ÆROS

[Aeros]

ÆROS

Name:
Endymion Len’Sælyan Æros

Race:
Dryadalis Medium
Cross of Fae, Winter Court / Dryadalis Platinum
Ghost
Gender:
Male
Age:
22

Height:
6'5"; varies
Weight:
220lbs ethereal; varies

Birthdate:
13th Cinderfall, Ash, 101 AoS
Birthplace:
Solunarium

Rune Magic:
Mesmer
Masquerade
Semblance
Reaving
Elementalism

Profession:
Palatium Furiarum Courtier; Prægustator

Housing:
Family Estate
Aurecine District, Luxium

Titles:
Dominus
Caste:
Populi Ex Re’ha
Factions:
Immaculist
House Sol'Aværys
Religion:
Varværynism

Languages:
Vallenor, Vastien
Conversational:
Valasren, Common

Sexuality:
Unknown
Partners:
Enemies:
Khyan

Appearance

In life, Æros was tall and ethereal; he cut a striking figure- Æros' body was like a sea of stars. The color of his skin was always in flux; from sky to ocean blues, lavender to abyssal purples and dotted with coruscating stars, many found him mesmerizing simply to look at. Other unique features one might notice right away were his horns, the black of his sclera, the fact he only had four fingers, carnivorous teeth, sharp claw-like nails and eyes of bright, reflective gold.

Being Fae crossed Starborn, he had pointed ears and elfin features. Both beautiful and mysterious, people often found themselves enchanted with just a look. Adding to this, his long, white hair would shine in pearlescent hues if struck by light, further increasing the otherworldly nature of his appearance. Given his profession once relied on aesthetics, he went to great lengths in order to both maintain and enhance his beauty.

Just as well, he took consummate care of his figure. Lithe, toned and graceful in build, he strove to maintain the strength and endurance required for his busy schedule. Working primarily as a dancer, his profession naturally lent well to his strength biasing towards his legs, and his body was a great example of this.

Personality

Likes: Dance, Music, Art, Alcohol, Drugs, Attention, Trickery, Opulence
Dislikes: Seafood, Abstinence, Humidity, Squalor, Goblins, Cranberries
Attributes: Mischievous, Arrogant, Selfish, Cunning, Manipulative, Guileful, Creative, Erudite

Glade 123 Addendum
After the events of his death, Æros, after having opened himself up socially since Ash 122, has receded emotionally. Traumatized, he now views emotional ties to others to be little more than liabilities. He is reshaping his relationships to others to be entirely practical, slowly stripping away the sentiment in his old ones and striving to not allow for such bonds to form in the future. He is cold when communicating, though internally, he is a vortex of conflicting emotions.

Frost 122 Addendum
After the events of Ash 122 and into Frost, Æros had begun to very deliberately stabilize his moods and emotions with his Mesmer. On top of that, he'd found his faith again, and as such, his religious devotion bleeds into his personality more.

—

On the surface, Æros is considered by many to be charming and charismatic. Many are as dazzled by what he has to say as they are by his appearance; granted, the reasons for this vary from his wit and intelligence to the outright lies he loves to spin. Whether it's his status, his beauty, his knowledge, his talents, or even the sensuous silk of his voice, he takes advantage of every tool he has to manipulate others.

However, though he has many fans, everyone has their detractors. To them, Æros is arrogant, selfish and vain. He is a liar and a con artist. He is a spoiled brat hiding behind the gilded nature of his status and upbringing to avoid the consequences of his actions and take advantage of others.

But which group is correct? The truth is a bit more nuanced.

Æros is a guarded individual, often playing a character or heavily under the influence in order to run away from his problems. Plagued with myriad insecurities and crushed beneath the weight of familial expectations, he is secretive and prone to obfuscating reality as much for fun as it is for his own escapism. Due to this, his honesty and willingness to be vulnerable are both exceptionally rare.

History

Origin

► Show Spoiler

Born to a Dryadalis Argentum mother and a father he never knew, Æros was a surprise to everyone involved. The tryst between his parents was not supposed to result in offspring, especially given that the man who sired him blatantly stated his time in the Solunarium was, from the beginning, limited! He meant this; nothing would stop him from returning to his homeland. Nonetheless, his mother, Selena, didn't want to pass up on the opportunity to lie with the fae. And one might wonder, for what reason? Given the pretentious nature of Solunarium elves, one would imagine she'd have every type of man she could dream of right at home. Unfortunately, that is not the necessarily the case! There is ample novelty to be found in a fae's glamour and she was always the adventurous sort, one might say. Regardless, shortly after the capricious fae departed, Selena came to the realization that she was with child.

Though she was married with several children of her own, and therefore not struggling to create a family, she chose to keep the child. Frankly, this decision was not borne from love or anything like that– nay, morbid curiosity. What would her fae child be like, she wondered? Should it be…unsightly or, ahem, useless, a family of her wealth had the resources to have it raised entirely by staff. Little did she know, he would be more- and less!- than she ever bargained for.

As time ticked on and her belly grew fat, everyone in her house counted the days with eager interest. They knew his father was a sight to behold, as all of the Winter Court are wont to be, and thus, the hope was that the child would possess at least some of the man's breathtaking beauty. Or at the minimum, his skills in magic. Frankly, the child had a lot of good from both sides going for him.

Even so, when he arrived, he exceeded any and all expectations. Not only was a baby with skin like the celestial heavens utterly gorgeous, but it was determined that he was also half Dryadalis Platinum. To his family, this felt like winning the lottery. To some more snobby folk, he was still inferior to a full blooded Platinum elf. Many others also found this sentiment to be ridiculous; after all, the boy had skin literally made of stars. What could be more pure to the concept of "Starborn" than that?

Unfortunately, a child of this nature creates…expectations. Whatever is an individual to do if they never receive praise for anything in their youth? Well, outside of your blood and your looks. Which, of course, were given to you– not chosen, not earned by your own merit. Why, the result sure is… certainly interesting!

For one thing, during the fragile years of his early childhood, he dealt with constant anxiety and the choking weight of simply never being enough. Never being smart enough, good enough, skilled enough. A child like him should be of consummate talent, no? Incorrect– he is mortal, prone to all of the faults of anyone else. That is not to say he ever performed poorly. He excelled in school in several subjects, be they academic, magical or artistic. To many, he would be incredibly impressive. Worthy of plenty of praise for his own merit!

And yet…little did he ever receive. Even if he jumped through every hoop, he would be chastised if he ever hinted at wanting positive reinforcement of any kind. The expectations were the bare minimum, and one does not deserve praise for hitting the bare minimum. But how does one exceed perfection? Easy! You don't, and you're not allowed to complain.

As a result, once puberty hit, the boy was an utter mess. To his peers and to anyone gullible enough, he started to lie. He craved any amount of positive attention, anything at all. Didn't matter for what. Didn't matter if it were even remotely possible. He wanted praise, affection and the devotion he felt he deserved. Eventually, the lying became normal and then it became a game. There was pleasure to be had in seeing precisely what one would get away with, plus, he enjoyed watching the gullible- the fools- fall like dominoes before him.

Yet as he grew, lying was not his only vice. In order to cope with the suffocating weight of the expectations laid upon him, he turned to myriad forms of escapism. The lying, of course, was one. Beyond that, however, was substance abuse. What started as just a taste very quickly became a landslide from which he has yet to recover. While some might say he is a "functioning" addict, that does not mean such habits lack a toll.

In order to escape the yoke of his family's constant cacophony of voices, telling him how he should be, what he should be doing and so on, he absconded from his family estate to live in the Umbrium. There, like anywhere else, he was a novelty. Being a classically trained dancer was an easy way to find employment, but even if he had no talent at all, some would pay simply to stare at him.

And so arrives the start of Ash, 122. A waste of his potential, perhaps, but a lying lush is what he's become.

After an edifying experience with Varvara in Ash 122, Æros vowed to shift the direction of his life.

Through Ash 122, Æros gained Semblance from a disgraced noble boy he'd, despite his nature, fallen in love with, and acquired this lover of his as a slave.

At the end of Ash 122, the head of House Sælyan, Gaius Sælyan Janus, retired and granted Æros both his prior role in the family as well as his seat in the senate. Janus maintains an advisory role over Æros.

House Sælyan pledged fealty to house Sol'Zalkyrion in Frost 122, Æros shifting his senatorial seat to the Umbrium.

In the middle of Frost 122, Æros gained Reaving alongside Sentinel Finn.

At Glade 123's incipience, Æros gained Elementalism from his closest kin.

In late Glade 123, Æros and a friend of his, Hilana, ventured north in curious exploration of the Eclipse phenomenon; they both wished to, perhaps, aid in rectifying it. This excursion resulted in the loss of his coveted Semblance rune as well as the end of the senator's life and the beginning of a new unlife.

Magic

Mesmer

Mesmer
_

It looks like a tear in the night sky of his skin, outlined in white.
Located in the center of his chest.
Given to him by Danæ Val'Sælyan Selene, his mother.

Masquerade

Masquerade
_

Drawn in celestial ink, the rune manifests as six marks.
Located on his face, three on each cheek.
Given to him by Cælypso Val'Sælyan Lunara, his sister.

Semblance

Semblance
_

A symbol evocative of magic and boundaries; in this case, seeing beyond them.
Located on the base of his skull.
Given to him by Vinicius Nykara Khyan, his lover.

Reaving

Reaving
_

A symbol reminiscent of resilience and nobility.
Carved onto his solar plexus.
Given to him by Primus Pilus Cyrus Asim Ohannes, alongside Sentinel Finn.

Elementalism

Elementalism
_

The alchemical symbol for salt, applied with luminescent golden ink.
Painted overtop his navel.
Granted to him by Faunus Val'Sælyan Palæmon, his cousin.

[Aeros]

SKILLS

LEDGER

► Show Spoiler

[Aeros]

QUIRKS
&
MORE

Quirks

Mesmer

Motif: Elysian
_

Mesmer

A Solunarian novelty, Æros is the rare product of a union of an ice-bound Fæ-ethalan and Moonborn elf. The resultant offspring was blessed further by the very stars above, his elven blood manifesting as Starborn. Mesmer being his first Cardinal Rune and given to him when he was very young, the rune coalesced into his æther and shaped him substantially as he grew with his blood's elysian influence shaping the rune in turn.

Heavenborne: (affecting Æros himself) Apprentice
Born with the twining of Everwilde magic and star-touched elves, gaining the Mesmer rune also came with heightened intuition. Even without the use of his Craft, his perception of others’ emotions through behavioral patterns, vocal tone, body language and facial expressions is heightened.

Heightened perception does not equate to heightened understanding. If he notices something that he’s never seen before, he won’t magically know what it means, making said information useless in the moment, but perhaps useful again in the future. Perceiving this information can also be both confusing and overwhelming from a sensory perspective.

Heavenly Ambrosia: (affecting Mesmer as a whole) Journeyman
While under the influence of mind-altering substances, Æros has heightened mental clarity when compared to others. In addition, the æther cost of his Mesmer skills is decreased.

While sober, this quirk does nothing.

Cosmic Comity: (affecting Mesmer as a whole) Expert
The weave of Æros’ æther immediately harmonizes with that of the subject. As a result, those affected by his Mesmer cannot, under normal circumstances, detect that they are being influenced whatsoever.

Those who have Mesmer or Semblance at Æros’ skill tier can still faintly detect his influence, but such a thing is still incredibly easy to overlook. Entities with abilities higher than Æros would detect as normal.

Empyreal Influence: (affecting Mesmer as a whole) Master
Æros’ heavenborne blood seeps into the very essence of his Craft. Any time he uses his Mesmer on anyone, regardless of purpose, they are surreptitiously enchanted. While subtle at first, the effect will build over time and slowly bias all affected in the Færie’s favor, making them more agreeable to his influence. As such, this effect stacks with deliberate spell casts meant to bind or sway others to his will.

Using Mesmer is more ætherically taxing than it otherwise would be. This effect is resisted by people and things strong enough to resist magic at Æros’ current Mesmer skill.

Supernal Majesty: (affecting Æros himself) Master
Symbiotic with his first Cardinal Rune, Æros himself is enchanted by the magic of the mark. His voice carries entrancing tones within it, his presence is naturally more imposing, and people find themselves inexplicably drawn to him.

This effect is resisted by people and things strong enough to resist magic at Æros’ current Mesmer skill.

Additional

Æros is a ghost.

Fae-ethalan Anatomy:
Wounds suffered by a Fae will remain until allowed to properly heal though most notably, Fae have an increased level of regeneration than other races. This is balanced with the amount of control they exert over their metabolic state. Due to this unique facet of their biology, the Fae do not require sustenance as often as other races and can persist off of far less for much longer periods of time.

Glamour:
The ability to mold one's anatomy and physiology as well as metabolism to their desires.

NPCs and additional information can be found within his plot notes.

Off Topic

I, the author, also write Hector and Jae-Seong.

[Aeros]

INVENTORY

Æros' Inventory
Several Set(s) of Clothing befitting your Class (Nobility)

1. Basic (SP)

► Show Spoiler

1 Waterskin
1 Backpack which contains (when traveling):

• 1 Set of Toiletries

• 10 days of rations

• 1 Set of Eating Utensils (i.e. tin plate, cup, fork, spoon, knife)

• Flint & Steel

2. Tools

3. General Items
a. Signet Ring of House Sælyan

4. Magic Items
a. Bracelet of Protection

► Show Spoiler

Owner: Aeros
Attunement: Yes.
Purchased: 15,000 gp
Enchantment: Journeyman Negation
Specialty: Protection
Charges: 10
Source: Toe the Line

The power of this bracelet is that of Negation. It has been attuned to Aeros aetheric signature, meaning that only he is capable of using the magic of the bracelet unless the attunement is wiped from it. The bracelet will produce the listed effects until such time as the last charge is expended, at which time it will go inert. It takes a total of 2 hours for a single charge to be regained.

Snap Shield (2 Charges) - With a snap of the fingers, a quick barrier can be formed and expanded up to a 10 ft. radius around the wearer. It is comprised of a single layer and will take a dome shape around the wearer and the immediate area. It can be assigned up to two tasks. The barrier will last for a total of 1 minute before dissipating. For every charge above 2 that is expended, the barrier’s total time can be extended for another minute.

Barrier (2 Charges) - A standard Negation barrier that can be expanded to cover up to a 20 ft. radius around the wearer. The barrier can be given up to 3 layers with each layer being able to be assigned a single task. The barrier will stand for up to 10 minutes. For every charge expended beyond the initial 2, the duration of the barrier can be extended for an additional 10 minutes.

Addendum (1 Charge) - By using this ability, the wearer can modify the task of a given layer to a barrier already created by this bracelet.

Expand (1 Charge) - By using this ability, the wearer can expand the total area covered by their ward by up to 5 ft.

Layer (2 Charges) - The wearer can add an additional layer to an existing barrier created by this bracelet. This layer can be assigned a single task that works in tandem with the other existing layers to the barrier.

5. Etc.

Business
n/a for now...

Housing

► Show Spoiler

Early 120 through early Ash, 122
Flat in the Umbrium
083 Sonorus Nocte Plateam
Sanctine District, Umbrium
Solunarium

Late Ash 122
Family Estate
Aurecine District, Luxium

As of Frost 122
Family Estate
Argentine District, Umbrium

Ledger