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Race: Human (Svefra) Gender: Male Age: 23 Birthday: 32nd of Spring, 489 AV
Languages
Language
Level
Fratava
Fluent
Common
Basic
Nari
Poor
Physical Appearance
Height: 5'11" Weight: 154 lbs Hair colour: Blond Eye color: Sea-blue with a hint of green around the edge
Description :
Because of his Svefran heritage and lifestyle, Kirvan is well-muscled and fit. There is nary a piece of fat on him, though if you tried really hard you might be able to find the extra odd loaf of bread he'd been snacking on, and though he is not heavyweight he is certainly strong. His lean and wiry body lends itself well to his acrobatic fighting style, but don't count him out of an arm wrestle just yet. His shoulder-length hair is usually let free so he can feel the wind rush through it, especially out at sea, though during winter he usually covers his head. On his left bicep, a tattoo of his tavan, Ster, is etched into the skin, just a dark outline of the whale.
A constant battler, Kirvan has received a lot of nicks and scratches and cuts across his body. Each one to him is a story about one of his fights, one of his adventures in his life with the pod. He has two favorites from particular confrontations that he proudly recounts whenever prompted. One is a scar on his chest from about his neck to his rib cage, put there by a competent trader. The other is a slightly nastier remain of a gash stretching up the length of his back parallel to his spine, courtesy of a pathetic pirate captain who got the jump on Kirvan at the price of his life.
The gnosis mark of Laviku, a single swirling wave, migrates around his body. One day it could be on the back of his neck, and the next day it could still be there, or it could be on his right forearm instead. There is simply no way of tracking it, but regardless Kirvan is proud to wear it and makes no attempt to hide the swirling blue mark when it is visible.
Character Concept
Nature and Behaviour
Kirvan is an adventurous young chap, a tad naive having spent most of his life at sea but honest and straightforward. Also a bit of a thrill-seeker, always looking for a good fight to get involved in. Whether it be a drunken fistfight at a bar or a deadly duel to the death, the rush of battle is a sensation Kirvan constantly craves. This leads him to accepting all sorts of jobs, though preferably out on the water where he can use his casinor and sailing expertise to his advantage. When it comes to fighting, he is very competitive and will often continue until he is physically unable to keep going, comparing himself to others and often trying to better both them and himself.
Apart from his competitive and sometimes bordering on violent tendencies, Kirvan has a strong love of stories. Hearing about all these varied landscapes and interesting encounters enraptures him like nothing else. Legends especially awe the young Svefran, tales of expansive battles and heroic duels, giving the adventurous lad something to aspire to. Another reason why he loves hearing stories is because they remind him of fond memories from his youth with the pod, when the Lia would share her own stories, telling legends of the Svefra before the Valterrian.
Despite having left his pod for the sake of adventuring and action, he still feels strong communal ties to the Svefra, constantly exchanging letters with his Lia and former pod mates and visiting them at least once a season. As a result of his upbringing, he is often seen as a nice and charitable fellow, not entirely grasping the meaning of possessions and often sharing a bit more than he should with others. Part of it is his naivety - though he is getting better at claiming things as his own - but another part of it is because of his strong inbred desire to seek firm bonds with people, another result of his upbringing.
Bundled together, you get a fiercely competitive yet friendly and a tad naive fighter who's eager to lend a hand. If you need minor protection or someone else to bolster your exploration party, you could do a lot worse than Kirvan.
Religion
The Svefra consider Laviku, the god of oceans, their father and patron deity of sorts. They live in his domain, share often familial bonds with many of his creatures, and most often receive his gnosis at a very early age. Kirvan believed as resolutely in Laviku's power, devoting victories in his honor and attributing many of his successes at sea to the god's benevolence, such as races and luck with fishing. He's never seen the god himself, but always honors him and his domain regardless.
Aside from their devout hailing of Laviku, Kirvan's pod also revere Syna and Leth for their granting of light to Mizahar. They don't honor then as actively or on the same level as Laviku, but the pod understands their importance to life everywhere on Mizahar, both land and sea, and often display their gratitude by an occasional festival at sunrise and sunset for Syna and Leth respectively. The Lia herself has a couple gnosis marks from Syna, stories of whom she shares among the children of the pod. When he was of that age, Kirvan found these stories as enthralling as those about adventure and legacy, and grew up with that at heart. He will occasionally offer something to Leth or Syna as a small thanks, but has yet to talk with either of them and doesn't outright worship them as zealously as he does Laviku.
His approach to his worship of Laviku is surprisingly sincere and devout when compared to his usual behavior. Every morning at sea or whenever he sets sail, he gives an offering to the Otani to appease the sea god. Every victory at sea warrants another offering, a sacrifice if one is available, in gratitude for the victory. Only rarely does Kirvan use his Gnosis mark, aware and mindful of the balance of the sea, keen to preserve that balance as much as he possibly can. His serious and solemn approach to Laviku worship is a stark contrast to his energetic thrill-seeking personality, but his admiration for the sea god overwhelms even his sense of adventure.
He is, all in all, a very religious fellow. He keeps his zeal to himself however, not wanting to bother anyone with his practices.
Connections
Having left the pod on (relatively) friendly terms, Kirvan still keeps in touch with them. They strongly dislike his desire to strike out on his own, but respect him enough to not bring it up very often, and despite the conflict his leaving created they are still podmates and friends. Occasionally, once every few days, an avikki will find him with a message in its leg holder from the pod, asking how he'd been doing and recounting anything important that's happened. In response, Kirvan would give the bird a message back telling them of his travels and adventures. It's a loose form of connection that eases the occasional twinges of sadness at having left, but if Kirvan ever feels the desire to see them face-to-face he can always ask where they are and sail right for them, participating in the party thrown for his visit.
As for acquaintances outside the pod, he knows a few Inarta in Syliras but hasn't seen them since his pod first ferried them across the Suvan back in the summer of 510. He's made a few friends by the docks and shores of various establishments, often from fending off a group of thugs or protecting someone's wares on the wharves, but because he tends to travel without staying in one place for too long he never stays long enough to gain any long-term friendships. He has a friend or two in each port, someone he can contact if he's looking for work or just looking for someone to share a drink with, but his nomadic lifestyle keeps people from getting to attached when they remember he may leave at any time.
Wariness and Hatred
He may be a different drummer when it comes to traditional Svefra values, but Kirvan shares their strong passion against non-Svefra pirates. It's not out of any sense of justice or urge to protect the innocent - though that is a nice bonus - it's because though he prefers to travel alone he is still a Svefra at heart. To him, the Svefra more or less own the Suvan Sea, so any non-Svefra pirates are practically poaching. Not only does this lead him to a strong prejudice, it prompts him to make rash decisions that he doesn't think about before diving right in. When he's traveling alone, this can lead him into a trouble spot when it's him against an entire crew, which is difficult to say the least.
On a lesser scale than his anti-non-Svefra beliefs, he is wary of the magical disciplines and those who use them. He believes that the world was made as it was for a reason, and doesn't need to be tampered with. He hasn't discovered many uses of magic yet, but he frowns on anyone willing to twist what essentially makes them them for personal gain, as that is not how they were made.
Finally, but also most importantly, the most central value he took from his Svefra upbringing was the sense of his ship. His ship is an extension of himself, and anyone who trespasses on it without his knowledge or permission can expect a riled up Svefra and maybe even a fight right there and then.
Casinor
Attachments: Heavy Harpoon
Description :
The very distinctive casinor is the source of much wariness towards Kirvan. If his physical appearance won't give away his culture, his ship certainly will. The 30 ft long boat is well cared for, the lines and sails in good shape, and the central cabin neat and tidy. Inside the living space is a simple trunk, a small space for his backpack for when he goes ashore, a separate container for his seasoned provisions, and a small bed with a pillow of stuffed avikki feathers. The box-like trunk doubles as a writing table for when he sends letters to his pod, and there is a small lamp beside it that is rarely lit. The reason for his lack of furniture is that at one time he had to accommodate a second person and their sleeping materials as well, a cramped space for two but manageable. And it's not like the other person used her own sleeping materials very often.
Character History
Childhood and Early Teenage Years :
There was nothing particularly unique about Kirvan's childhood. He was born unto strong parents, but like all Svefra was raised by the pod as a whole along with the other children. Eased into the water at age one so he could learn to swim, the infant at first splashed and flailed and might have drowned were it not for a young beluga whale that had helped him up. For the next few days, Kirvan learnt through trial and error how to swim, thanks to that whale. It came as no surprise that the whale, named Ster, became Kirvan's tavan and nearly inseparable from the human child. When he got Ster tattooed on his arm, it felt like he was engraving their friendship on his very soul.
When Kirvan was old enough to learn how, he picked up fishing and sailing, the latter of which he had much fun doing. There were oftentimes he and some of the other children would borrow the casinors of some of the older members of the pod and race, and though Kirvan never won any of those he would usually make a close third or at least a competitive race. On the bigger boats when he helped out, he would jump to the rigging and nimbly make his way along the sails, a small skill of acrobatics that would serve him later. Fishing, on the other hand, wasn't really his forte. He lacked the patience to wait for a bite or to cast his net out, more often just using a harpoon to stick his prey. He could still do it, though admittedly he wasn't very proficient at it. If the need arose, he could probably have fed himself with his own fishing efforts, but it never did because of the pod society.
In his early teen years, the pod let him lift various weapons and try them out. Most of them he put them back down again, but once he picked up a cutlass he knew this was going to be his weapon. He practiced daily, often with the adults of the pod or even against the other young teens using wooden practice weapons, honing his skill. However, he soon realized that he wouldn't be able to rely on strength alone to win his fights. He wasn't weak by any stretch of the word - life among the Svefra was impossible for the weak - but he wasn't top-heavy like a few of the adults. With that in mind, he began trying new approaches. One time he used the rigging to fight from higher ground, and another he would jump off the mast to give him more force. This agile style of fighting served him well, and though he wasn't at the level of acrobatics where he could entertain an audience it did go hand-in-hand with his skill with a cutlass. So every day he would practice these skills, get better at them as time passed.
Young Adulthood, and Leaving the Pod :
As he grew older and his days fell into similar patterns, Kirvan began to grow incredibly bored of his life at sea. Of course, all Svefra were bored to a certain extent, but it dug into Kirvan like a particularly nasty dirk. He still revered and respected the ocean and all its greatness, but the monotony of his life began crying out for some variety, some action to break the weariness of his routine. Despite all of the pod's constant activities, celebrations for the littlest things, races for swimming, races for sailing, Kirvan was never really excited enough by them to break the certain of boredom that was draped over him like whale blubber. He and Ster would swim every now and again, Kirvan happy to be with his childhood friend, but he was still always itching to do something.
The times when Kirvan felt alive enough to break his boredom were always when someone outside the pod was involved. He loved it when his pod was hired for escort, as it meant new people to talk to with tales of their own adventures on the sea and even on land. There were several times, especially in his late teenage years, when his pod would ferry some travelers across the Suvan Sea. Kirvan would always quickly introduce himself to the strangers and make fast friends, sharing stories of his own people and listening to the travelers' tales. He would beckon the strangers into the water to swim with him, and those that couldn't swim he would most likely try to teach or ask Ster to help them stay afloat. Among those who knew how to fight, they would host mock duels where they would each practice their style. His friendly demeanor brought him close to the travelers, which in turn led to his learning of the world away from the sea. After they left for the land, Kirvan would find himself dreaming of the epic tales that were told. Even if the pod wasn't escorting travelers, Kirvan still loved to talk with foreigners, traders and sailors of other races, learning about their lives away from the Suvan Sea. His outgoing behavior earned him a reputation with his pod, and soon he would always be the first to introduce the pod, building bonds with foreigners by telling avid stories and sharing his own.
These stories fed his hunger for action, sated his appetite, but not nearly as much as combat did. When his pod were in the mood to make a raid or found some wannabe pirates to take care of, Kirvan would be the first out there, his casinor racing before any of the other Svefran ships. He was always the first one to leap aboard the other ships armed with nothing but a cutlass and his acrobatics, jumping from deck to rigging to mast to deck again, dancing circles around his enemies and always hopping out of the way of a swing or lunge. One time in particular led to him dueling the very captain of a particular group of pirates, a veteran of many raids, and bring him down while the rest of the pod looted the ship. They threw a celebration of his supposed feat, though really it was just to ease everyone else's boredom. These raids always filled Kirvan with this sense of competition, the thrill of action, a high that he rarely felt otherwise. The loot was always plentiful, and half of it was used immediately after in a victory celebration, which was just an excuse to stave off boredom for another few hours. And such an encounter would always end with Kirvan gazing forward to the next one, eagerly awaiting another test of his mettle.
Though he sincerely tried, Kirvan could not take another couple years before he grew fed up with his repetitive routine to a breaking point. His pod wasn't particularly active in terms of pirating, them being one of the 'nicer' pods,and there hadn't been a Nal'lyeo for a while. Maybe people had finally learnt to not offend them. Stragglers were frowned upon though, and he did not wish to completely forsake his community, so he sought the counsel of the Lia and asked what he should do. She was very much against him leaving, and soon would talk no more of it. The next day however, he returned to talk of it again. Again, she sent him away soon after their conversation had begun. He persisted for the better part of a season, trying to at least reach a compromise with the Lia. Each time she refused to speak much of it, he would return to his casinor and brood, though Ster always managed to cheer him up and brighten up enough to try again. Everyone else in the pod weren't particularly fond of the idea, but only their matriarch was steadfastly opposed to it, some of his podmates even encouraging him to keep trying. Finally, after nearly a whole season, Kirvan managed to convince the Lia to at least talk openly about it and look for solutions. There were many questions asked and not as many answered, but after nearly a whole day of discussion (which in and of itself managed to ease the boredom a lot) the two reached a sort of agreement. The Lia would continue to consider Kirvan as one of her pod, and Kirvan would in turn answer whenever she called, whether it be for a festival or a pirate raid or just to visit the pod again. He also agreed to not invoke a Nal'lyeo, accepting that he was setting off in his own direction and could not expect the support of the Svefra if he was not with a pod. With that, he bid farewell to his pod - of course, they threw a party as form of goodbye, the Svefra being the kind of people would throw a party if the sun rose that morning - and set off with nothing but his casinor, Ster, and what resources the Lia permitted him to take.
A Memorable Voyage :
Although he always enjoyed a good fight, Kirvan's most precious memories are from a time when little along the lines of fighting was happening. Sometime in the year 520AV, his pod was ferrying a group of Inarta across the Suvan on their way to Syliras and seek out new lives there. They were a collection of artisans and commoners, Avora and Chiet: some knew their craft already, like glass working or fletching or tanning, and were moving to Syliras hoping to better market their skills in a city not exclusively populated by Inarta; some had yet to learn a craft, hoping to seek apprenticeship in the cultural mixing pot that was Syliras, looking for a second chance at a better lot in life.
After setting out, Kirvan quickly brought himself close to the group, talking with them about where on the boat was the most stable and inviting them to watch sailing races and mock duels. His friendly demeanor and engaging nature meant he was well liked by the blunt and forward Inarta, but there was one young woman named who always liked to stick around and talk with him even after he'd let them go. She introduced herself as Leisa, and the two became fast friends, the redheaded glassworker having many questions about swimming and sailing, neither of which she really needed to do in Wind Reach. As time passed their talks grew longer and more frequent and the questions became more personal. Every day she would ask about his life on the sea, sailing and swimming with the other members of the pod, and the common parties they'd throw. In turn, she began telling him about life in Wind Reach, about the different castes and how those lower down were expected to always obey their superiors, about the Wind Eagles and how they chose their riders and how they would speak in the clipped and shrill-sounding language of Nari. It all sounded vastly amazing to Kirvan, someone who had only every watched the water bob and occasionally looked inland when beached.
Days passed, and the two talked with each other and joked and laughed and swam together. Her questions would grow more inquisitive, especially about the avikki birds which amazed her so much and reminded her somewhat of the eagles back on Mount Skyinarta. Each day, after Kirvan left the Inarta in the hands of his podmates, Leisa would go with him and they'd swim with Ster or he'd take her on his casinor and catch the wind, sailing fast and far ahead of the pod before turning back for their evening meal. He liked how she was so straightforward about everything, how she said whatever was on her mind and spoke her feelings free of restraint, similar to many of the Svefra. She said it was common nature among the Inarta, and true many of her companions were quick to laugh at jokes and those who knew the basics of combat would quickly try to jump in and join the practice matches. Leisa even joined in a few, hefting a wooden practice sword against Kirvan and a few others. She didn't beat anybody, but she certainly gave them a challenge. It wasn't until Kirvan watched her practice shooting on one of the bigger and stabler ships that he saw where her true combat ability laid.
About midway through the voyage, Leisa moved her belongings and bedroll into Kirvan's casinor so she could spend more time with him. At first it was just so the two could talk late into the night, sharing experiences and tales about each others cultures without keeping everyone up, as well as waking up to Ster's playful clicks and a quick morning of swimming. She began teaching him the basics of Nari (though it was as difficult for him as fishing with bare hands), a practice he stumbled several times in and apparently made some hilarious errors. The other Inarta were happy to help, though sometimes they would all burst out laughing for some reason and he would have no idea why. In return, Kirvan taught her how to sail, about the mast and the boom and the halyard and jib lines, an activity which she said was one of the most enjoyable she ever did. Sometimes, he even let her sail his casinor the whole day, and though she would struggle to keep up with the pod she had enormous amounts of fun while doing it.
A few nights later and the two starting sleeping together.
To them, the voyage was over far too soon, them having used to drifting into sleep and waking up in each other's embrace. It seemed as if time had skipped a season or two and they found themselves bidding farewell in Syliras, Leisa standing on the docks and Kirvan standing in his boat. There were no tears in their farewell, but everyone could tell - even those who were simply watching from the wharves and had no idea who they were - that the two did not want to part. He gave her a gold bracelet that he took from the pocket of a now-dead pirate, one of his treasures to remember him by, and she left him with a small necklace adorned with glass beads she made back in Wind Reach, and the promise that she'd look out for him if he or his pod were ever near Syliras. He's still wearing the necklace.
Kirvan's oldest and most trusted friend, Ster has been with him nearly his entire life. Ever since the whale saved the young human infant back when he was still little, he's been following Kirvan around almost at his beck and call. From the surface it may be hard to recognize him because most of his body is the same color as any beluga whale's, yet if he comes closer you can often see strange designs on his fins in various shade of grey, a stark contrast with his otherwise pale skin. His playful nature has endeared himself to Svefra and foreigners alike, capable of prompting those with a fear of water to open up and swim with him, often helping them if they couldn't quite do it on their own. His face always seems to brighten up those around him, his apparent smile easing many a dark mood.
Ster's whale pod has been following this Svefra group since as long as even the Lia can remember, the pardisa actually being a beluga whale from the same pod. They've helped their human partners fish, often herding whole schools into the waiting Svefra nets, their reward being whatever fish that escaped the nets and, now confused and alone, fell prey to the many belugas. It's a mutually beneficial relationship, one that each side is grateful to the other for. Sometimes during raids on some non-Svefra pirates the whales will help slightly by swimming up to some of the smaller vessels and rocking them, making it difficult for anyone with a ranged weapon on board to aim properly and knocking the whole crew off balance. The two pods have been together for so long that it is almost impossible to distinguish between the two: even when the Svefra beach their ships to celebrate or trade the whales would always wait just offshore or by the docks if they were in a city.
When Kirvan left his pod, he was resigned to leave Ster behind as well, as heart-wrenching as it was. He told his life-long friend about his departure, and after swimming with him for what he thought was to be the last time in a long time, he left. The following morning however, he was surprised to find his tavan squeaking and splashing just beside his casinor, playfully rocking the boat a couple times to get attention. Kirvan thought the whale had followed him because that was what he was used to, so he sailed back to the Svefra pod and asked his podmates to take good care of him, talking with Ster again for what he thought was going to be the last in a long time. Yet again, the following morning he woke up to a chorus of squeaks and rocks, looking over the side of his boat to see the beluga smiling and squeaking at him. A great feeling of both relief and happiness flooded over Kirvan at that moment, and since then the two have traveled together, the human careful to always remain close to the tavan and the whale always taking care of his friend.
Leisa
The Lover :
Race: Human (Inarta) Birthday: 3rd of Summer, 490 AV Height: 5'3" Weight: 117 lbs Eye color: Auburn Hair color: Red
A good-natured woman, Leisa was a glassworker in Wind Reach for several years. After a time though, she could not stand watching the treatment of the Dek and moved to Syliras with a group of various Inarta, all with their own reasons but with a common destination. Now she owns small shop near the docks selling glass trinkets, situated near the other Inarta that came with her. They are not wealthy, but they get by with their livelihood and are generally happy with their current lot in life.
The relationship between Kirvan and Leisa could best be described as honest. They were honest with each other, honest with their respective groups, honest with themselves. Their love for each other was a gradual thing, albeit hastened by their blunt and straightforward natures, grown from constant interaction and a love of similar pastimes while at sea. It was less a bond conjured from lust and more forged in the constant fires of happiness. They simply liked being with each other, doing the same things together and sometimes even fighting together. When Leisa and her fellow Inarta were dropped off at Syliras, Kirvan was of half a mind to stay with her. Leisa knew too well though that he was a nomad at heart and accepted that, telling him to go with his pod and promising him that she'd keep an eye out if he was ever nearby the city.
Location: Syliras Last seen: Early Fall, 510 AV
Knowledge & Training
Skill
Level
Points
Source
Sailing
Competent
29
20(SP), 9xp
Weapon: Cutlass
Novice
21
15(SP), 6xp
Acrobatics
Novice
13
10(SP), 3xp
Swimming
Novice
12
10(RB), 2xp
Fishing
Novice
5
5(SP)
Medicine
Novice
3
3xp
Interrogation
Novice
4
4xp
Weapon: Crossbow
Novice
5
5xp
Tactics
Novice
4
4xp
Land Navigation
Novice
1
1xp
Running
Novice
5
5xp
Intimidation
Novice
2
2xp
Body Building
Novice
1
1xp
Rhetoric
Novice
3
3xp
Investigation
Novice
2
2xp
Observation
Novice
4
4xp
Lore
The Valterrian Life in Wind Reach The Wounded Zith First Aid: Wrapping Bandages Ziths: Appearance Ziths and Humans Ster's Warning Manalim: Appearance Surviving a Manalim Attack Manalim: Territorial Aiming at Dolphins Ster: Helpful Swimmer Location: Port of Syliras Finding Healer in Syliras Liara: The Otani Ster's Worry The Captive Charoda A Comrade in Mark Darkwater The Burning Sacrifice to Laviku Crypt: The Poet Eridanus: A Man Without Rules Wrenmae: A Mage Attacked by the Balnag K'mavia's Call K'mavia: Priestess of Vanti Island The Balnag, A Monstrous Weapon The Staff Which Controls the Balnag The Tunnels Beneath Vanti Island The Balnag's Escape K'mavia's Disappointment Meeting Laviku on Vanti Island The Smouldering Wrath of Laviku The Balnag: What big teeth you have! Vanti Island In Pursuit A New Guide Alessa (Partial) Being a Helpful Pirate An Old Friend Slowly Adjusting to Syliras Two Years Older Crypt: The Traveller Orion: The Good Doctor Kyra: A Helpful Guide Alcohol + Open Wound = Pain
![[Verified by Sentinel]](./images/checkmark.png "[Verified by Sentinel]")
Kirvan Deepseeker 
by Kirvan Deepseeker on September 16th, 2012, 3:00 am 
