edit: ok now it's not a wip anymore yay
Name: Raleigh Ferghus Eachainn
Gender: Male (heterosexual)
Age: 30
Race: Magical Human
Class: Dread Dragoon
Skills and abilities:
Military training + Ever since young, Raleigh has undergone rigorous military training to meet the expectations placed upon him. Due to being born a magical human, he's had to push his body to its limits in order to keep up with his peers when it comes to physical prowess, but he has done a fine job; so much so that one would not be able to tell him apart from a non magical human in most every day situations. Even so, he will always be inferior to non magical humans who have gone through the same amount of exercise, and he has no room left for growth. His body will not go beyond what it is now, and age is slowly starting to take its toll. He does also have at least basic knowledge and experience on combat, strategy, survival and other basic skills a soldier would require in his line of work.
Armor + Raleigh dons Lochesterian armor, which gives him extra protection in combat - and tends to instill wary respect among the civilians of his country. His armor is medium rather than heavyweight to allow for easier combat maneuvers however, so it doesn't protect him against the most powerful of blows or magic.
Lance expertise + Though he knows the basics of many a weapon in theory, he isn't ready to wield them in combat. His choice of weapon for that is a lance: it gives him range and allows him to fight effectively whether mounted or not.
Horseback riding + Wherever Raleigh goes, his gelding, Tempest, follows. He has had the horse for years now, and the two share a bond of mutual trust. Raleigh is very apt at fighting from Tempest's back and is able to mount and unmount on the go. Tempest comes when whistled for - unless occupied by food. It's a surprise the horse hasn't bloated from all the chow it consumes.
Observance + Due to his little 'side job' in the kingdom's dungeons, Raleigh is more versed in causing mental anguish and getting into people's heads than he'd like. He's had to break many a person, regardless of age, gender or race, and that has left him very observant of people's weaknesses even when not on the job. At times, he catches himself analyzing people and trying to find things to use against them - and the realization never ceases to ravage him with guilt. Less useful in the heat of combat, or against people trained to resist such a thing, however.
Ice magic + Raleigh's initial powers manifested in the form of water - more specifically,
ice - magic. He hasn't used this power much since, as it was not deemed as useful or easy to conceal. As such, his capabilities with ice magic are very limited. He can use it to give himself a subtle, chilly aura that helps with intimidation, and he can freeze things he touches, though it's only limited to the immediate area around his touch. This also requires him to touch the target with his bare skin.
Dark magic + While Raleigh is a magical human, he has much less experience in the craft than many others of his kind. Unlike most, he was not sent to study in any official establishment, but instead learnt bits and pieces from a singular tutor - along with various convicts, all for the purpose of interrogation. As such, most of his spells are geared for situations outside of combat, rather than in.
Pain Infliction - Raleigh can cause immense pain in his chosen target, with the effect gradually worsening over time. This does not cause any physical harm, but is mentally quite devastating - and prolonged exposure can lead to lasting mental damage, nausea, shock or other such issues associated with intense pain. In order to use this on a target, Raleigh must be in either direct or indirect contact with them. That is, touching the opposing ends of the same object. This does not work if the object's surface is too large (a wall, the ground) or in liquid. This spell has been his main tool throughout the years, and it's the most difficult one to break out of without external help (someone forcibly getting Raleigh away from the target).
Suggestion - Requires either direct physical contact, or prolonged eye contact. Raleigh is able to temporarily force himself into the target's consciousness, allowing him to disorientate them and to try and force brief commands upon them. Stronger willed individuals, as well as people who are of calm mind are more resistant to this. Being distraught, pained, angry, scared or so on at the time of casting makes the target less resistant. The actions he compels people to commit are simple, such as "talk" or "look away" or "move out of the way" and may not last longer than a minute.
Impalement - Raleigh's only true combat spell, he can summon forth blades of darkness from a shadow of his choice. They attack all nearby enemies for a while until dissipating. How many he can summon depends on how dark the area is, or how large the shadow he uses, as he can't create them from nothing. He can also use this spell to imbue his blade with darkness, giving it extra reach and damage for a limited time.
Appearance:
At a glance, Raleigh is the quintessential Lochesterian soldier; tall, muscular, poised and stoic, no matter the circumstance. He stands at 6'6'' with impeccable posture, and few things seem able to elicit a visible reaction from him - come what may, his stone face remains. Looking at him today, it's difficult to tell that he wasn't
born military poster boy material; due to his nature as a magical human, the bone structure and body type he was born with are less than ideal for his profession; his shoulders aren't naturally broad, and gaining muscle hasn't been as easy for him as it would've been to an average person. What you see today is the result of years upon years of excruciating exercise and practice, perseverance against odds and working with the cards one is dealt, even if they're sub-optimal.
Raleigh wears the standard armor of his unit. It's a full body armor in blue and black, featuring sharp edges and shapes, with a matching helmet. The kingdom's symbol is proudly emblazoned on the breastplate, as well as the helmet's forehead. It's rare to see him out of armor, but if such occasion were to arise, you'd find him wearing the next most formal thing, probably in similar colours if possible. He likes to show his support for the kingdom, and doesn't happen to be particularly fond of bright colours as is. But, really, at the end of the day, as long as its practical, he isn't too fussy about what he puts on.
Once the helmet does come off, you'll find a rugged, stern face underneath. He has an angular face and golden eyes that seem to belong to someone much older. Their gaze seems cold, merciless and
intimidating, yet also tired and even a bit melancholic, if one knows how to look deeper. His hair is short and blonde, cut neatly and practically, with a scar starting from his hairline and running down past his left eye - a memento of the time a higher up that took him under his wing found out about his magical prowess. He wears it as a mark of his inferiority to 'normal' humans, a brand that he thinks he rightfully deserves. Most assume it's something he received in battle and think nothing much of it. While usually well-shaven, lately he has gotten a bit of a stubble.
To civilians and possible adversaries (or victims, as it were) he comes across as an imposing, formidable figure who sees whatever orders he was given through to the bitter end, no matter how cruel in nature. And yet, when he stands among his compatriots, he doesn't really stick out in particular; he's just another scary Lochesterian soldier among a dozen, and seems content with that fact. When he isn't on military business or dressed in armor however, he seems somewhat different; humble, in a way, more like a servant walking in his master's house than a man with martial merit.
Personality: Living your entire life believing that you're inferior to not only the rest of your family, but the majority of your country's population is bound to affect a person. In Raleigh's case, it reinforced his subservience towards his higher ups and their beliefs. He places little value on his personal beliefs or morals, believing that whenever his views clash with those above him, he's in the wrong and should bend the proverbial (and literal, as the case may be) knee. Needless to say, this has made him an ideal soldier, if not an ideal person. He's unquestionably loyal and patriotic to a point of xenophobia, believing that all other countries are misguided in their views on sub-humans - that is, people other than non magical humans.
And yes, that is all despite the fact that he's a magical human himself. Aware of his own 'tainted' state, he considers himself lucky to have been given the privilege to serve his country. He sees himself as a pawn, replaceable and insignificant in the grand scheme of things - and yet, he doesn't brood over it or dwell on it. It's simply a fact; a
dog doesn't curse his station, and is perfectly capable of a happy life, if its master so wills. He has a job and a purpose, why should he complain?
With that
said, one needs only look into his eyes to notice that Raleigh is not exactly a
happy person, either. There's a melancholic aura about him, though not over his own situation - but the situation of those he finds himself opposing. The prisoners he's tortured. The sub-humans he's slain. The civilians he's questioned and intimidated to see if they hosted hostiles in their homes. Though he feels little remorse
during said actions, too focused on duty, the imagery sticks with him.
Haunts him, striking whenever he dares let his merciless facade falter. It had all stopped phasing him, a few years ago - but of late, he's found himself in doubt.
Raleigh is a man of few words. He was always taught to listen rather than talk, and he's very skilled at the former indeed. He's observant to a disturbing degree, able to pick up on subtleties and details many others would miss. In exchange, he doesn't really have a way with words, often speaking curtly, if at all - which can make him across as enigmatic and aloof. Neither is his intention, it's simply the only way he knows to conduct himself. He has spent most of his life in the military, and has little civilian life to speak of; as such, he's somewhat clueless when it comes to interacting with others in a casual manner. Either you're his superior, brother in arms, a civilian or an enemy - his brain has yet to make a category for 'friends' or 'acquaintances'.
Though many find it hard to believe (understandably so), underneath the tough exterior and layers of indoctrination, Raleigh is a surprisingly caring individual, situation permitting. Were it not for his genuine belief that the world would be better off without non-human folk and his predisposition to follow orders given, he could have turned out a hero of the oppressed - not their worst nightmare. At the end of the day, he
is driven by the will to help, no matter how misguided his methods and goals are. This can be seen on the rare occasions when he is allowed to go about civilian life, always extending a hand where he sees it needed, even if it means harm coming unto him. It's only when he returns to his armor that he returns to his role as a cutthroat for the state. But perhaps it's not too late;
guilt has been a common companion to him as of late, after all...
History: Born as the only son to a renowned noble family known for its military connections, Raleigh could have led a fortunate life - had it not been for one tiny thing; he had potential for magic.
For the first few years of his life, none knew about his latent powers. He was frailer than his father and grandfather had been at his age, but in his father's mind that just meant that he had to train harder to mold his physique. No one ever asked him if he wanted to be a soldier when he grew up; he came from a long lineage of soldiers and knights, and so it was assumed that every boy born into the family was going to pursue a military career. Raleigh learnt to take it as a given as well, and never thought to question it. He started to learn from his father at a young age, and everything was well - for a time.
A little after his fifth birthday, things changed. He started to show signs of magic, accidentally freezing his bath and nearly choking on water as it solidified in his throat. His parents were startled half to death, partly because of the danger the powers posed to Raleigh himself, partly because they were strictly of the common opinion that magical humans were sub-human and a danger to society at large. So to see that their own son was one such a creature was...
devastating, to the say the least. Long nights were spent discussing his fate, but eventually parental affection overcame prejudice - to an extent, anyway.
They did not abandon him or turn him in to the authorities to be shipped away, and they even went through the trouble of getting him a private tutor for his magic. But their stance on magical humans did not change, and they never did accept Raleigh's 'condition', treating it like an unfortunate illness or a curse without a cure that should be hidden at all costs. Raleigh was taught never to speak of it, and he learnt to consider it something shameful and bad. He was only given minimal teaching in the ways of magic, enough to ensure that his power would not spiral out of control, but not enough to make him adept at its use. The training did reveal another disturbing fact, however; he had potential for dark magic.
Startled, his parents sent Raleigh's mentor away and buried the knowledge.
And so, for almost a decade, life resumed as normal. Raleigh enrolled to the military at fifteen, and though his first few years were particularly harsh, his physique not lending itself well to tough physical labor, he persevered. If others trained for six hours, he did ten; if others ran four laps, he ran six. He pushed his body to its absolute limits, let it rest, then repeated, breaking himself over and over until he could finally keep up with his peers.
His determination and devotion caught the eye of a few of the higher ups, most notably a man by the name of Alastair. Though only in his thirties at the time, Alastair held a high rank in the military and was known for his strategic mind, cruel persona and tendency to produce
results where needed, should he simply be given free reign. People did not question him, out of fear of disappearing. Even some people ranked higher than him were wary of the man, unnerved by his gaze. A gaze that was, ever so slowly, turning towards Raleigh.
Alastair introduced himself to Raleigh one evening after unarmed combat practice, telling the youth that he saw potential in him - and would like to train him personally, if possible. Taken aback, Raleigh accepted the offer with a polite bow. He followed the man, bright eyed and hopeful, unaware that he'd just smiled his last genuine smile in a decade.
It soon became apparent that Alastair was not a kind individual. He was cruel and his training methods crueler, both towards his disciple and the unwitting victims he was to train against. Perhaps as a means of self-preservation, Raleigh cannot recall the details of his lessons now, but he knows that it was during them he took a life for the first time. He never did figure out why Alastair had chosen him, and he never did dare ask. In retrospect, perhaps the man had suspected something - could smell the cursed blood in his veins from a distance. Or perhaps, even back then, he'd just had rotten luck.
Regardless, things got worse.
It happened one evening, when a prisoner broke away from his captors and dashed out of the dungeons. Raleigh happened upon his path by pure accident, finding himself attacked before he could truly comprehend what was happening. Out of reflex, he extended a hand to grab the man, until his scream made Raleigh jump back in surprise. The prisoner slumped to the ground, holding his face - half encased in
dark ice. Shards fell off onto the ground, and the man's panic seemed worsen. Scared, Raleigh staggered away, only to run face first into a man whose disgusted stare nearly stopped his heart right there and then. Alastair.
Raleigh remembers a white hot pain on his face as something tore at his skin, and an angry gaze unlike anything he'd ever seen before. It was then that he finally realized why his parents had told him to keep quiet about his powers, what they were trying to protect him
from. It was this. Raleigh was sure he was going to die right then and there, on the cold dungeon floor - but he did not. Perhaps he should have. Thinking about it now, he definitely should have.
Alastair was quick to establish himself as a good Samaritan, a merciful man, the only one who'd
ever give scum like Raleigh a second chance - and how, of course, that meant that the boy owed him his life. Still shaken, Raleigh agreed, feverishly nodding along and mistaking the grin on the man's face for kindness. He swore to never question the man's judgement or talk back - and Alastair milked everything out of that promise. He was interested in Raleigh's dark magic, and intended to cultivate it for his own use. Torture, interrogation, intimidation, you named it, he had a vision for it. And so, from there on onwards, for over a
decade Raleigh has been using his powers for sinister means.
In that time, he's said goodbye to his parents upon their deathbeds, laying them to rest without them ever finding out about the details of his military career. In that fact alone, at least, he can take some solace in.
The recent hostilities between nations and deployment abroad has given Raleigh a welcome break from the dungeons and his duties there, and Alastair himself has been preoccupied with whispers of war. But though Raleigh accepted extermination missions eagerly at first, determined to prove his worth and be sent off as often as possible, he's... seen things during his missions that have shaken him. He always knew how other races were treated, that was true - but to see even children put to the sword... it has made him wonder, who really are the monsters?
