Apodidae
01-08-09, 06:35 PM
Name: Apodidae (Uh-paw-deh-die)
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 155 lbs
Physique: Frail-looking, rather thin but toned, appearing older than he is
Eyes: Green, luminescent but sometimes darker, even bluish
Hair: Light, brownish-blonde, almost graying; cut short
Face: Short narrow nose, gaunt cheeks and protruding chin; short unkempt facial hair
Livelihood: Explorer of sorts
Appearance: Apodidae has the look of an old man about him, but his eyes and his movements contain a certain youth. Although he is slender and bony and appears as a frail man, a curious fortitude exudes from his frame. Layers of clothes generally drape from his physique, and their hue and warmth depend of course upon his environment. Usually, though, he prefers loose and comfortable clothing with a light traveling poncho wrapped about him. His face is serenely attentive and his lucid green eyes often seem lost in thought. If they do focus on something, they do so with a revealing intensity.
Personality: Like most, Apodidae is a layered individual. To the majority of people that encounter him, he is quiet and curious, not necessarily shy, but certainly not an extrovert. Despite this, he is responsive when addressed, and does not treat aimless small talk as below him. The man appears genuinely interested in things around him, paying attention to even minute details, but is reclusive when probed himself. He does not allow many to get beneath this outer aspect of him, and some interpret his appearance and mannerisms as that of a holy man or ascetic. For any that manage to befriend him, they discover a strongly ethical and philosophical individual that can be difficult to relate to, but nonetheless friendly.
___________________________________
History
Apodidae was born to a single mother on the northern outskirts of the Concordia forest, on the gentle foothills of the Comb Mountains. Allandria is her name, and she raised him there for several years. Before her life as a mother, she had traveled far throughout Corone and on the northern continent, becoming accustomed to Raiaera and Alerar and Salvar. She had wished to travel east to Fallien and Dheathain, and further into the vast north as well, but a romance with a roguish adventurer left her with a greater responsibility. After being settled and raising the infant Apodidae for several years, she set out with her child through the various parts of Corone.
They traveled in such a manner for many years, and Apodidae was as much a student as a son. He learned several languages from Allandria, some basic history and lore, and also how to shoot her Aleraran rifle. The young boy discovered much about survival and adventuring, and had more than a fair number of encounters with bandits and tricksters. A woman burdened by a child seemed an easy target, but the number of maimed and dead highwaymen indicated otherwise.
By the time Apodidae became a young man, his mother was having more and more difficulty in their travels. The protective role swapped between the two, and soon thereafter Allandria could see the burden she was becoming, and that she was tying down the same wandering spirit in her son that existed in her. The aging woman returned to Concordia and found a peaceful place once again on the lower slopes of the Comb Mountains, and after a year of remaining there with his mother, Apodidae left. She had instilled within him a love of the journey, of learning, and to remain in place was to deny it.
Since then, he has continued his travels throughout Corone, though a lot of thought has been given to traveling abroad to the mainland. The traveler was wary of the fighting and intrigues throughout those countries, but he strongly wanted to go to Alerar so that he could fix the rifle, which had broken several years earlier, because his mother had come to symbolize the malfunction with her own agedness. Nonetheless, he decided to continue his travels throughout Corone, living off the land and earning pocket money as an interpreter and translator. The island seemed to never grow old with its diversity of people and geography, but a lurking wish to see the majesty of the Twilight Mountains, or the coasts of Salvar, or the airships of Ettermire has not abated. Now with the recent outbreak of civil war in Corone, Apodidae is torn between helping heal is own country or finally seeing the mainland.
Equipment
Bolt-action rifle; five-round internal magazine, 24” barrel, laminated wood stock, telescopic sight. Bolt-action is currently broken, requiring the expertise of an Aleraran-trained smith. Kept in a water-resistant carrying bag with a maintenance kit.
Steel dagger; sheathed, with sharpening stone
Quality Aleraran binoculars
Lightweight poncho, coated with waterproof substance
Survival utensils in water-resistant backpack: dried foods, first aid items, water, fire-making tools, hunting knife, dry clothes, and other relevant items; also, a journal, a few books, and writing utensils.
Abilities
Wanderer
Many years of traveling and simple living have taught Apodidae the fine arts of stealth, elusion, and survival. The Coronian is quite able to navigate much of the island and live comfortably off of it, and can survive in even hostile environments for several weeks assuming he is uninjured. Even if he is, or if a companion is, he is also knowledgeable of improvised first aid for wounds that require treatment, but he cannot do the work of a true healer. In combat, Apodidae is a very difficult target for even seasoned soldiers and archers, and can be difficult to catch, as he is light on his feet and good at climbing, jumping, and tumbling. Generally though he prefers to not reach the point of conflict, so makes use of his skills in moving undetected and using the environment to remain so. He can bypass ordinary watchmen and patrols in moderately secure environments, but keen individuals will usually notice something amiss, though not always right away. If engaged in a fight, his rifle is broken and his dagger is mostly useless against anyone that has had even a day of combat training, so he prefers to elude and disappear. Though not a fighter, he is certainly a hard fellow to pin down. If finally caught, however, there is not much he can do except wait for his moment of opportunity.
Marksman
Several years of training with his mother has made Apodidae a pretty good shot with his rifle, but the gun has been broken for several years and his skills have become rusty. Prior to it breaking, he could hit a target at about 300 yards with little trouble, even under difficult conditions such as poor light and strong winds. Now, it is unlikely he could consistently hit half that even in good conditions.
Adroit Mind
Apodidae is a knowledgeable young man, having had a good teacher of course. He can read, write, and speak several languages, but is only fluent in Common; other than that, there is Drow, High Elven, a little Dwarven, and Salvic. Sharp senses make him a quick learner, and he is always searching for one thing or another, be it the knowledge of a landscape or the secrets of wisdom and history. This dynamic intelligence gives him a particularly strong willpower, giving younger mentalists and wizards a hard time manipulating him or his thoughts. Also, he is sometimes prone to notice small details, perhaps a person’s tell that they are lying or a hidden trap along the path.
I know guns are generally a no-no for level 0, so I tried to offset my possession of it with it being broken and with some less combat-oriented skills. Hope everything's in line, thanks.
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Height: 6 feet
Weight: 155 lbs
Physique: Frail-looking, rather thin but toned, appearing older than he is
Eyes: Green, luminescent but sometimes darker, even bluish
Hair: Light, brownish-blonde, almost graying; cut short
Face: Short narrow nose, gaunt cheeks and protruding chin; short unkempt facial hair
Livelihood: Explorer of sorts
Appearance: Apodidae has the look of an old man about him, but his eyes and his movements contain a certain youth. Although he is slender and bony and appears as a frail man, a curious fortitude exudes from his frame. Layers of clothes generally drape from his physique, and their hue and warmth depend of course upon his environment. Usually, though, he prefers loose and comfortable clothing with a light traveling poncho wrapped about him. His face is serenely attentive and his lucid green eyes often seem lost in thought. If they do focus on something, they do so with a revealing intensity.
Personality: Like most, Apodidae is a layered individual. To the majority of people that encounter him, he is quiet and curious, not necessarily shy, but certainly not an extrovert. Despite this, he is responsive when addressed, and does not treat aimless small talk as below him. The man appears genuinely interested in things around him, paying attention to even minute details, but is reclusive when probed himself. He does not allow many to get beneath this outer aspect of him, and some interpret his appearance and mannerisms as that of a holy man or ascetic. For any that manage to befriend him, they discover a strongly ethical and philosophical individual that can be difficult to relate to, but nonetheless friendly.
___________________________________
History
Apodidae was born to a single mother on the northern outskirts of the Concordia forest, on the gentle foothills of the Comb Mountains. Allandria is her name, and she raised him there for several years. Before her life as a mother, she had traveled far throughout Corone and on the northern continent, becoming accustomed to Raiaera and Alerar and Salvar. She had wished to travel east to Fallien and Dheathain, and further into the vast north as well, but a romance with a roguish adventurer left her with a greater responsibility. After being settled and raising the infant Apodidae for several years, she set out with her child through the various parts of Corone.
They traveled in such a manner for many years, and Apodidae was as much a student as a son. He learned several languages from Allandria, some basic history and lore, and also how to shoot her Aleraran rifle. The young boy discovered much about survival and adventuring, and had more than a fair number of encounters with bandits and tricksters. A woman burdened by a child seemed an easy target, but the number of maimed and dead highwaymen indicated otherwise.
By the time Apodidae became a young man, his mother was having more and more difficulty in their travels. The protective role swapped between the two, and soon thereafter Allandria could see the burden she was becoming, and that she was tying down the same wandering spirit in her son that existed in her. The aging woman returned to Concordia and found a peaceful place once again on the lower slopes of the Comb Mountains, and after a year of remaining there with his mother, Apodidae left. She had instilled within him a love of the journey, of learning, and to remain in place was to deny it.
Since then, he has continued his travels throughout Corone, though a lot of thought has been given to traveling abroad to the mainland. The traveler was wary of the fighting and intrigues throughout those countries, but he strongly wanted to go to Alerar so that he could fix the rifle, which had broken several years earlier, because his mother had come to symbolize the malfunction with her own agedness. Nonetheless, he decided to continue his travels throughout Corone, living off the land and earning pocket money as an interpreter and translator. The island seemed to never grow old with its diversity of people and geography, but a lurking wish to see the majesty of the Twilight Mountains, or the coasts of Salvar, or the airships of Ettermire has not abated. Now with the recent outbreak of civil war in Corone, Apodidae is torn between helping heal is own country or finally seeing the mainland.
Equipment
Bolt-action rifle; five-round internal magazine, 24” barrel, laminated wood stock, telescopic sight. Bolt-action is currently broken, requiring the expertise of an Aleraran-trained smith. Kept in a water-resistant carrying bag with a maintenance kit.
Steel dagger; sheathed, with sharpening stone
Quality Aleraran binoculars
Lightweight poncho, coated with waterproof substance
Survival utensils in water-resistant backpack: dried foods, first aid items, water, fire-making tools, hunting knife, dry clothes, and other relevant items; also, a journal, a few books, and writing utensils.
Abilities
Wanderer
Many years of traveling and simple living have taught Apodidae the fine arts of stealth, elusion, and survival. The Coronian is quite able to navigate much of the island and live comfortably off of it, and can survive in even hostile environments for several weeks assuming he is uninjured. Even if he is, or if a companion is, he is also knowledgeable of improvised first aid for wounds that require treatment, but he cannot do the work of a true healer. In combat, Apodidae is a very difficult target for even seasoned soldiers and archers, and can be difficult to catch, as he is light on his feet and good at climbing, jumping, and tumbling. Generally though he prefers to not reach the point of conflict, so makes use of his skills in moving undetected and using the environment to remain so. He can bypass ordinary watchmen and patrols in moderately secure environments, but keen individuals will usually notice something amiss, though not always right away. If engaged in a fight, his rifle is broken and his dagger is mostly useless against anyone that has had even a day of combat training, so he prefers to elude and disappear. Though not a fighter, he is certainly a hard fellow to pin down. If finally caught, however, there is not much he can do except wait for his moment of opportunity.
Marksman
Several years of training with his mother has made Apodidae a pretty good shot with his rifle, but the gun has been broken for several years and his skills have become rusty. Prior to it breaking, he could hit a target at about 300 yards with little trouble, even under difficult conditions such as poor light and strong winds. Now, it is unlikely he could consistently hit half that even in good conditions.
Adroit Mind
Apodidae is a knowledgeable young man, having had a good teacher of course. He can read, write, and speak several languages, but is only fluent in Common; other than that, there is Drow, High Elven, a little Dwarven, and Salvic. Sharp senses make him a quick learner, and he is always searching for one thing or another, be it the knowledge of a landscape or the secrets of wisdom and history. This dynamic intelligence gives him a particularly strong willpower, giving younger mentalists and wizards a hard time manipulating him or his thoughts. Also, he is sometimes prone to notice small details, perhaps a person’s tell that they are lying or a hidden trap along the path.
I know guns are generally a no-no for level 0, so I tried to offset my possession of it with it being broken and with some less combat-oriented skills. Hope everything's in line, thanks.