Post by Takuna on May 13, 2012 20:26:56 GMT -5
I'm pretty ok with this being my first and final submission, assuming everything's in order. Constructive criticism is very welcome, however.
Name: Tak'una Rhaknas
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Species: Bat
Occupation: Mercenary/Bard
Physical Appearance:
Were it not for the wings, Takuna would look very similar to a mouse. A rather large mouse, granted, with larger ears.
Takuna has several hook-like 'claws' at the vertex/joint of the wing, which operate at similar levels of dexterity to other creatures. [Bats in real life have only one hook in this position, I know and certainly can't use them like hands but where's the fun in that?] Takuna wears dark cloth tunic and two swords, crossed in sheaths on his back. The reason he can wear things this way is because, while very young, the membrane of his wings were pierced very close to his body, so as not to affect lift while flying but to be able to pass material through. Not all bats in Takuna's home had this done but those with social stature would, simply so that they could wear fine clothes as a show of rank. On his back, covering the crossed sheaths, he wears a satchel which is attached to a strap on his shoulder via a clip and the hip opposite via a cord which passes through a metal loop and then back up to the other shoulder, where he can attach it, to hold the bag in position or detach it so that he can sling it over his shoulder. (It's not so simple to wear a rucksack when you have wing membrane filling the gap between your 'arms' and legs.)
Possessions:
Two slender swords, similar to rapiers or jian.
Two daggers.
Other lightweight things a traveler could be expected to carry, such as food, water, flint, kindling, cord, etc.
Personality:
During most situations, Takuna's demeanor could be summed up as phlegmatic. He is not particularly impulsive, neither is he rash and he tends not to make any unnecessary or sudden movements. This is in contrast, however, to what comes out of his mouth. He's landed himself in trouble, before, by saying things with little regard or apparent forethought as to the consequences. To say this was the sum total of his personality or even the 'real' Takuna, however, would be to do an injustice. He is not intentionally belligerent or pugnacious and doesn't enjoy trouble (because that often requires actual effort) but jokes are there to be made and the arrogant and aggressive are there to be jibed.
Also, despite his usual sluggishness, Takuna is accustomed to standing on ceremony and is, as such, more than capable of being courteous, respectful and earnest, as well as maintaining a mien of dignity and nobility.
Conversely, Takuna is no stranger to the rougher life of vermin beast and will instantly use violence to rectify a situation, if that happens to be the most effective language understood by offending parties.
Going with the flow of almost any situation, this is testament to his passive ability to understand other creatures - he doesn't find them particularly difficult to read. Too bad this understanding is often wasted as soon as he starts talking.
Strengths:
Can fly.
Has excellent hearing and can echolocate.
Is intelligent.
Is unconsciously hyper-aware of his surroundings, giving him split-second reflexes.
Is a very competent, if (unreliably) reserved, fighter, who utilises an unusual, three-dimensional fighting style.
Has a high degree of self-composure.
Has rich experience, particularly for his age.
Weaknesses:
Can't swim.
Lacks stamina when engaged in strenuous activities.
Lacks raw physical strength.
Consciously, is more or less oblivious to his surroundings...
As far as creatures go, a bat is somewhat fragile.
Has a tendency to mouth off.
History:
Takuna was born into a noble family, which ruled over a thriving society that prided itself on its status as a center of trade, learning and plenty. Their expansive cave system was shared, however, with a related tribe, the Karnas, who served as the militia for the Rhaknas. They turned on their masters. They slaughtered the first few, to make a point, perhaps. The rest were rounded up in the great Hall of Resonance, at the center of the Royal Cathedral. In this place, where once there was the most beautiful music, where the chanting and smooth instrumental masterpieces had plucked tears, gently, from the eyes of those blessed enough to hear them, now tears ran freely to mingle with blood, loosed by cold steel, as the Karnas bats tormented the remaining Rhaknas nobility and their servants. Takuna's memory of the event is crystal clear. The murderers played games with the ones he loved. He, as well as other young ones, had been lined up; the rest of the families, given a choice: You or your offspring. Some chose one way... some, the other. In the end, though, regardless of which of Takuna's friends had been killed, all of the grown Rhaknas nobility, regardless of their rank, were dead. The few that had been granted life by their parents, six in total, including Takuna, were told to leave, to live as exiles; to return only if they sought death.
They flew out of the cathedral, out of the citadel, out of the caves, out of the mountains; out of energy. As the weaker of them began to collapse under the exhaustion of having flown so fast for so far, the others stopped with them and ducked into the trees of the forest beneath. For hours, they simply mourned.
Revenge was the topic of discussion, that night. They knew the one that had to be slain; he had made himself obvious enough during the executions; he was the one who lead the revolt; he was the one who's blood was forfeit. The others? Well, there was no doubt in their minds that they would die to the blades of the Karnas... eventually... but not until the hated leader was dead.
But Takuna knew why the Karnas had attacked. He knew but was so very deeply ashamed of the reason that he could not even tell it to his peers; his friends. He did not say why, when he refused to go with them.
"Coward."
He never saw them again.
Starving, wandering about on the ground; out in the open, Takuna was found by one of the mountain monks, who generally lived in religious seclusion but occasionally left their monastery to gather supplies. Takuna was rescued and brought back to the monastery, where the monks slowly allowed the bat to fix himself, to piece his shattered mind back together, under the best circumstances possible. It worked. After two years, he had made as full a recovery as he ever would... it was time to leave. He was grateful to the brothers but the monastic life was not for him and he knew that he had the skills to survive in the world, on his own. He left to live the life of the sellsword.
As a swordsbeast, Takuna was gifted and a mercenary band could do worse than to include the user of such an usual and unpredictable fighting style. It wasn't long before he found one - otters, who were honourable enough; they did not kill unnecessarily or cruelly and would not accept the coin of those who would have them harm innocents.
Eventually, another job opportunity presented itself, that of a bodyguard for a rich merchant. Takuna said his goodbyes to the otters and stayed with the merchant for a time, before being amicably dismissed. Then he joined a wildcat army and then a worried village's defense militia, against a corsair attack. One job after another, after another. Aimlessly.
Aimlessly southward.
Relationships:
Rausaro - Comrade and friend.
And I certainly shan't be expecting to emerge victorious from every confrontation.