Rafi, from the tents of Jeroab, Son of Shamal
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Basic Information
Race:Benshira
Birthday & Age : Fall 480 AV (30 yrs. old)
Gender: male
Physical Description
Rafi is a tremendous figure among the Benshira people. He stands at 6 feet five inches tall, with very dark olive skin, that glistens in the sund. His eyes are a stunning blue just a tick lighter than the sky on a clear day. His body is muscular, build solidly but not overly so. He has worked hard to build his body, but the life of a Benshira is not that lends it self to a musclebound person, so Rafi is not all muscle but his physicality shows and came make him come off as imposing. Rafi's hair is kept short to reduce the heat of the desert, and is a dark brown with hints of red. Generally he keeps his head covered with a shoufa, a turban like piece that can be moved to cover the face.
Rafi wears a brown/tan cloak with the sleeves removed to show off his muscle as well as increase his movement. The cloak hangs down to his knees and is loosly tied often revealing Rafi's chest and stomach. Rafi's pants are a similar fashion to his cloak, and knee high desert boots finish his outfit.
Rafi usually has his face covered because of the desert conditions, but when it is seen. It is a site. Strong angles and impressive features make it an unmistakably male face, as well as a one talked of by the ladies. His brow is smooth leading down to strong cheeck bones that leave dimples on both sides of his face when he smiles. A strong prominent chin cuts the angles, making him utterly masculine. His smile is disarming, even teeth with full lips complete his face. Some age lines have begun to show on his face, mostly from the years of desert life, however, they make his face seem more sagely and rugged than old.
Character Concept
Rafi is a devout Benshira. He fully believes in the ability, divinity, and solidarity of Yahal, and strives diligently to be blessed with a mark of gnosis from him. His heritage fits him, Jeroab the just, which is what Rafi is just. His actions are always dictated by his morals, and those of Yahal. His general overall philosophy is that he is a warrior, but he comes in peace with no weapons meaning no harm, however if you mean harm to him or another he will not spare you. Rafi is also gifted in Reimancy. His element is earth, which is particularly handy in the desert, yet he often doubts his abilities. In the desert water is often as valuable as gold, and those gifted in Reimancy are considered special, especially those whom are gifted with water. Those people often use their abilities to find water. When it was discovered that Rafi was gifted in magic, he was so excited to be a "water seeker" for him it was a great honor and many thought him deserving. However, after months of intensive training Rafi was found to have no affinity for water. He was devistated, he spun into self doubt, and even faultered in his faith. However, his devotion drove him to search for a teacher which lead him to find his affinity for earth. Rafi simply seeks to be closer to Yahal, and will do whatever he believes his god is leading him to do.
Character History
Rafi was born in the tents of Jeroab to his father Shamal and his mother Yalin. Rafi was a vibrant, happy, and exceptionally healthy baby. Precotious and adventurous, Rafi was a handful from a young age. He was loved by the people of his tents even as a child. His father was not the leader of the Tents, but he was respected and Rafi was given the best treatment from everyone. As he grew Rafi seemed to excel at anything and everything. He seemed to be a model Benshira and from an early age people started to talk about how far he could go.
As a boy Rafi paid no attention to these things. He was only interested in normal childrens' activities. His best friend in the tents was another boy his age, Tamal. Rafi and Tamal were the typical pair of best friends. They went everywhere together, did their chores together, and of course created mischief. The boys grew together creating lasting memories, and an unbreakable bond. Or so they thought. As they grew Rafi's potential became more and more appearant. Tamal noticed it as well, and became secretly jealous. Tamal would often shake off these feeling as he tried to maintain his friendship. However, times were hard. Rafi was a natural, popular, and discussions often turned to him. Rafi's pride was growing with each day. Then there was Lina....
She was magnificent. A desert flower, growing beautiful and blossoming before the mens' eyes. She was of the age where marriage was becoming an option, and both men were interested in her. Both young men had their parents enter into negotiations with her family. The obvious rift began to grow between the friends, and Yamal began to despair because it was becoming quickly obvious that Lina's family was going to pick Rafi. As the announcement time grew closer, Yamal's despair became to great. He went to Rafi pleading his case, his love for Lina, and how it would affect him. However, Rafi could not let it go. By this time Rafi was considered one of the best men in the tents and his pride was an ominous shadowed that followed him constantly. As such Rafi could not secced to his friend, it was unthinkable.
Yamal was heartbroken, and desperatly torn. His friend had left him, the woman he loved was soon to be betrothed to him. Yamal rode out into the desert and finding a space not too far from the tents, and committed suicide in his despair. When Rafi found out about this, he tore his clothes from his skin and wept in complete devistation. He renounced his marriage to Lina, and paid a reverse dowry to ther family for their trouble. Rafi went into a deep despair, his family and the tents feared the worst and made preparations to watch him.
During this time Rafi prayed intensly, reading his pinta scrolls constantly and searching for a reason for these events. His body was racked from the immense fasting, and then the vision came. Water, water was everywhere, and in the mist was a figure moving it. Rafi emerged from his tent, a changed man. He went to the water seekers and was tested. He passed the test and began to train. As time passed the old Rafi seemed to reemerge. His body was back in condition, and some of his old habits were back. However, his pride was in check, at least for now. At this time he was training in Reimancy for water. He lived the training, he felt, and knew in a small part, that Yamal's death was his fault, and that by being a water seeker, bringing life to the village, would be a way to repent and be better. However, time passed and Rafi's training stalled. While Rafi had the affinity for magic, water was not his element. Rafi was devistated yet again, his hopes were shattered, and he once again began to doubt himself.
Then, Almuham came to him. Almuham came from the tents of Rapa, word of Rafi had spread between the tents, and Almuham had felt compelled by Yahal to come lend his aid in any way he could. Almuham was a Reimancer gifted in earth, and as he consoled Rafi he also made him the offer to teach earth reimancy. Almuham was extremely in earth reimancy and was also an excellent teacher. He showed Rafi the benefits of earth reimancy and how it could help the tents.
You see Rafi, by manipulating the sand, and creating barriers you can shepard a whole flock of sheep on your own, freeing up others to do other chores, so that the tent flourishes
This was one way Almuham taught Rafi, he showed him, and taught him how to apply it to the tents. And, for a time Rafi was satisfied. His life was going well, he was again the talk of tents as his reimancy skills grew. And as the talk began, Rafi's ego came back as well. Then the second most humbling experience of his life happened.
Rafi was still young, a mere twenty two and he wanted to prove himself. So he went away from the tents to practice his reimancy without Almuham. Rafi worked and worked, honing his skills and attempting new techniques. As he flourished he drew more and more Res, taking his energy and using it. Then Rafi got brave, he decided to create a pillar of earth as his final training for the day. However, as he was tired and had already used a good amount of his Res for the current time. His attempt backfired horribly. The res exploded, a consussion wave slammed into his chest creating a giant scar and making a literal and mental mark on Rafi. He was incapacitated, out in the desert with no way to defend himself. All hope was lost, until Rafi felt himself being dragged towards the tents. Almuham had come for him! Almuham whom had taugth him the dangers and warned him about exertion and limits, the man who had also told him about training without him. This man whom had chastised him in all his training was putting his own life at risk for Rafi.
After Rafi recovered he continued to train, his life currently has been quiet, but for this man nothing stays the same for too long.
Training (Skills, Arcana, Gnosis, Lore)
Reimancy- 10/100
Short spear-25/100
Survivalist-15/100
Horse Riding 10/100
Martial Arts 5/100
Lore
Knowledge of water holes in desert
Knowledge of Yahal
Equipment and Possessions
Starting tent kit
Ledger
200gm
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