Post by Croccy on Mar 22, 2007 23:16:36 GMT -5
Name: N/A (Though, if you wanted to use hand signals, his title would be the motions for 'bird startled by the coming footsteps', but with a few modifications to show that it's a name and a bird did not actually take flight after hearing a nearby Callinian.)
Sex: Male, though he's otherwise androgynous.
Age: 18
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Character Race: Callinian. Read the ‘Culture’ section for details. Basically, Callinians are humans that have adapted to the planet of Callion: little need for sun, strong legs, non-dilating pupils, etc.
Build: As all Callinians, Bird has an extremely girlish build, accentuated by wiry muscles built up working as a game hunter on his home planet and from traveling rough terrain on his previous encounters with other worlds. His pale skin is slightly burnt on his nose, hands, and feet, having only been exposed to small amounts of sunlight until only three years ago. Fearing the sun, he tries to keep the rest of his body covered, wearing long-sleeves and sunglasses.
Hair: His hair is a dusty shade of rose, thin and grown out just past his chin. It’s very uneven, especially in the back, suggesting that Bird cut it himself.
Eyes: He only has one eye (on his left), and it’s dark pink with large pupils. Think of a bushbaby, then shrink its eye to human-size and almond-shaped. A pair of thick black sunglasses usually conceals his central face area, though, as his pupil lacks the ability to adapt to new lighting. He has heavy, girlish eyelashes, previously used to keep volcanic ash out of his eyes.
Appearance/Clothing:
He only has one eye (on his left), and it’s dark pink with large pupils. Think of a bushbaby, then shrink its eye to human-size. A pair of thick black sunglasses usually conceals his central face area, though, as his pupil lacks the ability to adapt to new lighting.
His cheekbones are higher than the average human's, making him look a bit elfish. This illusion is even more so encouraged by his pale, almost white, skin.
Marks/Scars/Tattoos: He has three short, deep gashes, now reduced to scars, running parallel down his chest. Less serious wounds are scattered about on his body, almost unnoticeable. His right eye is ripped out, the right side of his face mangled, but after some serious magework it's been cleaned up.
Personality:
[PRE-KH]
He has trouble being alone, without someone to depend on, as he's lived his whole life this way. However, he hadn't made any new friends from when he was five, and is out of practice and complacent towards the idea of making them now, choosing to live with his fear rather than confront anyone. Bird believes he isn’t good enough to do most things on his own, and requires another’s assistance. He's frightened by many things, including bright lights (as all Callinians are), loud noises (again, racial), change, electronics, and of heavy pain. Confronting his fears only seems to make him feel more hatred towards them, and doesn't lessen his feelings in any way. Maybe after being exposed to it for a long time... but otherwise, no.
[POST-KH]
Bird's anxieties are still massive, perhaps even moreso after two years. While Sai brushes off stress like a powdery nuclear waste, Bird is trapped under the fallout, taking it upon him to deal with his friend's responsibilities as well as his own. And with all these dangers around, such as bright lights and ultraviolet rays and disease, his fear is reasonable.
However, he's much more laid back in social situations, implementing his traditional Callinian honor into modern, less formal communication. He's a caring soul, really, and would never throw an insult or gossip (to anyone other than Sai, that is).
Bird's clingyness seems to have faded in the long run. Traveling on his own isn't so frightening, nor too foreign for him to cope. But this doesn't mean he'd ever be seen more than a few feet from Sai if he could avoid it.
Home World: Callion. Callion is half the size of Earth (so days are shorter), and has very little axial tilt.
Callion is constantly covered in clouds. This is because of the large bodies of water on the planet, and volcanos underneath the surface. The humidity levels are high, and the climate is tropical. The lowlands are heavilly forested with a 'jungley' feel, like our own rainforests, and the highlands are more moutainous with different sorts of vegetation.
This planet is about as close to their star as Mars is to ours.
Culture:
(Using Mike Bourke's '31 Ways to Define a Culture')
What key concepts describe these people?
Honor, duty, obedience.
What is their genetic legacy and how does it affect them?
All Callinians are born mute, and therefore have no verbal arguments, and their listening skills, unharmed by the need for yelling or loud concerts, have become more acute over many generations. They speak using hand signs, different from Earth’s international ‘sign language’, but equally as effective (if not more). Callinians are usually more introverted, choosing to quietly express their opinions with close friends and family rather than show them to the world.
Because Callion is a planet with eternally-cloudy skies, the Callinian vision is more developed for darkness (smaller pupils), and when exposed to light their sight is blurred and they are forced to look away in pain.
Their beings are also ill-suited for color recognition, though they have the ability. It just isn't quite as acute as a human's.
The Callinian respiritory system is a highly advanced, complex sorting process that, in short, makes the lungs of this race hardy in extreme environments. However, they are easily susceptible to foreign/unrecognized chemicals.
For what tasks are they especially suited/unsuited?
Obviously, anything that requires speaking is out of the picture. Being raised in a world with little noise, they are sensitive to loud noises, making them unsuited for large cities.
How might they use their strengths?
Using their keen listening skills, Callinians are adept at hunting and assassin-like jobs, able to hear the lightest crack of a twig or footstep on gravel.
How might they compensate for their shortcomings?
In a society that is based on verbal conversation, they might create a sort of system where they clap to get attention, and attempt charades to express themselves. They may wear hats with large brims to shade their eyes in the sun, which they are never exposed to on their home planet.
Where do they live? What is their primary habitat?
I’ll get into a more detailed description of their homeworld in another section. Basically, Callion is a heavily forested place, and very wet. It’s cold year-round, and the air is thick. There are mostly freshwater bodies of water, unlike Earth.
What are their homes like? How does their habitat affect their dwellings and lifestyle?
The Callinians live in log cabins gathered in clan-like communities. Homes are built in circles, a shelter in the center for all to gather under. They seem to have mastered the art of blocking out rain and avoiding rotting wood, having made a thick sort of mortar from mud and the nectar of a dandelion-like flower that grows abundantly and rapidly. The mortar is packed onto roofs and walls and hardens, and is resistant to erosion from the constant stream of water.
What is their level of civil construction and what are its characteristics?
Not very high. But this could be that they have no use for roads and such, and the ‘obedience’ law of their culture decrees that they should never drastically alter the way of living. Construction of buildings is based around wood and the waterproof mortar.
What is daily life like?
Wake up when the clouds have lessened slightly (Callinians are sensitive to this), get dressed in whatever clothes suit your job, make your way outside when the rain is just beginning to fall, work, report back to the central fire to share your accomplishments, eat, go to prayer, travel back to the fire for the daily story (told in puppets and colors and all sorts of simple visual effects), and go back home to sleep.
What do they eat and drink? How do they react to other foodstuffs?
Callinians drink mostly water, more often than not flavored with berry juice. No one drinks pure berry concentrate; it’s too strong for them. Callinians aren’t very good with strong flavors or overly-spicy foods, so their meals are quite bland. They eat meat, including a sort of venison from a small, deer-like rabbit (their main prey) and TONS of freshwater fish.
Callinians process things more slowly than humans, and after a good meal, they can go a day without hunger pangs.
They react violently to peanuts.
How do they express themselves artistically? What are their styles of music, sculpture, poetry, painting, plays?
Callinians enjoy silent plays that base themselves on actions rather than conversation, and acting troupes will travel from gathering to gathering to perform.
Etching designs into wood is an appreciated form of art, but Callinians aren’t really fans of color. Paints are not widely used, though they have been discovered, as the perpetual dim lighting of dusk makes it difficult to distiguish shades.
What is their religion?
Callinians have a monotheistic belief in which their province leader is a god (similar to the Egyptian pharoh) and upholds their world. Out of respect for this physical incarnation of land, Callinians try to give back to their world by planting a tree, or releasing captive animals into the wild. There are five provinces in all, and five holy kings.
A common element in their religious lore is the prospect of demons and demon lords. Callinians are very cautious about these demons, in the same fashion as the Chinese feared them.
How can you sum up these people into a first impression?
Diligent.
What is the criminal code and how are crimes punished?
Crimes are treated as a form of insanity, no matter how great or intentional. Wrong-doers are brought before a diviner, who cleanses them. 'Cleansing' involves puncturing certain, painful points on the body and the removal of genitalia. Needless to say, this discourages criminal activity.
What weaponry do they use?
Mostly spears and bows, not quite as primitive as it implies.
Do they farm? If so, what? For what purposes? How is food distributed?
Yes, they farm. Mostly, it’s things that provide meat. For example, cockatiel-like birds, too plump to fly, are kept in rainproof shelters to breed and eat, like chickens. Large rodents are kept in woven pens, they're cages too slippery to gnaw through.
History:
Borne to a hunting family, Bird spent his days tracking rabbit-deer and camouflaged grouse in the forests, straying further from the riverside (where his 'neighborhood' lied) with every passing year. He was a hard worker, like the other boys in his group, and reluctantly joined into taboo play-fights, only for fear that the boys would leave him if he didn't. As all Callians, he’s very close to his family: his parents and three sisters.
His name, ‘bird startled by footsteps’, comes from his cautious nature and hesitance in hunting big game. This didn’t deter his success, but he did have a tendency to hunt smaller prey rather than predators. Bird’s spear, made from a sharpened and barbed branch, was lost during the Heartless invasion.
Bird was betrothed to a girl called ‘fish hiding beneath the rocks’, but never saw her face-to-face, knowing only that one day, they would be joined and expected to raise a hunting family immediately. He wasn’t all that familiar with this idea, and it scared him, so he made a point never to meet her before the ceremony, feeling it would be much to awkward to look upon her.
When the Heartless came:
He was hunting when they came.
It was dark out, as always, as Bird crept through the brush. The ‘deer’ he’d been stalking left a trail of wispy after-sounds of the wind settled in his path. Bird paused to listen, blinking, all attention on the task at hand. He closed his eyes. Just once.
Once was enough.
The first Shadow leapt upon his face, a clawed hand ripping his right side open, gouging out his eye. Bird would’ve screamed, but as his vocal cords made no sound, no one would come. He fell backwards and into the twigs and mud, wrenching the creature from his face.
His eye. His eye was gone, and the Heartless had struck an artery, blood streaming down his face and neck and chest, seeping into the fabric of his cloak, stop, stop the blood!
Where was his spear?! He’d dropped it, stupid, stupid! Bird fled, ran for his life as the dazed Shadow picked itself back up, blending into the perpetual darkness of Callion. Oh gods, stop the blood!
Bird didn’t realize that this was what ‘they’ wanted. He was leading them back. But it’s hard to think of these things when you can only see from one eye and your clothes are wet with your own blood. The pain! Stop the blood!
Bird’s face was contorted with pain and confusion as he burst into his home, shaking his mother, shaking his father and sisters, tears running down his face and mixing with crimson.
Bam. The Heartless, now with larger and more powerful companions, didn’t bother to use the door.
Silent pandemonium struck. Not at all like in Earth movies; the only sounds were houses caving in, the trees ripped from their roots, ribbons of blood flowing into the river.
Heartless tore at Bird's legs as he sprinted as far away as possible, trying to pull him down. But Bird, powered by pure terror, ran until he tripped over a rock and into the puddle of darkness that was slowly devouring the city.
He didn't know he was the last one alive at that time. Otherwise, he might've given up trying to survive.
Amongst the disaster zone stood a leader above all the others. Bird squinted as he was pulled into the creeping shadows, trying to see his face.
It was a man, taller than any Callinian, wearing a chained black cloak. Bird thought to himself as the darkness closed over him that the man looked almost vulpine, with a narrow face and dark, thieving eyes.
And as the man turned to watch Bird sink into blackness, he nodded grimly, and Bird dazedly nodded assent, in a sort of unspoken agreement.
Bird awoke, and he’d arrived in Twilight Town, alive but not nearly well.
---
Stuff happens...
---
When the party broke apart, he stayed with Sai, working as bounty hunters and rare treasure seekers, though they did (and still do) more thieving than 'seeking'. He has learned English well enough to speak it, but being Callinian, he must speak to one's mind rather than their ears.
Abilities:
Firaga - Fire element spell. Highest level fire magic.
Wateraga - Water element spell. Highest level water magic.
Blizzaga - Ice element spell. Highest level blizzard magic.
Thundaga - Lightning element spell. Highest level thunder magic.
Bio - Poison spell. Saps HP from the enemy.
Focus - Temporarily increases magic power.
Drain - Steal HP from a friend or foe.
Consent of the Captive - Passive skill, allows Bird to summon any being bound to any artifact.
Soulsong - Passive skill, allows Bird to speak with other beings in either pictures or organized words, though the recipient of his 'song' may resist. This also leaves Bird's own spirit open for attack, as it's a rather intimate skill and should only be used with close friends.
Weapon(s): See 'Summons'.
Summons:
The Firebird - A dangerous fiery creature with the force of death, destruction, and desecration on its side. (Fantasia 2000)
Steele - Trained sled-dog of abnormal size and strength. Out of spite for his revered canine competitor, Balto, his spirit made the undying summoner's pact with Bird. He appears burnt and forever wears his blackened harness. Steele may be summoned physically as a separate being, or as a metaphysical presence that heightens Bird's senses and reflexes. (Balto)
Palidor - A bird of paradise who picks up the party and allows them all to do a Jump attack. (Final Fantasy series)
Gatekeeper's Shakujo - A naginata with a golden hilt and ring, from which six smaller, fiery rings danger. A fire-red blade continues from the main ring, swirling with yellows and whites and oranges. The naginata adjusts to Bird's physical strength, using more magic to seem lighter and less awkward. Seven feet tall. (Original)
Equipped:
Volcanic Glass Charm - Feather shaped pendant. Summons creatures to fight for Bird, and slightly boosts fire magic. It swirls with several different colors, as it contains several different spirits.
Possessions:
Black Robe - Slightly boosts black magic. It looks hot. In the literal sense.
Likes: Darkness, Sai, clouds, making people happy
Dislikes: Loud noises, strobe lights, the Vulpine Knight, being a burden on people, the sun
Theme Song: We Don't Bleed ~ New London Fire
Fight Song: Skullflower ~ The Sound of Animals Fighting
Phobias: Photophobia (fear of light), phobophobia (fear of his own fear)
Quirks: He's somewhat childish, really.
Hobbies: Hunting, item appraisal
Love Interests: Well...
Friends: Saiful, Rod, Mog
Foes: Xeryn (who has since vanished since OXIII disbanded)
People that confuse him:
Thoughts on...
Saiful - He's so kind to me... I only hope that I will not offend him in any way, for I would very much like to keep him close. No! No, that's selfish! ...But I am sure he wants me near, too. I have not asked, though...
Rod -
Mog -
Sex: Male, though he's otherwise androgynous.
Age: 18
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Character Race: Callinian. Read the ‘Culture’ section for details. Basically, Callinians are humans that have adapted to the planet of Callion: little need for sun, strong legs, non-dilating pupils, etc.
Build: As all Callinians, Bird has an extremely girlish build, accentuated by wiry muscles built up working as a game hunter on his home planet and from traveling rough terrain on his previous encounters with other worlds. His pale skin is slightly burnt on his nose, hands, and feet, having only been exposed to small amounts of sunlight until only three years ago. Fearing the sun, he tries to keep the rest of his body covered, wearing long-sleeves and sunglasses.
Hair: His hair is a dusty shade of rose, thin and grown out just past his chin. It’s very uneven, especially in the back, suggesting that Bird cut it himself.
Eyes: He only has one eye (on his left), and it’s dark pink with large pupils. Think of a bushbaby, then shrink its eye to human-size and almond-shaped. A pair of thick black sunglasses usually conceals his central face area, though, as his pupil lacks the ability to adapt to new lighting. He has heavy, girlish eyelashes, previously used to keep volcanic ash out of his eyes.
Appearance/Clothing:
He only has one eye (on his left), and it’s dark pink with large pupils. Think of a bushbaby, then shrink its eye to human-size. A pair of thick black sunglasses usually conceals his central face area, though, as his pupil lacks the ability to adapt to new lighting.
His cheekbones are higher than the average human's, making him look a bit elfish. This illusion is even more so encouraged by his pale, almost white, skin.
Marks/Scars/Tattoos: He has three short, deep gashes, now reduced to scars, running parallel down his chest. Less serious wounds are scattered about on his body, almost unnoticeable. His right eye is ripped out, the right side of his face mangled, but after some serious magework it's been cleaned up.
Personality:
[PRE-KH]
He has trouble being alone, without someone to depend on, as he's lived his whole life this way. However, he hadn't made any new friends from when he was five, and is out of practice and complacent towards the idea of making them now, choosing to live with his fear rather than confront anyone. Bird believes he isn’t good enough to do most things on his own, and requires another’s assistance. He's frightened by many things, including bright lights (as all Callinians are), loud noises (again, racial), change, electronics, and of heavy pain. Confronting his fears only seems to make him feel more hatred towards them, and doesn't lessen his feelings in any way. Maybe after being exposed to it for a long time... but otherwise, no.
[POST-KH]
Bird's anxieties are still massive, perhaps even moreso after two years. While Sai brushes off stress like a powdery nuclear waste, Bird is trapped under the fallout, taking it upon him to deal with his friend's responsibilities as well as his own. And with all these dangers around, such as bright lights and ultraviolet rays and disease, his fear is reasonable.
However, he's much more laid back in social situations, implementing his traditional Callinian honor into modern, less formal communication. He's a caring soul, really, and would never throw an insult or gossip (to anyone other than Sai, that is).
Bird's clingyness seems to have faded in the long run. Traveling on his own isn't so frightening, nor too foreign for him to cope. But this doesn't mean he'd ever be seen more than a few feet from Sai if he could avoid it.
Home World: Callion. Callion is half the size of Earth (so days are shorter), and has very little axial tilt.
Callion is constantly covered in clouds. This is because of the large bodies of water on the planet, and volcanos underneath the surface. The humidity levels are high, and the climate is tropical. The lowlands are heavilly forested with a 'jungley' feel, like our own rainforests, and the highlands are more moutainous with different sorts of vegetation.
This planet is about as close to their star as Mars is to ours.
Culture:
(Using Mike Bourke's '31 Ways to Define a Culture')
What key concepts describe these people?
Honor, duty, obedience.
What is their genetic legacy and how does it affect them?
All Callinians are born mute, and therefore have no verbal arguments, and their listening skills, unharmed by the need for yelling or loud concerts, have become more acute over many generations. They speak using hand signs, different from Earth’s international ‘sign language’, but equally as effective (if not more). Callinians are usually more introverted, choosing to quietly express their opinions with close friends and family rather than show them to the world.
Because Callion is a planet with eternally-cloudy skies, the Callinian vision is more developed for darkness (smaller pupils), and when exposed to light their sight is blurred and they are forced to look away in pain.
Their beings are also ill-suited for color recognition, though they have the ability. It just isn't quite as acute as a human's.
The Callinian respiritory system is a highly advanced, complex sorting process that, in short, makes the lungs of this race hardy in extreme environments. However, they are easily susceptible to foreign/unrecognized chemicals.
For what tasks are they especially suited/unsuited?
Obviously, anything that requires speaking is out of the picture. Being raised in a world with little noise, they are sensitive to loud noises, making them unsuited for large cities.
How might they use their strengths?
Using their keen listening skills, Callinians are adept at hunting and assassin-like jobs, able to hear the lightest crack of a twig or footstep on gravel.
How might they compensate for their shortcomings?
In a society that is based on verbal conversation, they might create a sort of system where they clap to get attention, and attempt charades to express themselves. They may wear hats with large brims to shade their eyes in the sun, which they are never exposed to on their home planet.
Where do they live? What is their primary habitat?
I’ll get into a more detailed description of their homeworld in another section. Basically, Callion is a heavily forested place, and very wet. It’s cold year-round, and the air is thick. There are mostly freshwater bodies of water, unlike Earth.
What are their homes like? How does their habitat affect their dwellings and lifestyle?
The Callinians live in log cabins gathered in clan-like communities. Homes are built in circles, a shelter in the center for all to gather under. They seem to have mastered the art of blocking out rain and avoiding rotting wood, having made a thick sort of mortar from mud and the nectar of a dandelion-like flower that grows abundantly and rapidly. The mortar is packed onto roofs and walls and hardens, and is resistant to erosion from the constant stream of water.
What is their level of civil construction and what are its characteristics?
Not very high. But this could be that they have no use for roads and such, and the ‘obedience’ law of their culture decrees that they should never drastically alter the way of living. Construction of buildings is based around wood and the waterproof mortar.
What is daily life like?
Wake up when the clouds have lessened slightly (Callinians are sensitive to this), get dressed in whatever clothes suit your job, make your way outside when the rain is just beginning to fall, work, report back to the central fire to share your accomplishments, eat, go to prayer, travel back to the fire for the daily story (told in puppets and colors and all sorts of simple visual effects), and go back home to sleep.
What do they eat and drink? How do they react to other foodstuffs?
Callinians drink mostly water, more often than not flavored with berry juice. No one drinks pure berry concentrate; it’s too strong for them. Callinians aren’t very good with strong flavors or overly-spicy foods, so their meals are quite bland. They eat meat, including a sort of venison from a small, deer-like rabbit (their main prey) and TONS of freshwater fish.
Callinians process things more slowly than humans, and after a good meal, they can go a day without hunger pangs.
They react violently to peanuts.
How do they express themselves artistically? What are their styles of music, sculpture, poetry, painting, plays?
Callinians enjoy silent plays that base themselves on actions rather than conversation, and acting troupes will travel from gathering to gathering to perform.
Etching designs into wood is an appreciated form of art, but Callinians aren’t really fans of color. Paints are not widely used, though they have been discovered, as the perpetual dim lighting of dusk makes it difficult to distiguish shades.
What is their religion?
Callinians have a monotheistic belief in which their province leader is a god (similar to the Egyptian pharoh) and upholds their world. Out of respect for this physical incarnation of land, Callinians try to give back to their world by planting a tree, or releasing captive animals into the wild. There are five provinces in all, and five holy kings.
A common element in their religious lore is the prospect of demons and demon lords. Callinians are very cautious about these demons, in the same fashion as the Chinese feared them.
How can you sum up these people into a first impression?
Diligent.
What is the criminal code and how are crimes punished?
Crimes are treated as a form of insanity, no matter how great or intentional. Wrong-doers are brought before a diviner, who cleanses them. 'Cleansing' involves puncturing certain, painful points on the body and the removal of genitalia. Needless to say, this discourages criminal activity.
What weaponry do they use?
Mostly spears and bows, not quite as primitive as it implies.
Do they farm? If so, what? For what purposes? How is food distributed?
Yes, they farm. Mostly, it’s things that provide meat. For example, cockatiel-like birds, too plump to fly, are kept in rainproof shelters to breed and eat, like chickens. Large rodents are kept in woven pens, they're cages too slippery to gnaw through.
History:
Borne to a hunting family, Bird spent his days tracking rabbit-deer and camouflaged grouse in the forests, straying further from the riverside (where his 'neighborhood' lied) with every passing year. He was a hard worker, like the other boys in his group, and reluctantly joined into taboo play-fights, only for fear that the boys would leave him if he didn't. As all Callians, he’s very close to his family: his parents and three sisters.
His name, ‘bird startled by footsteps’, comes from his cautious nature and hesitance in hunting big game. This didn’t deter his success, but he did have a tendency to hunt smaller prey rather than predators. Bird’s spear, made from a sharpened and barbed branch, was lost during the Heartless invasion.
Bird was betrothed to a girl called ‘fish hiding beneath the rocks’, but never saw her face-to-face, knowing only that one day, they would be joined and expected to raise a hunting family immediately. He wasn’t all that familiar with this idea, and it scared him, so he made a point never to meet her before the ceremony, feeling it would be much to awkward to look upon her.
When the Heartless came:
He was hunting when they came.
It was dark out, as always, as Bird crept through the brush. The ‘deer’ he’d been stalking left a trail of wispy after-sounds of the wind settled in his path. Bird paused to listen, blinking, all attention on the task at hand. He closed his eyes. Just once.
Once was enough.
The first Shadow leapt upon his face, a clawed hand ripping his right side open, gouging out his eye. Bird would’ve screamed, but as his vocal cords made no sound, no one would come. He fell backwards and into the twigs and mud, wrenching the creature from his face.
His eye. His eye was gone, and the Heartless had struck an artery, blood streaming down his face and neck and chest, seeping into the fabric of his cloak, stop, stop the blood!
Where was his spear?! He’d dropped it, stupid, stupid! Bird fled, ran for his life as the dazed Shadow picked itself back up, blending into the perpetual darkness of Callion. Oh gods, stop the blood!
Bird didn’t realize that this was what ‘they’ wanted. He was leading them back. But it’s hard to think of these things when you can only see from one eye and your clothes are wet with your own blood. The pain! Stop the blood!
Bird’s face was contorted with pain and confusion as he burst into his home, shaking his mother, shaking his father and sisters, tears running down his face and mixing with crimson.
Bam. The Heartless, now with larger and more powerful companions, didn’t bother to use the door.
Silent pandemonium struck. Not at all like in Earth movies; the only sounds were houses caving in, the trees ripped from their roots, ribbons of blood flowing into the river.
Heartless tore at Bird's legs as he sprinted as far away as possible, trying to pull him down. But Bird, powered by pure terror, ran until he tripped over a rock and into the puddle of darkness that was slowly devouring the city.
He didn't know he was the last one alive at that time. Otherwise, he might've given up trying to survive.
Amongst the disaster zone stood a leader above all the others. Bird squinted as he was pulled into the creeping shadows, trying to see his face.
It was a man, taller than any Callinian, wearing a chained black cloak. Bird thought to himself as the darkness closed over him that the man looked almost vulpine, with a narrow face and dark, thieving eyes.
And as the man turned to watch Bird sink into blackness, he nodded grimly, and Bird dazedly nodded assent, in a sort of unspoken agreement.
Bird awoke, and he’d arrived in Twilight Town, alive but not nearly well.
---
Stuff happens...
---
When the party broke apart, he stayed with Sai, working as bounty hunters and rare treasure seekers, though they did (and still do) more thieving than 'seeking'. He has learned English well enough to speak it, but being Callinian, he must speak to one's mind rather than their ears.
Abilities:
Firaga - Fire element spell. Highest level fire magic.
Wateraga - Water element spell. Highest level water magic.
Blizzaga - Ice element spell. Highest level blizzard magic.
Thundaga - Lightning element spell. Highest level thunder magic.
Bio - Poison spell. Saps HP from the enemy.
Focus - Temporarily increases magic power.
Drain - Steal HP from a friend or foe.
Consent of the Captive - Passive skill, allows Bird to summon any being bound to any artifact.
Soulsong - Passive skill, allows Bird to speak with other beings in either pictures or organized words, though the recipient of his 'song' may resist. This also leaves Bird's own spirit open for attack, as it's a rather intimate skill and should only be used with close friends.
Weapon(s): See 'Summons'.
Summons:
The Firebird - A dangerous fiery creature with the force of death, destruction, and desecration on its side. (Fantasia 2000)
Steele - Trained sled-dog of abnormal size and strength. Out of spite for his revered canine competitor, Balto, his spirit made the undying summoner's pact with Bird. He appears burnt and forever wears his blackened harness. Steele may be summoned physically as a separate being, or as a metaphysical presence that heightens Bird's senses and reflexes. (Balto)
Palidor - A bird of paradise who picks up the party and allows them all to do a Jump attack. (Final Fantasy series)
Gatekeeper's Shakujo - A naginata with a golden hilt and ring, from which six smaller, fiery rings danger. A fire-red blade continues from the main ring, swirling with yellows and whites and oranges. The naginata adjusts to Bird's physical strength, using more magic to seem lighter and less awkward. Seven feet tall. (Original)
Equipped:
Volcanic Glass Charm - Feather shaped pendant. Summons creatures to fight for Bird, and slightly boosts fire magic. It swirls with several different colors, as it contains several different spirits.
Possessions:
Black Robe - Slightly boosts black magic. It looks hot. In the literal sense.
Likes: Darkness, Sai, clouds, making people happy
Dislikes: Loud noises, strobe lights, the Vulpine Knight, being a burden on people, the sun
Theme Song: We Don't Bleed ~ New London Fire
Fight Song: Skullflower ~ The Sound of Animals Fighting
Phobias: Photophobia (fear of light), phobophobia (fear of his own fear)
Quirks: He's somewhat childish, really.
Hobbies: Hunting, item appraisal
Love Interests: Well...
Friends: Saiful, Rod, Mog
Foes: Xeryn (who has since vanished since OXIII disbanded)
People that confuse him:
Thoughts on...
Saiful - He's so kind to me... I only hope that I will not offend him in any way, for I would very much like to keep him close. No! No, that's selfish! ...But I am sure he wants me near, too. I have not asked, though...
Rod -
Mog -