"The greatest injustice is using the law to keep justice at bay."
Physicality
Description
At first blush, Chivalry is your typical knightly sort; tall, quiet, and probably not too intelligent. His complexion indicates some sun-exposure and a touch of weathering, but not more than youâd expect out of a particularly rambunctious noblemanâs son at the age of thirty or so. The scar might give you pause to reconsider that, though. Itâs not his only one, but it is the only one that can be seen given the fact that he walks around in at least chainmail most of the time.
His armor is all extremely well-maintained and polished to a shine, though the actual design of it is simple and sturdy. The double-handed pommel and crossguard of a long Zweihander is visible over his right shoulder, the end of the blade trailing to the mid-calf area. He carries himself with a certain ease that suggests familiarity with all of this and also with being in the halls of the wealthy and titled, but there is no overconfident swagger to it. Were he not so large and shiny, he might actually qualify as unassuming.
His entire appearance suggests neatness and hygiene of a rather rare variety, actually, and he remains cleanshaven regardless of the prevailing court trends. Empress Shar could tell you that basically nothing about him has changed in almost three decades, save that his eyes carry a certain weariness they never did before. Heâd have frown lines if heâd aged, but he hasnât, and so that meager evidence is all there is to suggest the cast the last thirty years have had.
Appearance
Hair: Light blond.
Facial Hair: Cleanshaven
Eyes: Blue-green
Build: Muscular
Skin Tone: Somewhat tanned
Height: 6â5â
Weight: 210
Voice: Essentially this.
Handed: Ambidexterous, though he most often treats his left as dominant.
Body Markings: None
Scar Tissue:Several scars, most noticeably a near-vertical line from his forehead down over his right eyelid down the corresponding cheek and a diagonal one that stretches from his left shoulder over his back to his right hip.
Unique Body Features: Tends to emit light when his glamour is weakened or he is required to exercise more power than usual.
Name
Tristan Leif Zilocke
Nickname
Chiv, Chivalry
Title
Eldritch Manifestation of Chivalric Virtue
Race
Eldritch- specifically, he is a spirit born from the minds of mortals across worlds, and is custodian of the virtue he was created from.
Visual Age
Early Thirties
Factual Age
As old as the desire to protect and serve.
Gender
Male
Sexual Orientation
Technically heterosexual, though for obvious reasons, itâs not something heâs given a lot of thought to.
Class
Warrior
Specialization
Knight
Mentality
Personality
Chivalry is as his name suggests: polite to a fault. He has little taste for the sorts of underhanded politics most common in the God-Kingâs courts, and keeps himself removed from those goings-on as much as possible. Thatâs not too much, considering he acts as Empress Sharâs bodyguard, advisor, and confidant. Heâs a very learned individual, and one with a great amount of empathy at his disposal, but his personal code forbids him from taking advantage of people for his own ends.
To say that he makes an unusual counterpart to Shar, then, is to do something of an injustice to the polarity of their personalities. As her summoned Eldritch, he is bound by the terms of their contract, which in themselves are most unusual for an agreement of the kind. He does not ask for her soul, nor her energy or power of any conventional variety; the most intrusive request he makes is that she not lie to him in any capacity.
This reflects well his attitudes towards people in general, actually. Unless a person has done something that Chivalry by nature takes issue with, he is unfailingly courteous even to those who would be rude to him. He shows no personal ambition of any sort, and actually seems to discourage Shar from becoming too ambitious herself. Always respectful, always ready to demur in an argument (even if he believes he has the right of it), it is hard to actively hate him, though this is not to say that such a thing is impossible by any means. His associations, for those who are not in the know as to exactly that he is (and the Eldritch are a very well-kept secret), often leave much to be desired, and it is not unusual for people to wonder why he serves the mistress he does.
Quirks
*Must follow his own personal code (which is quite restrictive) no matter the situation
*Impeccable manners
*Is literally incapable of lying- if he tries, the words do not make it out of his mouth.
*Tends to emit light on occasion. This is accidental.
*Also leaks magic- unintentional and unavoidable.
Moral Alignment
Neutral Good, but with strong Lawful leanings.
Motivation
His nature is its own motivation- he must act in a certain way because of what he is, not that he would ever wish to behave otherwise.
Fears
*Failure to protect Shar
*Failing to uphold his own code
*People forgetting him (if everyone forgot, he would cease to exist entirely)
Goal
His ends are played much closer to his chest than his means, and nobody has yet been able to pinpoint them exactly and completely. Day to day, his goal is nothing more complex than serving Empress Shar to the best of his ability. Long-term, he has much greater designs in mind.
Likes
*Manners
*People
*Combat (practice, mostly)
*Reading/study
Dislikes
*Being lied to
*Threats to his Contractor
*Unnecessary violence
*Discourtesy
Strengths
*Close-range fighting
*Knowledge of well⊠quite a lot.
*Patience
*Does not need to eat, sleep, or perform any other human bodily functions
Weaknesses
*Cannot lie under any circumstances
*His personal code (which he literally must adhere to) does not allow for the slaying of opponents in any but the most dire situations, and never if they have asked for his mercy.
*Is absolutely hopeless at politicking/manipulation, though not subtlety.
*No stealth skill at all
Armament
Head
Most often nothing, though if he were, say, to stand upon a field of battle, he does own a helmet, and would use it. He often ties back his considerable length of hair with a leather cord.
Neck
A necklace with a blue stone on a silver chain. The stone carries the rune for Virtue upon its surface, and is the only physical marker that hints at his identity.
Chest
A royal blue tunic with the crest of the House of Moedma beneath a polished chainmail shirt beneath plate armor. The plate is modified to be without some of the bulkier joints, sacrificing defense for mobility.
Back
Same, plus the large sheath required for his sword.
Arm/Shoulder
His shoulders have metal pauldrons on them, and his arms are armored as well.
Right Hand
Gauntlet, in excellent condition.
Left Hand
â
Right Accessory
None.
Left Accessory
None.
Waist
Thick leather belt.
Legs
Greaves, also well-maintained.
Feet
Boots, made of boiled leather with metal plating. Theyâre also weighted in the sole.
Combat Prowess
[Perfect] - [Excellent] - [Good] - [Above Average] - [Average] - [Below Average] - [Poor] - [Very Poor]
Combativeness
Hand-to-Hand Combat:
[Excellent]- Though not Chivalryâs preferred method of combat, heâd consider it remiss of himself if he didnât have some form of proficiency in this.
Melee/Armed Combat:
[Perfect]- This is Chivalryâs specialty. Simply put, when youâre the physical embodiment of a martial ideal centered upon it, youâre quite skilled at it. His preferred weapons are two-handed swords, though he can use just about anything.
Ranged Combat:
[Good]- Chiv can shoot a bow with accuracy, but his inability to conceal himself much means that he might as well just draw a blade and get in there.
Magic Combat:
[Very Poor]- Chiv canât control magic; ironic, since he exudes it at a steady rate.
Mounted Combat:
[Good]- His weapon isnât made for it, really, but he can keep a seat and do some damage here, too.
Racial Abilities
Sieve [Excellent]- As a spirit-being, Chiv has some connection to the arcane. He is not a mage, and so with the simplest of exceptions, he cannot take advantage of this, but Shar certainly can, and does. He essentially radiates magic, which she can use to augment her own skills, making them a formidable team, if an unexpected one.
Immortality [Perfect]- Chiv, though he assumes human form, is not a mortal entity, but a manifestation of a quality in mortals. Therefore, he cannot âdieâ unless everyone in every world stops knowing what Chivalry is or behaving in some way that accords with it. He can, however, be rendered temporarily useless by sustaining what would otherwise be fatal wounds. Cut off his human formâs head, and it can (rather gruesomely) reattach, but heâll have to remain in stasis for a few hours to recover full function. The stasis period is proportional to the amount of bodily repair that must be done.
Natural Talent
Titan [Excellent]- His appearance might be human, but Chiv certainly is not. He is capable of lifting much more than even his considerable frame would suggest, lending strength to his blows and defense as well as a lesser, but still decent boost to his reflexes. As a downside, the full brunt of his strength is hardly practical to use, since he would most likely break any weapon he attempted to use.
Restraint [Perfect]- If he deems it necessary (and he does), Chiv can cap his supernatural strength by degrees, which is of great assistance when he is trying not to kill things, which happens often. It also helps in the handling of delicate items such as fine chinaware. This ability is in effect most of the time, actually, just for the safety of those around him.
Class Skills
Bravery [Excellent]- Chiv is immune to tactics, magical or otherwise, designed to induce fear or control his mind or body.
Spells/Powers
Damage Split [Perfect]- While not a spell in the conventional sense, it is best thought of as one. Using this ability, Chiv can assume some or all of the damage sustained by an ally, after it has been done. As he is essentially indestructible since his tie to the earth is not himself but Shar, this is highly-useful. Too much damage, though, and he may find himself incapacitated for a while.
Equipment
Items
His sword and those items necessary to maintain it and his armor. He needs nothing else.
Memorabilia
An Eldritch has little use for anything of the sort.
Accessories
None.
Weapon
Weapon Name: The Edge of Reason, or just Edge
Weapon Type: Zweihander
Material: Diamond-edged adamantium physically, but itâs as much a part of him as the arms that hold it.
Length: 7ft
Weight: 15lbs
Weapon Description/Info: Edge came into existence with Chivalry, that he might never forget the martial component of his existence. It is the only weapon that can withstand the shattering force with which he is capable of swinging it. The blade is a blue-white color, the hilt, crossguard and handle free of ostentation.
Background
Group Affiliation
Eldritch do not generally have affiliation to anyone but their warlock, but Chiv feels a faint kinship to all individuals, especially those with the trait he is named for, male or female.
Faction
Technically the Holy Kingdom of Azrael through his connection with Shar, but really heâs out for his own ends.
Marital Status
Single, though obviously he hasnât thought much about it either way.
Relatives
Well, heâs quite close with Charity, Felicity, Chastity, Justice, and all of their associates, but he has no blood relatives. Other then that, the person heâs most concerned with is obviously Shar, though heâd be hesitant to describe her as a relative of any kind.
Origin
The minds and hearts of those who have the quality he was named for. He does not remember his beginning, and only in his darkest moments does he foresee his end.
Social Rank
Doesnât really have one, though for the sake of blending in, he was given a rank of knighthood.
Occupation
Empress Shar Moedmaâs personal bodyguard.
Blood Pact
The contract itself appears very much in Sharâs favor. Chiv doesnât seem to mind.
Chivalryâs Blood Pact Contract
Tristan Leif Zilocke, Immortal Manifestation of Mortal Chivalry, henceforth referred to as Chivalry, and Princess Shar Moedma, of the country Cam Lire of Earth, henceforth referred to as Shar, set forth their contract as follows:
The Service:
Chivalry shall lend the full force of the powers of his person to the objectives defined and stated by Shar and detailed in this Contract, as follows:Imprimis, As a being of pure spirit, Chivalry naturally releases magic from his aura into his immediate surroundings. As he has no specific need of nor use for it, for such time as the contract is in place, this magic shall be at the disposal of Shar, for her to do with as she wishes.
Secundus, Barring circumstances of emergency or those in which permission- explicit or implicit- is given, Chivalry is to refrain from any form of physical contact with Shar. The restriction does not apply in the other direction, however.
Tertius, Chivalry shall, upon request or order from Shar, protect any and all Helbourne from harm. This includes, but is not limited to, acts which would be formally considered by some to be treacherous, treasonous, mutinous, or generally despicable.
Quartus, As a being with extensive understanding of the magic which binds him and also magic in general, having had much of eternity in which to learn, Chivalry will assist Shar in understanding any form of magic she does not understand or grasp by more conventional means.
Quintus, Chivalry is obligated, in any situation where Sharâs life is in immediate or shortly-pending danger, to act in such a way as to do everything within his power and the resources at his disposal to protect her. This includes, if necessary, the temporary suspension of any other directive or objective listed above.
The Reward:
In return, Shar shall allow Chivalry into her confidence to any and all extent possible without the risking of her life, including answering any direct question asked of her and speaking not falsehoods, half-truths, or omissions to him. She is required to accept his counsel on any matter he chooses to give it for, though she is not compelled to obey, merely heed and weigh appropriately.
Conditions:Shar may not order Chivalry to do anything that violates the tenets of his existence (specified elsewhere and made known to Shar at the time of the Contractâs creation). If she inadvertently does so, he is under no obligation to obey.
- Though Shar may order Chivalry to accompany her somewhere at a specific time, she may not order him away from her presence if he wishes to be there, as this may interfere with his directives in ways that she may or may not fully understand at the time.
- Shar is obligated to, at some point during any given week, at a specific time that she and Chivalry can agree upon, take tea with him. The duration of this tea shall be no less than one hour and no more than three, as Chivalry realizes she has other things to do, but the amount of time in each instance shall be at his discretion.
Bio/History
Tristan Leif Zilocke does not know the exact moment he resolved into existence, but he does know that there will not be any cessation of it as long as he does his job properly. As manifestation of the virtue of Chivalry, he is also its custodian, and must not only live up to its conditions (he physically cannot do otherwise), but do everything he can to ensure that others do so as well.
Chivalryâs Code
1. Never harm he who is guilty of no crime.
2. Never attack anyone unless he attacks you or those you are protecting first. Even if he does, do not take his life unless it is necessary to prevent him from doing so again, and never if he has asked for mercy.
3. Treat others with respect and courtesy, even if they cannot be bothered to do the same.
4. Defend those who cannot defend themselves.
5. Women and children are to be accorded a special level of respect and deference. This is not because they are weaker, but because the consequences of not doing so are quite often common and vulgar.
6. Protect your liege with your life and all the strength you have to give, but do not use your loyalty as an excuse to forget any of your other obligations.
7. Be well-read, well-spoken, and knowledgeable in as many areas as possible.
8. Refrain from using foul language.
9. Do not tell falsehoods, and use omissions or half-truths only when they are necessary to protect lives.
10. If you may use your wit or knowledge or skill to gain material advantage over someone, do not. Be fair and just in your dealings with others.
11. Strive towards mastery of everything you do; half-measures are as shameful as half-truths.
12. Live in a way that is modest and without ostentation. Refrain from unnecessary adornment in clothing, weaponry, or quarter.
13. Exhibit humility in all things, but do not self-deprecate if it is avoidable. Be honest about your faults, and quiet about your virtues.
14. Do not allow others to anger you with words alone. He who controls your temper controls you.
Chivalry was not particularly looking to be summoned anywhere and was generally rather content watching other realms from afar, trying to make sure that people remembered what he was all about. He did, however, for reasons he has told nobody, send the knowledge of how to summon him into the then-Princess Shar Moedmaâs dreams, and was not terribly surprised when she acted on that knowledge.
Though she was barely old enough to understand what she had done, he made sure that the contract between them was favorable to her, but that it allowed him enough room to achieve (hopefully) his ultimate objective. He has been her stalwart companion ever since. The two do not always get along, as they have very different dispositions, but this has not stopped them from growing relatively close over the years. The terms of the contract mean that he understands a great deal more of her than she would probably like, but he has yet to exploit this knowledge, and he never will. He likes to think that one day, she will trust him.
In the meantime, Chiv is the perfect servant and bodyguard, even if he does always insist on second-guessing Sharâs decisions and playing the part of external conscience. Much to his apparent chagrin, her penchant for manipulation tends to get the better of him- a lot. He has more knowledge than she, but his code, his honesty, and his reluctance to use anything he knows for personal gain either make him the most archetypal knight in shining armor there ever was, or the worldâs biggest sucker. Possibly both.
Mount
Appearance
Hair: Tawny fur, white feathers.
Eyes: Blue
Height: Eight feet tall, seven long, twenty-foot wingspan.
Body Markings: None
Scar Tissue: None
Name
Osiris
Nickname
Sir
Race
Gryphon
Age
23
Gender
Male
Abilities
Primordial Shriek [Good]- The griffinâs cry is enough to induce fear in the cowardly, and at close enough range, can render the listener temporarily deaf.
Skills
Flight: [Excellent]- A nimble air combatant, Sir is capable of carrying Chivalry in full plate armor plus another person with no reduction to his speed or stamina.
Equipment
None; Chivalry rides him without tack.
Accessories
None
Bio/History
A former wild griffin, Sir was encountered by Chiv some time after he was summoned to Cam Lire by the then-child Shar. He took a liking to the Eldritch, and so Chiv went ahead and trained him. The beast is almost as patient as the one he serves, and puts up with Caâern in much the same manner as Chivalry deals with Shar on a bad day.