Roht Mirage
11-08-13, 03:34 PM
I've totalled all my exp-granting threads twice now. As long as the thread exp from the finals is 1580 or more, which I'm positive it will be, I'll hit level 5. So, this is an update to account for a 4 level jump. It'll be interesting. 0_0
Updates in red.
Full name: Astarelle Set'Roh
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Race: Human (Farohtian)
Hair color: Dark brown
Eye color: Metallic grey
Skin color: Light brown
Height: 5'8”
Weight: 135lbs
Occupation: Priestess and Trader
Languages: Common, Fallien, Farohtian
The Traveller's Way in Faroh
For Akee
“A little blasphemy keeps us sane.”
Foreword
This is a book for no one. Faroh receives no travellers. If you do find yourself there, by some twist of fate, I doubt that knowing the language or culture would help you very much. In that situation, I wish you luck and offer my condolences to your next of kin.
To those who have never heard of Faroh and never been there, this will seem a fairy tale. I would not begrudge you for taking it as such. After all, this book is about a city that moves with the sand and wind, never seen by the eyes of any Fallien people. Its emissaries are few, and they are experts at never getting a second glance. If you live in Irrakam, I may see you someday. But, you will not see me. You will see a plain soldier, a washerwoman, or maybe even a messenger of the Jya.
So, whether you believe or not, I invite you to read this book. You will learn of a vastly different culture whose people, at their core, are not unlike yourselves. You will learn of magics that can move the endless desert and a religion that can chain the wildest spirit. Forever.
Dear reader, I write this book because it is a small way.... the only way... that I can truly join you on the other side.
About the Author
Astarelle Set'Roh is a treasure. A young woman with the fire to burn amid the strongest storm, and a lovely little slip of a girl as well. She's also so modest that she would call all that a sand blasted lie. I'm only writing this once, though. Take it or leave it, my dear. Anyway, onto the matter at hand...
Astarelle Set'Roh was born in the city of Faroh, bearing the Roht mark on her forehead. She was raised in the temple as a Child of Roh until her sixteenth year. At that time, she was raised to Hand of Roh (you might call her a priestess) and she began her training among the Farohtian people. Her first teacher was Marra, one of our most skilled dancers and a damn rude harpy in my experience. Astarelle was a natural. I dare say she might have become as skilled as Marra, if not for her embellished style and wonderfully inappropriate way of speaking (by Roht standards). Marra is quite famous for the line, “If this is a test of my faith in Roh, I submit. I surrender to her mercy. Her daughter, given to my care and tutelage, can receive no more training from me without tempting me to blaspheme against her Roht honor.”
Astarelle came to me, then, to learn the ways of the gatherer. The name “gatherer” is purposefully demeaning, as is the attitude of the Farohtian people toward us. We are the only ones to leave the city and trade with the other peoples of Fallien. It is a task that requires skill and subtly. Ask them, however, and they will tell you that we bumble among the savages to pick up scattered sticks. Astarelle, bless the girl, never believed that. And I don't believe for a second that she is a proper Roht daughter. The first time I said, “There's nothing sacred about you!” I expected the Kar'Roh to rise from the desert to punish me. But she just smiled.... like I'd never seen her smile before. That was five years ago. It's been a very good five years.
Please think deeply on this book. Try to know her as I do. And if you see an old trader or merchant or fisherman alongside that soldier/washerwoman/messenger somewhere in the streets of Irrakam, think of me as well.
Akashere
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
An excerpt from The Radasantian Reader's cover story on the recently completed Cell tournament
... and it was in that curio shop, as the Cell Champion dodged away from her adoring crowd, that I was able to catch her attention and bring you this exclusive interview.
D: Miss Mirage! Derdum Tome, reporter for the Radasanthian Reader. Do you have time to answer a few questions?
M: Not right- Did you really just call me Miss Mirage?
D: Do you prefer the full Roht Mirage? Astarelle Set'Roh, maybe? That name has been making the rounds as well. Perhaps one of the nicknames your many fans have for you. The Dancer? The Scorpion?
M: Bury me. Please stop. Miss Mirage is fine. Just don't call me Roht.
D: Is Roht incorrect?
M: Well, the 't' is possessive, so it's proper translation is Roh's, and using the word alone is just... Never mind. You had questions?
D: Of course. First question: You only came to Corone recently. Was participating in the Cell the reason you came?
M: No! The Cell was an accident. I was trying very hard to stay away from all this Corone madness.
D: What do you mean by Corone madness?
M: The battles to the death... for sport! An Ai'Brone under every lantern post. I wonder if death even means anything to you people.
I apologize dear reader, for at this point I began to lose my temper. Though I aspire, as all journalists do, to act with his legendary composure, I am no Peabody Polk.
D: Miss Mirage. With all due respect, the people of Corone just suffered a civil war. I assure you that we understand death. For some of us, it is intimate and recent. Many view our 'sport' as a way to confront that fact of life. I dare say, if we were only interested in blood and destruction, you would not-
M: I would not have won. You're right. I just didn't think... I'm sorry, Mister Tome. I shouldn't have said that.
D: It's quite alright. I know this must be strange for you. But, please understand that you have become an inspiration to many. You were victorious without fabled skills or expensive equipment; some have noted even without clothes.
M: Are you one of the people who noted that?
D: Erm... well, my job is to note everything.
Again, I apologize for a lack of professionalism, but I am only human. Miss Mirage placed a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes. At the risk of waxing poetic, I must say that I have never seen steel-grey look so warm. I was admittedly flustered and dropped my pen. What follows in transcribed from memory.
M: You are a very caring and accepting people. Outside of the arenas, I have seen almost nothing but kindness. I thank Corone for her hospitality and the honor she's given me... and I hope I helped sooth her heartache.
I found myself temporarily speechless, so I reached down to retrieve my pen. At that moment, Miss Mirage slipped past me and out the door. I tried to follow, but she had disappeared much like her namesake.
However, I was left with the impression that even without her allies, even without Crozius, Roht Mirage might have still emerged victorious on the strength of her smile alone.
Timelines
Liquid time... not even once.
Priestess
~ Astarelle tries to savor what she can of her free life in Fallien. Her time as Set'Roh is drawing ever shorter, and the high seat of Mar'Roh awaits. She is positive that she is unfit for it.
Impulse (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25445-Ties-That-Bind) – As a daughter of Roh, she tends to her duties... in her own way. (unfinished)
Excavation – The work of a gatherer can get very complicated very quickly. (planned)
Evaluation – The final test of a gatherer is normally a proud occasion. For this daughter of Roh, it is a sign of the approaching end. (planned)
Exodus (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25921-Roht-Exodus) – As the throne of Mar'Roh looms, Astarelle is willing to do anything to forestall the inevitable. (unfinished)
Regrets – One does not leave Faroh without consequences. (planned)
Fugitive
~ Astarelle flees to Corone. She suspects that the Kar'Roh, Roh's hunters, still stalk her.
Coincidence (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25496-Relt-Peltfelter-Rides-Again) – She is welcomed by Relt Peltfelter. Two Relt Peltfelters, to be precise. (unfinished)
Humility (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25521-Falling-To-Rise-(Open)) – Astarelle experiences the Citadel and the peculiar psychology of Corone.
Censor
~ Astarelle's presence is exposed, and there are more secrets at stake than her own.
Ella (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25985-The-Ella-Chamber) – The fugitive awakens as a participant in the Cell. A night of barely-remembered debauchery lies behind her.
Aislinn (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26046-The-Aislinn-Chamber) – Unlikely allies come to her aid, and the guardians of Fallien's secrets reveal themselves.
Armonia (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26177-The-Armonia-Chamber) – Astarelle wins the Cell, somehow. But the true enemy, a product of Fallien's hostility, is still at large.
Outcast
~ Astarelle travels back to Fallien to check on loved ones and investigate why the Kar'Roh pursuit is not what she expected.
Voyage (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25789-Lifted-By-Levity-(Closed)) – Despite her best efforts and an noble companion at her side, the journey home does not go as planned. (unfinished)
Equipment
Lataro staff (6')
~ Lataro is a porous bamboo-like wood with the same strength and flexibility as yew. Farohtians force sand into the pores to make it stronger. With her current abilities, Astarelle's staff is as strong as steel when all of its sand is held within.
~ Lataro weaves
Intricately woven bands at wrists and shins that can be concealed under clothing. These boost Astarelle's sand manipulation abilities, compensating for the many areas where her skill is deficient.
~ Woven lataro tube, capped with a sand stopper
The tube's walls are sealed with sand to make it waterproof. It is used to carry multiple sheets of paper as well as dry ink and seal wax in various colors. Anyone who is unskilled at controlling the ink (see Farohtian Scribe) will get a face full of ink powder should they manage to open it.
~ Cell armor, purchased here (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25955-Bad-Girl-at-the-Bazaar).
Includes iron bracers, leather corset with hidden iron mail layer, iron-plated shoes, and hair ribbon with hidden barbed wire.
~ Sapphire pendant (http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v3/900682914_1/Ladies-Summer-Sexy-font-b-Sapphire-b-font-Floating-font-b-Locket-b-font-Semi-Precious.jpg), awarded here (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25930-The-Cell-OOC-Discussion&p=218153&viewfull=1#post218153).
A thumb-sized sapphire in an intricate silver setting and hanging from a silver chain. The nooks and crannies of the setting normally contain the powdered remains of what was once an identical sapphire. See “Jump” in Other Abilities.
~ Farohtian fire striker, purchased here (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26144-Sand-Scout-Motto-Be-prepared-to-die).
A palm-sized brass housing that contains flint, steel, and enough empty space for sand to be forced inside. As long as Astarelle is no farther than twenty meters away, she can stirred the sand to make sparks arc out of the small opening in the striker's face.
Skills
Skills and abilities are scaled as Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master.
Dancing (Adept)
Styles:
Farohtian – Rapid movement with a focus on hip twists, spins, and leaps.
Delirious – While in an altered mental state (ie: poor health or poison) her dance takes on a smooth yet unpredictable flow.
Staff Fighting (Adept)
Styles:
Bludgeon – Momentum is built with body movement rather than staff handling.
Rebound – The recalling of the staff is used to strike an opponent.
Beast Handling (Adept to Expert)
Preferences:
Horse – Can calm and control most tame horses.
Giant Scorpion – Difficult to train. Once tame, one may act as both familiar and mount.
Deception (Expert)
She can make excellent use of alternate personas with fleshed out histories and distinct personality traits (though deviating too far from her own personality will break her focus). See “Layers” in Other Abilities.
Abilities
Sand Manipulation:
“Rizak”. The skill that defines my people. Everyday life is built around it, and the pride of every Farohtian is linked to their own use of it. One of Akashere's phrases of wisdom applies here. “If you love your craft, give it a name. If you really love your craft, give it a thousand names. But for the love of Roh, don't expect me to remember them all.” That last part is not heeded by most of my people... so please excuse the vain complexity of what follows.
A sand “pool” is a distinct section of her total familiar sand. It designates a difference in properties, and can consist of varying amounts, AKA sources.
A sand “source” is approximately ten handfuls, uncompressed.
Sand Pools:
Name – quantity in sources – color – passive location
Thirsty and Drowning – two – gold and brown, burnt gold when mixed – staff
~ One source comes from her travels over the expanse of Fallien. The other was accidentally given to her by the Mystics while they were magically drying her sand from the flooded ruins of the Ella chamber.
Mask – one – all natural skin colors – tattoos or any disguise that has been held for over an hour
~ Gathered with the help of Akashere many years ago. It has enough Fallien skin tones to do a full body disguise, and enough Corone and Salvar color to do head-and-hands disguises for three people.
Victory – one – granite grey – tattoos or under clothes
~ Gathered from the rubble of the Armonia chamber as her sand was, once again, returned to her.
Jump – one-tenth – sapphire pendant
~ The powdered remains of one half of a teleportation crystal duo.
~ ~ ~
Form Aspects:
Quantity – (Adept) Up to three sources can be used continuously (ie: removed from their passive location). Four can be used for a few minutes before exhausting one's rizak abilities.
Fatigue – (Apprentice) When rizak abilities are exhausted, only a maximum of two sources can be used, and their formation/motion is at half the normal speed.
Familiarity – (Novice) Only sand that has been near the user for a number of days can be manipulated. Farohtian's of this weak level often carry familiar sand with them.
Compression – (Expert) Sand is stored at one-quarter its natural volume. It will not escape containers or lataro unless willed to and can keep out water indefinitely.
Dehydration – (Novice) Up to one source can be kept dry even when exposed and submerged. It requires concentration to maintain.
It requires one source to sustain one form at an appropriate level. One form drawing from many sources will be more effective. Sand can be held in a form if the container is lost. Forms that require lataro pieces are marked as follows:
(w) weaves
(s) staff
(w/s) weaves or staff
(w+s) weaves and staff together.
~ ~ ~
Rizakapar Forms: “building with sand”
Scribe – Manipulation of ink and wax.
(Adept) Create or alter any document not protected by magical means. Ink and wax seals must be dry. Physical contact with the ink is required. Alterations can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes based on complexity. The presence of ink can be sensed, even when invisible or otherwise hidden, as long as the page is in hand.
Puppeteer – Form and manipulate non-solid shapes.
(Novice) A game played during any typical Farohtian childhood. The puppets must be kept small to retain control, but can be sent up to 20 meters away. They have very little physical mass and little application in combat.
Rizakin Forms: “clothed in sand”
Skin – Sand worn as a disguise. Personal sand of various hues is often used.
(Adept) Skin color can be changed completely. Features can be molded to a small degree. A single source can be applied to the entirety of one's own body. Limiting the disguise to face and hands will not use an entire source, allowing for weakened forms with the remaining sand.
Voice – Swallow sand and manipulate it against the vocal chords to very one's voice.
(Novice) The manipulator can change their voice easy around their natural range, as well as the closer ranges of the opposite gender. It is not comfortable -bordering on painful after extended use- and cannot be sustained for more than an hour.
Veil – Spread sand into a cloud around the manipulator.
(Apprentice)(w/s) Cloud has a radius of two meters per source. It barely affects vision. Others entering it will feel skin, eye, and throat irritation. It can be spun into a storm, see below.
Storm – The veil of sand is set in motion.
(Apprentice)(w/s) The cloud moves in response to the caster's movement. A thrust of the body will elongate it in one direction. A spin will set it swirling enough to abrade bare flesh and damage sensitive areas. A long piece of lataro (such as the staff) is required to get the storm up to full speed, which can unbalance opponents and obscure the caster to a mere silhouette. The storm can only last as long as the caster's body remains in motion.
Shell – Sand forms a defensive layer on the skin.
(Adept)(w/s) One body part gains one tier of protection per source, up to the strength of plynt (three sources required). Solidifying the shell over joints will greatly decrease flexibility.
Note: Wearing the sand as a tattoo provides a small amount of protection, but only if it is willed to harden in time.
Buffer – Creates an unstable airborne shield close to the manipulator.
(Apprentice)(w/s) When formed to shield a whole body, the sand can block a grenade blast for every two sources used. Reducing the width increases the thickness, therefore enhancing the affect at the cost of coverage. The sand is designed to absorb and scatter the force, often resulting in it being flung out of range for immediate use. Blunt weapons will be slowed slightly in contact with the buffer. Bladed weapons will cut right through.
Rizaket Forms: “moving with sand”
Step – Use sand as a medium for precise movement.
(Apprentice)(w) When a layer of sand separates the body from the ground, it can be shaped to either increase or decrease friction. I has little affect on smooth surfaces (metal) and cannot be used to defy gravity.
Wing – Use sand as a platform in the air.
(Novice)(w/s) While the manipulator is airborne, sand can be forced below the body to cushion a fall. It takes one source per ten meters fallen to remain uninjured, albeit with some bruising.
Rizakur Forms: “striking with sand”
Blade – Form sharp extensions on weapons or body
(Apprentice)(w/s) Create short (1.5') blades as strong as one tier per source, or stronger if forming a smaller blade. (Up to the strength of steel.)Blades can remain on weapons away from the hand as long as they are willed to, but cannot be altered aside from returning to their passive form.
Rizakoki Forms: “reaching through sand”
Recall – Exert a pull on distant objects either made of lataro or woven with it. A miniscule amount of sand must remain in the object.
(Adept)(w) Pull a familiar tool to oneself from up to fifteen meters away. The tool can break through moderate resistance such as a firm grip. The object will return with force equal to what the user could impart with their own strength. In extreme desperation, the force and range will be stronger. The arc of a returning object can be altered by roughly thirty degrees.
Current items that can be recalled: staff, bracelets/anklets.
Collect – Draw all personal sand back to its passive locations.
(Adept) Complete collection at a moderate pace, either at will or upon falling unconscious. Sand being collected can travel along the ground or through the air. It must be physically captured to prevent this effect.
Note: Saturated sand, while useless for forms, will return at a slow pace.
Rizakorda Forms: “sensing through sand”
Displace – Detect if sand is moved by another force or body.
(Apprentice) Only personal sand can be sensed. Reaction time is slower than that of the physical senses, and much slower if the sand is a great distance away (up to forty meters).
Other Abilities
Jump: Teleportation magic requiring the sapphire pendant.
~ The pendant contains two sapphires, one whole and fixed, the other powdered and at the whim of Astarelle's manipulations. Within twenty meters, it can be controlled with an even greater precision than her sand and -with concentration- reformed into a solid object, at which point it will function as originally intended...
~ The bearer of one sapphire can teleport to the location of the other sapphire (bringing their own with them), or teleport something touching the other sapphire to their location (again, moving the sapphire to make it a one-way trip). The maximum load is three normal humans, or an equal mass of inanimate objects. All matter to be transported must be in contact with one sapphire or another object being transported.
~ A long range jump would require that Astarelle leave the pendant in the target location and bring the powdered sapphire with her.
~ After extended use, the sapphire pendant will grow cold an inactive. Current limitations are three short jumps or one long jump per day.
Layers: Deception to keep telepaths at bay.
~While deep in a persona, her mind is layered with the persona at the surface and her true self buried underneath. A telepath of moderate skill attempting to read her mind will have to determine that the persona is false before delving deeper. Stronger telepaths will power right through the deception if they try to go deeper.
Familiars
Kar'Rohki
~Priestess timeline only~
Giant black scorpion missing one pincer. He is named after the Kar'Roh, the boogeymen of Faroh bedtime stories. While not exactly affectionate, he is very protective of Astarelle, who has been training him for the last four years. (Because of this, Akashere tripled his emergency supplies of anti-venom.) Kar'Rohki will fight with pincer and stinger, which can deliver a toxin capable of paralysing a limb. Loss of the limb is possible if not attended to within a few days.
However, due to his training, he is hesitant to fight. He normally acts more as a mount than a protector and is prone to retreating at inappropriate times. Also, he would rather bury himself than get anywhere close to a human settlement.
Updates in red.
Full name: Astarelle Set'Roh
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Race: Human (Farohtian)
Hair color: Dark brown
Eye color: Metallic grey
Skin color: Light brown
Height: 5'8”
Weight: 135lbs
Occupation: Priestess and Trader
Languages: Common, Fallien, Farohtian
The Traveller's Way in Faroh
For Akee
“A little blasphemy keeps us sane.”
Foreword
This is a book for no one. Faroh receives no travellers. If you do find yourself there, by some twist of fate, I doubt that knowing the language or culture would help you very much. In that situation, I wish you luck and offer my condolences to your next of kin.
To those who have never heard of Faroh and never been there, this will seem a fairy tale. I would not begrudge you for taking it as such. After all, this book is about a city that moves with the sand and wind, never seen by the eyes of any Fallien people. Its emissaries are few, and they are experts at never getting a second glance. If you live in Irrakam, I may see you someday. But, you will not see me. You will see a plain soldier, a washerwoman, or maybe even a messenger of the Jya.
So, whether you believe or not, I invite you to read this book. You will learn of a vastly different culture whose people, at their core, are not unlike yourselves. You will learn of magics that can move the endless desert and a religion that can chain the wildest spirit. Forever.
Dear reader, I write this book because it is a small way.... the only way... that I can truly join you on the other side.
About the Author
Astarelle Set'Roh is a treasure. A young woman with the fire to burn amid the strongest storm, and a lovely little slip of a girl as well. She's also so modest that she would call all that a sand blasted lie. I'm only writing this once, though. Take it or leave it, my dear. Anyway, onto the matter at hand...
Astarelle Set'Roh was born in the city of Faroh, bearing the Roht mark on her forehead. She was raised in the temple as a Child of Roh until her sixteenth year. At that time, she was raised to Hand of Roh (you might call her a priestess) and she began her training among the Farohtian people. Her first teacher was Marra, one of our most skilled dancers and a damn rude harpy in my experience. Astarelle was a natural. I dare say she might have become as skilled as Marra, if not for her embellished style and wonderfully inappropriate way of speaking (by Roht standards). Marra is quite famous for the line, “If this is a test of my faith in Roh, I submit. I surrender to her mercy. Her daughter, given to my care and tutelage, can receive no more training from me without tempting me to blaspheme against her Roht honor.”
Astarelle came to me, then, to learn the ways of the gatherer. The name “gatherer” is purposefully demeaning, as is the attitude of the Farohtian people toward us. We are the only ones to leave the city and trade with the other peoples of Fallien. It is a task that requires skill and subtly. Ask them, however, and they will tell you that we bumble among the savages to pick up scattered sticks. Astarelle, bless the girl, never believed that. And I don't believe for a second that she is a proper Roht daughter. The first time I said, “There's nothing sacred about you!” I expected the Kar'Roh to rise from the desert to punish me. But she just smiled.... like I'd never seen her smile before. That was five years ago. It's been a very good five years.
Please think deeply on this book. Try to know her as I do. And if you see an old trader or merchant or fisherman alongside that soldier/washerwoman/messenger somewhere in the streets of Irrakam, think of me as well.
Akashere
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
An excerpt from The Radasantian Reader's cover story on the recently completed Cell tournament
... and it was in that curio shop, as the Cell Champion dodged away from her adoring crowd, that I was able to catch her attention and bring you this exclusive interview.
D: Miss Mirage! Derdum Tome, reporter for the Radasanthian Reader. Do you have time to answer a few questions?
M: Not right- Did you really just call me Miss Mirage?
D: Do you prefer the full Roht Mirage? Astarelle Set'Roh, maybe? That name has been making the rounds as well. Perhaps one of the nicknames your many fans have for you. The Dancer? The Scorpion?
M: Bury me. Please stop. Miss Mirage is fine. Just don't call me Roht.
D: Is Roht incorrect?
M: Well, the 't' is possessive, so it's proper translation is Roh's, and using the word alone is just... Never mind. You had questions?
D: Of course. First question: You only came to Corone recently. Was participating in the Cell the reason you came?
M: No! The Cell was an accident. I was trying very hard to stay away from all this Corone madness.
D: What do you mean by Corone madness?
M: The battles to the death... for sport! An Ai'Brone under every lantern post. I wonder if death even means anything to you people.
I apologize dear reader, for at this point I began to lose my temper. Though I aspire, as all journalists do, to act with his legendary composure, I am no Peabody Polk.
D: Miss Mirage. With all due respect, the people of Corone just suffered a civil war. I assure you that we understand death. For some of us, it is intimate and recent. Many view our 'sport' as a way to confront that fact of life. I dare say, if we were only interested in blood and destruction, you would not-
M: I would not have won. You're right. I just didn't think... I'm sorry, Mister Tome. I shouldn't have said that.
D: It's quite alright. I know this must be strange for you. But, please understand that you have become an inspiration to many. You were victorious without fabled skills or expensive equipment; some have noted even without clothes.
M: Are you one of the people who noted that?
D: Erm... well, my job is to note everything.
Again, I apologize for a lack of professionalism, but I am only human. Miss Mirage placed a hand on my shoulder and looked into my eyes. At the risk of waxing poetic, I must say that I have never seen steel-grey look so warm. I was admittedly flustered and dropped my pen. What follows in transcribed from memory.
M: You are a very caring and accepting people. Outside of the arenas, I have seen almost nothing but kindness. I thank Corone for her hospitality and the honor she's given me... and I hope I helped sooth her heartache.
I found myself temporarily speechless, so I reached down to retrieve my pen. At that moment, Miss Mirage slipped past me and out the door. I tried to follow, but she had disappeared much like her namesake.
However, I was left with the impression that even without her allies, even without Crozius, Roht Mirage might have still emerged victorious on the strength of her smile alone.
Timelines
Liquid time... not even once.
Priestess
~ Astarelle tries to savor what she can of her free life in Fallien. Her time as Set'Roh is drawing ever shorter, and the high seat of Mar'Roh awaits. She is positive that she is unfit for it.
Impulse (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25445-Ties-That-Bind) – As a daughter of Roh, she tends to her duties... in her own way. (unfinished)
Excavation – The work of a gatherer can get very complicated very quickly. (planned)
Evaluation – The final test of a gatherer is normally a proud occasion. For this daughter of Roh, it is a sign of the approaching end. (planned)
Exodus (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25921-Roht-Exodus) – As the throne of Mar'Roh looms, Astarelle is willing to do anything to forestall the inevitable. (unfinished)
Regrets – One does not leave Faroh without consequences. (planned)
Fugitive
~ Astarelle flees to Corone. She suspects that the Kar'Roh, Roh's hunters, still stalk her.
Coincidence (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25496-Relt-Peltfelter-Rides-Again) – She is welcomed by Relt Peltfelter. Two Relt Peltfelters, to be precise. (unfinished)
Humility (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25521-Falling-To-Rise-(Open)) – Astarelle experiences the Citadel and the peculiar psychology of Corone.
Censor
~ Astarelle's presence is exposed, and there are more secrets at stake than her own.
Ella (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25985-The-Ella-Chamber) – The fugitive awakens as a participant in the Cell. A night of barely-remembered debauchery lies behind her.
Aislinn (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26046-The-Aislinn-Chamber) – Unlikely allies come to her aid, and the guardians of Fallien's secrets reveal themselves.
Armonia (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26177-The-Armonia-Chamber) – Astarelle wins the Cell, somehow. But the true enemy, a product of Fallien's hostility, is still at large.
Outcast
~ Astarelle travels back to Fallien to check on loved ones and investigate why the Kar'Roh pursuit is not what she expected.
Voyage (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25789-Lifted-By-Levity-(Closed)) – Despite her best efforts and an noble companion at her side, the journey home does not go as planned. (unfinished)
Equipment
Lataro staff (6')
~ Lataro is a porous bamboo-like wood with the same strength and flexibility as yew. Farohtians force sand into the pores to make it stronger. With her current abilities, Astarelle's staff is as strong as steel when all of its sand is held within.
~ Lataro weaves
Intricately woven bands at wrists and shins that can be concealed under clothing. These boost Astarelle's sand manipulation abilities, compensating for the many areas where her skill is deficient.
~ Woven lataro tube, capped with a sand stopper
The tube's walls are sealed with sand to make it waterproof. It is used to carry multiple sheets of paper as well as dry ink and seal wax in various colors. Anyone who is unskilled at controlling the ink (see Farohtian Scribe) will get a face full of ink powder should they manage to open it.
~ Cell armor, purchased here (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25955-Bad-Girl-at-the-Bazaar).
Includes iron bracers, leather corset with hidden iron mail layer, iron-plated shoes, and hair ribbon with hidden barbed wire.
~ Sapphire pendant (http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v3/900682914_1/Ladies-Summer-Sexy-font-b-Sapphire-b-font-Floating-font-b-Locket-b-font-Semi-Precious.jpg), awarded here (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?25930-The-Cell-OOC-Discussion&p=218153&viewfull=1#post218153).
A thumb-sized sapphire in an intricate silver setting and hanging from a silver chain. The nooks and crannies of the setting normally contain the powdered remains of what was once an identical sapphire. See “Jump” in Other Abilities.
~ Farohtian fire striker, purchased here (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?26144-Sand-Scout-Motto-Be-prepared-to-die).
A palm-sized brass housing that contains flint, steel, and enough empty space for sand to be forced inside. As long as Astarelle is no farther than twenty meters away, she can stirred the sand to make sparks arc out of the small opening in the striker's face.
Skills
Skills and abilities are scaled as Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master.
Dancing (Adept)
Styles:
Farohtian – Rapid movement with a focus on hip twists, spins, and leaps.
Delirious – While in an altered mental state (ie: poor health or poison) her dance takes on a smooth yet unpredictable flow.
Staff Fighting (Adept)
Styles:
Bludgeon – Momentum is built with body movement rather than staff handling.
Rebound – The recalling of the staff is used to strike an opponent.
Beast Handling (Adept to Expert)
Preferences:
Horse – Can calm and control most tame horses.
Giant Scorpion – Difficult to train. Once tame, one may act as both familiar and mount.
Deception (Expert)
She can make excellent use of alternate personas with fleshed out histories and distinct personality traits (though deviating too far from her own personality will break her focus). See “Layers” in Other Abilities.
Abilities
Sand Manipulation:
“Rizak”. The skill that defines my people. Everyday life is built around it, and the pride of every Farohtian is linked to their own use of it. One of Akashere's phrases of wisdom applies here. “If you love your craft, give it a name. If you really love your craft, give it a thousand names. But for the love of Roh, don't expect me to remember them all.” That last part is not heeded by most of my people... so please excuse the vain complexity of what follows.
A sand “pool” is a distinct section of her total familiar sand. It designates a difference in properties, and can consist of varying amounts, AKA sources.
A sand “source” is approximately ten handfuls, uncompressed.
Sand Pools:
Name – quantity in sources – color – passive location
Thirsty and Drowning – two – gold and brown, burnt gold when mixed – staff
~ One source comes from her travels over the expanse of Fallien. The other was accidentally given to her by the Mystics while they were magically drying her sand from the flooded ruins of the Ella chamber.
Mask – one – all natural skin colors – tattoos or any disguise that has been held for over an hour
~ Gathered with the help of Akashere many years ago. It has enough Fallien skin tones to do a full body disguise, and enough Corone and Salvar color to do head-and-hands disguises for three people.
Victory – one – granite grey – tattoos or under clothes
~ Gathered from the rubble of the Armonia chamber as her sand was, once again, returned to her.
Jump – one-tenth – sapphire pendant
~ The powdered remains of one half of a teleportation crystal duo.
~ ~ ~
Form Aspects:
Quantity – (Adept) Up to three sources can be used continuously (ie: removed from their passive location). Four can be used for a few minutes before exhausting one's rizak abilities.
Fatigue – (Apprentice) When rizak abilities are exhausted, only a maximum of two sources can be used, and their formation/motion is at half the normal speed.
Familiarity – (Novice) Only sand that has been near the user for a number of days can be manipulated. Farohtian's of this weak level often carry familiar sand with them.
Compression – (Expert) Sand is stored at one-quarter its natural volume. It will not escape containers or lataro unless willed to and can keep out water indefinitely.
Dehydration – (Novice) Up to one source can be kept dry even when exposed and submerged. It requires concentration to maintain.
It requires one source to sustain one form at an appropriate level. One form drawing from many sources will be more effective. Sand can be held in a form if the container is lost. Forms that require lataro pieces are marked as follows:
(w) weaves
(s) staff
(w/s) weaves or staff
(w+s) weaves and staff together.
~ ~ ~
Rizakapar Forms: “building with sand”
Scribe – Manipulation of ink and wax.
(Adept) Create or alter any document not protected by magical means. Ink and wax seals must be dry. Physical contact with the ink is required. Alterations can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes based on complexity. The presence of ink can be sensed, even when invisible or otherwise hidden, as long as the page is in hand.
Puppeteer – Form and manipulate non-solid shapes.
(Novice) A game played during any typical Farohtian childhood. The puppets must be kept small to retain control, but can be sent up to 20 meters away. They have very little physical mass and little application in combat.
Rizakin Forms: “clothed in sand”
Skin – Sand worn as a disguise. Personal sand of various hues is often used.
(Adept) Skin color can be changed completely. Features can be molded to a small degree. A single source can be applied to the entirety of one's own body. Limiting the disguise to face and hands will not use an entire source, allowing for weakened forms with the remaining sand.
Voice – Swallow sand and manipulate it against the vocal chords to very one's voice.
(Novice) The manipulator can change their voice easy around their natural range, as well as the closer ranges of the opposite gender. It is not comfortable -bordering on painful after extended use- and cannot be sustained for more than an hour.
Veil – Spread sand into a cloud around the manipulator.
(Apprentice)(w/s) Cloud has a radius of two meters per source. It barely affects vision. Others entering it will feel skin, eye, and throat irritation. It can be spun into a storm, see below.
Storm – The veil of sand is set in motion.
(Apprentice)(w/s) The cloud moves in response to the caster's movement. A thrust of the body will elongate it in one direction. A spin will set it swirling enough to abrade bare flesh and damage sensitive areas. A long piece of lataro (such as the staff) is required to get the storm up to full speed, which can unbalance opponents and obscure the caster to a mere silhouette. The storm can only last as long as the caster's body remains in motion.
Shell – Sand forms a defensive layer on the skin.
(Adept)(w/s) One body part gains one tier of protection per source, up to the strength of plynt (three sources required). Solidifying the shell over joints will greatly decrease flexibility.
Note: Wearing the sand as a tattoo provides a small amount of protection, but only if it is willed to harden in time.
Buffer – Creates an unstable airborne shield close to the manipulator.
(Apprentice)(w/s) When formed to shield a whole body, the sand can block a grenade blast for every two sources used. Reducing the width increases the thickness, therefore enhancing the affect at the cost of coverage. The sand is designed to absorb and scatter the force, often resulting in it being flung out of range for immediate use. Blunt weapons will be slowed slightly in contact with the buffer. Bladed weapons will cut right through.
Rizaket Forms: “moving with sand”
Step – Use sand as a medium for precise movement.
(Apprentice)(w) When a layer of sand separates the body from the ground, it can be shaped to either increase or decrease friction. I has little affect on smooth surfaces (metal) and cannot be used to defy gravity.
Wing – Use sand as a platform in the air.
(Novice)(w/s) While the manipulator is airborne, sand can be forced below the body to cushion a fall. It takes one source per ten meters fallen to remain uninjured, albeit with some bruising.
Rizakur Forms: “striking with sand”
Blade – Form sharp extensions on weapons or body
(Apprentice)(w/s) Create short (1.5') blades as strong as one tier per source, or stronger if forming a smaller blade. (Up to the strength of steel.)Blades can remain on weapons away from the hand as long as they are willed to, but cannot be altered aside from returning to their passive form.
Rizakoki Forms: “reaching through sand”
Recall – Exert a pull on distant objects either made of lataro or woven with it. A miniscule amount of sand must remain in the object.
(Adept)(w) Pull a familiar tool to oneself from up to fifteen meters away. The tool can break through moderate resistance such as a firm grip. The object will return with force equal to what the user could impart with their own strength. In extreme desperation, the force and range will be stronger. The arc of a returning object can be altered by roughly thirty degrees.
Current items that can be recalled: staff, bracelets/anklets.
Collect – Draw all personal sand back to its passive locations.
(Adept) Complete collection at a moderate pace, either at will or upon falling unconscious. Sand being collected can travel along the ground or through the air. It must be physically captured to prevent this effect.
Note: Saturated sand, while useless for forms, will return at a slow pace.
Rizakorda Forms: “sensing through sand”
Displace – Detect if sand is moved by another force or body.
(Apprentice) Only personal sand can be sensed. Reaction time is slower than that of the physical senses, and much slower if the sand is a great distance away (up to forty meters).
Other Abilities
Jump: Teleportation magic requiring the sapphire pendant.
~ The pendant contains two sapphires, one whole and fixed, the other powdered and at the whim of Astarelle's manipulations. Within twenty meters, it can be controlled with an even greater precision than her sand and -with concentration- reformed into a solid object, at which point it will function as originally intended...
~ The bearer of one sapphire can teleport to the location of the other sapphire (bringing their own with them), or teleport something touching the other sapphire to their location (again, moving the sapphire to make it a one-way trip). The maximum load is three normal humans, or an equal mass of inanimate objects. All matter to be transported must be in contact with one sapphire or another object being transported.
~ A long range jump would require that Astarelle leave the pendant in the target location and bring the powdered sapphire with her.
~ After extended use, the sapphire pendant will grow cold an inactive. Current limitations are three short jumps or one long jump per day.
Layers: Deception to keep telepaths at bay.
~While deep in a persona, her mind is layered with the persona at the surface and her true self buried underneath. A telepath of moderate skill attempting to read her mind will have to determine that the persona is false before delving deeper. Stronger telepaths will power right through the deception if they try to go deeper.
Familiars
Kar'Rohki
~Priestess timeline only~
Giant black scorpion missing one pincer. He is named after the Kar'Roh, the boogeymen of Faroh bedtime stories. While not exactly affectionate, he is very protective of Astarelle, who has been training him for the last four years. (Because of this, Akashere tripled his emergency supplies of anti-venom.) Kar'Rohki will fight with pincer and stinger, which can deliver a toxin capable of paralysing a limb. Loss of the limb is possible if not attended to within a few days.
However, due to his training, he is hesitant to fight. He normally acts more as a mount than a protector and is prone to retreating at inappropriate times. Also, he would rather bury himself than get anywhere close to a human settlement.