Ethan Renault

[Ethan Renault]

UNDER CONSTRUCTION! Ethan Renault Physical Information Race: Human Birthday & Age : ~ 19 , Unknown birthday Gender: Male Physical Description Ethan stands about 6’ tall and weighs 164lbs. With neck-length dark brown hair, forest green eyes, and tan skin, he is athletically built, but a little lanky. His face is recessed and dark. There is nearly always a look of solemn suspicion on his face, eyes ever moving. Walking about, Ethan is usually slightly hunched, with his head lowered, and he never travels far without looking behind him. On Ethan’s left shoulder is a large black Gnosis mark depicting a closed eye. When the mark activates, the Gnosis mark eye opens. Inactive Gnosis Active Gnosis His back, chest, arms, and legs are crossed with various deep scars. His face remains untouched except for a long saw-toothed gash under his left ear that follows his jaw-line to his chin, a wound from an attempted theft gone wrong. Character Concept Ethan’s appearance and demeanor tend to make people not trust him, and as such Ethan has learned to not trust people. He is generally quiet, thinking very much but saying little. Even with no formal education of any kind, Ethan has become very resourceful. His life growing up on ruthless streets has given him a high awareness, almost to the point of paranoia, and a time-earned cunning. Deep down he is good-natured and kind-hearted, but rarely lets on to it. Though he will do what is necessary to survive, Ethan does not derive pleasure from theft or hurting others, and he absolutely abhors killing. In his own ways, he tries to make up for his roguish life style by helping others that he feels are worthy. Holding a solemn demeanor at most times, his nimble fingers are almost always playing with something to keep them preoccupied. Forsaking companionship, he almost always travels alone, not willing to put his trust in others. In his mind, he sees himself a loner, but really he just wants to find a place where he belongs. Due to the nature of his Gnosis mark, Ethan has grown quite used to pain, as he lives with it daily. He does not know what causes the mark to activate, but has dedicated what little of a life he has to trying to find a way to remove it before it is too late. Ethan holds a distinct disdain for the Gods and Goddesses, feeling that he has been cursed and abandoned by them all. Character History As far back as Ethan Renault can remember he had always been an orphan. He grew up among the urchins on the seedy backstreets of Sunberth, begging for his food, or stealing when the chance arose. After one particularly sparse week of scrounging, a then 8 year old Ethan sat starved on a dark corner, hands out and open. No one was willing to give, and he saw no opportunities to swipe anything either. Just as he was about to collapse from weakness, his eyes spotted a young boy walking out of an alley and turning away from him. He was dressed in an elegantly flowing dark suit, a positive sign of wealth Ethan thought. He and Ethan seemed about the same age. Surely this boy could relate to his plight and share a coin or two. With his little remaining strength, Ethan climbed to his feet and hobbled after the boy. It was strange, he thought, how no one else seemed to notice this little prince among them. However, his grinding stomach blocked any further questions as he quickened his pace. Nearing the boy, strange thoughts began to race through his head, thoughts that he had restrained for so long. How he wanted a family, he wanted someone to take care of him, he just wanted somebody, anybody. The sudden rush of emotions caused Ethan momentary pause. His mind began to wander toward what could have been. The life that he might have had. A particularly loud growling of his stomach, however, pulled him out of head and back to the dirty cobbled street where he stood. Wiping a tear from his eye, he collected himself and ran on. No time for that now, he couldn’t miss this chance. He wasn't sure how much longer he could last without sustenance. Now within arm’s reach of the boy, Ethan fell to his knees and cried out. He pleaded for coin, for food, for any boon the boy would bestow. But the strange boy just kept on walking, as if Ethan did not exist. Anger now filled him at this haughty rejection. What did this boy know of hunger? What did he know of pain? It was not fair! Charging forward with renewed vigor, Ethan thrust his fist toward the back of the boy’s head. He would teach him pain. Before the blow could connect, the boy vanished. No smoke, no blurring vision, just gone. Fist extended, Ethan stood frozen, coming to doubt his food-deprived sanity, until a gentle tap came on his right. Frigid chills danced down his spine. Turning slowly, Ethan saw the young boy he had just tried to attack. This was Ethan’s first real look at the boy’s face, and it left him agape and speechless. Hollow black eyes under a layer of raven hair, a single crimson tear rolling down this little boy's right cheek. Tilting his head slowly to one side, the boy spoke, his words falling gently from thin lips. My, my... How hungry this one looks. This won't do. This won't do at all. Building up what little nerve Ethan had left, he dared a stuttered response. P-p-please, if you could j-just spare a, a Miza or two. I-I'm so hungry. P-please, just... Silence fell as the child rose a single spindly finger to his lips. What would you say, if I told you that I could make all that hunger go away. A dull, hollow thud emanated as the boy snapped his fingers. Just like that. This had to be an illusion of his fatigued mind, Ethan thought as he fell into a blank stare, locking his eyes with those of this strange child. Could it really be that easy? Once again Ethan's cavernous stomach clenched, a course and painful moan. His outlook for future food seemed bleak at best. He knew he couldn't go on as he had been for the past few days, subsisting on the occasional bread crumb. What did he really have to lose by saying yes? Yeah, I mean... I would say yes. Anything. The dark child dipped a curt nod as an eerie smile climbed his ivory cheeks. Then it shall be done... No further words were said. The little boy's dark eyes now radiated with a dull glow, never detaching from Ethan’s. With otherworldly grace, the boy's hand rose to light upon Ethan’s left shoulder. Immediately, a crippling pain grasped Ethan, and he fell to his knees. Looking up, the boy was gone again, this time not to return. To Ethan's utter astonishment, the child had told the truth. His hunger immediately dissipated. He initially questioned the appearance of the mark on his arm, but knowing nothing of the Gnosis, merely thought it a byproduct of whatever magic had been used on him. No real harm. Life seemed as though it would be exceptionally better for him in the years to come. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Uldr had placed a Gnosis mark on the Ethan’s left shoulder. As promised, the Mark of Returning wards of hunger, thirst, and fatigue. However, when the mark activates, it essentially starts destroying a random part of Ethan's body in any of various excruciating and slow ways, gradually turning Ethan into an undead. These wounds often manifest as large scars or otherwise missing flesh. The wounds inflicted will not heal on their own, and healing magic has an opposite effect on Ethan, causing further damage where the healing was meant to be done. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As time went on, however, the mark proved anything but harmless. The first activation occurred just after his 16th birthday (or at least when he chose to celebrate it). Attempting to sneak into a butcher’s warehouse to scrounge some meat scraps (he rarely had to eat anymore), Ethan was nearly through a small, high window when his left leg went numb from pain, accompanied by a burning sensation on his left shoulder. Wincing in agony, Ethan lost balance and fell through the window into the warehouse, landing with a crash on a makeshift table. Looking down to find the source of the pain, he watched in horror as the skin began to tear up his leg, like a thread pulled from a pant leg seam. What the hell! As his anguish was made audible, screams resounding forth though the dusty old building, a wooden door opposite where he lay burst open. Charging forth came the enraged owner, cleaver in hand. Dazed and panting, Ethan attempted to scurry up to the window again, but to no avail. His wounded leg collapsed under the pressure and sent him once again crumpling to the floor. Try to rob from me will you!, the butcher exclaimed. The burning in his shoulder suddenly stopped, and his leg fell into a sharp throb. This was not the first time Ethan had ventured into this warehouse. This was also not the first time that the butcher had spotted him. Lifting Ethan over his shoulder, the man carried him to a back table, before drawing a long carving knife from his bloodied apron and leaning in to Ethan’s ear. You will learn to stay away from my store..., the now wild-eyed man whispered. Pinned under this ox of a man, Ethan’s attempts to move his face away from the approaching blade were futile. With a deep breath escaping from clenched teeth, the man dug into Ethan's neck and began sawing his way down his jaw. No screams left Ethan's lips this time, his body near convulsing from the trauma. Reaching Ethan’s lower chin, the man finally stopped, a look of almost regret in his eyes. Wiping the foul blade on his apron, the man turned and simply walked away as Ethan finally blacked out. Awaking to a dingy back alley some time later, Ethan found bandages wrapped about his mouth and jaw, possibly an amendatory gesture from the ravenous butcher. Rising to his knees, Ethan examined the deep scar left by the mysterious burning, the burning that emanated from his marked left shoulder. Fear swelled within him at the thought of what might have just happened. Within the months that followed, several more attacks befell him; always without warning, and always leaving deep scars. As the attacks began to increase in frequency, Ethan decided that his only option was to discover the truth behind his marking, and to find a way to remove it. Training (Skills, Arcana, Gnosis, Lore) Larceny: 5/100 -------- (5 pts – racial starting bonus) Medicine: 5/100 -------- (5 pts - starting package) Observation: 20/100 -------- (20 pts - starting package) Stealth: 15/100 -------- (15 pts – starting package) Throwing Knives: 10/100 -------- (10 pts – starting package) Tracing: 10/100 -------- (10 pts – racial starting bonus) Gnosis: Uldr, single mark (slowly turning Ethan undead) Lore: Sunberth (starting package) Lore: Criminal Culture (starting package) Equipment and Possessions Long black cotton cloak, light leather boots, white sackcloth undershirt, black sackcloth pants, black cotton headband (starting package) Water skin (starting package) Backpack: Toiletries, eating knife, 1 week of food (starting package) Set of Tamo daggers (Oak handles with helical carvings and knobbed ends, creating the sheathed appearance of a short twirling baton) 20 throwing daggers Flint and Steel Bedroll Leather belt 100 ft hemp rope Grappling hook Thieves' Tools Spyglass (Polished brass with 3 extensions) 10 pc chalk 10 pint flasks of oil Family Heirloom: A red silk ribbon that is said to have belonged to his mother. He keeps it tied around his left wrist. Ledger 100 gm (starting package) +500 gm (cash in shelter) -1 gm (Flint and Steel) -1 sm (Bedroll) -2 gm (100 ft hemp rope) -1 gm (grappling hook) -1 sm (10 pc chalk) -1 sm (10 pint flasks of oil) -2 sm (leather belt) -20 gm (set of Tamo daggers) -20 gm (20 throwing daggers) -100 gm (Spyglass) -30 gm (Thieves' Tools) 425 gm, 7 sm Thread List

[Ethan Renault]

Tracing

Tracing is the physical discipline of training to overcome any physical obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment. The term “tracing” refers to one “tracing” their own course through the variable maze of potential pathways. The object of tracing is to get from one place to another using only the body and the physical objects of the area. The obstacles can be of any environment, but tracing is most often practiced in urban areas due to its plethora of suitable structures.

In essence, the entire purpose is to move from point A to point B as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Why circumnavigate a structure when one may simply move over it? These fluid and acrobatic movements are extremely useful when applied in pursuit or escape, as they allow one to take a path oftentimes unusable by the target/pursuer. Due to this, tracing is most often practiced amongst thieves and street urchins (those with a need to flee) as well as assassins (those with a need to pursue), generally within the bounds of large cities. Everywhere from the soiled streets of Sunberth to the sprawling metropolis of Syliras, tracers can be found (but rarely caught) performing their art.

Some tracers tend to favor aesthetics over utilitarian efficiency. These tracers will often incorporate flips, spins, or other flourishes into their movements. In some forms, this type of tracing may be used as street performance.

Tracing requires intense practice with an emphasis on functional strength, physical conditioning, balance, creativity, fluidity, control, precision, spatial awareness, and looking beyond the traditional use of objects. Its movements typically include running, jumping, vaulting, climbing, balancing, and quadrupedal movement.

Contents
• 1 Tracing Movements
• 2 Learning Tracing
• 3 Prerequisite & Related Skills
• 4 Skill Progression

Tracing Movements:
Some examples of basic tracing movements and skills are listed below:

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Learning Tracing
Tracing is often times not “learned” as much as it is “practiced”. There is rarely any opportunity to undergo any kind of formal training in tracing, aside from potentially a friend or mentor skilled in the art. Tracing is learned through experimentation and pushing one’s own limits. Injury, and even death, from falling or otherwise are relatively frequent occurrences amongst the budding tracers; many far too eager to exceed their own abilities.

Prerequisite & Related Skills
Tracing has no prerequisites at its lowest levels; however tracing does require other skills in order to be mastered. A master at tracing must possess two of the related skills at a minimum level of Competent or one of the related skills at a minimum level of Expert. The related skills are as follows:

• Acrobatics
• Running
• Stealth

Skill Progression

NOVICE (1-25)
At this level, the tracer is still actively learning the art form. They are reasonably adept at basic movements, but struggle to maintain speed and fluidity. Edging is slow, lightings can be made from slightly higher than average, jumps are a little longer or higher than previously possible. Movements are often noisy and un-stealthy. Attempting flourishes greatly hinders the ability to complete motions.

COMPETENT (26-50)
At this level, the tracer can complete most basic movements with ease. Swings, tumbles, and vaults now seem second nature. The tracer has become more adept at making fluid and precise movements. Spotting upon small surfaces is now achievable. Flourishes may be used in movements with slight penalties to efficiency and speed. Edging can be made at a brisk walk, lightings can be made from double otherwise dangerous falling heights, and jumps attain a significant increase in power. Movements can be made without making much noise.

EXPERT (51-75)
At this level, the tracer has become exceptional. All basic movements are completed as second nature. Complex combinations of movements and advanced movements can now be completed. In addition, flourishes can be used with little to no penalty to outcome. Movements can be made silently and stealthily. Every movement is fluid and clean, allowing increased speeds of movement. Spotting can be made on tiny surfaces (such as tops of sturdy poles), but with some difficulty. Edging can be completed at a run, lightings can be made from triple otherwise dangerous falling heights, and jumping power further increases.

By this point, the tracer is adept at all methods of movement and becomes a true stalker / escapist of considerable merit. The tracer may best nearly any unskilled other.

MASTER (76-100)
The tracer has reached a pinnacle very few have ever gained. He or she has become a part of his or her environment. The tracer can move through complex environments with an ethereal grace, speed, and lightness. Complex combinations of movements are completed with ease. Flourishes may sprinkle a master’s movement with no detriment and even may aid in the movements. Movements are completed without a sound. Master tracers seem to fly along their chosen courses. Spotting on tiny surfaces can be completed without hesitation, even edging can be attained at a dead sprint, lightings can be made from astoundingly high heights, and jumping power becomes extraordinary..

By this point, the tracer is a master of movement. The tracer’s movements become precise as a master archer and utterly beautiful. If the landscape is his palette, then he is truly deft with a brush.