Nikhael Yv'Ryn

[Nikhael]

Nikhael Yv'Ryn

Name: Nikhael Yv'Ryn

Age: 29

Race: Biqaj

Date of Birth: Season, day, 689

Marks: Koriel, applied here, also see history

Factions Joined: None yet

Languages Spoken: Fluent Rakahi and broken Common

Partners: Late wife, Adelaida Yv’Ryn

Appearance

Nikhael stands at about 5'11" with a muscular build of a sailor. His long sandy brown hair falls in an unkempt fashion about his face and there is often a shadow of a beard that defines his chin and jaw. His eyes glitter with usually more than one colour. Most frequently they are of cooler shades such as greens and blues but sometimes they have hints of pink or red in them depending on the alignment of the moons. At times of high emotion a glint of gold is sometimes seen.

He typically wears loose clothes and spends most of the warmer seasons bare chested. In town he almost always has a head scarf or hat on to conceal his tipped ears, but out at sea he is more lax unless the beating sun suggests otherwise.

Personality

Nikhael has matured significantly over the last couple of arcs and is no longer as free-spirited and carefree as he used to be. Given a couple tankards of ale, he'll loosen up but too many will put him in a dark sour mood. The one thing that truly brightens his face and brings golden sparkles to his eyes are his two boys. He'll do anything to make them laugh and teach them something new. He has also become fiercely protective over the rascals. Nikhael is a hard worker and aspires to forge his own path in the world. He loves being out on open water with the wind in his hair, but just as much he loves gazing up at the starry night skies. He aims to do good in this world, not only for himself but for the sake of his sons.

History

Nikhael was born in Ne'haer and spent some of his time growing up there with his twin brother and his younger sister. Halfway through his childhood, his parents urgently needed to leave the city and the family embarked on a huge voyage to the northeast, eventually reaching the great city of Andaris. They spent a few arcs shipping goods in the region, but eventually moved to settle in Rharne. The family enjoyed several arcs in and around Rharne, spending most of their time in Lake Lovalus. It was here that Nik fell in love. Her name was Adelaida, a traveling priestess of Siera'ja, and she was the most beautiful Biqaj he had ever laid eyes upon. At first he was too timid to even talk to her but eventually they became friends and then something more. Of course she had suitors of her own, but his charm, humor, and occasional clumsiness managed to win her heart. More importantly he got the blessings of her parents and family. They married, had two twin boys, and everything was going well with another child on the way. That is, until disaster struck. It was perhaps the most traumatic event in his life, because even though he had tried everything imaginable, Nikhael had been unable to save Adelaida (see Blessing story in spoiler below). For weeks and seasons he was plunged into depression and it was only through the help of Adelaida's family and his own that he managed to take care of his two sons. They were only four arcs old at the time, but the loss of their mother was both anguish and confusing for them. It took Nikhael nearly two arcs to get back into some sort of normal semblance of life. But Ryder and Thanos, his boys, needed him. With new determination he made a promise that he would give them the best life he could.

Blessing Story & The Loss of Adelaida, Nik's Wife:

► Show Spoiler

The salty wind whipped through Nikhael’s hair as he manned the tiller of the sloop. It was late in Saun 716 and he was with his family wrapping around the southern coast of Eastern Idaloss. Adelaida, his wife, was standing near the bow with her hand on the mast to steady herself. She was already a few months pregnant and her belly swelled like the sails of his ship. But this was not their first child. The two boys, Ryder and Thanos hung to the side rails and watched in fascination as the coastline sped past. They were both only four arcs old, twins and had their mother’s dark hair and their father’s golden glint in their eyes.

“I’m going to be just like Daddy when I grow up. I’ll have a ship just like this!” Said Ryder beaming.

“I’m going to know the stars. Each and every one of them. And the moons, and the suns…” Thanos said as he squinted into the sky and pointed at the two suns across the water.

“And what do you think your younger brother or sister will be like?” Adelaida asked as she placed a hand on her stomach.

“Well I dunno…”

“Cute! He’ll be very cute. Or she.”

“Loud. Aren’t all babies loud? They do a lot of crying.”

The two parents chuckled, and soon the twins were pointing avidly at a dolphin jumping up out of the waves.

Nikhael turned the sloop to a full beam reach as they sailed perpendicular to the southern wind. It was strong and they were making good headway. It was still many days away, but soon they would reach the waters south of Volanta and Yaralon where there had been rumors of Mer harassing merchant ships and fishing boats.

It had been Adelaida’s idea to embark on this journey. Being blessed by U’frek, she saw it her duty to keep people safe on the waters especially when it came to conflicts with the Mer. Back in Rharne, she had helped with the diplomatic relations of the freshwater Mer tribe and she was convinced she could do it again with the Meerabelard tribe. She didn’t know much about them, but she knew that they were the Mer who lived in this region and were surely causing all the havoc with the trade boats. As a Biqaj it was especially important to communicate with the Mer since it was nigh impossible for other races to do so.

However, both the waters and the weather were not as familiar to Nikhael and Adelaida. While some may have sensed a growing unease with the hot southern wind, the two Biqaj were thrilled to be covering so many miles at full sail. In the distance, thick black clouds gathered and it was only when Thanos pointed to the starboard side at the looming storm that the two adults quickly began making plans.

Ideally, they would make landfall before the storm hit, but the coast was fully of rocky cliffs without any beach. Nikhael told the boys to keep an eye out for inlets, but the first two were either too small or blocked by a maze of rocks Nik wasn’t prepared to overcome. The wind was getting stronger, leaning the sloop at a massive angle as the whole family crowded to the starboard side to keep the ship from flipping.

There was a massive crack of thunder and two minutes later the sky opened up. The hot Saun storm began in a torrential downpour. Nikhael and Adelaida immediately began to take down the main sail. If the wind got any stronger it could capsize the boat or worse, with the sails still up. The sky darkened and the rain pounded down upon the small ship.

“I’m cold Mommy. And my feet are wet.” Thanos complained.

It was only then that Adelaida realized how much water was getting into the boat. “Thanos, Ryder, go get the bailer or anything that can hold water to dump it out of the boat. And hang on tight!”

The twins dashed down into the hull and were soon bailing. Nikhael was at the front of the ship wrestling down the headsail. The fabric buffeted in the wind and there was a loud ripping sound causing Nik to wince before he finally got the second sail down.

Adelaida was at the tiller steering the ship and desperately looking for a place to land that wasn’t filled with rocks. A flash of lighting lit up the sky and Thanos gave a sharp scream.

“Mommy! I dropped my bailer!” He yelled as he climbed perilously onto the rail trying to reach for the cup. “Get back from the rail Thanos!” Adelaida screamed as she rushed to the boy’s side.

The unmanned tiller swung dangerously, but as Nikhael ran to the stern to grab hold of it, the ship lurched to the side and he saw his wife and son tumble into the water with a splash.

Nikhael wanted to jump in immediately after them, but he had the sense to realize just how bad the situation was and could get. Without wasting a moment, he grabbed a rope and began tying it around his waist. To Ryder he said, “Ryder, I want you to hold the tiller steady no matter what. No more bailing. Hold it with all the strength you’ve got.”

Nik had been trying to keep track of the waves where he saw Adelaida and Thanos fall in. Now he dived down into the raging currents, rope tied to his waist. He made a split second decision. He needed to get to Thanos first, otherwise the boy would undoubtedly drown. Fighting against the water and trying to see through a blizzard of white bubbles, he panicked, thinking that he was too late. Then at last he saw the small body of the twin and he seized the boy, dragging him up to the surface. Nikhael struggled with the rope to get back to the sloop and with one final effort of strength he managed to lift him onto the side of the boat. Thanos got over the side spluttering and for a moment a wave of relief washed over Nikhael, thanking U’frek that his boy was alive.

“Adelaida!” Nik shouted, hoping that she had managed to surface and just needed to be towed back in. There was no answer above the boom of the storm. “Adelaida!” He shouted desperately.

He dove into the water trying to search for a sign of her. A glimpse of her body, a limb, even a piece of clothing. Already he was feeling weaker, his arms and legs exhausted from fighting against the water but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not out here. In his desperation his rope got tangled in the rudder and he had to yank it out. She wasn’t on this side of the ship or the other. “Adelaida!”

A wave crashed over his head and he dove back down. How long had it been? Five minutes? Ten? Gasping for breath he clung to the side of the boat searching frantically. His eyes were red and his mouth fouled by the salty water. But he couldn’t give up. It was not just Adelaida, but their unborn child too.

However just before he was about to make another attempt in the water. A weird feeling crossed his mind. Hunger? Food? Laughter? He hesitated a moment and then a fist clamped around his heart. There were Mer in these waters. He hadn’t sensed them earlier because he was too busy fighting the storm, but if those mental feelings meant anything, they had just…

All hope fled from his body and it was a struggle to get back on board the ship. He wanted to break down and sob for days on end.

“Where’s Mommy?”

“She’s…” Nikhael couldn’t bring himself to say the word. But he was reminded of his duty and how he needed to do everything in his power to protect his sons.

The storm had waned, but the rain was still coming down hard. Nikhael picked up one of the bailers and began scooping out water from the boat. Ryder looked scared, but he still clung to the tiller as if his life depended on it.

--

The next day was hard on all of them. Nikhael spoke prayers to U’frek, going through a ritual he had never believed he would have to do so soon. He also gave thanks that Thanos’s life had been saved.

Adelaida’s mission seemed to be in ruin. Nikhael was poor, at best, at communicating with the Mer and now he had utterly no desire to do so. Yet there was something about Adelaida’s blind faith to do good that he had admired so much about her, that he wanted to continue the task in some form or another. Their ship had a limp due to the tear in the headsail, but soon they met up with a merchant ship. Doing something, anything, was better than thinking about the loss of his wife, so Nikhael asked the crew if there was anything he could do to help with the problem of the Mer.

They said that they had lost several crew in a recent storm including their Biqaj and needed help steering clear of Mer. Nikhael gladly agreed, so long as they would tow his limping sloop behind the big merchant ship.

For the rest of Saun and the majority of Vhalar, Nik offered his services to various trading boats and even fishermen. Eventually at one of the ports, they patched up his sail. Although it ended up looking even more ragged than it had before.

As it started to get cooler, Nikhael dreaded going back to Rharne. What was he going to tell Adelaida’s parents and family? What was he going to tell his own family? His grief had been kept at bay through lots of activity and meeting different crews. There had even been children on some of the ships for Ryder and Thanos to play with. The twins had been rather subdued but he didn’t know how to make the loss any better for them. He was on the verge of breaking down himself.

At the last port, he asked if there was anyone headed to Rharne who needed passage. As much as he loved his sons, he was anxious about going so long without adult company in a time of such hardship.

To his surprise, a man who looked not much older than he was, took up the offer. Nikhael assumed the traveler was Biqaj because of his silvery eyes, but he couldn’t understand why they were constantly silver. On the other hand, he reflected that his own eyes were probably almost a constant shade of gold as he struggled with his grief.

The traveler was rather quiet and didn’t immediately give out his name. Nikhael didn’t seem to mind. There was enough that he was coping with and he didn’t feel the need to pry. The twins ended up making a game out of guessing the stranger’s name, but the traveler just seemed to smile and let them carry on with their make believe.

One night when the winds were calm and the twins had gone to sleep in the hammock, Nikhael found the traveler sitting on the side of the ship looking up at the vast stars.

Quietly Nik said, “I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired looking up them. There’s so many and how they change with the season.” The traveler nodded, but otherwise didn’t answer. At last Nik had enough courage to ask what was on his mind. “Your eyes… have you been suffering a strong emotion? Grief? Have you lost someone?”

For a moment, he thought he had gone too far, but then the traveler slowly answered. “Yes. There is someone who I’ve lost. I lost her to a storm.”

In that instant Nikhael’s anguish overwhelmed him and he leaned over sobbing in his hands. “So have I. I... I lost my wife, hardly a season ago. She went overboard in a storm.” He shook as hot tears streamed down his face unable to control his sorrow.

“What was her name?”

“Adelaida.”

The stranger gave a slow knowing nod and gently said, “I used to know her. She was a friend of mine.”

“You did? You knew her?” Nikhael replied as he tried to get some semblance of composure. “She was the love of my life. Not only was she beautiful but she was passionate about doing good in the world.”

“Adelaida was very devoted. And so have you been, in her place.”

There was something that sounded a bit off with that statement, but Nikhael was in too much distress to identify it. Finding the discussion painful but therapeutic, he continued on. “And I could have saved her. I really think I could have. But…”

“But you saved Thanos.”

At this point Nikhael knew there was something more to this stranger, even as his heart twisted at the dreadful decision he was forced to make those many trials ago.

“Who are you?” Nik said at last.

“I am the one who will be giving you direction and purpose in your life. A path to follow. A sail to tack.” The stranger looked at Nikhael’s confused expression for a moment and finally answered his question. “I am U’frek.”

For several moments Nikhael sat stunned looking at the god who sat in simple clothes on the side of his boat. On the side of his boat! His eyes widened with disbelief and for a moment he wasn’t sure if the man was pulling a prank on him. But the stranger had mentioned Thanos. No one else could have known about that.

“Nikhael Vy’Ryn, will you continue the work of your wife Adelaide, to do what she cannot do, to serve and be true to the dominion of the sea?”

There was a slight pause and then Nikhael thought about the best way to preserver Adelaide’s memory. This was it. Or the closest thing he could imagine.

“Yes, I will devote myself to Adelaide’s purpose. To your purpose.”

“Then it shall be.”

U’frek stood up and crossed the small boat until he could clasp his hands around Nikhael’s. A shimmer of silvery vapor seemed to radiate from the god, almost as though coming from U’frek’s glistening eyes and it glowed in the light of the two moons as it twisted and spun towards Nikhael. At first, the silvery vapor was absorbed into his body and it felt as though it was bound with his own silver blood, but then it relaxed and formed a faint aura around him with a circular cloud near his feet.

In the night, the faint glow was particularly obvious, although it would likely lessen in the brightness of sunlight. As U’frek stepped away, Nikhael couldn’t help but marvel at the blessing.

“It is the colour that glinted in her eyes when she smiled.”

“I know.”

Starter Quest

You've dreamt of a man whose boat was dashed against rocks and marooned on a small island about a day and a half away from Rharne, he's hiding from a mer who is hunting him down for Chrein. You awake with a start with the sound of U'frik asking you to go rescue your fellow Koreil. Upon which you feel an almost magnetic sense of where the island is, as if a divine compass had been temporarily placed in you.

Housing

A one-masted sailing Sloop (boat) with a mainsail and jib rigged fore and aft. The sloop has a small hold and living quarters under the deck, enough room for a single bed, table or small writing desk, chair, storage chest, and shelf.

Knowledge & Skills

Skill	Total Points	Proficiency
Research (Astronomy)	(5/250)	Novice
Caregiving	(15/250)	Novice
Cooking	(5/250)	Novice
Navigation (FT)	(10/100)	Novice
Fishing	(15/250)	Novice
Swimming (Koriel +3)	(13/250)	Novice
Seafaring	(25/250)	Novice
Endurance	(5/250)	Novice

Knowledge

Race: Biqaj
Race: Mer
Customs & Traditions: Biqaj
Location: Andaris
Location: Ne'haer
Location: Rharne
Layout: Rharne
Laws: Rharne
Immortal: U'frek
U'frek: U'frek's Eyes
Immortal: Ilaren
Fishing: Casting a small net
Navigation: Using a compass
Research (Astronomy): Major constellations of the northern sky
Seafaring: Tacking across the wind
Seafaring: Basic sailing terminology
Seafaring: Weathering storms
Psychology: Getting company
Endurance: The strength of desperation

Skill Point Ledger

Thread or Skill Name	Points Acquired	Points Spent	Running Total
Seafaring (RB)	25(RB)	00
Starting Package	50	00	50
Research (Astronomy)	..	5	45
Caregiving	..	10	35
Cooking	..	5	30
Navigation	..	10	20
Fishing	..	15	05
Swimming		5	00
Swimming (Koriel)		3	00
Caregiving (CS Reward)		5	00
Endurance (CS Reward)		5	00
Swimming (CS Reward)		5	00

Marks Section

Marks

Koriel

Abilities

• Four Pointed Star (Minor)
  • Activation of this skill will cause a silvery aurora to rise from the user upward to the sky. This will highlight certain stars in the sky that appoint the directions of a compass. This will only work at night time.

• Wave Crash (Minor)
  • This ability allows the user to summon a 15' (4.6m) wave in one direction and can choose the time the wave crashes. The user must rest for a few trials afterward before attempting to use the ability again. At Adored, this ability can create a wave as high as 25' (7.7m) and at Exalted, 100' (30m).

• Seafarer Skills I (see skills)
  • Add an extra three skill points to one of the following skills: Navigation, Seafaring, Swimming or Ship Building.

Knowledge

N/A

Items

• Sloop includes:
  • 1 x Hammock
  • 1 x Gangplank
  • 1 x Small table
  • 1 x Chair
  • 1 x Chest
  • 6 x Plates (assorted)
  • 2 x Eating knives
  • 1 x Fish smoker
  • 1 x Lantern
  • 1 x Map (for the shoreline/rivers of Rharne)
• Equipment:
  • 1 x Set of clothing
  • 1 x Set of toiletries
  • 1 x Tinderbox
  • 1 x Waterskin
  • 1 x Compass
  • 1 x Spyglass
  • 1 x Small fishing net
  • 1 x Small anchor
  • 1 x Week’s worth of dried food rations
• 1 x Shortsword (weapon 30gn or less)

Ledger

Item	Income	Expense
Starting Package	20gn	...
...	...	...
...	...	...
...	...	...
...	...	...
...	...	...

Total Currency: 0 ON, 20 GN, 0 SN, 0 CN
Starting Debt of 300GN to be paid off in 1 arc's time

Renown Ledger

Item/ Thread	Renown	Total
Starting Renown	+30	...
...	...	...
...	...	...
...	...	...
...	...	...

Personal NPCs

Submitted here

Name: Ryder
Race: Biqaj
Date of Birth: Cylus 22 Arc 712
Relationship to PC: Son
Skills: Seafaring (5), Fishing (5)
Appearance: Ryder has wavy brown hair, pointed ears and a determined look about him. He stands proudly at 4'0", a couple inches taller than other boys his age. His eyes change colour with the position of the moons but whenever he is feeling particularly happy or sad, there is a golden glint to them.
Personality: Ryder is interested in learning new things but has also become somewhat defiant of his father and pushes his boundaries. He sometimes picks on his twin Thanos and at times his can be more mature than his age suggests.

Name: Thanos
Race: Biqaj
Date of Birth: Cylus 22 Arc 712
Relationship to PC: Son
Skills: Seafaring (5), Research (Astronomy) (5)
Appearance: Thanos has long wavy brown hair like his twin, but has slightly softer facial features. He is just short of his brother, at 3'11" and denies standing on his tiptoes when standing next to Ryder if meeting someone for the first time. His eyes change colour with the position of the moons but whenever he is feeling particularly happy or sad, there is a golden glint to them.
Personality: Thanos enjoys sailing but is more interested in the stars. He's fascinated by constellations and asks questions that even Nikhael doesn't know the answer to. He's not as good at standing up for himself and deep down he believes he was somehow responsible for his mother getting lost at sea.

Memory NPCs

Name: Adelaida
Race: Biqaj
Date of Birth: Vhalar 72 Arc 691 - Deceased Saun 36 Arc 716
Relationship to PC: Wife
Skills: Seafaring (20), Cooking (20), Caregiving (20), Fishing (10), Needlecraft (5), Persuasion (10), Leadership (10), Swimming (5)
Appearance: Adelaida is slender at a height of 5'6". She has long brown hair, pointed ears, and eyes that glitter silver when she's feeling a strong emotion. Often times this is when she's either passionate or happy about something. A faint blue vapor-like aura is evidence of her Koriel blessing.
Personality: Adelaida is headstrong and righteous almost to a fault. She seeks to find peace between races and is passionate about U'frek and her devotion to him. She cares deeply for her children and family, and wants to make her family proud.
Markings: Favored of U'frek with the Koriel blessing. A faint blue aura surrounds her like vapor.

Thread List

Put links here for your current and past threads!