didn't even look for her.

Not long after that, the King had placed her in the House of Mathus to start training as a Sweeper. Proving adept in stealth, most of that going to the nights and mornings she would spend sneaking about to be closer to Arc, the King and his advisors saw an opportunity to use her for furthering their own means. The House of Feil had been shirking their duties to provide food stores for the ever-growing Athios. They had decided that they need a little, persuasion, in order to make them keep up their end of the contract. Regardless if Magion suffered from the said deal.

Telling Xan that it was a murderous diplomat of the Elven realm, a true threat to Magion, using that suspecting sympathies towards Mages, and Athios, Xan set out to settle her own contract. Upon reaching her target, and eliminating them with zero questions asked, and no eyes around to see, did she find out what was really going on. She had seen on the elf's desk the contract, or demands rather, for the food stores. Infuriating her further, she kept the contract and returned to the King and House of Mathus with her report.

After leaving the room, she'd eavesdropped hearing their plans on using her from now on seeing that she had proven herself a useful tool. Not only would she bring Athios the House of Fiel, but they were also planning an arranged marriage. Though that wouldn't be until she had reached the age of 21, the last year a woman in Athios had to choose a husband freely. They could use her as the 'Tool' they proclaimed her to be, but she'd be damned if she'd let them marry her off like chattel.

As the years continued, any of the contracts she'd received concerning any of the houses in Magion, she would do her research beforehand. Helping those escape when she could, and only settling the contracts deemed worthy of settling. She would still take the Magion ones, in fact, she volunteered for them, claiming the contracts were settled when she helped them survive. Finding other sympathizer's was a difficult task being who she was, but the contacts she had were true to their words and were reliable sources of information. She, in turn, would leak Athios' information back to the Magion supports. Somehow, she would find a way to bring the realms together again. Without a forced marriage, or battles or whatever else the realm's had planned. There had to be a peaceful way to resolve this.

Age 22
Sadly, like all tales of peace, there must be a chaos that brings the fighting parties together to ensure survival and then eventually that peace. Putting off the arranged marriage for as long as she could and using a contract to hide her little excursion, Xan found her way to a ruined temple, rumored to hold information the Magion's could desperately use, but only in the right hands. This could free her from the grip Athios held on her, and the rest of her life, as well as hopefully help bridge the gap between the realms.

Stumbling into the ruins, after years of no contact, even though she had written him every single day he'd been away from her, only sending two of them, for fear of being caught sympathizing again, (for it only takes a few brutal canings to finally break a person, no matter how strong they are, from so much as hinting anything magic related) her eyes graced a presence she still cared deeply for. Asshole that he was, he was her first love and best friend, even if he didn't feel the same about her. Deep down, she stayed her course for him. Unknowing though it may be, he had meant more to her than anything growing up, and at her time training.





@Andraus I am tagging you so you'll know where to put stuff if you so choose. I will move stuff here if you do not. There will be a separate one for the worlds :)

 

[Lore N. Fables]

Arcturus "Arc" Viscotti

Spoiler: Arc

https://imgur.com/BX8G7

https://www.upload.ee/image/5901566/Storm.jpg

Spoiler: Mark on Arc's Arm

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/db/01/6bdb0146ad949f277a81b565a4b9331e.jpg

Name-
Arcturus "Arc" Visconti

Age-
22

Parents-
Adams and Risha Visconti (Disowned)

Birthplace-
Elios Village

Bio-

Arcturus's childhood was tormented, but thanks to a friend, not unbearable. Born to two former soldier of Athios, Arcturus displayed signs of magical talent and tuning with the mystic energies from an early age. Being avid supporters of Athios and survivors of the Magion-Athios War, Arcturus grew up feeling unwanted by his parents. Anytime his magical talents shot up, he was harshly punished, and he was constantly forced to tone down and hide his abilities.

His outlet and salvation was in his best friend and his love interest- Similari and Xanthippe. The Trio were inseparable- Every inch of Elios village, they wandered and explored, and in the surrounding Lupine Forest, they had numerous adventures. His thirst for uncovering the past began at age 10, when the trio discovered an old villa of the Immortal Empire. Using it as their own secret base, they explored the confines of the old home and discovered ancient weapons and tomes of knowledge, allowing Arcturus to finally begin expanding his arcane abilities, but more than that-
Upon exploring the old kennels, they discovered the bones of beasts far too big to be dogs, and they seemed more reminiscent of wolves. While initially believing the wolves had killed the previous animals, Arcturus found metal on the teeth of one of them, and after some exhaustive reading, found that it was part of a muzzle used by Immortal Empire Warhounds- These wolves were tamed! Likely the ancestors to the modern hounds of Athios!

To find such a connection from the past to the modern day sparked an inquisitive fire in Arcturus's heart. Everyday he wasn't with his friends, he filled his time with reading or studying, his mind and instincts sharpening to a razors edge, on his case, a pick's point. He grew fluent in Elven,Dwarven, Lizardkin, and Common Tongue, becoming something of a linguist. By age 12, he was often hired by merchants and shop-keepers to translate with travelling caravans. It earned his family a good deal of coin, and his parents attitude softened considerably, but he grew more distant from them, instead finding paternal figures in the travelers from distant lands.

By Age 13, however, things changed.

At age 13, Similari, Arc, and Xan's tattoos emerged on their body- Heroes had once again been selected. By the Prophets and Interpreters, Similari was to return to her Ancestral Homeland of Emerald Crescent, the Elven Republic, Arc was to train at Magion, and Xan was to be brought into Athios to prepare her for the challenge ahead. King Taxon Gallamius, seeing a chance to bridge a gap he unintentionally caused, and ease the worries of its citizens, asked to train Arcturus until his magical talents had emerged (as they had not yet been seen), so as to prepare him physically. His parents agreed for him, infuriating the young man, but since Similari was to be brought to a foreign land, he didn't want to be in a land of complete strangers, and agreed.

Life in Athios was difficult, however- It was a well known fact that he was to become Magion's Hero, and despite the King's well intentions of trying to make amends and ordering the trainers not to treat him any differently, prejudice was not so easily assuaged- His training was harsh, and he suffered constant looks and retorts from those loyal to Athios. While Xan was welcomed wholeheartedly into the royal family and offered every possible luxury and opportunity to grow, Arc had to fight for everything he had. He often found respite in the royal library and talking to the servants and common folk, whom he offered whatever aid he could. His training as a healer made him popular amongst the poor.

At Age 15, He heard of an execution taking place in a nearby city, and was allowed permission to investigate- Travelling there, he was met with a young boy, five years younger than him, who was to be burned alive due to crop failures and plague. He pleaded with the chance to investigate, and with Xan's help, discovered the source- The Water source had been polluted with rotting carcasses, making people ill and poisoning the crops. Upon further investigation, he learned why- A noble had wanted to mine on the land, but couldn't due to the village's presence. He thus intended to force them off by starving them and making them too ill, thus allowing him to mine as he saw fit.

Upon this reveal, Arc wanted the man executed, but the Noble claimed that the 'Witch Boy' they were executing bewitched him to do it, and they once again rallied to have the child's head. Horrified at this absolute abuse of power and disgusting prejudice, Arc declared he was taking the boy as his apprentice, and had him escorted with him back to Athios's Capitol. He now firmly believed that the Kingdom of Athios was rotten to the core, it's own leadership could not be trusted! Therefor, it was finally time for him to leave. He simply had to bide his time and await an opportunity.

At age sixteen, Magion gave him that.

Magion was sending over representatives to examine his magical capabilities, and though his skill with magic was a fact known to the court, King Gallamius asked him to keep it hidden just one more year, believing him not ready, not knowing that Arc had been practicing in secret. However, Arc had no intention on listening, and taking the chance, decided to prove just how false his claims were and how the Kingdom truly valued Magekind. During the daily training, Magion's Representative got to see clearly how they treated the young man, but during a sparring with the Knight training him, Arc finally let go of the control that had been drilled into him all these years.

Before the blunted blade could connect, it seemed to....stop right in front of his face. He could 'feel' all the pent up rage in his body pouring out, as barrels began floating nearby, weapons lifting lazily into the air, and the armor of the knight beginning to cave in on itself, crushing the man, as his sword began to crack. Arc would finally let out a scream of pure rage, sending the man flying back with a blast of energy, as he raised his hands and began sending out cascades of lightning bolts towards the knight, electrocuting him and pinning him to the floor as he writhed around.

Before he could finish the Knight off, the Magion Representative nullified the magic, and finally, he was taken away from that place. As he was leaving, his parents attempted to go with him, though he coldly rebuked them, stating he had no family in Athios, severing all ties he had to the Kingdom. For the next three years, he trained in the magical arts at Magion in the care of House Valkyr, and finally, he felt the shackles placed on him finally fading, as his talents were allowed to grow and evolve. He absorbed their knowledge like a sponge, and with it, his magical prowess grew leaps and bounds within a few short years.
When he turned 18, he was sent on a diplomatic to the Lizardman Tribes of Magion, and upon discovery of a Barbarian Army marching towards them and all of Magion, vowed to stop it. Taking the best warriors, archers, and shaman he could from ten different tribes, amassing a force of two hundred to deal with thousands, he lead the charge against the Barbarian Menace, his words becoming a battlecry among the Knight Enchanters- 'No more holding back! Never again!'. Using an artifact taken from an Arcane Warrior's Tomb, he beat back the Barbarian Horde. While the Barbarian's losses were nearly absolute, thanks to his strategy, Arc only lost a few dozen. This act, that saved the tribes and protected their lands, lead to the Lizardman Confederacy to be assimilated into Magion proper, increasing their territories.

Now 23, he continues to scour the ruins of the Ancient Immortal Empire, digging through the dust and relics to discover the location of the Capitol city. Arcturus's search for knowledge simply for knowledge's sake marks him as a scholar among Magion, and so long as he lives and breathes, he'll never abandon his sacred quest.

 

[Lore N. Fables]

Spoiler: Siovanna Alexa Vandana Gallamius- Lady Vigil

Name- 'Siovanna Alexa Vadana Gallamius' also known as 'Lady Vigil'
Race- Human
Age- 35
Rank- Knight-Commander of the House of Squires, Queen of Nethia
Specialty- Martial Combat, Strategy, and Siege Warfare
Bio-

Athios is the greatest known power left in the world of Dystrexion, spanning a dozen cities and a hundred small villages, along with untold lands and territories and hundreds of thousands of souls. Its ideology is based on principles that, in the face of a ruined and dying world, almost border on outright arrogance or insanity. But for the typical Athiosan- no obstacle cannot be overcome so long as all of its people commit themselves to the Great Houses, the Monarchy, and their noble cause. For any citizen in Athios and its lands to willingly reject that is unthinkable- and yet, that is exactly what happened when Princess Siovanna Gallamius, Knight-Commander of the House of Squires, abandoned Athios along with a third of the House, a mysterious betrayal that Athios has never truly recovered from.

In trying to explain this unprecedented treason, Athios leadership point to Siovanna's independent nature and fierce temperament amid her meteoric rise through the ranks of the House of Squires. Her remarkable physical skills, eidetic memory, and tremendous determination entitled her to among the King's most promising Knights, but it was her ability to retain tremendous amounts of information from her experiences and use that knowledge to predict and counter an enemy's plans that made her a true prodigy. During the conflict with the Orc Tribe, Siovanna again distinguished herself and earned a place among the armored elite of the Tamers.

The war instilled in her a level of discipline, but was not enough to truly quell her predilection for personal combat- While other members on the House would chose seconds or squires, she preferred to be on the frontlines herself. This proved vital when Siovanna took part in an attack on the Territory of the Orc Leader, ending the war in a single stroke.

Her achievements garnered the attention of the Head of the House of Squires, a knight of great valor and chivalrous duty, and under his tutelage, Siovanna mastered every aspect of the Art of War, and it would not be long before she was putting these talents to practice- When the newly established Athios villages and cities in the Bowerstone regionwere threatened by an immense demon raid from Umbra, Siovanna conducted a masterful defense. She fought on favorable terrain that neutralized the numerical advantages of the demons, systematically targeted what passed for their leadership, through a unique application of psychological warfare, even turned rival demon clans against one another.

By the end of the war, Siovanna had gained such a knowledge of Demon psychology, that she could predict their every move. Labelled 'Lady Vigil for these almost supernatural instincts, she was successful in evacuating most of the civilian population from the region, but her inability to completely retake the territory would haunt her for years afterwards and foster a resentment towards the House of Mathus and House of Anthinius for failing to effectively support her campaigns.

During the Magion-Athios War, Siovanna again displayed her natural aptitude for warfare, this time against the much more powerful and capable forces of the Knight-Enchanters of Magion. Combining the callousness towards life that Siovanna had first encountered in the demons, with much more sophisticated technologies and tactics, Magion was a colossal power that Athios could not hope to endure indefinitely. After tremendous losses on both sides, Siovanna sabotaged the supply lines leading to Athios from Magion, and destroyed much of their food stores. For every village lost, Siovanna ordered their warehouses burned down, effectively starving the campaign. Magion, facing greater problems elsewhere, finally withdrew under a tenuous truce with Athios that has turned into a bitter peace.

While they had survived against the overwhelmingly powerful Kingdom of Magion, the notion of Athios's inherent superiority had been rocked to its core. T help repair the growing rift in Athios, the House of Anthinius selected Siovanna to lead a great new expedition to reclaim the lost lands of Nethia and, more importantly, to serve as a figure that Athios could unite behind; single figure to rekindle the spirit of expansionism and the triumph of Athios. When the Vigil Expedition, as it came to be known, took off for Nethia, it represented the single largest concentration of troops, supplies, and equipment in the modern age. While some within the House of Anthinius remained unconvinced that Siovanna could possibly live up to the enormous expectations placed on her, the opening moves of her expedition were nothing short of miraculous

Much of Magion's forces in Nethia had been redeployed elsewhere back in Magion's home territory and with the insights Siovanna had gained into Magion's strategy, her victory was assured. Athios propaganda elevated Siovanna to a place of honor alongside the greatest heroes of the Kingdom. Not since the time of her ancestors, the Three Heroes, had Humanity been so united by the actions of a single figure. When the last of the distant land had been retaken, her capitol in the land was renamed 'Vigil's Peak' in her honor.

Athios was not the only nation to have taken advantage of Magion's diverted attention however. Demons had also spread across the area and Siovanna was determined to eradicate them. While Athios propaganda attributed this to Siovanna's military genius, the truth was that hese efforts had not been authorized and Siovanna was now acting in direct defiance of the Noble Court's wishes. As Siovanna pushed deeper and deeper into the demons territories in Slyterra, House Anthinius and Mathus finally decided that her obstinance could no longer be permitted and it was necessary to remove her form command.

Before this order could be given, disaster struck.

In Viscera Sanguine, a desolate area in Slyterra marked by the ruins of the Immortal Empire, Siovanna's armies were attacked by a terrifying enemy of a kind that the Humans had never encountered before. Worse yet, the attack had resulted in the death of every Anthinius advisor who had accompanied the expedition. Without their leadership and separated from their home land, The Territory of Nethia was cast into confusion and despair. Siovanna herself was forever changed by the encounter, and it is said that afterwards, people rarely saw her, hiding herself inside of her capitol of Vigil's Peak.

Contact between the two lands grew sporadic and then stopped completely. Sweeper from House Mathus sent to re-establish contact never returned. In time, Athios was forced to admit their attempt to reconquer their lost lands had likely ended in failure and Siovanna had almost certainly been killed. Thousands across the Kingdom mourned the passing of their greatest hero and her glorious campaign to extend the power of Athios to distant.

Yet a decade later, the truth was finally revealed.

A single scout, clinging to life, returned to Athios and brought with him tales and knowledge of human cities and lands in the distant region of Nethia that had not only survived, but flourished in spite of the absence of the Leadership of the Great Houses. Siovanna's reputation across the Kingdom of Athios was destroyed overnight. Every image of her was banned and every monument destroyed. Nethia was declared a forbidden zone and contact was strictly off-limits to even the highest tiers of leadership in the Athios.

Within Athios, Siovanna's remaining supporters were jailed or forced into hiding and the House of Mathus made every effort to destroy Siovanna's legacy and obscure her role in the history of Athios's expansion. Yet the Lands of Nethia remain and reconnaissance of the region has yielded few answers and raised many more questions. Word has filtered back to Athios and the Great Houses that Siovanna still lives and that she fights once more alongside her people, wielding a blade of unknown origin and sporting tattoos that hint at a higher power, age seemingly having never touched her.

How she might have accomplished this remains a mystery, and the origins of the weapon in her grasp are as unknown as her reason for wielding it. Regardless, the greatest questions remain- What could cause Siovanna to turn her back on the Kingdom she loved so deeply? What secrets did she uncover in Viscera Sanguine that could so utterly destroy her faith in the Kingdom? Is she the true savior of Athios, or perhaps the unwitting pawn of a far greater power? If Siovanna still has some role left to play in tis world, it must be discovered soon....

The hour has grown late....and Dystrexion is burning.

 

[Andraus]

Spoiler: Thaddeus 'Gold Eye' Cornwell

Name- Thaddeus 'Gold Eye' Cornwell
Race- Half-Elf
Age- 74
Rank- Mercenary Commander of the Coin Guard (Current), Smuggler Captain (Current), Knight of Athios (Formerly), Heir of House Coin (Defunct)
Speciality- Magic Combat, Archery, Heavy Weaponry, Commerce
Bio-

The Great Exile banished many from the walls of Athios- the poor, the tired, the rich, and the strong. Athios lost almost 90% of its mage population, and the few that remained kept in hiding, or served inner circles hidden deep in the seven cities. Many turned their attention west, towards the growing kingdom of Magion. Others sought out Aegumana Tower, where they could practice their craft in peace, and some even spread out to the far winds, hoping to leave behind the kingdom they felt had betrayed them. Few Mages harbor any feelings of loyalty to the Athiosan Crown, and fewer still would swear fealty to a king that refused to protect them.

But the promise of renewal and returned prosperity can be a tempting offer to even the most embittered enemy. Such was the case of Thaddeus 'Gold Eye' Cornwell, an Athios Native, and one of the last Loyalist Mages left to the Athios Crown.

Thaddeus's family had long served the Royal Crown, far before the great walls were old, and the great seven cities were complete- The Cornwell Family were one of the many clans of merchants that, in the great victory and humanities retreat into the Divine Gate, managed to survive with their wealth relatively intact. They helped form the cornerstone of Athios Society as Merchant Lords, and were a fundamental foundation in the house of Coin. The symbol of Cornwell, the Wine Jug on a minted Coin, became synonymous with wealth and prosperity. They handled much of Prospero's trade and their wax-seal could be seen on all manner of trade goods in the Kingdom.

For a long time, the Cornwell's served as the economic vein of Athios, and were entrusted to lead the continued prosperity of Athios and its citizenry into even greater fortunes, and with the ear of the High Lords of Athios, they were nominal voices of reason in the Kingdom.

Tasker's rise to power in Athios grew tumultuous for them, and numerous times they were caught arguing or butting heads with the Royal Spymaster, and when the Spymaster convinced the Monarch to disband the House of Coin, claiming that House Anthinius could cover the slack and that House Malthus was more than happy to assist, they protested this under their Warrant of Trade, which stated that the Athios Crown would not interfere with the trade operations of the Kingdom undertaken by Independent agents of the Crown.

As this was an ancient document dating before the current king, their power was the only shift able balance, and were the only large noble house that had the wealth and will to wage a public war against Tasker. Their caravan's were routinely attacked in 'investigations' by Tasker's Watcher's, and in response, the Cornwell Family raised a private army, the Coin Guard, to defend their shipments and protect their business's. Violence was soon spilling out into the streets, and though Tasker's forces were formidable, people were sure of who would outlast the other eventually.

Fortunes shifted when Thaddeus was born- Though the great exile was decades ago, Mages were still forbidden from being within the Walls of the Divine Gate, and when the young lord-to-be displayed magical talent, public opinion quickly turned against the Cornwell Family. When they were demanded to exile their only child, the Cornwell Family refused, and due to the political machinations of Tasker, the family was accused of treason. Seeing the way the winds were blowing, the Cornwell refused to allow Tasker to seize their wealth, and in the middle of the night, sped off in Caravan's with a single message.

'We've risen from the Ashes before- And we shall do it again.'

The Cornwell's were forced into exile as wandering merchants, plying their trade between the great nations of the world, their former power well and truly spent. This served as a severe blow to the economy of Athios, who now had lost one of their greatest mercantile hands, who now launched a trade embargo on Athios, hoping to force the crown to capitulate and release the ban, but only leading many to become bitter and resentful of mages who'd 'leave innocents to starve'.

Thaddeus was raised to believe in the power of coin- that any nation needed commerce to run. He was raised to understand how to conserve supplies, how to cut corners without sacrificing productivity, how morale equaled loyalty and production, and in Magion, Bowerstone, Slyterra, and everywhere else, he was afforded the best education possible. Visiting other culture's and understanding them has given Thaddeus perspective where others lack, and his intuitive sense of business made him a prodigy among his household. However, this understanding of mercantile power also gave him understand of how it can affect others, and he knew that while Athios would never bat an eye at him, there were many that suffered without the influx of goods from the other nations.

Thaddeus, as a wandering noble, Learned the most important lesson of his station- Noblesse Oblige, a Noble's Obligation. He had a duty to help. It also didn't hurt that since they lacked imports from other nations, Athios was a big pool of money, and people like Thaddeus had swimming privilege's. He could charge what he wanted and they'd have to pay, as there was nowhere else to buy the goods that he was willing to risk life and limb to supply.

But Athios would not accept his help willingly, thus he resorted to undermining them and providing for his native homeland- using the forest passages known only to the elves, and a secret tunnel into Athios proper, Thaddeus ensured that the commercial artery of Athios was not completely severed, and a vibrant black market was born. To further spite Tasker, he began branding his goods with his ancestral seal, to make it clear who was supplying their people. Tasker was livid and ordered his Watcher's to investigate the caravans, but none would trade with Athios, leaving them confused where the goods were coming from. Thus, Xanthippe was sent to investigate matters.

It was here that she discovered the secret passage in Athios, and inside, a small shanty town where exotic goods from foreign lands were brought in. At the center was the residence was Thaddeus, who appeared completely unsurprised by Xanthippe's discovery of his enterprise, but left her in a tough position- Thaddeus blackmailed her with the knowledge that should she kill him and dismantle the shanty town, then Athios would starve within a few years. They were the only company that were willing to bring outside trade into Athios, and if she destroyed that, Athios would die and it'd be all on her head.

Thaddeus was left to his own devices and expanded into numerous enterprises, until he was approached by someone he never expected- the King. Now, Thaddeus had little issue with King Taxon Gallamius, but he also had little interest helping a crown when there was nothing in it for him. Thus he was surprised when he was presented a New Warrant of Trade and a Contract- If Thaddeus agreed to assist the Cabal inside of Athios, bringing in supplies for its people and providing protection outside of Athios for Xanthippe, then upon Tasker's removal, Thaddeus and any other loyalist mage would not only be rewarded, but Thaddeus himself would be placed at the head of a new House of Coin.

It was a gamble, and one Thaddeus wasn't even sure would pay off, but it was a worthy gamble to take, and one where all stood to benefit- including his family. A pact signed in blood, Thaddeus became one of Xan's personal agents outside of Athios, and along with any supplies and information she might need, he also commands the Coin Guard, the Mercenary Army that serves House Cornwell, and has promised to aide her in her quest to destroy the Corpse Flower and remove Tasker from the field. His loyalty to Athios and Xan is without question, but it is very clear he is willing to take things farther than them and motives are self-serving- In helping them, he is helping himself and his family.

 

[Andraus]

Spoiler: Auryn Fantasia Thornbrook

Name- Auryn Fantasia Thornbrook
Race- Human
Age- 34
Rank- Heir of House Thornbrook, Athios Branch (Disowned), Matriarch of House Thornbrook, Magion Branch (Current), Magister of House Valkyr, Lady and Governor of Azure's Reach,
Speciality- Law, Governance, Fishing, Mining, and Construction
Bio-

Every mage that flees Athios to Magion has a tale to tell- some speak of long lost loves behind those cursed gates, others of terrible witch hunts or viscous nobles that seek the death of all who are blessed with magic, some even tell whispers of a young boy that was to be executed while the 'great and noble' Hero of Athios stood idle. Few are actually true, and those that are, the events are so far from what actually happened as to be a fairy tale. Yet, in Azure's Reach, an Ocean City that grew from a collection of hovels and fishing hatcheries to the center of Magion's trade, lies the story of one of Magion's Greatest Successes and Athios's greatest failures- Lady Auryn Fantasia Thornbrook, Wife of Bastian Balthazar Thornbrook, Mother of Atreyu and Saiya Thornbrook, Governor of Azure's Reach.

Auryn was the eldest daughter of Magnus and Jeszeek Thornbrook, who groomed the young girl to be a great governess of Elios Village- she was taught all of the finer things of construction, mathematics, and courtly etiquette, and was slated to be engaged to the son of a prominent noble in House Anthinius. However, when she was fourteen, her magic appeared- she went to bed surrounded by potted plants that had yet to bloom and awoke surrounded by greenery. As expected of an Athios noble, her parents disowned her, and exiled her from Athios. Before she left, she gifted her youngest sister, Xanthippe, with a moonstone earring- it was the second-half of a matching set that Auryn always wore, a promise that no matter where they were, they'd always be sisters.

Auryn made the dangerous trek from Athios to Magion, using the knowledge her parents gave her to follow along the old imperial highway for safety. It was there she was accosted by a group of thieves and taken prisoner- vileness was planned of her, and Auryn feared she'd suffer a fate far worse than death, but as she was being taken away to be sold like a common whore, another prisoner had busted free and tackled the guard nearest to her. With the thieves distracted by the escapee, Auryn knocked out her other guard and seized their weapon- she was not a fighter, and while she had typical martial training befitting a noble, she had never raised a weapon in anger.

The Young Man before her was different- seizing an axe dropped by the thieves, he broke the bindings that held other prisoners and armed them with weaponry from their captors. She watched as he cut down the thieves in a triumphant roar of fury. When at last they were driven away or killed, Auryn walked over to thank her rescuer- Thus began her friendship, and eventual romance, with the man known as Bastian. Bastian was a common born mage, hardly someone of worth in Athios, and had gotten chased out of his home village after his family refused to exile him- The village burned down his home and killed his parents. That such cruelty and injustice existed tore at Auryn's heart, and she vowed to stay at his side, along with those they had freed.

The Thieves had seized quite a lot of goods from travelers along the road, and with what they had taken, the Refugee Caravan, Fifty strong, moved towards the west into the lands of Magion. Along the way, Auryn instructed those present of what little she could of numbers, letters, and crafts of the higher learning. The young individuals saw her as a saint, and when they finally reached Magion's capitol, all claimed to be followers of the 'Thornbrook Banner'. Using the wealth they had seized, Auryn purchased the land rights to Azure's Reach, which sat at the western sea near the inlet to Slyterra. At the time of their arrival, it was a battered costs of broken people and broken dreams- castaways and exiles, just like Auryn and her friends.

Auryn saw fit to change that right away.

Using her upbringing, she started constructing pathways where people could walk, fixed sturdier housing so buildings wouldn't cave at the notorious weather of the White Spire Sea, showed them the art of crab-trapping, fishing, and sailing. These individuals had none of the access to resources a noble of Athios could've had and looked at her quickly for guidance, so she then taught them how to harvest oil from the fish, how to irrigate the soil for farming, what goods to sell and where to sell them, and began using Sandstone to create even sturdier buildings and aqueducts, and eventually a Castle for her Household and her loyal servants.

A church to both the Mercy's and the Old Gods were constructed at opposite ends of the town, The Marketplace buzzed with the sound of busy traders, and smelt of foreign meats and spices, A Silo collected the tithe needed to support the town, full of valuable foodstuffs and resources, and the port was expanded to take in even more travelers from distant waters. At the farthest edge was a School not only for enterprising mages, but also those who wished to study the clever craft of mathematics, reading, and letters of their own volition, aimed at creating an intelligent and enlightened society, all the while her husband trained young men and women in the art of combat, to better protect their shipments and towns from hostile raiders.

In the time since her arrival in Magion, Azure's Reach was transformed from a battered coast doomed to drown, to the center of trade and commerce for a growing kingdom. Auryn still rules to this day, her husband and two children at her side, as both Noble Lady and Magister of Azure's Reach, and continues to seek greater heights for her people. She secretly longs for the day when her matching earring will be found, alongside the sister she had never forgotten, and hopes to one day reunite with.

 

[Andraus]

Spoiler: Cairo Whitefield

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8e/66/c9/8e66c963fbbda4fd84a684e75651941f.png

Name- Cairo Whitefield
Race- Genasi
Age- 18
Rank- Scion of Clan Whitefield, Master of a Thousand Monsters, Calvary Captain of Clan Whitefield
Specialty- Horseback Combat, Spear Fighting, Archery, Monster Command

Bio-
Little is known about Janni the Windswept, the mythical being and great founder of Clan Whitefield. Janni was said to have travelled to Bowerstone in the ancient past, and come upon the hunter Ariadne in the aftermath of the Cataclysm. Having grown fond of the white flowers that were tended by the wyvern-riding woman, Janni and her grew close, until from their union a child was born. Once the child was of age, Janni vanished, but not before giving Ariadne the name from which his fondness for her grew- 'Whitefield'. Since that day, the Whitefield Clan has bore uniquely flighty and free archers and riders, well suited as Gryphon Riders or marksman.

Whitefield Plateau is a rare sight in Bowerstone- the white flowers dot its landscape like fields of snow, their petals creating a cloud of white in the breeze. The Plateau is one of the few viable grazing land in Bowerstone, and its fields feed many eager mounts of the clan and neighboring beasts of burden across the settled lands of Bowerstone. At the center stands a great tree, its branches adorned with the same white flowers, and it is said to have become the symbol of pride and badge of honor for the members of the Whitefield Clan.

The civil war has been hard on the Whitefield Clan- eager to force them out of the war early, both sides have courted or attacked the Whitefield Heartlands. Yet in the fields of war that now grip the ancient kingdom, rumors abound that Whitefield have given rise to a new hope- a child bearing the ancestral tattoos of his founder and those of the gods of the far lands. His name is Cairo Whitefield, Calvary Captain of the Clan, known Monster-Tamer, and if the rumors are to be believed, The Hero of Bowerstone.

Even before the discovery of his mythical duties, Cairo was a remarkable individual- Much like his brethren of Clan Whitefield, Cairo displayed a natural aptitude for the beasts of the wild. From the great wargs of the forests outside of Athios, to the terrifying lions of the Magion desert, to the giant snakes of Slyterra, there was not a beast that Cairo couldn't develop an empathy with and call to his side. His most well known is Victus- a Lightning Bird that serves as his right-hand, both scout and trusted protector. This was explained early as a natural ability of a Bowerstone Rider, but when it was discovered that Cairo could speak and understand the language of beasts, he was declared a true prodigy.

Cairo gathered a small collection of Monsters to serve as his 'Retinue'- including Victus, he possesses a Massive White Warg by the name 'Fenrir', a Wyvern by the name 'Wisteria', and a Hill Troll by the name 'Cutter'.

For the majority of his upbringing, Cairo traveled around the borders of his home kingdom, gathering monsters, befriending beasts, and capturing creatures. In time, they eventually began accompanying the other riders and warriors on their hunts and patrols of Whitefield Plateau, increasing the combat strength of the clan tremendously. This would prove vital for the clans survival, as the civil war broke out, and many of its contenders intended on striking Clan Whitefield early. Stepping into the limelight, Cairo was revealed to be a 'Hero'- Blessed by not only his ancestor and founder, but by the gods and deities of the far Kingdoms. Armed with this new knowledge and his army of monsters, he drove back the invaders from his territory.

Now, the War was reaching its closing act, with both sides aiming to acquire the skill to allow the final push for their respective factions, and though the Young Hero is determined to do whatever is necessary to end the conflict and restore his home, he doesn't believe it will be finished with the Civil War- This was only the beginning.