⌠Faith Healer | Blaqk Audio⌡
⌠My Skin | Natalie Merchant⌡
Fᴀᴄᴇ Cʟᴀɪᴍ ◆ Hakaze Kusaribe ❘ Pᴏʀᴛʀᴀʏᴇᴅ Bʏ ◇ Verdandi
Dɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ Cᴏʟᴏʀ ◆ #F16D7E ❘ Tʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ Cᴏʟᴏʀ ◇ #FBAF5A
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⌊Ariadnê Spyros⌉
⌊AH • ree • ahd • nay ❘ Absolute Purity⌉
⌊SPEE • rōs ❘ Spirit⌉
↪TITLE(S)↩
⌊Aria | Ari⌉
↪GENDER↩
⌊Female⌉
↪AGE↩
⌊20⌉
↪SEED↩
⌊Dragonsblood Lily ● False Seed ● Inner Power; Purity; Innocence⌉
↪ROLE↩
⌊Knight of Ankáthia, the Weald⌉
↪SEXUALITY↩
⌊Demisexual | Panromantic⌉
↪NATIONALITY↩
⌊Unknown ● Appears mostly European⌉
When you look at me, what do you see? A wildling, savage and untameable? Am I something ugly, covered in brambles and thorns, to be burned until nothing remains but my ash? You would not be the first to think so.
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⌊5'8" ● 124 lbs⌉
↪HAIR COLOR↩
⌊Just what color is it? People seldom seem to agree. Some see in it a flush-pink, the color of roses and the cheeks of demure maidens. Others see an orange cream, citrusy and soft at once. It’s been variously called salmon, coral, rose, blush, red, orange, sunrise, and just about anything else in the spectrum. Ariadnê herself doesn’t seem to have an opinion on what color it is, and is likely as anything to shrug if asked. The length of it is enough to touch her waist, the individual hairs fine but numerous enough to give it a very thick appearance overall. There is little by way of wave or curl to it at all, even when wet. The way it shines in the sun is really quite something, like the glimmer of silk thread. It’s just as soft, to be sure.⌉
↪EYE COLOR↩
⌊Human beings are not supposed to have red eyes. Then again, perhaps she isn’t so human anymore. The brilliant irises in either socket are a startling ruby color, recognizable as such even from quite a distance. There is no mistaking them for a ruddy brown, nor amber or even the rare, but possible, violet. No, they are something unique unto themselves, ringed thickly with luxuriant eyelashes and set under thin, shapely brows.⌉
↪SKIN TONE↩
⌊What was once the fair porcelain of someone who had lived a life mostly indoors has since gained some sun, primarily due to her current location and lifestyle. While she is still rather on the alabaster side of things, there is a reasonable dose of peach and pink to her complexion now, along with the faintest hints of golden tan. Notably, she has freckles on her shoulders and arms. Not many, more like a light dusting, but they are nevertheless present.⌉
↪FACIAL MARKINGS↩
⌊There is nothing present on Ariadnê’s face by way of blemish—indeed her complexion is almost unnaturally flawless in this respect. Given the fact that she’s in the outdoors constantly, she may come away from her pursuits with a bit of dirt here or there, of course, but nothing that can’t be wiped away.⌉
↪SCARS ❖ BIRTHMARKS ❖ ETC.↩
⌊She does not seem to have acquired any scars, something rather attributable to her abilities, perhaps. By way of birthmarks, there is one. On her lower back rests a patch of skin much paler than the rest, one that does not seem to tan at all no matter how much sun there is about. It is shaped like a five-petaled flower, or perhaps a star.⌉
↪GENERAL APPEARANCE↩
⌊Scarcely could there be said to be a more striking woman. From her coloration to her shape to such details as her bearing and her voice, Ariadnê is the picture of the unusual and the exotic, even. Crowned with hair the color of something soft and not-quite-comparable, the luxuriant locks cascade over her shoulders to her waist, save the occasions when they are pulled into a ponytail or a braid, to keep them well out of the way. Her eyes, slightly slanted upwards at the corners, are hypersaturated with their carmine hue, glittering after the manner of cut gems. Curtained by soft, feminine lashes, there is something steady in them, something old-souled and wise beyond her youthful years. One gets the impression from studying her long enough that there is much more to her than there initially seems, but it is extremely difficult to get a read on her.
Her figure is one made lean, long, and sturdy by the rigors of combat and exercise, giving her the svelte, slinky muscle of the forest’s predatory cats. She can indeed remind one of a tiger, for the silence of her movements and the fluid, deadly grace with which she moves, unconsciously and without the need to calculate. Indeed, for all that she is opaque even to those that know her best, she does not seem in any way to have constructed a front, to wear a mask, or to deceive. Nothing about her is artifice, nothing is unnatural, and it is all the more intriguing for that. Her figure is a full one, in the sense that genetics have gifted her with an ample bust, shapely hips, and very long, well-muscled legs to carry her considerable height with an unstudied elegance.
Beautiful seems too pedestrian a term for her. Paintings can be beautiful, for all their lack of real life. Pretty is wholly inadequate, used to describe a range of people and things that hold comparatively little fascination. Sensual is accurate, but only to a point. She does not in any way attempt to be so, and indeed there is something about her that seems to lack the sexuality that characterizes those who make effort at their attractiveness. The sensuality that she could be said to have is not one she seems at all aware of, which disqualifies most uses of the word. There is, perhaps, no one word that’s quite right to describe what she is, and perhaps there does not need to be. She is vital, she is strong, she is exquisite, she is possessed of delicate features and unusual allure, and that is perhaps the closest sense language can get over her.
Some things are better felt or seen than said, after all.⌉
She with the simplest words may be she with the most complex thoughts.
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§ Thoughtful § Inscrutable § Loyal § Generous § Tender § Multifaceted §
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
⌠The wise man speaks because he has something to say. The fool, because he must say something.⌡
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
⌊Ariadnê is definitely not the easiest person to pin down. First impressions tend to vary, and in some sense, depend upon the traits of the other person involved. Impatient people, or those quick to jump to conclusions, will usually pass over her as simple, quiet, boring, because the things about her that prove otherwise are not right there on her sleeve for any cursory glance to take in. For the more patient or perceptive, there is something greater to be gained—and the first impression she will usually give is of someone deeply thoughtful, reflective and inclined to internalize rather than emote when it comes to her feelings. She is not deceptive—she will not intentionally hide how she feels about something by attempting to remain stoic or wearing a false smile, but her emotions are displayed in ways that, while genuine, are subtle, and the slightest change in her visage, while it may be inconsequential for another, may well speak volumes in her case.
She is always studying things, carefully taking them in, allowing herself the time to ponder and contemplate before deciding how she feels or thinks about something. She is not the type to venture a hasty first opinion, but when she does speak, one can be sure that she has thought very carefully about the matter at hand for as much time as she believes necessary to get the best grip on every factor and needful nuance. She is wise, this girl, in a way that is belied by her humble years in the world. It can be very difficult to discern her thoughts unless she chooses to offer them, or unless one has long enough practice in interpreting her spare gestures.
That said, there are things that can get her emoting on a more ordinary level, things that will raise her hackles and draw her ire. Most easy among these things is to threaten what she holds dear in a way that she takes to be legitimate. Idle threats do not sway her, but her sense of loyalty is very deep, and representing genuine danger to what she is loyal to will have her snapping like the hound so many believe her to be. Simply put, do not do anything in an attempt to harm Aurel, his forest-dwellers, or the innocent plants and animals that make their home in the weald, and there is nothing at all to fear from Aria. Otherwise… she can be quite fearsome indeed.
She is generous with her time and her efforts, wholehearted in everything she does, even if it does not necessarily seem that way. People are used to genuineness and generosity being paired with a certain kind of outward earnest enthusiasm, but they come apart in Ariadnê’s case, because she lacks that sort of go-getter attitude while retaining the diligence and honesty that are hallmarks of such people. She is never obnoxious, never ostentatious, and as such, her devotion may not be obvious, even to those who have the largest measure of it. Where she often refrains in words, she shows her true allegiance in her deeds, thinking little of putting her own life on the line to protect what she cares about.
There is a kind of deep innocence to her, an almost ignorant naïveté at odds with her wisdom. It is as though the idea that she might be other than this, that she might live her life selfishly, or lie, or anything like that, has simply never occurred to her as an option. She has never seen a reason not to give of herself so wholly as she does, and perhaps part of the reason for that is that few enough people notice her doing it that fewer still have ever attempted to take advantage of all she has to offer. Most often, the things that Aria does for other people go unnoticed, or at least uncredited—she is sharp enough to perceive a problem and skilled enough to fix it before most will have ever noticed that it could become a problem at all. If no one notices, no one remarks, and she is unhindered in her continued efforts to do the same again.
This is, of course, not to say that no one notices Ariadnê—she is impossible to miss, looking like she does and being as she is. But the fact of the matter is that most people do not expect of her the traits that she actually has, and so they do not know to look for them. In some ways, she is a distorted mirror—what a person sees in her usually says more about them than it really does about her. She shows no sign of minding that… or is it only that no one knows to check with her and see?⌉
Living for others is living the only way I know how.
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◊ The Outdoors ◊ ↣ Having spent most of her early years confined to one room, she rather enjoys having the freedom to go where she pleases, and nothing matches the feeling of the breeze in her hair.
◊ Animals ◊ ↣ Given her sort of primitive animal empathy, it is unsurprising that she sees a lot more to them than most people do. She loathes the thought of doing harm to them, and is in fact a vegetarian. She doesn't impose this requirement on others, of course, though the smell of cooking meat does make her feel mildly ill, and she will usually avoid it.
◊ Swimming ◊ ↣ There is something about the water, to be sure. It was one of the first "survival" skills she picked up, as it was the most fun to learn.
◊ Music ◊ ↣ Though she lacks the skills to play an instrument, she is a naturally-gifted singer. Even her speaking voice has a certain lyrical quality to it, in fact.
❖─────────────❖─────────────❖
↪DISLIKES↩
◆ The Army ◆ ↣ Unsurprising, considering the fact that they are known to attack her friends and those she cares about, to say nothing of the forest animal protectors they will thoughtlessly slaughter to do so.
◆ Excessive Heat ◆ ↣ She tends to be susceptible to heat exhaustion unless she takes time to cool off regularly. She also generally maintains relative distance from open flames of any kind. It's not bad enough to be a fear, really, but it is somewhat significant.
◆ Fighting ◆ ↣ Oh, she's good at it, and forced to do rather a lot of it, really. But she has no desire for it, and takes no pride in her skill and efficiency.
◆ The King ◆ ↣ It is a long, complicated story, but her disdain for the King is bound up and woven very tightly with Aurel's hatred as well.
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◊ Solitude ◊ ↣ When interaction becomes too much, she will go off to be by herself for a while, but she doesn't like being alone for too long.
◊ Formal Speech ◊ ↣ While not wordy, she is more stilted and polite in her speech than most people.
◊ Practice ◊ ↣ While she tries to avoid her power, she practices her other skills almost daily.
◊ Berry-Picker ◊ ↣ Tends to eat like a grazer, by collecting nuts, berries and the like throughout the day and eating them as she goes along. Her lips are often stained red by raspberries, her favorites.
❖─────────────❖─────────────❖
↪STRENGTHS↩
◆ Combat ◆ ↣ A natural, practiced combatant with experience in a wide variety of situations.
◆ Intelligence ◆ ↣ Naturally an inquisitive mind, with much to offer anyone seeking advice.
◆ Powers ◆ ↣ They have a decent variety of applications, making them more useful than most.
◆ Patience ◆ ↣ She's usually not one to lose her cool, and that has advantages.
❖─────────────❖─────────────❖
↪WEAKNESSES↩
◊ Ignorance ◊ ↣ Her circumstances mean she isn't always good at interpreting emotional or social signals from others.
◊ Education ◊ ↣ While very intelligent, Ariadnê did not receive a formal education. She knows how to read and such, and her history is pretty good, but there are several subjects on which she has no knowledge at all.
◊ Loyalty ◊ ↣ Want to derail her plans, patience, and most of her collectedness? Put someone she cares about in danger.
◊ Mercy ◊ ↣ She has serious issues doing harm, even to people who pose a serious danger to her. She will, but it's difficult.
❖─────────────❖─────────────❖
↪FEARS↩
◆ The Room ◆ ↣ There is a specific place to which Aria knows she must one day return. This doesn't mean she wants to.
◆ Confinement ◆ ↣ Spend most of your life locked away and see if you like it.
◆ Death ◆ ↣ Not her own. But hers. Or, perhaps worse, his. To some extent, the death of anyone she cares about.
❖─────────────❖─────────────❖
↪SECRETS↩
◊ Feelings ◊ ↣ For most of her life, she has seen Aurel as her only friend or almost like a brother. Lately, though, she is unsure if that is accurate anymore. She isn't quite sure what that means, if anything.
◊ Invisible Scars ◊ ↣ Ariadnê's exceptional healing abilities hide a lot of old injuries.
◊ Incompleteness ◊ ↣ She feels that she isn't a whole person, really, but only a hollow shell of one.
◊ Innocence ◊ ↣ Aria has never lived anything close to a normal life, and it has left her ignorant of a large number of "normal" things. She tries not to make this too obvious, but she often does not understand why people behave the way they do.
Dominion over the forces of vitality and decay... who ever thought it was a good idea to create such a thing?
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───────────────────────────────────────────────────
⌠Invigoration and decay, with nothing more than a touch.⌡
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
⌊Slightly misnamed, in a sense, because it would take a good deal more control and precision than she has to truly induce death or life in the living and dead respectively, it is nevertheless the case that she is capable of manipulating the raw life essence in living things, their anima as the Latins called it, and performing various feats with this energy. She can heal, for example, or cause plants to grow or shrivel. It gives her a certain primitive empathy with other living creatures, though to say she can talk to animals would be an overstatement. She is druidic, almost, in-tune to the natural music of the world in a way that others are deaf to.⌉
❖─────────────❖─────────────❖
↪POWERXLIMITATIONS↩
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⌠I am not a goddess, and some things should never be in the reach of mortals.⌡
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
⌊While her power has a wide range of possible applications, many of them as yet unexplored, it is still something she doesn't have full mastery of, and she cannot bring the dead back to life, nor kill healthy living beings with the same touch. In time, it is impossible to say what she might become capable of, but for now, the most useful thing she can do is heal Seeds and their hosts.⌉
❖─────────────❖─────────────❖
↪S P E A R↩
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
⌠Speed, reach, and flexibility. It's all I need.⌡
───────────────────────────────────────────────────
⌊Proficient with any form of polearm, Ariadnê is usually carrying a spear. She can both throw them and fight in melee combat, making her versatile. It enables her fast, precise style, and gives her reach over the rogue plants and soldiers she must face to protect her home.⌉
We can leave the past behind, but it never quite leaves us.
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⌊Where Ariadnê came from is not something that most people know about her. Some people wear their heritage obviously, others don’t have any problem divulging to anyone who wants to know. Though not conventionally an especially reticent person, this topic is something she chooses not to discuss with anyone who doesn’t already know it, and those people can be counted on less than one hand. It is, perhaps, just another dimension of her mystery.
The truth is, her history is bound up with and linked to the history of others, some of whom she respects enough not to go telling anyone who might be curious. Perhaps, if her origin were hers alone, the story of a girl born to two parents somewhere out in the world and raised in some conventional way or another, she would not mind divulging. But it is not a story like that, not in the slightest.
Aria came about as the result of a series of government experiments, though exactly how that happened is unclear. She spent the majority of her life in a room near the center of the palace, a room forbidden to anyone who did not have the king’s express permission to be there—and a very good reason, besides. She seldom received visitors of any kind, and even then, only one of them was every someone she really wanted to see. The others came to cause pain, it seemed—and there was a great deal of pain. Parts of her memory are still hazed-over and fuzzy because of that experience, and to this day it is difficult to recall. Unlike some, she does not have the scars to remind herself that she really suffered, and in some ways, this is worse than having scars. A scar is proof, something you can point to and say here is what I went through. Even if other people cannot understand, they can get an idea, if you show them a scar.
But Ariadnê’s body is whole, for all it has endured. It is her spirit which feels ruptured, distant, estranged from the world, tethered here only by those few people who can see what is invisible upon her skin. Those few people who might comprehend, in part, what it is to suffer and have nothing to show for it. To be, like those scars, invisible to the outside world, unseen, unnoticed, unloved.
She was not alone in the room. Someone else was there, and to that person, she is incredibly close even now, when she is outside the room and the other is not. She knows she will go back someday, for the sake of that other who still suffers. And when she does, she will do whatever it takes to make sure that other will suffer no more. How Aria managed to get out of the room is a complicated story, one fraught with deception, stealth, and unexpected allies, but nevertheless she is out now, and makes her home in the forest with Aurel, her friend—her only friend—for as long as she has been alive. To him, she will never be able to adequately express her gratitude, and she serves now as something like his second-in-command, of the people he has gathered around himself. She knows his secrets and his inner self, and these are secrets she keeps even more preciously than her own. More preciously, indeed, than anything else there is.
She is at home in the weald in a way she never was in the room, and the change in environment has been good for her. Whereas at first she would speak to no one but Aurel, now she communicates with all the members of their group, and has come to see them as important to her, more people t protect and care for as well as she is able. Aria has slowly, very slowly, come out of her shell, and though her invisible scars will remain with her always, and prevent her from being quite the same as other people are, she is finally becoming herself, the way she has meant to be.
She blooms.⌉
Family and blood have nothing to do with one another.
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❖ The Other ↔ ??? ↔ ??? ↔ ??? ❖ The other person who resided in the room with Aria.
❖ Best Friend/Surrogate Brother ↔ Odysseus Aurelius ↔ 24 ↔ Alive ❖ Aurel, or as she called him in childhood, Ody-us, is more family to her than anyone else has been, save perhaps the Other.
❖ Best Friend/Surrogate Brother ↔ ??? ↔ ??? ↔ Deceased ❖ There was once another, but of him, she does not speak.
ⒸⓄⓅⓎⓇⒾⒼⒽⓉ ⓌⒶⓇⓃⒾⓃⒼ
cs by © ઽ૮૨Α
filled by Verdandi