Seliam (Kalith) [WIP]

[Seliam]

Seliam


Rather Mostly like Seliam, just darken the hair and cut it off a bit.

Race: Inarta
Birthday: Early Summer of 491
Age: 19 (nearly 20)

Physical Description

Standing just a shade under 5' 9" and weighing about 155 pounds, Seliam is a smidge taller than the average Inarta male, though his slender frame is rather typical for an active hunter and Endal. His hair is a shade of red so dark that it's easily mistaken for black under certain lighting conditions, though a close look would generally reveal the hint of fire in the color that marks him as one of the Risen. Depending on his mood or how much he's willing to trouble with it, Seliam wears his hair either loose to about shoulder-length or bound in a single ornamented braid. His skin is rather pale, and he neither tans nor burns easily.

A very close look might reveal a hint of underfeeding in the distinctness of ribs and slender quality of his shoulders, no matter how much he puts away -- which is usually quite a lot. This is likely a side effect of his constant flirtation and practice with Reimancy. However, it's generally not distinct enough -- especially in the company of other Inarta -- to draw much comment or notice.

Character Concept

Seliam's decision to undergo the initiation ritual and learn the arts of Reimancy has shaped his view of the Inarta and his own place in the world to a great extent. He is a shade more subtle than most of his kind, and although he is quick to speak his mind, he is a little more likely than most to do so couched in sarcasm or wit. Likewise, even growing up amongst his open and free kind, he's familiar with the concept of secrets and their keeping, and respects this right in others -- at least, most of the time. Though he is proud of his achievements and proud of the connection he shares with his companion, Seliam is also aware of the knife's-edge on which their prestige and status hangs. His most unique talent, which has enabled him to bring in large and showy kills, may also be his bane -- and may not be looked upon kindly.

To others, Seliam most often comes off as affectionate and well-intentioned, unless he applied the edge of mockery just a little bit too hard. And for all the awareness of his vulnerability, he is still an Endal, used to being at the pinnacle of his home, with a sense of pride and ego to match. Failure does not sit well with Seliam, especially failure in front of or on behalf of others, and he will put himself at great risk to set things right or 'give it another go.'

Since bonding, Seliam has acquired some of the hunger for justice that marks his companion's behavior and motivations. Instead of simply seeking to live life fully and to the best of his potential, the young Endal is becoming more devoted to the idea that others have the same rights -- at least, as long as they're willing and able to work for it, of course; drudges deserve their lot for this reason.

When he remembers, Seliam offers prayers to Zulrav, though less for protection and more along the lines of "Great Lord of Winds, make today's drafts exciting if you could. We're bored." He wouldn't consider himself a devout worshipper, though his thoughts are more often on matters of the gods than he himself may realize.

History

[ Yet to come! ]

Languages

Fluent: Nari
Conversational: Common
Horrible: Vani

Skills

Magic

Reimancy 20 / 100 [Starting Package: 20]

• Seliam has become comfortable with the native element of his home, and fire responds more easily now -- especially in certain forms with which he is familiar. However, he hasn't even made a serious attempt at calling other elements yet. Additionally, outside of his favored forms, he is very awkward at calling res, requiring great amounts of energy to have any significant effect.

Mundane

Weapon: Longbow 20 / 100 [Starting Package: 10] [Racial Bonus: 10]

• For all of his life, or near enough, Seliam has labored to become a great archer. At the moment, the best he can manage is 'pretty good.' His best kills have come with the aid of his magic, against beasts too large or dangerous to pay much attention to nearby threats -- letting him set up a good position to aim and fire.

Ride: Wind Eagle 10 / 100 [Starting Package: 10]

• Recently bonded, Seliam is still learning and mastering the basics of moving with his companion. At the moment, he is quite good at hanging on for his dear life, but anything that requires more than one hand, or lasts more than a moment, is out of the question. He dreams of raining flaming arrows down on vile enemies from eagle-back, but such dreams are quite far away.

Weapon: Talon Sword 5 / 100 [Starting Package: 5]

• His father's fifteenth-birthday gift of a blade rests in a fine sheath across Seliam's back most of the time, but out of necessity in the brash and impulsive culture -- and as fits his new standing -- Seliam has learned to draw, sheathe and hold it without looking like a total idiot. This has warded off more than one potential challenger. In fact, for anyone who wasn't a trained swordsman, his stance would look pretty good. It's all show, though; in an actual fight, he'd be about as well off with a stick.

Hunting 5 / 100 [Starting Package: 5]

• Seliam is trained in the basics of stalking, positioning, and tracking game. However, he's not very good at it, and does his best work with a companion to spot for him.

Lore

Care and Feeding of Wind Eagles

• She's pretty independent and very much able to see to herself, but Liam knows the basics of tending, grooming and looking after the revered companions of the Endal.

Ritual and Prayer of Zulrav

• Though no priest, Seliam has an elementary understanding of what the wind god likes, doesn't like, and appreciates from those who ask for attention.

Inventory

Possessions

• Set of Clothing including byrda, leather ankle boots, sontav and katinu
• Waterskin
• Backpack and saddlebags which contain:
  
  • Set of Toiletries (comb, brush, razor, soap)
  • Food for a week or 1 bottle of embalming fluid (for Nuits)
  • Eating knife
  • Flint & Steel
  • Large tent (4 person)
  • large tarp
  • 100 ft of rope
  • Lantern
  • 2 torches
  • Bedroll
  • Blanket
  • Fishing tackle & hooks
• Full set of Eagle Tack
• "Foreshadow", a talon sword gifted to Seliam by his father
• Longbow
• Leather Armor
• Journal
• Journal (already full of observations, notes, practice)

Living Quarters

Food and shelter are provided to Seliam by Wind Reach.

Ledger

100 pinions [Starting Package]

-75 pinions [Longbow, starting gear]
-10 pinions [Leather armor, starting gear]
-3 pinions [Journal, starting gear]
-3 pinions [Journal, the one Seliam already filled up]
--
9 pinions

[Seliam]

Kalith



Physical Description

Broad-winged and strong even among her kindred, Kalith is a fearsome and regal example of a wind eagle. Her plumage runs very light, nearly white with hints of grey and tan, allowing her to fade into the daytime sky -- though she stands out prominently on the ground.

Character Concept

Kalith is, to Seliam, the sister and friend that he might have had if his sibling hadn't died young. They are very close, and Seliam credits his resistance to the urge to draw more -- his relative contentment with forms of magic as they stand -- with her voice in his head, reminding him not to be an idiot, thus crowding out the whispers calling for more power. They tease and snark with each other freely, but there's a degree of respect present at all times that's easily visible, even to those who can't hear their exchanges.

One matter that seperated them, at least at bonding, was Kalith's concern for justice and fairness. Seliam had gone through most of his life in a self-centered way, always seeking to better himself and gain more recognition. It was the Inarta way, he rationalized -- a hunter who was hungry for success would ensure that no others went hungry. However, he began to re-evaluate this view in his long conversations with Kalith, whose view of the world was very strongly inclined towards rightness. There was 'right' action, Kalith would argue, and the concept of subjective morality was so much poppycock. At least once, Seliam has joked that "Kalith is the knight, and I am her mount."

The one subject that has found Kalith most compromising is Seliam's magic. It fascinates her -- perhaps drew her to bond in the first place. She is determined to shield him from the worst of its effects, and to provide a stabilizing influence, to help him achieve potential greatness. She has, on occasion, deceived and outright lied to save face for her companion. Seliam has not pressed her on this seeming breach of her character, nor has she volunteered a reason.

History and Bonding

A young Seliam, just past adulthood, was growing impatient and restive... and, perhaps, more than a little nervous. He had kept his spot as a hunter well enough, but he knew that he would be challenged soon unless he did something to definitively prove his worth. After all, he was not nearly the best at stalking and tracking game, and several others -- especially Enor, curse the bastard -- were much better shots. So it was that he took some distance from the rest of his party, on that day, to seek out something large and impressive to slay.

He found it. A large bear of ten or eleven winters wandered carelessly beside a river swollen with the spring melt, snuffling along for fish or tasty roots. The wind was blowing in the right direction for Seliam to approach. It was a large and fearsome creature, perhaps touched with some sort of outside blood, and a single normal arrow would have little chance to put it down. This would be only the second time that Seliam had called the essence of the mountain to help him, and he knew he had little other choice. He couldn't pass up such a beautiful kill.

Seliam drew, aimed -- whispered a prayer to the Lord of Winds for a favorable calm -- and as he loosed, the strange fire flowed from the fingers of his right hand, along the shaft to burn around the arrow's barbed head. It was a solid hit, but not a killing one, lodging in the bear's left forelimb. Enraged, the animal turned and charged Seliam. It was slowed -- he could run, and get out of the way, but then the bear might be lost. Instead, the reckless young Inarta drew a second arrow, and held it on target. Closer, the bear came, closer still. At the last moment, Seliam loosed, the arrow imbued with every bit of fire he could summon, fuelled by his desperate need to bring in the magnificent creature. The arrow struck between the bear's eyes and flame erupted, cooking the bear's brains and killing it instantly.

Backlash struck Seliam in the next moment, sending him onto his knees, coughing up blood. He had Overgiven, significantly, and the strength left his body even as whispering voices urged him on to find another, to kill it too, to slay so much meat that the eagles would be unable to bear it back in one trip. It was then that another voice intervened. It urged Seliam to stay still, to do nothing, to accept the given help. He did, and in his delerious blindness, fumbled out to find and clutch to a feathered leg.

When the party found Seliam a few hours later, Kalith was hunched protectively over him, shielding him with her wings. The bear lay nearby, and a bit of judicious arrangement from the eagle made it appear that the creature had savaged Seliam in its dying moments. Thus, the new bonded pair was accorded the glory due such a great act with relatively few troublesome questions -- like how a normal hunting point had pierced so deeply, or completely. Seliam woke shortly thereafter, and thus began his partnership with the great white wind eagle.