*Vanguard*

FEOLAN

Partner: Arabella Sairine (below)

Gender: Male
Age: 19
Height: 6’5
Weight: 260 lbs
Hair: Golden brown
Complexion: Tan
Country of Origin: Unknown, raised in Gal Nim

Relationships: TBA

Characteristics and Traits:
Despite an imposing size and figure, Feolan’s warm, handsome features give him an air of welcome and protection. Having been raised in Gal Nim, a strong belief in the importance of tranquillity and composure has been deeply instilled in Feolan, and he has learnt to expertly mask any trace of discord or unhappiness far from view. However, the years with the Skyguard have taught him to open up, and he has become quite free with his friendship and affection. He believes in honest, open discussion, and will happily accept any being for who they are, so long as they too can recognize their nature. This fierce honesty and acceptance have built him steadfast friendships, but has caused offence to this who mistook his honest assessment of their character for personal insult. This confronting honesty and frankness seems contradictory in Feolan, as past that he is amongst the most gentle, well-meaning people at Skyguard.
Feolan has become fond of Lorthran styles, preferring loose fitting clothes of soft fabrics. Preferring simple clothing such as shirts and trousers, Feolan discards the more presumptuous aspects of Lorthran fashion. He attaches his Skyguard Seal to his right breast when wearing his armour, though will usually have it on him even when off duty.


Abilities and Talents:
Due to Feolan’s size and musculature, most would assume him to rely on brute strength and ferocity in battle. However, the thickly muscled arms and barrel chest belie an almost gymnastic litheness. Trained as a child in the arts of the shinobi, Feolan is skilled in a wide variety of death-dealing. In his mind, there is no great pride to be taken in a battle fought ‘honourably’. Either you win, or you die. And he will use whatever means are required to achieve his goals.

Skills:
Martial Arts: Proficient
Melee weapons: Deadly (Most comfortable with falchions, longswords, staves, bos, whips or daggers)
Shieldwork: Minimal (He is not fond of relying on a shield, preferring to wield two weapons)
Blade-throwing: Extremely Proficient
Strategy/Leadership: Minimal (He was raised to serve others orders, not to lead)
Poisons: Adequate
Concealment: Proficient
Archery: Deadly
Medicinal Knowledge: Lacking (what little he knows is solely for identifying and countering poisons)

Magic:
Magic does not come naturally to Feolan, and he struggles to learn even the most basic spells, let alone to use them effectively. However, he has developed a bit of a flair for enchantment, so long as he is paired with a skilled blacksmith.

Equipment:


http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2011/125/f/1/f1a1a887e638cc7261f1736eb244ef1f-d3fnb1v.jpg
Feolan possesses two weapons which he carries with him wherever he goes, and they are his dearest possessions. Above is pictured Durin’s Bane, an expanding whip of leather and flame. He assisted the Master Enchanter of Sentinel’s Keep in it’s creation, and was permitted to keep it. His next pride of work in enchanting is the first he managed to enchant to his own exacting standards single-handedly. Warodan Sky-Splitter. A longbow nearly as massive as he is, it takes tremendous strength to wield, and is fairly slow and difficult to fire. It is enchanted to reinforce the strength and endurance of the bow. He named it sky-splitter, for when the enchantment is unleashed the arrow shrieks away from the bow with great power. Though an impractical bow when facing numerous foes, against a single target there are few that could stand under Warodan’s onslaught.

His armour is fairly simple, leather attire, allowing maximum manoeuvrability. It is of Lorthian design, as that felt most similar to what he was familiar with from Gal Nim. It has plenty of pouches and straps in which he carries all manner of weaponry.

History:
Feolan knows little of his origins. Sold to a Galnimian merchant as an infant, Feolan was one of the few outsiders to gain entrance to Gal Nim. His very earliest memories are of the sublime, fat merchant Toshiri, a man who spared himself no luxury. However, he was not long to be a traders servant. Shortly after arriving in Gal Nim, Toshiri presented Feolan to his new owner.

The greying man was dressed in dark robes, comfortable, but not particularly remarkable. There was an air of practicality and directness to the man that Feolan had yet to meet amongst the merchant and his fellow servants. He drew no attention to himself, yet had a natural air that demanded respect. The jonin raised his eyebrows at the boy before him.

“He is not… what I expected.”

“Some would say it rude of you, jonin, to be so critical of a gift given in good faith,” the merchant replied. “The boy is disciplined and obedient, and shall make an excellent shinobi. He shall be strong, fast and skilful. Trust me. His lineage is… impeccable.” A reptilian grin spread across the merchants face, eyes twinkling dangerously at Feolan as he stressed the last word.

“Be that as it may,” the jonin replied unfazed, “the boy is an outsider. He will stand apart from any in Gal Nim. The purpose of the shinobi is to be indistinguishable, no different from any other man or woman.”

“Precisely. Who then would think to call a foreigner a shinobi, and blame on him a murder unseen? Yes, he would not be easily forgotten, but then he must simply not be caught. After that, his uniqueness shall mask him.”

“Hiding in plain sight…” The jonin regarded Feolan then, with piercing, steely eyes. Their talk was beyond Feolans understanding, but he sensed that somehow a decision was being made about him.

“Very well,” the jonin said finally, “we accept your gift. Worry not, you shall never see this boy again, and none will know of where he came from.”

“Good.” Toshiri handed something over to the jonin, discreetly hiding it from Feolans vision. “As always, a pleasure doing business with you.”

And so Feolan found himself, at a tender young age, to be handed over to the Togakureryu school of shinobi, a highly feared, respected clan of assassins. He was trained in the skills of martial arts, weaponry, blade-throwing, poisons, concealment, subterfuge, strategy and archery. Time not spent training was dedicated towards chores, such as cleaning or tending to the school’s fields.

At the tender age of twelve, Feolan was selected for an incursion into Eirea. This was to be the first of the schools expansions out of Gal Nim, and the shinobi sought to use any advantage they could to guarantee success, including the possession of an outsider shinobi, one who would blend in with the people of Eirea. Feolan was trained and tutored well enough to pass himself off as belonging to Eirea whilst they travelled.

The excursion failed horribly however, with the a local thieves guild not appreciating the rivalry. Guards were tipped off and set on the assassins while they slept, and the guilds own agents waited outside for any who managed to escape. Feolan was captured rather than killed, for the guards thought him to be a boy taken to be the shinobi’s servant. He played along, convincing them this was so and that he was clueless, then fled.

Clueless as to the mission and most likely thought dead, Feolan saw no reason to return his enslavement to the Togakureryu school. However, his first taste of freedom was a bitter sweet one, forced to live as a beggar and thief, and to hide his skills. When he heard tell of the skyguard, an elite class of unparalleled warriors bound to an order of noble honour, he immediately set out to apply for them.

Now 13, Feolan passed the combat aspects of his trial unmatched. However, when asked for what he knew of magic, Feolan was stumped. This was an art in which he had no knowledge. Distressed that he may fall below the expectations of the examiners, he revealed to them his past and skills. The examiners were stunned, and even after they made him demonstrate some of the skills he possessed, he could sense their disbelief. They brought his case before the knight masters court, and after much deliberation, it was decided that the boy had indeed passed the exams, and was to remain. However, his knight was only to be known only by the knight masters, and those knights he worked in a unit with. To any outside the order, he was simply another of the ‘high knights’.




*Sentinels*

ARABELLA SAIRINE

http://downloadwallpaperhd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Black-Dragon-Fantasy-HD-Wallpaper.jpg

Partner: Feolan (above)

Gender: Female
Age: 18
Height: 5’8
Weight: 146 lbs
Hair: Waist-long raven locks
Complexion: Rosy and smooth
Country of Origin: Zepher


Relationships: TBA

Characteristics and Traits:
(Notes above the above image: Arabella does not have the wings on her head.)
Born with incredibly rare, striking indigo eyes, Arabella’s beauty began to flourish from an early age. The bastard child of a duke and an unfortunate milkmaid, Arabella’s father hoped that her beauty would make up for her bastardry, and that he could marry her off to a duke of similar stance to himself, or failing that, an earl or baron that he wished to bind closer to his service. The Baroness however, would have sooner had her denounced as having any relation to the Baron, and was only too happy to offer her to the Skyguard when her powers manifested themselves.

Arabella remember well the objectification and contempt that she was regarded with then, and holds a natural suspicion and detachment. She has a quick wit and a sharp tongue, but is a fierce friend once you have gained her trust. She holds contempt for those who would see her only for her beauty, and her sharp tongue has humiliated many would-be suitors. She has a fiery temper, and is more comfortable in leather armour than any kind of gown or dress. She wears her seal as a pendant on a thin, silver necklace, the only jewellery she owns.


Abilities and Talents:
Arabella’s specialties lie in shadowmancy and conjuring, with the basic healing magic recommended to all Sentinels. Her magic is powerful if at times unstable, but tires her out quickly.

-Wall Running- One of the more novel magical abilities, Arabella can subvert isolated pockets of gravity around herself, so that she may run up walls and along roofs. This can make close combat with her unpredictable and unsettling. Not particularly useful in an open field though.

-Shadow Manipulation- Darkness twists, pulses and thickens at her command, forming itself into blade-like tendrils that attempt to rip and smash at opponents. They can be used to form useful constructs too, such as stairs, though these tend to be unstable.

-Electrical Storm- A cloud of violet electricity that she can summon up around herself, then direct at an opponent. Although it is capable of taking out several at a time, it is difficult to direct, and may miss entirely.

-Healing- You average, run-of-the-mill healing spell. It may be enough to save a life in a sticky situation, but it certainly won’t be patching up any be-headings.

-The Lost Things- Another unusual ability that Arabella has picked up in her studies. The Lost Things gives the user the ability to see a person's or place's attachment to things that have been lost to them, in the form of whispy black tendrils. The stronger the attachment or more important the object, the clearer the understanding she gains from this ability.

-Telepathy- A more cliché, but useful art. Arabella has a knack for telepathy, and is a dangerous mental duelist.

Dragon Form:
(The dragon in the picture below)
Arabella’s preferred form. Although a rather magnificent colour, her face in this form is rather disconcerting. A far cry from usual elegant beauty of dragons. But that is why she so loves this form. Dangerous, powerful, respected, ugly.

Dragon Abilities:
A massive creature, Arabella is made for soaring high and diving down upon her opponents, not for sharp turns and manoeuvres. Speed and strength are her forte, and although the smaller dragons might easily outmanoeuvre her, they cannot match her on the ground. Her breath weapons are powerful bolts of lightning, accompanied by a billowing black cloud. This cloud behaves as a sedative, dangerously slowing and disorienting any opponents that get a good whiff of the stuff.