Nes, Son of Dar
Age: 16
Description: His skin tanned and his hair mostly bleached by years under the desert sun, he still retains fairly soft, pleasant features. His eyes are the color of water from an oasis. Behind his ear decorated with a pair of simple earrings of silvery metal are two azure feathers from the wing of an exotic bird that played a prominent part in his life. His clothing and decorations vary, though, most of the time, it includes various common elements traditional in his village, such as the loose red necktie he keeps with his outfit. Another noteworthy accessory of his is a belt around his back that has multiple daggers suspended from it by hooks at the ends of their hilts – the sacrifices he uses when beseeching the Earth to lend him strength. His feet tend to be bare but mostly when he is in a familiar environment such as a desert or an oasis. Realizing the perils of more dangerous and unknown terrain he is not at all beyond footwear though some could consider him to be such.
Power: Nes’ element is Earth, however it should be noted that he was taught in an older tradition of Magic which brings in a few differences when compared to other practitioners (even within his element). For one he is quite firm in his belief that Earth itself is an entity beyond the control of anyone – it merely concedes and mercifully bestows fractions of its strength upon those who master the correct ways to ask it. Other elements, he is certain, are this way as well. Additionally his incantations and prayers are all in an older tongue taught to him by the priests from old scrolls. When beseeching the Earth he buries a dagger (be it an actual weapon or a symbol of one made of clay or stone) in the ground. The very symbol of surrendering a weapon to the element is an important part of the ritual. With that being said, the weapons Nes keeps on him are not for fighting. The extent to which Earth favors him however is impressive, perhaps due to the old ways of reverence through which he addresses it. By properly burying a single dagger in the ground (which is easiest to do on sandy terrain which is what Nes is most used to) he gains significant control over the element over a certain territory. This may enable him to temporarily change the qualities of land in a certain radius, for instance making the ground more fertile or changing its density. Another option is to control its movements and create structures. Finally he can manifest living statues of varying shapes, most of them resembling various animals. It was said that he studied their shapes at the temples where the priests resided.
Outside of his magic tradition Nes is not a formidable fighter, but possesses a natural agility and stamina from his life with his tribesmen.
Protector, King, or Other Race: Protector of the Earth King/Human
Personality: Nes is a kind soul and always has been one. It was perhaps due to the environment where he grew up. Harsh as it was, it drove people around him to display the best in them. Generosity, hospitality, selflessness and understanding – those were all virtues he witnessed firsthand and felt compelled to incorporate into his being. This may put him at odds with some of the Protectors for his character is often milder than theirs, but he finds a way to get by nonetheless. Members of his country and those from others alike are likely to find Nes to be polite, open and welcoming, and not for political reasons at that. He is also quite curious about the other places, if somewhat timid and reserved about how much he truly desires to see them.
History/Bio: Nes’ birth, upbringing and lifetime, in certain ways, lack some of the luster of nobility, or impressive experience from serving former kings. In a way however even at his young age he has already begun shaping a legend of sorts, if a somewhat small one. They say that the boy began showing signs of an exceptional purpose since he was little. The original dwelling of his tribe suffered during a sandstone, mostly ending up near completely buried in sand. This left his people stranded and without anything left. Their only chance of survival was to travel from the dunes that their homes were consumed by and reach another settlement. On the way there however many would collapse from exhaustion. Nes, then no older than ten, noticed a figure flying above the refugees. The child pointed at it and led the people forth. As it was later identified – the figure was a bird heading for a nearby oasis. There the stranded desert-dwellers found water and fruit, managing to rest before proceeding on their journey. The elder of the village picked up a few fallen feathers from the birds and presented the boy with them, swearing he would mention his act to the priests when they reached the nearest settlement. And so he did and when the boy was approached by the priest and asked what sort of reward he would want, Nes simply said “I want to learn”. And since then began his apprenticeship and study of the old ways.
Thus began his story as a practitioner of the old ways of Earth Magic. He turned out quite receptive to the priests’ teaching and at age twelve was already capable of reading the old tongue and tackle rather difficult scrolls. Among them were some that mentioned other nations and countries as well, filling young Nes with wonder and only increasing his further thirst for knowledge. Saying all he did was sit quietly and read however was not quite truthful. Certainly studies took much of his time, but he would also often explore the temple and go so far as to climb the building and the many statues surrounding it. While at first his powers were used sparingly, a practitioner of his kind, especially so young, was rather out of ordinary still. News of him spread and in time a man from the capital appeared, saying that Nes has to come before his King and be tested as a potential member of his Protectors. Uncertain at first but knowing what a great honor was being offered to him, he left the small city with the blessings of the priest and followed the envoy from the capital. Now he serves as one of the three Protectors, certainly not the fiercest one, but showing much promise and having untold potential and great favor from the Earth itself.
Other: Nes is a good climber, but may find outright flight where he has no foothold instills somewhat greater fear with him, so experiencing it would be quite dreadful to him, at least at first. In speech he occasionally uses words of old verse.
