Arianna / Coór'hém / Water Mage

Name: Arianna Kalias

Gender: Female

Age: 153 (Looks 26 and has the knowledge and training of a 32 year old human)

Approximate Lifespan: 400 Years

Date of Birth: 8th of the Frozen Rivers

Race: Elf

Tribe: Coór'hém

Occupation: Wandering Water Mage

Title: Forever Wandering

~*~ Personality ~*~

A soft yet ruthless soul, Arianna is not of the typical temperament of an elf of the Coór'hém. Preferring to linger in the shadows rather than stand in the limelight, her quiet and brooding nature has made her distant, rife with insecurities and little faith in others.

The impact of her foster parent's deaths left many unpleasant feelings running their way through Arianna's very heart and soul. Betrayal, the worst of them. It had been a climb through scores of unimaginable amounts of pain and suffering after thier deaths, leaving the elfess feeling as if she were on the brink of total despair, and that the only thing that would push her forward was the faint glimmer of hope that she still had one person to live for. Her brother, though far away, remains her only hope of finding a place where the shattering pain cannot lay its hand on her shoulder.

Tired of being self conscious and vulnerable, Arianna has created a facade, a curtain which shades her true self from others. In Ari's eyes, trust has evaded her completely, and has left her with no one she can involve herself with. Friendships have not blossomed, and love is fleeting, if it is ever evident. She hides herself from the kindness of others; weaving tales lacking in adventure or extremity in order to secure her privacy - to stop herself from being asked the painful questions about her past and her family. Ari feels that in wholly revealing herself, she is leaving an opening for more betrayal and dishonesty.

Distraction from these thoughts comes in the form of a cheerful mare by the name of Enayái. The horse's playful disposition is comforting to the elfess, allowing her to let go of her thoughts and forget herself for a moment. The bond between Ari and her mare is strong, for the beautiful horse has been her companion for many years and has endured a number of hardships with her. Enayái gives Ari a sense of freedom, making way for her to let her natural, sunny disposition to shine. Laughing is not very common for her, though it comes in long, loud and unpleasant tones when she is in these moods.

The ability to fight runs through her veins, and is something that she welcomes with enthusiasm and fervour. As boasting and self righteousness is not particularly in her nature, Arianna waits for trouble to find her instead of hunting for it. When it does, she behaves with intelligence and cunning movements. Arianna is a smart elf, and fierce determination matched with highly trained focus has made her a worthy opponent on the battlefield. She studies her opponent, knowing when it is wise to run and when she has the ability to remain in the fight. A keen eye and quick learning ability enables her to trust her instincts and follow the movements of her opponent, behaving as if it were a dance instead of a battle for pride.

~*~ Appearance ~*~

True to her tribe, light skin covers a toned and healthy physique. Arianna's body is slim, with toned and strong muscles, easily enabling the elfess to move with agility and to wield a heavy weapon. Long legs protrude gracefully from the smaller torso of a well developed woman, adding to the height of her tall frame. Her arms are slightly muscular, and are quite long with the petite hands and fingers of her non-fighting mother, Maya.

Her features are well pronounced, though not to any great extent. Ari's gentle, feminine features are obtained from her mother whilst her height and strength of both body and mind are from her father. Her waist is small and her shoulders broad and strong. Long legs and feet enable her to run quickly, however the small loss of a toe on her left foot lowers that capability ever-so-slightly.

On her right shoulder sits the tattoo of an eagle with its wings spread, symbolising the seemingly endless search that lay ahead of her. The eagle prowls the skies, forever searching, forever hunting. Through fierce winds and dangerous storms he flies, never losing faith that the road will end in cheer and light.

An oval shaped head sits comfortably atop a thin neck. A small brow curves beside her eyes and thin cheekbones, curving into a small point at her chin. Her extremely feminine and dainty appearance is often misjudged; with others assuming that she is incapable of 'seeing past her looking glass', thinking that she is one of those women who tend more to their appearances than they do to anything of importance, such as working or raising families. Soft, supple lips are tilted slightly downward, giving her a naturally solemn expression. Her nose is long and rounded, though somewhat thin. It almost seems as if reading glasses would sit perfectly on the edge, suiting her face quite well.

Dazzling, almond shaped eyes have a small upward curve on their outer edges. Her Charcoal hued eyes tend to gleam in the light, appearing to shine with happiness and cheer. However, with sour moods and frustration they seem to take on a fierce glow, causing a noticeable shimmer almost as if she were about to cry. These enchanting features are framed with long lashes and thin brows.

The elfess's pretty face distracts most from the long, pink scar on the left side of her neck. It reaches from the middle of the neck to the beginning of her collarbone; a thin though jagged line of healed skin obtained after falling off her horse and dragging her sword down with her, scraping it against her pale skin as she grappled for something to hold onto in an urgent scramble before she hit the ground.

Tresses of waving dark hair frame her pale face, winding itself around her ears and forming tiny ringlets as it nears the shoulder. After reading about an elven tribe who used dye to colour their hair, she decided to experiment, leaving blue streaks running throughout her dark hair. At the front, her long fringe curls away from a part to the side, flicking towards her pointed ears.

~*~ Clothing ~*~

After some heavy reading, Ari decided to incorporate the Coór'hém style of dress with her own sense of fashion. Constant travel has never called for formal wear, and the conservative elfess appreciates that blessing. She is a shy dresser and tries to cover as much skin as possible, without wearing a body suit.

Leather pants cling to her firm legs, moving and bending easily with Ari's body. She keeps these a simple black, mostly for camouflage and the fact that they draw little attention. A black leather belt surrounds her waist, holding the pants in place. A small coin bag, visible only if her shirt rides upward, is often attached to this for easy access.

Around her torso is a simple black shirt made of wool. Originally made to fit a man, its sleeves trail to her elbows, though she roughly tailored them so they clung tightly, and it shapelessly flows around her curves until it reaches her buttocks. The belt sits around her waist, on top of the shirt. The neckline is at a reasonable height, with a collar and six tiny buttons running down the line of her cleavage, always with the first of them opened. Underneath this sits a tighter shirt of white without sleeves, the neckline beginning just under the first button of the over-shirt and ending nicely at her waist.

Black leather boots are worn over the pants, climbing upward to rest in the middle of her calf muscle. Thin ropes of material run down the sides, laced and tied with a double knot at the top. They add no extra height to her figure, and are very comfortable especially when riding.

When the weather bears cool temperatures and rain, a thick cloak wraps around the elfess' shoulders. It is also made of darkly dyed wool, and flows freely around her body from the shoulders to her heels, only being held in place by their long sleeves and few buttons down the middle though they are rarely used. Fingerless gloves cover her wrist and hands up to the first knuckle of each finger; however these are more of a fashion accessory. Around her neck sits a black string with a bright blue Aquamarine stone, roughly cut so the string can pass through it. The stone is only worn for its use in her spellcasting, and is also of her favourite colour.

~*~ Fighting Style ~*~

Fear is not something that is a worry to Arianna. In fact, fear is the last thing that ever enters her mind in a time of battle or confrontation. She believes that it is an emotion which makes the strong vulnerable, which lowers one's potential. Arianna's willpower is strong, and her pride and ability push her towards a fight no matter the opponent. Her first means of attack or defence is using magic and her second is one of the two weapons strapped to her body. She is not a shy fighter, however she does not also try to flaunt any certain ability. Fight until the battle is won. No matter the outcome, the winner is always the one who strikes with the heart most true and the strength most practised - these words play in a constant tune in her mind during a battle. Confidence is the key. Run when there is no other way.

~*~ Strengths and Weaknesses~*~

Strengths
Magic Level III

Having attended the Ximax School of Water Magic, Ari has perfected the necessary skills of the Sphere of Change. These skills are her means of defence and entertainment, using them to earn money and to evade the odd attack now and then. Arianna is a successful Level Three magess, and has extensive knowledge of all physical spells, thus being able to use them quickly and to a full extent should she ever need them.

Longbow

Though she was trained by her father to use a sword, Ari fell in love with the longbow when she began to research the Coór'hém tribe. The elfess trained herself to use the bow correctly and usefully on horseback, and at close range. Should the target be too close to use the bow, Ari will simply strike with one of her arrows - piercing them through the heart.

Centoraurian Shortsword

A gift from Ari's father, Patrick. This sword was one of the first weapons the elfess was ever able use, and he insisted that she keep it for protection and to give him some peace of mind. Ari uses the shortsword when she is too close to attackers, using the sword in preference to one of her arrows. She has some skill with the blade, and began to use it properly after an accident whilst training...

Horse

Arianna is quite fortunate to own a horse with little fear of anything, and who is able to run with speed and coordination. Many times has Enayái directed the elfess away from a troublesome situation with her speed and agility, which also makes the horse a fantastic racehorse. Ari has managed to win a fair amount of money in racing proud and self-righteous men who assume that female horses cannot run nearly as fast as the males.

Fast Learner

Nothing has ever confused or troubled Ari for long, as she is able to pick up new skills and methods quite easily. She understands information with no more than a first explanation, and can properly display the skills required. A good memory also aids the elfess due to the fact that she is determined to remember almost everything she is taught, thinking that it will be used one day, when she least expects it.

Literate

One of Elissa's main goals was to ensure that her daughter could read and write. In her early childhood, Ari was soon reading and writing simple letters which would slowly turn into full sentences and later whole pages of writing. This enables the elfess to contact others, and to read books or newsletters wherever she needs. Some say it is a considerable skill to be able to read and write, and others might say that it also improves one's communication skills.

Hope

Hope is an emotion which pushes Ari toward her goals. It is one of the only things she has left to trust and believe in whilst trying to push herself through the endless search for her brother. Hope gives her a sense of comfort and reliability, telling her that she will be one more step closer to her goal if she trusts her strongest instincts.

Weaknesses
Pretence

There are some things one can try to forget, and there are others which some will forget. Arianna tries her very hardest to push the images of her parents' death to the darkest corners of her mind, but finds it unsuccessful. The elfess has trouble trying to fight her way through the memories and the pain of loss, so she puts on a facade to display to others - making up a story about her life, where she is from and sometimes even her own name. This pretence often pains her, causing her to lose sleep, be in a deep depression for days on end or to lose her focus and 'drive' for life. In times like these, Ari believes that she is completely and utterly helpless.

Hope

Though her hope might drive her forward, it also sets her up for heartache. Every day, the elfess thinks that she is an inch closer to finding her brother, but is left feeling frustrated and clueless when her desired result is denied. Still, she continues to try and find 'the light at the end of the tunnel' by constantly scouring each town and dense forest until she finds what she is searching for.

Spell Effect

The spell Frost Shield is the only spell that leaves Ari with some sort of side effect. As she tries to extend the width of the shield she creates, her head begins to ache intensely to the point where she must cease her actions and sit down to nurse her aching head. It is almost as if a burning is being shot through her skull, and she has never managed to figure out just why that is.

Hopeless Romantic

Due to her inability to be honest with herself, Ari cannot truly be honest with others. In truth, the elfess is quite the romantic, however her pretences often turn her away from being intimate with a man. She also feels that she could never truly trust someone after her parents were murdered, and turns down many promising offers without taking the time to think about what positive effects they might have upon her.

Missing Left Middle Toe

During one of her training sessions with her father's men, Ari was unable to focus herself, which resulted in the making of careless movements with her sword. She had swung the blade back towards herself after swiping at one of the men, and the blade fell out of her grasp. The day was warm, and Ari had taken off her shoes. Ironically, the blade had sliced the middle toe on her left foot. From that day onward, Ari always wore shoes when she trained. The missing phalange causes her much embarrassment and some awkwardness when she runs.

Allergies

Red spots that itch, flaky skin, stinging sensations... These are all the effects that come with an allergy to bird feathers. Ever since she could remember, Ari has had one, or all three, of these reactions when she comes into contact with a feather belonging to any bird. With no knowledge of how to rid herself of the irritation and stinging, she usually scratches the affected area until they are raw and bleeding, waiting for them to pass. She cannot resist the itches and the irritation, and only ever makes them worse so they will last for weeks on end; painful, sensitive areas of red and raw skin.

~*~ Magic ~*~

Arianna has devoted a great deal of her studies to the art of water magic. Having achieved the third level of water magic, the elfess has successfully completed her learning of the first sphere of magic, and understands the process of increasing and decreasing the water ounia within a specified object. Ari's talents lie in manipulating a body of water, and excels in the skill of transforming water into ice. The ability to manipulate the mind is something she is skilled at, and is something she has the capability of performing if it is ever of extreme necessity, but it is not something in which she holds the greatest confidence.

Arianna has perfect understanding of spells which inflict the mind, and takes great care in such spell casting for one reason: to Arianna, these spells are more dangerous than those which can freeze one's insides or can move an entire body of water. Though she may not enjoy casting such spells, and lacks some of the required courage, the elfess was demanded to learn their properties and consequences, so that when the time comes, she will have all means of defense at her fingertips.

Ari met her mentor, Pherryn, whilst trying to find her way through the many halls of the Ximax School of Water Magic. The old man, bitter and tired in his age, had only agreed to personally assist her in learning the skills of the craft when it appeared that she was unable to stay attentive to one specific lesson at a time. In their time away from the class filled with students all demanding his attentions, Arianna and Pherryn found themselves in emptied rooms, where the elfess would spend hours cross-legged on the floor, silent, back straight and her palms held out in front of her. Arianna's mind was one that frequently wandered, and the older man was determined to have her focus linger on one thing for a large amount of time.

Another form of her training instructed her to stare into a glass bowl of water. She would place her hands on the bottom of the bowl, before withdrawing them and beginning to draw invisible swirls in the air whilst staring blankly into the water. Pherryn had decided that her newly developed focus deserved a test-run, and the spell Shape Water would test both her mental and physical endurance. Ari would wave her hands until she felt the blood slowly run from them, always staring into the water, always focusing on the movement and the image of what she wanted to create. Some days there would be small whirlpools in the bowl, others the water would reach up and curl around itself in the air. The easiest skill that the elfess achieved was the ability to part the water in the glass; visualising rifts in the water, whilst focusing on decreasing the ounia of the water on both the left and right sides of the bowl, forcing the liquid to part under her the power of her will and her constantly moving hands.

Arianna has no fear of confrontation and uses magic as her first form of defence, however she does not flaunt her ability to possess the skill. After choosing to discontinue her studies at Ximax, Arianna needed to be well prepared for the dangers of the world. She began to train herself in the ways of fighting with weapons, and also with magic. Spells that involved the changing of water into ice caught her interest, and soon she had begun to develop her skills in that area. Ice Touch and Cold Breath were the spells she used at first when her interest had ignited. The elfess found herself concentrating on buckets of water or small pools of seawater left over from a rough wave, her will trained on the mass until she had successfully increased the cooler properties of the water's ounia in order to alter its cár'áll, changing it from liquid form to solid ice.

Due to a great need of money, Ari sometimes persuades herself to perform magic tricks to earn a san or two. She walks herself to the nearest tavern and, after speaking with the innkeeper, readies her stage with various tankards of drink and buckets of water. As lowering the temperature of the room may scare her audience, Ari simply uses the Shape Water spell to form various shapes whilst 'holding' the water in the air. A great amount of concentration is needed for this, as Ari is not only shaping the water but trying to hold it in mid air at the same time. On occasion, she might tip the water onto the ground and alter the water's cár'áll to send ripples or waves across it's surface, increasing and decreasing the water's ounia in order to change the movement and appearance of her target. This spell often brings a laugh from the audience, as at least one person in the room will end up soaked with water at one point or another - even if it is the elfess herself.

If the moment should ever arise, Arianna is always well prepared for an attack. She has practised the spells Area of Frost and Frost Shield to a great extent, and wastes no time in using them if she feels threatened. First, Ari will focus her mind on trying to envision the temperature being drawn down. She will then concentrate her will on altering the cár'áll of the water in the air, whilst using the appropriate reagents and staring directly at her target; however this has no magical effect, it is just a method of concentration taught to her by Pherryn.

Ari finds that the easiest way to slow an opponent or attacker will be to create a wall of ice to stand in their way. The Frost Shield spell takes some time to cast, thus leaving the elfess with only two options: to flee, or to stand her ground long enough to cast the spell. With swift, confident movements, Ari pulls the flask of water from her bag and tears the aquamarine stone from her neck. After dousing her fingers in the clear liquid, she takes the stone in her wet hand and presses the forefinger of the other to the center of her brow. After reciting the appropriate formula, the stone is tossed to the ground, leaving the elfess in wait with her eyes snapped shut until the wall of solid ice is built. When trying to make the wall great in width, Ari finds that she is tired faster than she would normally be when casting any other ice spell.

As her own mind is somewhat scattered at times, Ari's confidence in her own spellcasting of those which afflict the mind is not great. While she does have skill and practice in the area, she fears the consequences of performing a spiritual spell incorrectly, which could result in the target being permanently damaged or even killed.

Ari is sure to take great care when messing with the matters on the mind, with the Calm spell as her 'weapon of choice'. The ability to clear someone's mind of all emotions is a tedious task, and one that must be performed with the utmost care and concentration. Ari uses the spell Calm to weasel her way out of sticky situations, which might end in the clashing of emotions and perhaps swords. By decreasing the water's cár'áll, she is able to bring a stop to the reckless change or build up of emotions in one's mind, in an attempt to balance the cár'áll and eventually bring peace to the target. She sometimes uses the spell on herself, when the time calls for meditation and she is unable to focus herself. Arianna finds it less daunting to perform spells on herself, than to perform them on others.

~*~ History ~*~

1516 A.S
Arianna was born into a world of cheer and celebration. Her father had become the leader of his clan, the Rhun of the Daér Eptháer (Fear’s Whisper). The name of the clan had been derived from the previous Rhun’s pride and strength in battle.

The evening was filled with laughter and high spirits, with every member of the clan coming together to celebrate Arianna’s father’s good fortune until the dawn. There were cheers as two women came running from the house, shouting that Maya Kalias had given birth to healthy twins – one a boy and the other a girl. Sir Lionel’s grin beamed at every one of the guests, his eyes filled with joy and happiness. His hand had wandered away from the sword at his waist, no longer feeling the need to be wary during this wondrous time. Within seconds, he had raced to his wife’s side to gently press his lips to hers, and to gaze upon his children. Maya looked him in the eye and smiled. Even with her dark hair brushed backward and dark rings under her eyes, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He loved her dearly, as he found that he loved his new children.

The infants were taken from their mother by the young midwife, to be wrapped in woollen cloths, when a loud crash could be heard from outside. Lionel’s head shot up, wide eyes staring out the window. The midwife had stopped in her tracks, her face pale and eyes darting from the new leader to his wife, and back again. Silence engulfed the room, leaving only a cold sweat on the uneasy necks and adding a hoarse rasp to every breath in the room.

The laughter had vanished from the small courtyard beyond the walls of the room, only footsteps could be heard as they hastily made their way towards the front steps of the house. The ominous clicking came to an end at the front door, only one room away, and every breath in the room was held. No one dared to speak. With the simple exchange of alarmed expressions, it was obvious that the crash had not come from someone becoming a little too obnoxious from the alcohol they had been consuming. Lionel searched his thoughts for any unfamiliar face in the crowd outside, but no one came to mind.

There was another crash outside, seemingly closer than the first. The front door was kicked open, and a serene looking Coór stood in the doorway with a combination of fear and determination in his eyes. “Sir,” he said gruffly, “it’s them. They’ve passed the boundary. Sir, they’re almost here.”

The blood ran from Lionel's cheeks, and his heart skipped a beat. "Where are they now?" His voice trembled, searching for the hope he knew would never show. The Coór, his second in command, shook his head. "They could be anywhere." For the first time, Lionel had heard fear in his friend's voice. It was disconcerting to be clueless, to have no knowledge of whether you live or die, or what shall become of your friends and family. He was completely clueless. Looking to his wife, he saw no fear in her eyes, only a fierce suffering. She looked the captain in the eyes and signalled for the midwife to return and, taking the infants from her, held them out to the confused elf. "Go," she said, tears now falling down her cheeks, "Go now. Take them far from here, give them a life. Please, I beg you."

The captain's eyes were wide, but a loud chorus of cries and wails had erupted from outside. He held the infants to his chest, partially wrapping his cloak around them, and gave a small bow to Lionel. "'Till we meet again," his voice was low. Pained. "I hope that shall be soon, my friend," Lionel choked on his words in disbelief, but the danger now crashing around them pulled him to his senses. "Separate them. If they find each other, they will come here and will most definitely be killed."

With that, Jonas ran out of the house and began a path to the stables. One of Lionel's men ran ahead of him, pulling open the stable doors and making a way for the Captain, he nodded once and frowned. "I will come with you, sir." He said. The captain knew at that moment that there was no convincing this boy otherwise, his tone was so serious, however it seemed that if he was rejected he would lose that newfound confidence.

The pair mounted their horses and guided them out of the stable, where the midwife was waiting, her eyes nervously darting here and there in case of a surprise attack. She reached up to the men, each holding a child, and pressed a considerably large bag of coins into each hand. No words were needed, but it was clear that this would be a battle that their new leader would not conquer.

They rode into the night, under the protection of the forest, until they reached the shoreline. There were four ships, none of them belonging to the Coór'hém, but only one was preparing to set sail. Jonas guided the tired horse toward the ship, purpose and determination written clearly across his face. An irritated man, wearing a tattered navy blue blazer and black pants, held his hand up to the mounted newcomers. "Ye can't come 'ere," he said, "turn 'round an' go back th' way you came. We be leavin' shortly."

Jonas made the sleeping child more visible to the seaman, and carefully dismounted the horse. "I am a Captain of the Daér Eptháer, of the Coór'hém tribe," he made his voice quite clear, so as to make sure that all ears heard and registered his words, "perhaps you have heard of us? I require urgent transportation for these infants, myself and my companion. Might you be willing to assist us? I assure you, your generosity will not go unpaid."

The seaman clicked his tongue and wiped his brow. "Look," he said, impatience growing "I aint heard of no Der Epper, or no Correm tribe, so why don' ye just tekk yer kids and yer young'un feller an' get outta my 'air? We got better things ter do rather then -" He suddenly paused, and eyed the Captain's hilt. Upon seeing the silver of blade glitter in the moonlight, the older man sighed and raised his bushy eyebrows. "See now, we could jus' sort this here problem out like grown-ups eh? Why don' ye tekk yer tribe on me boat, an' we'll settle it all out when we get to Xaramon? Or ye can wait 'till we get to Akdor, bu' tha's gonna be a long wait. Not sure if those young'uns could handle t' cold. Gets fair chilly when yer on the sea."

It was decided that Arianna would be taken to Xaramon, and Errol would go to Akdor. Jonas pitied the infants, but knew that if they were found by the Bloodletters, it would be the end of two lives that could have been protected. He knew that the Bloodletters would destroy anyone kin to the Daér Eptháer. They would do it simply for their lust for power. To defeat the competition, innocent or not. Arianna and her brother would be safe from harm, should they stay put.

Almost one month after their departure from Nybelmar, Jonas bid a sad farewell to his younger companion and pressed two silverbards into the sea captain's hands. The older man looked sceptical, but accepted the money at the Captain's unblinking stare. Jonas shook his companion's hand, wished him well, and left the vessel. He held his leader's tiny daughter close, and touched the letter that was carefully folded and placed into his pocket. During the voyage, he had taken the time to write a letter to little Ari, telling her of her father's reasons for her removal from Nybelmar and the battle that had surely destroyed the small city. He felt a sharp pang in his chest as he thought of what happened to his home. He tried to shake the thoughts from his head, but failed. He imagined flames. Blood. Terror. The only thing that distracted him was the angelic form of the sleeping infant in his arms, which guided him through the docks in the direction of the famous city. Maybe, hopefully, he would find someone fit enough to look after this child. He knew that she would now have a bright future, and it was because of her mother's love and her father's desperation. Jonas didn't even know what was left of his own future.

He made his way through clusters of houses, through dark alleyways to avoid drunken infidels, until he finally came to a small cottage near the renowned magic school. There was a dim light inside, and a woman's voice could be heard as she sang a pretty tune to herself. He jumped the steps to the house two at a time, and carefully lay the child on the doorstep. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the letter and the satchel of money, placed them on the infant's chest, knocked loudly on the hard wooden door and sprinted back down the steps; running back the way he came.

1536 A.S
Arianna had been raised by a loving family. Her mother, a human, was a seamstress and made her living by working in a nearby shop, mending all sorts of things from ladies' dresses to the hem of men's capes. The odd saddle or shoe was also no surprise. This woman, named Elissa Maross, had heard the knock on her front door that warm night twenty years ago, and had gasped in horror and surprise at the infant sleeping on her doorstep. She quickly whirled the child into her arms and, clutching her tightly, took her inside.

This woman and her husband Patrick, a mercenary, had read the letter. Numerous times, in fact, and even though they knew of the child's family, they could not deny the adorable toothless smile and the inquisitive stares that she provided. Elissa and Patrick knew, the very moment they laid eyes on Arianna, that they loved her. They would not deny their new daughter her history, and waited until this year to tell her. She needed to be old enough to understand.

They sat their daughter down in the living room, eyeing each other with nervous and unsure expressions. Arianna sat with her hands neatly folded in her lap, and leaned forward as she looked at her parents. Patrick seated himself next to her and took her hand in his. "This is a time of change for you," he said, touching her cheek lightly, "and so there are some things that need to be said. It is important that you know where you came from."
Arianna furrowed her brow and looked from Patrick to Elissa, and back again. "Where I came from? What do you mean?"
Elissa knelt in front of her daughter, taking her other hand. "You will always be our daughter, Ari, but you will never be our daughter by blood. You might have noticed that you are different, your ears, for example. This comes from your true parents. Elves. They lived in Nybelmar, and were part of a tribe called the Coór'hém."

Arianna's face turned pale, and she began to shake her head. Elissa and Patrick squeezed her hands, and Elissa laid the still neatly folded letter onto Ari's lap. They patted her hands and kissed her forehead in turn, before leaving the bemused girl in the living room with the letter in her lap. Ari looked down and opened it. Having been taught to read and write by one of Elissa's friends, she began to read the Captain's hurried letters...

"Arianna,

I know that by the time you will read this, I will no longer be with you. I wish that I were able to stay with you, to raise you as your father would have wanted, but my place is in Nybelmar with my wife. With my family, though I do not know if I will still have a family when I return.

Your father's name is Lionel Kalias, and your mother's is Maya. On the day of your birth, he had achieved the highest rank of our clan, a clan of the Coór'hém; an elven tribe. His promotion has caused chaos. The highest and most feared of our tribes, the Bloodletters, have deemed your father and his small army a threat to their security and their status. I am proud to call myself his captain; his second in command. Both you and your brother, your twin, were given to me to protect by your mother's trusting hands.

I cannot tell you where you brother is, as I fear for the safety of you both. What I can tell you is that he is safe, as I know you will be. Your father has given you a sum of money to be used when you are old enough to read this letter, as it has been given to your brother. All he asks, all I ask, is that you follow your heart and create a life that would never have been achieved in Nybelmar. Do something with the chance you have been given. Honour your family. I hope that one day you will see them again.

Your father's most trusted friend, Jonas."

During the next few weeks, Arianna found herself confused. Distant, even. Her thoughts focused on the brother she was told that she had, knowing that this Jonas man, whoever he was, had spoken the truth. Had he not left that bag of money? She was surprised that Elissa and Patrick had not spent the money, but she could not say why. They were wonderful people and even more wonderful parents; Ari cursed herself for thinking bad of them, but this newfound questioning had erupted inside of her. Conflicting her thoughts, making her wonder if she was ever told the truth. If she really belonged.

There were times when Elissa would walk the young Arianna past the Ximax School of Magic, pointing to each tower and stating their names in turn. The school had caught Ari's attention, and was often present in her thoughts. The one thing that had made sense to the young elfess, the only thing that had no mystery or controversy behind it, was this school. And, since snow had covered the ground on that particular day, Ari's interest had latched itself to water magic. It was then decided that the young mage-to-be would study at the school, using the large amount of money that her father had supplied. Arianna turned to her mother. "This is it," she said. "This is what I want to do."

***

Arianna's footsteps could be heard with great volume as she walked slowly down the hall of the main building of the academy. She clutched her mother's cloak tightly, knuckles whitening and fingers shaking, and let her eyes wander across the walls and the ceiling. There were portraits, beautiful and artistic, and statues as far as the eye could see. She gasped when she looked over at one of the statues to her right. The sword that should have been grasped tightly in the knight's hand had fallen, and was laying on the floor, the silver casting pretty rays of light over the wall behind it. She bent down to touch the blade, her hands steady as she lifted the wondrous weapon.

The sudden opening of a door to her left made Arianna jump and drop the sword to her feet. A stern looking old man was staring at her, his arms crossed and glasses resting at the very tip of his nose. His face was angled so that he had to look down the bridge of his nose to see the elfess correctly. "Are you lost?" He asked, his voice had a nasal tone as if he were suffering from a cold. Ari shook her head with rapid speed, giving herself a slight headache. She picked up the sword, placed it back into the hand of the statue, and walked up to the older man. "I think I am," she began, "see, I think I should be in a class for water magic, and I came down the hallway to find someone I could talk to when I saw that sword lying on the ground."

The scholar held his hand up and squinted his eyes. "Enough child, I do not have the entire day to hear what I am very sure would be an exciting tale to listen to. I am ready, and you are late. Come into this room, and seat yourself wherever is available." With that, he disappeared back into the room, letting the door swing widely behind him. Arianna quickly followed, and the mere sight of the inside of the classroom took her breath away.

There were wide windows, all reflecting a different light of each shade of blue. The ceiling had silver chandeliers hanging down, each with almost ten candles with small flames flickering on top of them. There were not many students in the room, but each eyed her with a friendly curiosity, giving her the smallest of smiles before they were sharply called to attention by the scholar's piercing voice.

1538 A.S
At twenty-two years of age, Ari should have been spending her days inside a tavern or mending dresses, earning herself enough money to leave her beloved home. Instead, she found herself locked away in the school's library, researching magic, famous mages, magical beings and one topic in particular: the Coór'hém elves. Ari had finally detached herself from feeling the loss and hurt inflicted by the letter that had been delivered by a man, who was a great friend of an elf she had never met. Instead, her mind surged with curiosity and the desire to gain the knowledge of her heritage. She was determined on doing as much as she was physically, and mentally, able if it led her to her desired result. Arianna figured that, in her spare time, she would learn about the Coór', and would one day find them.

Both Elissa and Patrick were aware of their daughter's ambitions, and only Patrick was able to say that he supported her. He respected her need to find herself, and had made his daughter a promise to assist her however she needed. The same could not be said for Elissa, as fear stung her heart at the thought of losing her daughter, when she was not able to conceive. Elissa loved Arianna too dearly to let her fall into the clutches of a history that only belongs to her through the blood that courses through her veins.

Being a fast learner, the elfess adapted to her magical training quite easily, finding that the courses were not exactly simple, but challenging. She enjoyed trying to freeze entire rooms, or to focus on simply moving the water inside a small bowl. However, she still found herself with little to entertain herself with in times of boredom, when she simply needed to step away from magic and focus herself on other tasks. One morning, she stopped her father on his way out the front door to his training session, and placed her hands on her hips. "Take me with you?" She asked, her face was beaming with hope. Patrick grinned and pulled the smiling elfess into his arms. "Sure," he laughed. "but you've got to be ready to get thwarted by my men."

Ari smirked and pushed him away, before running down onto the road and positioning herself as if she were ready to run. "I'll race you there," she called before letting her feet act as wings as she sped toward the large training pasture on the outside of the city. Patrick followed, trying to imagine just how much energy this woman had, and whether he would be able to make her put it to good use.

They were the only ones at the field, besides two or three other young men. Patrick pulled a long, wrapped package off his shoulder and dropped it to the ground. "I trust you all have your weapons?" he said to the few men that had made their way towards him, "my daughter, Arianna, will be joining us today. She has no fighting experience, so I pray that you will go easy on her." He winked at the stunned elfess, and grinned at her astounded expression. She scoffed, and playfully punched his shoulder. "Go easy on me? Father, I do not expect your men to treat me with respect because they have to. I want them to treat me with respect because they want to." With those words, she returned his wink and bent down to the ground to reach for one of the blades. Twirling it in her hands, she positioned herself in wait for an attack, and looked around at the bemused fighters. "Come on then," she said, "let's have some fun."

There is a thick line between what is theoretical and what is practical, and Arianna had come very close to crossing that line. Though Ari had only read books on the fighting style of the Coór, she had astounded her father's men by matching them with some skill in their training, and had only laughed and brushed aside all of the cuts that had come from the blades that had not missed her skin. In no way was she perfect in this training; her father's men were only astounded to have a woman try to best them in the field with high spirits, even with their teasing.

As she had predicted, there had been some catcalls made and some light teasing to her petite form and poor upper body strength, but Ari continued to wear a grin and swing her blade just as the men had done. Patrick had watched his daughter fight, and though she greatly needed some practise in form and technique, he admitted to himself that she was not at all inadequate with a sword. He decided that he would build his daughter's technique, knowing that it would only bring them closer together; forming a bond as a father and daughter should have. And that is exactly what happened.

In her time away from the magic school, which Elissa and Patrick had begun to lightly fund as Lionel's savings had started to dwindle, Arianna found herself at the training ground, learning to fight whilst riding a horse, to hold a shield, and to properly wield a sword. Fighting had become more than a hobby to the elfess. It had become a passion, secondary to her love of magic. Arianna had finally found herself, though one piece was missing that she had not even thought would matter to her so many years later...

1545 A.S
On the eve of her twenty-ninth birthday, Arianna graduated her final year of the first sphere of magic. She had grown incredibly in mind, body and spirit, and walked away from the school with her head held high and a beautiful smile on her face. She and the students of her class were headed to one of the inns nearby, ready to drink away most of their savings and prepared for the sickness that would surely come in the morning. It would be a night of celebration; one that they would all at least try to remember for as long as they lived.

The group of mages, including three elves, four humans and two halflings, made their way noisily to the inn, and entered the building with laughter and high spirits. Arianna clasped the hand of the elf beside her, a Kayr by the name of Caleb, and they seated themselves at the bar. The innkeeper eyed them distrustfully, especially Arianna. Caleb ordered two drinks of whatever the innkeeper pleased, providing it did not get them intoxicated too quickly, and turned in his seat to watch his friends pester two dwarves that were trying to play a game of cards. "Do you remember that letter?" he asked as a wary looking barmaid pushed their drinks toward them. Ari frowned. "What makes you ask that?"
"I was just curious. I was wondering whether you know where your brother is, him being your twin and all, I thought you might have been hiding the information when you told us you found out where you came from." Caleb raised the glass to his lips and touched her cheek with his free hand. "No, I don't know at all," her reply was quiet, and he strained to hear her whisper, "I can't even say that I know his name."

The night had been filled with high spirits, a whole lot of alcohol, empty pockets and weary grins on every one of the students' faces. The moon was high in the sky when they stumbled onto the street, and the stars dotted the vast blanket of darkness like raindrops on a window. Arianna and Caleb had their arms wrapped around each-other's shoulders, and linked themselves to the other students; eventually forming a rather awkward, fumbling, line. The elfess was not overy intoxicated, as she had consumed the least amount of alcohol that evening, but continued to laugh and tackle her friends as they tried to make their way down the street without falling over.

There was a slight change in the atmosphere as the group came to a stop in front of Ari's small house. The temperature had dropped, and the elfess shivered as she pulled each of her friends into a hurried embrace before darting up the steps and into the house.

The lights were off inside, and it seemed to be colder than it had been outdoors. She giggled at her own stupidity, pressing a hand to the wall to keep herself stable. Ari tried to peer through the darkness, trying to make out the silhouette that was laying on the couch, but with no success. She walked towards the form with heavy steps, squinting her eyes when the wood under her feet creaked in protest of being disturbed so early in the morning. "Father?" she asked the unmoving shape with a coarse whisper, "why aren't you in bed?" Arianna smiled and pulled her father's muscular arm from its resting position on his chest. Almost instantly, she deemed the task of pulling her father from the couch impossibe; he was limp and the relaxed muscles refused to give any assistance.

Arianna exhaled loudly and shuffled to the kitchen, where thin wisps of smoke were blowing in the air - the sign of a recently doused flame. She made her way clumsily around the small cooking space, fumbling with the drawers and scraping her hands along almost every splinter in the wooden bench. Without warning, she fell to the floor with a thud. The elfess tried to move her feet, but found them caught. Trapped. In what, she had no clue. Ari tried to push herself off the ground, but her slight drunkenness found her rolling onto one side, coming face to face with her mother's pale corpse, surrounded by what could only be described as a pool of blood.

The elfess' scream rippled through the air, piercing it like needles against the skin. She attempted to scramble to her feet, though with no prevail. Arianna's chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. A strange wetness covered her hands, only encouraging the shrill wail and the river of salty tears that had begun to swirl their way down her cheeks.

Once she had summoned the strength to lift herself off her feet, the elfess found herself looking into the eyes of the intruder. He brandished a sword, glinting the malicious shade of crimson in the moonlight, and held it towards her. Ari swallowed air with a loud gulp, still tied between running from the intruder or falling to the ground to plead for her life. She knew that there was no time to even think of a solution, and the next few moments saw the panicking elfess turning to the first form of defense that she could think of.

With a sharp intake of breath, followed by an incredible amount of concentration, Ari stared into the intruder's eyes. She blew out the air slowly, building confidence, and tried to slow her rapid pulse. The sword was dropped to the floor, followed by a sharp curse and an intake of breath by this man, whose face now bore blisters and a slight covering of frost from the spell. One part of the elfess was proud, having finally performed the spell without the use of ice, and the other screamed for her to run as far away from the house as she possibly could.

Without so much as another thought, Arianna ran. She fled from the house, her aching feet moving rapidly to accommodate her frantic heartbeat. With only the light of the moon to guide her, Ari ran around corners and through deserted alleyways, never daring to look back at the treachery which lay behind her. The tears had dried by this time, and the only feeling that the terrified elfess had was a strong numbing sensation that covered her entire body. Her first thought since leaving her home was to head back to the bar, thinking that she might be able to rent a room for the night, however she had momentarily forgotten that she had used all of the money in her pocket. Even if she wanted to, Ari could not leave Ximax. Not in an honourabe fashion anyway.

Her next thought was Caleb, and that she should spend the night with him, but she discarded that idea as quickly as she had thought of it. The last thing that Caleb needed was Arianna's problems on his shoulders. No, she wouldn't do that to her friend. Instead, Ari directed herself towards the school. What lay in wait, she did not know, only that she knew that these were doors that were always open to students. She would always be able to turn to the majestic school whenever she needed; she had done so every day for the last nine years of her life.

If Arianna's pursuer had begun to chase her, he must have tired quickly. After rounding many corners and weaving through many trees and bushes, the elfess found that she was alone. The night had attained a comforting silence, and she found that the only sound in the deserted area was her own heavy breathing. That night, she curled up in one of the large armchairs in the foyer of the school's main building and slept until dawn cast its wondrous glow through the room's tall windows.

Ari made her way back to her home with uneasy steps, each moment causing her stomach to knot and churn with fear and dread. The intruder had left no signs of his entrance, except for the bloody messes of her parents. Arianna felt vomit build up in her throat when she saw them in the full light of the morning, but somehow managed to force herself to ready a backpack with enough items that would aid her in her flee of the city. When the bag was ready, the nauseous elfess scoured the house for any coins, and ran when enough had been scavenged.

She fled to the docks, wondering why she had left her parents alone and forgotten. It was fear that kept her from returning. The fear of truth, of reality. If Arianna had spent another moment in that house, she knew that she would never leave. She would never be able to remove those horrifying images from her mind, though she knew that staying there longer would only prolong the agony. She paid a captain to take her on his ship, not knowing its destination or the route it would take. From that moment, Arianna Kalias was completely absorbed in one thing: finding what was left of her family. She had no knowledge of her brother's whereabouts, but was determined in finding him first. From that moment, Arianna had changed. She attached herself to no one, trying to distance herself from the feeling of loss and pain. Trying to force herself to concentrate on the present, and the long task that lay ahead.

~*~ Weapons ~*~

Longbow
Strapped to her right shoulder, positioned next to the large backpack, sits a wooden longbow. With some of her parents' larger coins, this bow was expertly crafted to suit the length of the elfess' arm and her draw length. The bow is one of her most favourite and treasured belongings, and is quite often the first piece of weaponry she reaches for when the target is not too close. Its arrows are made of wood, and are used as darts whenever she is feeling agitated.

Centoraurian Shortsword
On the left side of her hip, attached to her belt, hangs a Centoraurian Shortsword wrapped in a leather sheath. The sword is silver from the tip of the blade to the end of the hilt, which is carved with intricate, flowing patterns. This was given to her by her father, and was the first weapon Ari had ever trained with. Though it is not her favourite piece of equipment, the elfess has decent skill with it and uses it in battles where the enemy is at a short range.

~*~ Belongings ~*~

In a large backpack lies all sorts of things, from plants and spell reagents to health care necessities. She carries spare arrows and a string for her bow, a hairbrush and metal looking glass, a flask of water, and also a week's worth of rations. There is also various coins strewn about the bottom of her bag, placed there carelessly when she could not bother to undo the tight knot at her hip, some light bedding, and many uncut aquamarine stones waiting for their use.

A little help for a fellow water mage? Alright magus, all comments will be made in ORANGE.

Quote from: Arianna Kalias on April 25, 2009, 05:59:16 PM

Name: Arianna Kalias

Gender: Female

Age: 153 (Looks 26 and has the knowledge and training of a 32 year old human)

Approximate Lifespan: 400 Years

Date of Birth: 8th of the Frozen Rivers
Race: Elf

Tribe: Coór'hém

Occupation: Wandering Water Mage

Title: Forever Wandering

[Portrait]

Personality

Losing a family is something which no one is prepared for. It is as if one's hopes and dreams have been crushed, and that all sense of hope and love have been removed from the world. The emotional aftermath of losing two families, however, is impossible to describe. It matters not that the first of these two families are unknown to Arianna Kalias, the sorrow and hardships are still quite the same.

Arianna Kalias was once the glittering light in the corners of her foster parent's eyes. Determination, strength, happiness and curiosity streamed through her veins, illuminating her skin and giving a bright gleam to her eyes. Arianna was denied nothing in her childhood, yet she never developed a liking to the favouritism. She was a respectful young elfess, and being raised around humans never made that falter.

As she grew older and experienced the death of her foster parents, the elfess became distant. Changed. A need for both closure and belonging took over, and soon she was learning the skills of weaponry and using her magic to fight. Conflict seemed to be the only thing which could distract Arianna from her worries. This need helped to build a strong ego and stronger sense of pride, though it did not destroy the respect she still had for those around her. The elfess was never one to start fights, though somehow she always found herself caught in them.

Each day since the night of her parent's death, hope has chosen Ari's direction. Travel became wandering, and the wandering only seemed to linger. She was forever searching for the last piece of family she had, her brother. The hope of finding him drove her forward, beginning her escapade throughout the continent of Sarvonia. That hope continues to linger, but is shadowed with doubt and insecurities. Arianna fears loss, and each day her thoughts wander back to her brother, and wondering if he is dead, that her search is for nothing.

Friends are a hard thing to come by for the insecure elfess. She found herself dining and sleeping alone for many a night before something inside her decided to put an end to it. She began to pretend that she was someone else, using a different name and personality. She would create a whole new being from just a few words, playing on other's interests and desires. Soon enough, she began to live by that change. The only one who would see Ari's true identity was herself. Men came and went, as did friends and enemies. The elfess found that she was not bothered by that factor anymore, figuring that it was best to be happy for someone else rather than herself. Her pretence quickly became her way of life, and only a talented few are able to see through it.

I don't see anything wrong with this. Good work.

Appearance

Height: One Palmspan under Two Peds
Weight: One Pygge, Three Hebs, One Hafeb and Four Ods
Hair Colour: Nor'sidian, streaked with lines of Sou'cald coloured dye
Eye Colour: Eophran Brown, though sometimes changes to a bright Aeruillin Red with her moods How is this possible? A little more on this please.

True to her tribe, light skin covers a toned and healthy physique. Arianna's body is slim, with toned and strong muscles, easily enabling the elfess to move with agility and to wield a heavy weapon. Long legs protrude gracefully from the smaller torso of a well developed woman, adding to the height of her tall frame. Her arms are slightly muscular, and are quite long with the petite hands and fingers of her non-fighting mother, Maya.

Her features are well pronounced, though not to any great extent. Ari's gentle, feminine features are obtained from her mother whilst her height and strength of both body and mind are from her father. Her waist is small and her shoulders broad and strong. Long legs and feet enable her to run quickly, however the small loss of a toe on her left foot lowers that capability ever-so-slightly. <----- Remove Space

On her right shoulder sits the tattoo of an eagle with its wings spread, symbolising the seemingly endless search that lay ahead of her. The eagle prowls the skies, forever searching, forever hunting. Through fierce winds and dangerous storms he flies, never losing faith that the road will end in cheer and light. Nice. Fits her personality don't you think?

An oval shaped head sits comfortably atop a thin neck. A small brow curves beside her eyes and thin cheekbones, curving into a small point at her chin. Her extremely feminine and dainty appearance is often misjudged; with others assuming that she is incapable of 'seeing past her looking glass.' I don't understand. Explain. Soft, supple lips are tilted slightly downward, giving her a naturally solemn expression. Her nose is long and rounded, though somewhat thin. It almost seems as if reading glasses would sit perfectly on the edge, suiting her face quite well. <--- Remove Space

Dazzling, almond shaped eyes have a small upward curve on their outer edges. Her brown hues tend to gleam in the light, appearing to shine with happiness and cheer. However, with sour moods and frustration they seem to take on a fierce glow, their colour lightening to a bright red almost as if someone had placed a coloured film over them. These enchanting features are framed with long lashes and thin brows. <---Remove Space

The elfess's pretty face distracts most from the long, pink scar on the left side of her neck. It reaches from the middle of the neck to the beginning of her collarbone; a thin though jagged line of healed skin obtained after falling off her horse and dragging her sword down with her, scraping it against her pale skin as she grappled for something to hold onto in an urgent scramble before she hit the ground.

Tresses of waving dark hair frame her pale face, winding itself around her ears and forming tiny ringlets as it nears the shoulder. After reading about an elven tribe who used dye to colour their hair, she decided to experiment, leaving blue streaks running throughout her dark hair. At the front, her long fringe curls away from a part to the side, flicking towards her pointed ears.

I don't see any major flaws in your Appearance section. It seems fine to me.

Clothing

After some heavy reading, Ari decided to incorporate the Coór'hém style of dress with her own sense of fashion. Constant travel has never called for formal wear, and the conservative elfess appreciates that blessing. She is a shy dresser and tries to cover as much skin as possible, without wearing a body suit.

Leather pants cling to her firm legs, moving and bending easily with the elfess' I'm not very sure if elfess' has the right grammar/punctuation.... body. She keeps these a simple black, mostly for camouflage and the fact that they draw little attention. A black leather belt surrounds her waist, holding the pants in place. A small coin bag is often attached to this for easy access. That money bag, a thief could easily snatch it off. To avoid this, put something over it so no-one can see it. (wear a jacket over it or something)

Around her torso is a simple black shirt made of wool. Originally made to fit a man, its sleeves trail to her elbows, though she roughly tailored them so they clung tightly, and it shapelessly flows around her curves until it reaches her buttocks. The belt sits around her waist, on top of the shirt. The neckline is at a reasonable height, with a collar and six tiny buttons running down the line of her cleavage, always with the first of them opened. Underneath this sits a tighter shirt of white without sleeves, the neckline beginning just under the first button of the over-shirt and ending nicely at her waist.

Black leather boots are worn over the pants, climbing upward to rest in the middle of her calf muscle. Thin ropes of material run down the sides, laced and tied with a double knot at the top. They add no extra height to her figure, and are very comfortable especially when riding.

When the weather bears cool temperatures and rain, a thick cloak wraps around the elfess' shoulders. It is also made of darkly dyed wool, and flows freely around her body from the shoulders to her heels, only being held in place by their long sleeves and few buttons down the middle though they are rarely used. Fingerless gloves cover her wrist and hands up to the beginning of each finger; however these are more of a fashion accessory. Around her neck sits a black string with a bright blue pendant, roughly cut so the string can pass through it. The stone is only worn for its use in her spellcasting, and is also of her favourite colour.

Belongings

In a large backpack lies all sorts of things, from plants and spell reagents to health care necessities. She carries spare arrows and a string for her bow, a hairbrush and metal looking glass, and also a week's worth of rations. There is also various coins strewn about the bottom of her bag, placed there carelessly when she could not bother to undo the tight know at her hip, and some light bedding. <--- Remove space.

Well, that's all I have for you girl, I'll comment some more later. See you in the RPs, Magus! (If I ever get an approval)