Post by Liulfr on Nov 14, 2014 1:46:47 GMT -5
[attr="class","main"] [attr="class","imgdiv"] [attr="class","name"]Liulfr [attr="class","race"]Ferelden, Human
[attr="class","infoh"]Physical Attributes
[attr="class","infoc"]Liulfr dresses in simple clothes, that are comfortable and sturdy. He keeps his hair short, and trimmed as neatly as possible, his also tries to keep his face clean shaven, though during his bouts of depression or long periods of research this is harder to maintain. He is slightly more fit than the majority of mages in the circle, a result of his practice with a longsword. His eyes are bright, but he has bags under his eyes from his years of book reading, and from his lack of sleep. [attr="class","infoh"]Personality
[attr="class","infoc"]Like many people, Liulfr has his good days, and his bad days. As a mage he has access to a vast collection of books on an endless catalogue of chantry approved subjects. He fills his mind with as much as it can hold, reading everything from history to books of ancient poems about long dead heroes. He is known around the circle as an excellent partner- if you catch him on a good day. He excels in group debates, that have a specific topic of conversation. Some of his favorite fields are history, and magical theory, and while in these groups he feels safe. Conversations between Liulfr and only one other person can become boring quickly if the person is not prepared for a long winded debate. They might also be ended quickly if he decides that the person he is talking with is not intelligent enough to keep up with him. This usually affects his reputation with the younger members of the circle, who find him rude. When talking with those above his station he is respectful, and tries to glean every nugget of information and wisdom from their words. Social conversations can quickly become dull, as there is not much for him to speak about. He finds rumors, and gossip a waste of time, and tends to ignore most of it. His friendships are based almost solely on research and study. Mages have a unique set of problems that few care to understand. He is closely tied to the Fade, and this connection leads to a very high risk of possession. Sleeping is something he fears, and he fights the fade with research and busy work, often to the detriment of his health. On the bad days when the howls and whispers of demons seem to much he retreats to the shelter of his room. He becomes irritable, and extremely paranoid of anyone asking too many questions about his research, notes, and health. He avoids people while furiously continuing his research and study. He often times wears his sword, stays away from templars, and the more shadowy areas of the tower. He rarely eats, and his personal health suffers. The few associates who keep his company are usually pushed away, and any corroboration between them is ended. He has been known to destroy his notes if he believes his work is compromised. These episodes last anywhere from four days to a week before he exhausts himself and spends several days torpid before returning to his work. While recovering from the lack of sleep and food his mood stays low, and he shies away from eye contact and is soft spoken and timid. [attr="class","infoh"]Background [attr="class","infoc"]Liulfr was born in the bannorn of Ferelden to a minor knight and his wife. They were unremarkable free holders, having just enough income to maintain their life style, and occasionally attend court. They birthed four children, three girls, and one boy. The girls were to be married off, bolstering the families reputation, while the boy was to spend his life like his father. Train as a knight, fight in wars, marry, have children, and fade away to the next generation. It wouldn’t have been a glamorous life, but it would have been steady, and respectable. But, fate never works out like we want, and as the boy grew he showed signs of magic. Vivid dreams started at a young age, as did the night terrors. Then there were accidents too numerous to be coincidence. One of his young sisters was injured when a fire leaped out of the hearth, and danced on her head. Sometime dogs would flee in terror before the boy, and the room he occupied would become frigid. During his first years as a page, the manor house he served in would suffer terrible disasters, whole meals would be ruined by vicious bugs, and servants would fall ill to rare diseases. He was passed around, but always the misfortune followed him. His mother would pray, and his father would wave the claims away, no child of his had magic. Word reached the local Chantry, and they sent a small group to investigate the boy. After suffering a series of comical accidents, including a templar’s breeches catching flame, and their horse getting up to dance, they were able to test the boy, and found that he did have magic. He was immediately taken from his family, and almost as fast, he was disowned by his father. His mother cried for a time, but she hated mages as surely as her husband, and they never spoke of him. His sisters missed him, but they were young, and their memories of their older brother faded away until he was just a phantom. An echo in the manor that no one speaks of. And life continued for them as it did before. Life continued for Liulfr as well, but it was not like before. He was in a strange place, surrounded by people telling him how dangerous he was. By chanters telling him he was a monster, responsible for heinous acts he didn’t think he committed. He attended classes, and made friends with the other children. They all missed their homes, but they were kept to busy to dwell on it much. Liulfr grasped the esoteric aspects of his art firmly and quicker than many in his class. Lessons continued for years, and many of the older children that he had known were dead or branded. A select few had become mages, but they seemed different, and they rarely spoke to those who hadn’t been tested. In time, it was Liulfr’s turn to face the Harrowing. He was woken up by templars early in the morning. He was given no reason for the summons, and was taken to the top of the tower. The First Enchanter, and half a dozen templars were waiting for him. A pedestal of lyrium waited for him, as did a demon of the fade. The test that waited him was not one of magical prowess as many of the novices had been led to believe. It was a test of willpower, and common sense. To resist a possession. Only those that were truly skilled would leave this room alive. Liulfr succeeded, whether through luck, or actual will, he hasn’t decided. He has spent the subsequent skills with slightly more freedom than new arrivals. He continued to practice his sword arm, mostly out of nostalgia than any real need for defense. He hasn’t left the island since he arrived, though he wants to one day return to the bannorn. He misses his sisters more than anything. And though he no longer bears his last name, he still remembers the sunny days of his childhood with foggy happiness. |