.:Fantasy!AU Mini Bios:.

[Antonio Fernandez Carriedo]

Name:  Antonio
Age: 25
Species/Role: Half fire elemental
Power(s) if Any: Antonio has considerable power over heat & flame, though he is still learning how to control it. Once his body reaches a certain temperature threshold, small flamelings will start to materialize to help spread the flames/destruction, as is usually a fire elemental's will. He's found that if he concentrates and brings his temperature up to that threshold willingly though, he can better control their number and intent. The key is keeping a clear head.
Appearance: Antonio's skin is littered with tendril-like markings. When his core temperature is near it's baseline they'd be invisible, but as it starts to climb the markings glow with an intensity matching his rising temperature.

Things Worth Mentioning:
> That he is only half fire elemental is a result of having been born human but used to seal away the powers of a fire elemental that had been terrorizing his hometown when he was baby. The mages who'd gathered & performed the sealing hadn't needed any guardian's permission, as he'd been abandoned & had no parents to object. He was left in the wilderness afterwards in hopes that he would perish out in the elements along with the fire elemental's destructive potential, but thankfully his distressed heat signals attracted a lithe red dragon named Ashara to his rescue. She proceeded to care for him growing up, but he hasn't seen head nor tail of her in years and fears the worst has happened. 

> He's learned that he can manipulate his internal temperature when in a calm state, but hot emotions (i.e. rage, jealousy, lust, etc.) will set his temperature skyrocketing, and it would take immense concentration on his part to regulate it then. These flares cause the air around him to grow unbearably hot, and cause his skin to grow hot enough to scorch upon contact. Things may catch fire around him, and upon reaching threshold, flamelings will start to appear.

> If he ever goes full on white-hot rage mode, he could catch fire, becoming a lot more like his fire-elemental side physically. He would ignore it if angered enough, but his human side would be in pain at that point most likely: that human part of himself can only be so fire resistant. 

> He doesn't like having such destructive powers. Even when his temperature rises and flamelings start popping up near him, he instructs them not to intentionally burn things. He'd rather have them tail & protect humans than harm any innocent thing or person, so that's what he'll have them do sometimes. He can't always keep them from mischief- it was in their nature to cause fiery chaos- but he tries.

> He can't always help burning his surroundings accidentally, but he's distanced himself from people because he's terribly afraid of burning someone accidentally again & hearing them scream because of him. He just doesn't want anyone getting hurt because he can't completely control his accursed powers.

Relationships:
-Geragon: Antonio considers him an ally, seeing as they both have a connection to fire. He finds himself drawn to him almost, which isn't surprising considering he was very close to the last dragon he'd met as well. 
-Francis: A newer friend and fellow hybrid being, the two get along quite well despite one being a child of the flames and the other being a child of the forest. He must make farther treks out to visit the half-elf now since he no longer lives in the elven village, but he doesn't mind. 

[Matthew Williams]

Name: Matthew Williams, the Mage of Mishap
Age: 24
Species/Role: Human, Mage
Power(s) if Any: Mattie has no innate powers. All he's able to attempt comes from spell-books or talismans/artifacts imbued with magical properties, the likes of which he's either found (which would be safest) or enchanted himself.

Things Worth Mentioning:
> He lives in a cottage in shambles, on a hill near a small flower-filled meadow. Inside his house fares no better- everything's in disarray, toppled piles of books strewn everywhere, bobbles here, trinkets there, jars of this & that littering any flat surface. Becoming easily uncaring of where flung things land in the heat of the moment (ie. when pressed to find something important) probably doesn't help, but it's safe to say the odd accidental whirlwind's he's surely conjured up indoors given his luck may have been at least partly responsible for the state of his current living conditions.

> He is terribly accident-prone with his spell-casting, almost to the point of being a famous name to avoid if looking for assistance. If he's feeling particularly lucky or skilled one day he may insist upon trying to use his magic to help out, but he knows most times his magic's faulty & may end up doing more harm than good. That's why he's isolated himself somewhat, in order to practice his magic where it can only wreak havoc on him if it goes awry, in the hopes of getting better.

> He can sometimes be found wandering the nearby forests & marshes in search of plant life or artifacts with magical properties. The former would be used for potion-making, the latter would be stored as part of his 'fascinating trinket' collection.

[Ludwig Beilschmidt]

Art is mine. Credit if you use elsewhere.

Name: Drabe’druh /Geragon / Ludwig.
Age: Unknown
Species/Role: Dragon
Power(s) if Any: He has the powers one would expect of a dragon. He can fly, he’s strong, he can breathe poisonous fumes and fire, and his scales are rather dense and tough. He also transforms into a human around every new moon or so for 1-2 weeks. However, he is powerless in this form save for his own strength (which is highly reduced compared to his natural form) and cunning.

Things Worth Mentioning:
✠ His name, in the dragon tongue, can roughly be translated as “Drabe’druh” or “Geragon.” He chose the human name of Ludwig for its powerful connotations …and out of necessity.
✠ He is more or less a hybrid of a fire drake (sans traditional fiery coloration) and a green dragon—naturally with a Western/European dragon build.
✠ Geragon was cursed by an old hag due to his cruelty and greed. As such, he is forced to take the form of the very creatures he terrorizes every new moon (or second new moon) for 1 to 2 weeks. He is left with nothing more than the means a normal human would have and would thus easily be slain should one know the truth. Because his shifting schedule is rather irregular, he is also forced to more or less live in uncertainty and fear because he never knows when the ‘disaster’ may occur—much like how the humans must live whenever his shadow darkens the sky.
✠ As with most dragons, he is greedy, has a hoard, and loves gold and treasures. It’s not uncommon for him to fly around collecting such things. He’s also a bit bold about it when he’s really seeing green—which has caused him to relocate numerous times in the past to avoid severely pissed off humans. As such, he’s learned to be a bit more careful.
✠ He has a not so pleasant temper when you get on his bad side and usually he’ll take one of 3 actions: smash, eat, or set ablaze.
✠ Extremely possessive and protective. His picture is definitely under the definition for both of these words. He’s also somewhat territorial—mountain goers beware!
✠ It goes without saying, but he doesn’t like dragon hunters or tamers. Period. You don’t have enough badges to train him.
✠ Apart from the usual tributes of livestock, people, and gold…strangely, Geragon has taken a liking to cakes. Too bad he can’t make them himself. Thankfully, he has a few Faerie friends that will bring such sweets to him—even if they are really quite small.
✠ As a human, his hair (since it is more or less his horns and spikes in dragon form) is rather coarse and stiff and looks a bit spiked even if he slicks it back to lay flat.
✠  His eyes maintain a cornflower blue color in both human and draconic forms.
✠  Because he's so used to scales, which are rather 'fitting' to one's body, Ludwig hates wearing loose clothing when he's forced to be a human. He also dislikes sleeves as they tend to get in the way of things. Really, he's not bothered by nudity--up until the curse, it wasn't exactly like he had clothes to wear.
✠ He's a dragon. He likes shiny, reflective things.
✠  Can sense other magical beings at least a bit--he's also a /lot/ more tolerant of those that have magical blood than those that are just humans. He really doesn't like humans. Or witches.

Relationships:

Mihai - Another draconic being who Geragon barely tolerates... if only thing for the sake of survive and fraternization. Might be the only dragon besides Geragon that is still alive.
Francis - A Human-Elf Halfling that he has made an alliance with. Francis tends to his wounds so long as Geragon allows him to stay on his land.
Feliciano - This was supposed to be a princess that Geragon kidnapped from a party to hold for ransom. Why is it not a princess!? MAKE IT STOP CRYING.

[Francis Bonnefoy]

Name: Francis Bonnefoy
Age: Has stopped counting, but he's older than humans, but young for an elf.
Species/Role: Half elf/half human
Power(s) if any: Is a healer. Is mostly used to human and elf biology. Hes pretty strong given his heritage, but hes not an adept by any means. He'll always do what he can for his patients though.


Things worth mentioning: Francis is a half elf, born of a male elf and a human female. All of his life he had been considered beautiful by human standards. Living with just his mother for most of his life was hard, the boys teased him originally and the girls all wanted to play with him and do his hair. But once the teen years hit, everything changed. He found people wanting his attention because of how he looked and not who he was. People wanted his beauty and would often stalk him, attempting to do anything to get his attention and to get him to date just them. After a while of this, he finally started moving from town to town, always to find the same thing happening to him. Eventually, he got sick of it and decided to move to the land his father came from, one to the East as his mother had said. After a while of searching, he finally found his father, who was even more beautiful than he could have thought, all the elves were. Taking him in, Francis now had a new home, one where he was sure he would be able to live in peace. Unfortunatly, things are not that easy.


Unlike the humans who fawned over him and obsessed with him, the elves shunned him and generally ignored him. For among elves, he looked more human, more plain, with nothing special about him other than his pointed ears. This was hard as no one wanted anything to do with him generally and there were no friends to be made among the elves. He was an outsider. The only relief he had was a friend that would show up every so often, that gave him a break from his world. He managed to live like this for a long time before he eventually gave up and decided to move on. Packing up what he had, he told his friend where he was going and left the elvish settlement.


Finally after a while of searching, he found what seemed to be an abandoned hut near the base of the mountain surrounded by a dense forest. It took a while, but he finally found a place he could call his own.

Relations:

Arthur:  Was a former lover, but things ended on an odd note. He still thinks about him sometimes but knew that he would still live longer than Arthur ever would and it wasn't fair to either.

Gergon: Is under his protection in the mountains, heals him when necessary. Is still slightly afraid he'll be eaten one day, but hes becoming more friendly with him.

[Hamish Stuart]

Name: Hamish Stuart
Age: 25
Species/Role: Fairy Halfling
Power(s) if Any: Can switch between being the size of a human or fairy due to a spell placed on him by his mother to allow him to choose if he wants to be with fairies or humans. Once changed to one of his forms he has to wait a full twenty-four hours before being able to change again.

Things Worth Mentioning:
>Is the child of the king and a fairy. After his mother fell in love with the king she begged a wizard to make her appear human so she could win his heart. After learning of the king's hatred for mythical beings the fairy continued to hide her identity and bore him a son. Being in charge of the child she hid his wings from the king keeping it unknown to all that he wasn't human. Assuring Hamish knew not to show his wings he learned to always keep them hidden in fear of being killed. At the age of five his mother left to visit her home and never returned. His father has grown ill and he is expected to take the throne and a wife soon.

>Cannot fly for more than ten minute intervals when in his full size form.

>Depending on his mood his wings glow different colors and the saturation of the color depends on how intense the emotion is
Blue: calm/happy
Red: angry
Orange: stressed
Yellow: confused
Green: envious
Pink: lust/love
Purple: aroused
Black: depressed
Rainbow: euphoria
No Glow: bored

>Wings are the most sensitive part of his entire body making back rubs become rather awkward.

>Has a temper and often will curse at people while surrounded with a bright red glow.

>Tends to show off when he flies around.

>Having to hide his wings and feeling women only want him to become queen he feels disgusted toward most. Having no interest in women doesn't help.

>Whenever given the chance he sneaks out to stretch his wings in the forest.

Relationships:
-N/A-

[Mathias Kolher]

Name: Mathias

Age: Older than dirt (human wise hes young, only in his twenties)

Species/Role: Gargoyle/protector

Power(s) if Any: Shape shifting/strength

Appearance: When frozen atop the Castle, he’ll look like a monster with wings and a fanged maw and claws sharp enough to cut through steel, though it is hard to really see him as his home is miles high on top of an old castle. During the night though, he can take a more humanoid appearance, abet still stone with the claws, fangs, pointed ears and his tail with a tuft of stone fur at the end. Very useful for bashing enemies with really. He is very muscular and strong. During the rare occurrences of a new moon, he can become fully human. Though he’ll still have telling features of elongated eyeteeth and slightly glowing blue eyes. Though in human form, he can transform back to his stone form, not able to take on the appearance of a human again until the next new moon.

Things Worth Mentioning:
+ Mathis is a dark, evil creature born ages ago, when the world was first young. He traveled from Umbraedor to the land of humans and other fey where he felt life presences. He terrorized villages and castles, enjoying the havoc and destruction and bloodshed he caused until finally being caught and cursed to protect against others like him by a Paladin. Since those days, he has watched, against his will, for those who wish to do harm as his curse commands. The curse has also caused him to change forms during the new moon, to become like those he used to terrorize. Become human when no light shines, for light is a symbol of hope, and no hope was to be given to this creature stained in blood.

+ He can see the natures of people and creatures, it’s one thing the curse of the Paladin gave to him. After all, to protect from evil, you need to be able to see who the evil ones are. As far as he’s aware, he’s the only gargoyle with the power to move and become move and think and to actually protect.

+ This curse, over time, has caused a change in his personality. He could be called nicer now, at least to those he’s supposed to protect. More of a neutral, dark creature, for not every dark creature is evil and not every light creature is good. He can actually be a big goofball now to those he calls friends, and either ignores slights and insults or just doesn’t get understand the meaning behind them…it’s hard to tell since he is a full creature who has only started to understand humans in the last century.

+When he is woken to protect the castle from evil, it’s very obvious to see his old evil nature shining though. He’ll stop at nothing to defend the castle, often times trying to kill the attacker or even destroying it completely. This hasn't happened in a long time though. He almost can't  remember what his original form looked like.

Relationships:
Hamish: Occupant of the castle he guards, Hamish often climbs up to where he is stationed and keeps him company until he wakes up. They enjoy each other’s company.

[Mihai Roșu]

"You can love a monster. It can even love you back, but that doesn’t change its nature."

Name: Zyraxes (best-approximated yet unpronounceable, apparently) or "Mihai"

Age: unknown

Species: Zmeu

Powers:

• Enhanced sensory capabilities: sense of eyesight, smell, and hearing are particularly sharp
• Flight
• Fire-breathing
• Longevity
• Shapeshifting at will: original form (the "dragon"), a bird, a ball of flame, and a human
• Enhanced physical abilities: much faster and stronger than the average human

Appearance:

SPOILER: Click to show

• Non-changeable: His eyes are a reddish-gold with slitted black pupil, like the typical reptile's, and they remain the same regardless of what form he takes. The same applies for a bright gemstone on his forehead, which gleams as brightly as the sun. Scars also manifest in roughly the same place.
• Dragon: This form is quite a bit like a snake, with an elongated body, but accompanied by four legs which resemble a bird's talons. He bears a forked tongue and fangs befitting of any carnivore. His scales are a distinctive bright red, which fades into a dimmer color on the leather of the wings which sprout between his shoulders.
• Bird: This form is about the size of a falcon, with the same bright red coloration in his feathers. The tail-feathers are particularly long.
• Flame: Yup, a floating ball of flame about the size of a tennis ball. It has its purposes. Sort of.
• Human: A young man, not too tall, who looks to be about in his twenties, with a mess of mousy brown hair. He actually likes to occupy a form between dragon and human, so for the most part, it is his default when he isn't allowed to stay in his original form. This entails that he has a sprinkling of scales along his legs, arms, back, shoulders, neck and cheeks. He retains the sharpened teeth and forked tongue, and his nails are more like talons, and (coupled with his strength) they're perfectly capable of digging deep into one's flesh.

Things worth mentioning:

SPOILER: Click to show

• Although he accepts the use of 'he/him' pronouns for the sake of humans, he dislikes being called a 'man.' Or 'woman.' He is a dragon. The constructs of being a masculine or feminine human are meaningless to him.
• By extension, he harbors some contempt for humans, generally regarding them as weak and naïve.
• Also, they are food. Their livestock is also food. He has been causing routine havoc by raiding local towns, and snatching villagers, cattle, and horses for sustenance. He has no regard for whose territory his meal is in either, which has led to some run-ins with other creatures who don't like having an intruder in their land.
• His relationship with humans is a bit more complicated than that though. He appreciates beauty, and there are some humans who really are quite attractive. If someone does catch his eye, he is not beyond indulging in the more carnal pleasures with them. Whether he decides to eat his partner afterwards or not is really the luck of the draw. This can also apply to humanoid creatures, although he generally grants them more respect than just a source of food or lust.
• He also appreciates pretty things. Zmeu are said to be incarnates of greed and selfishness, after all, so he takes whatever objects he fancies, even if that object happens to be a living, breathing creature.
• He lives at the foot of a mountain, in a cave that leads deep underground. Upon reaching his hoarde, one might find a great deal of shiny, curious objects, as well as a pile of discarded bones. Depending on the time, there might be a live hostage as well.
• Nowhere near as territorial as some other creatures. This probably explains why he's so willing to venture into others' zones.
• Many of his interactions with new objects and people are guided by curiousity. If you manage to pique his interest, he may be a great deal more benevolent. Good if you're facing imminent death otherwise.

Relationships:

• Eliza: Has a scar from her from when he attacked and she defended her horses. Bears a bit of a grudge for that.
• Geragon: Friendly rivalry. He likes to annoy Geragon, but they don't exactly want to get into a fight with each other either. Self-preservation is good.
• Lili: Kidnapped her because she was cute, but he let her go eventually. Can't exactly keep the princess of the Fae long without incurring some wrath.
• Lovino: Ate one of his wards. Whoops. Doesn't know that Lovi bears a grudge for that.
• Mathias: Intruded in his territory for food.
• Nikolai: Sent to curb his destructive hobbies. Somehow ended taming him, god knows how?
• Séshel: Mutually beneficial relationship. He'll protect her forest if she allows him to hunt there when he doesn't feel like venturing further.

[Feliciano Vargas]

Name: Feliciano Vargas
Age: 20
Species/Role: Human Prince
Power(s) if Any: He has an affinity for disguises (but that's just makeup and clothes) and he has a lot of power as a prince. He also dabbles in minor white magic, normally simple herb mixtures for protection or good luck for the people he cares about. He carries those little mixtures of his in small pomanders, each labelled with the name of the person the "spell" is meant to protect. He doesn't consider himself a "magic user" however, since he believes the magic is inherent in the herbs rather than any sort of "spell" he's putting on them, instead.
Appearance: Feliciano's hair used to be long, reaching mid-back. However, a bad mishap with some fire (from a certain party-crashing dragon) scorched it short, resulting in (thankfully) faint burns across the back of his neck. Fortunately, he's not very self-conscious of them, and after a few attempts with a pair of scissors, had found a short hairstyle he's comfortable with (leaving his bangs long in case he decides to grow his hair out again). While it's a bit more difficult than when he had longer hair, he also likes to weave pretty little ornaments into his hair.

He's relatively small compared to his brothers and father, taking more after his mother. He's also rather thin, his family not buying into the practice of large feasts every day like the nobility of other kingdoms. The prince is generally decked out in fine attire, be it dresses, pants and a shirt, or a mixture of the two. When he's traveling or playing pretend as someone else, however, he will don the proper attire for such an adventure--simple breeches or skirts that can handle a bit of a rougher lifestyle.
Things Worth Mentioning:
❣ Feliciano's kingdom is a small but prosperous kingdom tucked in expanses of Faedor, near a small mountain range. Centuries past, his ancestors fled Astrador for reasons currently unknown
    It might have something to do with the magic tomes hidden deep in the royal archives. As stated,       however, Feliciano believes he knows no actual magic himself, nor has any interest to learn even if     he could.

❣ Feliciano is the youngest son, and second-youngest child of the royal family. Inheriting the throne is all but impossible, and he has no desire to do so anyway.

❣ The rulers of this tiny kingdom are named Ennio and Klara, and are Feliciano's parents.

❣ His siblings are as follows, from eldest to youngest: Emilio (Crown Prince), Dafne, Raul, Vittore, Ilaria (elder twin sister), and Arianna. Dafne and Ilaria have been married off to princes in other kingdoms. Raul and Vittore have taken wives of their own and are governing their own towns around the kingdom. Emilio and Arianna still live in the palace. Feliciano, on the other hand, had requested housing in a small village near the mountains, so he rarely sees his family beyond the yearly trip to court.

❣ As a child, it was surprisingly difficult for people, even his siblings and parents, to tell Feliciano and Ilaria apart. They often pretended to be one another, going to lessons the other didn't want to, or just to prank people. This is how Feliciano grew so comfortable with "female" clothing.
    He wears whatever he pleases and no one can tell him otherwise.

❣ Like many of his citizens, he bears no ill will or fear for magical creatures--especially the edges of his kingdom, it's common to see elves, dwarves, and the like mingling with non-magical folk for trade of goods or knowledge, as well as company.

❣ Feliciano loves to entertain guests and his citizens alike, so he often hosts balls or hires performers for plays and concerts, all of which are open to everyone. He also donates substantial funds for yearly festivals as well as weddings, births, and many other events worth a celebration. His parents would frown upon such lavish parties and the like were it not for the thriving economy Feliciano is cultivating.

❣ He also makes sure that any travelers who cannot afford an inn make themselves welcome in his home for the extent of their trip. It might be because Feliciano misses having a loud and relatively rowdy household compared to his childhood. His housekeeper and two other servants make sure nothing gets stolen

❣ While Feliciano is indeed used to a lavish lifestyle, he spent half of his childhood going to his sister's lessons rather than his own, so he's well-versed and often seen doing housekeeping and the like, despite having a house-keeper. He's very fond of cooking and sewing.

❣ Feliciano loves beautiful things, and he makes sure not only his house but his little "village" is aesthetically pleasing to everyone (or at least as many people as possible). However, he only deals with lovely elven-made clothes, or goldwork from the dwarves, during festivals or from magical beings who live in his kingdom and more directly influence the economy. no matter how much his heart breaks seeing those lovely items pass him by

❣ Another pursuit Feliciano is invested in is painting--his house is decorated with a few works he's exceptionally proud of, and he's fond of giving paintings away as gifts.

❣ Due to his wealth, he can use more expensive materials for his hobbies than most, sewing jewels into his embroidery, cooking with rare ingredients, and painting with goldleaf and the like.

❣ Feliciano is very generous with his wealth--not just funding events and workers in his little village, but paying for impoverished people to learn a trade, so they can support themselves. He also makes sure that every family has money for tutors and teachers for their children.

❣ If his people dislike him for his lavish spending, Feliciano is oblivious to it. Feliciano is oblivious to a lot of things, but especially when people don't like him.

❣ The reason he left the palace was so he could have the freedom to travel as he pleases. He has his days of being a home-body, and his days of needless wandering. It's easy to balance his well-to-do lifestyle at home and his down-to-earth traveling lifestyle.

❣ One way Feliciano can satisfy his wanderlust without actually leaving for weeks on end is to dress up as someone else and wander the village as a "stranger". He can be fairly convincing in terms of appearance, but his natural bubbly personality leaks through eventually. It helps him feel better, though, being someone he's not every once in a while.

❣ Feliciano has never left Faedor. He's hardly left his own kingdom, except for the weddings of his sisters.

❣ His current home is near the small mountain range making up the southern border of the kingdom.
Apparently it falls into the territory of a certain dragon named Geragon, who likes to steal livestock       from local farmers. Feliciano makes sure to repay the farmers for any lost livestock so they don't fall     into hard times

More to be added!

Relationships:
Family: Feliciano's relationship with his family is well enough. He misses not having his twin around, but he's had a few years to get used to her not being at his side like when they were kids. He loves his parents, and his other siblings as well. However, just like with any family, they sometimes get on Feliciano's nerves or rub him the wrong way. It's nice to have his own place, and he keeps contact with his twin and his parents via letter.

Drabe'druh/Geragon: Feliciano met the dragon in a rather unorthodox fashion. While attending his own birthday celebration, the dragon crashed the party and kidnapped the "princess" for ransom. In the weeks it took Feliciano's parents to gather the proper ransom and deliver it to the dragon's specified location, the prince managed to bond with his scaley "captor". Even after he was returned to his home, Feliciano makes it a point to visit the dragon at least once or twice a month. Whether Geragon is genuinely pleased by or just tolerant of these visits is anyone's guess. He also bears no ill will to the dragon for setting his hair on fire--accidents happen, after all!

TBA: TBP

[Lukas Iversen]

---

NAME: Lukas 
AGE: Appears in his early twenties, true age unknown
SPECIES/RACE: Huldra/Skogsrå, warden of the forest


POWERS

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GOOD FORTUNE Has the ability to bestow good luck upon other creatures and objects. If he’s treated well or given adequate compensation, he can enchant bows or spears so that they’ll never miss again, or he can simply give advice that’ll lead to good fortune if followed carefully.

SEDUCTION Like a siren, Lukas has the ability to seduce humans and lure them deep into the forest. Sometimes the effects of the spell can last even after the first encounter, making his victim to keep returning to the forest time after time.

LEECHING Lukas can suck out people’s lifeforce and use it to grow stronger. However, this can also be done gradually, so for him to actually kill someone in this way would take quite a while and multiple encounters.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH He’s somewhat stronger than a normal human. Nothing like a dragon or a giant, but he could easily snap a person’s neck if he wanted to.


APPEARANCE

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At first glance, Lukas looks like a normal human. An extraordinarily beautiful human, that is. He has fair hair and piercingly blue eyes, and his skin is pale and smooth like he’d never seen a day of hard work. He’s usually clad in simple clothing fit for a farmer; a white shirt with linen trousers, though he always appears to be barefooted and sometimes wears a cloak over his clothes.

The only way to really distinguish him from humans is to see him from behind. His back is entirely hollow and covered in bark, resembling an old tree instead of any living creature. Beneath the carved out back he also has a long cow’s tail that he usually hides underneath his clothes.

While his siren-like beauty is what he’s known for, he also has a completely different side as well. When angered his features change, twisting into something ugly and terrifying. His eyes will narrow and gleam hot like coals, his mouth will become a gaping hole filled with long, sharp teeth, and his skin will get a more wood-like texture much like his back. When he gets like this it’s most likely the last thing you’re ever going to see, so it’s definitely better to try to stay in his good graces.


THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

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If by change you meet Lukas and recognize him as a huldra (or non-human, for that matter), it’s best not to mention it. Lukas will consider it rude and things won’t be off to a good start. So if his tail is poking out from underneath his cloak, you should point it out in a very discreet way.

Lukas is unable to step into any buildings of human faith, such as churches. If he does, he will lose his tail and turn into an ordinary human. All that will remain to him from his powers is his increased strength.

RELATIONSHIPS

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ARTHUR // A human Lukas found wandering around his forest one morning. Arthur's magic was what initially lured him in, but there's something else about the human as well that has piqued Lukas' interest. He's not quite sure what that something is, however. 

EMIL // A sea creature Lukas saved from a fisherman who was walking through his forest some years ago. He could immediately tell Emil was like him; a rå, warden, even if he was one to dwell in water rather than the forest. He demanded the human to give up the sjörå in exchange for his safe passage through the forest, and after nursed the poor child back to health. He gave him a home in the small lake in his forest, and has grown quite fond of him since, considering him his little brother. 

[Arthur Kirkland]

Name: Arthur Kirkland
Age: 20
Species/Race: Sorcerer (human)
Powers: He was born with a propensity toward magic, just like his father. When he was a child, power would sometimes spill from him in short bursts, as if in release, and usually in response to an intense wish. If he wanted ice in the middle of a hot summer, for example, the nearby pond would spontaneously freeze over. It wasn’t until he was older that he was able to channel his ability using spells, incantations, through the creation of charms to lock away a piece of that power for future use, or by creating tonics and other magical brews. The more knowledge he’s able to retain from tomes or from teachers willing to pass on their talent, the more skilled he is.


Appearance:

Arthur has the appearance of an average human being, with pale blond hair and green eyes. His skin used to look a bit sallow when he was younger due to malnutrition and being the survivor of plague, but now that he’s found a way to make a decent living, he’s filled out a little more, lean and long, and his skin has a healthy tint to it. He’s usually wearing clothes that are modest and simple, more akin to peasants’ garb, but with lots of warm, soft layers to ward off the chill of the early mornings whenever he ventures out into the woods. He's usually seen wearing a tunic, the edges embroidered by himself with grey-ish, silvery thread, dark trousers, worn leather boots, and a dark, thick cloak. He keeps bags tied across his shoulder or against his hip to hold his herbs, bottles of odd things, and other small trinkets. His cloak alone weighs more than it seems with nearly all of its hidden pockets filled.

There’s a sense of slight disorder to him, from his messy hair, to the small bit of clutter in his garden and home, to the way that he needs to search for the right item through his numerous pockets, packages, and bags. His cheeks are usually the first to darken on a chilly night, but it’s also the first sign of the smallest hint of embarrassment, discomfort, or pleasure. Across the front of his left shoulder is the mark of a curse. It's etched in black ominous designs in the shape of a very thick crescent, or a nearly full circle.


Things Worth mentioning:

Arthur is the only surviving child to a powerful man, a renowned sorcerer who practiced a particularly dark form of magic that involved a substantial amount of blood sacrifice. The deeper he was willing to delve, the more power he acquired. However, the more power he acquired, the less humanity he seemed to retain. Especially when matched with the atrocities that he committed. He eventually garnered the attention of another ambitious sorcerer, very similar to him in nature. The two of them shared a fierce rivalry. Not one to be outdone by Arthur's father, the rival sorcerer placed a powerful life draining curse over him, a concoction that came with a heavy price when making a deal with unsavoury spirits.

After having been cursed, his father had only a few days before it would take his life, feeding off his blood. The rival who placed the curse smugly told him that the only way to reverse the curse was to sacrifice someone he loved, to take away a life that he valued just as much, if not more, than his. The problem was, the sorcerer never did value anyone else’s life to the same extent as his. The alternative, then, he discovered, was that he would need to pass it on to someone who shared his blood. In this instance, the curse would operate differently, feeding off the false target much slower. His father didn’t have any known remaining relatives nearby. However, he did have access to his lover’s unborn baby. So, one evening, while she slept alongside him, with his calloused palm against her belly and with his last guiltless incantation, he passed the curse into her womb and left soon after, never again to be seen in that portion of the world.

☾ Arthur’s mother later died in gruesome childbirth, as carrying both him and the curse had left her worn and frail. She left the world in agony, but not before naming him. He was born with a slivered mark across his left shoulder, giving away his fate for a cursed, early death. As his mother had been well loved, he was raised by various members of the community, unofficially a part of a few families’ households.

☾ He didn’t learn to channel his magic until he met a witch in the neighbouring village. She taught him about the names, nature, and handling of herbs needed to create various tonics and remedies that could earn him a steady wage among the ill and elderly, or those with other physical conditions in his village.

☾ His curse came with a mark, etched across his left shoulder. It started as a thin line, shaped like a hand palm sized crescent from birth. As time passes, it grows darker, and the black designs grow more intricate, until the entire circle has been darkened, exactly like the moon’s cycle. It serves as a reminder for how much time he has left.

☾ Currently, he lives in a rather secluded area close to the forest where he dutifully gathers his herbs every early morning, before the light barely touches the sky. He has a fairly good understanding of the area and where to find them, but he’s still learning where the rarer herbs and roots are located.

☾ He has a sizeable garden around his cottage for the simpler herbs that are easy to tend to as well as vegetables and the occasional fruits. He loves to cook and he always creates his own food from his garden. The end result of his culinary creations are usually enough to turn even the bravest guests away. (People just have no taste; his food is wonderful.)

☾ As of now, Arthur only has another year or two until the curse takes his life. He’s been working diligently trying to find a way to undo it—seeking out ancient tombs, and draining whatever little bit of his life savings he’s managed for them, practicing his own magic to try and rid himself of the cursed mark, and visiting every sort of magical creature imaginable for a possible solution. He’s well aware of how he can take away the curse, to sacrifice the life of someone he loves. A valued life for a valued life. However, Arthur is also well aware that he would never be able pay that price. Part of the reason why he lives in isolation is to avoid creating those sorts of connections with others. He's been searching for an alternative ever since.
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Relationships:

Lukas: TBA
Francis: TBA
Mihai: TBA
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[Roderich Edelstein]

Roderich Edelstein

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Age: 31 (appears to be in mid-twenties) 

Species/Race: ‘Human’ (Bard) by day, Alp on some nights.

• Alps are shapeshifting “demonic elf” creatures that cause nightmares and sleep paralysis, among other things. They primarily do this to get blood/milk from the chests of their victims, generally women.

Powers:

1. Power to invade dreams and cause nightmares.
2. Roderich can basically crush someone while they’re sleeping among other things. He’s quite physically strong and quick in this form.
   
3. Shapeshifts into many different forms. He particularly is fond of turning into a tuxedo cat, a small brown hunting dog, or sometimes a bay-colored horse. He can turn into birds if he wants to fly somewhere.
   
4. Cursing people
5. Invisibility (due to his hat). But not a very good visibility as the hat remains visible even if he doesn’t.
6. Archery (Average). As a ‘human’, Roderich is a fair shot, though he has no combat training in archery, only using it to kill the occasional game while traveling.

Appearance:

• As an Alp: An ashen-faced creature with tiny horns and fangs, Roderich generally maintains most of his human features as an alp, but more so in a mockery of his human form. It is obvious from looking at him that he is not human and is malevolent. Of course no one seems him like this, only in the shadow of their dreams. He tends to sneak around in his animals forms when he travels as an alp if not using his cap.

• As a human: Roderich is dressed well for someone in his occupation, mostly due to his skill at repairing clothes. On his head he sometimes wears a hat (in the Tyrolean style) and has an unusual attachment to it, unaware that this hat is what helps him keep invisible. He carries around a lute and a tiny wooden flute, along with a wooden bow and some arrows.
  
  

History (added this for my own personal notes mostly):

Once upon a time a boy was born to a family in a family in Astrador, two humans. The boy was born with a caul, or with some of his mother’s membrane clinging to his face. An unlucky sign, though his family paid no attention to such things, just like they didn’t when his mother complained of nightmares and sleep paralysis before becoming pregnant. They named him Roderich and raised him.

His childhood was quite standard for the son of a tailor in those times. They had enough to live on and get Roderich an apprenticeship with a local bard once he started showing aptitude for music. The only thing marring this was Roderich’s tendency to sleepwalk. He’d do it constantly, and tying him up before bed was futile.

Still, things were mostly peaceful until Roderich went off at the age of fifteen to travel and play his music. The road was a real teacher for him and he became knowledgeable in many things besides music and poetry. But tragedy seemed to suddenly strike wherever he settled on. He didn’t notice this until he was seventeen, but a plague of nightmares infected locals throughout the country. People would complain all over of nightmares and women of bitemarks on their breasts. Livestock crushed, things misplaced, braids in hair. Roderich even wrote a song of it, this strange plague.

Of course, eventually he found himself at a great court, under the patronage of a nobleman who spoiled him for his music. While at this court he met a woman whom he began courting, which turned into a marriage. Things were very happy, despite his wife constantly suffering from nightmares and he in turn had his sleepwalking. They thought they were quite the ‘sleepless’ pair. They produced a child together, a fair-haired violet-eyed boy that would watch them with very intelligent eyes. But then something happened.

Roderich’s wife, sick of the sleepless nights due to the child and nightmares, went to a wise women who gave her some suggestions as to what the creature might be and how to deal with it. His wife cleverly turned their bedroom into a way to capture the creature tormenting her.

The morning after this, Roderich woke up to found himself holding his hand and pinned by a rope nailed with steel with his wife crying in the corner. Afraid, he asked her what was wrong and she sobbed harder. Unable to make sense of any of this, Roderich focused on getting out of bed, but by the time he’d pulled himself free, his wife had fled the house, leaving behind their child.

Roderich was devastated. He packed up his things and baby son, hoping to track down his wife. But she was not to be found and so Roderich moved on, swearing to raise his son as well as he could. It wasn’t the best life for his son, though he provided some small stability for a couple of years in a troupe. Seven years went by with Roderich never finding his wife and Johann growing up.

In the last town they settled in and made their home, the townspeople became quite hostile to Johann. Roderich had always known his son was a strange child with what he considered a green thumb, but they made all sorts of accusations. At some point Johann ran away from the village, leaving Roderich alone and worried. This broke Roderich’s heart and he’s become a much harsher man in the past year for it, especially since it seems Johann just disappeared into the woods. He left the troupe and travels by himself in search for his son, looking over as much of Valara as he can.

Things Worth mentioning:

• Roderich has no clue he’s actually an Alp. None. No one sees him, alp folktales don’t seem to be spread very around and he looks very human to most other creatures that may look at him. Of course some powerful beings may be able to tell. He also doesn’t remember anything from his nightly escapades, only feeling sore and like he hasn’t slept at all.

• Roderich’s Alp personality does remember everything and is very different from him. Partly because it worries that Roderich might try to regain control if he realizes what is happening, it deliberately tries to make sure the other doesn’t.
  
  

• Roderich in Alp form is more of a jerk than usual, and is more assertive than human!Roderich. He’s also primarily motivated by hunger for blood/human milk. His Alpself is aware of why his wife fled and the fact Johann’s a changeling. It finds most of this amusing.
  
  

• He can be subdued in many ways. One way to subdue him is to take his hat when he’s on your chest. He’ll bargain with magic for it. Or make sure there’s no way for him to get out, so all the cracks in the walls/keyholes are covered up (though if the way he came in is uncovered and pointed out to him, he’ll bolt). While he’s doing his stuff, ask him for coffee and he’ll be obligated to come tomorrow as a human (with the Alpself in the driver’s seat) and join you for coffee. His powers can be destroyed by a cut above his right eye.
  
  

• Human!Roderich knows something is very wrong, but is rather distressed and in denial about everything. The only clue so far is his wife’s fleeing and the fact he thinks he stopped aging a few years ago.
  
  

• His Alpself, despite being a blood-sucking nightmare inducing monster, is not too evil, just hungry. That means his behavior during his nightly stunts is completely professional, nothing sexual at all.

• He can be bound by witches who want to curse someone. This isn’t really pleasant since he doesn’t like doing other people’s bidding, but unfortunately any witch who knows what he is can figure out how to use him.
  
  

Relationships:

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• Johann Edelstein – His son, who fled a year ago. Roderich is trying to find him and set out on his own. He’s very upset because he knows his son did this deliberately, he just doesn’t what's going on and he wants to know the truth about his son's abilities. Alpself cares for him as well, but wishes to figure out what happened to his real child.

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• Witches – Alpself dislikes them immensely due to the possibility they will bind him, or at least might out him to the greater community.
  
  

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• TBP

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[Lucia Vargas]

Name: Lucia Maria Vargas

Age: 24

Species/Race: Human Hermit

Powers: None really to speak of in the sense, though she is quite experienced in farming, basic medical care and quite persuasive when speaking to others.  

Appearance: From a distance, she is a hooded figure who farms and mostly keeps to herself in the mountains. Her appearance is quite dirty and messy however, her clothes are also in disrepair with her cloak being torn and kept together barely by patches.



Things Worth mentioning:
- Due to a lack of communication with others, she may seem quite distant or awkward to talk to, however when a conversation goes on for a while, she will communicate more freely.
- She is rather dirty in appearance
- She is quite clueless about life outside of the mountain
- She is not aggressive at all and will offer refuge to those who need it
- Sadly illiterate and not well educated
 
Relationships: None... To be plotted